التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Flexible Multi-Panel Sterilization Assembly With Bolsters |
| Document Number: |
20120202000 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
August 9, 2012 |
| Appl. No: |
13/364636 |
| Application Filed: |
February 02, 2012 |
| مستخلص: |
A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of two edges of the barrier panel, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. The barrier panel bolsters prevent the edges of the barrier panel from folding back onto itself, i.e. back towards the unfolded position, during unfolding of the barrier panel after sterilization. |
| Inventors: |
Bricker, Eric T. (Roswell, GA, US); Farmer, Jeffrey J. (Roswell, GA, US); Gaynor, Melissa R. (Roswell, GA, US); Jenkins, Shawn E. (Duluth, GA, US); Pamperin, Mark T. (Cumming, GA, US); Schwarz, Corinna (Roswell, GA, US); Smith, Tara Denise (Marietta, GA, US); Turnbow, Catherine J. (Cumming, GA, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly comprising: a barrier panel comprising a permeable sheet material having barrier properties, the barrier panel including: a first surface and a second opposing surface, a first end generally defining a pre-determined fold line, a second end opposite the first end, a first edge that is generally perpendicular to the pre-determined fold line, a second edge that is generally opposite the pre-determined fold line, and a third edge that is generally perpendicular to the pre-determined fold line, the barrier panel having a having a width that is the distance from the first edge to the third edge and a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end, the barrier panel having a midpoint along the length and extending between the first edge and the third edge to generally delineate the barrier panel into a content receiving region extending from the pre-determined fold line to the midpoint and a content covering region extending from the midpoint to the second edge; barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of the first edge and third edge of the barrier panel, a panel attachment means between the pre-determined fold line and the midpoint of the barrier panel and at or near the first edge or the third edge; the panel attachment means being joined to the barrier panel at a pre-determined position to identify the barrier panel's content receiving region and further to join the barrier panel's first edge and third edge to each other or to a portion of the content covering region after the barrier panel has been folded at or near its midpoint such that its second end is brought near its first end; and a fold protection panel in juxtaposed communication with the barrier panel, the fold protection panel comprising a permeable sheet material, the fold protection panel including: a proximal end generally adjacent the pre-determined fold line, a distal end generally opposite the proximal end; and at least a first edge and a second edge extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the fold protection panel having a width that is the distance from the first edge to the second edge and a length that is the distance from the proximal end to the distal end, such that, after the barrier panel has been folded at or near the barrier panel's midpoint so the barrier panel's second end is brought near its first end and its first and third edges are joined to each other or to its content covering region to form a package, the fold protection panel is configured to fold at or near the pre-determined fold line to cover at least the first edge and the third edge of the folded barrier panel, wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the first and third edges of the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
2. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel after extended steam sterilization. |
| Claim: |
3. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier panel has a fourth edge. |
| Claim: |
4. The sterilization assembly of claim 3, wherein the barrier panel includes a fifth edge. |
| Claim: |
5. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier panel bolsters are located at or adjacent the first and third edges of the content covering region of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
6. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier panel bolsters increase the basis weight of the barrier panel by at least about 5 percent at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
7. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein attachment of the bolsters stiffens the barrier panel at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel at least about 5 percent more than the stiffness of the combined but unattached bolsters and barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
8. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly further includes at least one pull tab attached to the second end of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
9. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises discrete reinforcement elements in the content receiving region that define an area for receiving content to be sterilized. |
| Claim: |
10. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier panel bolsters extend into the content receiving region and provide reinforcement to that portion of barrier panel and define an area for receiving content to be sterilized. |
| Claim: |
11. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly to inform the proper folding of the assembly into a package. |
| Claim: |
12. The sterilization assembly of claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly to inform the proper unfolding of the assembly after it has been folded into a package and sterilized. |
| Claim: |
13. A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly comprising: a barrier panel comprising a sheet of barrier material, the sheet defining at least two panel edges, the barrier panel configured to be folded around content to be sterilized to form a package; barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of at least two panel edges of the barrier panel, barrier panel attachment means located on a portion of the barrier panel for securing one or more panel edges of the barrier panel in a folded configuration around content to be sterilized, the barrier panel fastening means configured to secure the one or more panel edges in a folded configuration; a fold protection panel extending from the barrier panel, the fold protection panel including: a proximal end generally adjacent the barrier panel, a distal end generally opposite the proximal end; and wherein the distal end of the fold protection panel covers the one or more panel edges of the barrier panel after the barrier panel is in the folded configuration and further wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the edges of the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
14. The sterilization assembly of claim 13, wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel after extended steam sterilization. |
| Claim: |
15. The sterilization assembly of claim 14, wherein the barrier panel bolsters increase the basis weight of the barrier panel by at least 5 percent at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
16. The sterilization assembly of claim 14, wherein attachment of the bolsters stiffens the barrier panel at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel at least 5 percent more than the stiffness of the combined but unattached bolsters and barrier panel. |
| Claim: |
17. The sterilization assembly of claim 13, wherein the barrier panel bolsters provide reinforcement to the barrier panel and define an area for receiving content to be sterilized. |
| Claim: |
18. The sterilization assembly of claim 13, wherein the barrier panel bolsters comprise one or more layers of material selected from fibrous webs, textile webs, films and combinations thereof. |
| Claim: |
19. The sterilization assembly of claim 13, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly to inform the proper unfolding of the assembly after it has been folded into a package and sterilized. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
428/99 |
| Current International Class: |
32 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20120202000 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |