Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~28~36
DISPENSER PACKAGE FOR A COR~LESS ROLL OF SEVERABLE
S~E~T ~IAT~RIAL AND ~'LHOD OF VISP'~I~SI~
This invention relates generally to material dispensers and
is more particularly concerned with a novel dlspenser package for a
coreless roll of severable sheet material.
~ ispensers for rolled-up materials such as paper and the
like are known. These dispensers suffer from certain drawbacks.
'l'hey are normally employed to dispense a material which either
requires an expensive device to at least assist in the separation of
the paper mater,ial from the roll or which requires the employment of
two hands by the user to sever the paper from the roll. Also, known
dispensers are designed for use in one particular position which
gives no flexibility concerning certain use environments.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
overcome these drawbacks and to provide a dispenser which is simple
and inexpensive and from which it is possible to draw and separate
the severable material from a position best suited to the particular
use environment.
In a first embodiment of the present invention a dispensing
package or container is provided having at least one dispensing
orifice disposed in any convenient face of ~he container, the
periphery of said orifice defining a comparatively broad area which
merges into at least one comparatively narrow area. A coreless
continuous roll of severable sheet material is disposed in the
dispensing container, said roll having an end portion located
adjacent said orifice so that the innermost sheet member of said
roll can be comparatively easily pulled through said broad area of
said orifice and severed from said roll at said pre-weakened region
with the aid of resistance between a succeeding member and the
periphery of said comparatively small area. Advantageously~ the
.
~X~7~3~
orifice has a comparatively broad region and at least one ~lot or
slit therein with the slot or slit characterlzed by having
parallel 0ides and a perpendicular end wall.
In a seaond embodiment of the present inv~ntion the
dispensing orifice is positioned in a wal} o~ th~ di~pensiny
package which is parallel to the axis line of the wound
continuous roll. In this instance, the orifice configuration aan
be practically any shape accommodating dispensing of the shee~
material from the csnter of the winding. The coreless winding is
of such a shape and size so as to prevent rotation thereof within
said container and be adapted to permit pay-out of the innermost
sheet through said orifice. The present invention is also
directed to the method of dispensing severable sheet material
using the dispenser package.
More specifically, the first embodiment of the present
invention relates to a dispensing package comprising in
combination:
(a) a dispensing container including a plurality of
dispensing orifices, each being disposed in a different face of
the container, thereby providing selectivity to dispensing the
contents from the container through said orifice, the periphery
of said orifices defining a comparatively broad area which merges
into at least one comparatively narrow area; and
(b) positioned within said container, a coreless,
continuous roll of severable sheet members, said roll being
dimensioned relative to said container to prevent its rotation
within said container, said sheet members being defined by
~ransverse pre-weakened regions adapted to permit unit separation
of said sheet members, said roll having an end portion located
adjacent said orifices so that the innermost sheet member of said
roll is positioned so as to be comparatively easily payed out
from the center of said roll and pulled through said broad area
of said orifices and severed from said roll at said pre-weakened
D
.
. .
- ~X8L~ 36
- 2a -
region at least with the aid of resistance between a succeeding
sheet member and the periphery of said comparatively narrow area,
sald comparatively narrow area being dimensioned so that when a
dispensed sheet member is moved laterally thereto from said
contparatively broad area, subskctntial gathering of said sheet
member will be effected so as to at ~east contribute to
dispensing resistance and facilitate severance at said pre-
weakened region.
This is accomplished by drawing the severable sheet member
or members through the comparatively broad area of the orifice to
a point past the pre-weakened region, laterally moving the member
and exerting sufficient force to sever the member at its pre-
weakened region.
'
. .
2~34~86
.
While an~ severable ma~erlal can be employed ln the
dispenser package disclosed herein, in a preferred dispensing
package the severable sheet members are thermoplastic bags. The
bags can be connected and severable at transverse perforations
between bags.
Concerning the comparatively narrow area of the dispenser
orifice, it is essential to this embodiment of the present invention
that this area be of a dimension so that as one of the severable
sheets is drawn laterally into it, the periphery of the area will
gather or clench the sheet material an~ cause a relatively high drag
resistance in relation thereto. This arrangement and relationship
will permit the resistance to overcome or assist in ovecoming the
strength of the pre-weakened regions between severable members
thereby separating one severable ~ember from the next.
While the dispensing orifice of ~his embodi~ent will always
have one comparatively large area, it is to be understood that in
assoclation therewith there can be one or a plurality of
comparatively narrow areas so that the user will have the choice of
one or several directions in which to move the severable sheets into
the severing narrow area or areas. The contemplated orifice may
have included in association therewith a removable closure. This
removable closure may cover the orifice or be an integral part
thereof, which may be removed prior to dispensing of the members.
l~he dispenser may have one or several orifices located adjacent to
the end of the coreless roll of severable material.
Advantageously, the periphery of the orifice defines a
comparatively broad area which merges into at least one
comparatively narrow area defined by a slot having two parallel
sides. 'lhe slot is adapted f or accommodating some of said severable
sheet material gathered or roped therein for severance from sàid
winding. ~n this version of the dispenser package the dispensing
orifice can be in any wall of the dispenser container~ It has been
found that an orifice having a comparatively large area, which
mer3es into a slot having parallel sides, is ideal for
~L284~86
dispense-severing broad sheet material. '~he shee~ ma~Prial ~8
dispensed from the center of the winding through the orifice to a
point just beyond ~he perforations o~ tlle shee~. Then the ga~h~red
bag is forced into the slot and the perforation connection Ls
subjected to a sudden snapping force which separates the sheet from
the winding. It is important to the successful operation of the
dispenser that the slot of the orifice have parallel sides and that
these sides terminate in a wall which is at right angles to the
parallel sides. lhe wall or side which is at right angles to the
parallel sides will vary in length depending upon the overall
dimensions of the material being dispensed, including its gauge. In
the case of ultra-thin thermoplastic film in bag form, this
dimension is quite small. For material of thicker gauge and larger
lateral dimensions, this wall will be correspondingly longer. In
this regard, it has been found that for ultra-thin thermoplastic
film a slit with parallel sides will function equivalently to a slot
with a definite wali at right angles thereto. In all instances, it
is preferred that the orifice have two slits or slots in order to
give the user the option of severing the sheet material in more than
one direction. It is preferred that when employing two slits or two
slots that they be diametrically opposed.
The second embodiment of the present invention also relates
to a dispenser package or container comprising in combination a
dispensing container having therein a coreless convoluted winding of
severable sheet m~terial.
According to this embodiment, the package or container has
at least one dispensing orifice which is disposed in a wall thereof
which is parallel to the axis line of said coreless winding. The
orifice is positioned in said wall so as to be accessably adjacent
the innermost sheet of said winding and is adapted for dispensing
the innermost sheet from said winding therethrough.
The corelPss convoluted winding is of such a shape and size
so as to prevent rotation thereof within said container and is
- ~2~34~86
adapted to permit pay-out of the innermost sheet through said
orifice.
lhe coreless winding contemplated in this dispenser pacl~age
has a comparatively large diameter and a comparatively small
diameter in the same plane, which, in combination with the container
housing the same, prevents rotation of said winding in said
container. In addition, the coreless region of said windill~ ls of
sucn a si~e and shape so as to permit pay-o~lt o~ the lnnermo~t sheet
through said orifice.
By positioning the orlfice in a wall of the dispenser which
is parallel to the axis line of the material win~ing, and by
dispensing the material from the center of the windin~, an ideal
arrangement is obtained for snap-severing the sheet material from
the winding while leaving a small portion of the ne~t sheet
conveniently extended for dispense-severing of the next sbeet. For
accomplishing this, it is preferred that the oriEice is
comparatively narrow in relation to the sheet material in its
extended width and length.
Although the orifice in this embodiment can be of
practically any shape, advantageously, the periphery of the orifice
shape defines a comparatively broad area which merges into at least
one comparatively narrow area. Thus, it is to be understood that
the container may have a single orifice therein, which has a broad
area merging to a single comparatively narrow area or the container
may have a single orifice which has one broad area and more than a
single comparatively narrow area therein. On the other hand, the
container may have more than a single orifice each of which may have
a single comparatively narrow area therein or more than a single
comparatively narrow area therein. The orifices may initially be
closed by a removable closure such as tape or a perforation in the
container may define the orifice, In the latter instance, the
perforated regioTI will be removed by the user to define tbe orifice
.. . .
.
:
~28~7~36
.
- 5a -
The present invention further provides a method for
dispensing severable sheet material comprising providing
a dispensing container including a plurality of orifices
disposed therein, the periphery of said orifices defining
a comparatively broad area which merges into at leas-t one
comparatively narrow area;
positioning within said container, a coreless, con-
tinuous roll of severable sheet material comprised of a
plurality of individual severable sheet members, said
members being defined by transverse pre-weakened regions
adapted to permit unit separation of said members, said
roll being dimensioned relative to said container to pre-
vent its rotation within said container and being position-
ed so that an end portion thereof is located adjacent~said
orifice so that the innermost sheet member of said roll is
positioned so as to be comparatively easily and selectively
passed through said broad area of said orifices;
passing said innermost sheet member from the center of
the roll through said broad area to a point just beyond
said pre-weakened region; and
moving said sheet member into said comparatively
narrow area of said orifice with a force causing separation
of said sheet at said pre-weakened region.
The present invention will now be more particularly
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
.,:
~3fl~
r`igure l shows a perspective view of a coreless roll of
severable sheet material in partially unrolled condition;
Figure ~ is a perspective view of a dispenser accardin~ to
the invention containing a coreless roll of severable material
Figure 3 sllows a perspective view of a dispenser according
to the present invention containing a corele~s roll of severable
material and showing a yreferred orifice shape with bags ~ein~
dispensed therethrough;
Figure 4 shows line drawings of variant orifices which may
be used in the dispensing package of the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of another dispenser
package according to the present invention and showing preferred
orifice shapes with thermoplastic filM bags being dispensed through
one of the orifices; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to
the invention containing a coreless roll of severable material with
one version and location of the dispenser orifices.
There can be seen in Figure l a coreless roll of
thermoplastic film bags 10, each bag 12 having a bottom seal 14 and
adjacent thereto a line of perforations l~ through the bag layers
which will constitute the bag mouth opening 18, on severance thereof.
Figure ~ shows one preferred form 20 of the dispenser
package of the present invention. This dispenser comprises a box 22
made of any suitable material and formed of rectangular sides. l'he
box contains a coreless roll of severable material lO, shown in
ghost lines, and of the type depicted in Figure l. One end of the
coreless roll is shown to be adjacent to orifices 24. The periphery
of the orifices define a comparatively broad area 26 which merges
into a comparatively narrow area 2~.
Pigure 3 illustrates the dispensing package of Figure 2 as
it is being employed during the dispensing of individual bags. In
operation the user either reaches in through comparatively broad
area ~ of orifice 24 and pulls an individual bag member 12 through
D
1'2~3D*7~
the broad area to a point beyond perforated region 16 or the user
opens a cover in box 2~ and starts an individual bag tllrough the
orifice. When a bag is desired, individual ba~ member 1~ ls
extended through area ~ to a point just beyond perforation reglon
lb and laterally moved into comparaeively narrow area ~8 so that bag
member 12 is gathered within 28 causing drag resistance and
permitting easy severance of the bag from the perforated region.
Figure 4 illustrates six alternative orifice structures
which can be employed in one or more end regions of the dispensing
package. The common denominator of all of these orifice structures
is the fact that they all have one or more comparatively narrow area
for gathering a sheet member drawn from the coreless center of a
roll through the comparatively broad area or region of the orifice.
These orifices obviously are only for purposes of illustration and
the intent is to include any orifice structure which employs the
concept of a broad dispensing area having in association therewith a
comparatively narrow, gathering area, permitting severance of the
separable sheet material from the remainder of the roll.
Preferred dispensing packages can employ a simple container
of any cross-sectional shape which will hold a coreless wound roll
of severable sheet material. The roll need not be confined in a
circle, but can and usually will assume the shape of an oval or
ellipse in cross-section. Lt is to be understood that the
dispensing container can be made of any material, cardboard, stiff
paperJ plas~ic, film, so long as the orifice structure can withstand
the force necessary to sever an individual sheet from the roll,
A contemplated product for dispensing in the manner defined
is a roll of so-called wet bags' of the type employed in a
supermarket to contain a product which, because of refrigeration9
will produce condensate o~ the exterior thereof which could
otherwise undeslr~bly come into contact with other purchased items
or a paper grocery sack. These bags also are e~ployed to contain
frozen items such as ice cream, frozen fruit, etc. Such bags are of
extremely thin gauge, i.e., anywhere from about .~ to about .8 mil
,~ "
1~84~78~
-- 8 --
and are formed from a gussetted or ungussetted tube of polyethylene
film. The bags are formed from such a tube by causing transverSe
seals to be impressed at spaced regions in the tube to form ba~
bottoms. Closely adjacent to each seal is a pre-weakened or
perforated line permitting unit separation of said bags? whicl
simultaneously form the bag opening of each unit. These bags,
fashioned in a coreless roll of a plurality thereof can, with the
aid of the described dispensing package, be easily dispensed from
the center of the roll with very little resistance. Thereafter the
bag is moved into the gathering region of the orifice for bag
separation.
It is to be understood that bags of any gauge and size,
e.g., waste, trash, garbage, etc., can be employed with a similar
dispensing container designed to withstand the forces necessary to
cause severance of the selected gauge product.
When the coreless roll of items are bags, it is not
important or in any way critical to the invention how or in what
relationship each bag is associated with one another. They may be
severably associated, top-to-bottom, top-to-top and
bottom-to-bottom, side-to-side, etc.
It is also to be understood that the dispensing package of
the present inventior can be employed for certain paper or foil
products fashioned in a coreless roll. For example, ordinary toilet
tissue is fashioned with a central heavy cardboard core about which
the toi~et tissue is convolutely wound. This is to permit the
toilet tissue to be dispensed from the periphery of the roll by
tearin~ across pre-weakened, perforated regions while the roll is
rotatable from a central axle. In accordance with the present
invention, ordinary toilet tissue can be rolled without a core and
dispensed from the center of the roll through a dispensing container
of the type described herein.
In the dispensing of one or more members of the coreless
roll, and in order to assist the user, indicia of some type can be
printed or impressed into the surface of the severable material
~3
~34q8~
which will show the user that the perforated or pre-weakened regio~
has extended beyond the comparatively narrow gathering area ~or
severance of the sheet material. This will avoid an a~temp~ a~
severing a bag or sheet before the pre-weakene~ re~ion has been
extended beyond the narrow gatherlng area.
Concerning the pre-weakened regions of the coreless roll, a
preferred technique is the use of a line of perforations. The
frequency of perforationQ should be such as to permit easy unit
detachment from the roll without the danger of detaching a unit
prematurely so that a succeeding unit would not partially extend
from the dispenser. In a preferred pre-weakened region, a cut in
the film or bag in line with the line of perforations will
facilitate unit detachment. This cut or severance can be from one
or both outer edges of each unit extending inwardly some distance to
the begilming of the perforations. For example, in a sheet or bag
unit 8 inches wide, the cut or cuts would be from about 0.5-1.5
inches in length and in line with the line of perforations which
continue across the unit. During dispensing, the cut or slit will
tend to cause part of the unit to drag or resist passage through the
narrow region of the orifice with the result that detachment will be
facilitated.
Figure 5 illustrates another dispenser package within the
scope of the present invention. In this illustration, line 32 shows
the orientation of a winding 10 in relation to box 22 in dispenser
package 30. In operation, the user either reaches in through
comparatively broad area of orifice 24 and pulls an individual bag
member 12 through the broad area to a point beyond perforated region
16 or the user opens a cover in box 22 and starts an individual bag
through the orifice from the center of the winding, When a bag is
desired, individual bag member 12 is extended through area 26 to a
point just beyond perforation region 16 and laterally moved into
comparativelY narrow area 28 so that bag member 12 is gathered or
roped within 28 causing drag resistance and permitting easy
severance of the bag from the perforated region. This Figure also
~284786
-- 10 --
iliustrates an alternative orifice 24 having broad region ~ and
comparatively narrow area 28 therein. This would permit the user
either to lay the dispenser on its broad side or stand lt on cnd or
use depending upon environmental limitations.
Figure 6 shows one preferred form ~ oE tlle dispenser
package of the present invention. This dispenser comprises a box 22
made of any suitable material and formed of rectangular sides. The
box contains a coreless roll of severable material 10, shown in
ghost lines, of the type depicted in Figure l. The axis line 21
shows the orientation of the convoluted winding 10 in relation to
the box ~. Orifices ~4 are depicted as being in dispenser walls
which are parallel to the axis line 21 of the winding 10. The
periphery of the orifices ~4 define a comparatively broad area 26
which preferably merges into a comparatively narrow area 28. In its
broadest sense, the invention illustrated in Figure 2 is not limited
as to the particular configuration of the orifice so long as the
orifice or orifices are located in a container wall which is
parallel to the axis of the coreless winding 10 and the severable
sheet material is dispensed from the center of the roll and thence
through the orifice for severance.
The convoluted winding illustrated in Figure l will be seen
to have generally two size diameters in a plane at right angles to
the axis line of the winding. One diameter is comparatively large
and the other diameter is comparatively small in relation thereto.
This configuration gives the structure an oblong shape which, when
placed inside of a container of complementary configuration,
prevents the winding from rotating therein. Thus, the sheet
materi;~l can only be dispensed from the center of the winding. To
accommodatethis the winding has a central void sufficient to
accommodate easy pay-out of the innermost material.
As indicated above, the present invention has two
embodiments. In the first embodiment of the presenc invention, the
dispensing orifice can be in any convenient face of the container,
but it mus~ have a particular configuration, i.e., the periphery of
7~
-- 11 --
the orifice defines a broad area which merges into at least one
comparati~ely narrow area. These configurations are lllustrated in
Figures ~ to 6 of the present application. In Figures 5 and 6, the
orifices are in walls parallel to the axis line of the winding
whereas, in Figure ~, one orifice is in a wall which i9
perpendicular to the axis line Zl of the winding and the other
orifice is in a wall parallel ~o the axis line of the wlnding,
Advantageously, the orifice 24 has a comparatively broad region 26
and at least one slot or slit 28 therein. The slot or slit is
characteri~ed by having parallel sides 29 (see, for example, Figure
4, orifices "b" and "f") and a perpendicular wall or side 32.
Orifice "f" illustrates a circular orifice having diametrically
opposed slots ~8. Orifice "b" illustrates a triangular orifice
having the broad region 26 and three slots 28, each of which have
parallel sides terminating in a wall 32 at right angles thereto.
In the second embodiment, it is preferred to position the
dispensing orifice in a wall of the dispenser which is parallel to
the axis line of the winding. In this instance, the orifice
configuration can be of practically any shape accommodating
dispensing of the sheet material from the center of the winding. It
is preferred, however, that the orifice have a comparatively large
or broad area merging into a comparatively narrow area. This
permits the product to be dispensed, to be gathered in the narrow
area and with a sharp snapping motion sever the product at a
pre-weakened region.
~ s indicated above, Figure 2 illustrates a convoluted
winding of sheet material, ~or example, plastic bags, each separated
by a perforated tear-off region. The coreless winding of this
package shows the axis line of the winding perpendicular to the
orifice 2~. This dispenser package 20 would be employed for bags of
a dimension larger than the so-called "wet bags". This dispenser
package 20 would be appropriate for plastic bags which are liners
for waste baskets or other refuse or garbage containers. Because of
their broader lateral dimensions the orifice can be lined up
1~8~78~
- 12 -
somewhat axially with the axis line of the winding and the slot 2~
can be of a dimension which will accommodate such a ba~ in its roped
condition. One skilled in the art will have no ~ifficulty in
correlating the width of the slot with the roped dimension of such a
bag. The roped bag should fit somewhat snugly within the slot so
that a snapping a~tion will sever the bag or product at its
perforation point.
Preferred dispensing packages can employ a simple container
of any cross-sectional shape which will hold a coreless convoluted
winding of severable sheet material. The winding, because of its
flexibility, usually will assume the shape of an oval or éllipse in
cross-section. It is to be understood that the dispensing container
can be made of any material, cardboard, stiff paper, plastic, etc.,
so long as the orifice structure can withstand the force necessary
to sever an individual sheet from the winding. The sheet material
can range widely in gauge, for example, from about 0.2 to about 4
mils in thickness. Bags formed therefrom can be gusseted or
ungusseted. The bags are formed fro~ a tube by causing transverse
seals to be impressed at space regions in the tube to form bag
bottoms. Closely adjacent to each seal is a pre-wea~ened or
perforated line permitting unit separation of said bags, which
simultaneously form the bag opening of each unit. These bags,
fashioned into a coreless winding of a plurality thereof can, with
the aid of the described orifice be easily dispensed from the center
of the roll with very little resistance. Thereafter, the bag is
moved into the gathering slot region of the orifice for bag
separation.
A method for dispensing severable sheet material within the
scope of the present invention comprises providing a dispensing
container including therein a coreless convoluted winding of sheet
materialj providing at least one orifice in a wall of the container
which is at least generally parailel to the axis line of the
winding, said orifice being adapted for dispensing the innermos~
sheet from said winding therethrough; said sheet material comprising
,^~ ~
~Z84786
- 13 -
a plurality of individually severable sheet members, said members
being defined by transverse pre-weakened regions, said windlng be:Lng
positioned within said container so that it calmot rotate therein
and wherein an end portion thereof is located adjacent said orifice
so that the i~nermost sheet member is positioned so as to be
comparatively easily passed there~hrough; passing sald innermost
sheet member through sald oriEice to a point beyond sald
pre-weakened region; ànd pulling sald member with a sudden force
sufficient to cause separation of said sheet at said pre-weakened
region.
Another method for dispensing severable sheet material
employing the slotted orifice disclosed herein comprises providing a
dispensing container including therein a coreless convoluted winding
of sheet materialj providing at least one orifice in a wall of the
container for dispensing therethrough, the periphery of said orifice
defining a comparatively broad area which merges into at least one
comparatively narrow area defined by a slot having two parallel
sides, said slot being adapted for accommodating some of said
severable sheet material gathered or roped therein for severance
from said winding; said sheet material comprising a plurality of
individually severable sheet members, said members being defined by
transverse pre-weakened regions, said winding being positioned
within said container so that it cannot rotate therein, and an end
portion thereof is located adjacent said orifice so that the
innermost sheet member is positioned so as to be comparatively
easily passed therethroughj passing said innermost sheet member
through said orifice to a point just beyond said pre-weakened
region, moving said sheet member into said slot and pulling said
member with a sudden force sufficient to cause separation of said
sheet at said pre-weakened region.
When the coreless roll of items are bags, it is not
important or in any way critical to the invention how or in what
relationship each bag is associated with one another. They may be
severably associated, top-to-bottom, top-to-top, and
- -
~284~86
bottom-to-bottom, side-to-side, etc. lt is also to be understood
that the dispensing package of the present invention can be employed
for certain paper or foll products fashioned in a coreless windinO.
ror example, ordinary toilet tissue is fashioned with a central
heavy cardboar~ core about whicll the toLlet tissue is convolutely
wound. ~his is to permit the toilet tissue to be dispensed from the
periphery of the roll by tearing across pre-weakened, perforated
regions while the roll is rotatable from a central axle. In
accordance with the present invention, ordinary toilet tissue can be
rolled without a core and dispensed from the center of the roll
through a dispensing containe.r of the type described herein.
~,,
