The Procter Gamble Company

Michael E Hilton

Nicholas Albert Ahr

Ronald W Kock

Charles J Berg

Larry J Mattson

Charles D Cook

John P Grooms

A pouch package, containing a volatile solution-impregnated patch, is made of a peelable barrier film. The pouch envelops an absorbent substrate saturated preferably with bug repellent fluid. A PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) coated backing film is laminated to the absorbent substrate. The backing film has a connecting portion which is peelably sealed to the inside of the pouch. When the pouch is peeled open, the PSA coated backing film is exposed and placed against a target surface, such as a patch wearer's clothing. Finally, the side of the pouch facing the absorbent substrate is peeled off the backing film connecting portion to expose the absorbent substrate. A key to functionality of the pouch package is differential adhesion. First, the pouch barrier film must be peelable from itself, yet it must not adhere to the pressure sensitive adhesive on the backing film. A release paper may be used to cover the PSA when peeling the pouch open. Second, the pouch film must be peelable from the backing film connecting portion without disturbing the bond between the fastening surface and the target surface. Third, the backing film must be laminated to the absorbent substrate more strongly than the PSA adheres to the backing film, so that when the patch is removed from the target surface, the PSA stays with the patch.

Package for containing and applying a bug repellent patch

A process for forming, handling, affixing, and inverting a thin plastic half bag to a continuous inner side wall of an outer plastic container. A non-metallic mandrel is used as a tool for thermoforming a half bag over the top of the mandrel. The top of the mandrel with bag attached is inserted into an open end of the outer plastic container. A continuous stripe of heat-activated adhesive containing metal particles is bonded to the exterior of the half bag at the open end of the half bag. When the half bag is inserted, the stripe of adhesive is positioned near the midpoint of the container. A magnetic induction field generated near the container midpoint heats the metal particles in the heat-activated adhesive, thereby activating the adhesive. When the adhesive has been heated, compressed air is blown from the mandrel to press the bag and adhesive against the inner side wall of the outer container to cause bonding between them. After the field is removed and the adhesive cools, the mandrel is withdrawn from the thin plastic bag. Vacuum applied to the closed end of the bag from the top of the mandrel causes the bag to be inverted to the open end of the container as the mandrel is withdrawn.

Method for sealing an inner bag to an outer container

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Michael E Hilton