Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
• • 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
  • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
  • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
• • 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
  • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
  • B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
  • B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
• • 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
  • B65D2313/00—Connecting or fastening means
  • B65D2313/04—Connecting or fastening means of magnetic type

Definitions

• the present disclosure is directed generally to a packaging arrangement for presaturated cleaning wipes and more specifically to a cleaning wipe package incorporating a liquid impermeable containment structure having a resealable opening incorporating one or more magnetic strips disposed adjacent to the perimeter of the opening for use in selectively sealing the opening thereby guarding against evaporation of solvent or other agents used to presaturate the cleaning wipes.
• Cleaning wipes of textile constructions are known. Such wipes may be presaturated with a solvent or other cleaning agent and stored within an appropriate package. Such packages may be in the form of a flexible envelope container which may be opened to gain access to the enclosed wipes. Wipe packages also may be in the form of a relatively shallow tray with a removable surface covering or lid.
• the present disclosure provides advantages and alternatives over past wiper sheet packaging systems by providing a containment package for wipes presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation.
• the containment package incorporates an access opening with at least one pair of opposing magnetically attracted strips adapted to selectively seal the access opening to reduce or prevent evaporation of the solution in the sealed condition.
• the present disclosure provides a containment package for presaturated wiper sheets including a liquid and vapor impermeable body having an interior adapted to receive and store a plurality of wiper sheets presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation.
• the body includes an access opening adapted for insertion and withdrawal of the wiper sheets through the access opening.
• At least a first sealing element defining a magnet is supported on a first support structure at a position outside of the interior.
• At least a second sealing element of magnetized or non-magnetized character having a complementary magnetic attraction to the first sealing element is disposed on a second support structure at a position outside of the interior.
• the second support structure is selectively moveable relative to the first support structure to open and close the access opening such that when the first support structure disposed in contacting, opposing relation to the second support structure, the first sealing element and the second sealing element will act through the first support structure and the second support structure to cooperatively form a magnetic seal so as to reversibly seal the access opening in a closed condition.
• a method of packaging presaturated wiper sheets is also provided.
• FIG. 1 is schematic perspective view of a pliable containment envelope construction adapted to hold presaturated wiper sheets showing the envelope in an open condition;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 with the envelope in a closed condition;
• FIG.3 is a schematic plan view of an exemplary material blank which may be used to form an exemplary packaging envelope as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging tray adapted to hold presaturated wiper sheets showing the packaging container in a closed condition
• FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.
• FIGS. 1 and 3 there is illustrated an exemplary package for a multiplicity of wiper sheets 10 which may be of either a single ply or multi-ply construction.
• the wiper sheets 10 may be formed from a woven, knit or non-woven absorbent textile material which has been pre-saturated with a solvent or other cleaning agent.
• the wiper sheets have sufficient pliability to permit folding.
• the wiper sheets 10 are stored within a pliable containment envelope 12 of foil laminate or other material as will be known to those of skill in the art defining an envelope body which is substantially impermeable to liquid and gas transmission.
• the containment envelope 12 includes a resealable mouth opening 14 (also referred to as a pouch opening or access opening) with a first boundary edge 16 and a second boundary edge 18 at the top of deformable walls oriented in opposing relation substantially along the length of the mouth opening 14.
• the first boundary edge 16 and the second boundary edge 18 each may be formed by folding the containment envelope material forming the deformable walls over upon itself to establish a double layer cuff construction with a pocket between the layers outboard from the mouth opening.
• a first sealing element 20 in the form of a magnetic strip may be disposed in substantially covered, contained relation within the pocket below the first boundary edge 16.
• a second sealing element 22 in the form of a magnetic strip or non-magnetized metal or other material which is magnetically attracted to the first sealing element 20 may be disposed in substantially covered, contained relation within the pocket below the second boundary edge 18.
• the sealing elements 20, 22 thus cooperatively form an operative magnetic seal which preferably extends substantially continuously along the entire length of the mouth opening 14. While the complementary sealing elements 20, 22 are illustrated as extending to an elevation corresponding substantially to the interior of the boundary edges 16, 18 it will be understood that in practice the magnetic strips may occupy any opposing elevation positions as may be desired within the pockets below the boundary edges.
• the pockets containing the first sealing element 20 and second sealing element 22 may be closed if desired.
• the folded over portion of the envelope material may be adhesively bonded or heat sealed to a portion of the envelope body at an elevation below the sealing elements 20, 22 to form a surface seal 24.
• a surface seal 24 may extend continuously or intermittently about the perimeter of the containment envelope 12.
• the sealing elements 20, 22 preferably will be substantially covered on the exterior by the folded over portions of the envelope material such that the sealing elements 20, 22 are not visible and do not form an outer contact surface for the containment envelope 12.
• the sealing elements 20, 22 will be substantially isolated from other surfaces in the environment of use.
• each of the sealing elements 20, 22 is also isolated from the interior of the containment envelope 12.
• the wiper sheets 10 are never in physical contact with the material forming the sealing elements 20, 22. Accordingly, any potential for contamination by the sealing elements is avoided,
• the first sealing element 20 may be formed from a suitable, magnetized material of pliable character and defined polarity such as polymeric ferrous oxide or the like.
• the second sealing element 22 may be formed from a suitable magnetized material such as polymeric ferrous oxide or the like of reverse polarity to the first sealing element 20.
• the second sealing element 22 may be a non-magnetized metal strip or other material having a magnetic attraction to the first sealing element 22.
• the complementary sealing elements 20, 22 each may be secured in place to a surface of a deformable wall of the containment envelope 12 by any suitable technique including adhesives or the like as may be desired.
• the opposing deformable walls of the containment envelope may define support surfaces for the sealing elements 20, 22.
• placement of the complimentary sealing elements 20, 22 at the exterior of the containment envelope 12 with the opposing deformable walls of the containment envelope forming a barrier between the wiper sheets 10 and the sealing elements ensures that the wiper sheets 10 are contacted only by the material forming the containment envelope.
• the sealing elements 20, 22 Regardless of the placement of the sealing elements 20, 22 they will be characterized by complimentary magnetic attraction such that pressing the first boundary edge 16 together with the second boundary edge 18 results in establishing an effective magnetic seal which holds the containment envelope 12 closed (FIG. 2). In the sealed condition, evaporation of fluid saturating the wiper sheets may be substantially eliminated.
• the combined effective thickness of the envelope material between the sealing elements 20, 22 is such that a magnetic sealing force may nonetheless be established and maintained when the opposing surfaces of envelope material are in contacting relation. Of course, this effective thickness may vary depending upon the strength of the magnetic force generated by the opposing sealing elements.
• the sealing condition may be overcome by a user manually pulling the first boundary edge 16 and a second boundary edge 18 away from one another thereby applying a shear force to open the containment envelope 12 (FIG. 1).
• a shear force to open the containment envelope 12 (FIG. 1).
• the body of the containment envelope 12 is preferably formed to include end gussets 30 (only one shown) on either end with a non- gusseted end seam 32 (only one shown) extending away from each gusset to the mouth opening 14.
• Such a construction facilitates the packaging of a relatively large volume of wiper sheets 10 by expansion of the gussets 30 while avoiding excess material at the mouth opening.
• such a construction may be formed by folding a symmetrical panel 40 of foil laminate material as shown in FIG. 3 along a bisecting fold line 42 and then heat sealing or otherwise connecting the overlying perimeter edges to form a three-dimensional structure. A gusseted envelope as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is thereby provided.
• any number of other construction arrangements may be used as desired.
• the benefit of maintaining chemical compatibility may be particularly great with the sealing elements 20, 22 at the exterior of the containment envelope 12 since only the foil or other base material of the containment envelope 12 will contact the solvent or other saturating liquid.
• the seal is formed by the face to face contact of the foil or other base material forming the containment envelope 12. Since such materials may be impermeable to the solvent, there is increased containment of any volatile emissions.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure.
• the wipe container 130 includes a tray body 132 of concave construction with an integral flange 134 disposed about the upper perimeter edge of the tray body 132.
• a selectively displaceable lid 136 is provided to rest in covering relation to the tray body 132.
• Both the tray body 132 and the lid 136 may be formed from materials such as PET, Mylar, high density polypropylene or the like which are substantially impermeable to any solvent saturating the wiper sheets (not shown) stored at the interior of the tray body 132.
• the tray body 132 may be operatively connected to the lid 136 along a living hinge 140 or other hinging connection.
• the tray body 132 and the lid 136 also may be separate, independent structures.
• a first arrangement of sealing elements 150 such as magnetic strips or the like as described previously is positioned along the perimeter of the lid 136 in a generally horseshoe shaped pattern following the free edges of the lid 136.
• the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 may be formed from a suitable, magnetized material such as polymeric ferrous oxide or the like to define a magnet and may be secured in place to the surface of the lid 136 defining a support structure by any suitable technique including adhesives or the like as may be desired.
• the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 may be covered by an upper cap structure 1 2.
• the upper cap structure 152 may be formed from the same material as the lid 136 and may be held in place by any suitable technique including adhesive bonding, melt bonding or the like. However, other materials of construction and attachment techniques also may be used.
• the upper cap structure 152 may substantially encapsulate the first arrangement of sealing elements 150.
• the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 may be substantially isolated from other surfaces in the environment of use. This isolation may be beneficial in maintaining the integrity of the sealing elements as well as in avoiding any potential contamination from the material forming the first arrangement of sealing elements 150.
• the upper cap structures may be eliminated if desired.
• the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 is positioned to be generally aligned with the surface of the flange 134 when the lid 136 is in a closed condition.
• a second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be positioned at the underside of the flange 134.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may have a substantially mirror image pattern relative to the first arrangement of sealing elements 150.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 has a generally horseshoe shaped pattern. However, other patterns also may be used.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be formed from a suitable magnetized material such as polymeric ferrous oxide or the like of reverse polarity to the first arrangement of sealing elements 150.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be in the form of non- magnetized metal strips or other materials having a magnetic attraction to the first arrangement of sealing elements 150. It is also contemplated that combinations of magnetized and non-magnetized materials may be used in the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 and/or in the second arrangement of sealing elements 160.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be secured in place to the underside of the flange 134 defining a support structure by any suitable technique including adhesives or the like as may be desired.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be covered by a lower cap structure 162.
• the lower cap structure 1 2 may be formed from the same material as the tray body 132 and may be held in place by any suitable technique including adhesive bonding, melt bonding or the like. However, other materials of construction and attachment techniques also may be used.
• the lower cap structure 162 may substantially encapsulate the second arrangement of sealing elements 160.
• the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 may be substantially isolated from other surfaces in the environment of use. This isolation may be beneficial in maintaining the integrity of the sealing elements as well as in avoiding any potential contamination from the material forming the second arrangement of sealing elements 160.
• the lower cap structure 162 may be eliminated if desired.
• the first arrangement of sealing elements 150 and the second arrangement of sealing elements 160 are characterized by magnetic attraction such that pressing the lid 136 against the flange 134 results in establishing a magnetic seal which holds the container 130 closed.
• the combined effective thickness of the flange 134 and lid 136 between opposing magnetic strips 150, 160 is such that a magnetic sealing force may be established and maintained when the underside of the lid 136 contacts the upper surface of the flange 134.
• this effective thickness may vary depending upon the strength of the magnetic force generated by the opposing sealing elements.
• the sealing relation may be overcome to provide access to the interior by a user pulling the lid 136 away from the flange 134 thereby applying a shear force to open the container 130.
• the zones outboard from the sealing elements may define finger tabs to be grasped by a user during the opening procedure.
• the complementary sealing elements 150, 160 are arranged in a generally horseshoe pattern extending along a forward edge and lateral sides of the container.
• the lid 136 may remain attached along the living hinge 140.
• the lid 136 may be lifted away from the tray body 132 to expose the access opening and then replaced with assured alignment of the opposing sealing elements.
• any number of other patterns for the magnetic strips may likewise be used if desired.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=47626278

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (18)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2012
  • 2012-08-03 JP JP2014524117A patent/JP6482870B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-08-03 CN CN201280038527.2A patent/CN103717503B/zh active Active
  • 2012-08-03 WO PCT/US2012/049572 patent/WO2013020073A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-08-03 EP EP12819927.0A patent/EP2739541A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-08-03 US US13/566,558 patent/US20130032503A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-08-03 KR KR1020147003722A patent/KR20140054054A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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