ES2266149T3 - SUITABLE CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING WET TOWELS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A rigid container having an upper wall (1) and side walls (2) and having a dispensing opening that extends through the upper wall and at least one side wall, characterized in that said dispensing opening is covered by a film (4) flexible adhesive.

Description

Suitable container for dispensing wipes wet

Technical field

The present invention relates to containers Suitable for dispensing wet wipes.

Background of the invention

The right containers to dispense Wet wipes are known in the art. The containers flexible comprising wet wipes are described, by example, in WO91 / 04920. In the state of the art rigid containers suitable for dispensing are also described wet wipes in, for example, the patent US-5791465.

In order for consumers to have a convenient access to wipes, containers usually They comprise a dispensing opening. In the containers of prior art these openings are generally located in The upper face of the container. In order to prevent the departure of moisture from wipes, generally known containers They comprise a cover or a sealing device. Such devices Sealing or lids can be opened and resealed repeatedly.

A problem that exists with the containers rigid state of the art is that consumers find difficult to access the wipes that are inside the container. Some consumers who have bigger fingers than usual have difficulty inserting fingers in the opening of dispensing to select, grab and remove a wipe. Other consumers, especially the elderly and disabled people, lack dexterity and have difficulty to grab the wipes making relatively movements Small with fingers. The difficulty in removing the wipes is due to the limited visibility of the dispensing openings in the vessels of the prior art. It turns out especially difficult to reach the bottom of the wipe container to Remove the last wipe.

Another problem that exists with the recipients of the state of the art is that it is difficult to extract several wipes simultaneously. In the event that the consumer suddenly you need multiple wipes as quickly as possible, for example, to clean up a spill, it is very difficult to introduce the hand, take multiple wipes and remove them from the container without damage the wipe, damage the container, extract moisture from the Wipes and / or erode the skin against the edge of the container.

The patent DE-U-83 05 558 describes a rigid container in which the dispensing opening is covered by a sealing flap made of the same material as the Used to make the container. The patent US-A-5,647,506 describes a rigid container that has a dispensing opening that is not extend over the upper wall and at least one side wall. The Patent GB-A-1 002 215 describes a container made of cardboard comprising an opening of dispensing wherein said opening cannot be recapped.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention provide a rigid container from which they can be more easily remove the wipes. Rigid containers that they have a top wall and side walls and they have a dispensing opening that extends over the upper wall and to the less a side wall, according to the present invention, meet the above mentioned objective.

The containers according to the present invention They have several advantages over alternative recipients.

Rigid containers that have a wall upper and side walls ("rigid containers") are preferable for having a more robust structure that allows them resist scratches and small cuts without damaging the contents of the container. The rigid containers also have one more size predictable, so they can be stacked more easily and Exposed in the store and at home. Container stiffness protects the content against external pressure, thus preventing the wipes are crushed and lose their shape or the wipes lose moisture and have an uneven moisture load.

The rigid containers according to the present invention comprise an opening that extends through the upper wall and at least one side wall and is preferably covered by a resealable sealing device. A preferred container of this type has advantages over containers comprising a section that is cut, torn or separated from the container to expose an opening. An advantage of a resealable seal is that the wipe container can be opened and closed as many times as desired without moisture evaporating from the wipes. If the section of the opening were cut or torn from the container, the remaining wipes would dry shortly after opening. Another advantage is that the consumer does not need to throw the torn section of the container. Instead, the sealing device is conveniently attached to the container throughout the life of the
container.

Prior art

In order to provide a rigid container that includes wet wipes and a resealable seal, at least a manufacturer provides a rigid box comprising three different sections, specifically, the lid, the body and a flexible container comprising wipes and a seal resealable The lid comprises a dispensing opening and is attached to the main body once the flexible container of the Wet wipes are loaded on the main body. With the purpose of After accessing the wipes, the consumer must open the lid dispensing opening, open resealable seal from the flexible container, remove the wipe, reseal the flexible container and then reseal the dispensing opening of the lid. The containers according to the present invention only require opening and closing a seal during use and also assemble fewer individual components during the process of manufacturing.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a container rigid that has a top wall and side walls and that has a dispensing opening that extends through the upper wall and at least one side wall, termed because said opening of dispensing is covered by a flexible adhesive film. In addition, dependent chain 2-8 describes preferred embodiments.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is described below by An example referring to the attached figures.

Fig. 1 shows a rigid container according to the present invention having a top wall 1 and walls lateral 2 and having a dispensing opening that extends by the upper wall and at least one side wall. That opening dispensing is covered by a sealing device that comprises an adhesive film 4 and a rigid section of material 3.

Fig. 2 shows a rigid container according to the present invention in an inverted position having an opening loading sealed with a film 5.

Surprisingly it has been discovered that providing a rigid container comprising an opening of dispensing that allows the user to access the wipes simultaneously through two sides of the container, the wipes Wet can be extracted more easily.

The method of extracting one more wipe it is preferred to access the container, take a wipe between the thumb and forefinger and then remove the wipe from the container. The inclusion of a dispensing opening that extends for two Container sides have several advantages, including better access to the wipe, better access to the container, better visibility of the wipes before and during the extraction process and a greater ability to extract multiple wipes simultaneously. In In particular, improved access to the container causes extraction Make the last wipe easier.

As described above, the inclusion of a dispensing opening that extends through the wall upper and a side wall of the container allows better access to the wipes and a better extraction of them. But nevertheless, during the development of the containers according to the present invention we have observed that the containers according to the present invention can be further improved by providing a good seal between a sealing device and container.

In fact, we have observed that it is difficult to obtain a good seal with containers comprising a film of flexible adhesive seal. This is especially evident after have opened and closed the container several times. Even though this sealing method provides a suitable and cost-effective seal, has the problem of the presence of small channels that allow the air and moisture transfer through the seal, which produces the drying of the wipes and, in the case of wipes flavored, the evaporation of the perfume. In addition, a release inadequate perfume can result in dissatisfaction of the consumer These channels form when wrinkles form in the flexible adhesive film when it is pressed into position on the surface of the container. The existence of the channels is more likely if the dispensing opening is located in a non-flat surface The dispensing opening according to the present invention extends over more than one side of the container, whereby any seal must pass over at least one corner, which Increases the difficulty of getting a larger seal.

During the development of the containers according to the present invention we have discovered that a improved seal by providing a sealing device whose shape is pre-organized so that it fits precisely to the shape of the surface to be sealed. We have achieved this. increasing the rigidity of the sealing device. Preferably, the rigid sealing device comprises a rigid section of material 3 that has a size and shape similar to the section of the container that has been removed to form the opening of dispensing More preferably, the rigid section is the same section of material that was cut from the container to form the dispensing opening When the rigid sealing device form a complementary adjustment, there is less chance of form channels between the adhesive surface of the device sealed and the surface of the container. The rigid section 3 of the rigid sealing device preferably comprises high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, terephthalate polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear polyethylene low density, medium density polyethylene, high polyethylene density, polyvinyl chloride and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene The thickness of the rigid section of the device sealing is preferably from 0.01 mm to 10.00 mm, more preferably from 0.02 mm to 5.00 mm and most preferably 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise flexible adhesive films and rigid adhesive sealing devices, the type of device Sealing is not limited to these two types only. In fact, it is considered that the dispensing opening can be sealed by any type of device, including a cover that is kept closed by mechanical means, and can be opened by a switch, a button or other known process.

In a very preferred embodiment according to the In the present invention, the container comprises a device for rigid adhesive seal. Said device preferably comprises a section of flexible adhesive film (4) covering the dispensing opening and extending beyond the perimeter of said dispensing opening so that a seal is formed with the surface of the container surrounding the opening of dispensing The sealing device further comprises a rigid section of material 3 that basically covers the outlet of dispensing Preferably, said rigid section of material is the material that has been cut from the container to form the dispensing opening Said trimmed piece of material can Modify or not modify after trimming. In other preferred embodiment, the rigid section of the sealing device form a hinge with the container.

The suitable flexible adhesive films of use in the present invention are preferably made of laminated paper / plastic or any coextruded laminate or monolayer polymer Preferably the thickness of the film laminate is 0.001 mm to 3,000 mm, more preferably 0.005 mm at 1,500 mm and most preferably from 0,010 mm to 1,000 mm. A Preferred laminated film for use in the present invention comprises 0.1 mm of laminated polyethylene with 0.025 mm of Polypropylene. Preferably, these films comprise additionally a layer of adhesive. It is preferred to use a pressure sensitive adhesive. By "pressure sensitive" is understands in the present invention that, within the limits reasonable, the adhesive strength of the adhesive is proportional to the pressure with which the adhesive laminate is applied to the surface of Union. The adhesive is preferably a non-permanent adhesive, so that the label can be peeled in order to open and Close the container numerous times. Mactac® supplies a range of suitable adhesives, including the especially preferred MR 978®. Another preferred adhesive is SR6046® supplied by Fasson Avery®. Adhesion strength of the adhesive, measured according to the method of the FINAT test, it is preferably in the range of 0.1 N to 100 N, more preferably from 0.5 N to 50 N and most preferably from 3 N to 9 N. The FINAT test method is well known to experts in the packaging and labeling industry and details of the essay have been published by FINAT in the technical manual of FINAT, 4th edition, 1995.

The containers according to the present invention preferably comprise a loading opening in the lower part of the container. Preferably, the wipes are introduced through this opening during the manufacturing packaging process. Once the wipes are inside the container, the loading opening is sealed. Preferably, the opening is sealed with a flexible film or sheet 5. Any film or sheet known to one skilled in the art can be used. The bottom film preferably comprises any polymeric material, laminate or monolayer or coextruded film or sheet. Highly preferred films include laminates comprising polyethylene terephthalate and a metallized layer of polyethylene terephthalate. Other preferred laminates comprise polyethylene terephthalate and linear low density polyethylene. Said films further comprise a layer of adhesive. Said films are preferably sealed in situ by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, high frequency sealing or induction sealing.

In another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the container is reusable. In this embodiment preferred, the loading opening is sealed by a cover resealable The use of a resealable cover to cover the loading opening allows the consumer to open the container, fill the container with wipes and then return to seal the container The use of a resealable container produces less waste for the environment and is attractive to consumers. The loading opening can be sealed with any film, sheet or device known to the expert. The opening loading is preferably sealed with a rigid cover or a cover flexible.

The containers comprising an opening of loading and a dispensing opening have several advantages over containers comprising a dispensing opening only. In containers comprising an opening of loading, the wipes can be conveniently loaded through the loading opening Containers comprising only one opening They are limited to charging through the dispensing outlet. Since the dispensing opening is usually smaller that the loading opening, the manufacturer must bend or deform the wipes to force them to pass through it. A rigid container that has a loading opening that is sealed with a flexible film 5 requires less material than a container with rigid top, side and bottom walls. He using less material leads to cost savings, less waste for the environment and lighter packages that are easier to transport.

The upper wall and the side walls of the containers according to the present invention are preferably manufactured by thermoforming or molding techniques Injection known to those skilled in the art. The cut of the dispensing opening can be made using knives, laser or by ultrasound. If the container is manufactured by molding by injection, the dispensing opening can be incorporated in the mold and be created during the molding process. The materials preferred for the manufacture of the upper wall and the side walls of the container are high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, low polyethylene density, linear low density polyethylene, polyethylene medium density, high density polyethylene, poly (chloride vinyl) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The thickness of the upper wall and side walls of the box is preferably from 0.01 mm to 10.00 mm, more preferably from 0.02 mm to 5.00 mm and most preferably from 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm

The containers according to the present invention are rigid. By "rigid" is meant that when a container is loaded from the top, according to the "Resistance Method for top loading "described in DIN55440 or ISO2872 standards, with a mass preferably from 0.1 kg to 25.0 kg, the displacement horizontal of the container will be reduced by less than 10%, preferably less than 5%. The vessels whose displacement horizontal is reduced by more than 10% when loaded with 0.1 kg 25.0 kg are considered, for the purposes of this invention, flexible

The containers according to the present invention they can have any reasonable length, width and depth. Said containers preferably have a length of 5 mm to 1000 mm, more preferably from 20 mm to 500 mm and with maximum preference from 110 mm to 220 mm. Said containers preferably they have a width of 5 mm to 1000 mm, more preferably 20 mm at 500 mm and most preferably from 80 mm to 150 mm. Sayings containers preferably have a depth of 5 mm to 1000 mm, more preferably from 8 mm to 500 mm and most preferably from 20 mm to 80 mm.

The containers according to the present invention preferably contain wet wipes. These wipes wet can be disposable, be handmade, be synthetic or natural fiber, be pre-moistened or basically dry. The wipes may be constructed from a band that It comprises a variety of different materials. Such materials They can include synthetic, handmade and natural fibers, fibers of cotton, which are usually moistened with a aqueous or non-aqueous cleaning composition that may contain, between other, surfactants, disinfectants, preservatives, oils and aromas depending on the intended use.

The wipes can be manufactured by Any method known in the art. For example, substrates of non-woven material can be formed by techniques of dry forming, such as air deposition, or deposition wet, such as in a papermaking machine. Other non-fabric manufacturing techniques can also be used. woven, such as blown melt, spunbond, needle piercing and hydrolyzed. Preferred methods They include air deposition, carding and wet deposition.

Pre-moistened wipes or wipes wet, as they are also known, typically comprise a liquid composition and therefore can be used in various applications, both domestic and industrial, and perform various functions Wipes are usually used for human cleansing, such as for cleaning and rubbing of face and hands, anal, perineal and genital cleansing, for example as wipes for intimate hygiene, such as wet wipes Feminine Wet wipes can also be used for application of substances in the body, including elimination and makeup application, hair conditioners and medications The wipes are also applicable during the diaper changes and also for the treatment of dermatitis in adults and infants caused in part by the use of diapers and incontinence devices The wet wipes too may include items used for cleaning and brushing companion animals An especially preferred application of wet wipes is rubbing or cleaning surfaces hard and the application of compositions to surfaces, for example kitchen surfaces and especially bathrooms, glasses or shoes, and surfaces that require cleaning in the industry, by for example, machinery or vehicle surfaces. More preferably the wipes are hygienic wipes and most preferably these wipes are hygienic wipes that can be thrown into the toilet.

A variety of bands as well as compositions liquids suitable for application to said bands are known and are described in the art as described more ahead. Typically the bands require a binder with in order to provide resistance to the band, particularly when it's wet.

WO 89/05114 describes wipes disposable for cleaning hard surfaces that are impregnated with a liquid composition and the request EP-A-0 211 773 describes a cloth To clean a car. Application EP-A-0 113 254 describes a non-fabric antimicrobial fabric. The fabric may be provided with fibers. natural or synthetic or mixtures thereof. According to the invention described, an antimicrobial agent that forms a colloidal suspension with a given conventional binder.

Application EP-A-0 233 943 describes a wipe wet nonwoven which is claimed to have action antimicrobial In a preferred embodiment the band for the Wet wipes is made from wood pulp and It comprises a non-acrylate binder (ethylene vinyl acetate). The wet wipes further comprise an antimicrobial agent, which is mixed with the binder and applied with it to the non woven band.

US Patent 5,888,524 describes an antimicrobial composition for use in wet wipes and conventional lotions Wet wipes can be made of synthetic or natural fibers or a combination of same. According to the described invention, the wet wipes are saturated with a fairly high amount of the composition antimicrobial and, in fact, it is described that the weight of the lotion It should be up to 6 times the weight of the dry wipe.

The composition loaded on the wipes that are preferably used in the present invention is preferably suitable for use as a cleaning and / or disinfectant composition. The compositions can be formulated in any suitable way, for example, as a solid, paste or liquid. In the case where the compositions according to the present invention are formulated as solids, these can be applied to the substrate as a solid or alternatively they can be mixed with an appropriate solvent, of typical water form, before application to the substrate. When the composition is in liquid form, the compositions are formulated preferable but not necessarily as aqueous compositions. In the present invention liquid compositions are preferred by their comfort of use.

In a preferred embodiment the compositions liquids according to the present invention are aqueous compositions that typically comprise 50% to 99.9%, preferably 70% to 99% and more preferably from 80% to 99%, by weight, of the composition total water Compositions suitable for use as a cleansing composition preferably have a pH in the range from 5 to 13, more preferably from 7 to 13 and most preferably from 8 to 10. Compositions for use as compositions disinfectants preferably have a pH in the range of 0 to 7, more preferably from 1 to 5 and most preferably from 2 to 4. The pH of the compositions can be adjusted using organic acids. or inorganic, or alkalizing agents, such as hydroxide sodium

The compositions of the present invention they can comprise various ingredients including, but not limiting form, peroxygen bleach, components disinfectants, organic acids, surfactants, chelators, solvents, detergency builders, stabilizers, bleach activators, dirt suspensions, agents transfer of dyes, brighteners, perfumes, agents dust, enzymes, dispersants, transfer inhibitors dyes, pigments, perfumes, radical inactivators, pH buffers, dyes or mixtures thereof.

The wipes may be packaged in the container in any convenient configuration that allows easy removal of a single wipe or multiple wet wipes from the container. Preferably the wipes are packaged in rolls, stacks, piles or interleaved. More preferably the wipes are provided in a stacked configuration that can comprise any number of wipes. Typically, the stack comprises 2 to 150, more preferably 5 to 100 and most preferably 10 to 60, wipes. In addition, wipes can be provided folded or unfolded. Most preferably, the wipes are stacked in a configuration
bent

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the dispensing opening extends on the side upper and one of the other sides. The opening area of dispensing on the upper side may be the same as, greater than, or less than, the area of the dispensing opening in the wall side. Preferably, in the rigid containers according to the present invention, the stack of wipes is such that the plane of the Wipes is coplanar with the side of the container comprising the larger area of the dispensing opening.

More details on the wipes suitable for their inclusion in containers according to the present invention can found in application EP 00 87 0142.

Examples

The examples are provided below. A-D, non-limiting, cleaning compositions that can be incorporated into the wipes of the present invention.

Ingredient TO B C D % p / p % p / p % p / p % p / p Ethanol 9.4 9.4 9.5 9.5 Amine oxide C12-14 0.4 0.4 - - Propylene Glycol Butyl ether 0.55 0.55 - - Diethylene Glycol Butyl ether 0.55 0.55 - - Mono butyl polypropylene glycol ether 0.25 0.25 - - Silicone 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 Acid citric 0.75 0.75 - - Hydroxide sodium 0.1 - - -

(Continuation)

Ingredient TO B C D % p / p % p / p % p / p % p / p Peroxide hydrogen - 1.00 - - Acid salicylic - 0.03 - - B HT - 0.01 - - Geraniol - 0.0375 0.1 0.1 Timol - 0.025 - - Betaine C12-14 - - 0.2 - Dobanol 91-8 - - 0.8 0.8 C8 alkyl sulfate branched - - 0.6 0.6 Amine oxide C10 - - - 0.2 Acid lactic - - 1.5 1.5 Fragrance 0.18 0.0375 0.15 0.15 Water 87.82 86.95 87.15 87.15 Dobanol® 91-8 is a C_ {11-11} EO8 alcohol ethoxylate marketed by Shell.

Claims (6)

1. A rigid container having an upper wall (1) and side walls (2) and having a dispensing opening that extends through the upper wall and at least one side wall, characterized in that said dispensing opening is covered by a flexible adhesive film (4). 2. A container according to claim 1, in which the dispensing opening is covered by a device sealing (3,4) rigid adhesive. 3. A container according to claim 1, the which comprises a lower loading opening. 4. A container according to claim 3, in which said loading opening is covered with a film or sealing sheet (5) preferably flexible. 5. A container according to claim 3, in which said loading opening is covered with a cover resealable 6. A container according to claim 1, which It includes wet wipes.