GB2447415A

GB2447415A - Sheets dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2447415A
Application number: GB0704743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Etienne Vincent Bunoz; Geoffery Sallows; Marten Teasdale-Brown
Original assignee: PLUSWIPES Ltd
Current assignee: PLUSWIPES Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2007-03-12
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Also published as: GB0704743D0; WO2008110770A1

Abstract

A sheets dispenser comprises a container 2 and a plurality of sheets 3 in the form of a roll of wet wipes to be dispensed contained therein, in which the container comprises an opening 4 provided with extrusion means (5) and an access aperture (6). The plurality of sheets are connected to one another in a sequence by connection means, in which at least a portion of a first sheet in the sequence protrudes from the other sheets and is arranged adjacent to the access aperture such that it is manually accessible therethrough. The container comprises two main panels 8 and 9 of a flexible plastics material and is provided with a Doy (RTM) base.

Description

Sheets Dispenser This invention relates to a sheets dispenser which is

preferably, but riot exclusively, a portable wet wipes dispenser.

There are many known types of wet wipes dispensers, which generally comprise a container with a closable opening of some kind. In many cases the wet wipes are connected together in an overlapping sequence, and some means are provided to exert a resistance against the removal of the wet wipes through the opening, which is greater than a force required to separate them. As such, when one wet wipe is pulled through the opening, it brings with it a portion of the next one before being released, which leaves a convenient portion of the next wet wipe protruding from the opening ready to be grabbed.

However, for such a construction to work, the first wet wipe in the sequence must initially be placed through the opening from inside the container. In most cases this cannot be done by reaching through the dispensing opening, as it is too small.

Therefore, in known examples a second larger opening is provided through which the inside of the container can be accessed by the user. The second opening can be provided entirely separately from the dispensing opening, or the dispensing opening can be a formed in a panel which can be removed to create a larger opening. The provision of a second opening adds complexity and cost to the manufacturing process, and introduces greater potential for failure in use.

Wet wipes have a sanitary purpose, and in health establishments in particular it is important that a wet wipe eliminates germs rather than spreading them.

Therefore, it is important to ensure that the user of wet wipes only comes into contact with the ones they are using, and does not contaminate others in the container. The provision of a feature which automatically pulls the next one out ready to be grabbed obviously helps towards this end, but it also presents problems.

Wet wipes can be configured in various ways, but the most convenient is in a roll. In such cases the wet wipes are drawn from the inside of the roll, not the outside, to prevent jamming inside the container. As a result, when the first wet wipe in the sequence is accessed in order to arrange it through the dispensing opening, the user has to reach inside the roll to grab it. This usually bring the user's hands into contact with the entire roll. Another problem is that in order to push the first wet wipe through the dispensing opening, it must be physically manoeuvred to the underside of the dispensing opening and then forced through, all of which involves the manipulation of the user's hands inside, or adjacent the inside of the container. This obviously results in the potential spreading of germs inside the container and around the roll.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems.

Therefore, according to the present invention a sheets dispenser comprises a container and a plurality of sheets to be dispensed contained therein, in which the container comprises an opening provided with extrusion means and an access aperture, in which the plurality of sheets are connected to one another in a sequence by connection means, in which at least a portion of a first sheet in the sequence protrudes from the other sheets and is arranged adjacent to the access aperture such that it is manually accessible therethrough.

(The term "sheets used herein refers to any sheets of material which can be dispensed from a dispenser, and not only wet wipes, although preferably the dispenser can be for dispensing wet wipes.) Thus, a user can access the first sheet through the access aperture, and place it in the extrusion means without coming into contact with the rest of the sheets. In addition, as this construction only requires one opening to be provided, the container is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, and there is no chance of a second opening opening up accidentally.

In a preferred construction the opening can be provided with a panel, and the extrusion means can comprise a shaped aperture formed in said panel, which is adapted to restrict the passage of a sheet to be dispensed. The term "extrusion means" used herein refers to any opening which is of such dimensions or shape that a force is required to pull a sheet through it. It will be appreciated that the extrusion means of the invention will only function as such when the sheets are orientated or conditioned within the container such that a force is required to pull them through the extrusion means. As a wet wipe is flexible it would be possible to fold one up so it passed through the opening unrestricted. However wet wipes are generally packaged flat or in a roll, and as such it requires a force to pull them through an extrusion means arranged above them.

The panel can be configured so it only partly overlies the opening, such that the access aperture is provided adjacent the panel. In a preferred construction the shaped aperture can comprises an annular central portion with a number of rectangular radial portions. The shaped aperture can also overlap with an edge of the panel, such that a lateral opening in the aperture is formed. This arrangement allows the first sheet to be placed laterally into the extrusion means, preventing the need to feed it through from below, which might bring a user's hands into contact with the rest of the sheets and the inside of the container.

As referred to above the sheets to be dispensed are connected to one another in a sequence by connection means. The connection means could be portions of the wet wipes which overlap with one another, for example by being interfolcied, which would be particular'y applicable if the wet wipes were arranged in a stack. However, preferably the sheets can be formed from a length of material with perforated lines formed therein, such that a sequence of sheets are provided with are connected together end to end. The sheets can be arranged in a roll, and drawn from the inside of the roll. With this arrangement each sheet is twisted as it is pulled upwards from the roll, and the perforated line between one sheet and the next assumes a helix-like configuration in the twisted material.

A force required to sever the perforations can be less than a force required to pull a sheet through the extrusion means. Thus, once one wet wipe is fully removed, the perforations between it and the next sheet will sever. However, as the perforations are twisted into a helix-like configuration, a portion of the next sheet is pulled through the extrusion means, before the perforations are severed, which leaves a convenient portion of the next sheet extending from the extrusion means ready to be gripped for removal.

It will be appreciated that this process is not exact and may be effected by the angle the sheet is drawn through the extrusion means, the speed and force with which this is clone, and even the environmental conditions. If a sheet is removed from the container and does not conveniently sever from the next, it is possible to increase the resistance of the extrusion means by increasing the angle of the sheet in relation to it. In particular, if the sheet is driven into one of the rectangular radial portions a greater resistance is provided, and the sheets should break apart.

In a preferred construction the opening can be provided with a closable lid. In addition, the opening can comprise a rigid collar which defines a passageway extending from a top, which is closable with the lid, to a bottom where the panel is disposed. With this arrangement a chamber is provided between the lid and the panel when the lid is in a closed position, which can conveniently house a portion of a wet wipe protruding from the extrusion means, and prevent it fouling the lid.

It will be appreciated that the container can be made from any materials, however it is preferably a portable and disposable pack. As such it can be constructed from a flexible plastics material.

In a preferred construction the container can comprise a base assembly at a first end thereof, which is adapted to allow the container to be stood on the first end.

The base assembly can be a so-called "Doy Base", which is a well-known formation of panels which can be folded flat for storage, and then unfurled to make a sound base. .5-

In order to achieve this construction the container can comprise two rectangular panels overlying one another, in which three edges of one panel are laterally bonded to the adjacent three edges of the other panel. A collapsible support panel can be provided between a fourth edge of one panel and a fourth edge of the other panel, and that support panel can be configurable into an unfurled arrangement in which the forth edges of the panels are held apart, thereby to form a base.

In one construction the opening can be provided in a first of the two panels ddJacenT an edge opposite to the fourth edge. With this arrangement the opening is substantially laterally arranged in relation to the roll. In an alternative embodiment the second end of the container can also be provided with a Doy Base construction, and the opening can be provided in that second end of the container. With this arrangement the opening is generally above the roll.

As referred to above the sheets can be arranged in a roll, and the first sheet in the sequence can comprise the sheet at the inner end of the roil. A portion of the first sheet can be removed from the inside of the roll during manufacture and arranged proud of one end of the roll, to allow it to be readily accessed by the user.

As referred to above the sheets can be anything which might require dispensing, but in a preferred construction they are wet wipes.

The Invention can be performed in various ways, but two embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first sheets dispenser according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a collar component of the sheets dispenser shown in Figure 1 in an open arrangement; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the collar component shown in Figure 2 in a closed arrangement; and, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second sheets dispenser according to the present invention.

As Shown in Figure i a sneets dispenser 1 comprises a container 2 and a plurality of sheets, in the form of roll of wet wipes 3, to be dispensed contained therein. The container 2 comprises an opening 4 provided with extrusion means 5, and an access aperture 6, which are visible in Figure 2. As described below, the wet wipes 3 are connected to one another in a sequence by connection means. However, as is clear from Figure 1, a portion of a first wet wipe 7 in the sequence protrudes from the other wet wipes 3, and is arranged adjacent to the access aperture 6, such that it can be manually accessed through the opening 4 and placed in the extrusion means 5.

The container 2 comprises two panels 8 and 9 of a flexible plastics material.

The panels 8 and 9 overlie one another and are laterally bonded together along three of their four edges. The lateral bonding of the top edges 10 and 11 is visible in Figure 1. The container 2 is provided with a Doy Base. A collapsible support panel 12 is provided between the two fourth edges 13 and 14 of the panels 8 and 9, and is laterally bonded thereto. The height of the bonding between the support panel 12 and the panels 8 and 9 increases in a generally parabolic manner towards the side edges of the panels 8 and 9 (the side edges being the parallel edges which extend between the top edges 10 and 11 and the fourth edges 13 and 14).

The collapsible support panel 12 has a fold line 15 which runs along its length, and in a collapsed storage configuration (not shown in the Figures) the support panel 12 is folded along fold 15, and the fourth edges 13 and 14 are arranged next to one another. However, in the unfurled configuration shown in Figure 1, the fourth edges 13 and 14 are drawn apart, and support panel 12 is unfolded along fold line 15. The drawing apart of the fourth edges 13 and 14 brings a centre point of the fold line 15 downwards, and as a result the support panel 12 folds along a line perpendicular to the fold line 15, and holds the fourth edges 13 and 14 apart such that they form a generally oval shape.

The opening 4 is provided in panel 8 adjacent to the top edge 10. Secured in the opening 4 is rigid collar 16, which comprises an annular flange 17 which is bonded to an inner surface 18 of the panel 8 to hold the collar 16 in place. (The collar is not shown in cross-section in Figure 1.) Referring to Figure 2, the collar 16 supports panel 19 in which is formed extrusion means, in the form of shaped aperture 20. The panel 19 only partly fills the collar 16, such that access aperture 6 is provided.

The shaped aperture 20 comprises an annular central portion 21 with three rectangular radial portions 22 at 90 degree intervals. The shaped aperture 20 overlaps with an edge 23 of the panel 19, such that a lateral opening 24 in the aperture 20 is formed.

The collar 16 is provided with closable lid 25. The lid 25 has a downwardly depending annular flange 26 which is a resistance fit in the top of the collar 16. The lid 25 also has a lifting tab 27, and an access indent 28 is provided in an outer surface 29 of the collar 16 to allow the tab 27 to be accessed to open the lid 25, as is clear from Figure 3. As is clear from Figure 2, the collar 16 has a given depth, and thereby defines a passageway 30, which extends from a top 31 to a bottom 32.

Referring back to Figure 1, the wet wipes 3 comprise a sheet of wet wipe material which is configured as a roll. Individual wet wipes are delineated by perforated lines formed in the material. The wet wipes 3 are drawn from the inside of the roll, and the above described first wet wipe in the sequence 7 is removed from the inside of the roll during manufacture and arranged proud of one end 33 of the roll.

In use the sheets dispenser 1 operates as follows. During manufacture the roll of wet wipes 3 is placed inside the container 2, with the first wet wipe 7 arranged proud of the end 33 of the roll. The container is then sealed around the roll of wet wipes 3, and the lid 25 is closed, in order to prevent infectious matter contaminating the wet wipes 3. The container is packaged and sealed in a clean and sterile environment.

The container 2 is then an ergonomic and conveniently portable package which can be readily transported to wherever it is required. During transport the Doy Base need not be fully unfurled as shown in Figure 1, and indeed during use this is not strictly necessary either. However, should the end user wish to stand the container 2 up on one end the fourth edges 13 and 14 can be drawn apart to fully unfurl the Doy Base and allow the container 2 to be stood up.

When the wet wipes 3 are required the user opens the lid 25 (which may be provided with a breakable seal of any known type), and reaches through the access aperture 6, which is large enough to allow the digits of most people's hands to pass, and grabs the protruding portion of the first wet wipe 7. In a preferred and advantageous manner of use the container 2 is arranged upright as shown in Figure 1, which is most easily done by standing it on its end, such that the roll of wet wipes 3 is arranged towards the bottom end of the container 2. In this configuration the protruding part of the first wet wipe 7 is adjacent to the access aperture 6 and can be grabbed without the user's digits coming into contact with any of the other wet wipes 3. If this is not done and the roll of wet wipes 3 is positioned towards the upper end of the container 2, then the user's digits may come into contact with the roll of wet wipes 3 as they try to access the protruding part of the first one 7.

As the container 2 is flexible the collar 16 can be moved and rotated in relation to the wet wipes 3 to allow easier access. If circumstances permit, the collar 16 can be moved so the access aperture 6 is maneuvered over the protruding part of the first wet wipe 7 until it extends therethrougr,, which prevents the need for the user to ever place their hands inside the container 2. This can be assisted by pushing the protruding part of the first wet wipe 7 towards the access aperture 6 by forcing the panels 8 and 9 together.

Whether the first wet wipe 7 is pulled or placed through the access aperture 6, the user then laterally forces it into the shaped aperture 20 via the lateral opening 24. In a preferred manner of use this is done without physically touching the panel 19, to minimize the risk of contamination. This method of use is advantageous because the first wet wipe 7 can be placed in the shaped aperture 20 without having to feed it through from below, which might bring a user's hands into contact with the rest of the wet wipes 3 and the inside of the container 2.

Once contained within the shaped aperture 20 the first wet wipe 7 can be pulled therethrougli to remove it from the container 2. As the force required to sever the perforations between one sheet and the next is generally less than the force required to pull a wet wipe 3 through the shaped aperture 20, at around the time the first wet wipe 7 is completely clear of the shaped aperture 20, the force being applied to it will sever the connection to the next wet wipe 3 in the sequence.

As referred to above, as the wet wipes 3 are pulled upwards from the middle of the roll, they are twisted such that the perforated line between one sheet and the next assumes a helix-like configuration. As such, when the first wet wipe 7 breaks apart from the next in the sequence, a portion of that next wet wipe 3 has already been pulled through the shaped aperture 20. Therefore, a convenient portion of the next wet wipe 3 extends from the opening 4 ready to be grabbed for removal. As each further wet wipe 3 is removed it pulls a portion of the next up through the shaped aperture 20, where it can then be grabbed for removal. This is advantageous because each wet wipe 3 is orientated for removal without being touched by the user of the previous wet wipe 3.

As explained above, this process is not exact and may be effected by the angle the wet wipes 3 are drawn through the shaped aperture 20, the speed and force with which this is done, the orientation of the wet wipes 3 in the container 2, which changes as the roll is consumed, and even the environmental conditions. If a wet wipe 3 is removed from the container 2 and does not conveniently sever from the next for whatever reason, it is possible to increase the resistance of the shaped aperture 20 by increasing the angle of the wet wipe 3 in relation to it. In particular, if the wet wipe 3 is driven into one of the rectangular radial portions 22 a greater resistance Is provided, and the wet wIpes 3 should break apart. If this fails it is obviously possible to also break apart removed but still connected wet wipes 3 by hand.

When a user has removed the desired quantity of wet wipes 3, the lid 25 can be shut to prevent the remaining wet wipes 3 in the container 2 from drying out. The provision of the passageway 30 provides a chamber for the portion of the next wet wipe 3 which protrudes from the shaped aperture 20 to be housed under the lid 25 without fouling it.

Once all the wet wipes 3 are consumed the sheets dispenser 1 can be disposed of.

Figure 4 shows a slightly alternative construction to that described above. In Figure 4 sheets dispenser 40 is the same as sheets dispenser 1, however the top end 41 is provided with a Doy Base arrangement, and the collar 42 is mounted in that arrangement.

As above, the container 43 comprises two panels 44 and 45 of a flexible plastics material, and the panels 44 and 45 overlie one another. However they are only laterally bonded together along two of their four edges, namely the parallel side edges. Both the top 41 and the bottom 46 are provided with Doy Base arrangements.

A first collapsible support panel 47 is provided between the two bottom edges 48 and 49 of the panels 44 and 45, and is laterally bonded thereto. The height of the bonding between the first support panel 47 and the panels 44 and 45 increases in a generally parabolic manner towards the side edges.

The first support panel 47 has a fold line 50 which runs along its length, and, in the unfurled configuration shown in Figure 4, the fourth edges 48 and 49 are drawn dprt, and first support panel 47 is unfolded along fold line 50. The drawing apart of the bottom edges 48 and 49 brings a centre point of the fold line 50 downwards, and as a result the first support panel 47 folds along a line perpendicular to the fold line 50, and holds the bottom edges 48 and 49 apart such that they form a generally oval shape.

Likewise, second collapsible support panel 51 is provided between the two top edges 52 and 53 of the panels 44 and 45, and is laterally bonded thereto. The depth of the bonding between the second support panel 51 and the panels 44 and increases in a generally parabolic manner towards the side edges. The second support panel 51 has a fold line 54 which runs along its length, and, in the unfurled configuration shown in Figure 4, the top edges 52 and 53 are drawn apart, and second support panel 51 is unfolded along fold line 54. The drawing apart of the top edges 52 and 53 brings a centre point of the fold line 54 upwards, and as a result the second support panel 51 folds along a line perpendicular to the fold line 54, and holds the top edges 52 and 53 apart such that they form a generally oval shape.

An openIng 55 is provided in the second SUpport panel 51, and secured in the opening 55 is the collar 42, which comprises an annular flange 57 which is bonded to an inner surface 56 of the support panel 51 to hold the collar 42 in place. (The collar 42 is not Shown in cross-section in Figure 4.) The introduction of the opening and the collar 42 to the second support panel 51 prevents it from folding linearly about a fold line perpendicular to the fold line 54 as described above, so the arrangement at the top end 41 of the container 43 may not be as ngid as that at the bottom end 46. However, this construction is still effective enough to hold the collar 42 in position as shown.

In operation sheets dispenser 40 operates in the same way as sheets dispenser 1 described above, except that the first wet wipe 57 is grabbed from above, and the wert wipes 58 are drawn from the container 43 from above.

The embodiments described above can be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 1. In particular in one alternative embodiment (not Shown) the Container is made from a rigid material.

In other alternative embodiments (not shown) the wet wipes are arranged in a stack, and are connected together by being arranged in an overlapping sequence, which sees a portion of the next wet wipe drawn through the extrusion means before releasing the one before.

Therefore, a sheets dispenser is provided which can be set up for use with the minimum of intrusion into the container, which eliminates or significantly reduces the possibility of spreading germs. In addition, as only one opening is provided the container is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, and is intrinsically less prone to failure.

Claims

Claims 1. A sheets dispenser comprising a container and a plurality of

sheets to be dispensed contained therein, in which the container comprises an opening provided with extrusion means and an access aperture, in which the plurality of sheets are connected to one another in a sequence by connection means, in which at least a portion of a first sheet in the sequence protrudes from the other sheets and is arranged adjacent to the access aperture such that it is manually accessible therethrough.
2. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 in which the opening is provided with a panel, in which the extrusion means comprises a shaped aperture formed In said panel, which shaped aperture is adapted to restrict the passage of a sheet to be dispensed.
3. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 2 in which the panel only partly overlies the opening, such that the access aperture is provided adjacent the panel.
4. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 3 in which the shaped aperture comprises an annular central portion with a number of rectangular radial portions.
5. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 4 in which the shaped aperture overlaps with an edge of the panel, such that a lateral opening in the aperture is formed.
6. A sheets dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which a force required to sever the connection means is less than a force required to pull a sheet through the extrusion means.
7. A sheets dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the opening is provided with a closable lid.
8. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 7 in which the opening comprises a rigid collar which defines a passageway extending from a top, which is closable with the lid, to a bottom where the panel is disposed, such that a chamber is provided between the hd and the panel when the lid is in a closed position.
9. A sheets dispensed as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the container is constructed from a flexible plastics material.
10. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 9 in which the container comprises a base dssembiy at a first ena thereof adapted to allow the container to be stood on the first end.
11. A sheets dispensed as claimed in Claim 10 in which the container comprises two rectangular panels overlying one another, in which three edges of one panel are laterally bonded to the adjacent three edges of the other panel, in which a collapsible support panel is provided between a fourth edge of one panel and a fourth edge of the other panel, in which the support panel is configurable into an unfurled arrangement in which the forth edges of the panels are held apart, thereby to form a base.
12. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 11 in which the opening is provided in a first of the two panels adjacent an edge opposite to the fourth edge.
13 A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 10 in which the container comprises two rectangular panels overlying one another, in which two parallel edges of one panel are laterally bonded to the adjacent two parallel edges of the other panel, in which a first collapsible support panel is provided between a bottom edge of one panel and a bottom edge of the other panel, in which the first support panel is configurable into an unfurled arrangement in which the bottom edges of the panels are held apart, thereby to form a base, in which a second collapsible support panel is provided between a top edge of one panel and a top edge of the other panel, in which the second support panel is configurable into an unfurled arrangement in which the top edges of the panels are held apart, and in which the opening is provided in the second support panel.
14. A sheets dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the sheets are arranged in a roll, in which the first sheet in the sequence comprises the sheet at the inner end of the roll, and in which a portion of the first sheet is removed from the inside of the roll and is arranged proud of one end of the roll.
15. A sheets dispenser as claimed in Claim 14 in which the sheets are wet wipes.
16. A sheets dispenser substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures land 4.