IP Library Granted Patent US 12,678,348
Granted Patent B2
US 12,678,348 · App. 18/489,118 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Tampon and tampon application wrapper

Inventors: Jeffrey Kapec (Westport, CT); Yukiko Naoi (New York, NY); Pankaj Nigam (Ridgeweood, NJ); Adebimpe Ogunade (Saddle Brook, NJ)
Assignee: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
A61F13/55175A61F13/5516A61F13/5518A61F13/84A61F2013/55195A61F2013/8497
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,678,348
App. No.
18/489,118
Filed
Oct 18, 2023
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3781
USPC
604/385.02
Abstract

A feminine hygiene product wrapper, comprising a front panel having a closed side lengthwise edge, an open side lengthwise edge, a bottom widthwise edge, and a top widthwise edge; a back panel having a closed side lengthwise edge, an open side lengthwise edge, a bottom widthwise edge, and a top widthwise edge; and an expandable side panel having a lengthwise extending first side edge, a lengthwise extending second side edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the lengthwise extending first side edge is attached to the open side lengthwise edge of the front panel, and the lengthwise extending second side edge is attached to the open side lengthwise edge of the back panel.

Claims (38)

1 . A feminine hygiene product wrapper having a feminine hygiene product, comprising:

an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite to the exterior surface, the wrapper having an interior cavity in a new product configuration that is defined by the interior surface, the wrapper having a first side lengthwise edge, a second side lengthwise edge, a bottom widthwise edge, and a top widthwise edge;

the first side lengthwise edge having one or more folds,

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in the new product configuration, a widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially uniform along a length of the wrapper;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in an open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially larger than the widthwise cross-sectional area in the new product configuration;

wherein in the open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area adjacent the top widthwise edge is greater than the widthwise cross-sectional area of adjacent the bottom widthwise edge; and

wherein in the new product configuration, the feminine hygiene product is contained within the feminine hygiene product wrapper.

2 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a polymeric, paper, nonwoven, laminate material, and/or combinations thereof.

3 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the second side lengthwise edge includes one or more folds;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in a new product configuration, a widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially uniform along a length of the wrapper;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in an open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially larger than the widthwise cross-sectional area in the new product configuration;

wherein in the open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area adjacent the top widthwise edge is greater than the widthwise cross-sectional area of adjacent the bottom widthwise edge.

4 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a v-shaped notch.

5 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 4 , wherein the v-shaped notch is located on the top widthwise edge.

6 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a line of weakness disposed adjacent at least one of the top widthwise edge, the bottom widthwise edge, the first lengthwise edge, and/or the second lengthwise edge.

7 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a pair of tabs that extend outwardly from either the top widthwise edge, the first lengthwise edge, and/or the second widthwise edge.

8 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 7 , wherein the pair of tabs are misaligned.

9 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface has an interior sensory cue that is distinct from and contrasts with an exterior surface cue on the exterior surface.

10 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 9 , wherein the exterior sensory cue is discrete.

11 . The feminine product hygiene wrapper of claim 1 , wherein in the open configuration, the interior cavity is up to about 80% larger than the interior cavity in the new product configuration.

12 . A feminine hygiene product wrapper having a feminine hygiene product, comprising:

an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite to the exterior surface, the wrapper having an interior cavity defined by the interior surface in a new product configuration, the wrapper having a first side lengthwise edge, a second side lengthwise edge, a bottom widthwise edge, and a top widthwise edge;

the first side lengthwise edge having one or more folds, wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in the new product configuration, a widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially uniform along a length of the wrapper;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in an open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially larger than the widthwise cross-sectional area in the new product configuration;

wherein in the open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area adjacent the top widthwise edge is greater than the widthwise cross-sectional area of adjacent the bottom widthwise edge;

wherein in the open configuration, the interior cavity is up to about 80% larger than the interior cavity in the new product configuration; and

wherein in the new product configuration, the feminine hygiene product is contained within the feminine hygiene product wrapper.

13 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a polymeric, paper, nonwoven, laminate material, and/or combinations thereof.

14 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 12 , wherein the second side lengthwise edge includes one or more folds;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in a new product configuration, a widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially uniform along a length of the wrapper;

wherein the one or more folds are oriented such that in an open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area of the wrapper is substantially larger than the widthwise cross- sectional area in the new product configuration;

wherein in the open configuration, the widthwise cross-sectional area adjacent the top widthwise edge is greater than the widthwise cross-sectional area of adjacent the bottom widthwise edge.

15 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a v-shaped notch.

16 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 15 , wherein the v-shaped notch is located on the top widthwise edge.

17 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a line of weakness disposed adjacent at least one of the top widthwise edge, the bottom widthwise edge, the first lengthwise edge, and/or the second lengthwise edge.

18 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a pair of tabs that extend outwardly from either the top widthwise edge, the first lengthwise edge, and/or the second widthwise edge.

19 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 18 , wherein the pair of tabs are misaligned.

20 . The feminine hygiene product wrapper of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface has an interior sensory cue that is distinct from and contrasts with an exterior surface cue on the exterior surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: KAPEC, JEFFREY; NAOI, YUKIKO; OGUNADE, ADEBIMPE
To: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065262/0309 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16939439 · Jul 27, 2020
Continuation 15560659 · Nov 9, 2015
Provisional Application 62077413 · Nov 10, 2014
Related Publication 20240041672A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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