NZ578907A - A dispenser with flaps restrained from separating from each other adjacent ends - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser (12) for dispensing thin flat articles in succession includes a dispensing face (16) with two flaps. The two flaps have meeting edges which are abutting or substantially adjacent to each other, to define a slit or slot therebetween for dispensing the flat articles therethrough. Each flap is hingeable along a hingeable portion opposite to its meeting edge. At or adjacent each end of the slit or slot, the flaps are restrained from separating from each other. The dispensing face may be embodied in a dispensing panel portion which is cut to define the flaps and the slit or slot therebetween, or has perforated or frangible portions which are selectively frangible to define the flaps and the slit or slot therebetween.

Description

Patent No. 5 - Complete Specification No. Date: 5 August 2009 A dispenser We, Carter Holt Harvey Packaging Pty Limited, 56 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z -6 AUG 2009 RECEIVED Freehills 1\2585982 Page 1 305150862 1A A Dispenser Field of the invention The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing thin flat articles in succession. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a tissue box. 5 The invention also relates to a blank for a dispenser.

Background of the invention The majority of tissue boxes sold in Australia today are disposable cardboard boxes which have a dispensing arrangement on one panel, usually the upper panel. The dispensing arrangement involves a removable oval portion of the upper panel 10 which is defined by perforations which may be broken so that the user may remove the oval portion when attempting to gain access to the tissues. The oval portion is then discarded. Once the oval portion is removed, this reveals the window film which generally comprises two overlapping portions of clear plastic material. This window film helps keep the tissues in place and enables the tissues to be withdrawn in succession 15 between the two overlapping window film portions.

The use of window film creates a costly additional manufacturing step since the window film must be applied to each tissue box once the tissue boxes have been printed and cut into blanks.

In this modern age of recycling, the use of the window film also creates a 20 problem because the window film material should be separated from the cardboard box for recycling.

Another disadvantage of the conventional tissue box arrangement is that the brand and logo generally appears on the removable oval portion. This may be seen as undesirable to manufacturers who wish to continually promote their brand while the 25 tissue box is in use.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 11 March 2010 42J3766 2 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which overcomes at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages. An alternative object of the invention is to provide the public with a useful choice over known products.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, 5 an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

Summary of the invention Described herein, but not claimed, is a dispenser for dispensing thin flat articles 10 in succession, the dispenser including a dispensing face with two flaps having meeting edges which are abutting or substantially adjacent to each other, to define a slit or slot therebetween for dispensing the flat articles therethrough, each flap having some rigidity to be hingeable along a hinged portion opposite to its meeting edge, wherein, at or adjacent each end of the slit or slot, the flaps are restrained from separating from each 15 other.

Preferably, the dispenser is suitable for dispensing folded paper or similar sheetlike articles such as tissues, toilet paper, paper towels and other sanitary or toiletry wipes. The dispenser may be of a kind which is able to be reloaded. Alternatively, the dispenser may be disposable so that it is used until all of the thin, flat articles are 20 exhausted. The dispenser may then be discarded.

In a most preferred form of the invention, the dispenser is in the form of a container such as a cardboard container. Alternatively, plastic containers may also fail within the scope of the first aspect of the invention since there may have particular application for moistened wipes. Preferably, the container is hexahedral i.e. a 25 rectangular box. A cuboid shape is also possible as well as many other 3-dimensional shapes.

The dispenser could also be in the form of a flexible package such as a bag. For example, the dispenser could be in the form of a paper bag wherein the dispensing face is made of card or similarly rigid material. Similarly, the package could also be in the RECEIVED at IPONZ on 11 March 2010 427#766 3 form of a plastic bag provided with a suitably more rigid dispensing face. A plastic bag may have particular application for moistened wipes.

As such, it will be understood that when the dispenser is constructed as a disposable dispenser e.g. a cardboard box, the flaps and other features of the 5 dispensing face may be defined only by perforations or other frangible lines, ready to be broken when the customer wishes to open the dispenser.

Accordingly, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispenser or a blank therefor, for dispensing thin flat articles in succession, the dispenser or the blank therefor including a dispensing panel portion which is cut to 10 define the following features, or has perforated or frangible portions which are selectively frangible to provide the following features: two flaps integrally formed as part of the dispensing panel portion; the two flaps having meeting edges which are abutting or substantially adjacent each other to define a slit or slot therebetween for dispensing the thin flat articles 15 therethrough; each flap having a hinged portion opposite to its meeting edge; and the flaps being restrained from separating from each other, at or adjacent each end of the slit or slot.

The following preferred features may have application to the first or the second 20 aspects of the invention. However, when considered in conjunction with the second aspect of the invention, the features described may only be functional once the perforations or frangible lines are selectively broken by the user.

The flaps exhibit some rigidity and some flexibility. For this purpose, the flaps are preferably constructed of light cardboard or paper board such as kraft paper.

The flaps may be restrained or constrained from separating from each other by being connected to each other. For example, the slit/slot may not extend the whole 2997307^ 4 length of the flaps, allowing the flaps to be connected by bridge portions. Preferably the bridge portions are arranged at both ends Each end of the slit/slot may terminate in a termination features to mitigate against tearing of the bridge. The termination feature may comprise a transverse cut 5 line. Preferably, each cut line is curved and arranged to be concave towards the slit/slot. Further, creases or score lines may be provided in the bridge portion to promote flexing of the bridge.

During use, the meeting edges of the flaps will be able to separate sufficiently to permit passage of the thin flat articles therethrough. The passage of the articles through 10 the slit/slot will tend to pull the meeting edges of the flaps upwardly so that the flaps are inclined to the plane of the dispensing face/panel. However, the restrained ends will tend to apply a force to the flaps, urging the flaps back into a flat configuration in the plane of the dispensing face/panel, whereby the meeting edges lie closer together. This action of providing a resistance to the flat articles as they are withdrawn facilitates 15 removal of the flat articles one by one. Furthermore, since the flaps are urged back into the flat configuration in the plane of the dispensing face/panel, they suitably operate to keep out dust and moisture. Preferably, the configuration of the flaps is such that no unnecessary voids or openings are formed in the dispensing face/plane due to their creation.

While the dispensing flaps are preferably restrained by being connected to each other, alternatively the flaps may be restrained by connection to the dispensing face/panel, beyond the extent of the flaps. 1" OCT 2009 | BECEIVFnj 305150862 3 The dispenser could also be in the form of a flexible package such as a bag. For example, the dispenser could be in the form of a paper bag wherein the dispensing face is made of card or similarly rigid material. Similarly, the package could also be in the form of a plastic bag provided with a suitably more rigid dispensing face. A plastic bag 5 may have particular application for moistened wipes.

As such, it will be understood that when the dispenser is constructed as a disposable dispenser e.g. a cardboard box, the flaps and other features of the dispensing face may be defined only by perforations or other frangible lines, ready to be broken when the customer wishes to open the dispenser.

Accordingly, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispenser or a blank therefor, for dispensing thin flat articles in succession, the dispenser including a dispensing panel portion which is cut to define the following features, or has perforated or frangible portions which are selectively frangible to provide the following features: two flaps integrally formed as part of the dispensing panel portion; the two flaps having meeting edges which are abutting or substantially adjacent each other to define a slit or slot therebetween for dispensing the thin flat articles therethrough; wherein, in use, each flap is hingeable along a hinged portion opposite to its meeting 20 edge and the flaps are restrained from separating from each other, at or adjacent each end of the slit.

The following preferred features may have application to the first or the second aspects of the invention. However, when considered in conjunction with the second aspect of the invention, the features described may only be functional once the 25 perforations or frangible lines are selectively broken by the user. 305150862 The flaps may be of any suitable shape on each side of a slit or slot that is of sufficient length to permit easy withdrawal of the flat articles. The flaps could be rectangular.

In a preferred form of the invention, the two flaps together define an oval, so that 5 each flap is half of the oval and the flaps are substantially mirror images of each other along a longitudinal axis of symmetry. Accordingly, the dispensing flaps and bridges may be contained within an oval plate within the dispensing face/panel. The oval plate suitably has an oval perimeter. Selected regions of the oval perimeter may be separated from the dispensing face/panel in use. (Separable end regions may be defined by 10 frangible lines which may be broken by the user). The middle regions of the oval perimeter may define the two hinged portions of the flaps.

The meeting edges of the two flaps may be straight edges. Alternatively, they may be shaped. In one preferred form of the invention, the slit is sinuous so that the meeting edges are complementary in shape.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be 20 incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

It will also be understood that the term "comprises" (or its grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term "includes" and should not be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which 25 the following gives examples. 305150862 6 Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for a cardboard tissue dispenser, according to a 5 first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser assembled from the blank illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a blank for a cardboard tissue dispenser according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Detailed description of the embodiments Figure 1 illustrates a cardboard blank 10 used to construct the tissue dispenser 12 illustrated in Figure 2. The cardboard blank 10 includes a top panel 14 (or dispensing panel 14) having an upper face 16 which defines the dispensing face 16 of the tissue dispenser 12. The cardboard blank 10 also includes side panels 18, 20 hingeably 15 connected to either side of the top panel 14. Hingeably connected to one side panel 18, is a bottom panel 22. To the bottom panel 22 is hingeably connected a joining flap 24. When the cardboard blank 10 is assembled into the 3-dimensional form illustrated in Figure 2, the joining flap 24 is glued to the free end of the side panel 20.

The formed tissue dispenser 12 may be hexahedral in shape e.g. a substantially 20 rectangular box. However, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a shaped container which departs from a normal rectangular box in that the upper panel 14 has a curved edge 50 along one side. The curved edge is primarily for aesthetic reasons.

At each end of the top panel 14, side panels 18, 20, and bottom panel 22, are provided pairs of end closure flaps namely: top closure flaps 26; side closure flaps 28 25 and bottom closure flaps 30. It can be seen from the assembled end of the tissue dispenser 12 illustrated in Figure 2, that the side closure flaps 28 fold in initially, at each end, followed by the bottom closure flaps 30 and then the top closure flaps 26. 305150862 7 The dispensing face 16 includes two flaps 32, 34 integrally formed from the top panel 14. The flaps 32, 34 are contained within an oval plate having perimeter A-A. The oval plate is formed as an integral part of the top panel 14. The two flaps 32, 34 are separated by a sinuous slit 36. This sinuous slit 36 is shown as a solid line which is 5 generally representative of a cut line. However, it will be appreciated that the sinuous slit 36 may in fact be defined by a frangible line e.g. a line of perforations which may be broken by the user on gaining access to the contents of the tissue dispenser 12.

The outer perimeter of the oval plate is defined in part by frangible lines which extend between points A-C and B-D. The frangible lines may be made up of a series of 10 cut lines separated by small frangible portions that may be broken so as to separate the oval plate entirely from the upper panel 14 between points A-C and B-D.

Between the points A-B and C-D, the oval perimeter is cut and creased. However, the cuts are not to the extent which would easily facilitate separation of the oval plate from the upper panel 14 between points A and B and C and D. Instead, these 15 cuts/crease arrangements permit the flaps 32, 34 to be hingedly connected to the upper panel 14 along respective hinged portions 38, 40.

The flaps 32, 34 are connected to each other at opposite ends of the sinuous slit 36 by means of bridges 42. Further, at each end of the sinuous slits 36, transverse cuts 44 are provided. These transverse cuts are curved, with their concave sides facing 20 towards the slit 36. These transverse cuts 44 prevent the sinuous slit 36 from extending by tearing into the bridge portion 44. The transverse cuts 44 also define the shape of the bridge portions 42.

In order to manufacture the tissue dispenser 12, the cardboard blank 10 is generally made from white paperboard, onto which is printed graphics, including brand 25 names, written material and other decorative patterns. The blanks 10 are then die cut. The joining flap 24 is adhered to the free end of the side panel 20 to form a flat sleeve. The sleeve leaves the cardboard box manufacturer in this form from where it is transported to the tissue manufacturer. At the tissue manufacturer, the sleeve is opened up and folded tissues are inserted into the tissue dispenser 12 from one end. Then the 305150862 8 closure/flaps 26, 28, 30 are sealed so that the tissue dispenser 12 takes the form illustrated in Figure 2.

The tissue dispenser 12 is then transported to market where it is purchased by consumers. On purchase, the tissue dispenser is closed. Therefore, the line of frangible 5 connections between points A-C and B-D on the oval plate will remain intact, as will the frangible portions within the sinuous slit 36.

When the user wishes to access the contents of the tissue dispenser 12, the user pushes down on the opposite ends of the oval plate which will break the frangible connections between points A-C and B-D. Furthermore, the user pushes down on the 10 two flaps 32, 34 to break the frangible connections along sinuous slit 36. The hinged portions 38 and 40 are not broken, enabling the flaps 32, 34 to remain in place within the oval perimeter and act as a dust and moisture shield, even though the tissue dispenser 12 is now open.

In order to access the tissues, the user initially reaches between the meeting 15 edges of the sinuous slit 36 to grab hold of a tissue (not shown) and pulls a single tissue out through the slit 36.

As the tissue is withdrawn through the slit 36, the tissue tends to separate the meeting edges and the meeting edges are pushed upwardly urging the flaps 32, 34 to respective inclined positions relative to the plane of the upper panel 14. However, this 20 tendency of the meeting edges of the flaps 32, 34 to separate is resisted by the fact that the end edges of the flaps 32, 34 are connected to each other by bridges 42. This tends to urge the meeting edges of the flaps 32, 34 together so that the flaps 32, 34 want to revert to their respective positions in the plane of upper panel 14. The flaps 32, 34 are likely to revert to this position once the force of the tissue being pulled out is removed. 25 However, it will be appreciated that the flaps 32, 34 may not revert fully to their position within the plane of upper panel 14 since a portion of the successive tissue normally emerges between the two flaps 32, 34. Whether or not the successive tissue will emerge upon removal of the first tissue, will depend upon how the tissues are interleaved within the dispenser 12. 305150862 9 Suitably, the cardboard blank 10 is formed from a unitary sheet of cardboard material.

Figure 3 illustrates a cardboard blank 10' which is similar in most respects to the cardboard blank 10 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, like numerals are 5 used to represent like parts. Where a part has been modified in the second embodiment, a prime symbol (') is used to indicate that the form of this part has been modified.

In the second embodiment, the slit between the two flaps 32', 34' is no longer sinuous but straight as shown. Furthermore, the bridges 42' also include crease lines 10 52.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

427^766 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 11 March 2010 10 The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A dispenser or a blank therefor, for dispensing thin flat articles in succession, the dispenser or the blank therefor including a dispensing panel portion which is cut to define the following features, or has perforated or frangible portions which are 5 selectively frangible to provide the following features: two flaps integrally formed as part of the dispensing panel portion; the two flaps having meeting edges which are abutting or substantially adjacent each other to define a slit or slot therebetween for dispensing the thin flat articles therethrough; 10 each flap having a hinged portion opposite to its meeting edge; and the flaps being restrained from separating from each other, at or adjacent each end of the slit or slot.

2. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flaps are restrained from separating from each other by being connected to each other by bridge 15 portions.

3. The dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the slit or slot does not extend the full length of the flaps, and the flaps are interconnected by bridge portions.

4. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in claim 3 wherein each end of the 20 slit or slot terminates in a transverse cut line to mitigate against tearing of the bridge portion.

5. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in claim 4 wherein each transverse cut line is curved and arranged to be concave towards the slit or slot.

6. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein 25 the two flaps together define an oval having an oval perimeter, each flap forming half of 42^9766 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 11 March 2010 11 the oval with the flaps being substantially mirror images of each other along a longitudinal axis of the oval.

7. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in claim 6 wherein separable end regions of the oval perimeter are defined by frangible lines to enable separation from 5 the dispensing panel portion.

8. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein middle regions of the oval perimeter define the hinged portions.

9. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the meeting edges of the two flaps are straight edges. 10

10. The dispenser or a blank therefor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the meeting edges of the two flaps are shaped and complementary in shape.