System for packaging moist towelettes

#This invention relates generally to packages and, more particularly, to packages and containers for moist towelettes such as baby wipes.

#Premoistened, nonwoven towelettes designed for infant and baby care are well known and popular items. Such towelettes, commonly known as "baby wipes," greatly simplify infant and baby care and provide a real convenience to care givers.

#For a number of reasons, baby wipes have unique packaging requirements. To prevent evaporation of the moisturizing fluids, baby wipe packages and containers must be provided with tight fitting lids, covers or other closure means. At the same time, such packages should be easy to open and should permit convenient one-handed removal of individual wipes with a minimum of effort and bother. In view of these requirements, a variety of sophisticated baby wipe packages and containers have been developed.

#The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging system for moist towelettes embodying various features of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a moist towelette insert package embodying various features of the invention.

#Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIGS. 1 and 2, a packaging system 10 for moist towelettes is illustrated. As shown, the moist towelettes preferably comprise a plurality of baby wipes 12 of known construction. In accordance with conventional practice, the baby wipes 12 comprise rectangular sheets of a suitable nonwoven material and are impregnated with a water based moisturizing agent. To prevent evaporation of the moisturizing agent and the concomitant drying of the baby wipes 12, it is important that the baby wipes 12 be kept in a closed or sealed container or package.

#As further illustrated, the packaging system 10 includes an outer or main container 14 including a tub portion 16 having a hollow interior 18 dimensioned to receive therein the moist towelettes 12 when the towelettes 12 are arranged in vertically stacked arrangement. As shown, the main container 14 is of generally rectangular form conforming to the rectangular shape of the stacked baby wipes 12. The main container 14 includes a hinged cover 20 that can be opened and closed over the hollow interior 18 of the tub portion 16. A peripheral flange 22 around the upper edge of the tub portion 16 cooperates with a similar flange 24 around the hinged cover 20 to form a seal for minimizing evaporation of the moisturizing agent of the moist towelettes contained within the main container 14. Preferably, the main container 14 is formed of an injection molded, moisture impervious, relatively rigid, thermoplastic material.

#In practice, the plastic main container 14 frequently has a useful life that greatly exceeds that of the supply of moist towelettes 12 therein contained. Accordingly, it can be wasteful to dispose of the main container 14 merely because the towelette supply has been depleted. To avoid such wastage, the packaging system 10, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, includes a moist towelette insert package 26 having an inner envelope 28 for containing the vertically stacked moist towelettes 12. The inner envelope 28 is formed of a relatively flexible, moisture impervious plastic. Preferably, the inner envelope 28 includes a lower or bottom portion 30 that closely surrounds five sides of the stacked towelettes 12 and further includes a top flap or cover portion 32 that covers the remaining side of the stack. Both portions 30, 32 include, around their peripheries, sealing flaps or flanges 32, 34 that are welded or otherwise joined to each other to form a sealed enclosure around the stacked moist towelettes 12. The inner envelope 28 and the towelettes 12 therein contained are shaped and dimensioned to be removably insertable within the hollow interior 18 of the main container 14.