This invention relates to sheeted cleaning media (such as facial tissues, napkins and wipes) and a dispenser therefore; and in particular, individually packaged sheeted cleaning media, preferably pocket sized, where the dispenser may function as a receptacle for the sheeted cleaning medium after use.
This invention relates to sheeted cleaning media using the broadest classifications for such. Such media includes facial tissues, napkins and all types of wipes—for general purposes and specific purposes. The media can be dry, moist or wet; and it can be made of natural, synthetic or combinations of natural and synthetic materials. The invention is anticipated to have wide use as pocket facial tissues, wipes, moist wipes, and wet wipes; and embodiments of these will be described in more detail. The word “tissue” will be used to mean a sheeted cleaning medium, using the broadest classifications for such, unless it is further described (for example, “facial tissue”), or used in the context of what is being described.
Generally, sheeted cleaning media are packaged in multi-packs. The only known exceptions to this are individually packaged wet wipes and medical gauze. The handkerchief is a single sheeted cleaning medium, and had been widely used prior to the appearance of facial tissues. The handkerchief is usually made of cloth and is nicely sized for facial use, but provides no container for storage (either for clean or soiled conditions). However, handkerchiefs are large so a soiled portion can be wrapped within clean sections of the cloth, thereby allowing the handkerchief to be returned to ones pocket without worry of soil transfer to the pocket. Rather than being disposed of like current facial tissues, it's to be laundered after use. The popularity of the handkerchief has diminished over the years, as facial tissues have offered an inexpensive and disposable alternative.
Pocket packs of facial tissues were made for people to carry with them, and to take along when away from home or office. However, facial tissues are much smaller in size than the handkerchief, and therefore do not have the same quantity of material for use, or for wrap-up protection for re-pocketing after use. This often causes more than one tissue to be used. The packages are also bulky to carry, and provide no storage space for the used tissue. Therefore, people do not often carry pocket facial tissue multi-packs on them, as they are rather large for a pocket and may be needed only on infrequent occasions. Hence, they often fail the real need. Often, loose tissues are carried for convenience instead; or worse, nothing is carried at all. Paper napkins are also carried as a substitute for facial tissues, and as a general-purpose wipe. In these instances, again, there is no storage means for the clean or used tissue. Dirt, dust and dyes can accumulate on tissues while pocketed, and fibers from the tissue can become loosened and dislodged. Re-pocketing after use may cause more severe material transfers, and often from the soiled tissue fibers to ones pocket.
The only known facial tissue products on the market today are multi-packs. The pocket facial tissue multi-packs typically contain 9 to 15 tissues. One of the most common and smaller packages is approximately ⅞″ thick, 2¼″ wide, and 4¼″ long. The Kleenex® brand by Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Neenah, Wis.) is possibly the most widely used product of this type. These packages supply more than an adequate quantity of tissues. When pocket tissue multi-packs are used, a tissue is removed from a thin plastic film container for use. In the most common Kleenex® pocket pack, as made for the United States market, the tissues are folded into rectangles and are dispensed from a somewhat centered area of the main body of the container by lifting an edge of a tissue that lays flat against a folded side (face) of the tissue from within the container; or by removing the entire tissue from the container first. If one is able to grasp and pull the edge that lays flat against the tissue, the tissue may open up pretty much on it's own when slightly shaken. However, often times the entire tissue is removed first, and one then needs to unfold it about two times in one direction and another two times in a different direction to arrive at the full-sized tissue. The Kleenex® pocket tissue pack in the European market opens like many other brands, at one end of the package, and not from a more centered main body area. These tissues need to be removed from the package first, and then grasped by an exposed edge of the tissue that lies along a face of the folded tissue to begin their unfolding. Many other brands available (United States and worldwide) require the tissue to be removed from an end of the package, and then unfolded by hand, as there is no grasping edge of the tissue exposed across a face of the tissue to start off the unfolding. The Puffs to Go® brand of tissue by Puffs® (Dist. by Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio) has a tissue that will open up pretty much on its own when removed from the package, with a good hand position on the tissue for use. It is folded similar to the Kleenex® brand (the one mostly marketed in the United States) with one less fold and has a grasping edge that is positioned differently in the container, but also lays flat against a face of the folded tissue. The package is also larger, approximately ⅞″ thick, 4″ wide and 5″ long. This is a large package to carry for occasional tissue use, and is basically a full hand-size to hold. Often, these multi-packs are not even carried on an individual, but rather are placed in a car, travel bag, or large purse. Typically then, the multi-pack cannot be held comfortably while a tissue is being used, and is put down or placed back into ones pocket, purse, bag, or car before a tissue is used. Therefore, upon removal and use of a tissue, one has both the multi-pack and the soiled tissue to re-pocket or re-store. That's now two items, to handle and carry. Also, the items are usually separated from each other by using different pockets, or sections of one's purse, bag, or car. After half or more of the multi-pack's tissues have been used, handling of the package becomes increasingly awkward as the tissues become loose in an increasingly oversized package. It's most awkward with the last few remaining tissues.
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. (Neenah, Wis.), one of the largest tissue manufacturers, has summarized a number of the drawbacks with current pocket tissue multi-packs in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,012,572 Heathcock, et al. and 6,126,009 Schiffler, et al., both filed in 1998. Each of the excerpts below are said verbatim in both patents. Specifically addressing the most widely used pocket tissue multi-pack (sized about ⅞ inch×2¼ inch×4¼ inch) they said: “ . . . it is generally too bulky to be placed into ones pants pocket comfortably.”; and for portable packs in general: “ . . . many of them are too bulky to be carried comfortably and discreetly in a user's pocket.”; and regarding the tissue: “Current facial tissues in portable packs, however, may not be large enough to be effective in cleaning spills and the like . . . ”. Yet another drawback described in these patents, is that the adhesive tab is used multiple times and may lose its ability to reseal the package properly before all the tissues have been used. These patents suggest that solutions to these drawbacks would be desirable; however, since the date of these filings, these same pocket packs of tissues remain the norm in the industry. The present invention addresses these drawbacks and offers practical solutions, while providing quick and easy access to a tissue, a good hand position at the initial grip site, less repositioning of the tissue to unfold, and a practical means of storage for the tissue after use.
Smaller wet and moist wipe multi-packs also use plastic film containers that can be resealed, and typically hold about 10 to 30 wipes. The smallest known wet wipe multi-pack approximates the size of a pocket facial tissue multi-pack, as previously described. These packages have similar drawbacks to the pocket facial tissue multi-packs, but also often dry out before all the wipes are used, due to a failure of the resealable adhesive tab to consistently make an airtight seal.
The current availability of individually packaged tissues and dry wipes is extremely limited. No individually packaged consumer facial tissue or dry wipe is known to be available. The closest known product is sterile gauze used in medical applications. In this instance, the sterile gauze is often contained between two flat sheets of a medical grade paper, or a medical grade paper-like plastic such as Tyvek® brand of spun-bonded olefin made by DuPont (Wilmington, Del.), and the two sheets are typically peeled apart to expose the gauze for use. Individually packaged wet wipes are available, however, these wipes are uncomfortably sized and folded, and are sandwiched between two sheets of a laminate typically of metal foil and plastic film. The package must be torn open to arrive at the wipe. The wipe, which had been folded into a very small rectangle, must then be unfolded. One of the more popular products of this type is the Wet Ones® brand of “Singles” moist wipes, distributed by Playtex Products, Inc. (Dover, Del.). The package is to be torn open along its sides. These, and the other brands of individually packaged wet wipes, typically have inadequate room to restore the used wipe, as the very small package is not designed for a return of the wipe, nor is the tear of the package controlled to maximize space for re-storage. Also, no means for re-closure is provided for. These products are to be immediately disposed of after use. Unfortunately, users of these products typically are using them in situations where the disposal means is not readily at hand.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention advances the prior art of the resealable adhesive tab, package opening, and perforations as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,759 to Herzberg et al, and previously U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,088 to Rugenstein et al., to an individual tissue package that allows for actual pants pocket sizing, provides a very practical means of storage for the used tissue by use of a re-insertion fold that expands for increased container storage space, and provides for a new premium multi-purpose (face, spills, etc.) tissue. The presently preferred embodiment of the current invention also offers an easily grasped exposed edge of the tissue for dispensing the tissue from the package, easy unfolding, and a very good hand position initially on the tissue without repositioning it. The tissue in the presently preferred embodiment also naturally “cups” itself better for facial use, due in part to the vertical centerfold. A more robust tissue construction is also desired; such as, more dry and wet strength so it's less apt to rip (tear), improved flexing and wear properties, and more water holding capability. For wet and moist wipes, there's a similar ease of use due to the improved package design and sizing.
In the selection of pocket facial tissues and wipes, size, convenience, and ease of use are all extremely important. It should fit easily within a pocket, while leaving room for other things. It should be easy to use, with a tissue that quickly and easily dispenses from a container and unfolds by itself, or almost by itself. It should be new and clean, and in a standardized form. After the tissue has been soiled, there should be somewhere to store it, as a means of disposal may not be nearby. It should also be inexpensive, and an item that can be readily asked for and exchanged in public when needed. This invention describes such an article. Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
a.) to provide a tissue package that comfortably and discreetly fits into a pants pocket. Thus, making these items easily carried on an individual.
b.) to provide a tissue package containing a more dependable (robust) tissue for facial use, light spills, and clean-ups.
c.) to provide a tissue package that upon which advertisement such as company names, logos, and artistic designs may be printed or placed for promotional, fanciful, or fashionable purposes.
d.) to provide a tissue package that can be displayed for complimentary use at establishments, such as hotels and restaurants.
e.) to provide a tissue package that may be sufficiently small and compliant so that the package may be comfortably held while the tissue is used. This would allow for more immediate use of a tissue with fewer handling steps.
f.) to provide a tissue package where a tissue may dispense and unfold easily and be close to the hand position normally used during tissue use, so that repositioning of the tissue is minimized.
g.) to provide a tissue package where a tissue may dispense and unfold in such a manner so as to “cup” itself nicely for facial use.
h.) to provide a tissue package that offers a practical solution to the unsolved need of “Where to put the soiled tissue?” by providing a practical means of storage for the used tissue, and thus providing for more sanitary handling prior to final disposal. With the use of a re-insertion fold, the container will expand to provide additional storage space for the used tissue, and the adhesive tab may provide a re-seal of the container to confine the used tissue.
i.) to provide a tissue package that is readily available both in public and on a person.
j.) to provide a tissue package that makes exchanging a tissue in public more common and acceptable. One would feel more comfortable requesting a tissue in public, as one would be asking for a standardized item with known quality and sanitary condition. Likewise, a provider of the article will also feel more comfortable in providing a tissue, as this is now in a known form, and is both useful to others and of little expense. The article also provides the recipient with a practical means of storage for the used tissue, which is especially useful, as often in public a means of disposal is not readily available.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The present invention provides a sheeted cleaning medium (such as a facial tissue, napkin, or wipe), a typically pocket-sized container for dispensing the sheeted cleaning medium and providing a practical means of storage for the sheeted cleaning medium after use by employing an expandable re-insertion fold, and typically an adhesive tab that provides the means for having an initial seal of the package and allowing for making a secondary closure seal. The sheeted cleaning medium may be dry, moist or wet. The container may have printed or placed upon it company names, logos, and artistic designs for promotional, fanciful, or fashionable purposes.
a-d show a series of folds to a tissue of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
a is a plan view of a tissue showing fold lines as dashed lines.
b is a perspective view of the tissue of
c is a perspective view of the tissue of
d is a plan view of the tissue of
a-d show an alternate series of folds to a tissue similar to
a is a plan view of a tissue showing fold lines as dashed lines.
b is a perspective view of the tissue of
c is a perspective view of the tissue of
d is a plan view of the tissue of
The unopened package shown in
a-d show a series of folds to a tissue of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
a is a plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of a tissue 5 of this invention. The tissue 5 is approximately 9.5 inches long and approximately 7.4 inches wide.
A Wypall® L30 wiper (boxed version) made by Kimberly-Clark is commercially available and has been used for making samples of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. However, a very soft paper towel such as the Viva® brand towel, also by Kimberly-Clark, (or similar) made possibly a little lighter-weight and with slightly smoother surfaces, may be better.
b is a perspective view of the initial folding of the tissue 5 of
c is a perspective view of the tissue 5 of
d is a plan view of the final folded tissue 5 of
a-d show an alternate series of folds to a tissue (wipe) similar to
a is a plan view of a tissue 5a that is similar to tissue 5 in
b is a perspective view of the initial folding of the tissue 5a of
c is a perspective view of the tissue 5a of
d is a plan view of the final folded tissue 5a of
While various embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, it may be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/005,813 filed Dec. 7, 2007 and is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 11/452,162 filed Jun. 13, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61005813 | Dec 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11452162 | Jun 2006 | US |
Child | 12218534 | US |