US20080258586A1 - Dual-use towel product - Google Patents
Dual-use towel product Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080258586A1 US20080258586A1 US12/105,727 US10572708A US2008258586A1 US 20080258586 A1 US20080258586 A1 US 20080258586A1 US 10572708 A US10572708 A US 10572708A US 2008258586 A1 US2008258586 A1 US 2008258586A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- towel
- opening
- towels
- product
- support plate
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
- 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
- A47K10/421—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the top of the dispenser
Definitions
- Disposable absorbent wipers/towels have many uses. Disposable wipers/towels are particularly popular with do-it-yourself homeowners and trades people who find wipers valuable for cleaning tools, work areas and their hands. Disposable wipers are also used frequently in factories, on farms and in the boating industry (both commercial and recreational). These are just a few of the wide variety of people and multitude of uses of disposable wipers. Frequently, disposable wipers are used by people who are on the go, whether it be trades people moving from job to job, maintenance people moving from machine to machine within a factory or farmers dealing with issues wherever they come up.
- Containers of disposable wipers thus are often treated as valuable items of one's normal equipment for performing jobs and are often carried in the back of trucks to job sites along with other tools or on maintenance carts in factories.
- Disposable wiper containers end up in countless types of places, wherever people do work.
- a stacked towel product suitable for use as a stand-alone supply of towels or as an insert for a towel-dispensing container is provided.
- the product includes a plurality of towels stacked vertically one upon another to form a generally parallelepiped shape having top, bottom and side walls, top and bottom generally rectangular support plates supporting respectively the top and bottom of the towel stack, each plate having an opening permitting towels to be drawn through it from the stack, the plates having sufficient stiffness to generally maintain the parallelepiped shape of the towel stack as towels are drawn therefrom and a flexible, water-resistant protective wrapper extending about and snuggly engaging the side walls and top and bottom support plate plates.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a towel product
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a first support plate
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a top of a first support plate
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a towel being removed through a top of a first support plate;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container adapted to receive a towel product
- FIG. 7 is a broken away side view of one embodiment of a container bearing a towel product
- FIG. 8 is a broken away side view of another embodiment of a container bearing a towel product
- FIG. 9 is a top view of one embodiment of a second support plate
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a top of a second support plate.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a towel being removed from a top of a second support plate.
- the Figures show a towel product 100 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.
- a series of stacked towels 50 are sandwiched between a first support plate 12 and a second support plate 14 .
- the first support plate 12 , stacked towels 50 , and second support plate 14 are all encased in an outer wrapper 20 that protects the towels in all kinds of environments.
- the towel product 100 serves dual functions. In some cases, the towel product serves as a stand-alone product. In other cases, the towel product serves as an insert to be placed inside of a towel-dispensing container.
- the first support plate 12 aids in the product's insert functions when placed inside of a towel-dispensing container and the second support plate 14 aids the product's use when used as a stand-alone product. These will be explained in more detail. Both supports, however, serve to maintain the product in a generally parallelpiped shape as towels are removed.
- Each support plate 12 , 14 can be made of any suitable rigid material, for example cardboard or plastic. In some cases, cardboard is preferred because it is economical and light-weight. However, the support plate 12 , 14 can be made of any appropriate material such as plastic, metal, stiff paper, etc.
- rigid as used herein, we mean that the support plate plates 12 , 14 should be of sufficient rigidity as to maintain the towels in a stacked configuration under different loads across different surfaces of the towel product. The towel product may be stacked on any side during storage, and it is desirable to maintain the towel product in its original stacked configuration.
- the support plate plates 12 , 14 partially or preferably, fully cover both the top and bottom surfaces of the stacked towels 50 .
- the support plate plates 12 , 14 entirely cover or substantially cover the periphery of the top and bottom surfaces.
- the support plate plates 12 , 14 are rectangular, although this is by no means required. Elliptical, rounded rectangular, and other shapes are also suitable.
- the first support plate 12 has a centrally positioned cutout defined by perforations 70 .
- the cutout can be removed by tearing the perforations 70 , thereby exposing an opening 75 through the support plate 12 .
- the opening 75 can have any desired size and shape for receiving towels 50 .
- the opening 75 has six sides and a generally elongated hexagonal shape, although this is by no means required.
- the opening 75 can also have a generally slot-shape with the center of the slot being wider than ends of the slot and the slot being sized to engage towels as they are withdrawn one-by-one from the towel stack.
- the support plate 12 can optionally include indicia 60 , such as advertising, instructions, logos, etc.
- the second support plate 14 includes an opening 95 .
- the opening 95 can also have any desired size and shape for receiving towels 50 .
- the opening 95 has a generally circular shape with diametrically opposed slots extending outwardly from the opening to define confronting lobes on each side of the opening, the lobes being effective to engage individual sheets of toweling 50 as the latter are withdrawn from the roll.
- the support plate 14 can also optionally include indicia 60 , such as advertising, instructions, logos, etc.
- a wrapper 20 is placed around the support plate plates 12 , 14 and stacked towels 50 .
- the wrapper 20 is a flexible, water-resistant, desirably single thickness wrapper that protects the stacked towels 50 .
- the wrapper 20 also serves to maintain the general shape of the stacked towels 50 and to keep them in a tight, stacked configuration.
- the wrapper 20 also has sufficient strength to restrain distortion of the stacked towels 50 when they are subjected to an axial load.
- the wrapper 20 is shown in the Figures as being transparent so that the stacked towels 50 can be seen through it, but it will be understood that the wrapper can be transparent, opaque, or of any particular color, and may bear an identification of the product, together with trademarks, advertising and the like.
- the illustrated wrapper 20 also include holes or pores 25 that allow for the towels to breathe and facilitate manufacture of the stack.
- the holes 25 can be provided in any desired arrangement and are sufficiently small to restrain water, oil and other contaminants from seeping inward. In some cases, the holes 25 are simply not provided.
- the wrapper 20 includes a seam 30 that extends partially around the circumference of the stacked towels.
- the seam 30 extends along the sides and over the first support plate 12 , but does not extend over the second support plate 14 .
- the seam 30 is deliberately not provided over the second support plate 14 in order to aid in the product's stand alone functions.
- the portion of the wrapper 20 that is directly over the opening 95 of the second support plate 14 also includes a wrapper opening 97 . This is best illustrated in FIG. 11 .
- the lack of a seam helps to preserve the integrity of the opening 97 , so that it does not tear or otherwise fall apart in areas where a seam would have been present.
- the wrapper opening 97 is simply a slit.
- the wrapper opening 97 is the same or substantially similar to the opening 95 of the second support plate 14 .
- any appropriate material may be employed for the wrapper 20 , and a variety of flexible, heat-sealable, heat-shrinkable, and/or heat stretchable polymeric materials are available for this purpose, including bi-axially oriented polyester films, co-extruded films, and the like. Since, desirably, only a single thickness of the film is employed, it is desired to use a wrapper material that is sufficiently strong to perform its function in supporting and protecting the towel product 100 while at the same time, for reasons of economy and weight, is reasonably thin. Films of about 0.003 inches (about 0.76 mm) in thickness have given good results. The film desirably is sufficiently thin as to enable it to be flexed with the fingers, but yet is sufficiently stiff as to at least substantially hold its shape as towels 50 within the wrapper 20 are removed.
- the stacked towels 50 are sandwiched between the support plate plates 12 , 14 before wrapping takes place.
- the wrapper 20 preferably tightly engages all surfaces of the stacked towels 50 , and may actually squeeze these surfaces. In this manner, the wrapper 20 tends to support plate and stabilize the stacked towels 50 .
- the wrapper 20 itself may be formed so as to have areas where it does not contact the entire outer surface of the stacked towels 50 .
- the wrapper 20 can be applied to a towel product using known shrink packaging or stretch packaging techniques and equipment.
- single a film e.g., polyester film approximately 3 mils (about 0.076 mm) in thickness is applied around the stacked towels 50 and support plate plates 12 , 14 and then are heat sealed about the periphery to form a seam 30 .
- the seam 30 preferably extends around the body of the towel product, except for the area in contact with the second support plate 14 .
- the thus wrapped towel product 100 is then subjected to heat, as in a heated shrink tunnel, to cause the film to shrink down into tight engagement with the towel product.
- shrink packaging is a preferred procedure, other procedures, such as stretch packaging, can be used.
- both the second support plate 14 and the wrapper 20 have openings 95 , 97 formed therein to permit one to reach through them with the fingers and pull toweling through the openings.
- the opening 97 in the wrapper is made after the wrapper has been applied to the stacked towels 50 as discussed above.
- the support plate 14 is provided with the opening 95 before it is positioned onto a surface of the stacked towels 50 .
- the both the openings 95 , 97 are made after the wrapper 20 has been applied.
- Various other methods of forming the openings will be evident to those skilled in the art.
- a removable cover 90 is placed over the wrapper opening 97 .
- the cover 90 can be made of any material and is preferably removable, resealable and water-resistant.
- the cover 90 is provided in the form of a flexible plastic sheet having on all or a portion of the inner surface thereof a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive, the cover 90 being capable of being peeled away from the wrapper 20 .
- the adhesive for example, may be a repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive enabling the cover 90 to be repeatedly affixed and removed from the upper surface of the wrapper, and may be of the type employed in connection with the well-known 3M Post-It® products.
- the stacked towels or toweling 50 can be any of a variety of well-known paper towel materials.
- the toweling is of an absorbent material, and can be made from either a woven or non-woven material.
- non-woven processes There are a wide variety of non-woven processes, and they can be either wet laid dry laid. Some examples are hydroentangled materials (sometimes called “spunlace”), double re-creped materials, air laid materials, spunbond materials and meltblown materials, etc.
- “Toweling” is used herein, refers in general to sheet or web-like materials that may be absorbent and that may be provided in roll form. “Toweling” is also sometimes referred to as “wipes”, “wipers” and “towels”. Individual sheets may be sized as desired to accommodate the many uses of the towels.
- a user positions the towel product 100 so the first support plate 12 is oriented as a top surface, for example as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the user then removes the top portion of the wrapper 20 , for example by cutting or tearing a hole in the wrapper in the area covering the first support plate 12 .
- the entire wrapper 20 is removed, although this is not preferred. Rather, it is desirable to keep substantially all of the wrapper in place to help shape and support the stacked towels.
- the towel product 100 is then placed inside of a container.
- the wrapper 20 In cases where the wrapper 20 is in place, except for the whole formed over the first support place, all of the stacked towels 50 , support plate 12 and support plate 14 are placed inside of a container. In cases where the entire wrapper is removed, the stacked towels 50 can be alone placed in a container, optionally along with either support plates 12 , 14 .
- any container known in the art can be used.
- the towel product is placed in the container so the support plate 12 is a top surface.
- the towel product is placed in a container so the support plate 12 is a bottom surface.
- the container itself can be made of a plastic material of sufficient rigidity as to maintain its shape and also to protect the towels 50 from messy environments.
- the illustrated container has a generally rectangular shape. However, it can alternatively have other configurations. For example, the container can have a generally elliptical shape, generally rounded rectangular shape, and others.
- the illustrated container also has an exterior handle that can be manually grasped, although this is by no means required.
- the container 200 includes a body 225 having a generally flatted bottom from which arise side walls and a top 250 that serves as a top wall.
- the interior height of the container 200 that is, the height between the interior of the container top 250 and the floor of the container body 225 , is chosen to be approximately the same as the height of a towel product 100 of the invention.
- the exterior surface of the towel product when it is inserted in the container, can touch the interior walls of the container 225 or it can be spaced slightly from these walls.
- the container top 250 connects with the rim of the container body 225 in any desired method known in the art.
- the top 250 and rim have cooperating, facing annular shoulders such that when the top 250 is pushed down upon the rim, the annular ridge of the top 250 slips over the confronting annular ridge of the rim, often with an audible “click.”
- the top 250 includes an opening 260 and a hinged lid 255 for sealing the opening.
- the support plate opening 75 corresponds to the opening 260 on the container. In other words, the openings 75 , 260 are the same, substantially the same, or similar.
- FIG. 8 Another exemplary container 300 is shown in FIG. 8 .
- the container is generally rectangular shaped and has side walls, a bottom and a top.
- the illustrated container 300 has a generally rectangular shape. However, it can alternatively have other configurations.
- the container 300 can have a generally elliptical shape, generally rounded rectangular shape, and others.
- the interior height of the container 300 that is, the height between the top and the bottom 335 , is chosen to be approximately the same as the height of a towel product 100 of the invention.
- the exterior surface of the towel product when it is inserted in the container, can touch the interior walls of the container 300 or it can be spaced slightly from these walls.
- the container 300 is accessible through its top.
- a lid 350 is provided that can be placed over and seal the top.
- the lid 250 can be held in place about the top using any desired method known in the art.
- the bottom 325 includes the opening 360 .
- a user orients the towel product 100 (with at least the wrapping 20 over the first surface torn or otherwise removed) so that the first surface plate 12 is facing downward.
- the towel product 100 is then placed inside of the container through its the top. Once inside, the first surface place 12 abuts the bottom 235 of the container.
- the opening 75 on the first surface plate 12 corresponds with the opening 360 on the bottom 325 .
- a user than reaches fingers through the openings 75 , 360 and pulls the towels 50 downward and out of both the towel product 100 and container 300 .
- a user positions the towel product so the second support plate 14 is oriented as a top surface, as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the user then removes the cover 90 to expose both the support plate opening 95 and the wrapper opening 97 .
- Towels 50 are then pulled through both openings 95 , 97 and outward, as shown in FIG. 11 .
- the edges of both openings 95 , 97 also serve a function of separating the towels one from another as they are pulled from the roll.
- the peel away cover 90 can simply be discarded, or it can be saved to be re-applied to the wrapper to close the openings once a desired number of towels are used.
- the towel product of the invention is capable of dispensing sheets of dry, clean toweling one sheet at a time as needed.
- the towel product of the invention can be used either as a separate, stand alone supply of toweling, or it can be used as an insert for the container described above.
- the wrapper serves to support plate and protect the toweling within it. This towel product is extremely versatile and leaves consumers with many options of use.
Abstract
A towel product that has dual functions is provided. The towel product includes a series of stacked towels sandwiched between a first support plate and a second support plate. The first support plate, stacked towels, and second support plate are all encased in an outer wrapper. In some cases, the towel product serves as a stand-alone product. In other cases, the towel product serves as an insert to be placed inside of a towel-dispensing container. The first support plate aids in the product's insert functions when placed inside of a towel-dispensing container and the second support plate aids the product's stand-alone functions.
Description
- Disposable absorbent wipers/towels have many uses. Disposable wipers/towels are particularly popular with do-it-yourself homeowners and trades people who find wipers valuable for cleaning tools, work areas and their hands. Disposable wipers are also used frequently in factories, on farms and in the boating industry (both commercial and recreational). These are just a few of the wide variety of people and multitude of uses of disposable wipers. Frequently, disposable wipers are used by people who are on the go, whether it be trades people moving from job to job, maintenance people moving from machine to machine within a factory or farmers dealing with issues wherever they come up. Containers of disposable wipers thus are often treated as valuable items of one's normal equipment for performing jobs and are often carried in the back of trucks to job sites along with other tools or on maintenance carts in factories. Disposable wiper containers end up in countless types of places, wherever people do work.
- Traditionally, disposable wipers have been packaged in cardboard boxes, the wipers being dispensed through an open hole in the top. Often, because these containers can be used and stored outside, they can become exposed to inclement weather or they can be indoors in dusty and dirty environments. Cardboard box dispensers, for example, of the type currently available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation under its “Rags in a Box” trademark, can become water or oil soaked if they are placed on a wet or oily support plate, resulting in towels within the dispenser becoming contaminated with water or oily residue. Cardboard boxes are also susceptible to degradation, especially upon becoming wet. When towels within a box become water-soaked, dirty or oily, they become substantially useless and are discarded. Thus, a challenge associated with dispensing absorbent towels involves the ability to keep the towels dry and clean.
- Plastic, water-resistant containers have been used for retaining towels. However, once all of the towels are removed, a fresh stack of towels must be inserted in the container, and this may require an inventory of replacement or refill towel rolls to be maintained at or near the job site. It may often be inconvenient to provide a dry and clean storage space for replacement towel stacks. When a supply of replacement towel stacks is not appropriately protected, as, for example, by being stored in containers of the type described above, the supply of towels may also easily become wet or soiled.
- It would be desirable to provide replacement towels in a form in which they are protected from contaminants so that they can be stored in messy working environments without harm to the towels. At the same time, it would also be desirable to provide a towel product in a stand-alone form that enables individual towels to be removed from the product without the necessity of placing it in a container. Further, it would be desirable to provide a towel product that allows a consumer to choose whether to use the product in a stand-alone form or inside of a container.
- A stacked towel product suitable for use as a stand-alone supply of towels or as an insert for a towel-dispensing container is provided. In one embodiment, the product includes a plurality of towels stacked vertically one upon another to form a generally parallelepiped shape having top, bottom and side walls, top and bottom generally rectangular support plates supporting respectively the top and bottom of the towel stack, each plate having an opening permitting towels to be drawn through it from the stack, the plates having sufficient stiffness to generally maintain the parallelepiped shape of the towel stack as towels are drawn therefrom and a flexible, water-resistant protective wrapper extending about and snuggly engaging the side walls and top and bottom support plate plates.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a towel product; -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a first support plate; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a top of a first support plate; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a towel being removed through a top of a first support plate; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container adapted to receive a towel product; -
FIG. 7 is a broken away side view of one embodiment of a container bearing a towel product; -
FIG. 8 is a broken away side view of another embodiment of a container bearing a towel product; -
FIG. 9 is a top view of one embodiment of a second support plate; -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a top of a second support plate; and -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel product showing a towel being removed from a top of a second support plate. - The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered identically. The drawings depict exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
- The Figures show a
towel product 100 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. A series of stackedtowels 50 are sandwiched between afirst support plate 12 and asecond support plate 14. Thefirst support plate 12, stackedtowels 50, andsecond support plate 14 are all encased in anouter wrapper 20 that protects the towels in all kinds of environments. Thetowel product 100 serves dual functions. In some cases, the towel product serves as a stand-alone product. In other cases, the towel product serves as an insert to be placed inside of a towel-dispensing container. Thefirst support plate 12 aids in the product's insert functions when placed inside of a towel-dispensing container and thesecond support plate 14 aids the product's use when used as a stand-alone product. These will be explained in more detail. Both supports, however, serve to maintain the product in a generally parallelpiped shape as towels are removed. - The
first support plate 12 andsecond support plate 14 will first be described. These are best illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 9 , respectively. Eachsupport plate support plate support plate plates - The
support plate plates stacked towels 50. In preferred embodiments, thesupport plate plates support plate plates - As best shown in
FIG. 3 , thefirst support plate 12 has a centrally positioned cutout defined byperforations 70. The cutout can be removed by tearing theperforations 70, thereby exposing anopening 75 through thesupport plate 12. The opening 75 can have any desired size and shape for receivingtowels 50. In the illustrated embodiment, theopening 75 has six sides and a generally elongated hexagonal shape, although this is by no means required. The opening 75 can also have a generally slot-shape with the center of the slot being wider than ends of the slot and the slot being sized to engage towels as they are withdrawn one-by-one from the towel stack. Thus, the opening 75 is sized and shaped to accommodate grasping of towels in the stack by reaching the fingers through theopening 75. Thesupport plate 12 can optionally includeindicia 60, such as advertising, instructions, logos, etc. When the wrapper is in place around the towel product, theseam 30 extends across thefirst support plate 12. - As best shown in
FIG. 9 , thesecond support plate 14 includes anopening 95. Theopening 95 can also have any desired size and shape for receivingtowels 50. In the illustrated embodiment, theopening 95 has a generally circular shape with diametrically opposed slots extending outwardly from the opening to define confronting lobes on each side of the opening, the lobes being effective to engage individual sheets of toweling 50 as the latter are withdrawn from the roll. Thesupport plate 14 can also optionally includeindicia 60, such as advertising, instructions, logos, etc. - A
wrapper 20 is placed around thesupport plate plates towels 50. In some cases, thewrapper 20 is a flexible, water-resistant, desirably single thickness wrapper that protects the stackedtowels 50. Thewrapper 20 also serves to maintain the general shape of the stackedtowels 50 and to keep them in a tight, stacked configuration. Thewrapper 20 also has sufficient strength to restrain distortion of the stackedtowels 50 when they are subjected to an axial load. - The
wrapper 20 is shown in the Figures as being transparent so that thestacked towels 50 can be seen through it, but it will be understood that the wrapper can be transparent, opaque, or of any particular color, and may bear an identification of the product, together with trademarks, advertising and the like. The illustratedwrapper 20 also include holes or pores 25 that allow for the towels to breathe and facilitate manufacture of the stack. Theholes 25 can be provided in any desired arrangement and are sufficiently small to restrain water, oil and other contaminants from seeping inward. In some cases, theholes 25 are simply not provided. - The
wrapper 20 includes aseam 30 that extends partially around the circumference of the stacked towels. In certain cases, theseam 30 extends along the sides and over thefirst support plate 12, but does not extend over thesecond support plate 14. Theseam 30 is deliberately not provided over thesecond support plate 14 in order to aid in the product's stand alone functions. Instead of a seam, the portion of thewrapper 20 that is directly over the opening 95 of thesecond support plate 14 also includes awrapper opening 97. This is best illustrated inFIG. 11 . The lack of a seam helps to preserve the integrity of theopening 97, so that it does not tear or otherwise fall apart in areas where a seam would have been present. In some cases, thewrapper opening 97 is simply a slit. In other cases, thewrapper opening 97 is the same or substantially similar to theopening 95 of thesecond support plate 14. - Any appropriate material may be employed for the
wrapper 20, and a variety of flexible, heat-sealable, heat-shrinkable, and/or heat stretchable polymeric materials are available for this purpose, including bi-axially oriented polyester films, co-extruded films, and the like. Since, desirably, only a single thickness of the film is employed, it is desired to use a wrapper material that is sufficiently strong to perform its function in supporting and protecting thetowel product 100 while at the same time, for reasons of economy and weight, is reasonably thin. Films of about 0.003 inches (about 0.76 mm) in thickness have given good results. The film desirably is sufficiently thin as to enable it to be flexed with the fingers, but yet is sufficiently stiff as to at least substantially hold its shape astowels 50 within thewrapper 20 are removed. - The
stacked towels 50 are sandwiched between thesupport plate plates wrapper 20 preferably tightly engages all surfaces of the stackedtowels 50, and may actually squeeze these surfaces. In this manner, thewrapper 20 tends to support plate and stabilize thestacked towels 50. Of course, in a less desired embodiment, thewrapper 20 itself may be formed so as to have areas where it does not contact the entire outer surface of the stackedtowels 50. - The
wrapper 20 can be applied to a towel product using known shrink packaging or stretch packaging techniques and equipment. In one embodiment, single a film, e.g., polyester film approximately 3 mils (about 0.076 mm) in thickness is applied around the stackedtowels 50 andsupport plate plates seam 30. Theseam 30 preferably extends around the body of the towel product, except for the area in contact with thesecond support plate 14. The thus wrappedtowel product 100 is then subjected to heat, as in a heated shrink tunnel, to cause the film to shrink down into tight engagement with the towel product. Although shrink packaging is a preferred procedure, other procedures, such as stretch packaging, can be used. - It has been noted that both the
second support plate 14 and thewrapper 20 haveopenings opening 97 in the wrapper is made after the wrapper has been applied to the stackedtowels 50 as discussed above. Preferably, thesupport plate 14 is provided with theopening 95 before it is positioned onto a surface of the stackedtowels 50. However, in some embodiments, the both theopenings wrapper 20 has been applied. Various other methods of forming the openings will be evident to those skilled in the art. - As best shown in
FIG. 10 , aremovable cover 90 is placed over thewrapper opening 97. Thecover 90 can be made of any material and is preferably removable, resealable and water-resistant. In some cases, thecover 90 is provided in the form of a flexible plastic sheet having on all or a portion of the inner surface thereof a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive, thecover 90 being capable of being peeled away from thewrapper 20. The adhesive, for example, may be a repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive enabling thecover 90 to be repeatedly affixed and removed from the upper surface of the wrapper, and may be of the type employed in connection with the well-known 3M Post-It® products. - The stacked towels or toweling 50 can be any of a variety of well-known paper towel materials. Desirably, the toweling is of an absorbent material, and can be made from either a woven or non-woven material. There are a wide variety of non-woven processes, and they can be either wet laid dry laid. Some examples are hydroentangled materials (sometimes called “spunlace”), double re-creped materials, air laid materials, spunbond materials and meltblown materials, etc. “Toweling” is used herein, refers in general to sheet or web-like materials that may be absorbent and that may be provided in roll form. “Toweling” is also sometimes referred to as “wipes”, “wipers” and “towels”. Individual sheets may be sized as desired to accommodate the many uses of the towels.
- The dual functions of the towel product will now be described. When it is desired to use the
towel product 100 as an insert, a user positions thetowel product 100 so thefirst support plate 12 is oriented as a top surface, for example as shown inFIG. 4 . The user then removes the top portion of thewrapper 20, for example by cutting or tearing a hole in the wrapper in the area covering thefirst support plate 12. In certain embodiments, theentire wrapper 20 is removed, although this is not preferred. Rather, it is desirable to keep substantially all of the wrapper in place to help shape and support the stacked towels. Thetowel product 100 is then placed inside of a container. In cases where thewrapper 20 is in place, except for the whole formed over the first support place, all of the stackedtowels 50,support plate 12 andsupport plate 14 are placed inside of a container. In cases where the entire wrapper is removed, thestacked towels 50 can be alone placed in a container, optionally along with eithersupport plates - Any container known in the art can be used. In containers where the towels are designed to be removed from a top, the towel product is placed in the container so the
support plate 12 is a top surface. Alternatively, in containers where the towels are designed to be removed from a bottom, the towel product is placed in a container so thesupport plate 12 is a bottom surface. The container itself can be made of a plastic material of sufficient rigidity as to maintain its shape and also to protect thetowels 50 from messy environments. - One
exemplary container 200 is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 . The illustrated container has a generally rectangular shape. However, it can alternatively have other configurations. For example, the container can have a generally elliptical shape, generally rounded rectangular shape, and others. The illustrated container also has an exterior handle that can be manually grasped, although this is by no means required. - The
container 200 includes abody 225 having a generally flatted bottom from which arise side walls and a top 250 that serves as a top wall. The interior height of thecontainer 200, that is, the height between the interior of thecontainer top 250 and the floor of thecontainer body 225, is chosen to be approximately the same as the height of atowel product 100 of the invention. The exterior surface of the towel product, when it is inserted in the container, can touch the interior walls of thecontainer 225 or it can be spaced slightly from these walls. Thecontainer top 250 connects with the rim of thecontainer body 225 in any desired method known in the art. In some cases, the top 250 and rim have cooperating, facing annular shoulders such that when the top 250 is pushed down upon the rim, the annular ridge of the top 250 slips over the confronting annular ridge of the rim, often with an audible “click.”The top 250 includes anopening 260 and a hingedlid 255 for sealing the opening. In certain cases, the support plate opening 75 corresponds to theopening 260 on the container. In other words, theopenings product 100 is inside of thecontainer 200, a user removes thelid 255 to expose thecontainer opening 260.Towels 50 are then pulled through bothopenings container top 250. This abutting action helps to keep thetowels 50 stacked in an orderly fashion. - Another
exemplary container 300 is shown inFIG. 8 . Here, the container is generally rectangular shaped and has side walls, a bottom and a top. The illustratedcontainer 300 has a generally rectangular shape. However, it can alternatively have other configurations. For example, thecontainer 300 can have a generally elliptical shape, generally rounded rectangular shape, and others. The interior height of thecontainer 300, that is, the height between the top and the bottom 335, is chosen to be approximately the same as the height of atowel product 100 of the invention. The exterior surface of the towel product, when it is inserted in the container, can touch the interior walls of thecontainer 300 or it can be spaced slightly from these walls. - The
container 300 is accessible through its top. Alid 350 is provided that can be placed over and seal the top. Thelid 250 can be held in place about the top using any desired method known in the art. The bottom 325 includes theopening 360. A user orients the towel product 100 (with at least the wrapping 20 over the first surface torn or otherwise removed) so that thefirst surface plate 12 is facing downward. Thetowel product 100 is then placed inside of the container through its the top. Once inside, thefirst surface place 12 abuts the bottom 235 of the container. Theopening 75 on thefirst surface plate 12 corresponds with theopening 360 on the bottom 325. A user than reaches fingers through theopenings towels 50 downward and out of both thetowel product 100 andcontainer 300. - When it is desired to use the
towel product 100 as a stand-alone product, a user positions the towel product so thesecond support plate 14 is oriented as a top surface, as shown inFIG. 10 . The user then removes thecover 90 to expose both the support plate opening 95 and thewrapper opening 97.Towels 50 are then pulled through bothopenings FIG. 11 . The edges of bothopenings - As thus described, the towel product of the invention is capable of dispensing sheets of dry, clean toweling one sheet at a time as needed. Thus, the towel product of the invention can be used either as a separate, stand alone supply of toweling, or it can be used as an insert for the container described above. In each case, the wrapper serves to support plate and protect the toweling within it. This towel product is extremely versatile and leaves consumers with many options of use.
- While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims (10)
1. A stacked towel product suitable for use as a stand-alone supply of towels or as an insert for a towel-dispensing container, the product comprising
a plurality of towels stacked vertically one upon another to form a generally parallelepiped shape having top, bottom and side walls,
top and bottom generally rectangular support plates supporting respectively the top and bottom of the towel stack, each plate having an opening permitting towels to be drawn through it from the stack, the plates having sufficient stiffness to generally maintain the parallelepiped shape of the towel stack as towels are drawn therefrom and
a flexible, water-resistant protective wrapper extending about and snuggly engaging the side walls and top and bottom support plates.
2. The towel product of claim 1 wherein the protective wrapper has an opening aligned with the opening of one support plate to enable access to the towel stack, and the product including a removable and resealable cover protectively covering the opening in the wrapper.
3. The towel product of claim 2 wherein the removable and resealable cover comprises a flexible sheet bearing a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive adhering the sheet to the wrapper about the wrapper opening.
4. The towel product of claim 1 wherein the opening in one of the support plates is shaped differently from the opening on the other support plate.
5. The towel product of claim 2 wherein the opening in the support plate aligned with the wrapper opening is generally slot-shaped with the center of the slot being wider than ends of the slot and the slot being sized to engage towels as they are withdrawn one-by-one from the towel stack.
6. The towel product of claim 1 wherein at least one opening is defined by a perforated line.
7. The towel product of claim 1 wherein the towel-dispensing container includes an opening that aligns with an opening on one of said top and bottom rectangular support openings.
8. The towel product of claim 7 wherein the towel-dispensing container opening is substantially the same as said opening on one of said top and bottom rectangular support openings.
9. The towel product of claim 7 wherein the towel-dispensing container dispenses towels from a bottom surface.
10. The towel product of claim 7 wherein the towel-dispensing container dispenses towels from a top surface.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/105,727 US20080258586A1 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2008-04-18 | Dual-use towel product |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US91321807P | 2007-04-20 | 2007-04-20 | |
US12/105,727 US20080258586A1 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2008-04-18 | Dual-use towel product |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US91321807P Continuation | 2007-04-20 | 2007-04-20 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080258586A1 true US20080258586A1 (en) | 2008-10-23 |
Family
ID=39871510
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/105,727 Abandoned US20080258586A1 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2008-04-18 | Dual-use towel product |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080258586A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008131193A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140051562A1 (en) * | 2010-08-26 | 2014-02-20 | Pregis Innovative Packaging, Inc. | Center-fed dunnage system |
USD892614S1 (en) | 2018-06-11 | 2020-08-11 | Ecolab Usa Inc. | Cap for container |
WO2022000462A1 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-01-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Consumer product |
Citations (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1977687A (en) * | 1932-08-25 | 1934-10-23 | Nat Cellulose Corp | Cellophane box |
US2287581A (en) * | 1941-04-07 | 1942-06-23 | David O Walker | Tissue dispensing device |
US3243078A (en) * | 1964-04-27 | 1966-03-29 | Int Paper Canada | Sheet material dispenser package |
US3266666A (en) * | 1965-01-12 | 1966-08-16 | Kimberly Clark Co | Tissue dispensing carton having a detachable control panel as an integral part of the top wall |
US3269593A (en) * | 1963-05-28 | 1966-08-30 | Lodewick Madeleine | Tissue dispensing devices |
US3403815A (en) * | 1967-07-11 | 1968-10-01 | Ethicon Inc | Dispensing package |
US3784055A (en) * | 1972-12-04 | 1974-01-08 | Anderson Packaging Inc | Reclosable package |
US4570820A (en) * | 1983-01-18 | 1986-02-18 | Creative Products Resource Associates, Ltd. | Resealable dispensing container for folded towels |
US4863064A (en) * | 1987-09-18 | 1989-09-05 | Ifc Non-Wovens, Inc. | Flexible dispenser packet for pre-moistened towelettes |
US5050737A (en) * | 1990-05-29 | 1991-09-24 | Rockline, Inc. | System for packaging moist towelettes |
US5143249A (en) * | 1988-06-17 | 1992-09-01 | Kaysersberg, Sa | Stacked sanitary paper, dispenser, and method for making a stack |
US6135842A (en) * | 1999-01-12 | 2000-10-24 | Oddzon, Inc. | Spill-resistant bubble-blowing apparatus |
US6237805B1 (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 2001-05-29 | Mike J. Katsanevas | Door towel dispenser |
US6318590B1 (en) * | 1999-05-11 | 2001-11-20 | Mcmurray-Stivers Lisa | Travel tissue holder |
US6321937B1 (en) * | 1999-08-13 | 2001-11-27 | Chase Products Company | Aerosol dispensing system with on-board wiper dispenser |
US6520371B2 (en) * | 2001-03-29 | 2003-02-18 | Mark Cheng | Tissue box supplemental adapter |
US20030150868A1 (en) * | 2002-02-08 | 2003-08-14 | Hewett Christopher B. | Mobile healthcare product dispenser |
US20060000739A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Kadish Aram M | Package containing a first compartment for storing unused disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used disposable cleaning products |
US20060121098A1 (en) * | 2004-11-15 | 2006-06-08 | Mendoza Randall P | Dermal defense system and method of use |
US7204450B1 (en) * | 2004-06-18 | 2007-04-17 | Olympic General Corporation | Apparatus for dispensing garbage bags |
-
2008
- 2008-04-18 US US12/105,727 patent/US20080258586A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-04-18 WO PCT/US2008/060775 patent/WO2008131193A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1977687A (en) * | 1932-08-25 | 1934-10-23 | Nat Cellulose Corp | Cellophane box |
US2287581A (en) * | 1941-04-07 | 1942-06-23 | David O Walker | Tissue dispensing device |
US3269593A (en) * | 1963-05-28 | 1966-08-30 | Lodewick Madeleine | Tissue dispensing devices |
US3243078A (en) * | 1964-04-27 | 1966-03-29 | Int Paper Canada | Sheet material dispenser package |
US3266666A (en) * | 1965-01-12 | 1966-08-16 | Kimberly Clark Co | Tissue dispensing carton having a detachable control panel as an integral part of the top wall |
US3403815A (en) * | 1967-07-11 | 1968-10-01 | Ethicon Inc | Dispensing package |
US3784055A (en) * | 1972-12-04 | 1974-01-08 | Anderson Packaging Inc | Reclosable package |
US4570820A (en) * | 1983-01-18 | 1986-02-18 | Creative Products Resource Associates, Ltd. | Resealable dispensing container for folded towels |
US4863064A (en) * | 1987-09-18 | 1989-09-05 | Ifc Non-Wovens, Inc. | Flexible dispenser packet for pre-moistened towelettes |
US5143249A (en) * | 1988-06-17 | 1992-09-01 | Kaysersberg, Sa | Stacked sanitary paper, dispenser, and method for making a stack |
US5050737A (en) * | 1990-05-29 | 1991-09-24 | Rockline, Inc. | System for packaging moist towelettes |
US6237805B1 (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 2001-05-29 | Mike J. Katsanevas | Door towel dispenser |
US6135842A (en) * | 1999-01-12 | 2000-10-24 | Oddzon, Inc. | Spill-resistant bubble-blowing apparatus |
US6318590B1 (en) * | 1999-05-11 | 2001-11-20 | Mcmurray-Stivers Lisa | Travel tissue holder |
US6321937B1 (en) * | 1999-08-13 | 2001-11-27 | Chase Products Company | Aerosol dispensing system with on-board wiper dispenser |
US6520371B2 (en) * | 2001-03-29 | 2003-02-18 | Mark Cheng | Tissue box supplemental adapter |
US20030150868A1 (en) * | 2002-02-08 | 2003-08-14 | Hewett Christopher B. | Mobile healthcare product dispenser |
US7204450B1 (en) * | 2004-06-18 | 2007-04-17 | Olympic General Corporation | Apparatus for dispensing garbage bags |
US20060000739A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Kadish Aram M | Package containing a first compartment for storing unused disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used disposable cleaning products |
US20060121098A1 (en) * | 2004-11-15 | 2006-06-08 | Mendoza Randall P | Dermal defense system and method of use |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140051562A1 (en) * | 2010-08-26 | 2014-02-20 | Pregis Innovative Packaging, Inc. | Center-fed dunnage system |
US10300672B2 (en) * | 2010-08-26 | 2019-05-28 | Pregis Innovative Packaging Llc | Center-fed dunnage system |
USD892614S1 (en) | 2018-06-11 | 2020-08-11 | Ecolab Usa Inc. | Cap for container |
USD903504S1 (en) | 2018-06-11 | 2020-12-01 | Ecolab Usa Inc. | Pouch container |
WO2022000462A1 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-01-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Consumer product |
EP3936459A1 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-01-12 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Consumer product |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2008131193A1 (en) | 2008-10-30 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7533846B2 (en) | Towel roll product with supportive, protective wrapper | |
DK1765131T3 (en) | Weather resistant absorbent towels dispenser / DISPENSER | |
US7559434B2 (en) | Packaging two different substrates | |
EP0982237B1 (en) | Cleaning device and method | |
JP3124161U (en) | Wipe cloth dispensing container | |
US20040251292A1 (en) | Package containing two different substrates | |
US20080253697A1 (en) | Easy-opening flexible container | |
US20080110920A1 (en) | System for Packaging Rolls of Wet Wipes in a Soft Sided Container | |
US6347703B1 (en) | Self adhering wrapper | |
KR20160148555A (en) | Resealable label with hinge for use with dispenser package, and package having same | |
US20080258586A1 (en) | Dual-use towel product | |
WO2006050748A1 (en) | Transport- and storage package containing paper-rolls | |
US20080277408A1 (en) | Sheeted cleaning medium and dispenser/receptacle | |
JP2018122877A (en) | Packaging box for wound body and manufacturing method of the same | |
WO2014133736A1 (en) | Packaging for tissue products with branding | |
US10390663B2 (en) | Towel protector | |
US20210251438A1 (en) | Cleaning tissue, and roller and dispenser for cleaning tissues | |
US11759062B1 (en) | Wet wipe pocket with dispensing mechanism | |
US20050082187A1 (en) | Disposable cover for toothbrush | |
EP2082971A1 (en) | Packaging for tissue paper products, for toilet roll or other |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SELLARS ABSORBENT MATERIALS, INC., WISCONSIN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SELLARS, JOHN C.;SELLARS, NATHAN;REEL/FRAME:020932/0772 Effective date: 20080421 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |