MXPA05011161A

MXPA05011161A - Improvements in convenience rolls.

Info

Publication number: MXPA05011161A
Application number: MXPA05011161A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Nigel Lawson
Original assignee: Oday Abbosh
Priority date: 2003-04-16
Filing date: 2004-04-15
Publication date: 2006-05-25
Also published as: JP4786529B2; GB0308841D0; AU2004231344A1; JP5200295B2; PL1615536T3; BRPI0409391A; GB2400596B; JP2011200660A; CN1774197B; RU2005135746A; BRMU8403679Y1; CA2522513A1; US20060273099A1; NO338061B1; EP1615536A1; EP1615536B1; ES2398217T3; GB2400596A; AU2004231344B2; DK1615536T3

Abstract

A convenience roll in the form of an elongate web (10) of material comprises a multiplicity of individual portions (11) integrally connected together in series. Each individual portion (11) is shaped so as to have an area that is less than the product of its overall width across the web multiplied by its length along the web. Neighbouring individual portions are connected together by a frangible zone (12) of material whose width across the web is small relative to the overall width of the web so as to act as a controlled breaking point for when an individual portion is to be separated from its neighbour on dispensing.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN UTILITY ROLLS This invention relates to rolls of utility. The term "utility roll" used herein is intended to cover products of an essentially disposable nature intended primarily, but not necessarily exclusively, for a cleaning or hygiene function, whether made of paper or other materials, whether absorbent or not and are normally presented in a dry, wet or wet condition and therefore include, for example, facial tissues, kitchen rolls, wash rolls, hand towels, face towels, cleaning cloths and baby wipes . The term also aims to cover products such as bibs or bibs and disposable blocks of notes. The invention provides a utility roll as defined herein in the form of an elongated web of material comprising a multiplicity of individual portions integrally connected together in series, wherein each individual portion is formed to have an area that is less than the product of its overall width across the weft multiplied by its length along the weft and where the individual surrounding portions are connected together by a fragile or easily rotating area of material whose width across the The plot is small in relation to the overall width of the plot, so it acts as a controlled break point for when an individual portion is going to be separated from its neighbor when it is supplied. By way of example, the embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a convenience roll form according to the invention. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a way of folding the weft of Figure 1 into a heap or stack. Figure 4 illustrates one way of forming four of the frames shown in Figure 1 at a time. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate alternative forms of convenience roll according to the invention. Figure 7 illustrates a spout shape for a weft similar to that shown in Figure 4. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate an alternative way of folding the weft shown in Figure 1 and a spout for the heap or stack. Figures 1 0, 1 1 and 12 show yet another alternative way of folding the screen shown in Figure 1 and a jet for the pile. Figures 1 3 to 1 8 illustrate various forms of spout, and Figure 19 illustrates an alternative form of convenience roll. The convenience roll of Figure 1 is formed in a continuous length of material or web 1 0. The material itself may be of any suitable composition, but may be typically paper based and consists of one or more layers. As will be seen in Figure 1, the frame 1 0 is formed to encompass a multiplicity of individual circular portions 1 1 joined together in series. Each individual portion 1 1 is connected to each of its neighboring portions immediately behind and in front by a thin strip of material 12. These strips of material 1 2 are designed to be significantly reduced in width compared to the overall width across the plot, why they are fragile. The fragile strips 12 thus act as controlled breaking points for when each individual portion 1 1 is to be separated from its neighbor when it is stocked. Here, the width of the fragile strips 12 is approximately one-sixth of the overall width through the 1-weft. Of course, this can be varied depending on factors such as the material used in particular. Also, the individual portions can be connected together by two or more fragile strips that together form a brittle area. It will be appreciated that the presence of the brittle strips obviates the need for any perforations through the weft, the traditional method of assisting in the separation between successive individual portions in a conventional roll of paper towels. It may be possible to produce the plot in the particular way shown in Figure 1 as it is actually formed, for example, while it is in the wire of a paper-making machine. Alternatively, the shape can be achieved by a cutting operation in a normally formed frame. In that case, the trimmed waste can be easily recycled and processed to the weft formation process at the point of manufacture. Figure 4 illustrates how four frames can be formed 1 0 at a time, side by side through the frame. You will also see in this illustration how you can make a saving of about 20% in material compared to a conventional rectangular roll. It has been observed that typically it is only the central circular portion of a paper towel that is the effective working area, the corner regions of a traditional square or rectangular paper towel remain unused frequently. By making a paper towel in a circular form, therefore, a better use of that is made with the minimum amount of material and without compromising its effectiveness. The shape is also aesthetically pleasing and economical, as well as friendly to the environment. It is possible to store the weft 10 shown in Figure 1 on a roll, to be stocked in the same way, for example, as a traditional kitchen roll. FIG. 7 illustrates a conveniently portable form of the dispenser 70 for containing a convenience roll 71 which here has individual portions 70 of generally oval shape. As each individual portion 72 is pulled from the spout 70, it pulls the middle of the next individual portion before the brittle strip 73 breaks. Alternatively, the weft 10 can be folded and stacked. The simplest form of bending arrangement would involve laying each successive individual portion 1 over the previous one by a single bend of the fragile strip 12 which holds them together, ie, along each fold line A in the Fig. 1 . This would produce a stack of individual portions with a generally circular section. A stack 80 such as this is illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 9 shows a spout 90 suitable for containing the stack 80 shown in Figure 8, and is generally box-shaped in shape. The box could conveniently contain the battery in a wet or damp condition for use as cleaning rags. A more elaborate bending arrangement would involve additionally bending each individual portion 1 1 about its diameter extending through the frame 10, for example, along bending line B in Fig. 1. This would produce a stack of individual portions with a generally semi-circular section. An even more sophisticated bending arrangement would involve folding each individual portion 1 1 along three fold lines extending diametrically. As can be seen in Figure 1, one of these is the fold line B that extends through the frame. The other two, fold lines C and D, are each offset by approximately 45 ° with fold line B. Each individual portion 1 1 is folded down around its fold line B and folded up around its other two fold lines C and D, as seen in Figure 2. The result is that each individual portion is folded in a flat, multi-layered configuration in the form of a quarter of a circle. If this bending action is applied to each individual portion 1 1 in succession, the result is a stack of bent individual portions having a generally quadrant-shaped section, as seen in Figure 3. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate possible alternative profiles of the shape of the individual portions of the frame. In Figure 5, the individual portions 1 1 a of the weft 10a have an oval shape, while in Figure 5 the individual portions 1 1 b of the weft 10b are diamond-shaped. In each case, the individual portions are integrally joined together in series by the strips 12a, 12b fragile, as in the manner of the embodiment of Figure 1. If desired, the frames 10a, 10b shown in Figures 5 and 6 could be bent in ways similar to those discussed above in relation to the embodiment of Figure 1. An alternative way to bend the plot shown in the Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 10. Here, in addition to the fold lines A, B, CYD shown in Figure 1, an additional fold line E is used, the fold line E extending along the longitudinal axis Of the plot. The manner of folding first involves bending over each individual portion 1 1 around the fold line B. The individual portion 1 1 is then alternately bent up and down around the lines C, D and E in the manner of a fan, as seen in Figure 11. The individual portions thus folded in the form of a fan are then stacked one on top of the other, bending the brittle strips 1 2 around the fold line A, to form a stack generally in a triangular shape. Figure 12 illustrates a triangular shaped jet 1 20 with a top access opening 121 suitable for containing a stack bent in this way. Depending on how exactly the pattern is formed and folded, it will be adequate to stock in a number of other different modes. The jet 130 shown in FIG. 13, for example, is itself quadrant-shaped and, therefore, is suitable for dispensing paper towels in the shape of the stack 13 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. supplier could be mounted or installed in a corner. Figure 14 illustrates a free-position form of the spout 140 which is semi-circular in section, with two compartments 141, 142 with lid to hold two separate supplies of paper towels in the shape of the stack 13 shown in Figure 3 This spout could conveniently be used to contain dry paper towels in one compartment and wet or wet in the other. The spout 1 50 of Figure 15 is circular in section, with four compartments for containing four separate supplies of paper towels each in the shape of the stack 1 3 shown in Figure 3. This spout can be mounted on the wall and it can be usefully combined with an integral soap dispenser unit 151 fed from a reservoir 152 via a passage 1 53 down the central column of the dispenser. The dispenser may contain a single opening 1 54 for access to the individual portions through its housing, with an indexing mechanism for carrying the next successive compartment towards registration with the opening as each stack becomes exhausted. The dispenser 160 of Figure 16 is of free position, with two separate stacks of paper towels 13 which are spring loaded towards a central access opening 1 61.

The spout 170 of Figure 1 7 is in the form of a rotating, partly spherical drum formed to receive a stack of towels about its axis, to supply assortment through a slot 1 71. This dispenser is suitable for containing supplies of paper towels in the shape of the stack shown in Figure 3. In the dispenser 1 80 of Figure 1 8, a stack of paper towels is stored in a generally annular shaped housing, with the paper towels that are pushed towards an access opening 1 81 by means of a spring loaded pallet 182. In all these dispensers, the idea of the design is to contain the stack in a form that presents the next individual portion to the user. When the user pulls an individual portion of the dispenser, this will cause the next successive individual portion to start being pulled from the dispenser, because the two are connected by the fragile strip. However, the brittle strip is designed to break before the next individual portion has been completely pulled out, leaving enough exposed portion ready for the next user. Where individual portions are folded and fed from a pile, their particular way of bending can help in this process. Figure 19 shows an alternative form of convenience roll, here a stack 1 90 of disposable bibs or bibs. Each individual portion 191 of the frame is a disposable bib and as before, these are connected together by a series of fragile strips. The individual portions 191 here have a central access hole 192 so that the breastplate can be placed on the head of a baby, as illustrated. It will be appreciated that the techniques and forms described herein could be used to produce rolls of convenience for many different purposes, not necessarily for cleaning or hygiene. For example, the convenience roll can be ordinary paper and be in the form of a block of notes. In that case, it might be possible to add a layer of adhesive to the fragile strips that separate each individual portion that can be used to fix the individual portion after it has been detached from the stack, in the manner of a "post" note. it "conventional.

Claims

REVIVAL DICATIONS 1. A convenience roll as defined herein in the form of an elongated web of material comprising a multiplicity of individual portions connected integrally together in series, wherein each individual portion is formed to have an area that is smaller that the product of its overall width across the weft multiplied by its length along the weft, and where the individual surrounding portions are connected together by means of a fragile area of material whose width through that of the weft is small in relation to the global width of the plot so that it acts as a controlled breaking point for when an individual portion is going to be separated from its neighbor when it is stocked. 2. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brittle zone has a width across the web of less than half the overall width of the web. 3. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said brittle zone is in the form of a single strip of material in the middle section of the weft. 4. A convenience roll as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the web is folded into the form of a stack of individual portions for assortment. 5. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 4, wherein the web is folded into the brittle areas between neighboring individual portions. 6. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each individual portion is bent. 7. A convenience roll as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the individual portions have a generally circular shape. 8. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 7, wherein the individual portions are folded about their diameter to produce a stack with a generally semi-circular section. 9. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 8, wherein the individual portions are folded by a plurality of fold lines extending radially to produce a stack with a quadrant-shaped section. 1 0. A convenience roll as claimed in claim 8, wherein the individual portions are folded by a plurality of fold lines extending radially in a fan-like pattern. eleven . A convenience roll substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 12. A dispenser containing a convenience roll as claimed in any preceding claim. 13. A dispenser containing a convenience roll as claimed in claim 8, claim 9 or claim 1 and having two or more compartments each separated to contain a stack. 14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein one compartment contains a dry cell and the other contains a wet or wet cell. 1 5. A convenience roll comprising an elongated web of material defining a plurality of individual portions connected integrally together in series, wherein each individual portion has a width across the web and a length along the length of the web. the weft and is formed to have an area that is less than said width multiplied by said length, and wherein said individual portions are connected by respective brittle zones having a width through the weft which is small relative to said width of the frame to act as controlled breaking points between the respective individual portions. 16. A dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. RES U M IN A utility roll in the form of an elongated band (10) of material comprising a multiplicity of individual portions (11) integrally connected together in series. Each individual portion (11) is formed so that it has an area that is less than the product of its total width across the web multiplied by its length along the web. Adjoining individual portions are connected together through a fragile area (1 2) of material, whose width across the band is small relative to the total width in order to act as a controlled breaking point for when a single portion is to be separated from its continuity in the assortment.