# US 12,178,692 B2 · Absorbent article packages with natural fibers and opening features > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,692 B2 - Document ID: US12178692B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/496,870 - Filed: 2021-10-08 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-09 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Michael Remus; Naomi Ruth Nelson; Lee Mathew Arent; Edward Daniel Theiss, III; Stephan Spiekers; Victoria Anne Borchert; Peter Kramkowski; Michael Wayne Taylor; Benjamin Jacob Clare; Emily Charlotte Boswell; Nery Vanesa Breslin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178692B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/551: Packaging before or after use {(general packaging of absorbent pads B65D85/00)} - B65D 85/07: for compressible or flexible articles (for wearing apparel B65D85/18) - B65D 65/466: {Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials} - B65D 75/5805: {for tearing a side strip parallel and next to the edge, e.g. by means of a line of weakness} - B65D 75/5816: {for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion} - B65D 75/5827: {Tear-lines provided in a wall portion (B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - 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 package of one or more absorbent articles is disclosed. The package includes a package material enclosing the one or more absorbent articles. The package material has natural fibers and forms a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel opposite the top panel. The panels define an interior compartment. The package material has a Basis Weight of between about 55 gsm and about 115 gsm, according to the Basis Weight Test Method. The package has a weakened region. The package is sealed such that the one or more absorbent articles are enclosed in the interior compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A package of one or more absorbent articles comprising: a package material comprising natural fibers; wherein the package material forms a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel opposite the top panel, wherein the panels define an interior compartment of the package, and wherein the one or more absorbent articles are disposed in the interior compartment; wherein the package material has a Basis Weight between 50 gsm and 120 gsm, wherein the Basis Weight is defined as mass per unit area; wherein the package comprises a weakened region disposed in the package material configured to form an opening; wherein the weakened region is disposed on at least a portion of the top panel or a top edge region of the top panel; wherein at least a portion of the weakened region is disposed in a single ply of the package material; and wherein the package is sealed such that the one or more absorbent articles are enclosed within the interior compartment; wherein the package has a Tear Performance Factor of between 0.865 and 5.16, according to the Tear Tensile Test Method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package material has a MD Tensile Strength of at least 5.0 kN/m, according to the Strength Tensile Test Method. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package material comprises at least 50 percent by weight natural fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein all of the panels of the package are formed from a unitary piece of package material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the top panel comprises closing gussets, a closing seam, and a closing seam fin extending from the closing seam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The package of claim 5, wherein the weakened region is disposed between the closing seam and the interior compartment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the weakened region is disposed on at least the portion of the top edge region of the package between at least one of: the top panel and the front panel, and the top panel and the back panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the weakened region is disposed on at least a portion of three of the panels of the package. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The package of claim 8, wherein the weakened region is disposed on the front, back, and first side panels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package has a Weakened Region Tensile Strength of between 1.18 kN/m and 8.00 kN/m, according to the Strength Tensile Test Method. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package has a Relative Tear Strength of between 0.8 N/mm and 1.3 N/mm, according to the Tear Tensile Test Method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package material is recyclable, and wherein the package material exhibits a recyclable percentage of at least 70 percent, as determined by PTS-RH:021/97 (Draft October 2019) method. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package is formed from a single ply of the package material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package material is free of a barrier layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the package material comprises a barrier layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The package of claim 15, wherein the barrier layer comprises polyethylene. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The package of claim 15, wherein the barrier layer forms less than 30 percent by weight of the package material. ### Claim 18 A package of one or more absorbent articles comprising: a package material comprising natural fibers; wherein the package material forms a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel opposite the top panel, and wherein the panels define an interior compartment; wherein the package is sealed such that the one or more absorbent articles are enclosed within the interior compartment; wherein the package material has a Basis Weight between 50 gsm and 120 gsm, wherein the Basis Weight is defined as mass per unit area; wherein the package comprises a weakened region, wherein the weakened region forms at least a portion of an opening feature; wherein the weakened region is disposed on at least a portion of the top panel or a top edge region of the top panel; wherein the weakened region is disposed on at least a portion of three of the panels of the package; and wherein the package has a Weakened Region Performance Factor of between 0.14:1 and 0.98:1, according to the Strength Tensile Test Method. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The package of claim 18, wherein the package material is recyclable, and wherein the package material exhibits a recyclable percentage of at least 70 percent, as determined by PTS-RH:021/97 (Draft October 2019) method. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The package of claim 19, wherein the package material comprises at least 50 percent by weight natural fibers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The package of claim 19, wherein all of the panels of the package are formed from a unitary piece of package material.