EP1072534B1 - Paper towels dispensing box with a dispensing opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The cardboard box comprises a distribution window (18) for the paper handkerchiefs which is covered by a supple film. A long distribution opening (22) is delimited by two longitudinal edges (24) which are joined at the two longitudinal opposite ends (25) of the opening. Near the longitudinal ends the opening has first and second curved slits (26) and a third longitudinal slit (30).

Description

The present invention relates to a box for the distribution of so-called paper tissues.

The invention relates more particularly to a box, especially in cardboard, for the distribution of tissues of paper, especially in cellulose wadding, which are contained in the box which includes for this purpose, in one of its walls, particularly in an upper wall if we consider the distribution box laid horizontally on a table or stand, a window of distribution, originally closed by a cover, covered with a flexible film, for example a flexible plastic film, which is fixed to the wall, in particular to the inner face thereof, and which has an elongated opening of distribution delimited by two longitudinal edges spaced transversely join at each of the two longitudinal ends opposite of the opening.

Such a cardboard box contains a series of tissues stacked and entangled, the leaves constituting the handkerchiefs being interconnected by attachment points.

The dispensing window with its elongated opening must facilitate the use of the box and allow to solve several problems inherent in this type of box.

The box must notably facilitate the extraction of the first sheet or handkerchief. Indeed, this first sheet of paper or of cellulose wadding, at the output of the production machine of handkerchiefs stacked in the box, is usually compressed, the manufacturing process, and it is found that it "swells" and sticks against the part opposite the inner face of the upper wall of the cardboard box, after a certain period storage. Thus, if no means is provided, we find that the first leaf extracted tears most often.

It is therefore desirable to design an elongated slot which exercises a reduced retention effort on the sheet of paper when its extraction and which makes it possible in particular to increase sliding of the leaves.

When the user wants to retrieve the last handkerchiefs or leaves out of the box, it often happens a extraction phenomenon "rosary" because the last leaves held together by attachment points are not braked enough when passing through the opening from the window and they come out in the form of a continuous strip of paper in which pre-cut formats or handkerchiefs are in solidarity with each other, ie they can no longer be individually extracted one after the other.

It is thus desirable that the design of the opening long enough to retain the last individual leaves so that they are separated from each other during their extraction out of the box.

It is also desirable to keep at least as good extraction qualities than existing ones with boxes conventional so that when a sheet is removed individually, the following sheet is always engaged in the extraction opening.

In order to solve some of these problems, we have already proposed, in particular according to the state of the art disclosed in the EP-B1-0,577,443. a box of the type mentioned previously and of the type in which the opening includes, at neighborhood of at least one of its longitudinal ends opposite, a first and a second curved slits, transversely opposite, each of which extends first substantially in the extension of a longitudinal edge in direction of said longitudinal end, then transversely outwardly away from said longitudinal edge.

Such an aperture design illustrated in Figure 5 of this document, in which each of the first and second curved slits do not extend from the longitudinal end distal to the elongated opening, but instead from a longitudinal edge of the opening near the distal end corresponding does not solve all previously mentioned problems.

In order to solve each of these problems, the invention proposes a box of the type mentioned previously, characterized in that said at least one end longitudinal axis of the elongate opening comprises a third slit, of longitudinal general orientation, which has been said at least one longitudinal end of the opening.

• la troisième fente est rectiligne ;
• la troisième fente s'étend selon l'axe longitudinal de l'ouverture allongée ;
• chacune desdites première et deuxième fentes est une fente sensiblement de forme semi-circulaire ;
• le rayon de chacune desdites première et deuxième fentes est sensiblement égal à 5 mm ;
• la troisième fente s'étend longitudinalement au-delà du point longitudinal extrême desdites première et deuxième fentes ;
• la longueur de ladite troisième fente est sensiblement égale à 7 mm ;
• ladite au moins une extrémité longitudinale de l'ouverture allongée présente un profil arrondi ;
• le rayon de courbure moyen du profil arrondi de ladite au moins une extrémité longitudinale de l'ouverture allongée est sensiblement égal à 2,5 mm ;
• la longueur de l'ouverture allongée est sensiblement égale à 105 mm ;
• la plus grande largeur transversale de l'ouverture allongée est sensiblement égale à 8 mm ;
• l'ouverture allongée permet la distribution de mouchoirs d'environ 215 mm de longueur ;
• l'ouverture allongée présente une symétrie de conception par rapport à un axe longitudinal médian ;
• l'ouverture allongée présente une symétrie de conception par rapport à un axe transversal médian ;
• l'extrémité libre de chaque fente est située en retrait par rapport au bord libre de la fenêtre.

According to other features of the invention:

• the third slot is rectilinear;
• the third slot extends along the longitudinal axis of the elongated opening;
• each of said first and second slots is a slot substantially of semicircular shape;
• the radius of each of said first and second slots is substantially equal to 5 mm;
• the third slot extends longitudinally beyond the extreme longitudinal point of said first and second slots;
• the length of said third slot is substantially equal to 7 mm;
• said at least one longitudinal end of the elongate opening has a rounded profile;
• the mean radius of curvature of the rounded profile of said at least one longitudinal end of the elongated opening is substantially equal to 2.5 mm;
• the length of the elongated opening is substantially equal to 105 mm;
• the largest transverse width of the elongated opening is substantially equal to 8 mm;
• the elongated opening allows the dispensing of tissues about 215 mm in length;
• the elongated opening has a design symmetry with respect to a median longitudinal axis;
• the elongated opening has a design symmetry with respect to a median transverse axis;
• the free end of each slot is set back from the free edge of the window.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une boíte réalisée conformément aux enseignements de l'invention qui est illustrée après enlèvement de l'opercule en carton et après extraction d'au moins un premier mouchoir ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus à plus grande échelle de la paroi supérieure de la boíte de la figure 1 sans mouchoir dans l'ouverture allongée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail D3 de la figure 2 qui représente l'une des extrémités longitudinales de l'ouverture allongée.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a box made according to the teachings of the invention which is illustrated after removal of the cardboard cover and after extraction of at least a first handkerchief;
• Figure 2 is a top view on a larger scale of the upper wall of the box of Figure 1 without tissue in the elongated opening;
• Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the detail D3 of Figure 2 which shows one of the longitudinal ends of the elongate opening.

FIG. 1 shows a carton 10 of general design known parallelepiped shape rectangle.

The box 10 is in particular delimited by two large rectangular walls which here consist of a wall lower full 12 for which the box 10 rests for example on a table, and a horizontal top wall 14 allowing the distribution of the tissues 16 contained in the box 10.

In a known manner, not shown in detail, the handkerchiefs 16 are paper or cellulose wadding generally square or rectangular shapes that are entangled and vertically stacked in the box, each handkerchief 16 being folded in half so that its dimensions once folded correspond substantially to the internal dimensions of the box 10.

In a known manner, to allow the extraction of handkerchiefs 16 out of the box 10, the horizontal top wall 14 comprises a centered cutout 18 in the general shape of an ellipse elongated which is initially closed before use by a operculum (not shown) pre-cut along the edge 20 of the window 18 to allow the user to easily remove it and proceed to an opening of the box which gives him access to a elongated central opening 22 which is formed in a flexible film 23.

The flexible film 23 is generally contour rectangular and it is attached to the top wall 14 inside of the box 10, that is to say that it is generally glued under the face internal of the upper wall 14.

There is therefore an annular zone of rectangular contour of the inner cardboard face of the upper wall 14 with which are in contact the tissues 16 contained in the box, and especially the first handkerchief of the pile of tissues extraction is particularly difficult as it has been explained previously.

In a known manner, the elongated slot 22 extends according to a median longitudinal axis of symmetry AL which also corresponds substantially to the median longitudinal axis of the top wall 14, and the elongate opening 22 also has a symmetry of design with respect to a median transverse axis AT which also corresponds substantially to the median transverse axis of the rectangular upper wall 14.

The elongated opening 22 is narrow, ie the maximum transverse width between its two longitudinal edges parallel and opposite, slightly curved, at right axis transversal AT is here substantially equal to 8 millimeters while that the total length of the elongated opening 22 separating its two opposite longitudinal ends 26 where the longitudinal edges 24, here is substantially equal to 105 millimeters.

The profile of each of the longitudinal ends opposite 25, also called distal longitudinal ends, of the opening 22 is a rounded profile whose radius of curvature average is for example equal to about 2.5 millimeters.

The open area between the longitudinal edges 24 of the elongated opening 22 formed in the flexible film 23 allows the user, by introducing his fingers, to catch the first handkerchief 16 from the stack in order to extract it vertically through the opening 22 out of the box 10.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, each end of the elongated opening 22 has a first slot and a second opposite slot 26 which are both curved, and a third straight slot 30.

Specifically, each of the first and second curved slots 26 is a slot of substantially semicircular shape which first extends longitudinally substantially in the extension of the corresponding longitudinal edge 24 from a point P which is located longitudinally recessed by relative to the longitudinal end 25 of the opening 22, each first or second slot 26 extending thereafter in an arc of circle, transversely away from the longitudinal edge 24, that is towards the edge of window 18 without however reach this edge 20.

In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the mean radius of each first or second semicircular slit 26 is substantially equal to 5 millimeters and the point longitudinal end T of each first or second slot 26 is located longitudinally beyond the longitudinal end 25 of the elongated opening 22.

The third slot 30 is a straight slot that extends along the median longitudinal axis AL of the opening 22 on a length equal to about 7 millimeters, ie beyond the transversal line (not shown) passing through the two points longitudinal end T of the first and second semicircular slits 26.

Thus, in the vicinity of each longitudinal end, the flexible film in which is formed the central opening 22 is consisting of four adjacent parts separated from each other by the three slots 26 and 30 and which, as shown schematically in Figure 1, during the extraction of a handkerchief 16, flourish vertically upwards, forming petals, or a corolla.

Thanks to the design according to the invention, the ends longitudinal of the elongated opening 22 open with the slots 26 and 30, in corollas, to avoid the tearing of the first leaf whose extraction, as previously explained, is particularly difficult.

The presence of the three slots 26, 30 at one end longitudinally allows to retain one by one the constituent leaves the tissues by acting in the manner of a brake to allow the separation of the handkerchiefs whenever one of them is extracted, especially during the extraction of the last handkerchiefs stacked.

Finally, the three slot design 26, 30 allows the adaptation of the invention to many flexible materials constituting the film 24, while keeping a very good quality extraction.

Claims (15)

1. Box (10), particularly a cardboard box, for dispensing paper handkerchiefs (16) contained in the box which, for that purpose, in one (14) of its walls, particularly a top wall, comprises a dispensing window (18) covered by a flexible film (23) which is fixed to the wall (14), particularly to the interior face thereof, and which comprises an elongate dispensing opening (22) delimited by two transversely-spaced longitudinal edges (24) which meet at each of the two opposed longitudinal edges (25) of the opening, and of the type in which the opening (22) comprises, near at least one of its opposed longitudinal ends (25), one first and one second transversely opposed curved slot (26), each (26) of which runs first of all approximately in the continuation of a longitudinal edge (24) in the direction of the said longitudinal end (25), then transversely outwards away from the said longitudinal edge (24), characterised in that at least one longitudinal end (25) of the elongate opening (22) comprises a third slot (30) of longitudinal overall orientation, which runs from the said at least one longitudinal end (25) of the opening (22).
2. Box according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the third slot (30) is straight.
3. Box according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the third slot (30) runs along the longitudinal axis (AL) of the elongate opening (22).
4. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of the said first and second slots (26) is a slot of roughly semicircular shape.
5. Box according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the radius of each of the said first and second slots (26) is roughly equal to 5 mm.
6. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third slot (30) runs longitudinally beyond the endmost longitudinal point (T) of the said first and second slots (26).
7. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of the said third slot (30) is roughly equal to 7 mm.
8. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said at least one longitudinal end (25) of the elongate opening has a rounded profile.
9. Box according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the mean radius of curvature of the rounded profile of the said at least one longitudinal end (25) of the elongate opening (22) is roughly equal to 2.5 mm.
10. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of the elongate opening (22) is roughly equal to 105 mm.
11. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the greatest transverse width of the elongate opening (22) is roughly equal to 8 mm.
12. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elongate opening (22) allows handkerchiefs about 215 mm long to be dispensed.
13. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elongate opening (22) has symmetry of design with respect to a median longitudinal axis (AL).
14. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elongate opening (22) has symmetry of design with respect to a median transverse axis (AT).
15. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free end of each slot (26, 30) is set back from the free edge of the window.

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