(en)There is described a packaging system ( 11 ) which comprises a first chamber ( 12 ) adapted to house a first material ( 15 ) and a second chamber ( 13 ) adapted to house a second material ( 18 ), the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member ( 14 ). There is also described a sanitary article packaging system which comprises such a system.

1.ApplicationNumber: US-25062804-A
1.PublishNumber: US-2004112769-A1
2.Date Publish: 20040617
3.Inventor: PERRY LISA JAYNE

4.Inventor Harmonized: PERRY LISA JAYNE(GB)

5.Country: US
6.Claims:
(en)There is described a packaging system ( 11 ) which comprises a first chamber ( 12 ) adapted to house a first material ( 15 ) and a second chamber ( 13 ) adapted to house a second material ( 18 ), the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member ( 14 ). There is also described a sanitary article packaging system which comprises such a system.

7.Description:
(en)[0001] The present invention relates to a novel packaging system.
[0002] In particular the invention relates to a packaging system which is adapted to separate house components which may subsequently be mixed.
[0003] There are numerous situations whereby packaging systems are utilised to separate components which are mixed just prior to use, for example acrylic adhesives are usually supplied as a tube of acrylic monomer and a tube of polymerisation initiator. The user mixes the monomer and initiator prior to use. However, one disadvantage of such systems is that one of the two tubes may be lost rendering the system useless. Furthermore, mixing of the monomer and initiator is a two step process and also requires the use of a mixing surface.
[0004] Also, many food products are marketed as multi component systems, for example, yoghurts are often presented in a carton with a separate fruit chamber so that the user can mix the fruit into the yoghurt together in desired quantities. Similarly, many products are available in the form of a“dip”, for example, bread sticks with a cheese dip or nachos with a spicy dip, and many others. Such products, like yoghurts, comprise a plastics member which comprises two chambers with a removable, usually foil, lid.
[0005] Again this cannot be a one handed process and also is unsuitable for use as a fast snack food since a spoon or other utensil is required.
[0006] Thus we have developed a novel packaging system which overcomes or mitigates this problem.
[0007] In particular embodiment the invention relates to such systems comprising means for applying medicaments and/or lubricants. Thus, the invention is especially useful in applying medicaments or lubricants to absorbent articles, e.g. sanitary articles or cotton buds, etc.
[0008] In the field of sanitary products, it is known that the application of a dry, absorbent sanitary product, for example a catamenial tampon, to or into moist body tissue, often causes discomfort. This is largely because the often filamentous external surfaces of the sanitary product absorb moisture and adhere to and irritate the tissue.
[0009] It is known to attempt to solve this problem by lubricating the product's external surfaces. In one form, such lubrication consists of low-friction cover nets, meshes and webs and other perforate layers constructed to be capable of deforming resiliently, and permitting the passage of bodily fluids.
[0010] Alternative approaches have included fluid surface lubricants. However, problems associated with such lubricants include the fact that, over time, the sanitary article may gradually absorb the surface lubricant which may, inter alia, lead to a loss in absorbency in the article.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,747, attempts to overcome this problem with a blister package for holding, e.g. a sanitary tampon, which includes a trough which is adapted to act as a lubricant reservoir. In one embodiment the reservoir is provided with a removable cover. However, such a device suffers from the disadvantage that, inter alia, the trough renders the packaging bulky, and the complicated construction is difficult and expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the design requires that the tampon be removed and dipped into the lubricant. Furthermore, the system cannot easily be incorporated in an integral tampon applicator.
[0012] The novel form of packaging which we have developed also overcomes or mitigates some of the disadvantages of prior art methods of delivering, e.g. lubricated tampons.
[0013] Thus, according to the present invention we provide a packaging system which comprises a first chamber for housing a first material and a second chamber adapted to house a second material, the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member.
[0014] In particular, the use of a frangible membrane in the packaging system of the invention allows the first and second materials to be brought into contact with each other without opening the packaging system. Thus, the frangible member should be such that, once ruptured, one or more apertures should be created between the first and second chambers, permitting material in the first chamber to be mixed or contacted with material in the second and vice versa.
[0015] A wide variety of materials may be housed in the first and second chambers. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, yoghurts and fruit sauces; polymerisable adhesives and polymer initiators; shampoos and colouring or conditioners, bread sticks and dip, sausages and dips, cake or biscuit bar and cream, chocolate or fudge sauce, e.g. ice-cream, desserts with fruit, chocolate or fudge sauce.
[0016] However, in an especially preferred aspect of the invention the packaging system houses a medical or a sanitary article. Thus, according to this aspect of the present invention we provide an absorbent article packaging system which comprises a first chamber for housing an absorbent article and a second chamber adapted to act as a substrate reservoir, the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member.
[0017] As the system of the invention can be used for absorbent articles, e.g. cotton buds, sanitary articles or medical articles, reference herein to sanitary articles should be construed as including medical articles and/or cotton buds. Sanitary products include feminine hygiene products, for example sanitary tampons. Medical products include any dressings, including tampons, where it is desirable to, for example, lubricate or medicate a wound contact surface, cavity wound dressings.
[0018] The system of the invention is especially suited for housing a sanitary tampon, for example a tampon of conventional design with coverstock and removal cord.
[0019] Suitable materials for the housing include at least one flexible synthetic polymer, such as a thermoplastic, for example a polyester or polyamide (e.g. nylon™), polypropylene or polyethylene or other conventionally known polymer materials. Elastomeric materials may also be used (for example elastomeric polyurethanes) and may be incorporated together with non-elastomeric material of the film, membrane or sheet.
[0020] Preferred materials for the housing are polyethylene laminates, examples of such laminates include laminates of polyester/polyethylene, polypropylene/polyethylene, nylon/polyethylene and poly(ethyleneterephthalate)/polyethylene. The most preferred laminate is poly(ethyleneterephthalate)/polyethylene (PET/PE) and especially one in which the PE is a peelable PE.
[0021] The first and second chambers, may be formed of the same, similar or different materials, the last-mentioned including at least one rigid synthetic polymer, such as a thermoplastic, for example a polyester or polyamide (e.g. nylon™), polypropylene or polyethylene, or other polymer materials. However, it is preferred that the first and second chambers comprise the same material so that, for example, they may be manufactured from a continuous strip of material.
[0022] Other materials that may be used include cellulosic materials, for example sheet materials, such as cardboard. When an absorbent surface like card is used then the substrate chamber is preferentially coated with a moisture and/or substrate resistant coating such as silicon, wax or cellophane or, alternatively, acrylic papers may be used.
[0023] The thickness of the walls of the system may vary and may therefore be from 40 to 100 μm in thickness for each laminate. The thickness of each of the walls may be the same or different. Preferably, when the laminate comprises a PET/PE laminate, the PE layer is of greater thickness than the PET layer. The PET layer may be from 10 to 20 μm in thickness, preferably 10 to 15 μm. A thickness of 12 μm is most preferred. The PE layer may be from 30 to 80 μm in thickness, preferably from 35 to 70 μm and most preferably from 40 to 65 μm and especially 40 or 50 μm. A particularly preferred embodiment comprises a first wall comprising a laminate of 12 μm PET and 50 μm peelable PE; and second wall of 50 μm PET and 65 μm peelable PE.
[0024] In one embodiment one or both of the walls may be metallised.
[0025] The substrate reservoir in the sanitary article packaging system will generally be adapted for providing the substrate only or mainly to the external surface of the sanitary article where it will provide the least hindrance to absorption of bodily fluids. An example would include the nose of a catamenial tampon.
[0026] The frangible member may comprise a frangible membrane. However, alternatively the frangible member may be created by the bonding together of the walls of the chamber. Such bonding may comprise pressure crimping, heat crimping or the use of an adhesive, or any combination of the aforesaid means.
[0027] In the most preferred embodiment of the invention of the frangible member is created by a combination of heat and pressure crimping. The pressure and temperature applied will vary, depending upon, inter-alia, the nature of the material, the nature of the substrate, the depth of seal desired, etc.
[0028] Thus, according to a yet further feature of the invention we provide a process for the manufacture of a packaging system as hereinbefore described which comprises heat and/or pressure crimping a portion of a strip material to create a first chamber for housing a first material and a second chamber adapted to house a second material, the process of heat and/or pressure crimping creating a frangible member which separates the first and second chambers.
[0029] In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention we provide a process for the manufacture of a sanitary article packaging system as hereinbefore described which comprises the steps of;
[0030] (i) heat and/or pressure crimping two strips of a laminate material along a first longitudinal edge;
[0031] (ii) heat and/or pressure crimping in a direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal edge seal to create at least three seals, being first and second end seals and a frangible member, said three seals creating first and second chambers;
[0032] (iii) placing a sanitary article and a material in their respective first and second chambers;
[0033] (iv) heat and/or pressure crimping along a second longitudinal edge; and
[0034] (v) cutting to produce a sanitary article.
[0035] It may be optional to include step (v) as part of one of the earlier steps, e.g. step (ii), thus the heat and/or pressure crimping to create the first and second end seals may incorporate cutting step which may be separate, simultaneous or sequential to the sealing step.
[0036] Under laboratory conditions a preferred temperature of heat/pressure crimping is from 125 to 160° C., preferably 130 to 150° C., most preferably about 140° C.
[0037] A preferred pressure for heat/pressure sealing is from 10 to 20 psi, preferably 14 psi.
[0038] The duration of the crimping may vary and may be from 0.5 to 2.0 seconds, preferably 0.5 to 1.5, most preferably 1 second (under laboratory conditions).
[0039] The depth of the seal for the frangible membrane may vary and may be from 1 to 10 mm, preferably from 2 to 8 mm, more preferably from 2 to 6 mm and most preferably 3 mm.
[0040] If the periphery of the chambers are crimp sealed then the depth of the seal may be from 2 to 10 mm, more preferably 3 to 8 mm, more preferably 4 to 6 mm and especially 5 mm.
[0041] The use of the system may vary depending upon the nature of the materials housed therein. Thus, for example, a bread stick housed in the first chamber is pushed into the second chamber, eg containing a cheese sauce, breaking the frangible member. The sauce substantially coats the bread stick and either one or both of the chambers may then be opened to facilitate removal of the food item.
[0042] Alternatively, for mixing, for example, yoghurt and fruit sauce, one or both of the chambers may be squeezed, the pressure may rupture the frangible member allowing the two materials to mix or to allow the coating of, e.g. an applicator tampon (that cannot itself be forced through the membrane).
[0043] Alternatively, when the system houses a sanitary article the substrate may comprise a variety of materials, such as medicaments, cosmetics, drugs, hormones, probiotics or lubricants. Examples of medicaments include antimicrobial agents, such as triclosan or chlorhexidine; or antifungal agents, such as clotrimazole. Medicaments also includes homeopathic medicines and/or aromatherapy materials. Examples of lubricants include extracts of sea algae, such as alginates, agar, cararageen; exsudates of plants, such as tragacanth, gum arabic; extracts of plants, such as pectins, starch fractions and derivates, such as dextrins, amylopectins, hydroxyethyl starch; derivates of cellulose, such as methyl, ethyl, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; fatty substances such as mono, di, triglycerides of higher saturated fatty acids, polyalkylene glycols and other ethoxylated products, such as polyethylene glycol 200-4000, PEG-G-capryl/caprine glyceride; hydrocarbons, such as paraffin oils, vaseline; polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylates; alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, glycerol; emulsifiers, such as alecithin, cholesterin, or derivates of the sorbitan fatty acid esters; silicones; cellulosic polymers, e.g. KY-Jelly (available in the UK from Johnson & Johnson). Mixtures of any of the aforesaid are also intended to be covered.
[0044] The frangible member may comprise at least one line of tear, break, fracture or breach, or other points, or at least one other line or region of brittleness, fragility or weakness. Such a member is thus capable of collapsing and/or tearing, breaking, bursting, cracking or snapping or tearing or breaking down under stress.
[0045] In a further embodiment it may be desirable that one or more portions of the first chamber and/or the second are movable relative to the rest of the packaging system.
[0046] In use, a tampon housed in the first chamber is pushed into the second chamber, breaking the frangible member. The substrate substantially coats the nose and shoulder of the tampon. The two chambers may then be opened to facilitate removal of the substantially coated tampon.
[0047] The method of opening may vary depending upon, inter-alia, the method of construction employed for the chambers. However, as hereinbefore described, in a preferred embodiment, the chambers are formed by crimping the edges of the two walls of the chamber such that one wall may simply be peeled away from the other. The chambers, and especially the first chamber, may be provided with means to facilitate peeling of the wall. Such facilitation means may comprise a liftable tab at a comer of the chamber or at one end of the chamber. Alternatively, at least a portion of the periphery of the chamber may be perforated or cut away, e.g. notched to allow an end of the chamber to be torn. Preferentially the facilitation means is provided adjacent the end of the chamber distal to the frangible member.
[0048] In order to move the sanitary product into contact with the substrate, or vice versa. The term“movable” includes, for example,“compressible” and“squeezable” relative to the rest of the applicator and/or packaging system.
[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, the system may comprise a tampon applicator. Thus, according to a further feature of the invention we provide a sanitary article packaging system which comprises a first chamber for housing a sanitary article applicator and a second chamber, adapted to act as a substrate reservoir, the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member. Means may be provided such as a piston or plunger slidable within the housing means to drive the tampon out of the applicator.
[0050] Thus in a preferred embodiment of the invention the system comprises a cylindrical housing such that the membrane is radial to the cylinder. The substrate reservoir preferentially lies at one end of the cylinder.
[0051] In the applicator of the invention the second reservoir chamber may be provided with an openable end wall. Alternatively it may simply comprise an open wall with a removable cover. The cover may be a cardboard or plastics cover or may be, a plastics film, e.g. cellophane. The openable end wall is preferentially the wall distal to the membrane.
[0052] Thus it will be intended that the tampon be fluid-lubricated for application on its removal from the applicator across all or a major proportion of its absorbent surfaces by passage of the entire tampon product through the fluid lubricant.
[0053] It may be desirable that the first and second chambers are in the form of two coaxial hollow cylindrical chambers, containers or other receptacles of the same diameter but unequal axial length with a frangible or collapsible intervening wall or barrier, as hereinbefore described.
[0054] Thus, the absorbent sanitary product (a bullet-shaped catamenial tampon) may be housed in the larger chamber, container or other receptacle, which is the housing, with its nose towards and/or against the frangible wall or barrier, and a fluid lubricant may be held in the smaller chamber, container or other receptacle, which is thus the reservoir.
[0055] Alternatively, the first and second chambers may possess different diameters so that one may be slidable within the other.
[0056] The reservoir may optionally decrease in internal diameter towards end distal to the membrane. For example it may taper down and/or be domed or have at least one step change in internal diameter.
[0057] In one form, the side walls of the lubricant reservoir may extend beyond the closure membrane, film or sheet in the form of a dome covering the closure membrane. Additionally or alternatively, the membrane may be integral with the side walls and may optionally be domed.
[0058] For an applicator tampon it may be undesirable for the tampon applicator to be driven through the frangible membrane and through the fluid lubricant in the reservoir as there is a high risk that the tampon may be expelled from the applicator. Thus, although in one embodiment an applicator tampon may be used to break the frangible membrane, it is preferred that the reservoir chamber is squeezed causing the material, eg a lubricant to rupture the frangible member and to be squeezed onto the nose of the applicator. Thus when the tampon is administered via the applicator, the nose of the tampon is coated as it is ejected from the applicator; in addition to the lubrication of the applicator itself.
[0059] According to a further feature of the invention we provide a tampon applicator as hereinbefore described wherein said applicator also houses a tampon and a substrate.
[0060] When the applicator reservoir houses a medicament, such as an antifungal agent, the tampon and/or the applicator may be used in the treatment of certain disorders and may be used as an alternative to a pessary.
[0061] Thus according to the invention we further provide a method of intravaginal delivery of a medicament which comprises the use of a sanitary article packaging system as hereinbefore described.
[0062] We further provide a method of treating a vaginal disorder which comprises delivering a medicament, drug, cosmetic, hormone or a probiotic using a sanitary article packaging system as hereinbefore described.
[0063] Examples of such disorders include bacterial, microbial, fungal and parasitic infections or related medical disorders or any combination of the foregoing.
[0064] According to yet a further feature of the invention we provide the use of a cellulosic based lubricant and/or KY-Jelly in the manufacture of a prefilled sanitary article packaging system as hereinbefore described.
[0065] In a further feature of the invention the packaging system may be provided with a fastening means for releasably securing the packaging in a folding arrangement. This feature is especially advantageous when the system is used with a sanitary article, although it will be understood that the use of fastening means should not be limited to use with sanitary articles.
[0066] The fold may be a C or an S fold or any conventionally used fold. However, preferentially, the fold is a C fold and particularly a fold along the line of the frangible member. When the frangible member comprises the crimped walls of the chambers then a natural fold line is produced.
[0067] The fastening means may be any conventionally known fastening used in connection with, for example, sanitary articles. Thus, the fastening means may comprise an area of adhesive applied to a surface of the outer wall of one or both of the chambers. Preferably, the fastening means comprises an adhesive tab such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,636, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0068] Thus, the adhesive tab comprises a first end which is coated, on one side, with a relatively strong adhesive. The first end of the adhesive tab being fixed to an end of either the first or second chambers. Preferably the first end of the tab is fixed to the end of the smaller of the two chambers, usually the second chamber, i.e. the substrate reservoir. The end of the chamber to which the adhesive tab is fixed is usually the end distal to the frangible member.
[0069] A second end of the adhesive tab is coated, on one side, with a relatively weak or at least peelable adhesive. Alternatively, an adhesive may be provided with a ‘dead’ adhesive area for ease of opening.
[0070] The use of such a tab has the benefit that the packaging systems may present in a folded form which, particularly in the case of sanitary tampons, allows them to be carried discreetly. Moreover, once the packaging has been used it may be folded or rolled and the adhesive tab used to fasten the packaging together to aid disposal. Alternatively, the used packaging may itself be used as a receptacle for used or soiled sanitary articles, e.g. a tampon. Thus the used tampon may be placed in the first chamber and the packaging system folded or rolled as herein before described for disposal.



[0071] The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
[0072]FIG. 1 is a plain cross-section of a system of the invention housing a digital tampon and a lubricant;
[0073]FIG. 2 is a plain cross-section of a system of the invention in which the tampon has broken the frangible member;
[0074]FIG. 3 is a system of the invention in which the tampon has been drawn back out of the lubricant chamber;
[0075]FIG. 4 is a side cross-section of a system of the invention housing a digital tampon;
[0076]FIG. 5 is a side cross-section of a system of the invention in which the tampon has broken the frangible member;
[0077]FIG. 6 is a side cross-section of a system of the invention in which the tampon is removed from the lubricant chamber and is coated with lubricant;
[0078]FIG. 7 is a side cross-section of a system of the invention in which one of the chamber walls is peeled away to expose the tampon;
[0079]FIG. 8 is a close up cross-section of the liftable tab;
[0080]FIG. 9 is a plan cross-section of an applicator tampon system;
[0081]FIG. 10 is a plan cross-section of an applicator tampon system in which the frangible member has been ruptured;
[0082]FIG. 11 is a plan cross-section in which the applicator tampon has been coated with lubricant; and
[0083]FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the releasable folded system.
[0084]FIG. 13 is a plan cross-section of the invention comprising a yoghurt and a fruit mix;
[0085]FIG. 14 is a plan cross-section of a sachet system in which the frangible member has been ruptured; and
[0086]FIG. 15 is a plan cross-section in which the yoghurt and fruit have been mixed together.


[0087] Referring to FIG. 1, a packaging system ( 11 ) comprises a longitudinal cylinder and is provided with a first chamber ( 12 ) and a second chamber ( 13 ). The chambers ( 12 and 13 ) being separated by a frangible member ( 14 ). The first chamber ( 12 ) is adapted to house an article ( 15 ), e.g. a tampon. When the article is a tampon which comprises a domed end ( 16 ) and a flat distal end ( 17 ) and the second chamber ( 13 ) houses a substrate ( 18 ), e.g. a lubricant.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 2, in use, the tampon ( 25 ) is pushed via its flat end ( 26 ), either by hand or using a plunger, so that the domed end ( 26 ) breaks the frangible member ( 24 ). The tampon ( 25 ) then enters the reservoir of the second chamber ( 23 ) and contacts the substrate ( 28 ).
[0089] Referring to FIG. 3, the tampon ( 35 ) is removed from the second chamber ( 33 ), by retracting it through the frangible membrane ( 34 ), the tampon ( 35 ) being coated with substrate ( 38 ).
[0090] FIGS. 3 to 6 provide a longitudinal cross-section view of the process illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 .
[0091] Referring to FIG. 7, the end ( 711 ) of the first chamber ( 72 ), distal to the frangible member (not shown) is provided with a non-crimped, releasable region ( 710 ), which facilitates peeling apart the walls ( 711 and 712 ).
[0092] Referring to FIG. 8, the end ( 811 ) of the first wall ( 89 ) is peeled away from the end ( 812 ) of the second wall ( 89 ).
[0093] Referring to FIG. 7, the end ( 79 ) of the first chamber ( 72 ), distal to the frangible member ( 74 ) is provided with a non-crimped portion ( 10 ) which facilitates peeling apart of the walls ( 711 and 712 ) of the first chamber ( 72 ) and, optionally, the second chamber ( 73 ).
[0094] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11 , a packaging system ( 91 ) of the invention is used to house an applicator tampon ( 93 ). Thus, in use the second chamber ( 93 ) is squeezed causing the frangible member ( 94 ) to rupture, the lubricant ( 98 ) coats the applicator tampon ( 93 ).
[0095] Referring to FIG. 12, the packaging system ( 121 ) is folded about the crimp line ( 124 ) between the first and second chambers ( 122 and 123 ). The end ( 125 ) of the second chamber ( 123 ) distal to the crimp line ( 124 ) is provided with a tab ( 126 ). A first end ( 127 ) of the tab ( 126 ) is coated with a relatively strong adhesive and is attached to the end ( 125 ) of the second chamber ( 123 ). A second end ( 128 ) of the tab ( 126 ) is coated with a relatively weak, peelable, adhesive. The second end ( 128 ) is attached to an outer wall of the first chamber ( 122 ). In use, the second end of the tab ( 126 ) may be peeled away to allow the packaging system to be used. After use, the packaging system may be rolled up and held together by re-adhering the second end ( 128 ) of the tab ( 126 ). Alternatively the used system may be used to discreetly dispose of soiled articles.
[0096] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15 , a packaging system ( 1 ) of the invention is used to house e.g. a yoghurt ( 1313 ) and a fruit sauce.
[0097] Thus, in use either the first ( 141 ) or the second chamber ( 143 ) is squeezed causing the frangible member ( 144 ) to rupture. The yoghurt ( 1513 ) and fruit sauce ( 153 ) are mixed around the point indicated as ( 155 ).