U.S. patent application number 10/742178 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for nighttime locatable dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cohen, Bliss Elizabeth, Pitsch, Raymond Paul.
Application Number | 20050133387 10/742178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34678386 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050133387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen, Bliss Elizabeth ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Nighttime locatable dispenser
Abstract
A product comprising a package containing at least one
disposable article and wherein at least a portion of the package's
exterior comprises a glow in the dark material. In one embodiment,
the product comprises: a package having an exterior and an
interior, the interior of the package containing at least one
disposable article; a dispensing opening located in the package for
withdrawing the disposable article from the interior; and wherein
at least a portion of the exterior comprises a glow in the dark
material that highlights the location of the dispensing
opening.
Inventors: |
Cohen, Bliss Elizabeth;
(Appleton, WI) ; Pitsch, Raymond Paul; (Appleton,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34678386 |
Appl. No.: |
10/742178 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/233 ;
206/449; 206/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
B65D 2203/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/233 ;
206/494; 206/449 |
International
Class: |
B65D 071/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A product comprising: a package having an exterior and an
interior, the interior of the package containing at least one
disposable article; a dispensing opening located in the package for
withdrawing the disposable article from the interior; and wherein
at least a portion of the exterior comprises a glow in the dark
material that highlights the location of the dispensing
opening.
2. A product comprising: a package having an exterior comprising a
top, a bottom, and a sidewall enclosing an interior, the interior
of the package containing at least one disposable article; a
dispensing opening located in the top for withdrawing the
disposable article from the interior; and wherein at least a
portion of the exterior comprises a glow in the dark material that
highlights the location of the dispensing opening.
3. The product of claim 1 or 2 wherein the package comprises a
facial tissue carton.
4. The product of claim 1 or 2 wherein the glow in the dark
material comprises an oxide of strontium aluminate.
5. The product of claim 1 or 2 wherein the disposable article
comprises facial tissue.
6. The product of claim 1 or 2 wherein the disposable article
comprises a wet wipe.
7. The product of claim 1 or 2 comprising a brand indicator located
on the package's exterior and wherein the brand indicator comprises
a glow in the dark material.
8. The package of claim 1 or 2 wherein the exterior portion of the
package comprising the glow in the dark material comprises glow in
the dark indicia.
9. The package of claim 8 wherein the indicia comprise at least one
arrow pointing to the dispensing opening.
10. The package of claim 8 wherein the indicia comprise at least
one diagonal line intersecting with the dispensing opening.
11. The package of claim 8 wherein the indicia comprise at least
one curved line surrounding the dispensing opening.
12. The product of claim 2 wherein the highlighted dispensing
opening comprises a glow in the dark sidewall and a darkened
top.
13. The product of claim 2 wherein the highlighted dispensing
opening comprises a glow in the dark top and a darkened dispensing
opening.
14. The product of claim 2 comprising a film having an aperture
located in the dispensing opening and wherein the film comprises a
glow in the dark material.
15. The product of claim 1 or 2 comprising a dispensing cover
covering the dispensing opening and wherein the dispensing cover
comprises a glow in the dark material.
16. The product of claim 2 comprising a dispensing cover covering
the dispensing opening and wherein the top and the cover appear in
contrasting hues from application of the glow in the dark
material.
17. The product of claim 2 comprising a dispensing cover covering
the dispensing opening and a button for opening the dispensing
cover and wherein the button comprises a glow in the dark
material.
18. The product of claim 2 wherein the sidewall comprises four
generally rectangular panels intersecting at approximately 90
degree angles.
19. The product of claim 2 wherein the sidewall comprises a
circular shape.
20. The product of claim 1 or 2 wherein the glow in the dark
material has a brightness of about 0.32 mcd/m or greater and an
extinction time of about 5 hours or greater.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Disposable articles, such as facial tissues, are often
placed into packaging for storing and dispensing of the articles.
For example, facial tissues are often packaged into either an
upright or flat carton for dispensing. Many people keep a box of
facial tissues located near their bed for use by placing them on a
nightstand, a table, or the floor. While placement of the tissue
box near the bed is convenient, during the middle of the night,
when the room is dark, the tissue box can be hard to locate without
the assistance of a light. European patent application EP 1 357
046, filed Apr. 17, 2003 entitled Packaging Wrapper for Hygiene or
Wiping Products and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a
packaging wrapper having part or parts that exhibit an afterglow in
the dark for assistance in locating the product in the dark.
[0002] However, even if the wrapper is located or observable by
glowing in the dark, finding the exact location of the exposed
tissue sheet can also be a problem when the tissue must be grabbed
quickly to catch a sneeze, cough, or otherwise be rapidly found
without fumbling with the box to find the exposed sheet. Another
situation where it might be necessary to quickly locate the
dispensing opening is for packages containing disposable articles
that are used while driving at night. The dispensing opening needs
to be quickly located so as not to prolong the driver's distraction
while reaching for the article. Thus, there is a need for a package
containing disposable articles that can be readily found in the
dark. There is also a need for a package that helps direct a person
to the dispensing opening for ease of dispensing the disposable
articles in the dark.
SUMMARY
[0003] The inventors have found that the above problems can be
overcome by a package having at least a portion that glows in the
dark to help a person find the package in the dark. Furthermore, by
placing the glow in the dark material at specific locations on the
package, the dispensing opening can be highlighted, enabling a
person to immediately locate the disposable article.
[0004] Hence, in one aspect, the invention resides in a product
comprising: a package having an exterior and an interior, the
interior of the package containing at least one disposable article;
a dispensing opening located in the package for withdrawing the
disposable article from the interior; and wherein at least a
portion of the exterior comprises a glow in the dark material that
highlights the location of the dispensing opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The above aspects and other features, aspects, and
advantages of the present invention will become better understood
with regard to the following description, appended claims, and
accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an upright facial tissue package.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a flat facial tissue package.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a wet wipes package.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a cylindrical package.
[0010] Repeated use of reference characters in the specification
and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous
features or elements of the invention.
Definitions
[0011] As used herein, forms of the words "comprise", "have", and
"include" are legally equivalent and open-ended. Therefore,
additional non-recited elements, functions, steps or limitations
may be present in addition to the recited elements, functions,
steps, or limitations.
[0012] As used herein, "disposable article" means an item intended
for a single use after which it is thrown away. Examples of
disposable articles include, but are not limited to, paper products
such as facial tissue, bath tissue, and paper towels; infant
products such as diapers, nappies, and wet wipes; child products
such as training pants, swimwear, and bedwetting products; feminine
products such as sanitary napkins, liners, and tampons; adult
incontinent products such as undergarments, briefs, guards for men,
and liners; cleaning products such as wipes, makeup removal pads;
and health care products such as masks, gloves, gowns, and
drapes.
[0013] As used herein, "glow in the dark material" means a
fluorescent, a phosphorescent, a luminescent, a chemiluminescent,
or a bioluminescent material that emits light without the need for
an external electrical power source such as a battery or electrical
plug.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
that the present discussion is a description of exemplary
embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader
aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are
embodied in the exemplary construction.
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, a package 20 having an exterior 21
and enclosing an interior is shown. Disposed within the package's
interior is a disposable article 22. In this embodiment, the
package comprises an upright facial tissue carton and the
disposable article comprises a plurality of facial tissues. In an
upright tissue carton, the facial tissues are formed into an
inverted U-shaped stack before being placed into the carton. The
package includes a top 24, a bottom 26, and a sidewall 28. In the
illustrated embodiment, the sidewall comprises four generally
rectangular panels, such as panels 30, and 32, that intersect at
approximately 90 degree angles. Located in the top is a dispensing
opening 34.
[0016] The dispensing opening 34 can comprise a simple cutout
through the package exterior enabling access to the package's
interior. In other embodiments, the dispensing opening can include
additional elements such as a dispensing film 36 having an aperture
38 in the form of an X-shaped cut. In yet another embodiment, the
dispensing opening can include a removable cover or surf board that
is removed to access the facial tissue. The facial tissues 39 are
dispensed through the dispensing opening and can be prevented from
falling back into the carton's interior by the aperture within the
film. The package can also have a brand indicator 40 that can be
placed on any portion of the exterior. The brand indicator can
either identify the manufacturer of the product or represent a
trademark linked to the manufacturer of the product. At least a
portion of the exterior surface of the package comprises a glow in
the dark material.
[0017] To further enhance the functionality of the package, and in
particular to aid in finding the exposed facial tissue residing
within the dispensing opening, the placement of the glow in the
dark material is optimized. For example, the entire top 24,
exclusive of the dispensing opening and dispensing film, can
comprise a glow in the dark material. Thus, the darkened location
of the dispensing opening 34 would be easily observable in the top,
quickly enabling a person to find the exposed facial tissue in the
dark.
[0018] In another embodiment, the dispensing film 36 can comprise a
glow in the dark material to highlight the location of the
dispensing opening 34. The glow in the dark dispensing film can
have multiple fingers or petals that would help to find the exposed
tissue and could even illuminate portions of the exposed tissue
adjacent the film.
[0019] In another embodiment, the sidewall 28 can comprise a glow
in the dark material such that the top and dispensing opening would
appear darkened. This also serves to highlight the dispensing
opening's location. Because the top would appear dark relative to
the other visible exposed portions of the package, a person could
simply move their hand towards the darkened area and grab the
exposed tissue.
[0020] In another embodiment, different portions of the package's
exterior can comprise different colors or contrasting glow in the
dark materials to highlight the location of the dispensing opening.
For example, the top can comprise one color such as fluorescent
green and the sidewall can comprise another color such as
fluorescent orange. Alternatively, the dispensing film and top can
comprise contrasting glow in the dark materials. In either case,
the contrast in color between different portions of the package's
exterior can be used to highlight the dispensing opening or its
location.
[0021] In addition to highlighting the location of the dispensing
opening with the glow in the dark material, the brand indicator 40
can comprise a glow in the dark material. Thus, by means of the
glowing brand indicator, the package will function similar to a
billboard or advertisement when placed into a darkened environment.
Illumination of the brand indicator will further strengthen the
brand's recognition with the purchaser and enhance the comfort or
satisfaction of the consumer in using that particular brand. In one
embodiment, a glow in the dark brand indicator was placed onto each
of the four panels comprising the sidewall. Thus, regardless of the
package's orientation relative to the observer, at least one of the
glowing brand indicators should be visible in the dark reinforcing
the supplier or source of the product.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, another package 20 having an
exterior 21 and enclosing an interior is shown. Disposed within the
package's interior is a disposable article. In this embodiment, the
package comprises a flat facial tissue carton and the disposable
article comprises a plurality of facial tissues. In a flat facial
tissue carton, the stack of tissues within the carton is not bent
or folded as done in an upright carton. As before, the package
includes a top 24, a bottom 26, and a sidewall 28. In the
illustrated embodiment, the sidewall 28 comprises four generally
rectangular panels, such as panels 30, and 32, that intersect at
approximately 90 degree angles.
[0023] Located in the top is a dispensing opening 34. The
dispensing opening can comprise a simple cutout through the package
exterior enabling access to the package's interior. In other
embodiments, the dispensing opening can include additional elements
such as a dispensing film 36 having an aperture 38 in the form of a
slit. In yet another embodiment, the dispensing opening can include
a removable cover or surf board that is removed to access the
facial tissue. The facial tissues 39 are dispensed through the
dispensing opening and can be prevented from falling back into the
carton's interior by the aperture within the film. At least a
portion of the exterior surface of the package comprises a glow in
the dark or phosphorescent material.
[0024] To further assist in locating the dispensing opening or the
exposed facial tissue, the package can include at least one indicia
42 comprising a glow in the dark material The indicia can be
stripes, arrows, straight lines, curved lines, circles, figures,
geometric shapes, or other patterns that point towards, surround,
or intersect with the dispensing opening.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the phosphorescent indicia
includes a plurality of arrows 44 pointing towards the dispensing
opening, a plurality of diagonal lines 46 intersecting with the
dispensing opening, and at least one curved line 48 that surrounds
the dispensing opening. The arrows, diagonal lines, curved lines,
or other indicia can be used either independently or in any desired
combination. Because the glow in the dark indicia are used to
highlight the location of the dispensing opening, the exposed
facial tissue is readily found in the dark.
[0026] Variations of the illustrated indicia are possible. For
example, the location, number, size, and shape of the arrows can be
varied. More than one curved line surrounding the dispensing
opening can be included forming a figure similar to a bull's-eye.
The curved line can be spaced away from the dispensing opening
instead of being immediately adjacent to it. The curved line could
be discontinuous or dashed. The location, number, and size of the
diagonal lines can be varied.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, another package 20 having an
exterior 21 and enclosing an interior is shown. Disposed within the
package's interior is a disposable article. In this embodiment, the
package comprises a wet wipes dispenser and the disposable article
comprises a plurality of wet wipes. The package includes a top 24,
a bottom 26, and a sidewall 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the
sidewall comprises four generally rectangular-panels, such as
panels 30, and 32, that intersect at approximately 90 degree
angles.
[0028] The top of the dispenser is connected to the sidewall with
hinges such that the entire top can be opened for refilling the
dispenser. Located in the top is a dispensing opening 34. The
dispensing opening comprises a dispensing cover 50, a flexible
dispensing membrane 52 with an aperture 38 and a button 54 for
opening the dispensing cover. The dispensing cover is connected to
the top with hinges. Upon actuation of the button, the dispensing
cover can spring open to reveal the exposed wet wipe (not shown)
located beneath the cover. At least a portion of the exterior of
the package comprises a glow in the dark material.
[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the glow in the dark
portion of the package comprises the button, thus pointing out to
someone using the package in the dark exactly where to apply
pressure to open the dispensing cover for access to the exposed
portion of the wet wipe. Highlighting the button with a glow in the
dark material highlights the dispensing opening's location. In
another embodiment of the invention, the dispensing cover can be
transparent and both the button and the flexible membrane can
comprise a glow in the dark material. Thus, after the button is
actuated and the dispensing cover springs open, the glowing
flexible dispensing membrane would further assist in locating the
exposed portion of the wet wipe and the location of the dispensing
opening.
[0030] In another embodiment of the invention, the top, exclusive
of the dispensing cover and button, can comprise the glow in the
dark material, thereby highlighting the darkened dispensing
opening. Alternatively, the top and the dispensing cover can
comprise the glow in the dark material and thereby highlight the
non-glowing or darkened button. In either case, the contrast
between the glowing portions of the package's exterior and the dark
portions will highlight the dispensing opening's location.
[0031] In another embodiment of the invention, the glow in the dark
portion of the package comprises the dispensing cover to highlight
the dispensing opening's location. By making the cover glow in the
dark, a person could conveniently locate the adjacent button, which
could have a raised or otherwise textured portion 56, thus enabling
rapidly finding the button even if the button itself did not
glow.
[0032] In another embodiment, different portions of the package's
exterior can comprise different colors or contrasting glow in the
dark materials to highlight the location of the dispensing opening.
For example, the dispensing cover can comprise one color such as
fluorescent green and the button can comprise another color such as
fluorescent orange. Alternatively, the top exclusive of the
dispensing cover comprise one contrasting glow in the dark material
and the button another contrasting glow in the dark material. Any
two or more elements such as the top, the dispensing cover, the
button, or the dispensing membrane can comprise contrasting glow in
the dark materials. In any case, the contrast in color between
different portions of the package's exterior can be used to
highlight the dispensing opening or its location.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4, another package 20 having an
exterior 21 and enclosing an interior is shown. Disposed within the
package's interior is a disposable article 22 (not shown). In this
embodiment, the package comprises a dispenser suitable for
placement in an automobile cup holder, and the disposable article
can comprise either wet wipes or facial tissue. The package
includes a removable top 24, a bottom 26, and a sidewall 28. At
least a portion of the exterior of the package comprises a glow in
the dark material.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall is generally
circular and comprises a larger diameter upper portion and a
smaller diameter lower portion for insertion into a cup holder.
Alternatively, the circular sidewall can be straight or tapered for
insertion into the cup holder. Alternatively, the maximum dimension
of the lower portion of the sidewall can be designed to fit into
the cup holder and the remaining portions of the sidewall can be
configured in any suitable manner.
[0035] The dispensing opening 34 is hidden beneath the dispensing
cover 50, which is attached to the removable top by a flexible
strap 58. The dispensing cover also includes a finger tab 60, which
can be used to open the dispensing cover to reveal the dispensing
opening and the exposed portion of the wipe or facial tissue.
[0036] In one embodiment, the location of the dispensing opening is
highlighted by applying a circular glow in the dark pressure
sensitive label to the dispensing cover. In another embodiment,
only the finger tab is highlighted by a glow in the dark material.
As with the other embodiments of the invention, contrasting glow in
the dark materials or contrasts between the glowing exterior
portions and the darkened exterior portions of the package can be
used. For example, the dispensing cover, finger tab, and/or strap
can be one glow in the dark color or appear darkened if the top
glows, and the removable top can be another glow in the dark color
or appear darkened if the dispensing cover, finger tab, and/or
strap glows.
[0037] The glow in the dark material can be incorporated to the
exterior of the package in a number of ways. For example, in-mold
labeling with glow in the dark materials can be used. Glow in the
dark pressure sensitive labels can be used. Glow in the dark shrink
wrap sleeves or films can be used. Glow in the dark materials
forming various portions of the package can be used such as glow in
the dark pigments suitable for incorporation into thermoplastics or
thermosetting plastics. Glow in the dark inks can be used.
[0038] The glow in the dark material can glow for a length of time
suitable to the intended purpose and have a luminance or brightness
suitable for the intended purpose. In one embodiment of the
invention, the brightness during the afterglow period can be about
0.32 millicandelas per square meter (mcd/m.sup.2) or greater, which
is approximately 100 times the limit of human perception in order
to ensure that the glowing material was sufficiently visible. In
other embodiments of the invention, the brightness of the glow in
the dark material can be about 0.6 mcd/m.sup.2 or greater, about 1
mcd/m.sup.2 or greater, about 2 mcd/m.sup.2 or greater, about 10
mcd/m.sup.2 or greater, about 40 mcd/m.sup.2 or greater, between
about 0.3 mcd/m.sup.2 to about 2000 mcd/m.sup.2, or between about 1
mcd/m.sup.2 to about 500 mcd/m.sup.2.
[0039] In various embodiments of the invention, the extinction time
for the brightness of the afterglow to diminish to less than 0.32
mcd/m.sup.2 at a temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit can be about
1 hour or greater, about 3 hours or greater, about 5 hours or
greater, about 8 hours or greater, between about 1 hour to about 12
hours, or between about 8 hours to about 10 hours.
[0040] Longer duration extinction times and higher brightness
levels can be used for applications where a person may need to find
the dispenser and the dispensing opening's location in the middle
of the night quickly without disturbing someone else who may be
sleeping. However, the brightness level should not be too great,
which could serve as a distraction while attempting to fall asleep.
For this embodiment, in order to ensure that the dispenser remains
visible overnight when placed adjacent to the bed, the glow in the
dark portions of the package should have a brightness of about 0.32
mcd/m.sup.2 or greater for a duration of about eight hours or
greater.
[0041] Examples of suitable glow in the dark materials include
phosphorescent, long after glow phosphorescent, light emitter, or
fluorescent substances. The glow in the dark material may be for
example a polycrystalline inorganic zinc sulphide which can create
a green illumination or an alkaline earth sulphide which can create
a red or blue illumination. In general, there are two categories of
phophors: zinc sulfide and oxides of strontium aluminate that are
suitable glow in the dark materials, with the zinc sulfide having a
shorter extinction time as compared to the longer lived strontium
aluminate.
[0042] The glow in the dark material may be a SAFE-GLO or
SPARKLE-GLO film available from Coburn Corporation in New Jersey.
SAFE-GLO film comprises a rigid PVC copolymer with an incorporated
second surface of an inorganic zinc sulfide phosphor. SPARKLE-GLO
has transparent polyester particles harmoniously dispersed within
the second surface and is offered in four different color hues.
[0043] Suitable glow in the dark materials are available from LUNA
Technologies International in Kent, Wash., who are makers of high
performance photoluminescent lighting, coatings, compounds, films
and paints. LUNAPLAST long afterglow photoluminescent pigment,
available from LUNA Technologies, can be used for the glow in the
dark material.
[0044] Suitable glow in the dark materials are available from
Nemoto & Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan, makers of phosphorescent and
fluorescent pigments. LUMINOVA is a suitable glow in the dark
material based on strontium aluminate and is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,424,006 entitled Phosphorescent Phosphor issued on Jun. 13,
1995, to Murayama et al., and herein incorporated by reference.
[0045] Suitable glow in the dark materials are available from
Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH, Seelze, Germany.
Honeywell Specialty Chemicals makes several LUMILUX branded glow in
the dark materials, including LUMILUX SN and N pigments that
qualify as long afterglowing products according to DIN 67510 part 4
that are suitable for the glow in the dark material. Additional
glow in the dark materials are disclosed in U.S. Pub. No.
2003/0225386 A1 entitled Glow in the Dark Absorbent Article,
published on Dec. 4, 2003, to Jose Luis Rodriguez, and herein
incorporated by reference.
[0046] Other modifications and variations to the present invention
may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without
departing for the spirit and scope of the present invention, which
is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. For example,
different packages than those illustrated may be used and different
disposable articles can be housed in the packages. It is understood
that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in
whole or part. All cited references, patents, or patent
applications in the above application for letters patent are herein
incorporated by reference in a consistent manner. In the event of
inconsistencies or contradictions between the incorporated
references and this application, the information present in this
application shall prevail. The preceding description, given by way
of example in order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
practice the claimed invention, is not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and all
equivalents thereto.
* * * * *