EP1153847A1 - Tissues packet - Google Patents

Abstract

The pack (20), made from a sheet of a supple e.g. plastics material with an opening that allows at least one handkerchief to be seized to pull it out, has a height (H3) and width (L3) of the same dimensions (50 to 58 mm) to give the pack square front (22) and rear (24) faces. The handkerchiefs (64) inside the pack are folded into squares, each with a multiple of four thicknesses. The opening can be in the form of a front flap (36) or perforated corner.

Description

The invention relates to a packet of tissues.

The invention relates more particularly to a package of stacked tissues.

Handkerchiefs are generally made at from a sheet of absorbent paper which is folded and cut in rectangular format, preferably square. The handkerchiefs folded are then juxtaposed or stacked and then wrapped in a sheet of flexible material which can be a film of material transparent plastic.

The folded handkerchief package has a shape rectangular parallelepiped with a large rectangular face whose width is less than the height.

In general, an opening is made in a large face of the envelope which is substantially parallel to the plane of the handkerchiefs, so as to clear a grip area of at least minus a handkerchief to extract it individually from the package.

The opening may consist of a movable flap around a axis which allows, in the open position, to clear the area of gripping.

Holding means, such as an adhesive strip, fixed on the movable flap are necessary to keep it in position closed.

Such packages have several disadvantages, they are bulky and not very discreet, indeed their dimensions and their format is quite large. So they can distort and damage clothing, especially pockets, in which they are slipped.

Once the package is opened, the manipulations it undergoes cause deformations such as bends which deform the handkerchiefs. So when these are out of the package they have folded or wrinkled areas, which deteriorates their aspect.

When the package undergoes deformations, in particular a twist substantially around an axis corresponding to its most large longitudinal direction, the holding means are not not always sufficient to ensure a watertight closure of the gripping area of the package. Frequently the free edges of the movable flap are no longer in contact with the free edges of opening, dust can then penetrate inside the package, and dirty the handkerchiefs.

The advantages of tissue paper, know to be always clean and more hygienic than textile products due to their single use, are then greatly reduced.

In addition, when the movable flap is in a position opening, the holding means which generally include an adhesive strip can stick, for example on one of the handkerchiefs or on the user's fingers and thus annoy extracting handkerchiefs.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention offers a pack of stacked tissue paper, type which includes a sheet of flexible material, such as a plastic envelope sheet, which includes opening means allowing to clear an area of gripping at least one handkerchief to extract it individually of the envelope, and of the type that is shaped general parallelepiped defined by a height, a width and a thickness, characterized in that the height and the width are equal so that the package has front faces square front and rear.

• chaque mouchoir est plié de façon à former un carré dont le nombre d'épaisseur de papier absorbant est un multiple de quatre ;
• chaque mouchoir plié comporte seize épaisseurs de papier absorbant ;
• le pliage en seize épaisseurs de chaque mouchoir consiste à plier quatre panneaux de largeur sensiblement égale, séparés par des lignes de pliage longitudinal, les sens de pliage des panneaux par rapport aux lignes de pliage extérieures étant opposés entre eux, puis à plier successivement les panneaux autour d'une première et d'une seconde ligne de pliage ;
• sa hauteur et sa largeur sont comprises entre 50 et 58 millimètres;
• les moyens d'ouverture comportent un volet mobile entre une position d'ouverture permettant le dégagement de la zone de préhension d'au moins un mouchoir plié, et une position de fermeture recouvrant la zone de préhension ;
• la surface de la zone de préhension dégagée par le volet mobile est comprise entre un tiers et la moitié de la surface d'une face comportant les moyens d'ouverture ;
• le volet mobile est articulé autour d'un axe sensiblement parallèle à l'une des arêtes du paquet ;
• le volet mobile comporte des moyens de maintien en position fermée, tels qu'une bande adhésive qui peut être décollée et recollée plusieurs fois sur une partie fixe de l'enveloppe ;
• le volet mobile est une partie de la feuille d'enveloppe délimitée par une prédécoupe ou une découpe de la feuille d'enveloppe comprenant deux tronçons qui sont reliés entre eux et qui s'étendent chacun sur une face distincte du paquet ;
• le volet mobile est une partie de la feuille d'enveloppe délimitée par une prédécoupe ou une découpe de la feuille d'enveloppe agencée dans un angle du paquet et comprenant trois tronçons qui s'étendent chacun sur une face distincte du paquet, en ce qu'un premier tronçon s'étend sur une première face entre deux arêtes concourantes, et en ce que les deuxième et troisième tronçons s'étendent sur une deuxième et une troisième face respectivement à partir de chacune des extrémités du premier tronçon ;
• le premier tronçon est un arc de cercle dont le centre correspond sensiblement au point de concours des trois arêtes qui délimitent l'angle du paquet ;
• le premier tronçon comporte au moins un segment de droite ;
• la première face est l'une des faces frontales ;
• la première face est l'une des faces adjacentes aux faces frontales.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• each handkerchief is folded so as to form a square whose number of absorbent paper thickness is a multiple of four;
• each folded handkerchief has sixteen layers of absorbent paper;
• the folding into sixteen thicknesses of each handkerchief consists of folding four panels of substantially equal width, separated by longitudinal fold lines, the directions of folding of the panels with respect to the outer fold lines being opposed to each other, then successively folding the panels around a first and a second fold line;
• its height and width are between 50 and 58 millimeters;
• the opening means comprise a movable flap between an open position allowing the release of the gripping area of at least one folded handkerchief, and a closed position covering the gripping area;
• the surface of the gripping area released by the movable flap is between one third and half of the surface of a face comprising the opening means;
• the movable flap is articulated around an axis substantially parallel to one of the edges of the package;
• the movable flap comprises means for holding in the closed position, such as an adhesive strip which can be peeled off and glued several times on a fixed part of the envelope;
• the movable flap is a part of the envelope sheet delimited by a precut or a cut out of the envelope sheet comprising two sections which are connected together and which each extend on a separate face of the package;
• the movable flap is a part of the envelope sheet delimited by a precut or a cut of the envelope sheet arranged in a corner of the package and comprising three sections which each extend on a separate face of the package, in that 'a first section extends on a first face between two concurrent edges, and in that the second and third sections extend on a second and a third face respectively from each of the ends of the first section;
• the first section is an arc of a circle, the center of which corresponds substantially to the point of intersection of the three edges which delimit the angle of the bundle;
• the first section comprises at least one line segment;
• the first face is one of the front faces;
• the first face is one of the faces adjacent to the front faces.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues qui représentent chacune schématiquement et en perspective un exemple d'un paquet de mouchoirs réalisé selon l'état de la technique ;
• la figure 3 représente schématiquement et en perspective un paquet de mouchoirs réalisé selon l'invention ;
• les figures 4 à 9 sont des vues schématiques qui représentent les étapes successives de pliage d'un mouchoir enveloppé dans le paquet selon l'invention de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 10 est une vue schématique et en perspective d'un paquet de mouchoirs comportant des moyens d'ouverture réalisés selon une variante de l'invention ;
• les figures 11 à 13 sont des vues schématiques et en perspective illustrant les étapes successives de dégagement de la zone de préhension d'un paquet de mouchoirs similaire à celui représenté à la figure 10.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings among which:

• Figures 1 and 2 are views which each show schematically and in perspective an example of a packet of tissues produced according to the prior art;
• Figure 3 shows schematically and in perspective a packet of tissues produced according to the invention;
• Figures 4 to 9 are schematic views which show the successive stages of folding a handkerchief wrapped in the package according to the invention of Figure 3;
• Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a packet of tissues comprising opening means made according to a variant of the invention;
• FIGS. 11 to 13 are schematic and perspective views illustrating the successive steps of releasing the grip area from a packet of tissues similar to that represented in FIG. 10.

In order to facilitate understanding of the description and claims, we will use, without limitation, the terms before, rear, right, left, top and bottom according to the figures, in particular in Figures 1 to 3.

Figures 1 and 2 each show a packet 20 of handkerchiefs according to the state of the art.

The 20 pack of tissues is shaped general rectangular parallelepiped. It consists of a envelope sheet 21 of flexible material, such as a sheet of plastic, and it has two front faces 22 and rear 24, and four lateral sides left 26, right 28, upper 30 and lower 32.

The envelope sheet 21 is made of a material usually flexible a thick polyethylene film between 20 and 50 microns.

The packet 20 of handkerchiefs has, here on its face front front 22, opening means 34 which consist of a flap 36 which is precut along dotted lines 38.

Figure 1 shows the flap 36 in a position of closing. Figure 2 shows the flap 36 in an open position.

During the first use, a request from the party lower 40 of the flap 36 towards the front and / or upwards of the package 20 allows it to be separated from the front end face 22. The flap 36 is then movable between its closed position and a position opening, allowing the release of a gripping area at least one handkerchief.

In order to keep the flap 36 in the closed position after its first use, holding means 42, such an adhesive strip, are fixed on the lower part 40 of the triangular flap 36. The holding means 42 can be detached and glued several times on the front face 22 of envelope 21.

The packet 20 of tissues is defined by a height H, a width L and a thickness E.

FIG. 1 represents a packet 20 of tissues folded in paper of a format known as "classic" which is characterized in that its height H1 is substantially equal to twice its width L1.

FIG. 2 represents a packet 20 of handkerchiefs in a format sold under the registered trademark "Compact" whose height H2 corresponds substantially to once and a half its width L2.

These two types of packet 20 of handkerchiefs have including the disadvantages described above.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention suggests, in accordance with Figure 3, that the height H3 and the width L3 of package 20 are equal, so that the faces front 22 and rear 24 are square.

The dimensions of the height H3 and the width L3 of the package 20 may however have a tolerance of more or minus 4 millimeters for a standard deviation of the order of 2 mm.

This tolerance also applies for the dimension of the height in relation to the width dimension.

Therefore, by equal height and width, we mean a height and width which may not be strictly equal and present some variation from each other.

Preferably, the width L3 of the package 20 according to the invention is equal to the widths L1 and L2 of the packets 20 according to the state of the technical that is to say at a value between 50 and 58 mm.

So when the ratio of height H3 to width L3 is equal to 1, the height H3 is substantially equal to half of the height H1, and is less than the height H2 of the packets 20 made according to the state of the art.

The dimensions of the package 20 according to the invention are reduced compared to 20 packs of facial tissue known.

The package 20 according to the invention is discreet and allows reduce clutter, such as pockets and purses hand.

It also limits the risk of damage to clothing, including pockets, in which it is slipped.

The parallelepiped format with front faces 22 and 24 square of the package 20 increases its rigidity. So it is more rigid and retains its shape when subjected to stresses, especially when it is in the pants pocket or in a handbag.

Tests carried out on packages 20 of handkerchiefs known types, in particular bundles whose height H2 is substantially equal to 1.5 times its width L2, and packets 20 according to the invention.

A first test consists in evaluating the resistance to the crushing of a packet 20. To do this, a lateral face of the package 20 is placed on a flat surface, then a deformation comes to press on the opposite side of the package 20. The speed of movement, for example 400 mm per minute, and the stroke of the organ, for example 15 mm, are constant. Measuring means such as a dynamometer determine the force measured on package 20. Thus, the more the force applied for crushing the packet 20 is high, the more the packet 20 is resistant.

A second test consists in evaluating the resistance to bending of a bundle 20.

Thus, for example the rear front face 24 is placed on two linear supports which are located near the edges municipalities of the rear front face 24 and the lateral faces upper 30 and lower 32 respectively. Then, an organ of deformation comes to press on the front face 22. The movement speed, for example 400 mm per minute, and the stroke of the organ, for example 20 mm, are constant. The measurement means thus determine the force applied to the package 20 which is necessary to deform it from the stroke predetermined.

These tests were carried out several times with packets 20 full or partially filled with tissues.

In all cases, the packets 20 according to the invention are more resistant to crushing and bending than packets 20 of known types.

For example, when the deformation member presses the upper side face 30, the resistance of a filled packet 20 of handkerchiefs according to the invention is 2.5 times that of a package 20 of known type.

When the package 20 is partially filled, in particular when it contains three folded tissues, the resistance ratio a package 20 according to the invention and a package 20 of known type can reach 16.

These tests show that the shape and dimensions of the tissue pack 20 according to the invention greatly increase its resistance. Its deformations during use are reduced.

The handkerchiefs are folded and then arranged the interior of the envelope in flexible material, or enveloped by the latter.

Figures 4 to 9 illustrate the different stages of a example of folding a sheet 50 of absorbent material for make a handkerchief folded squared.

FIG. 4 here represents a sheet 50 cut to shape square with side dimensions of the order of 210 mm, flexible absorbent material such as cellulose wadding.

Such sheets are known and widely used in the state of the art.

The sheet 50 consists of at least one ply of material flexible and absorbent. When there are several folds, they can be linked to each other, for example by bonding or any other mechanical bonding process.

Longitudinal fold lines 54, 56 and 58 which separate four strips or panels 60 of width substantially equal, are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

The sheet 50 is then folded in accordance with FIG. 5. The direction of folding of the strips 60 relative to the lines longitudinal 54 and 58 is opposite to that of the longitudinal line 56 so as to form a sheet 50 of the type folded in M in accordance with Figures 6 and 7.

The sheet 50 is then folded around a first line transverse folding 61 according to FIG. 8.

Figure 9 shows the sheet 50 during the final folding in sixteen equal parts around a second fold line transverse 62.

In the following description, the sheet 50 folded in sixteen is called folded handkerchief and is designated by the reference 64.

The dimensions C of the sides of the folded square handkerchiefs 64 have a value between 50 and 58 mm.

Advantageously, in order to simplify the manufacture of the folded handkerchief 64, a reel of flexible material unwinds a strip which is folded along the longitudinal fold lines 54, 56 and 58 (this folding is preferably carried out in the direction of tape unwinding). Then this strip is cut to form 50 square sheets which are then folded according to the first then along the second transverse fold line 61 and 62 respectively.

Alternatively, the sheet 50 is folded around the line longitudinal 56 and then folded in one direction around the longitudinal lines 54 and 58 which are then superimposed. The transverse folding can then consist of a folding similar to that described above or in a folding of the type in M.

The folded handkerchief 64 can also be the result of two folds of the M type of sheet 50, one longitudinal, the other transverse.

Other folding combinations, which are not detailed here, also make it possible to obtain folded square handkerchiefs 64.

Such folds make it possible to obtain tissues 64 which are symmetrical in particular with respect to their diagonal which this is not the case with handkerchiefs of known types produced by the combination of a four-fold as described above and a fold in three, for example of the Z type.

The package 20 according to the invention has dimensions reduced compared to package 20 according to the state of the art without reducing the size of handkerchiefs 64.

Extraction of folded tissues 64 from package 20 is facilitated because their symmetrical square shape allows a distribution homogeneous and balanced friction forces between the folded handkerchief 64 extracted and the inside of the envelope 21.

In accordance with FIG. 3, the movable flap 36 is articulated around an axis 70 which, here is merged with the edge 71 common to the front face 22 and upper face 30. Thus, the axis 70 is substantially parallel to the parallel planes containing the folded handkerchiefs 64. In the open position, in accordance with the FIG. 2, the flap 36 releases a gripping zone 86.

Advantageously, for a case as shown in the Figure 3, the movable flap 36 would be in the open position, the surface of the gripping area 86 is between one third and half the surface of the front face 22. This characteristic combined in parallelepipedic format with faces 22 and 24 square fronts of the package 20 according to the invention favors gripping the handkerchief 64 and facilitates its extraction.

According to a variant not shown, the flap 36 is produced in one of the lateral faces 26 to 32 of the package 20. The axis 70 can then be substantially perpendicular to the parallel planes containing folded tissues 64.

According to another variant of the invention, shown in Figures 10 to 13, the movable flap 36 is a part of the envelope 21 which is delimited by a precut 72 of the envelope 21 and which is arranged in an angle 74 of the packet 20 of tissues.

The precut 72 may comprise two sections which are interconnected and which each extend on a separate face of the package 20.

In the following, the precut 72 comprises three sections which each extend on a separate face of the envelope 21.

A first central or intermediate section 76 is produced in a first face, here the front face 22. It consists for example in an arc of a circle whose center corresponds substantially at the top, i.e. at the point of competition of three edges which delimit the angle 74 of the pack 20, and which extends between two concurrent edges 71 and 78 which correspond to two edges of the front face 24. The dimensions of the circular arc are preferably close to those of the tip of the thumb of a user.

The second and third end sections 80 and 82 each extend on a second and third side, here on the upper side face 30 and right side face 28 respectively.

Each end section 80, 82 is a segment of straight line parallel to edge 84 which corresponds to the intersection of faces 28 and 30, and it extends over a reduced length equal to a few mm.

When using for the first time, as shown in the figure 11, the user holds the package 20, for example in his hand left 81 when it is right-handed, in a vertical position, the front face 22 facing it. Then he presses with a finger, which maybe thumb 83 of his right hand, on flap 36, so cutting the sections of the envelope 21 which are located between the orifices of the precut 72. Thus, the flap 36 is made mobile.

To remove a folded handkerchief 64 from the package 20, the user must continue the pressure movement he exerts with his thumb so as to put the movable flap 36 in the open position allowing the release of a gripping area 86, according to Figure 12, which is located in the upper corner. He can then easily grab a corner of a handkerchief 64 and extract it from envelope 21.

Advantageously, the opening of the package 20 can be done with one hand. For example, the thumb and middle finger hold the pack 20, and the index finger clears the area of grip 86.

The extraction of the handkerchief 64 is generally carried out according to a diagonal from the front end face 22 of the pack 20, and it is facilitated because the friction forces are distributed over the two sides of handkerchief 64 which are adjacent to the grip area 86.

When the handkerchief 64 has come out of the envelope 21 the area grip 86 is covered by the movable flap 36.

The movable flap 36 can also return by itself by closed position according to figure 13.

The return movement of the movable flap 36 towards its closed position is caused in particular by elasticity a part of the envelope 21 located in an area 88 included between the two free ends of the second and third sections 80 and 82 respectively which tends to bring back automatically the movable flap 36 in the closed position.

Such a packet 20 of folded tissues 64 allows the removal of the retaining means 42 which reduces the costs of manufacturing.

In addition, the movable flap 36 allows closing at new from package 20 more airtight than according to the condition of the technical. Indeed, the opening is narrower and the movable flap 36 is held in the closed position by the elastic effect of zone 88. The folded tissues 64 are then better protected and get less dirty.

The front 22 and rear 24 front faces being square, the manufacturing the package 20 is facilitated since the precut 72 can be carried out indifferently in one of the eight corners of the one of the front faces 22 and 24.

The packaging process is also simplified because it is not necessary to orient the sides of folded tissues 64 relative to width L3 or height H3 of bundle 20.

For the same reasons, the use of the 20 pack of handkerchiefs 64 is simplified. Indeed, whatever the corner proximity of which the movable flap 36 is produced, a rotation of the package 20 around one or more axes perpendicular to its faces allows the movable flap 36 to be placed in the most favorable to the user. That is to say, for example in the corner upper right for a right-hander. There is no longer any notion of height, or width. The extraction of a folded handkerchief 64 is therefore a easy and natural gesture for the user.

In addition, it is possible to open the package 20 with a single hand which facilitates its use.

The first section 76 may have a different shape, such that a line segment which can be perpendicular to a plane passing through the edge common to the second and third faces and by the bisector of the angle formed by the other two edges.

Claims (15)

Package (20) of stacked tissues (64), of the type which comprises a sheet of flexible material, such as an envelope sheet (21) of plastic material, which comprises opening means making it possible to release a gripping area (86) of at least one handkerchief (64) to extract it individually from the envelope (21), and of the type which is of generally parallelepipedal shape defined by a height (H), a width (L) and a thickness (E),
characterized in that the height (H) and the width (L) are equal so that the package (20) has square front (22) and rear (24) front faces. Package (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each handkerchief (64) is folded so as to form a square whose number of absorbent paper thickness is a multiple of four. Package (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each folded handkerchief (64) comprises sixteen thicknesses of absorbent paper. Package (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the folding into sixteen thicknesses of each handkerchief (64) consists in folding four panels (60) of substantially equal width, separated by longitudinal fold lines ( 54, 56, 58), the directions of folding of the panels (60) with respect to the outer fold lines (54, 58) being opposed to each other, then successively folding the panels (60) around a first (61) and a second (62) fold line. Package (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its height (H) and its width (L) are between 50 and 58 millimeters. Package (20) of tissues (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening means comprise a flap (36) movable between an opening position allowing the release of the gripping area (86 ) at least one folded handkerchief (64), and a closed position covering the gripping area (86). Packet (20) of tissues (64) according to claim 6, characterized in that the surface of the grip zone (86) released by the movable flap (36) is between one third and half the surface of a face comprising the opening means. Package (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the movable flap (36) is articulated around an axis (70) substantially parallel to one of the edges of the package (20). Package (20) of tissues (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the movable flap (36) comprises holding means (42) in the closed position, such as an adhesive strip which can be peeled off and re-glued several times on a fixed part of the envelope (21), Package (20) of tissues (64) according to claim 6, characterized in that the movable flap (36) is a part of the envelope sheet (21) delimited by a pre-cut (72) or a cut of the sheet d 'envelope (21) comprising two sections which are interconnected and which each extend on a separate face of the package (20). Package (20) of tissues (64) according to claim 6, characterized in that the movable flap (36) is a part of the envelope sheet (21) delimited by a pre-cut (72) or a cut of the sheet d envelope (21) arranged in a corner (74) of the package (20) and comprising three sections (76, 80, 82) which each extend on a separate face of the package (20), in that a first section (76) extends over a first face between two concurrent edges (71, 78), and in that the second (80) and third (82) sections extend over a second and a third face respectively from each ends of the first section (76). Packet (20) of handkerchiefs (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first section (76) is an arc of a circle, the center of which corresponds substantially to the point of intersection of the three edges which delimit the angle of the packet (20 ). Pack (20) of tissues (64) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first section (76) comprises at least one straight segment. Package (20) of tissues (64) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the first face is one of the front faces (22, 24). Pack (20) of tissues (64) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the first face is one of the adjacent faces (26, 28, 30, 32) to the front faces (22, 24 ).

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