U.S. patent application number 13/921896 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for refillable, flexible moist wipes dispenser having offset dispensing orifice.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Christopher Michael Bechyne, Jonathan Adam Dien, Ryan Leslie Fulscher, Terri Lynn Meisel, Karen Marie Menard, Rebecca Catherine Mohr, Jennifer Laurel Nobui, Jennifer Lee Schiffman, Rhiannon Lynn Thoresen.
Application Number | 20140374435 13/921896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52104031 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140374435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thoresen; Rhiannon Lynn ; et
al. |
December 25, 2014 |
REFILLABLE, FLEXIBLE MOIST WIPES DISPENSER HAVING OFFSET DISPENSING
ORIFICE
Abstract
A refillable dispenser includes a flexible pouch having a top
and a bottom spaced apart in a width dimension. The bottom
terminates at a bottom edge. The pouch has a front wall, a back
wall, and an interior space therebetween. The dispenser includes a
dispensing opening formed in the front wall. The dispensing opening
has a width that extends in the width dimension, and the dispensing
opening defines a midpoint along its width. The dispenser includes
a seam that extends generally in a length dimension and that is
disposed generally at the pouch top. The seam can be opened to an
open position and resealed to a closed position to connect the
front wall to the back wall. The seam defines a seam inner edge and
a seam outer edge. The midpoint of the dispensing opening is
disposed closer to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge.
Inventors: |
Thoresen; Rhiannon Lynn;
(Appleton, WI) ; Meisel; Terri Lynn; (Appleton,
WI) ; Mohr; Rebecca Catherine; (Appleton, WI)
; Menard; Karen Marie; (Neenah, WI) ; Bechyne;
Christopher Michael; (Menasha, WI) ; Nobui; Jennifer
Laurel; (Neenah, WI) ; Fulscher; Ryan Leslie;
(Neenah, WI) ; Dien; Jonathan Adam; (Chicago,
IL) ; Schiffman; Jennifer Lee; (Chicago, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. |
Neenah |
WI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52104031 |
Appl. No.: |
13/921896 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/421 20130101;
B65D 2575/586 20130101; A47K 2010/3233 20130101; B65D 33/2508
20130101; B65D 83/0805 20130101; A47K 2010/3266 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/63 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42 |
Claims
1. A refillable dispenser for pre-moistened wipes, the dispenser
defining a length dimension and a width dimension, the dispenser
comprising a flexible pouch having a top and a bottom spaced apart
in the width dimension, the bottom terminating at a bottom edge,
the pouch having a front wall, a back wall, and an interior space
between the front wall and the back wall, the dispenser comprising
a dispensing opening formed in the front wall, the dispensing
opening having a dispensing opening width that extends in the width
dimension, the dispensing opening defining a midpoint along its
width, the dispenser further comprising a movable cover adapted to
cover the dispensing opening, the dispenser comprising a seam
extending generally in the length dimension and disposed generally
at the pouch top, wherein the seam can be opened to an open
position and resealed to a closed position to connect the front
wall to the back wall, the open position configured to define a
refill opening, the seam defining an seam inner edge and a seam
outer edge, wherein the midpoint of the dispensing opening is
disposed closer to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge.
2. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the midpoint of the
dispensing opening is disposed at least 10 millimeters closer to
the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge.
3. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the front wall and
the back wall are each formed from a flexible material having a
bending resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and about
300 milligrams of force.
4. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the flexible
material has a bending resistance of between about 40 milligrams of
force and 150 milligrams of force.
5. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the flexible
material has a bending resistance of between about 60 milligrams of
force and about 100 milligrams of force.
6. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the flexible
material has a thickness of between about 8 mils and about 15
mils.
7. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing
opening is surrounded by a rigid ring, wherein the cover is
hingedly attached to the ring.
8. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the front wall has
a top edge and first and second side edges that extend
perpendicularly from opposite ends of the front wall top edge, and
wherein the back wall has a top edge and first and second side
edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the back
wall top edge.
9. The refillable dispenser of claim 8, where the front wall is
connected to the back wall via a first side seam that connects the
front wall first side edge to the back wall first side edge, via a
second side seam that connects the front wall second side edge to
the back wall second side edge, and via a bottom gusset wall that
extends between and is formed integrally with the front wall and
the back wall.
10. The refillable dispenser of claim 9, wherein the front wall,
the back wall, and the bottom gusset wall are all integrally formed
from a single sheet of flexible material, the material configured
in an M-fold, the M-fold defining three fold lines that extend in
the length dimension, the M-fold permanently held in place along
the first side seam and the second side seam.
11. The refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser
further includes a stack of pre-moistened wipes, the wipes defining
a stack width that extends in the width dimension, wherein the
interior space defines an interior space width that extends from
the seam inner edge to the bottom edge, wherein the stack width is
X% of the interior space width, wherein X is at most 90, and
wherein the midpoint of the dispensing opening is disposed closer
to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge by an amount of
approximately (100-x)% of the interior space width.
12. A refillable dispenser for pre-moistened wipes, the dispenser
defining a length dimension and a width dimension, the dispenser
comprising a flexible pouch having a top and a bottom spaced apart
in the width dimension, the bottom terminating at a bottom edge,
the pouch having a front wall, a back wall, and an interior space
between the front wall and the back wall, the dispenser comprising
a dispensing opening formed in the front wall, the dispensing
opening having a dispensing opening width that extends in the width
dimension, the dispensing opening defining a midpoint along its
width, the dispenser further comprising a movable cover adapted to
cover the dispensing opening, the dispenser comprising a seam
extending generally in the length dimension and disposed generally
at the pouch top, wherein the seam can be opened to an open
position and resealed to a closed position to connect the front
wall to the back wall, the open position configured to define a
refill opening, the seam defining an seam inner edge and a seam
outer edge, wherein the midpoint of the dispensing opening is
disposed closer to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge,
wherein the front wall and the back wall are each formed of a
flexible material having a bending resistance of between about 40
milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of force, wherein the
flexible material has a thickness of between about 8 mils and about
15 mils, and wherein the dispensing opening is surrounded by a
rigid ring, the cover being hingedly attached to the ring.
13. The refillable dispenser of claim 12, wherein the midpoint of
the dispensing opening is disposed at least 10 millimeters closer
to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge.
14. The refillable dispenser of claim 12, wherein the flexible
material has a bending resistance of between about 60 milligrams of
force and about 100 milligrams of force.
15. The refillable dispenser of claim 12, wherein the front wall
has a top edge and first and second side edges that extend
perpendicularly from opposite ends of the front wall top edge, and
wherein the back wall has a top edge and first and second side
edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the back
wall top edge.
16. The refillable dispenser of claim 15, wherein the front wall is
connected to the back wall via a first side seam that connects the
front wall first side edge to the back wall first side edge, via a
second side seam that connects the front wall second side edge to
the back wall second side edge, and via a bottom gusset wall that
extends between and is formed integrally with the front wall and
the back wall.
17. The refillable dispenser of claim 16, wherein the front wall,
the back wall, and the bottom gusset wall are all integrally formed
from a single sheet of flexible material, the material configured
in an M-fold, the M-fold defining three fold lines that extend in
the length dimension, the M-fold held permanently held in place at
the first side seam and the second side seam.
18. The refillable dispenser of claim 12, wherein the dispenser
further includes a stack of pre-moistened wipes, the wipes defining
a stack width that extends in the width dimension, wherein the
interior space defines an interior space width that extends from
the seam inner edge to the bottom edge, wherein the stack width is
X% of the interior space width, wherein X is at most 90, and
wherein the midpoint of the dispensing opening is disposed closer
to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge by an amount of
approximately (100-x)% of the interior space width.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] There are a variety of storing and dispensing containers in
the market, particularly those for storing and dispensing wipe-type
products. Wipe-type products or wipes have been made from a variety
of materials which can be dry or wet when used. Wet wipes can be
moistened with a variety of suitable wiping solutions. Typically,
wet wipes have been stacked in a container in either a folded or
unfolded configuration. For example, containers of wet wipes have
been available wherein each of the wet wipes stacked in the
container has been arranged in a folded configuration such as a
c-folded, z-folded or quarter-folded configuration as are well
known to those skilled in the art. Sometimes each folded wet wipe
is interfolded with the wet wipes immediately above and below it in
the stack of wipes. In an alternative configuration, the wet wipes
have been placed in a container in the form of a continuous web of
material that includes perforations adapted to allow for separation
of individual wet wipes from the web upon the application of a
pulling force. Such wet wipes have been used for baby wipes, hand
wipes, personal care wipes, household cleaning wipes, industrial
wipes and the like.
[0002] Conventional wipes dispensers may be classified into two
categories: (1) relatively stiff, durable tubs that are relatively
large, are designed to be refilled, and that do not change in
volume as wipes are removed; and (2) rigid "flip-top" packages that
are made of highly flexible, plastic film material and that shrink
in volume as wipes are removed, but that are not refillable. What
is needed in the art is a wipes dispenser that in particular
embodiments does not possess the enormity and resistance of common
baby wipes "tubs"; is refillable; that shrinks in volume as wipes
are removed; and dispenses wipes efficiently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one embodiment of the invention, the refillable dispenser
for pre-moistened wipes defines a length dimension and a width
dimension. The dispenser includes a flexible pouch having a top and
a bottom spaced apart in the width dimension. The bottom terminates
at a bottom edge. The pouch has a front wall, a back wall, and an
interior space between the front wall and the back wall. The
dispenser includes a dispensing opening formed in the front wall.
The dispensing opening has a dispensing opening width that extends
in the width dimension, and the dispensing opening defines a
midpoint along its width. The dispenser further includes a movable
cover adapted to cover the dispensing opening. The dispenser
includes a seam that extends generally in the length dimension and
that is disposed generally at the pouch top. The seam can be opened
to an open position and resealed to a closed position to connect
the front wall to the back wall. The open position is configured to
define a refill opening. The seam defines a seam inner edge and a
seam outer edge. The midpoint of the dispensing opening is disposed
closer to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge.
[0004] In particular embodiments, the dispenser further includes a
stack of pre-moistened wipes. The wipes define a stack width that
extends in the width dimension. The interior space defines an
interior space width that extends from the seam inner edge to the
bottom edge. The stack width is X% of the interior space width,
wherein X is at most 90. The midpoint of the dispensing opening is
disposed closer to the bottom edge than to the seam inner edge by
an amount of approximately (100-x)% of the interior space
width.
[0005] In particular embodiments, the front wall and the back wall
are each formed of a flexible material having a bending resistance
of between about 40 milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of
force, and the flexible material has a thickness of between about 8
mils and about 15 mils.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the
dispenser of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the dispenser of
the present invention, with the cover assembly not present.
[0008] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 2
taken along line 2A-2A, the refill opening shown in a closed
position.
[0009] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 2
taken along line 2A-2A, but with the refill opening shown in an
open position.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the
dispenser of the present invention, with the cover assembly not
present.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of
the dispenser of the present invention, with the cover assembly not
present.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a front view of still another alternative
embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention, with the
cover assembly not present.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
[0013] In particular embodiments, a refillable dispenser 20 houses
a stack 22 of pre-moistened or wet wipes, such as diapering wipes,
toileting wipes, feminine care wipes, or other wipes known in the
art. The dispenser defines a length dimension 21 and a width
dimension 23. The dispenser 20 comprises a flexible pouch 30 that
has a top 27 and a bottom 29 spaced apart from each other in the
width dimension 23. The top 27 terminates at a top edge 33 and the
bottom 29 terminates at a bottom edge 35. The pouch 30 has a front
wall 32, a back wall 34, and an interior space 36 between the front
wall 32 and the back wall 34.
[0014] The dispenser further includes a dispensing opening 40
formed in the front wall 32. The dispensing opening 40 can be a
hole (FIGS. 1-3), a slit (FIGS. 4-5), or other opening through
which a moist wipe can suitably be dispensed. In particular
embodiments, the dispensing opening 40 has a dispensing opening
width 42 that extends in the width dimension 23. As
representatively illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the dispensing opening
width 42 is defined as the distance in the width dimension 23
between a first imaginary line 41 that passes through the point of
the dispensing opening 40 that is closest to the top 27 and a
second imaginary line 43 that passes through the point of the
dispensing opening 40 that is closest to the bottom 29. The
dispensing opening 40 defines a midpoint 44 spaced halfway along
its width 42.
[0015] The dispenser 20 further in particular embodiments includes
a movable cover 50 adapted to cover the dispensing opening 40 to
help keep the moist wipes from drying out between uses. In
particular embodiments, the dispensing opening 40 is surrounded by
a rigid ring 46, and the cover 50 is hingedly attached to the ring
46 via a hinge 48.
[0016] The dispenser includes a seam 60 that extends generally in
the length dimension 21. The seam is located generally at the pouch
top 32. The seam 60 can be opened to an open position 62 and
resealed to a closed position 64. In the closed position 64, the
seam 60 connects the front wall 32 to the back wall 34, either
directly, or indirectly by way of intermediate materials. The open
position 62 is configured to define a refill opening 66. The refill
opening 66 allows a user to replenish the wipe supply into the
interior space 36. The seam 60 defines a seam inner edge 61 distal
to the top edge 33, and the seam defines a seam outer edge proximal
63 the top edge 33. Although the seam 60 may include a single or
multiple strips or lanes along which the front wall 32 is connected
to the back wall, the seam 60 as a whole has only one seam inner
edge (namely, the innermost edge of the seam, relatively distal to
the top edge 33) and has only one seam outer edge (namely, the
outermost seam of the edge, relatively proximal to the top edge
33). In particular embodiments, the seam 60 is press and seal seam,
and/or can include a sliding zipper. In particular embodiments, a
carrying strap 68 can be attached to the pouch 30, such as at the
pouch top 27.
[0017] In particular embodiments, the front wall 32 and the back
wall 34 are each formed from a flexible material having a bending
resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and about 300
milligrams of force. As used herein, "bending resistance" means the
bending resistance as measured in accordance with the protocol
outlined below. In particular embodiments, the flexible material
has a bending resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and
150 milligrams of force, more particularly between about 40
milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of force, more particularly
between about 40 milligrams of force and 125 milligrams of force,
more particularly between about 40 milligrams of force and 100
grams, more particularly between about 60 milligrams of force and
about 100 milligrams of force, and more particularly between about
60 milligrams of force and about 90 milligrams of force. It has
been discovered that by constructing the front wall 32 and back
wall 34 of such materials, the pouch 30 is durable, is perceived as
being high in quality, is efficiently processable, is reasonable in
cost, in particular embodiments exhibits minimal "crinkling" noise
as it is manipulated, and is flexible enough to bend to fit into a
purse, diaper bag, or similar container, and will, furthermore,
become thinner/shrink in volume as the wipe supply is depleted.
[0018] In particular embodiments, the front wall 32 and the back
wall 34 are each formed from a flexible material that has a
thickness of at least 5.0 mils (0.127 mm), more particularly at
least about 8 mils (0.203 cm), and still more particularly between
about 8 mils (0.203 mm) and about 15 mils (0.381 mm). As used
herein, "thickness" means the thickness as measured in accordance
with the protocol outlined below. Materials having the bending
resistance and thickness features described above are described in
the Examples below. In conventional moist wipes dispensers, the
dispensing orifice is centered over the interior space of the
container or package in both length and width directions. While
developing particular aspects of the present invention, it was
discovered, in a pouch sized for a stack of wipes having a given
length and width, that if the wipes stack was positioned too close
to the seam 60, the front wall 32 and back wall 34 pinched the
stack of wipes, and thereby negatively impacted dispensing. It was
discovered that by offsetting the dispensing opening toward the
bottom edge 35 of the pouch 30, this pinching problem could be
minimized.
[0019] Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the midpoint 44 of
the dispensing opening 40 is disposed closer to the bottom edge 35
than to the seam inner edge 61. In particular embodiments, the
midpoint 44 of the dispensing opening 40 is disposed at least 5
millimeters closer, more particularly at least 10 millimeters
closer, and still more particularly at least 15 millimeters closer
to the bottom edge 35 than to the seam inner edge 61.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, in particular embodiments, the
dispenser includes a stack 22 of pre-moistened wipes. The stack has
a stack width 25 that extends in the width dimension 23. The
interior space 36 defines an interior space width 37 that extends
from the seam inner edge 61 to the bottom edge 35. (For ease of
measurement, the interior space width 37 is intentionally described
and illustrated as including the thickness of the bottom wall 80,
and should be measured as such for purposes herein.) In particular
embodiments, the stack width 25 is X% of the interior space width
37, wherein X is at most 90, and the midpoint 44 of the dispensing
opening 40 is disposed closer to the bottom edge 35 than to the
seam inner edge 61 by an amount of approximately (100-x)% of the
interior space width 37. For example, if the interior space width
37 is 10 centimeters and the stack width is 8 centimeters, the
stack width 25 is 80% of the interior space width 37, and the
midpoint 44 of the dispensing opening 40 is disposed closer to the
bottom edge 35 than to the seam inner edge 61 by 20% of the
interior space width 37--that is, by approximately 2 centimeters.
Thus, the midpoint 44 of the opening 40 would in this example be
positioned 4 centimeters from the bottom edge 35, and 6 centimeters
from the seam inner edge 61.
[0021] In particular embodiments of the pouch 30, the front wall 32
has a top edge 72 and first and second side edges 73, 74 that
extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the front wall top
edge 72. Similarly, the back wall 34 has a top edge 76 and first
and second side edges 77, 78 that extend perpendicularly from
opposite ends of the back wall top edge 76. In particular
embodiments, the front wall 32 is connected to the back wall 34 via
a first side seam 75 that connects the front wall first side edge
73 to the back wall first side edge 77, as well as a second side
seam 79 that connects the front wall second side edge 74 to the
back wall second side edge 78. The front wall 32 is further
connected to the back wall 34 by a bottom gusset wall 80 that can
extend between and be formed integrally with the front wall 32 and
the back wall 34. For example, in one embodiment, the front wall
32, the back wall 34, and the bottom gusset wall 80 are all
integrally formed from a single sheet of flexible material that is
configured in an M-fold. The M-fold defines three fold lines 81,
82, 83 that extend in the length dimension 21. The M-fold is held
permanently in place at the first side seam 75 and the second side
seam 79.
Test Procedures and Comparative Examples
[0022] Stated generally, the resistance of a material is its
resistance to deflection or deformation (e.g., bending) when acted
on by an applied force. The resistance of dispenser materials is
herein determined with respect to a bending moment produced by a
force that is directed perpendicular to the plane substantially
defined by the length and width of the component being tested. As
used herein, "bending resistance" means the resistance measured via
a Gurley resistance test as set forth in TAPPI Standard Test T 543
om-11 (Bending Resistance of Paper (Gurley type tester)), and
reported in milligrams of force. A suitable testing apparatus is a
Gurley Digital Resistance Tester, model 4171-D manufactured by
Teledyne Gurley, a business having offices in Troy, N.Y., U.S.A. A
specimen is cut from a wipes dispenser and tested in accordance
with the above-referenced TAPPI test. Although the length and width
dimensions of the specimen that is cut and tested may be adjusted
to accommodate the size or nature of a sample as noted in section 6
of the procedure, the force measurement for any given sample size
is normalized to correspond to a 50.8 mm (2 inches) by 63.5 mm (2.5
inches) sample size, as set forth in TAPPI Standard Test T 543
om-11, including the use of the correct specified conversion factor
depending on the test parameters used.
[0023] To contrast certain aspects of the invention from certain
aspects of conventional dispensers, the bending resistance of
several prototype dispenser materials as well as of a variety of
commercially available dispensers were measured. For purposes of
the comparative examples of Table 1, 25.4 mm.times.25.4 mm (1
in.times.1 in) specimens were cut from a section of each flexible
dispenser wall (codes 1-6 and 9-13) that was free of seams, welds,
or other interfering elements. The "test length" for these codes
was 12.7 mm (0.5 inches). For the highly rigid, "hard case"
dispensers (codes 7-8), 12.7 mm.times.63.5 mm (0.5 in.times.2.5 in)
specimens were cut from a section of each dispenser that was free
of seams, corners, reinforcing flanges, or other interfering
elements. The "test length" for these codes was 50.8 mm (2 inches).
"Test length" means the gap from the clamp jaws to the top edge of
the pendulum vane of the test apparatus. Five specimens per sample
code were prepared and measured.
[0024] The orientation of the material relative to the Gurley
resistance testing equipment may, for some materials, affect the
measured bending resistance. This is because some materials may
have microscopic structural differences in different dimensions
(e.g., length versus width) stemming from certain manufacturing
processes (e.g., machine direction vs. cross-machine direction). As
used and claimed herein, in addition to that described above,
"bending resistance" means the bending resistance of the plane of
the material containing the length dimension 21 and the width
dimension 23, regardless of the orientation at which the sample is
cut or placed in the testing apparatus.
[0025] To contrast certain aspects of the invention from certain
aspects of conventional dispensers, the thickness of several
prototype dispenser materials as well as of a variety of
commercially available dispensers were measured. A Thwing-Albert,
Model 89-100 thickness tester (available from Thwing-Albert
Instrument Co., a business having offices in West Berlin, N.J.,
U.S.A.) or comparable apparatus is used to measure the thickness of
each material. For purposes of the comparative examples of Table 1,
3 in. by 2 in. specimens were cut from a section of each dispenser
wall that was free of seams, welds, or other interfering elements.
Five specimens per sample code were prepared and measured. An
upper, circular pressure foot has a diameter of 28.7 mm, for an
area of 645 sq. mm (1 square inch). A lower pressure foot should
have a diameter equal to or larger than that of the upper pressure
foot. The total dead load applied to the test specimen is 235 gm-f
(.about.3.57 kPa). The thickness should be measured after a dwell
time of approximately three (3) seconds.
[0026] Table 1 sets forth the bending resistance and thickness for
various materials, and also lists the weight, mounting position,
specimen size, and conversion factor used to generate the bending
resistance for each material in accordance with TAPPI Standard Test
T 543 om-11 as described above. Codes 1-8 are dispenser wall
materials taken from commercially available wet wipes dispensers.
Codes 9-13 are examples that embody principles of the present
invention. Codes 9-11 are examples employing high density poly
ethylene films available from Berry Plastics, a business having
offices in Chippewa Fall, Wis., U.S.A. Code 12 is an example of a
material employing 100% ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material, and
Code 13 is an example of a material employing 80% ethylene vinyl
acetate (EVA) material and 20% polyethylene, both available from
Promotion Services Group, Chicago Ill., U.S.A.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Distance of wgt Mean Mean Wgt from Width
Length Conversion Resistance Thickness Code Description (g) pivot
(in) (in) (in) Factor (mgf) (mils) 1 HUGGIES .RTM. 5 1 1 1 2.78
8.01 2.1 Natural Care Soft Pack 32 ct. 2 Pampers .RTM. 5 1 1 1 2.78
11.79 3.0 Sensitive Soft Pack 64 ct. 3 Pampers .RTM. Baby 5 2 1 1
5.56 14.40 3.0 Fresh .RTM. Soft Pack 72 ct. 4 Wal-Mart 5 2 1 1 5.56
17.63 1.9 Parent's Choice Soft Pack--80 ct 5 Walgreens 5 1 1 1 2.78
8.20 2.5 Premium Baby Wipes Soft Pack 6 Target Up & Up 5 2 1 1
5.56 19.85 2.3 Soft Pack 88 wipes 7 HUGGIES .RTM. 200 4 0.5 2.5
14,222 41,528 41.6 Natural Care Travel Case 16 ct 8 HUGGIES .RTM.
50 4 0.5 2.5 3,556 15,753 31.6 Natural Care Tub 64 ct (front panel)
9 6 mil HDPE 5 2 1 1 5.56 21.24 5.8 10 8 mil HDPE 25 1 1 1 13.9
61.85 6.6 11 10 mil HDPE 25 2 1 1 27.8 85.90 9.8 12 100% EVA 25 1 1
1 13.9 69.78 11.7 13 80% EVA/ 25 2 1 1 27.8 84.79 10.8 20% PEI
[0027] As shown in Table 1, Codes 9-13 all having bending
resistance that are greater than Codes 1-6 (conventional flexible
bags for wet wipes) but that are far less than Codes 7-8
(conventional hard containers for wet wipes). Furthermore, Codes
9-13 all have thicknesses that are greater than Codes 1-6
(conventional flexible bags for wet wipes) but that are far less
than Codes 7-8 (conventional hard containers for wet wipes).
[0028] It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing
embodiments, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be
construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Although only a
few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in
detail, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many
modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of
this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to
be included within the scope of this invention, which is defined in
the following claims and all equivalents thereto.
[0029] Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may be
conceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some
embodiments, particularly of the preferred embodiments, yet the
absence of a particular advantage shall not be construed to
necessarily mean that such an embodiment is outside the scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *