US3628692A

US3628692A - Package for storing and individually dispensing thin sheetlike articles, especially probe covers

Info

Publication number: US3628692A
Application number: US36969A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Blatz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-05-13
Filing date: 1970-05-13
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21

Abstract

A probe-cover package, wherein a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers are held releasably on a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll. A carton has a receptacle portion receiving and substantially filled by the roll. The carton''s front wall has a serrated upper cutting edge, and it has a protective inner cover and an outer cover, both connected integrally to the carton. The inner cover closes the receptacle portion and protects the roll of probe covers. Secured at the side edges only of the inner surface of the outer cover is a stiff frame member which extends beyond the outer cover at one end. The frame member has a cutout opening a little larger than a probe cover and has a serrated cutting edge adjacent a fold line connecting the outer cover to a forward flap. A leading strip of the cylindrical roll passes between the frame member and the outer cover. A single probe cover can thereby be exposed through the cutout opening to enable a probe to pick up that cover while the other covers remain protected.

Description

United States Patent Robert A. Hist:

5843 Four Oaks Ln., Clayton, Calif. 94517 [21] Appl. No. 36-,969

[22] Filed May 13, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 21, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] PACKAGE FOR STORING AND INDIVIDUALLY DISPENSING THIN SHEETLIKE ARTICLES, ESPECIALLY PROBE COVERS 24 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Stanley I-l. Tollberg Attorney-Owen, Wickersham & Erickson ABSTRACT: A probe-cover package, wherein a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers are held releasably on a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll. A carton has a receptacle portion receiving and substantially filled by the roll. The carton s front wall has a serrated upper cutting edge, and it has a protective inner cover and an outer cover, both connected integrally to the carton. The inner cover closes the receptacle portion and protects the roll of probe covers. Secured at the side edges only of the inner surface of the outer co\er is a stiff frame member which extends beyond the outer cover at one end. The frame member has a cutout opening a little larger than a probe cover and has a serrated cutting edge adjacent a fold line connecting the outer cover to a forward flap. A leading strip of the cylindrical roll passes between the frame member and the outer cover. A single probe cover can thereby be exposed through the cutout opening to enable a probe to pick up that cover while the other covers remain protected.

PATENIEB M21 1911 3.628.692

sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. BLATZ a ATTORNEYS PATENTEU EH22! BTI SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. BLATZ BY 0%, MMLAL ATTORNEYS PATENIEnnmmn $628,692

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. BLATZ FIG 5 MMMALM ATTORNEYS PACKAGE FOR STORING AND INDIVIDUALLY DISPENSING TIIIN SIIEETLIKE ARTICLES, ESPECIALLY PROBE COVERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a package for storing and individually dispensing thin sheetlike articles, such as probe covers, that are releasably held on a tightly rolled sheet of paper or other suitable material. It also relates to a package for storing and dispensing sheet material such as paper, foil, or plastic from a roll. This invention relates both to the carton and to the completed package, where the rolled sheet material and any articles held thereon cooperate with the package in an unusual manner.

One problem to which theinvention is directed is how to maintain sufficient product sterility,-a quality that is often lost with conventional packages-while at the same time enabling individual dispensing of various hospital and laboratory products without any need for contacting them with the human hand or for contaminating them.

For example, clinical thermometers are often considered to be a serious disseminator of disease, when thermometers are moved from one mouth to another with nothing more than simple wiping or a careless attempt to rub them off with alcohol or antiseptic liquid. When such a thermometer reaches the next mouth, it may still carry organisms picked up from the previous mouth. The same is true of anal thennometers. Both mercury-column and electronic thermometers present the same general problem, so far as sterility and cross contamination are concerned, but, especially with electronic thermometers it becomes possible to cover the portion that goes into the patients mouth or anus with a fresh sterilized probe for each patient, to minimize the risk of cross infection. The probe covers can be sterilized well in advance by the manufacturer, and usually do not require resterilization since they are kept thereafter in a sealed package. Even after the package has been opened, a sufficient degree of cleanliness can be maintained before use to assure that their sterility remains. However, when such probe covers have had to be dispensed by hand they have been contaminated by contact with the hand or glove of the dispenser.

In the present invention, the unused probe covers are protected from contamination, concealed and baffled from that atmosphere until they are to be dispensed. Then, when about to be dispensed, an individual probe cover is brought into a novel dispensing window which can be kept closed in the package until dispensing time and then opened; then the thermal probe is inserted directly into the probe cover and used to remove the cover from its backing paper without contaminating the probe cover with the hand or even touching its outer surface.

Similar advantages can be obtained for other products that are dispensed one at a time from a backing roll, such as polyethylene bags.

Another problem to which the invention is directed, is the clean dispensing of sheets such as wax paper, aluminum foil, freeze wrap paper, Saran Wrap, polyethylene and so on, which have been rolled into a cylindrical roll and are torn off in various lengths as dispensed. Here again, it has been difiicult to protect the rolled material and keep it clean without also making it unreasonably difficult to get hold of. Even packages, those that are not specially designed to keep the material clean, have causes the consumer to open the package and fumble inside it to find the leading edge.

The present invention solves this problem by employing an inner cover which covers most of the roll but exposes the first few inches of the sheet material to easy access, once the outer cover of the package is opened. Each time a length of the product is dispensed and torn off by tearing it against a serrated dispensing edge, another few inches of the product is left exposed between the two covers, ready for access the next time the product is to be used. In addition, likelihood of contamination from exposure of the product during storage is reduced. Still further, the invention supports the leading por tion of the roll in a way that makes it easier to tear off the desired portion at the desired place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A carton is provided with walls that define a receptacle portion for holding a cylindrical roll of sheet material, and the carton has both a protective inner cover and an outer cover that overlies the inner cover. The inner cover preferably has two flaps meeting at a right angle, which are tucked inside between the cylindrical roll of material and the front and one sidewall of the receptacle; these flaps extend the full depth of the carton and rest on the bottom wall; so they hold the inner cover in place no matter how much of the cylindrical roll material has been used up. Thus, support does not rely on the cylindrical roll. The material is brought out in between the inner cover and the outer cover, and a serrated front edge may be provided for tearing off the sheet material.

When materials such as probe covers or other suitable flat plastic articles are to be dispensed and are supported on a continuous roll of paper so as to be readily separable therefrom, the device is provided with a stiff frame member that is secured to the side edges of the inner surface of the outer cover. This frame member has a cutout opening which is a little larger than the article to be dispensed. When an article is to be dispensed, it is brought into this frame and taken out from there. A probe cover can be engaged and then lifted by the probe, for example, without otherwise touching it. The stiff frame member may be provided with a serrated cutting edge to tear off the supporting paper directly after it has passed beyond the frame opening, and it may also have a portion that projects from one end of the carton to provide a holding tab suitable for engagement by a clipboard.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of some preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a package embodying the principles of the invention, shown in its fully closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the package of FIG. 1 after it has been opened for dispensing a probe cover, showing a probe cover in dispensing position in a framed cutout opening. A portion of the inner cover has been broken away to show the roll of material therebelow. The inner cover is also shown again in dot-dash lines, swung up to its fully open position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be made.

FIG. 4 is a similar view of an assembled but collapsed blank.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the tuck flap of the outer cover untucked and with sheet material being torn off by a serrated upper edge of the receptacle portion. A portion of the tuck flap is broken away to expose this action.

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of a clipboard on which a package of FIG. I has been mounted and with a strip of paper being torn therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The package of the invention comprises a carton 10 having a receptacle portion 11 provided by a front wall 12, a rear wall 13 (FIG. 2), a pair of sidewalls l4 and 15 (FIG. 3), and a bottom wall 16. The upper end of the receptacle 1! is open, and, preferably, an upper edge 17 of the front wall 12 is serrated to provide a cutting edge.

In accordance with this invention, an inner cover 20 is provided (see FIGS. 2-4), preferably being integrally connected to the sidewall 15 by a fold line 21. The inner cover provides a top wall portion 22 connected by a fold line 23 to front flap 24 and connected by a fold line 25 to an end flap 26. Both the front flap 24 and the end flap 26 are wide enough so that their respective

outboard edges

27 and 28, respectively, engage the bottom wall 16 of the receptacle 11 when they are inserted into their closing position. The inner cover 211 thus covers over and keeps clean a roll 30 of sheet material 31 such as paper, metal foil or plastic. The material 31 may be the material to be dispensed, or it may be a carrier for a series of articles such as a plastic probe cover 32, the plastic probe covers 32 being identically oriented and spaced apart. from each other. The probe covers 32 are well protected when they are in the cylindricnl roll 30 and that is covered over by the inner cover 20, and contamination is thus very unlikely. A leading edge 33 of the material 31 is brought out from the receptacle 11, between the rear edge 29 of the top cover 22 and the rear wall 13 of the receptacle 11.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the canon may be made from a single blank 40, with each of the

walls

14, and 16 having

respective flaps

34, 35, and 36 connected by

fold lines

37, 3, and 39. The

walls

12 and 16 are joined by fold line 41; the walls 12 and M are joined by a fold line .2, the walls 12 and 15 by a fold line 43, and the wall 13 is joined to the wall 1 1, by a fold line 44. A tab 45 extends from the other end of the rear wall 13, is joined to it by a fold line 46, and is glued to the side wall 15, to close the receptacle 11 there, when converting the open blank 40 to the collapsed carton 10 of P16. 4. When setting up the carton 10 from the collapsed shape, the

walls

12 and 13 are swung to be parallel and then the flaps 3d, .35, and 36 are folded in to provide the bottom of the receptacle 11.

The carton 111 also has an outer cover 50, an integral part of the blank 40, which is joined to the upper edge of the rear wall 13 by fold line 51. The wall 22 of the inner cover is overlain by a top wall 52 of the outer cover 50 and a forward flap 53 is connected thereto at a fold line 541. This flap 54 need not go as deep as the flat 2.4 but is tucked into the space between the front wall 12 and the flap 24., and is easily released therefrom so that the sheet material 31 can be brought across the top wall 22 of the inner cover 26 and the flap 53 of the outer cover 50 reinserted, to help in tearing a smooth line while holding the sheet material 31, as shown in H6. 3. The flap 53 of the outer cover 50 need not necessarily be tucked in at this time and whether it is or not, to get at the next piece of paper or foil desire, the user simply raises the outer cover 50, the top wall 22 of the inner cover 20 supporting the fresh material 33.

When sterile articles, such as probe covers 32, are to be used, the outer cover 50 has an extension 55 at one end, and the invention provides an additional novel feature comprising a frame member 60, preferably integral with the carton l0 and connected to the cover wall 52 by a fold line 56, its outerboard edge 57 being secured by a suitable adhesive to the inner surface of the extension 55, so that the frame 60 is connected to the cover wall 52 only at the side edges 56 and 58 thereof.

The frame member 60 is provided with a single cutout opening 61 exposing one only of the probe covers 32. The opening 61 is shaped slightly larger than the probe cover 32 but not much larger, so that only one probe cover 32 is exposed, together with a little of its supporting paper 31. The shape of the opening 61 is substantially that of the probe cover 32, which, as shown, is usually not a simple rectangle but has one end 62 wider than the other end 59. A prove cover 32, once exposed, can be dispensed therefrom very easily by inserting in it a probe 63, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, having a forward end 64. In the probe cover 32 shown, there are two sheets of

plastic

65 and 66 overlying each other and secured together at their edges 67, but the upper edge 68 of the upper sheet 65 is left open and is spaced in from the upper edge 69 of the lower sheet 66. Thus, the probe is rested on this exposed position 70 of the lower sheet 66 and pushed into the space between the two

sheets

65 and 66 of the probe cover 32 and then down into it and finally against its end 71. Then, the probe cover 32 is easily lifted off the paper sheet 31 and taken out. The paper sheet 31 may then be torn off by the serrated edge 17 or may also be torn off by tearing it against a serrated edge 72 of the frame 50. This serrated edge 72 lies closely adjacent the fold line .54.

The portion of the frame 61) which overlies the portion 55 may be used in conjunction with a clipboard 75 such as many interns use and nurses also. Sticking out, it is readily held by a clip 76 of the clipboard 75, and it is relatively simple to flip the entire container portion of the package over the dispensing window 61 and, while holding the carton 10 firmly against the window panel 61, to tear off the excess paper waste along the serrated edge 72.

When dispensing probe covers 32, the proper use of the package of this invention exposes only one probe cover 32 at a time and enables it to be taken off without anyone touching it, by the use of the probe 63 it itself, thereby insuring the sterility of the probe cover 32 for use in taking human temperatures. Each time a probe cover 32 is removed, the paper backing 31 is advanced upwards under the special diet cut window 61 until the next probe cover 32 appears within the window 61. The excess paper 31 need not be removed each time, but when one is finished with recording temperatures, the excess paper 31 may be removed either by pressing down the top cover 50 and tearing the excess paper 31 against the serrated front dispensing edge 17, or it may be removed by tearing it against the serrated edge 72 of the frame 60.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

lclaim:

1. A probe cover package comprising a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers held releasable on a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll,

a carton having a receptacle portion receiving and substantially filled by said roll, said portion having a front wall with a serrated upper cutting edge,

a protective inner cover and an outer cover, both connected integrally to the carton, said inner cover closing the receptacle portion and protecting said roll of probe covers,

said outer cover having a top wall for overlying said inner cover, and

a stiff frame member'secured to the inner surface of said top wall only at the side edges thereof, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a probe cover,

a leading strip of said cylindrical roll passing between said frame member and said outer cover,

whereby a single probe cover can be exposed through the cutout opening to enable a probe to pick up that cover while the other covers remain protected.

2. The probe cover package of claim 1 wherein said frame member has a serrated cutting edge.

3. The probe cover package of claim 2 wherein said outer cover has a flap connected to said top wall by fold line, said cutting edge of said frame member lying adjacent said fold line.

4. The probe cover package of claim 1 wherein said frame extends substantially beyond said outer cover at one end, to provide a holding portion suitable for engagement by a clipboard.

5. The probe cover package of claim 1 wherein said frame is integral with said outer cover, being connected thereto at one end by a fold line and adhesively secured to the other end thereof.

6. A probe cover dispensing package, including in combination a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll,

a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers held releasably on said sheet,

a carton with walls defining a receptacle portion holding said cylindrical roll,

a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said wall for closing the upper end of said receptacle portion,

an outer cover integrally connected to the upper edge of another said wall for overlying said inner cover, and

a stiff frame member secured to an inner surface of said outer cover only at the side edges thereof, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a said probe cover,

whereby a single probe cover can be exposed at said cutout opening for dispensing it while the other probe covers are protected.

7. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 6 wherein said carton has front, back, side and bottom walls and said inner cover is connected by a fold line to one said sidewall at a top edge thereof, said outer cover being connected by a fold line to said backwall at a top edge thereof.

8. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 7 wherein said inner cover comprises a top wall, .a forward flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside said front wall, and an end flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside the sidewall facing the one to which the inner cover is attached, both said flaps extending the full depth of said carton into contact with said bottom wall, to support said top wall level with the upper edges of the forward, back, and sidewalls.

9. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 7 wherein said frame member is an integral portion of said outer cover and is connected thereto by afold line at one side edge and adhesively secured thereto at the other side edge.

10. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 9 wherein said top cover and frame extend beyond said receptacle portion and are adhered together at those extended portion.

11. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 6 wherein the upper edge of a forward wall of said carton is serrated to provide a cutting edge.

12. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 6 wherein the edge of said frame where the free end of said paper sheet leaves the frame is serrated to provide a cutting edge.

13. A probe cover dispensing package for aiding sterile use of temperature probes for taking human temperatures, each cover being discarded after one use, including in combination a cylindrical roll of paper backing, comprising a sheet rolled about itself a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probed covers held releasably on said paper backing,

a carton having a receptacle portion defined by bottom, side, front, and rear walls, receiving said cylindrical roll when new, said roll then substantially filling said receptacle, said front wall having a serrated cutting upper edge,

a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said sidewall and providing a cover wall closing the upper end of said receptacle, a forward flap folded from said cover wall, as an integral part thereof, tucked inside said front wall and extending the full depth thereof into contact with said bottom wall,.and an end flap folded from said cover wall as an integral part thereof for extending the full height of the other said sidewall and tucked in between said other sidewall and said roll and into contact with said bottom wall,

an outer cover integrally connected by a fold line to the upper edge of said rear wall and having a top wall for overlying said cover wall and an integral forward flap tuckable between the forward flap of said inner cover and said forward wall, and

a stiff frame member substantially coextensive with said top wall and integral therewith at one side edge and secured to its inner surface at the opposite side edge, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than the basic shape of a said probe cover and having a serrated cutting edge adjacent the fold line connecting said top wall to said forward flap,

whereby a single probe cover can be exposed at said cutout opening to enable dispensing one said cover while the other covers are protected.

M. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 13 wherein said frame member and said outer cover extends beyond said receptacle at one side and are secured together there to provide a portion capable of being grasped by a clipboard.

ll5. A dispensing carton for use with a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic members held releasably on a paper sheet that is rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll,

said carton having walls that define a receptacle portion for holding said cylindrical roll,

a stiff frame member secured to the inner surface of said outer cover at the side edges thereof only, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a said plastic member,

whereby a leading strip of a said cylindrical roll can be passed between said frame member and said outer cover and a single plastic member can be exposed at said cutout opening in a dispensing position while the other plastic members are protected.

16. The dispensing carton of claim 15 wherein said frame member is integral with said outer cover, being connected thereto at one side edge by a fold line, and is adhesively secured thereto adjacent the other side edge thereof.

17. The dispensing carton of claim 16 wherein said outer cover and frame at their adhesively secured edge lie beyond said receptacle portion to provide a support flap there.

l8. The dispensing carton of claim 15 wherein said frame member has a serrated cutting edge.

19. The dispensing carton of claim '18 wherein said outer cover has a flap connected to said top wall by a fold line, said cutting edge of said frame member lying adjacent said fold line.

20. The dispensing carton of claim 15 wherein the upper edge of a forward wall of said carton is serrated to provide a cutting edge.

21. The dispensing carton of claim 15 wherein said carton has front, back, side and bottom walls and said inner cover is connected by a fold line to one said sidewall at a top edge thereof, said outer cover being connected by a fold line to said backwall at a top edge thereof.

22. The dispensing carton of claim 21 wherein said inner cover comprises a top wall, a forward flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside said front wall, and an end flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside the sidewall facing the one to which the inner cover is attached, both said flaps extending the full depth of said carton into contact with said bottom wall, to support said top wall level with the upper edges of the forward wall, backwall, and sidewalls.

23. A carton for dispensing a cylindrically rolled sheet, including in combination front, rear, side, and bottom walls defining a receptacle portion for holding said cylindrically rolled sheet,

a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said sidewall and providing a top wall closing the upper end of said receptacle, a forward flap folded from said top wall, as an integral part thereof, tucked inside said front wall and extending the full depth thereof into contact with said bottom wall, and an end flap folded from said top wall as an integral part thereof for extending the full height of the other said sidewall and tucked in between said other sidewall and said roll and into contact with said bottom wall, and

ward wall of said carton is serrated to provide a cutting edge.

P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 56 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,628,692 Dated Dec. 21, 1971 Invent0r(s) Robert A. Blatz It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

rn .n Col. 1, l1.ne 11, T1118 should read The lane 45, "that' should read the line 65 "causes", should read caused C01. 2, line 72, "to front" should read to a front Col. 3, line 16 "37, 3," should read 37, 38, line 17, "by fold" should read by a fold line 33, "flat"- shouldread flap line 42, "desire" should read desired line 60 "prove" should read probe Col. 4, line 33, "releasable" should read releasably line 58 "by fold" should'read by a fold Col. 5, line 35, "portion." should read portions line 48 "probed" should read probe Col. 7, line 2, "cove" should read cover sigma and sealed this 13th day of June 1972.

\ (SEAL) Attest:

EDv-MRD MELETGHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A probe cover package comprising a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers held releasable on a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll, a carton having a receptacle portion receiving and substantially filled by said roll, said portion having a front wall with a serrated upper cutting edge, a protective inner cover and an outer cover, both connected integrally to the carton, said inner cover closing the receptacle portion and protecting said roll of probe covers, said outer cover having a top wall for overlying said inner cover, and a stiff frame member secured to the inner surface of said top wall only at the side edges thereof, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a probe cover, a leading strip of said cylindrical roll passing between said frame member and said outer cover, whereby a single probe cover can be exposed through the cutout opening to enable a probe to pick up that cover while the other covers remain protected.

6. A probe cover dispensing package, including in combination a paper sheet rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll, a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probe covers held releasably on said sheet, a carton with walls defining a receptacle portion holding said cylindrical roll, a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said wall for closing the upper end of said receptacle portion, an outer cover integrally connected to the upper edge of another said wall for overlying said inner cover, and a stiff frame member secured to an inner surface of said outer cover only at the side edges thereof, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a said probe cover, a leading strip of said cylindrical roll passing between said frame member and said outer cover, whereby a single probe cover can be exposed at said cutout opening for dispensing it while the other probe covers are protected.

8. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 7 wherein said inner cover comprises a top wall, a forward flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside said front wall, and an end flap connected to said top wall by a fold line and tucked inside the sidewall facing the one to which the inner cover is attached, both said flaps extending the full depth of said carton into contact with said bottom wall, to support said top wall level with the upper edges of the forward, back, and sidewalls.

9. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 7 wherein said frame member is an integral portion of said outer cover and is connected thereto by a fold line at one side edge and adhesively secured thereto at the other side edge.

13. A probe cover dispensing package for aiding sterile use of temperature probes for taking human temperatures, each cover being discarded after one use, including in combination a cylindrical roll of Paper backing, comprising a sheet rolled about itself a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic probed covers held releasably on said paper backing, a carton having a receptacle portion defined by bottom, side, front, and rear walls, receiving said cylindrical roll when new, said roll then substantially filling said receptacle, said front wall having a serrated cutting upper edge, a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said sidewall and providing a cover wall closing the upper end of said receptacle, a forward flap folded from said cover wall, as an integral part thereof, tucked inside said front wall and extending the full depth thereof into contact with said bottom wall, and an end flap folded from said cover wall as an integral part thereof for extending the full height of the other said sidewall and tucked in between said other sidewall and said roll and into contact with said bottom wall, an outer cover integrally connected by a fold line to the upper edge of said rear wall and having a top wall for overlying said cover wall and an integral forward flap tuckable between the forward flap of said inner cover and said forward wall, and a stiff frame member substantially coextensive with said top wall and integral therewith at one side edge and secured to its inner surface at the opposite side edge, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than the basic shape of a said probe cover and having a serrated cutting edge adjacent the fold line connecting said top wall to said forward flap, a leading strip of said cylindrical roll passing between said frame member and said outer cover, whereby a single probe cover can be exposed at said cutout opening to enable dispensing one said cover while the other covers are protected.

14. The probe cover dispensing package of claim 13 wherein said frame member and said outer cover extends beyond said receptacle at one side and are secured together there to provide a portion capable of being grasped by a clipboard.

15. A dispensing carton for use with a series of identically oriented spaced-apart flattened plastic members held releasably on a paper sheet that is rolled about itself into a cylindrical roll, said carton having walls that define a receptacle portion for holding said cylindrical roll, a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said wall for closing the upper end of said receptacle portion, an outer cover integrally connected to the upper edge of another said wall for overlying said inner cover, and a stiff frame member secured to the inner surface of said outer cover at the side edges thereof only, said frame member having a cutout opening a little larger than a said plastic member, whereby a leading strip of a said cylindrical roll can be passed between said frame member and said outer cover and a single plastic member can be exposed at said cutout opening in a dispensing position while the other plastic members are protected.

18. The dispensing carton of claim 15 wherein said frame member has a serrated cutting edge.

19. The dispensing carton of claim 18 wherein said outer cover has a flap connected to said top wall by a fold line, said cutting edge of said frame member lying adjacent said fold line.

23. A carton for dispensing a cylindrically rolled sheet, including in combination front, rear, side, and bottom walls defining a receptacle portion for holding said cylindrically rolled sheet, a protective inner cover connected integrally to the upper edge of one said sidewall and providing a top wall closing the upper end of said receptacle, a forward flap folded from said top wall, as an integral part thereof, tucked inside said front wall and extending the full depth thereof into contact with said bottom wall, and an end flap folded from said top wall as an integral part thereof for extending the full height of the other said sidewall and tucked in between said other sidewall and said roll and into contact with said bottom wall, and an outer cover integrally connnected by a fold line to the upper edge of said rear wall and having a top cove overlying that of said inner cover and an integral forward flap tuckable between the forward flap of said inner cover and said forward wall.

24. The carton of claim 23 wherein the upper edge of a forward wall of said carton is serrated to provide a cutting edge.