EP2073677A2 - Emballage pour distribuer des feuilles à partir de celui-ci avec inversion et procédé de distribution de feuilles avec inversion - Google Patents

Emballage pour distribuer des feuilles à partir de celui-ci avec inversion et procédé de distribution de feuilles avec inversion

Info

Publication number
EP2073677A2
EP2073677A2 EP07849064A EP07849064A EP2073677A2 EP 2073677 A2 EP2073677 A2 EP 2073677A2 EP 07849064 A EP07849064 A EP 07849064A EP 07849064 A EP07849064 A EP 07849064A EP 2073677 A2 EP2073677 A2 EP 2073677A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
package
aperture
sheets
dispensing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07849064A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur Wong
Stefano Bartolucci
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP2073677A2 publication Critical patent/EP2073677A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
    • A47K10/421—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the top of the dispenser
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
    • A47K10/426—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the front or sides of the dispenser
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/08—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
    • B65D83/0805—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession through an aperture in a wall
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/08—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
    • B65D83/0894—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession the articles being positioned relative to one another or to the container in a special way, e.g. for facilitating dispensing, without additional support
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K2010/3266—Wet wipes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to dispensing of discrete sheets and more particularly to dispensing of discrete sheets from a container having an orifice.
  • Dispensing of sheets from a container has long been done in the art. Reach-in dispensing allows multiple sheets to be dispensed at once, but can be inconvenient.
  • Pop-up dispensing is more convenient, but often dictates that a more vertically oriented package be used. If the sheets are wet, the package must have a lid, to prevent undue evaporation. A seal is formed between the lid and the body of the package.
  • dispensing discrete sheets may present particular challenges. If the sheets are disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the orifice, an unduly large footprint may be required. If the sheets are packaged too tightly, tearing of the first few sheets to be dispensed may occur. The sheet may not easily unfold upon dispensing, particular if the sheet has cohesive forces due to wetting.
  • Fig. IA is a perspective view of an exemplary package according to the present invention.
  • Fig. IB is a perspective view, shown partially in cutaway, of the package of Fig. IA and having sheets therein for dispensing.
  • Fig. 1C is a top plan view of the package of Fig. IA.
  • Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken a long line 2 — 2 of Fig. IB.
  • Figs. 3A - 3E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative interleaved patterns.
  • Figs. 4A - 4E are schematic side views of exemplary, representative non-interleaved patterns.
  • Fig. 5 is a frontal view of the package of Fig. IB stack of sheets showing the inversion of the leading edge upon dispensing, the stack being in an exemplary package shown in cutaway.
  • the invention comprises a package in combination with at least one sheet therein and being dispensible the package.
  • the package comprises a body for containing at least one sheet therein and an orifice for dispensing the sheet there through to remove it from the package.
  • the orifice comprises a first aperture and a second aperture in unobstructed communication therewith.
  • the second aperture has a major dimension and a minor dimension orthogonal thereto, with the major dimension being greater than the minor dimension.
  • At least one sheet is disposed in the package.
  • the sheet has a generally planar configuration. The plane of said sheet may be substantially aligned with the major dimension.
  • the sheet has a first side and a second side opposed thereto, with the first side and said second side being oriented in a first direction and a second direction, respectively.
  • the invention comprises a method of dispensing a sheet, disposed in a planar configuration, from a package in pop-up fashion.
  • the method comprises the steps of reaching into a package and withdrawing a portion of a sheet from a starting position through a first aperture in the package, then moving the withdrawn portion of said sheet in an arcute path to a second aperture, whereby a portion of said sheet inverts about a first axis to face in the opposite direction from the starting position.
  • the package 10 may comprise a body 11 for receiving articles therein.
  • the articles are received in the body 11 of the package 10.
  • the package 10 may have defined walls, may be generally parallelepipedly shaped, and may have a dispensing orifice 18 therein.
  • a lid 22 may be provided to cover the orifice 18 and close the package 10.
  • the articles may be dry, moist, wet or a combination thereof.
  • the articles to be placed in the package 10 may comprise sheets 14, or may be other contents as desired.
  • the package 10 may have defined walls 30.
  • the walls 30 may define a top, a bottom, front and back sides, and left and right sides, and may define any suitable size and shape.
  • the walls 30 of the body 11 and lid 22 may be generally coextensive when the lid 22 is in the closed position.
  • the lid 22 may have a very different shape than the body 11.
  • the walls 30 of the package 10 need not be freestanding and rigid as depicted, but instead may be flaccid or resiliently deformable. This arrangement may provide a package 10 with an amorphous shape. Material such as polyethylene film may be suitable if flaccid walls are selected for the package 10. If so, a suitable package 10 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,897 issued Jan. 10, 1995 to Muckenfuhs et al. The package 10 may also be lightweight. By "lightweight” it is meant the package 10 is conveniently portable and does not have dead weight specifically added thereto. Alternatively, the walls may be rigid. Suitable materials for rigid walls include HDPE and PP.
  • the orifice 18 may intercept both the top wall 30 and one of the other walls 30 of the package 10, so that the sheets 14 may be dispensed in either a pop-up manner or a reach-in manner.
  • a suitable package 10 and orifice 18 may be made in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,623,074 issued Nov. 18, 1986 to Dearwester; 5,516,001 issued May 14, 1996 to Muchenfuhs et al or US Application Serial Number 11/377,788 filed Mar. 16, 2006 in the names of Wong et al. as P&G Case number 10337#.
  • the orifice 18 may comprise any variety of shapes, and intercept one or more walls of the package 10.
  • the orifice 18 may comprise a first aperture 19A and a second aperture 19B in communication therewith.
  • communication it is meant that a sheet 14, or portion thereof, may be moved from the first aperture 19 A to the second aperture 19B, and optionally, from the second aperture 19B to the first aperture 19A by the user. Such movement may occur from outside the package 10, by simply grasping the sheet 14, or a portion thereof and transferring such portion between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B.
  • the communication between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may be unobstructed.
  • unobstructed it is meant that the path between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may be free of any pinch points, undue obstructions or other artifacts which would block movement of the sheet 14.
  • the first aperture 19A and/or the second aperture 19B may have a major dimension, defining the longest dimension of that first aperture 19A or second aperture 19B in any particular direction. Likewise the first aperture 19A and/or the second aperture 19B may have a minor dimension orthogonal the major dimension. The major dimension may be greater than the minor dimension for either or both of the first aperture 19A or second aperture 19B, as taken in any particular direction.
  • the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may be of equal or unequal size/shape, be disposed on the same or different walls of the package 10, have the same or different orientations of the major and/or minor axes, as desired and suitable for a particular execution.
  • the first aperture 19A and/or the second aperture 19B may be sized to allow the user to reach into the package 10 and withdraw a portion of the sheet 14 therethrough, as occurs with reach-in dispensing.
  • the first aperture 19A and/or the second aperture 19B may be sized to allow the user to withdraw the sheet 14 therethrough and have a succeeding sheet 14 follow from the package 10 as occurs with pop-up dispensing.
  • the first aperture 19A is larger than the second aperture 19B and sized to allow for reach-in dispensing, while the second aperture 19B is sized to allow for pop-up dispensing.
  • either aperture 19A, 19B, particularly the second aperture 19B may be provided with a geometry to impart friction to a sheet 14 to be dispensed there through.
  • overlapping plies, interference members, tabs, and, as illustrated, corrugations, or similar features which provide for holding a sheet 14 to be dispensed from the package 10 partially inside and partially outside the package 10 may be utilized. This arrangement allows for the user to easily grasp that potion of the sheet 14, to continue pop-up dispensing from that aperture 19A, 19B.
  • first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may be interconnected by a path which allows for communication of a sheet 14 there between.
  • the path may substantially reverse its direction between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B.
  • reverse it is meant that the user may pull the sheet 14 in somewhat opposed directions, or at least vector components thereof, during communication of the sheet 14 from the first aperture 19A to the second aperture 19B.
  • the path may lie generally transverse to the primary dispensing direction. If desired, the path between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may subtend two directions which are about 135 to 225 degrees apart. In a degenerate case, the path may reverse so that the communication occurs in two opposed directions, and the path subtend 180 degrees.
  • the path between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B may be arcuate. This allows for relatively smooth and uninterrupted communication of the sheet 14 between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B.
  • the orifice 18 may be asymmetric, as illustrated.
  • the first aperture 19 A may have a first aperture 19A major dimension and the second aperture 19B may have a second aperture 19B major dimension.
  • the first aperture 19A major dimension and the second aperture 19B major dimension may subtend an angle, if they lie in the same plane, or may project a dihedral angle if they lie in different planes.
  • the angle there between may be less than 90 degrees, less than 45 degrees or less than 20 degrees.
  • the first aperture 19A major dimension and second aperture 19B major dimension may be thought to subtend an angle of zero degrees.
  • Such an angle of less than 90 degrees allows for inversion of the sheet 14 about an axis, such as the first axis, not parallel to the path between the first aperture 19A and the second aperture 19B.
  • the walls of the package 10 may be discrete and defined from one another, and have a major depth M.
  • the major depth is parallel to and may be measured coincident a major axis, which is generally the longest dimension intercepted by the package 10.
  • the major depth M of the package 10 may be vertical if the orifice 18 is on the upper surface of the package 10 when the package 10 is placed on a horizontal surface or reference plane such as a table or countertop.
  • Such a package 10 may have a primary dispensing direction generally parallel to the major axis.
  • the orifice 18 need not be juxtaposed with a particular edge of the package 10.
  • the orifice 18 may be juxtaposed with the shorter edge of the package 10, a corner thereof, or in any other suitable configuration, including the front, back, or side walls 30.
  • the orifice 18 may be covered by a lid 22.
  • the lid 22 may be juxtaposed with the orifice 18, in a closed position and removed from the proximity of the orifice 18 and an open position.
  • the lid 22 may be hingedly attached to the package 10, particularly the body 11. If so, one or more hinges 24 may join the body 11 and lid 22 so that one that may move relative to the other by articulation. Alternatively, the lid 22 may be totally removable from the body 11, and not attached by hinges 24 or other means.
  • the package 10 may have a circular or noncircular cross section.
  • Exemplary non-circular cross sections include squares, ovals, rectangles and other cross sections having an aspect ratio not equal to unity.
  • a noncircular cross-section provides the benefit that a flat surface may be presented to someone looking at the package 10. This arrangement provides the benefit that a label, advertising, instructions, graphics or other indicia may be placed on the flat surface and provide a billboard effect to the viewer. Furthermore, if the package 10 having a noncircular cross section is dropped on its side, such a package 10 will not roll.
  • the hinges 24 may be generally horizontally disposed when the package sits on in a counter or table. If the orifice 18 is at the top of the package 10, the axis of the hinge 24 may be generally perpendicular to the primary dispensing direction.
  • the hinge 24 may be disposed on one of the long sides or one of the short sides of a package 10 having a generally rectangular cross section. While a package 10 having two hinges 24 equally spaced from the sides is shown, the invention is not so limited. A package 10 having a single hinge 24, two hinges 24 or three or more hinges 24 may be utilized. The hinges 24 may be collinear and of equal or unequal length, spacing, etc.
  • the hinge 24 may be a living hinge 24.
  • a living hinge 24 may be made of a single piece of material, integrally joined to both the body 11 and lid 22.
  • the living hinge 24 may have a region of reduced thickness, about which the articulation occurs and they thereby defines the axis of the hinge 24.
  • the hinge 24 may be a hook-and-eye configuration, a piano hinge 24, a butt hinge 24 or any other configuration, which allows articulation between the body 11 and lid 22.
  • the lid 22 may be completely detachable from the body 11. In such an embodiment the lid 22 may be removably joined to the body 11. In such an embodiment, the lid 22 may be joined to the body 11 upon closure by the interference fit around the periphery.
  • the lid 22 and body 11 may be joined at an interference that when the lid is in the closed position.
  • An interference fit occurs when the material of either the lid 22 or body 11 slightly displaces the material of the other upon closure of the lid 22.
  • Such displacement may be elastic, due to the resilient material properties of the lid 22 and/or body 11.
  • the body 11 may have a periphery 23, about which the lid 22 fits upon closure. Alternatively, the lid 22 may fit inside the periphery 23 of the body 11 upon closure.
  • the interference fit provides a seal between the body 11 and lid 22.
  • seal it is meant that a barrier to evaporation or the transfer of gas into or out of the package 10 is present.
  • the seal may also prevent intrusion of contamination into the package 10, providing for sanitary and hygienic storage of the contents.
  • the seal may also prevent intrusion of oxygen, air, etc. into the package 10.
  • the interference fit may be quantified by the amount of deformation or overlap which occurs between the body 11 and lid 22 upon closure.
  • the interference is measured radially, generally perpendicular to the periphery 23 at any point. The radial measurement is taken generally perpendicular to the major axis of the package 10.
  • the package 10 may further comprise a closure.
  • the closure may be any device, which impedes orifice of the body 11 when in the closed position. Suitable closures include snaps, various seals, hook and loop fasteners, latches, etc.
  • the package 10 may be disposable or refillable.
  • dispenser is meant the package 10 is intended to be discarded after the contents supplied therewith are depleted. Such a package 10 is not intended to be restocked with articles.
  • each sheet 14 or other article placed in the package 10 may be discarded after a single use, and not laundered or otherwise restored.
  • refillable it is meant the package 10 is or may be restocked with articles after the supply is depleted.
  • Such sheets 14, or other articles may be disposable or reusable.
  • wet or moist sheets 14 may be packaged in a flow wrap, as is known in the art.
  • a flow wrap is a polymeric film or other type of impervious wrapper which can be used to cover sheets 14 or articles, as desired.
  • the flow wrap may be used to prevent evaporation of moisture of the articles contained therein, may be used to keep the articles hygienic and sanitary until ready for use.
  • Flow wrap may generally conform to the shape of the articles contained therein. If the articles comprise a clip or magazine of sheets 14, the flow wrap may comprise a generally parallelpiped geometry.
  • the flow wrap may have an orifice, allowing the user to access the contents therein or dispense the contents there through.
  • the orifice may be disposed on any side or position of the flow wrap, including without limitation the short sides, long sides, intermediate sides, etc.
  • the package 10 may contain articles, such as discrete sheets 14 to be dispensed. Suitable sheets 14 may be made according to commonly assigned U. S. Pat. Nos. 4,191,609 issued Mar. 4, 1980 to Trokhan, US 4,637,859 issued Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan, or U.S. Pat. No. 5, 332,118 issued JuI. 26, 1994 to Muckenfuhs.
  • the sheets 14 may comprise natural fibers, manmade fibers, cellulosic materials, recycled materials, biodegradable materials, films, synthetic nonwovens, or combinations thereof.
  • the sheets 14 may be wet, moist or dry.
  • the package 10 may be water impervious if the sheets 14 are wet.
  • wetting enables the sheets 14 to be used for wiping the skin as, for example, upon removal of a soiled diaper or to remove soiling from a hard surface such as a countertop.
  • various additives such as perfumes, antibacterial agents, cleansers, etc. may be utilized with a lead a sheet 14.
  • a sheet 14 may be considered to have been "dispensed through” the orifice 18 when it passes at least partially from inside the package 10 to outside the package 10, either due to the consumer reaching in and grasping the sheet 14, or the sheet 14 popping up through the orifice 18, by trailing the sheet 14 previously withdrawn by the user.
  • a sheet 14 may be considered to be “withdrawn” after it has passed completely from inside the orifice 18 to outside the orifice 18, and no portion or edge of the sheet 14 remains within the package 10.
  • the orifice 18 may be of a first size relative to the sheets 14. This first size may be designed to constrict the sheets 14 as they are pulled through the orifice 18 by the user. Sheets 14 are considered to be "constricted” when they must touch the walls 30 intercepted by the orifice 18 upon withdrawal by the user.
  • each sheet 14 may be releasably attached to two adjacent sheets 14 by any releasable attachment which allows easy separation to occur as the sheet 14 is being dispensed or after the sheet 14 is withdrawn through the orifice 18.
  • the releasable attachment should allow one sheet 14 to be readily separated from an adjacent or subsequent sheet 14, without undue stresses being applied, tearing of either sheet 14, or damage to the orifice 18 or other portions of the package 10.
  • Each sheet 14 may be releasably attached to an adjacent sheet 14 at a lap seal or a fin seal.
  • the separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a lap seal may be in shear.
  • the separation forces typically applied during dispensing to a fin may be in peel.
  • the seal joining adjacent sheets 14 must be strong enough to pull the succeeding sheet 14 through the orifice 18, yet allow the sheets 14 to be easily separable at the point of use.
  • the lap or fin seal may comprise both bonded areas and free areas. Having both bonded areas and free areas in the seal may be important for controlling the separation forces and how the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 is exposed before separation from the succeeding sheet 14.
  • sheets 14 are common in the art, one of skill will recognize that the invention is not so limited.
  • the sheets 14 may be of any size, shape and thickness which are suitable for the intended use and can be conveniently dispensed as described herein.
  • the releasable attachment may comprise adhesively joining one sheet 14 to adjacent sheets 14 with skin friendly adhesive, lotion compatible adhesive, or FDA approved adhesive, as desired.
  • a suitable adhesive may be supplied by Findley Adhesives Inc. of Wauwatosa, WI. as Item No. H9087- 05 or by H.B. Fuller of St. Paul, MN as Product Code HZ-1620-B-ZP.
  • releasable attachments may be utilized.
  • fusion bonded releasable attachments such as ultrasonic welding or heat sealing of adjacent sheets, 14 may be employed, as is well known in the art.
  • mechanical entanglement releasable attachments such as needle punching, steam sealing, embossing, or crimping may be utilized as well.
  • Autogeneous bonding releasable attachments such as disclosed in commonly assigned U. S. Pat. No. 4,854, 984 issued Aug. 8, 1989 to Ball et al. may be utilized.
  • wetted sheets 14 may be releasably attached to one another through cohesion at the overlap between adjacent sheets 14.
  • the cohesion may not require an affirmative manufacturing step and may be used to augment other releasable attachments.
  • a sheet 14 may be releasably attached to an adjacent sheet 14 by a plurality of frangible lands.
  • frangible lands refers to a small connection separated by large cuts and joining adjacent sheets 14. Lands may be considered to be "frangible” if, upon separation of one sheet 14 from an adjacent sheet 14 in tension, the lands 18 break prior to significant ripping or tearing of either sheet 14. This arrangement allows perforated sheets 14 to be utilized. Of course, multiple releasable attachments may be used in any combination.
  • the major depth M of the package 10 may be considered relative to the breaking strength of a releasable attachment between adjacent sheets 14.
  • the releasable attachment may be overcome by the weight of the sheet 14 between a free- hanging releasable attachment means and the magazine of sheets 14 there below.
  • the orifice 18 must become more restrictive to prevent the sheet 14 to be dispensed from falling back into the package 10.
  • the area of the orifice 18 should increase to allow the sheets 14 to be dispensed there through.
  • Each sheet 14 may have a leading edge 15 and a trailing edge 16.
  • the leading edge 15 is that edge of the sheet, which is generally first drawn through the orifice 18 during dispensing.
  • the trailing edge 16 is generally the last portion of the sheet 15 withdrawn through the orifice 18 during dispensing.
  • the trailing edge 16 of one sheet 14 may be releasably attached to the leading edge 15 of a subsequent sheet 14. This arrangement allows the trailing edge 16 of the first sheet 14 to be dispensed to pull the leading edge 16 of the subsequent sheet 14 through the orifice 18. The releasable attachment of successive trailing edges 16 and leading edges 15 provides for sequential dispensing of the respective sheets 14.
  • the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in an interleaved pattern.
  • a pattern is considered to be "interleaved" when part of a sheet 14 is behind the succeeding sheet 14 to be dispensed while the sheets 14 are disposed in that pattern prior to dispensing through orifice 18.
  • pop-up dispensing may be assisted by frictional engagement between adjacent sheets 14.
  • the interleaved pattern may be assisted in maintaining popup dispensing through the addition of a releasable attachment, as discussed above. Such a releasable attachment may be disposed at the position marked with the "X.”
  • the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in a non-interleaved pattern.
  • a pattern is considered to be "non-interleaved" when no part of a sheet 14 is behind the succeeding sheet 14 to be dispensed while the sheets 14 are disposed in the pattern prior to dispensing through orifice 18.
  • pop-up dispensing does not have to rely upon frictional engagement between adjacent sheets 14.
  • a releasable attachment may be utilized, as discussed above.
  • the sheets 14 may be generally disposed in a stack.
  • interleaved and non-interleaved patterns are collectively referred to as stacked patterns, as both such patterns yield a stack of the sheets 14.
  • a single interleaved or non-interleaved arrangement may be used in a particular stack or clip of sheets 14.
  • a given stack of sheets 14 may have plural interleaved patterns, non-interleaved patterns, or combinations thereof. This arrangement can be used to accommodate different empty volumes of the body 11 as more sheets 14 are dispensed or to accommodate the first sheet 14, as desired.
  • the stack may be generally flat, and parallelepipedally shaped.
  • Each sheet 14 in the stack may be folded into a configuration having a footprint which is smaller than the unfolded dimensions of the sheet 14.
  • the footprint of the stack may likewise be rectangularly shaped.
  • either or both dimensions of the stack may be smaller than the corresponding dimension of the unfolded sheet 14. This arrangement provides a stack with a relatively smaller footprint, and which can fit in to the body 11 of the package 10.
  • Each sheet 14 in the stack may define a plane due to the folding pattern. That plane may be generally parallel to the major axis of the package 10, and to the dispensing direction.
  • This geometry provides the benefit that a package 10 of noncircular cross-section, and having the orifice 18 on a small side of that package may be provided with a relatively smaller footprint. Such a geometry may also yield a package 10 having a relatively larger side facing the user and providing the aforementioned billboard effect.
  • the sheets 14 need not be disposed in a flat plane as shown. If desired, the sheets 14 may be disposed in a curvilinear plane. For example, the sheets 14 may assume a curve having an S- shape or a shape with a bend at the bottom of the body 11 of the package 10. Such a geometry may improve the ability of the sheets 14 to stand in the vertical plane, if a vertical footprint is desired for the package 10. Such a geometry may also assist in maintaining alignment of the plane of the sheets parallel to the major axis of the package 10 and hence parallel to the primary direction of dispensing of the sheets 14 through the orifice 18.
  • the sheets 14 may be disposed in a package 10 in a spiral wound pattern.
  • a pattern is considered to be spiral wound when the sheets 14 are disposed in a volute pattern prior to dispensing through orifice 18.
  • the sheets 14 may be rolled into a core, providing a spool of sheets 14 to be dispensed, or may be roll
  • a spiral wound pattern is common with packages 10 having a circular cross-section.
  • the sheets 14 are generally planar, having a first face and a second face opposed thereto.
  • the first face and second face are oriented in opposing first and second directions, respectively.
  • the sheet Upon communication of a portion of the sheet 14 from the first aperture 19A to the second aperture 19B, the sheet inverts so that at least a portion of the first face and second face are oriented generally towards the second direction and the first direction, respectively.
  • the inversion may be 180 degrees, so that the first face and second face are oriented identically in the first direction and second direction, respectively. Furthermore, the inversion may even be greater than 180 degrees.
  • the sheet 14 may be inverted about an axis, with the axis lying within the plane of the sheet.
  • the axis may be coincident or generally parallel the primary dispensing direction.
  • Such an axis may be thought of as the first axis about which the sheet 14 inverts during dispensing, or even prior to being dispensed from the orifice 18.
  • the sheet 14 may not entirely invert about the first axis during communication from the first aperture 19A to the second aperture 19B.
  • a portion of the sheet 14 may be in contact with the succeeding sheet 14. The portion of the first face and second face of the sheet 14 remaining in contact with the succeeding sheet will not yet be inverted, although may invert about the first axis during dispensing.
  • the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 may be disposed away from orifice 18.
  • This geometry provides a sheet 14, with the trailing edge 16 of that sheet 14 closer to the orifice 18 than the leading edge 15 of that sheet 14 prior to dispensing.
  • the sheet 14 may also invert about a second axis during dispensing.
  • the second axis may be generally skewed relative to the first axis and also generally transverse to the primary dispensing direction.
  • the first axis and second axis may be mutually orthogonal.
  • Such inversion allows the sheet 14 to begin unfolding prior to dispensing through the orifice 18.
  • the inversion about the second axis allows for the leading edge 15 of the sheet 14 being dispensed to travel back across that sheet 14 as the leading edge 15 is pulled from a position remote from the dispensing orifice 18 towards the orifice 18.
  • This process allows the sheet 14 to unfold across the vertical axis, or such other axis as may be aligned with the primary dispensing direction as well as unfold about a direction orthogonal thereto, so that the sheet 14 may invert in two generally orthogonal planes.
  • This arrangement provides the benefit that the sheet 14 may be less prone to tearing upon dispensing and that it may more easily unfold for use after dispensing.
  • the body 11 of the package 10 may be provided with sufficient space to allow the sheet 14 to begin inversion and unfolding as dispensing occurs. This may be particularly desirable if one is concerned with tearing of the first sheet 14 to be dispensed.
  • a package 10 having a lid 22 disposed above the body 11 is illustrated, the invention is not so limited.
  • the lid 22 may be placed proximal to the dispensing orifice 18.
  • the dispensing orifice 18 need not be juxtaposed with the top of the package 10 as illustrated.
  • the dispensing orifice 18 may be placed central to the package 10, or juxtaposed with the bottom of the package 10 as desired.
  • a package 10 having an orifice with two apertures 19A, 19B is illustrated.
  • the first aperture 19A may be connected to a second aperture 19B, which, in turn, may be connected to a third aperture (not shown), a fourth aperture (not shown), etc.
  • This arrangement allows the user to select the amount of inversion desired, prior to dispensing of the sheet 14. The user may simply move the sheet 14 from the first aperture 19A to the second aperture 19B, to the third aperture, etc. as desired.
  • first aperture 19A may be connected to two or more second apertures 19B.
  • This arrangement allows the user to select the angle of the inversion. For example, it may be desired to invert in a first direction for a first use of the sheet 14, a second direction for a second use of the sheet 14, etc.
  • second apertures 19B may be interconnected to a third aperture, a fourth, aperture (either directly or through the third aperture), etc.
  • the sheets 14 may be inserted into the package 10 in a dry condition. If desired a wetting solution may later be added to the package, and allowed to equilibrate or generally diffuse through the sheets 14. This arrangement provides the benefit that the sheets 14 can be manufactured and packaged in a dry condition, but presented to the consumer in a wet condition. If the solution migrates to the bottom of a generally vertical package and dispensing may occur prior to full equilibration of the solution. If so, during the inverted dispensing described herein, some transfer of that solution to the top portions of the sheets 14 can be expected to occur. Such transfer may yield a more uniform distribution of the solution to the sheets 14.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un emballage contenant des feuilles et présentant un orifice pour distribuer les feuilles à partir de l'emballage. Les feuilles peuvent être reliées ensemble pour permettre une distribution en cascade. Les feuilles ont des première et seconde faces tournées respectivement vers des première et seconde directions. L'emballage a deux orifices en communication l'un avec l'autre. La feuille peut être saisie par le premier orifice et communiquée au second orifice pour une distribution en cascade ultérieure. La feuille s'inverse autour d'un axe pendant une telle communication de telle sorte que le premier côté de la feuille peut être tourné vers la seconde direction, et réciproquement. Si les feuilles sont mouillées, cet agencement permet également au liquide mouillant d'être distribué sur une feuille adjacente pendant la distribution sans étape supplémentaire.
EP07849064A 2006-10-13 2007-10-12 Emballage pour distribuer des feuilles à partir de celui-ci avec inversion et procédé de distribution de feuilles avec inversion Withdrawn EP2073677A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/580,618 US20080105699A1 (en) 2006-10-13 2006-10-13 Package for dispensing of sheets therefrom with inversion and method of dispensing sheets with inversion
PCT/IB2007/054172 WO2008044223A2 (fr) 2006-10-13 2007-10-12 Emballage pour distribuer des feuilles à partir de celui-ci avec inversion et procédé de distribution de feuilles avec inversion

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2073677A2 true EP2073677A2 (fr) 2009-07-01

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07849064A Withdrawn EP2073677A2 (fr) 2006-10-13 2007-10-12 Emballage pour distribuer des feuilles à partir de celui-ci avec inversion et procédé de distribution de feuilles avec inversion

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US20080105699A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2073677A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2665760C (fr)
MX (1) MX2009003933A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008044223A2 (fr)

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WO2014123771A2 (fr) 2013-02-08 2014-08-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Trousse pour gonfler un article de nettoyage
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USD768009S1 (en) 2013-04-15 2016-10-04 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Wipes dispenser
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USD773930S1 (en) 2015-04-13 2016-12-13 The Clorox Company Lid with an orifice
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20100270326A1 (en) 2010-10-28
WO2008044223A2 (fr) 2008-04-17
CA2665760C (fr) 2011-09-27
US20080105699A1 (en) 2008-05-08
CA2665760A1 (fr) 2008-04-17
MX2009003933A (es) 2009-04-23
WO2008044223A3 (fr) 2008-08-21

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