U.S. patent application number 11/021404 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for easy open folded article.
Invention is credited to Guy William Provenzano, Kiran Kumar Karrem Reddy, John Richard Skerrett, Ning Yang.
Application Number | 20060157495 11/021404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35539638 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060157495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reddy; Kiran Kumar Karrem ;
et al. |
July 20, 2006 |
Easy open folded article
Abstract
An easy to open folded article based on a fold configuration is
disclosed. The folded article has an exposed corner on its
uppermost and bottommost folded surfaces, such that when the
exposed corners are both grasped and pulled away from each other,
the folded article easily and completely unfolds. Pull indicia are
added to the article to easily identify the areas of the folded
article to be grasped and pulled.
Inventors: |
Reddy; Kiran Kumar Karrem;
(Roswell, GA) ; Yang; Ning; (Alpharetta, GA)
; Skerrett; John Richard; (Alpharetta, GA) ;
Provenzano; Guy William; (Alpharetta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
US
|
Family ID: |
35539638 |
Appl. No.: |
11/021404 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/47 ;
221/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 45/04 20130101;
A47K 10/42 20130101; A47K 2010/3266 20130101; G09B 29/04 20130101;
B65H 45/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/047 ;
221/049 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/24 20060101
A47K010/24; B65H 1/00 20060101 B65H001/00 |
Claims
1. An easy opening, folded wipe comprising: a sheet of wipe
material comprising a first and second edge along a first
direction, a third and fourth edge along a second direction, where
the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; a
first corner defined by the first and fourth edge; a second corner
defined by the first and third edge; a third corner defined by the
second and third edge; and a fourth corner defined by the second
and fourth edge, the sheet having at least one fold along the first
direction to define a folded strip, so that the first corner of the
sheet is present on the uppermost surface of the folded strip, and
the third corner of the sheet is present on the bottommost surface
of the folded strip, and the folded strip further having an even
number of folds in a zigzag fashion, along the second direction, to
define the folded wipe, such that the first corner of the sheet is
present on the uppermost surface of the folded wipe and the third
corner is present on the bottommost surface of the folded wipe.
2. The folded wipe of claim 1, where the first and second edges and
each fold along the first direction further define fold sections
therebetween, where each fold section has a fold section width
dimension perpendicular to the first direction, where the fold
section width dimension of each fold section is equal; and where
the third and fourth edges and each fold along the second direction
further define folded strip sections therebetween, where each
folded strip section has a folded strip section length dimension
perpendicular to the second direction, where the folded strip
section length dimension of each folded strip section is equal.
3. The folded wipe of claim 1, where the folded wipe is
substantially square in shape.
4. The folded wipe of claim 1, where the first and third corners
each have a pull indicia, and where the folded wipe is adapted to
be opened by grasping the pull indicia of the first and third
corners and pulling the first and third corners away from each
other.
5. The folded wipe of claim 4, where the pull indicia is a visual
or tactile cue.
6. The folded wipe of claim 4, where the pull indicia comprises a
folded corner.
7. The folded wipe of claim 5, where the pull indicia comprises a
distinguishable texture imparted to the corner of the sheet.
8. The folded wipe of claim 5, where the pull indicia comprises a
distinguishable color imparted to the corner of the sheet.
9. A single-wipe package comprising a packet and the folded wipe of
claim 1 enclosed within the packet.
10. A multiple-wipe package comprising a stack of the folded wipes
of claim 1 within a container.
11. The multiple-wipe package of claim 10, where the folded wipes
of the stack are interleaved.
12. The multiple-wipe package of claim 10, where the folded wipes
of the stack are interfolded.
13. An easy opening, folded wipe comprising a folded sheet of wipe
material defining an uppermost folded surface and bottommost folded
surface, where both the uppermost and bottommost folded surfaces
have at least one pull indicium, and where the wipe is adapted to
be opened by grasping the pull indicia of the uppermost and
bottommost folded surfaces and pulling them away from each
other.
14. A single-wipe package comprising the folded wipe of claim 13
that has been individually packaged.
15. A multiple-wipe package comprising a stack of the folded wipes
of claim 13.
16. The multiple-wipe package of claim 16, where the folded wipes
of the stack are interleaved.
17. The multiple-wipe package of claim 16, where the folded wipes
of the stack are interfolded.
18. A folded article comprising: a sheet of material comprising a
first and second edge along a first direction, a third and fourth
edge along a second direction, where the second direction is
perpendicular to the first direction; a first corner defined by the
first and fourth edge; a second corner defined by the first and
third edge; a third corner defined by the second and third edge;
and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth edge, the
sheet having at least one fold along the first direction to define
a folded strip, so that the first corner of the sheet is present on
the uppermost surface of the folded strip, and the third corner of
the sheet is present on the bottommost surface of the folded strip,
and the folded strip further having an even number of folds in a
zigzag fashion, along the second direction, to define the folded
article, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the
uppermost surface of the folded article and the third corner is
present on the bottommost surface of the folded article, and where
the first and third corners each having at least one pull indicium,
and where the folded article is adapted to be opened with limited
contact with the user by grasping the pull indicia of the first and
third corners and pulling the first and second corners away from
each other.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Articles such as napkins, towels, wipes and the like
traditionally have been folded in a myriad of ways. Folding is a
simple way that a larger item can be conveniently packaged and
distributed. Folded products conserve space and often provide the
user with a product that can be easily transported and used at the
time and place of the user's choosing.
[0002] Products such as napkins, paper towels, facial tissue and
the like have been folded in particular configurations to aid in
their storage and in their dispensing. Often the primary concern
with particular folding configurations has been the relationship of
the folded product to other similarly folded products and/or
dispensing of such products.
[0003] For example, folded articles such as wipes are commonly
found for both personal and commercial use. One common type of wipe
is individually packed for one-time use and is often distributed in
restaurants to patrons who have consumed foods that are
traditionally eaten without the use of utensils (i.e., fried
chicken, barbeque ribs, hamburgers, etc.). Such wipes are often
difficult to open and use, and can be source of great frustration
to a user trying to simply clean their face and hands.
[0004] Such individually wrapped wipes are folded in a way to
conveniently fit in their individual packages. However, the
particular fold configuration for such wipes is a large source of
the problems users have with such wipes. Generally, the full wipe
sheet is folded in half in one direction and then folded in half
again in the same direction to form a folded strip. This folded
strip is then folded in half, in a second direction, perpendicular
to the direction of the first two folds, and then again folded in
half in this second direction. By folding the wipe in this
particular configuration, folds are nested within other folds and
there is only one free edge available to the user. The user must
unfold each fold to be able to utilize the entire sheet. Such wipes
generally require a bit of patience and the use of two hands to
unfold each of the folds that have been put into the wipe.
[0005] When the wipe is wet, as most often is the case, the folded
layers of the wipe have an affinity to each other which makes
pulling up the free edge and unfolding each of the folds more
difficult. Often users frustrated by the tedious unfolding of the
wipe will attempt to shake the wipe open from a single corner they
have opened, but this can result in shaking excess fluid on
themselves and others, tearing of the wipe, or losing grip of the
wipe and accidentally dropping or possibly hurling the wipe.
Alternatively, a frustrated user may not fully open the wipe and
instead use multiple wipes.
[0006] For some wipes, it may be desired to limit contact with the
folded wipe material. Wipes are commercially available saturated or
coated with substances that a user may want to avoid or limit their
contact. For example, wipes are commercially available with such
substances as disinfectants, cleaning solutions, detergents,
astringents, medications, and other chemicals. While some contact
is likely in the use of such wipes, the user may want to limit such
contact and would prefer to not have to unfold a wipe in the manner
discussed above.
[0007] Therefore there is a need for folded material, such as a
folded tissue, towel or wipe, which can easily be opened from its
folded configuration. It is also desired that such a folded
material can be opened with minimal contact with the material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to an easy opening, folded
wipe formed from a sheet of wipe material having a first and second
edge along a first direction, and a third and fourth edge along a
second direction, where the second direction is perpendicular to
the first direction. The sheet also has a first corner defined by
the first and fourth edge; a second corner defined by the first and
third edge; a third corner defined by the second and third edge;
and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth edge. The
sheet has at least one fold along the first direction to define a
folded strip, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on
the uppermost surface of the folded strip, and the third corner of
the sheet is present on the bottommost surface of the folded strip.
The folded strip then has an even number of folds in a zigzag
fashion, along the second direction, to define the folded wipe,
such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost
surface of the folded wipe and the third corner is present on the
bottommost surface of the folded wipe.
[0009] In one embodiment of the folded wipe, the first and second
edges and each fold along the first direction further define fold
sections between them. Each fold section has a fold section width
dimension perpendicular to the first direction that is equal to the
fold section width dimension of every other fold section of the
wipe. Additionally, the third and fourth edges and each fold along
the second direction further define folded strip sections between
them. Each such folded strip section has a folded strip section
length dimension perpendicular to the second direction that is
equal to the folded strip section length dimension of every other
folded strip section of the wipe. In another embodiment, the
finished folded wipe is substantially square in shape.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the folded wipe has pull indicia on
both the first and third corners such that when the pull indicia
are grasped and the first and third corners are pulled away from
each other, the folded wipe is opened. Such pull indicia may be any
type of visual or tactile cue. The pull indicia in various
embodiments may be a folded corner, a distinguishable texture
imparted to the corner of the sheet, or a distinguishable color
imparted to the corner of the sheet.
[0011] The folded wipe of the invention may be enclosed within a
packet to form a single-wipe package. Alternatively, the folded
wipe may be part of a stack of folded wipes and placed in a
container to form a multiple-wipe package. Such a multiple-wipe
package may include a stack of folded wipes that are interleaved,
or alternately may include a stack of folded wipes that are
interfolded.
[0012] The present invention is also directed to an easy opening,
folded wipe made of a folded sheet of wipe material. The folded
wipe has an uppermost folded surface and bottommost folded surface,
where both the uppermost and bottommost folded surfaces include a
pull indicium. The wipe is opened by grasping the pull indicia of
the uppermost and bottommost folded surfaces and pulling them away
from each other.
[0013] Finally, the present invention is also directed to a folded
article formed from a sheet of material having a first and second
edge along a first direction, a third and fourth edge along a
second direction, where the second direction is perpendicular to
the first direction. The sheet also has a first corner defined by
the first and fourth edge; a second corner defined by the first and
third edge; a third corner defined by the second and third edge;
and a fourth corner defined by the second and fourth edge. The
sheet has at least one fold along the first direction to define a
folded strip, such that the first corner of the sheet is present on
the uppermost surface of the folded strip, and the third corner of
the sheet is present on the bottommost surface of the folded strip.
The folded strip then has an even number of folds in a zigzag
fashion, along the second direction, to define the folded wipe,
such that the first corner of the sheet is present on the uppermost
surface of the folded wipe and the third corner is present on the
bottommost surface of the folded wipe. The first and third corners
of the sheet each have a pull indicium. The folded article is
opened with limited contact with the user by grasping the pull
indicia of the first and third corners and pulling the first and
second corners away from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a series of plan views of an individual sheet in
all of its sequential folding configurations to form the folded
article of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 1A is an end view of the partially folded sheet.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the folded article of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a series of plan views of an individual sheet in
all of its sequential folding configurations to form the folded
article of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2A is an end view of the partially folded sheet.
[0019] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the folded article of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of two wipes partially folded
according to the folding configuration of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an expanded side view of the one embodiment of
multiple wipes interfolded into a stack of wipes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] All types of products and materials can benefit from
particular folding configurations. As discussed above, folding an
article allows for more efficient packaging, storage and transport
of the article. Articles that can benefit from an improved folding
configuration include articles that are commonly folded such as
napkins, facial tissue, towels, and wipes. Other items such as
medical drapes, bedding, blueprints and maps also are commonly
folded and could benefit from an improved folding configuration.
This is only a partial, and non-limiting, list of articles that can
folded in accordance with the present invention. As such, the
present invention extends to all articles and materials that can be
folded in the manner described below. For exemplary purposes, the
discussion of the present invention will be directed to articles in
a generic sense and to wipes as a specific example of an article
that can be folded in accordance with present invention.
[0023] Wipes as discussed within, are useful for personal,
household, commercial and industrial cleansing applications. Common
wipes include baby wipes, face wipes, hand wipes, cosmetic wipes,
household wipes, industrial wipes and wipers, and the like.
Materials used to form a wipe of the type contemplated here are
generally well known in the industry. Such base materials may
include natural fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers
and polymers, or combinations thereof. These fibers are converted
into sheet substrates by a variety of processes that are also
generally well known in the industry. Wipes can be made of a single
substrate layer or may be made of multiple layers of substrate. A
wipe made of multiple layers of substrate, may have similar
material substrates in each layer or may be made of differing
substrate layers.
[0024] Such substrates may include, but are not limited to, woven
fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, synthetic films (cast or extruded),
tissue paper (heavy wet creped, light dry creped or through air
dried), air laid paper, and the like. Exemplary processes for
forming the substrates include, but are not limited to, the tissue
processes found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,767 and 6,331,230, both to
Hermans et al.; the nonwoven processes found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,604,313 to McFarland et al., 4,820,577 to Morman et al., and
4,784,892 to Storey et al.; coforming processes as found in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,100,324 to Anderson et al. and as described in U.S.
Patent Publication No. 2003/0200991 to Keck et al.; and
hydroentangled material processes as found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,284,703 and 5,389,202, both to Everhart et al.
[0025] Wipes can be wet or substantially dry. A substantially dry
wipes are often used to absorb fluids and particulates from
surfaces. Wet wipes are commonly found in personal hygiene
applications such as baby wipes and hand/face wipes. Both wet and
dry wipes often include additional substances that give the wipe
additional utility. Additional utility that can be added to the
wipe include, but is not limited to, cleaning solutions,
antibacterial formulations for sanitizing and/or disinfecting,
detergents, diapering medicines, moisturizing lotions, suntan
lotion, electro-statically charged zones, odor absorbing chemicals,
odor neutralizing enzymes, insect repellent, and the like.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a method of folding a sheet to form the
easy to open folded article of the present invention. Shown are
three folding stages, beginning with a full-sized sheet 100, which
is shown with a printed edge pattern 18 for reference during the
folding sequence. For additional reference, the sheet 100 is shown
with a first edge 11, second edge 12, third edge 13, fourth edge
14, a first corner 15, and a third corner 16. The dotted lines
indicate where the sheet will be folded next to reach the next
folded stage.
[0027] The sheet 100 is first folded along the three parallel folds
lines 111, 112 and 113 that are generally along the same direction
as the first and second edges 11, 12 of the sheet 100. This first
set of folds is made in a zigzag fashion to produce the folded
strip 101. To form the zigzag fold configuration of the folded
strip 101, each adjacent fold, folds the sheet in the opposite
direction to the previous adjacent fold. This fold configuration is
further illustrated in FIG. 1A, which is an end view of the folded
strip 101. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, each of the successive
adjacent folds of the sheet 100, resulted in a zigzag configuration
of folded layers in the folded strip 101. Each of the folds along
the three parallel fold lines 111, 112 and 113, produce folded
edges 111x, 112x, and 113x, respectively. As shown on the page in
FIG.1, the uppermost surface 191 of the folded strip 101 is defined
by the first edge 11, a portion of the third and fourth edges 13,
14, and the folded edge 111x.
[0028] The first corner 15 is in the upper right corner of the
uppermost surface 191 of the folded strip 101. The third corner 16
is not shown in FIG. 1, but relative to the first corner 15 as
shown on the page, the third corner 16 would be located in the
lower right corner of the bottommost surface of the folded strip
101.
[0029] The odd number of folds used to make the folded strip 101,
results in a folded strip 101 having an even number of fold
sections. Each of these folded sections are shown as rectangular in
shape, having a length dimension defined by the length of the sheet
in the direction of the first and second edges 11, 12, and having a
width dimension defined by the distances between the first and
second edges 11, 12 and the three parallel fold lines 111, 112, and
113. As shown in FIG. 1, the uppermost surface 191 of the folded
strip 101 is the uppermost fold section. While FIG. 1 shows each of
these fold sections to all be approximately equal in size, it is
possible that each of the folded sections may be of unequal sizes.
For example, of the four fold sections of the folded strip 101, the
folded sections that make up the uppermost surface 191 and the
bottommost surface of the folded strip 101, may be equal in size,
but smaller that the two interior fold sections that lie between
the uppermost and bottommost surfaces. In this case, the folded
edge 112x would extend beyond the first and second edges 11, 12 as
shown in FIG. 1A, and would be visible along the right edge of the
folded strip 101 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the two
interior fold sections may be smaller than the uppermost and
bottommost surfaces or all the fold sections may be of different
sizes.
[0030] The folded strip 101 is then folded in a zigzag fashion
along the parallel fold lines 121, 122 to form the folded article
102. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the first corner 15 is in the upper
right corner on the uppermost surface 192 of the folded article
102. The third corner 16 cannot be seen in FIG. 1, but relative to
the first corner 15 as shown on the page, the third corner 16 would
be present in the bottom right corner of the bottommost surface 193
of the folded article 102. FIG. 1B, illustrates the bottommost
surface 193 of the folded article 102 of FIG. 1, by flipping over
the folded article 102 in the vertical direction.
[0031] The even number of zigzag folds made to the folded strip 101
to form the folded article 102, results in a folded article 102
having an odd number of strip fold sections. Each of these strip
fold sections are shown as rectangular in shape, having a length
dimension defined by the distances between the third and fourth
edges 13, 14 and the two parallel fold lines 121 and 122. As shown
in FIG. 1, the uppermost surface 192 of the folded article 102 is
the uppermost strip fold section. While FIG. 1 shows each of these
strip fold sections to all be approximately equal in length, it is
possible that each of the strip fold sections may be of unequal
lengths. For example, of the three strip fold sections of the
folded article 102, the strip fold sections that make up the
uppermost surface 192 and the bottommost surface 193 of the folded
article 102, may be equal in length, but shorter that the interior
strip fold section that lies between them. In this case, the folded
edge 122x would extend beyond the fourth edge 14 and would be
visible along the top edge of the folded article 102 as shown in
FIG. 1. Alternatively, the top two strip fold sections may be
shorter than bottommost surface 193 or all the strip fold sections
may be of different lengths.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates another method of folding a sheet to form
the easy to open folded article of the present invention. While the
folding method shown in FIG. 1 used an odd number of zigzag folds
to produce a folded strip 101, FIG. 2 shows that an even number of
zigzag folds can be used to produce a folded strip 202.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows multiple folding stages, beginning with a
full-sized sheet 200, which is shown with a printed edge pattern 28
for reference during the folding sequence. For additional
reference, the sheet 200 is shown with a first edge 21, second edge
22, third edge 23, fourth edge 24, a first corner 25, and a third
corner 26. Again, the dotted lines indicate where the sheet will be
folded next to reach the next folded stage. In the first folding
stage of FIG. 2, the first corner 25 is folded over on top of the
sheet 200, along the fold line 91; the third corner 26 is folded
underneath the sheet 200, along the fold line 93.
[0034] Similarly to the folding pattern shown in FIG. 1, the sheet
201 is folded along the two parallel folds lines 211 and 212 that
are generally along the same direction as the first and second
edges 21, 22 of the sheet 201. This first set of folds is made in a
zigzag fashion to produce the folded strip 202. To form the zigzag
fold configuration of the folded strip 202, each adjacent fold,
folds the sheet in the opposite direction to the previous adjacent
fold. This fold configuration is further illustrated in FIG. 2A,
which is an end view of the folded strip 202. As can be seen in
FIG. 2A, each of the successive adjacent folds of the sheet 201,
resulted in a zigzag configuration of folded layers in the folded
strip 202. Each of the folds along the two parallel fold lines 211
and 212, produce folded edges 211x and 212x, respectively. As shown
on the page in FIG. 2, the uppermost surface 291 of the folded
strip 202 is defined by the first edge 21, a portion of the third
and fourth edges 23, 24, and the folded edge 211x.
[0035] The first corner 25 is in the upper right corner of the
uppermost surface 291 of the folded strip 202. The third corner 26
is not shown in FIG. 2, but relative to the first corner 25 as
shown on the page, the third corner 26 would be located in the
lower left corner of the bottommost surface of the folded strip
202.
[0036] The even number of folds used to make the folded strip 202,
results in a folded strip 202 having an odd number of fold
sections. Each of these folded sections is rectangular in shape,
having a length dimension defined by the length of the sheet in the
direction of the first and second edges 21, 22, and having a width
dimension defined by the distances between the first and second
edges 21, 22 and the two parallel fold lines 211 and 212. As shown
in FIG. 2, the uppermost surface 291 of the folded strip 202 is the
uppermost fold section. While FIG. 2 shows each of these fold
sections to all be approximately equal in size, it is possible that
each of the folded sections may be of unequal sizes. For example,
of the three fold sections of the folded strip 202, the folded
sections that make up the uppermost surface 291 and the bottommost
surface of the folded strip 202, may be equal in size, but smaller
that the interior fold section that lies between them. In this
case, the folded edge 212xwould extend beyond the first edge 21 as
shown in FIG. 2A, and would be visible along the right edge of the
folded strip 202 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the top two
fold sections may be smaller than the bottommost fold section or
all the fold sections may be of different sizes.
[0037] The folded strip 202, is then folded in a zigzag fashion
along the parallel fold lines 221 and 222 to form the folded
article 203. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first corner 25 is in
the upper right corner on the uppermost surface 292 of the folded
article 203. The third corner 26 cannot be seen in FIG. 2, but
relative to the first corner 25 as shown on the page, the third
corner 26 would be present in the bottom left corner of the
bottommost surface 293 of the folded article 203. FIG. 2B,
illustrates the bottommost surface 293 of the folded article 203 of
FIG. 2, by flipping over the folded article 203 in the vertical
direction.
[0038] The even number of zigzag fashion folds made on the folded
strip 202 to make the folded article 203, results in a folded
article 203 having an odd number of strip fold sections. Each of
these strip fold sections is rectangular in shape, having a length
dimension defined by the distances between the third and fourth
edges 23, 24 and the two parallel fold lines 221 and 222. As shown
in FIG. 2, the uppermost surface 292 of the folded article 203 is
the uppermost strip fold section. While FIG. 2 shows each of these
strip fold sections to all be approximately equal in length, it is
possible that each of the folded sections may be of unequal
lengths. For example, of the three strip fold sections of the
folded article 203, the strip fold section that makes up the
uppermost surface 292 and the bottommost surface 293 of the folded
article 203, may be equal in length, but shorter that the interior
strip fold section that lies between them. In this case, the folded
edge 222x would extend beyond the fourth edge 24 and would be
visible along the top edge of the folded article 203 as shown in
FIG. 2. Alternatively, the top two strip fold sections may be
shorter than bottommost surface 293 or all the surfaces may be of
different lengths.
[0039] While the sheets 100, 200 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are
generally rectangular in shape, with their respective first and
second edges generally perpendicular to the respective third and
fourth edges, the sheets may be differently shaped. For example,
the sheet may be more like a parallelogram in shape, such that the
adjacent edges meet at angles greater than or less than 900.
Alternatively, the sheet may generally be square in shape.
[0040] In both of the folding configurations described relative to
FIGS. 1 and 2, a folded strip is formed by zigzag folding of a
sheet in a first direction, followed by zigzag folding of the
folded strip in a second direction, the second direction being
substantially perpendicular to the first direction. While three
parallel folds were used to make the folded strip 101 of FIG. 1 and
two parallel folds were used to make the folded strip 202 of FIG.
2, the invention also considers folded strips made by at least one
parallel fold and those made by a greater number of parallel folds.
Regardless of the number of parallel folds used to make the folded
strip, it is preferred that those folds be made in a zigzag
fashion. As discussed before, such zigzag folding requires that
each adjacent fold is made in the opposite direction as the
adjacent fold. In other words, such a zigzag fold is a series of
"Z-folds" which are commonly understood in the art to be a fold
series that resembles the alphabet character for which it is
named.
[0041] Both the folded strip 101 of FIG. 1 and the folded strip 202
of FIG. 2 were then zigzag folded along two parallel fold lines
substantially perpendicular to the fold lines used to form the
folded strips. The folded strip could be folded by a greater number
of parallel folds than the two folds described with regard to FIGS.
1 and 2. However, to accomplish the desired ability to easily open
the folded article, the number of zigzag folds made to the folded
strip should be an even number of folds greater than zero (i.e., 2,
4, 6, 8, etc.).
[0042] To open the folded article folded by either of the folding
description of FIGS. 1 or 2, the user grasps the corner of the
folded sheet present on the uppermost surface of the folded article
and grasps the corner of the folded sheet present on the bottommost
surface of the folded article and pulls the two corners away from
each other. The corners that are present on the uppermost and
bottommost surfaces of the folded article, as described for FIGS. 1
and 2, are the diagonally opposite corners of the unfolded sheet.
By grasping and pulling these two available corners away from each
other, the folded article will easily and fully unfold the sheet
material. The user is thus able to fully unfold the folded article
while contacting the folded article only at the two diagonally
opposite corners.
[0043] If an odd number of zigzag folds are made to the folded
strip to form the finished folded article, grasping the corners
available on the uppermost and bottommost surfaces and pulling
those corners apart will not fully open the article. By folding the
folded strip by an odd number of folds, the corners present on the
uppermost and bottommost surfaces of the folded article will be two
adjacent corners along the same edge of the unfolded sheet. By
pulling these adjacent corners apart, the user is left holding two
corners of the folded strip. To fully open the folded strip the
user would have to regrasp and unfold it or could give it a quick
snap to unfold its zigzag folds.
[0044] While not as convenient as being able to pull open the wipe
by grasping the diagonally opposite corners, as the folding
described by FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates, the method of folding the
folded strip an odd number of zigzag folds may be advantageous for
an article with a large area. A larger article may be of a size
such that the diagonally opposite corners are too far apart for a
person to easily pull the article open by pulling the diagonally
opposite corners apart. The larger the object is on the diagonal,
the wider the user will have pull the corners apart, requiring
longer arms or the assistance of another person. However, if the
large article is folded such that the folded strip is folded by an
odd number of zigzag folds, the user would only have to spread the
corners of the same side apart (a span that is shorter than the
diagonal). Such a large object may also have enough weight in its
layers that the folded strip may unfold itself with the help of
gravity.
[0045] The fold configuration as described for and shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, produces a folded article that is easy to open. By grasping
and pulling the exposed corners apart, the user can open the folded
article. The process of opening the article can be aided by
providing the user with one or more pull indicia that indicate
where the user should grasp the article. Such pull indicia can be
any sensory cue that will allow the user to find the location where
they should grasp and pull on the folded article. The cues will
generally be visual or tactile in nature, but auditory, olfactory
and gustatory cues are not precluded.
[0046] The pull indicia may be the corners themselves as they are
present on the uppermost and bottommost surfaces of the folded
article. The user can visually identify such a corner on each such
surface or will be able to feel the location of such a corner by
running a finger over such surfaces. The corners can be further
distinguished by folding the corner over as shown in FIG. 2. In
FIG. 2, the first and third corners 25, 26 were folded over in the
first step of the folding process, but the same corners could
alternatively be folded over as the last step of forming the folded
article 203. Such folded corner pull indicia present on the
uppermost and bottommost surfaces of the folded article may act as
both a visual and tactile cue; indicating the location of the
corner and acting as a tab for the user to grab and pull. Instead
of folding the corner over, or in addition to such a fold, the apex
of the corner may be removed, cut into a unique shape, or otherwise
distinguished from other corners.
[0047] Other visual cues that could act as a pull indicium could
include the use of colors, textures, symbols, logos or the like.
For example, the material to be folded may have different colors,
or different shades of color, on one face versus its reverse face.
When folded by the present invention, the corners present on the
uppermost and bottommost surface will be more noticeable due to the
difference in color of the corner versus the background material
the corners rest against. Such a color difference could be further
used to enhance a folded corner pull indicium, as discussed
above.
[0048] Another example of a visual cue would be a printed edge
pattern, similar to the one used in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a folding
reference. Such a printed edge pattern could be solid color, a
geometric pattern, or a repeated symbol, logo, or a message. As
seen in FIGS. 1 and 1B, the printed edge pattern 18 points to the
corners 15, 16 of the folded article 102 that are to be grasped and
pulled to open the folded article 102. In a similar fashion the
printed edge pattern 28 as present in FIGS. 2 and 2B is shown as
printed only on one side of the sheet. This one-side printing
provides the folded over corners 25, 26 with a pull indicia of
contrasting pattern to the surfaces 292, 293 on which the corners
25, 26 are folded over.
[0049] A symbol, logo, shape, message, or similar marking could be
used in the area of the corner to be pulled as a pull indicium.
Rather than printing the entire sheet edge with a pattern, a
discrete marking could be made in the area to be grasped and
pulled. For example, in FIG. 1, single dots 81, 83 are shown on the
first and second corners 15, 16 of the folded sheet, such that when
folded into the folded article 102, the dots 81, 83 indicate where
the folded article is to be grasped and pulled. Other shapes,
symbols (e.g., an arrow pointing to the corner), messages (e.g.,
"Pull Here"), logos or manufacturer moniker (e.g. "Kimberly-Clark")
could also be used.
[0050] Alternatively, or additionally, the pull indicia may be
tactile in nature. As with the difference in color discussed above,
the sheet may have a distinctly different texture on one face
versus the reverse face. When such a sheet is folded by the present
invention, the corners present on the uppermost and bottommost
surface will be more noticeable due to the difference in texture in
the corner versus the texture of the material the corners rest
against. Such a texture difference could be further used to enhance
a folded corner pull indicium, as discussed above.
[0051] Embossing, texture, pleats, scoring, pleating, and the like
are all examples of tactile cues that could be added to the folded
article as pull indicia. The visual cues such as logos, messages,
and symbols could be embossed into the area to be grasped and
pulled, and thus act as both visual and tactile cue. Another type
of tactile cue pull indicium would be the addition of a piece of
differently textured material to the area to be grasped and pulled.
Rather than being printed, the dots 81, 83 as shown in FIGS. 1 and
1B, could be a circular piece of textured material that has been
adhered or otherwise attached to the sheet.
[0052] As stated above, regardless of the type of pull indicium
that is used, it must be located in the areas that the user will
grasp and pull to open the folded article. For the folding methods
of the present invention, such areas will be present on the
uppermost and bottommost surfaces of the folded article. However,
it should be noted that the number of zigzag folds used to make the
folded strip will determine whether the bottommost surface that is
exposed will be the front face of the face of the unfolded sheet or
the reverse face of the unfolded sheet.
[0053] If an odd number of folds are used to make the folded strip,
as shown in FIG. 1, the front face of the material will be on both
the exposed uppermost and bottommost surfaces of the folded
article. Thus, pull indicia, such as dots 81, 83, can be placed
proximate to the first and third corners 15, 16 on the front side
of the sheet 100, the sheet 100 can be folded as shown in FIG. 1,
and the pull indicia of dots 81, 83 will appear on the outermost
surfaces of the folded article 102.
[0054] If an even number of folds is used to make the folded strip,
as shown in FIG. 2, the front face of the material will be on the
exposed uppermost surface 292 of the folded article 203, but the
reverse face of the material will be on the exposed bottommost
surface 293 of the folded article 203. Thus, pull indicia, such as
the folded first and third corners 25, 26 are made on the opposites
faces of the sheet 200. The sheet 200 can then be folded as shown
in FIG. 2 and the pull indicia of folded corners 25, 26 will appear
on the outermost surfaces of the folded article 203.
[0055] All of the above pull indicia could be used singularly or in
combination. Additionally, the individual pull indicium used on the
areas to be grasped and pulled can be the same for both areas to be
grasped or may be different. The pull indicia can be any sensory
cue that will allow the user to locate the areas to be grasped and
pulled to open the folded article. The pull indicia discussed above
are only examples and are not intended to be limiting.
[0056] Such folded articles could be packaged as individual
packets, or a multitude of such folded articles could be stacked
and packaged together. Such multiple-article stacks could be
packaged in plastic film packaging, a box, a hard shell container,
or any other type of container adapted to containing such a stack
of folded articles. Such containers may be additionally adapted to
dispensing the folded articles. A stack of such folded articles may
consist of multiple folded articles placed directly on top of each
other. Alternatively, the individual folded articles of the stack
may be interfolded or possibly interleaved. An interfolded or
interleaved stack is generally the preferred method of stacking
folded articles for use in a container adapted for dispensing such
folded articles.
[0057] A wipe is an article that would benefit from the particular
folding configuration of the present invention. As discussed above,
folded wipes are often folded in such a way that can be difficult
to open and often are a source of frustration to those who attempt
to unfold and use them. Generally, sheets that are used for wipes
measure in the range of about 4 inches by 4 inches to about 8
inches by 12 inches (about 100 mm.times.100 mm to about 200
mm.times.300 mm). For individual packaging, such a wipe is folded
into a size in the range of about 1 inch by 1 inch to about 3
inches by 4 inches (about 25 mm.times.25 mm to about 75
mm.times.100 mm). Larger and smaller folded wipes and larger and
smaller unfolded sheets are also considered to be within the scope
of the invention.
[0058] The wipe sheet could be folded by the fold configuration of
the present invention to produce a folded wet wipe having corners
on the uppermost and bottommost surfaces which the user could grasp
and pull away from each other to easily open the folded wipe. Such
a wipe could be folded into a size that can be individually packed
(i.e., between about 1 inch by 1 inch and about 3 inches by 4
inches). Although any small rectangular size and shape provides a
convenient size for an individually packaged wipe, a folded wipe
that is substantially square in shape is preferred due to its ease
in packaging.
[0059] Such individual folded wipes are either placed into a
pre-made packet or they are individually wrapped with a film
material to form the packet around the folded wipe. In either case,
such packets are generally made of polyethylene or metalized cast
polypropylene film.
[0060] Multiple individually folded wipes could be placed directly
on top of each other to form a stack that could be packaged and
sold. For example, a stack having 10 to 15 such folded wipes could
be wrapped in a small plastic film packaging, such as used for
facial tissue to produce what is commonly known as a pocket pack.
Alternatively, a larger number of folded wipes could be placed in a
stack and packaged in a plastic tub or other types of enclosed
packaging adapted to contain a stack of such folded wipes. Such
packaging might also be adapted to dispense such wipes.
[0061] As discussed above, packaging that is adapted to dispense
such wipes generally use a stack of folded articles that are
interfolded or interleaved such that when an individual wipe is
removed from the packaging, the next wipe is presented and easily
assessable to the user.
[0062] "Interfolding" as the term is used here refers to the
stacking of individually folded articles where folded sections of
the folded articles are overlapped in the stack. For example, FIG.
3 shows a first wipe 310 and a second wipe 410, both of which have
been folded into the folded strip configuration as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 shows the two wipes 310, 410 prior to being zigzag folded
along their individual strip folds 321, 322 and 421, 422 to form
finished folded wipes. The first wipe 310 has a first corner 315
that will eventually be grasped in pulled, in conjunction with the
third corner 316, to open the wipe 310. Similarly, the second wipe
410 also has a first corner 415. The first wipe 310 has a first
strip fold 321, which separates the first strip fold section 331,
from the second strip fold section 332, and a second strip fold
322, which separates the second strip fold section 332 from the
third strip fold section 333. Similarly, the second wipe 410 has a
first strip fold 421, which separates the first strip fold section
431, from the second strip fold section 432, and a second strip
fold 422, which separates the second strip fold section 332 from
the third strip fold section 433.
[0063] The first and second wipes 310, 410 are interleaved by
putting them in relationship with each other such that the reverse
face of the first strip fold section 431 of the second wipe 410 is
in close proximity with the face of the third strip fold section
333 of the first wipe 310; the first corner 415 of the second wipe
410 will be nestled into the inside of the second fold 322 of the
first wipe 310. FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the interfolding
of the first wipe 310 and second wipe 410 as described above. When
the first wipe 310 is removed from the stack, the first strip fold
section 431 of the second wipe 410 will be accessible to the
user.
[0064] Alternatively, the stack of folded wipes may be interleaved.
"Interleaving" or "interleaved" as the terms are used here refers
to the stacking of individually folded articles where single corner
found the bottommost surface of one wipe is overlapped by the
single corner found on the uppermost surface of the underlying wipe
or a folded section of the underlying wipe. It can also refer to
the overlap of a folded section of the overlying wipe by a single
corner found on the uppermost surface of the underlying wipe. When
the overlying wipe is removed from the stack the top corner, or top
section, of the underlying wipe will then be accessible to the
user.
[0065] Regardless of whether interfolding or interleaving is used
to form the stack of folded wipes, the removal of the overlying
wipe will pull on the underlying wipe in such a way as to make part
of the underlying wipe accessible to the user. While the overlying
wipe's ability to pull on the underlying wipe is partially due to
the interaction of the folds, some degree of surface-to-surface
resistance is required between the two wipes. This resistance may
be provided by the wet nature of the wipes which causes them to
cling to one another. Alternatively, the wipes could be
mechanically bonded, crimped, co-apertured or ultrasonically bonded
in one or more points such that the overlapping surfaces of the
wipe stick together. Finally, the surface-to-surface resistance
could be increased through chemical bonding or the use of adhesives
over some portion of the interacting surfaces.
* * * * *