MX2007007632A - Easy open folded article. - Google Patents

Abstract

An easy to open folded article based on a fold configuration is disclosed. Thefolded article has an exposed corner on its uppermost and bottommost folded surfaces,such that when the exposed corners are both grasped and pulled away from each other,the folded article easily and completely unfolds. Pull indicia are added to thearticle to easily identify the areas of the folded article to be grasped and pulled.

Description

BINDING ARTICLE OF EASY OPENING Background Items such as napkins, towels, wipes and the like have traditionally been folded in a variety of ways. Folding is a simple way in which a large item can be conveniently packaged and distributed. The folded products conserve space and often provide the user with a product that can be easily transported and used at the time and place of the user's choice.

Products such as napkins, paper towels, facial tissue and the like have been folded in particular configurations to aid in their storage and supply. Often the main concern with particular bending configurations has been the relationship of the folded product with other similarly folded and / or assorted products of such products.

For example, folded items such as cleaning cloths are commonly found for both personal and commercial uses. A common type of cleaning cloth is individually packaged for single use and is often distributed in restaurants to customers who have consumed food and who traditionally eat without the use of utensils (for example, fried chicken, barbecue ribs, hamburgers, etc.). Such wiping cloths are often difficult to open and use, and can be a source of great frustration to the user simply trying to wipe their face and hands.

Such individually wrapped cleaning wipes are folded in a manner to conveniently fit into their individual packages. However, the particular bending configuration of such wipers is a great source of the problems that users have with such wipers. Generally, the entire cleaning cloth sheet is folded in half in one direction and then folded in half again in the same direction to form a folded strip. This folded strip is then folded in half, in a second direction, perpendicular to the direction of the first two folds, and then folded again in half in this second direction. By folding the cleaning cloth in this particular configuration, the folds are nested within other folds and there is only one free edge available to the user. The user must unfold each fold to be able to use the entire sheet. Such cleaning cloths generally require little patience and the use of both hands to unfold each of the folds that have been placed on the cleaning cloth.

When the cleaning cloth is wet, as is often the case, the blown layers of the cleaning cloth have an affinity with each other which makes the free edge pull and the unfolding, each of the folds is more difficult. Often users frustrated by the tedious unfolding of the cleaning cloth may try to shake the open cleaning cloth from a simple corner they have opened, but this can result in excessive fluid shaking themselves and others, tearing the cleaning cloth, or losing the grip of the cleaning cloth and accidentally drop or possibly winnow the cleaning cloth. Alternatively, a frustrated user may not completely open the cleaning cloth and instead use multiple cleaning cloths.

For some cleaning cloths, it may be desired to limit contact with the folded cleaning cloth material. Wipers are commercially available saturated or coated with substances that a user may wish to avoid or limit their contact. For example, cleaning cloths are commercially available with such substances as disinfectants, cleaning solutions, detergents, astringents, medicaments, and other chemicals. While some contact is possible in the use of such cleaning cloths, the user may wish to limit such contact and may prefer not to have to unfold a cleaning cloth in the manner described above.

Therefore there is a need for folded material, such as a folded tissue, a towel or a cleaning cloth, which can easily be opened from its folded configuration. It is also desired that such bent material can be opened with minimal contact with the material.

Synthesis of the Invention The present invention is directed to a bent, easy-to-open cleaning cloth formed of a sheet of cleaning cloth material having a first and a second edge along a first direction, and a third and fourth edges along a length of second address, where the second address is perpendicular to the first address. The blade also has a first corner defined by the first and the fourth edges; a second corner defined by the first and third edges; a third corner defined by the second and third banks; and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth banks. The sheet has at least one fold along the first direction to define a folded strip, and the third corner of the sheet is present on the lower surface of the folded strip. The folded strip then has an even number of folds in a zigzag manner, along the second direction, to define the bent cleaning cloth, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface of cleaning cloth folded and the third corner is present on the lower surface of the folded cleaning cloth.

In an embodiment of the bent cleaning cloth, the first and second edges and each fold along the first direction also define bent sections therebetween. Each bent section has a section width dimension folded perpendicular to the first direction which is equal to the folded section width dimension of each other folded section of the cleaning cloth. Additionally, the third and fourth edges and each fold along the second section also define sections of strips folded therebetween. Each of said folded strip section has a folded strip section length dimension of each other folded strip section of the wiper cloth. In another embodiment, the finished bent cleaning cloth is substantially square in shape.

In a further embodiment, the bent cleaning cloth has an indication of pulling on both the first and third corners such that when the pull indicator is gripped the first and third corners are pulled away from each other, the bent cleaning cloth is open. Such pull indicator can be any type of tactile or visual indication. The pull indicator in several additions can be a bent corner, a distinguishable texture imparted to the corner of the sheet, or a distinguishable color imparted to the corner of the sheet.

The bent wiper cloth of the invention may be enclosed in a package to form a simple wiper pack. Alternatively, the folded cleaning cloth may be part of a stack of folded cleaning cloths and placed in a container to form a package of multiple cleaning cloths. Such a package of multiple cleaning wipes may include a stack of folded wiping cloths that are interlaminated, or alternatively may include a stack of bent cleaning wipes that are double-folded.

The present invention is also directed to an easy-open bent cleaning cloth made of folded sheet of cleaning cloth material. The bent cleaning cloth has an upper bent surface and a lower bent surface, where both the upper and lower bent surfaces include a pull indication. The cleaning cloth is opened by grasping the pull indicator of the uppermost and lowermost bent surfaces and pulling them away from each other.

Finally, the present invention is also directed to a folded article formed of a sheet of material and a half and a second edge along a first direction, a third and fourth edges along a second direction, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The sheet also has a first corner defined by the first and the fourth edges, a second corner defined by the first and third edges; a third corner defined by the second and third banks; and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth banks. The sheet has at least one fold along the first direction to define a folded strip, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface of the folded strip, and the third corner of the sheet is present. on the lower surface of the folded strip. The folded strip then has an equal number of folds in a zigzag manner, along the second direction, to define the bent cleaning cloth, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface the folded cleaning cloth and the third corner is present on the lower surface of the folded cleaning cloth. The first the third corners of the sheet each has a pull indication. The folded item is opened with limited contact with the user by grasping the pull indication of the first and third corners and pulling the first and second corners away from each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a series of flat views of a single sheet in all of its sequential bending configurations to form the folded article of the present invention.

Figure IA is a final view of the partially folded sheet.

Figure IB is a bottom view of the folded article of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a series of flat views of a single sheet in all of its sequential bending configurations to form the folded article of the present invention.

Figure 2A is a final view of the partially folded sheet.

Figure 2B is a bottom view of the folded article of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a front plan view of two wipers partially folded according to the bend configuration of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side and enlarged view of an incorporation of multiple interfolded cleaning cloths into a stack of cleaning cloths.

Detailed description All types of products and materials can benefit from particular bending configurations. As previously described, folding an article allows for more efficient packing, storage and transportation of the article. Items that can benefit from an improved bending configuration include items that are commonly folded such as napkins, facial tissue, towels, and cleaning cloths. Other items such as medical covers, sheets, heliographic copies and maps are commonly folded and can benefit from an improved bending configuration. This is only a list, not limiting and, partial of items that can be folded according to the present invention. As such, the present invention extends to all articles and materials that can be bent in the manner described below. For purposes of example, the description of the present invention may be directed to articles in a generic sense and to cleaning wipes as a specific example of an article that can be folded in accordance with the present invention.

Cleaning cloths, as described here, are useful for personal, household, commercial and industrial cleaning applications. Common cleansing cloths include baby wipes, face wipes, hand wipes, cosmetic wipes, household wipes, industrial wipes and cleaning wipes, and the like. The materials used to form a cleaning cloth of the type contemplated herein are generally well known in the industry. Such base materials may include natural fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers and polymers, and combinations thereof. These fibers are converted to sheet substrates by a variety of processes that are also generally well known in the industry. Cleaning wipes can be made from a single substrate layer or they can be made from multiple layers of substrate. A cleaning cloth made of multiple layers of substrate may have similar material substrates in each layer or different layers of substrates may be made.

Such substrates may include, but are not limited to, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, synthetic films (melted or extruded), tissue paper (creped heavily moistened, creped slightly dry or dried with continuous air), paper laid with air, and Similar. Exemplary processes for forming the substrates include, but are not limited to, the tissue processes found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,149,767 and 6,331,230, both issued to Hermans et al .; in the processes found in the patents of the United States of America Nos. 4,604,331 granted to McFarland and others, in the 4,820,577 granted to Morman and others, and in the 4,784,892 granted to Storey and others; the coform processes as found in U.S. Patent No. 4,100,324 issued to Anderson et al. and as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0200991 to Kec et al .; and processes of hydroentangled material as found in US Pat. Nos. 5,284,703 and 5,389,202 both issued to Everhart et al.

The limpid cloths can be wet or substantially dry. A substantially dry cleaning cloth is often used to absorb fluids and particles from surfaces. Wet wipes are commonly found in personal hygiene applications such as baby wipes and hand / face wipes. Both wet and dry cleaning cloths often include additional substances that give the cleaning cloth additional utility. Additional utility that can be added to the cleaning cloth include, but are not limited to cleaning solutions, formulations antibacterial for disinfection and / or sanitation, detergents, diapering medicines, moisturizing lotions, sun protection lotion, electrostatically charged areas, odor-absorbing chemicals, odor-neutralizing enzymes, repellent of insects, and the like.

Figure 1 illustrates a method for folding a sheet to form the folded article for easy opening of the present invention. Shown are three stages of bending, beginning with a full size sheet 100, which is shown with a printed edge pattern 18 by reference during the bending sequence. For additional reference, the sheet 100 is shown with a first edge 11, a second edge 12, a third edge 13, a fourth edge 14, a first corner 15, and a third corner 16. The dotted lines indicate where the sheet may be then bent to reach the next bending stage.

The sheet 100 is first folded along the three parallel bent lines 111, 112 and 113 which are generally along the same direction as the first and second edges 11, and 12 of the sheet 100. The first set of The folds are made in a zigzag manner to produce the folded strip 101. To form the zigzag folding configuration of the folded strip 101, each adjacent fold folds the sheet in the opposite direction of the previous adjacent fold. This The unfolded configuration is further illustrated in Figure IA, which is a final view of the folded strip 101. As can be seen in Figure IA, each of the successive adjacent folds of the sheet 100 resulted in a zigzag configuration of the layers bent in the folded strip 101. Each of the folds along the three parallel bent lines 111, 112 and 113, produces the folded edges lllx, 112x and 113x, respectively. As shown on the page in figure 1, the uppermost surface 191 of the bent strip 101 is defined by the first edge 11, a part of the third and fourth edges 13 and 14, and the bent edge lllx.

The first corner 15 is the upper right corner of the uppermost surface 191 of the folded strip 101. The third corner 16 is not shown in Figure 1, but is relative to the first corner 15 as shown on the page, the third corner 16 may be located in the lower right corner of the lower surface of the folded strip 101.

The odd number of bends used to make the folded strip 101 results in a folded strip 101 having an even number of folded sections. Each of these folded sections is shown as rectangular in shape, having a length dimension defined by the length of the sheet in the direction of the first and second edges 11 and 12, and having a width dimension defined by the distances between the first and second edges 11 and 12 and the three parallel lines bent 111, 112 and 113. As shown in Figure 1, the uppermost surface 191 of the bent strip 101 is the uppermost bent section. While Figure 1 shows each of these folded sections so that they are all approximately equal in size, it is possible that each of the folded sections may be of unequal size. For example, of the four folded sections of the folded strip 101, the folded sections making the uppermost surface 191 and the lowermost surface of the folded strip 101, may be equal in size, but smaller than the two inner folded sections. resting between the uppermost and lowermost surfaces. In this case, the folded edge 112x may extend beyond the first and second edges 11 and 12 as shown in Figure IA, and may be visible along the right edge of the folded strip 101 as shown in figure 1. Alternatively, the two inner bent sections may be smaller than the uppermost and lowermost surfaces or all the bent sections may be of different sizes.

The folded strip 101 is then bent in a zigzag manner along the parallel bent lines 121 and 122 to form the folded article 102. As can be seen in Figure 1, the first corner 15 is in the upper right corner at the topmost surface 192 of folded article 102. The third corner 16 can not be seen in Figure 1, but is relative to the first corner 15 as shown on the page, the third corner 16 may be present in the lower right corner of the lowermost surface 193 of the folded article 102. Figure IB illustrates the lowermost surface 193 of the folded article 102 of Figure 1, by flipping the folded article 102 in the vertical direction.

An even number of zigzag bends made in the folded strip 101 to form the folded article 102 results in a folded article 102 having an odd number of folded sections of strips. Each of these sections of bent strips is shown as rectangular in shape, having a length dimension defined by the distances between the third and fourth edges 13 and 14 and the two parallel bent lines 121 and 122. As shown in FIG. 1, the uppermost surface 192 of the folded article 102 is the folded section of the uppermost strip. While Figure 1 shows each of these sections of folded strips so that they are all approximately equal in length, it is possible that each of the folded strip sections may be of unequal lengths. For example, of the three sections of folded strips of the folded article 102, the folded strip sections making the uppermost surface 192 and the lowermost surface 193 of the folded article 102, may be equal in length, but shorter than the section strip bent inside that rests between them. In this case, the folded edge 122x may extend beyond the fourth edge 14 and may be visible along the top edge of the folded article 102 as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the two sections of folded strips may be more short that the bottom surface 193 or all sections of folded strips can be different lengths.

Figure 2 illustrates another method for folding a sheet to form the easy-open folded article of the present invention. While the folding method shown in Figure 1 uses an odd number of zigzag bends to produce the folded strip 101, Figure 2 shows that an even number of zigzag bends can be used to produce a folded strip 202.

Figure 2 shows multiple bending stages, starting with a full size sheet 200, which is shown with a printed edge pattern 28 per reference during the bending sequence. By further reference, the sheet 200 is shown with a first edge 21, a second edge 22, a third edge 23, a fourth edge 24, a first corner 25, and a third corner 26. Once again, the dotted lines indicate where the sheet can then be folded to reach the next bending stage. In the first bending step of Figure 2, the first corner 25 is bent over the top of the sheet 200, along the bending line 91; the third corner 26 is bent below the sheet 200, along the fold line 93.

Similarly the folding pattern shown in Figure 1, the sheet 201 is not bent along the two parallel bending lines 211 and 212 which are generally along the same direction as the first and second edges 21 and 22 of the sheet 201. This first set of folds is made in a zigzag manner to produce the folded strip 202. To form the zigzag folding configuration of the folded strip 202, each adjacent fold, fold the sheet in the opposite direction to the previous adjacent fold. This bending configuration is further illustrated in Figure 2A, which is a final view of the folded strip 202. As can be seen in Figure 2A, each of the successive adjacent bends of the sheet 201, result in a zigzag configuration. of folded layers on the folded strip 202. Each of the folds along the length of the two parallel bending lines 211 and 212, produces bent edges 211x and 212x, respectively. As shown on the page in Figure 2, the uppermost surface 291 of the bent strip 212 is defined by the first edge 21, a part of the third and fourth edges 23 and 24, and the bent edge 211x.

The first corner 25 is in the upper right corner of the uppermost surface 291 of the folded strip 202. The third corner 26 is not shown in Figure 2, but relative to the first corner 25 as shown on the page, the third corner 26 may be located in the lower left corner of the lowermost surface of the folded strip 202.

The even number of folds used to make the folded strip 202 results in a folded strip 202 having an odd number of folded sections. Each of these folded sections is rectangular in shape, having a length dimension defined by the length of the sheet in the direction of the first and second edges 21 and 22, and having a width dimension defined by the distances between the first and second edges 21 and 22 and the two parallel bent lines 211 and 212. As shown in Figure 2, the uppermost surface 291 of the bent strip 202 is the uppermost bent section. While Figure 2 shows each of these folded sections so that they are all approximately equal in size, it is possible that each of the folded sections may be of unequal size. For example, of the three folded sections of the folded strip 202, the folded sections making the uppermost surface 291 and the lowermost surface of the folded strip 202, may be equal in size, but smaller than the inner folded section that rest between them. In this case, the folded edge 212x may extend beyond the first edge 21 and as shown in Figure 2A, and may be visible along the right edge of the folded strip 202 as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the two upper bent sections may be smaller than the lowermost bent section or all the bent sections may be of different sizes.

The folded strip 202 is then bent in a zigzag manner along the parallel bent lines 221 and 222 to form the folded article 203. As can be seen in Figure 2, the first corner 25 is the upper right corner of the uppermost surface 292 of the folded article 203. The third corner 26 can not be seen in Figure 2, but is relative to the first corner 25 as shown on the page, third corner 26 is present in the left inner corner of lowermost surface 293 of folded article 203. Figure 2B illustrates lowermost surface 293 of folded article 203 of Figure 2, by flipping the folded article 803 in the vertical direction .

The even number of zigzag bends on the folded strip 202 to make the folded article 203 results in a folded article 203 having an odd number of sections of folded strips. Each of these sections of bent strips is rectangular in shape, having a length dimension defined by the distances between the third and fourth edges 23 and 24 and the two parallel bent lines 221 and 222. As shown in Figure 2 , the The uppermost surface 292 of the folded article 203 is the strip section folded to the uppermost. Although Figure 2 shows each of these sections of bent strips so that they are all approximately equal in length, it is possible that each of the bent sections may be of unequal lengths. For example, of the three sections of folded strips of the folded article 203, the folded strip section making the uppermost surface 292 and the lowermost surface 293 of the folded article 203, may be equal in length, but shorter than the section of folded inner strip that rests between them. In this case, the folded edge 222x may extend beyond the fourth edges 24 and may be visible along the upper edge of the folded article 203 shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the two sections of upper folded strips may be shorter that the lower surface 293 or all the surfaces can be of different lengths.

While the sheets 100 and 200 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are generally rectangular in shape, with their respective first and second edges generally perpendicular to the respective third and fourth edges, the sheets can be formed differently. For example, the leaf may be more common a parallelogram in shape, such that the adjacent edges find the angles at greater than or less than 90 °. Alternatively, the sheet can generally be square shaped.

In both of the folding configurations described relative to Figures 1 and 2, a bent strip is formed by zigzagging a sheet in a first direction, followed by zigzag folding of the bent strip in a second direction, the second direction it is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. While three parallel bends were used to make the folded strip 101 of Figure 1 and two parallel bends were used to make the folded strip 202 of Figure 2, the invention also considers the folded strips made at least one parallel fold and those dates by a greater number of parallel folds. Despite the number of parallel bends used to make the strip bent, it is preferred that those bends are made in a zigzag manner. As previously described, such zigzag bending requires that each adjacent bend be in fact in the opposite direction as the adjacent bend. In other words, such zigzag bending is a series of "Z-folds" which are commonly understood in art as being a series of folds that resemble the alphabetic character by which it is named.

Both the folded strip 101 of Figure 1 and the folded strip 202 of Figure 2 were then bent in a zigzag pattern along two parallel bent lines substantially perpendicular to the bent lines used to form the bent strips. The folded strip can be folded by a greater number of parallel bends than the two folds written with respect to Figures 1 and 2. However, to achieve the desired ability to easily open the folded item, the number of zigzag bends is made to the folded strip must be an even number of folds greater than zero ( for example, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.).

To open the folded article, folded by either the folding description of Figures 1 or 2, the user grasps the corner of the folded sheet present on the uppermost surface of the folded article and grasps the corner of the folded sheet present in the folded sheet. lower surface of the folded item and pull the two corners away from each other. The corners that are present in the upper and lower surfaces of the folded article, as described in Figures 1 and 2, are the diagonally opposite corners of the unfolded sheet. By grasping and pulling these two available corners and away from one another, the folded article will easily and completely unfold the sheet material. The user will therefore be able to completely unfold the folded article while contacting the folded article only at the two diagonally opposite corners.

If an odd number of zigzag bends are niche of the folded strip to form the final folded article, grasping the available corners of the uppermost and lowermost surfaces and pulling those separate corners will not be able to completely open the article. By folding the strip bent into an odd number of folds, the corners present in the uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the folded article may be two adjacent corners along the same sheet humiliation without bending. By pulling these adjacent corners apart, the user is left holding the two corners of the folded strip. To completely open the folded strip, the user must regain the grip and unfold it or he can give it a quick pull to unfold its zigzag folds.

As long as it is not convenient to be able to open the wiper cloth by grasping the diagonally opposite corners, as illustrated by the folding described by FIGS. 1 and 2, the method of folding the folded strips a number of zigzag folds can be advantageous for an article. with a large area. A large article may be of such a size that the diagonally opposite corners are widely spaced apart for a person to easily pull the open article by pulling the diagonally opposite corners apart. The larger the object on the diagonal, the wider the user will have to pull the corners apart, requiring longer arms or the assistance of another person. However, if the large item is folded such that the folded strip is bent by an odd number of zigzag bends, the user will only have to move the corners away from the same side (a span that is shorter than the diagonal). Such a large object can also have sufficient weight in its layers that the folded strip can by itself be unfolded with the help of gravity.

The configuration bent as described for and shown in Figures 1 and 2, produces a folded article that is easy to open. By grasping and pulling the exposed corners apart, the user can open the folded item. The process of opening the article can be assisted by providing the user with one or more pull indicators indicating where the user should grab the article. Such pull indicator may be any indication of perception that may allow the user to find the location where they should grab and pull on the folded item. The indications can usually be visual or tactile in nature, but the audible, olfactory and gustatory indications are not so ruled out.

The pull indicator may be at the corners themselves since they are present on the uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the folded article. The user can visually identify such corner on each of such surfaces or be able to feel the indication of such corner by running a finger on such surfaces. The corners can be further distinguished by bending the corner as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the first and third corners 25 and 26 were folded in the first step the bending process, but the same corners alternatively they can be bent as the last step of forming the folded article 203. Such a pull indicator at the bent corner present on the uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the folded article can act as both a visual and tactile indication; They indicate the location of the corner and act as a tongue for the user to grasp and pull. Instead of folding the corner, or in addition to such a bend, the apex of the corner can be removed, cut into a unique shape, or otherwise distinguished from the other corners.

Other visual indications that may act as a pull indication include the use of colors, textures, symbols, logos or the like. For example, the material to be folded can have different colors, or different shades of color, on a surface versus its reverse side. When bent by the present invention, the corners present in the uppermost and lowermost surface may be more noticeable due to the difference in color of the corner versus the background material in which the corners rest. Such color difference may be additionally used to improve a bent corner pull indicator, as previously described.

Another example of a visual indication may be a printed shore pattern, similar to one used in Figures 1 and 2 as a bend reference. Such shore pattern printed can be a solid color, a geometric pattern, or a repeated symbol, logo, or message. As seen in Figures 1 and IB, the printed shore pattern 18 points to the corners 15 and 16 of the folded article 102 which should be grasped and pulled to open the folded article 102. In a similar manner the printed edge pattern 28, is present in Figures 2 and 2B there are shown only on one side of the sheet. This one-sided printing provides the bent corners 25 and 26 with a contrast pattern pull indicator on the surfaces 292 and 293 in which the corners 25 and 26 are bent.

A symbol, a logo, a shape, a message, or similar marking can be used in the area of the corner to be pulled as a pull indicator. Instead of printing the edge of the entire sheet with a pattern, a discrete mark can be made in the area to be grasped and pulled. For example, in Figure 1, single points 81 and 83 are shown in the first and second corners 15 and 16 of the folded sheet, such that when folded in the folded article 102, the points 81 and 83 indicate where the Folded item should be grasped and pulled. Other shapes, symbols (for example, an arrow pointing to the corner), messages (for example, "Pull Here"), logos or nicknames of the manufacturer (for example "Kimberly-Clark") may also be used.

Alternatively or additionally, the pull indicator may be tactile in nature. As with the color difference described above, the sheet may have a different distinctive texture on one face versus the opposite face. When such a sheet is bent by the present invention, the corners present in the uppermost and lowermost surfaces may be more noticeable due to the difference in texture in the corner versus the texture of the material where the corners rest. Such a difference in texture may be additionally used to improve a pull indicator at the bent corner, as previously described.

The engraving, the texture, the folds, the grooves, the folding, and the like are all examples of tactile indicators that can be added to the folded article as indicators of pulling. Visual indications such as logos, messages and symbols can be recorded in the area to be grasped and pulled, and therefore act as both visual and tactile indications. Another type of push-to-touch indication may be the addition of a piece of material other than the touch to the area to be grasped and pulled. Instead of being printed, points 81 and 83, as shown in FIGS. 1 and IB, may be a circular piece of textured material that has been adhered or otherwise attached to the sheet.

As previously mentioned, despite the type of pull indicator that is used, it must be located in the areas that the user can grab and pull to open the folded item. For the folding methods of the present invention, such areas may be present on the uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the folded article. However, it should be noted that the number of zigzag bends used to make the bent strip may determine whether the lowermost surface that is exposed may be the front face of the unfolded sheet face or the opposite face of the unfolding sheet.

If an odd number of bends are used to make the folded strip, as shown in Figure 1, the front face of the material may be on both the uppermost and the lowermost exposed surfaces of the folded article. Therefore, the pull indicator such as points 81 and 83, can be placed next to the first and third corners 15 and 16 on the front side of the sheet 100, the sheet 100 can be folded as shown in FIG. Figure 1, and the pull indicator of points 81 and 83 may appear on the outermost surfaces of the folded article 102.

If an even number of bends are used to make the strip folded, as shown in Figure 2, the front face of the material may be on the uppermost surface 292 exposed from folded article 203, but the opposite side of the material may be on the lowermost exposed surface 293 of the folded article 203. Therefore, the pull indicator, such as the first and third corners 25 and 26 are bent on the opposite faces of the sheet 200. The sheet 200 it can then be bent as shown in Figure 2 and the pull indicator of the bent corners 25 and 26 may appear on the outermost surfaces of the folded article 203.

All of the above pull indicators can be used singly or in combination. Additionally, the individual pull indicator used in the areas to be grasped and pulled may be the same for both areas to be grasped or may be different. The pull indicator may be any indication of perception that may allow the user to locate the areas to be grasped and pulled to open the folded article. The pull indications described above are exemplary only and are not intended to be limiting.

Such folded articles can be packaged as individual packages, or a multitude of such folded articles can be stacked and packaged together. Such multiple item stacks can be packaged in plastic film packages, a box, a hard cover container, or any other type of container adapted to contain such a stack of folded articles. Such containers can be additionally adapted to supply the folded articles. A stack of such folded articles may consist of multiple folded articles directly placed one on top of the other. Alternatively, the individually folded items of the stack may be interfolded or possibly interlaminated. A interfolded or interlaminated stack is generally the preferred method for stacking folded articles for use in a container adapted to supply such folded articles.

A cleaning cloth is an article that can benefit from the particular bending configuration of the present invention. As previously described, bent cleaning cloths are often bent in such a way that they can be difficult to open and are often a source of frustration for those attempting to unfold and use them. Generally, the sheets that are used for cleaning cloths measure in the range of about 4 inches by 4 inches to about 8 inches by 12 inches (about 100 millimeters per 100 millimeters to about 200 millimeters per 300 millimeters). For individual packing, such a cleaning cloth is folded into a size in the range of about 1 inch by about 1 inch to about 3 inches by 4 inches around 25 millimeters by 25 millimeters to about 75 millimeters by 100 millimeters) . The largest and smallest bent cleaning cloths and the largest and largest doubled sheets 1 small ones are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The cleaning cloth sheet can be folded by the bending configuration of the present invention to produce a folded wet cleaning cloth having corners on the uppermost and lowermost surfaces which the user can grasp and pull away from each other for easily. open the folded cleaning cloth. Such a cleaning cloth can be folded into a size that can be individually packaged (for example, between about 1 inch by 1 inch and about 3 inches by 4 inches). Although any small rectangular shape and size provide a convenient size for an individually packaged cleaning cloth, a substantially square shaped bent cleaning cloth is preferred because of its ease in packaging.

Such individually folded cleaning cloths are either placed in a previously made package or they are individually wrapped with a film material to form the package around the folded cleaning cloth. In any case, such packages are generally made of metallized molten polypropylene film or polyethylene.

The multiple individually folded wipes can be directly placed on top of each other to form a stack that can be packed and sold. By For example, a stack having 10 to 15 of such folded cleaning wipes can be wrapped in a small package of plastic film, such as is used for the facial tissue to produce what is commonly known as a pocket pack. Alternatively, a large number of bent cleaning cloths can be placed in a stack and packaged in a plastic tube or other types of enclosed packaging adapted to contain a stack of such bent cleaning cloths. Such packaging can also be adapted to supply such cleaning cloths.

As previously described, packaging that is adapted to supply such wiping cloths generally uses a stack of folded articles that are interfolded or interlaminated such that when a single wiping cloth is removed from the package, the next wiping cloth is presented and easily accessible to the user. .

The "doubled" as the term is used herein refers to the stacking of individually folded articles where fold sections of the folded articles are superimposed on the stack. For example, Figure 3 shows a first cleaning cloth 310 and a second cleaning cloth 410, both of which have been folded in the folded strip configuration as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows two cleaning cloths 310 and 410 before being zig-zagged along their individual folded strips 321, 322 and 421, 422 to form the finished bent wipers. The first wiper blade 310 has a first corner 315 which will eventually be grasped and pulled, in conjunction with the third corner 316, to open the wiper cloth 310. Similarly, the second wiper blade 410 also has a first corner 415. The first cleaning cloth 310 has a first bent activity 321, and which stops the first bent strip section 331, the second bent strip section 332, and a second bent strip 322, which separates the second bent strip section 332 of the third section of the folded strip 333. Similarly, the second cleaning cloth 410 has a first folded strip 421, which separates the first folded strip section 431, the second folded strip section 432, and a second folded strip 422 , which separates the second section of folded strip 332 from the third section of folded strip 433.

The first and second wiper blades 310 and 410 are interlaminated and by placing them in relation to each other such that the opposite face of the first bent strip section 431 of the second wiper blade 410 is in close proximity to the face of the third section of the folded strip 333 of first cleaning cloth 310; the first corner 415 of the second cleaning cloth 410 may be nested inside the second fold 322 of the first cleaning cloth 310. Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the interleaving of the first cleaning cloth 310 and the second cleaning cloth 410 as previously described. When the first cleaning cloth 310 is removed from the stack, the first section of the folded strip 413 of the second cleaning cloth 410 may be accessible to the user.

Alternatively, the stack of folded cleaning cloths may be interlaminated. The "interlaminar" or the "interlaminate" as the terms are used here refer to the stacking of individually folded items where a single corner meets the lower surface of a cleaning cloth is superimposed by the single corner that is on the surface most of the underlying cleaning cloth or a folded section of the underlying cleaning cloth. It can also be referred to the overlay of a folded section of the underlying cleaning cloth by a simple corner which is on the uppermost surface of the underlying cleaning cloth. When the underlying cleaning cloth is removed from the stack the upper corner, or the upper section, of the underlying cleaning cloth may then be accessible to the user.

Regardless of whether the creping or the interlacing is used to form the stack of folded cleaning cloths, the removal of the underlying cleaning cloth may pull the underlying cleaning cloth in such a manner to make it part of the underlying cleaning cloth accessible to the user. While the ability of the underlying cleaning cloth to pull the underlying cleaning cloth is partially due to the interaction of the folds, the same degree of resistance surface to surface is required between the two wipers. This resistance can be provided by the wet nature of the cleaning cloths which causes them to adhere to one another. Alternatively, the wiping cloths can be mechanically joined, pleated, ultrasonically joined or co-opened at one or more points such that the superimposed surfaces of the wiper cloth stick together. Finally, surface to surface resistance can be increased through chemical bonding or the use of adhesives on some part of the interacting surfaces.

Claims (18)

1. An easy-open bent cleaning cloth comprising: a first and a second edge along a first direction, a third and a fourth edge along a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; a first corner defined by the first and fourth edges; a second corner defined by the first and third edges; a third corner defined by the second and third edges; and a fourth edge corner defined by the second and fourth banks; the sheet having at least one fold along the first direction to define a bent strip so that the first edge of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface of the bent strip, and the third corner of the sheet is present on the bottom surface of the folded strip, and the folded strip also has an even number of folds in a zigzag shape, along the second direction, to define the folded cleaning cloth, so that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface of the bent cleaning cloth and the third corner is present on the bottom surface of the bent cleaning cloth.

2. The bent cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the first and second edges in each fold along the first direction further define bent sections therebetween, wherein each bent section has a width dimension of bent section perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the folded section width dimension of each bent section is equal; Y wherein the third and fourth edges and each fold along the second direction further define the strip sections folded therebetween, wherein each section of folded strip has a strip length dimension folded perpendicular to the second direction, at where the length of section length of folded strip of each section of folded strip is equal.

3. The folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the folded cleaning cloth is substantially square in shape.

4. The folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the first and third corners each have a pull indication, and wherein the folded cleaning cloth is adapted to be opened by grasping the hint of pulling the first corners and third and pulling the first and third corners outward from each other.

5. The folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the pull signal is a visual or tactile key.

6. The folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the pull-up sign comprises a bent corner.

7. The folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the pulling sign comprises a distinguishable texture imparted to the corner of the sheet.

8. The bent cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the pull sign comprises a distinguishable color imparted to the corner of the sheet.

9. A single cleaning cloth package comprising a package and a bent cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 1 enclosed within the package.

10. A package of multiple cleaning cloths ^ comprising a stack of folded cloths as claimed in clause 1 within a container.

11. The package of multiple wiping cloths as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that the folded cleaning cloths of the pile are between placed.

12. The package of multiple cleaning cloths as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that the folded cleaning cloths of the cell are interfolded.

13. An easy-open bent wiper blade comprising a bent sheet of a wiper material defining a topmost bent surface at the bottom bent surface, wherein both the topmost and bottommost bent surfaces have at least one hint of pulling, and wherein the cleaning cloth is adapted to be opened by grasping the hint of pulling the bent surfaces more uppermost and more thoroughly and pulling them one outward from the other.

14. A single cleaning cloth pack comprising the folded cleaning cloth as claimed in clause 13 which has been individually packaged.

15. a package of multiple cleaning cloths comprising a stack of bent cleaning cloths as claimed in clause 13.

16. The package of multiple wiping cloths as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that the folded wiping cloths of the pile are between placed.

17. Characterized because the cleaning cloths of the pile are doubled.

18. A folded article comprising: a sheet of material comprising a first and a second edge along a first direction, a third and a fourth edge along a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; a first corner defined by the first and fourth edges; a second corner defined by the first and third edges; a third corner defined by the second and third edges; and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth edges; the sheet having at least one fold along the first direction to define a folded strip, of so that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost surface of the strip bend, and the third of the sheet is present on the bottom surface of the strip bend, and the strip folded further having an even number of folds in the form of a zigzag along the second direction to define the folded article, so that the first corner of the sheet is present on the upper or upper surface of the folded article; Y wherein the first and third corners each have at least a hint of pulling, and wherein the folded article is adapted to be opened with an unlimited contact with the user by grasping the first and third corner pulling sign and pulling the first and second corners one outward from another