Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A PACK OF WIPES WITH ENHANCED DISPENSING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of dispensing substantially flat articles
such as
wipes out of a pack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wipes are substantially flat articles commonly used to help cleaning and
removing
residues from soft or hard surfaces such as floors or parts of the human body.
Wipes are
conventionally provided with a composition, for example a cleansing lotion,
intended to
facilitate the intended action of the wipe. Wipes are generally provided as
stacks of
multiple wipes enclosed in an envelope (i.e. a hard container or a flexible
pouch). A
dispensing orifice allows for the wipes to be dispensed individually.
Using conventional packs of wipes it is known that the users can encounter a
15, variety of problems. For example, the first wipe of the stack can be
difficult to reach and
to dispense out of the pack. Conventionally the issue can be partially solved
by
interfolding the wipes in the stack so as to have a first wipe of the stack
lifting a portion
of a second wipe of the stack. The lifted portion, so called "exposed leading
portion" is
easy to reach. However, the exposed leading portion of a wipe can be difficult
to grip as
it stands-out without the support of the underneath wipes. This is especially
important
when the wipes are provided with a liquid composition that softens the
material, making it
less rigid, hence more difficult to grip.
Also, the stack of wipes can be subject to significant evaporation. The so-
called
"dry-out" of the stack of wipes has a direct negative influence on the
performance of the
wipes. This problem is conventionally addressed by provided a dispensing
orifice having
a relatively small area of opening. Other ways to address the problem, that
can be
combined, include (a) providing a reseal lid or reseal label that can reduce
the rate or
amount of evaporation, (b) providing the stack of wipes with a reserve
quantity of
composition to balance out the expected evaporation, (c) configuring the
interfolding of
the wipes so as to obtain the lift of a reduced portion of the second wipe,
hence exposing
only a reduced portion of the wipe (exposed leading portion) to potential
evaporation.
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These solutions, however, can in turn impair the accessibility of the wipes.
An
exposed leading edge with a small dimension is typically more difficult to
grip than an
edge with a greater dimension. A small dispensing orifice can impair the ease
of
accessing the first wipe, as the user may have more difficulty to reach the
edge of the first
wipe and to grip it for dispensing the wipe.
Hence, there is a need to provide a pack of wipes that provides an improved
balance between reduced dry-out effect and accessibility of the wipes. There
is a need for
a pack of wipes that dispenses out of a pack easily and is conveniently
accessible to the
user. There is a need for a pack of wipes which exposed leading portions are
easily
gripable by the user. There is a need for a reduced exposed leading portion of
the wipe
still providing adequate accessibility to the wipe for dispensing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a pack of wipes. The pack of wipes
comprises
a plurality of wipes arranged in a stack and an external envelope enclosing
the stack. The
external envelope comprises a dispensing orifice. Each of the plurality of
wipes is folded,
each of the folded wipes comprises a leading panel, a central panel, a
trailing panel, a
leading fold and a trailing fold. The leading fold separates the leading panel
from the
central panel and the trailing fold separates the central panel from the
trailing panel. The
stack has a first wipe and a second wipe. The first wipe is a wipe disposed
proximate the
dispensing orifice and the second wipe is positioned sequentially adjacent and
in
contacting engagement with the first wipe. The first wipe remains in
contacting
engagement with the second wipe during removal of the first wipe through the
dispensing
orifice. The removal of the first wipe through the dispensing orifice induces
a portion of
the central panel of the second wipe and a portion of the leading panel of the
second wipe
to protrude from the dispensing orifice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pack of the invention with the exposed
leading
edge of a wipe protruding from the dispensing orifice.
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Figure 2 is a schematic section of the pack of Figure 1 through the line A-B
showing the wipes interfolding configuration.
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the folding of wipes of the pack of
Figure
1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pack of the invention, the pack being a
hard
walled container.
Figure 5 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
Figure 6 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
Figure 7 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
Figure 8 is a schematic representation of another possible folding and
stacking
configuration of the wipes of pack of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the interfolding configuration for a
pack
of wipes according to the invention.
Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a wipe as used by the invention.
Figure 11 is a schematic representation of prior art pack of wipes and
stacking
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Generally, wipes are articles comprising a substantially flat substrate.
Conventionally wipes are articles used for cleaning, treating and/or and
removing residues
from surfaces. The surfaces may include hard surfaces (such as the surface of
a piece of
furniture or a floor) or soft surfaces, including parts of a human body.
Certain wipes
include baby, children and adult wipes conventionally used for cleaning the
anal area of
adults or children. Yet, other wipes includes articles for cleaning floors,
kitchen surfaces,
windows or office surfaces. Other typical wipes include tissues (e.g. facing
cleansing
tissues), paper handkerchiefs (to clean the nasal area of the human body),
kitchen towels
and toilet papers. The substrate of the wipes is usually soft and flexible.
The substrate
can include synthetic fibers, natural fibers or mixtures thereof. Most common
body
cleaning wipes are made of a polyethylene/polypropylene substrate. The wipes
are
generally impregnated with a composition. The composition conventionally
facilitates the
removal of residues and/or delivers an active ingredient to the treated
surface. The
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composition is conventionally fluid or semi-fluid at ambient temperature. The
wipes are
generally characterized by a width 17 and a length 18. The width 17 of the
wipe is
conventionally measured edge to edge, transverse to the dispensing direction
of the wipes.
The length 18 of the wipes is conventionally measured parallel to the
dispensing direction
of the wipes. Wipes are typically rectangular or quadratic. For most
rectangular wipes,
the length 18 is greater than the width 17.
Folded wipes: Because wipes are generally larger than the pack from in which
they are provided, the wipes are often folded. A conventional folding
configuration
creates 2 folds and 3 panels. As shown for example in Figures 3 and 9, a
leading panel 6,
6a, 6b articulates around a leading fold 7 to a central panel 8, 8a, 8b. The
central panel 8,
8a, 8b articulates around the trailing fold 9 to a trailing panel 10, 10a,
10b. More panels
and more folds can be provided. In particular the central panel 8, 8a, 8b can
comprise
more than one panel and comprise one or more folds. Conventionally the wipes
are
folded in a way that divides their length (i.e. the folding lines are
transverse to the
dispensing direction, parallel to the width of the wipes). The length 18 of
the wipes is
measured edge to edge, unfolded.
Stack of wipes: Wipes are conventionally provided in selling units comprising
multiple wipes. The wipes are conventionally folded and stacked one over the
other to
form a stack of wipes 13. Stacks of wipes can be made of interfolded wipes and
non-
interfolded wipes. The stack of wipes 13 of Figure 2 is interfolded whereas
the stack of
wipes 13 of Figure 8 is not interfolded. In interfolded stacks, at least a
portion of a
second wipe in the stack is located in between portions of two panels of a
first wipe in the
stack 13. First and second wipes are defined as being the most external wipes
in the stack
(first wipe) and the next wipe in row (second wipe), when considering the
intended order
of dispensing. Once the first wipe is dispensed, the second wipe becomes the
first wipe in
the stack. As a typical interfolding configuration, Figure 3 shows a portion
of the central
panel 8b and of the leading panel 6b of the second wipe in the stack being
located in
between a portion of the central panel 8a and of the trailing panel 10a of the
first wipe in
the stack. The manner the wipes are folded can create an overlap 19 between
two
consecutive wipes. The overlap 19 is the portion of the two consecutive wipes
that
overlap with each other at the leading 7 and trailing 9 folds. Further, a
corner gap 20 may
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be created when the leading/trailing folds of two consecutive wipes do not
touch each
other. Typically the dimension of the corner gap 20 added to the dimension of
the overlap
19 is equal to the dimension of the respective trailing 1 or leading 6 panels.
External envelope: Stacks of wipes are conventionally enclosed in an external
5 envelope. The external envelop can serve as a protective envelope and/or a
selling unit
and/or a dispensing device. The external envelope can be made of a flexible
film (for
example polyethylene or polypropylene or mixture thereof) to a refill pouch or
a flexible
pack convenient for traveling. Alternatively, the external envelope can be
made of a rigid
material to form rigid envelopes, a rigid container or tub. Typical materials
for rigid tubs
comprise polymeric resins. Others can comprise metals, ceramics, wood or other
rigid
materials.
Dispensing orifice: External envelopes generally comprise a dispensing orifice
through which the enclosed wipes can be dispensed. Conventionally dispensing
orifices 4
can have a variety of form and dimensions. Figures 5, 6, and 7 show some
conventional
dispensing orifices 4, respectively of oval, round and rectangular shape. The
dispensing
orifices 4 are characterized by a length 11 and a width 12. The length 11 is
the maximum
dimension of the dispensing orifice 4 in a direction that is substantially
parallel to the
leading edge 14 of the wipes. The width 12 of the dispensing orifice 4 is the
maximum
dimension of the dispensing orifice 4 in a direction orthogonal to the length
11 of the
dispensing orifices 4.
The pack of wipes of the invention comprises multiple wipes 3 forming a stack
of
wipes 13, and an external envelop 2 having a dispensing orifice 4. Upon
dispensing of
the first wipe of the stack a portion of the central panel 8 and a portion of
the leading
panel 6 of the next wipe on the stack is lifted from the stack such as to
protrude from the
dispensing orifice 4. This protruding part of the wipe 3 is called the exposed
leading
portion 5. Whereas conventionally a single portion of the second wipe in the
stack is
lifted by the removal of the first wipe (usually a portion of the leading
panel), the pack of
wipes of the present invention is different in that the exposed leading
portion 5 of the
second wipe comprises both a portion of the leading panel 6, 6a and a portion
of the
central panel 8, 8a of the second wipe. These portions are left unfolded
during the
dispensing of the first wipe. In the exposed leading portion 5 of the second
wipe, the
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portion of the leading panel 6, 6a contacts the portion of the central panel
8, 8a and these
portions stay in contact after dispensing of the first wipe. The configuration
of these
portions is an unfolded U-fold, and the exposed leading portion 5 is then at
least partially
dual-layer of the second wipe. The contact surface can be over the whole width
17 of the
wipe. Alternatively, the contact surface can be limited to an amount lesser
than the entire
width 17 of the wipe, such as, for example, about %2, about 1/4 or about 1/10
of the width
17 of the wipe or to an equivalent area. Importantly, the contact surface is
sufficient to
induce or improve grip-ability of the wipe. The contact area of the contact
surface can be
at least about 1 cmz, at least about 3 cmz, or at least about 10 cmz.
On the contrary, in the prior art pack of wipes (e.g. illustrated in Figure
11), the
exposed leading portion 5 is not a dual-layer but a single layer, and i.e. it
is substantially
or completely unfolded. In the pack of wipes of the invention, thus, the
leading fold 7 is
also partially protruding through the dispensing orifice 4. The exposed
leading portion 5
of the pack of wipes of the invention can comprise a partial dual layer of
material
(portions of leading and central panels contacting each other). The dual layer
exposed
leading portion of the invention (e.g. 5 in Figures 2 and 8), may constitute a
more rigid
assembly in comparison to a conventional single layer exposed leading portion
(e.g. 5 in
Figure 11). The exposed leading portion of the wipe may then be easier to grip
and
induce a more convenient dispensing of the wipes. Such a better grip allows
for a
relatively smaller length of the exposed portion (smaller length of material
exposed). A
shorter exposed portion can reduce the drying out effect of the pack of wipes,
as
illustrated in Tables la and 1b. Without being bound by the theory, it is
believed that the
beneficial effect of the invention is based on the fact that a relatively
short and rigid dual
layer exposed leading portion induces less dry-out than a relatively long and
floppy single
layer exposed leading portion, while preserving an adequate grip of the first
wipe.
Table la describes the frequency of the various lengths in mm of the exposed
leading portions 5 in a typical pack of wipes of the invention. The normalized
frequency
of occurrence for each length range of the exposed leading portion is reported
(measured
from the edge of the dispensing orifice to the highest point of the fold 7).
The data
reported are frequencies over the measurement of 5 packs of 48 dispensed
wipes. The
packs of wipes of the inventions measured are those described in table 2a
(with a round
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dispensing orifice 30mm in diameter). The prior art wipes have a material
compositions
as described in table 2b. However, they have a folding configuration as in
Fig. 11 (prior
art). Their folding has a center panel of about 80 mm, a leading panel of
about 25 mm,
and a corner gap of about 12 mm. While prior art shows frequency peak around
about 50
mm (average about 47 mm over one pack), the wipes of the invention show an
average of
about 18 mm with the highest population around about 16 mm. This illustrates
the short
exposed leading portions created by the packs of the present invention.
Table I a
Bin (length Prior Art Invention
in mm of (frequency) (frequency)
exposed
leading
portion
measured as
described)
0 0.006494 0.014184
1 0 0
4 0 0
8 0 0.056738
12 0.002165 0.205674
16 0 0.262411
20 0.012987 0.170213
24 0.012987 0.120567
28 0.028139 0.078014
32 0.073593 0.014184
40 0.238095 0.014184
50 0.28355 0.056738
60 0.212121 0.007092
70 0.056277 0
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80 0.034632 0
90 0.02381 0
100 0.008658 0
125 0.004329 0
150 0.002165 0
Average 47mm 18mm
The mass loss over time of the exposed leading portions of wipes was recorded
and is shown in Table lb. For this purpose, about 27 mm of the double layered
leading
edge were cut off after the given drying time (t) over the full width of the
wipe. The
packs of wipes are the same as those used for Table 1a.
Table lb shows that after t = 240 mins the mass-loss of the invention remains
stable while prior art samples dry-out to a much higher extent. This
illustrates the
reduced dry-out of the wipes of the invention versus prior art wipes.
Table 1b
% mass loss
Drying time
(min) Prior Art Invention
0 0.0% 0.0%
7.5 1.8% 5.5%
1.4% 4.8%
30 5.3% 6.7%
34 7.9%
36 4.3%
45 5.9%
60 3.0% 5.7%
120 9.0% 6.4%
130 9.8%
135 9.0% 12.5%
240 13.0% 12.3%
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242 15.8% 9.9%
480 16.9% 9.1%
500 13.3%
505 20.4%
1440 23.5% 14.3%
2880 40.0% 15.3%
2905 28.9% 14.5%
4320 38.5% 14.5%
4337 38.1%
5760 54.9%
7380 66.6% 13.1%
In one embodiment of the present invention, the length 11 of the dispensing
orifice
is between about 5mm and about 120mm or between about 20mm and about 100mm.
The length 11 can alternatively be between about 30mm and about 75mm. In one
embodiment, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is about 75mm and the
width 17 of
the wipes is about 110mm.
In one embodiment of the invention the width 17 of the wipes is between about
50mm and about 150 mm, alternatively between about 60mm and about 130mm or
between about 80 mm and about 120 mm. In an embodiment the width 17 of the
wipes is
about 110 mm.
In one embodiment of the invention, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is
about 20% to about 70% of the width of the wipes. Alternatively, the length 11
of the
dispensing orifice is about 30% to about 50% of the width 17 of the wipes.
Without
being bound by the theory, it is believed that within the above range, the
friction between
the edges of the wipe and the edges of the dispensing orifices during
dispensing induces a
relatively high adhesion between the first and the second wipe. This forces a
portion of
the leading panel 6b and a portion of the central panel 8b of the second wipe
to be lifted
such as to protrude from the dispensing orifice 4, forming a dual layer
exposed leading
portion 5. If the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is relatively too large
in comparison to
the width 17 of the wipes, then the low friction of the wipe along the edges
of the
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dispensing orifice induces a complete unfolding of the wipe. The same occurs
when the
dispensing orifice 4 is too narrow in comparison to the width 17 of the wipes,
caused by
too high friction. Additionally, it is believed that a dispensing orifice
within above range
induces less occurrence of "fall-back" (leading panel of a second wipe falling
back into
5 the external envelope and not protruding from the dispensing orifice - this
is inconvenient
for dispensing the wipes). Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is
believed that the
adhesion forces between the wipes can also play a role in the above
interactions.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the overlap 19 between two
consecutive wipes is between about 15mm and about 30mm for a wipe length 18 of
about
10 150mm, and the corner gap between about 3 and about 5 mm.
In certian embodiments of the invention the wipes have a corner gap 20 that is
a
constant throughout the stack. In other embodiments, it has been observed that
a variable
corner gap 20, trailing panel length 10 and thus the resulting overlap 19 can
induce some
dispensing advantages. For example, a corner gap 2 that is between about 8 and
about
10mm for the first 10 wipes of a stack of 48 and that is then between about 3
and about
4mm for rest of the wipes in the stack has been shown to provide advantages
for the
dispensing (i.e. more uniform and reliable dispensing). This was observed for
a stack of
wipes in a flexible film pouch, having the following dimensions: wipes length
about 150
mm, wipes width about 110 mm, leading panel length about 45mm (first ten
wipes),
leading panel length about 40mm (wipes # 11 to 48), central panel length about
80mm,
trailing panel length about 25mm (first ten wipes), trailing panel length
about 30mm
(wipes #11 to 48), stack dimension, (height about 44 mm, width about 90 mm,
length
about 110 mm) dispensing orifice dimension about 30 mm in diameter. The
variable
corner gap and trailing panel length can vary step by step throughout the
height of the
stack or can continuously (e.g. linearly) vary between two extreme values.
This has also
been shown when the variable corner gap and trailing panel length is combined
with the
present invention.
The external envelop 2 of the pack of wipes 1 of the invention can be a
flexible
film, as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the external envelope can be
a rigid
container as illustrated in Figure 4. Optionally the dispensing orifice can be
reversibly
covered by a lid 16.
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The central panel 8 of the wipes of the pack of the present invention can be a
single panel as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 9. Alternatively, the central
panel 8 can
comprise a fold and hence comprise more than one panel.
Figure 2 shows the interfolding configuration of the wipes in a stack of
Figure 1.
The interfolding configuration is further illustrated in more details by
Figures 3 and 9. As
shown on Figure 3 and 9, a portion of the leading panel 6b and a portion of
the central
panel 8b of the second wipe is located in between a portion of the central
panel 8a and of
the trailing panel 1 Oa of the first wipe in the stack. Other interfolding
configurations are
however possible and within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment of
interfolded wipes, the characteristics of the wipes and the dimensions of the
dispensing
orifice dimensions are as shown in Table 2a.
Table 2 Wipes substrate Lotion composition Shape and Separation
and dimension dimension force (as
of opening measured
orifice by method
described)
Ingredients: Aqua, circular 30 1.15 N
Table 2a - Wipes dimensions: Propylene Glycol, mm
110mm x 150mm Phenoxyethanol, PEG- diameter
Pack of the 40 Hydrogenated
invention - Dry caliper 0.5mm Castor Oil, Trilaureth-
Interfolded 4 Phosphate ,
wipes (as Basis weight : 60 Methylparaben,
illustrated by g/m2 Sodium Phosphate,
e.g. Fig. 3) Xanthan Gum,
Substrate Disodium EDTA, Bis-
composition: PEG/PPG-16/16
40% pulp/ 60% PEG/PPG-16/16
Lyocell blend Dimethicone,
Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben,
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Parfum,
Caprylic/Capric
Triglyceride,
Hydroxycitronellal,
Amyl Cinnamal
Table 2b - Wipes Dimensions: Ingredients: Aqua, rectangular 1.15 N
1 l0mm x 150mm Dimethicone, 35 mm x
Pack of wipes (folding : length of Propylene Glycol, 45 mm
of the leading panel 36 Phenoxyethanol,
invention, mm, centre panel Sodium Acrylate /
non- 80 mm, trailing Vinyl Isodecanoate
interfolded panel 36 mm. Crosspolymer,
wipes (as Methylparaben,
illustrated e.g. Disodium EDTA,
in Fig. 8) Dry Caliper 0.5mm Parfum,
Propylparaben,
As sold under Basis weight : 60 Ethylparaben,
Charmin Soft g/m2 Polysorbate 20.
& Fresh
trademark in
Germany in
September
2005
Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the invention where the wipes 3 are not
interfolded. In this embodiment, the characteristics of the wipes (e.g.
substrate material of
the wipes, impregnating composition) are such that the dispensing of the first
wipe in the
stack induces the lift of a portion of the leading panel 6a and of a portion
of the central
panel 8b of the second wipe. It creates an exposed leading portion comprising
both a
portion of the leading panel 6b and a portion of the central panel 8a, both
portions 6a and
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8a contacting together upon dispensing. In one embodiment of non interfolded
wipes, the
characteristics of the wipes and the dimensions of the dispensing orifice
dimensions are as
shown in Table 2b.
It is to be noted that the figures are only schematic representations. In
particular
Figures 1, 2 and 8, the distance between the exposed portions of the leading
panel 6a and
of the central panel have been exaggerated. As detailed above and in the
claims, these
portions maybe in contact with each other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the separation force between the wipes is
between about 0.05 N and about 5N or between about 0.1N and about 2N. In a
particular
embodiment, the separation force is about 1.15N. The separation force is
measured as
described hereafter. Without desiring to be bound by the theory, it is
believed that
separation forces within the cited range, possibly associated with the cited
dimension of
the dispensing orifice and the overlap area 19, induce the correct forces to
create an
exposed leading portion comprising a portion of the leading and a portion of
the central
panel of the second wipe contacting together upon dispensing of the first
wipe.
Measurement method for Separation force:
For measuring separation forces, twenty wipes are unfolded and placed flat on
top
of each other so as to overlap the leading panels of the wipes; the dimension
of the
overlapping zone is 12 cm. When a lotion is present on the wipes the sides of
the wipes
comprising the lotion are overlapped. The stack of wipes is compressed with 40
kg for 15
seconds over a surface of 25 cm x 25 cin or to an equivalent pressure. A
compression
stand is used to apply the pressure (PSP-Lockwood Green Pressure Device,
manufacturer:
PSP-Lockwood Greene GmbH, Germany - used according to manufacturer
instructions).
Samples are stored prior to separation force measurement for 72 hours +/- 4
hours at a
constant temperature (25 C) and constant relative humidity,( 50% relative
humidity).
The reported separation force is the maximum (peak) force observed during the
vertical separation of two consecutive wipes in the stack (One pair of wipes
is removed
from the stack and fixed in the tensile tester for measurement). The
separation force is
measured with a tensile tester (ZWICK Roell Tensile Tester, type BTC-FR2,
Zwick
GmbH & Co. KG, Ulm, Germany). The tester is used according to manufacturer
instructions. The operation parameters are as follows : start distance clamps:
270mm,
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14
clamps with flat rubber surface, width 60mm, pre-force: 0.05N, pull-speed: 300
mm/min,
load-cell: 10-20N with resolution of 0.01N.
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are
not to be construed
as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To
the extent that
any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with
any meaning
or definition of the term in a document cited herein, the meaning or
definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
The dimensions and/or values disclosed herein are not to be understood as
being
strictly limited to the exact dimension and/or numerical value recited
Instead, unless
otherwise specified, each such dimension and/or numerical value is intended to
mean both
the recited dimension and/or numerical value and a functionally equivalent
range
surrounding that dimension and/or numerical value. For example, a dimension
disclosed
as "40 nun" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
