CA1138836A

CA1138836A - Container and dispensing plate for a roll of premoistened towelettes

Info

Publication number: CA1138836A
Application number: CA000337507A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Herman Margulies
Original assignee: Sterling Drug Inc
Current assignee: STWB Inc
Priority date: 1978-10-12
Filing date: 1979-10-12
Publication date: 1983-01-04
Also published as: US4262816A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A package and dispensing device for a continuous roll of premoistened towelettes includes an outer container that holds therein the roll of premoistened towelettes, the roll being surrounded by a bag which prevents the roll from drying out. The towelettes are pulled away from the roll through a hole in a sealing and dispensing plate and are pulled out of the top of the container. The plate may be planar or conical.

Description

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The present invention relates to a package and a dispensing plate primarily for use in dispensing and separating premoistened towels or smaller towelettes from a continuous web 1 of toweling material.
; S Premois~ened sheets or ~owelettes are increasinglypopular among consumers because they are cQnvenienk and easily provide a "damp cloth" even when water is not readily available.
i For the most part, these sheets are either individually wrapped ox come as part of a continuous web which is rolled and perforated so that it can be separated into a plurality of individual sheets. This invention relates to the dispensing of the sheets or towelettes packaged as a rolled, continuous web.
Presently, rolls of towelettes are delivered to the consumer in a plastic container with a separable top removably fitted over the container. The top has a specifically designed outle-t for withdrawing the tgwelettes on the roll therethrough and for subsequently separating the individual towelettes from the roll. ~ovelty among different containers and tops lies primarily in the construction of the opening through which the towele~tes are required to pass as they are removed from the roll.

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3~6 The opening mus t be large enough to permit the toweletts to ~it therethrough and, at the same time, must b~ small enough to exert e~ough frictional pull on the toweletts to cause them to separate along the perforated dividing line~.
Sevexal examp~ es of previously patented containers ~clude: U.S. Patent No. 4,017,002 of 4/12/77 to Doyle et. al., wherein the opening is a combina~ion of cross-slit~; U.S. Patent No. 3,994,417 of 11/30/76 to Doedecker, wherein the towel~tte 1s withdrawn through a plate which has a single ~ircular opening therethrough; U.S. Patent No. 3,868,052 of 2/25/75 to Rockefell~, ~herein an opening is provided which has protruslons directed toward the central portion of the opening; U,S. Patent No.
3,843,017 of 10/22/74 to Harrison, wherein the opening has a ~lap thereacross which slightly engage~ the continuou~s web a~
it is withdrawn through the opsning; a~d ~.S. Patent No.
3,973,695 10/10~76 to Ames, wherein tha openng is an elongated op~ning through which the continuous web is withdrawn.
While all of these prlor art towelette dlspen~ers ~eem to f~ction well and achieve their goal of separating the in-dividual toweletts from the continuous perforated we~l there aredraw~acks. The major drawback and area for improvement îs the total packaging concept which currently requires expen~ive materials for forming the package, much hand labor, and ultimate-ly, di~posal of the spent con~ainer. The dispen6erfcontainers now available are almost entirely formed ~rom extruded and molded plastics, have a top with the specific type of outlet therethrough positioned on top of the container with the web thersinside, and require that the web be initially fed through the opening so that it is ready to be used.

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Also, the dispensing opening must be conveniently sealed in some way to prevent the premoistened towelettes from drying ou-t before reaching the consumer. Further, since the containers are of rigid plastic, disposal becomes a problem, since the containers S are bulky even when empty and since they create polluting fumes when they are burned~ -.
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It i~ desired to pro~idP a new and improved package for storing and dispensing a continuous web of pre-molstened sheets or towelettesO It is also desired to provide a package : which is ligh~w2ight and easily and sconomically ormable, and is readily and conveniently disposableO It is further desired that the packa~e can be ormed and prepared for mar-ketlng with a minimum of manual laborO
The present invention provides a moisture-proof container which contains a pre-moistened roll of to~elettes, thereinside within a moisture-proof bagO A special dispensing plate ~i~h a slit and a h~le ~em re~ on bDp of ~he n~ll of ~
e~tes, an~ the end ~f the ~b of ~le~es proj~ ~nu~h the slit m the plate, ma tc~elattes slide th~ugh ~e slit in~o the hole which is : large enough to allow the towel~ttes to be withdrawn easily th~rethrough, but which is small enough to ensure that frlction is exerted on the web to cau~e the indlvi~Ual towel-ettas to sep~rate from eaoh other~

3 Çi ~ he invention will now be described in terms of speaific embodiment~ as illustrated with referenca to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of one emb~diment of a con~ainer according to thi~ invention;
Figure 2 is A perspeative view of the container of this invention:
Figures 3a-3c and 4a-4e are plan views of various embodiments of dispensing plates according to this invention;
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10Figure 5~is a sectional view ~f the dispen~ing plat~
of this invention, taken along line V-V of Figure 3a;
Figure 6 i5 a plan view of a further embodiment o~ A
; dispenslng plate according to this invention, shown in an un-as~embled condition;
15Figure 7 is a se¢tional view taken along line VII-VII o Figure 6;
Fiyure ~ is a plan view ~f the plate of Figure 6, but shown in an assembled ~ondition;
Figure 9 i~ a sectional view taken along line IX-IX
of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 1 r but illustrating a container according to the invention employing the plate o~ Figure 8; and Figure 11 is a schematic seational view similar to Fi~re 10, but illustrating a modiication of the container-plate assembly thereof.

Figure 1 shows the general configuration of a dispensing packa~e of the present invention. An outer container 100 holds therein a roll 200 of premoistened towelettes. The roll 200 within the container is also surrounded by a bag 300 which helps to prevent the roll rom drying out. The top 301 oE the bag is opened and folded back inside the outer container 100. The towelettes are pulled away from the roll ? and out of ~he top 301 of the bag through a dispensing plate 400.
The outer container 100 may be of any construction which will suitably contain the roll 200. For ease in assembly and disposal, a simple paper box which is trea~ted to be moisture- ' ` 'resistant (for example~ the paper may be plastic-coated)'is j' adequate. This will provide a container which is lightweight yet - 15 sturdy, and which will increase the ease of handling and stacking " the rollsO It is, of course, recognized that other containers ; with other shapes and constructions may also serve adequately.
The container 100 has, as shown in Figure 2, four sides, a bottom, and a hinged top 101. The top, when opened, reveals three flaps 102', 103, 104 with openings 105! 106, 107 respectively therethrough. When these three flaps are folded across the top of the box, the openings are aligned, and the end towelette of the roll 200 can be pulled therethrough. The top side flap's 102, 103 are designed to be folded one on top of the other, and the third flap 104 is folded over ~he other two. A hinged edge 108 fits inside the top of the container when the tllird flap 104 is folded into position. This third flap 104 also h~s an opening 109 therein - , :1 .

~hich r~ceives a hinge-edged extension 110 of the top 101 when the top is closed over the folde~ flaps. The extension 110 then extends inside the container and helps to secure the top in a closed position. By simply opening the inte~rally hinged top 101, the end of the towelettes through the aliyned openings are exposed, and the towele-ttes can be easily pulled there-through to remove them from the container.
The bag 300 for containiny the roll 200 functions primarily to p~event the premoistened towelettes from drying out before they reach the consumer and before the consumer uses all oE them. To fulfill this function, nearly any lightweight, flexible plastic bag will do. ~Iowever, any other material which will inhibit vaporization of the moistening liquid in the roll may also be used for the bag and the same results will be obtained, for example, a polyethylene plastic bag. After the roll 200 is first inserted into the bag 300 r the bag is closed n any manner which will effectively seal it shut, such as heat sealing the top edges 301 together. When it is time to withdraw the towelettes, the bag 300 is opened, and the top edges 301 are folded back.
The actual roll 200 of towelettes is a continuous web 201 which is perforated, as at 202, at intervals along the length thereo to form a plurality of sheets or towelettes 203 which can be separated from the remaitlder of the~roll 200 by simply detaching along the perfora~ions 202. The technique of forming such a roll 200 is not new, and it is possible for this inven~ion to function wh~n the end of the web 201 is withdrawn . ~7~

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from either the inside of the roll or the outside. Furthermore, it is also possible to utilize eithcr cored or coreless rolls o this web material, since the bulk or width of the roll is sufficient to support the roll in a vertical posi.tion while the S towelettes are drawn therefrom. Also, the web material may be moistened with many ~.ifferent -types of flùids depending on the determined usage of the towelettes, and therefore, this invention is not intended to be limited to any specific type of premoistened towelette. ,~
10Two general embodiments for'the dispensing plate are ; shown in Figures 3a and 4a. Each plate 400, 400' has a narrow slit 401, 401' which is direc~ly connected to a hole or opening 402, 402'. The end of the roll 200 of towelettes is pulled through the naxrow slit and then into the hole. The holes 402, 402' are, of course, sufficiently large enough to allow the towelettes 203 to be withdrawn therethrough from the inside of the bag 300. A significant feature of the openings 402, 402', however, is the fact that while the openings must be large enough to allow the towelettes 203 to be drawn therethrough, ~ 20 they must, at the sime time, provide enough friction to the web - so ~hat the towelettes will separate at their perforations 202 as they are pulled therethrough.
; The principle distinction betwéen the two plates of 'Figures 3a and 4a is in the construction of the opening space 25 . wh'ich 12ads into the slit 401 or 401'. In Figure 3a, the plate 400 simply has sloping sides 404 leading into an entrance or outer end 405 of the slit 401. The sloping sides 404 facilitate -- ' L~

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guiding the end of the towelettes 203 into the slit 401. The variation in Figure 4a shows a larger l-ole 406 in the plate 900' and which joins the outer end 405' of the slit 401', and the hole 406 has sloping sides 404' wllich converge directly into the slit 401'. To use this second embodiment of the plate 400', the t.owelette 203 is pulled through the hole ~06 and then pulled between the sloping sides 404' into the slit ~01' and toward the hole 402'. Then, in either embodiment, the towelette 203 is in the smaller hole 402, 402', and the plate therefore remains around the web at the top of the roll 200 with the end towelette extending through the smaller hole.
The hei~ht of the bag 300 remains subs-tantially cons-tallt, since the roll 200 is on end, and only the diame~er of the roll decreases as the towele~tes 203 are clrawn therefrom, and lS not the height.
The plate 400, it should be emphasized, may have almost any outer edge configuration, i.e., clrcular, square, polygonal, etc;, as long as there is a slit therein with sloping sides leading into one end of the slit and with a hole at the other end of the slit. Also! even though the holes ~02, 402' may be any opening through the plate 400 at the end of the slits 401, 401', as shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is preferred that the hole be circular. Furthermore, such circular hole may have a conical`prof1le througll the plate (see Figure S) at an angle ~ from 0 to 45 to facilitate withdrawing the towclette 203 therethrough. The plate itself -should be made from a fairly rigid material, such as a ligllt metal or rigid plastic, so that i~ will not deform grcatly at the slit or holc when the towelette is pulled thcrcthrough.

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In Figures 3a and 4a, the slits 401 and 401' are of the type usually created by cutting or slittin~ the material comprising the plate. That is, even after the slit is created, both sides thereof will probably contact each other. On the other handr Figures 3b, 3c, 4b and 4c show modifications of the slit confi~uration~ Figures 3b and 4b show slits 407, 407' which are cut in a V-shape converging from the sloping sides `` 404, 404' toward the openings 402, 402'. Figures 3c and 4c show slits 4b8, 408' which consist of an opening with spaced parallel sides extending from the sloping sides 40~, 404' toward the openin~s 402, 402'. In each of these various embodiments, ~he slit is designed to facilitate pulling the `
towelette from the open area at one end of the slit into the dispensing opening at the opposite end of the slit.
After the premoistened roll 200 o~ the towelettes is packaged in the bag 300, and the bag is appropriately sealed, such as by heat sealing, the bag then must be torn or cut open at the top by any suitable means by the consumer when it is time to withdraw the towelettes. ~his assures that the moisture remains in the roll until the towelettes are used. Once the bag 300 is open, the consumer may then easily affix the dispensing plate 400 or 400' around the end towelette 203 by pulling the end of the roll of towelettes out of the bag and ~ sliding the towelette 203 along the sloping sides 404 or ~04' ; 25 of the plate 400 or 400' into the slit 401 or 401i and the opening 402 or 402'. The dispensing plate 400 or 400' is then allowed to rest on top of t}ie roll 200 within thc ~ag. ~s an ~ .~ , , .,' - , '.'' ....... ..... ...' , ' ' ~ ~ ' ' . ' , .

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alternative the dispensing plate may be received by the onsumer in position around the end towelette of tlle roll already inside -a sealed bag. This way, all tha~ is necessary to prepare th~
packa~e for use is to open the top of the bag, and dispensing of the towelettes through the plate can begin immediately.
One additional convenience of the dispensing plate 400 or ~00' of this invention is the ease with which the towelettes - 203 can be threaded therein, especially if ~he roll of towelettes should tear before the next towelette emerges through the dispensing hole 402 or 402'. The user need only remove the plate 400 or 400', pull up the next len~th o~ towelette 203 and slide it lnto the slit 401 or 401'- and hole 402 or ~02', as before~
With reference now to Figures 6 through 9 of the dra~ings, a further embodiment of the dispensing plate of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, thè
dispensing plate 500 is produced as a flat disc 503 of a readily deformable material, for example a flexible plastic material.
The disc 503 has formed centrally therein a dispensing hole 502.
A radial slit 505 is formed in the disc 503, from the hole 502 therein to the periphery thereof. Figures 6 and 7 show the dispensing plate 500 in its initially produced and unassembled condition.
Due to the provision o hole 502 and slit 505, the disc 503 may be deformed into a conical configuration, to thereby form an assembled dispensing plate 500, as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.
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~388~6 The clispensing plate includes means for locking the disc in the assembled conical configuration thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, such locking means is in the orm of a keyhole-shaped opening 506 formed in the disc adjacent one side of the slit 505, and a pin 507 having an enlarged head integral with the disc and extendi.nc~ upwardly therefrom adjacent the other side of the slit 505. Thus, it will be apparent that when the disc is deformed and assembled into its conical configura~ion, the enlarged head of pin 507 will be inserted into the iarger end of opening 506 and then will slide into the smaller end of opening 50G, whereby the enlarged head of tlle pin will retain the disc in the conical con~i.g~rakion.
However, it is specifically to be understood that other locking ; . arrangements may be readily employed to lock the 1at disc 503 into the assembled conical configuration of the dispensing plate.
In further accordance with the present invention, the .disc 503 may be provided with a peripheral reinforcing flange 508.
Reference will now be made to Figure 10 o the drawings to illustrate a container in accordance with the present invention, e~ploying the assembled dispensing plate 500 shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. Specifically, the assembly and manner of operation o the embodiment of the container illustrated in Figure 10 is substant.ially the same as tllat illustrated and described above with reference to Figure 1.
Ilowever, in the embodiment of Figure 10, the container is employed with ~ dispensing ~late 500 as shown in Fi~ures 8 and 9, such that a towelette 203 is extended through dispensing hole ~ 502. . r -: ~12-l , . .

.~_ With reference now to Figure 11, a modiication of the container and plate arrangement of Figure 10 will be . de.scribed. This arrangement is si.milar in most respects to the arrangement of Figure 10. However, i.n the embodiment of Figure 11/ both the towelette 203 and the top 301 of the . bag 300 extend through the dispensing hole 502 of the dispensing plate 500. This arrangement will more effectively seal the roll of towelettes from the surrounding atmosphere and thus fur~her prevent the loss of moisture from the roll.
The towelette 203 (Figure 10) or the towelette 203 and top 301 of bag 300 ~F.igure 11) ma~ be easll~ .in-troduced into the hole 502 by slicli.ng through slit 505 prior to deformati.on and assembly of -the disc 503 into the conical configùratioll thereof.
It is to be understood that in either of the embodiments of Figure 10 or Figure.ll, the size of the hole 502 will be determined with respect to the particular towelette and bag employed such that the hole 502 will impart . suf~.icient tension to the towelet~e being dispensed so that such towelette will tear away rom the roll of towelettes along the perfora-tions thereof, whereby the next succeeding towelette will be partially extended through the hole 502.
In the embodiment of Figure 11 however, the top 301 of the bag is gathered by the conical dispensing plate 500 around 25.. ..the end towelette 203, to thereby substantially close the , top 301 of the bag around the towelette and substantially sea~ the remainlng towelettes o the roll within the bag.

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3~ , l Since the package is designed to be made of licJlltweicJht materials, which are easily collapsible, disposal of the container -after all of the towel~ttes are removed may be easily and I ef~iciently accomplished.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A package for dispensing and separating single sheets from a continuous roll of premoistened sheets which are joined at perforations said package comprising:
a container for containing therein a continuous roll of premoistened sheets;
bag means within said container and surrounding said roll for containing said roll therein and preventing said premoistened sheets from drying out; and dispensing plate means separate from and positioned with-in said container surrounding and directly contacting an end sheet of said roll for dispensing said end sheet therethrough, whereby said end sheet will tear from the next sheet on said roll at the perforations when said end sheet is drawn therethrough.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a liquid-impervious paper box having a plurality of sides, a bottom and a top hinged to at least one of said sides, and at least one flap hinged to one of said sides covering an upper portion of said box underneath said top, said flap having therein an opening through which said end sheet of said roll extends.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box is plastic-coated and has three hinged flaps with aligned openings therethrough underneath said top.

4. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bag comprises a plastic bag surrounding said roll.

5. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises a substantially rigid plate, a slit extending from an edge of said plate to a position in the interior of said plate, said plate having sloping sides converging toward said slit, and said plate having an opening therethrough at an end of said slit in the interior of said plate, whereby said end sheet slides through said slit into said opening.

6. A package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said opening in said plate is circular.

7. A package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said opening is conical-shaped, a smaller end of said conical shape being at the top surface of said plate.

8. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises a substantially rigid plate having at least first and second openings therethrough, said first opening being substantially larger than said second opening, said openings being connected by a slit, said larger first opening having two sloping sides converging toward said slit, whereby said end sheet passes through said larger first opening and slides through said slit into said smaller second opening.

9. A package as claimed in claim 8, wherein said smaller second opening is conical-shaped, a smaller end of said conical shape being at the top surface of said plate.

10. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispensing plate means comprises a conical-shaped plate having at the apex thereof a dispensing opening and an open bottom facing and positioned over said roll, said end sheet extending through said dispensing opening.

11. A package as claimed in claim 10, wherein said end sheet is directly contacted by an edge of said conical plate forming said dispensing opening.

12. A package as claimed in claim 10, wherein said conical plate is formed from a planar disc of flexible material, said disc having a central opening and a radial slit extending from said central opening to the periphery of said disc, whereby said disc is deformable about an axis through said central opening to overlap portions of said disc on opposite sides of said slit, to thereby form said disc into said conical plate, with said central opening forming said dispensing opening.

13. A package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said disc further includes a substantially annular peripheral reinforcing flange.

14. A package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said disc further includes means for locking said disc in the overlapped and deformed position thereof.

15. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking means comprises a pin with an enlarged head on one side of said slit, and a keyhole-shaped opening on the opposite side of said slit.

16. A package for dispensing and separating single sheets from a continuous roll of premoistened perforatad sheets, said package comprising:
a container for containing therein a continuous roll of premoistened perforated sheets;
open bag means within said container and surrounding said roll for containing said roll therein and preventing said premoistened sheets from drying out;
dispensing plate means separate from and positioned with-in said container surrounding an end sheet of said roll for dis-pensing said sheet therethrough, whereby said end sheet will tear from the next sheet on said roll at the perforations when said end sheet is drawn therethrough, said dispensing plate means comprising a plate in the form of a truncated cone oriented vertically having at the apex thereof a dispensing opening and an open bottom; and said conical-shaped plate being positioned with said open bottom facing and positioned over said roll, and with an end sheet of said roll and a top opened portion of said bag means extending through said dispensing opening, such that said conical-shaped plate surrounds and gathers said top portion of said bag means around said end sheet, and such that the remainder of said roll is substantially sealed within said bag means.

17. A package as claimed in claim 16, wherein said container comprises a liquid-impervious paper box having a plurality of sides, a bottom and a top hinged to at least one of said sides, and at least one flap hinged to one of said sides covering an upper portion of said box underneath said top, said flap having therein an opening through which said end sheet of said roll extends.

18. A package as claimed in claim 17, wherein said box is plastic-coated and has three hinged flaps with aligned openings therethrough underneath said top.

19. A package as claimed in claim 16, wherein said bag comprises a plastic bag surrounding said roll.

20. A package as claimed in claim 16, wherein said conical plate is formed from a planar disc of flexible material, said disc having a central opening and a radial slit extending from said central opening to the periphery of said disc, whereby said disc is deformable about an axis through said central opening to overlap portions of said disc on opposite sides of said slit, to thereby form said disc into said conical plate, with said central opening forming said dispensing opening.

21. A package as claimed in claim 20, wherein said disc further includes a substantially annular peripheral reinforcing flange.

22. A package as claimed in claim 20, wherein said disc further includes means for locking said disc in the overlapped and deformed position thereof.

23. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein said locking means comprises a pin with an enlarged head on one side of said slit, and a keyhole shaped opening on the opposite side of said slit.

24. A device for dispensing and separating a single perforated sheet from a continuous roll of perforated sheets, said device comprising:
a substantially rigid plate;
a slit extending from an edge of said plate to a position in the interior of said plate;
said plate having sloping sides converging toward said slit; and said plate having an opening therethrough at an end of said slit in the interior of said plate, whereby a first sheet of a continuous roll of sheets slides through said slit into said opening, and remaining sheets of the roll are pulled directly through said opening.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said opening in said plate is circular.

26. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said opening is conical-shaped, a smaller end of said conical shape being at the top surface of said plate.

27. A device for dispensing and separating a single perforated sheet from a continuous roll of perforated sheets, said device comprising:
a substantially rigid plate having at least first and second openings therethrough, said first opening being substantially larger than said second opening;
a slit connecting said openings; and said larger first opening leaving two sloping sides converging toward said slit, whereby a first sheet of a continuous roll of sheets is pulled through said larger first opening and slides through said slit into said smaller second opening through which it is withdrawn, and remaining sheets of the roll are withdrawn directly through said smaller second opening.

28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said smaller second opening is conical-shaped, a smaller end of said conical shape being at the top surface of said plate.

29. A device for dispensing and separating a single perforated sheet from a continuous roll of perforated sheets, said device comprising:
a planar disc of flexible material;
said disc having therein a central opening and a radial slit extending from said central opening to the periphery of said disc; and said disc being deformable about an axis through said central opening, such that portions of said disc on opposite sides of said slit overlap, and such that said disc is deformed into a conical plate with said central opening forming a dispensing opening for dispensing therethrough sheets of a continuous roll of sheets.

30. A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said disc further includes a substantially annular peripheral reinforcing flange.

31. A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said disc further includes means for locking said disc in the deformed position thereof.

32. A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said locking means comprises a pin with an enlarged head on one side of said slit, and a keyhole-shaped opening on the opposite side of said slit.