The Procter Gamble Company

Catherine Jean Randall

Matthew Todd Hupp

Charles John Berg, Jr

Wolfgang Werner Hans Domeier

Beverly Julian Jackson

Nanda Christine Almond

Andrea Kollwitz

Sybille Fuchs

Rachel Ann Lawton

Angela Alexa Sch&auml;fer

Jennifer Kay Kerfoot

Angela Alexa Schäfer

Rachel Ann Greenwood

Shaped tampons having varying perimeters are provided. Tampons disclosed comprise a mass of absorbent material formed into a self-sustaining shape comprising an insertion end, a withdrawal end, and a center region. The center region has at least one perimeter which is less than a largest insertion end perimeter and is less than a withdrawal end perimeter. The shaped tampons may also have varying average fiber density regions. The shaped tampons may be wrapped in tightly conforming wrappers which optionally aid in maintaining the self-sustaining shape prior to use. Optionally, the shaped tampons may utilize tampon applicators which enable a user to visually see the shape of the tampon prior to use.

Shaped tampon

Shaped tampons having varying volumes are provided. A tampon which is formed into a self-sustaining shape has an outer surface, which is substantially serpentine. The tampon also has continually changing volume. The shaped tampons may also have varying average fiber density regions. The shaped tampons may be wrapped in tightly conforming wrappers which optionally aid in maintaining the self-sustaining shape prior to use. Optionally, the shaped tampons may utilize tampon applicators which enable a user to visually see the shape of the tampon prior to use.

Substantially serpentine shaped tampon

The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening, a closure system for the opening, and a closure indicator. The closure indicator provides an audibly detectable signal upon closure, and optionally opening, of the closure system. The closure system may provide a seal which is preferably closed by a translatable slider as is known in the art. The translatable slider may intercept protuberances causing the protuberances to produce a snap or clicking sound as the slider passes over the protuberances. Alternatively, the closure indicator may be an adhesive bond which is disrupted by the translation of the slider. The closure indicator is passive, meaning that no additional action beyond the ordinary and commonly accepted movement of the slider is required to produce the audible signal.

Flexible storage bag with audible closure indicator

The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening, a closure system for the opening, and a closure indicator. The closure indicator may be provided by, at or near the edges of the bag which define the opening. For example, the edges may be sinusoidal in shape or have another irregular shape, such that misalignment of the edges occurs when the bag is open. Upon closing the bag, the edges substantially align and become generally colinear. Alternatively, the closure indicator may comprise a mechanical seal which becomes colinear upon closing. In an alternative embodiment, flaps may be juxtaposed with the closure system. The flaps encounter a change of position upon closure of the bag. The change in position may either be complete severance from the bag, or inflect from a first position to a second position upon closure or opening of the bag. Closure and/or opening of the bag may be accomplished by a slider.

Flexible storage bag with structural alteration of bag opening to provide closure indication

The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening, a mechanical interlocking seal for closing the opening, and a slider for sealing the mechanical interlocking seal. The slider includes a mechanical manually-releasable locking element for preventing accidental movement of the slider. The locking element may comprise a pivotally releasable locking element, such as a pivotally mounted loop of material, or a button which when depressed releases an internal locking mechanism within the slider, or an internal locking mechanism within the slider which is released by manually compressing the slider. Locking elements in accordance with the present invention may be automatically engaged and manually released by the consumer, or may be manually engaged and released. Locking elements may also secure the slider in other positions, such as opened and intermediate/partially opened positions, in addition to or instead of the closed position. Multiple locking elements may be provided of the same or diverse types.

Sliding mechanical closure with consumer-releasable motion-limiting features

The present invention provides a container comprising: (a) a semi-enclosed container body including a tubular structure having two open ends and a bottom panel enclosing one end of the container body, the other end of the tubular structure opposite from the bottom panel forming a substantially continuous outwardly-extending peripheral flange; (b) a lid for selectively converting the semi-enclosed container to a closed container; and (c) a closure for sealing the lid to the container body, the closure comprising a mechanical interlocking seal and a slideable mechanical closure for sealing the mechanical interlocking seal. The container is preferably stackable and self-supporting, and the mechanical interlocking seal includes at least one interlocking bead and groove pair located on the lid and flange. The container may also be collapsible via folding of the tubular structure.

Stackable, self-supporting container with sliding mechanical closure

An erectable and collapsible container, said container being transformable from a collapsed configuration to an erected configuration and comprising a plurality of collapsible walls, wherein said sidewalls comprise a polymeric material have: (a) a Flexural Modulus of from about 100 MPa to about 1750 MPa; and (b) preferably a wall thickness of the collapsible walls of from about 1 mil to about 20 mils, except when said polymeric material is polyethylene homopolymer said Flexural Modulus is at least about 275 MPa or said wall thickness is at least about 10 mils.

Collapsible container and method of making

A flexible storage bag comprising at least one sheet of flexible sheet material assembled to form a semi-enclosed container having an opening defined by a hinged peripheral flange. The hinged flange includes a closure means for sealing the opening to convert the semi-enclosed container to a closed container. The bag includes at least one pair of opposed gussets formed in the sheet material extending in a direction normal to the opening and a substantially planar bottom extending in a direction substantially parallel to the opening. When the bottom is placed on a horizontal surface the container is self-supporting and maintains the opening in an open condition. The present invention also provides a flexible storage bag having an opening and a closure means for sealing the opening to convert the semi-enclosed container to a closed container. The closure means comprises a strip of material forming at least a portion of the periphery of the opening having a first side facing inwardly toward the opening and a second side facing outwardly of the opening. The first side exhibits an adhesion peel force after activation by a user which is greater than an adhesion peel force exhibited prior to activation by a user. Accordingly, the flexible storage bags of the present invention combine the desirable qualities of both flexible bags and storage containers and minimize the less desirable qualities of both approaches by providing improved sealability, facilitating venting of trapped air before closure, being self-supporting in an open condition for filling, storing easily by folding into a compact form and being unitarily constructed from inexpensive materials to promote disposability and obviate the need for separate closure devices.

Flexible, self-supporting storage bag with hinged, framed closure

The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening and a color indicating element adjacent to the opening, a mechanical interlocking seal for closing the opening, and a slider for sealing the mechanical interlocking seal. The slider includes an aperture, and the color indicating element is viewable through the aperture when the slider reaches a position along the mechanical interlocking seal to register the aperture with the color indicating element. The color indicating element is preferably positioned adjacent to an end of the mechanical interlocking seal, preferably positioned so as to indicate that the mechanical interlocking seal has been fully closed. The color indicating element may be a plastic insert of a different color than its surroundings or may be printed or painted in place.

Sliding mechanical closure with color position indicator

A stackable, self-supporting container comprising: (a) a semi-enclosed container body including a tubular structure having two open ends and a bottom panel enclosing one end of the container body, the other end of the tubular structure opposite from the bottom panel forming a substantially continuous outwardly-extending peripheral flange, the tubular structure including two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls between the side walls, the side walls and said end walls together forming the tubular structure, each of the end walls including a central portion and a pair of opposing supporting flaps hingedly connected to the central portion and moveable between a position substantially planar with the central portion and a position substantially perpendicular with the central portion; (b) a lid for selectively converting the semi-enclosed container to a closed container; and (c) a closure element for sealing said lid to the container body. The closure element preferably includes a mechanical interlocking seal, and the supporting flaps are preferably unitarily formed with the central portion and preferably lock in the perpendicular position.

Collapsible, stackable, self-supporting container with supplemental

The present invention provides a collapsible, foldable, stackable, and self-restorable container comprising semi-enclosed container body having two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls between the side walls, and a bottom panel enclosing one end of the container body. Each of the side walls includes a gusset extending in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom panel. The container further includes a lid attached to the container body for selectively converting the semi-enclosed container to a closed container. Finally, the container includes a closure means for sealing the lid to the container body. In accordance with the present invention the side walls and end walls are inwardly foldable toward one another, such that the container is collapsible in a direction normal to the lid and bottom panel while being substantially self-supporting while the side walls and end walls are in their unfolded orientation. The present invention also provides a storage container having an opening and a closure means for sealing the opening to convert the semi-enclosed container to a closed container. The closure means comprises a strip of material forming at least a portion of the periphery of the opening having a first side facing inwardly toward the opening and a second side facing outwardly of the opening. The first side exhibits an adhesion peel force after activation by a user which is greater than an adhesion peel force exhibited prior to activation by a user. Accordingly, the storage containers of the present invention combine the desirable qualities of both flexible bags and storage containers and minimize the less desirable qualities of both approaches by providing improved sealability, being self-supporting in an open condition for filling, storing easily by folding into a compact form, and being unitarily constructed from inexpensive materials to promote disposability and obviate the need for separate closure devices.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Catherine Jean Randall