US20030136704A1

US20030136704A1 - Girls growing up kit

Info

Publication number: US20030136704A1
Application number: US10/051,926
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephanie Burgess
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-22
Filing date: 2002-01-22
Publication date: 2003-07-24

Abstract

A sanitary napkin package and kit for emergency use during a first, unexpected, or emergency onset of a menstrual period or menses, which contains a sanitary napkin located inside a compartmentalized container;

a plurality of pockets attached to the interior surface of said container, each of said pockets having a discrete hygienic item therein; one of said hygienic items being a substantially hour-glass shaped moisture barrier having an upper surface and a lower surface, an adhesive being at the edge of the upper surface, and an absorbent material attached to the upper surface and surrounded by the adhesive; the lower surface having a pattern such as a shade of khaki, denim or the like thereon whereby the pattern camouflages the presence of the shaped moisture barrier when attached to the crotch of pants on the outside thereof or when attached to the user's menstrually soiled exposed undergarments during an emergency.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a catch sanitary napkin adapted with a fabric camouflage for external emergent use combined with an improvement in the delivery of sanitary napkins and has for its object the provision of a kit-like container or bag carrying the napkin and in which other items associated with a first time use of a napkin by a female is made readily and handily available.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,336 issued to Black in 1980 a sanitary napkin is provided having affixed thereto a container of thin “plastic” material, substantially moisture-proof and which has an open mouth end, one wall of the container being elongated to provide a flap which may be attached to the napkin, whereby when desired the container may be unfolded, the napkin placed therein by a sort of folding and rolling action, thus to provide ready means for disposing of the napkin.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,135 issued to Greene in 1987 described is an undergarment suitable for every day use and particularly useful when vacationing or traveling. The undergarments are suggested to be packaged in very small containers suitable for use in vending machines in airports and restrooms, etc. For example, it is suggested one pair could be rolled and placed inside a tubular lipstick type package, three pairs could be placed in a package the size of a king size cigarette pack, and a dozen pairs could be placed in a package the size of a one pound package of butter.

In prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,378 that issued to Finkel, et al. on Oct. 27, 1987 a sanitary, disposable baby change kit is disclosed. This prior art invention for babies is a single use, disposable kit adapted to receive and retain toiletries and a sanitary napkin for the care of a baby in a sanitary, tamper-proof fashion. The kit is executed in a thin plastic film that is folded over upon itself so that the toiletries and sanitary napkin are enveloped within the interior of the kit and are protected against degradation.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,477 was issued to Froidh et al. on Aug. 23, 1988 for a package for individual, disposable sanitary articles and a method of manufacturing such a package. Specifically, the package is engineered for disposable sanitary articles such as sanitary napkins, incontinence products and the like, in which for each single article there is provided a wrapper formed of a bag-shaped package blank which, with the article applied to one of its outsides, is folded around the article. After the article is used, what was originally the wrapper is usable as a bag in which to dispose of the used article.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,531 issued to Nieves discloses a feminine hygiene package including a dry wipe, an enclosed wet wipe, and a sanitary napkin all enclosed within a disposable container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,868 issued to Cornelissen et al discloses a package consisting of an environmentally friendly paper bag for compactly packing compressed flexible articles therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,859 issued to Feldman discloses a sanitary napkin with integral changing pad/disposable container. The changing pad/disposable container is mounted to the outer surface of the sanitary napkin and includes a liquid impermeable membrane formed to define a closable pocket for retaining a towelette. The pocket is expandable to form a changing pad having an integral drawstring which may be pulled to form a disposable container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,665 issued to Weick et al discloses a refillable case for freshen-up cloths.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,945 issued to Bourne et al discloses first aid equipment. Although a sanitary napkin having a towelette and changing pad attached thereto is disclosed in Feldman, supra, the device does not include a plurality of distinct hygienic items according to the present invention.

On Dec. 21, 1999 Colon, et al. was issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,307 for a novel sanitary napkin package. The unique infant's sanitary napkin has an exterior surface to which a plurality of packets are adhesively secured each having a discrete hygienic item therein such as a pre-moistened towelette, ointments, powders and the like. The sanitary napkin is sealed within a water impermeable cover member having perforated sidewalls and a perforated top portion, which may be separated allowing the cover to be spread and used as a sanitary napkin changing surface. The invention teaches that the sanitary napkins may be prepackaged or transported in an accompanying carrying case.

SUMMARY

The novel invention is a product, which fills a void in the marketplace for which there has long been a need. The invention is an assembly, which uses other products within it. The novel invention includes a package design that accommodates specific other products to meet the immediate needs of a young girl who while in a public setting experiences the onset of menstruation for the first time. Provided in a kit is a novel shaped moisture barrier adapted to quickly affix on the outside of clothing, in addition to a pair of panties to replace the soiled pair, an antiseptic pre-moistened absorbent paper towel to wipe and clean a bloody discharge from the genitalia of the user, and a sanitary napkin for use to absorb further discharge and a zipper locking disposing bag.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide all of the essentials in a single package necessary to permit a young girl first experiencing the onset of menstruation away from her home to self-administer personal genital hygiene care.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal menstrual care means that is easily stored in a purse, backpack, or book bag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a personal menstrual care means, which is easily deployed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a personal menstrual care means which is adaptable to a variety of situations requiring prompt delivery of a moisture barrier having an hour glass shape and adhesive borders for affixing between the legs in the vicinity of the female genitalia on an emergent basis to prevent dripping of menstrual fluid.

It is an object of the invention for the adhesively backed moisture barrier to be entirely fashioned out of variously selected plastics and layered similar to sanitary napkins and shaped to easily fit in between a girl's legs on either the outside of pants or over soiled worn panties underneath a dress or skirt.

It is a further contemplated object of the invention, that the package or kit contain therein an hour-glass shaped sanitary napkin with adhesive edges adapted to adhere to skin, denim or stockings that is readily deployable by removing from a sterile paper envelope, removing a paper strip covering the adhesive edges, and by grappling the non-adhesively backed side pressing in between a girl's legs to absorb and prevent further menstrual dripping either through panties underneath a dress or through pants or jeans.

It is further contemplated that the hour-glass shaped sanitary napkin means is made available in the kit in a variety of colors and patterns such as, for example, a light and dark blue denim for use on the outside of blue jeans as a spontaneous and temporary absorbing and camouflage agent.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: [0020]
FIG. 1[0021] a is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1[0022] b shows the novel kit of FIG. 1a clasped in a rolled up kit;
FIG. 1[0023] c is a front view of the rolled up kit shown in FIG. 1b;
FIG. 1[0024] d is a top view of the novel kit of FIG. 1a; and,
FIG. 1[0025] e is a left side view of the novel kit of FIG. 1a.
FIG. 2[0026] a illustrates an end view of a novel moisture barrier with a skin colored surface rolled up about its x-axis shown;
FIG. 2[0027] b depicts a top plan view of the moisture barrier of the novel invention shown rolled up in FIG. 2a;
FIG. 2[0028] c depicts a bottom plan view of the moisture barrier of the novel invention shown in FIG. 2b;
FIG. 2[0029] d depicts a front view of the novel moisture barrier shown in FIG. 2a.
FIG. 3[0030] a illustrates an end view of a novel moisture barrier with fabric patterned exterior surface rolled up about its x-axis shown;
FIG. 3[0031] b depicts a top plan view of the moisture barrier of the novel invention shown rolled up in FIG. 3a;
FIG. 3[0032] c depicts a bottom plan view of the moisture barrier of the novel invention shown in FIG. 3b;
FIG. 3[0033] d depicts a front view of the novel moisture barrier shown in FIG. 3a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the novel kit of the invention as well as a preferred embodiment of a new and novel external catch sanitary napkin. [0034]
Shown in FIG. 1[0035] a is a plan view of the novel kit 10 of the invention. The kit 10 has a housing 11 made of a flexible foldable material, e.g. a soft translucent plastic. The kit 10 has a panty compartment 12 containing at least one pair of rolled up panties 13, a bag compartment 14, a sanitary napkin compartment 16, a towel compartment 18, a camouflage moisture barrier compartment 20, and a clear moisture barrier compartment 22. The bag compartment 14 is adapted and shaped to house one or more rolled up novel opaque zip locking plastic bags 26. The bags 26 are made of an opaque plastic to shield the contents from sight. The bags 26 are for storing wet stained panties, shorts, or other articles of clothing created by an accidental or unexpected menses onset. The sanitary napkin compartment 16 contains one or more sanitary napkins and/or tampons for ready use. Moist hand paper towelettes 30 are included in the towel compartment 18.
New and novel shaped [0036] moisture barriers 34 that have fabric patterns thereon or are colored are located in the barrier compartment 20 and new and novel shaped moisture barriers 32 which are either clear or transparent are located in the barrier compartment 22.
Referring to FIG. 1[0037] b, there the kit 10 is shown rolled up and fastened with a clasp 36 made of paper with an adhesive backing on one side, for example. A front view of the rolled up kit 10 and clasp 36 assembly is shown in FIG. 1c.
Referring to FIG. 1[0038] d, there is shown a top view of the unrolled kit 10 of FIG. 1a wherein the relative positions of the compartments 12, 14, and 16 are shown along with their respective contents of panties 13, bags 14, and sanitary napkins 28. And, in FIG. 1e there is shown a left side view of the kit 10 of FIG. 1a wherein the relative positions of the compartments 12, 20, and 22 are shown along with their respective contents of panties 13, colored or patterned moisture barriers 32, and clear or transparent moisture barriers 34.
FIG. 2[0039] a is an illustration of the novel shaped moisture barrier 32 rolled up for compact storage in the kit 10 shown in FIG. 1a. The moisture barrier 32 is either a partially transparent skin tone color, clear and/or transparent and thereby adapted to be used underneath clothing such as a dress, skirt, pants, or the like. In FIG. 2b the barrier 32 is shown unrolled. There is shown an axis x about which the barrier 32 is rolled. The barrier 32 comprises a moisture proof backing 40 attached to a substantially congruent but smaller absorbent pad 42. The over-extending part of the backing 40 not attached to the pad 42 is coated with an adhesive 44 similar to that used for self-adhesive bandage strips. The adhesive 44 is protected prior to use with a peel-away piece of paper (not shown). The adhesive 44 is formulated to cause the barrier 42 to adhere to crotch area of the user directly over panties, stockings, or other undergarments and act as an immediate barrier and absorbing means for menstrual blood penetrating any undergarments. In one embodiment, the barrier 32 is skin colored or toned to conceal stained undergarments. In another embodiment, more fully illustrated in FIGS. 3a-3 e, the barrier 34 is made with a moisture proof backing 50 bearing a printed pattern resembling, for example, denim jeans of a particular shade or color or khakis of a particular shade or color. Attached to the backing 50 is a substantial congruent but smaller absorbent pad 52 similar to the pad 42. The pad 52 exposes an adhesive 54 deployed and protected in the same manner as the adhesive 44 for the barrier 32.
The [0040] moisture barriers 32 and 34 are specifically shaped in flat hour-glass-like patterns to enable menstrual fluid that has flowed and stained front and aft to be covered up and, in the case of a barrier to be used externally, concealed by the barriers.
As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is, therefore, illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are, therefore, intended to be embraced by those claims. [0041]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sanitary napkin package comprising:

A sanitary napkin located inside a [compartmentalized] sealed container having an interior surface; a plurality of packets attached to the interior surface of said container, each of said packets having a discrete hygienic item therein; one of said hygienic items being a shaped moisture barrier having an upper surface and a lower surface, an adhesive being at the edge of the upper surface, and an absorbent material attached to the upper surface and surrounded by the adhesive; the upper surface having a pattern thereon whereby the pattern camouflages the presence of the shaped moisture barrier when attached to the crotch of pants.

2. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein the hygienic item is selected from the group consisting of sanitary napkins, tampons, a pre-moistened towelette, opaque zip-locking plastic bags, panties, and an adhesively backed moisture barrier.

3. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein said sealed container further includes an interior surface having a pocket thereon dimensioned to receive a sanitary napkin.

4. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein said packets are adhesively secured to the exterior surface of said sealed container.

5. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of segregated compartments each having a frangible top inside of which is an hygienic item which may be removed, each of said compartments dimensioned to receive at least one of said hygienic items, said package adapted to be rolled up and having an adhesive fastener at one edge.

6. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein said moisture barrier is constructed with a transparent material.

7. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein said moisture barrier is constructed with a material patterned to resemble a denim fabric.

8. A sanitary napkin package according to claim 1 wherein said moisture barrier is constructed with a material patterned to resemble a khaki fabric.

9. A moisture barrier for concealing flow of fluid showing in a crotch of a pair of pants comprising an adhesively backed pad adapted to be attached exteriorly to the crotch of the pants.