Sheet package

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6745917
  • Patent Number
    6,745,917
  • Date Filed
    Friday, May 3, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 8, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
Disclosed is a sheet package including: a sheet stack formed by folding and stacking rectangular sheets; and a container having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are to be removed. Each sheet is first folded on an X-axis folding line substantially parallel to one side of the rectangular shape, and then folded on a Y-axis folding line substantially perpendicular to the X-axis folding line, thereby to form a folded sheet having two outermost sheet portions appearing on two external surfaces thereof and intermediate sheet portions positioned between the outermost sheet portions. Adjacent folded sheets are combined such that X-axis folding lines of the adjacent folded sheets are positioned at opposite sides of the sheet stack and only an outermost sheet portion of one folded sheet is sandwiched between an outermost sheet portion and an intermediate sheet portion of the other folded sheet.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to sheet package comprising: a sheet stack formed by folding and stacking a plurality of sheets; and a container accommodating the sheet stack, the container having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are to be sequentially removed.




2. Description of the Related Art




Sheets for wiping hands, infant's buttocks and the like and for cleaning toilet, kitchen and the like are typically accommodated in a soft or hard container (receptacle) so that they may be removed (taken out) one at a time through a dispensing opening formed in the container. Especially when impregnated with a liquid, they are effective in wiping off stains.




Among sheet packages of this kind, a so-called pop-up type of sheet package is formed such that individual sheets are folded while being combined with each other, and the sheets thus folded are stacked and accommodated in the container.





FIG. 9A

shows one example of combined structure of folded sheets in a conventional pop-up type of sheet package, wherein each sheet S, which is of rectangular shape in a developed state, is folded on one folding line


61


in a V configuration, thereby forming a folded sheet having sheet portions S


1


and S


2


. In this case, adjacent folded sheets are combined such that a sheet portion S


1


of one folded sheet is sandwiched between sheet portions S


1


and S


2


of the other folded sheet.




In an alternative, as shown in

FIG. 9B

, each sheet S is folded on two folding lines


62


and


63


in a Z configuration, thereby forming a folded sheet having sheet portions S


3


, S


4


and S


5


. Then, a sheet portion S


3


of one of the adjacent folded sheets is sandwiched between sheet portions S


4


and S


5


of the overlying folded sheet.




In an invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-174663 (174663/1998), on the other hand, each sheet S is first folded on one folding line


64


in two, and then, further folded on two folding lines


65


and


66


perpendicular to the folding line


64


in a Z configuration, as shown in FIG.


9


C. This folded sheet has two-ply sheet portions S


6


, S


7


and S


8


. Between adjacent folded sheets, the two-ply sheet portion S


6


of one folded sheet is sandwiched between the two-ply sheet portions S


7


and S


8


of the overlying folded sheet.




In such pop-up type of sheet package, when the sheet confronting the dispensing opening is removed through the dispensing opening, a portion of the next sheet is pulled by the preceding sheet to protrude from the dispensing opening. In the prior art shown in

FIG. 9A

, for example, the sheet portion S


1


of the next folded sheet protrudes from the dispensing opening. In the prior art shown in

FIG. 9B

, the sheet portion S


3


of the next folded sheet protrudes from the dispensing opening. In the prior art shown in

FIG. 9C

, the two-ply sheet portion S


6


of the next folded sheet protrudes from the dispensing opening.




Especially when the sheets are impregnated with a liquid to be wet sheets, the preceding sheet and the next sheet are adhered through a liquid membrane. Therefore, the sheet portion S


1


, S


3


or S


6


of the next sheet can be certainly pulled by the preceding sheet to protrude from the dispensing opening. Then, the next sheet is given resistance from the dispensing opening to be separated from the removed sheet. Thus, the next sheet remains accommodated in the container, except for the sheet portion protruding from the dispensing opening. With the sheet portion of the next sheet protruding from the dispensing opening, the next sheet can be easily removed from the container by pinching the protruding sheet portion.




However, in case where the sheet S is folded in a V configuration, as shown in

FIG. 9A

, the area of the folded sheet is as large as about ½ the area of the sheet S in the developed state. In case where the sheet S is folded in a Z configuration, as shown in

FIG. 9B

, the area of the folded sheet is as large as about ⅓ the area of the sheet S in the developed state. Accordingly, when the folded sheets are stacked and accommodated in the container, the sheet package becomes relatively voluminous, causing inconvenience in carrying about.




On the other hand, in the prior art shown in

FIG. 9C

, the area of the folded sheet is as small as about ⅙ the area of the sheet S in the developed state, thereby making the sheet package compact and easy to carry about. However, in this sheet stack, the two-ply sheet portion S


6


of one folded sheet is sandwiched between the two-ply sheet portions S


7


and S


8


of the overlying folded sheet. When the preceding sheet is removed through the dispensing opening, therefore, the sheet portion S


6


of the next sheet protrudes from the dispensing opening while remaining in two-ply state. Accordingly, when removed through the dispensing opening by pinching the two-ply sheet portion


6


, the sheet S can not be completely unfolded, but remains folded in two on the folding line


64


. Since the sheet S remains folded in two even after removal, the area available for wiping operation becomes small, causing inconvenience in handling. If the user wants to perform wiping operation with a larger area, it is required to unfold the sheet S (thus removed in two-ply state) by hands. This is also inconvenient.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has been worked out in view of the shortcoming in the prior art set forth above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet package, in which sheets are compactly accommodated in a container and can be unfolded in the course of removal through a dispensing opening of the container.




According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet package comprising: a sheet stack formed by folding and stacking a plurality of rectangular sheets; and a container accommodating the sheet stack, the container having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are to be removed,




each sheet being first folded on at least one X-axis folding line substantially parallel to one side of the rectangular shape, and then folded on at least one Y-axis folding line substantially perpendicular to the X-axis folding line, thereby to form a folded sheet having two outermost sheet portions appearing on two external surfaces thereof and intermediate sheet portions positioned between the outermost sheet portions,




adjacent folded sheets being combined such that X-axis folding lines of the adjacent folded sheets are positioned at opposite sides of the sheet stack and only an outermost sheet portion of one folded sheet is sandwiched between an outermost sheet portion and an intermediate sheet portion of the other folded sheet.




In the present invention, since the individual sheets are folded on the X-axis folding line and the Y-axis folding line, the resulting folded sheet has a relatively small area. Therefore, both the sheet stack and the container for accommodating it can be made compact. Moreover, in the course of removal through the dispensing opening, the individual sheets can be unfolded and developed to have a large area. This eliminates the need of unfolding and developing the sheets after they have been removed. Therefore, the removed sheets can be used for wiping operation as it is.




In one embodiment, each sheet may be first folded on a single X-axis folding line and then folded on two Y-axis folding lines. In this case, the single X-axis folding line makes the folding structure of the folded sheet quite simple, and the two Y-axis folding lines make the area of the folded sheet quite small.




The sheets may be impregnated with a liquid so that between the adjacent folded sheets, the outermost sheet portions are separably adhered to each other through the liquid. In this case, the adhesion through the liquid can ensure the protrusion of the outermost sheet portion of the next sheet at the time of removal of the preceding sheet, even though the sheets are compactly folded on the X-axis and Y-axis folding lines.




In the present invention, when a sheet is removed through the dispensing opening, an outermost sheet portion of another sheet adjacent to the sheet being removed can be dragged to protrude from the dispensing opening.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.




In the drawings:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view illustrating the state where first and second sheets are combined in a developed state;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view illustrating the state where the first sheets are folded after the step of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view illustrating the state where the second sheets are folded after the step of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view illustrating a sheet stack according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view illustrating how sheets are combined in the sheet stack of the first embodiment, with first folded sheets and second folded sheets being separated from each other;





FIG. 6

is a sectional view illustrating the state where the sheet stack of the first embodiment is accommodated in a container;





FIG. 7

is a sectional view illustrating the state where a portion of a sheet protrudes from a dispensing opening of the container;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view illustrating how first folded sheets and second folded sheets are combined in a sheet stack according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and





FIGS. 9A

,


9


B and


9


C are perspective views illustrating how sheets are combined in the conventional sheet stacks.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in terms of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instance, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order to avoid unnecessary obscurity of the present invention.





FIGS. 1

,


2


and


3


are perspective views successively illustrating a process for forming folded sheets of a sheet package according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4

is a perspective view illustrating a sheet stack;

FIG. 5

is an explanatory view illustrating how first and second sheets are combined in the sheet stack;

FIG. 6

is a sectional view illustrating the state where the sheet stack is accommodated in a container; and

FIG. 7

is a sectional view illustrating the state where a portion of a sheet protrudes from a dispensing opening of the container.





FIGS. 4 and 5

show a sheet stack


1


, in which first folded sheet


100


and second folded sheet


200


are alternately combined and stacked. Here, the first folded sheets


100


are formed by folding first sheets


10


; the second folded sheets


200


are formed by folding second sheets


20


.





FIG. 1

shows the first sheets


10


and the second sheets


20


in a developed state, respectively. In the developed state before folding, the first sheet


10


is of a quadrangular (rectangular) shape, of which: the length of short sides


11


and


12


extending along X-axis direction is indicated at Lx; and the length of the long sides


13


and


14


extending along Y-axis direction is indicated at Ly. In the developed state before folding, the second sheet


20


is also of a quadrangular (rectangular) shape, of which: the length of short sides


21


and


22


extending along X-axis direction is indicated at Lx; and the length of the long sides


23


and


24


extending along Y-axis direction is indicated at Ly. In the shown embodiment, the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


are identical in size and thickness. Also, the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


are made of the same material.




In the shown embodiment, the rectangular sheet having a size of Lx×Ly in the developed state is embodied in the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


having a single-ply structure. However, in the present invention, the sheet before folding on the X-axis and Y-axis direction should not be limited to such single-ply structure, but may also have a multi-ply structure by stacking a plurality of rectangular sheets, folding a sheet of a larger area in two or more, or the like.




The first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


comprise: natural fibers such as pulp; regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon; synthetic fibers of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, or the like; bicomponent synthetic fibers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester, or the like; or combinations thereof. For the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


, these fibers are first formed into a web, followed by water-jet treatment to form spunlaced nonwoven fabric. In an alternative, these fibers may be formed into another kind of nonwoven fabric using different process. In another alternative, the first and second sheets


10


and


20


may be paper formed from the natural fibers and/or the regenerated cellulose fibers.




The nonwoven fabric or paper for the first and second sheets


10


and


20


may be water-disintegratable. The term “water-disintegratable” as used here means that when a large amount of water is given, constituent fibers of nonwoven fabric or paper are dispersed so that the nonwoven fabric or paper can be disintegrated. Water-disintegratable nonwoven fabric or paper may be formed such that fibers are interconnected in a disintegratable structure, and a water-soluble or water swellable binder such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or the like, is added thereto. Here, it is also possible to form water-disintegratable nonwoven fabric without such water-soluble or water swellable binder, by employing short rayon fibers or the like and entangling fibers with water jets. This water-disintegratable nonwoven fabric can be disintegrated in water such that when a large amount of water is added, the short cellulose fibers and the like are disentangled. In this case, the fiber length of the cellulose fibers is preferably at most 10 mm, more preferably at most 7 mm. In an alternative, water-disintegratable nonwoven fabric or paper may contain fibrillated rayon which can function as a binder, in addition to ordinary rayon fibers, pulp and the like.




For forming the sheet stack


1


of

FIG. 4

, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the first sheets


10


and the second sheets


20


are first arranged in X-axis direction, respectively, so that the long sides


13


and


14


of the first sheets


10


and the long sides


23


and


24


of the second sheets


20


are in substantially parallel relationship. At this time, each second sheet


20


overlaps with two first sheets


10


and


10


on two sides thereof so that the overlapping area between the second sheet


20


and one first sheet


10


is equal to that between the second sheet


20


and the other first sheet


10


. In each overlapping region between the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


, the length in the X-axis direction is indicated at La; and the length in the Y-axis direction is indicated at Lb. The area of La×Lb is about or less than ¼ the area of Lx×Ly (which is the area of the first sheet


10


and the second sheet


20


in the developed state).




With the length Lb being set ½ the length Ly, the short side


22


of the second sheet


20


coincides with the centerline OX


1


of the first sheet


10


which extends on the midpoints of the long sides


13


and


14


; and the short side


12


of the first sheet


10


coincides with the centerline OX


2


of the second sheet


20


which extends on the midpoints of the long sides


23


and


24


. In such condition, moreover, if adjacent first sheets


10


and


10


approach to eliminate the spacing between the long side


13


of one first sheet


10


and the long side


14


of the other first sheet


10


and adjacent second sheets


20


and


20


also approach to eliminate the spacing between the long side


23


of one second sheet


20


and the long side


24


of the other second sheet


20


, the length La becomes ½ the length Lx, resulting in that the area La×Lb of the overlapping region is ¼ the area Lx×Ly of the developed sheet.




For example, in case where the length Ly of the long side is set to be 200 mm and the length Lx of the short side is set to be 150 mm in both sheets


10


and


20


, it is preferred that the length Lb of the overlapping region is from 80 to 100 mm (80 to 100% of Ly/2) and the length La of the overlapping region is from 60 to 75 mm (80 to 100% of Lx/2).




After the first sheets


10


and the second sheets


20


are arranged as in

FIG. 1

, the individual first sheets


10


are folded in two on an X-axis folding line Xa coinciding with the centerline OX


1


, as shown in

FIG. 2

, so that the short side


11


substantially coincides with the short side


12


in each first sheet


10


, reducing its area to about one half of the area in the developed state. At this time, edges


13




a


and


13




b


, which are two halves of the long side


13


of the first sheet


10


, are in overlying relationship with each other through the second sheet


20


; and edges


14




a


and


14




b


, which are two halves of the long side


14


of the first sheet


10


, are likewise in overlying relationship with each other through the second sheet


20


.




Next, as shown in

FIG. 3

, the individual second sheets


20


are folded on an X-axis folding line Xb coinciding with the centerline OX


2


, so that the short side


21


substantially coincides with the short side


22


in each second sheet


20


, reducing its area to about one half of the area in the developed state. At this time, edges


23




a


and


23




b


, which are two halves of the long side


23


of the second sheet


20


, are in overlying relationship with each other through a portion of the first sheet


10


; and edges


24




a


and


24




b


, which are two halves of the long side


24


of the second sheet


20


, are likewise in overlying relationship with each other through a portion of the first sheet


10


.




In

FIG. 3

, the centerline of the first sheet


10


which extends on the midpoints of the short sides


11


and


12


is indicated at Oy


1


; and the centerline of the second sheet


20


which extends on the midpoints of the short sides


21


and


22


is indicated at Oy


2


. In

FIG. 3

, moreover, the region between the centerline Oy


1


and the edges


13




a


and


13




b


of the rightmost first sheet


10


is indicated at (i); the regions between the centerlines Oy


1


and Oy


2


are indicated at (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) from the right to the left; and the region between the centerline Oy


1


and the edges


14




a


and


14




b


of the leftmost first sheet


10


is indicated at (vi).




From the condition shown in

FIG. 3

, the region (i) is folded back against the region (ii) on a first Y-axis folding line Ya extending along the centerline Oy


1


so that the region (ii) is located beneath the region (i). Then, the region (ii) is folded back against the region (iii) on a second Y-axis folding line Yb extending along the centerline Oy


2


so that the region (iii) is located beneath the region (ii). Moreover, the region (iii) is folded back against the region (iv) on the first Y-axis folding line Ya so that the region (iv) is located beneath the region (iii). The band of interconnected sheets of

FIG. 3

is concertina-folded by repeating such operation sequentially, so that the first folded sheets


100


(first sheet


10


folded to have four-ply structure) and the second folded sheets


200


(second sheet


20


folded to have four-ply structure) are alternately stacked to form the sheet stack


1


shown in FIG.


4


.




In

FIG. 5

, the first and second folded sheets


100


and


200


are illustrated in a separated condition for explaining how the first and second folded sheets


100


and


200


are combined in the sheet stack


1


shown in FIG.


4


.




For forming the first folded sheet


100


, the first sheet


10


is folded on the first Y-axis folding line Ya which extends on the midpoints of the long sides


11


and


12


, as shown in FIG.


5


. Therefore, in the first folded sheet


100


, the long side


11


is divided in two to provide edges


11




a


and


11




b


, and the long side


12


is divided in two to provide edges


12




a


and


12




b.






On the upper surface of the first folded sheet


100


, an outermost sheet portion


101


appears. This outermost sheet portion


101


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (first half) of the X-axis folding line Xa, the first Y-axis folding line Ya, and the edges


11




a


and


13




b


which are both in free state. That is, the four sides of the rectangular outermost sheet portion


101


are defined by the first half of the X-axis folding line Xa, the first Y-axis folding line Ya, and the free edges


11




a


and


13




b


. Likewise, on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


100


, another outermost sheet portion


103


appears. This outermost sheet portion


103


on the lower surface is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (second half) of the X-axis folding line Xa, the first Y-axis folding line Ya, and the edges


11




b


and


14




b


which are both in free state.




Inside of the outermost sheet portion


101


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


100


, an intermediate sheet portion


102


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


102


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (first half) of the X-axis folding line Xa, the first Y-axis folding line Ya, and the edges


12




a


and


13




a


which are both in free state. Inside of the outermost sheet portion


103


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


100


, another intermediate sheet portion


104


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


104


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (second half) of the X-axis folding line Xa, the first Y-axis folding line Ya, and the edges


12




b


and


14




a


which are both in free state.




Similarly, on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


200


, an outermost sheet portion


201


appears. This outermost sheet portion


201


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (first half) of the X-axis folding line Xb, the second Y-axis folding line Yb, and the edges


22




a


and


23




a


which are both in free state. On the lower surface of the second folded sheet


200


, another outermost sheet portion


203


appears. This outermost sheet portion


203


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (second half) of the X-axis folding line Xb, the second Y-axis folding line Yb, and the edges


22




b


and


24




a


which are both in free state.




Inside of the outermost sheet portion


201


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


200


, an intermediate sheet portion


202


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


202


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (first half) of the X-axis folding line Xb, the second Y-axis folding line Yb, and the edges


21




a


and


23




b


which are both in free state. Inside of the outermost sheet portion


203


appearing on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


200


, another intermediate sheet portion


204


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


204


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion (second half) of the X-axis folding line Xb, the second Y-axis folding line Yb, and the edges


21




b


and


24




b


which are both in free state.




In the sheet stack


1


, as shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the X-axis folding lines Xa of the first folded sheets


100


and the X-axis folding lines Xb of the second folded sheets


200


are positioned at opposite sides, and the first Y-axis folding lines Ya of the first folded sheets


100


and the second Y-axis folding lines Yb of the second folded sheets


200


are also positioned at opposite sides.




In

FIG. 5

, the second folded sheet


200


and the first folded sheet


100


overlying it are combined such that the outermost sheet portion


201


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


200


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


103


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


100


and the intermediate sheet portion


104


overlying it. That is, the outermost sheet portion


103


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


100


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


201


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


200


and the intermediate sheet portion


202


underlying it.




On the other hand, the second folded sheet


200


and the first folded sheet


100


underlying it are combined such that the outermost sheet portion


203


appearing on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


200


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


101


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


100


and the intermediate sheet portion


102


underlying it. That is, the outermost sheet portion


101


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


100


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


203


appearing on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


200


and the intermediate sheet portion


204


overlying it.




It should be noted that although the total number of the first and second sheets


10


,


20


is five in

FIGS. 1

to


3


so that the band of interconnected sheets of

FIG. 3

is divided into six regions, the total number of the first and second sheets


10


,


20


is ordinarily from


30


to


100


in an actual sheet package. However, the total number of the first and second sheets


10


,


20


should not be limited to such range.




The sheet stack


1


shown in

FIG. 4

is accommodated in a container


30


shown in FIG.


6


. For example, the container


30


is formed from a soft packaging material into a pillow type packaging form. The packaging material comprises a material which can keep the container


30


air-tight so that a liquid impregnated into the first and second sheets


10


,


20


will not evaporate. Preferably, the packaging material is composed of a laminate of a resin film of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene or the like and a metal foil such as aluminum foil, and a polyethylene film layer provided on the interior surface of the laminate as a sealant layer. In the pillow type packaging process, after wrapping the sheet stack


1


in the packaging material, the packaging material is heat-sealed to itself through the sealant layer to have a longitudinal seal and widthwise seals, thereby providing the container


30


which can accommodate the sheet stack


1


air-tightly.




The container


30


is provided with a dispensing opening


31


, which is formed by cutting out a portion of the packaging material. On the exterior surface of the container


30


, a soft lid (cover)


32


for covering the dispensing opening


31


is adhered through a repeatedly peelable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. This lid


32


is also formed from a material which can keep air-tightness so that a liquid impregnated into the first and second sheets


10


,


20


accommodated in the container


30


will not evaporate. For example, the lid


32


is formed from a laminated sheet mainly composed of a polyethylene film.




In an alternative, the container


30


may be a hard container formed from plastic, cardboard or the like. In this case, a lid likewise formed from plastic, cardboard or the like is provided for opening and closing the dispensing opening


31


.




The first sheets


10


and the second sheets


20


forming the sheet stack


1


accommodated in the container


30


is impregnated with a liquid. For example, the liquid contains 6% by weight of propylene glycol, 0.2% by weight of methylparaben, 0.1% by weight of ethylparaben, the balance being ion-exchanged water, and is added in an amount of 200 to 300% by weight of the sheet stack


1


.




In case where the first and second sheets


10


,


20


are impregnated with a liquid, the liquid is present between the outermost sheet portion


103


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


100


and the outermost sheet portion


201


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


200


. Therefore, the outermost sheet portion


103


and the outermost sheet portion


201


are separably adhered due to surface tension of the liquid membrane or capillary action of the liquid between the confronting surfaces. Similarly, the outermost sheet portion


203


appearing on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


200


and the outermost sheet portion


101


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


100


underlying it are adhered through the liquid.




As shown in

FIG. 6

, in a sheet package


2


in which the sheet stack


1


is accommodated in the container


30


, the outermost sheet portion


101


of the first folded sheet


100


at the highest position of the sheet stack


1


confronts the dispensing opening


31


from the side of the interior surface of the container


30


. If the second folded sheet


200


is at the highest position of the sheet stack


1


, on the other hand, its outermost sheet portion


201


confronts the dispensing opening


31


from the side of the interior surface of the container


30


.




When the lid


32


is peeled off at the beginning of use of the sheet package


2


, since the outermost sheet portion


101


of the first folded sheet


100


at the highest position confronts the dispensing opening


31


, the outermost sheet portion


101


can be pinched by inserting fingers through the dispensing opening


31


. As the first sheet


10


folded into the first folded sheet


100


is removed by pinching the outermost sheet portion


101


, the outermost sheet portion


201


of the second folded sheet


200


is dragged by the first sheet


10


to protrude from the dispensing opening


31


, because the outermost sheet portion


201


of the second folded sheet


200


is adhered to the outermost sheet portion


103


appearing on the lower surface of the folded sheet


100


through the liquid.




As the first sheet


10


is removed, moreover, the second folded sheet


200


inside of the container


30


is given resistance from the edge of the dispensing opening


31


. With this resistance, the outermost sheet portion


201


of the second folded sheet


200


is separated from the outermost sheet portion


103


of the folded sheet


100


thus removed. As a result, after the first sheet


10


is completely removed from the container


30


, the second folded sheet


200


dragged by the first sheet


10


is left on the side of the container


30


with the outermost sheet portion


201


protruding from the dispensing opening


31


, as shown in

FIG. 7

, or with the outermost sheet portion


201


and a portion of the intermediate sheet portion


202


protruding from the dispensing opening


31


in an unfolded state.




For removing a next sheet, the outermost sheet portion


201


protruding from the dispensing opening


31


is pinched and pulled by fingers. Here, the outermost sheet portion


201


is solely pinched and pulled by fingers without overlapping with the intermediate sheet portion


202


. Therefore, in the course of removal from the container


30


, the second folded sheet


200


is unfolded and developed into the state of the second sheet


20


having a large area. Since the second sheet


20


thus removed is not folded, it can be used for wiping operation as it is, without the need of unfolding and developing it by hands.




As the second sheet


20


folded into the second folded sheet


200


is removed, on the other hand, the outermost sheet portion


101


of the first folded sheet


100


underlying it is dragged so that the outermost sheet portion


101


or the outermost sheet portion


101


and a portion of the intermediate sheet portion


102


protrude from the dispensing opening


31


to wait for next removal. By repeating such operation, each time the sheet closest to the dispensing opening


31


in the sheet stack


1


is removed, the outermost sheet portion of the next folded sheet protrudes from the dispensing opening


31


.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view illustrating combined structure of sheets in a sheet stack


1


A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.




In

FIG. 8

, a rectangular first sheet


40


is folded into a first folded sheet


400


, and a rectangular second sheet


50


is likewise folded into a second folded sheet


500


. The first sheet


40


and the second sheet


50


are identical in size and thickness. Also, the first sheet


40


and the second sheet


50


are made of the same material. Moreover, the first and second sheets


40


,


50


in this second embodiment are identical in size and thickness to and made of the same material as that of the first and second sheets


10


,


20


in the foregoing first embodiment.




In the sheet stack


1


A shown in

FIG. 8

, the first folded sheet


400


is formed such that the first sheet


40


is first folded on one X-axis folding line X


1


in two, and then folded on two Y-axis folding lines Y


1


and Y


2


in a Z configuration, as viewed from side. As a result, an outermost sheet portion


401


, which is defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


1


, the Y-axis folding lines Y


1


and two free edges


41




a


and


41




b


, appears on the upper surface of the folded sheet


400


. On the other hand, another outermost sheet portion


403


, which is defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


1


, the Y-axis folding lines Y


2


and free edges


42




c


and


42




d


, appears on the lower surface of the folded sheet


400


.




Inside of the outermost sheet portion


401


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


400


, an intermediate sheet portion


402


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


402


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


1


, the Y-axis folding line Y


1


, and free edges


42




a


and


42




b


. Inside of the outermost sheet portion


403


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


400


, on the other hand, an intermediate sheet portion


404


is located. This intermediate sheet portion


404


is a rectangular sheet portion defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


1


, the Y-axis folding line Y


2


, and free edges


41




c


and


41




d.






The second folded sheet


500


is formed such that the second sheet


50


is first folded on one X-axis folding line X


2


in two, and then folded on two Y-axis folding lines Y


3


and Y


4


in a Z configuration, as viewed from side. As a result, a rectangular outermost sheet portion


501


, which is defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


2


, the Y-axis folding lines Y


3


and free edges


51




a


and


51




b


, appears on the upper surface of the folded sheet


500


. Inside of the outermost sheet portion


501


, an intermediate sheet portion


502


, which is defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


2


, the Y-axis folding line Y


3


and free edges


52




a


and


52




b


, is located.




On the other hand, another rectangular outermost sheet portion


503


, which is defined by a portion of the X-axis folding line X


2


, the Y-axis folding lines Y


4


and free edges, appears on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


500


. Inside of the outermost sheet portion


503


, an intermediate sheet portion


504


is also located.




The first folded sheet


400


and the second folded sheet


500


are combined such that the X-axis folding lines X


1


and X


2


are positioned at opposite sides, and the Y-axis folding lines Y


2


and Y


3


are also positioned at opposite sides. At this time, the outermost sheet portion


403


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


400


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


501


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


500


and the intermediate sheet portion


502


underlying it. That is, the outermost sheet portion


501


appearing on the upper surface of the second folded sheet


500


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


403


appearing on the lower surface of the first folded sheet


400


and the intermediate sheet portion


404


overlying it.




Likewise, when another first folded sheet


400


is located below the second folded sheet


500


of

FIG. 8

, the outermost sheet portion


401


appearing on the upper surface of the first folded sheet


400


is sandwiched between the outermost sheet portion


503


appearing on the lower surface of the second folded sheet


500


and the intermediate sheet portion


504


overlying it.




The combination of the first and second folded sheets


400


and


500


thus illustrated in

FIG. 8

can be performed using a process similar to that shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


.




In this case, when the first and second sheets


40


and


50


are arranged, the spacing between adjacent first sheets


40


in the X-axis direction and the spacing between adjacent second sheets


50


in the X-axis direction are increased, as compared with those in

FIG. 1

, so that the length of the overlapping region between the first and second sheets


40


and


50


in the X-axis direction (La in

FIG. 1

) is set equal to or less than ⅓ the length of the sheets


40


and


50


in the X-axis direction (Lx in FIG.


1


). Accordingly, the area of the overlapping region between the sheets


40


and


50


(La×Lb in

FIG. 1

) is equal to or less than ⅙ the area of the sheets


40


and


50


in the developed state.




Then, the first sheets


40


are folded as in

FIG. 2

, and thereafter, the second sheets


50


are folded as in FIG.


3


. After the sheets


40


and


50


are thus interconnected into a band, the individual first sheets


40


are folded to have the two Y-axis folding lines Y


1


and Y


2


in a region other than the overlapping region between the sheets


40


and


50


, and the individual second sheets


50


are folded to have the two Y-axis folding lines Y


3


and Y


4


in a region other than the overlapping region between the sheets


40


and


50


, thereby forming the sheet stack


1


A in which the first folded sheets


400


and the second folded sheets


500


are combined as in the manner shown in FIG.


8


.




In this embodiment, too, when the first sheet


40


is removed through the dispensing opening


31


of the container


30


, the outermost sheet portion


501


of the next second folded sheet


500


protrudes from the dispensing opening


31


. Then, the second sheet


50


can be unfolded and removed from the container


30


by pulling the outermost sheet portion


501


thus protruding.




It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments set forth above. The first and second folded sheets may be folded in any suitable manner as long as outermost sheet portions defined by an X-axis folding line, a Y-axis folding line and two free edges appear on two external surfaces of the individual folded sheet.




For example, in formation of the first folded sheets and the second folded sheets, the individual first and second sheets may be folded on two X-axis folding lines in a Z configuration, and then folded on one or two Y-axis folding lines. In this case, too, it is possible to combine the first and second folded sheets as in the first and second embodiments.




As has been described above, in the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the area of the top surface of the sheet stack


1


can be set equal to or slightly larger than ¼ the area of


1


the sheets


10


and


20


in the developed state. In the second embodiment shown in

FIG. 8

, on the other hand, the area of the top surface of the sheet stack


1


A can be set equal to or slightly larger than ⅙ the area of the sheets


40


and


50


in the developed state. Thus, the resulting sheet package in which the sheet stack


1


or


1


A is accommodated in the container


30


can be made compact.




In addition, in the course of removal, the individual sheets are unfolded to have a large area. Therefore, they can be used for wiping operation as it is.




It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the wet sheets, but is also applicable to the type in which sheets to be accommodated in a dry condition are combined in pop-up manner.




Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omission and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be understood as limited to the specific embodiment set out above but to include all possible embodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed and equivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A sheet package comprising: a sheet stack formed by folding and stacking a plurality of rectangular sheets; and a container accommodating the sheet stack, the container having a dispensing opening through which the sheets are to be removed,each sheet being first folded on at least one X-axis folding line substantially parallel to one side of the rectangular shape, and then folded on at least one Y-axis folding line substantially perpendicular to the X-axis folding line, thereby to form a folded sheet having two outermost sheet portions appearing on two external surfaces thereof and intermediate sheet portions positioned between the outermost sheet portions, adjacent folded sheets being combined such that X-axis folding lines of the adjacent folded sheets are positioned at opposite sides of the sheet stack and only an outermost sheet portion of one folded sheet is sandwiched between an outermost sheet portion and an intermediate sheet portion of the other folded sheet.
  • 2. A sheet package as set forth in claim 1, wherein each sheet is first folded on a single X-axis folding line and then folded on two Y-axis folding lines.
  • 3. A sheet package as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sheets are impregnated with a liquid so that between the adjacent folded sheets, the outermost sheet portions are separably adhered to each other through the liquid.
  • 4. A sheet package as set forth in claim 1, wherein when a sheet is removed through the dispensing opening, an outermost sheet portion of another sheet adjacent to the sheet being removed is dragged to protrude from the dispensing opening.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-139714 May 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
3581935 Chi Jun 1971 A
4718152 Suzuki et al. Jan 1988 A
5301401 Suzuki et al. Apr 1994 A
5632072 Simon et al. May 1997 A
5761778 Fleissner Jun 1998 A
5960525 Fleissner Oct 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number Date Country
0926288 Jun 1999 EP
0972873 Jan 2000 EP
1138474 Oct 2001 EP
10-174663 Jun 1998 JP
9320272 Oct 1993 WO
9742366 Nov 1997 WO
9919551 Apr 1999 WO
01711081 Sep 2001 WO