Film Retaining Dispenser Attachment

Abstract

In a container for dispensing film, preferably from a supply roll therein, and including a front wall, a bottom wall, a cutter bar along their outer juncture, a tear strip, and die-cut glued areas removably securing the tear strip to the front wall prior to feeding the film lead over the front wall and severing the lead with the cutter bar, at least one separable laminated film retaining attachment arranged between the front wall and tear strip, such attachment including an inner substrate secured to the front wall and having a pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface, and an outer substrate secured to the tear strip and having an adhesive resistant inner surface contacting and froming an interface with such adhesive outer surface, whereby on removal of the tear strip the substrates separate along their interface to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface for releasably retaining the remaining portion of the severed lead for subsequent feeding and severing operations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in containers for dispensing film, and more particularly to new and improved film retaining dispenser attachment means. The term "film" as used herein comprehends any type of flexible sheet material which may be dispensed from a container, preferably from a supply roll therein, such as polymeric plastic, paper, and metal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Film dispensing containers are well known, particularly in domestic, institutional and industrial applications. In this usage, such containers commonly dispense various types of films, such as plastic, paper and metal, which are useful in wrapping food, packages and other products. While these known containers have provided ease in handling and dispensing such film, the uses of such containers have their attendant problems.

One continuing problem is caused by the weight of the usual supply roll in the dispensing container and the fact that the film may possess a degree of elasticity when tensioned, both of which factors tend to cause the roll to rewind when the film is released. In typical practice, after opening the container by removing the cover tear strip from the front wall and raising the cover, the consumer grasps the lead portion of the film, pulls it out from the container and down over and beyond the front wall and then cuts off the desired length by use of the serrated cutting edge of a cutting bar at the outer juncture of the front and bottom container walls. Normally, the film is held taut before cutting. After cutting, the tensioned lead portion of the film remaining on the roll tends to rewind and sometimes twists and turns upon itself. Some polymeric plastic films, such as those possessing "cling" characteristics, acquire a static electricity charge and are difficult to straighten if folded or wrinkled.

Thus, despite widespread acceptance of these containers, the problem of keeping the remaining uncut lead portion exposed and straight for ready accessibility has persisted to the present day.

Some have attempted to solve this problem, as typically shown by Wankow U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,066. Wankow provides a series of vinyl spots on the container front wall adjacent the cutter bar to retain and hold the remaining lead portion of "cling" type polymeric film to the container after a desired length had been torn off. While somewhat successful in holding such "cling" type films, the vinyl spots are incapable of holding other films not possessing "cling" characteristics. Before opening the container, Wankow suggests protecting his vinyl spots by a removable tear strip on the cover, but does not disclose how the tear strip seals the container prior to opening thereof. Wankow also discloses using various other types of spot material for retaining "cling" type films, but not non-"cling" type films. In addition, this patent discloses the use of pressure sensitive adhesive spots for holding non-"cling" type films, but does not disclose the use of such pressure sensitive adhesive spots with a typical tear strip, whether or how such tear strip is secured to the container front wall prior to removal of such tear strip, or how to keep such pressure sensitive spots from being removed with the tear strip, whether such spots be deposited on the front carton wall in liquid form or as a double faced tape.

Other prior art devices, such as Buttery et al. U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,876, disclose using adhesively coated die cut areas to hold a tear strip to the container, for sealing purposes prior to removal of such tear strip. However, these devices do not propose thereafter to hold the uncut lead portion of film after the tear strip has been removed, because the adhesively coated die cut areas are removed with the tear strip, or in some instances, part of the inner paper layer of the tear strip remains on the die cut areas. Moreover, the adhesives employed are of the liquid resinous type, which when dried, do not remain tacky and are useless for holding non-"cling" type film in any event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in response to such continuing problem, the primary object of the present invention is to provide new and improved film retaining dispenser attachment means which not only permits the conventional sealing of the carton by the usual tear strip prior to usage of the film, but also in no way interferes with either securing or removing such tear strip, while still being effective to releasably retain both "cling" and non-"cling" type film lead portions during film usage, following tear strip removal. To this end, the present invention provides a container for dispensing film and including a trailing wall, a leading wall joined to the trailing wall, cutting means arranged along the outer juncture of such leading and trailing walls, a tear strip, and means removably securing the tear strip to the outer side of the leading wall prior to feeding the lead of the film over the outer side of the leading wall and beyond the trailing wall for severing such lead by such cutting means, wherein the improvement comprises: separable laminated film retaining attachment means arranged between the tear strip and the leading wall, and including an inner substrate secured to the outer side of the leading wall and having a pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface, and an outer substrate secured to the inner side of the tear strip and having an adhesive resistant inner surface contacting and forming an interface with such adhesive outer surface, whereby upon removal of such tear strip such inner and outer substrates separate along such interface to expose such pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface for releasably retaining the remaining portion of the severed lead for subsequent feeding and severing operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such film retaining dispenser attachment means wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface of the inner substrate is both protected and kept viable by the aforesaid contact and interface formed with the adhesive resistant inner surface of the outer substrate prior to removal of the tear strip, and wherein such pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface is exposed and rendered readily accessible for use upon removal of such tear strip and inner substrate.

The above and additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a film dispensing container incorporating the present inventive attachment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating a first preferred embodiment of the inventive attachment arranged between the front wall and tear strip in alignment with the die cut areas and glue strip sealing the container, but with the thickness of the attachment being greatly exaggerated in this and the remaining views for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2 and illustrating the detailed construction of such first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the tear strip after removal from the dispenser and shows the separation of the inner and outer substrates of such first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary detail view of the separated first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the remaining portion of the severed lead of the film releasably retained on the front wall of the container by the inner substrate.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary detail view of the portion of FIG. 5 showing the film retention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of the front wall, tear strip and first preferred embodiment, which employs the glue strip for bonding the outer substrate as well as the die cut areas to the tear strip.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating a second preferred embodiment of the invention in which the inner substrate is composed of but a single layer as opposed to the three layers incorporated in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating a third preferred embodiment of the invention, which embodiment is located out of alignment with the die cut areas and glue strip, as also shown in FIG. 1, with both the inner and outer substrates being composed of three layers, and the outer substrate being bonded to the tear strip independently of the glue strip.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but illustrating a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the inner substrate is composed of but a single layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a film dispensing container embodying the present invention is generally indicated at 10, and is shown as containing a cylindrical roll R of film. Container 10 includes an upwardly open rectangular trough formed by vertical front or leading wall 12, right end wall 14, rear wall 16, left end wall 18 and horizontal bottom or trailing wall 20. Container 10 is completed by an inverted generally L-shaped cover 22 including a horizontal portion 24 hinged at its rear edge to rear wall 16 and having integral depending vertical upper and lower front portions 26, 28 positioned adjacent the outer surface of front wall 12 and divided by a horizontal perforation line 30, thereby constituting lower portion 28 as a removable tear strip. Both upper portion 26 and tear strip 28 are indented or cut away at each end of perforation line 30 to form a finger receiving recess 32 to facilitate removal of tear strip 28, which is removably secured to front wall 12 by adhesively coated die-cut areas 34, in the usual manner, as described in greater detail below.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a horizontal serrated cutting bar 36 is suitably mounted on the under surface of bottom wall 20 and has its serrations extending slightly beyond the outer surface of front wall 12 to provide a cutting edge along the front and bottom wall outer juncture throughout the length of container 10. However, prior to its removal, tear strip 28 not only serves to seal the container, but also as a guard for the cutting bar.

While container 10 and its various aforesaid components are manufactured in a well known manner, and somewhat similar to that disclosed in the aforesaid Buttery et al. patent, it is well to note the following brief summary of such manufacture. A blank of laminated paperboard or the like is usually sequentially printed on its outer side, as with advertising, etc., die cut, scored and creased to form the various wall portions, stripped of excess material and provided with the cutting bar which is suitably attached thereto. The printing and die cutting operations produce the unprinted die cut areas 34 on the outer side of front wall 12, as well as other unprinted areas (not shown). Next, the container blank is placed in a "gluing" machine, which applies strip 34a (FIGS. 8 and 9) of liquid resinous glue on the inner unprinted side of tear strip 28 along its length and folds container 10 flat, in any suitable manner, with tear strip 28 adhered to die cut areas 34 by glue strip 34a, but not to the printed intermediate areas which are coated during printing by a clear lacquer, varnish, high gloss inks incorporating lacquer, varnish or the like, and therefore adhesive resistant. Thus, upon leaving the gluing machine, the so folded and glued container is ready for unfolding, inserting of the film supply roll and folding and gluing of the various flaps (not shown) forming end walls 12, 14, except for installation of the inventive attachment, such as 40 (FIG. 1). This installation can conveniently be accomplished in any suitable manner, following the stripping operation, and prior to the adherence of tear strip 28 to die cut areas 34, care being taken that the area or areas, on the outer side of front wall 12, and to which one or more of such attachments are secured are not printed, in order to enhance the desired bond therewith.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the inventive attachment is generally indicated at 40, in alignment with die cut areas 34, and only one such attachment is illustrated as replacing the usual central die cut area of which four remain, it being evident that the number and shape of such die cut areas may vary as desired. As also will be evident, the shape of such attachment may vary, and two or more such attachments could be employed, preferably being located between die cut areas in this embodiment. At this point, it is significant to note that the glued die cut areas 34 serve to seal container 10 prior to removal of tear strip 28, and that the present embodiment conveniently makes use of the liquid resinous glue or adhesive strip 34a to bond the outer substrate of such embodiment to tear strip 28.

It also is significant to note at this point, that the thickness of the inventive attachment is greatly exaggerated throughout FIGS. 2-11 for clarity of illustration. Hence, the addition of such attachment does not interfere in any way with the securing or removal of the tear strip.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8, and particularly FIG. 5, the first preferred form 40 of the present invention includes an inner substrate 42 secured to the outer side of front wall 12 and having a pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface, and an outer substrate 44 secured to the inner side of tear strip 28 and having an adhesive resistant inner surface contacting and forming an interface with the adhesive outer surface of inner substrate 42. Such contact and interface serve to protect and maintain the viability of such pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface until the tear strip is removed.

In this embodiment, inner substrate 42 is composed of three layers, an intermediate paper layer 42b, an inner pressure sensitive adhesive coating 42a bonded to the outer side of front wall 12 and an outer coating 42c of pressure sensitive adhesive which forms such pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface. As will be evident, inner substrate 42 can be characterized as a double faced adhesive tape. Outer substrate 44 is composed of two layers, an outer paper layer 44b bonded to the inside of tear strip 28 by the aforesaid adhesive or glue strip 34a, and an inner release coating 44c containing silicone or the like and forming such adhesive resistant inner surface.

In applying attachment 40 to container 10, both substrates 42 and 44 may be prelaminated as shown in FIG. 8, and applied as an unit to front wall 12 prior to adherence of tear strip 28 to glue strip 34a, as noted above. Following insertion of roll R and completion of end walls 12, 14, the bonding between die cut areas 34 on the front wall and glue strip 34a on the tear strip effectively maintains container 10 in the desired sealed condition prior to use. When container 10 is to be used, the consumer removes the tear strip in the usual manner, as by peeling it off lengthwise along tear line 30. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, laminated attachment 40 readily separates at the interface between coatings 42c, 44c, because the bonds between inner substrate 42 and front wall 12 as well as between outer substrate 44 and tear strip 28 are considerably stronger than the weak bond between coatings 42c and 44c. Hence, the inventive attachment in no way interferes with either the bonding or removal of the tear strip, during the latter of which the strong bond between the die cut areas 34 and glue strip 34a removes an outer layer of such die cut areas, or sometimes an inner layer portion of tear strip 28, unlike the predictable separation of attachment 40 at the aforesaid interface.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the consumer opens cover 22 and withdraws lead L from film supply roll R, while reclosing the cover with upper vertical portion or flap 26 arranged inside of the lead to provide the desired frictional drag. Continuing with the lead, the user feeds the same under tension down over front wall 12 and beyond bottom wall 20 until the desired length is obtained, at which time the user, by pressing inwardly and downwardly, severs lead L by tearing it along the serrated knife edge of cutter bar 36. As this action occurs, the lead L makes contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface of coating 42c, which releasably yet effectively retains the remaining uncut portion of the severed lead in position for subsequent feeding and severing operations. Usually, the remaining lead portion tends to move outwardly away from cutter bar 36 following severing, as shown in FIG. 7, and readily may be grasped at each end on opposite sides of substrate 42 or below the same, which is conveniently spaced above the cutter bar. As noted above, two or more such attachments 40 may be provided, if desired, but the central one illustrated is sufficient normally, and does provide the best access for grasping the lead for further use.

Turning to FIG. 9, a second preferred embodiment is shown therein, and is generally indicated at 40'. The only structural difference is that the inner substrate 42' is composed of but a single layer 42c' of pressure sensitive adhesive which is bonded at its inner surface to the outer side of front wall 12 and provides the desired pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface forming the desired contact and interface with the inner adhesive resistant surface of outer substrate 44'. Like outer substrate 44' is composed of outer paper layer 44b' and inner silicone or the like containing release coating 44c'. Once again, attachment 40' is applied to front wall 12 in the same manner, with the prelaminated layers 42c', 44c', and 44b' being bonded to the container front wall 12 and also bonded by glue strip 34a to tear strip 28 in the manner described above. Likewise, this second preferred embodiment 40' functions in the same manner as first preferred embodiment 40, the principal advantages of the former being in reduction in thickness and material costs by virtue of the elimination of inner layer 42a and intermediate paper layer 42b. However, under some circumstances, the triple layer inner substrate feature of embodiment 40 may have advantages in simplifying application of the attachment, particularly when inner substrate 42 is in the form of double faced tape.

Considering now FIG. 10, a third preferred embodiment 40" is shown therein. From a structural standpoint, there are two significant differences as compared to embodiment 40 of FIG. 8. The first is that embodiment 40" is located out of alignment with die cut areas 34 and glue strip 34a, and preferably above the same, as shown in FIG. 1, although the attachment could be located below such die cut areas and glue strip, if desired. Likewise, more than one attachment could be used and variably located above and below the die cut areas and glue strip, as well as variety of shapes. Thus, this first difference leads to the second, wherein outer substrate 44" includes three layers instead of two. Accordingly, inner substrate 42" includes intermediate paper layer 42b", inner pressure sensitive adhesive coating 42a" and outer pressure sensitive adhesive coating 42c", while outer substrate 44" includes intermediate paper layer 44b", outer pressure sensitive adhesive coating 44a" and inner silicone or the like containing release coating 44c". These two substrates are prelaminated, as shown in FIG. 8, and applied to front wall 12 as described above, except that outer coating 44a" serves to bond embodiment 40" to tear strip 28 independently of glue strip 34a. Functionally, embodiment 40" separates as noted above for the two previous embodiments, and besides possessing the convenience of a double faced tape for both substrates, also eliminates, for practical purposes, the possibility of accidental covering of the attachment in the unlikely event of delamination of tear strip 28 upon removal thereof. Even so, both embodiments 40 and 40' readily could be uncovered (i.e., separated) by peeling off such delaminated tear strip portion.

Turning to FIG. 11, a fourth preferred embodiment is generally indicated at 40'", and is similar in structure, application and function to embodiment 40", except that inner substrate 42'" is composed of but a single layer 42c'" of pressure sensitive adhesive, while outer substrate 44'" includes intermediate paper layer 44b'", outer pressure sensitive coating 44a'", and inner silicone or the like containing release coating 44c'". Hence, embodiment 40'" possesses the advantages of reduced thickness and material costs as in embodiment 40' of FIG. 9.

It now will be seen how the present invention accomplishes its objectives, and numerous advantages thereof likewise will be evident, particularly in releasably yet effectively retaining any type of film, whether of the "cling" or non-"cling" type. Further, while the invention has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments, this is to be considered as illustrating rather than as limiting the scope of the invention, which is to be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A container for dispensing film and including a trailing wall, a leading wall joined to said trailing wall, cutting means arranged along the outer juncture of said leading and trailing walls, a tear strip, and means removably securing said tear strip to the outer side of said leading wall prior to feeding the lead of the film over said outer side of said leading wall and beyond said trailing wall for severing such lead by said cutting means, wherein the improvement comprises: separable laminated film retaining attachment means arranged between said tear strip and said leading wall, and including an inner substrate secured to the outer side of said leading wall and having a pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface, and an outer substrate secured to the inner side of said tear strip and having an adhesive resistant inner surface contacting and forming an interface with said adhesive outer surface, whereby upon removal of said tear strip said inner and outer substrates separate along said interface to expose said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface for releasably retaining the remaining portion of the severed lead for subsequent feeding and severing operations.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate includes an intermediate layer, an inner coating bonded to said outer side of said leading wall, and an outer coating having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said intermediate layer is paper, and said inner and outer coatings are pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate is pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to said outer side of said leading wall and having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer substrate includes an outer layer bonded to said inner side of said tear strip, and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said outer layer is paper, and said inner release coating contains silicone.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer substrate includes an intermediate layer, an outer coating bonded to said inner side of said tear strip, and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said intermediate layer is paper, said outer coating is pressure sensitive adhesive, and said inner release coating contains silicone.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate includes an intermediate layer, an inner coating bonded to said outer side of said leading wall, and an outer coating having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface; and wherein said outer substrate includes an outer layer bonded to said inner side of said tear strip and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein of said inner substrate said intermediate layer is paper, and said inner and outer coatings are pressure sensitive adhesive; and wherein of said outer substrate said outer layer is paper, and said inner release coating contains silicone.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate includes an intermediate layer, an inner coating bonded to said outer side of said leading wall, and an outer coating having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface; and wherein said outer substrate includes an intermediate layer, an outer coating bonded to said inner side of said tear strip, and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein of said inner substrate said intermediate layer is paper, and said inner and outer coatings are pressure sensitive adhesive; and wherein of said outer substrate said intermediate layer is paper, said outer coating is pressure sensitive adhesive, and said inner release coating contains silicone.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate is pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to said outer side of said leading wall and having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface; and wherein said outer substrate includes an outer layer bonded to said inner side of said tear strip and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein said outer layer is paper, and said inner release coating contains silicone.

15. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner substrate is pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to said outer side of said leading wall and having said pressure sensitive adhesive outer surface; and wherein said outer substrate includes an intermediate layer, an outer coating bonded to said inner side of said tear strip, and an inner release coating having said adhesive resistant inner surface.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein said intermediate layer is paper, said outer coating is pressure sensitive adhesive, and said inner release coating contains silicone.