US3193181A - Disposable wrapper for sanitary napkins - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1955 1 P. KoNJEvlcH Erm. l 3,193,181

DISPOSABLE WRAPPER FOR SANITARY NAPKINS Filed Nov. 1, 196s F/g./ 28 I6 *'20 n zo 26 l,

Peter Kon/'e vich Mavis Marie Konjev/ch l N VEN T0 R5 3,193,181 DISPOSABLE WRAPPER FGR SANITARY NAPKNS Peter Konjevich and Mavis Marie Konjevich, both of 220 N. Eastern Ave., Joliet, Ill. Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 320,914 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-87) The present invention relates to the increasingly diticult problem of acceptable practices in respect to handling the disposal of soiled sanitary napkins, and pertains to a unique disposable wrapper therefor.

Users of `sanitary napkins are virtually dependent on producers whose aim it is to make economical accessories and appliances available in the field of feminine hygiene. A survey of the field of endeavor herein involved has confirmed the fact that even though sanitary napkins are made of throwaway materials and can be permissibly disposed of when expedient facilities and customarily used Waste containers are available there are many and varied situations where, in the absence of ordinarily employed conveniences and facilities, a used napkin is not too easily disposed of. With a view toward serving the needs of those who advocate handling such difiicult situations with efficiency but keeping in mind tensions and many difficulties attending the same it is the purpose of the instant concept to otier a simple, practical and easy-to-use envelope-type throwaway. 1

Another aspect of the invention has to do with an innovation which should appeal to and be adopted by discrete users. To this end it constitutes an article of manufacture which is destined to appeal to manufacturers and retailers of packages, wrappers and special purpose enveopes and the like but, what is more noteworthy, to both young and matured women, in that it provides a soiled napkin wrapper which transforms itself into a simple throwaway package.

Briefly the invention in its preferred embodiment comprises a specially constructed and shaped envelope which constitutes a wrapper into which the soiled napkin (after it has been folded in half to form a simple bundle) can be lodged and temporarily retained for wrapping. The thusprovided wrapper is made of flexible airtight liquid-proof throwaway sheet material. The material is sufficiently pliant or pliable that it clings to the wrapped napkin and further assists in holding it in its lodged ready-to-wrap position. The wrapper is of a length, compared to the enclosed napkin, that the respective end portions are freed and, if desired, axially twisted and then tied into a simple knot.

'T he resultant package is then such that it can be ternporarily placed in ones handbag, garment pocket or elsewhere until an opportunity or occasion arrives to dispose of it much in the same manner that one deposits and does away with disposable paper handkerchiefs, facial tissues and the like.

More specifically but briefly the invention pertains to two duplicate plies or sheets of appropriate plastic material. The sheets are superimposed atop each other and the marginal edges are seamed together, that is the lengthwise edges, by any one of a number of heat-sealing irons or the like. The ends are left open to thus provide a sleeve-like envelope. This envelope in turn provides the wrapper and it is preferably trapezoidal in plan and is proportional with the folded disposable napkin. Hence when the latter is lodged at the center after having been placed through the larger open end, the two end portions are then available to accomplish the twisting and tying steps.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- United States Patent ICC panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numorals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FGURE l is a plan View of an envelope-type disposable wrapper showing the same in a iiatwise state with the folded or bundled soiled napkin lodged therein and with the wide and narrow end portions in readiness for twisting and tying;

FlGURE 2 is a section on the plane of the section line 2 2 of FlG. l;

FIGURE 3 is a section at right angles; that is, a transverse section taken on the section line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FlGURE 4 is a view in perspective which shows the tied ready-to-dispose-of package.

The sanitary napkins is conventional and denoted by the numeral 6 and, in keeping with the novel result herein desired and accomplished the pad or napkin is bent upon itself between its ends as at 8 into similar halves 10' and 12 thus providing a simple bundle, as it were, to be disposed of with requisite nicety and without having to handle the same in an often unacceptable manner. The envelope is here denoted generally by the numeral 14. Specifically and as shown in FIG. l it is trapezoidal in plan when considered in its lengthwise or generally flat state. It comprises duplicate laminations or plies of appropriate plastic material which plies are denoted by the numerals 16 and 18 and which have their lengthwise edge portions overlapped and heat-sealed to provide the seams 20 and consequently defining the sleeve or envelope. The median part of the envelope is conveniently denoted at 22, the upper end portion (upper in the views of the drawing) is denoted at 24 and the remaining lower end portion at 26. Likewise the upper open mouth, the wider end, is denoted at 28 and the open smaller end at 30. By having both ends open it is obvious that when the napkin or pad 6 is stuffed into the intended pocketing portion the air will be pushed out through the open bottom and consequently both end portions 24 and 26 will be flat, pliant and easy to crumple and tie into an overhand knot. An overhand knot is usually suicient. However, the end portions can be tucked undei the knot; or, if preferred a square knot can be used to thus make a neat bundle.

By following the procedural steps shown or illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the manner in which the napkin or pad d wedges and fits itself into the region 22 is believed to be clear. Also, it will be evident that by simply twisting the pliable end portions 24 and 26 they are then conditioned so that they can be tied into a simple knot to complete the disposable or throwaway package illustrated in FIG. 4.

Taking into consideration certain advantages which tie in with the invention it is to be pointed out that the plastic material which the manufacturer will use should be appropriately colored so that while a desired color effect is had the napkin is hidden or concealed and offers the user a desirable use step. The complete tied or knotted package will be airtight and liquidproof. No odors or resultant damage from leakage could ordinarily be encountered. Once knotted the package will remain so and it can be handled and placed anywhere Within reason in ones handbag, jacket pocket or otherwise appropriately handled without fear or embarrassing leakage. Also, this knotted or tie up package is quite compact as is evident from the drawing. This invention should appeal to the manufacturing requirements and economies of manufacturers in that it is estimated that the article can be manufactured and packaged and sold as an individual component of a larger package for approximately one penny.

It is submitted that the invention herein disclosed fulfills a long-felt need and is such that it will be unqualifiedly endorsed by manufacturers and retailers and unhesitatingly employed by discreet users. is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofY the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those For use when one is desirous of conveniently and expeditiously disposing of a soiled sanitary napkin, a wrapper into, which said napkin, after having been folded in'half,

A more extended description can be bodily lodged and thus retentively held, said wrapf per being made of flexible liquidproof throwaway sheet material which conformingly clings to and thus snugly wraps around said soiled napkin, said wrapper being of a length,

compared'to the lengthV of the enclosed folded napkin, that the respective end portions of said wrapper are free and can be crumpled Vand then hand-tied into a simple knot, said wrapper comprising an elongated plastic trapezoidal tube open at its respective ends, the plastic material being pliant and inconspicuously colored and non-transparent so that the wrapped and tied napkin is not noticeably visible.

References Cited by the Examiner l UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examine), FRANKLIN Tt GARRETI, Examine.

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