U.S. patent application number 13/493190 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for unique dispensing carton.
The applicant listed for this patent is Monica Ho-Kleinwaechter, Paris Nicolle Jackson, Jerry Ray Stephens. Invention is credited to Monica Ho-Kleinwaechter, Paris Nicolle Jackson, Jerry Ray Stephens.
Application Number | 20130327674 13/493190 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48699248 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130327674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stephens; Jerry Ray ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
UNIQUE DISPENSING CARTON
Abstract
A paralellpiped dispensing carton for stacked and/or interfolded
sheet materials is disclosed. The carton has a top wall, a bottom
wall, and at least one side wall. The container is formed from a
fibrous structure having a Surface Elevation value of greater than
26.2 .mu.m.
Inventors: |
Stephens; Jerry Ray;
(Hamilton, OH) ; Jackson; Paris Nicolle; (Forest
Park, OH) ; Ho-Kleinwaechter; Monica; (Loveland,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stephens; Jerry Ray
Jackson; Paris Nicolle
Ho-Kleinwaechter; Monica |
Hamilton
Forest Park
Loveland |
OH
OH
OH |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48699248 |
Appl. No.: |
13/493190 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
D21H 27/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/494 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/20 20060101
A47K010/20 |
Claims
1. A parallelpiped container having a top wall, a bottom wall, and
at least one side wall, said container being fanned from a fibrous
structure, said fibrous structure having a Surface Elevation value
of greater than 26.2 .mu.m.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein said two side walls having a
plate stillness value ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200
N*/mm
3. The container of claim 1 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value of less than 22.7%.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value less than 6.8%.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is formed from a
fibrous structure bonded to a film material, said bonded material
having a compressive pressure value of greater than 2.61.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein said fibrous structure has a
compression pressure to normalized compression caliper relationship
expressed by the equation y=|0.068 ln(x)+1.2219.
7. A container having a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one
side wall, said container being formed from is fibrous structure,
said at least one side wall having a plate stiffness value ranging
from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200 N*mm.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein said plate stiffness value
ranges from about 1.4 N*mm to about 50 N*mm.
9. The container of claim 8 wherein said plate stiffness value
ranges from about 1.4 N*mm to about 25 N*mm.
10. The container of claim 7 wherein said container further
comprises at least two side walls, each said two side walls having
a plate stiffness value ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200
N*mm.
11. The container of claim 7 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value of less than 22.7%.
12. The container of claim 7 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value of less than 6.8%.
13. The container of claim 7 wherein said container is formed from
a fibrous structure bonded to a film material, said bonded material
having a compressive pressure value of greater than 2.61.
14. The container of claim 7 wherein said fibrous structure has a
compression pressure to normalized compression caliper relationship
expressed by the equation y=-0.068 ln(x)+1.2219.
15. A container having a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one
side wall, said container being formed from a material comprising a
fibrous structure bonded to a film material, said material having a
plate stiffness value ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200
N*mm.
16. The container of claim 15 wherein said plate stiffness value
ranges from about 1.4 N*mm to about 50 N*mm.
17. The container of claim 16 wherein said plate stiffness value
ranges from about 1.4 N*mm to about 25 N*mm.
18. The container of claim 15 wherein said top wall has a plate
stiffness value ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200 N*mm.
19. The container of claim 15 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value of less than 22.7%.
20. The container of claim 15 wherein said container has an Overall
Package Height Reduction value of less than 6.8%.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to dispensing packages and
cartons for stacked and/or interfolded sheet materials such as
facial tissues. More particularly, this disclosure pertains to
packages and cartons having an eco-friendly environmental footprint
and an improved tactile feel that are configured to dispense
stacked and interfolded sheets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Packages for containing and dispensing stacked and/or
interleaved sheet materials are generally formed from carton board
cartons and other rigid materials. These cartons are common in
everyday use and are found in a plurality of bathrooms and other
rooms with in the household. These paperboard or carton board
constructions are usually rigid parallelpiped constructions with
graphics printed upon the outer surfaces thereof. Most consumers
will state that these cartons are hard, smooth-surfaced, have fixed
graphics, and are frankly, boring.
[0003] Typically, such cartons are provided and formed from a blank
shown made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material.
The containers typically have a top surface, a bottom surface, and
opposed lateral side panels. All panels are hingedly connected
along parallel horizontal fold lines. The blank is typically
adapted to be folded into a rectangular tubular configuration and
as such comprises a typical end-load carton.
[0004] The top surface of the traditional carton has formed therein
a panel which is defined by an endless line of separation and which
is adapted to be removed by breaking that frangible line of
separation in a conventional manner. The end closures of the carton
are formed by inwardly foldable closure flaps. This can include
minor flaps connected to the side panels of the carton at the
opposite ends of the side panel. These end flaps, or minor flaps,
each can be provided with a cut-away portion to allow exposure of a
portion of the major flaps that are hingedly attached to the
opposite ends of the top surface along the hinge lines. These major
flaps are foldable downwardly over the ends of the carton and
completely cover the ends of the carton. The carton blank may be
assembled in any conventional manner. A glue flap can be provided
along one lateral edge and connected along a hinge line to the
bottom surface to serve as a manufacturer's glue flap.
[0005] Such cartons can generally be divided into two principal
types. The first type enables stacked and interfolded sheets to
"pop-up" to dispense through an opening in the top wall of the
carton. Such pop-up dispensers provide partial withdrawal of the
next successive tissue upon pulling sheets out one at a time from
the carton. The second type of carton facilitates dispensing of a
stack of sheets that are generally not interfolded by providing an
opening in one at least one of the carton walls to enable a user to
reach into the carton and remove one or more of the sheets at a
time. This latter type of carton is commonly known as a "reach-in"
carton. Typically, a reach-in carton does not facilitate "pop-up"
dispensing of successive sheets. Such containers are provided in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,144,961 and 3,272,385.
[0006] Frankly, innovation in the carton art has been rather
stagnant until now. Thus, it would be understood by one of skill in
the art that it would be clearly beneficial to provide a carton for
dispensing stacked and/or interleaved sheet materials, such as
facial tissues that provides no drawback from the current manner in
which consumers dispense the material disposed therein, but is
produced from a limited amount of resources thus decreasing the
environmental footprint of the carton. Eliminating such
non-decomposable packaging materials would indeed require fewer
manufacturing steps and be eco-friendly by not requiring additional
natural resource materials.
[0007] Further it would be understood by one of skill in the art
that it would be clearly beneficial to provide a carton for
dispensing stacked and/or interleaved sheet materials, such as
facial tissues that provides the consumer with a more ergonomic
container having a better tactile feel than currently marketed
paperboard containers. It would also be understood by one of skill
in the art that it would be clearly beneficial to provide a carton
for dispensing stacked and/or interleaved sheet materials, such as
facial tissues that reduces the environmental footprint by reducing
the environmental footprint at the time of disposal
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present disclosure provides for a paralellpiped
dispensing carton for stacked and/or interfolded sheet materials.
The carton has a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side
wall. The container is formed from a fibrous structure having a
Surface Elevation value of greater than 26.2 .mu.m.
[0009] The present disclosure also provides for a container having
a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall. The
container is formed from a fibrous structure. The two side walls
have a flexural rigidity ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200
N*/mm.
[0010] The present disclosure further provides for a container
having a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall. The
container is formed from a material comprising a fibrous structure
bonded to a film material. The material has a flexural rigidity
ranging from about 1.4 N*mm to about 200 N*/mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
carton of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging material
suitable for forming the carton of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2
of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the carton of FIG. 1
taken along the line 3-3;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of mathematically
expressed equations for exemplary laminated and non-laminated
structures where x=Compression Pressure and y=Normalized
Compression Caliper; and,
[0015] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of mathematically
expressed equations for exemplary laminated and non-laminated
structures where x=Relaxation Pressure and y=Normalized Relaxation
Caliper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present disclosure provides for a material suitable for
the formation of cartoning useful for containing sanitary tissue
products. The material generally comprises a fibrous structure
laminated to a film having high bulk and loft on to the fibrous
structure layer to form a composite fabric.
[0017] "Basis Weight" as used herein is the weight per unit area of
a sample reported in lbs/3000 ft.sup.2 or g/m.sup.2 (gsm) and is
measured according to the Basis Weight Test Method described herein
described herein.
[0018] "Caliper" as used herein means the macroscopic thickness of
a fibrous structure. Caliper is measured according to the Caliper
Test Method described herein described herein.
[0019] "Co-formed fibrous structure(s)" provide for a fibrous
structure to comprise a mixture of at least two different
materials. At least one of the materials comprises a filament, such
as a polypropylene filament, and at least one other material,
different from the first material, comprises a solid additive, such
as a fiber and/or a particulate. In one example, a co-formed
fibrous structure comprises solid additives, such as fibers, such
as wood pulp fibers, and filaments, such as polypropylene
filaments.
[0020] "Cross Machine Direction" or "CD" as used herein means the
direction parallel to the width of the fibrous structure making
machine and/or sanitary tissue product manufacturing equipment and
perpendicular to the machine direction.
[0021] "Density" as used herein is calculated as the quotient of
the Basis Weight of a fibrous structure expressed in gsm divided by
the Caliper of the fibrous structure expressed in microns. The
resulting Density of a fibrous structure is expressed as
g/cm.sup.3.
[0022] As used herein, a "fibrous structure" is a structure that
comprises one or more filaments and/or fibers suitable for
producing cartoning useful for containing sanitary tissue products.
In one non-limiting example, a fibrous structure can be an orderly
arrangement of filaments and/or fibers within a structure that
perform a function. Non-limiting examples of fibrous structures may
include paper and/or fabrics (e.g., including woven, knitted, and
non-woven structures).
[0023] Non-limiting examples of processes for making fibrous
structures include wet-laid processes, air-laid processes,
spun-bond processes, weaving processes, melt-blown processes, and
extrusion processes. Some processes may include steps of preparing
a fiber composition in the form of a suspension in a medium, either
wet, more specifically aqueous medium, or dry, more specifically
gaseous, i.e. with air as medium. The aqueous medium used for
wet-laid processes is oftentimes referred to as a fiber slurry. The
fibrous slurry is then used to deposit a plurality of fibers onto a
forming wire or belt such that an embryonic fibrous structure is
formed, after which drying and/or bonding the fibers together
results in a fibrous structure. Further processing the fibrous
structure may be carried out such that a finished fibrous structure
is formed. For example, in typical papermaking processes, the
finished fibrous structure is the fibrous structure that is wound
on the reel at the end of papermaking, and may subsequently be
converted into a finished product, e.g. a sanitary tissue
product.
[0024] Fibrous structures may be homogeneous or may be layered. If
layered, the fibrous structures may comprise at least two and/or at
least three and/or at least four and/or at least five layers.
Fibrous structures may also be co-formed fibrous structures.
[0025] A "fiber" and/or "filament" is an elongate particulate
having an apparent length greatly exceeding its apparent width
(e.g., an aspect ratio of greater than 1). For purposes of the
present disclosure, a "fiber" can be an elongate particulate that
exhibits a length of less than 5.08 cm (2 in.) and a "filament" can
be an elongate particulate that exhibits a length of greater than
or equal to 5.08 cm (2 in.).
[0026] Fibers are typically considered discontinuous in nature.
Non-limiting examples of fibers include wood pulp fibers and
synthetic staple fibers such as polyester fibers. Filaments are
typically considered continuous or substantially continuous in
nature.
[0027] Filaments are relatively longer than fibers. Non-limiting
examples of filaments include melt-blown and/or spun-bond
filaments. Non-limiting examples of materials that can be spun into
filaments include natural polymers, such as starch, starch
derivatives, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, hemicellulose,
hemicellulose derivatives, and synthetic polymers including, but
not limited to polyvinyl alcohol filaments and/or polyvinyl alcohol
derivative filaments, and thermoplastic polymer filaments, such as
polyesters, nylons, polyolefins such as polypropylene filaments,
polyethylene filaments, and biodegradable or compostable
thermoplastic fibers such as polylactic acid filaments,
polyhydroxyalkanoate filaments and polycaprolactone filaments. The
filaments may be monocomponent or multicomponent, such as
bicomponent filaments.
[0028] In one non-limiting example, a "fiber" refers to papermaking
fibers. Papermaking fibers useful in the present invention include
cellulosic fibers commonly known as wood pulp fibers. Applicable
wood pulps include chemical pulps, such as Kraft, sulfite, and
sulfate pulps, as well as mechanical pulps including, for example,
groundwood, thermomechanical pulp and chemically modified
thermomechanical pulp. Chemical pulps, however, may be preferred
since they impart a superior tactile sense of softness to tissue
sheets made therefrom. Pulps derived from both deciduous trees
(hereinafter, also referred to as "hardwood") and coniferous trees
(hereinafter, also referred to as "softwood") may be utilized. The
hardwood and softwood fibers can be blended, or alternatively, can
be deposited in layers to provide a stratified web as described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,300,981 and 3,994,771. Also applicable to the
present invention are fibers derived from recycled paper, which may
contain any or all of the above categories as well as other
non-fibrous materials such as fillers and adhesives used to
facilitate the original papermaking.
[0029] In addition to the various wood pulp fibers, other
cellulosic fibers such as cotton linters, rayon, lyocell and
bagasse can be used in this invention. Other sources of cellulose
in the form of fibers or capable of being spun into fibers include
grasses and grain sources.
[0030] "Film materials" is intended to include foils, polymer
sheets, co-extrusions, laminates, and combinations thereof. Film
materials are preferably fabricated from a polymer that does not
have adhesive characteristics, which may be made from homogeneous
resins or blends thereof. The properties of a selected film
materials can include, though are not restricted to, combinations
or degrees of being: porous, non-porous, microporous, gas or liquid
permeable, non-permeable, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, hydroscopic,
oleophilic, oleophobic, high critical surface tension, low critical
surface tension, surface pre-textured, elastically yieldable,
plastically yieldable, electrically conductive, and electrically
non-conductive. Such materials can be homogeneous or composition
combinations.
[0031] Film materials may be made from homogeneous resins or blends
thereof. Single or multiple layers within the film structure are
contemplated, whether co-extruded, extrusion-coated, laminated or
combined by other known means. The key attribute of the film
material is that it be formable to produce protrusions and valleys.
Useful resins include, but are not limited to, polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), latex structures,
nylon, etc. Polyolefins are generally preferred due to their lower
cost and ease of forming but are not necessary to practice the
invention. High density polyethylene (HDPE) is most preferred to
fabricate the film sheet. Other suitable materials to fabricate the
film from include, but are not limited to, aluminum foil, coated
(waxed, etc.) and uncoated paper, coated and uncoated wovens,
scrims, meshes, nonwovens, and perforated or porous films, and
combinations thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the
flexible film sheet material is a formed film from about 0.0001
inch to about 0.005 inches, more preferably about 0.001 inch thick
film.
[0032] "Machine Direction" or "MD" as used herein means the
direction parallel to the flow of the fibrous structure through the
fibrous structure making machine and/or sanitary tissue product
manufacturing equipment.
[0033] "Plies" as used herein means two or more individual,
integral fibrous structures disposed in a substantially contiguous,
face-to-face relationship with one another, forming a multi-ply
fibrous structure and/or multi-ply sanitary tissue product. It is
also contemplated that an individual, integral fibrous structure
can effectively form a multi-ply fibrous structure, for example, by
being folded on itself.
[0034] "Ply" as used herein means an individual, integral fibrous
structure.
[0035] "Sanitary tissue product" means a soft, low density (e.g.,
less than about 0.15 g/cm.sup.3) web useful as a wiping implement
for post-urinary and post-bowel movement cleaning (toilet tissue),
for otorhinolaryngological discharges (facial tissue), and
multi-functional absorbent and cleaning uses (absorbent
towels).
[0036] The sanitary tissue product may be segmented into individual
segments of sanitary tissue products having discrete lengths. These
individual segments of sanitary tissue products can then be folded
upon itself and subsequently stacked and/or interleaved. Such
stacked and/or interleaved sanitary tissue products can then be
inserted into appropriate packaging consistent with the present
disclosure. Packages for containing and dispensing stacked and/or
interleaved sheet materials disposed inside carton board cartons
can generally be divided into two principal types. The first type
enables stacked and interfolded sheets to "pop-up" to dispense
through an opening in the top wall of the carton. Such pop-up
dispensers provide partial withdrawal of the next successive tissue
upon pulling sheets out one at a time from the carton. The second
type of carton facilitates dispensing of a stack of sheets that are
generally not interfolded by providing an opening in one at least
one of the carton walls to enable a user to reach into the carton
and remove one or more of the sheets at a time. This latter type of
carton is commonly known as a "reach-in" carton.
[0037] Alternatively, sanitary tissue products may be convolutely
wound upon itself about a core or without a core to form a sanitary
tissue product roll. Lines of perforation can be provided within
the length of the wound product to facilitate separation of
adjacent portions of the convolutely wound sanitary tissue
product.
[0038] In one non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue product may
exhibit a basis weight of greater than 15 g/m.sup.2 (9.2 lbs/3000
ft.sup.2) to about 120 g/m.sup.2 (73.8 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) and/or
from about 15 g/m.sup.2 (9.2 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) to about 110
g/m.sup.2 (67.7 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) and/or from about 20 g/m.sup.2
(12.3 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) to about 100 g/m.sup.2 (61.5 lbs/3000
ft.sup.2) and/or from about 30 g/m.sup.2 (18.5 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2)
to 90 g/m.sup.2 (55.4 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2). In addition, the sanitary
tissue products and/or fibrous structures of the present invention
may exhibit a basis weight between about 40 g/m.sup.2 (24.6
lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) to about 120 g/m.sup.2 (73.8 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2)
and/or from about 50 g/m.sup.2 (30.8 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) to about
110 g/m.sup.2 (67.7 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) and/or from about 55
g/m.sup.2 (33.8 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) to about 105 g/m.sup.2 (64.6
lbs/3000 ft.sup.2) and/or from about 60 g/m.sup.2 (36.9 lbs/3000
ft.sup.2) to 100 g/m.sup.2 (61.5 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2).
[0039] In another non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue product
may exhibit a total dry tensile strength of greater than about 59
g/cm (150 g/in) and/or from about 78 g/cm (200 g/in) to about 394
g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or from about 98 g/cm (250 g/in) to about 335
g/cm (850 g/in). In addition, the sanitary tissue product of the
present invention may exhibit a total dry tensile strength of
greater than about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm
(500 g/in) to about 394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or from about 216 g/cm
(550 g/in) to about 335 g/cm (850 Win) and/or from about 236 g/cm
(600 g/in) to about 315 g/cm (800 g/in). In one example, the
sanitary tissue product exhibits a total dry tensile strength of
less than about 394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or less than about 335
g/cm (850 Win).
[0040] In still another non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue
product may exhibit a total dry tensile strength of greater than
about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) and/or greater than about 236 g/cm (600
g/in) and/or greater than about 276 g/cm (700 g/in) and/or greater
than about 315 g/cm (800 g/in) and/or greater than about 354 g/cm
(900 g/in) and/or greater than about 394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or
from about 315 g/cm (800 g/in) to about 1968 g/cm (5000 g/in)
and/or from about 354 g/cm (900 g/in) to about 1181 g/cm (3000
g/in) and/or from about 354 g/cm (900 Win) to about 984 g/cm (2500
g/in) and/or from about 394 g/cm (1000 g/in) to about 787 g/cm
(2000 g/in).
[0041] In yet another non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue
product may exhibit an initial total wet tensile strength of less
than about 78 g/cm (200 g/in) and/or less than about 59 g/cm (150
g/in) and/or less than about 39 g/cm (100 g/in) and/or less than
about 29 g/cm (75 g/in).
[0042] In another non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue product
may exhibit an initial total wet tensile strength of greater than
about 118 g/cm (300 g/in) and/or greater than about 157 g/cm (400
g/in) and/or greater than about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) and/or greater
than about 236 g/cm (600 g/in) and/or greater than about 276 g/cm
(700 g/in) and/or greater than about 315 g/cm (800 g/in) and/or
greater than about 354 g/cm (900 g/in) and/or greater than about
394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or from about 118 g/cm (300 g/in) to about
1968 g/cm (5000 g/in) and/or from about 157 g/cm (400 g/in) to
about 1181 g/cm (3000 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in)
to about 984 g/cm (2500 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in)
to about 787 g/cm (2000 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 Win)
to about 591 g/cm (1500 g/in).
[0043] In a further non-limiting example, a sanitary tissue product
may exhibit a density (measured at 95 g/in.sup.2) of less than
about 0.60 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.30 g/cm.sup.3 and/or
less than about 0.20 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.10
g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.07 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than
about 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 and/or from about 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 to about
0.20 g/cm.sup.3 and/or from about 0.02 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.10
g/cm.sup.3.
[0044] The fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products of
the present invention may comprises additives such as softening
agents, temporary wet strength agents, permanent wet strength
agents, bulk softening agents, lotions, silicones, wetting agents,
latexes, especially surface-pattern-applied latexes, dry strength
agents such as carboxymethylcellulose and starch, and other types
of additives suitable for inclusion in and/or on sanitary tissue
products.
[0045] "Weight average molecular weight" as used herein means the
weight average molecular weight as determined using gel permeation
chromatography according to the protocol found in Colloids and
Surfaces A. Physico Chemical & Engineering Aspects, Vol. 162,
2000, pg. 107-121.
[0046] "Wet Burst" as used herein is a measure of the ability of a
fibrous structure and/or a sanitary tissue product incorporating a
fibrous structure to absorb energy, when wet and subjected to
deformation normal to the plane of the fibrous structure and/or
fibrous structure product and is measured according to the Wet
Burst Test Method described herein.
Packaging Material
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a packaging material 10 suitable
for the container of the present invention provides a fibrous
structure 12 laminated and/or otherwise bonded (e.g., chemically,
physically, electrostatically, adhesively, melt-bonded, and the
like) to a film material 14. In a preferred embodiment, the fibrous
structure 12 generally provides the surface of the resulting
packaging material 10 with high bulk and loft. In a preferred
embodiment, the film material 14 provides the resulting packaging
material 10 with a generally liquid impervious characteristic.
[0048] It is also believed that providing the film material 14 in
contacting engagement with the fibrous structure 12 provides the
resulting packaging material 10 with enhanced stiffness.
The Container
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary, but non-limiting,
package 20 of the present disclosure is provided as a container
having a parallelpiped geometry and a generally rectangular
footprint. One of skill in the art will easily understand the
current container can form virtually any shape and/or geometry
desired to provide the required dispensing of products provided
within the confines of package 20. This may include, for example,
ovular containers, cylindrical containers, triangular containers,
as well as containers having any polygonal shape or structure.
[0050] Exemplary package 20 generally provides a carton 21
containing a bundle 16 of sheets 22 of stacked and/or interleaved
facial tissue paper. However, one of skill in the art will easily
recognize that virtually any product can be contained in the
exemplary carton discussed herein. This may include by way of
non-limiting example, bath tissue, paper toweling, feminine care
products, baby care products, household care products, and the
like. In an exemplary, but non-limiting embodiment, the carton 21
is provided with a dispensing opening 24 disposed upon one or more
sides of container 21 which is provided as a composite having any
geometry that facilitates the dispensing of the sheets 16 from the
carton 21. In one preferred embodiment, the dispensing opening 24
can be provided as a generally elongate oval-shaped slot. A
lineament 28 can enable the tear-out removal of a panel disposed in
carton 21 that has been outlined by a line of weakening having the
configuration of lineament 28. For purposes of convention only, the
dispensing opening will be considered to be disposed in the
uppermost side or sides of the container 21 as this is how most
consumers would position such a carton 21 for the dispensing of any
article contained within carton 21. However, one of skill in the
art could position the dispensing opening upon any side or sides of
the container 21 and still provide the dispensing necessary from
carton 21 for the articles contained therein.
[0051] As shown, the exemplary paralellpiped carton 21 preferably
comprises top wall 35, end wall 36, front (side) wall 37,
corresponding back (side) wall (not shown), corresponding second
end wall (not shown), and corresponding bottom wall (not shown).
The top-front edge of the carton is designated 38.
[0052] One of skill in the art will recognize that if carton 21 is
provided with an alternative geometry, naturally, the number of
sides, walls, tops, and bottom designations will reflect the actual
geometry of the carton 21. For example, if carton 21 is provided as
an elliptic cylinder (i.e., having an elliptical cross-section)
there would naturally be a top wall, bottom wall, and at least one
side wall circumscribing the top and bottom walls. Similarly, if
carton 21 is provided as a vertically oriented wedge, there would
naturally be a bottom wall and at least four side walls, all of
which culminate in a line segment joining all four sides.
[0053] An exemplary embodiment of package 20 comprises a carton 21
that is sized and configured to accommodate a bundle of stacked
and/or interleaved sheets 22. Such a carton 21 is preferably
constructed from the unique packaging material 10 described herein.
However, one of skill in the art could provide for the construction
of carton 21 from a material comprising only fibrous structure
12.
[0054] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, it may be advantageous to
provide an insert 18 within carton 21 to provide for further folded
article containment or for additional structural support of the top
wall 35. Such an insert 18 may comprise a three-sided structure
with one ends and a top portion. An exemplary insert 18 can be
formed from a paperboard structure having two parallel fold lines
and form a `U` shape. Thus, the exemplary insert 18 would provide a
bottom and two side walls relative to the carton 21 when disposed
therein. The insert 18 can provide a consumer cognizable benefit by
assisting in the upright support of the side walls of the resulting
carton 21.
[0055] When utilized, insert 18 effectively reduces the paperboard
footprint of a traditional paperboard carton by eliminating the
need for the additional material necessary to form the end walls
and top portion of the traditional tissue container. This results
in a synergistic effect by facilitating the sustainable benefit of
using less paperboard to produce a traditional tissue container yet
provides the additional support that may be necessary if the
packaging material 10 is selected to have physical characteristics
that may result in the apparent degradation of the appearance of
carton 21 upon the consumer removal of the bundle of stacked and/or
interleaved sheets 22 disposed within carton 21.
Test Methods
[0056] Unless otherwise specified, all tests described herein
including those described under the Definitions section and the
following Test Methods are conducted on samples that have been
conditioned in a conditioned room at a temperature of 73.degree.
F..+-.4.degree. F. (about 23.degree. C..+-.2.2.degree. C.) and a
relative humidity of 50%.+-.2% for 2 hours prior to the test. All
plastic and paper board packaging materials must be carefully
separated from any sanitary tissue products contained therein prior
to testing. Discard any damaged samples. All tests are conducted in
such a conditioned room.
Package Height Reduction Test Method
[0057] A wrapped stack of tissues is placed on a flat surface with
in such a manner that the opening of the package is facing upward.
In this way product is removed from the top panel of the wrapped
package.
[0058] If the package has rectangular paralellpiped geometry,
before the package is opened and any tissues are dispensed, the
height from the flat surface to the top panel at the center point
of the longer horizontal (side) panel is measured. If the package
has a cubic paralellpiped geometry, before the package is opened
and any tissues are dispensed, the height from the flat surface to
the top panel at the center point of any of the side panels is
measured. This is the measurement point for all data generated for
this method.
[0059] Next, the dispensing feature is opened and tissues are
removed. Take a height measurement at the same center point as any
desired amount of tissues are dispensed. It is preferred that a
height measurement be taken after the removal of 10 sheets and each
10 sheets thereafter until 100% of sheets disposed within the
package are dispensed.
Plate Stiffness Test Method
[0060] As used herein, the "Plate Stiffness" test is a measure of
stiffness of a flat sample as it is deformed downward into a hole
beneath the sample. For the test, the sample is modeled as an
infinite plate with thickness "t" that resides on a flat surface
where it is centered over a hole with radius "R". A central force
"F" applied to the tissue directly over the center of the hole
deflects the tissue down into the hole by a distance "w". For a
linear elastic material the deflection can be predicted by:
w = 3 F 4 .pi. E t 3 ( 1 - v ) ( 3 + v ) R 2 ##EQU00001##
where "E" is the effective linear elastic modulus, "v" is the
Poisson's ratio, "R" is the radius of the hole, and "t" is the
thickness of the tissue, taken as the caliper in millimeters
measured on a stack of 5 tissues under a load of about 0.29 psi.
Taking Poisson's ratio as 0.1 (the solution is not highly sensitive
to this parameter, so the inaccuracy due to the assumed value is
likely to be minor), the previous equation can be rewritten for "w"
to estimate the effective modulus as a function of the flexibility
test results:
E .apprxeq. 3 R 2 4 t 3 F w ##EQU00002##
[0061] The test results are carried out using an MTS Alliance RT/1
testing machine (MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn.) with a
100N load cell. As a stack of five tissue sheets at least
2.5-inches square sits centered over a hole of radius 15.75 mm on a
support plate, a blunt probe of 3.15 mm radius descends at a speed
of 20 mm/min. When the probe tip descends to 1 mm below the plane
of the support plate, the test is terminated. The maximum slope in
grams of force/mm over any 0.5 mm span during the test is recorded
(this maximum slope generally occurs at the end of the stroke). The
load cell monitors the applied force and the position of the probe
tip relative to the plane of the support plate is also monitored.
The peak load is recorded, and "E" is estimated using the above
equation.
[0062] The Plate Stiffness "S" per unit width can then be
calculated as:
S = Et 3 12 ##EQU00003##
and is expressed in units of Newtons-millimeters. The Testworks
program uses the following formula to calculate stiffness:
S=(F/w)[(3+v)R.sup.2/16.pi.]
wherein "F/w" is max slope (force divided by deflection), "v" is
Poisson's ratio taken as 0.1, and "R" is the ring radius.
[0063] In a non-limiting example, a material suitable for forming a
carton 21 may preferably exhibit a plate stiffness value ranging
from about 1.4 N/mm to about 200 N/mm, or from about 1.4 N/mm to
about 50 N/mm, or from about 1.4 N/mm to about 25 N/mm.
Elevation Test Method
[0064] An elevation of a surface pattern or portion of a surface
pattern on a structure can be measured using a GFM Mikrocad Optical
Profiler instrument commercially available from GFMesstechnik GmbH,
Warthestra.beta.e 21, D14513 Teltow/Berlin, Germany. The GFM
Mikrocad Optical Profiler instrument includes a compact optical
measuring sensor based on the digital micro mirror projection,
consisting of the following main components: a) DMD projector with
1024.times.768 direct digital controlled micro mirrors, b) CCD
camera with high resolution (1300.times.1000 pixels), c) projection
optics adapted to a measuring area of at least 44 mm.times.33 mm,
and d) matching resolution recording optics; a table tripod based
on a small hard stone plate; a cold light source; a measuring,
control, and evaluation computer; measuring, control, and
evaluation software ODSCAD 4.0, English version; and adjusting
probes for lateral (x-y) and vertical (z) calibration.
[0065] The GFM Mikrocad Optical Profiler system measures the
surface height of a product sample using the digital micro-mirror
pattern projection technique. The result of the analysis is a map
of surface height (z) vs. xy displacement. The system has a field
of view of 140.times.105 mm with a resolution of 29 microns. The
height resolution should be set to between 0.10 and 1.00 micron.
The height range is 64,000 times the resolution.
[0066] The relative height of different portions of a surface
pattern can be visually determined via a topography image, which is
obtained for each product sample as described below. At least three
samples are measured. Actual height values can be obtained as
follows below.
[0067] To measure the height or elevation of a surface pattern or
portion of a surface pattern, the following can be performed: (1)
Turn on the cold light source. The settings on the cold light
source should be 4 and C, which should give a reading of 3000K on
the display; (2) Turn on the computer, monitor and printer and open
the ODSCAD 4.0 or higher Mikrocad Software; (3) Select
"Measurement" icon from the Mikrocad taskbar and then click the
"Live Pic" button; (4) Place a product sample, of at least 5 cm by
5 cm in size, under the projection head, without any mechanical
clamping, and adjust the distance for best focus; (5) Click the
"Pattern" button repeatedly to project one of several focusing
patterns to aid in achieving the best focus (the software cross
hair should align with the projected cross hair when optimal focus
is achieved). Position the projection head to be normal to the
sanitary tissue product sample surface; (6) Adjust image brightness
by changing the aperture on the camera lens and/or altering the
camera "gain" setting on the screen. Set the gain to the lowest
practical level while maintaining optimum brightness so as to limit
the amount of electronic noise. When the illumination is optimum,
the red circle at bottom of the screen labeled "I.O." will turn
green; (7) Select Standard measurement type; (8) Click on the
"Measure" button. This will freeze the live image on the screen
and, simultaneously, the surface capture process will begin. It is
important to keep the sample still during this time to avoid
blurring of the captured images. The full digitized surface data
set will be captured in approximately 20 seconds; (9) Save the data
to a computer file with ".omc" extension. This will also save the
camera image file ".kam"; (10) Export the file to the FD3 v1.0
format; 11) Measure and record at least three areas from each
sample; 12) Import each file into the software package SPIP (Image
Metrology, A/S, Horsholm, Denmark); 13) Using the Averaging profile
tool, draw a profile line perpendicular to height or elevation
(such as embossment) transition region. Expand the averaging box to
include as much of the height or elevation (embossment) as
practical so as to generate and average profile of the transition
region (from top surface to the bottom of the surface pattern or
portion of surface pattern (such as an embossment) and backup to
the top surface.). In the average line profile window, select a
pair of cursor points.
[0068] To move the surface data into the analysis portion of the
software, click on the clipboard/man icon; (11) Now, click on the
icon "Draw Lines". Draw a line through the center of a region of
features defining the texture of interest. Click on Show Sectional
Line icon. In the sectional plot, click on any two points of
interest, for example, a peak and the baseline, then click on
vertical distance tool to measure height in microns or click on
adjacent peaks and use the horizontal distance tool to determine
in-plane direction spacing; and (12) for height measurements, use 3
lines, with at least 5 measurements per line, discarding the high
and low values for each line, and determining the mean of the
remaining 9 values. Also record the standard deviation, maximum,
and minimum. For x and/or y direction measurements, determine the
mean of 7 measurements. Also record the standard deviation,
maximum, and minimum. Criteria that can be used to characterize and
distinguish texture include, but are not limited to, occluded area
(i.e. area of features), open area (area absent of features),
spacing, in-plane size, and height. If the probability that the
difference between the two means of texture characterization is
caused by chance is less than 10%, the textures can be considered
to differ from one another.
Compression/Relaxation Test Method
[0069] The Compression Value of a sample product is measured by as
follows. Caliper versus load data are obtained using a
Thwing-Albert Model DA Materials Tester, equipped with a 2500 g
load cell and compression fixture including a compression table
(compression platen). The compression fixture consists of the
following: a load cell adaptor/foot mount 1.128 inch diameter
presser foot, #89-14 anvil, 89-157 leveling plate, anvil mount, and
a grip pin, all available from the Thwing-Albert Instrument
Company. The compression foot has an area is 1 in.sup.2. The
instrument is run under the control of Thwing-Albert Motion
Analysis Presentation Software (MAP V3.0.5.7). A
4-inch.times.4-inch test sample in is cut from the material to be
tested. Care should be taken to avoid damage to the center portion
of the test sample which will be under test. Scissors or other
suitable cutting tools may be used. For testing purposes, the test
sample is centered on the compression table under the compression
foot. The compression-relaxation procedure is performed once on
each test sample. The compression and relaxation portion data are
obtained using a crosshead speed of 0.10 inches/minute with a data
acquisition rate of 50/sec and an approach speed of 0.3 in/min.
When the load reaches .gtoreq.3 g, the approach speed is reduced to
0.10 in/min. The deflection of the load cell is obtained by running
the test without a test sample being present on the compression
table. This is generally known to those of skill in the art as the
Steel-to-Steel data. The Steel-to-Steel data are obtained at a
crosshead speed of 0.10 inch/minute. Crosshead position and load
cell data are recorded between the load cell range of 25 g to 1250
g for both the compression and relaxation portions of the test.
Since the compression foot area is 1 in.sup.2 this corresponds to a
range of 25 g/in.sup.2 to 1250 g/in.sup.2. The maximum pressure
exerted on the sample is 300 g/in.sup.2. At 300 g/in.sup.2 the
crosshead reverses its travel direction. Crosshead position values
are collected at selected load values during the test. These
correspond to pressure values of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200,
300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 1000, 1250, 1250, 1000, 750, 600, 500,
400, 300, 200, 150, 125, 100, 75, 50, and 25 g/in.sup.2 for the
compression and the relaxation directions respectively. During the
compression portion of the test, crosshead position values are
collected by the MAP software, by defining 14 traps (Trap 1 to Trap
14) at load settings of 25 (C25), 50 (C50), 75 (C75), 100 (C100),
125 (C125), 150 (C150), 200 (C200), 300 (C300), 400 (C400). 500
(C500), 600 (C600), 750 (C750), 1000 (C1000), and 1250 (C1250)
g/in.sup.2. The test apparatus and procedure compresses the test
sample between 1500 g/in.sup.2 to 1600 g/in.sup.2 before returning.
During the relaxation (return) portion of the test, crosshead
position values are collected by the MAP software, by defining 14
return traps (Return Trap 1 to Return Trap 14) at load settings of
1250 (R1250), 1000 (R1000), 750 (R750), 600 (R600), 500 (R500), 400
(R400), 300 (R300), 200 (R200), 150 (R150), 125 (R125), 100 (R100),
75 (R75), 50 (R50), and 25 (R25) g/in.sup.2. This cycle of
compressions to 1250 g/in.sup.2 and return to 25 g/in.sup.2 is on
the same test sample without removing the test sample. The
compression-relaxation test is replicated 5 times for a given
sample and using a fresh material sample each time. The result
(caliper of the test sample) is reported as an average of the 5
replicates for a given load. The caliper values are obtained for
both the Steel-to-Steel and the test sample. Steel-to-Steel values
are obtained for each batch of testing. If multiple days are
involved in the testing, the values are checked daily. The
Steel-to-Steel values and the test sample values are an average of
5 replicates at a given load.
[0070] Caliper values for a sample are obtained by subtracting the
average Steel-to-Steel crosshead trap value for a given load from
the test sample crosshead trap value for a given load (for example
at each trap point). For example, the caliper values from five
individual replicates at a given load on each test sample are
averaged and used to obtain the Compression Value at a given load.
Compression Values are reported in millimeters (mils).
Results
Package Height Reduction
TABLE-US-00001 [0071] TABLE 1 Results of Package Height Reduction
for 4 Exemplary Packages and Calculated Percent Drop. 18 gsm non-
30 gsm non- 1.5-mil woven/1.8-mil woven/1.8-mil Polyethylene (PE)
PE Micro Emboss PE Micro Emboss 18 gsm Film Only (ME) film (ME)
film non-woven (NW) Package laminate Package laminate Package Only
Package Sheets Height Height Height Height Remaining (in) % DROP
(in) % DROP (in) % DROP (in) % DROP 100 2.375 n/a 2.8125 n/a 2.75
n/a 2.75 n/a 90 2.3125 2.6% 2.8125 0.0% 2.6875 2.3% 2.75 0.0% 80 2
15.8% 2.8125 0.0% 2.6875 2.3% 2.75 0.0% 70 1.75 26.3% 2.8125 0.0%
2.6875 2.3% 2.6875 2.3% 60 1.625 31.6% 2.75 2.2% 2.625 4.5% 2.5
9.1% 50 1.625 31.6% 2.75 2.2% 2.625 4.5% 2.4375 11.4% 40 1.25 47.4%
2.75 2.2% 2.625 4.5% 2.4375 11.4% 30 1 57.9% 2.75 2.2% 2.625 4.5%
2.375 13.6% 20 0.875 63.2% 2.75 2.2% 2.625 4.5% 2.25 18.2% 10 0.5
78.9% 2.75 2.2% 2.5625 6.8% 2.25 18.2% 0 0.25 89.5% 2.75 2.2%
2.5625 6.8% 2.125 22.7%
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Overall Package Height Reduction for 4
Exemplary Packages Package Material Total Drop 1.5-mil PE Film Only
89.50% 18-gsm NW Only 22.70% 18 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE 2.20% ME Film
30 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE 6.80% ME Film
Plate Stiffness Test
TABLE-US-00003 [0072] TABLE 3 Overall Plate Stiffness Results for 7
Exemplary Packages (4 Replicate Samples) Sample Name g/mm N * mm
max g 20-mil Coated Recycled Board (CRB) 2931.023 440 2666.186
20-mil Coated Recycled Board (CRB) 2905.107 436 2632.053 20-mil
Recycled Board (CRB) 2812.874 422 2527.035 20-mil Recycled Board
(CRB) 3016.858 453 2754.775 1.5 ml PE film 3.894 0.584 2.825 1.5 ml
PE film 4.870 0.731 3.028 1.5 ml PE film 5.383 0.808 3.692 1.5 ml
PE film 3.808 0.571 3.004 1.8-mil PE Micro Emboss (ME) Film 2.080
0.312 1.571 1.8-mil PE Micro Emboss (ME) Film 1.703 0.256 1.478
1.8-mil PE Micro Emboss (ME) Film 1.956 0.293 1.526 1.8-mil PE
Micro Emboss (ME) Film 1.914 0.287 1.560 18 gsm non-woven (NW)
7.333 1.100 4.872 18 gsm non-woven (NW) 4.112 0.617 3.742 18 gsm
non-woven (NW) 3.993 0.599 3.449 18 gsm non-woven (NW) 4.900 0.735
5.103 30 gsm non-woven (NW) 3.414 0.512 2.748 30 gsm non-woven (NW)
3.221 0.483 2.551 30 gsm non-woven (NW) 4.701 0.705 3.118 30 gsm
non-woven (NW) 4.357 0.654 3.178 18 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film
19.176 2.877 13.410 18 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film 15.092 2.264
11.149 18 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film 9.799 1.470 8.111 18 gsm NW +
1.8-mil PE ME film 16.271 2.441 12.522 18 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME
film 18.539 2.781 12.522 30 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film 15.183
2.278 11.461 30 gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film 16.850 2.528 12.483 30
gsm NW + 1.8-mil PE ME film 16.299 2.445 12.655 30 gsm NW + 1.8-mil
PE ME film 18.924 2.839 13.730
Elevation Test
TABLE-US-00004 [0073] TABLE 4 Overall Surface Elevation of 3
Exemplary Packages. Sample Sa (.mu.m) Sq (.mu.m) 18 gsm-non-woven
with 26.2 33.9 1.8-mil PE ME film 30 gsm-non-woven with 36.3 45.8
1.8-mil PE ME film 30 gsm-non-woven 37.9 47.6
Compression Test
TABLE-US-00005 [0074] TABLE 5 Results of Compression Data (i.e.,
Overall Compression and Compressive Force) for Exemplary Laminated
and Non-Laminated Structures. Compression Caliper (mil) Sample Name
C25 C50 C75 C100 C125 C150 C200 C300 C400 C500 C600 C750 C1000
C1250 C1250 - C25 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 21.48 21.06 20.94 20.80
20.71 20.70 20.64 20.52 20.51 20.50 20.40 20.40 20.36 20.37 -1.12
20-pt CRB (paperboard) 20.95 20.80 20.70 20.54 20.57 20.56 20.51
20.41 20.41 20.34 20.28 20.25 20.19 20.18 -0.76 20-pt CRB
(paperboard) 20.94 20.51 20.41 20.34 20.28 20.26 20.19 20.11 20.08
19.94 19.96 19.91 19.87 19.87 -1.07 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 20.75
20.34 20.31 20.23 20.18 20.14 20.07 20.01 20.00 19.89 19.88 19.84
19.85 19.83 -0.92 Norm. 20-pt CRB 1.00 0.98 0.97 0.97 0.96 0.96
0.96 0.96 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 -0.97 paperboard 30 gsm
non-woven/film 14.40 13.87 13.54 13.30 13.12 12.96 12.69 12.34
12.09 11.87 11.68 11.50 11.20 10.97 -3.43 30 gsm non-woven/film
14.68 14.12 13.76 13.45 13.31 13.07 12.82 12.46 12.15 11.91 11.72
11.49 11.15 10.98 -3.70 30 gsm non-woven/film 14.42 13.89 13.53
13.26 13.11 12.90 12.62 12.21 11.96 11.74 11.54 11.28 11.00 10.80
-3.62 30 gsm non-woven/film 15.39 14.74 14.31 14.05 13.83 13.58
13.39 13.00 12.73 12.49 12.31 12.11 11.81 11.60 -3.79 Norm. 30 gsm
non- 1.00 0.96 0.94 0.92 0.91 0.90 0.88 0.86 0.84 0.82 0.81 0.80
0.78 0.76 -3.63 woven/film Clear micro emb 2.70 2.71 2.65 2.58 2.59
2.58 2.60 2.60 2.59 2.59 2.59 2.58 2.59 2.59 -0.12 Clear micro emb
3.14 2.97 2.97 2.92 2.83 2.72 2.72 2.68 2.61 2.59 2.61 2.58 2.59
2.57 -0.57 Clear micro emb 2.72 2.72 2.69 2.71 2.62 2.61 2.63 2.64
2.61 2.60 2.59 2.61 2.61 2.61 -0.11 Clear micro emb 2.73 2.71 2.67
2.71 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.65 2.62 2.62 2.62 2.61 2.61 2.62 -0.11 Norm.
Clear micro emb 1.00 0.98 0.97 0.97 0.94 0.93 0.94 0.94 0.92 0.92
0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 -0.23 30 gsm non-woven 11.33 10.72 10.37 10.11
9.87 9.75 9.49 9.09 8.82 8.64 8.45 8.26 7.98 7.79 -3.54 30 gsm
non-woven 12.17 11.52 11.12 10.87 10.63 10.45 10.15 9.80 9.49 9.25
9.09 8.85 8.58 8.41 -3.76 30 gsm non-woven 11.55 10.81 10.45 10.17
9.93 9.76 9.51 9.13 8.87 8.65 8.48 8.28 8.01 7.84 -3.71 30 gsm
non-woven 11.51 10.97 10.67 10.43 10.24 10.05 9.84 9.44 9.28 9.10
8.94 8.75 8.48 8.35 -3.16 Norm. 30 gsm 1.00 0.95 0.92 0.89 0.87
0.86 0.84 0.80 0.78 0.77 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.70 -3.54 non-woven 18 gsm
non-woven/film 11.76 11.41 11.18 10.97 10.90 10.77 10.60 10.37
10.18 10.01 9.87 9.71 9.50 9.36 -2.40 18 gsm non-woven/film 11.83
11.47 11.22 11.00 10.92 10.79 10.62 10.36 10.18 10.01 9.88 9.72
9.50 9.36 -2.47 18 gsm non-woven/film 11.51 11.03 10.78 10.59 10.45
10.30 10.10 9.82 9.66 9.46 9.31 9.15 8.93 8.75 -2.76 18 gsm
non-woven/film 12.38 11.97 11.73 11.55 11.39 11.19 11.06 10.76
10.56 10.32 10.21 10.00 9.76 9.57 -2.81 Norm. 18 gsm 1.00 0.97 0.95
0.93 0.92 0.91 0.89 0.87 0.85 0.84 0.83 0.81 0.79 0.78 -2.61
non-woven/film 18 gsm non-woven 8.48 8.16 7.92 7.75 7.61 7.51 7.36
7.10 6.96 6.82 6.70 6.53 6.34 6.24 -2.24 18 gsm non-woven 7.96 7.60
7.36 7.21 7.11 7.00 6.83 6.60 6.47 6.35 6.23 6.11 5.95 5.84 -2.12
18 gsm non-woven 9.19 8.75 8.44 8.35 8.20 8.06 7.87 7.64 7.41 7.30
7.16 7.01 6.82 6.70 -2.49 18 gsm non-woven 8.41 7.97 7.82 7.66 7.53
7.39 7.27 7.01 6.91 6.79 6.69 6.51 6.34 6.23 -2.18 Norm. 18 gsm
1.00 0.95 0.93 0.91 0.89 0.88 0.86 0.83 0.82 0.80 0.79 0.77 0.75
0.74 -2.25 non-woven
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Results of Relaxation Data (i.e., Overall
Relaxation and Relaxive Force) for Exemplary Laminated and
Non-Laminated Structures Relaxation Caliper (mil) Sample Name R1250
R1000 R750 R600 R500 R400 R300 R200 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 20.363
20.367 20.283 20.258 20.313 20.390 20.430 20.446 20-pt CRB
(paperboard) 20.193 20.182 20.119 20.108 20.155 20.210 20.264
20.272 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 19.873 19.868 19.791 19.781 19.807
19.904 19.911 19.954 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 19.852 19.833 19.773
19.742 19.780 19.885 19.858 19.938 Norm. 20-pt CRB (paperboard)
0.99 0.99 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.99 0.99 30 gsm non-woven/film
11.203 10.968 10.758 10.785 10.914 11.074 11.196 11.303 30 gsm
non-woven/film 11.152 10.981 10.689 10.715 10.901 11.041 11.141
11.286 30 gsm non-woven/film 11.000 10.799 10.534 10.553 10.694
10.955 10.979 11.148 30 gsm non-woven/film 11.806 11.597 11.321
11.299 11.474 11.630 11.763 11.869 Norm. 30 gsm non-woven/film 0.92
0.90 0.88 0.88 0.89 0.91 0.92 0.93 Clear micro emb 2.589 2.585
2.580 2.593 2.569 2.561 2.589 2.608 Clear micro emb 2.590 2.568
2.560 2.556 2.552 2.568 2.575 2.615 Clear micro emb 2.605 2.612
2.588 2.570 2.585 2.571 2.602 2.642 Clear micro emb 2.607 2.615
2.594 2.588 2.587 2.592 2.609 2.637 Norm. Clear micro emb 0.97 0.97
0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.97 0.98 30 gsm non-woven 7.978 7.787 7.523
7.562 7.676 7.841 7.965 8.078 30 gsm non-woven 8.583 8.408 8.142
8.165 8.298 8.480 8.607 8.782 30 gsm non-woven 8.014 7.836 7.594
7.602 7.725 7.912 8.029 8.161 30 gsm non-woven 8.484 8.351 8.115
8.130 8.272 8.440 8.541 8.706 Norm. 30 gsm non-woven 0.88 0.86 0.84
0.84 0.85 0.87 0.89 0.90 18 gsm non-woven/film 9.504 9.364 9.138
9.134 9.264 9.416 9.534 9.626 18 gsm non-woven/film 9.500 9.363
9.121 9.096 9.240 9.369 9.512 9.637 18 gsm non-woven/film 8.929
8.748 8.575 8.581 8.718 8.844 8.923 9.051 18 gsm non-woven/film
9.756 9.573 9.330 9.340 9.484 9.675 9.735 9.864 Norm. 18 gsm
non-woven/film 0.92 0.91 0.88 0.88 0.90 0.91 0.92 0.93 18 gsm
non-woven 6.335 6.243 6.099 6.108 6.252 6.338 6.418 6.617 18 gsm
non-woven 5.954 5.840 5.718 5.699 5.774 5.940 5.995 6.086 18 gsm
non-woven 6.823 6.700 6.514 6.497 6.617 6.767 6.952 7.006 18 gsm
non-woven 6.335 6.234 6.146 6.111 6.275 6.360 6.424 6.567 Norm. 18
gsm non-woven 0.88 0.87 0.85 0.85 0.86 0.88 0.89 0.91 Relaxation
Caliper (mil) Sample Name R150 R125 R100 R75 R50 R25 R25 - R1250
20-pt CRB (paperboard) 20.486 20.500 20.532 20.580 20.633 20.603
0.240 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 20.332 20.398 20.398 20.457 20.464
20.562 0.369 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 19.994 20.059 20.101 20.114
20.124 20.149 0.276 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 19.907 19.965 20.024
20.025 20.032 20.077 0.225 Norm. 20-pt CRB (paperboard) 0.99 0.99
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.28 30 gsm non-woven/film 11.414 11.574 11.830
11.980 12.018 12.242 1.039 30 gsm non-woven/film 11.405 11.547
11.824 12.012 12.036 12.269 1.117 30 gsm non-woven/film 11.223
11.386 11.597 11.751 11.926 11.925 0.925 30 gsm non-woven/film
11.976 12.124 12.412 12.533 12.608 12.733 0.927 Norm. 30 gsm
non-woven/film 0.94 0.95 0.97 0.98 0.99 1.00 1.00 Clear micro emb
2.605 2.647 2.678 2.694 2.635 2.622 0.033 Clear micro emb 2.592
2.632 2.672 2.733 2.725 2.744 0.154 Clear micro emb 2.605 2.625
2.699 2.681 2.700 2.685 0.080 Clear micro emb 2.615 2.656 2.736
2.693 2.661 2.657 0.050 Norm. Clear micro emb 0.97 0.99 1.01 1.01
1.00 1.00 0.08 30 gsm non-woven 8.281 8.384 8.645 8.817 8.881 9.043
1.065 30 gsm non-woven 8.828 8.994 9.250 9.430 9.651 9.699 1.116 30
gsm non-woven 8.322 8.436 8.699 8.909 9.006 9.136 1.122 30 gsm
non-woven 8.765 8.924 9.148 9.364 9.545 9.560 1.076 Norm. 30 gsm
non-woven 0.91 0.93 0.95 0.98 0.99 1.00 1.09 18 gsm non-woven/film
9.737 9.881 10.025 10.167 10.203 10.262 0.758 18 gsm non-woven/film
9.677 9.832 10.093 10.125 10.173 10.273 0.773 18 gsm non-woven/film
9.133 9.296 9.459 9.622 9.837 9.814 0.885 18 gsm non-woven/film
9.965 10.092 10.309 10.440 10.482 10.566 0.810 Norm. 18 gsm
non-woven/film 0.94 0.96 0.97 0.99 0.99 1.00 0.81 18 gsm non-woven
6.618 6.747 6.985 7.147 7.109 7.206 0.871 18 gsm non-woven 6.182
6.319 6.466 6.543 6.626 6.731 0.777 18 gsm non-woven 7.107 7.224
7.460 7.608 7.629 7.741 0.918 18 gsm non-woven 6.589 6.715 6.881
6.992 7.034 7.162 0.827 Norm. 18 gsm non-woven 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98
0.98 1.00 0.85
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Mathematically Expressed Equations for
Exemplary Laminated and Non-Laminated Structures Where x =
Compression Pressure and y = Normalized Compression Caliper. 20-pt
CRB (paperboard): y = -0.012ln(x) + 1.0272 30 gsm Non-Woven: y =
-0.078ln(x) + 1.2525 18 gsm non-woven/film: y = -0.057ln(x) +
1.1892 30 gsm non-woven/film: y = -0.061ln(x) + 1.2042 18 gsm
Non-Woven: y = -0.068ln(x) + 1.2219 Clear micro-emboss: y =
-0.021ln(x) + 1.0598 30 gsm Non-Woven: y = -0.078ln(x) + 1.2525
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Mathematically Expressed Equations for
Exemplary Laminated and Non-Laminated Structures Where x =
Relaxation Pressure and y = Normalized Relaxation Caliper. 18 gsm
non-woven/film: y = -0.031ln(x) + 1.1058 30 gsm non-woven/film: y =
-0.031ln(x) + 1.0997 18 gsm Non-Woven: y = -0.042ln(x) + 1.1402 30
gsm Non-Woven: y = -0.043ln(x) + 1.1413
[0075] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical
dimension and/or value recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such dimension and/or value is intended to mean
both the recited dimension and/or value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that dimension and/or value. For
example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean
"about 40 mm."
[0076] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0077] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *