Patent Application
20150113749
The present invention embodiments shown are generally related to flexible containers and, more particularly, to flexible containers for storing and dispensing wet wipes or any other similar product. Specifically, a flexible container sealed by its ends with a dispensing opening is described, with an arrangement which is suitable for allowing the dispensing of wet wipes or any other similar product one at a time, without dragging the next product outside of the container.
Currently, a plurality of flexible containers are used for wet wipes, among the most common ones we find those related to the wet wipes containers in a vertical stacking arrangement, which are contained within plastic wrapped-flexible and impermeable disposable containers. The wrap may be opened and positioned within the main container so as to fill the main container with wet wipes. Other kind of commonly used packaging are the cylindrical wet wipes containers, which are comprised by a main rigid structure, which top part has a folding lid providing access inside the container which allows for the dispensing of wet wipes through a top opening formed by a perforation which forms a flexible “window” which allows to release one wipe at a time. Even other type of wet wipes container is related to those containers of the type of those comprised by a substantially oval-shaped rigid container which top face allows for wet wipes dispensing through an opening which, in turn, is covered by a folding lid.
There are currently several containers proposals. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,380 describes a rigid container for tissues, which is substantially rectangle-shaped and has a top end with a lid area defined by a frangible perimeter line comprising a top part of the container and a top part of one of the side faces.
One disadvantage of the container of U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,380 versus the present invention, lies on the use of a rigid container, which requires certain intertwining of the contained product as the container is not flexible, the access to the product is not allowed once the container has started emptying; further, the lid of the container of U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,380 is not reusable as in the present invention, so in case of containing wet wipes its shelf life would be diminished due to the contamination and the loss of lotion when being exposed to the environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,853 describes a tissue container with features similar to those of the present invention, as it discloses a container which has an opening comprising a portion of the top part and a portion of one of the side faces of the container; said container of U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,853 allows for the dispensing of tissues thanks to a fold formed at the ends of same as, unlike the present invention, when being a rigid container and not a flexible one, it is not possible to reach the bottom of same once it has been practically emptied; likewise, said container does not have a reusable lid which allows to cover the contents when they are not to be used, so there exists the risk of contamination of the product due to the environment.
European patent application No. 0,339,830, describes a tissue container which allows for the dispensing thereof thanks to the friction exerted when contacting the top ends of the container. As compared with the present invention, the container disclosed by patent application EP 0,399,830 also uses “friction” means for dispensing the product, thus allowing the removal of one single sheet at a time; nevertheless, said document requires of a more elaborated mechanism, as it requires a dispensing slot which is only at one of the faces of the container, and a “thrust” mechanism, which maintains a constant pressure exerted upon the ends of the dispensing slot so as to achieve the necessary friction coefficient which allows for performing the function of dispensing one single sheet at a time. On the other hand, the present invention does not require of any “thrust” mechanism for exerting pressure at the ends of the dispensing slots, as, thanks to the container arrangement, it is possible to achieve the necessary friction for dispensing the wet wipes; so patent application EP 0,399,830 clearly does not solve the same technical problem.
None of the above described documents comprises a container comprised by a main flexible structure comprising a slot formed by a perforation, which starts from a portion of the top face to a portion of one of the side faces of the container; said perforation is covered by an adhesive seal which covers said opening. There is, thus, the need for a non-intertwined wet wipe container which allows for dispensing the top wipe of the stack without dragging next wipe outside the container.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a flexible container for non-intertwined wet wipes, which allows for dispensing a single wipe at a time, thanks to the shape, dimensions and arrangement of the dispensing opening, these elements are combined with the friction exerted by the wipe with the container.
Another object of the invention is: to provide a flexible container for containing wet wipes which has a middle dispensing opening, comprising from one portion of one of the side faces to one portion of the top face.
A further object of the present invention is that said container has a flexible seal which covers both portions of the dispensing slot.
Another object of the invention is: to provide a flexible container which has a flexible seal covering both portions of the opening slot, and which is of the same material as the container.
The above aspects and some of the advantages attending this invention, will be better understood when reading the following detailed specification and when considering same along with the attached drawings, wherein:
The main structure (1a) of the flexible container has a substantially rectangular shape comprised by a top face (5), a bottom face (5a) and side faces (6), which short ends (2) are sealed between them by a heat-sealing process or any other commonly used sealing process; a perforation (3) defines a substantially oval-shaped perimeter path (not being restricted to same), so as to form a detaching area (4); said detaching area (4) is formed by a point located at the top face (5) of the flexible container (1) and is projected towards one of the side faces (6) of the flexible container (1); said detaching area (4) formed by the perforation (3), is covered by a flexible seal (9) which is comprised by a substantially rectangular tab (not being restricted to said shape) which surpasses the length and the width of the detaching area (4); an opening flange (10) is formed in one of the free ends of the flexible seal (9) so as to ease the detaching thereof.
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The main object of the invention is to provide a flexible container for non-intertwined wet wipes, stacked within the container, which allows for dispensing one wipe at a time, this is achieved through the arrangement of the dispensing opening (11) along with the folding-manner of the wipes before introducing same to the container.
The dispensing opening (11) is formed from a point located at the top face (5) of the flexible container (1) and projects towards one of the side faces (6) of the flexible container (1), thus defining a top portion (7) and a bottom portion (8) of the opening, thanks to said arrangement the dispensing opening (11) allows to take the top wipe (12) of the flexible container (1) through the fold (12c) of same, and remove it by causing the container to “friction” with the wipe, thus easing its removal one at a time with no need of foreign means such as spring thrust mechanisms; said function is repeated each time independent of the number of wipes contained.
Regarding the dispensing opening (11), a series of tests were performed for determining the minimum and preferred dimensions for effecting the function of dispensing wipes, thus achieving the friction coefficient needed for its correct detaching, table 1 shows the minimum and preferred parameters of the dispensing opening in a schematic and resumed way.
These dimensions allow for the introduction of the finger through the top part (7) of the dispensing opening (11) to take the wipe through the top fold (12c) of same and pull it outside, such that it may be removed thereof without dragging the subsequent wipe(s) outside.
Referring to the wet wipe embodiment, a series of tests were performed so as to reach the dimension of the body of the wipe and the needed folds so as to achieve the function of allowing the user to easily take it, even when the flexible container (1) has been totally emptied; thus, the folds of the edges of the wet wipe may range between 2 and 15 cm, while the central part of same may range between 5 and 25 cm.
One embodiment of the invention is based on the fact that the flexible container may have any shape.
Another embodiment of the invention allows making the perforation (3) at any part of the flexible container (1) provided that the dispensing opening (11) comprises the front and top faces of the container.
Another embodiment of the invention allows making the flexible seal (9) in any shape, size or material.
Another embodiment of the invention allows using the flexible container (1) so as to accommodate any type of product, such as wet wipes, tissues, etc.
Another embodiment of the invention allows storing wet wipes without making the “Z” shaped fold (12c) at the ends of same.
In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening flange (10) is located at the edge of the flexible seal (9) which is located over the front face (6) of the container, such that, in order to open it, the seal is pulled upwards.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a hinged rigid seal is used for covering the dispensing opening (11).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MX/A/2013/012481 | Oct 2013 | MX | national |
