System, container, pack and method for packing and dispensing wipes

Abstract

A dispensing container, soft pack, dispensing system and method for wipes and the like are provided, adapted for dispensing wipes that are accommodated having a mid-portion of the wipes vertically displaced from an extremity thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wipes and the like, in particular to the packaging and dispensing of such wipes and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages or containers for articles such as wipes are well known in the art. Such articles may be supplied dry or soaked/impregnated in liquid or lotion e.g. a cleaning agent, a solvent, a skin treating preparation, etc. Most containers for such articles typically are in soft-pack form or in box form.

Typically, wipes have a generally rectangular planform and in one form are supplied as interleaved or inter folded discrete sheets stacked in a variety of different configurations, to facilitate the so-called pop-up effect, where each wipe has a leading portion that is first to pass through the opening, and a trailing portion that later passes through the opening, while dragging a leading edge of a sequential wipe into a standby position so it extends at a convenient removal position. In other dispensers, the wipes are simply stacked one over the other, and the user has to reach into the package each time to grasp new wipe.

A common arrangement is to store the individual, optionally intercalated individual wipes in the package in a horizontal flat configuration that facilitates removing the wipes via a narrow dispensing opening provided at the top of the package opposed to the base, through which the individual wipes are pulled, one at a time, by the user. When the wipes are provided pre-soaked, the wipes at the lower end of the package tend to become oversaturated, and stick to one another, while the wipes at the upper end of the package tend to be relatively drier.

Some wipe configurations and packages of general background are disclosed in the following patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,057, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,881 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,612 disclose cartons for housing dryer sheets, which are stacked in a “C” shape or “U” shape, and are removed via an access flap which may include two hinges and may be reclosable. U.S. Pat. No. 2,195,622 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,584 also disclose dispensers for tissues stacked in a “C” shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,700 (GB1186787) also discloses a package containing a stack of sheets, that is folded into an inverted U shape and the ends of the sheets turned out to give a substantially rectangular bundle that fits closely into a receptacle or wrapper.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,632 discloses a dispensing package for sheet materials, and comprises a top-dispensing carton, an inverted Y-shape support member within the carton, and a bundle of substantially uniform sheets. The bundle is folded upon itself into a U-shape and draped over the inverted Y-shape support member. The length of the bundle is substantially equal to the distance up and over the inverted Y-shape support member, the middle of the bundle is supported subjacent the top wall of the carton, and the top sheet is folded to provide a grasping portion immediately subjacent a dispensing opening or aperture through the top wall of the carton.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,912 discloses a towelette dispenser and vapor impervious pouch containing a roll or web of absorbent material. A double lid is adapted to provide moisture seal between usages of the pre-moistened towelette, while reducing dehydration of the opened towelette pouch within the dispenser. Feed slit adaptations in the lid provide for selective tearability of individual towelette portions from the roll. The dispenser is adapted to provide a low center of gravity, and the base of the dispenser can cooperatingly engage a wall-type holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,801 discloses a construction for holding a bag-shaped or sheet-shaped continuous plastic film. In this holding construction, the plastic film is folded in a Z-shaped manner such that linear cuts formed in the continuous plastic film are accurately superposed on one another, and at least portions of insert members are inserted into the plastic film or the insert members are entirely inserted through the plastic film, so as to retain the plastics film in a bundled state. If one end portion of the film is drawn out, then a section of a predetermined length of the film is torn off along the linear cut or cuts by means of the insert members, and, when the section of the film is torn off, an end portion of the succeeding, i.e. second section of the film is automatically drawn out to a position corresponding to the position where the end portion of the first section of the film was initially positioned, through the action of connecting portions other than the linear cut or cuts, so that the construction, in which the plastic film can be easily used one section after another in the same manner as is the pop-up take-out method of tissue paper, can be obtained.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,735 discloses a package for stacked sheets which are deformed to have their two longitudinal end portions close to each other and to have a recess, and the two end portions are arranged in common planes in the vertical direction. The stacked sheets have a generally square top plan shape and to have a small height so that they can be packaged compactly. The sheet to be taken out is pinched upward while being held between the two sides of the recess, and the two sides of the recess are in parallel with the face of an outlet of the envelope. A sheet next to the sheet to be pulled out comes into abutment with the face of the outlet of the envelope at the two sides of the recess so that the sheets are not taken out in a gang.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,633 relates to a plurality of wipes, separable joined together. Each wipe of the plurality of wipes is moistened with a liquid in an amount of about 25 percent to about 600 percent of a dry weight of the wipe. An adhesive joins together at least two wipes of the plurality of wipes. The adhesive joins the at least two wipes together with an adhesion strength per unit adhesive length greater than 0 g/cm and less than about 200 g/cm. Alternately or additionally, the adhesive joins the at least two wipes together with an adhesion strength per unit adhesive area greater than 0 g/cm.sup.2 and less than about 1000 g/cm.sup.2.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Herein, the term “wipes” is taken to include, in addition to regular wet wipes, also other wipes, tissues, swabs, towels, napkins, and all manner of similar articles, whether dry or impregnated with a liquid and/or comprising a powder, gel, paste or other substance.

The wipes may be made from any suitable material, for example, from a fibrous material such as non-woven fabric, paper, gauze, or foam or any other suitable material formed in a sheet. Where the wipes are impregnated with liquid, the liquid may comprise, for example: liquid cosmetics, such as toilet water or milky lotion; drugs, such as an antiseptic or a medicine; cleaning solution for cleaning skin, including alcohol, moisturizing agent, surfactant and so on; or solution for wiping stains or cleaning in a kitchen, bathroom, furniture, and so on, including alcohol, agent, surfactant and so on.

A dispensing container, soft pack, dispensing system and method for wipes and the like are provided, adapted for dispensing wipes that are accommodated having a mid-portion of the wipes vertically displaced from an extremity thereof.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system is provided for dispensing wipes, comprising:

a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration; and

a container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein said pack, wherein said pack is arranged therein in a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, a flexible pack comprising a chamber comprising a stack of individual wipes, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration, wherein the stack is loosely accommodated within said chamber.

According to another aspect of the invention, a container is provided for dispensing wipes, adapted for accommodating therein a stack of wipes in a general vertical configuration, such that two opposed longitudinal ends of each wipe are vertically displaced one from the other within the housing, the container comprising a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, and a topmost portion longitudinally spaced from said base, and a dispensing opening located in an intermediate position with respect to said topmost portion and said base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in isometric view an embodiment of a stack of wipes in vertical configuration according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates in isometric view a single wipe of the embodiment of stack of wipes of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate in edge view a wipe according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in unfolded and folded configurations; FIG. 3(c) illustrates in edge view a plurality of wipes according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 intercalated into a pack.

FIG. 3 illustrates in isometric view a package of wipes in the inverted V or U configuration according to the invention.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate in side view a stack of wipes accommodated in a flexible pack according to an aspect of the invention, in unfolded and folded configurations, respectively.

FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) illustrate in isometric view a first embodiment of the container according to the invention, in the closed position, open position, and in exploded view, respectively; FIGS. 5(d) and 5(e) illustrate in isometric view top and bottom view, respectively, a variation of the embodiment of the container according to the invention, in the closed position.

FIG. 6 illustrates in side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) in the open position.

FIG. 7 illustrates in isometric top-side view a second embodiment of the container according to the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates in isometric bottom-side view the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates in exploded view the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates in isometric top-side view a third embodiment of the container according to the invention in the closed position.

FIG. 11 illustrates in isometric bottom-side view the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates in isometric top-side view the embodiment of FIG. 10 in the open position. FIG. 12a illustrates a detail of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12.

FIG. 13 illustrates in isometric top-side view a fourth embodiment of the container according to the invention in the closed position.

FIG. 14 illustrates in isometric top-side view the embodiment of FIG. 13 in the open position.

FIG. 15 illustrates in isometric top-side view a fifth embodiment of the container according to the invention in the closed position.

FIG. 16 illustrates in isometric top-side view the embodiment of FIG. 15 in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stack 10 of wipes or the like, according to an aspect of the invention, comprises a plurality of typically identical, discrete and individual wipes 11. Each wipe 11 is typically rectangular in planform length L and effective width d, having a general central portion 12, a first pair of opposed ends 13, 14, and a second pair of opposed ends, 15, 16. Typically, each wipe 11 comes pre-folded, so that, for example, the wipes each comprise a main panel 18 and leaf 17 folded over the panel 18 at one end 16 thereof. Referring also to FIGS. 3a to 3c, the effective width d of the stack 10 is similar to the width of each panel 18, and the width d₀ of the leaf 17 is smaller than d, in some cases d₀ being between about 20% and about 50% of d, in some embodiments being between about 30% and about 40% of d. The unfolded width of the wipe 11, designated as D (FIG. 3a), is thus about the sum of d and d₀.

By way of non-limiting example, the length L may be about 172 mm and the unfolded width D about 130 mm.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the ratio L/D may be unity or more than 1, and/or the ratio L/d may be about 2 or greater than 2.

Optionally, the thickness and stiffness of each wipe, together with the number of wipes 11 in the stack 10 (and thus the thickness W of the stack 10) may be chosen such as to enable the stack 10 to be folded over a transverse or longitudinal axes thereof, in the form of a U, for example, such that the arms, or at least parts thereof, of the U are at an included angle with respect to one another of close to 0°, between about 5° and 30° for example.

Optionally, and as illustrated in FIG. 3c, adjacent wipes 11 in the stack 10 may be intercalated via leaves 17, for example, such that a free end 15 of one wipe is accommodated in the fold between the leaf 17 and main panel 18 of the next wipe. Thus, when one wipe is pulled out of a package in which they may be stored, the intercalated leaf of the adjacent wipe pulls the next wipe partially to outside the package to facilitate pulling this wipe out of the package in due course.

In other embodiments, the wipes may be folded at each of two opposed ends, for example along fold lines at lateral ends 15, 16, or indeed any other suitable fold configuration may be applied to the wipes 11. Thus, such a fold configuration may be, for example, U-fold, Z-fold, W-fold, and so on. In yet other embodiments, the wipes may be unfolded.

Alternatively, the wipes 11 may be folded or unfolded, but not intercalated, and friction between adjacent wipes may be utilized for pulling part of the next wipe out of the package when the previous wipe is removed therefrom.

The wipes 11 may optionally be impregnated with a suitable solution, and the greater the degree to which adjacent wipes are impregnated, the more they tend stick to one another at the point of contact. For example, the wipes may optionally be impregnated with one or more of: liquid cosmetics, such as toilet water or milky lotion; drugs, such as an antiseptic or a medicine; cleaning solution for cleaning skin, including alcohol, moisturizing agent, surfactant and so on; or solution for wiping stains or for cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, and so on, including alcohol, agent, surfactant and so on.

According to some aspects of the invention, and referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the stack 11 may be packaged in a flexible pack 50, which may be similar, in some respects to other such packs know in the art. For example, the pack 50 may be made from a flexible sheet suitably folded and bonded to provide an internal space or chamber 54 that may be partially filled with wipes to be dispensed. The flexible sheet is typically bonded along a longitudinal join (not shown) and at the longitudinal ends via seams 52.

The flexible sheet constituting the pack 50 may comprise, for example, synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride in the form of a film, and the film may be a single layer or a laminated layer. The film may be a laminated layer of the above-mentioned film and an aluminum foil or paper, and the pack 50 is generally deformable.

The sheet constituting a pack 50 may be gas impervious or liquid impervious depending on the kind of the liquid impregnated in wipes, i.e., fibrous materials impregnated with liquid cosmetics or a medicine, contained in the pack 50. For example, it may be preferred to use a sheet which is impervious to both gas and liquid, when perfumes which are very volatile are contained in the liquid.

According to one aspect of the invention, the volume of the chamber 54 formed therein between the two seams is substantially larger than the volume occupied by the stack 10, such that the pack 10 may be loosely accommodated therein. The longitudinal length S of the pack 50 may be considered to be the sum of the length L of the pack, the seam lengths n, which can be assumed to be generally identical, and the diagonal lengths m of the end portions 51 of the pack 50 between the longitudinal ends of the stack 10 and the corresponding seam 54.

Thus,
S=L+(2*n)+(2*m)

The length n of each of the end portions 51 are generally longer than half the thickness W of the stack 10, and thus, for example using trigonometrical or geometrical relationships for an imaginary right angle triangle formed between one end of the stack 10 and the seam 54 (FIG. 4a), it may be seen that
m=(W/2)+Q

Thus,
S=L+W+(2*n)+(2*Q)

The value of Q may be chosen such as to allow the stack 10 to be longitudinally displaced within the chamber 54. In particular, the value of Q may also be chosen such as to allow deformation of the pack 50 when this is folded, for example as illustrated in FIG. 4b, providing for creasing in the concave part of the folded pack, while still allowing relative movement between the stack 10 and the pack 50. The relatively long pack length S relative to the stack length L may reduce the otherwise large shear forces that could otherwise arise when pulling out at least the first few wipes 10 from the pack 50 in the folded configuration illustrated in FIG. 4b.

By way of example, the longitudinal dimension S may be longer than the length L of the pack, for example by between about 10% and about 60%, between about 15% and about 50%, more particular between about 20% and about 40% of the length L of the pack 11, thereby providing a significant longitudinal spacing, for example equal to or greater than the thickness dimension W, may be formed between each longitudinal end of the stack 11 and the corresponding seam 52.

Similarly, the width of the pack 50 may optionally be substantially larger than the effective width d of the stack 10, allowing substantial relative sideways movement between the stack 10 and the chamber 54.

Furthermore, the chamber 54 may be at least partially evacuated, and thus at about ambient or sub-ambient pressure.

According to such embodiments, the pack 50, comprising a stack 11, may be folded over about a transverse axis, for example a mid-point transverse axis 56, with little resistance. An optionally resealable opening 58 may be provided at the mid point of the pack 50, or alternatively at a position displaced from the centre of the pack and proximate to one of the seams 52. In some applications, it may be better for the stack 10 to be thin (dimension W), and/or the wipes not to be stiff, and/or for the wipes to be relatively long (and/or wide) with respect to the thickness of the stack.

According to some aspects of the invention, and referring to FIG. 4b, the pack 50 is foldable to a folded configuration, for example a U-configuration, about a transverse axis or about a longitudinal axis, where the arms (or parts thereof) of the U form an angle θ therebetween of 0° or greater, in some embodiments between about 5° and about 30°.

According to some aspects of the invention, the stack 11, optionally packaged in a pack 50, may be accommodated within a suitable housing having a base adapted for standing the housing on a generally horizontal surface, such that each wipe 11 has the central portion 12 thereof vertically displaced upwards with respect to at least one extreme portion thereof, in some embodiments being extreme non-folded portion thereof, typically at least one of the ends 13, 14 or, 15 thereof. In this respect, the aforesaid “extreme portion” refers to any extremity of the wipe 11, for example also including any one of the corners 19, and thus may be a function of how the wipes 11 are arranged in the housing in relation to the base thereof. Thus, the wipes may have any shape other than rectangular, for example polygonal, oval, circular, irregular, and so on: according to aspects of the invention, the wipes are accommodated in the housing such that typically the central portion of each wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity of the wipe.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the stack 10 is arranged in an appropriate housing, optionally packaged together in a pack 50, in a generally vertical orientation, herein referred to as the “vertical stack configuration”, such that for each wipe 11, one non-folded end 14 thereof is at a generally bottom or relatively lower position B, while the opposed end 13 is at a generally top or relatively upper position T, for example as illustrated in FIG. 1.

According to another embodiment of the invention, and referring to FIG. 4b, for example, the stack 10 may be arranged in an appropriate housing in a generally inverted V or inverted U manner (when viewed from one side), herein referred to collectively as the “inverted V configuration”, such that for each wipe 11 thereof, the two opposed non-folded ends 13, 14 thereof are at a generally bottom or relatively lower position, while the central portion 12 is at a generally top or relatively upper position.

In another variation of the embodiment of FIG. 4b, the stack 10, in inverted V configuration, has one arm or the V longer than the other, so that rather than the central section, an intermediate portion 23 is at the uppermost position, and while ends 13, 14 are vertically displaced downwards with respect thereto, one such end is lower than the other opposed end.

According to some aspects of the invention, the stack of wipes may adopt any other suitable configuration, so that at least one portion of the wipes distanced from an extremity of the wipes is vertically displaced with respect to the extremity of the wipe. For example, for long wipes, having a relatively high length to width ratio, L/d, the pack 10 may adopt an “M”, “W”, “N” or “S” (or “Z”) configuration, in which the central portion 12 and in particular intermediate portion 23 between the central portion 12 and one non-folded end (for example 13) are upwardly vertically displaced with respect to end 13.

According to some aspects of the present invention, a dispensing container, generally referred to herein also as a “container”, is provided for storing and dispensing wipes or the like, in some embodiments thereof the wipes being stacked therein in a manner according to the invention, for example as an unpackaged stack 10, or packed in a pack 50.

Thus, according to a first embodiment of a container according to one aspect of the invention, and referring to FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c and 6, a container 100 is particularly adapted for accommodating a stack 10 of wipes 11, optionally packed in a pack 50, in the inverted V configuration. The container 100 is of generally rigid or semi-rigid construction, and comprises a housing 110 of generally prismatic or pyramidal shape, having a dispensing opening 162 at a top portion 112 thereof, and an open bottom end 114. The housing 110 typically comprises a pair of opposed generally trapezium-shaped side walls 115, 116, which are typically planar and are laterally joined at optionally rounded side edges 117 to generally rectangular or trapezium-shaped opposed side walls 118, 119. The housing is reversibly mountable to a base 130 by means of a suitable arrangement, for example a snap-fit arrangement. Optionally, a lever 131 may be provided on the base 130 for facilitating separating the base 130 from the housing 110.

Alternatively, the base 130 may be hinged to the housing 110 along an edge comprising a film hinge or any other suitable hinge arrangement, for example, and further comprise a suitable lock arrangement (not shown) to reversibly lock the base in the closed position with respect to the housing 110. The base is configured for resting on a generally horizontal surface, and may comprise a planar bottom face, and/or legs (not shown), and/or a downwardly-projecting skirt (not shown) circumscribing the periphery of the base, for example.

In variations of this embodiment, the base 130 may optionally comprise an upwardly projecting web (not shown) which may be in the form of an inverted V having a rounded top, for example, and transversely extend between walls 115, 116 to define a generally inverted V or inverted U shaped chamber in the housing, adapted for accommodating an inverted V-configuration stack 10, such that the stack is supported by the web in the container 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 6, however, the stack 10, particularly when accommodated in a pack 50, is accommodated within the housing in an inverted V-configuration, without any such web. The inverted V configuration for the pack 50 may be aided by means of sloping walls side walls 118, 119.

The housing typically further comprises a reversibly closable lid 160, which may be removably mounted to the top portion 112, or hinged with respect thereto, for example, for reversibly closing over the dispensing opening 162. The lid may act as a dust cover on the one hand to prevent contamination of the wipes 11, and on the other hand may retard or prevent evaporation of the wetting agents in the wipes, particularly the leading edge portion of the wipe that may be protruding from the dispensing opening 162. The dispensing opening 162 may optionally comprise a restricted opening (not shown) for holding therein a leading edge of a wipe, and may thus take any suitable form, for example an “X”, slit, and so on.

Optionally, the lid 160 may be adapted to be spring loaded, either when closed, or when initiating an opening procedure, and as such enables the dispensing opening to be opened with a single hand action, for example by means of depressible button 161, that may be covered by cover 163. There are many examples of such lids in the art, and will not be described further herein.

Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5d and 5e, the lid 160 may be reversibly lockable by means of a latch arrangement, wherein, for example, the lid 160 comprises a projecting lip 164, which is reversibly engaged with respect to a complementary projection or recess (not illustrated) provided in the housing 110. Optionally, a deformable button 165, integrally formed with the projection/recess, may be deformed by pressing with a finger, such as to release engagement of the lip 164, enabling the lid 160 to open.

The dispensing opening 162 is arranged to be substantially in registry with the central portion 12 of the wipes 11 in the stack 10. Thus, each wipe 11 is pulled out of the dispensing opening via the corresponding central portion 12 thereof. When applied for use with wetted wipes, by virtue of the inverted V configuration, the central portion 12 tends to be less saturated with wetting agent than the ends 13, 14, and thus the central portion 12 of the leading wipe is substantially more detached from the central portion of the next wipe, which facilitates total separation of the leading wipe from the stack 10. In embodiments where the stack 10 is packed in pack 50, the centrally-located pack opening 58 is in registry with the opening 50, facilitating dispensing of the wipes 11 from the pack 50.

Alternatively, in a variation of this embodiment, the dispensing opening may be formed in one or the other, or indeed on both of the side walls 118, 119, i.e., with the opening formed for example on wall 118 inclined to the base, so that each wipe 11 of a stack 10 is pulled by the intermediate portion 23 thereof. When applied for use with wetted wipes, these portions are also less saturated than the ends 13, 14, thus relatively trouble free dispensing of the wipe is possible, wherein adjacent wipes fully sticking to one another is avoided. In embodiments where the stack 11 is packed in a pack 50, the opening in such a pack is offset from the center of the pack to a position that would be in registry with the dispensing opening of the housing when the pack is accommodated therein.

According to some aspects of the invention, a dispensing system, optionally in the form of a dispensing kit, is provided, comprising said container 100 and one or more said packs 50, wherein the container 100 is loaded with one such pack enabling wipes to be dispensed via the container opening 162; when the wipes thereof are fully dispensed, the empty pack 50 may be removed and replaced with a new pack 50, folded about a transverse axis 56 into an inverted V configuration.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, and referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a rigid or semi-rigid container 200 is provided, particularly suitable for dispensing wipes 11 from a stack 10 in the vertical stack configuration. In this embodiment, a substantially frusto-conical housing 210 is provided having a base 230 that is adapted for enabling the container to stand on a substantially horizontal surface, and an upper opening 214. The stack 10 may be accommodated in the housing or alternatively, a pack 50 of wipes may be accommodated in the housing, in either case folded about a longitudinal axis 56 thereof. Referring to FIG. 9 in particular, the wipes are also partially folded in a circular C configuration with respect to a longitudinal axis, so that non-folded edges 13, 14, are in the form of a C, i.e., when the stack is viewed from above, such as to be snuggly accommodated in the cylindrical chamber 250 provided in the housing 210. An inwardly projecting radial web 150 may optionally be provided, typically extending along part or the full the height of the housing 210, to assist in holding the stack 10 in place within the chamber 250. The housing further comprises a dispensing opening 262, which is illustrated in the form of an oval aperture (but may optionally also be in the form of a slot or in any other suitable form) provided at an upper portion 212 of the housing: The opening 262 may be formed so as to be in registry with the mid-point 25 of the upper end 13, but may instead be closer to one or the other of the upper corners of the wipes 11 that may be accommodated in the housing. Alternatively, the opening 262 may be formed at the center portion, vertically, of the housing 210, or at an intermediate portion between this center portion and the open upper end 214 of the housing 210, such that the opening is in registry with the central portion 12 or intermediate portion 23, respectively, of the wipes 11 in the stack 10. The housing 210 comprises an upward facing annular shoulder 211, intermediate between the base 230 and the upper opening 214, defining the upper portion 212. A lower portion 215 may be defined between the shoulder 211 and the base 230.

The container 200 further comprises a generally frusto-conical cover 260, having a cap 261 for closing the relatively larger upper end of the cover 261, for example via a snap-fit connection or a suitable hinge arrangement, detachably mounted to an upper edge of frusto conical wall 267, and a relatively smaller open bottom end 263. The cover 260 is adapted for being optionally reversibly mounted to the upper portion 212 of the housing 210, for rotation with respect thereto; in particular, the bottom edge 268 of the cover 260 rests on and may rotate with respect to, the shoulder 211.

Additionally, the cover 260 comprises an opening 265 at a position such as to enable the dispensing opening 262 to be in registry therewith as the cover is rotated with respect to the housing to a dispensing position about longitudinal axis 269. Thus, in the dispensing position, a leading portion of the leading wipe is protruding via both openings 262 and 265, which are in registry, enabling the leading wipe to be extracted, which action may optionally serve to pull out the leading portion of the next wipe into a standby position. As the cover 260 is rotated such that the opening 265 is angularly displaced away from opening 262, the latter is closed off by means of the wall 267 of the cover 260. Moreover, if prior to such a rotation the leading edge of a wipe happens to be protruding from the two openings 262, 265, the inner opening 262 tends to hold the leading edge in place with respect thereto, while circumferentially slipping away from the outer opening 265 as the cover 260 is rotated with respect to the housing 210. In this manner, the leading edge is accommodated in an annular space between the inner cylindrical face of the cover 260 and the outer cylindrical face of the upper portion 212 of the housing 210, and not directly exposed to the external environment. By reversing the rotation of the cover 260, the leading edge of the wipe may be automatically threaded therethrough as the outer opening 265 is again brought into registry with the inner opening 262.

The cover 260 may be adapted for rotating in one or both senses about axis 269 of the container, and may be freely rotatable to any angle, even exceeding a full 360° revolution, or alternatively may be restricted to turn within a limited angular displacement, typically by means of suitable stops (not shown) or the like.

Optionally, the cover 260 may comprise tabs or ears (not shown), or finger grasping indentations formed on the cylindrical wall 267 and/or the cap 261, for facilitating rotation of the cover 260 by the user.

When the cover 260 is reversibly mounted to the housing 210, the cover 260 or the cap 261 may be removed for the sake of refilling the container with a new stack 10 when this is necessary. If it is desired to remove the whole cover 260, this may be accomplished by first detaching the cap 261 from the wall 267, and then pushing the wall in a direction towards the base 230, with respect to the housing 210. Either way, the opening 214 is exposed, enabling a new stack to be placed into the housing 210.

In a variation of this embodiment, the container 210 may comprise a reversibly closed or integrally closed top having the dispensing opening thereat, in the form of a radial slot, for example, and similarly, the cover has a corresponding dispensing opening on the closed upper end 261 thereof. Thus, optionally, the lower end of the housing 210 may be adapted for enabling the container to be refilled with a new stack 10, and for example, the base 230 may be reversibly mounted to the lower portion 215 of the housing 210, for example in the form of a lower lid, to provide the required access to the chamber 250.

When the second embodiment is applied for use with wetted wipes, the upper portion of the wipes 11 are typically less impregnated than the central portion 12 or lower portion including lower end 14. Thus, by pulling the leading wipe by the upper end 13 or upper intermediate portion 23, or even the central portion 12, the less stickiness between these portions of the leading wipe and the next wipe, and possibly the upwardly decreasing differential saturation along the vertical length of the wipe 11, helps to free the leading wipe from the stack 10 such that it does not tend to completely pull out one or more additional wipes in the same movement.

Optionally, radial stops 218 may be provided on the housing 210 to prevent or limit rolling of the container 200 when the axis 269 is generally horizontal or close thereto.

While the container has been described as having lower base 230 and an upper cover 260, the container may be used in an inverted configuration, in which the cap 261 acts as a base, and the base 231 is now uppermost.

In variations of this embodiment, the housing 210 and cover 260 may be substantially cylindrical and/or having a circular, polygonal, or oval cross-section, similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, mutatis mutandis. In embodiments where the cross-section is non-circular, the housing 210 (in particular the upper portion 212 thereof) and/or the cover may be made from a material and/or of thickness such as to enable one or both components to partially deform so as to permit the relative rotation therebetween, Optionally, the lower portion 215 may be frusto-conical and/or the upper portion 210 and cover 260 may be generally tubular, for example.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, and referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a rigid or semi-rigid container 300 is provided, particularly suitable for dispensing wipes 11 from a stack 10 in the vertical stack configuration, optionally accommodated in a pack 50 provided in the container 300. In this embodiment, a generally oval lower housing 310 is provided having upwardly projecting peripheral wall 315 from a base 312 that is adapted for enabling the container to stand on a substantially horizontal surface. In particular, the cross-section of the housing may be crescent-shaped, having substantially rounded ends, the cross-section thus being e.g., bean-shaped or kidney-shaped. Thus, the housing may comprise a convex and concave opposed front and rear walls, 315a, 315b, respectively, connected to side walls 315c, 315d, which together define peripheral wall 315. This arrangement may provide improved stability for the container 30 when resting this on a horizontal surface, particularly when the container is adapted for accommodating a relatively thin stack of wipes, and thus the front and rear walls are spaced by a relatively narrow spacing.

The housing 310 has a upper open end via which the container 300 may be refilled with a new stack 10 or pack 50 when necessary, and a generally horizontal outwardly laterally extending flange or lip 311 is provide at the upper open end (see FIG. 12a). A generally oval upper cover 360 optionally having a similar cross-section to the housing 310, is provided having downwardly projecting side wall 365 from a top wall 362. Also referring to FIG. 12a, the lower portion of the side wall 365 comprises an outwardly laterally displaced skirt or portion 366, having a generally horizontal inwardly laterally extending flange or lip 375 provided at the lower edge of the cover 360. The cover 360 may be reversibly snap-fitted onto the housing 310 by deforming the lip 375 until the upper part thereof engages with the lower part of the lip 311. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal length L₁ of the housing 310 may be between about 10% and about 90% of the overall longitudinal length L₀ of the container 300. In other embodiments, the longitudinal length L₁ of the housing 310 may be between about 60% and about 80% of the overall longitudinal length L₀ of the container 300.

Referring in particular to FIG. 12, the cover 360 is provided with a dispensing opening 361, generally positioned to be opposite the mid-point 25 of the upper end 13 of a stack 10 that may be accommodated in the container 300, but may instead be closer to one or the other of the upper corners of the wipes 11. In particular, the opening 361 may be formed in a recessed portion 340 of the wall 365. Further, the opening 361 may be formed at an intermediate portion of the cover 360, such that the opening 361 is in registry with the intermediate portion 23, of the wipes 11 in the stack 10. An L-shaped flap 370 is hingedly mounted to the lower portion of the cover 360, for example in proximity to the portion 366, via an integral film hinge or other hinge for example, and is dimensioned so as to close with respect to recessed portion 340 in a general flush manner with respect to wall 365, and preferably also top portion 362. Optionally, the housing 310 and cover 360 may have any other suitable cross-sectional profile, for example, regular oval or elliptical, when viewed from above.

Optionally, and referring to FIG. 12a, the housing may comprise an arrangement for protecting the lip 375, and for preventing unwanted separation of cover 360 with respect to the housing 310, as may otherwise occur, for example, if the lip 375 where to receive a sharp knock. The protecting arrangement may comprise, for example, a radial flange 390, projecting outwardly from the housing, and spaced fro the lip 375 when the cover is connected to the housing. Alternatively the arrangement may comprise a plurality of tabs or the like. Other protection arrangements are also possible.

Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, in another embodiment of the invention, a container 300′ similar to that described in respect of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12, mutatis mutandis, may comprise an upper dispensing opening 361′, at the upper longitudinal end of the container 300′, closable via lid 370′, and thus the housing 310′ may be relatively longer, and the cover 360′ relatively shorter, than the corresponding components of container 300, mutatis mutandis. In this embodiment, wipes 11 of a stack 10 may be removed from the container 300′ via the unfolded upper end 13 thereof, for example.

In another embodiment of the container according to the invention, and referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the container 400 is similar to the container of the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, but with the following differences, mutatis mutandis. In this embodiment, cover 490 comprises an upper hinged lid 492, rather than an L-shaped lid, and the dispensing opening 462 is at the top rather than the side wall, of the container.

The above container embodiments may be made from rigid or semi-rigid materials, including plastic materials. Accordingly, the housing and base and other components of the container may in each embodiment be manufactured using suitable forming molds. Such molds may include molds adapted for any suitable plastic forming process, including, for example but limited to, any one of, as appropriate: injection molding, blowmolding, vacuum forming, pressure forming, thermo-forming, rotomolding, reaction injection molding, reinforced reaction injection molding, and so on. Optionally, such components may be formed as multi-component articles of manufacture, for example having parts of a component of different stiffness and/or material being integrally formed. Alternatively, such components may be formed from several parts which may be assembled or joined together.

For each of the embodiments disclosed herein, optionally, a removable adhesive strip may be provided over the respective wipe opening to cover the same until first use thereof. The opening is preferably sized for dispensing one wipe at a time while separating a standby or duty wipe from a successive wipe. The arrangement with such wipes is preferably such that upon pulling a leading edge of a standby wipe (by using the term “standby wipe” is referred to a first wipe in a pack of wipes which is to be removed from the container), the standby wipe is withdrawn through the opening whilst it detaches from the sequential wipe, which becomes in turn a duty wipe with its leading edge now projecting from the opening.

Some embodiments of the invention are defined in the following numbered clauses:

1. A system for dispensing wipes, comprising

a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration; and

a container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein said pack, wherein said pack is arranged therein in a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.

2. A system according to numbered clause 1, wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.

3. A system according to numbered clause 1, wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from two opposed unfolded extremities thereof.

4. A system according to numbered clause 3, wherein said pack is accommodated in said housing such that said wipes assume any one of the following general configurations: V or U configuration; inverted V or inverted U configuration; N or Z configuration; W or M configuration.

5. A system according to numbered clause 4, wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing.

6. A system according to numbered clause 5, wherein said housing comprises a general pyramidal configuration, having said dispensing opening on a top wall of the housing, wherein a pair of opposed sloping walls of said housing provide support for maintaining said stack in said folded configuration.

7. A system according to numbered clause 6, further comprising a lid for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.

8. A system according to any one of numbered clauses 5 to 7, wherein the pack is folded about a transverse axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.

9. A system according to numbered clause 4, wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing, downwardly spaced from a topmost part of the container.

10. A system according to any one of numbered clauses 4, 5, and 9 wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.

11. A system according to numbered clause 10, wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack, wherein the pack is folded about a longitudinal axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.

12. A system according to numbered clause 4 or 5, wherein said dispensing opening is comprised on a top wall of said container.

13. A system according to numbered clause 12, wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.

14. A flexible pack comprising a chamber comprising a stack of individual wipes, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration, wherein the stack is loosely accommodated within said chamber.

15. A pack according to numbered clause 14, wherein a longitudinal length of the pack exceeds the longitudinal length of the stack by an amount such as to allow deformation of the pack when this is folded, providing for creasing in a concave part of the folded pack, while allowing relative movement between the stack and the pack.

16. A pack according to numbered clause 14, wherein said pack is foldable to assume a U-shaped folded configuration, wherein the arms of the U are angularly displaced by between about 0° and about 30°.

17. A pack according to numbered clause 14, wherein a longitudinal length of said chamber when said pack is in an unfolded configuration is between about 10% and about 60%, between about 15% and about 50%, more particular between about 20% and about 40% longer than a longitudinal length of said wipes accommodated therein.

18. A pack according to numbered clause 17, wherein said pack is made from a sheet material folded along at least one longitudinal seam, and at two longitudinally opposed seams, and further comprising a dispensing opening.

19. A pack according to numbered clause 20, further comprising an optionally reversibly closable cover for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.

20. A pack according to numbered clause 18 or 19, wherein said opening is generally located at one of a longitudinal center of said pack and at an intermediate position between a said seam and said longitudinal center of said pack.

21. A pack according to any one of numbered clauses 14 to 20, wherein said wipes are impregnated with at least one of a suitable liquid, a suitable powder, a suitable paste.

22. A container for dispensing wipes, adapted for accommodating therein a stack of wipes in a general vertical configuration, such that two opposed longitudinal ends of each wipe are vertically displaced one from the other within the housing, the container comprising a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, and a topmost portion longitudinally spaced from said base, and a dispensing opening located in an intermediate position with respect to said topmost portion and said base.

23. A container according to numbered clause 22, wherein said dispensing opening is located proximate to one of said topmost portion or base, optionally offset with respect to a longitudinally central portion of said container.

24. A container according to numbered clause 22 or 23, wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.

25. A container according to numbered clause 24, wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack therein in a general C-configuration when viewed from above.

26. A container according to numbered clause 25, wherein said upper portion and said lid member are frustoconical in form.

28. A container according to numbered clause 22, wherein said dispensing opening is intermediate said central portion and said topmost portion of said container.

29. A container according to numbered clause 28, wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.

30. A container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being folded about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof, said housing comprising a pair of sloping opposed walls adapted for maintaining said pack in said folded configuration, such that the longitudinal ends of the pack are in close proximity.

31. A container according to any one of numbered clauses 22 to 30, wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.

32. A system according to any one of numbered clauses 1 to 13, wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.

33. A mold for manufacturing a container as defined in any one of numbered clauses 22 to 30.

34. A mold for manufacturing a container as defined in any one of numbered clauses 1 to 13.

35. A mold according to numbered clause 33 or 34, wherein said mold is adapted for any suitable plastic forming process, including, any one of: injection molding, blowmolding, vacuum forming, pressure forming, thermo-forming, rotomolding, reaction injection molding, reinforced reaction injection molding, and so on.

36. A method for packing a stack of individual wipes or the like, comprising stacking said wipes in a replaceable flexible pack within a rigid or semi rigid container wherein each said wipe is arranged such that a general central portion thereof is vertically displaced from at least one end thereof.

37. A method for packing a stack of individual wipes or the like, comprising stacking said wipes in a replaceable flexible pack within a rigid or semi rigid container wherein each said wipe is arranged such that a general central portion thereof is vertically displaced from two opposed extremities thereof.

In the embodiment defined in numbered clause 30, the sloping walls may be arranged, for example, such that the spacing between the two longitudinal ends of the pack, when folded, is about the same as, or less than, the thickness of the stack, for example. Thus, the sloping walls can be arranged to exert a reaction force onto the folded pack to maintain them in the folded configuration.

The invention also relates to a dispensing container, soft pack, dispensing system and method for wipes and the like, adapted for dispensing wipes that are accommodated having a mid-portion of the wipes vertically displaced from an extremity thereof.

Finally, it should be noted that the word “comprising” as used throughout the appended claims is to be interpreted to mean “including but not limited to”.

While there has been shown and disclosed exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing wipes, comprising

a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration; and

a container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein said pack, wherein said pack is arranged therein in a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from two opposed unfolded extremities thereof.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said pack is accommodated in said housing such that said wipes assume any one of the following general configurations: V or U configuration; inverted V or inverted U configuration; N or Z configuration; W or M configuration.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said housing comprises a general pyramidal configuration, having said dispensing opening on a top wall of the housing, wherein a pair of opposed sloping walls of said housing provide support for maintaining said stack in said folded configuration.

7. A system according to claim 6, further comprising a lid for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the pack is folded about a transverse axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.

9. A system according to claim 4, wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing, downwardly spaced from a topmost part of the container.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack, wherein the pack is folded about a longitudinal axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.

12. A system according to claim 4, wherein said dispensing opening is comprised on a top wall of said container.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.

14. A flexible pack comprising a chamber comprising a stack of individual wipes, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration, wherein the stack is loosely accommodated within said chamber.

15. A pack according to claim 14, wherein a longitudinal length of the pack exceeds the longitudinal length of the stack by an amount such as to allow deformation of the pack when this is folded, providing for creasing in a concave part of the folded pack, while allowing relative movement between the stack and the pack.

16. A pack according to claim 14, wherein said pack is foldable to assume a U-shaped folded configuration, wherein the arms of the U are angularly displaced by between about 0° and about 30°.

17. A pack according to claim 14, wherein a longitudinal length of said chamber when said pack is in an unfolded configuration is between about 10% and about 60%, between about 15% and about 50%, more particular between about 20% and about 40% longer than a longitudinal length of said wipes accommodated therein.

18. A pack according to claim 17, wherein said pack is made from a sheet material folded along at least one longitudinal seam, and at two longitudinally opposed seams, and further comprising a dispensing opening.

19. A pack according to claim 20, further comprising an optionally reversibly closable cover for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.

20. A pack according to claim 18, wherein said opening is generally located at one of a longitudinal center of said pack and at an intermediate position between a said seam and said longitudinal center of said pack.

21. A pack according to claim 14, wherein said wipes are impregnated with at least one of a suitable liquid, a suitable powder, a suitable paste.

22. A container for dispensing wipes, adapted for accommodating therein a stack of wipes in a general vertical configuration, such that two opposed longitudinal ends of each wipe are vertically displaced one from the other within the housing, the container comprising a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, and a topmost portion longitudinally spaced from said base, and a dispensing opening located in an intermediate position with respect to said topmost portion and said base.

23. A container according to claim 22, wherein said dispensing opening is located proximate to one of said topmost portion or base, optionally offset with respect to a longitudinally central portion of said container.

24. A container according to claim 22, wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.

25. A container according to claim 24, wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack therein in a general C-configuration when viewed from above.

26. A container according to claim 25, wherein said upper portion and said lid member are frustoconical in form.

27. A container according to claim 22, wherein said dispensing opening is intermediate said central portion and said topmost portion of said container.

28. A container according to claim 27, wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.

29. A container according to claim 22, wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.

30. A container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being folded about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof, said housing comprising a pair of sloping opposed walls adapted for maintaining said pack in said folded configuration, such that the longitudinal ends of the pack are in close proximity.

31. A system according to claim 1, wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.