WO2005120414A1

WO2005120414A1 - Package containing absorbent articles

Info

Publication number: WO2005120414A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000912
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chatrine Stridfeldt; Solgun Drevik
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 2004-06-11
Filing date: 2004-06-11
Publication date: 2005-12-22

Abstract

A package containing one or more absorbent articles (1) such as diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary towels, panty liners, disposable handkerchiefs or the like. The package (14) comprises a covering (2) for the absorbent article, which covering (2) has an inside (12) and an outside (13) and has a tear-open opening means (24, 26, 20, 21, 30; 110, 114). The breakable opening means comprises a fragrance (25) which is released when the package is opened.

Description

PACKAGE CONTAINING ABSORBENT ARTICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a package containing at least one absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel, a panty liner, a disposable handkerchief or the like. The package comprises a covering, for example a folded-together flexible wrapper or a capsule, for the absorbent article, which covering has a tear-open opening means for opening the package.

BACKGROUND ART

The handling and exchange of absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary towels and panty liners intended for the absorption of body fluids can often feel unhygienic on account of the not entirely pleasant odour a used absorbent article can give off. In order to increase the impression of cleanness and freshness and in order to counteract bad odour in absorbent articles of this kind, it has therefore been proposed to provide them with additives in the form of various types of aromatic substances, such as perfumes. However, many users of absorbent hygiene articles do not want the article to smell of perfume when it is worn.

Fragrance is a very personal accessory which most people wish to select themselves and not have imposed on them by choosing a certain hygiene article. Moreover, many people are hypersensitive or allergic to perfumes and for this reason wish to avoid products with such additives.

It is not desirable either for the article to emit a perfume fragrance when it is stored, for example in a handbag or in a bathroom cabinet. Fragrances which are a pleasant and fresh experience in one situation can appear less suitable in another. For example, it is perhaps not always appreciated if the entire contents of a handbag smell of perfume. Correspondingly, it may of course be appropriate not to release perfume fragrance in storage spaces such as storerooms, shops and bathrooms.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a packaged absorbent article which feels fresher and more hygienic to_. handle and change than previously known such absorbent articles.

Another object is to provide a package containing an absorbent article, the package being capable of emitting a fragrance on opening.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A package of the kind referred to in the introduction, and comprising a covering having a breakable opening means, is characterized mainly in that the breakable opening means comprises a fragrance and in that the fragrance is arranged to be released when breaking of the opening means takes place.

The term "breakable" means that the opening means can be broken, pulled or torn apart in a controlled and predetermined way. When the opening means is some form of join, the breakability means that the join can be torn apart without the package material being torn. When the opening means is a perforation, or another type of tear indication, the breakability means that tearing takes place only in the tear indication, without surrounding material being damaged appreciably.

Breaking the opening means involves a mechanical action on the package and can be used for the release of the fragrance. For example, the breaking force can cause microcapsules containing fragrance to break apart so that the fragrance is released or cause a membrane over a fragrance means to be broken. The fragrance is located in such a way on the package that breaking the opening means, which may be an adhesive join, a tape or a welded join, results in the fragrance being released into the environment. The fragrance is suitably some type of volatile compound with a pleasant, fresh fragrance, for example a perfume. The aromatic fragrance can be present in free form, for example in an oil, or be immobilized, for example in microcapsules or by being impregnated in a carrier such as a non-woven material or the like.

The aromatic substance is suitably selected so that the fragrance is associated with cleanness and hygiene. Suitable fragrances are various types of perfume fragrance, flower fragrances, lavender fragrance, "washing detergent fragrance" and the like. When the aromatic substance is released, a feeling of freshness is in this way created without the packaged article having to be treated with fragrance. Another advantage is that, if the opened package is used as a disposal means for an exchanged, used article, the aromatic substance can conceal bad odour from the used article.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the covering comprises a container part into which the absorbent article is inserted and a cover part which closes the container part. The cover part is attached breakably to the outside of the container part when the package is closed, the breakable attachment of the cover part constituting a breakable opening means.

The outside means that side of the covering which faces outwards towards the environment and away from the packaged article. The inside is the opposite side of the covering, that is to say the side which faces inwards into the package.

The cover part can be attached to the container part by way of an adhesive attachment means or mechanically by a connection element or a join, for example a welded join, which is broken when the container is opened. An adhesive attachment means can be, for example, an adhesive-coated surface on a tape flap. The tape flap is then suitably anchored firmly to the cover part and has a free portion which extends in over and is attached to the container part. It is advantageous if the tape flap retains its adhesive capacity after the package has been opened as well, as the tape flap can then be used in order to reclose the package if it is used as a means for disposal of a used absorbent article, or if the package is a multi-pack containing a number of absorbent articles.

In the latter case, it may be appropriate if the package has a marking for indicating suitable positioning of the adhesive attachment means when reclosing takes place if the positioning of the attachment means is essential in order for it to be possible for fragrance release to take place on repeated openings of the package.

According to another alternative, the adhesive attachment means can be an adhesive which is located between the cover part and the outside of the container part and in this way connects the cover part to the container part. The adhesive can suitably be a hot melt adhesive and can be applied over all or parts of the cover part. Embodiments which can be used are, for example, a small adhesive area located essentially centrally at an edge of the cover part, or an adhesive strand along the whole or essentially the whole edge. The adhesive is suitably arranged so that it adheres better to the one attachment surface than to the other attachment surface, which means that the adhesive can be freed in a controlled way from the one attachment surface. In this connection, the adhesive suitably has greater adhesion to the cover part than to the container part. In order to facilitate opening of the package and in order to avoid the package material being damaged during opening, the package material can be treated so as to reduce the adhesion, for example by embossing or with a release-agent coating of silicone or the like. Alternatively, the adhesive can be of a kind which has lower cohesion, that is to say internal cohesiveness, than adhesion to the package material. When the package is opened, breaking of the join will take place by virtue of the adhesive splitting apart so that part of the join remains on each of the connected package surfaces. Such a join can be used in order to release aromatic substance which is incorporated into the adhesive join.

According to the invention, the adhesive attachment means can comprise the fragrance. The fragrance can then be incorporated into the hot melt adhesive, for example as described in US 20030195272A1 and in US 20030105183A1 or in the form of encapsulated fragrance.

Alternatively, the fragrance can be located on the outside of the container part or on a carrier on the outside of the container part within an area for attaching the adhesive attachment means. In such an embodiment, the fragrance is covered by the adhesive attachment means and is in this way prevented from being emitted to the surroundings before the package is opened.

It is of course an advantage if the material of the package is such that it is essentially fragrance-tight, so that no, or only very small amounts of, aromatic substance can pass through the package material to the packaged article or to the surroundings.

The invention is applicable to all types of package for absorbent articles. For example, the package can be a dimensionally stable capsule made of relatively rigid material such as board, cardboard or plastic. Such a capsule can be provided with an opening means in the form of a snap lock where the fragrance means is released when the surfaces of the snap lock are rubbed against one another when the package is opened and closed.

A dimensionally stable package can also be provided with an opening means comprising a girdle around the package. The girdle is suitably opened by being torn apart, possibly with the aid of a tear strip or a perforation or the like.

Alternatively, the package can be formed by a rectangular package wrapper made of flexible material, the package wrapper having two long sides and two short sides and being folded together along at least one folding line and closed around the absorbent article. This type of package is usual in the individual packaging of above all sanitary towels and panty liners. The package is in the form of a bag into which the packaged article is inserted, in most cases in a folded-together state.

The package wrapper is then usually folded along two folding lines which divide the package wrapper into a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion, the first end portion and the intermediate portion being joined at side joins along the long sides of the package wrapper and in this way forming a bag-shaped container part, and the second end portion being folded down over the outside of the intermediate portion and forming a cover part which closes the package.

In such a package, the side joins can be breakable so that the package wrapper can be unfolded completely into its original plane shape when the package is opened. Such an embodiment facilitates removal of the packaged article from the package and also makes it possible to use the package wrapper as a protective layer for any adhesive fastening element on the packaged article. Absorbent articles such as incontinence pads for mildly incontinent people, sanitary towels and panty liners are usually attached in the briefs of the user by means of an adhesive attachment element. Before use of the article, the fastening element has to be protected against soiling and unintentional adhesion and is therefore usually covered by a detachable protective layer. Breakable side joins can be adhesive joins. It is then appropriate to treat the package material so that the adhesive joins can be opened without the material breaking. As an alternative to aromatic substance located in conjunction with a closure means on the cover part of the package or in combination therewith, the adhesive in the side joins can comprise a fragrance.

It is also possible to locate a fragrance on a surface of the package wrapper which is in contact with the adhesive.

Instead of adhesive joins, the side joins can be welded and preferably embossed joins. An aromatic substance can then be located on a surface of the package wrapper which forms part of the side joins.

Alternatively, the side joins can be made so that the package material is torn apart in order for the package to be opened. In such an embodiment, the package material can contain fragrance which is released when the material is torn. Controlled tearing can be brought about by perforations or other types of material weakening.

According to one embodiment, the tear-open opening means is a perforation. The fragrance is then located in direct conjunction with a surface of the package wrapper through which the perforation extends. The fragrance can be located on a carrier or directly on or in the package wrapper.

According to another embodiment, the fragrance is located in a pocket.

The pocket can be formed between two material layers which form part of the covering and is suitably surrounded by breakable adhesive joins or welds which enclose the fragrance. Alternatively, the pocket can be openable by a separate opening means, for example a tear strip or a material weakening. The pocket can also consist of a material fold in the covering. It is then appropriate if the material fold is closed around the fragrance, by adhesive joins or welds.

It is also possible to locate the fragrance on a label or the like which is located so that it is torn apart in connection with the opening of the package.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the figures shown in accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a sanitary towel applied to a package wrapper;

Figure 2 shows the package wrapper in Figure 1 folded up into a package containing the sanitary towel;

Figure 3 shows a package closed by a tape tab;

Figure 4 shows a package with a closure comprising a fragrance pocket;

Figure 5 shows a closed package with a perforation;

Figure 6 shows the package in Figure 5 in partly opened state;

Figure 7 shows a package with a material fold containing fragrance;

Figure 8 shows a capsule containing a number of absorbent articles, and

Figures 9-12 show a capsule according to another embodiment of the invention and containing a number of absorbent articles. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 and 2 show a sanitary towel 1 which is packaged in a covering which in Figures 1 and 2 is formed by a package wrapper 2. The package wrapper 2 consists of a rectangular piece of flexible sheet material, such as a plastic film, a paper sheet, a non-woven material or a material laminate. The package wrapper 2 has two long sides 3, 4 and two short sides 5, 6.

Figure 1 shows the package wrapper 2 before it is folded together to form a package. The sanitary towel 1 is located on the package wrapper 2 with a liquid-impermeable covering layer 8 facing the package wrapper 2 and with a liquid-permeable covering layer 9 facing away from the package wrapper. An absorbent body 10 is arranged between the covering layers 8, 9. The sanitary towel 1 is also provided with an adhesive fastening element 11 for fastening the sanitary towel 1 in a pair of briefs. Figure 1 shows the sanitary towel 1 with the adhesive fastening element 11 temporarily attached to the inside 12 of the package wrapper, that is to say that side of the package wrapper which faces the liquid-impermeable covering layer 8 of the packaged sanitary towel 1. The opposite side of the package wrapper constitutes its outside 13. In order to make it easier to detach the sanitary towel 1 from the package wrapper 2, the package wrapper 2 is suitably treated with release agent, for example with a silicone coating applied within the area where the fastening element 11 is attached. By virtue of the sanitary towel 1 being temporarily attached to the package wrapper 2, the package wrapper serves as a protective layer for the fastening element 11 of the sanitary towel 1 until the sanitary towel is to be used for absorption of body fluid. Alternatively, it is of course possible to provide the fastening element 11 with a separate protective layer in a known way.

Figure 2 shows the package wrapper 2 folded together to form a package 14 enclosing the sanitary towel 1. In the example shown, the sanitary towel 1 and the package wrapper 2 are folded up together, but it is of course possible to fold them up individually. Such a procedure is especially suitable when the sanitary towel 1 is provided with a separate protective layer for the fastening element 11.

The sanitary towel 1 and the package wrapper 2 are folded along two folding lines 15, 16 which divide the package wrapper into a first end portion 17, an intermediate portion 18 and a second end portion 19. The first end portion 17 and the intermediate portion 18 are joined at side joins 20, 21 along the long sides 3, 4 of the package wrapper 2 and in this way form a container part 22. The second end portion 19 is folded down over the outside 13 of the intermediate portion 18 and forms a cover part 23 which closes the package 14. In order to keep the package closed until the sanitary towel 1 is to be taken out of the package 14 and made available for use as an insert in a pair of briefs, the cover part 23 is attached to the outside 13 of the container part 22 on the one hand by being attached at the side joins 20, 21 and on the other hand by way of an adhesive attachment means 24 arranged on the inside 12 of the cover part 23. When the package 14 is closed, as shown in Figure 2, the attachment means 24 is located between the inside 12 of the cover part 23 and the outside 13 of the container part 22 and connects these two surfaces 12, 13.

The side joins 20, 21 are of the kind which can be torn open without the package material breaking. Such joins can be brought about by means of glue or by thermal welding, usually in combination with embossing. In order to make the joins breakable, it may be necessary to treat the package material. For example, it may be appropriate to treat parts of the material with release agent when the joins are adhesive joins. In the case of welded joins, use is often made of lacquer or similar polymer coatings in order to prevent material layers included in the join being fused.

When the package is opened, the breakability of the side joins 20, 21 means that the package wrapper 2 can be unfolded completely into the plane state shown in Figure 1 , which makes it considerably easier to detach the sanitary towel 1 from the package wrapper 2. When packaging absorbent articles which are not attached to the package wrapper 2, it is not necessary to provide the package 14 with breakable side joins 20, 21. On the other hand, it is appropriate for the cover part 23 to be attached detachably to the container part 22 at the side joins 20, 21 in order for it to be possible for the package 14 to be opened without the package material being torn apart. Alternatively, the package can have non-breakable side joins 20, 21 which serve as tear indications for tearing open the package in the package material itself. In such an embodiment, it is possible to use a package material containing fragrance which is released when the material is torn apart.

The adhesive attachment means 24 on the cover part 23 consists of, for example, a hot melt adhesive which, when the package 14 is opened, comes away from one attachment surface 12, 13 without the package material being damaged. The outside 13 of the package wrapper 2 is then suitably of such a nature that detachment of the attachment means 24 is allowed. The adhesive attachment means contains a fragrance 25, for example a perfume. The fragrance 25 can be incorporated into the adhesive attachment means 24 either in free form or encapsulated in microcapsules which break under mechanical action. Alternatively, the package material can be coated with a fragrance 25 which is exposed when the adhesive attachment means 24 is removed. It is also possible to make use of an adhesive attachment means 24 which separates on opening so that a part remains on each attachment surface 12, 13.

When the package 14 is opened by the cover part 23 being torn away from the outside of the container part 22, fragrance is released into the air. By selecting a pleasant, fresh fragrance, the user is given an immediate impression of freshness and hygiene without the packaged sanitary towel having to be perfumed. In a corresponding way, fragrance can of course be arranged to be released when the breakable or non-breakable side joins 20, 21 are torn open. In the case of side joins 20, 21 which are formed by welding, the aromatic substance can be applied to the package material within the area of the joins 20, 21 , for example by spraying or coating. In adhesive joins, the aromatic substance can be incorporated into the adhesive or form part of a release- agent treatment. Breakable side joins 20, 21 containing fragrance can be used in combination with a separate attachment means 24 containing fragrance on the cover part 23 or as an alternative to such a fragrance emitter.

Figure 3 shows an alternative package 14 which differs from the package shown in Figures 1 and 2 only in that the cover part 23 is attached to the outside 13 of the container part 22 by means of an attachment tape 26. The attachment tape 26 is anchored firmly to the cover part but attached detachably adhesively to the outside 13 of the container part 22. When the package 14 is opened, the tape tab 26 is torn away from the outside 13 of the container part 22. In this connection, an adhesive-free gripping area 27 on the tape flap facilitates gripping and detachment of the tape tab 26. The tape tab 26 suitably comprises a fragrance 25 which is released when the tape tab is torn open. Alternatively, tearing-open of the tape tab 26 exposes an area coated with fragrance on the outside 13 of the container part 22.

It is of course also possible to arrange the tape tab 26 so that it is anchored firmly to the package and so that the package is opened by the tape tab being torn apart.

In the same way as in the package in Figures 1 and 2, the side joins 20, 21 can also comprise fragrance 25, as an alternative to or in combination with a fragrance 25 arranged on the tape tab. A particular advantage of a package 14 of the kind shown in Figure 3, with an adhesive tape tab 26, is that the tape tab 26 can be used to reclose an opened package wrapper 2 if the latter is being used for wrapping a used sanitary towel. In this way, the perfumed opened package wrapper 2 can therefore be used for hygienic disposal of a used absorbent article.

The package 14 shown in Figure 4 differs from the packages described previously in that the cover part 23 is attached detachably to the container part 22 by an attachment means 24 arranged in a pattern which delimits a pocket 28 between the cover part 23 and the container part 22. A fragrance is arranged in the pocket 28 and is released when the cover part 23 is torn away from the container part 22. Such an embodiment allows the use of oils, gels and the like comprising volatile fragrances.

Figure 4 also constitutes an example of the cover part 23 not having to be attached at the side joins 20, 21 of the package 14.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further alternative package 14 with an opening arrangement which releases a fragrance 25 into the environment when torn open.

The package 14 shown in Figures 5 and 6 is formed by a doubled package wrapper 2 which has been joined together on the one hand at side joins 20, 21 and on the other hand at an end join 29. A folded-together absorbent article 1 , for example a sanitary towel, a diaper, a panty liner or an incontinence pad, is packaged in the package 14.

A perforation 30 runs parallel to the end join 29, a little way inside it. A material strip 31 is also arranged on the outside 13 of the package wrapper 2 so that the perforation 30 runs through the material strip 31. A fragrance 25 is located in conjunction with the material strip 31 in such a way that the fragrance 25 is enclosed as long as the package 14 is unopened. This can be brought about, for example, by the material strip 31 comprising fragrance enclosed in breakable microcapsules or the fragrance 25 being arranged between the outside 13 of the package wrapper 2 and the material strip 31.

When the package 14 is opened by the perforation 30 being broken, the fragrance 25 is released into the environment.

Figure 7 shows a package similar to that in Figure 3 but with a material fold 32 running transversely across the cover part 23 in such a way that a pocket 28 arranged parallel to the visible short side 6 of the package 14 is formed. A fragrance 25 is enclosed in the pocket 28 by means of a join 33, formed by an adhesive strand for example.

Figure 8 shows a package 14 in the form of a relatively rigid dimensionally stable capsule, made of board or plastic for example. The package has an essentially triangular front side 35, a likewise essentially triangular rear side (not visible in the figure), rectangular, inclined side surfaces 36, 37, a rectangular top surface 38 and a rectangular bottom surface 39 which is smaller than the top surface 38.

The package 14 encloses a stack 40 of absorbent articles, for example sanitary towels or panty liners. The rectangular shape is particularly well- suited for panty liners or panty liners which are intended for use together with thongs. Such sanitary towels or panty liners usually have an essentially triangular plane shape with a relatively wide front portion and considerably narrower rear portion.

The package comprises a container part 22 which is closed by means of a cover part 23. The cover part 23 has a closure flap 34 which is attached to the front side 35 of the package 14, against the outside 13 of the container part 22, by means of an openable and reclosable adhesive coating 24. Before the package 14 is opened for the first time, the cover part 23 is also connected to the container part 22 along perforations 30 arranged in the top surface 38 of the package 14. When the package is to be broken open, the adhesive-coated closure flap 34 is first detached from the container part 22, after which tearing takes place along the perforations 30 so that an opening is formed, through which individual absorbent articles can be taken out of the package 14.

The openable and reclosable adhesive coating 24 comprises a fragrance 25 or covers a fragrance arranged on the outside 13 of the container part 22. When the package 14 is opened, fragrance is released into the environment. When the desired number of absorbent articles have been taken out of the package 14, it can be reclosed by the closure flap 34 with the adhesive coating being pressed against the outside 13 of the container part 22. The fragrance is suitably arranged in such a quantity and such a way, for example in microcapsules, that each subsequent opening of the package results in a release of fragrance 25. Similar reclosable opening arrangements with a possibility of repeated release of fragrance can of course be arranged on other types of package containing a number of absorbent articles, such as plastic bags for multipacked sanitary towels and diapers. In the case of flexible packages such as plastic bags, the shape of the package changes as the contents are taken out. It may therefore be appropriate to mark where on the package the reclosable opening arrangement is to be attached in order to bring about repeated fragrance emission on opening. Such a marking can be a colour marking, text, an image or the like.

The type of absorbent article packaged in the package is of course of no significance for the invention. The invention is therefore applicable to a range of absorbent hygiene articles such as diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary towels, panty liners, disposable handkerchiefs or the like. The packaged article can also be packaged in an unfolded state or folded together along one or more folding lines. A package can contain one or more packaged articles. The package material is of no significance for the invention either but includes all types of available materials such as plastic film, paper, non- woven, cardboard, hard plastic and the like.

Another package for storing absorbent articles is shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12. The package 14 consists of a covering 2 comprising a container part 22 and a cover part 23. The container and cover parts 22, 23 are intended together to enclose a number of unfolded panty liners 101 located next to one another in a stack 100, for example micro panty liners or similar absorbent articles, as shown in Figure 12.

The package 14 has a three-dimensional shape with a storage space 102 which is delimited by the container part 22 and the cover part 23. The storage space 102 has a shape, that is to say an extent in the length, width and height directions, which on the whole corresponds to the extent the stack 100 of panty liners 101 has in the package. By virtue of the shape of the package 14 being adapted to the stack, it can be made compact, small, handy and easy for a user to take along. The storage space 102 suitably has a slightly greater extent in the length, width and height directions than the stack 100 in order that it will be easy to locate the panty liners in the package 14 during the actual packaging stage in the manufacturing process. Owing to the design of the storage space 102, the package surrounds the stack 100 in a way which means that the panty liners are held securely during transport and storage.

The container part 22 is provided with an opening 103 which interacts in such a way with an opening 104 arranged on the cover part 23 that a tight closure is obtained between the container and cover parts 22, 23 in order to avoid dirt, dust or the like being able to find its way into the package 14.

The container part 22 can have any shape suitable for the articles which are to be stored in it as long as it is adapted to interact with the cover part 23 by virtue of the container part together with the cover part forming a space which on the whole corresponds to the extent of the stack of panty liners.

The opening 103 of the container part and the opening 104 of the cover part are designed so that the cover part 23 can interact detachably with the container part 22, that is to say that the package is opened by the cover part 23 being removed from or moved in relation to the container part 22. According to a preferred embodiment, the cover part 23 is, as shown in the figures, connected to the container part 22 by an articulation element 105, for example a hinge, which is located so that a rear surface 106 on the container part 22 is connected to a rear surface 107 on the cover part 23. In this way, the cover part 23 is articulated pivotably in relation to the container part 22 by the articulation element 105, and the package can then be opened by the cover part 23 being pivoted away from the container part 22 (see Figures 10 and 12).

In order to prevent dirt, dust or the like finding its way into the package 14, a rim 108 is arranged on the container part 22, suitably along the entire periphery of the opening 103 of the container part. In a corresponding way, the area along the periphery of the opening 104 of the cover part 23 is suitably provided with a recess 109 which can interact with the rim 108 when the package is closed by the cover part 23 being pivoted towards the container part 22. The rim 108 is adapted to the recess 109 and, in the closed position, the rim 108 therefore comes to lie in the recess 109, which results in the rim 108 providing a tight closure and functioning as a barrier against dirt, dust or the like (see Figure 11). It is of course alternatively possible instead to arrange the rim 108 on the cover part 23 and the recess 109 on the container part 22. A suitable way of constructing the rim 108 and the recess 109 is quite simply to provide the cover and container parts 22, 23 with a smaller material thickness at their respective openings 103, 104 (see Figure 11 ). An important characteristic of the package shown in Figures 9-12 is that it is shockproof. It should therefore be made from a material which does not break when the package is during normal use subjected to pressure, impact or shocks or if the package 14 should be dropped on the floor or the ground. The package should also be designed so that, when it is closed, the cover part is located securely on the container part so that the package does not open by itself when it is stored in a handbag, for example, or subjected to impact or shocks. It is therefore appropriate if the cover part is designed and constructed in such a way in relation to the container part that a certain force is required in order to open the package. The force should be sufficiently great to ensure hygienic storage at the same time as the package must not be difficult to open. By arranging a locking mechanism in the form of a snap lock 110 on the package, it is possible to ensure safe storage of the panty liners. The snap lock 110 is suitably arranged in conjunction with the rim 108 and the recess 109. In the embodiment shown, the rim 108 is, along part of its periphery, preferably on the front surface of the container part, provided with a flap 111 , and the recess 109 is, along part of its periphery, preferably on the front surface 13 of the cover part, provided with a groove 112 which is adapted to the flap 111. As the container part 22 and the cover part 23 yield somewhat, the flap 111 can engage in the groove 112 when the package is closed, with the result that the cover part is locked firmly on the container part. The package is opened by the cover part being pushed away from the container part at the snap lock 110 with a force which exceeds the retaining force of the snap lock. In order to facilitate opening of the package, it is also possible to press down the front surface of the container part just below the snap lock so as to release the flap 111 from the groove 112 at the same time as the cover is pressed up. In order to facilitate pressing-down, the front surface of the container part can be provided with a thumb grip in the form of a depression in the surface. By varying the design of the flap 111 and the groove 112 in the length and height directions and also along the periphery of the openings 103, 104 of the cover and container parts, the retaining force of the snap lock 110 can be varied. It is also possible to arrange the flap 111 and the groove 112 on the cover part and, respectively, the container part or to use other types of mechanical retaining arrangements.

Suitable materials for the package are transparent, semi-transparent or opaque plastics such as, for example, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP) is preferably used. By using a transparent or semi-transparent material for manufacture, the package can be designed so that it is possible to see the stack of panty liners from its outside. The package can be manufactured by injection-moulding, blow-moulding or vacuum-forming. In the case of injection-moulding, use is made of a mould provided with a cavity which corresponds to the dimensions of the package. During injection-moulding itself, a plastic melt is pressed into the cavity and, after the melt has solidified, the package is taken out of the mould. The entire package with both cover and container parts and articulation element is preferably injection-moulded in the same material as a single continuous unit. The material thickness of the package should lie within the range 0.5-3.5 mm and is suitably 1.2 mm, and the package preferably has the same material thickness over on the whole its entire extent. During manufacture, it is possible to provide the surfaces of the package with different surface textures or design elements such as graphic patterns, logos or the like so as to give it an attractive and neat appearance. The design elements can suitably be formed directly during injection-moulding by the mould itself being engraved with relief patterns which are reproduced on the package or by the tool having patterns of alternating matt and bright surfaces which produce patterns of matt and bright surfaces on the package. It is also possible to provide the package with patterns or the like after it has been taken out of the mould. As the package is suitably made of plastic, it is possible to give it different colours so that it will have an attractive appearance.

A suitable number of absorbent articles for the package may, for example, lie in the range 2-40, depending on the type of absorbent article to be packaged and how great an extent in the height direction the package is to have. The extent of the package in the height direction can easily be adapted to a suitable number of articles. The extent of the package in the length and width directions depends entirely on the extent of the absorbent articles in corresponding directions, and here the size and shape of the storage space can be the basis for the extent of the package.

After the stack 100 of panty liners 101 has been packed in the package and the cover part has been closed properly, it is appropriate to provide the package with extra protection so as to guarantee for a customer that it is unopened when it is offered for sale. An effective way of preventing undesirable opening of the package before sale is to provide it with a girdle 114 which in the unopened package 14 constitutes part of the covering 2 and consists of a plastic film or the like which surrounds at least part of the container part 22 and part of the cover part 23 in the area on the outside of the package where the opening 103 of the container part interacts with the opening 104 of the cover part (see Figure 9). By locating the girdle 114 over both the container part and the cover part and constructing it so that it has to be removed before opening of the package, it is easy for the customer to see whether the package has been opened or not. The girdle can be manufactured from a shrink film made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or more preferably oriented polystyrene (OPS) which is designed as a tube which is pulled over the package and then heated carefully so that it contracts around the package. In order to facilitate removal of the girdle, it is possible to provide it with a perforation, tear indication or the like. It is also appropriate to provide the girdle with information about the product, trademarks or the like, as it is much easier and less expensive to print this type of information on a plastic film than on the container itself. In order for it to be possible for the package to be provided with as much information as possible, the girdle should be designed so that it covers most of the surface of the package. By virtue of it being possible to provide the girdle with printing, it can advantageously be used to strengthen the impression made by the package when sold at the same time as the package can be made discreet when the girdle has been removed.

In accordance with the invention, a fragrance 25 is arranged on the one hand in the girdle 114 and on the other hand in the snap lock 110. The fragrance 25 in the girdle is suitably incorporated into the girdle material in such a way that it is released when the girdle 114 is torn away from the package 14. The fragrance 25 in the snap lock 110 is arranged on the flap 111 and/or the groove 112 and/or on either or both of the rim 108 and the recess 109 and is suitably arranged on the surface of the package material in such a way that the mechanical rubbing between the cover part 23 and the container part 22 which arises during opening and closing of the package 14 releases the fragrance 25. Different types of coating containing fragrance can be used, as can microcapsules.

It is of course also conceivable to provide either the girdle 114 or the closure arrangement on the package 14 with fragrance. In the first case, the possibility of fragrance release is afforded only when the package is first opened, that is to say when the girdle 114 is removed. In the second case, repeated fragrance release can be brought about each time the package 14 is opened.

Claims

1. Package containing at least one absorbent article (1) such as a diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel, a panty liner, a disposable handkerchief or the like, the package (14) comprising a covering (2) for the absorbent article, which covering (2) has an inside (12) and an outside (13) and has a breakable opening means (24, 26, 20, 21 , 30), characterized in that the breakable opening means (24, 26, 20, 21 , 30; 110, 114) comprises a fragrance (25) and in that the fragrance (25) is arranged to be released when breaking of the opening means (24, 26, 20, 21 , 30, 110, 114) takes place.

2. Package according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the covering (2) comprises a container part (22) and a cover part (23) and in that the cover part (23) is attached breakably to the outside (13) of the container part (22) when the package (14) is closed, the breakable attachment (24, 26; 110) of the cover part (23) constituting a breakable opening means (24, 26, 110).

3. Package according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cover part (23) is attached to the container part (22) by way of an adhesive attachment means (24, 26).

4. Package according to Claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive attachment means is reclosable.

5. Package according to Claim 4, characterized in that the package has a marking for indicating suitable positioning of the adhesive attachment means (24, 26) when reclosing takes place.

6. Package according to any one of Claims 3-6, characterized in that the adhesive attachment means is a tape tab (26).

7. Package according to any one of Claims 3-6, characterized in that the adhesive attachment means is an adhesive (24) which is located between the cover part (23) and the outside (13) of the container part (22).

8. Package according to any one of Claims 3-7, characterized in that the adhesive attachment means (24, 26) comprises the fragrance (25).

9. Package according to any one of Claims 3-7, characterized in that the fragrance (25) is located on the outside (13) of the container part (22) within an area for attaching the adhesive attachment means (24, 26).

10. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the package (14) is a dimensionally stable capsule made of cardboard or plastic.

11. Package according to Claim 10, characterized in that the opening means is a snap lock (110).

12. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening means comprises a girdle (114) around the package (14).

13. Package according to any one of Claims 1-9, characterized in that the package (14) is formed by a rectangular package wrapper (2) made of flexible material, the package wrapper (2) having two long sides (3, 4) and two short sides (5, 6) and being folded together along at least one folding line (15) and closed around the absorbent article (1).

14. Package according to Claim 13, characterized in that the package wrapper (2) is folded along two folding lines (15, 16) which divide the package wrapper (2) into a first end portion (17), an intermediate portion (18) and a second end portion (19) and in that the first end portion (17) and the intermediate portion (18) are joined at side joins (20, 21) along the long sides (3, 4) of the package wrapper (2) and in this way form the container part (22) and in that the second end portion (19) is folded down over the outside (13) of the intermediate portion (18) and forms a cover part (23) which closes the package (14).

15. Package according to Claim 14, characterized in that the side joins (20, 21) are breakable.

16. Package according to Claim 15, characterized in that the side joins (20, 21) are adhesive joins.

17. Package according to Claim 16, characterized in that the adhesive in the adhesive joins comprises a fragrance (25).

18. Package according to Claim 16, characterized in that the adhesive joins comprise a fragrance (25) located on a surface of the package wrapper (2) which is in contact with the adhesive.

19. Package according to Claim 15, characterized in that the side joins (20, 21) are welded and preferably embossed joins.

20. Package according to Claim 19, characterized in that an fragrance (25) is located on a surface of the package wrapper (2) which forms part of the side joins (20, 21 ).

21. Package according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the opening means is a perforation (30).

22. Package according to Claim 21 , characterized in that the fragrance (25) is located in direct conjunction with a surface of the package wrapper (2) through which the perforation (30) extends.

23. Package according to Claim 22, characterized in that the fragrance (25) is located on a carrier (31).

24. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fragrance (25) is located in a pocket.

25. Package according to Claim 24, characterized in that the pocket is formed between two material layers which form part of the covering (2).

26. Package according to Claim 24, characterized in that the pocket consists of a material fold in the covering (2).