Absorbent article package with enhanced grip

Abstract

A package having an absorbent article and outer package having a web package material, with grip areas. The grip areas enhance gripping, handling, carrying, and stacking of the package. The grip areas include a strainable network having at least two visually distinct regions of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the web package material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of elongation, and wherein the first region and the second region are positioned on one or more grip areas of the outer package, wherein only a portion of the outer package has first and second regions.

1 . A package comprising:
 (a) one or more absorbent articles;   (b) an outer package for the absorbent articles, comprising a web package material comprising at least two distinct regions comprising a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, the first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when the web package material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis; and   wherein the first region and the second region are positioned on one or more grip areas of the outer package, wherein only a portion of the outer package comprises first and second regions.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material has an available stretch and the second region has a limit to the available stretch. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material has an Energy Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material has a Deflection Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material has a COF Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein the web package material has a COF Ratio of greater than about 1.4. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the grip area comprises about 5% to about 80% of the total outward facing surface area of the outer package. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7  wherein the grips areas comprise top grip area, side grip area, bottom grip area, gusseted grip area, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the first region and the second region are distinct from one another. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material comprises polyethylene. polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the web package material is a laminate or coextrusion of two or more materials. 
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent articles are in roll form comprising paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, and combinations thereof, and the package comprises from about 1 to about 90 rolls. 
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 12  comprising from about 4 rolls to about 36 rolls. 
   
   
       14 . A package comprising:
 (a) a plurality of absorbent articles;   (b) an outer package for the absorbent articles, comprising a web package material, the web package material exhibiting an elastic-like behavior along at least one axis, the web package material comprising: a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, the first region and the second region being comprised of the same material composition and each having an untensioned projected pathlength,   a portion of the first regions extending in a first direction while the remainder of the first regions extend in a second direction, the angles between the first and second directions ranging from about 45° to about 135°, the first regions forming a boundary completely surrounding the second regions, the second regions comprising a plurality of raised rib-like elements, the first region undergoing a molecular-level and geometric deformation and the second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when the web package material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantial parallel to the axis, and   wherein the first region and the second region are positioned on one or more grip areas of the outer package and wherein only a portion of the outer package comprises first and second regions.   
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the web package material has an available stretch and the second region has a limit to the available stretch. 
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the web package material has an Energy Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the web package material has a Deflection Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the web package material has a COF Ratio of greater than about 1. 
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 18  wherein the web package material has a COF Ratio of greater than about 1.4. 
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the grip area comprises from about 5% to about 80% of the total outward facing surface area of the outer package. 
   
   
       21 . The package of  claim 20  wherein the grips areas comprise top grip area, side grip area, bottom grip area, gusseted grip area, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       22 . The package of  14  wherein the first region is substantially free of the rib-like elements wherein the rib-like elements have a major axis and a minor axis.