GB2592713A

GB2592713A - Container

Info

Publication number: GB2592713A
Application number: GB2019290.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Adrian; Clarkson Jon; Gates Patrick
Original assignee: TRAFFI SAFE Ltd
Current assignee: TRAFFI SAFE Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-08
Filing date: 2020-12-08
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-08
Also published as: GB2592713B; GB202019290D0

Abstract

A container 201 comprising walls 202, 203, 204 which define an interior space suitable for accommodating a stack of gloves, and a resiliently deformable panel (figure 2b, 210) with an access means (figure 2b, 211) through which a user may access the interior space to remove a glove from the container. The panel (figure 2b, 210) may be transparent and comprise a UV filter material. The panel (figure 2b, 210) may comprise a polymer. The container 201 may comprise a cut-out portion and the panel (figure 2b, 210) may bridge the cut-out portion. The container may comprise a tear-off portion 205 which covers the access means, and the tear-off portion 205 may comprise an initiation means 208.

Description

Container The present invention relates to a container, a blank for forming a container, a kit for forming a container, a method of assembly of a container and a method of retrofitting a container. More particularly the invention relates to a container for holding gloves.

Disposable gloves are commonly sold in cardboard boxes containing 100 or 200 gloves. One example of this type of box is shown in figure 1. The box 1 is provided with a perforated cut-out section on its upper surface. A user breaks the perforations on the box to remove the cut-out section. This leaves an aperture 2 in the box through which gloves may be removed.

A problem with existing glove boxes is that gloves inside the box often adhere slightly to one another. This means that, when a user removes one or two gloves from the container, other gloves are frequently pulled out of the container along with the desired gloves. These excess gloves are either thrown away or pushed back through the aperture into the box. Throwing away excess gloves is wasteful. Pushing the gloves back into the box is unhygienic and is not acceptable for medical settings, where there is a high risk of spreading pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

It is desirable to provide packaging which is as environmentally sustainable as possible and which reduces waste. It is amongst the objects of the invention to solve one or more of these problems.

In a first aspect the invention provides a container for holding gloves, comprising; walls which define an interior space for accommodating a stack of 30 gloves, a panel with an access means through which a user may access the interior space to remove a glove from the container, wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material.

The resiliently deformable nature of the panel allows a user to deform the access means using their fingers to obtain access or to improve access to the interior of the container. A glove can then be grasped within the container and withdrawn from the container. As mentioned above, a problem with disposable gloves is that they often adhere to one another. Thus, as the glove which the user is holding is withdrawn from the container, there is a tendency for other unwanted gloves to be withdrawn from the container. The resiliently deformable nature of the panel means that as the users fingers clear the access means in the panel, the deforming force on the panel is removed and the panel springs back towards its rest conformation. However, part the glove which the user is holding, and any other gloves adhered thereto, will be still be located in the container or passing through the access means. Due to the resilience of the panel, the access means in the panel will exert a frictional force on the glove as it is withdrawn. This frictional force strips away gloves which are adhered to the glove which the user is holding as the user withdraws the glove the rest of the way out of the container. Unwanted gloves are therefore separated from the desired glove and are retained within the container.

In a further aspect, the invention also provides containers, kits and methods as described herein in which, although the container is not suitable for accommodating gloves the container may be suitable for accommodating other products which, as they are dispensed, interact advantageously with the panel and access means.

The access means may have a longitudinal shape. The longitudinal shape may be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the container. The panel may comprise more than one access means. For example, the panel may comprise more than one slot, slit or aperture. The access means may be in the shape of a cross.

The access means may be provided with stress reducing features such as rounded ends, optionally in the form of circular cut-outs. This is particularly useful when the access means has a longitudinal shape such as a slit, a slot or a longitudinal aperture. The stress reducing features may be at an end or both ends of a longitudinal access means. They reduce the stress when the access means is deformed by a user to access the inside of the container.

The resiliently deformable nature may be provided by forming the panel of a stretchy or elastic material. The panel may be formed of a polymer or a rubber. Natural and synthetic polymers or rubbers may be used.

The panel may form part of, or all of, a top surface of the container. The panel may form part of, or all of, a sidewall of the container. The panel may form part of, or all of, an end of the container.

The access means may be a slit in the panel. Opposing edges of the slit may abut one another. Preferably there is no substantial gap between two edges of the access means. Where a gap between two sides of the access means is present, preferably the width of the gap is less than 40 mm, less than 30 mm, less than 20 mm, less than 15 mm, less than 10 mm, less than 5 mm or less than 2 mm. The gap may be adjusted depending on the type of item to be stored in the container. For example, more bulky gloves will require a wider gap, to provide an appropriate amount of friction. The access means may be an aperture. This may be useful for containers which are adapted to contain more bulky products. Preferably in a non-deformed conformation, two edges of the access means form a seal therebetween.

Preferably, the panel is not made from cardboard or from paper or combinations thereof. These materials are less preferred as they do not demonstrate an appropriate level of resilience or deformability to allow easy access to the interior space, or to provide the appropriate friction-generating resilience to separate gloves or other products as they are withdrawn.

The access means may be formed by two or more layers which, when not deformed, overlap one another yet may be deformed by a user to form an aperture through which the interior space may be accessed and through which a glove may be removed from the container. This arrangement provides a robust barrier to prevent contaminants from entering the container when it is not being used.

The access means may be adapted to adopt a non-deformed conformation in 5 which two portions of the access means form a seal therebetween and wherein the access means may be moved from the non-deformed conformation to a deformed conformation by deformation of the panel, wherein, in the deformed conformation, the seal is broken so that a user is able to access to the interior space via the access means. This arrangement provides a robust barrier to prevent contaminants from entering the container when it is not being used.

A first portion of the panel may be at an end of the container and a second portion of the panel may be at the top of the container, wherein the access means is adapted to provide a user with access to the interior space via the end of the container and via the top of the container. This allows a user to remove gloves from the top, or the end of the container. This is useful if the container is to be held within an apparatus which holds the container in a specific orientation. For example, the container may be positioned in an apparatus so that the end containing the panel forms a lower end of the container. The contents of the container will under gravity, settle towards the lower end, where they can be removed easily through the access means in the panel.

The panel may be wholly in the plane of a single surface of the container.

Alternatively, the panel may comprise portions which are each in the plane of different surfaces of the container. Those different surfaces may be generally perpendicular to one another, or opposite one another.

The panel may be transparent. This allows a user to see when a container will need restocking.

The panel may comprise a UV filter material. This material reduces the amount of UV radiation which reaches the contents of the container.

Preferably the UV filter material is a UV blocker. This is useful because some contents, particularly gloves (and more particularly disposable gloves, such as nitrile gloves) degrade under UV light. The use of a UV filter or blocker prolongs the lifespan of gloves in the container and increases the number of locations in which the container may be safely stored. The UV filter or blocker may be included as an additive in the material which forms the panel, or as a separate layer of material.

The panel may be provided with anti-viral and/or anti-microbial properties.

This may be done by adding an anti-viral additive in the material which forms the panel, or by providing a separate anti-viral layer. A suitable anti-viral additive is sold under the brand name d2p by the company Symphony Environmental Limited, of 6 Elstree Gate, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JD, United Kingdom.

Preferably the container is at least partially biodegradable. Portions of the container may contain a biodegradable additive such as d2w, which is sold by Symphony Environmental Limited, of the address stated above.

The panel may comprise a polymer such as polyethylene or a rubber. Polymers may be adapted to provide appropriate deformability and resilience. The polymer may also be tailored to provide the desired amount of friction for a particular type of glove. Preferably the polymer is a polyalkene. In some embodiments the polymer may be a plastic. Preferably the polymer is low density polyethylene (LDPE). Preferably the panel has a thickness between and 70 microns.

Preferably the panel comprises an elastic material. Preferably the Young's modulus of the elastic material is less than 1 GPa, less than 0.8 GPa or less 30 than 0.96 GPa.

Preferably the Young's modulus of the panel is between 0.01-0.1 GPa (for example a rubber), 0.11-0.86 GPa (for example low density polyethylene), or 0.7-0.9 GPa (for example high density polyethylene).

Preferably the Young's modulus values stated herein are at a density of greater than 700, 800 or 900 kg/m3. These preferred ranges exclude the panel being made from materials such as wood, cardboard, paper and metal.

Preferably the material from which the panel is formed, or at least the portions of the access means which come into contact with the contents of the container as they are withdrawn, have a (static) coefficient of friction (with reference to themselves) of 0.2 or greater and preferably 1.0 or greater. The 0.2 value corresponds to a polyethylene on polyethylene value.

The container may comprise a body having a cut-out portion and wherein the panel bridges the cut-out portion. The edges of the cut-out portion provide a rigid frame to which the panel may be attached. This provides a robust container.

The panel may be affixed to an interior surface of the body of the container. This provides an easily manufactured container. It also allows for a tear-off portion to be located over the panel. That is, the tear-off portion may be removed by a user to reveal the panel which lies beneath the tear-off portion.

The tear-off portion provides a robust container, the panel of which is less liable to be damaged during shipping.

The cut-out portion may have an elongate shape which defines wings of the body which interact with the panel as a user removes a glove from the container to increase the frictional force between the access means and the glove being removed from the container.

The body of the container may be provided with a reclosable aperture through which gloves may be introduced into the container.

An upper portion of the body of the container may be separable from a lower portion of the body of the container such that a stack of gloves may be introduced into the container. This provides a reusable container which is easily refilled.

The body may be provided with a tear-off portion which covers the access means. The tear-off portion provides a robust container, the panel (and access means) of which is less liable to be damaged during shipping.

The tear-off portions discussed herein may be defined by a weakened tear-line. The line may be defined by a series of perforations, or by other means, such as laser scoring.

The tear-off portion may correspond to the cut-out portion described herein such that, once the tear-off portion has been removed from the container, the space which the tear-off portion occupied forms the cut-out portion.

The tear-off portion may be provided with an initiation means which is adapted to assist a user in initiating the tearing-off of the tear-off portion. The initiation means may be a tab for a user to hold or a cut-out through which a user's finger may be inserted to initiate a tear. The initiation means is particularly useful when the panel is located under the tear-off portion. It allows a user to remove the tear-off portion by pulling it, that is, without pushing it into the container and putting unwanted force on the panel.

The body may be provided with two tear-off portions which may be independently removed. This provides a user with options as to which parts of the underlying panel is exposed to a user. The tear-off portions may be of different sizes. This allows a user to reveal either a large section of the panel, for easy access or a small section of the panel to reduce the chances of contamination of the container's contents.

A first tear-off portion may be formed at an end of the container and a second tear-off portion may be formed in a top surface of the container.

The container may be formed from a pack blank which is folded to form the container, wherein the pack blank comprises an end flap which forms an end of the container, wherein the end flap has a shape which cooperates with; a first portion of the panel which is formed at an end of the container, so that the end flap defines an opening through which a user is able to access the interior space via the access means in the first portion of the panel. This provides an easily accessible, yet robust container.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a pack blank for forming a container as described herein.

In a further aspect the invention provides a combination of a container as described herein and a stack of gloves, wherein the stack of gloves is accommodated in the interior space of the container.

Preferably the gloves are nitrile gloves. Preferably the gloves are disposable. Preferably the gloves are biodegradable.

In a further aspect the invention provides a kit for forming a container as described herein, the kit comprising; a panel with an access means wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material, a container having an aperture for accessing the interior space of the container or a removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture in the container for accessing the interior space of the container, and an adhesive for affixing the panel to the container.

The panel and the adhesive may be adhered to a transfer backing. This provides easy handling and packaging of the kit. Preferably the adhesive is sandwiched between the panel and the transfer backing. The adhesive may be located around the edge of the panel, preferably around the whole perimeter of the panel. The panel and other features of the kit may have properties as described in connection with the corresponding features of the containers described herein. The panel may be sized to cover around half of, or substantially the whole of one side of the container. Preferably this side of the container is the top of the container.

Preferably, the kit comprises a master container which comprises; i) a plurality of the containers which comprise the aperture for accessing the interior space of the container or the removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture in the container for accessing the interior space of the container, and ii) a plurality of the panels as described herein, iii) the adhesive for affixing the panels to the containers, wherein the number of panels is the same as or greater than the number of containers.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of forming a container as described herein comprising; providing a pack blank comprising an aperture or a removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture, affixing a panel with an access means to the pack blank such that the panel bridges the aperture or the removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture, and folding the pack blank to form the container, wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material.

The method may further comprise the step of packing gloves into the container.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of retrofitting a container to form a container as described herein, comprising; providing a container having an aperture for accessing the interior space of the container, providing a panel with an access means wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material, affixing the panel to the container such that the panel bridges the aperture.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a box according to the prior art, with a perforated cut-out section removed.

Figure 2 shows a perspective views of a container according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a blank for forming the container of figure 2.

Figure 4 shows plan views of panels for use in the invention.

Figure 5 shows perspective views of a container according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a blank for forming the container shown in figure 5.

Figure 7 shows plan views of the top surface of the body of containers according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a kit according to the invention, during assembly.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the components of a kit according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a box 1 according to the prior art. The box is made of cardboard and is generally cuboid in shape. It is provided to a user containing a stack of disposable gloves.

The box 1 is provided with a perforated cut-out section 2 on its upper surface. The line of perforations 3 which joins the cut-out section to the rest of the box defines a slot with rounded ends. A user breaks the line of perforations 3 by pushing on the cut-out section 2. This removes the cut-out section, leaving an aperture in the box through which gloves may be removed.

Figure 2a shows a container according to the invention. The container is a box 201 which is generally cuboid in shape. The body of the box is made of cardboard. The body of the box comprises two end walls 202, two sidewalls 203, a top surface 204 and a bottom surface. The top surface is provided with a tear off section 205. The tear-off section is generally rectangular. The tear-off section is defined on three sides by a line of perforations 206. These three sides form one short side and two long sides of a rectangle when viewed from above. When viewed from above, the rectangular perimeter of the tear-off section is disposed centrally in the top surface 204 of the container. The distance from the respective edges of the tear-off section 205 to the corners 207 of the box where the top surface 204 meets the sidewalls 203 is 30 mm and in some embodiments between 10 mm and 70 mm.

The tear-off section 205 is provided with a removal means 208. In some embodiments the removal means is a cut out section. However the removal means shown in figure 2a is a tab which is only attached to the tear-off section. The tab has a semi-circular outline. That is, the line of perforations which generally defines the outline of the tear-off section is interrupted by a cut line. This allows the tab to be either pushed into the box or be pulled out of the plane of the top surface of the box. The tab (or the edges of the aperture which are created by pushing the tab into the box) may be grasped by a user and pulled to initiate a tear which propagates around the rest of the perimeter of the tear-off portion.

The fourth (short) side of the rectangular outline of the tear-off section is not formed by a line of perforations. It is formed by a cut line 209, which is fully separated from the rest of the top surface 204 of the box, and which defines the shape of the tab. However, in some embodiments, some of the fourth side of the tear off portion is formed by a line of perforations, with only the removal means being completely separated from the rest of the top surface of the box by a cut line.

Figure 2b shows the box shown in figure 2a with the tear-off section 205 removed. Removal of the tear-off portion reveals a panel 210. The panel bridges the edges of what remains of the top surface 204 of the box. The panel is affixed to the underside of the top surface 204 of the box. The panel is made from a polymer which comprises low density polyethylene (LDPE).

The thickness of the panel material is 45 microns. In other embodiments the preferred range for the thickness is 45-70 microns. The panel is transparent. This allows a user to see into the box to check how many gloves are left in the box. The panel is provided with a UV filter material. This is part of the polymer which forms the panel. The function of the UV filter material is to reduce, or block UV radiation from entering the inside of the box. Certain types of disposable gloves degrade under UV radiation. If the gloves are stored in a location in direct sunlight for example, the shelf life of the gloves inside the box can be reduced. The UV filter, or blocker material helps to increase the shelf-life of gloves within the box by reducing their exposure to UV radiation.

The panel is provided with two portions 210' and 210". The two portions 210' and 210" are generally rectangular when viewed from above. The two portions abut one another along a straight line which runs down the centreline of the box, when viewed from above.

The panel is deformable but springs back to its non-deformed conformation once a deforming force is removed. In use, a user is able to use their fingers to deform the two portions of the panel to open up an aperture 211, through which their fingers may be inserted into the interior of the box. The user can then grasp a glove from the stack of gloves within the box and pull it through the aperture to remove it from the box. As the user starts to withdraw the glove which they are holding from the box it will often adhere to a further glove in the stack of gloves. As the glove which the user is holding is pulled through the opening, the user's fingers will clear the aperture so that they are no longer applying a deforming force to hold the aperture open. Due to the resilience of the deformability of the panel, the edges of the two panel portions 210' and 210" will spring back together to close the aperture 211, once the deforming force is removed. This restoring force will exert a frictional force (via the edges of the portions 210' and 210") on the glove which is being held by a user. However, this frictional force will also be applied to any further gloves which are adhered to the glove which is being held by a user. The further gloves will therefore be separated from the glove which is being held by the user as the user continues to pull the glove which they are holding from the box. The gloves which were adhered to the glove which the user intended to remove are therefore retained within the box rather than being pulled out of the box along with the glove which the user was holding.

Figure 3 shows a blank for forming the container shown in figure 2a. The blank may be folded to form the container shown in figure 2a. Apart from the panel portion, which is as described above, the body 213 of the blank is formed from cardboard. The rectangular sections 212 form the long sidewalls of the box and the rectangular section 214 forms the bottom of the box.

The blank is unfolded to show the surfaces which form the interior of the box.

The section 215 corresponds to the underside of the top surface 204 of the box. The transparent panel 210 and its two portions 210' and 210" are shown. The perimeter of the panel 210 is affixed to the surface of the section 215 by an adhesive 216. The adhesive runs around the perimeter of the tear-off portion 205. The panels 210' and 210" abut one another along the line 217.

Below the panel 210 (and visible through the panel) is the tear off portion 205. The cut line 209 and the perforation lines 206 are visible. When the blank is folded into the box shape, the tab 218 is affixed to the underside of the rectangular section 212 which forms the end of the blank.

Figures 4a and 4b show alternative panels which may be used with an embodiments of the invention described herein. For example, they may be used instead of the panel 210 used in the embodiment shown in figures 2-3.

The panels are generally rectangular when viewed from above. The panel 401 in figure 4a is provided with an elongate slit 402, the edges of which abut one another, when the panel is not subject to a deforming force. The panel is made from polyethylene, which is resiliently deformable. It is transparent and contains a UV filter. The elongate slit is positioned longitudinally in the centre of the panel so that it runs along a plane of symmetry of the panel. When the perimeter of the panel is affixed to the rest of the relatively rigid container, a user may deform the edges of the elongate slit 402 to open up an aperture.

At both ends of the elongate slit 402, there are provided cut out sections 403 and 404. These cut-out sections are generally circular intended to reduce the stress at the ends of the slit when a user deforms the edges of the slit to form an aperture in the panel, compared to the stress that would be present if the slit terminated without a cut-out portion. The cut outs therefore prevent the slit from propagating when a user deforms the panel. When the user stops deforming the panels, the two edges of the elongate slit 402 spring back to the conformation shown in figure 4a. The edges of the slit therefore exert a frictional force on gloves being drawn from the box, to separate them from unwanted gloves, to which they are adhered.

The panel 406 is generally rectangular when viewed from above. It is formed from two rectangular portions 407 and 408 of polyethylene. The two portions are resiliently deformable. The panel is transparent and contains a UV filter. The two portions 407 and 408 overlap one another along an overlap portion 409 of the panel. The area of overlap 409 is generally rectangular when viewed from above. The area of overlap 409 is positioned longitudinally in the centre of the panel so that it runs along a plane of symmetry of the panel. When the perimeter of the panel is affixed to the rest of the relatively rigid container, a user is able to pull the panels apart such that the area of overlap 409 is reduced and eventually an aperture is formed between the panels. When the user stops deforming the panels, the two portions 407 and 409 spring back to the conformation shown in figure 4b. This exerts a frictional force on gloves being drawn from the box, to separate them from unwanted gloves, to which they are adhered.

Figure 5 shows perspective views of an embodiment of the invention. The container is generally the same as the container shown in figure 2. However, figure 5a shows that in this embodiment that the tear-off section has a first portion 501 which is in the plane of the top surface 503 of the box as well as a portion 502 which is parallel to an end 504 of the box. The two portions of the tear-off section are separated by a cut line 505. The perimeter of the first and second portions is defined by a perforated line.

Figure 5b shows the box when the first portion 501 of the tear-off section has been removed by a user. The second portion 502 of the tear-off section remains attached to the box. The resiliently deformable panel 506 is visible. The slit 507 down the middle of the panel may be deformed to make an aperture through which gloves may be removed from inside the box. Once the deforming force is removed the edges of the slit spring back into the conformation shown in figure 5b. This exerts a frictional force on gloves being drawn out of the box in generally the same manner as described above.

Figure Sc shows the box when the second portion 502 of the tear-off section has been removed by a user. The first portion 501 of the tear-off section remains attached to the box. The panel 506 is visible at the end of the box. The panel extends over a portion of the top section of the box and a portion of the side of the box. The side of the box over which the panel extends is, in this embodiment, the end 204 of the box. However, the panel and corresponding portion of the tear-off section, in some embodiments, extend over a side of the box which is not at the end of the box.

A user is able to deform the panel 506 along the slit 507 so that an aperture is formed, through which gloves may be removed from inside the box. This allows a user to remove gloves from the end of the box. This is particularly useful when the box is held vertically (for example in a dispenser), with the tear off section 502 removed, and the corresponding portion of the panel at a lower end of the box. This allows the contents of the box to settle towards the lower end of the box for easy removal.

The first and second portions of the tear-off section may be removed independently of one another, or may both be removed.

The cut line 505 defines a semi-circular tab which is attached to the second portion of the tear-off section. The first and second portions of the tear-off section are separated by the cut line 505 so that they can be removed independently of one another.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a blank for forming the box shown in figure 5.

The features are generally the same as those shown in figure 3. One difference is that the first 501 and second 502 portions of the tear-off section are visible through the panel 506. The cut-line 505, which separates the first and second portions of the tear-off section and which defines the tab 508 is also shown. The panel 506 is affixed to the body of the box by an adhesive 509 which runs around the outside of the perforated line which forms the perimeter of the tear-off section. This adhesive runs over the underside of the surface 510 which forms the top of the box, once assembled. It also runs around the edge of the tear-off section which is formed in the tab 511 which forms the end of the box, once assembled.

The tabs 512 are folded to form an end of the box. Once the second portion 502 of the tear-off section of the box has been removed by a user, the user must be able to access the inside of the box via the slit 507. The design of the tabs which form the end of the box are adapted not to block access. Each of the tabs 512 therefore has a cut-out section 513 which corresponds to the shape of the second portion of the tear-off section. The cut-out section 513 in one of the end tabs has a generally U-shaped portion, whilst the other two cutout sections are generally L-shaped. However, in other embodiments, the cut out shape will be different, depending on the shape of the tear-off portion.

In some embodiments, the container will only have a tear-off section corresponding to the second tear-off portion 502 which is shown in figure 6. That is, the panel and tear-off portion will be located towards the end of the container, with no separate tear-off section which only extends over the top surface of the box.

Figures 7a-7d show plan views of the top surface of the box once assembled, and with a tear-off portion removed. The figures show cardboard top surfaces 701 having a cut-out 702 formed by the removal of the tear-off portion. The resiliently deformable panel is not shown for clarity. It would however lie under these top surfaces and be adhered to the underside of the top surfaces.

Generally, the cut-out portions 702 are elongate and cardboard top surfaces are provided with wing portions 703, 704, 705, 706. The cut-out portions are positioned centrally in the top surfaces. The top surfaces of the boxes generally have one or two axes of symmetry.

Generally, the resiliently deformable panels which are used in conjunction with these top surfaces will have an elongate access means, for example those shown in figures 2-6. The elongate access means is aligned with the elongation of the cut-out in the top surface.

Figure 7a shows a top surface in which there are four wings which each have convex curved edges. The four wings are joined at their ends.

Figure 7b shows a top surface in which there are four wings 704 with generally straight edges which define a diamond shaped cut-out 702.

Figure 7c shows a top surface in which two wings 705 define a cut-out which comprises an elongate slot 707. At the ends of the elongate slot the cut-out comprises two circular portions 708, which have a diameter which is around 510 times larger than the width of the slot.

Figure 7d shows a top surface in which the four wings 706 define a cut-out having an elongate slot 709. At the ends of the elongate slot there are circular cut-out portions 710. The elongate slot comprises a central circular cut out portion 711, the diameter of which is around 5-10 times greater than the width of the elongate slot. Slits 712 extend from either side of the central circular cut-out portion to form a cross shape with the elongate slot. At the end of each slit the slit expands into a circular cut out portion 713. The central circular cutout portion 711 gives a user good access to the underlying panel and access means, whilst restricting movement of the panel to ensure a high level of friction is applied by the edges of the panel. The circular cut-outs 710 and 713 at the ends of the elongate slot 709 and the slits 712 respectively, reduce the stress in the arrangement and prolong the lifespan of the box.

The wings 703-706 restrict the movement of the resiliently deformable panel which underlies the top surface. The more restricted the cut-out which is bounded by the wings, the more the movement of the panel is restricted. This can allow a user to specify a particular cut-out and panel arrangement for a particular usage. For example, certain types of glove will require panels which provide a high level of frictional force to separate gloves being withdrawn from the box. Restricting the cut-out size will increase the frictional force for a particular type thickness or type of panel. A similar effect can be achieved by changing the shape of the wings of the cardboard body which defines the cutout.

The cut-out shapes discussed in connection with figures 7a-7d, and the general principles disclosed above may be used with any of the other embodiments of the invention or the principles of the invention described herein.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a kit according to the invention during assembly. The kit comprises a box 801. The box 801 is provided with a perforated tear-off section 802 on its upper surface. The line of perforations 803 which joins the cut-out section to the rest of the box defines an oval. A user breaks the line of perforations 803 by pushing on the tear-off section 802.

This removes the tear-off section, leaving an aperture in the box through which gloves may be removed. The box may be of the type know in the prior art and shown in figure 1.

To assemble the kit, the tear-off section 802 is removed, adhesive 804 is applied around the perimeter of the cut-out portion which is left after the removal of the tear-off section 802. A resiliently deformable panel 805 having an access means 806 is then lowered onto top surface of the box so that the adhesive affixes the edges of the panel 806 to the top surface of the box. In this embodiment, the access means is a slit in the panel, wherein opposite edges of the slit abut one another when not subject to a deforming force. The panel is made of polyethylene. The panel is provided with a tab 807. The tab has a semi-circular shape and is adapted to be held by a user as the panel is being laid onto the adhesive 804.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of components of a kit according to the invention.

The box 901 is generally of the type shown in figures 1 or 8. However the tear-off portion 902 is provided with a tab 903 for a user to hold to assist in removing the tear-off section 902. The resiliently deformable panel 904 has an adhesive 905 applied around its perimeter. The panel 904 and adhesive 905 are provided on a transfer backing 907, such that the adhesive lies between the panel and the transfer backing. The transfer backing has generally the same outline as the panel, apart from the tab 908, which the transfer backing lacks. The panel and adhesive may be peeled off the transfer backing and then applied to the top of the box, once the tear-off section 902 has been removed. The resiliently deformable panel is provided with a slit 906, the edges of which abut one another, as an access means. When the panel 904 is in place on the box, gloves may be removed from within the box through the slit, once it has been deformed by a user. The panel 904 is provided with a tab 908. This tab is semi-circular and assists with removing the panel and adhesive from the transfer backing. It also allows a user to hold the tab whilst the panel is lowered onto the top of the box, to ensure that an accurate and centred fit over the cut-out portion is provided.

To fill the containers described herein, a blank as described herein may be folded into a box shape and then gloves may be inserted into the box via an end opening. Alternatively, the blanks described herein may be folded around a number of gloves. Preferably the gloves are in a stack.

Although in some of the embodiments described herein, the end and top parts of the panel and the corresponding tear off portions are shown in the same embodiment, in other embodiments these features, and any associated features such as the end flap described herein, may be provided independently of one another.

Claims

Claims 1. a container for holding gloves, comprising; walls which define an interior space for accommodating a stack of gloves, a panel with an access means through which a user may access the interior space to remove a glove from the container, wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the access means is a slit in the panel.
3. A container according to claim 2 wherein opposing edges of the slit abut one another.
4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the access means is an aperture.
5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the access means is formed by two or more layers which, when not deformed, overlap one another yet may be deformed by a user to form an aperture through which the interior space may be accessed and through which a glove may be removed from the container.
6. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the access means is adapted to adopt a non-deformed conformation in which two portions of the access means form a seal therebetween and wherein the access means may be moved from the non-deformed conformation to a deformed conformation by deformation of the panel, wherein, in the deformed conformation, the seal is broken so that a user is able to access to the interior space via the access means.
7. A container according to any preceding claim wherein a first portion of the panel is at an end of the container and a second portion of the panel is at the top of the container, wherein the access means is adapted to provide a user with access to the interior space via the end of the container and via the top of the container.
8. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the panel is transparent.
9. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the panel comprises a UV filter material.
10. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the panel comprises a polymer such as polyethylene or a rubber.
11. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the container comprises a body having a cut-out portion and wherein the panel bridges the cut-out portion.
12. A container according to claim 11 wherein the panel is affixed to an interior surface of the body of the container.
13. A container according to either of claims 11 or 12 wherein the cut-out portion has an elongate shape which defines wings of the body which interact with the panel as a user removes a glove from the container to increase the frictional force between the access means and the glove being removed from the container.
14. A container according to any of claims 11-13 wherein the body of the container is provided with a reclosable aperture through which gloves may be introduced into the container.
15. A container according to any of claims 11-14 wherein an upper portion of the body of the container is separable from a lower portion of the body of the container such that a stack of gloves may be introduced into the container.
16. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the body is provided with a tear-off portion which covers the access means.
17. A container according to claim 16 wherein the tear-off portion corresponds to the cut-out portion of any of claims 11-15 such that, once the tear-off portion has been removed from the container, the space which the tear-off portion occupied forms the cut-out portion.
18. A container according to either of claims 16 or 17 wherein the tear-off portion is provided with an initiation means which is adapted to assist a user in initiating the tearing-off of the tear-off portion.
19. A container according to any of claims 16 to 18 wherein the body is provided with two tear-off portions which may be independently removed.
20. A container according to any of claims 16-19 wherein a first tear-off portion is formed at an end of the container and a second tear-off portion is formed in a top surface of the container.
21. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is formed from a pack blank which is folded to form the container, wherein the pack blank comprises an end flap which forms an end of the container, wherein the end flap has a shape which cooperates with; the first portion of the panel of claim 7 or the first tear-off portion of claim 20, so that the end flap defines an opening through which a user is able to access the interior space via the access means in the first portion of the panel.
22. A pack blank for forming a container according to any preceding claim.
23. A combination of a container according to any of claims 1-21 and a stack of gloves, wherein the stack of gloves is accommodated in the interior space of the container.
24. A combination according to claim 23 wherein the gloves are nitrile gloves.
25. A kit for forming a container according to any of claims 1-21, the kit comprising; a panel with an access means wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material, a container having an aperture for accessing the interior space of the container or a removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture in the container for accessing the interior space of the container, and an adhesive for affixing the panel to the container.
26. A kit according to claim 25 wherein the panel and the adhesive are adhered to a transfer backing.
27. A method of forming a container according to any of claims 1-21 comprising; providing a pack blank comprising an aperture or a removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture, affixing a panel with an access means to the pack blank such that the panel bridges the aperture or the removeable portion which may be removed to form an aperture, and folding the pack blank to form the container, wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of packing gloves into the container.30. A method of retrofitting a container to form a container according to any of claims 1-21, comprising; providing a container having an aperture for accessing the interior space of the container, providing a panel with an access means wherein the panel comprises a resiliently deformable material, affixing the panel to the container such that the panel bridges the aperture.