US20070215629A1 - Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing - Google Patents
Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing Download PDFInfo
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- US20070215629A1 US20070215629A1 US11/377,788 US37778806A US2007215629A1 US 20070215629 A1 US20070215629 A1 US 20070215629A1 US 37778806 A US37778806 A US 37778806A US 2007215629 A1 US2007215629 A1 US 2007215629A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- sheets
- opening
- package
- container
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/08—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
- B65D83/0894—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession the articles being positioned relative to one another or to the container in a special way, e.g. for facilitating dispensing, without additional support
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/08—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
- B65D83/0805—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession through an aperture in a wall
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
- A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
- A47K2010/3266—Wet wipes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to dispensing of discrete sheets and more particularly to dispensing of discrete sheets from a container having an orifice.
- Dispensing of sheets from a container has long been done in the art. Reach-in dispensing allows multiple sheets to be dispensed at once, but can be inconvenient.
- Pop-up dispensing is more convenient, but often dictates that a more vertically oriented package be used. If the sheets are wet, the package must have a lid, to prevent undue evaporation. A seal is formed between the lid and the body of the package.
- dispensing discrete sheets may present particular challenges. If the sheets are disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the opening, an unduly large footprint may be required. If the sheets are packaged too tightly, tearing of the first few sheets to be dispensed may occur. The sheet may not easily unfold upon dispensing, particular if the sheet has cohesive forces due to wetting.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view, shown partially in cutaway, of an exemplary package, according to the present invention having a hinged lid in an open position.
- FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken a long line 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the relationship between the azimuthal position of the periphery of the package and the amount of interference present at that position.
- FIGS. 4A-4E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative interleave patterns.
- FIGS. 5A-5E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative non-interleave patterns.
- FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a stack of sheets showing the inversion of the leading edge upon dispensing, the stack being in an exemplary package shown in cutaway.
- the invention comprises a package.
- the package comprises a container having a body for holding a plurality of sheets therein and an opening for removing sheets therethrough.
- the body has a major axis defining a first end and a second end of said body remote therefrom. An opening may be juxtaposed with the said first end of the body.
- a plurality of sheets is sequentially removable from the container through the opening.
- Each sheet has a leading and a trailing edge remote therefrom.
- the sheets are disposed in a pattern whereby the trailing edge of a first sheet to be dispensed is joined to the leading edge of a second sheet to be subsequently dispensed.
- the leading edge is disposed further from the opening than the said trailing edge prior to dispensing of that sheet.
- the package 10 may comprise a body 11 .
- the package 10 may or may not have one or more articles placed therein.
- the articles are received in the body 11 of the package 10 .
- the package 10 may have defined walls, may be generally parallelepipedly shaped, and may have a dispensing opening 18 therein.
- a lid 22 may be provided to cover the opening 18 and close the package 10 .
- the articles may be dry, moist, wet or a combination thereof.
- the articles to be placed in the package 10 may comprise sheets 14 , or may be other contents as desired.
- the package 10 may have defined walls 30 .
- the walls 30 may define a top, a bottom, front and back sides, and left and right sides.
- the walls 30 of the body 11 and lid 22 may be generally coextensive when the lid 22 is in the closed position.
- the lid 22 may have a very different shape than the body 11 .
- the walls 30 of the package 10 need not be freestanding and rigid as depicted, but instead may be flaccid or resiliently deformable. This arrangement may provide a package 10 with an amorphous shape. Material such as polyethylene film may be suitable if flaccid walls are selected for the package 10 . If so, a suitable package 10 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,897 issued Jan. 10, 1995 to Muckenfuhs et al. The package 10 may also be lightweight. By “lightweight” it is meant the package 10 is conveniently portable and does not have dead weight specifically added thereto. Alternatively, the walls may be rigid. Suitable materials for rigid walls include HDPE and PP.
- the opening 18 may intercept both the top wall 30 and one of the other walls 30 of the package 10 , so that the sheets 14 may be dispensed in either a pop-up manner or a reach-in manner.
- a suitable package 10 and opening 18 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,623,074 issued Nov. 18, 1986 to Dearwester or 5,516,001 issued May 14, 1996 to Muchenfuhs et al.
- the opening 18 may comprise any variety of shapes, and intercept one or more walls of the package 10 .
- the walls may be discrete and defined from one another, and have a major depth M. Suitable material for the walls include HDPE and PP.
- the major depth is parallel to and may be measured coincident a major axis, which is generally the longest dimension intercepted by the package 10 .
- the major depth M of the package 10 may be vertical if the opening 18 is on the upper surface of the package 10 when the package 10 is placed on a horizontal surface or reference plane such as a table or countertop. Such a package 10 may have a primary dispensing direction generally parallel to the major axis.
- the opening 18 need not be juxtaposed with a particular edge of the package 10 .
- the opening 18 may be juxtaposed with the shorter edge of the package 10 , a corner thereof, or in any other suitable configuration, including the front, back, or side walls 30 .
- the opening 18 may be covered by a lid 22 .
- the lid 22 may be juxtaposed with the opening 18 , in a closed position and removed from the proximity of the opening 18 and an open position.
- the lid 22 may be hingedly attached to the package 10 , particularly the body 11 . If so, one or more hinges 24 may join the body 11 and lid 22 so that one that may move relative to the other by articulation. Alternatively, the lid 22 may be totally removable from the body 11 , and not attached by hinges 24 or other means.
- the package 10 may have a circular or noncircular cross section.
- Exemplary non-circular cross sections include squares, ovals, rectangles and other cross sections having an aspect ratio not equal to unity.
- a noncircular cross-section provides the benefit that a flat surface may be presented to someone looking at the package 10 . This arrangement provides the benefit that a label, advertising, instructions, graphics or other indicia may be placed on the flat surface and provide a billboard effect to the viewer. Furthermore, if the package 10 having a noncircular cross section is dropped on its side, such a package 10 will not roll.
- the hinges 24 may be generally horizontally disposed when the package sits on in a counter or table. If the opening 18 is at the top of the package 10 , the axis of the hinge 24 may be generally perpendicular to the primary dispensing direction.
- the hinge 24 may be disposed on one of the long sides or one of the short sides of a package 10 having a generally rectangular cross section. While a package 10 having two hinges 24 equally spaced from the sides is shown, the invention is not so limited. A package 10 having a single hinge 24 , two hinges 24 or three or more hinges 24 may be utilized. The hinges 24 may be collinear and of equal or unequal length, spacing, etc.
- the hinge 24 may be a living hinge 24 .
- a living hinge 24 may be made of a single piece of material, integrally joined to both the body 11 and lid 22 .
- the living hinge 24 may have a region of reduced thickness, about which the articulation occurs and they thereby defines the axis of the hinge 24 .
- the hinge 24 may be a hook-and-eye configuration, a piano hinge 24 , a butt hinge 24 or any other configuration, which allows articulation between the body 11 and lid 22 .
- the lid 22 may be completely detachable from the body 11 .
- the lid 22 may be removably joined to the body 11 .
- the lid 22 may be joined to the body 11 upon closure by the interference fit around the periphery.
- the lid 22 and body 11 may be joined at an interference that when the lid is in the closed position.
- An interference fit occurs when the material of either the lid 22 or body 11 slightly displaces the material of the other upon closure of the lid 22 .
- Such displacement may be elastic, due to the resilient material properties of the lid 22 and/or body 11 .
- the body 11 may have a periphery 23 , about which the lid 22 fits upon closure. Alternatively, the lid 22 may fit inside the periphery 23 of the body 11 upon closure.
- the periphery 23 may be generally perpendicular to the major axis of the package 10 . Alternatively, the periphery 23 may be disposed in acute angular relationship relative to the major axis of the package 10 , as shown. The opening 18 may be disposed within the boundary of the periphery 23 .
- the periphery 23 may have a sealing surface which is generally parallel to the major axis of the package 10 .
- the sealing surface may avoid a snap or locking engagement, such as may occur with if an undercut is present. Therefore the sealing surface may be smooth and be provided without an undercut.
- a sealing surface having a dimension of about 3 to about 7 mm, particularly about 5 mm, taken parallel to the major axis may be suitable.
- the interference fit provides a seal between the body 11 and lid 22 .
- seal it is meant that a barrier to evaporation or the transfer of gas into or out of the package 10 is present.
- the seal may also prevent intrusion of contamination into the package 10 , providing for sanitary and hygienic storage of the contents.
- the seal may also prevent intrusion of oxygen, air, etc. into the package 10 .
- the interference fit may be quantified by the amount of deformation or overlap which occurs between the body 11 and lid 22 upon closure.
- the interference is measured radially, generally perpendicular to the periphery 23 at any point. The radial measurement is taken generally perpendicular to the major axis of the package 10 .
- the amount of interference may be of a first dimension throughout a first portion of the periphery 23 .
- the first portion of the periphery 23 is that portion of the periphery 23 which does not correspond in circumferential position to any of the hinges 24 .
- the interference at the first portion may range from about 0.15 to about 0.35 mm, and particularly be about 0.25 mm.
- the amount of interference may be of a second dimension throughout a second portion of the periphery 23 .
- the second portion of the periphery 23 is that portion of the periphery 23 which corresponds in circumferential position to any of the hinges 24 .
- the interference at the second portion may range from about 0.10 to about 0.20 mm, and particularly be about 0.15 mm.
- the amount of interference at the second portion is less than the amount of interference at the first portion.
- the interference at the second portion of the periphery may be greater than zero, although an interference of zero may be suitable for the second portion.
- a relatively short portion of the periphery 23 is disposed between two hinges 24 , such portion of the periphery may also have the lesser amount of interference fit imparted to the second portion of the periphery 23 .
- the second dimension is less than the first dimension.
- This relative proportion minimizes the amount of tension or other radial forces imparted by the hinges 24 , to the seal. By minimizing such tension or other radial forces a more uniform compression can be exerted throughout all circumferential positions of the seal. This arrangement provides a more stable and uniform seal, minimizing evaporation of moist or wet contents from the body 11 of the package 10 .
- the second portion of the periphery 23 may be that portion of the periphery 23 which is juxtaposed with the corners. Since the corners are inherently more rigid than the planar portions of the walls 30 , the interference may be less at the corners and an adequate seal still occur. Similarly, the interference may be less at the shorter walls 30 than the longer walls 30 . The shorter walls 30 are inherently stiffer than longer walls 30 of like thickness, therefore making it feasible to have a greater interference for the longer walls 30 than shorter walls 30 .
- a noncircular periphery 23 has differential stresses, due to the asymmetry inherent with the short sides and long sides of the seal. By minimizing differences in the stress field around a noncircular periphery 23 , a more uniform seal can be obtained for and throughout the noncircular periphery 23 .
- a noncircular periphery 23 may be particularly advantageous with a package 10 having a noncircular cross-section. As noted above, a package 10 having a noncircular cross-section provides the benefit of a flat surface, which is more readily seen by someone looking at the package 10 .
- the package 10 may further comprise a closure.
- the closure may be any device, which impedes opening of the way of 11 when it is in the closed position. Suitable closures include snaps, various seals, hook and loop fasteners, latches, etc.
- the package 10 may be disposable or refillable.
- dispenser is meant the package 10 is intended to be discarded after the contents supplied therewith are depleted. Such a package 10 is not intended to be restocked with articles.
- each sheet 14 or other article placed in the package 10 may be discarded after a single use, and not laundered or otherwise restored.
- refillable it is meant the package 10 is or may be restocked with articles after the supply is depleted.
- Such sheets 14 , or other articles may be disposable or reusable.
- wet or moist sheets 14 may be packaged in a flow wrap, as is known in the art.
- a flow wrap is a polymeric film or other type of impervious wrapper which can be used to cover sheets 14 or articles, as desired.
- the flow wrap may be used to prevent evaporation of moisture of the articles contained therein, may be used to keep the articles hygienic and sanitary until ready for use.
- Flow wrap may generally conform to the shape of the articles contained therein. If the articles comprise a clip or magazine of sheets 14 , the flow wrap may comprise a generally parallelpiped geometry.
- the flow wrap may have an opening, allowing the user to access the contents therein or dispense the contents therethrough.
- the opening may be disposed on any side or position of the flow wrap, including without limitation the short sides, long sides, intermediate sides, etc.
- the package 10 may contain articles, such as discrete sheets 14 to be dispensed. Suitable sheets 14 may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,191,609 issued Mar. 4, 1980 to Trokhan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,859 issued Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,118 issued Jul. 26, 1994 to Muckenfuhs.
- the sheets 14 may comprise natural fibers, manmade fibers, cellulosic materials, recycled materials, biodegradable materials, films, synthetic nonwovens, or combinations thereof.
- the sheets 14 may be wet, moist or dry.
- the package 10 may be water impervious if the sheets 14 are wet.
- wetting enables the sheets 14 to be used for wiping the skin as, for example, upon removal of a soiled diaper or to remove soiling from a hard surface such as a countertop.
- various additives such as perfumes, antibacterial agents, cleansers, etc. may be utilized with a lead a sheet 14 .
- a sheet 14 may be considered to have been “dispensed through” the opening 18 when it passes at least partially from inside the package 10 to outside the package 10 , either due to the consumer reaching in and grasping the sheet 14 , or the sheet 14 popping up through the opening 18 , by trailing the sheet 14 previously withdrawn by the user.
- a sheet 14 may be considered to be “withdrawn” after it has passed completely from inside the opening 18 to outside the opening 18 , and no portion or edge of the sheet 14 remains within the package 10 .
- the opening 18 may be of a first size relative to the sheets 14 .
- This first size may be designed to constrict the sheets 14 as they are pulled through the opening 18 by the user. Sheets 14 are considered to be “constricted” when they must touch the walls 30 intercepted by the opening 18 upon withdrawal by the user.
- each sheet 14 may be releasably attached to two adjacent sheets 14 by any releasable attachment which allows easy separation to occur as the sheet 14 is being dispensed or after the sheet 14 is withdrawn through the opening 18 .
- the releasable attachment should allow one sheet 14 to be readily separated from an adjacent or subsequent sheet 14 , without undue stresses being applied, tearing of either sheet 14 , or damage to the opening 18 or other portions of the package 10 .
- Each sheet 14 may be releasably attached to an adjacent sheet 14 at a lap seal or a fin seal.
- the separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a lap seal may be in shear.
- the separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a fin may be in peel.
- the seal joining adjacent sheets 14 must be strong enough to pull the succeeding sheet 14 through the opening 18 , yet allow the sheets 14 to be easily separable at the point of use.
- the lap or fin seal may comprise both bonded areas and free areas. Having both bonded areas and free areas in the seal may be important for controlling the separation forces and how the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 is exposed before separation from the succeeding sheet 14 .
- sheets 14 are common in the art, one of skill will recognize that the invention is not so limited.
- the sheets 14 may be of any size, shape and thickness which are suitable for the intended use and can be conveniently dispensed as described herein.
- the releasable attachment may comprise adhesively joining one sheet 14 to adjacent sheets 14 with skin friendly adhesive, lotion compatible adhesive, or FDA approved adhesive, as desired.
- a suitable adhesive may be supplied by Findley Adhesives Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis. as Item No. H9087-05 or by H. B. Fuller of St. Paul, Minn. as Product Code HZ-1620-B-ZP.
- releasable attachments may be utilized.
- fusion bonded releasable attachments such as ultrasonic welding or heat sealing of adjacent sheets 14 may be employed, as is well known in the art.
- mechanical entanglement releasable attachments such as needle punching, steam sealing, embossing, or crimping may be utilized as well.
- Autogeneous bonding releasable attachments such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,984 issued Aug. 8, 1989 to Ball et al. may be utilized.
- wetted sheets 14 may be releasably attached to one another through cohesion at the overlap between adjacent sheets 14 .
- the cohesion may not require an affirmative manufacturing step and may be used to augment other releasable attachments.
- a sheet 14 may be releasably attached to an adjacent sheet 14 by a plurality of frangible lands.
- frangible lands refers to a small connection separated by large cuts and joining adjacent sheets 14 . Lands may be considered to be “frangible” if, upon separation of one sheet 14 from an adjacent sheet 14 in tension, the lands 18 break prior to significant ripping or tearing of either sheet 14 . This arrangement allows perforated sheets 14 to be utilized. Of course, multiple releasable attachments may be used in any combination.
- the major depth M of the package 10 may be considered relative to the breaking strength of a releasable attachment between adjacent sheets 14 .
- the releasable attachment may be overcome by the weight of the sheet 14 between a free-hanging releasable attachment means and the magazine of sheets 14 therebelow.
- the opening 18 must become more restrictive to prevent the sheet 14 to be dispensed from falling back into the package 10 .
- the area of the opening 18 should increase to allow the sheets 14 to be dispensed therethrough.
- Each sheet 14 may have a leading edge 15 and a trailing edge 16 .
- the leading edge 15 is that edge of the sheet, which is generally first drawn through the opening 18 during dispensing.
- the trailing edge 16 is generally the last portion of the sheet 15 withdrawn through the opening 18 during dispensing.
- the trailing edge 16 of one sheet 14 may be releasably attached to the leading edge 15 of a subsequent sheet 14 .
- This arrangement allows the trailing edge 16 of the first sheet 14 to be dispensed to pull the leading edge 16 of the subsequent sheet 14 through the opening 18 .
- the releasable attachment of successive trailing edges 16 and leading edges 15 provides for sequential dispensing of the respective sheets 14 .
- the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in an interleaved pattern.
- a pattern is considered to be “interleaved” when part of a sheet 14 is behind the succeeding sheet 14 to be dispensed while the sheets 14 are disposed in that pattern prior to dispensing through opening 18 .
- pop-up dispensing may be assisted by frictional engagement between adjacent sheets 14 .
- the interleaved pattern may be assisted in maintaining popup dispensing through the addition of a releasable attachment, as discussed above. Such a releasable attachment may be disposed at the position marked with the “X.”
- the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in a non-interleaved pattern.
- a pattern is considered to be “non-interleaved” when no part of a sheet 14 is behind the succeeding sheet 14 to be dispensed while the sheets 14 are disposed in the pattern prior to dispensing through opening 18 .
- pop-up dispensing does not have to rely upon frictional engagement between adjacent sheets 14 .
- a releasable attachment may be utilized, as discussed above.
- the sheets 14 may be generally disposed in a stack.
- interleaved and non-interleaved patterns are collectively referred to as stacked patterns, as both such patterns yield a stack of the sheets 14 .
- a single interleave or non-interleave arrangement may be used in a particular stack or clip of sheets 14 .
- a given stack of sheets 14 may have plural interleave patterns, non-interleave patterns, or combinations thereof. This arrangement can be used to accommodate different empty volumes of the body 11 as more sheets 14 are dispensed or to accommodate the first sheet 14 , as desired.
- the stack may be generally flat, and parallelepipedally shaped.
- Each sheet 14 in the stack may be folded into a configuration having a footprint which is smaller than the unfolded dimensions of the sheet 14 .
- the footprint of the stack may likewise be rectangularly shaped.
- either or both dimensions of the stack may be smaller than the corresponding dimension of the unfolded sheet 14 .
- This arrangement provides a stack with a relatively smaller footprint, and which can fit in to the body 11 of the package 10 .
- Each sheet 14 in the stack may define a plane due to the folding pattern. That plane may be generally parallel to the major axis of the package 10 , and to the dispensing direction.
- This geometry provides the benefit that a package 10 of noncircular cross-section, and having the opening 18 on a small side of that package may be provided with a relatively smaller footprint. Such a geometry may also yield a package 10 having a relatively larger side facing the user and providing the aforementioned billboard effect.
- the sheets 14 need not be disposed in a flat plane as shown. If desired, the sheets 14 may be disposed in a curvilinear plane. For example, the sheets 14 may assume a curve having an S-shape or a shape with a bend at the bottom of the body 11 of the package 10 . Such a geometry may improve the ability of the sheets 14 to stand in the vertical plane, if a vertical footprint is desired for the package 10 . Such a geometry may also assist in maintaining alignment of the plane of the sheets parallel to the major axis of the package 10 and hence parallel to the primary direction of dispensing of the sheets 14 through the opening 18 .
- the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in a spiral wound pattern.
- a pattern is considered to be spiral wound when the sheets 14 are disposed in a volute pattern prior to dispensing through opening 18 .
- the sheets 14 may be rolled into a core, providing a spool of sheets 14 to be dispensed, or may be roll
- a spiral wound pattern is common with packages 10 having a circular cross-section.
- the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 may be disposed away from opening 18 .
- This geometry provides a sheet 14 , with the trailing edge 16 of that sheet 14 closer to the opening 18 than the leading edge 15 of that sheet 14 prior to dispensing.
- the sheet 14 inverts or reverses position during dispensing. This allows the sheet 14 to begin unfolding prior to dispensing through the opening 18 .
- inversion it is meant that the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 being dispensed travels back across that sheet 14 as the leading edge 15 is pulled from a position remote from the dispensing opening 18 towards the opening 18 .
- the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 that was disposed remote from opening 18 moves within the body 11 towards the opening 18 due to the withdrawal of the preceding sheet 14 .
- the sheets 14 may invert in the other plane. This allows the sheet 14 to unfold across the vertical axis, or such other axis as may be aligned with the dispensing direction. Such a geometry allows the sheet 14 to invert in two generally orthogonal planes. This arrangement provides the benefit that the sheet 14 may be less prone to tearing upon dispensing and that it may more easily unfold for use after dispensing.
- the body 11 of the package 10 may be provided with sufficient space to allow the sheet 14 to begin inversion and unfolding as the leading edge 15 reverses position from a position distal relative to opening 18 to a position proximal opening 18 . This may be particularly desirable if one is concerned with tearing of the first sheet 14 to be dispensed.
- first sheet 14 to be dispensed may not encounter the inversion discussed above. This is due to the convenience of having the first leading edge 15 disposed in proximity to the opening 18 , in order to easily start the dispensing process.
- a sheet 14 dispensed according to the present invention may have a single peak in the dispensing force, as the sheet 14 is withdrawn through the opening 18 .
- This single peak is illustrated by a single inflection point in the load-deflection curve as the sheet 14 is dispensed. This arrangement may provide more uniform and comfortable dispensing experience to the user.
- the invention is not so limited.
- the lid 22 may be placed proximal to the dispensing opening 18 .
- the dispensing opening 18 need not be juxtaposed with the top of the package 10 as illustrated.
- the dispensing opening 18 may be placed central to the package 10 , or juxtaposed with the bottom of the package 10 as desired.
- the sheets 14 may be inserted into the package 10 in a dry condition. If desired a wetting solution may later be added to the package, and allowed to equilibrate or generally diffuse through the sheets 14 .
- This arrangement provides the benefit that the sheets 14 can be manufactured and packaged in a dry condition, but presented to the consumer in a wet condition. If the solution migrates to the bottom of a generally vertical package and dispensing may occur prior to full equilibration of the solution. If so, during the inverted dispensing described herein, some transfer of that solution to the top portions of the sheets 14 can be expected to occur. Such transfer may yield a more uniform distribution of the solution to the sheets 14 .
Abstract
A package containing sheets and having an opening for dispensing the sheets from the package. The sheets may be alternatingly joined together at successive leading and trailing edges to allow pop-up dispensing. The leading edge of any sheets after the first sheet may be disposed away from the dispensing opening. This arrangement causes the sheet to invert during dispensing, allowing it to begin unfolding before dispensing is completed. If the sheets are wetted this arrangement also allows the wetting liquid to be distributed onto an adjacent sheet during dispensing without an additional step.
Description
- The present invention relates to dispensing of discrete sheets and more particularly to dispensing of discrete sheets from a container having an orifice.
- Dispensing of sheets from a container has long been done in the art. Reach-in dispensing allows multiple sheets to be dispensed at once, but can be inconvenient.
- Pop-up dispensing is more convenient, but often dictates that a more vertically oriented package be used. If the sheets are wet, the package must have a lid, to prevent undue evaporation. A seal is formed between the lid and the body of the package.
- If the seal does not have approximately equi-axed stresses, the seal may not fit tightly and evaporation may again result. This problem has been approached by using packages having a round seal and often a round cross section. However, this approach is not entirely successful. The consumer may desire a cross section having a different shape or footprint, more readily allowing indicia to be placed on a side wall of the package. Furthermore, the dispensing opening, and hence seal may not be round in such a package.
- If a package with a non-circular cross section is selected, dispensing discrete sheets may present particular challenges. If the sheets are disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the opening, an unduly large footprint may be required. If the sheets are packaged too tightly, tearing of the first few sheets to be dispensed may occur. The sheet may not easily unfold upon dispensing, particular if the sheet has cohesive forces due to wetting.
- The need for improved dispensing and for improved dispensing packages continues. This need occurs with wet and dry sheets, which are both disposable and reusable.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, shown partially in cutaway, of an exemplary package, according to the present invention having a hinged lid in an open position. -
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken a long line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the relationship between the azimuthal position of the periphery of the package and the amount of interference present at that position. -
FIGS. 4A-4E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative interleave patterns. -
FIGS. 5A-5E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative non-interleave patterns. -
FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a stack of sheets showing the inversion of the leading edge upon dispensing, the stack being in an exemplary package shown in cutaway. - The invention comprises a package. The package comprises a container having a body for holding a plurality of sheets therein and an opening for removing sheets therethrough. The body has a major axis defining a first end and a second end of said body remote therefrom. An opening may be juxtaposed with the said first end of the body. A plurality of sheets is sequentially removable from the container through the opening. Each sheet has a leading and a trailing edge remote therefrom. The sheets are disposed in a pattern whereby the trailing edge of a first sheet to be dispensed is joined to the leading edge of a second sheet to be subsequently dispensed. The leading edge is disposed further from the opening than the said trailing edge prior to dispensing of that sheet.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , thepackage 10 according to the present invention may comprise abody 11. Thepackage 10 may or may not have one or more articles placed therein. The articles are received in thebody 11 of thepackage 10. Thepackage 10 may have defined walls, may be generally parallelepipedly shaped, and may have a dispensing opening 18 therein. Alid 22 may be provided to cover theopening 18 and close thepackage 10. - If one or more articles are placed in the package, the articles may be dry, moist, wet or a combination thereof. The articles to be placed in the
package 10 may comprisesheets 14, or may be other contents as desired. - Examining the
package 10 in more detail, it may have definedwalls 30. Thewalls 30 may define a top, a bottom, front and back sides, and left and right sides. Thewalls 30 of thebody 11 andlid 22 may be generally coextensive when thelid 22 is in the closed position. Alternatively, thelid 22 may have a very different shape than thebody 11. - The
walls 30 of thepackage 10 need not be freestanding and rigid as depicted, but instead may be flaccid or resiliently deformable. This arrangement may provide apackage 10 with an amorphous shape. Material such as polyethylene film may be suitable if flaccid walls are selected for thepackage 10. If so, asuitable package 10 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,897 issued Jan. 10, 1995 to Muckenfuhs et al. Thepackage 10 may also be lightweight. By “lightweight” it is meant thepackage 10 is conveniently portable and does not have dead weight specifically added thereto. Alternatively, the walls may be rigid. Suitable materials for rigid walls include HDPE and PP. - The opening 18 may intercept both the
top wall 30 and one of theother walls 30 of thepackage 10, so that thesheets 14 may be dispensed in either a pop-up manner or a reach-in manner. Asuitable package 10 and opening 18 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,623,074 issued Nov. 18, 1986 to Dearwester or 5,516,001 issued May 14, 1996 to Muchenfuhs et al. - The opening 18 may comprise any variety of shapes, and intercept one or more walls of the
package 10. The walls may be discrete and defined from one another, and have a major depth M. Suitable material for the walls include HDPE and PP. The major depth is parallel to and may be measured coincident a major axis, which is generally the longest dimension intercepted by thepackage 10. The major depth M of thepackage 10 may be vertical if theopening 18 is on the upper surface of thepackage 10 when thepackage 10 is placed on a horizontal surface or reference plane such as a table or countertop. Such apackage 10 may have a primary dispensing direction generally parallel to the major axis. - The
opening 18 need not be juxtaposed with a particular edge of thepackage 10. Theopening 18 may be juxtaposed with the shorter edge of thepackage 10, a corner thereof, or in any other suitable configuration, including the front, back, orside walls 30. - The
opening 18 may be covered by alid 22. Thelid 22 may be juxtaposed with theopening 18, in a closed position and removed from the proximity of theopening 18 and an open position. Thelid 22 may be hingedly attached to thepackage 10, particularly thebody 11. If so, one or more hinges 24 may join thebody 11 andlid 22 so that one that may move relative to the other by articulation. Alternatively, thelid 22 may be totally removable from thebody 11, and not attached byhinges 24 or other means. - The
package 10 may have a circular or noncircular cross section. Exemplary non-circular cross sections include squares, ovals, rectangles and other cross sections having an aspect ratio not equal to unity. A noncircular cross-section provides the benefit that a flat surface may be presented to someone looking at thepackage 10. This arrangement provides the benefit that a label, advertising, instructions, graphics or other indicia may be placed on the flat surface and provide a billboard effect to the viewer. Furthermore, if thepackage 10 having a noncircular cross section is dropped on its side, such apackage 10 will not roll. - If a generally parallelepipedally shaped
package 10 is selected, thehinges 24 may be generally horizontally disposed when the package sits on in a counter or table. If theopening 18 is at the top of thepackage 10, the axis of thehinge 24 may be generally perpendicular to the primary dispensing direction. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thehinge 24 may be disposed on one of the long sides or one of the short sides of apackage 10 having a generally rectangular cross section. While apackage 10 having twohinges 24 equally spaced from the sides is shown, the invention is not so limited. Apackage 10 having asingle hinge 24, two hinges 24 or three or more hinges 24 may be utilized. The hinges 24 may be collinear and of equal or unequal length, spacing, etc. - The
hinge 24 may be a livinghinge 24. A livinghinge 24 may be made of a single piece of material, integrally joined to both thebody 11 andlid 22. The livinghinge 24 may have a region of reduced thickness, about which the articulation occurs and they thereby defines the axis of thehinge 24. Alternatively, thehinge 24 may be a hook-and-eye configuration, apiano hinge 24, abutt hinge 24 or any other configuration, which allows articulation between thebody 11 andlid 22. - Alternatively, the
lid 22 may be completely detachable from thebody 11. In such an embodiment thelid 22 may be removably joined to thebody 11. In such an embodiment, thelid 22 may be joined to thebody 11 upon closure by the interference fit around the periphery. - The
lid 22 andbody 11 may be joined at an interference that when the lid is in the closed position. An interference fit occurs when the material of either thelid 22 orbody 11 slightly displaces the material of the other upon closure of thelid 22. Such displacement may be elastic, due to the resilient material properties of thelid 22 and/orbody 11. Thebody 11 may have aperiphery 23, about which thelid 22 fits upon closure. Alternatively, thelid 22 may fit inside theperiphery 23 of thebody 11 upon closure. - The
periphery 23 may be generally perpendicular to the major axis of thepackage 10. Alternatively, theperiphery 23 may be disposed in acute angular relationship relative to the major axis of thepackage 10, as shown. Theopening 18 may be disposed within the boundary of theperiphery 23. - The
periphery 23 may have a sealing surface which is generally parallel to the major axis of thepackage 10. The sealing surface may avoid a snap or locking engagement, such as may occur with if an undercut is present. Therefore the sealing surface may be smooth and be provided without an undercut. For thepackage 10 described herein, a sealing surface having a dimension of about 3 to about 7 mm, particularly about 5 mm, taken parallel to the major axis may be suitable. - The interference fit provides a seal between the
body 11 andlid 22. By seal it is meant that a barrier to evaporation or the transfer of gas into or out of thepackage 10 is present. The seal may also prevent intrusion of contamination into thepackage 10, providing for sanitary and hygienic storage of the contents. The seal may also prevent intrusion of oxygen, air, etc. into thepackage 10. - The interference fit may be quantified by the amount of deformation or overlap which occurs between the
body 11 andlid 22 upon closure. In the embodiment shown, the interference is measured radially, generally perpendicular to theperiphery 23 at any point. The radial measurement is taken generally perpendicular to the major axis of thepackage 10. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , the amount of interference may be of a first dimension throughout a first portion of theperiphery 23. In one embodiment, the first portion of theperiphery 23 is that portion of theperiphery 23 which does not correspond in circumferential position to any of the hinges 24. For the embodiment shown, having a generally rectangular cross section with dimensions of approximately 100 millimeters and 52 mm, the interference at the first portion may range from about 0.15 to about 0.35 mm, and particularly be about 0.25 mm. - The amount of interference may be of a second dimension throughout a second portion of the
periphery 23. The second portion of theperiphery 23 is that portion of theperiphery 23 which corresponds in circumferential position to any of the hinges 24. For the embodiment shown, having a generally rectangular cross section with dimensions of approximately 100 millimeters and 52 mm, the interference at the second portion may range from about 0.10 to about 0.20 mm, and particularly be about 0.15 mm. - The amount of interference at the second portion is less than the amount of interference at the first portion. Generally, the interference at the second portion of the periphery may be greater than zero, although an interference of zero may be suitable for the second portion. Likewise, if a relatively short portion of the
periphery 23 is disposed between twohinges 24, such portion of the periphery may also have the lesser amount of interference fit imparted to the second portion of theperiphery 23. - As illustrated by the foregoing example, the second dimension is less than the first dimension. This relative proportion minimizes the amount of tension or other radial forces imparted by the
hinges 24, to the seal. By minimizing such tension or other radial forces a more uniform compression can be exerted throughout all circumferential positions of the seal. This arrangement provides a more stable and uniform seal, minimizing evaporation of moist or wet contents from thebody 11 of thepackage 10. - In another embodiment, the second portion of the
periphery 23 may be that portion of theperiphery 23 which is juxtaposed with the corners. Since the corners are inherently more rigid than the planar portions of thewalls 30, the interference may be less at the corners and an adequate seal still occur. Similarly, the interference may be less at theshorter walls 30 than thelonger walls 30. Theshorter walls 30 are inherently stiffer thanlonger walls 30 of like thickness, therefore making it feasible to have a greater interference for thelonger walls 30 thanshorter walls 30. - This arrangement provides the benefit that a
noncircular periphery 23 may be employed. A noncircular periphery has differential stresses, due to the asymmetry inherent with the short sides and long sides of the seal. By minimizing differences in the stress field around anoncircular periphery 23, a more uniform seal can be obtained for and throughout thenoncircular periphery 23. Anoncircular periphery 23 may be particularly advantageous with apackage 10 having a noncircular cross-section. As noted above, apackage 10 having a noncircular cross-section provides the benefit of a flat surface, which is more readily seen by someone looking at thepackage 10. - While the interference provides a friction fit between the
body 11 and alid 22, thepackage 10 may further comprise a closure. The closure may be any device, which impedes opening of the way of 11 when it is in the closed position. Suitable closures include snaps, various seals, hook and loop fasteners, latches, etc. - The
package 10 may be disposable or refillable. By “disposable” is meant thepackage 10 is intended to be discarded after the contents supplied therewith are depleted. Such apackage 10 is not intended to be restocked with articles. Likewise, eachsheet 14 or other article placed in thepackage 10 may be discarded after a single use, and not laundered or otherwise restored. By “refillable” it is meant thepackage 10 is or may be restocked with articles after the supply is depleted.Such sheets 14, or other articles, may be disposable or reusable. - If desired, wet or
moist sheets 14 may be packaged in a flow wrap, as is known in the art. A flow wrap is a polymeric film or other type of impervious wrapper which can be used to coversheets 14 or articles, as desired. The flow wrap may be used to prevent evaporation of moisture of the articles contained therein, may be used to keep the articles hygienic and sanitary until ready for use. - Flow wrap may generally conform to the shape of the articles contained therein. If the articles comprise a clip or magazine of
sheets 14, the flow wrap may comprise a generally parallelpiped geometry. The flow wrap may have an opening, allowing the user to access the contents therein or dispense the contents therethrough. The opening may be disposed on any side or position of the flow wrap, including without limitation the short sides, long sides, intermediate sides, etc. - The
package 10 may contain articles, such asdiscrete sheets 14 to be dispensed.Suitable sheets 14 may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,191,609 issued Mar. 4, 1980 to Trokhan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,859 issued Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,118 issued Jul. 26, 1994 to Muckenfuhs. Thesheets 14 may comprise natural fibers, manmade fibers, cellulosic materials, recycled materials, biodegradable materials, films, synthetic nonwovens, or combinations thereof. Thesheets 14 may be wet, moist or dry. One skilled in the art will recognize that thepackage 10 may be water impervious if thesheets 14 are wet. Wetting enables thesheets 14 to be used for wiping the skin as, for example, upon removal of a soiled diaper or to remove soiling from a hard surface such as a countertop. Of course, it will be apparent at various additives such as perfumes, antibacterial agents, cleansers, etc. may be utilized with a lead asheet 14. - A
sheet 14 may be considered to have been “dispensed through” theopening 18 when it passes at least partially from inside thepackage 10 to outside thepackage 10, either due to the consumer reaching in and grasping thesheet 14, or thesheet 14 popping up through theopening 18, by trailing thesheet 14 previously withdrawn by the user. Asheet 14 may be considered to be “withdrawn” after it has passed completely from inside theopening 18 to outside theopening 18, and no portion or edge of thesheet 14 remains within thepackage 10. - The
opening 18 may be of a first size relative to thesheets 14. This first size may be designed to constrict thesheets 14 as they are pulled through theopening 18 by the user.Sheets 14 are considered to be “constricted” when they must touch thewalls 30 intercepted by theopening 18 upon withdrawal by the user. - The sheets may be sequentially dispensed through the
opening 18 by popup dispensing. In such sequential dispensing, eachsheet 14 may be releasably attached to twoadjacent sheets 14 by any releasable attachment which allows easy separation to occur as thesheet 14 is being dispensed or after thesheet 14 is withdrawn through theopening 18. The releasable attachment should allow onesheet 14 to be readily separated from an adjacent orsubsequent sheet 14, without undue stresses being applied, tearing of eithersheet 14, or damage to theopening 18 or other portions of thepackage 10. - Each
sheet 14 may be releasably attached to anadjacent sheet 14 at a lap seal or a fin seal. The separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a lap seal, may be in shear. The separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a fin may be in peel. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the seal joiningadjacent sheets 14 must be strong enough to pull the succeedingsheet 14 through theopening 18, yet allow thesheets 14 to be easily separable at the point of use. In either arrangement, the lap or fin seal may comprise both bonded areas and free areas. Having both bonded areas and free areas in the seal may be important for controlling the separation forces and how the leadingedge 15 of thesheet 14 is exposed before separation from the succeedingsheet 14. - While
rectangular sheets 14 are common in the art, one of skill will recognize that the invention is not so limited. Thesheets 14 may be of any size, shape and thickness which are suitable for the intended use and can be conveniently dispensed as described herein. - The releasable attachment may comprise adhesively joining one
sheet 14 toadjacent sheets 14 with skin friendly adhesive, lotion compatible adhesive, or FDA approved adhesive, as desired. A suitable adhesive may be supplied by Findley Adhesives Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis. as Item No. H9087-05 or by H. B. Fuller of St. Paul, Minn. as Product Code HZ-1620-B-ZP. - In order to save material costs, other releasable attachments may be utilized. For example, fusion bonded releasable attachments, such as ultrasonic welding or heat sealing of
adjacent sheets 14 may be employed, as is well known in the art. Additionally, mechanical entanglement releasable attachments, such as needle punching, steam sealing, embossing, or crimping may be utilized as well. Autogeneous bonding releasable attachments, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,984 issued Aug. 8, 1989 to Ball et al. may be utilized. - It will further be apparent that wetted
sheets 14 may be releasably attached to one another through cohesion at the overlap betweenadjacent sheets 14. The cohesion may not require an affirmative manufacturing step and may be used to augment other releasable attachments. - Alternatively, a
sheet 14 may be releasably attached to anadjacent sheet 14 by a plurality of frangible lands. As used herein a “land” refers to a small connection separated by large cuts and joiningadjacent sheets 14. Lands may be considered to be “frangible” if, upon separation of onesheet 14 from anadjacent sheet 14 in tension, thelands 18 break prior to significant ripping or tearing of eithersheet 14. This arrangement allows perforatedsheets 14 to be utilized. Of course, multiple releasable attachments may be used in any combination. - If the
package 10 containssheets 14 to be dispensed, the major depth M of thepackage 10 may be considered relative to the breaking strength of a releasable attachment betweenadjacent sheets 14. The releasable attachment may be overcome by the weight of thesheet 14 between a free-hanging releasable attachment means and the magazine ofsheets 14 therebelow. As thepackage 10 becomes taller in the vertical direction, and the weight of afree hanging sheet 14 increases, theopening 18 must become more restrictive to prevent thesheet 14 to be dispensed from falling back into thepackage 10. Furthermore, as thesheets 14 become thicker, the area of theopening 18 should increase to allow thesheets 14 to be dispensed therethrough. - Each
sheet 14 may have aleading edge 15 and a trailingedge 16. The leadingedge 15 is that edge of the sheet, which is generally first drawn through theopening 18 during dispensing. The trailingedge 16 is generally the last portion of thesheet 15 withdrawn through theopening 18 during dispensing. - The trailing
edge 16 of onesheet 14 may be releasably attached to the leadingedge 15 of asubsequent sheet 14. This arrangement allows the trailingedge 16 of thefirst sheet 14 to be dispensed to pull the leadingedge 16 of thesubsequent sheet 14 through theopening 18. The releasable attachment ofsuccessive trailing edges 16 and leadingedges 15 provides for sequential dispensing of therespective sheets 14. - Referring to
FIGS. 4A-4E , thesheets 14 may be disposed in apackage 10 in an interleaved pattern. A pattern is considered to be “interleaved” when part of asheet 14 is behind the succeedingsheet 14 to be dispensed while thesheets 14 are disposed in that pattern prior to dispensing throughopening 18. Thus, in an interleaved pattern ofsheets 14 according to the present invention, pop-up dispensing may be assisted by frictional engagement betweenadjacent sheets 14. The interleaved pattern may be assisted in maintaining popup dispensing through the addition of a releasable attachment, as discussed above. Such a releasable attachment may be disposed at the position marked with the “X.” - Referring to
FIGS. 5A-5E , thesheets 14 may be disposed in apackage 10 in a non-interleaved pattern. A pattern is considered to be “non-interleaved” when no part of asheet 14 is behind the succeedingsheet 14 to be dispensed while thesheets 14 are disposed in the pattern prior to dispensing throughopening 18. Thus, in a non-interleaved pattern ofsheets 14 according to the present invention, pop-up dispensing does not have to rely upon frictional engagement betweenadjacent sheets 14. Again, a releasable attachment may be utilized, as discussed above. - In either an interleaved pattern or a non-interleaved pattern, the
sheets 14 may be generally disposed in a stack. Thus, interleaved and non-interleaved patterns are collectively referred to as stacked patterns, as both such patterns yield a stack of thesheets 14. - One of skill will recognize that a single interleave or non-interleave arrangement may be used in a particular stack or clip of
sheets 14. Alternatively a given stack ofsheets 14 may have plural interleave patterns, non-interleave patterns, or combinations thereof. This arrangement can be used to accommodate different empty volumes of thebody 11 asmore sheets 14 are dispensed or to accommodate thefirst sheet 14, as desired. - The stack may be generally flat, and parallelepipedally shaped. Each
sheet 14 in the stack may be folded into a configuration having a footprint which is smaller than the unfolded dimensions of thesheet 14. For example, if thesheet 14 is rectangularly shaped, the footprint of the stack may likewise be rectangularly shaped. However, either or both dimensions of the stack may be smaller than the corresponding dimension of the unfoldedsheet 14. This arrangement provides a stack with a relatively smaller footprint, and which can fit in to thebody 11 of thepackage 10. - Each
sheet 14 in the stack may define a plane due to the folding pattern. That plane may be generally parallel to the major axis of thepackage 10, and to the dispensing direction. This geometry provides the benefit that apackage 10 of noncircular cross-section, and having the opening 18 on a small side of that package may be provided with a relatively smaller footprint. Such a geometry may also yield apackage 10 having a relatively larger side facing the user and providing the aforementioned billboard effect. - The
sheets 14 need not be disposed in a flat plane as shown. If desired, thesheets 14 may be disposed in a curvilinear plane. For example, thesheets 14 may assume a curve having an S-shape or a shape with a bend at the bottom of thebody 11 of thepackage 10. Such a geometry may improve the ability of thesheets 14 to stand in the vertical plane, if a vertical footprint is desired for thepackage 10. Such a geometry may also assist in maintaining alignment of the plane of the sheets parallel to the major axis of thepackage 10 and hence parallel to the primary direction of dispensing of thesheets 14 through theopening 18. - Alternatively, the
sheets 14 may be disposed in apackage 10 in a spiral wound pattern. A pattern is considered to be spiral wound when thesheets 14 are disposed in a volute pattern prior to dispensing throughopening 18. In such a configuration thesheets 14 may be rolled into a core, providing a spool ofsheets 14 to be dispensed, or may be roll A spiral wound pattern is common withpackages 10 having a circular cross-section. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , if desired the leadingedge 15 of thesheet 14 may be disposed away from opening 18. This geometry provides asheet 14, with the trailingedge 16 of thatsheet 14 closer to theopening 18 than the leadingedge 15 of thatsheet 14 prior to dispensing. In such an embodiment, thesheet 14 inverts or reverses position during dispensing. This allows thesheet 14 to begin unfolding prior to dispensing through theopening 18. By inversion it is meant that the leadingedge 15 of thesheet 14 being dispensed travels back across thatsheet 14 as the leadingedge 15 is pulled from a position remote from the dispensingopening 18 towards theopening 18. During dispensing, the leadingedge 15 of thesheet 14 that was disposed remote from opening 18 moves within thebody 11 towards the opening 18 due to the withdrawal of the precedingsheet 14. - Additionally, the
sheets 14 may invert in the other plane. This allows thesheet 14 to unfold across the vertical axis, or such other axis as may be aligned with the dispensing direction. Such a geometry allows thesheet 14 to invert in two generally orthogonal planes. This arrangement provides the benefit that thesheet 14 may be less prone to tearing upon dispensing and that it may more easily unfold for use after dispensing. - If such an arrangement is elected, the
body 11 of thepackage 10 may be provided with sufficient space to allow thesheet 14 to begin inversion and unfolding as the leadingedge 15 reverses position from a position distal relative to opening 18 to a positionproximal opening 18. This may be particularly desirable if one is concerned with tearing of thefirst sheet 14 to be dispensed. - One of skill will recognize that the
first sheet 14 to be dispensed may not encounter the inversion discussed above. This is due to the convenience of having the first leadingedge 15 disposed in proximity to theopening 18, in order to easily start the dispensing process. - A
sheet 14 dispensed according to the present invention may have a single peak in the dispensing force, as thesheet 14 is withdrawn through theopening 18. This single peak is illustrated by a single inflection point in the load-deflection curve as thesheet 14 is dispensed. This arrangement may provide more uniform and comfortable dispensing experience to the user. - While a
package 10 having alid 22 disposed above thebody 11 is illustrated, the invention is not so limited. Thelid 22 may be placed proximal to the dispensingopening 18. The dispensingopening 18 need not be juxtaposed with the top of thepackage 10 as illustrated. The dispensingopening 18 may be placed central to thepackage 10, or juxtaposed with the bottom of thepackage 10 as desired. - The
sheets 14 may be inserted into thepackage 10 in a dry condition. If desired a wetting solution may later be added to the package, and allowed to equilibrate or generally diffuse through thesheets 14. This arrangement provides the benefit that thesheets 14 can be manufactured and packaged in a dry condition, but presented to the consumer in a wet condition. If the solution migrates to the bottom of a generally vertical package and dispensing may occur prior to full equilibration of the solution. If so, during the inverted dispensing described herein, some transfer of that solution to the top portions of thesheets 14 can be expected to occur. Such transfer may yield a more uniform distribution of the solution to thesheets 14.
Claims (18)
1. A package comprising:
a container, said container having a body for holding a plurality of sheets therein and an opening for removing sheets therethrough, said body having a major axis defining a first end and a second end of said body remote therefrom, said opening being juxtaposed with said first end of said body; and
a plurality of sheets, said sheets being sequentially removable from said container through said opening, each said sheet having a leading and a trailing edge remote therefrom, said sheets being disposed in a pattern whereby the trailing edge of a first sheet to be dispensed is joined to the leading edge of a consecutive sheet to be subsequently dispensed, said leading edge being disposed further from said opening than said trailing edge prior to dispensing of that sheet.
2. A package according to claim 1 wherein said container is generally parallelepipedally shaped.
3. A package according to claim 2 wherein said package has a top and a bottom, said opening being juxtaposed with said top of said package.
4. A package according to claim 3 wherein said sheets are folded in an overlapping configuration with the trailing edge of said first sheet overlapping the leading edge of said second sheet.
5. A package according to claim 4 wherein said sheets are folded in a Z pattern.
6. A package according to claim 4 wherein said first sheet and said second sheet are joined at an overlap by a releasable attachment.
7. A package according to claim 6 wherein said releasable attachment comprises adhesive.
8. A package according to claim 7 wherein said adhesive comprises a discrete quantity of adhesive, said discrete quantity not extending throughout the width of said sheet.
9. A package according to claim 8 wherein said discrete quantity of adhesive is disposed within about 35 mm of said trailing edge of said sheet.
10. A package according to claim 7 wherein said sheets are wetted.
11. A package according to claim 10 further comprising a lid openable and closable relative to said opening, said lid covering said opening when closed.
12. A package according to claim 2 wherein said stack of wipes has a footprint within said container, said footprint being generally rectangular.
13. A package according to claim 12 wherein said plurality wipes forms a plane, said plane being curvilinear.
14. A package according to claim 13 wherein said plane is generally parallel to said major axis of said body of said container.
15. A package comprising:
a container, said container having a body for holding a plurality of sheets therein and an opening for removing sheets from said container, said body having a major axis defining a first end and a second end of said body remote therefrom, said opening being juxtaposed with said first end of said body; and
a plurality of sheets folded in a predetermined pattern to have a leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading edge being substantially dispensed through said opening before said trailing edge, said sheets being releasably joined together at a first location defined by a common position of a trailing edge of a first sheet and a leading edge of a subsequent sheet, said first location of a sheet being remote from said opening relative to a respective trailing edge of that sheet prior to said to dispensing of the leading edge of said that sheet therethrough.
16. A package according to claim 15 wherein said first location is juxtaposed with said second end of said package.
17. A method of removing a sheet from a container, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a package, said package comprising a container having a plurality of sheets therein and an opening for dispensing said sheets therethrough, said sheets being joined together at alternating leading edges and trailing edges, whereby the leading edge of one said sheet can pull a successive sheet by a respective trailing edge, whereby said leading edge of said sheet is disposed in said container remote from said opening;
pulling a leading edge of a first sheet through said opening to at least partially remove said sheet from said container, whereby the trailing edge of said sheet and a leading edge of a successive sheet removably joined thereto, can follow;
having said sheet reverse its disposition in said container whereby said leading edge disposed in said container remote from said opening approaches said opening and exits said container therethrough.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said dispensing opening is juxtaposed with the top of said container and further comprising the steps of:
disposing a liquid in said container; and
distributing said liquid from one sheet being dispensed to a successive, adjacent sheet by pulling the leading edge of said sheet being dispensed past said successive sheet while in contact therewith during dispensing.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/377,788 US20070215629A1 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2006-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing |
PCT/IB2007/050918 WO2007105184A2 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2007-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing |
EP07735148A EP1993930A2 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2007-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and dispensing |
MX2008011925A MX2008011925A (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2007-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing. |
CA2646276A CA2646276C (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2007-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/377,788 US20070215629A1 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2006-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing |
Publications (1)
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US20070215629A1 true US20070215629A1 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
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US11/377,788 Abandoned US20070215629A1 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2006-03-16 | Sheets having inverting dispensing pattern, dispenser therefor and method of dispensing |
Country Status (5)
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US (1) | US20070215629A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1993930A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2646276C (en) |
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WO (1) | WO2007105184A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014123771A2 (en) | 2013-02-08 | 2014-08-14 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Kit for fluffing a cleaning article |
EP4071083A3 (en) * | 2021-04-11 | 2023-03-08 | Knieler & Team GmbH | Packaging unit containing wipes impregnated with cleaning and / or disinfecting liquids |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6962890B2 (en) * | 2018-09-28 | 2021-11-05 | 大王製紙株式会社 | Wet sheet laminate, wet sheet package and wet sheet laminate manufacturing method |
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JP2003135305A (en) * | 2001-10-30 | 2003-05-13 | Fukuyoo Kosan Kk | Web laminate double folded in v-shape and packaging body thereof |
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2006
- 2006-03-16 US US11/377,788 patent/US20070215629A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2007
- 2007-03-16 WO PCT/IB2007/050918 patent/WO2007105184A2/en active Application Filing
- 2007-03-16 CA CA2646276A patent/CA2646276C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-03-16 EP EP07735148A patent/EP1993930A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-03-16 MX MX2008011925A patent/MX2008011925A/en unknown
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014123771A2 (en) | 2013-02-08 | 2014-08-14 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Kit for fluffing a cleaning article |
EP3189761A2 (en) | 2013-02-08 | 2017-07-12 | The Procter and Gamble Company | Kit comprising a package and at least one cleaning article |
EP4071083A3 (en) * | 2021-04-11 | 2023-03-08 | Knieler & Team GmbH | Packaging unit containing wipes impregnated with cleaning and / or disinfecting liquids |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2646276C (en) | 2011-07-12 |
WO2007105184A3 (en) | 2007-11-22 |
WO2007105184A2 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
MX2008011925A (en) | 2008-09-29 |
EP1993930A2 (en) | 2008-11-26 |
CA2646276A1 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, THE, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WONG, ARTHUR (NMN);REEL/FRAME:017731/0923 Effective date: 20060510 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION |