JPH0244527B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an attachment for a paper towel container that warms the paper towel as it is removed from the container.

BACKGROUND ART Containers that store a plurality of flexible elements and allow the elements to be taken out one by one are generally widely used. In one particular configuration, the flexible element takes the form of a damp paper towel used for infant hygiene. Paper towels are usually moist because they contain a liquid that tends to evaporate quickly, so when a paper towel is applied to the skin, it has a tremendous cooling effect. For adults, this cooling sensation may be desirable, but for children,
Applying a cold paper towel suddenly is uncomfortable;
Often even painful. It is therefore desirable to provide a means to avoid unwanted shock by warming the paper towel before it is applied to the infant's skin.

Traditionally, paper towels have been sold in plastic containers that have removable caps with openings through which the paper towels can pass.
When you pull out a sheet of paper towel from the opening,
The second paper towel is moved to a position where its tip protrudes from the opening and held in a position where it can be pinched and pulled up the next time a paper towel is needed.
Each container is self-supporting and can be disposed of once empty.

According to the present invention, such a paper towel container includes:
A removably attached attachment is provided for subsequent use with different containers. The attachment defines a path through which a sheet of paper towel can pass, and the path preferably has a length approximately equal to the length of the paper towel itself. The tip of the paper towel typically protrudes from the attachment in much the same way that the tip of a paper towel protrudes from a container, so it can be picked out by hand. The attachment is provided with heating means in thermally conductive relationship with the paper towel received within the attachment to warm the paper towel. Therefore, the second paper towel will be heated while it is held within the attachment before use, and when that paper towel is removed from the attachment, the next paper towel will be placed inside the attachment and heated. It will be done.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a means for warming paper towels or other flexible elements upon removal from a container prior to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment that can be used sequentially for multiple paper towel containers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an attachment that can function both with the container and on its own as a source of illumination and as a decorative item.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects and other objects that will become apparent below, the present invention provides for use with containers of flexible elements as defined in the claims and as described in this specification. Regarding attachments for

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As previously mentioned, the attachment of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in warming damp paper towels, and is also identified in the following description as being used with existing commercially available containers containing such products. Although illustrated as FIG. Although such elements are specifically described herein as paper towels, it is understood that the use of the term paper towel is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to be limiting in any way. Dew.

A conventional paper towel container, indicated generally at 2, takes the form of a large plastic bottle with an open top 4 defined by an annular upper edge 5 which is normally closed by a cap 6. A cap 6 is removably and sealingly secured to the container 2 to close the upper opening 4. The cap 6 has an annular edge 1
A sealing lid 12 is secured to the cap 6 by a flexible strap 14 and is snap engageable with a lip 10 to seal the opening 8. Since the paper towels 16 are stored in a sequentially connected state inside the container 2,
When one paper towel 16 is pulled out from the outlet of the upper opening 8 of the container, part of the next paper towel is pulled out from the opening, and the tip of the next paper towel is slightly pulled out from the opening 8. It becomes a prominent state. So when the need arises, just grab the next paper towel and pull it out. At this time, the third paper towel moves to a position where its tip can be pinched if necessary. Therefore, under normal circumstances, each paper towel 16 is kept at normal room temperature when it is withdrawn from the container 2, and the paper towels are usually moist due to containing highly volatile liquids. , it feels quite cold when applied to the skin.

The heating attachment of the invention has a downwardly projecting edge 22 which is removably, preferably sealingly, engageable with the upright edge 5 of the container 2, and which substantially extends the upper opening 4 of the container 2. It has attachment means 18 consisting of a covering horizontal wall 20 and a tube 24 having a length at least approximately equal to the length of the upwardly extending paper towel 16 and formed from a suitable heat transfer material. Although tube 24 is shown in this example as being integral with wall 20, tube 24 may be a separate piece that is later assembled with wall 20 in any suitable manner. The attachment means 18 may include an upwardly directed circumferential groove 26 for receiving a shell 28. This Ciel is
Extending upwardly from wall 20 a distance slightly less than the length of tube 24, tube 24 freely extends through a central opening 32 in upper wall 30 of the shell with a gap therebetween. do. An upstanding annular edge 34 of shell 28 is spaced radially outwardly from tube 24 and extends approximately to the end of tube 24 .

A heating means 36 is mounted in the wall 20 between the tube 24 and the shell 28. In the form specifically described herein, the heating means 36 comprises an incandescent light bulb 38 mounted in a socket 40 secured to the wall 20. An incandescent light bulb 38 is spaced apart from tube 24 such that tube 2
4 is rotatable around a fixing screw 42, while an opposing fixing screw 44 moves inside an arcuate slot 46, etc., so as to change the heating effect on the paper towel inside the paper towel. installed in the configuration. A light bulb 48 extends from the socket 40 to a conventional plug 50, and an element 52 includes an incandescent light bulb 38.
An on/off switch may optionally be provided with a variable control so that the degree to which the incandescent bulb is illuminated, ie, the rate at which the incandescent bulb produces heat, can be adjusted. A thermostat may also be provided for automatic control of the illuminance of the incandescent bulb 38 so as to maintain a desired temperature within the space 51 between the tube 24 and the shell 28 that receives the incandescent bulb 38. The heated air in this space is pumped through the gap between the tube 24 and the top wall 30 and the edge 34.
It escapes through a plurality of openings 35 formed in the.

Although heating means other than incandescent bulb 38 may be used, incandescent bulb 38 has the advantage of producing both light and heat, in which case shell 28 is at least partially light transmissive. It may also be suitably decorated or may be decorated by covering it with a light-transmissive decorated shade 54. The attachment, when attached to the container 2 or standing alone, can thus function as an electric light or as a night light in a child's room. By using a separate decorated shade 54,
You can change the decorative effect of attachments.

At the upper end of the tube 24, the cap 6 is connected to the container 2.
It is closed by a cap 6 which may be received in the same way as is received on the top of the. The tip 16A of the first paper towel 16 passes through the opening 8 in the cap 6 so that it can be pinched out when the sealing lid 12 is removed from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. . The upper end of the tube 24 and the cap 6, together or separately, can be considered to be the exit means for the attachment.

As specifically illustrated herein, the shell 28 and shade 54 are tapered for aesthetic reasons, so that the diameter at their upper ends is smaller than that at their lower ends, so that they are generally Cap 6 smaller than the cap likely to be used
must be used. However, if a non-tapered shell 28 and shade 54 are used, the cap 6 used may be the same as used for the container 2. Tapered shell 28
If used, the taper should be of such a shape that when the attachment is attached to a larger container 2, the cap 6 to be adopted is the same size as the paper towel manufacturer would provide for a smaller container. It's okay.

When using the attachment, the cap 6 provided on the container 2 is removed, a portion of the first paper towel 16 is taken out and passed through the tube 24, and the attachment is attached to the upper edge 5 of the container 2. Next, attach an appropriately sized cap 6 to the top of the attachment, and attach the cap 6 to the top of the first paper towel 16.
6A through the opening 8 of the cap 6, and the sealing lid 12 of the cap 6 is snapped into the position shown in FIG. The plug 50 is inserted into the appropriate outlet and the on/off switch 52 is operated appropriately to allow the device to function. The heating means 36 is the space 51
Most of the heat is transferred via the tube 24 to the first paper towel 16 housed inside the tube 24. As a result, the first paper towel is heated, so the sealing lid 12 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
When the paper towel 6 is pulled out from the attachment, the paper towel is warm and does not feel cold when applied to the baby's skin. At the same time, a second paper towel 16 is pulled up through tube 24 to the position shown in FIG. 2 and warmed before being withdrawn from the attachment.

As shown, the length of tube 24 is approximately equal to the length of one paper towel, so if a second paper towel is removed immediately after the first, the second There may not be enough time for the towel to get warm enough. This problem is usually not very serious, since part of the heating effect of the heating means 36 is transmitted into the interior of the container 2 and acts on the paper towel that is just being drawn out. However, if the tube 24 is made longer to accept more than one paper towel at a time, the heating means 36 can directly act on more than one paper towel at a time. For example, by making the tube 24 spiral, it is possible to extend the tube 24 to the required temperature without changing the height of the attachment.

The attachment can be used alone, without being attached to a container, as a decorative item supported on the attachment means 18, or as an electric light or night light.

Attachments are inexpensive because they can be easily formed with a limited number of simple components that can be molded at low cost from suitable plastics, and at the same time, the paper towel container It is sturdy enough to be used almost permanently while being replaced.

Although only one specific embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be obvious that many modifications may be made to the details thereof, all within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention installed in a predetermined position in a paper towel container, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. A cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in the figure and FIG. 4 are exploded perspective views of the components of the illustrated embodiment. 2...Paper towel container, 4...Top opening, 6...
Cap, 8...opening, 12...sealing lid, 16...
... paper towel, 18 ... attachment means, 20 ... horizontal wall, 24 ... tube, 26 ... peripheral groove, 28
... shell, 35 ... opening, 36 ... heating means,
38...Incandescent light bulb.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A container for a flexible element 16 having a take-out point provided with a first opening 4 from which a plurality of elongated flexible elements 16 can be taken out; and said take-out point of said container. an attachment means 18 to be secured in communication with said first aperture 4; an outlet means having a second aperture 8 through which said flexible element 16 is to pass; By fixing at a certain interval, the first
and means 26 for defining a length of movement of one flexible element 16 between the second opening; In the combination, the heat transfer tube 24 surrounds the length through which the flexible element 16 passes, a cover 28 surrounds the length, and the cover 28
and a heating means 36 spaced between and spaced from the heat transfer tube 24 for heating the air between the cover 28 and the heat transfer tube 24, the heating means 36 being received within the portion and being spaced apart therefrom. A paper towel container and heating attachment combination characterized in that the flexible element 16 is heated as it moves through said length. 2. In the combination according to claim 1, the first opening 4 is larger than the second opening 8, the attachment means 18 is of the same size as the first opening 4, and Heat transfer tube 24
is the same size as the second opening 8, and the heating attachment is connected to the heat transfer tube 2.
4. A combination further comprising a wall 20 substantially closing said first opening 4 except for the interior thereof. 3 A heating attachment for use in a container 2 of an elongated flexible element 16 having a wall 5 comprising a first opening 4 through which the flexible element 16 can be removed, the first opening 4 forming a wall of the container. 5, an exit means having a second opening 8 through which said flexible element 16 is to pass, and means 26 for securing said exit means to said mounting means at a distance. a heating attachment comprising a heat transfer material, extending between said attachment means 18 and said second opening 8, communicating with said second opening 8 and also communicating with said first opening 4; ,
a tube 24 having a cross-sectional size through which the flexible element 16 can pass and a length approximately equal to at least the majority of the length of one sheet of the flexible element 16; and separating the tube 24 therefrom; a wall 28 surrounding the tube in such a relationship as to define a space between the tube and the tube 2 within the space;
4 and the wall 28, heating means 36 is provided to heat the air between the wall 28 and the tube 24, and is spaced apart from both of the tubes.
A paper towel heating attachment characterized in that it warms a flexible element 16 received within said tube 24 and moved through said tube. 4. A heating attachment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating means 36 are adjustable and spaced apart from the length, thereby warming the flexible element. A heating attachment characterized in that it is attached to vary the degree of heating. 5 a container 2 for flexible elements 16 having a take-out point having a first opening 4 from which a plurality of flexible elements 16 can be taken out; an attachment means 18 to be secured in communication with said attachment means 18; an outlet means having a second aperture 8 through which said flexible element 16 is to pass; said outlet means being secured in spaced relation to said attachment means 18; Accordingly, the first opening 4
and the second opening 8, a flexible element 16
means 26 for defining a length of a section in which the member is movable; a cover 28 surrounding at least a portion of said section; a heating means 36 for warming the flexible element 16 which is moved along the section;
The heating means 36 are mounted so as to be adjustable and spaced apart from the length, thereby varying the extent to which the flexible element 16 is warmed. A combination of a towel container and a heating attachment. 6 a container 2 for flexible elements 16 having a take-out point having a first opening 4 from which a plurality of flexible elements 16 can be taken out; an attachment means 18 to be secured in communication with said attachment means 18; an outlet means having a second aperture 8 through which said flexible element 16 is to pass; said outlet means being secured in spaced relation to said attachment means 18; Accordingly, the first opening 4
and the second opening 8, a flexible element 16
means 26 for defining a portion of a length over which the material can be moved, and are mounted in operative relation to transfer heat to said portion, so that in use and when moving along said portion, flexible element 16
a heating attachment for said flexible element having heating means 36 for warming said flexible element; said heating means 36 being adjustable and spaced apart relative to said length; 1. A paper towel container and heating attachment combination, characterized in that the paper towel container and heating attachment are attached to thereby vary the degree to which said flexible element is heated. 7. A combination according to claim 6, characterized in that said part is surrounded by an elongated heat transfer tube 24 through which said flexible element 16 passes. 8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the portion includes at least the flexible element 16.
A combination body characterized by having a length approximately equal to one piece of. 9. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the heating means 36 is an incandescent light bulb 38, and at least a portion of the cover 28 transmits light. 10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said portion includes at least said flexible element 16.
A combination body characterized by having a length approximately equal to one piece of. 11. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said container 2 comprises a cap 12 which is removably attached to cap attachment means 35 at said outlet point, and said outlet means of said heating attachment is provided with said outlet means from said heating attachment. A combination characterized in that it comprises means (10) for removably receiving said cap for closing the second opening (8). 12 A heating attachment for a container 2 of a plurality of flexible elements 16, having a wall with a first opening 4 through which the flexible elements 16 can be taken out, attachment means 18 to be secured to the wall of the container; an outlet means having a second opening 8 through which said flexible element 16 is to pass; and means 26 for securing said outlet means in spaced relation to said attachment means 18. and of a heat transfer material, extending between said second opening 8 and said outlet means, communicating with said second opening 8 and also communicating with said first opening 4;
a tube 24 having a cross-sectional size such that the flexible element 16 can pass therethrough and a length approximately equal to at least one flexible element 16;
A wall 2 surrounding the tube 24 spaced apart from the tube 24 to define a space therebetween.
8 and heating means 36 provided in said space for warming a flexible element 16 received within said tube 24 and moving through said tube, said heating means An attachment for heating paper towels, characterized in that it is mounted so as to be adjustably spaced relative to the tube 24, thereby varying the extent to which said flexible element 16 is warmed. 13. The heating attachment for paper towels according to claim 12, wherein the heating means 36 is an incandescent light bulb 38, and at least a portion of the wall 28 transmits light. 14. The heating attachment according to claim 12, wherein the heating attachment is provided with a cap receiving means 10 on the outlet means for removably receiving a cap 12 for closing the second opening. A paper towel heating attachment characterized by: 15. A heating attachment according to claim 12, wherein the heating means 36 can be spaced adjustably from the tube 24, thereby controlling the extent to which the flexible element 16 is warmed. An attachment for heating paper towels, characterized in that it is attached to change the temperature.