EP2072410A1

EP2072410A1 - A pack of paper handkerchiefs, facial tissues and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2072410A1
Application number: EP08425786A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emi Stefani
Original assignee: Delicarta SpA
Current assignee: Delicarta SpA
Priority date: 2007-12-21
Filing date: 2008-12-10
Publication date: 2009-06-24
Also published as: ITFI20070290A1

Abstract

A plurality of paper handkerchiefs, facial tissues or the like, adequately folded, is housed in a box-shaped cardboard container, structured similarly to a cardboard carton for cigarettes and the like.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to improvements to packs of disposable hygiene products, in particular folded products, such as facial tissues, handkerchiefs or the like.

State of the art

Normally, paper handkerchiefs, and also facial tissues or the like, are packaged in plastic film wrappers with a pre-cut or tear-open aperture defined by pre-cutting or perforation, to remove the handkerchiefs individually. Although these packs are inexpensive, they are also not very suitable to maintain their content orderly, especially in cases in which the handkerchiefs are not consumed sufficiently rapidly. In any case, these current packs do not ensure uniform positioning of their content. These drawbacks are aggravated by the fact that these articles are commonly kept in a bag or purse, or in a pocket, where they are subjected to mechanical stresses of a dynamic nature, which deform the pack causing damage to its content.

Summary of the invention

The subject matter of the present invention is a pack for a plurality of paper handkerchiefs, facial tissues or other disposable folded cellulose articles which, although relatively inexpensive in relation to the value of the packaged article, is suitable to uniformly maintain the products contained therein during their use and in any case to allow easy removal of an article when required.
In substance, the pack in question for paper handkerchiefs, facial tissues and the like is composed of a box-shaped cardboard container forming a lid hinged along a folding line, structured similarly to a container or carton for cigarettes, and with similar dimensions to those of cardboard cigarette cartons on the market.
The pack in question has a relatively deep aperture, to facilitate removal of the individual handkerchiefs or other disposable folded cellulose articles, and a corresponding appendage of the articulated lid, to ensure closing of the pack.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood by following the description and accompanying drawing, which shows practical non-limiting examples of the invention. In the drawing:

Fig.1 shows in an overall perspective view, a carton for paper handkerchiefs or the like, open to remove a handkerchief;
Fig.2 shows a perspective view of a single paper handkerchief folded conventionally and susceptible to be housed in the carton of Fig. 1;
Figs.3, 4 and 5 show the pack of Fig. 1 in three sides views, one of which is partly cut-away;
Fig.6 is a side view, partly cut-away and open to remove a handkerchief;
Fig.6A is a perspective view of a variant of the pack of Fig. 6; and
Figs.7 to 11 show perspective views of some other possible forms of cartons for handkerchiefs or the like.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

According to the illustrations in Figs. 1 to 6, a pack for a plurality of folded paper handkerchiefs or other similar articles - such as facial tissues or in general disposable folded cellulose articles - is produced as a cardboard carton 1, analogously to conventional cartons to contain cigarettes or the like. The carton 1 has a lid 3 formed with the same cardboard and constrained to the body of the rigid pack at a hinge 5 formed by a transverse fold along one side of the rigid pack. The longitudinal dimension A of the carton is slightly greater than the length (more or less standardized) of cigarettes and is advantageously slightly greater than the dimension of a conventionally folded paper handkerchief (see Fig. 2). The thickness of the carton 1 depends on the number of handkerchiefs (or the like) to be contained. The assembly can be compared in structure to those of cigarette containers, naturally with dimensions compatible to those required by the dimensions of the suitably folded cellulose articles to be packaged.
The top handkerchief P₀ of the paper articles P as a whole is accessible and exposed due to the presence of an indentation 7 of adequate depth, i.e. dimension in the direction of length A of the pack or carton 1, to allow easy removal of the first article P₀, obtainable after having bent back the lid 3 around the fold 5, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 6. In turn, the lid 3 has an appendage 3A extending sufficiently to cover, in the closed position, the indentation 7.
In Fig.1 (and in Fig.6 with a dotted and dashed line) the article P₀ (handkerchief or other folded product) is shown in a position partly extracted from the carton 1.
The lid 3, when taken to the closed position around the hinge 5 formed by the transverse fold of the rear side of the cardboard, closes the carton 1 and therefore the remaining content of handkerchiefs is effectively protected.
Fig.6A shows a modified embodiment of the pack, in which means are provided to hold the lid closed after the first use. This is obtained by a tab 7A projecting from the body of the carton 1, along the lower edge of the indentation 7. When the pack 1 is closed the tab 7A cooperates and interferes with appendages 3B inside the lid 3, so as to provide a retaining effect which opposes spontaneous opening of the lid, to further ensure the hygiene of the products remaining inside the pack after its first use.
Figs.7, 8, 9 and 10 show some different structures or forms of cartons similar to the one shown and described above, all suitable to contain folded paper handkerchiefs, or other disposable folded cellulose articles, with the possibility of individual removal.
It is understood that the drawing shows just one example, provided merely as a practical demonstration of the invention, which can vary in its forms and arrangements, without however departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. The pack of disposable cellulose articles can first be wound in a flexible wrapper, such as paper or plastic film, easily tearable, before being inserted in the carton A. Alternatively or in combination, the cardboard carton 1 can be packaged in a transparent film, which is removed at the time of use. In both cases more hygienic packaging of the articles is obtained.

Claims

A pack of disposable folded cellulose articles, composed of a box-shaped cardboard container or carton forming a lid hinged along a folding line, structured similarly to a container or carton for cigarettes.
Pack as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carton has an indentation on one wall to facilitate removal of the articles, and a corresponding appendage on the lid to cover said aperture.
Pack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the articles are inserted in the pack after being packaged in an easily tearable flexible wrapper.
Pack as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, structured similarly to a container for ten cigarettes in two rows of five.
Pack as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises members to retain the lid and the closed position.
Pack as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the said retaining members comprise a tab on the body of the pack cooperating with projections inside the lid.
Pack as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said projections are produced in the form of appendages glued to the inside of the lid.