CN218199410U

CN218199410U - Dispensing package for sheet material and set for assembling the dispensing package

Info

Publication number: CN218199410U
Application number: CN202090000903.9U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗伊·希霍尔
Original assignee: Bamberks Ltd
Current assignee: Bamberks Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-03
Filing date: 2020-09-24
Publication date: 2023-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-24
Also published as: EP4037984A4; CA3153180A1; US20220380114A1; EP4037984A1; IL269796B; WO2021064723A1

Abstract

A suspendable and expandable prismatic dispensing package comprising a bottom wall; a top wall having a trailing edge and a leading edge; at least one side expansion wall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall and expandable between a compressed state and an expanded state; a hanging device for hanging the dispensing package, the hanging device having a hanging portion disposed closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge in a hanging position; and a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough. The dispensing location is disposed at the top of the dispensing package.

Description

Dispensing package for sheet material and set for assembling the dispensing package

Technical Field

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to the field of dispensing packages for sheet materials.

Background

The following is background information related to the subject matter of the present disclosure:

-US6439386

-US2279658

-US20050178781

-US20050077200

-US20050178781

-US20040251590

-US20180140143

-US6997342

-US5379897

the knowledge of the above-mentioned references herein should not be inferred to relate in any way to the patentability of the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Background

Packages configured to store and dispense sheet materials are common in the art. These packages may be flexible, e.g. made of nylon or other flexible sheet material, rigid, e.g. made of plastic, optionally a plastic casting, or semi-rigid, e.g. folded from a single piece of cardboard.

Such packages are typically configured to contain a stack of sheet material, optionally folded over one another, such as interfolded paper towels, which are pre-filled into a dispensing package.

US6439386 discloses a dispensing package comprising a container comprising a front wall and a rear wall interconnected by a gusseted side wall and a gusseted bottom, said front wall having an uncovered opening therein through which the contents of said container are displayed and dispensed, a gusset to provide a fit with said side wall at the open end of said container. All of the gussets are singular and extend inwardly, the lid is hinged to the top edge of the front wall and has a projection adapted to extend through the rear wall in the closed position of the lid to provide a means for loading and suspending the container for dispensing purposes, and a folded stack of sheets of material is erected in the container with the free edge of each edge facing the dispensing opening in the front wall, each of the articles having a width greater than the minimum empty container distance between the gusset side walls, all of the gussets being subjected to pressure to securely hold the sheet articles over the openings.

US2279658 discloses a product comprising an absorbent paper material and a container for use as a dispenser which discloses a container adapted to be hung from a support member such as a towel bar. The container may optionally be located on a surface, such as a counter top, and act as a dispenser. This provides two different dispensing modes for the container. The container has a hanger integral with the container at one end, and the hanger is attachable to the container in at least two separate positions. The suspension member is further adapted to cover at least a portion of the absorbent paper material exposed in the container through the opening prior to suspending the container.

US20050178781 discloses a dispenser adapted to dispense from a table top and convertible to dispense from a conventional roll product holder. The dispenser includes a housing having a compartment configured to hold a sheet of material. The housing also has a dispensing opening. The housing is configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheet material therefrom, and the housing includes a hanging port that allows the housing to be attached to a conventional roll holding device. The hanging port is covered when the dispenser is positioned for desktop dispensing. The hanging port is easily uncovered and is configured to removably connect the housing to a fixture in a bathroom to dispense sheets therefrom.

US20050077200 discloses a package having a closed compartment with a pair of opposed aligned walls and a periphery. A series of compressible articles are retained in the closed compartment. The package further comprises an expansion mechanism for allowing the closed compartment to be enlarged. The expansion mechanism includes a pliable member positioned around the perimeter. The release strip is positioned across the expansion mechanism. The release strip can be at least partially removed to allow the enclosed compartment to expand as the flexible member expands or stretches. The package further comprises an opening mechanism for allowing the package to be opened so that the article can be removed from the enlarged compartment.

US20050178781 discloses a dispenser adapted for dispensing from a table top and convertible to dispensing from a conventional roll good fixture. The dispenser includes a housing having a compartment configured to hold a sheet of material. The housing also has a dispensing opening. The housing is configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheet material from the table top, and the housing includes a hanging port that allows the housing to be attached to a conventional roll fixture. The hanging port is covered when the dispenser is positioned to dispense from the table. The hanging port is easily uncovered and is configured to removably connect the housing to a fixture in a bathroom for dispensing sheet material therefrom.

US20040251590 discloses a dispenser comprising a sheet material, for example, providing a dry sheet material and a pre-moistened sheet material. The dispenser is adapted to be releasably connected to a conventional rolled product holder, such as a holder for holding a roll of toilet paper in a bathroom. The dispenser may include a cassette in the dispenser housing, the cassette containing sheet material. The sheets are dispensed from a cassette and dispenser.

US20180140143 discloses a packaging container for folio toilet paper, comprising a package, a dispensing chute and a curved hanger. The package has a flexible package and a space formed within the flexible package. A dispensing slot is formed on a bottom surface of the package's yielding material package, and a curved hanger is provided on a top surface of the package's yielding material package.

US6997342 discloses a dispenser adapted to dispense from a table top and provides a dispenser which is convertible to dispense from a conventional roll product holder. The dispenser has a housing with a compartment configured to hold sheet material therein and a dispensing opening. The housing is configured to be positioned on a table top to dispense sheet material from the table top. The housing includes an arm that allows the housing to be connected to a fixture. The arm is covered when the dispenser is positioned to dispense from the table. The arms are easily releasable to allow the housing to be releasably coupled to a fixture in the bathroom.

US5379897 discloses a disposable, compressible package for reliably dispensing a laminated product even after the package has been deformed or compressed. The package includes top and bottom walls constructed of a resiliently deformable material. The top and bottom walls are spaced apart from each other and positioned substantially parallel to each other. They are interconnected around their periphery by a thinner, more easily deformable and substantially continuous tube or hoop also of elastically deformable material. A substantially continuous tube or band, preferably integrally formed with either top wall, defines the side walls of the package. The tube, which may have any desired cross-sectional shape, is also made of a material having sufficient elastic memory that it is easily and elastically deformed when an external force is applied to the package, but the memory exhibits a strong tendency to self-recover once the externally applied force is removed due to its tubular configuration and elasticity. The preferably rectangular package comprises a preformed dispensing hole or means for providing a dispensing hole in its top or bottom wall. The dispensing aperture is smaller than a cross-sectional profile, i.e. a cross-sectional "footprint", of the sheet product contained in the stack to retain the sheet product within the package throughout the useful life of the package. The sheet material product may be in discrete or continuous form.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to dispensing packages for storing and dispensing sheet-like materials such as toilet paper, paper towels, handkerchiefs, plastic/paper bags and the like. The sheet material may be stacked and/or interfolded within the dispensing package, thereby allowing a user to retrieve a single sheet material in a single dispensing action.

Alternatively or in addition, the sheet material may be a continuous strip, optionally perforated, allowing the user to select the length of sheet material to be retrieved in each dispensing action.

According to a first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a suspendable and expandable prismatic dispensing package comprising:

a bottom wall;

a top wall having a trailing edge and a leading edge;

at least one side expansion wall extending between said bottom wall and said top wall and expandable between a compressed state and an expanded state;

a hanging device for hanging a dispensing package, the hanging device having a hanging portion located at a hanging position and disposed closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge; and

a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough, the dispensing location disposed at a top of the dispensing package.

The term top portion as used in the specification and claims refers to a portion of the dispensing package that extends adjacent the front edge of the top wall. The front portion may be disposed at the front edge of the top or front wall or top of the package.

According to a second aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a kit for assembling a suspendable and expandable prismatic dispensing package; the set includes:

an expandable container having a bottom wall, a top wall having a front edge and a rear edge, at least one side expansion wall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall and expandable between a compressed state and an expanded state, and a dispensing position facilitating dispensing of sheet material through the dispensing position, the dispensing position being disposed at the top of the dispensing package; and

a hanging device for hanging the dispensing package, the hanging device having a hanging portion in a hanging position and disposed closer to the rear edge than the front edge.

Expansion of the at least one expansion wall may cause displacement of the top wall relative to the bottom wall, at least from a first position to a second position.

A storage space may be formed between the top wall and the bottom wall, the storage space being larger in the second position of the top wall than in the first position thereof.

The storage space may contain at least one strip of sheet material which is compressed in a first position of the top wall and expanded in a second position of the top wall.

According to a third aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a second suspendable and expandable prismatic dispensing package comprising:

a bottom wall;

a top wall having a trailing edge and a leading edge, movable relative to the bottom wall from at least a first position to a second position;

a storage space defined between the bottom wall and the top wall, comprising at least one strip of sheet material compressed in a first position of the top wall and expanded in a second position of the top wall;

a hanging device for hanging the dispensing package, the hanging device having a hanging portion in a hanging position and disposed closer to the rear edge than the front edge; and

a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough, the dispensing location disposed at the second location of the top wall of the dispensing package.

According to a fourth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a kit for assembling a second suspendable and expandable prismatic dispensing package, the kit comprising:

an expandable container having a bottom wall, a top wall having a leading edge and a trailing edge and being movable relative to the bottom wall from at least a first position to a second position, a storage space being defined between the bottom wall and the top wall and comprising a strip of material and being compressed in the first position of the top wall and expanded in the second position of the top wall, a dispensing position being configured to provide a connection to the storage space for a top portion of the dispensing package disposed in the second position of the top wall; and

a hanging device for hanging the dispensing package, the hanging device having a hanging portion located at a hanging position and disposed closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge.

In accordance with the present disclosure, any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations may be applied to the distribution package, the loaded distribution package, alone or in various combinations thereof:

the at least one expansion wall may be two expansion walls.

The prism may be a rectangular parallelepiped. The rectangular parallelepiped shape prevents the dispensing package from rolling, for example, when it is dropped from a hanger. The cuboid shape also makes maximum use of the space in the cuboid transport container, thereby reducing the transport costs of the dispensing package.

The dispensing package may be made of a sheet material.

The dispensing package may further comprise a plunger, such as an adhesive tape, configured to hold the at least one expansion wall in a compressed state/to hold the top wall in the first position, for example when storing or transporting the dispensing package.

When the at least one expanded wall is two expanded walls, the expanded walls may be parallel and opposite to each other.

The two expanded walls may be configured to be positioned in an upright position when the dispensing package is suspended from the suspension element.

The at least one expansion wall may include a fold configured to expand such that the at least one expansion wall expands from a compressed state to an expanded state. It is worth mentioning that the expansion of the at least one expansion wall may increase the distance between the opposite edges thereof on both sides of the folded portion.

It should also be understood that the displacement of the top wall relative to the bottom wall, e.g., as a result of expansion of the at least one expansion wall, may be an angular displacement.

The fold may be narrower in its region adjacent the rear edge of the top wall than in its region adjacent the front edge of the top wall to facilitate said angular displacement of the top wall, for example configured to fold in a manner similar to a hand held fan.

According to examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the folds may fold inward into the storage space, thereby keeping the outer surface of the expandable container flush therewith.

In addition to reducing the storage space in the longitudinal direction extending between the top and bottom walls, the inward folding also reduces the storage space in the transverse direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction.

The fold may be folded in half, wherein the two inner surfaces of the fold are joined in a Z-fold (in a zigzag/accordion-like manner), wherein the two outer surfaces thereof, in addition to the two inner surfaces of the fold, are brought into engagement, or in any other suitable fold that varies the distance between the two opposite edges of the respective expansion wall.

The fold may be disposed adjacent the top wall.

The suspension means may be configured to suspend the dispensing package from a hanger, and the suspension portion may be a portion of the suspension means that engages the hanger.

The dispensing package may be used in the vicinity of a toilet, and the hanging device may be adapted to hang on known hangers on a toilet paper holder, towel holder, hook and loop fastener, door handle, magnet, hook and loop fastener surface, or any other item.

According to an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the suspension device is in the form of a tubular ring.

The suspension means may be attached to the rear of the dispensing package.

The term rear portion as used in the specification and claims refers to a portion of the dispensing package that extends adjacent the rear edge of the top wall. The rear portion may be disposed at the top wall or at the rear wall or at the top rear edge of the package.

The hanging means may be connected to the dispensing package such that, when hanging therefrom, the bottom wall is oriented at an angle with respect to the horizontal.

The angle may be in the range of 10 to 90 degrees, and optionally in the range of 30 to 60 degrees.

The orientation of the bottom wall may be such that its rear portion is disposed higher than its front portion when the dispensing package is suspended.

The orientation of the bottom wall may cause a corresponding orientation of the sheet material disposed within the storage space.

This orientation may cause the sheet material to be inclined to the front wall of the dispensing package.

The sheet material may be in the form of a Z-folded strip which is positioned within the storage space such that its limbs are adjacent the bottom wall and, optionally, its hinge axis side is adjacent the front wall. When the at least one expansion wall is in the expanded state, i.e. when the top wall is in the second position, the sheet material may be arranged in the storage space such that its uppermost edge is located closest to the dispensing position.

The dispensing package may further include a dispensing port at the dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of the sheet material from the storage space through the dispensing port, optionally by pulling the sheet material.

It will be appreciated that the orientation of the dispensing package as described above results in a tendency for the protruding sheet material portion to fall out of the storage space through the dispensing port when the uppermost edge of the sheet material protrudes through the dispensing port, due to gravity, thereby reducing the chance of the pulled-out portion falling back into the storage space.

In the expanded state of the at least one expansion wall, i.e. in the second position of the top wall, the storage space for storing the sheet material is larger, resulting in less friction between the sheet material and the dispensing package and between the sheet material and itself, resulting in a looser sheet material within the expandable container, while having a relatively low resistance to pulling of the sheet material. In addition, the improved storage space also contributes to a better ability of the sheet material to rotate within the dispensing package.

In general, a dispensing package has two modes of operation-the package mode being used when storing or transporting the dispensing package, i.e. when it is desired to store only sheet material within the storage space, and the operation mode being used when dispensing the package. The package is ready for use, i.e. when sheet material needs to be dispensed from the storage space through the dispensing port.

In the packaging mode, the at least one expansion wall is in its compressed state, the suspension means lies flat on the top wall, is held in this position by the adhesive tape, and the dispensing port is covered by the element. In this packaging mode, the shape of the dispensing package is a cuboid. The cuboid shape makes maximum use of the space in the cuboid transport container, thereby reducing the transport costs of the distribution package.

In an operational mode, the at least one expansion wall is in its expanded state, the suspension device is released from the front wall and the dispensing port is opened. In this mode, the dispensing package is trapezoidal in shape. The trapezoidal and rectangular parallelepiped shape prevents the dispensing package from rolling, for example, as it falls off the hanger.

This reduction in friction and the provided rotational capability reduces the likelihood of a user accidentally tearing the sheet material when attempting to pull it from the dispensing port, particularly when the sheet material is in the form of a continuous, optionally perforated, strip.

The dispensing port may have attached thereto a detachable element configured to at least partially obstruct the dispensing port, e.g. to prevent sheet material from accidentally falling off when storing or transporting the dispensing package.

The dispensing port may have dimensions corresponding to the cross-section of the sheet material.

The dispensing port may have at least one dimension that is smaller than the dimensions of the sheet material to facilitate friction therebetween and to help prevent the pulled-out portion of sheet material from falling back into the storage space.

According to an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the dimension is a length of the dispensing port, i.e. a length of a cross section of the sheet material.

According to a more specific example, the dispensing port, i.e., the dispensing position, is located at the front edge of the top wall so that the portion of the sheet material being pulled through does not bear its own weight, thereby reducing the chance that the sheet material may tear when pulled through.

The hanging portion may be designed to resist pulling forces arising from friction caused by pulling the sheet material through the dispensing port.

In accordance with examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the hanging portion is elongated and has a contact surface configured to engage a hanger, such as a toilet paper holder, along its length. The elongation of the suspension portion may facilitate a larger contact surface with the hanger, which results in a larger force component along the suspension portion. Such force distribution may be beneficial, for example, when at least one of the suspension portion, the suspension element and the expandable container is thin and/or made of a tearable material.

The sheet material may be oriented within the expandable container such that the stacking plane of the sheet material is parallel to the bottom wall.

The term stacking plane as disclosed herein in the specification and claims denotes a plane between two sheets of material when stacked, or as a plane or a continuous strip of folds between two folds of sheet material when folded over each other or in a folded form, e.g. as a plane arranged tangentially to the uppermost part of the sheet material when the sheet material is Z-folded, or when the sheet material is rolled up.

The dispensing package may be at least partially sealed to maintain hygiene of the sheet material.

The dispensing package may include an inspection slot configured to provide visibility to a user of the storage space and to enable inspection of the amount of sheet material remaining therein. The inspection slit may further facilitate the passage of air into the storage space therethrough when the at least one expansion wall expands from the compressed state to the expanded state. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the dispensing package may comprise a further air inlet configured for the same.

According to an example, the inspection slot is located at the side of the bottom wall, optionally on an expansion wall of the expandable container.

The inspection slit may be in the form of a transparent portion of the expandable container.

The dispensing package may be compartmentalized, at least one of which may optionally contain a different kind of material other than sheet material.

The whole distribution package can be made of paper, perishable nylon and other materials which are easy to rot when meeting water, and can also be made of bamboo paper, rice paper and other environment-friendly recyclable materials, and the toilet can be flushed down after the materials are used up.

The dispensing package may include designated perforations that decay in water faster than the rest of the dispensing package in order to promote rapid disintegration of the dispensing package when flushed.

The dispensing package may be refilled with a large amount of sheet material, optionally compressed.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the subject matter of the present disclosure and to exemplify how it may be carried into effect, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1A is a front view of a dispensing package, shown in a packaged mode, according to an example of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 1B is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the dispensing package of FIG. 1A with a sidewall partially removed.

FIG. 1C is a front top view of the dispensing package of FIG. 1A with the hanging device illustrated in a deployed state.

Fig. 2A is a side view of the dispensing package of fig. 1C, shown in an operational mode.

Fig. 2B is a front top view of the dispensing package of fig. 2A with the dispensing port illustrated in an open state with its removable member removed.

Fig. 2C is a front view of the dispensing package of fig. 2A with an upper portion of the front wall removed.

Fig. 3A is a front view of the dispensing package of fig. 2A, shown suspended from a hanger in operation.

Fig. 3B is a side view of the dispensing package of fig. 3A.

Fig. 3C isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken along linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A of fig. 3B.

Fig. 4A is a side view of a dispensing package, shown in a packaged mode, according to another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Fig. 4B is a side view of the dispensing package of fig. 4A, shown in an operational mode, hanging from a hanger.

Detailed Description

Attention is first drawn to fig. 1-3 of the present disclosure, showing a suspendable and expandable cuboid-shaped dispensing package 1 for storing and dispensing sheet-like materials, e.g., a perforated toilet tissue strip 80 arranged in a zigzag fold therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

The dispensing package 1 is formed from a single piece of paperboard and includes four peripheral walls, a bottom wall 11 and a top wall 13 defining a storage space 17 therebetween for the sheet material 80.

The dispensing package 1 further includes a dispensing port 19, the dispensing port 19 being disposed at a dispensing position adjacent the front edge 13a of the top wall 13 and configured to provide access to the attached storage space 17 for drawing the sheet material 80 therefrom. In fig. 1C, it can be seen that the dispensing port 19 is sealed by a removable element 19a, preventing the passage of sheet material. The detachable element 19a here is patterned in a perforated shape in the sheet-like cardboard. In fig. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the detachable element 19a is removed, so that the dispensing port 19 is opened for the passage of the sheet material 80, optionally by pulling.

It will be appreciated that the storage space 17 is sealed alongside the dispensing port 19 to maintain the hygiene of the sheet material 80 placed therein.

The four peripheral walls include: a front peripheral wall 15c, an opposite rear peripheral wall 15d and two

side walls

15a and 15b extending therebetween.

The front peripheral wall 15c is a two-part wall having broken upper and lower portions 15c', 15c ", each connected to the top and

bottom walls

13, 11, respectively, and being displaceable with respect to the respective wall.

The two side

peripheral walls

15a and 15b are expanding

walls

15a and 15b, each configured to expand between a compressed state as shown in fig. 1A to 1C and an expanded state as shown in fig. 2 and 3.

Here, the expansion of the

expansion walls

15a and 15b is achieved by their

folds

25a and 25b, folding into a Z-fold in their compressed state and unfolding in their expanded state. The Z-fold can be seen in fig. 2C.

Each expanded

wall

15a, 15b has an upper edge 15a ', 15b' connected to the top wall 13 and a lower edge 15a ", 15b" connected to the bottom wall 11. The expansion of the expanded

walls

15a, 15b moves the upper edges 15a ', 15b ' away from the lower edges 15a ", 15b", thereby raising the top wall 13 together with the upper portion 15c ' relative to the bottom wall 11 and the lower portion 15c ".

When the expanded walls 15a and 15 reach maximum expansion, the user may fold the upper portion 15c' of the front wall 15c behind the lower portion 15c "thereof, as shown in fig. 2B, to create friction therebetween, thereby maintaining the expanded walls 15a and 15B in the expanded state.

Due to the structure of the

folds

25a, 25b, the raising of the top wall 13 relative to the bottom wall 11 is performed here at an angle, the

folds

25a, 25b being narrower in their area near the rear edge 13d than the front edge 13c of the top wall 13.

As shown in fig. 2C, the Z-fold of the

folds

25a, 25b is configured inwardly into the storage space 17 to minimize the size of the dispensing package 1. Further, the folded

portions

25a and 25b are positioned such that, in the state where the

expansion walls

15a and 15b are compressed, when the sheet material is placed in the storage space 17, the Z-fold is provided above the uppermost portion of the sheet material, so that the folding/expansion of the folded

portions

25a and 25b is not interrupted by the sheet material.

It will be appreciated that the expansion of the

expansion walls

15a, 15b, i.e. the elevation of the top wall 13 relative to the bottom wall 11, increases the volume of the storage space 17 such that the storage space 17 is larger in the expanded state. Since the top wall 13 is located farther from the bottom wall 11, the

expansion walls

15a and 15b are smaller than the

expansion walls

15a and 15b in their compressed state.

In this way, when the

expansion walls

15a and 15b are in a compressed state, a sheet-like material, such as a stack of Z-folded toilet paper 80, which can be compressed and expanded, can be compressively inserted into the storage space 17 and expanded therein. When the

expansion walls

15a and 15b are transitioned from the compressed state to the expanded state.

It will be appreciated that compressed sheet material may also be inserted into the storage space of a conventional dispensing package, however, compression may cause friction which makes it difficult for a user to pull the sheet material therefrom without tearing it. Enlarging the storage space 17 may reduce friction and provide the ability for the sheet material 80 to rotate within the storage space 17 when compressed sheet material is placed in the storage space 17, for example, when the dispensing package 1 is in use.

This allows filling the dispensing package 1 with an "extra" amount of sheet material for storage and transport without losing the ability to pull it out of it later, e.g. when the dispensing package 1 is ready for use.

The dispensing package 1 further comprises a suspension device 12 in the form of a tubular ring adapted to be suspended from a toilet paper hanger, such as the hanger 30, as shown in fig. 3A and 3B.

The suspension unit 12 includes a suspension portion 12a, and the suspension portion 12a is engaged with the hanger 30 as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. The overhang 12a is here elongated to counteract the pulling force that occurs due to friction caused by pulling the sheet material 80 through the dispensing port 19.

The elongation results in a large contact surface of the hanging portion 12a with the hanger 30, which results in a large force component along the hanging portion 12 a.

The suspension means 12 is connected to the rear peripheral wall 15d of the dispensing package 1 such that the dispensing package 1 is positioned at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal when suspended, as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. In other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, the suspension means 12 may be provided separately from the rest of the dispensing package 1 and connected to the rear circumferential wall or any other area of the rear portion of the dispensing package 1, preferably, optionally by means of adhesive tape.

When the hanger 30 is positioned adjacent a wall (e.g., wall 90), the hanging position of the dispensing package 1 can be such that a portion thereof engages the wall 90, as shown in fig. 3B, increasing the stability of the dispensing package 1.

It will be appreciated that the sheet material 80 is Z-folded within the storage space 17 such that its branches 81 are adjacent the bottom wall 11 and its hinge axis side 82 is adjacent the front wall 15c. The sheet material 80 is further arranged such that its uppermost edge 83 is located closest to the dispensing port 19 and can be seen protruding therefrom in figure 3C.

It will be appreciated that the positioning of the dispensing port 19, i.e., the dispensing position, on the upper edge of the front wall 15c, and closest to the uppermost edge 83 of the sheet material, prevents the stretched sheet material 80 from bearing the weight of the sheet material 80 itself, thereby reducing the chance of potential tearing of the sheet material upon withdrawal.

It will also be appreciated that the orientation of the dispensing package 1 determines the orientation of the sheet material 80 therein such that when the uppermost edge 83 of the sheet material 80 protrudes through the dispensing port 19 and the dispensing package 1 is tilted, as shown in fig. 3C, the protruding portion of the sheet material easily falls out of the dispensing port due to gravity, thereby reducing the chance of the protruding portion falling back into the storage space 17.

The dispensing port 19 has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the cross-section of the sheet material 80, but the length L of the dispensing port 19 is shorter than said cross-section to create friction between the projection and the dispensing port 19 to hold the projection in place and prevent it from falling into/out of the dispensing port 19.

In fig. 3A to 3C, the hanging means 12 is seen hanging from the hanger 30, while in fig. 1A to 1C it is seen lying on the top wall 13 and adhered to the front perimeter wall 15C with adhesive tape 71 to maintain this position.

The dispensing package 1 is visible in the above figures in two modes of operation-one mode of the package for use when the dispensing package 1 is stored or transported, i.e. when it is desired to store only sheet material 80 within the storage space 17, as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, and when the dispensing package 1 is ready for use, i.e. when it is desired to dispense sheet material 80 from the storage space 17 through the dispensing port 19.

In the packaging mode, the two

expansion walls

15a and 15b are in their compressed state, the suspension means 12 lie flat on the top wall 13, held in this position by the adhesive tape 71, and the dispensing port 19 is covered by the element 19 a. In this packing mode, the dispensing package 1 is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped. The cuboid shape makes maximum use of the space in the cuboid transport container, thereby reducing the transport costs of the distribution package.

In the operating mode, the two

expansion walls

15a and 15b are in their expanded state, the suspension means 12 are released from the front wall 13c and the dispensing port 19 is opened. In this mode, the dispensing package 1 is trapezoidal in shape. The trapezoidal and cuboid shape prevents the dispensing package 1 from rolling, for example when it falls off the hanger.

Attention is now directed to fig. 4A and 4B of the present disclosure, which illustrate a dispensing package 100 having the same features as dispensing package 1, but having four expandable walls 119, which are interchangeable between a compressed state as in fig. 4A and an expanded state as in fig. 4B, each connected to the bottom wall 111 and top wall 113, respectively. This arrangement causes the top wall 113 to rise parallel to the bottom wall 111 rather than at an angle as in the dispensing package 1.

The dispensing package 100 further includes a storage space 117 defined between the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 113, the storage space 117 including an inspection slot 117a configured to provide a user with visibility into the storage space 117 to perform an inspection of the amount of sheet material 180 remaining therein. The inspection slit may further facilitate the entry of air into the storage space 117 therethrough as the expansion wall 119 expands from the compressed state to the expanded state.

The dispensing package 100 is formed of paper rather than paperboard, which is a water perishable material so that the entire dispensing package 100 can be flushed into a toilet after use.

Claims

1. A dispensing package for sheet material, characterized by: the dispensing package comprises

A bottom wall;

a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge;

a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of a sheet of material therethrough, the dispensing location being disposed at a top of the dispensing package.

2. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the at least one expansion wall includes a fold configured to expand such that the at least one expansion wall expands from the compressed state to the expanded state.

3. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 2 in which: the folding portion is folded inwardly to the storage space or outwardly therefrom.

4. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 2 in which: the fold is adjacent the top wall.

5. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 2 in which: the fold is folded into a Z-fold.

6. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 2 in which: an area of the fold proximate the rear edge of the top wall is narrower than an area proximate the front edge of the top wall.

7. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the at least one expansion wall is two expansion walls.

8. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 7 in which: the two expansion walls are parallel to each other.

9. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the dispensing package further includes a plunger configured to maintain the at least one expansion wall in its compressed state.

10. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the prism is a cuboid.

11. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the dispensing package is made of a sheet material.

12. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the suspension means is in the form of a tubular loop.

13. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the hanging device is attached to a rear portion of the dispensing package.

14. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the at least one extended wall is configured to be positioned upright when the dispensing package is suspended from the hanging device.

15. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the hanging means is connected to the dispensing package such that, when hanging, the bottom wall is oriented at an angle to the horizontal.

16. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 15 in which: the angle is in the range of 10 to 90 degrees, and optionally in the range of 30 to 60 degrees.

17. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 15 in which: in said direction, said sheet material is located on said front wall of the dispensing package.

18. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the sheet material is positioned in the storage space in a Z-folded strip such that an outer edge of the sheet material is adjacent the bottom wall and a hinge axis of the sheet material is adjacent a front wall of the dispensing package.

19. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the dispensing position is located on a front edge of the top wall.

20. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the sheet material is located in the storage space such that an uppermost edge of the sheet material is located proximate the dispensing location.

21. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the dispensing package further includes a dispensing port located at the dispensing location and configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material through the dispensing port.

22. The dispensing package according to claim 21, wherein: the dispensing port has at least one dimension shorter than a corresponding dimension in a cross-sectional view of the sheet material.

23. The dispensing package in accordance with claim 1 in which: the dispensing package is refillable with pieces of the sheet material and is selectively compressible.

24. A kit for assembling a dispensing package for sheet material, characterized by: the kit comprises:

an expandable container having a bottom wall, a top wall having a front edge and a rear edge, at least one side expansion wall extending between said bottom wall and said top wall and expandable between a compressed state and an expanded state, and a dispensing position for facilitating dispensing of a sheet material through said dispensing position, said dispensing position being disposed at a top of said dispensing package; and

25. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the at least one expansion wall includes a fold configured to expand such that the at least one expansion wall expands from the compressed state to the expanded state.

26. The kit of claim 25, wherein: the folding portion is folded inwardly to the storage space or outwardly therefrom.

27. The kit of claim 25, wherein: the fold is adjacent the top wall.

28. The kit of claim 25, wherein: the fold is folded into a Z-fold.

29. The kit of claim 25, wherein: an area of the fold near the rear edge of the top wall is narrower than an area near the front edge of the top wall.

30. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the at least one expansion wall is two expansion walls.

31. The kit of claim 30, wherein: the two expansion walls are parallel to each other.

32. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the kit further comprises a plunger configured to maintain the at least one expansion wall in its compressed state.

33. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the prism is a cuboid.

34. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the dispensing package is made of a sheet material.

35. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the suspension means is in the form of a tubular ring.

36. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the hanging device is attached to a rear portion of the dispensing package.

37. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the at least one expanded wall is configured to be positioned upright when the dispensing package is suspended from the hanging device.

38. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the hanging means is connected to the dispensing package such that, when hanging, the bottom wall is oriented at an angle to the horizontal.

39. The kit of claim 38, wherein: the angle is in the range of 10 to 90 degrees, and optionally in the range of 30 to 60 degrees.

40. The kit of claim 38, wherein: in said direction, said sheet material is located on said front wall of the dispensing package.

41. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the sheet material is positioned in the storage space in a Z-folded strip such that an outer edge of the sheet material is adjacent the bottom wall and a hinge axis of the sheet material is adjacent a front wall of the dispensing package.

42. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the dispensing position is located on a front edge of the top wall.

43. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the sheet material is located in the storage space such that an uppermost edge of the sheet material is located proximate the dispensing location.

44. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the kit further includes a dispensing port located at the dispensing position and configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material through the dispensing port.

45. The kit of claim 44, wherein: the dispensing port has at least one dimension shorter than a corresponding dimension in a cross-sectional view of the sheet material.

46. The kit of claim 24, wherein: the dispensing package is refillable with pieces of the sheet material and is selectively compressible.

47. A dispensing package for sheet material, characterized by: the dispensing package comprises

A bottom wall;

a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge, movable relative to the bottom wall from at least a first position to a second position;

a storage space defined between said bottom wall and said top wall, comprising at least one strip of sheet material compressed in a first position of said top wall and expanded in said second position of said top wall;

a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of a sheet material therethrough, the dispensing location disposed at the second location of the top wall of the dispensing package.

48. A kit for assembling a dispensing package for sheet material, characterized by: the kit comprises:

an expandable container having a bottom wall, a top wall having a leading edge and a trailing edge and being movable relative to the bottom wall from at least a first position to a second position, a storage space defined between the bottom wall and the top wall and comprising a strip of material compressed in the first position of the top wall and expanded in the second position of the top wall, a dispensing position configured to provide attachment to the storage space of a top portion of the dispensing package disposed in the second position of the top wall; and