U.S. patent number 3,836,044 [Application Number 05/274,135] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-17 for bulk package incorporating movable dispenser insert for individual dispensing of substantially wet sheets from stack.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rapid-American Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert B. Cubitt, William E. Fitzpatrick, Robert F. Tilp.
United States Patent |
3,836,044 |
Tilp , et al. |
September 17, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
BULK PACKAGE INCORPORATING MOVABLE DISPENSER INSERT FOR INDIVIDUAL
DISPENSING OF SUBSTANTIALLY WET SHEETS FROM STACK
Abstract
A bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet
sheets from a stack of such sheets, including a container removably
receiving the stack and having a cover which, when closed, forms a
substantially moisture-proof seal between the container and the
atmosphere, and a barrier member overlying the stack of wet sheets
and interposed between the stack and the cover and having a sheet
restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may be
individually and successively removed when the cover is opened.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Inventors: |
Tilp; Robert F. (Morristown,
NJ), Fitzpatrick; William E. (Wyckoff, NJ), Cubitt;
Robert B. (Ramsey, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Rapid-American Corporation (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23046935 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/274,135 |
Filed: |
July 28, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/55; 206/205;
206/494; 206/812; 220/318; 220/554; 221/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/0805 (20130101); B65D 43/162 (20130101); B65D
25/02 (20130101); Y10S 206/812 (20130101); B65D
2251/105 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
43/16 (20060101); B65D 83/08 (20060101); B65D
25/02 (20060101); B65h 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/33,36,38,41,45,47-52,55,65,63 ;206/57R ;220/17,31S,22.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Assistant Examiner: Skaggs, Jr.; H. Grant
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fried; Stewart J. Schwab; Jeffrey
A. Caputo; Michael A.
Parent Case Text
This application is directed to a preferred embodiment of the
product described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,908. in the names of
William E. Fitzpatrick, Leonard Berger and Hayward B. Auerback and
entitled "Bulk Package for Individual Dispensing of Substantially
Wet Sheets from Stacks. "
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the bulk packaging and convenient
individual dispensing of substantially wet sheets, tissues or
towelettes such as may be utilized for personal hygiene, for
cosmetic purposes, household cleaning applications or the like.
More particularly, it relates to a dispenser for individually
"popping-up" and dispensing such wet sheets, overcoming the
relatively high attractive forces between the wetted sheets which
tend to resist individual dispensing and produce "chaining"
thereof, and from which dispenser any number of the wet sheets may
be removed or replaced at will.
In the following specification and in the claims appended hereto,
all references to "wet" or "substantially wet" sheets are intended
to refer to sheet materials so wetted by an aqueous or other
desired treatment medium that when they are wiped across a surface
it is streaked by the liquid medium. The "wet" sheets employed in
accordance herewith are believed to possess sufficient moisture
contents (aqueous or otherwise) to form surface films thereon. It
is postulated that the surface tension of hese films produces the
substantial forces between the wet sheets preventing sequential
dispensing of the individual sheets employing conventional
means.
On the other hand, the wet sheets dispensed from the bulk package
hereof are not loaded with moisture contents exceeding their
holding capacities by more than a small quantity, i.e., ideally the
amount of free liquid in the package, if any, should not exceed
about 10 percent by volume of the container. In one preferred
embodiment, employing aqueous treatment media and a selected
absorbent paper toweling stock, the wet sheets hereof may typically
have liquid contents of from about 80 to 500 percent, preferably
about 100-400 percent, of their total weight. Materials thus wetted
have a softer feel than their dry counterparts and can transfer
sufficient liquid to wet other surfaces to effect the desired
cleansing or like functions.
As further used herein, the term "sheet" will be understood to
comprehend liquid-holding papers or similar sheet materials
composed, for example, of paper, rayon or other cellulosics,
nylons, polyesters, polyolefins, vinyl polymers, polyurethanes and
the like, or mixtures of the aforesaid or similar materials. Such
sheets may comprise creped, flat, woven or non-woven materials and
may be provided in the form of single or multi-ply tissues,
towelettes, or the like.
By "popping-up" or "pop-up" of the substantially wet sheets is
meant the automatic presentation of each successive wet sheet for
readily accessible manual grasping and withdrawal, upon removal of
each preceding wet sheet. Utilizing the dispenser of the present
invention, which includes a barrier member having a sheet
restricting opening through which each of the successive wet sheets
must be dispensed, such sheets are considered to pop-up when at
least about one-half inch, and preferably at least about one inch,
of each successive wet sheet is thus presented through the
restricting opening, chereby facilitating ready manual grasping
thereof.
As disclosed in the aforesaid copending application, wetted
tissues, towelettes or the like have, in recent years, achieved
substantial consumer acceptance. By and large, products of this
nature have taken the form of individual units, each sheet being
folded into a compact shape and sealed within an impermeable foil
or plastic package (see, for example, Williams U.S. Pat. No.
3,057,467 granted on Oct. 9, 1962). To permit use, the outer
package must be opened, and the individual sheet removed and
unfolded. For a number of reasons, including the relatively
substantial cost of such individually wrapped wet sheets and the
relative inconvenience of removing and unfolding the sheets from
the individual packages, these individual unit packages have not
been widely adopted for many purposes for which they might
otherwise be suitable.
The need for more convenient commercial forms of pre-wetted tissues
or towelettes has not been ignored, a number of prior workers
having proposed products for the bulk packaging and individual
dispensing of such wet sheets. Bulk packages so proposed have
utilized either rolls of wet sheets defined, for example, by
perforations in a suitable web stock, or stacks of wetted sheets
pre-folded to facilitate dispensing. Such dispensers for this
purpose are disclosed, for example, in Cordis U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,310,353 and 3,365,522 granted Mar. 21, 1967 and Feb. 13, 1968,
respectively, Rockefeller U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,575 granted on Mar.
10, 1970; and French Pat. No. 2,061,000 published on June 18,
1971.
The bulk dispensers disclosed in the noted patents are subject to a
number of disadvantages. First, those which involve dispensing of
the wet sheets from rolls (Cordis and the French patent) may be
subject to uneven tearing or, on the other hand, to chaining, of
the individual sheets, and are generally relatively complex and
difficult to use. The dispenser of the French patent, for example,
requires uncoiling a continuous web from the inside of the roll,
resulting in some instances in dispensing of a twisted "rope?
therefrom. Moreover, application of the wet sheet stock in roll
form is relatively inflexible since, unlike stacks of the wet
sheets, individual groups of sheets may not be readily separated
from the roll for use in travel or pocket packs or the like.
On the other hand, previously described bulk packages for
dispensing wet sheets from stacks (one of the Cordis embodiments,
as well as the Rockefeller product) have not provided for the
pop-up of successive sheets to be removed from the stack, do not
facilitate easy manual grasping of the individual wet sheets, and
thus require considerable manual dexterity to effect dispensing of
the successive sheets. These and other disadvantages implicit in
previously described bulk dispensers for the individual dispensing
of wet sheets are more fully set forth in the aforesaid copending
application, the disclosure of which is incorporated by this
reference thereto.
The bulk packaging in stack form of dry sheets or tissues is, of
course, also known. Sheets so packaged may be inter-folded so as to
successively pop-up upon dispensing of each prior sheet or tissue.
Dry tissue dispensers of this type are legion in the patent art and
are embodied in most commmercial cleaning or facial tissue
dispensers. As further set forth in the aforesaid copending
application, such dispensers include products such as that
described in Bilezerian U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,003 granted June 13,
1967 for dispensing tissues which have been impregnated with
aromatic or other medicated materials and which dispense as
essentially dry tissues.
It should be noted that while prior workers have recognized the
need for bulk packaging and individual dispensing of wetted sheets
and suggested several products for this purpose, they have avoided
adopting the expedients previously utilized in the dry tissue art
for individually dispensing dry sheets or tissues. Indeed, the very
failure of those in the wet sheet dispensing art to attempt to
utilize techniques employed for dispensing dry tissues in
indicative of the distinct problems encountered in the bulk
packaging and individual dispensing of wet sheets as distinguished
from dry sheets. This is the case since the liquid films formed
between inter-folded wet sheets create substantial adhesion between
the adjacent sheets while, on the other hand, dry inter-folded
sheets may be readily separated from one another by the force of
gravity alone. Hence, chaining of adjacent sheets is a major
problem in the individual dispensing of wetted sheets but is
insignificant in regard to the dispensing of dry sheets.
Further, the use of dispensing or control elements or inserts to
insure and maintain pop-up of each successive tissue withdrawn from
a dry tissue dispenser is consistent with the preceding explanation
regarding the gravity separation of dry tissues. The basic purpose
of such inserts is to increase the frictional engagement between
successive tissues withdrawn from the dispenser in order that the
first such tissue draws the next tissue with it through the
container opening and prevents the latter from falling back into
the container or carton. With wet tissues, on the other hand, there
is no need to increase adhesion between the successive wet sheets
to insure pop-up; to the contrary, the problem is to overcome
adhesion between the successive sheets to facilitate sequential
dispensing thereof, without tearing any of the individual sheets.
Thus, the "floating" inserts employed in many dry tissue dispensers
are not designed to separate strongly adherent sheet materials. On
the other hand, the biasing of dry stacked sheets against fixed
dispensing inserts has also been suggested in the patent
literature; the pressures thus produced would, however, impair the
separation and sequential pop-up and dispensing of strongly
adherent, wetted sheets from stacks thereof. The dispensing of dry
sheets from stacks thus does not take into account the essential
balancing of forces necessary for the sequential, independent
pop-up and dispensing of wetted stacked sheets.
It is among the objects of the present invention to provide for the
improved bulk packaging and individual dispensing of wet, stacked
sheets from a dispenser which is simple and economical to
manufacture, which is so designed that it may be utilized for the
successive dispensing of the individual wet sheets without
chaining, and yet the design of which permits periodic removal or
replacement of any number of the wet sheets for convenient consumer
use.
A further object of the invention is to provide a wet sheet
dispenser which is designed to accomplish the preceding purposes
and which is so sturdy and rugged in construction that it may be
frequently disassembled and reassembled for removal or replacement
of portions of the wet sheet stacks without materially decreasing
the useful life of the product.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following description of a specific embodiment thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance herewith, there is provided a preferred form of the
bulk package disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,908 for individually
dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets.
Such package includes the stack of wet sheets, a container
removably receiving the stack and having a cover incorporating
means for forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the
interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier
overlying the stack of wet sheets within the container and having a
sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may
be individually and successively removed when the cover is
opened.
In accordance with the present invention, the barrier member
comprises an insert normally disposed at a fixed position within
the container but so movable with respect to the fixed position to
permit access to the interior of the container. The insert is
provided with mounting means, and cooperating supporting means are
provided on the container, for supporting and maintaining the
insert at the fixed position within the container with the sheet
restricting opening overlying the faces of the superposed wet
sheets and defining adjacent sheet engaging surface means imposing
frictional forces on the successive sheets removed therethrough
sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of such
sheets yet not so large that the forces required for removal will
tear any of the sheets or displace the insert from its normally
fixed position. The mounting and supporting means for the insert
nevertheless permit manual displacement or removal of the insert
from the container to remove or replace all or a portion of the
stack of wet sheets therein.
There is thus provided a relatively simple yet efficient structure
for removably and replaceably storing and individually and
sequentially dispensing the successive wet sheets. The sheet
restricting opening in the dispenser insert produces sufficient
friction to overcome adhesion between the successive wet sheets to
be removed from the stack and thus facilitates dispensing in pop-up
fashion without chaining. On the other hand, the configuration of
the restricting opening and the means supporting and mounting the
displaceable or removable insert within the container are such that
the forces required for removing the wet sheets are not such as to
displace or remove the insert from the container. Moreover, the
insert is so mounted that it may be manually displaced or removed
and thereafter replaced to facilitate replacement of the stack
therein as desired. The dispenser may thus be provided in any
suitable size or configuration for industrial, home, purse or
pocket use, and portions of the stacks of wetted sheets used
therein may be removed as aforesaid for use in smaller bulk
dispensers, e.g., for pocket or travel packs. Refill stacks of wet
sheets may be readily adapted for use with the dispenser for
repeated and prolonged use.
The supporting and mounting means for the dispenser insert thus
perform a unique set of functions, serving both to maintain the
barrier in operative relation to the stack of wet sheets and yet
permitting manual removal of the insert for refill or like
purposes. On the one hand, the forces exerted upon removal of the
successive sheets through the sheet restricting opening create both
unidirectional and torsional forces on the insert, which must be
balanced to maintain the insert in its operative position. On the
other hand, the insert must be so mounted that it can be frequently
manually displaced or removed from the container by the average
user without adversely permanently stressing the container walls
and thus materially decreasing the useful life of the product.
Since frequent displacement or removal of the insert may tend to
bend the container walls outwardly or otherwise alter or deform the
engaging surfaces of the insert and the container, it is important
that the cooperating supporting and mounting means be so designed
as to effect this conflicting set of functions.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet
sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet
sheets and a container removably receiving said stack, said
container having integrally formed bottom and upstanding walls to
provide a box-shaped member defining an enclosed volume openable
along its top surface, a cover at said top surface having means for
forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of
the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack
of wet sheets and mounted to said container proximate said top
surface, said barrier having a sheet restricting opening therein
through which the wet sheets within the enclosed volume may be
individually and successively removed via the top surface when the
cover is opened; the improvement which comprises:
a. said barrier comprising an insert normally disposed at a fixed
position proximate said top surface within the container but
manually movable with respect to said fixed position to permit
interior access to the enclosed volume of the container via said
top surface, and said insert including
i. a non-coextensive sheet restricting opening disposed in
overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective
superposed wet sheets in the stack and defining sheet engaging
surface means adjacent thereto for frictionally engaging the
successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to
overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet
sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each
successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or
displace the insert from said fixed position, and
ii. mounting means on the insert adjacent the walls of the
container; and
b. said container having supporting means for normally engaging
said mounting means on the insert proximate said top surface with a
retention force sufficient to balance the removal forces imparted
to the insert by withdrawal of the successive sheets through said
sheet restricting opening and thereby support and maintain the
insert in said fixed position proximate said top surface; and
said supporting means being manually defeatable and disengaging
from said mounting means on the insert by manual displacement of
the insert from said fixed position proximate said top surface to
effect access via said top surface to the enclosed volume and stack
of wet sheets located therein.
2. The bulk package of claim 1, in which the supporting means on
said container and the mounting means on said insert comprise
cooperating detent means and recess means, and in which one of said
container and said insert incorporates the detent means and the
other of said container and said insert incorporates the recess
means for removably securing the insert in said fixed position
within the container.
3. The bulk package of claim 1, in which the supporting means on
said container comprises a number of ledges at a pre-selected
height of the interior walls of the container, said ledges
providing a substantially planar support for the insert and
defining said fixed position of the insert within the container
spaced from the uppermost sheet of the stack of wet sheets.
4. The bulk package of claim 1, in which the insert is a generally
planar member having peripheral rib means extending transversely of
the plane of the insert for imparting increased rigidity to the
insert.
5. The bulk package of claim 1, including flexible hinge means
integral with said cover and said container for mounting the cover
on the container, and cooperating sealing means and detent means on
each of the cover and the container, said hinge means, sealing
means and detent means providing the substantially moisture-proof
seal between the container and the atmosphere when the cover is in
its closed position.
6. The bulk package of claim 1, in which the sheet restricting
opening is defined by a generally diamond shaped aperture in said
insert having a major axis substantially aligned with and shorter
than the width of said sheets and a minor axis substantially
aligned with the length of said sheets.
7. The bulk package of claim 1, in which said container is plastic
and said insert is a relatively rigid plastic member removable from
the container.
8. In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet
sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet
sheets and a container removably receiving said stack and having a
cover incorporating means for forming a substantially
moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the
atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets and
having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet
sheets may be individually and successively removed when the cover
is opened; the improvement which comprises:
a. said container and said barrier comprising separate plastic
members;
b. said barrier comprising a substantially planar insert normally
disposed at a fixed position within the container spaced from the
uppermost sheet in said stack of wet sheets but so movable with
respect to said fixed position to permit access to the interior of
the container, and said insert having
i. a generally diamond-shaped aperture defining said sheet
restricting opening and being disposed in overlying relation with
respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the
stack, said aperture having a major axis generally aligned with and
shorter than the width of said sheets and a minor axis generally
aligned with the length of said sheets,
ii. sheet engaging surface means defined adjacent said aperture for
frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough
with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation
of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force
required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will
tear any of the sheets or remove the insert from the container,
iii. at least a pair of spaced detents integral with and disposed
on opposite sides of said insert, and
iv. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side
ribs formed integrally with said insert;
c. said container including
i. at least a pair of recesses formed in the upstanding walls
thereof and aligned with said detents for receiving and engaging
the same,
ii. posts integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of the
juncture of the adjacent walls of said container and having upper,
substantially planar surfaces defining a supporting plane for
positioning said insert at said fixed position, and
iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on the walls
of the container for engaging said cover; and
d. said cover icluding
i. a flexible plastic hinge integral with said cover and said
container for mounting the former to the latter,
ii. sealing surfaces for forming a seal with the container when the
cover is in its closed position, and
iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on said
cover, aligned with the locking detents on said container for
engaging the latter when the cover is in its closed position and
holding the cover in such position to maintain the substantially
moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the
atmosphere;
the detents on said insert and the recesses and posts in said
container supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed
position within the container when the successive sheets are
removed therefrom through said sheet restricting opening yet
permitting manual removal of the insert from the container for
access to the interior thereof.
9. In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet
sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet
sheets and a container removably receiving said stack, said
container being a box-shaped member openable along its top surface
and having a cover at said top surface incorporating means for
forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of
the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack
of wet sheets proximate said top surface, said barrier having a
sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may
be individually and successively removed when the cover is opened;
the improvement which comprises:
a. said barrier comprising an insert normally disposed at a fixed
position proximate said top surface within the container but
manually movable with respect to said fixed position to permit
access to the interior of the container, and said insert
including:
i. a sheet restricting opening disposed in overlying relation with
respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the
stack and defining sheet engaging surface means adjacent thereto
for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed
therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces
resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large
that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from
the stack will tear any of the sheets or displace the insert from
said fixed position, and
ii. mounting means on the insert adjacent the walls of the
container; and
b. said container having supporting means for normally engaging
said mounting means on the insert proximate said top surface with a
retention force sufficient to balance the removal forces imparted
to the insert by withdrawal of the successive sheets through said
sheet restricting opening and thereby support and maintain the
insert in said fixed position proximate said top surface; and
said supporting means being manually defeatable and disengaging
from said mounting means on the insert by manual displacement of
the insert from said fixed position proximate said top surface to
effect access to the stack of wet sheets;
c. said mounting means including at least two spaced detents
integral with and disposed on each of a pair of opposte sides of
said insert;
d. said supporting means including corresponding recesses formed in
the walls of said container and aligned with said detents for
receiving said detents and removably supporting said insert;
e. a post integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of each
pair of adjacent upstanding walls of the container and having an
upper, substantially planar surface for further supporting said
insert within the container; and
f. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side
ribs formed integrally with said insert for bearing against the
adjacent surfaces of said container;
said detents, recesses, posts and ribs being cooperatively arranged
for removably supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed
position within the container.
10. The bulk package of claim 9, in which said detents are formed
integrally with the respective side ribs of said insert, and in
which each detent tapers upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a
leading edge which is received in and engages the corresponding
recess in the adjacent wall of said container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more fully understood when considered in
connection with the specific embodiment described hereinafter in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bulk package showing the
container with the stack of wet sheets removed, and the dispenser
insert in exploded relation to indicate the internal structure of
the container;
FIG. 2 is a frther perspective view of the bulk package, with the
cover shown in its closed position;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical section taken along the line
3--3 in FIG. 2, showing details of the dispenser insert and
cover;
FIG. 3A is a detailed view showing the detent system securing the
dispenser insert within the container as shown in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are further enlarged partial vertical sections, taken
along lines 4--4 and 5--5, respectively, of FIG. 2, and showing
details of the dispenser insert, cover, and hinge structures;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the
dispenser insert in assembled relation with the leading edges of a
topmost wet sheet extending through the restricting opening
thereof, and the walls of the container being partially cut away to
show the stack of wet sheets therein; and
FIGS. 7A-7C show, in partial, diagrammatic crosssection, three
sequential stages of the removal of two successive wet sheets from
the stack incorporated in the bulk package.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, and with initial reference to figs. 1
and 6 in particular, the preferred embodiment of the bulk package
illustrated comprises a stack 13 of substantially wet sheets
removably and replaceably stored in and dispensed from a container
shown generally at 14. The container is provided with integrally
formed bottom and upstanding walls in the form of a box-shaped
member defining an enclosed volume prepared, for example, by
molding or vacuum forming of a suitable plastic, e.g.,
polypropylene, or from a similar substantially moisture resistant
and impermeable material. The container incorporates a cover 15 and
has a barrier member or dispenser insert 16 overlying the stack and
disposed between the stack and the cover. A sheet restricting
aperture or opening 17 is defined in the insert 16. The individual
edges and corners of the opening and the surfaces proximate thereto
provide frictionally engaging means effecting separation of the
substantially wet sheets and facilitating pop-up of each successive
sheet as it is withdrawn from container 14.
The individual sheets 18 within stack 13 may, as indicated
hereinabove, comprise any suitable sheet material capable of
absorbing and/or adsorbing the bulk of the liquid impregnant
utilized. The choice of the particular sheet material is related to
the configuration and dimensions of the restricting opening 17
through which the sheets are successively removed from the bulk
package, the composition of the impregnant, and the desired end use
of the product. The liquid composition will, of course, also depend
on the particular purpose for which the wetted sheets are to be
used and may include water, mineral oil (for a baby lotion, for
example), detergents or soaps, perfumes, surfactants, deodorants,
or any other ingredients to be utilized for the particular
cleansing, cosmetic or like application involved. When, for
example, it is desired to market the dispenser as a source of
vaginal cleansing towelettes, the wet sheets may suitably be
constituted of an absorbent paper toweling stock having a wet
tensile strength of at least about 0.5 lb./inch, preferably at
least about 1.0 to 1.5 lbs./inch, of width in the direction of
dispensing, impregnated with a substantially aqueous medium
incorporating deodorants, bacterial and mold growth inhibitors,
perfumes and the like, in minor proportions.
The stack 13 comprises a plurality of sheets 18, the faces F of
which are arranged in substantial parallelism. Preferably, the
individual sheets are inter-folded or interleaved with one another,
the use of alternating "V" folds about the center lines of the
respective inter-folded sheets being illustrated in the drawings
(FIGS. 6 and 7). Alternatively, the sheets may be otherwise
interleaved (e.g., in a double or "Z" fold) in order that
withdrawal of any sheet from container 14 through opening 17 draws
the leading edges of the succeeding sheet through such opening. In
yet a further embodiment, the stack of sheets may comprise a
continuous zigzag strip so perforated that the individual sheets
separate upon being withdrawn through the restricting opening. From
the preceding it should be apparent that the particular manner of
interfolding or inter-leaving the successive wet sheets within the
bulk package hereof is not a critical element of the present
invention and may be varied as desired.
The sheet restricting opening 17 in insert 16 is juxtaposed with
the face F of the uppermost sheet 18a of the stack, disposed
substantially parallel to such face and the corresponding faces or
extended portions of the other sheets in he stack. The opening is
noncoextensive with respect to the sheet and is defined by a
generally diamondshaped cutout having a major axis X generally
aligned with but shorter than the width of the sheets 18 (that
dimension of the sheets which is presented to and constricted by
the sheet restricting opening as each sheet is withdrawn
therethrough) and a minor axis Y generally aligned with the length
of the sheets (or, more particularly, the lengths of the two or
more folded sections of each sheet defined within the stack). The
term "non-coextensive" is intended to mean an opening dimensioned
with respect to the sheet such that it engages the sheet passing
therethrough with a significant frictional holding force to
counteract outward sheet removal -- e.g., the major dimension of
the opening is less than the corresponding width of the sheet
passing therethrough.
When the uppermost sheet is pulled outwardly of the dispenser V in
the top surface of the container the leading surfaces of the next
succeeding sheet are in contact with the first sheet and are drawn
thereby through the restricting opening 17 into frictional contact
with one or more of the substantially unielding (i.e., frictionally
engaging) edges and corners 19a-f defined by the walls of the
insert. These surfaces comprise sheet engaging surfaces which
produce a frictional force on the next succeeding sheet sufficient
to overcome the force resisting separation of the two sheets yet
not so large that the force required to remove the first sheet will
tear either such sheet or remove the dispenser insert 16 from the
container. Separation of the successive sheets is thus effected
with the leading surfaces of the second sheet extending outwardly
of opening 17 positioned for convenient manual grasping and removal
from the package. It may be seen from the preceding that the
leading surfaces of each successive sheet thus pop-up, extending
outwardly of the container for ready grasping. It is not necessary
for the user to insert his fingers into the container (as required,
for example, in use of the Cordis and Rockefeller stack dispensers
referred to hereinabove) to remove the sheets from the stack. On
the other hand, the restricting opening is large enough to permit
insertion of one's fingers for withdrawing the uppermost sheet of a
new stack, for example.
In accordance with the present invention the dispenser insert 16 is
so constructed and mounted at a fixed position within container 14
that it is not removed from the container upon application of the
forces necessary to withdraw the successive sheets therefrom, yet
at the same time is manually displaceable or removable to obtain
access to the interior of the container, V in the top surface of
the container e.g., for removal or replacement of all or a portion
of the stack of wet sheets therein. For this purpose the dispenser
insert is provided in the form of a tray-like member, e.g., of a
molded plastic, incorporating front and rear elongated ribs 21 and
corresponding elongated side ribs 22. Ribs 21 and 22 serve to
stiffen the thin insert, the resulting relatively rigid member not
distorting when the sheets are pulled therethrough and thus
resisting displacement thereby. The provision of such ribs provides
greater latitude in the choice of the thickness and configuration
of insert 16 adjacent sheet restricting opening 17, thus
facilitating design of the frictionally engaging surfaces which
effect pop-up dispensing of the successive wet sheets from the
stack.
A pair of spaced detents 23 defining mounting means are formed
integrally with each side rib 22, the respective detents having
tapering cross-sections (see FIGS. 3 and 3A) adapted to be received
in and frictionally engage corresponding upstanding wall recesses
24 separated by intermediate reinforcing wall sections or septums
30 of the adjacent container walls 20. By disposing the detents and
recesses centrally of the sides of the insert and the side walls of
the container, removal of the insert is facilitated; this is the
case since the central portions of the container side walls 20 may
be manually bowed outwardly to the greatest degree thereby
simplifying disengagement of the insert-container detent system
when it is desired to remove the insert from the container.
A pair of spaced detents 23a and b is utilized rather than a single
broader detent member, the pair of mating spaced recesses receiving
the detents minimizing if not preventing permanent distortion of
the container side walls 20 after prolonged use and consequent
repeated removal and replacement of the insert in the dispenser. In
the absence of the intermediate reinforcing wall or septum 30
between the spaced recesses 24a and b the container walls may
crease and acquire a permanent deformation after prolonged use,
ultimately weakening the locking engagement produced between insert
16 and container 14 by the detent system. Further, the provision of
detents 23 having tapering or wedge-shaped cross-sections promotes
the positive engagement between the dispenser insert and the
container therefor. Hence, when the insert is placed in the
container the detents act as camming surfaces and assist in seating
the same within the mating recesses. When, on the other hand, the
detents have been seated in the recesses the outward tapers of the
detents aid in maintaining the detent system in operative
engagement resisting both the torsional forces tending to push one
side of the insert into the container as well as the outward
unidirectional forces tending to remove the insert from the
container during withdrawal of the successive wet sheets through
the sheet restricting opening therein.
The detent system thus firmly and removably mounts and supports the
insert 16 within the container 14 and retains the insert therein,
notwithstanding the fact that the removal forces manually exerted
on the wet sheets act on the insert as well, and the further fact
that, after repeated removal with prolonged use, the container side
walls may bow outwardly somewhat.
Molded columns or posts 25 are additionally formed integrally with
and along the junctures of the adjoining walls of container 14; the
plural posts 25, four of which are provided in the disclosed
embodiment, terminate in upper surfaces or ledges 26 which define a
substantially horizontal supporting surface for the dispenser
insert 16. The supporting surface so provided, together with the
spaced detent-recess members 23-24 locking the insert in place,
resist the torsional forces acting upon the insert during wet sheet
withdrawal therethrough, and maintain the same in its operative
relation. The insert is thus positioned, resting on the ledges 26
and interlocked with the container housing by means of the mating
detents 23 and recesses 24 at the opposite side surfaces thereof,
with the posts 25 and recesses 24 formed in the container providing
supporting means for the insert.
It will be noted that the mounting and supporting means described
for insert 16 secure the same at a fixed position, spaced a
distance L (see FIG. 7A) from the uppermost of the sheets 18 in the
stack 13. By thus mounting the insert in spaced relation from the
stack the successive inter-folded sheets may curl upon one another
in the manner described hereinafter as they are successively
withdrawn through the sheet restricting opening 17 to provide the
desired pop-up dispensing. The spaced relation between the insert
and the uppermost sheet in the stack is important to insure
independent sequential dispensing of the several sheets; were, on
the other hand, insert 16 to be disposed in contact with the
uppermost sheet of the stack, it would be difficult, if not
impossible, to remove such sheet without either tearing the same or
producing chaining.
The cover 15, which may suitably comprise the same material as
container 14, is secured to the body of the container by means of a
flexible plastic hinge element 27 (FIGS. 1, 5). The use of such a
hinge is preferred since it provides a relatively simple, integral
linkage for securing the cover to the container in such a manner
that a substantially moisture-proof or impervious seal may be
readily and efficiently created therebetween upon closing the
cover.
The cover itself includes circumferentially extending wall portions
28 having interior shoulder elements 29 extending along all but the
hinged side thereof. The shouldered wall portions 28 cooperate with
and engage upstanding wall elements 31 formed integrally with the
container body.
A plurality of detents 32 (three are shown in FIG. 1) are formed
integrally along the front wall portion 28a of cover 15, adapted to
fit over and cooperatively engage mating detents 33 formed on the
corresponding front wall element 31a of the container body. By
pressing the cover into engagement with the container with the
detents 32 of the cover extending below and frictionally engaging
the detents 33 of the container walls (FIG. 3), the respective wall
sections 28 and 31 provide a substantially moisture-impervious
sealing means (FIG. 3) between the container and the atmosphere. A
further external ridge 34 may also be provided extending along the
outer, front edge of cover 15 to facilitate manual opening of the
cover.
The mechanism of operation of the dispenser may be more fully
understood in the light of the several stages involved in
sequentially dispensing three successive wet sheets therefrom
(FIGS. 7A-7C). Intially, the stack 13 is impregnated with the
desired treatment liquid, either prior to placing the stack within
the container (the dispenser insert 16 being removable and
replaceable for that purpose), or directly within the
container.
Preferably, employing an absorbent paper toweling stock for the
wetted sheets, water as the treatment liquid, and utilizing an
inter-folded stack of V-folded sheets as illustrative, the
uppermost wet sheet 18a is withdrawn from container 14 by drawing
the leading edges thereof through the sheet restricting opening 17,
the adjacent surfaces of the wet sheet frictionally engaging edges
19a and b and corners 19e and f adjacent the opening as the sheet
is drawn therethrough. As wet sheet 18a is drawn from the container
it pulls with it the inter-folded leading portion of the succeeding
sheet 18b (FIGS. 7A and B). The leading edges of sheet 18b are thus
drawn through the sheet restricting opening 17 (FIG. 7B),
ultimately engaging the opposite edges 19c and d and corners 19e
and f adjacent the opening. As the withdrawal of sheet 18a is
completed, the frictional drag exerted on sheet 18b by these edges
and corners effects separation of the two sheets and facilitates
independent removal of sheet 18a from the container without
chaining.
When sheet 18b is similarly manually drawn from the container it
pulls the leading surfaces of sheet 18c through the opening (FIG.
7C). The frictional drag imposed on sheet 18c by edges 19a and b
and corners 19e and f facilitates separation and removal of sheet
18b without chaining with the succeeding sheet 18c. Sheet 18c may
thereafter be withdrawn and the operation repeated to effect
withdrawal, separation and removal of each succeeding wet sheet in
the manner shown in the successive stages of FIG. 7.
In one particularly preferred embodiment of the bulk package of the
invention, container 14 may be about 5 inches long by about 21/2
inches deep by about 2 inches high, the dispenser insert may have a
thickness of about one-sixteenth inch, and the restricting
diamond-shaped opening 17 therein may be centered and have rounded
corners, the length of each leg of the diamond being about 13/8
inches, and the major and minor axes of the diamond being about
21/2 and 11/2 inches long, respectively. The wet sheets may
comprise the aboveidentified absorbent paper toweling stock having
a wet tensile strength in the dispensing direction of from about
1.5 to 3.0 lbs./inch of width. They may be rectangular in shape,
about 41/2 inches by 41/2 inches and inter-folded about their
respective center lines, and may be arranged in a stack of about
100 such sheets, approximately 11/2 inches high. The sheets may be
wetted by charging the container, with the stack therein, with a
substantially aqueous solution containing minor amounts of
emollients, detergents, bacterial and mold growth inhibitors,
perfume additives, and the like, as indicated hereinabove.
The above-noted structures, dimensions and compositions refer to
details of the specific embodiment described hereinabove and shown
in the attached drawings, and are not intended as limiting. Thus,
for example, the container 14 may be modified to incorporate a
separate cover which need not be hinged to the container in the
manner of cover 15 but which may merely engage the container by
means of interlocking detents, rims or the like to form the desired
substantially moisture-proof seal, and be readily and entirely
removable therefrom. Alternatively, the insert member 16 may be
displaceable yet not entirely removable from the container; for
example, the insert may be hinged to the container in the same
manner as the cover 15 and may pivot about the hinge to permit
access to the interior of the container for removal or replacement
of all or a portion of the stack of wet sheets. The insert may
thus, in effect, provide an inner, apertured cover for the
container.
Since the preceding and other changes may be made in the preferred
embodiment of the bulk package and dispenser hereof without
departing from the scope of the invention and since the invention
is not restricted to the mechanism postulated hereinabove, it is
intended that the preceding description should be construed as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *