U.S. patent application number 11/848355 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for refillable dispensing carton system.
Invention is credited to Jane L. Clough, Daniel S. Grubb, JR., Cynthia W. Henderson, Leslie T. Long, Robert S. Schlaupitz.
Application Number | 20090057329 11/848355 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40387956 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090057329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clough; Jane L. ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
Refillable Dispensing Carton System
Abstract
A dispenser system for dispensing a clip of stack sheets of a
web material includes an upright carton body with a clip of the
stacked sheets carried within the carton body. A first lid is
non-removably attached to the carton body such that the first lid
cannot be removed from the carton body without permanent
deformation of the first lid or the carton body. The first lid
includes a sacrificial separation portion configured to allow a
user to separate at least a section of the first lid from the
carton body after depletion of the initial clip. A replacement lid
assembly includes lid structure and a replacement clip of stacked
sheets of web material. The lid structure is attachable to the
carton body or a remaining portion of the first lid.
Inventors: |
Clough; Jane L.; (Neenah,
WI) ; Henderson; Cynthia W.; (Neenah, WI) ;
Schlaupitz; Robert S.; (New London, WI) ; Grubb, JR.;
Daniel S.; (Appleton, WI) ; Long; Leslie T.;
(Appleton, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORITY & MANNING, P.A.
POST OFFICE BOX 1449
GREENVILLE
SC
29602-1449
US
|
Family ID: |
40387956 |
Appl. No.: |
11/848355 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/33 ; 206/494;
221/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
A47K 10/421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/33 ; 206/494;
221/26 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/02 20060101
B65H003/02; B65D 73/00 20060101 B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A dispenser system for dispensing a clip of stack sheets of a
web material, comprising: an upright carton body defined by a
bottom and sidewall and defining an internal volume for receipt of
a clip of stacked sheets of a web material; a clip of stacked
sheets of web material carried within said carton body; a first lid
non-removably attached to said carton body such that said first lid
cannot be removed from said carton body without permanent
deformation of said first lid or said carton body, said first lid
comprising a dispensing window through which individual sheets from
said clip are pulled by a user; said first lid further comprising a
sacrificial separation portion configured to allow a user to deform
and separate at least a section of said first lid from said carton
body after depletion of said clip; a replacement lid assembly
comprising a lid structure and a replacement clip of stacked sheets
of web material, said replacement clip insertable into said
internal volume through the space left by said removed portion of
said first lid, and said lid structure being attachable to said
carton body or a remaining portion of said first lid.
2. The dispenser system as in claim 1, wherein said first lid
comprises an outer ring that is locked to an upper edge of said
sidewalls by non-releasable interlocking structure, said
sacrificial separation portion comprising a weakened section in
said ring that allows a user to separate said ring to release said
interlocking structure and remove said ring from said carton
body.
3. The dispenser system as in claim 2, wherein said weakened
structure comprises any combination of a notch, score line,
perforation, or thinned section of said ring.
4. The dispenser system as in claim 2, wherein said lid structure
of said replacement lid assembly comprises an outer ring and
engaging structure for non-releasable attachment to said carton
body.
5. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said first lid comprises an
outer ring that is permanently attached to an upper edge of said
sidewalls and a plate circumscribed by said ring through which said
dispensing window is defined, said sacrificial separation portion
comprising a weakened section between said ring and said plate that
allows a user to separate said plate from said ring.
6. The dispenser as in claim 5, wherein said weakened structure
comprises any combination of a score line, perforation, or thinned
section between said ring and said plate.
7. The dispenser as in claim 5, wherein said lid structure of said
replacement lid assembly comprises a plate member that attaches to
said outer ring of said first lid.
8. The dispenser as in claim 5, wherein said lid structure of said
replacement lid assembly comprises a ring and plate member, with
said ring attachable to said ring of said first lid.
9. The dispenser as in claim 8, wherein said ring of said
replacement lid assembly attaches over said ring of said first
lid.
10. The dispenser as in claim 8, wherein said ring of said
replacement lid assembly attaches to an inner circumferential
surface of said ring of said first lid.
11. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said replacement clip is
contained within a film bag attached to an underside of said lid
structure.
12. The dispenser as in claim 11, wherein said film bag extends
across a dispensing window in said lid structure and has a
dispensing slit formed therein.
13. The dispenser as in claim 11, wherein said film bag comprises a
portion that extends through said dispensing window in said lid
structure, said portion comprising a hanging member and being
removable from said film bag.
14. A replacement lid assembly for use with a dispenser for
dispensing a clip of stack sheets of a web material, the dispenser
having an upright carton body with an internal volume defined by a
bottom and sidewalls, said replacement lid assembly comprising lid
structure and a replacement clip of stacked sheets of web material
carried within a receptacle configured on an underside of said lid
structure, said receptacle and replacement clip insertable into the
internal volume of the dispenser with said lid structure being
attachable to the dispenser.
15. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 14, wherein said lid
structure comprises an outer ring and engaging structure for
non-releasable attachment to the carton body of the dispenser.
16. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 13, wherein said lid
structure comprises a sacrificial separation portion configured to
allow a user to deform and remove at least a section of said lid
structure from said dispenser after depletion of said replacement
clip.
17. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 16, wherein said lid
structure comprises an outer ring with engaging structure that
non-releasably locks to an upper edge of the carton, said
sacrificial separation portion comprising a weakened section in
said ring that allows a user to separate said ring to release said
interlocking structure and remove said ring from said carton
body.
18. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 17, wherein said
weakened structure comprises any combination of a notch, score
line, perforation, or thinned section of said ring.
19. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 14, wherein said lid
structure comprises a plate member that attaches to an outer ring
on the dispenser carton body.
20. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 14, wherein said lid
structure comprises a ring and plate member.
21. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 20, wherein said ring
is configured to attach over a ring on the dispenser carton
body.
22. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 20, wherein said ring
is configured to attach to an inner circumferential surface of a
ring on the dispenser carton body.
23. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 14, wherein said
receptacle comprises a film bag attached to an underside of said
lid structure.
24. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 23, wherein said film
bag extends across a dispensing window in said lid structure and
has a dispensing slit formed therein.
25. The replacement lid assembly as in claim 23, wherein said film
bag comprises a portion that extends through a dispensing window in
said lid structure, said portion comprising a hanging member and
being removable from said film bag.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Facial tissue cartons come in a wide variety of shapes and
sizes, but they can generally be classified as either one of two
basic styles. One style is the flat carton and the other is the
upright carton. In a flat carton, the tissues are laid flat into
the carton and are withdrawn from the top of the carton or through
an opening in the top which partially extends downward into the
front sidewall. The tissues within the carton may be interfolded
for pop-up dispensing or merely laid on top of one another for
reach-in dispensing. In an upright carton, the tissues are folded
into an inverted U-shaped clip and are typically interfolded for
pop-up dispensing. Each tissue is singularly withdrawn through a
dispensing opening in the top of the carton, which may contain a
polymeric film having a slit to hold the popped up tissue in
place.
[0002] Decorative upright dispensing cartons have gained wide
acceptance by the consuming public, particularly cartons having a
circular, oval, or some other rounded sidewall shape. Such cartons
typically include decorative colors, graphics, or indicia on the
visible sidewalls. The cartons may be designed to coordinate or
compliment the user's home decor, and are often displayed in highly
visible places as a decorative accessory item.
[0003] A clip of stacked web sheets, such as facial tissue sheets,
is inserted into the decorative carton during manufacture, with the
top or lid subsequently permanently attached to the carton
sidewalls to define a complete disposable dispenser package.
Located within or adjacent to the dispensing window in the lid is a
dispensing window comprising a slit flexible film material. This
material protects the upper tissue sheets that would otherwise be
exposed through the dispensing slot, and also serves to hold a
partially dispensed sheet within the window for subsequent
withdrawal.
[0004] A potential drawback of the decorative upright dispensers is
that, due to the carton size and rounded or curved shape, the size
of the tissue clip and number of sheets carried in the dispenser is
somewhat limited. The decorative dispenser thus has a limited life,
and certain consumers may find it frustrating to have to dispose of
the carton. Value perception issues may arise if consumers believe
that they have paid a premium price for the decorative dispenser,
yet have to dispose of the dispenser after a relatively short
life.
[0005] Refillable dispensers having removable lids are well known
and widely used for dispensing various embodiments of stacked
sheets of web materials. For example, dispensers with removable
lids are typically used for dispensing replaceable clips of
pre-moistened wipes from a film bag inserted into the dispenser.
These removable lid configurations are, however, easily recognized
as removable and do not present the perception of a fresh or "new"
product to the consumer. The perception of a "new" dispenser is far
more valuable to a consumer than an easily recognized refillable
container. Many consumers would rather have their guests believe
that the tissue box presented to them is a new product rather that
an old carton that has been refilled. This perceived extravagance
may have particular appeal to consumers and marketing value to
manufacturers.
[0006] Also, with upright carton dispensers, the clip of stacked
sheets must typically be folded and oriented a certain way within
the container, particularly with oval or other rounded-shape
decorative carton dispensers. This requirement would tend to make
refilling such cartons burdensome and confusing for certain
consumers.
[0007] Accordingly, a need exists for a dispenser system
particularly suited for higher end decorative dispensers that
provides the economy and value of a refillable dispenser without
eliminating the perception of a fresh, new product with each
refill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0009] In general, the present invention is directed to an upright
carton dispenser system for dispensing individual sheets from a
clip of stacked sheets contained within the dispenser. Although the
dispenser system is particularly suited as a high-end decorative
dispenser for dispensing facial tissues, this use is not a
limitation of the system. The clip of stacked sheet material may
comprise, for instance, any suitable tissue product or textile
product. For instance, the sheet material may comprise a tissue
product, such as a facial tissue, a stacked bath tissue product,
pre-moistened wipers, industrial wipers, napkins, stacked paper
towels, other various wipers, and the like. In other embodiments,
the sheet material may comprise stacked layers of nonwoven webs,
such as meltblown webs, spunbond webs, hydroentangled webs, webs
containing a mixture of cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers, and
laminates thereof. The clips may contain the sheet material as
individual sheets that can be interfolded together or as a folded
continuous sheet that includes perforation lines for separating one
sheet from the stack.
[0010] In a particular embodiment, the dispenser includes a carton
body defined by a bottom, sidewall(s), and a lid, the carton body
defining an internal volume for receipt of a clip of stacked sheets
of a web material. Although the dispenser has particular usefulness
as a curved wall dispenser, such as an oval shaped carton, it may
also be embodied as a rectangular shaped carton. The lid has a
dispensing window through which individual sheets from the clip of
stacked sheets are pulled by a user.
[0011] The dispenser system includes a first lid non-removably
attached to the carton body such that the lid cannot be removed
without permanent deformation of the first lid or the carton body.
In other words, the lid or the carton body would be deformed or
essentially destroyed so as not to be usable. The first lid has a
sacrificial separation portion configured to allow a user to break,
bend, tear, separate, or otherwise disengage at least a section of
the first lid from the carton body after depletion of the clip. The
complete first lid or sections thereof are then easily removable
from the carton body.
[0012] The dispenser system includes a replacement lid assembly
that includes lid structure and a replacement clip of stacked
sheets of web material. The replacement clip is insertable into the
internal volume of the carton body once the first lid has been
removed, and the lid structure is then non-removably attached to
the carton body or a remaining portion of the first lid.
[0013] In a particular embodiment, the first lid comprises an outer
ring that is locked to an upper edge of the carton sidewalls by
non-releasable interlocking structure. The sacrificial separation
portion may include a weakened section in the ring that allows a
user to separate the ring in order to release the interlocking
structure and remove the complete ring from the carton body. The
weakened structure may include any combination of a notch, score
line, perforation, or thinned section of the ring.
[0014] The lid structure of the replacement lid assembly may
include various configurations. In one embodiment, the structure
includes an outer ring and engaging structure for non-releasable
attachment to the carton body. The lid structure may include the
same or a different type of sacrificial portion as the first lid so
as to also be removable from the carton body.
[0015] In still another embodiment, the first lid includes an outer
ring that is permanently attached to an upper edge of the carton
sidewalls and a plate circumscribed by the ring through which the
dispensing window is defined. The sacrificial portion may include a
weakened section between the ring and the plate that allows a user
to separate the plate from the ring. For example, this weakened
portion may include any combination of a score line, perforation,
or thinned section between the ring and the plate that allows a
user to pull the plate away from the ring, or push the plate into
the carton body to separate it from the ring. With this embodiment,
the lid structure of the replacement lid assembly may include a
plate member that attaches to the outer ring of the first lid that
remains attached to the carton body. For example, the plate member
may attach to a circumferential flange on the outer ring of the
first lid, and may include a ring of adhesive for this purpose. In
an alternative embodiment, the lid structure of the replacement lid
assembly may include a ring and plate member, with the ring
attachable to the ring of the first lid, for example by fitting
over the ring of the first lid, or by attaching to an inner
circumferential surface of the ring of the first lid.
[0016] The replacement clip of stacked sheets may be contained
within a film bag that is attached to an underside of the
replacement lid structure. This film bag may extend across the
dispensing window in the lid structure and include a dispensing
slit formed therein through which the sheets are withdrawn.
[0017] The invention also encompasses embodiments of the
replacement lid assembly alone that are provided for subsequent
configuration with a dispenser carton.
[0018] Other features and aspects of the present disclosure are
discussed in greater detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set
forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification,
including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
dispensing system according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
after removal of the lid from the dispenser;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of an embodiment of locking
structure between the dispenser lid and carton body;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of an alternative embodiment of
interlocking structure between the dispenser lid and carton
body;
[0024] FIG. 5A is a side plan view of a dispenser lid and
associated removable plate member;
[0025] FIGS. 5B and 5C are side plan views of embodiments of
replacement lid structure that may be configured with the structure
of FIG. 5A:
[0026] FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial perspective views of an
alternative embodiment of a dispensing system;
[0027] FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial perspective views of a different
embodiment of a dispensing system in accordance with aspects of the
invention.
[0028] Repeat use of reference characters in the present
specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or
analogous features or elements of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to one or more
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the figures. It should be understood that each embodiment is
provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a
limitation of the invention. Features illustrated or described with
respect to one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to
yield still a further embodiment.
[0030] In general, a dispenser system 10 is illustrated for
dispensing individual sheets 14 of a web material from a clip 12 of
stacked sheets contained within the dispenser. Although the
dispenser system 10 is particularly suited for dispensing facial
tissues, this use is not a limitation of the dispenser. The clip of
stacked sheet material 12 may comprise, for instance, any suitable
tissue product or textile product. For instance, the sheet material
may comprise a tissue product, such as a facial tissue, a stacked
bath tissue product, premoistened wipers, industrial wipers,
napkins, stacked paper towels, other various wipers, and the like.
In other embodiments, the sheet material may comprise stacked
layers of nonwoven webs, such as meltblown webs, spunbond webs,
hydroentangled webs, webs containing a mixture of cellulose fibers
and synthetic fibers, and laminates thereof. The clips may contain
the sheet material as individual sheets that can be interfolded
together or as a folded continuous sheet that includes perforation
lines for separating one sheet from the stack.
[0031] In particular embodiments, the dispenser system 10 includes
an initial dispenser 16 and a replacement lid assembly 44. The
dispenser 16 includes a carton body 18 defined by a bottom 20,
sidewall 22, and a lid 30. The sidewall may include a continuous
sidewall structure, such as in an oval carton, or a segmented
sidewall structure, such as in a rectangular carton. The carton
body 18 may be made of any conventional material known and used in
the construction of dispenser cartons. The carton body 18 defines
an internal volume for receipt of an initial clip of stacked
sheets, which may be interfolded. Although the dispenser 16 has
particular usefulness as a curved wall dispenser, such as the oval
dispenser illustrated in the figures, the dispenser 16 may embody a
rectangular shaped carton. The lid 30 has a dispensing window 26
through which individual sheets 14 from the clip of stacked sheets
12 are pulled by a user. This window 26 may be initially sealed by
a removable paperboard "surfboard", and may further include a film
barrier sheet over exposed portions of the underlying sheets, with
the film having a slit 60 through which individual sheets 14 are
pulled by the user.
[0032] The lid 30 initially provided with the dispenser 16 is not
removable from the carton body 18 without permanent deformation of
the lid 30 or the carton body 18. The lid 30 cannot be removed from
the carton body 18 and then re-attached to the carton body without
destroying either the carton body 18 or lid 30. The lid 30 does,
however, have a sacrificial separation portion 28 that is
configured to allow a user to break, bend, tear, separate, or
otherwise permanently deform and disengage at least a section of
the first lid 30 from the carton body 18 after depletion of the
clip. Activation or use of this separation portion 28 results in a
permanent deformation of the lid 30 and renders the lid essentially
unusable. The separation portion 28 is designed to allow removal of
the complete lid 30, or sections thereof, from the carton body
18.
[0033] The dispenser system 10 includes a replacement lid assembly
44 that includes lid structure 46 and a replacement clip 48 of
stacked sheets of web material. The replacement clip 48 is
insertable into the internal volume of the carton body 18 after the
first lid 30 has been removed. The lid structure 46 is then
attached to the carton body 18, or a remaining portion of the first
lid 30.
[0034] In particular embodiments illustrated in the figures, the
first lid 30 includes an outer ring component 32 that is locked to
an upper edge 24 of the carton sidewalls 22 by non-releasable
interlocking structure 34. This structure 34 may be any
configuration of structure between the sidewalls 22 or top edge 24
of the carton body 18 and complimentary structure on the ring 32
that prevents the ring (and thus the lid 30) from being pulled off
of the carton body 18. For example, in the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 3, the ring component 32 of the lid 30 includes a
downwardly extending hook member 33 that engages within an
oppositely oriented hook member 25 formed in the upper edge 24 of
sidewall 22. In this embodiment, the ring member does not extend
circumferentially beyond the sidewall 22. In the embodiment of FIG.
4, the ring 32 extends beyond the sidewall 22, and the hook member
33 on the underside of the ring 32 extends radially inward and
engages with the oppositely oriented hook 25 formed in the upper
edge 24 of the sidewall 22. The components have a sufficient degree
of flexibility to allow the lid 30 to be pressed onto the carton
body 18 during initial manufacture of the dispenser 16. However,
once the hook portions have engaged, they cannot be readily
separated without damaging the lid 30 or carton body 18.
[0035] It should be readily appreciated that the engaging
structures represented in FIGS. 3 and 4 are merely exemplary of any
number of interlocking engaging structures that may be used between
the components within the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0036] In other embodiments, the lid 30 may be attached to the
carton body or sidewalls 22 by other means. For example, in the
embodiment of FIG. 5A, the ring 32 includes a slot on the underside
thereof and is press fitted onto the upper portion of the sidewall
22. An adhesive may be used to permanently set the components.
[0037] The sacrificial separation portion 28 can vary widely. In
the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4, the separation portion 28
includes one or more weakened sections 36 in the ring 32 or another
component of the lid 30 that allows a user to remove or separate a
part of the ring 32 in order to release the interlocking structure
34 and remove the complete ring 32, or portion of the ring 32, from
the carton body 18. The weakened structure 36 may include any
combination of a notch, score line, perforation, or thinned section
of the ring. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the weakened
structure 36 includes a series of notches formed around an outer
circumferential band of the lid 30. By grasping the band between
the notches 36, a user can bend or break away sections of the band
and release the engaging structure 34 between the lid 30 and upper
edge 24 of the carton sidewall 22. Similarly, in the embodiment of
FIG. 4, the weakened section 36 includes a score line defined
around the outer circumferential band of the ring 32 along which a
user can completely separate the hook member 33 from the rest of
the ring 30 and thus release the lid 30. The hook member 33 may
also be removed or may remain attached to the carton sidewall. In
the embodiment of FIG. 3, the weakened section 36 is also defined
as a score line that allows a user to essentially peel the upper
portion of the ring 32 away from the hook member 33. A pull-tab
(such as the tab 58 illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6A) may
be provided at any location on the ring 32 for this purpose.
[0038] The lid structure 46 of the replacement lid assembly 44 may
include various configurations. For example, in various embodiments
illustrated in the figures, the structure 46 includes an outer ring
50 and engaging structure 52 for attachment to the carton body 18.
The engaging structure 52 may include the same or similar structure
discussed above with respect to lid 30 such that, once attached to
the carton body 18, the replacement lid structure 46 is not
releasable from the carton body without deformation of the lid
structure 46 or carton body 18. In still other embodiments, the
engaging structure 52 may be releasable from the carton body 18.
For example the engaging structure 52 may be a downwardly extending
annular ring that simply is press fitted to the inner
circumferential surface of the carton body 18 (FIG. 2) onto or
within a remaining ring 32 from the initial lid 30. The lid
structure may also include the same or a different sacrificial
portion as compared to weakened sections 36 discussed above with
respect to the first lid 30 so as to also be removable from the
carton body 18.
[0039] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5A through 5C, the first lid 30
includes an outer ring 32 that is permanently attached to the upper
edge 24 of the carton sidewalls 22 and an interior plate 38
circumscribed by the ring 32. The dispensing window 26 is defined
through this plate 38. The sacrificial portion may include a
weakened section 36 defined between the ring 32 and the plate 38
that allows a user to separate the plate 38 from the ring 32. For
example, this weakened section may include any combination of a
score line, perforation, or thinned section between the ring 32 and
the plate 38 that allows a user to pull the plate 38 away from the
ring 32, or push the plate 38 into the carton body 18 to separate
it from the ring 32. In FIG. 5a, a score line 36 is provided for
this purpose.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5B, the lid structure 46 of the
replacement lid assembly 44 includes an L-shaped ring 50 that
circumscribes a plate member 54. The ring 50 engages along the top
and inner circumferential surface of the first ring 32 that remains
attached to the carton side wall 22. An adhesive strip may be
provided on the L-shaped ring 50 for a more secure attachment.
[0041] In the embodiment of FIG. 5C, the ring 50 has an inverted
U-shape and fits over the ring 32 from the initial lid 30. Again,
an adhesive may be provided on one of the interior surfaces of the
ring 50 for a more secure attachment between the components.
[0042] FIGS. 6A and 6B reflect an embodiment of the dispenser
system 10 that may incorporate the features of FIGS. 5A through 5C.
Referring to FIG. 6A, the first lid 30 includes a weakened section
36 between the ring 32 and plate 38. Once the initial stack of
sheets has been depleted from the dispenser 16, a user can unfold
and grasp a tab 58 attached or formed as a component of the plate
38 to pull the plate from the lid 30 with the ring 32 remaining
attached to the carton body 18. A replacement clip of sheets can
then be loaded into the carton body 18. This replacement clip may
be provided separate from the lid structure 46 of the replacement
lid assembly 44, or may be an attached component thereof. The lid
structure 46 includes an outer ring 50 and associated plate member
54, with the ring 50 fitting onto the ring 32, as discussed
above.
[0043] For example, in the illustrated embodiments, the replacement
clip of stacked sheets is contained within a film bag 56 or other
suitable receptacle that is attached to an underside of the
replacement lid structure 46. This film bag 56 may extend across
the dispensing window 26 in the lid structure 46 and include a
dispensing slit 60 formed therein through which the individual
sheets are withdrawn.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 6B, the film bag 56 may also include an
extension portion 57 that extends through the dispensing window 26.
This portion 57 may include a hanging member 59, such as the
illustrated hole, a hook, an adhesive patch, or any other suitable
hanging structure that allows the assembly 44 to be hung from
another member, such as a display or storage rack. The extension
portion 57 may be removable along a score line 61 that also defines
the slit 60 once the portion 57 is removed.
[0045] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the weakened section
36 is defined in the plate 38 of the first ring 30 such that the
user removes a portion of the plate upon pulling the tab 58,
leaving the ring 32 and a portion of the plate 38 attached to the
carton body 18. The remaining plate portion may be considered as
forming a flange 42 on the ring 32. The lid structure 46 of the
replacement lid assembly 44 includes a plate member 54 without ring
structure. The plate 54 is simply pressed into the ring 32 and
supported by the flange 42. A band or bead of adhesive may be
provided on the underside of the plate along the circumferential
edge thereof for a more secure attachment to the flange 42.
[0046] Modifications and variations to the embodiments illustrated
and described above may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in
the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the
various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part.
Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is
not intended to limit the invention so further described in such
appended claims.
* * * * *