KR100676798B1 - Wet Wiper Containers with Improved Closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A wet wiper container 20 is disclosed having improved cutting resistance and improved opening, among other means, between the lid 24 and the base 22. The container includes a container base and a container lid connected to the container base. In one embodiment, the container lid has a guide ridge 50 extending downward into the interior of the container. The guide ridge allows the container lid to be in a partially open position and provides a better alignment between the container lid and the container base during closure of the container. In another embodiment, the container includes a closure having an upwardly extending tongue tongue 58, a flat gripping area 74, and an auxiliary region 78 to increase the ease with which the container can be opened. The invention also relates to a container having a container lid which is more resistant to cutting. The container lid has a hinge channel 64 of the main thickness 67. The hinge channel has two end zones, a secondary thickness 65, which is greater than the major thickness. The increased thickness of the end zone resists tears that may occur in the lid after repeated opening and closing of the container.

Wet Wipers, Containers, Caps, Closures, Partial Openings, Cut Resistant

Description

Wet Wiper Containers with Improved Closure {WET WIPES CONTAINER WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE}

The present invention relates to a wet wiper container. The invention relates in particular to a container lid and a container base which are more easily fixed to one another. The engagement between the container lid and the container base is facilitated by structural guides and improved closures that better position the lid on top of the base. The present invention also relates to an improvement in cutting resistance of the container lid and an improvement in the compressive strength of the container.

Wet wipes are well known commercial consumer products that are available in many forms. Perhaps the most common type of wet wiper is a stack of wet sheets packaged in a plastic container. Wet wipes are made from various materials moistened with a variety of suitable cleaning solutions. Typically, the wet wiper is laminated into the container in a folded or unfolded shape. For example, wet wiper containers are available as each of the wet wipes stacked in the container are arranged in a folded shape well known to those skilled in the art, such as c-fold, z-fold or quarter-fold shapes. Some folded wet wipers are also folded with the wet wiper just above and below the stack of wet wipers. In another form, the wet wiper paper is positioned in the container in the form of a continuous web material that includes a cut line for separating individual wet wiper papers and is rolled into a roll. Such wet wiper paper is used as a baby wiper paper, a face wash wiper paper, a household cleaning wiper paper, an industrial wiper paper, and the like.

Conventional containers containing wet wiper papers, such as those described above, are typically designed to be placed on a flat plane, such as a kitchen counter. Such conventional containers typically provide a plastic container or tube that provides a sealed environment that ensures that the wet wipes are not overly dried. Some conventional containers are also configured to dispense each wet wiper one sheet at a time using only one hand after the container is opened. Dispensing one sheet at a time, using only one hand, is particularly desirable because it is usually required that the user or other hand of the patient or caregiver be used simultaneously for different roles. For example, when changing an infant's diaper product, the caregiver usually uses one hand to hold the infant in the required position while the other hand attempts to dispense the infant wiper to wash the infant.

However, the opening of such a conventional wet wiper container is not completely satisfactory. For example, many conventional containers may not be easy to open with one hand, even if they cannot be opened with one hand or are designed to be opened with one hand. In such containers, the user typically must open the container with both hands before dispensing the wet wipe. Many such containers are difficult to open because they include a cover that provides a secure friction seal in the container body to ensure that the wet wiper does not overdry when closed. Many conventional containers also include relatively small opening mechanisms that are difficult to operate with one hand.

Another difficulty associated with conventional wet wiper containers is that the container lids typically have to be fully open or fully closed. Depending on the weight of wet wiper remaining in the container, the container may tilt backward due to the weight of the open lid. Thus, conventional containers do not provide a partially open position between the lid and the base of the container. As a result, as the wet wiper in the container is consumed, it becomes more difficult to obtain the wiper from the container using only one hand. In some conventional containers, the alignment between the container lid and the container base is poor. Poor alignment hinders the user's ability to secure the lid to the base, especially when work must be done with one hand.

In some wet wiper uses, such as wet wipes for changing diapers, the container holding the wiper is opened and closed very frequently. Frequent opening and closing of the container lid creates wear and stress on the connection or attachment between the lid and the base. After many opening and closing cycles, the connection may begin to fail, and in some cases the container lid will be cut away from the container base. The rough surface created by the cut lid can get on the skin or fabric, making it cumbersome. In the past, the outer contours of some conventional containers have a right angle with rough edges that can hang on the skin or fabric. For example, a right angle is often present at the point of connection between the container lid and the container base.

During shipping and storage of the containers, the containers are often stacked vertically on top of each other. It can be stacked on pallets or in shipping / storage containers. Stacking containers vertically on top of each other results in a significant force on top of the container. If the container does not have sufficient compressive strength, the lid or base may be deformed by outward bending or buckling. Some conventional containers are not designed to withstand the magnitude of the force received during routine shipping and storage.

In view of the difficulties and problems described above, the new container of the wet wiper with improved opening and dispensing is capable of maintaining a partially open position, improved alignment between the lid and the base and improved compressive strength found. The objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by the practice of the present invention as well as described below and will be apparent from this. Further advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the container particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a wet wipe container comprising a container base and a container lid. The container lid is connected to the container base. The container lid and the container base may be single parts or may be individual parts. The connection between the container lid and the container base can be an ultrasonic coupling, an interlocking hinge or other type of coupling known in the art. The container lid has a top and a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The walls typically extend downward from the top of the container lid in a rectangular shape. The walls may also extend downward in the usual trapezoidal shape. The container base has a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls. The walls extend upward from the bottom of the container base in a generally rectangular shape to provide an interior for containing the wet wiper paper. The walls may also extend upwards, usually in the shape of a trapezoid.

The top of the container lid has a guide ridge extending downward. The back wall of the container lid defines a length approximately equal to the total length of the container. The guide ridge is generally parallel to the rear wall of the container lid and the guide ridge is located near or near the rear wall. The guide ridge has a length shorter than the rear wall. For example, the ratio of the guide ridge length to the back wall length that typically represents the length of the vessel is preferably about 40% to about 90%, but is not limited thereto. Moreover, the guide ridge can extend downwards at a distance of about 0.25 in (0.635 cm) to about 0.75 in (1.905 cm). The guide ridge can also have a thickness of about 0.0625 in (0.159 cm) to about 0.25 in (0.635 cm). The rear wall of the container base has a top defining a receiving edge. The receiving edge is usually configured to receive the guide ridge of the container lid. For example, the receiving edge can be arc shaped. The receiving edge gradually receives the guide ridge as the container lid is rotated from the open position to the closed position. Among other things, the guide ridge facilitates opening and closing the container with one hand. Moreover, the guide ridge improves the alignment between the container lid and the container base. The guide ridge also allows a partially open position of the container lid. When the container lid is partially open, the container is stable and does not overturn, even though only a small number of wet wipers remain in the container. In the partially open position, the container lid is about 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) to 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) above the container base. The partially open position allows a person to access the container to pick up the wet wiper with only one hand.

The container lid can be made of a polymer, copolymer or mixtures thereof. For example, the container lid can be made primarily of a copolymer of styrene-butadiene-styrene. The container lid may be partially transparent or translucent to facilitate determining the amount of wiperge remaining in the container. The container base can similarly be made of polymers, copolymers or mixtures thereof. For example, the container base can be made primarily of polystyrene. The container base can be made of one of an opaque, translucent or transparent material. Dyes, dyes and colorants may be added to the material of either the container lid or the container base. The wet wiper vessel of the present invention may advantageously be used for secondary purposes when it is no longer used to contain the wet wipe. For example, the container can be used to store small toys, art tools and other household items. If the container lid and the container base are translucent or transparent, it is possible to know what is in the container without opening the lid.

The corners formed at the intersections of the vessel lid and the various walls of the vessel base may be rounded. In particular, the corners between the front wall, the rear wall, the side wall, the top and the bottom may be curved. The container lid and the container base can be joined to each other at their respective back walls. The container lid and the container base can be joined or connected by various methods known in the art, including ultrasonic coupling.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a wet wipe container comprising a container base and a separate container lid attached to the container base. The container lid can be attached to the container base by a variety of methods including hinge arrangements, pins, interlocking edges, ultrasonic bonding, and other attachment methods known in the art. The container lid has a top and a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The walls usually extend downward from the top in a rectangular shape.

The rear wall of the container lid includes an outwardly extending flange. Outwardly extending flanges can be predominantly two-dimensional so that the flanges have a width and a length. The flange can be thought of as being divided into three regions, the region immediately adjacent the rear wall of the container lid, the hinge channel and the attachment region. The attachment area is located farthest from the rear wall of the container lid and the hinge channel is located between the immediately adjacent area and the attachment area. The three regions are mainly linear and they are configured generally parallel to each other and to the rear wall of the container lid. Each zone has an independent length no longer than the rear wall of the container lid. Starting in the area near the rear wall, the flange length gradually tapers along the flange width. In this case, the flange length near the rear wall may be longer than the flange length in the attachment area. The length of the hinge channel can be between the length of the area near the rear wall and the length of the attachment area. For example, the ratio of the flange length to the total length of the container lid in the hinge channel is from about 60% to about 85% and the ratio of the flange length to the total length of the container lid in the attachment area is from about 50% to about 75%.

The hinge channel has two end sections, each end section located at the end of the hinge channel. The hinge channel has a major thickness and the end region of the hinge channel has a secondary thickness greater than the major thickness. The major thickness of the hinge channel may be between about 0.005 in (0.013 cm) and about 0.015 in (0.038 cm). The secondary thickness of the end region may preferably be about 20% to about 100% larger than the main thickness.                 

In addition to the thickness of the hinge channel, there is an overall thickness on the outwardly extending flange. The flange thickness can vary over the flange width. For example, the flange thickness includes the thickness near the rear wall, the secondary thickness of the end region of the hinge channel, and the thickness of the attachment area. If the flange thickness near the rear wall of the container lid and the thickness of the attachment area are greater than the secondary thickness, the flange thickness may gradually decrease along the width until the thickness matches the secondary thickness. Conversely, if the flange thickness near the rear wall and the thickness of the attachment area are less than the secondary thickness, the flange thickness may gradually increase along the width until the thickness matches the secondary thickness. The outwardly extending flange has two ends which are usually defined by the flange width. These ends have a curved shape that forms an angle smaller than 90 ° away from the rear wall of the container lid. Gradual curvature to the flange end can prevent skin and fabric from hooking the flange.

The wet wiper container also includes a container base comprising a bottom and a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls. The walls extend upward from the bottom of the container base in a generally rectangular shape that provides an interior for containing the wet wiper paper. The walls may also extend upwards, usually in the shape of a trapezoid. The back wall of the container base may have a top that includes an outwardly extending lip. The container lid can be attached to the container base by attaching the attachment region of the container lid to the outwardly extending lip of the rear wall of the container base. The container lid and the container base can be attached to each other by pins and by ultrasonic coupling by various methods known in the art, including interlocking hinges.                 

The container lid and the container base can be transparent or translucent to indicate the amount of wet wiper remaining in the container. The container lid and the container base can be made of a mixture comprising various polymers, copolymers and polystyrenes. The various corners formed by the front, rear, side walls, top and bottom of the container lid and the container base can be curved.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a wet wipe container comprising a container base, a container lid and a closure. The container lid is connected to the container base and the container lid itself may include a hinge or a hinge may be formed between the container lid and the container base. As an example of the connection between the lid and the base, the container lid and the container base can be joined together ultrasonically. The closure is configured to releasably hold the container lid on the container base in the closed position.

The closure includes an upright tongue projection continuous to and extending upward from the top surface of the front wall of the container base. The upstanding tongue may have a curved edge and a generally centered flat gripping area of the tongue. The top surface of the front wall of the container base may have an arcuate depression below the gripping area of the tongue. The closure also includes an auxiliary zone that is below the arch depression and is generally concentric with the cusp. The closure also includes an opening located in the convex portion of the front wall of the container lid. When the container is closed, the tongue extends upwardly through the opening. In another embodiment, the tongue protrusion extends downward from the container lid and the opening is located in the convex portion of the container base.                 

The container lid of the container having such a closure may further comprise a top, a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls extending downwardly from the top in a generally rectangular shape. The container base of the container with such a closure may further comprise a pair of opposing side walls extending upwardly from the bottom in a generally rectangular shape to provide an interior for holding the bottom and rear walls and the wet wiper. The container base may also typically have a trapezoidal shape.

In other containers of the present invention, the container lid and the container base may be transparent or translucent to indicate the amount of wet wiper remaining in the container. The container lid and the container base can be made of a mixture comprising various polymers, copolymers and polystyrenes. The various corners formed by the container lid and the front wall, rear wall, sidewalls, top and bottom of the container base can be curved.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a wet wipe container comprising a container base and a container lid connected to the container base. The container base includes a bottom and a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposing side walls. The walls extend upwardly from the bottom in a generally rectangular shape to provide an interior for containing the wet wiper paper. The walls may include one or more generally linear ribs formed in the wall. The ribs can be vertical or horizontal. The ribs may extend along the width or the entire length of the wall (s) or only along a portion of the width or the length of the wall (s). The ribs provide a container with improved compressive strength that resists compression or buckling that may occur during shipping and storage. Ribs also give the container a more aesthetic appearance.                 

Accordingly, in various aspects the present invention advantageously relates to a wet wiper container that is convenient for use with one hand with a wet wiper as compared to conventional wet wiper containers. In particular, the present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing container for wet wipes that is easy to use and has an ergonomic closure. The improved closure provides reliable one hand opening and distribution for improved consumer satisfaction. Containers are particularly preferred for infant wipes to be used in the normal work of changing diapers, which typically use a wet wipe with one hand, by a patient or caregiver. Moreover, the container of the present invention is stable in the partially open position regardless of the amount of wet wiper in the container. Being able to maintain the partially open position of the container lid prevents the weight of the container lid from tilting the container backward when only a small amount of wet wiper remains in the container. The container also provides an improved alignment between the container lid and the container base. Advantageously, the container of the present invention has a lid that is more resistant to cutting than conventional lids in repeated use, and a curved edge contour that prevents skin or fabric from being caught at the ends of the container. In addition, the container of the present invention provides better compressive strength, thereby providing improved resistance to compression and buckling.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are intended to provide further explanation of the exemplary and claimed invention. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, are included to illustrate and facilitate further understanding of the container of the present invention. The description and drawings together describe various aspects of the invention.

With reference to the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, the invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will be apparent. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Similar parts of the containers shown in the figures are referred to by the same reference numerals.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a wet wiper container according to the present invention in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the wet wiper container shown in FIG. 1 in an open position. FIG.

3 is a plan view showing the wet wiper container shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the wet wiper container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the wet wiper container shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the wet wiper container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an end sectional view showing the wet wiper container shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing the container lid of the wet wiper container shown in FIG.

9 shows a perspective view of the instrument used to measure the cut resistance (closed position).

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the instrument used to measure the cut resistance (open position).

The present invention is directed to solving the problems associated with the use and durability of conventional wet wiper containers. As shown in Figures 1-8, the present invention provides a wet wiper container 20 configured to dispense wet wiper papers in a convenient and reliable manner for personal use. The wet wiper container 20 includes a container base 22 and a container lid 24 connected or attached to the container base 22. The container base 22 and the container lid 24 may be formed in a single piece or may be separate pieces. The container lid 24 can be connected to the container base 22 by a variety of mechanical and chemical methods known in the art, including but not limited to hinges, interlocking members, the use of adhesives or other bonding materials, or ultrasonic bonding.

The wet wiper may be arranged in the container 20 in any manner to provide a convenient and reliable container for dispensing and to ensure that the wet wiper does not become excessively dry. For example, the wet wiper paper may be arranged in the container 20 as a plurality of individual sheets arranged in a stacked configuration providing a stack of wet wiper papers which may or may not be individually folded. Wet wipes may be individual wet wipes stacked on top of each other to be folded into c-fold or z-fold shapes to provide a stack of wet wipes as is known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, if the wet wipes are arranged in a stacked configuration within the vessel 20, the individual wet wipers may be folded together to overlap the leading and trailing edges of the continuous wiper in a stacked configuration. In this configuration, as the preceding wet wiper is removed by the user, the leading edge of the subsequent wet wiper is loosened from the stack by the trailing edge of the preceding wet wiper. Wet wipers may be folded together to facilitate such dispensing by methods known to those skilled in the art.

Alternatively, the wet wiper may be arranged in the vessel 20 as a continuous web of interconnected wet wiper folded in a stacked shape, such as an accordion. The individual wet wipers may be connected to one another along a soft line, such as a tear line, to ensure that the subsequent wet wiper is in position for the user to grasp after the preceding wet wiper is removed. For example, a wet wiper can be provided by a continuous web of material having a series of soft wires extending across the width of the web. Some of the web material between successive soft wires provides each individual wet wiper paper. The soft wire can be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as cutting, indenting or cutting in web materials. For example, a soft or cut line may be provided in the web material by passing the web material between the die cutter roll and the anvil roll. After the soft wire is made of the web material, the webs may be arranged in a stacked shape to facilitate insertion into the interior 38 of the vessel 20.

The wet wipe container 20 of the present invention may comprise any suitable number of individual wet wipes, depending on the desired packaging and purpose of use. For example, the container 20 may be configured to include a stack of wet wiper papers, including at least about 5 wet wiper papers, preferably about 16 to about 320 individual wet wiper papers.

Each wet wipe is typically rectangular in shape and defines a pair of opposing end edges and a pair of opposing side edges, which may be referred to as leading and trailing edges. The leading edge of each wet wiper is typically positioned within the container 20 to be gripped by the user to facilitate removal of the wet wiper from the container 20. Each wet wiper defines an unfolded width and an unfolded length. The wet wiper paper can have any suitable unfolded width and length. For example, the wet wiper paper may have an unfolded length of about 2.0 to about 80.0 cm, preferably about 10.0 to about 25.0 cm, and about 2.0 to about 80.0 cm, preferably about 10.0 to about 45.0 cm May not have a width.

Suitable materials for the wet wiper of the present invention are well known to those skilled in the art. Wet wipers are wet wipers, including meltblown, coform, air-laid, bonded-carded web materials, hydroentangled materials, and the like. It may be made of any material suitable for use as paper and may include synthetic or natural fibers or combinations thereof. The wet wiper paper may have a basis weight of about 25 to about 120 g / m 2, preferably about 40 to about 90 g / m 2.

In certain embodiments, the wet wiper paper may comprise a coform basesheet of cellulose fibers and polymer microfibers having a basis weight of about 60 to about 80 g / m 2, preferably about 75 g / m 2. Such coform basesheets are commonly prepared as described in US Pat. No. 4,100,324, issued July 11, 1978, incorporated herein by reference, and issued to Anderson et al. Typically, such coform basesheets may comprise a gas-forming matrix of thermoplastic polymer meltblown microfibers, such as, for example, polypropylene microfibers, and cellulose fibers such as wood pulp fibers. The relative percentages of polymeric microfibers and cellulose fibers in the coform basesheet can vary over a wide range depending on the desired properties of the wet wipes. For example, the coform basesheet is about 20 to about 100 weight percent, preferably about 20 to about 60 weight percent, more preferably based on the dry weight of the coform basesheet used to prepare the wet wiper paper. Preferably from about 30 to about 40 weight percent.

Wet wipes of different aspects of the present invention contain a liquid, which can be any solution that can be absorbed into a wet wipe. The liquid contained in the wet wiper may include any suitable ingredient that provides the desired wiping properties. For example, the components can include water, emollients, surfactants, preservatives, chelating agents, pH buffers, or combinations thereof. Liquids may also include lotions, ointments or medications.

The amount of liquid contained in each wet wipe is determined by the type of material used to prepare the wet wipe, the type of liquid used, the type of vessel used to store the stack of wet wipes, and the required amount of wet wipe. It may vary depending on the purpose of use. Typically, each wet wiper may contain from about 150 to 600 weight percent of liquid, preferably from about 250 to about 450 weight percent of liquid, based on the dry weight of the wiper for improved wiping. In certain embodiments where the wet wiper is made of a coform material comprising from about 30 to about 40 weight percent polymer fine fibers based on the dry weight of the wiper, the amount of liquid contained in the wet wiper is based on the dry weight of the wet wiper About 300 to about 400 weight percent, preferably about 330 weight percent. If the amount of liquid is less than the above-mentioned range, the wet wiper paper may be too dry to perform properly. If the amount of liquid is greater than the above-mentioned range, the wet wiper may be supersaturated and soaked and the liquid may accumulate at the bottom of the container.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the wet wiper vessel 20 defines a bottom 28 connected to the front wall 30, the rear wall 32 and a pair of opposing side walls 34, 36. Container base 22 to be included. The front, rear and lateral walls typically extend upward from the bottom 28 at right angles to form a rectangular container base 22. The container base 22 can also have a trapezoidal shape. The bottom, front, back and sidewalls of the container base 22 typically define an empty interior 38 for containing wet wiper paper. The wet wiper container 20 also includes a container lid 24 that defines a top 40 that is connected to the front wall 42, the rear wall 44, and a pair of opposing side walls 46, 48. . The front, rear and sidewalls extend downwardly from the top 40 at right angles to form a rectangular container lid 24.

The container base 22 and the container lid 24 of the container 20 may be provided by a variety of inexpensive and retainable liquids. Suitable materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and the like or combinations thereof. For example, the container base 22 can be made of polystyrene material and has a thickness of about 0.010 in (0.025 cm) to about 0.080 in (0.203 cm). The container lid 24 can be made from a combination of polystyrene material and styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and has a thickness of about 0.005 in (0.013 cm) to about 0.060 in (0.152 cm).                 

The walls 30, 32, 34, 36 of the container base 22 may be integral with the floor 28 or may include individual members connected or coupled to the floor 28 to provide the container base 22. Can be. Similarly, the walls 42, 44, 46, 48 of the container lid 24 may also be integral with the top 40 or an individual connected or coupled to the top 40 to provide the container lid 24. It may include a member. Preferably, the connection or corner between the walls and the base 22 and the top 40 and bottom 28 of the lid 24 is curved to provide a more aesthetically pleasing container 20.

Different elements of the vessel 20 can be prepared by conventional techniques such as thermoforming or injection molding as known to those skilled in the art. For the container of the present invention, in some embodiments the container base 22 and the container lid 24 are provided as an integral unit. In some cases, injection molding techniques can be used to form integral units. If the container base 22 and the container lid 24 are separate elements, thermoforming techniques are commonly used.

In an embodiment of the container of the present invention, the container 20 includes a container base 22 and a container lid 24 as described herein. In addition to the top 40 and the front wall 42, the rear wall 44 and the side walls 46, 48, the container lid 24 may also include a guide ridge 50 extending downward. Guide ridge 50 is typically parallel to the back wall 44 of the container lid 24. Guide ridge 50 is typically located near or near the rear wall 44. The rear wall 32 of the container base 22 has a top 52. The upper portion 52 is the part of the rear wall 32 which comes into closest contact with the top of the rear wall 32 and thus the container lid 24. The upper portion 52 extends along the entire length of the rear wall 32. The upper portion 52 defines the receiving edge 54. The receiving edge 54 is shaped to receive the guide ridge 50 of the container lid 24. For example, the receiving edge 54 may be arc shaped to receive the guide ridge 50. As the container lid 24 is closed onto the container base 22, the receiving edge 54 receives the guide ridge 50.

In one embodiment of the invention, as the container lid 24 is rotated downward toward the closed position, the guide ridge 50 comes into contact with the receiving edge 54 and the receiving edge 54 is guided ridge 50. Is pressed downward and forward of the receiving edge 54. Thus, when the container lid 24 is closed onto the container base 22, the guide ridge 50 is spaced far enough from the rear wall 44 to be able to reach the front of the receiving edge 54. Since the guide ridge 50 extends downwardly at the top 40 of the container lid 24, the guide ridge 50 can be described as having a “depth” as opposed to the height. The depth of the guide ridge 50 is sufficient to extend below the bottom or bottom of the receiving edge 54. The combination of the guide ridge 50 and the receiving edge 54 facilitates that the container lid 24 can be closed on the container base 22. Moreover, the guide ridge 50 / receiving edge 54 combination helps to align the container lid 24 on the container base 22 to provide a firm closed position. Because the container lid 24 and the container base 22 are properly aligned, the container lid 24 completely covers the container base 22 and the likelihood that the container lid 24 "jumps" out of the container base 22 is reduced. do. If the container lid 24 is partially or wholly separated from the container base 22, moisture will be lost from the wet wiper product stored in the container 20. As a result, the wet wiper product loses its ability to perform its intended action.

The combination of the guide ridge 50 and the receiving edge 54 also aids in using the container 20 with one hand by allowing a partial opening relationship between the container lid 24 and the container base 22. Typically, existing containers can only maintain a fully open or fully closed position. When only a small amount of wet wiper remains in the container 20 and the container lid 24 is in the open position, the entire container 20 can be tilted backwards by the weight of the container lid 24 that is not parallel enough. have. The inclination of the container 20 makes it difficult to hold the wet wiper with one hand. The partially open position is achieved when the guide ridge 50 is placed on the receiving edge 54. In the container of the present invention, the problem associated with the reversal of the container 20 is overcome while the user quietly removes the wet wiper from the container 20 with one hand. The vessel 20 of the present invention does not turn over even when no wet wiper remains in the interior 38 of the vessel 20. Typically, when the container lid 24 is in the partially open position, it is about 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) to 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) away from the container base 22. For at least these reasons, the container of the present invention is easy to use with one hand and is more stable when a small number of wet wipes remain in the container 20.

Guide ridge 50 and receiving edge 54 may have a variety of shapes. Typically, the receiving edge 54 is shaped or shaped to at least partially complement the shape or downward facing contour of the guide ridge 50. While the receiving edge has a thickness, the receiving edge 54 is mainly two dimensional. The receiving edge 54 may extend the entire length of the top 52 of the rear wall 32 or may only extend along a portion of the length of the top 52. Guide ridge 50 has a length 51 (shown in FIG. 3), a depth 55 (shown in FIG. 7), and a thickness 53 (shown in FIG. 3). Typically, the length 51 of the guide ridge 50 is shorter than the length of the back wall 44. Guide ridge 50 preferably has a length ratio of length 51 to back wall 44 of guide ridge 50 from about 40% to about 90%. In most embodiments, the depth 55 of the guide ridge 50 ranges from about 0.25 in (0.635 cm) to about 0.75 in (1.905 cm). The thickness 53 of the guide ridge 50 may range from about 0.0625 in (0.159 cm) to about 0.25 in (0.635 cm). The position of the guide ridge 50 against the rear wall 32 of the container base 22 when the container lid 24 is closed is shown in the cross section of the end of the container 20 shown in FIG.

484와 같은 고 충격 폴리스티렌의 약 98%로 형성된다. 용기 기부(22)의 나머지 성분은 파이어스톤 컴퍼니로부터 입수 가능한 STEREON

과 같은 충격 변형제일 수 있다. 본 발명의 용기 뚜껑(24)의 예에서, 용기 뚜껑(24)은 피나 오일 앤드 케미컬 컴퍼니로부터 입수 가능한 FINAPRENE^TM Thermoplastic Elastomers, Finaclear 520과 같은 스티렌-부타디엔-스티렌 공중합체의 약 70%로 제조될 수 있다. 용기 뚜껑(24)은 피나 오일 앤드 케미컬 컴퍼니로부터 입수 가능한 FINA

Polystyrene 524B와 같은 상용 폴리스티렌의 약 20%를 또한 포함할 수 있다. 용기 뚜껑(24)은 Dow SYTRON

484와 같은 고 충격 폴리스티렌의 약 10%를 더 포함할 수 있다. 원한다면, 용기 뚜껑(24)은 중량이 약 0.08% 내지 약 1.2%인 착색제를 포함할 수 있다. 적절한 착색제 화합물은 이 분야의 숙련자에게 공지되어 있다.As described herein, the container of the present invention may be made of a polymer, a copolymer, or a mixture of polymers and copolymers. Additional components may be added to provide various functions to the entire vessel 20 or individual vessel base 22 and vessel lid 24. In one example, the container base 22 is Dow SYTRON available from Dow Chemical of Midland, Michigan.

It is formed from about 98% of high impact polystyrene such as 484. The remaining ingredients of the container base 22 are STEREON available from Firestone Company.

Impact modifiers, such as In the example of the container lid 24 of the present invention, the container lid 24 can be made from about 70% of styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers such as FINAPRENE ^™ Thermoplastic Elastomers, Finaclear 520, available from Pina Oil & Chemical Company. have. Container lids 24 are available from Fina Oil & Chemical Company.

About 20% of commercial polystyrene, such as Polystyrene 524B, may also be included. Container Lid (24) Dow SYTRON

It may further comprise about 10% of high impact polystyrene, such as 484. If desired, the container lid 24 can include a colorant that is about 0.08% to about 1.2% by weight. Suitable colorant compounds are known to those skilled in the art.

One or the other of the container lid 24 and the container base 22 of the container of the present invention may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. There are certain advantages associated with the container lid 24 or the container base 22 being transparent or translucent. For example, if the container lid 24 is transparent, the user of the container 20 can easily determine the amount of wet wiper remaining in the container 20. That is, the user can determine the amount of wet wiper remaining in the container 20 without having to open the container lid 24 of the container. This is useful in part because some wet wiper products are sold without a container in the supplement pack. The consumer may intermittently purchase a wet wiper of the container 20 as described herein, but may additionally purchase a wet wiper of the supplement pack. The consumer may replenish the container 20 with a wet wiper purchased as part of the replenishment pack. If the container lid 24 and the container base 22 are translucent, the container 20 of the present invention is preferred for secondary use. For example, when a user no longer uses the container 20 to hold a wet wiper, the user may want to use the container 20 to store small toys, art tools and other household items. If the container 20 is translucent, the user can see what is inside the container 20 without having to open the lid 24 or having to reposition an item that may be on or around the top of the container 20. It can be seen.

Aesthetic and functional advantages are also obtained when one or the other of the container lid 24 or the container base 22 is colored. For example, differently colored containers may be used to distinguish different types of packaging for wet wiper products. Similarly, aesthetic and functional advantages can be achieved when the container lid 24 or the container base 22 has graphics printed on it. In addition to the aesthetic advantage, graphics can be used to distinguish between various wet wiper product types.

As already described herein, the container lid 24 and the container base 22 may be formed of a single integral part or may be formed of individual parts. For the container of the present invention formed of two separate parts, the container lid 24 is attached or connected to the container base 22 using various techniques known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the container lid 24 and the container base 22 are attached to their rear walls. The back wall 44 of the container lid 24 is connected to the container base 22 via glue, adhesive, or other binder, through heat sealing, via ultrasonic bonding, or through the use of a physical connector such as a pin or interlocking member. It can be attached to the rear wall (32) of the).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the container 20 includes a container base 22 and a separate container lid 24 attached to the container base 22. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the rear wall 44 of the container lid 24 has an outwardly extending flange 60. Outwardly extending flange 60 is typically two dimensional and flange 60 has a width 61 and a length 63. The outwardly extending flange 60 extends away from the plane of the rear wall 44 mainly in a perpendicular direction. The flange 60 comprises three conventional areas closest to the rear wall 44, the area immediately adjacent 66, the hinge channel 64 and the attachment area 62. The attachment area 62 is located farthest from the rear wall and the hinge channel 64 is centered between the immediately adjacent area 66 and the attachment area 62. Each of the three regions or sections of the flange 60 is predominantly linear in shape and each region has a length, width and thickness separately. The three regions usually extend in a direction parallel to each other and mainly parallel to the back wall 44 of the container lid 24. The back wall 32 of the container base 22 has a top or top 52 that runs linearly along a portion of the back wall 32 furthest from the bottom 28. Top 52 has an outwardly extending lip 70. Outwardly extending lip 70 extends away from top 52 in a generally planar and mainly perpendicular direction. The container lid 24 is attached to the container base 22 by attaching the flange 60 to the outwardly extending lip 70. More specifically, the attachment area 62 of the flange 60 is attached to the outwardly extending lip 70. Thus, the container lid 24 and the container base 22 are usually attached to each other along their rear wall. Attachment region 62 and outwardly extending lip 70 may be attached to each other using any technique commonly known to those skilled in the art. One example of a suitable technique is ultrasonic coupling.

In one embodiment of the invention, the end edge of the flange 60 may have a taper. The taper at the end of the flange 60 causes the end of the flange 60 to bend. When the end of the flange 60 has a curved shape, the end forms an angle 69, shown in FIG. 8, far from the rear wall 44 less than 90 °. In conventional containers, the edge of the hinge between the container lid and the container base may be at right angles or 90 ° to the back panel of the container lid. Providing a curvilinear shape and an angle of less than 90 ° provides some advantages to the vessel 20. The curvature of the end edge of the flange 60 provides a more intimate container 20 to the user in that the flange 60 does not easily catch on fabric or skin. When the flange 60 edge is tapered along the curve, the immediately adjacent area 66 has the largest length and the attachment area 62 has the smallest length. While the length of the flange 60 does not normally exceed the length of the rear wall 44, the length of the three regions may vary depending on whether or not tapering is performed. For example, in certain embodiments, the length of hinge channel 64 may be about 60% to about 85% of the length of back wall 44. The length of the attachment region 62 may be about 50% to about 75% of the length of the back wall 44.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hinge channel 64 has two ends, each end of the hinge channel 64 including an end region 68. Hinge channel 64 has a major thickness and end region 68 has a secondary thickness. The secondary thickness of the end region 68 is typically greater than the major thickness of the hinge channel 64. For example, the major thickness of hinge channel 64 may be between about 0.005 in (0.013 cm) and about 0.015 in (0.038 cm). The secondary thickness of the end region 68 is about 20% to about 100% greater than the main thickness. In a similar embodiment, the overall thickness of the outwardly extending flange 60 varies along the flange 60 width. As with the tapered flange 60 lengths described herein, the flange 60 thickness can vary gradually across the three regions of the flange 60. An example of tapering or gradual change in flange 60 thickness is shown in FIG. 8.

In one example of the flange 60 of the present invention, the immediately adjacent area 66 has an initial thickness 73 of about 0.040 in (0.102 cm) at the point closest to the rear wall 44. The end region 68 of the hinge channel 64 has a thickness 65 of about 0.015 in (0.038 cm), and the rest of the hinge channel 64 has a thickness 67 of about 0.009 in (0.023 cm). Have Then, the thickness of the flange 60 may increase over the transition from the end region 68 or hinge channel 64 to the attachment area 62. Attachment regions 62 are shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, which have approximately the same thickness 71 as thickness 73 of immediately adjacent region 66, but thicknesses 71 and 73 may be different. have. As shown in FIG. 8A, the thickness 73 of the flange 60 of the immediately adjacent region 66 is about 0.015 in, which is the thickness 65 of the end region 68 at about 0.040 in (0.102 cm). (0.038 cm) can be gradually thinned. The thickness 65 of the flange 60 can remain fairly constant over the width of the end region 68. On the other side of the end zone 68, the thickness 71 of the flange 60 crosses the width of the attachment area 62 until the thickness 71 reaches a value of about 0.040 in (0.102 cm). Can gradually increase. Changes in the thickness 73 of the immediately adjacent region 66, the thickness 67 of the hinge channel 64, and the thickness 71 of the attachment region 62 over the width of the flange 60 8b is shown.

In the container of the present invention, the container with the outwardly extending flange 60 at the rear wall 44 having the hinge channel 64 with the end region 68 of the larger secondary thickness 65 is flange 60. The advantage for the performance is shown in the lid 24. When the hinge channel 64 has an end region 68 of the secondary thickness 65, the hinge channel 64 is more resistant to cutting. The hinge region of a conventional container is usually susceptible to cutting after repeated use. Clearly, the hinge deforms over time to the extent that it is cut with repeated opening and closing of the lid. To illustrate the improved tear resistance of the container of the present invention, the device shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has been configured to simulate the repeated opening and closing of the container lid 24. The bending test mechanism 80 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The bending test mechanism 80 can simulate the movement of the container lids 24 of the two vessels 20 at a time. The bending test instrument 80 includes a motor assembly 82 embedded approximately in the center of the instrument platform 90. Motor assembly 82 includes a gear motor, a motor controller and a Milter gear. A suitable motor assembly 82 can be purchased in part number from the following manufacturers: (1) gear motor-WW Grainger, part number 4Z539, (2) motor controller-WW Grainger, part number 4Z527, (3) Milter Gear-WM Berg, part number MX-3-D. Motor assembly 82 drives rotary motion arm 84 through a range of motions that mimic the range of motion experienced by container lid 24 from repeated opening and closing. With respect to the vertical plane, the rotary motion arm 84 moves over a range of about −78 ° to about 78 °. Each cycle of the rotary motion arm 84 is sensed and recorded by the counter 92. A suitable counter 92 is the part number H7CS-B or equivalent of Omron Corporation of Japan.

용기가 시험된다. 본 발명의 용기(20)는 외향 연장 플랜지(60)를 갖는 개별 용기 뚜껑(24)을 갖는다. 외향 연장 플랜지(60)는 주요 두께부(67)를 갖는 힌지 채널(64)을 포함하는데, 힌지 채널(64)은 더 큰 부차적 두께부(65)의 단부 구역(68)을 갖는다. 주요 두께부(67)는 약 0.009 in(0.023 cm)이고 부차적 두께부(65)는 약 0.015 in(0.038 cm)이다. 굽힘 시험 기구(80)는 분당 약 50 사이클로 작동된다. 종래의 HUGGIES NATURAL CARE

용기는 약 9,000 사이클 후에 힌지 영역의 전체 길이를 가로질러 절취된다. 설명을 위한 본 발명의 용기(20)는 약 28,000 사이클 후에 힌지 채널(64)이 절취되지 않는다.9 illustrates the operation of the bend test instrument 80 when the vessel lid 24 is in the substantially closed position and FIG. 10 illustrates the operation of the bend test instrument 80 when the vessel lid 24 is in the open position. When installing the bending test instrument 80 to perform the test, the vessel 20 is positioned on the platform 90 of the instrument 80. The containers are located between two spacer bars, one in front of the container 20 and the other behind the container 20. The rear spacer bar is not visible in the figure. The front spacer bar is an adjustable spacer bar 88 and can be moved rearward through the rotation of the handle 94 until it reaches a position that firmly holds the vessel 20 on the platform 90. Each branch of the rotary motion arm 84 terminates with a slot end 86. The slot end 86 slides over and secures over a portion of the front wall 42 of the container lid 24. To illustrate the improved tear resistance associated with the vessel of the present invention, a comparative test is performed between the conventional vessel and the vessel 20 of the present invention using the bending test mechanism 80. To show a conventional container, HUGGIES NATURAL CARE

The container is tested. The vessel 20 of the present invention has a separate vessel lid 24 with an outwardly extending flange 60. The outwardly extending flange 60 includes a hinge channel 64 with a major thickness 67, which has an end region 68 of a larger secondary thickness 65. Major thickness 67 is about 0.009 in (0.023 cm) and secondary thickness 65 is about 0.015 in (0.038 cm). The bending test instrument 80 is operated at about 50 cycles per minute. Conventional HUGGIES NATURAL CARE

The vessel is cut across the entire length of the hinge region after about 9,000 cycles. The vessel 20 of the present invention for illustrative purposes does not cut the hinge channel 64 after about 28,000 cycles.

The present invention also provides a wet wipe container having a container lid 24 connected to the container base 22 and a closure 56 configured to releasably hold the container lid 24 on the container base 22 in the closed position. It is about 20. As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the container lid 24 is hingedly connected to the container base 22. The container base 22 includes a front wall 30 extending upward from the bottom 28. The front wall 30 has a top surface 72. The top surface 72 is at the furthest position on the front wall from the floor 28. The closure 56 includes an upstanding tongue protrusion 58 that is continuous with and extends upwardly from the top surface 72. The tongue protrusion 58 has a curved edge and is usually semicircular in shape. The tongue protrusion 58 has a length suitable for gripping. The tongue protrusion 58 includes a flat gripping area 74. The flat gripping area 74 has an approximate length that can be easily pressed against the full size of a human finger or thumb. The flat gripping area 74 is typically located at the center of the tongue protrusion 58 and may have a greater width than the tongue protrusion 58. The large width of the gripping area 74 can create a flat surface on the top of the tongue protrusion 58 for improved performance.

The top surface 72 may also include an arcuate depression 76 primarily located below the flat gripping area 74 of the tongue protrusion 58. In addition to tongue tongue 58 and arch depression 76, the top surface may further include an auxiliary zone 78. The auxiliary zone 78 is located below the arch depression 76 and has a shape which is usually concentric with the shape of the tongue protrusion 58 and thus semicircular. The elevation of the semi-circular auxiliary zone 78 approaches but does not need to contact the arch depression 76. The closure 26 also includes an opening 98. An opening 98 is formed in the front wall 42 of the container lid 24. The front wall 42 has convex portions 96 extending somewhat outward and far from the front wall 42 in the orthogonal direction. The opening 98 is long enough to accommodate the length of the tongue protrusion 58. When the vessel 20 is in the closed position, the tongue protrusion 58 extends upwardly through the opening 98. In another embodiment, tongue tongue 58 may extend downward from front wall 42 of vessel lid 42 and opening 98 may be a top surface 72 of front wall 30 of vessel base 22. Can be located within.

Either one of the container lid 24 and the container base 22 can be transparent or translucent. Moreover, either the container lid 24 or the container base 22 can be colored. In some applications, it is desirable for the container lid 24 to have a different color than the container base 22. If the container lid 24 is colored, the opening 98 is more visible and the container 20 is easier to close. It is also easy to determine that the container 20 is tightly closed when the parts of the closure 56 have different colors.

The closure 26 is more intimate and ergonomic to the user in opening the container 20. The closure 26 of the present invention allows the container 20 to open and close with one hand. Opening the container with one hand is important in some wet wiper applications, such as filling a diaper to a young child. In the case of infant wipes, sometimes parents must use one hand to hold the child while changing diapers and then use the other hand to pick up the wiper for cleaning. If the parent did not open the wiper container 20 before starting the diaper change operation, they must then do it with one hand while changing the diaper. The infant wiper container 20 of the present invention is very easy to open with one hand. In one method of opening the vessel 20, one or two fingers are at the top of the tongue tongue 58 while the thumb is positioned below the convex portion 96 of the vessel lid 24 and against the auxiliary zone 78. It can be located at. With fingers in this arrangement on the closure 26, the thumb can press against the secondary zone 78 to raise the container lid 24 above the flat gripping area 74. The guide ridge 50 located at the bottom of the top 40 of the container lid 24 holds the container lid 24 in the partially open position. The partially open position of the container lid 24 prevents the container 20 from tipping over when a small number of wipers remain in the container 20.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a wet wipe container 20 having a container base 22 and a container lid 24 connected to the container base 22. The container base 22 includes a bottom 28, a front wall 30, a rear wall 32 and a pair of opposing side walls 34, 36. The walls extend upwardly from the bottom 28 in a generally rectangular shape to provide an interior 38 for containing the wet wiper paper. The walls may include one or more generally linear ribs 100 formed in the wall. Rib 100 may be linear or slightly curved. The spacing between the ribs 100 can vary and the ribs 100 can be oriented horizontally or vertically.

Rib 100 provides several advantages, including a container base 22 and an aesthetically more attractive appearance that can be gripped and handled more easily. Rib 100 facilitates picking up and holding vessel 20. Another advantage of the rib 100 is that the rib 100 significantly improves the compressive strength of the vessel 20. During shipping, storage and display, containers are stacked vertically on top of each other. Depending on how many containers are stacked, a given container 20 receives some vertical compressive force. Conventional containers are susceptible to compression and buckling when they have many containers stacked on top of them. Conventional container lids are pressed downward and the container base is buckled from normal force. The presence of ribs 100 formed on one or more walls of the container base 22 imparts better resistance to compressive forces throughout the container 20. Thus, the vessel 20 of the present invention is less compressed and has greater resistance to buckling. Ribs 100 may vary in length and may vary in length within a given wall.

Thus, different aspects of the present invention can advantageously provide a wet wipe container with improved opening and dispensing with one hand compared to conventional wet wipe containers. Such containers are particularly useful for dispensing infant wipers because infant caregivers typically have only one free hand while filling a diaper. Accordingly, the wet wiper container of the present invention is reliably and easily opened by one hand of a user or a person caring for a patient or infant for improved convenience and personal hygiene. In addition, the container of the present invention can maintain a partially open position of the container lid and can provide a better alignment between the container lid and the container base. The container lid of the present invention also has better tear resistance and less chance of breakage upon repeated opening and closing of the lid. Moreover, the container of the present invention has an improved compressive strength and is therefore more difficult to compress.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to particular aspects, it will be understood that variations, modifications, and equivalents thereof may be readily conceived by those skilled in the art upon understanding the foregoing. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims (15)

A wet wiper container comprising a container base, a container lid hinged to the container base, and a closure configured to releasably hold the container lid on the container base in a closed position, the wet wiper container comprising: The closure includes an upright tongue that is continuous with and extends upwardly from the top surface of the front wall of the container base and has a gripping area at the center, and the upright tongue when positioned in the convex portion of the front wall of the container lid and when the container is closed. Including an opening to be made, And the top surface of the front wall has an arcuate depression under the gripping area of the upright tongue, and an auxiliary zone under the arch depression and concentric with the upright tongue. The wet wipe container of claim 1 wherein the container lid or container base is translucent. The wet wipe container according to claim 1 wherein the container lid is of a different color than the container base. The wet wipe container according to claim 1 wherein the tongue protrusion has a curved edge. The wet wipe container according to claim 1 wherein the container base is made of a polymer mixture comprising polystyrene. The container lid of claim 1, wherein the container lid has a top and a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls extending downward from the top, wherein the base of the container extends upwardly from the bottom to provide an interior for holding the bottom and the back wall and the wet wiper. A wet wiper container having a pair of opposed sidewalls. 7. The wet wipe container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the container defines a curved corner between the front wall, the rear wall, the side wall, the top and the bottom. The wet wipe container according to claim 1 wherein the container lid and the container base are connected to each other at the rear wall by ultrasonic coupling. A wet wiper container comprising a container base, a container lid hinged to the container base, and a closure configured to releasably hold the container lid on the container base in a closed position, wherein the closure is: Continuous with, and upwardly extending from, the top surface of the front wall of the vessel base, having a curved edge, with a flat gripping area in the center, the top surface of the front wall also having an arch depression and an arch depression below the gripping area. An upright cuneiform concentric with this subarea, A opening located in the convex portion of the front wall of the container lid and extending therethrough when the container is closed, The container lid has a top and a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls extending downward from the top, and the base of the container is a pair of opposing sides extending upward from the bottom to provide an interior for holding the bottom and rear wall and the wet wiper paper. A wet wiper container having a barrier. 10. The wet wipe container as claimed in claim 9 wherein the container lid or container base is translucent. 11. The wet wipe container of claim 10 wherein the container lid is of a different color than the container base. 12. The wet wipe container as claimed in claim 11 wherein said container base is made from a combination of polymers comprising polystyrene. 12. The container lid of claim 11, wherein the container lid has a top and a rear wall and a pair of opposing side walls extending downward from the top, wherein the base of the container extends upwardly from the bottom to provide an interior for holding the bottom, the back wall and the wet wiper. A wet wiper container having a pair of opposed sidewalls. The wet wipe container according to claim 13, wherein the container defines a curved corner between the front wall, the rear wall, the side wall, the top and the bottom. 15. The wet wipe container as claimed in claim 14 wherein the container lid and the container base are connected to each other at the rear wall by ultrasonic coupling.

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