U.S. patent application number 14/513238 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-19 for container of wipes with dispensing nozzle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michael John GORDON. Invention is credited to Michael John GORDON.
Application Number | 20150048105 14/513238 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52466093 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150048105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GORDON; Michael John |
February 19, 2015 |
CONTAINER OF WIPES WITH DISPENSING NOZZLE
Abstract
Referring to FIG. 6. The invention relates to a container of
wipes (3) with a dispensing nozzle (20). The housing (4) is
provided containing wet wipes (10). The dispensing nozzle (20)
extends from the housing. The nozzle (20) is formed with a
resilient aperture (21) through which wipes can be withdrawn from
the housing. The resilient aperture (21) is expandable to allow
withdrawal of (wipes 10) therethrough, but is biased toward a
contracted state. In use a wipe can be withdrawn through the nozzle
and separated by rupturing the perforations joining the wipe to a
next adjacent wipe with the nozzle expanding as required to allow
passage of the wipe through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle
contracts around the tail of the next adjacent wipe to prevent
release of moisture from the inside of the housing and to help
prevent wicking of moisture from a wipe tail.
Inventors: |
GORDON; Michael John;
(Farnham Royal, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GORDON; Michael John |
Farnham Royal |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
52466093 |
Appl. No.: |
14/513238 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12664179 |
Mar 30, 2010 |
8857614 |
|
|
14513238 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
A47K 2010/3266 20130101; B65D 83/0894 20130101; A47K 10/421
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/63 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42 |
Claims
1. A container for wipes, the container comprising: a free
standing, self contained, portable, fully sealed housing that in
use receives the wipes, the wipes being formed in a continuous
length each wipe being joined to the following wipe by a separable
bond, and a dispensing nozzle extending from and fixedly mounted on
a first end of the housing, which is opposite a second end of the
housing, the second end enabling the housing to stand on a
horizontal surface while product is extracted from the first end,
the nozzle having a relatively wide dome-shaped base, which tapers
radially inwardly, and then curves upward into an annular
projection, which terminates at a tip to provide an aperture for
the wipes' exit, the annular projection having a resiliently
deformable wall, the annular projection being in a contracted state
when no wipe is present in the nozzle while being resiliently
expandable to an expanded state to allow withdrawal of wipes
therethrough while gripping the wipes such that the inner surface
of the annular wall exerts a retarding force on the part of the
length of wipes in the annular projection along the length of the
annular projection which acts against their withdrawal such that,
in use, as a length of wipes is withdrawn through, this retarding
force acts to break the separable bonds between each wipe and the
following wipe, the nozzle contracting around the tail of the next
adjacent wipe which impedes release of moisture from inside the
housing and wicking of moisture from the wipe tail, and impedes
fall back of the wipe back into the housing.
2. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the annular
projection is of substantially constant internal diameter.
3. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the annular
projection features ribs, pips, dots, teeth, raised regions,
surface roughening or other gripping means on the inner surface
which engages with the line of weakness that join the wipes as a
wipe is withdrawn to separate a wipe from an adjacent wipe.
4. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle is
shaped such that any force pulling a wipe back through the aperture
into the housing biases the nozzle aperture into the contracted
state.
5. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the annular
projection is formed from a flexible elastomer such that it flexes
away from the housing in a direction as a wipe is being
withdrawn.
6. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle is
formed from a flexible elastomer such that it flexes away from the
housing in a direction as a wipe is being withdrawn.
7. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the tapered
section of the nozzle is smooth and does not impede wipes being
drawn through the nozzle.
8. The container of wipes defined in claim 7 wherein the junction
between the tapered section and the annular section curves smoothly
and does not impede wipes being drawn through the nozzle.
9. The container of wipes defined in claim 3 wherein the annular
projection includes ribs, pips or other gripping formations fixed
on the inner surface of the nozzle in a circularly symmetric array
and engaging into the perforations in the sheet of material as a
wipe is withdrawn to separate a wipe from an adjacent wipe.
10. The container for wipes defined in claim 3 wherein the ribs or
pips are arrayed at different radial intervals around the inner
surface of the nozzle.
11. The container for wipes defined in claim 3 wherein the ribs,
pips or gripping formations are a continuous spiral or at intervals
so as to optimize grip.
12. The container of wipes defined in claim 3 wherein the ribs,
pips or gripping formations are formed from the same material as
the nozzle.
13. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the length of
the inner surface of the annular projection is between 3 mm and 20
mm.
14. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the angle of
taper does not exceed 70.degree. at any point.
15. The container for wipes defined in claim 1, wherein the nozzle
projects beyond an outer surface of the container.
16. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the housing
is hermetically sealed and made from a flexible material.
17. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the housing
made from a plastic material like polypropylene and has a removable
lid.
18. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the
continuous length of wipe material features separable line of
weakness between the wipes in the form of lines of
perforations.
19. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the
continuous length of material features separable lines of weakness
between the wipes formed from an adhesive connection between the
back section of one wipe and the front section of its adjacent
wipe.
20. The container of wipes defined in claim 1 wherein the
continuous length of material features separable lines of weakness
between the wipes that are a combination of both lines of
perforations between some of the wipes and adhesive connection
between the back section of one wipe and the front section of its
adjacent wipe for other wipes, both types being within the same
continuous length of material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application ser. no. 12/664,179 filed 30 Mar. 2010 with a claim to
the priority of British application 0617067.7 filed 29 Aug. 2006,
British application 0710596.8 filed 4 Jun. 2007, and PCT
application PCT/GB2007/003267 filed 29 August 2007 and published 5
Mar. 2008 as WO2008/025980.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a container of wipes with a
dispensing nozzle. More particularly this invention concerns.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Wipes are generally sold in two types of dispensing
container:
[0004] 1) Hard plastic tubs with removable lids which feature a
narrow outlet aperture from which the wipes are dispensed. The tub
is then sealed with a cap which covers the aperture in order to
prevent moisture loss from the tub.
[0005] 2) Soft packs with hermetically sealed side edges and with a
mouth in the middle of the top side of the pack from which to
access the wipes. In order to prevent moisture loss from the pack,
this mouth is generally sealed in one of two ways; either by way of
a removable self adhesive strip or by way of an integral hard
plastic lid assembly called a `Rigid Flip Top` (RFT). The latter
consists of a hard plastic frame fixed to the upper side of the
soft pack with a lid connected to it by hinge. The frame defines
the opening or mouth of the soft pack through which the wipes will
be dispensed and is permanently fixed to the soft pack by
adhesive.
[0006] Soft pack dispensing containers are becoming increasingly
popular because these packs are less expensive to make than hard
plastic tubs or canisters, require less raw materials to make them
and are perceived to be far more environmentally friendly.
[0007] The wipes within a soft pack dispensing container are
generally in a folded, stacked format. They are either in the form
of elongate sheets of moistened material with spaced lines of
weakness, the separable bond, in the form of lines of perforations
dividing one sheet of material into hand sized individual sheets or
interleave folded sheets without perforations dividing them into
individual sheets. In the case of the latter, a portion of the
bottom side of the back end of the first wipe lies flat against the
top side of the front end of the second wipe. In this case it is
the viscosity of the liquid impregnate or a mild adhesive between
the above mentioned wipe ends and not a perforation line that forms
the line of weakness, the separable bond between the folded
sheets.
[0008] In order to access the first wipe from within a soft pack
dispensing container the wipe needs to be grasped or pinched with
two fingers and pulled through the mouth of the soft pack
dispensing container. As a wipe is pulled through the opening, the
adjacent wipe is also withdrawn. The first wipe then starts to
separate from its adjacent wipe once the line of weakness, the
separable bond between the two wipes reaches the narrow mouth of
the soft pack dispensing container. A portion of the subsequent
wipe, the tail, is supposed to present itself for the next user
to.
[0009] There are three main problems associated with soft pack
containers.
[0010] First, when a wipe is withdrawn from them, the wipes
separate before the adjacent wipe is fully withdrawn through the
mouth of the pack, the result being that the adjacent wipe then
lies flat on top of the stack rather than leaving a tail protruding
from the pack for the next user to grasp. The user is then forced
to scratch around the top of the stack in order to find the end of
the top wipe, then insert two fingers into the mouth of the pack in
order to grasp the wipe and pull it out through the aperture.
Constant repetition of this process can be frustrating to the
user.
[0011] A second problem occurs if the separable bonds between the
wipes fail to rupture as the wipes are removed. This results in a
`stream` of wipes being inadvertently extracted from the soft pack
container when only one was required.
[0012] Third, if the sealing strip or hard plastic lid of the soft
pack is not closed properly, moisture will emerge from the
container and the wipes which are intended to be moist, will dry
out.
[0013] Hard plastic tubs from which to dispense wet wipes are also
very popular. Wipes dispensed from the latter are usually in the
form of elongate continuous sheets of moistened or impregnated
material with spaced lines of perforations dividing one sheet of
material into hand-sized wipes or towlets. In use of such
containers, when a wipe is withdrawn through the aperture, a line
of perforations ruptures and a wipe is released from the sheet of
material, with the intention again of leaving a tail of the next
wipe projecting through the end cap aperture for the next user to
grasp.
[0014] An example of a hard plastic tub container is described in
German Offenlegungschrift DE-A1-40 06 987 (Penaten). The dispenser
has an orifice through which sheets of material are pulled. Mention
is made of the applications of such sheets or tissues and the
various mixtures and types of liquid with which they may be
impregnated.
[0015] Three problems are associated with plastic hard tub
containers which are similar to those associated with soft pack
containers.
[0016] First, when a wipe is withdrawn from it, the line of
perforations ruptures before the wipe is fully withdrawn through
the end cap aperture. This results in the tail of the next wipe
being left inside the container. The result is that a user needs to
remove the end cap and feed the tail of the next wipe to be
dispensed through the end cap aperture.
[0017] Second if the lines of perforations separating the wipes
fail to rupture as the wipe is removed, a `stream` of wipes being
inadvertently extracted when only one was required.
[0018] A third problem is that if the cap of the hard plastic
container is inadvertently left open, moisture will escape through
the aperture and the wipes, which are intended to be moist, will
dry out.
[0019] International Patent Application Number WO-A1-2006/124429
(BKI Holding Corp) to some extent solved the third problem and
provides a container for wipes having a center pull feed
arrangement for dispensing sheets, typically off a roll. The
dispenser includes a tray that supports a web roll which removes
excess moisture form a sheet that is being dispensed and returns
moisture, by way of a wicking action, to the remaining sheets
within the container.
[0020] Another dispenser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,137
(James River Paper Company) discloses a device for dispensing
individual sheets from a roll wherein the dispenser is in the form
of a nozzle. However, it is not apparent how successful this device
is at retaining moisture within the container, thereby ensuring
that wipes, when dispensed are sufficiently wet.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,252 (Georgia Pacific France) discloses a
dispenser for wipes which are intended to unwind from the center of
a roll outward toward the of the roll. The container includes a
nozzle that has a generally frustoconical shape that is shaped and
oriented to ease the introduction of as free end of a roll of wipes
into and through the orifice. The dispenser shown is relatively
complex and comprises a significant number of discrete and
relatively complex molded items.
[0022] Another container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,374
(Seaquist Closures Foreign Inc), which discloses a container for
dispensing wipes with a structure extending from the body of the
container which defines a dispensing surface for directing a stream
of wipes from the roll (housed within the container) to a nozzle
region from where a single wipe may be torn.
[0023] The container has a lid which defines a passage through the
lid. A flexible valve is provided through which wipes pass. The
flexible valve has self sealing slits which flex in order to permit
the passage of towels. However, there still remains the problem,
when withdrawing wipes from the container, that either perforations
rupture before the wipe is fully withdrawn or lines of perforations
separating the wipes fail to rupture, resulting in a stream of
wipes being dispensed.
[0024] Another dispensing system for wipes is disclosed by Morand,
(U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,240). The center pull dispenser features a
nozzle segment with an inner wall having a truncated cone-like
configuration which restricts passage of the wipe material as it
exits the dispenser. The nozzle features a restrictor element which
projects inwardly, orthogonal to the direction of removed wipes.
The forces that encourage wipe separation are exerted entirely by
this restrictor element. This can result in a leading wipe and a
following wipe being separated before the following wipe has exited
the nozzle especially if the nozzle features an elongated web
contact surface.
[0025] (U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,160), Ogawa shows a nozzle made from a
highly elastic material having a small diameter hole through which
a length of wet wipe is withdrawn. The narrowness of the hole makes
it difficult for the user to feed the first wipe through for
subsequent dispensing.
[0026] Howard, (EP 0110473) describes a container through which wet
wipes are dispensed. The seal is in the form of a tapering tube
made from flexible material, having a relatively wide mouth for
receiving wipes and a relatively narrow orifice for dispensing
them. It further includes zones of flexibility which allow the
wipes to pass through the seal, and zones of rigidity to promote
the onset of rupturing. However, it is still difficult to thread
wipes through the nozzle, and wipe separation is still uncertain in
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] According to the invention there is provided a container of
wipes comprising:
[0028] a container for wipes, the container comprising:
[0029] a free standing, self contained, portable, fully sealed
housing that in use receives the wipes, the wipes being formed in a
continuous length each wipe being joined to the following wipe by a
separable bond, and
[0030] a dispensing nozzle extending from and fixedly mounted on a
first end of the housing, which is opposite a second end of the
housing, the second end enabling the housing to stand on a
horizontal surface while product is extracted from the first end,
the nozzle having a relatively wide dome shaped base, which tapers
radially inwardly, and then curves upward into an annular
projection, which terminates at a tip to provide an aperture for
the wipes' exit, the annular projection having a resiliently
deformable wall,
[0031] the annular projection being in a contracted state when no
wipe is present in the nozzle while being resiliently expandable to
an expanded state to allow withdrawal of wipes therethrough while
gripping the wipes such that the inner surface of the annular wall
exerts a retarding force on the part of the length of wipes in the
annular projection along the length of the annular projection which
acts against their withdrawal such that, in use, as a length of
wipes is withdrawn through, this retarding force acts to break the
separable bonds between each wipe and the following wipe, the
nozzle contracting around the tail of the next adjacent wipe which
impedes release of moisture from inside the housing and wicking of
moisture from the wipe tail, and impedes fall back of the wipe back
into the housing.
[0032] Upward in relation to the nozzle means in the general exit
direction of the wipes out of the nozzle.
[0033] The principal application of the nozzle is to containers of
wipes which are formed of impregnated material with separable bonds
dividing the material into wipes.
[0034] The dispensing nozzle extends from the housing, said nozzle
being formed entirely or in part from a resiliently deformable
material and featuring an annular projection with a resilient
aperture through which wipes can be withdrawn from the housing. The
nozzle wall has a widened dome shaped base, the shape of which
tapers inward toward the annular projection which then curves
outward to form the annular projection. The annular projection is
adapted to flex in the direction a wipe is being withdrawn, its
resilient aperture being biased toward a first contracted position
and being expandable to a second expanded position to allow
withdrawal of wipes therethrough as a wipe is extracted through the
aperture. In use a wipe can be withdrawn through the nozzle, the
pressures exerted by the expandable, resilient, deformable inside
walls of the annular projection separate the wipes by disturbing
the bonds joining the wipe to a next adjacent wipe, said nozzle
expands as required to allow passage of the wipe through the nozzle
aperture, said nozzle contracting around the exposed tail of the
next adjacent wipe thereby substantially sealing the container and
preventing release of moisture from within it.
[0035] The shape of the tapering and the curve can be made smooth
in design so as to ensure smooth passage of the wipe material into
the annular projection. This ensures that the only pressures that
bring about separation of the wipes are those exerted by the
resiliently flexible inside walls of the annular projection and not
at those sections of the nozzle where the dome tapers and then
curves outward to form the annular projection. Should the point at
which the nozzle curves outward into the annular projection be
angular rather than a smoother shaped curving, pressures to
separate the wipes could be exerted at that point prior to the
wipes entering the annular projection--which would therefore result
in premature wipe separation. Instead, the pressures that bring
about wipe separation are exerted entirely from the area comprising
the length of deformable inner walls of the annular projection.
[0036] It has also been found that the angle of taper (that is, the
angle between the tapered inner surface and the main longitudinal
axis of the nozzle) should not exceed around 60 or 70 degrees at
any point. The non angular shape to the tapering and curves
inherent in the design of the invention is intended to ensure that
the intended pressures are only exerted once the web has entered
into the annular projection, and not before.
[0037] The pressures that bring about wipe separation are exerted
from the area comprising the length of deformable inner walls of
the annular projection. For this reason also, should extra
pressures be required to be applied to the wipe, the extra gripping
means will only ever be applied to the inside walls of the annular
projection. The annular projection alone provides the requisite
pressure to separate the web into single sheets.
[0038] Because pressures applied by the invention that bring about
wipe separation are applied across a much greater surface area, the
amount of pressure applied at any specific point can be relatively
low. This allows the diameter of the aperture of the annular
projection to be wider, and the larger the annular projection
aperture, the easier it is for the user to feed the first wipe
through said aperture for subsequent dispense.
[0039] It follows therefore that increasing the length of the
annular projection increases the net level of pressures applied to
separate the wipes. So to make a pack of wipes more user friendly,
increasing the length of the annular projection could enable for a
wider aperture, the levels of pressure applied for separating the
wipes remaining the same.
[0040] There are various factors that can be varied in the nozzle
design; the precise length of the annular projection, the width,
the thickness of the material, the nature of the nozzle material
(both the elasticity of the material, and the roughness of the
inner surface of the nozzle) and the wipe material, all effect what
dimensions and suitable shapes give an optimum nozzle design.
However, It has been found in practice that the annular projection
should be over 3 mm in length to be effective, is ideally over 3
mm, but may be as long as 20 mm.
[0041] The nozzle overcomes the aforementioned by providing
additional means by which to separate the wipes by spreading the
pressures that separate the wipes over a larger surface area. This
thereby allows for a wider aperture thus making it easier to thread
a wipe through the nozzle and improving its efficiency and
adaptability to a greater variety of wet wipe types in the process.
The nozzle is composed of a flexible, elastomeric material which
prevents the release of moisture from inside the housing, thereby
keeping the wipes wet. The dispensing mechanism is therefore cheap
to fabricate and easy and reliable to operate.
[0042] Preferably the nozzle is dimensioned such that any force
pulling the wipe back through the aperture, into the housing,
biases the nozzle aperture into a contracted state, thereby
preventing wipe fall back and thus avoiding the need to re-thread a
tail of a wipe through the aperture.
[0043] Ideally ribs, pips, teeth, raised regions, surface
roughening or some similar form of gripping means is disposed on an
inner surface of the nozzle annular projection. The gripping means
are preferably formed from the same material as the nozzle and are
resiliently deformable so as to accommodate movement of a wipe
being removed from the container.
[0044] Ideally the gripping means are formed integrally with the
nozzle and ideally in a single shot injection molding process.
[0045] The gripping means may be formed in a pattern which is
circularly symmetric or radially symmetric around the inner surface
of the nozzle annular projection so that these raised ribs or
portions are able to engage with a wipe.
[0046] The gripping means may be disposed in the form of a
continuous spiral or at intervals so as to optimize grip.
[0047] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the nozzle moves
from a first contracted position to a second expanded position as a
wipe is extracted through the aperture.
[0048] So as to assist with insertion of a wipe, in a further
embodiment the nozzle wall, tapers in an inward direction from a
widened base, and then curves outward into an annular projection
defining an aperture at its tip.
[0049] Preferably the nozzle is generally teat-shaped and tapers
from a widened base to an annular projection which features an
aperture at its tip.
[0050] As mentioned above, the inside wall of the annular
projection advantageously supports one or more gripping means to
grip a wipe and apply the pressures that will bring about the
outset of separation of the bonds between the emergent wipe and its
adjacent wipe and to help prevent a wipe passing back through the
nozzle into the container.
[0051] By their very nature, the components of the gripping means
like teeth or pips, apply concentrated pressures at their apex to
the wipe as it passes through the annular projection, pressures
which impact the wipe more so than an annular projection featuring
just a smooth inside surface. The presence of the gripping means on
the inside wall of the annular projection therefore enables for a
larger aperture annular projection to exert levels of pressure to
bring about separation of the wipes as compared to an annular
projection with a smooth inside surface means. The larger the
annular projection aperture, the easier it is for the user to feed
the first wipe through said aperture for subsequent dispense.
[0052] The presence of both a gripping means and the previously
mentioned widened dome shaped base of the nozzle therefore makes it
easier to thread wipes into the nozzle and through their
aperture.
[0053] By varying the length of the annular projection or the
nature of the elastomer that comprises the nozzle, or by adding a
gripping means to the inside surface of the annular projection, the
nature and intensity of the pressures that are applied to bring
about separation of the wipes can be varied and adapted to various
wipe types.
[0054] For example, dispensing wipes that have a low tensile
strength will be better served by a nozzle with a wider aperture
and a longer annular projection to ensure that the separation
pressures are applied to the web more gracefully. A more aggressive
application of separation pressures could result in such a low
tensile strength web tearing prior to separating into single
wipes.
[0055] A stronger tensile strength web could however require that
in order for the wipes to separate into single sheets, the aperture
be smaller and there be a gripping means applied to the inside area
of the annular projection. In so doing, the annular projection
itself could be shorter if needs be.
[0056] In each case, the flexible elastomeric nature of the nozzle
would enable the container to remain essentially sealed and
therefore the wipes to stay wet.
[0057] Given the number of variables that can be adjusted, the
invention therefore enables a greater variety of wipe types to be
dispensed from their containers. Additionally, as mentioned, a
widened base and the possibility for the aperture to be wider means
that the invention could provide for easier wipe insertion. None of
the prior art provides for such levels of flexibility whilst
enabling the wipes to stay wet.
[0058] Preferably the nozzle projects beyond the outer surface of
the container.
[0059] The container of the invention may be used in conjunction
with a dispensing utility as described in the Applicant's
International Patent Application Number PCT/GB2010/051415 the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0060] The nozzle can be easily adapted and applied to different
types of wipe dispenser. In particular, the container can be a free
standing, portable, self contained, fully sealed dispensing
container for wipes featuring a dispensing aperture at a first end
of the container to dispense product and a second end which can sit
on a horizontal surface whilst product is extracted from the first
end. The container can be of either hermetically sealed flexible
material or hard plastic tub construction. The wipes can be of
three different types. Center feed, rolled perforated, folded
perforated, interleaved non perforated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0061] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings in which:
[0062] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example of a nozzle in a contracted
and expanded position.
[0063] FIGS. 1C show a detail of the embodiment in FIG. 1A.
[0064] FIGS. 2A and 2B show cross section embodiments of a stack of
folded interleaved wipes within a housing and a stack of folded
perforated wipes within their respective housings.
[0065] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an RFT and a cross section of an
aforementioned dispenser respectively.
[0066] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a
container of wipes.
[0067] FIG. 5A shows a sectional perspective view of another
embodiment of a flexible dispensing nozzle.
[0068] FIG. 5B shows a sectional perspective view of another
embodiment of a flexible dispensing nozzle.
[0069] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a
hermetically sealed container of wipes.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0070] In FIGS. 1A and 1B there is shown in longitudinal section a
nozzle 20 with an aperture 21 defined by an annular projection
22.
[0071] The inner surface of the nozzle 20 wall has a relatively
large diameter at the base 20A which extends with a constant
diameter until a radially inwardly tapered shoulder section 20B.
Ideally, inner surface of the base 20A meets the inner surface
shoulder section 20B with a smooth, gradual curve at region 16. The
shoulder section 20B then smoothly curves outward at 20C into the
annular projection 22. The inner surface 14 of the annular
projection 22 extends with a uniform constant internal diameter to
the tip of the nozzle 15.
[0072] The tapering and curving, particularly of the transition
from the base section 20A to the shoulder section 20B, and the
shoulder section to the annular projection 22, can be of a smooth
design to enable easier passage of the web into the annular
projection.
[0073] If we define a taper angle as the angle between a tangent t
at a point on the inner surface of the shoulder section 20B and the
longitudinal axis of the nozzle y this angle will generally be less
than 60.degree. in order that the taper is gentle enough so as not
to impede the movement of the wipes prior to their entering the
annular projection. The shape of the outer profile of the nozzle
will generally follow the shape of the inner surface, but this need
not be the case, as the wipe material will not come into contact
with it.
[0074] When first used, the user will typically have to thread a
wipe through the nozzle 20. The wide dome and tapering shape of the
nozzle makes feeding the wipe into nozzle easier for the user. The
wipes in the container are joined end to end, and as the first wipe
is pulled through the nozzle, the second wipe is drawn toward the
nozzle behind the first. The tapering inward of the shoulder
section 20B and curving outward at 20C of the inner surface of the
nozzle wall creates a funnel to direct a wipe through the aperture
smoothly, both for the threading operation and during use.
[0075] The material of the nozzle, or at least the annular
projection, is sufficiently flexible and resilient to move from a
first contracted position (FIG. 1A) to a second expanded position
(FIG. 1B) as a wipe is extracted through the aperture 21, while
exerting an radially inward pressure on the wipe as it is
extracted.
[0076] During use, the curvature of the shoulder section 20B and
region 20C does not impede the movement of wipes from the container
up through the nozzle, helping prevent wipes from bunching and
clogging the nozzle, or premature severance of perforations before
a wipe has fully exited the aperture 21 and exposed the tail of the
next adjacent wipe.
[0077] The annular projection 22, exerts a pressure on the wipes as
they pass along the inner surface 14, which acts to oppose the
wipes being withdrawn. As the inner diameter of the annular
projection is constant, an equal force is applied at each point
along the length of the wipe material in the annular projection. As
the junction between a first wipe and a second wipe enters and
moves along the annular projection, the retarding force opposing
the withdrawal acts increasingly on the second wipe as more of its
material enters the annular projection, but lessens on the first
wipe as it leaves the annular projection. Further, the junction
between the first and second wipe--such as a line of
perforations--will generally extend along the annular projection as
the wipes pass through. The greatest separating force between a
first and second wipe therefore occurs after the second wipe has
started to emerge from the aperture of the nozzle.
[0078] Thus the uniform diameter, and therefore application of
force, along the length of the annular projection, ensures that the
separation force between adjacent wipes can be properly controlled,
without relying on exact tolerances of the nozzle dimensions and
shape and separation force required to part adjacent wipes (which
can vary from batch to batch).
[0079] The inside wall of the annular projection 22 may support
ribs, pips, raised regions, surface roughening or some similar form
of gripping means like the teeth 23 to grip a wipe and help prevent
a wipe falling back through the nozzle 20 into a container. This
gripping means may also provide the pressures required to disturb
the separable bonds between the wipes enough to release a wipe from
the wipe adjacent to it as it moves through nozzle 20. Instead of
annular ratchet teeth, one or more inwardly extending annular or
semi-annular ribs (e.g. semi-circular in cross-section) may be
used.
[0080] As well as a tub of wipes, the nozzle can advantageously be
applied to a stacked wipes. FIGS. 2A and 2B show embodiments of a
stack of folded interleaved wipes 3 and a stack of folded
perforated wipes 5 within their respective housings 4. As to 2A, a
portion 12 of the top part of the end of the top wipe 10 is in
contact with a portion of the bottom part, not shown, of the front
of the adjacent wipe. The viscosity of the wipe impregnate forms a
separable bond between the end of the first wipe and the front of
the adjacent wipe to which it is interleaved. As the top wipe is
extracted from the housing 4, this viscous bond is enough to pull
the front of the adjacent wipe from the stack toward the aperture.
In use, the pressures applied by the nozzle disturb the bonds
enough to cause the top wipe to separate from its adjacent wipe
leaving a tail for the next user to grasp.
[0081] As to 2B, the top wipe 10 is connected to its adjacent wipe
14 by way of a line of perforations 11. As the top wipe is
extracted from the housing 4, the bond formed by the perforation
line is enough to pull the front of the adjacent wipe from the
stack toward the aperture. In use, the pressures applied by the
nozzle disturb the perforations enough to cause them to rupture and
for the top wipe to separate from its adjacent wipe leaving a tail
from the adjacent wipe for the next user to grasp.
[0082] In FIG. 3B, a stack of wipes 24 in a hermetically sealed
pack (not shown) deployed within the dispenser 25 features an RFT
26 with two slide rails, 28 & 29, which enables the dispensing
container to attach to correspondingly shaped supports 30 & 31,
within the dispenser 25. As shown in FIG. 3A, prior to attachment
of the pack, the user would first thread a wipe 10 through the
nozzle so that the tail of the wipe is exposed for the user to
grasp.
[0083] Once the pack of wipes has been slid into position and
attached to the dispenser housing 25, the RFT 26 is thereby held at
the top side of the dispenser 25. The nozzle 20 contracts around
the tail of the wipe 10 and not only effectively seals the pack to
keep the wipes within the pack (not show) moist, but in so doing
the nozzle 20 keeps the top wipe 10 physically detached though not
separated from the rest of the stack 24. As the tail of the top
wipe 10 is pulled from the dispenser, it pulls along the adjacent
wipe 27 physically detaching it from the stack. The pressures
exerted by the nozzle at the line of the rupturable bond joining
the top wipe and adjacent wipe 27 then causes the two wipes to
separate and the nozzle again holds the tail of what was the
adjacent wipe in position for the next user to grasp. The latter
wipe is now physically detached from the stack.
[0084] This mechanism is particularly useful with reference to
stacks of low tensile strength flushable wipes. The top wipe of the
latter often tends to stick to the top of the stack much more
readily than is the case with other wipe types, making them much
more difficult to dispense from their packs. The invention keeps
the top wipe physically detached from its stack, thereby resolving
any such dispense problems.
[0085] The viability of the dispenser relies completely on the fact
that the nozzle 20 always holds the tail of the wipe 10 firmly in
position for the next user to grasp. Without such reliable wipe
access, the user would have to constantly dip their fingers into
the mouth 32 of the dispenser 25, scratch around the top of the
stack and withdraw the fallen wipe through the mouth again. This
process would get progressively more difficult as wipes are used
and the stack 24 gets smaller thus requiring the user to reach
deeper into the dispenser for the fallen wipe.
[0086] Deployment within a dispenser 25 also enables wipes to be
dispensed using a single hand which is particularly advantageous
for those using flushable wipes, to obviate the need to touch the
wipes container with soiled hands, and for users of baby wipes to
enable them to extract wipes with one hand whilst maintaining
contact with baby with the other.
[0087] Viability of the dispenser also relies on wipes being
extractable from the dispenser in an upward vertical plain. Most
users of these portable or fixable dispensers will want extract
wipes in this way.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a container 1 of wipes
with a dispensing nozzle. Container 1 has a housing formed from
cylindrical base 2A with one closed end and an end cap 2B which
screws onto the other end of base 2A. Container 1 houses a roll
(not shown) of wipes 10, with the wipes being formed on a
continuous sheet of impregnated material with spaced lines of
perforations (not shown) dividing the sheet of material into
wipes.
[0089] A teat like rubber dispensing nozzle 20, typically formed
from polyurethane, synthetic plastics or similar elastomeric
material, extends from an aperture in the end cap 2B and, as shown,
projects beyond the outer surface of the container 1.
[0090] Nozzle 20 tapers from a widened base 20A to a tip with a
resilient aperture 21 through which wipes can be withdrawn from the
housing as shown. The resilient aperture 21 is expandable to allow
withdrawal of wipes 10 therethrough but being biased toward a
contracted state. Nozzle 20 is flexible whereby the nozzle will
flex toward a direction a wipe is being withdrawn.
[0091] In use a wipe 10 can be withdrawn through the nozzle 20 and
separated by rupturing the perforations joining the wipe to a next
adjacent wipe with the nozzle expanding as required to allow
passage of the wipe through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle then
contracts around the tail of the next adjacent wipe to prevent
release of moisture from the inside of the container 1 housing and
to help prevent wicking of moisture from a wipe tail.
[0092] Nozzle 20 may take a variety of different shapes and
constructions. A few examples are described below.
[0093] FIG. 5A shows another embodiment of a nozzle 50. The nozzle
50 has an circular edge 35, from which a widened base 52 tapers
upward and inwards, until it curves or turns upward at shoulder 36.
The nozzle then forms an annular projection 38, projecting
substantially upward to a rim 42 which defines the aperture 41 of
the nozzle. The annular projection is straight sided when the
nozzle is considered in longitudinal section, that is, the annular
projection has a uniform, constant width from the shoulder 36 (or a
little above the shoulder) up to the rim (or just short of the rim
if the rim is smoothly curved).
[0094] The circular edge may be attached directly to the top of a
tub of wipes, or bonded to the upper surface of a soft pack of
wipes. Here, the base 52 of the nozzle joins the circular rim 35
with a relatively thick radial portion of material 51, however,
this may be determined by ease of manufacture and strength
considerations. The nozzle may of course be integrally formed, so
that there is no distinct edge or boundary with the wipe container
at all. The shape of the outer profile of the nozzle will generally
follow the shape of the inner surface, but this need not be the
case, as the wipe material will not contact it.
[0095] The inner surface 37 of the annular projection 38 shows two
rows of pyramid shaped teeth 40, each row arranged to form a
circle. The base of each pyramid shape tooth 40 is formed on the
annular projection and the apex pointing radially inwards. In this
embodiment, the teeth 40 are circumferentially separated by flat
regions 46 on the inner surface 37 of the annular projection, and
the rows are separated by a band. FIG. 5B shows a similar
embodiment, wherein the annular projection extends to a greater
length, and supports three rows of pyramid shaped teeth 40. The
projection of each tooth 40 may be formed with a corresponding
cavity 45 on the outer surface of the annular projection 38, or the
pyramid of the tooth may be completely solid, with the outer
surface of the annular projection not having a cavity.
[0096] The material of the nozzle is resilient, so that it is
flexible but will return to its formed shape, and exert a force
resisting deformation. The diameter of the annular projection 38 is
chosen such that the stream of wipes, as it passes through the
annular projection, presses against the inner surface of the
annular projection, causing the annular projection to radial
expand, and so exert an inwardly radial force on the stream of
wipes, tending to resist the movement of the wipes through the
nozzle. This resistance is enhanced by the teeth 40, though it is
to be noted that other enhancements can comprise ridges, pips,
dots, and other shapes that extend inwardly from the inner surface
of the annular projection, and a roughening of the inner surface.
It will be seen that the flexibility of the material, the diameter
of the annular projection, and the nature of the inner surface of
the annular projection are all factors on the retarding force that
the nozzle exerts on the wipes.
[0097] The stream of wipes, as for previous embodiments, comprises
a plurality of wipes that are joined substantially end to end
(though they may be somewhat interleaves or overlapping), and with
some type of breakable bond between adjacent wipes (such as
perforations, regions of weakness, or by separable adhesion).
[0098] Before use of the container of wipes is begun, the upper end
of the first wipe is introduced through the nozzle. This may be
done by the user, or when the container is being assembled.
[0099] In order to use the container of wipes, the first wipe is
pulled through the nozzle. The bond between the first wipe and the
following wipe draws the following wipe toward the nozzle. Each
subsequent wipe is then draw upward and through the nozzle in the
same manner.
[0100] As a stream or rope of wipes are pulled through the nozzle
50, the stream is gently directed from whatever position the wipes
are in the container below the nozzle, over the tapering widened
base 52m over the shoulder 36 and then through the annular
projection 38. The tapering widened base does not exert any
significant retarding force on the stream of wipes, it is only the
annular projection which is exerting the retarding force on the
wipes.
[0101] Since the diameter of the annular projection is
substantially constant, the force exerted by the inner surface of
the annular projection is the constant along the length of the
annular projection.
[0102] As the tail of the first wipe exits through the annular
projection of the nozzle, the head of the following wipe is drawn
through the annular projection behind the first wipe. As the bond
or join between the first wipe and the subsequent wipe travels up
through the nozzle, the retarding force exerted on the first wipe
decreases, while the retarding force exerted on the following wipe
increases, as less of the first wipe is in contact with the inner
surface of the annular projection, and more of the following wipe
is in contact. Generally also, the line of the bond or join between
the first wipe and second wipe is not drawn through the nozzle at
the same position in the annular projection, but one part will lead
the rest of the join. This means that as the last part of the join
exits the top of the annular projection of the nozzle, the force
between the two wipes is at its highest. The join or bond between
adjacent wipes is designed to break near this force. When this
break occurs, the first wipe separates from the following wipe to
be used, while the following wipe is left with a region extending
from the top of the nozzle. The inward force exerted on the
protruding wipe by the annular projection along its length also
significantly slows moisture loss through wicking if a moist wipes
are being used.
[0103] This even distribution of force is in contrast to a nozzle
with a more sudden constriction, which tends to concentrate the
retarding force at a single place, leading to premature breakage
when the force between wipes is too great, so the following wipe
does not protrude, or leading to a failure to separate when the
force between wipes is too little, so an unwanted stream of wipes
is pulled out when only a single wipe is desired.
[0104] The annular projection 38 may alternatively--or
Additionally--support surface roughening, ribs, pips, raised
regions or some similar form of gripping means instead of teeth.
The inner surface of the annular projection may not feature any
additional gripping means at all should the properties of the
elastomer provide the inner surface with enough gripping means to
encourage wipes to separate into single sheets as they pass through
the nozzle, and to prevent them from slipping back into their
container.
[0105] FIG. 6 shows the nozzle applied to a hermetically sealed
pack of wipes 3. The housing 4 would typically be made from a
flexible waterproof cellophane type material, hermetically sealed
at both ends 8 & 9. The upper surface of the housing features a
mouth 14 surrounded by the frame 15 of a fixed rigid flip top (RFT)
assembly 16 which is typically made from a rigid plastic material
like polypropylene. The RFT 16 has a closable lid 17 to help keep
the wipes moist when the pack is not in use. The mouth 14 is
covered by flexible nozzle 20 through which wipes pass and exit the
housing 4. The flexible nozzle 20 features a dome shaped base 20A
which tapers inward 20B and curves outward 20C into to an annular
projection 22 with an aperture 21 through which the wipes exit from
the housing 4. The pressures exerted by the nozzle disturbs the
bonds enough between the top wipe and its adjacent wipe to cause
them to separate leaving sufficient tail of the emergent adjacent
wipe 10 for the next user to grasp.
[0106] Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in
the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0107] The invention may take a form different to that specifically
described above. For example nozzles may be formed integrally with
a container or retro-fitted to existing containers.
[0108] Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described
and it will be understood that features from one or more of the
aforementioned embodiments may be incorporated into a different
containers and/or nozzles,
[0109] Various embodiments of the invention have been described, by
way of example only and it will be appreciated that variation may
be made to the examples described without departing from the scope
of the invention.
* * * * *