WO2000051482A1

WO2000051482A1 - Dispenser box for cleaning tissues

Info

Publication number: WO2000051482A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/001765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Franz
Original assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-03-02
Filing date: 2000-03-01
Publication date: 2000-09-08
Also published as: DE29903732U1; CA2362512A1; AU3162300A

Abstract

A dispenser box (100) for cleaning tissues (48) is provided for cleaning sanitary facilities or surface areas in a WC and bathroom area etc., comprising a body (10) for accommodating a pile of cleaning tissues (48) including a head part (12) and a base part (14), said body (10) being configured open at said head part (12), it being closable by a mountable cover part (16) and an extraction opening (30) for said cleaning tissues (48) arranged in said body (10) being configured in said cover part (16). Such dispenser boxes often fail to be configured handy and necessitate use of both hands to extract a cleaning tissue and the undivided attention of the user. The invention thus proposes said body (10) to be configured cuboidal including two opposite broad sides (20), two opposite narrow sides (22) and a predetermined height, whereby a broad side (20) width is greater than a narrow side (22) width and the height is greater than said broad side (20) width. Moreover, a standing part (18) is provided having outline dimensions greater than said body (10), said base part (14) of said body (10) and said standing part (18) being configured such that said standing part (18) is releasably mounted on said base part.

Description

Dispenser Box for Cleaning Tissues

The invention relates to a dispenser box for cleaning tissues for cleaning sanitary facilities or surface areas in a C and bathroom area, such as for example, toilets, WC seat, bowl, lid and flushing cistern, fittings or wash basins, the dispenser box comprising a body for accommodating a pile of cleaning tissues, including a head part and a base part, the body being configured open at the head part, it being closable by a mountable cover part and an extraction opening for the cleaning tissues arranged in the body being configured in the cover part, as set forth in the preamble of claim 1.

Conventional dispenser boxes of the aforementioned kind often fail to be configured handy and necessitate use of both hands to extract a cleaning tissue and the undivided attention of the user which is a nuisance and a drawback.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser box of the aforementioned kind which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages .

This object is achieved by a dispenser box of the aforementioned kind having the features as set forth in claim 1.

For this purpose it is provided for in accordance with the invention that the body is configured cuboidal including two opposite broad sides, two opposite narrow sides and a predetermined height, whereby a broad side width is greater than a narrow side width and the height is greater than the broad side width, and that a standing part is provided having outline dimensions greater than the body, the base part of the body and the standing part being configured such that the standing part is releasably mounted on the base part.

This has the advantage that a slim dispenser box is made available, whose height roughly corresponds to that of a pack of cleaning tissues to be arranged in the body, to thus facilitate handling. The body of the dispenser box is securely gripped and held in one hand. Despite the slim configuration the dispenser box can be stood by the standing part on a flat floor surface and thus provides facilitated access in use. Due to the standing part being removable from the body a plurality of dispenser boxes permits facilitated stacking and thus compact storage thereof.

Preferred further embodiments of the apparatus read from the claims 2 to 12.

In one preferred embodiment the width ratio of one broad side to one narrow side is three or more, more particularly 3.8 and the ratio of the width of the broad side to the height is two or more, more particularly 2.11. In this arrangement the broad side has a length of 9 cm to 10 cm and a narrow side has a length 2 cm to 3 cm. The height amounts to 20 cm, for example.

A pleasing design combined with surface areas for facilitated gripping is achieved by at least one of the two narrow sides being configured rounded.

Expediently the base part comprises in the outline direction of the body a ridge such that the outline dimensions of the base part are smaller than the outline dimensions of the body, the standing part being configured tubular with a cross-section adapted to the outline dimensions of the base part such that the base part is fully insertable into the standing part. For reliably secure receival of the cover part the head part of the body is configured widened by a bulge on the broad sides relative to the width of the narrow sides. This simultaneously provides a good grip so that the handheld dispenser box cannot slip down through the hand because the bulge widening of the head part stops in the hand.

An elegant design of the slim standing dispenser box is achieved in that the width of the narrow sides and/or broad sides is conically tapered from the head part in the direction of the base part of the body.

An airtight closure of the cleaning tissues arranged in the body is achieved in that a cover optionally closing off the extraction opening is provided on the cover part.

A reliably functioning and simple to use apparatus is achievable at low production cost in that the cover is hinged to the cover part by a film- ype hinge.

For reliably secure closing-off of the extraction opening by means of the cover an upright pin is provided on the cover and a hole configured in the cover part so that on closing the cover the pin engages the hole.

For facilitated cleaning tissue extraction with automatic singling of a cleaning tissue as soon as a perforation has attained the extraction opening, the extraction opening comprises a cross-slit with flexible wall portions.

The invention will now be detained with reference to the attached drawings in which

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of one preferred embodiment of a dispenser box in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of a body of the dispenser box in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a cover part of the dispenser box in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a standing part of the dispenser box in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a view from underneath and

Fig. 7 is an illustration depicting filling the dispenser box in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 1 with cleaning tissues.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of a dispenser box 100 in accordance with the invention comprising a body 10 with a head part 12 and a base part 14, a cover part 16 and a standing part 18. As also particularly evident from Figs. 2 and 3 the body 10 comprises two opposite broad sides 20 and two opposite narrow sides 22 which are conically tapered from the head part 12 in the direction of the base part 14. The narrow sides 22 are configured rounded cross-sectionally (Fig. 3), the broad sides 20 too, comprising a slightly rounded cross-section (Fig. 3).

In the portion 24 of the broad sides 20 the head part 12 is configured widened by a bulge and releasably mounts the correspondingly configured cover part 16 in an opening 26 configured correspondingly on the head part 12. The body 10 forms together with the mounted cover part 16 a cavity for accommodating cleaning tissues. The base part 14 is offset from the body 10 by a ridge 28 and has smaller outline dimensions than the body 10.

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is illustrated in detail the cover part 16 insertable into the opening 26. The cover part 16 comprises a cross-slit extraction opening 30 with flexible side walls 32, it being through this extraction opening 30 that the cleaning tissues, accommodated in the cavity of the body 10 where they are protected from drying out, are extractable. Furthermore for optionally closing off the extraction opening 30 a cover 34 is hinged to the cover part 16 by a film-type hinge 36. The cover 34 comprises an upright pin 38 which engages a hole 40 in the cover part 16 on closure of the extraction opening 30 such that the cover 34 is arrested in the condition closing off the extraction opening 30. This arresting action is releasable by exerting a corresponding manual force in hinging open the cover 34 about the film hinge 36 to expose the extraction opening 30 or making it accessible for extracting cleaning tissues. Due to the cover 34 the cleaning tissues are closed off airtight in the body and protected from drying out.

To extract cleaning tissues from the dispenser box the cover 34 is opened and a cleaning tissue protruding from the extraction opening is taken hold of by fingers and pulled out. The cleaning tissues arranged in the body 10 are connected to each other by perforations, each of which tears in passing through the extraction opening 30 with the flexible side walls 32, the next cleaning tissue thereby protruding from the extraction opening 30 by a section ready for extraction.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated the standing part 18 configured tubular with an inner circumference corresponding to the outer circumference of the base part 14, the inner circumference of the standing part 18 being configured cross-sectionally somewhat smaller than the outer circumference of the base part 14 so that the base part 14 is insertable into the standing part 18. At the broad sides 42 corresponding to the broad sides 20 of the body the standing part 18 is bulged divergingly in a portion 44 analogous to the head part so that as regards the body 10 a larger outer circumference materializes as is evident from Fig. 6. This results in a good standing surface for the dispenser box 100. However, an inner part 46 is provided which extends over the full height of the standing part and in the mounted condition contacts an outer circumference of the base part 14 so that a tight connection between the standing part 18 and the base part 14 of the body 10 is assured. This also results in a certain friction force between the outer circumference of the base part 14 and the inner part 46 so that the standing part 18 is unable to detach by itself from the base part 14, this instead requiring a predetermined force to be exerted.

The dispenser box in accordance with the invention is designed for a sure grip and reliable handhold. Removing the releasably mounted standing part 18 permits good stacking of a plurality of dispenser boxes so that they make for a compact arrangement in both placement and transportation.

Referring now to Fig.7 there is illustrated how the dispenser box 100 in accordance with the invention may also be used as a refill box. Once the fill of cleaning tissues 48 has been used up, the cover part 16 is removed from the body 10 and an empty packaging sleeve 50 removed from the dispenser box 100 and a full packaging sleeve 50 with cleaning tissues 48 inserted into the dispenser box 100 or body 10. This packaging sleeve 50 is then opened and the first cleaning tissue 48 pulled through the cross-slit extraction opening 30 by its free end. Then the cover part 16 is reinserted into the opening 26 of the body 10 and the dispenser box 100 is again ready for extraction of cleaning tissues 48 for hygienic intermediate cleaning of sanitary facilities or surface areas in a WC and bathroom area, such as for example, toilets, WC seat, bowl, lid and flushing cistern, or wash basins and fittings often needing cleaning. For this purpose the moist cleaning tissues 48 are expediently fabricated of an environmentally-compatible special tissue and are thus suitable for disposal via WC flushing. An antibacterial coating or solution impregnating the cleaning tissues 48 correspondingly enhances the cleaning effect.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

dispenser box body head part base part cover part standing part broad sides narrow sides bulge widening portion of head part opening ridge extraction opening side walls cover film-type hinge pin hole broad sides of standing part bulge widening portion inner part cleaning tissues packaging sleeve

Claims

1. A dispenser box (100) for cleaning tissues (48) for cleaning sanitary facilities or surface areas in a WC and bathroom area, such as for example, toilets, WC seat, bowl, lid and flushing cistern, fittings or wash basins, said dispenser box (100) comprising a body (10) for accommodating a pile of cleaning tissues (48) including a head part (12) and a base part (14), said body (10) being configured open at said head part (12), it being closable by a mountable cover part (16) and an extraction opening (30) for said cleaning tissues (48) arranged in said body (10) being configured in said cover part (16) characterized in that said body (10) is configured cuboidal including two opposite broad sides (20), two opposite narrow sides (22) and a predetermined height, whereby a broad side (20) width is greater than a narrow side (22) width and the height is greater than said broad side (20) width, and that a standing part (18) is provided having outline dimensions greater than said body (10), said base part (14) of said body (10) and said standing part (18) being configured such that said standing part (18) is releasably mounted on said base part (14).

2. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the width ratio of a broad side (20) to a narrow side (22) is three or more, more particularly 3.8

3. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ratio of said width of a broad side (20) to said height is two or more, more particularly 2.11.

4. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said broad side (20) has a length of 9 cm to 10 cm and said narrow side (22) has a length 2 cm to 3 cm and said height amounts to 20 cm.

5. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said two narrow sides (22) is configured rounded.

6. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base part (14) comprises on the outline direction of said body (10) a ridge (28) such that the outline dimensions of said base part (14) are smaller than the outline dimensions of said body (10), said standing part (18) being configured tubular with a cross-section adapted to the outline dimensions of said base part (14) such that said base part (14) is fully insertable into said standing part (18).

7. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head part (12) of said body (10) is configured widened by a bulge on said broad sides (20) as regards said width of said narrow sides (22).

8. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said width of said narrow sides (22) and/or of said broad sides (20) is conically tapered from said head part (12) in the direction of said base part (14) of said body (10).

9. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover (34) optionally closing off said extraction opening

(30) is provided on said cover part (16).

10. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that said cover (34) is hinged to said cover part (16) by a film- type hinge (36) .

11. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in claim 9 or 10 characterized in that on said cover (34) an upright pin (38) is provided on said cover (34) and a hole (40) configured in said cover part (16) so that on closing said cover (34) said pin (38) engages said hole (40).

12. The dispenser box (100) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extraction opening (30) comprises a cross-slit with flexible wall portions (32).