EP1250877A1 - Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans - Google Patents

Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1250877A1
EP1250877A1 EP01109645A EP01109645A EP1250877A1 EP 1250877 A1 EP1250877 A1 EP 1250877A1 EP 01109645 A EP01109645 A EP 01109645A EP 01109645 A EP01109645 A EP 01109645A EP 1250877 A1 EP1250877 A1 EP 1250877A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
articles
closable lid
joined
stack
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01109645A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Rainer R. Bauer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP01109645A priority Critical patent/EP1250877A1/fr
Publication of EP1250877A1 publication Critical patent/EP1250877A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers; Toilet paper dispensers
    • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper
    • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
    • A47K10/44—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked with mechanical dispensing means for prehension of the next sheet to be dispensed

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a container for flat, substantially planar articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, writing paper, dry wipes, wet wipes or wipes being treated with a lotion, which allows one-by-one dispensing of said articles by moving the re-closable lid of said container.
  • the flat, substantially planar articles are contained in said container as a stack of individual articles.
  • US 533218 to Muckenfuhs discloses a pop-up towel dispensing system
  • US 3967576 to Barish and US 4784290 to Howard are disclosing means for dispensing wet wipes
  • US 5573132 to Kanfer at al. teaches a dispensing container for dispensing of pre-moistened towelettes.
  • US 5531325 to Deflander at al. discloses a storing and dispensing system for articles packed in a sealed pouch.
  • Assisted one-by-one dispensing of stacked articles is also well known from other fields.
  • the assisted one-by-one dispensing of sheets of paper from a stacked note pad is known from e.g. "Classic Zettelkasten", order code CLA 7600 from Corporate Express, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
  • a stack of sheets of paper for hand-written notes is one-by-one dispensed by opening the re-closable lid of a container containing the stack. Said re-closable lid is joined to one side of said container by a hinge.
  • the dispensing is facilitated by a mechanism, which basically consists of a rod, being joined to the re-closable lid of said container by a hinge.
  • Said rod has a piece of soft rubber fixed to the end opposite the one being joined to said re-closable lid.
  • the piece of rubber travels back towards the side of the container where the re-closable lid is joined.
  • the piece of rubber is pushed towards the side of the container opposite to the one where the re-closable lid is joined, whereby pushing a sheet of paper, lying on top of the stack, out of the container. Traction between paper sheet and dispensing aid is provided by friction.
  • the partial exposure of an article out of the container is generating several drawbacks. For instance the article becomes thereby visible. Thus, the discretion aspect, which is particularly important in case of e.g. feminine care articles, is detrimentally affected. Furthermore, the exposed portion of the article can become dusted or otherwise soiled, thereby loosing hygienic appearance and security.
  • Another drawback of partial exposure of the article is related to wetted articles, e.g. wet or lotioned wipes. In case of such articles the exposed portion will always tend to dry out, thereby loosing much of its intended functionality.
  • one-by-one dispensing of stacked articles are e.g. dispensers for cigarette packages or candy bars.
  • the one-by-one dispensing is facilitated by e.g. pulling of a drawer, dispensing one of the articles out of the stack being situated above the drawer, or by rotating spirals. All those dispensing systems have the disadvantage of great bulkiness, complexity and high cost.
  • sanitary napkins such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, writing paper, dry wipes, wet wipes or wipes being treated with a lotion
  • Other three-dimensional articles such as tampons, requiring some protection and hygienic environment but which are not flat, can also benefit from the one-by-one dispensing with only minor modification.
  • the present invention provides a container allowing one-by-one dispensing of flat, substantially planar articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, dry wipes, wet wipes or wipes being treated with a lotion, by simply moving the re-closable lid of said container.
  • a pivoting scooping member which is attached to said re-closable lid on the proximal end of said member.
  • the scooping member has a hook or other gripping means at its pivoting end, being opposite to said proximal end, for pushing or pulling out one of the stacked articles.
  • the scooping member can be executed as a single finger or a sheet or plate, being substantially two-dimensional.
  • a ratchet mechanism joins the scooping member to the re-closable lid of the container.
  • the present invention relates to a container, substantially consisting of any suitable material, e.g. plastic or cardboard, for the dispensing of individual flat, substantially planar articles from a stack of such articles.
  • the articles are substantially overlying each other.
  • These articles can be e.g. sanitary napkins, panty liners, dry wipes, wet wipes or wipes being treated with a lotion.
  • the intention of the present invention is to provide a container for the above-mentioned articles, which offers basic protection for the contained articles, giving the user of those articles re-assurance of high hygienic security and discretion, as well as ease, convenience and reliability of delivery of those articles to the user by one-by-one dispensing.
  • a container suitable for use according to the present invention has a bottom (1) and at least one sidewall (2).
  • This sidewall (2) is joined to the bottom (1), forming a tub-like configuration, having an opening opposite to the bottom (1).
  • a container according to the present invention can have four sidewalls (2), being attached to the bottom (1) and forming a tub-like configuration, having an opening opposite to the bottom (1).
  • the sidewalls (2) are joined to each other along their side edges.
  • a re-closable lid (3) is joined to a sidewall (2) via a hinge (4), hereinafter referred to as "lid hinge", so that by closing the re-closable lid (3), said re-closable lid (3) is opposite to the bottom (1) of the container, being spaced apart from said bottom (1) by at least one sidewall (2).
  • the opening on one side of the container is closed and the bottom (1), at least one sidewall (2) and the closed re-closable lid (3) are enclosing a volume, which is hereinafter referred to as the interior of the container.
  • the interior of the container is substantially closed to the environment when the re-closable lid (3) is closed.
  • the container is substantially impermeable to liquids and vapour.
  • the sidewalls (2) of the container according to the present invention are preferably joined at an angle to the bottom (1) of the container, such that the sidewalls (2) substantially have an angle of 90° to the bottom (1) of the container, but also different angles are in the scope of the present invention.
  • at least one of those sidewalls (2) needs to have a substantially curved surface in order that the container can enclose a volume.
  • these sidewalls (2) are preferably substantially planar, but can also have a substantially curved surface, as long as the container being formed of the bottom (1) and the at least one sidewall (2) has an opening opposite to the bottom (1).
  • the re-closable lid (3) of the container can have a different size and shape than the bottom (1) of the container.
  • the bottom (1) and the re-closable lid (3) are both preferably substantially planar, but can have substantially curved surfaces as well.
  • the surface of the re-closable lid (3), which is orientated towards the interior of the container when the re-closable lid (3) is closed, is referred to as the inner surface (5) hereinafter.
  • a scooping member (6) is joined on its proximal end to the inner surface of the re-closable lid (3) via a hinge (7), hereinafter referred to as "scoop hinge".
  • the scoop hinge (7) is joined to the re-closable lid (3) preferably in the centre of the inner surface of the re-closable lid (3).
  • the scooping member (6) preferably comprises a rod, having a proximal and a pivoting end.
  • the pivoting end of the scooping member (6) being opposite to the proximal end, is provided with a hook, pincer or other gripping means (8).
  • the pivoting end of the scooping member (6) can freely pivot around an axis of rotation, which is preferably substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the lid hinge (4). It is also in the scope of the present invention that more than one of such scooping members (6) can be joined to the re-closable lid (3) via a common or separate scoop hinges (7). It is preferred that all the scoop hinges (7) are joined to the inner surface (5) of the re-closable lid (3) at a line being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the lid hinge (4), but also different configurations are in accordance with the present invention, e.g. for special effects by dispensing a flat, substantially planar article in a particularly shaped configuration, e.g. curved or waved.
  • a scooping member instead of a scooping member a substantially flat plate or sheet (10) can be joined at its proximal side to the inner surface (11) of the re-closable lid (12) of the container by a scoop hinge (13).
  • the pivoting side being opposite to the proximal side, is provided with one or more hooks, pincers or other gripping means (14).
  • scooping member will be used to refer to any of the above mentioned alternatives, namely scooping member, plate, sheet or multiplicity of them
  • hook will be used to refer to any of the above mentioned alternatives, namely hook, pincer, claw or other gripping means or a multiplicity of them.
  • each scoop hinge (20) joining a scooping member (21) to the inner surface of the re-closable lid (22) can itself be joined to the inner surface via a ratchet (24).
  • the ratchet (24) basically comprises a rack and pinion mechanism.
  • the ratchet (24) has the effect that by every opening and subsequent closing of the re-closable lid (22) the scoop hinge (20) travels a short distance along said inner surface towards the side of the re-closable lid (22) being joined to the sidewall (24).
  • the travelling distance is selected such that the height reduction of the stack (28) of articles is compensated so that the scooping member (21) continues to achieve its purpose.
  • the travelling can be initiated either by opening or by closing the re-closable lid (22), but preferably by closing.
  • the ratchet (23) can be of any kind known in the art for such a purpose.
  • the flat, substantially planar articles to be dispensed one-by-one are contained in the container according to the present invention in a stack (28) of substantially overlying, non-interleaved articles.
  • the scooping member (21) By opening the re-closable lid (22), the scooping member (21) is pulled in a direction opposite to the hinge joining the re-closable lid (22) to the sidewall (24) of the container. Thereby the hook (26) engages the uppermost article (27) out of the stack (28) of flat, substantially planar articles and pulls or pushes it out of the container.
  • the ratchet (23) transports the scoop hinge (20) a small distance along the inner surface of the re-closable lid (22) in direction of the lid hinge (25). Thereby also the scooping member (21) is transported in this direction.
  • the stack (28) of articles contained in the container could be tilted by a tilting means (29).
  • Said tilting means (29) can be e.g. a slope at the bottom of said container.
  • Another approach of improving the accessibility of articles when the number of articles in the container is diminishing is to elevate the bottom (30) of the container corresponding to the diminishing height of the stack (28) of articles.
  • a further approach for assisted one-by-one dispensing of flat, substantially planar articles out of a container would be to reverse the configuration described before in the way that the re-closable lid of the container is below the stack of articles.
  • the hook of the scooping member engages the lowermost article out of the stack and pulls or pushes it out of the container.
  • the stack itself is prevented from falling out of the container because of gravitation by e.g. side panels on each side of the opening of the container, which hold the stack in position.
  • the benefit of this configuration is that a ratchet mechanism or a tilting or elevating means are not needed because the article of the stack to be dispensed is always at the same position, regardless of the number of articles in the stack and thereby the height of the stack.
  • a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a container for one-by-one dispensing of sanitary napkins or panty liners, consisting of a container having a bottom, four sidewalls and a re-closable lid.
  • the bottom of the container is substantially congruent with the shape of the bottom layer of the stack of articles to be contained in the container.
  • the re-closable lid is joined to one sidewall of the container by a lid hinge on the side of the sidewall opposite to the bottom of the container.
  • the pivoting scooping member is joined on its proximal end to a ratchet mechanism via a scoop hinge, which is joined to the inner surface of the re-closable lid of the container.
  • the scooping member is either a finger or a plate, having a hook or pincer on its pivoting end.
  • Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a container for one-by-one dispensing of tampons, consisting of a container having a bottom, four sidewalls and a re-closable lid.
  • the bottom of the container is rectangular and having the same length as the longitudinal length of the tampons contained therein and the same width as the diameter of the tampons contained therein.
  • the re-closable lid is joined to one sidewall of the container by a lid hinge on the side of the sidewall opposite to the bottom of the container.
  • the pivoting scooping member is joined on its proximal end to a scoop hinge, which is joined to the inner surface of the re-closable lid of the container.
  • the scooping member is either a finger or a plate, having a hook or grove, being able to grip a single tampon, on its pivoting end.
  • the bottom of the container is elevated by a spring mechanism according to the diminishing height of the stack of articles due to dispensing.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is a container for one-by-one dispensing of wipes, wet wipes or wipes being treated with a lotion, consisting of a container having a bottom, four sidewalls and a re-closable lid.
  • the container When the re-closable lid is closed, the container is substantially impervious to liquids and vapour.
  • the bottom of the container is rectangular and having the same length and width as the length and width of the stack of wipes to be contained.
  • the re-closable lid is joined to one sidewall of the container by a lid hinge on the side of the sidewall opposite to the bottom of the container.
  • the pivoting scooping member is joined on its proximal end to a ratchet mechanism via a scoop hinge, which is joined to the inner surface of the re-closable lid of the container.
  • the scooping member is a plate, having a hook on its pivoting end.
  • the execution of the scooping member as a plate or sheet (10) has the further benefit that the stack (15) of articles in the container is better protected when the container is opened for dispensing of an article.
  • the plate or sheet (10) can, besides its dispensing functionality, also act as a cover in these circumstances, prevent the stacked articles from e.g. being dusted. Therefore, the plate or sheet (10) must have substantially the same size as the opening of the container, which is exposed when the re-closable lid (12) of the container is opened.
  • the container prevents the articles contained therein from being soiled or dusted, the individual wrapping of the articles, e.g. sanitary napkins, panty liners or tampons, is not required any longer. This reduces the total amount of packaging and thereby of waste, especially in case of repeated utilization of the container by refilling it with further stacks of articles.
  • the individual wrapping of the articles e.g. sanitary napkins, panty liners or tampons

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP01109645A 2001-04-19 2001-04-19 Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans Withdrawn EP1250877A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01109645A EP1250877A1 (fr) 2001-04-19 2001-04-19 Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01109645A EP1250877A1 (fr) 2001-04-19 2001-04-19 Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1250877A1 true EP1250877A1 (fr) 2002-10-23

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EP01109645A Withdrawn EP1250877A1 (fr) 2001-04-19 2001-04-19 Récipient pour la distribution à l'unité d'articles plats substantiellement plans

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2879573A1 (fr) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-23 Airsec Soc Par Actions Simplif Dispositif de distribution a l'unite d'objets se presentant sous forme de feuilles ou bandelettes minces
WO2007024333A1 (fr) * 2005-08-26 2007-03-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Emballage d'articles absorbants souples
EP2360106A1 (fr) * 2006-05-09 2011-08-24 Becton, Dickinson and Company Procédé et appareil de distribution de bandes de test de diagnostic
EP2865309A1 (fr) * 2013-10-22 2015-04-29 Grupo P.I. Mabe, S.A. de C.V. Système de distribution de lingettes humides non-entrelacées dans un récipient flexible
USD784039S1 (en) 2015-10-16 2017-04-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Paper product dispenser

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US533218A (en) 1895-01-29 Paper-folding machine
US3094323A (en) * 1961-06-16 1963-06-18 Salvatore J Catania End papers for hair-waving and dispenser therefor
US4071165A (en) * 1975-12-29 1978-01-31 Norbert Leopoldi Paper dispenser having a frictional discharge assistant
GB1573084A (en) * 1978-05-23 1980-08-13 Ross H Dispenser for light sensitive papers
US4784290A (en) 1982-11-29 1988-11-15 Lever Brothers Company Apparatus for dispensing wet wipes
US5197630A (en) * 1991-11-25 1993-03-30 Kirla Stanley J Dispenser for nested conical articles
US5531325A (en) 1992-03-13 1996-07-02 The Procter & Gamble Company Storing and dispensing system for products packed in a sealed pouch
US5573132A (en) 1994-11-25 1996-11-12 Kanfer; Joseph S. Dispensing container

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US533218A (en) 1895-01-29 Paper-folding machine
US3094323A (en) * 1961-06-16 1963-06-18 Salvatore J Catania End papers for hair-waving and dispenser therefor
US4071165A (en) * 1975-12-29 1978-01-31 Norbert Leopoldi Paper dispenser having a frictional discharge assistant
GB1573084A (en) * 1978-05-23 1980-08-13 Ross H Dispenser for light sensitive papers
US4784290A (en) 1982-11-29 1988-11-15 Lever Brothers Company Apparatus for dispensing wet wipes
US5197630A (en) * 1991-11-25 1993-03-30 Kirla Stanley J Dispenser for nested conical articles
US5531325A (en) 1992-03-13 1996-07-02 The Procter & Gamble Company Storing and dispensing system for products packed in a sealed pouch
US5573132A (en) 1994-11-25 1996-11-12 Kanfer; Joseph S. Dispensing container

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2879573A1 (fr) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-23 Airsec Soc Par Actions Simplif Dispositif de distribution a l'unite d'objets se presentant sous forme de feuilles ou bandelettes minces
WO2006067334A1 (fr) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-29 Airsec (Societe Par Actions Simplifiee) Dispositif de stockage et de distribution a l’unite d’objets se presentant sous forme de feuilles ou bandelettes minces
WO2007024333A1 (fr) * 2005-08-26 2007-03-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Emballage d'articles absorbants souples
EP2360106A1 (fr) * 2006-05-09 2011-08-24 Becton, Dickinson and Company Procédé et appareil de distribution de bandes de test de diagnostic
US8652415B2 (en) 2006-05-09 2014-02-18 Becton, Dickinson And Company Method and apparatus for dispensing diagnostic test strips
US9039977B2 (en) 2006-05-09 2015-05-26 Becton, Dickinson And Company Method and apparatus for dispensing diagnostic test strips
US9372184B2 (en) 2006-05-09 2016-06-21 Becton, Dickinson And Company Method and apparatus for dispensing diagnostic test strips
EP2865309A1 (fr) * 2013-10-22 2015-04-29 Grupo P.I. Mabe, S.A. de C.V. Système de distribution de lingettes humides non-entrelacées dans un récipient flexible
USD784039S1 (en) 2015-10-16 2017-04-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Paper product dispenser

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