# US 12,110,160 B2 · Dissolvable textile package enclosing wash enabled self-unfolding textiles and corresponding methods

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- Number: US 12,110,160 B2
- Document ID: US12110160B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/097,445
- Filed: 2023-01-16
- Published: 2024-07-18
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-01-16
- Assignees: Medline Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: Medline Industries, LP
- Inventors: John Piazzi; Hannah Parey; Rachel Sinde; Andrew Pajak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110160B2

## CPC

- B65D 65/46: Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials
- B65D 85/07: for compressible or flexible articles (for wearing apparel B65D85/18)
- B65D 2565/381: Details of packaging materials of special type or form
- B65D 2565/382: made of special paper
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A kit includes a plurality of textile items arranged in a stack and a dissolvable package enclosing the plurality of textile items. The textile items can be washcloths, bath blankets, flat sheets, or other types of textile items. For larger textile items, a wash enabled self-unfolding fold can be applied to each textile item so that it automatically unfolds into wash water when the dissolvable package dissolves.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A kit, comprising:
a plurality of textile items arranged in a stack folded with a wash enabled self-unfolding fold; and
a dissolvable package enclosing the plurality of textile items.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The kit of claim 1, the plurality of textile items each comprising a two-sided sheet of textile material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The kit of claim 1, the wash enabled self-unfolding fold comprising an accordion fold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, the accordion fold comprising a quad accordion fold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, the accordion fold comprising a sept accordion fold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, the wash enabled self-unfolding fold further comprising a book fold.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The kit of claim 6, wherein the accordion fold is applied to each textile item of the plurality of textile items prior to the book fold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, the dissolvable package adhesively sealed about the plurality of textile items.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The kit of claim 8, the plurality of textile items comprising a plurality of bath blankets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The kit of claim 8, the plurality of textile items comprising a plurality of washcloths.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The kit of claim 8, the plurality of textile items comprising a plurality of flat sheets.

### Claim 12

A method, comprising:
stacking a plurality of textile items in a dissolvable package;
sealing the dissolvable package around the plurality of textile items to form a kit; and
applying a wash enabled self-unfolding fold to each textile item of the plurality of textile items prior to stacking the plurality of textile items in the dissolvable package.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising arranging the kit with at least one other kit in a bale.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, the applying the wash enabled self-unfolding fold comprising:
first applying an accordion fold to the plurality of textile items to create a plurality of partially folded textile items; and
then applying a book fold to the plurality of partially folded textile items to create a plurality of folded textile items.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising arranging the kit with at least one other kit to define a kit arrangement.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning the kit arrangement in a bale bag and sealing the bale bag.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the textile items are soiled.

### Claim 18

A kit arrangement, comprising:
a kit comprising a plurality of textile items folded with a wash enabled self-unfolding fold and arranged in a stack within a sealed dissolvable package; and
at least one other kit comprising at least one other plurality of textile items folded with at least one other wash enabled self-unfolding fold and arranged in at least one other stack within at least one sealed dissolvable package.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The kit arrangement of claim 18, wherein the at least one other kit comprises four kits arranged in a single column with the kit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The kit arrangement of claim 19, further comprising a sealed bale bag enclosing the kit arrangement.