CARTON HAVING A PAPER DISPENSING WINDOW

The present disclosure relates to cartons, particularly cartons for storing and dispensing folded sheet material, that are substantially free from polymeric materials. The cartons have dispensing windows formed from paper and are provided with dispensing openings well suited for pop-up dispensing. The dispensing openings, which are preferably elongated, have a plurality of cusps and a plurality of slits disposed thereon to grasp and hold the sheet during dispensing.

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Description
BACKGROUND

Sheet materials, such as facial tissue, are commonly stored and dispensed from cartons. The cartons are constructed so that tissues can be picked out one by one through an opening covered with a dispensing window. The dispensing window comprises a dispensing slit or cut-out portion that may be configured to holds tissues for pop-up type dispensing. To achieve pop-up dispensing the slit must be configured such that when one tissue is removed from the box, the following one is partially pulled out and is held in a substantially up-right position by the slit so that a user may grab and pull it during the next use. This requires appropriate balance between the shape of the slit and material that are used for the window.

While pop-up dispensing is convenient, it presents several challenges such as chaining, and fallback, for example. This is typically due to friction of tissues onto dispensing window, or between them, and/or due to an inappropriate shape for the slit. A common means for holding the next tissue in a ready position is a slit plastic film through which the tissues are dispensed, and which gently pinches the next tissue between the two sides of the slit. While such slit plastic films have performed well, there is a need to replace plastic films with other means due to an increasing general environmental desire to replace plastics with degradable or otherwise more environmentally friendly materials.

Previous attempts to replace slit plastic films with more environmentally friendly materials have not been entirely successful. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,177, which discloses a pop-up facial tissue carton with a paper window having an elongated opening with two or more slits emanating from its two ends, created a large degree of friction between the dispensed tissue sheet and the paper window. While the high degree of friction prevented fallbacks, it was noisy and caused tearing of the paper window. German Utility model G9108036 also discloses a carton having a paper dispensing window. To reduce the degree of friction between the dispensed sheet and the paper dispensing window, the window is provided with an opening that extends all the way to the carton opening at two or more points. While such designs may reduce the amount of friction, they are susceptible to fallbacks and the window is easily deformed, bent, or torn.

It is therefore one main object of the present invention to provide a tissue carton having a paper dispensing window that facilitates pop-up dispensing while minimizing fallback and chaining.

SUMMARY

The present inventors have now discovered a carton, particularly a carton for storing and dispensing folded tissue sheets in a pop-up fashion, having a paper dispensing window having a dispensing opening having a plurality of cusps and slits. The cusps and slits cooperate with one another to hold the sheet material without tearing of the window or without excessive noise. Further, the carton and dispensing openings have been sized and shaped to permit the paper window to be bent or folded during dispensing without tearing.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a tissue carton for storing and dispensing a plurality of tissue sheets, the carton comprising: a carton having at least one carton wall; a carton opening disposed on the at least one carton wall, the opening having a carton opening peripheral edge; a paper window attached to the at least one carton wall and at least partially covering the carton opening; a dispensing opening disposed on the paper window, the opening having a peripheral edge shaped to define a first and a second cusp; and a slit extending radially outward from each of the first and the second cusps.

In another embodiment the present invention provides a pop-up tissue dispensing carton comprising: a carton top wall having an elongated carton opening disposed on the carton top wall, a paper window affixed to the top wall and having an elongated opening through which tissues within the carton are withdrawn, the elongated opening having at least two cusps and at least two slits extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated opening.

In yet another embodiment the present invention provides a dispensing carton containing a stack of interfolded sheets of a paper product comprising: a top wall having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are withdrawn from the carton; two pairs of opposing side walls; a bottom wall; a paper window affixed to at least a portion of the inner surface of the top wall; a dispensing opening having a plurality of cusps and a plurality of slits disposed on the paper window.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tissue carton, illustrating a dispensing window according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tissue carton according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a tissue sheet being dispensed;

FIG. 3 is a top view of dispensing window according one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of dispensing window according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of dispensing window according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of dispensing window according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of dispensing window according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of dispensing window according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view of dispensing window according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a top view of dispensing window according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

 DEFINITIONS

As used herein the term “carton opening” generally refers to an opening formed in one or more walls of a carton.

As used herein the term “cusp” generally refers to a point where two segments meet and the tangents of each of the segments is equal. In certain non-limiting instances, a cusp may be a sharp corner formed by a pair of converging curvilinear segments where the curve is not differentiable.

As used herein the term “dispensing opening” generally refers to an opening through which tissues are dispensed such as, for example, an opening formed in a material covering a portion of the carton opening.

As used herein the term “paper” generally refers to a fibrous structure in sheet format. Paper useful in the present invention may be manufactured from a variety of paper-making fibers, such as, for example, natural fibers or synthetic fibers, or any other suitable fibers, and any combination thereof. Papermaking fibers useful in the present invention include cellulosic fibers commonly known as wood pulp fibers. Applicable wood pulps include chemical pulps, such as Kraft, sulfite, and sulfate pulps, as well as mechanical pulps including, for example, groundwood, thermomechanical pulp and chemically modified thermomechanical pulp.

As used herein the term “panel” generally refers to a portion of a dispensing window within a carton opening that is entirely separated from another portion of the dispensing window. The separation of a dispensing window within a carton opening into first and second panels may be achieved by a slit extending from the dispensing opening to the carton opening peripheral edge. A non-limiting example of a panel is illustrated in FIG. 1, where slits separating the window 40 into four panels 62, 64, 66, 68. Each of the four panels 62, 64, 66, 68 are entirely separated from one another by a slit 48.

As used herein the term “slit” generally refers to a cut where no material is removed. In certain embodiments a tissue carton of the present invention may be provided with a window having one or more slits disposed thereon and the tissue is fitted through a slit which frictionally retains the tissue unless it is manually moved through the slit.

As used herein the term “tissue” generally refers to any individual sheet product, such as facial tissue, dry or moistened wipes, for example household or industrial wipes, soap or fabric softening sheets, or the like. Normally, the basis weight of sheet products to be dispensed by the cartons of the present invention is less than about 80 grams per square meter (gsm), in some embodiments less than about 60 gsm, and in some embodiments, between about 10 to about 60 gsm.

As used herein the term “window” generally refers to a component of the carton covering at least a portion of the carton opening and generally having a dispensing opening disposed thereon for dispensing a tissue there-through.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a pop-up tissue dispenser 20, also referred to herein simply as a carton, according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown for purposes of illustration. Generally, a clip of prefolded interfolded tissues is disposed within the carton. While the carton of the present invention is particularly well suited for dispensing folded tissue sheets, such as folded facial tissue sheets, the invention is not so limited. The invention may also be utilized to dispense other types of folded sheet products. Thus, the term tissue is not intended to be limited to facial tissues but is used herein to include any individual sheet product, such as dry or moistened wipes, for example household or industrial wipes, soap or fabric softening sheets, or the like. The folded edge 51 of the upper most tissue sheet 50 is visible through the dispensing opening 42 and presented for dispensing by a user.

The stack of tissues may be interfolded, prefolded interfolded, or non-interfolded. As used herein, the phrase “prefolded interfolded” or “interfolded” tissues means that the tissues are folded and interleaved with neighboring tissues immediately above and/or below in the clip of tissues. The tissues can be interleaved by any suitable means, including the use of an interfolder as employed in the papermaking arts. If an interfolder is used, consecutive tissues may be attached to each other at perforation lines. In such cases, the unperforated segments of the perforation lines should be sufficiently weak to permit the consecutive tissues to separate from each other upon removal from the carton. This can be controlled by the degree of perforation of the tissue sheet. Tissues that may be employed in a non-interfolded clip which are not interleaved with neighboring tissues are releasably attached to neighboring tissues so that upon dispensing one tissue, the next adjacent tissue is ready for dispensing. Particularly preferred folding patterns include interfolding patterns that provide somewhat less friction, which tend to avoid tearing of the tissue when extracted from the container.

The carton 20 is illustrated as a rectangular parallelepiped comprising a top wall 26, and opposite bottom wall (not illustrated in FIG. 1), and four sidewalls extending between the top 26 and bottom walls. The sidewalls that are fully visible in FIG. 1 have been given reference numerals 22 and 24. While the carton of FIG. 1 is rectangular parallelepiped, the invention is not so limited, and the carton may be constructed in a variety of sizes and shapes as are well known in the art. For example, in an alternative embodiment the carton includes a single cylindrical-shaped sidewall extending between the top and bottom walls (not shown). Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, any of the sidewalls such as sidewalls 22, 24 may be constructed of one or more panels that are bonded together by adhesives, thermal bonds, or other suitable means.

The carton may be constructed from any rigid materials, for example, cardboard, carton stock, paper board, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, ABS plastic, plastic, metal, wood, and glass amongst other suitable alternatives.

The top wall 26 of the carton 20 defines a carton opening 30 having a peripheral edge 32 in the form of an aperture through which tissues may be individually removed from the carton. While the carton of FIG. 1 comprises, a carton opening disposed on the top wall of the carton, the invention is not so limited. Furthermore, the shape of the carton opening may vary, however, in certain preferred embodiments the opening is elliptical and being of a size to permit comfortable entry of the finger(s) of a user for access to the sheets in the receptacle but occupying less than the entire area of said top wall whereby at least the major portion of the periphery of said top wall is intact. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carton opening is a longitudinally elongated ellipse having its major axis oriented generally in the direction of the longer dimension of the folded sheet disposed within the carton.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the carton 20 has the shape of a rectangle parallelepiped, and the carton opening 30 has the shape of a longitudinally elongated ellipse. The carton opening may be arranged on one or more walls of the carton such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carton. However, it can be disposed in another way, for example in diagonal or even perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the carton.

The carton 20 further comprises a paper dispensing window 40 overlaying the carton opening 30. The paper dispensing window 40 comprises a dispensing opening 42 through which a tissue sheet 50 may be dispensed. The shape and features of the dispensing opening will be discussed in more detail below. The paper dispensing window 40 may be bonded to the top wall 26 by adhesives or other suitable means. Preferably the dispensing window is adhesively attached to the underside of the top wall and extends at least partially across a portion of the top wall.

In certain embodiments the carton may comprise a surfboard covering at least a portion of the dispensing opening. Such surfboards are a common feature of current commercially available tissue cartons. In certain embodiments the surfboard may be attached to a cut-out section in the dispensing window to allow for a larger dispensing opening. In certain embodiments, to further facilitate dispensing of the first sheet, the surfboard may be attached to the top sheet of the tissue stack such that when the surfboard is removed by a user the top sheet is dispensed.

The use of paper for the dispensing window is desirable, particularly for larger carton openings, in order to protect the tissues within the carton and provide sufficient resistance to prevent multiple tissue dispensing. Further, in those instances where the carton is formed from paper, the use of a paper window permits the carton and window to be recycled together. The paper dispensing window may be formed from a fibrous sheet having a basis weight of at least about 40 grams per square meter (gsm), such as from about 40 to about 120 gsm, such as from about 50 to about 80 gsm. More preferably the paper dispensing window comprises a calendered paper that has been coated on one side and has a basis weight from about 50 to about 80 gsm.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the dispensing window 40 has a dispensing opening 42 through which a tissue sheet 50 may be dispensed. The dispensing opening 42 has a dispensing opening peripheral edge 44, which may be formed by die cutting the paper to remove a portion and form the opening. The dispensing opening peripheral edge 44 is generally curvilinear and has edges that converge to form a plurality of cusps 46a-46d. The cusps 46a-46d have slits radiating outwardly therefrom and separating the window 40 into four panels 62, 64, 66, 68.

In certain preferred embodiments it may be desirable to provide the carton with a window having a dispensing opening that is relatively large, particularly in relation to the carton opening. For example, the dispensing opening may have an area from about 4.0 to about 30 cm2, such as from about 6.0 to about 20 cm2, such as from about 8.0 to about 15 cm2. The area of the dispensing opening may be from about 20 to about 60 percent of the carton opening, such as from about 25 to about 50 percent of the carton opening.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a tissue sheet 50 is dispensed by pulling the sheet through the dispensing opening 42. Tissue edges 52, 54 are engaged with and retained by opposed slits 48a, 48b extending from cusps 46a, 46b formed in the dispensing window 40. The engagement of the tissue and slits enables the sheet to be retained in a partially dispensed state, which allows the user to easily grasp and dispense the tissue when needed.

With reference now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of a dispensing window 40 useful in the present invention is illustrated. The window 40 comprises four panels 62, 64, 66, 68. The top and bottom panels 64, 68 are opposed to one another and have a similar shape and size. The left and right panels 62, 66 are opposed to one another and have a similar shape and size. The panels 62, 64, 66, 68 are separated from one another by slits 48a-48d. Accordingly, in certain preferred embodiments, the cartons of the present invention comprise a dispensing window having a plurality of panels, such as four, six, eight or ten panels, where at least two of the panels differ in terms of size and shape. Further, at least two of the panels are similarly sized and shaped and are disposed opposite one another.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the dispensing opening 42 has a four cusps 46a-46d. The cusps are generally formed by portions of the inner peripheral edge converging with one another. The cusps are arranged pairwise and opposite one another. The cusps 46, which are generally formed by curved portions of the dispensing opening peripheral edge 44 converging with one another, each have a slit 48 extending radially outward from the dispensing opening 42 and towards the carton opening 30.

In certain preferred embodiments each slit extends from the cusp to the carton opening peripheral edge. The slits may have a length from about 10 to about 30 mm, such as from about 15 to about 20 mm. Preferably the slits are disposed on the window such that a tissue to be dispensed is fitted through a slit and is frictionally retained therein until it is manually moved through the slit by a user.

In further preferred embodiments a slit extends from each of the cusps. In this manner a dispensing window may have two or more slits, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 slits. The slits and cusps may be arranged such that they are aligned with the dispensing opening longitudinal axis. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, the window 40 comprises four slits 48a-48d arranged pairwise in an opposed fashion. Pairs of slits, such as slits 48a and 48c, are longitudinally aligned with one another. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, pairs of slits, such as 48a, 48c and 48b, 48d are arranged at an acute angle relative to the carton opening longitudinal axis 31.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the slits 48a-48d separate the window 40 into four panels 62, 64, 66, 68. The panels 62, 64, 66, 68 are arranged pairwise with the top and bottom panels 64, 68 being of similar shape and size and the left and right panels 62, 66 being of similar shape and size.

With reference now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a paper dispensing window 40 disposed in a carton opening 30 is illustrated. The carton opening 30 is a longitudinally elongated ellipse having its major axis, also referred to herein as the carton opening longitudinal axis 31, oriented generally in the direction of the longer dimension of the folded sheet 50 disposed within the carton. The paper window 40 comprises two slits 48a, 48b and each slit 48 extends from the carton opening peripheral edge 32 and terminates at a cusp 46. In this manner the dispensing opening 42 comprises two cusps 46a, 46b disposed opposite one another and a pair of slits 48a, 48b longitudinally aligned with one another along the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the carton opening longitudinal axis 31 and the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43 are aligned with one another.

Another dispensing opening is illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a paper window 40 comprising six slits 48a-48f and six cusps 46a-46f. Each slit 48 extends radially outward from the cusp 46 to the carton opening peripheral edge 32. The slits have two different lengths, with the longer slits having a length about twice that of the shorter slits. For example, the longer slits may have a length of about 26 mm and the shorter slits may have a length of about 12 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the longer slits 48a and 48d are disposed opposite one another and longitudinally aligned with the carton opening longitudinal axis 31. Further, the slits 48 divide the paper window 40 into six panels 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66. The panels are arranged pairwise with pairs of panels being of similar size and shape. For example, panels 62, 65 are arranged pairwise and have a similar size and shape.

Another embodiment of a dispensing opening according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, which illustrates a paper window 40 comprising four cusps 46a-46d and two slits 48a, 48b. A first pair of cusps 46a, 46c are disposed opposite one another and have a pair of slits 48a, 48b extending therefrom. The pair of slits 46a, 46b are substantially parallel to the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43, which is substantially aligned with the carton opening longitudinal axis 31. A second pair of cusps 46b, 46d extend to the carton opening peripheral edge 32 and do not have slits extending therefrom. The second pair of slits 46b, 46d are disposed opposite one another and are longitudinally aligned with one another and substantially perpendicular to the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43.

Still other embodiments of dispensing openings useful in the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In each of the embodiments the paper window 40 comprises a plurality of cusps 46. The cusps 46 are generally formed by portions of the dispensing opening peripheral edge 44 converging with one another and have a slit 48 extending radially outward therefrom. Each slit 48 extends from the cusp 46 to the carton opening peripheral edge 32. Each window comprises a pair of slits arranged pairwise opposite one another and longitudinally aligned with the dispensing opening longitudinal axis. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the pair of slits 48a, 48b arranged pairwise opposite one another and longitudinally aligned with the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43. Further, one or more of the slits may be disposed at an acute angle relative the dispensing opening longitudinal axis 43, such as slits 48c and 48d.

In yet other embodiments, the carton opening 30 may have a substantially circular carton opening peripheral edge 32, such as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this manner the carton opening 30 may be round and the dispensing opening 42 may be in the shape of a hypocycloid. In the illustrated embodiments the hypocycloid shaped dispensing openings 42 have four and six cusps 46, respectively. Each of the cusps 46 have a slit 48 extending radially outward therefrom to the carton opening peripheral edge 32.

All of the embodiments disclosed herein provide the advantages of ease of dispensing and less sheet tearing during dispensing while providing a carton constructed entirely from environmentally friendly materials and substantially free from polymeric materials. The preferred embodiments herein are also cost effective and easy to manufacture.

Numerous modifications may be made in the invention without departing from its spirit and purpose, and various modifications have already been set forth and it should be readily apparent that various additional changes and modifications may be made in the structural details of the carton within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be understood that the size of the carton and type and size of the sheets to be dispensed therefrom do not constitute a limitation in the invention and that its size and the dimensions of its parts may vary. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the following embodiments are within the scope of the present invention:

In a first embodiment the present invention provides a tissue carton for storing and dispensing a plurality of tissue sheets, the carton comprising: a carton having at least one carton wall; a carton opening disposed on the at least one carton wall, the opening having a carton opening peripheral edge; a paper window attached to the at least one carton wall and at least partially covering the carton opening; a dispensing opening disposed on the paper window, the opening having a peripheral edge shaped to define a first and a second cusp; and a slit extending radially outward from each of the first and the second cusps.

In a second embodiment the present invention provides the carton of the first embodiment wherein the first and the second cusps are disposed opposite one another and the slits are longitudinally aligned with one another.

In a third embodiment the present invention provides the carton of the first or the second embodiments wherein the carton opening is a longitudinally elongated ellipse having a carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening longitudinal axis, wherein the carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening longitudinal axis are aligned with one another.

In a fourth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through third embodiments wherein the carton opening is a longitudinally elongated ellipse having a carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening longitudinal axis, wherein the carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening longitudinal axis are not aligned with one another.

In a fifth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through fourth embodiments wherein each slit extends from the cusp to the carton opening.

In a sixth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through fifth embodiments wherein the slits define first and second window panels, the first and second window panels arranged opposite one another and having substantially similar size and shape.

In a seventh embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through sixth embodiments wherein the peripheral edge is shaped to define three, four, five or six cusps.

In an eighth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through seventh embodiments wherein each of the cusps comprises a slit extending radially outward therefrom.

In a ninth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through eighth embodiments wherein each of the slits extends from the cusp to the carton opening peripheral edge.

In a tenth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through ninth embodiments wherein the paper is a coated paper having a basis weight from about 40 to about 80 grams per square meter.

In an eleventh embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through ninth embodiments wherein the carton opening has a carton opening area and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening area, wherein the dispensing opening area is from about 20 to about 60 percent of the carton opening area.

In a twelfth embodiment the present invention provides the carton of any one of the first through eleventh embodiments wherein the dispensing window comprises a plurality of panels, each of the panels separated from one another by a slit and wherein at least two of the panels differ in terms of size and shape.

Claims

1. A tissue carton for storing and dispensing a plurality of tissue sheets, the carton comprising:

a. a carton having at least one carton wall;
b. a carton opening disposed on the at least one carton wall, the opening having a carton opening peripheral edge;
c. a paper window attached to the at least one carton wall and at least partially covering the carton opening;
d. a dispensing opening disposed on the paper window, the dispensing opening having a dispensing opening peripheral edge shaped to define a first and a second cusp; and
e. a first and a second slit extending radially outward from the first and the second cusps.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first and the second cusps are disposed opposite one another and the slits are longitudinally aligned with one another.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton opening is a longitudinally elongated ellipse having a carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening longitudinal axis, wherein the carton opening longitudinal axis and the dispensing opening longitudinal axis are aligned with one another.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the first and the second slits are aligned with the dispensing opening longitudinal axis.

5. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first and the second slits extend from the cusp to the carton opening peripheral edge.

6. The carton of claim 5 wherein the slits define first and second window panels, the first and second window panels arranged opposite one another and having substantially similar size and shape.

7. The carton of claim 1 wherein the dispensing opening peripheral edge is shaped to define three, four, five or six cusps.

8. The carton of claim 7 wherein each of the cusps comprises a slit extending radially outward therefrom.

9. The carton of claim 8 wherein each of the slits extends from the cusp to the carton opening peripheral edge.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the carton opening peripheral edge is circular and the dispensing opening peripheral edge is shaped to form a hypocycloid having two, three, four, five or six cusps.

11. The tissue dispenser of claim 1 wherein the paper is a coated paper having a basis weight from about 40 to about 80 grams per square meter.

12. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton opening has a carton opening area and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening area, wherein the dispensing opening area is from about 20 to about 60 percent of the carton opening area.

13. The carton of claim 1 wherein the dispensing window comprises a plurality of panels, each of the panels separated from one another by a slit and wherein at least two of the panels differ in terms of size and shape.

14. A pop-up tissue dispensing carton comprising: a carton top wall having an elongated carton opening disposed on the carton top wall, a paper window affixed to the top wall and having an elongated opening through which tissues within the carton are withdrawn, the elongated opening having at least two cusps and at least two slits extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated opening.

15. The carton of claim 14 wherein the elongated opening has four cusps and each cusp has a slit extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated opening.

16. The carton of claim 15 wherein the slits define four window panels and wherein at least two of the panels have a similar size and shape.

17. A carton for storing and dispensing a stack of interfolded sheets of a paper product, the carton comprising:

a. a top wall having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are withdrawn from the carton;
b. two pairs of opposing side walls;
c. a bottom wall;
d. a paper window affixed to at least a portion of the inner surface of the top wall;
e. a dispensing opening having a plurality of cusps and a plurality of slits disposed on the paper window.

18. The carton of claim 17 wherein the carton opening has a carton opening area and the dispensing opening has a dispensing opening area, wherein the dispensing opening area is from about 20 to about 60 percent of the carton opening area.

19. The carton of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of cusps have a slit extending radially therefrom, the slits having a length from about 10 to about 30 mm.

20. The carton of claim 19 wherein each of the slits have a substantially similar length.

Patent History
Publication number: 20230032227
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 21, 2020
Publication Date: Feb 2, 2023
Inventors: Nathan D. Wilson (Forest Hill), Andrew J. Parkin (London)
Application Number: 17/794,190
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 83/08 (20060101); A47K 10/42 (20060101); B65D 5/42 (20060101);