U.S. patent application number 12/341123 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for tamper-resistant facial tissue carton.
Invention is credited to James Bruce Ottman, Robert Joseph Zelenak.
Application Number | 20100155272 12/341123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42264473 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100155272 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ottman; James Bruce ; et
al. |
June 24, 2010 |
Tamper-Resistant Facial Tissue Carton
Abstract
Tamper resistance is provided for facial tissue cartons having a
poly dispensing window and a detachable surfboard with detachment
openings to enable a user to grasp and remove the surfboard. The
underside of the surfboard is provided with a releasable adhesive
barrier which releasably adheres the poly window to the surfboard
in order to block unwanted access to the interior of the carton
through the detachment openings. The ability of the user to grasp
and remove the surfboard is unaffected.
Inventors: |
Ottman; James Bruce;
(Oshkosh, WI) ; Zelenak; Robert Joseph; (Appleton,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.;Tara Pohlkotte
2300 Winchester Rd.
NEENAH
WI
54956
US
|
Family ID: |
42264473 |
Appl. No.: |
12/341123 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/233 ;
206/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0894 20130101;
B65D 83/0805 20130101; B65D 75/5838 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/233 ;
206/494 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00; B65D 73/00 20060101 B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A tissue product comprising a clip of interfolded facial tissues
within a container, said container having a top through which the
facial tissues are withdrawn by a user, said top comprising a poly
film which is glued to the inside of the top and which has a
dispensing opening therein, said top further having a detachable
surfboard overlaying the poly film, said detachable surfboard
having a periphery defined by a combination of cuts and
perforations in the top, there being at least one detachment
opening in the top of the container adjacent an edge of the
surfboard which enables the user to grasp and remove the surfboard
to create a poly window in the resulting opening, wherein the
surfboard is releasably adhered to the poly film by a releasable
adhesive barrier which reduces access to the space between the
surfboard and the poly film through said at least one detachment
opening.
2. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the releasable adhesive
barrier is continuous.
3. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the releasable adhesive
barrier is discontinuous.
4. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the effective length of
the releasable adhesive barrier is from about 0.5 to about 1.5
inches.
5. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the effective length of
the releasable adhesive barrier is from about 0.75 to about 1.25
inches.
6. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the effective length of
the releasable adhesive barrier is from about 1.0 to about 1.25
inches.
7. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the releasable adhesive
barrier is discontinuous and comprises three individual
spaced-apart adhesive deposits.
8. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the releasable adhesive
barrier is a pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive.
9. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the releasable adhesive
barrier is a pressure sensitive cold adhesive.
10. The tissue product of claim 1 wherein the dispensing opening in
the poly film is a slit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Facial tissue cartons are provided with a removable
"surfboard" which the user detaches from the top of the carton in
order to access the tissues within the carton. These surfboards are
integral with the top of the carton and their edges are defined by
perforations circumscribing the surfboard, which is typically
oblong-shaped. For pop-up dispensing, a poly film containing a
dispensing slit underlies the surfboard and is exposed when the
surfboard is removed, creating a "window". For ease of removal, the
surfboard can be provided with small detachment openings on each
end to enable the user to insert a finger in order to grasp and
detach the surfboard from the carton. Unfortunately, it has been
determined that these openings also provide an opportunity for
tampering with the product by inserting material between the
surfboard and the poly film. Therefore there is a need for a tissue
carton that continues to provide the convenience of the current
surfboard and poly window features, but makes tampering with the
product more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It has now been discovered that the tamper resistance of
facial tissue cartons can be improved, without adversely affecting
the dispensing of the tissues or removal of the surfboard, by
providing a releasable adhesive barrier between the surfboard and
the poly film.
[0003] Hence in one aspect the invention resides in a tissue
product comprising a clip of interfolded facial tissues within a
container, said container having a top through which the facial
tissues are withdrawn by a user, said top comprising a poly film
having a dispensing opening and a detachable surfboard overlaying
the poly film, there being at least one detachment opening in the
top of the container adjacent an edge of the surfboard which
enables the user to grasp and remove the surfboard, wherein the
surfboard is releasably adhered to the poly film by a releasable
adhesive barrier which reduces access to the space between the
surfboard and the poly film through said one or more detachment
openings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tissue product of this
invention having a flat tissue carton or container.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 1, more
clearly illustrating the top of the container having a surfboard
and two access openings.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 1 with
the surfboard removed, illustrating the resulting poly opening with
the dispensing opening.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the surfboard
removed from the container of FIG. 1, illustrating one embodiment
of the releasable adhesive barrier.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the underside of the surfboard
removed from the container of FIG. 1, illustrating another
embodiment of the releasable adhesive barrier.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a another embodiment of a
tissue product of this invention having an oval-shaped
container.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 6.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 6 with
the surfboard removed.
[0012] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the underside of the surfboard
removed from the container of FIG. 6.
[0013] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a another embodiment of a
tissue product of this invention having cube-shaped container.
[0014] FIG. 11 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 10.
[0015] FIG. 12 is a top view of the tissue product of FIG. 10 with
the surfboard removed.
[0016] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the underside of the surfboard
removed from the container of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will be further described in connection with
the following Figures. The use of the same reference number in
different figures is intended to represent the same feature.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a perspective view of a
product of this invention. Shown is a rectangular container or
carton 1 containing a clip or stack 2 of interfolded facial tissues
(schematically illustrated in phantom lines). The carton has four
sidewalls (sidewalls 3 and 3' visible in this view), a bottom and a
top 5. The top contains a surfboard 6 which is defined by a
combinations of cuts and perforations 7 delineating its periphery.
Also shown are two access openings 8 and 9 which expose a poly film
which is glued to the inside of the top of the carton and which is
larger than the surfboard, so when the surfboard is removed, a poly
window is created in the resulting opening.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the carton of FIG. 1, more clearly
showing the surfboard 6 and the two openings 8 and 9. As previously
described, in order to open the carton and begin to dispense the
tissues, a user simply inserts a finger into one of the two access
openings to grasp the surfboard and pull it to detach it from the
top of the carton along the line of perforations. As one might
appreciate, however, because these access openings provide access
to the space between the poly film and the surfboard, someone
wishing to tamper with the product could insert unwanted materials
into that space.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of the carton after the surfboard has
been removed, showing the poly window 11 and the dispensing opening
or slit 12 through which the tissues are dispensed. The dispensing
slit shown has an "S" shape, but any suitable opening or slit shape
can be used.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows the underside of the detached surfboard 6 (the
side of the surfboard originally facing the poly window),
illustrating one aspect of this invention. Specifically, shown are
two discontinuous releasable adhesive barriers 15 and 15' which
remain adhered to the surfboard when the surfboard is removed from
the top of the carton, but which release from the poly window so
that the poly window remains clean during use. As a result, prior
to the user detaching the surfboard from the carton, the locations
of these releasable adhesive barriers prevent insertion of unwanted
materials through the access openings 8 and 9 into the space
between the surfboard and the poly window before the surfboard is
removed by the consumer/user. In this embodiment, each of the two
releasable adhesive barriers comprise three spaced-apart individual
adhesive deposits arranged generally in a straight line. In a
specific example of this embodiment, each of the adhesive deposits
can be about 0.25 inch in diameter and spaced-apart about 0.25
inch. The net result is a discontinuous releasable adhesive barrier
having an effective length, measured from one outside end of the
barrier to the other, of about 1.25 inches long.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in
which the releasable adhesive barriers are continuous releasable
adhesive barriers, each continuous releasable adhesive barrier
comprising a continuous line of adhesive. In a specific example of
this embodiment, the overall length of the releasable adhesive
barrier can be about 1.25 inches.
[0023] The number, size, shape spacing and arrangement of the
releasable adhesive barriers and the adhesive deposits forming the
releasable adhesive barriers can be any number, size, shape,
spacing or arrangement which effectively prevents or resists
insertion of unwanted materials into the product. In general, the
width of the openings in commercially available facial tissue
cartons is about 1.5 inches, so the effective length of the
releasable adhesive barriers can be from about 0.5 to about 1.5
inches, more specifically from about 0.75 to about 1.25 inches, and
still more specifically from about 1.0 to about 1.25 inches. The
effective length of the releasable adhesive barriers and the
spacing between individual adhesive deposits in a discontinuous
releasable adhesive barrier will be determined by the size and
stiffness of the material sought to be excluded. If the material is
a 1 inch wide strip of paper, for example, a discontinuous
releasable adhesive barrier having individual adhesive deposits
spaced apart by about 0.50 inch or less would likely be sufficient,
which would take into consideration some bending of the paper strip
trying to be inserted.
[0024] Suitable releasable adhesives include, without limitation,
pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives or cold adhesives. Hot melt
adhesives are commonly styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers and
cold adhesives are commonly water-based acrylic polymers.
Particularly suitable commercially available releasable adhesives
include National Adhesives 70-003A (hot melt) as well as Capital
Adhesives and Packaging Company R61315 or R30315 fugitive adhesives
(cold). In all cases, the adhesive must adhere the poly window to
the surfboard until the surfboard is removed. The degree of force
required to detach the surfboard from the poly window should be
minimal so the user is not inconvenienced. At the same time, the
releasable adhesive preferably should not leave a residue on poly
film and remain with the surfboard, which is discarded.
[0025] During manufacturing, prior to inserting the clip of tissues
into the carton, the releasable adhesive is applied to the carton
blank in the location of the underside of the surfboard prior to
assembling the carton blank into a carton by any suitable method
well known to those skilled in the packaging arts. The poly window
is then applied and adhered by pressure to the carton blank over
the releasable adhesive deposits, as well as being permanently
adhered (glued) to the inside of the top of the carton at a
location outside of the periphery of the surfboard. The carton is
then assembled in a conventional manner and the tissues loaded into
the carton.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this
invention, in which the container is an oval-shaped container 20
having a continuous sidewall 21, a bottom and a top 25. The
surfboard 26 and access openings 28 and 29 for such containers have
a slightly different shape than those of the larger rectangular
containers of FIG. 1. The shape of the surfboard is defined by the
line of perforations 27.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a top view of the container of FIG. 6, more
clearly showing the surfboard 26 and the two access openings 28 and
29. As previously described, in order to open the carton and begin
to dispense the tissues, a user simply inserts a finger into one of
the two access openings to grasp the surfboard and pull it to
detach it from the top of the carton along the line of
perforations.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a top view of the container after the surfboard
has been removed, showing the poly window 31 and an X-shaped
dispensing slit 32 through which the tissues are dispensed.
[0029] FIG. 9 shows the underside of the detached surfboard 26,
illustrating another aspect of this invention. Specifically, shown
are two linear continuous releasable adhesive barriers 35 and 35'
which remain adhered to the surfboard when the surfboard is removed
from the top of the carton, but which release from the poly window
so that the poly window remains clean during use.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this
invention, in which the container 40 is generally cubical in shape,
commonly referred to as an "upright" carton, containing an inverted
U-shaped clip of interfolded tissues. The carton has four sidewalls
(sidewalls 43 and 43' visible in this view), a bottom and a top 45.
The top contains a surfboard 46 which is defined by a combinations
of cuts and perforations 47 delineating its periphery. Also shown
are two access openings 48 and 49 which are used to grasp and
remove the surfboard.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a top view of the container of FIG. 10, more
clearly showing the surfboard 46 and the two access openings 48 and
49.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a top view of the container of FIG. 10 after the
surfboard has been removed, showing the poly window 51 and an
X-shaped dispensing slit 52 through which the tissues are
dispensed.
[0033] FIG. 13 shows the underside of the detached surfboard 46,
illustrating two discontinuous linear releasable adhesive barriers
55 and 55', each of which comprises three individual spaced apart
dots of adhesive which remain adhered to the surfboard when the
surfboard is removed from the top of the carton, but which release
from the poly window so that the poly window remains clean during
use. As described above, any suitable arrangement of the individual
adhesive deposits can be used to form the releasable adhesive
barrier.
[0034] It will be appreciated that the foregoing drawings and
description, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be
construed as limiting the scope of this invention, which is defined
by the following claims and all equivalents thereto.
* * * * *