WO2004056661A2

WO2004056661A2 - Dispenser for pads or individual sheets of paper

Info

Publication number: WO2004056661A2
Application number: PCT/IB2003/006121
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Harrison; Mark Andrew Rowden
Original assignee: Sustainable Trading Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-12-23
Filing date: 2003-12-22
Publication date: 2004-07-08
Also published as: AU2003296834A8; WO2004056661A3; WO2004056661B1; GB2399338A; GB0229738D0; AU2003296834A1

Abstract

A dispenser (10) for receiving a pad of paper (200, 625) or individual sheets of paper. The dispenser (10) includes: (a) a container for at least partially enclosing the pad (200, 625) to provide mechanical protection thereto, the container arranged to engage the pad (200, 625) so as to form it into a curved profile to expose individual edges of the paper or individual sheets of paper; and (b) at least one access aperture (50) from a region external to the container to the pad within the container to enable a user to obtain access to individual sheets within the container. The dispenser (10) and its pad of paper (200, 625) are preferably disposed to dispense sheets of paper suitable for user to roll their own cigarettes.

Description

DISPENSER FOR PADS OR INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with dispensers for pads of paper or individual sheets of paper. Moreover, the present invention is especially, though not exclusively, directed to dispensers suitable for pads of paper packaged and contained for use in making self-rolled cigarettes. Furthermore, the invention is also especially, though not exclusively, directed to pads of repositionable notelets, such as those, for example, sold by Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, of St Paul, Minnesota, USA, under the trade mark "Post-It". Such notelet papers are normally cut from paper sheets having a weight in a range of 40 to 175 g/m². The present invention is also especially, though not exclusively, directed to any form of bound booklet or unbound, loose sheets of cigarette rolling papers. Such rolling papers are normally cut from paper sheets having a weight in the range of 5 to 40 g/m².

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The inventors have appreciated that sheets of paper in notelet pads can be difficult for users to handle, for example when separating individual sheets to use for writing notes for attachment to various surfaces. Moreover, such pads can be susceptible to damage when transported in clothing, for example in pockets, and when moved generally around home and/or office environments.

Whereas a conventional approach to make pads of paper more robust is to employ thicker sheets of paper, the inventors have appreciated that this limits the number of sheets which can be practically included in such pads.

In order to address such problems, the inventors have devised a dispenser for pads of paper or individual sheets of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser fabricated from one or more of metal, metal alloy and plastics material, metallically coated plastics materials and related materials suitable for at least partially addressing one or more of the aforementioned problems of the invention. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser for a pad of paper or individual sheets of paper, the dispenser including :

(a) a container for at least partially enclosing the pad to provide mechanical protection thereto, the container arranged to engage the pad so as to form it into a curved profile to expose in use individual edges of the paper or individual sheets of paper; and

(b) at least one access aperture from a region external to the container to the pad within the container to enable a user to obtain access to individual sheets within the container.

The invention is of advantage in that it synergistically provides protection for the pad of paper whilst simultaneously providing enhanced user access to the sheets of paper of the pad.

Preferably, the dispenser further includes a removable lid for further enclosing the pad within the container. Advantageously, the lid is pivotally attached to the container. Alternatively, the lid is beneficially snap-fittable to the container.

Preferably, the container includes at least one elongate indent for mechanically strengthening the container.

Preferably, the container includes a planar region and an associated curved region adjacent thereto in the form of an "Aerofoil"-type shape, the curved region being operable to cause the pad of paper to assume a curved form for enhancing user access to individual sheets. More preferably, the at least one access aperture is formed into the curved region.

Preferably, the container further comprises one or more edge ridges for co-operating with the pad of paper for mechanically retaining it within the container.

Conveniently, the container is fabricated from one or more of a plastics material, paper, a metal, a metal alloy and wood. More preferably, an outer surface of the container is provided with textured finish, for example to provide better finger grip when handled, or to hinder the container from slipping unintentionally from users' pockets. Preferably, the dispenser is disposed in a manner appropriate for dispensing sheets of paper suitable for rolling cigarettes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pad of sheets of paper suitable for use with a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention. More preferably, sheets of the pad are provided with a refixable adhesive along at least one edge thereof. By "refixable" is meant re-attachable at least a plurality of times, and more preferably at least 5 times whilst retaining at least 30% of initial adhesive strength.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing the pad of paper according to the second aspect of the invention into a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention.

It will be appreciated that features of the invention are capable of being combined in any combination without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams in which:

Figure 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of the invention comprising a unitary curved dispenser;

Figure 2 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the invention comprising the curved dispenser of Figure 1 further provided with a closure lid;

Figure 3 is a representation of a paper wrapper for at least partially covering a pad of sheets of paper;

Figure 4 is an illustration of a process of loading the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2 with a pad of paper sheets and then dispensing individual sheets from the dispenser; and Figure 5 is an alternative illustration of the process of loading a dispenser according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of a dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser is illustrated in plan view as indicated by 10, in side view as indicated by 20, and in end view as indicated by 30. Moreover, the inventors have contoured the dispenser 10 to acquire a profile known as a curved 'Aerofoil' shape.

The dispenser 10 is preferably pressed formed from a sheet of metal, for example aluminium, stainless steel, brass, silver, gold or similar material or even wood. Alternatively, the dispenser 10 is susceptible to being molded from a plastics material, for example a glass loaded plastic, Perspex, nylon, polypropylene, acrylic, delrin or similar material which can optionally be filled plastics materials.

The dispenser 10 can have a smooth surface finish, for example exterior surface finish. Alternatively, at least part of its surface can be textured to make it easier to handle, for example with sweaty or greasy fingers. Such texturing can be achieved by embossing, chemical etching, electroplating, painting, sputter painting and/or printing processes. Such texturing is also susceptible to enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the dispenser to its user. When the dispenser is fabricated from moldable materials, for example plastics materials, such texturing can be a molded feature. Alternatively, or additionally, the textured finish can be printed, sputter sprayed or printed.

Spatial features of the dispenser 10 will now be described with reference to Figure 1.

The dispenser 10 is of a generally elongate form with a substantially planar region 35 adjacent to a curved region 40 as illustrated. At the periphery of the dispenser 10, there is formed a ridge 45; the ridge 45 is formed by bending metal edges of the dispenser 10 when fabricated from metal, or by molding where the dispenser 10 is molded from plastics materials. The dispenser 10 further includes a finger access hole 50. The hole 50 is preferably offset towards one end of the dispenser 10 and is situated within the curved region 40. Moreover, the hole 50 is intentionally not provided with a ridge as is included around the periphery of the dispenser 10. Peripheral edge ridges 60, 70 of the dispenser are angled in such a manner as to render a pad of sheets of paper span-fit retainable within the dispenser 10. Preferably, walls of the ridges 60, 70 are arranged to have a relative angle θ in a range of 0° to 60 °, more preferably in a range of 20° to 45°, more preferably 25° to 30°, and most preferably substantially 27°. Alternatively, the angle θ can be made relative shallow, namely in a range of +/- 2°.

The dispenser 10 preferably has a length L in a range of 50 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably substantially 87 mm. Moreover, the planar region 35 preferably has a lateral width Dl in a range of 10 to 20 mm, and more preferably 15.7 mm. Furthermore, the dispenser 10 preferably has an overall width D2 in a range of 30 to 50 mm, and more preferably substantially 35 mm. Additionally, the dispenser 10 has a height T for its ridges 45 in a range of 1.5 mm to 3 mm, and more preferably substantially 2 mm. The hole 50 is beneficially in a range of 15 to 20 mm wide, and more preferably substantially 17 mm; moreover, the hole preferably has a corresponding depth into the curved region 40. Such physical dimensions for the dispenser 10 are capable of rendering it convenient to handle, convenient to keep in a trouser pocket or handbag, and also practical for handling when removing sheets from a pad accessible through the hole 50.

Optionally, there are provided one or more inwardly-directed elongate protrusions, for example elongate protrusions 90, 95 along the peripheral edge ridge 70, for assisting retaining a pad of sheets of paper in the dispenser 10. Most preferably, the ridge 70 includes three protrusions disposed in a substantially mutually parallel configuration along an inwardly facing edge of the ridge 70. Similarly, the ridge 60 preferably also includes an inwardly-directed elongate protrusion 80 forming a lip to assist to retain the pad within the dispenser 10. When the dispenser 10 is fabricated from a plastics material molded component, one or more of the protrusions 80, 90 95 can also be implemented as molded surface features. Alternatively, when the dispenser 10 is fabricated for pressed metal sheet, the protrusions 80, 90, 95 can be implemented as pressed features. The protrusions 80, 90, 95 need not be continuous features, for example these protrusions 80, 90, 95 can be implemented as a spatial series of individual dot-like indents or dimples. One of more of the protrusions 80, 90, 95 can optionally be rendered more extensive, for example as illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the protrusion 80 is in the form of a lip. Moreover, the protrusions 90, 95 can be implemented as tabs as illustrated in Figure 5. Furthermore, both the regions 35, 40 can be curved if desired as shown in Figure 5. The aforesaid pad of paper is preferably provided with a stiff card cover. Optionally, the cover includes a perforated tab that the user can pull away to expose sheets of paper of the pad when the pad has been installed in the dispenser 10.

Although the edge ridges 60, 70 are often quite sufficient to retain the pad with its associated optional card cover, the dispenser 10 can optionally be provided with a lid 100 as illustrated in Figure 2. The lid 100 is denoted by and is preferably pivotally attached to the edge ridge 60, for example so that the dispenser with its associated lid 100 is a unitary component. Alternatively, the lid 100 can be made detachable and snap-fittable to the dispenser 10. As such, the lid 100 can be made an additional optional accessory for the dispenser 10. Moreover, the lid 100 and its dispenser 10 can be optionally fabricated from mutually different materials, for example one from molded plastics material and another from folded metal sheet.

Although the lid 100 is shown pivoting relative to the edge ridge 60, it can alternatively be made pivottable relative the edge ridge 70. As a yet further option, the lid 100 can be made slide fittable to the dispenser 10 or pivotally mounted relative to end ridges 110 of the dispenser 10. Conveniently, the lid 100 is a curved component to conform to the shape of the dispenser 10.

The hole 50 can be provided with a reinforcing indent and/or protrusion and/or perforation to increase its strength. Similarly, one or more of the planar region 35 and the curved region 40 can be provided with indents and/or protrusions and/or perforations to increase their mechanical strength. Such indents and/or protrusions and/or or perforations can be substantially linear in form and extend either longitudinally along the dispenser 10 or transversely between the edge ridges 60, 70.

The lid 100 can be fabricated from one or more of metal, alloy or plastics material. Optionally, the lid 100 can be made at least partially transparent to enable the user to see how many of the sheets of the pad have already been removed from the dispenser. Alternatively, for example for aesthetic reasons and/or for ease of manufacture, the lid 100 can be fabricated from a substantially opaque material. Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a paper wrapper for at least partially surrounding a pad of sheets of paper. The wrapper is indicated generally by 200 and is fabricated from card having a weight in a range of 40 to 300 g/m², and more preferably in a range of 150 to 300 g/m², and most preferably in a range of 175 to 275 g/m². The wrapper 200 can alternatively be fabricated from a plastics material, for example plastic laminated paper such as UV laminated, plastic laminated or similar, for example a proprietary product of DuPont sold under a trade name "Tyvek". Tyvek is a made from very fine, high-density polyethylene fibres.

The wrapper 200 comprises a first region 210 and a second region 220 with a fold edge 230 therebetween. The fold edge 230 is preferably a double fold so that the wrapper 200 can more easily at least partially enclose a pad of paper sheets. The wrapper 200 further includes a tab 240 and a corresponding hole recess 250 as illustrated. In manufacture, the wrapper 200 can be arranged to enclose its pad of paper sheets such that the tab 240 and hole recess 250 and linked by user-severable perforations, the fold edge 230 then conveniently being an edge where edges of the wrapper 200 are joined so that the wrapper 200, including the perforations between the tab 240 and the hole recess 250, can be manufactured from a unitary sheet of card or paper.

Near the tab 240, the wrapper 200 preferably includes a fold edge 260 to co-operate with the fold edge 230 to enable the wrapper 200 to more easily include the aforesaid pad of paper sheets.

As illustrated, the wrapper 200 is of a generally elongate form to conform with an inside volume of the dispenser 10 illustrated in Figure 1 and 2.

The recess hole 250 is included to allow user access to the sheets of paper of the pad. Moreover, the tab 240 provides an area for advertising or other graphic promotion. The same surface can be perforated in such a way that strips of paper or card can be removed for filters, or 'roaches'. The same sheet can also be extended in size, wrapping in on itself to provide more filters, or bulk, to the packing.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a series of steps in a method of installing a pad of paper into the dispenser and then extracting sheets from the dispenser. The steps are indicated generally by 600 and comprise STEP 1, STEP 2 and STEP 3.

In STEP 1, a pad of sheets of paper is formed by applying refixable contact adhesive along one elongate edge 620 of the sheets 610 to form the pad denoted by 625. The adhesive used should have similar adhesive properties to that used for 3M's proprietary "Post-It" pads, namely allowing refixing a plurality of times and more preferably providing at least 30% of initial adhesive strength after 5 refixings. The pad 625 is then flexed to curve it around its longitudinal axis, namely in a direction substantially parallel to the elongate edge 620.

In STEP 2, the curved pad 625 is then inserted into the dispenser so that elongate edges of the pad 625 and its associated wrapper 200 (not shown) engage onto the aforesaid edge ridges 60, 70 of the dispenser 10. The sheets of the pad 625 exhibit at least partial elastic flexing so that sheets are continuously, until the pad 625 is depleted of its sheets, presented to the hole 50 to a user of the dispenser 10.

In STEP 3, the user then turns the dispenser 10 over to render the sheets of the pad 625 exposed through the aforementioned hole recess 250. Forming the pad 625 into a curved profile is of considerable advantage in that edges of each sheet become more easily accessible through the hole recess 250, rendering the dispenser easier to employ in use in comparison to attempting to detach individual sheets from the pad 625 when in an uncurved state. As illustrated, frictional contact between a finger 650 of the user and individual exposed sheets 610 presented at the hole recess 250 is sufficient to enable the user to extract sheets from the dispenser 10. The contact adhesive 620 of the sheets 610 is thereby capable of providing a dual synergistic function of holding the sheets together in the pad 625 and also assisting the user to roll cigarettes wherein the adhesive 620 is arranged to contact back onto the sheet 610 as illustrated to enclose a portion of tobacco 700.

It will be appreciated that modifications can be made to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.

Although operation of the dispenser 10 with a pad 625 including sheets 610 with contact adhesive is described in the foregoing, the dispenser 10 is also useable with a pad 625 when its sheets 610 are devoid of glue and merely stacked together.

In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the edges 110 are also provided with projections to assist retaining the pad 625 within the dispenser 10. Preferable at least one of the ridges 45, namely the ridges 60, 70, 110, includes projection features for assisting retaining the pad 625 in the dispenser 10.

In yet another embodiment, the hole 50 is provided with a removable protection cover to prevent sheets 610 of the pad 625 from being abraded or otherwise damaged when the dispenser 10 is transported in clothing, for example in a user's pocket or handbag. Such removable protection can be at least one of a slidable flap, and pivotally mounted flap and a detachable flap.

For example, the dispenser described above is particularly suitable for cigarette rolling papers and such like.

In the foregoing, and also with regard to the claims, expressions such as "include", "incorporate", "comprise" and "contain" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner. Moreover, reference to the singular is intended to include reference to the plural and vice versa.

Claims

1. A dispenser ( 10) for a pad of paper (200, 625) or individual sheets of paper, the dispenser (10) including :

(a) a container for at least partially enclosing the pad (200, 625) to provide mechanical protection thereto, the container arranged to engage the pad (200) so as to form it into a curved profile to expose in use individual edges of the paper or individual sheets of paper; and

(b) at least one access aperture (50) from a region external to the container to the pad (200, 625) within the container to enable a user to obtain access to individual sheets within the container.

2. A dispenser (10) according to Claim 1, further including a removable lid (100) for further enclosing the pad (200, 625) within the container.

3. A dispenser (10) according to Claim 2, wherein the lid (100) is pivotally attached to the container.

4. A dispenser (10) according to Claim 2, wherein the lid (100) is snap-fittable to the container.

5. A dispenser ( 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes at least one elongate indent for mechanically strengthening the container.

6. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a planar region (35) and an associated curved region (40) adjacent thereto in the form of an "Aerofoil" , the curved region (40) being operable to cause the pad of paper (200, 625) to assume a curved form for enhancing user access to individual sheets.

7. A dispenser ( 10) according to Claim 6, wherein the at least one access aperture (50) is formed into the curved region.

8. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container further comprises one or more edge ridges (60, 70) for co-operating with the pad of paper (200, 625) for mechanically retaining it within the container.

9. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 5 container is fabricated from one or more of a plastics material, paper, a metal, an metal alloy and wood.

10. A dispenser ( 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer surface of the container is provided with textured finish.

10

11. A dispenser ( 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, for dispensing sheets of paper suitable for rolling cigarettes.

12. A pad of sheets of paper (200, 625) suitable for use with a dispenser (10) 15 according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. A pad (200, 625) according to Claim 12, wherein sheets of the pad are provided with a refixable adhesive along at least one edge thereof.

20 14. A method of installing a pad of paper (200, 625) according to any one of Claims 12 to 13 into a dispenser ( 10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 11.