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Container and method for manufacturing a container for storing and dispensing
wipes
Description
The invention relates to a container and a method for manufacturing such kind
of a container,
by means of which wipes can be stored and dispensed.
EP 1 341 431 B1 discloses a system for dispensing wipes comprising a pouch
with two sealed
lateral sealing strips, wherein an endless roll of wipes is positioned inside
the pouch. A
bottom of the pouch is folded between a front side and a back side of the
pouch and unfolded
when the endless roll is provided inside the pouch.
There is a permanent need to facilitate the handling of a container for
dispensing wipes.
It is an object of the invention providing measures enabling a facilitated
handling of a
container for dispensing wipes.
The solution of this object is provided according to the invention by a
container according to
the features of claim 1 as well as a method according to the features of claim
12. Preferred
embodiments of the invention are given by the dependent claims and the
following
description, which can constitute each solely or in combination an aspect of
the invention.
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An aspect of the invention is directed to a container for storing and
dispensing wipes,
comprising a mainly flat bottom sheet for bordering an interior volume at the
bottom and a
jacket sheet for bordering the interior volume at its lateral sides, wherein
the jacket sheet is
sealed to the bottom sheet via several, particularly at least three or four,
bottom sealing strips,
wherein the bottom sealing strips protrude outwards away from the interior
volume.
The bottom sheet may provide a flat and even bottom by which the container can
rest onto a
ground. The weight of the content inside the container may be evenly
distributed onto the
ground, so that the container is supported onto the ground in a very stable
manner. It is less
likely that the container may fall over, even when the container is mainly
empty. The flat and
even bottom is not pressed into an uneven state by means of further seams
and/or sealing
strips of the jacket sheet, so that the flat bottom is not lifted
significantly from the ground
when the container is emptied. This may be reached by using two different
separated sheets
for the bottom sheet on the one hand and the jacket sheet on the other hand.
In addition the
bottom sealing strips protrudes outwards and are not positioned inside the
interior volume of
the container. The bottom sealing strips may draw the bottom sheet into a flat
and even state.
In addition the bottom sealing strips provide a further support for the
container which make it
more difficult for the container to fall over. Due to the flat bottom sheet
and the outwardly
protruding bottom sealing strips a falling over of the container is hindered
so that a facilitated
handling of a container for dispensing wipes is enabled.
The container may be designed as pouch, wherein the sheets are mainly
flexible. The
container may be a standing pouch. If so, the (flexible) container may be
inserted into a shell,
which is more rigid than the container. Particularly the shell may be designed
like a banderole
which surrounds the container in circumferential direction but extends in
longitudinal
direction, particularly in mainly vertical direction, only over a part of the
extension of the
container. The shell may be made from carton, metal or plastic material.
Particularly it is
possible to omit a bottom at the shell. The bottom sheet may be adapted for
directly resting
onto the ground. Particularly the bottom sheet may be provided at its outside
pointing away
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from the interior volume of the container with a resting layer. The resting
layer may provide a
higher friction coefficient compared to the material of the bottom sheet
and/or a higher tear
resistance compared to the material of the bottom sheet. For example, the
bottom sheet may
be provided with a plurality of rubber dots provided at the outside of the
bottom sheet so that
a resting layer with a high anti slip characteristic may be provided.
The bottom sheet may be rectangular so that an outer rim of the bottom sheet
may be covered
by a part of the jacket sheet and used for the bottom sealing strip by welding
the overlapping
part of the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet together. The jacket sheet and
the bottom sheet
may be connected to each other via four bottom sealing strips, which may
intersect at the
corners, so that a "quad sealed standing pouch" is provided. The jacket sheet
may be wrapped
in circumferential direction and sealed together at one lateral side and/or at
a top side for
bordering the interior volume of the container. The jacket sheet may comprise
cuts at the
mainly rectangular corners of the container so that the lower parts of the
jacket sheets can be
bent away for being sealed with the bottom sheet at the bottom sealing strip.
In addition or in
the alternate the bottom sheet may comprise cutouts at its corners so that the
bottom sheet
comprises parts protruding from the remaining bottom sheet which provides the
bottom
sealing strip, where the bottom sheet is sealed to the jacket sheet. A
circumferential
continuous sealing may be provided by the plurality of bottom sealing strips,
particularly
when the jacket sheet is welded to the bottom sheet at the bottom sealing
strips. The sealing of
the jacket sheet to the bottom sheet may be water-proof, particularly air-
tight. When the
bottom sealing strips are manufactured, a tool may press a part of the bottom
sheet and a part
of the jacket sheet together in the region of the bottom sealing strips. If
so, the tool may press
a part of the jacket sheet inwards at the lower end of the jacket sheet. The
tool may apply a
heat so that the jacket sheet and the bottom sheet may be welded together in
the region of the
bottom sealing strips. Particularly a part of the inwardly pressed material of
the jacket sheet at
one side may come into contact with a part of the inwardly pressed material of
the jacket
sheet at another side at one corner, so that a continuously welding from one
bottom sealing
strip to the other bottom sealing strip around the corner takes place and a
circumferential
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continuous sealing may be provided. Generally it is possible that the bottom
sheet and the
jacket sheet are one-piece. However, it is preferred using two different
separate sheets for the
bottom sheet and the jacket sheet, so that waste when the sheets are cut out
from a half-
finished product could be reduced and a bending by 180 at one bottom sealing
strip can be
omitted. The manufacturing of the container may be facilitated and cost-
efficient.
Particularly a part of the bottom sheet bordering the interior volume is
arranged in one,
particularly mainly horizontal, plane. A concave or convex course of the
bottom of the
container can be prevented. The risk that the container fall over may be
reduced.
Preferably the bottom sealing strips are inclined downwards away from the
interior volume by
an angle a with respect to the plane of the bottom sheet of 0 <a < 90 ,
particularly
30 < a < 60 und preferably a = 45 5 in the unstressed state. The
unstressed state may be
reached when the empty container is lifted from a ground. In this situation
the bottom sealing
strips may be inclined with respect the bottom towards the ground. The
inclination may be
reached automatically by a balance of forced provided in the bottom sealing
strips from the
bottom sheet and the jacket sheet. When the container is set down onto the
ground at its
bottom the bottom sealing strips are pressed into the plane of the bottom of
the container. This
leads to the effect that the bottom sheet is drawn outwards so that the bottom
of the container
tends into a flat and even state where the three-dimensional forming of the
bottom of the
container is adapted to the three-dimensional forming of the ground, which is
usually flat and
even. Further the bottom sealing strips, which are elastically bent into the
plane of the bottom,
could be loaded with a resilient force acting against a falling over of the
container.
Particularly preferred the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet are made from an
thermoplastic
material, particularly PET, wherein the thermoplastic material provides a,
particularly
progressive, resilient force against a bending of the respective bottom
sealing strip. These
materials allows a good sealing in the bottom sealing strips by welding. At
the same time a
significant resilient force can be provided, when the bottom sealing strips
are elastically bent
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into one common plane with the bottom of the container so that the risk may be
reduced that
the container may fall over.
Particularly the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet are coated at the inside
pointing towards the
interior volume with a protection layer for sealing the interior volume,
wherein particularly
the protection layer is particularly made from a thermoplastic material,
particularly PE. The
protection layer may be adapted to the content of the container such that
unwanted
interactions of the content with the material of the container are prevented
or at least reduced.
For example, the protection layer may prevent that the content of the
container may dissolve a
.. plasticizer of the sheet material or the like. Further, the material of the
protection layer may
ensure easier sealing during production and/or may ensure leaking free seals.
Preferably the jacket sheet is sealed along several, particularly at least
three or four, lateral
sealing strips, wherein the lateral sealing strips protrude outwards away from
the interior
.. volume, wherein at least one, particularly each, lateral sealing strip is
sealed to one bottom
sealing strip or two bottom sealing strips. One of the lateral sealing strips
may be used to fix
two ends of the jacket sheet together, which is wrapped in circumferential
direction for
bordering the interior volume of the container. The lateral sealing strips may
be provided at
the corners of the mainly rectangular bottom of the container. The lateral
sealing strips may
.. give the container a stable three-dimensional forming. The jacket sheet may
be bent by ca.
180 at the lateral sealing strips so that a stiffening effect may be provided
at the corners
and/or at the lateral sealing strips. The sealing at the lateral sealing
strips can be provided by
welding overlapping parts of the jacket sheet together. The lateral sealing
strips may provide a
water-proof, particularly air-tight, sealing.
Particularly preferred the jacket sheet comprises a dispenser opening for
dispensing wipes,
wherein a closure is provided comprising a frame for bordering the dispenser
opening,
wherein the frame is sealed to the jacket sheet, a dispenser collar for
covering partially the
dispenser opening and for holding a wipe and a lid for, particularly air-
tight, closing the
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dispenser collar, wherein the dispenser collar is detachably connected to the
frame,
particularly via a bayonet closure, wherein particularly the dispenser collar
is air-tight
connectable to the frame. The jacket sheet may be welded together at its top
so that the
content of the container can only be dispensed via the dispenser opening,
wherein particularly
only one dispenser opening is provided. The frame may be welded to the part of
the jacket
sheet surrounding the dispenser opening. The dispenser collar may comprise
projections,
particularly protruding mainly in radial direction, which can be bent away for
pulling a wipe
of an endless roll or the like. When a wipe is cut off the remaining wipes,
particularly via a
perforation line, the next wipe may be held between the protrusions, so that
the next wipe can
be easily dispensed and so on. For example, the projections can be provided by
a thin
thermoplastic plate comprising cuts arranged star-shaped for providing the
projection between
two neighboring cuts in circumferential direction. The lid may close the
dispenser opening
and cover the protrusions in closed state. Particularly the lid is connected
to the dispenser
collar and/or the frame via a strap so that the lid cannot be loosed in opened
state. The
dispenser collar together with its projections can be detached from the frame
so that the
dispenser opening is accessible without the projections of the dispenser
collar. The filling of
the container with a content is facilitated in the detached state of the
dispenser collar. The
closure may be provided during production before the content is filled into
the interior volume
of the container. Further the same emptied container may be reused und
refilled with a content
in the detached state. Particularly the container may be filled with a
disinfecting liquid or the
like, so that a roll of dry wipers could be wet. Due to the increased
stability of the container
provided by the protruding bottom sealing strips the container does not fall
over when the
liquid is filled in and splash against a lateral side provided by the jacket
sheet. The roll of
wipers could be stored in the interior volume of the container over a long
storing term and
could only be wet when the wipers should be used so that a too soon aging of
the wet wipers
may be prevented.
Particularly the jacket sheet is sealed via a top sealing strip for bordering
the interior volume
at its top side, wherein a top sheet protrudes form the top sealing strip away
from the interior
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volume, wherein the top sheet provides a handle for carrying the container.
The top sheet may
be one-part with the jacket sheet. The area of the top sheet may comprise a
welding line at the
top sealing strip. The top sheet may be one layer protruding upwards from the
top sealing
strip. In the alternate the top sheet may be folded at the top end, wherein
the free end of the
top sheet is connected at the top sealing strip, particularly by welding to
the jacket sheet, so
that two or more layers may be provided in the area of the top sheet leading
to an increased
tear resistance when the filled container is carried. The handle may be
provided by a handle
opening in the top sheet, particularly by punching. Preferably the handle
opening is bordered
by a welding seam providing an increased tear resistance around the handle
opening. Due to
.. the handle the container is automatically aligned in upright position when
carried and kept in
this position by its weight. When the container is put down onto a ground the
container may
be automatically positioned in a stable stand so that the container may not
fall over. Even
when a liquid is filled into the interior volume of the container a swashing
of the liquid would
not let the container fall over.
Preferably a content, particularly a roll of several in series interconnected
wipes, is provided
in the interior volume. The wipes are protected against a contamination inside
the interior
volume of the container and can be used for cleaning purposes. The roll may
supported to the
ground via the bottom sheet at its whole bottom area so that high stability is
given. This leads
further to a high friction area between the bottom sheet and the ground so
that the container
may less likely slide onto the ground. Particularly the friction between the
bottom sheet and
the ground may be such high due to the weight of the content of the container
that a wipe may
be tear off from the roll without risking the container to fall over.
Particularly preferred a cross sectional area of the dispenser opening
bordered by the frame is
larger or smaller than the maximum diameter of the content. When the dispenser
opening is
smaller than the roll, it may be prevented that the remaining roll is pulled
out the container
when a wiper is teared off. The roll may be provided inside the interior
volume of the
container before the container is sealed at its top. When the dispenser
opening is larger than
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the roll, it is possible to reuse the container for a further roll of wipers,
particularly for a dry
roll of wipers.
Particularly a liquid, particularly a cleaning agent, is at least partially
filled in the interior
volume. The cleaning effect of the wipers may be increased by the cleaning
agent. Due to the
protruding bottom sealing strips a falling over of the container may be
prevented even when
the liquid swashes inside the container.
A further aspect of the invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a
container, which
may designed as previously described, wherein a jacket sheet is sealed with a
bottom sheet
providing bottom sealing strips protruding outwards away from an interior
volume of the
container, a content, particularly a roll of several in series interconnected
wipes, is placed onto
the bottom sheet inside the interior volume and the interior volume is sealed
by sealing the
jacket sheet at a top sealing strip after the content is placed onto the
bottom sheet. Due to the
flat bottom sheet and the outwardly protruding bottom sealing strips a falling
over of the
container is hindered so that a facilitated handling of a container for
dispensing wipes is
enabled. Since the content is placed into the interior volume before the
container is sealed at
its top a large and/or bulky content may be provided inside the container even
when a
dispenser opening is much smaller.
Preferably the interior volume is sealed by sealing the jacket sheet at least
one lateral sealing
strip after or before the content is placed onto the bottom sheet. When the
lateral sealing strips
are provided before the content is placed inside the container, the container
may already have
an increased form stiffness, which facilitates particularly a filling in of a
liquid content. When
the lateral sealing strips are provided after the content is placed inside the
container, the
container may already have an increased stand so that the already filled
container may not
slide away when a tool is applied for providing the lateral sealing strips.
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Particularly preferred a liquid, particularly a cleaning agent, is filled into
the interior volume
via a closable dispenser opening in the jacket sheet after the interior volume
is sealed by the
jacket sheet. The liquid is filled in, when the container already have an
increased form
stiffness so that the container may not fall over when the liquid is filled
in. Preferably the
container is sealed at its top, before the liquid is filled in.
Particularly the liquid is provided by diluting a concentrated cleaning agent
with water to a
predefined concentration, wherein the diluting takes place inside the interior
volume or
outside the interior volume. The concentrated cleaning agent needs less
storing place than in
the diluted state. The required water can be provided only when needed.
Further it is possible
using the same concentrated cleaning agent for different concentrations
adapted to a specific
use. It is possible to fill the concentrated cleaning agent and the water
successively into the
container, so that the dilution to the intended concentration takes place
inside the container. In
the alternate the dilution may be provided first outside the container,
particularly in a
measuring jug, so that a liquid of the intended concentration is filled into
the container. A
direct contact of the highly concentrated cleaning agent with the further
content inside the
container is prevented so that, if so at all, unwanted chemical interactions
inside the container
may be prevented.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated
with reference
to the embodiments described hereinafter, wherein the described features can
constitute each
solely or in combination an independent aspect of the invention. In the
drawings:
Fig. 1: is a schematic exploded perspective view of a container at a first
stage of production,
Fig. 2: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 1 at a second
stage of
production,
Fig.3: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 2 at a third
stage of production,
Fig. 4: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 3 at a fourth
stage of
production,
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Fig. 5: is a schematic plan view of a closure of the container of fig. 3 and
fig. 4 and
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the closure of fig. 5.
The container 10 illustrated in fig. 1 is designed as pouch, which is provided
by welding a
bottom sheet 12 to a separate jacket sheet 14. The bottom sheet 12 may be
provided at a flat
and even rectangular foil placed onto a ground. The jacket sheet 14 is wrapped
in
circumferential direction for providing four lateral sides of the container
10. In the illustrated
embodiment the jacket sheet 14 comprises at each lateral side a strip 16
protruding outwards
in mainly horizontal direction. The jacket sheet 14 is fixed to the flat
bottom sheet 12 by
welding the strips 16 to the material of the bottom sheet 12 so that at the
bottom of each
lateral side a bottom sealing strip 18 is provided which protrudes away from
an interior
volume 20 bordered by the bottom sheet 12 and the jacket sheet 14. The bottom
sealing strips
18 may protrude outwards and/or downwards particularly by an angle of around
45 inclined
to the mainly horizontal plane of the bottom sheet 12. The bottom sealing
strips 18 are
connected with each other so that a continuous air-tight sealing in
circumferential direction is
provided. In addition a lateral sealing strip 22 protruding outwards away from
the interior
volume 20 are provided at the corners of the jacket sheet 14 between two
neighboring lateral
sides. The lateral sealing strips 22 provides an increased form stiffness of
the container 10 and
provides an air-tight sealing at the free ends of the jacket sheet 14 in one
corner. The lateral
sealing strips 22 are provided by welding two parts of the jacket sheet 14
together. The lateral
sealing strips 22 are connected with the bottom sealing strips 18 so that the
container 10 is air-
tight sealed and leakage-free.
As illustrated in fig. 2 the interior volume 20 may be closed at the top by
means of a top
.. sealing strip 24 where two or more opposing parts of the jacket sheet 14
are welded together.
A top sheet 26 which may be one-part with the jacket sheet 14 protrudes
upwards from the
top sealing strip 24. The top sheet 26 comprises a handle opening 28 so that a
handle 30 is
provided for carrying the container 10 by hand. The jacket sheet 14 comprises
a dispenser
opening 32 which is provided by a frame 34 of a closure 36. The frame 34 is
provided in an
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opening of the jacket sheet 14 and air-tightly connected to the jacket sheet
14 preferably by
welding.
The container 10 can be manufactured by different producing methods. For
example it is
.. possible, that the lateral side strips 16 are sealed first in a way that
the lateral side strips 16
protrudes outwards. Afterwards the jacket sheet 14 can be turned inside out,
so that the lateral
side strips 16 protrudes inwards. Subsequently the strips 16 can be sealed to
the bottom sheet
12 so that the provided bottom sealing strips 18 protrudes outwards. The
lateral side strips 16
can be sealed to the bottom sheet 12 inside the container 10 providing an
fluid-tight sealing.
.. The sealing of the top sealing strips 22 can take place before or after the
jacket sheet 14 is
turned inside out. When the lateral sealing strips 22 protrude outwards, it is
possible, that the
sealing strips could be folded over the outside surface of the bottom sheet 12
such that the
lateral sealing strips 22 are exterior to the container but protrude only
partially outwards.
Particularly the lateral sealing strips 22 located outside the interior volume
20 can be folded
onto the jacket sheet 14 contacting the jacket sheet 14 within a two-
dimensional contact area.
As illustrated in fig. 3 the dispenser opening 32 can be partially closed by a
dispenser collar
38 which is detachably connected to the frame 34 via an air-tight bayonet
closure. The
dispense collar 38 comprises several bendable projections 40 protruding
radially inwards into
.. the dispenser opening 32 within the plane of the associated lateral side of
the container 10.
The projections 40 may hold a wipe 42 of an endless roll 44 of interconnected
wipes 42 as
illustrated in fig. 4. A lid 46 is provided for, particularly air-tightly,
closing the remaining
cross section of the dispenser opening 32 which is not covered by the
projections 40. When
the dispenser collar 38 is attached to the frame 34 the dispenser collar 38
may be inserted into
.. the frame 34 while the lid 46 protrudes mainly upwards. Subsequently the
dispenser collar 38
may be turned inside the frame 34 for closing the bayonet closure between the
dispenser
collar 38 and the frame 34. Finally the lid 46 may protrude mainly downwards
so that the lid
46 may collect drops dropping down from a wet wipe 42. In a preferred
embodiment the lid
46 protrudes mainly downwards in the assembled state of the closure 36 when
the lid 46 is
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opened. The lid 46 is connected to the dispenser collar 38 via a strap 48 so
that the lid 46 is
loss-proof connected even in the opened state as illustrated in fig. 5.
Particularly the
projections 40 are designed as parts of an area of a circle. Particularly
preferred four
projections 40 are provided, wherein each projection 40 is designed as a
quadrant. Due to the
rounded tip of the projections 40 pointing to the center of the dispenser
opening 32 the risk,
that the wipes 42 can be damaged by the tips of the projections 40 is reduced.
The dispense
collar 38 particularly comprises a hole 50 communicating with the interior
volume 20 of the
container 10. The hole may be preferably provided at a corner between a
circumferential rim
of the dispenser collar 38 and a part inside the circumferential rim which
closes the dispenser
.. opening 32 partially. Drops dropping down from a wet wipe 42 can be
collected by the
dispense collar 38 and led to the hole 50 so that the drops can be feed back
into the interior
volume 20 of the container 10.
