DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING SHEET PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE DISPENSER

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing sheet products includes a plurality of walls connected to each other, defining an interior volume, and a stack of sheet products received in the interior volume. A removable panel is provided at a top wall of the plurality of walls. The dispenser is configured so that, upon removal of the removable panel, an opening in the top wall for removing sheet products is revealed. The removable panel extends to a side wall of the plurality of walls so that a portion of the removable panel is present at the side wall.

Claims

1.-30. (canceled)

31. A dispenser for dispensing sheet products, the dispenser comprising: a plurality of walls connected to each other, defining an interior volume; and a stack of sheet products received in the interior volume; wherein a removable panel is provided at a top wall of the plurality of walls, the dispenser is configured so that, upon removal of the removable panel, an opening in the top wall for removing sheet products is revealed, and the removable panel extends to a side wall of the plurality of walls so that a portion of the removable panel is present at the side wall.

32. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the removable panel is removably attached to at least a portion of the top wall.

33. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein perforations are provided in the top wall, the perforations defining a part of the removable panel, and wherein the removable panel is removably attached to a portion of the top wall through perforation bridges arranged between the perforations.

34. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein perforations are provided in the side wall to which the removable panel extends, the perforations defining the portion of the removable panel present at the side wall, and wherein the portion of the removable panel is removably attached to a portion of the side wall through perforation bridges arranged between the perforations.

35. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein perforations are provided in the top wall, the perforations in the top wall defining a part of the removable panel, wherein the removable panel is removably attached to a portion of the top wall through perforation bridges arranged between the perforations, and wherein a spacing between adjacent perforation bridges at the side wall is larger than a spacing between adjacent perforation bridges at the top wall.

36. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein a perforation is provided in the side wall at a lowermost part of the portion of the removable panel in a direction from the top wall towards a bottom wall of the plurality of walls.

37. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the portion of the removable panel present at the side wall is a pull tab, and wherein the pull tab is removably attached to the side wall or detached from the side wall.

38. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the removable panel extends along the top wall over at least 90% of a length of the top wall in a direction from the side wall to which the removable panel extends towards another side wall of the plurality of walls which is arranged opposite the side wall to which the removable panel extends.

39. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the removable panel does not extend to a side wall of the plurality of walls which is arranged opposite the side wall to which the removable panel extends.

40. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the portion of the removable panel present at the side wall extends along the side wall over between 10% and 50% of a height of the side wall in a direction from the top wall towards a bottom wall of the plurality of walls.

41. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the plurality of walls is made of a pliable material.

42. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the plurality of walls is made of a sheet material, and only a single layer of the sheet material is present in a region of the side wall where the portion of the removable panel is present.

43. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein a part of the removable panel provided at the top wall has a straight shape or a shape with curved or undulating edges.

44. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the plurality of walls substantially has a rectangular prism shape, and the side wall to which the removable panel extends is arranged at a short side of the rectangular prism shape.

45. The dispenser of claim 31, further comprising: a sleeve arranged so as to at least partially surround the top wall, two opposing end walls of the plurality of walls and a bottom wall of the plurality of walls.

46. The dispenser of claim 45, wherein the sleeve is slidable relative to the plurality of walls in a direction from the side wall to which the removable panel extends towards another side wall of the plurality of walls which is arranged opposite the side wall to which the removable panel extends.

47. The dispenser of claim 45, wherein the sleeve is made of a first material, the plurality of walls is made of a second material, and the second material is more flexible than the first material.

48. The dispenser of claim 45, wherein the sleeve has a see-through window arranged at the top wall of the plurality of walls, wherein the top wall includes a see-through window, and wherein the see-through window of the sleeve is arranged at least substantially over the see-through window of the top wall.

49. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the stack of sheet products is received in the interior volume in a compressed state, and wherein the stack of sheet products is compressed in a direction from the top wall towards a bottom wall of the plurality of walls.

50. A method of manufacturing a dispenser, the method comprising: providing a wall material; providing the wall material with a removable panel; cutting the wall material which has been provided with the removable panel; and after cutting, folding the wall material around a stack of sheet products so that the plurality of walls is formed by the wall material and the stack of sheet products is received in an interior volume defined by the plurality of walls, wherein the removable panel is located in a top wall of the plurality of walls and extends to a side wall of the plurality of walls following folding the cut wall material, and wherein upon removal of the removable panel, an opening in the top wall is revealed for removing sheet products in the stack of sheet products from the interior volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0136] Various additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of one or more illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, explain the one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0137] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a dispenser according to a first embodiment.

[0138] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a dispenser according to a second embodiment.

[0139] FIG. 3 shows a top partially-transparent perspective view of a dispenser according to a third embodiment.

[0140] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a dispenser according to a fourth embodiment.

[0141] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a dispenser according to a fifth embodiment.

[0142] FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of a dispenser according to a sixth embodiment.

[0143] FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of a dispenser according to a seventh embodiment.

[0144] FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state thereof (e.g., in blank unassembled form).

[0145] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged detailed top view of the encircled area in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0146] Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0147] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a dispenser 2 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0148] The dispenser 2 is a dispenser for dispensing sheet products and comprises a plurality of walls connected to each other, defining an interior volume. The plurality of walls comprises a top wall 4, a bottom wall 6, a first side wall 8, a second side wall 10 opposite the first side wall 8, a first end wall 12, and a second end wall 14 opposite the first end wall 12. All of these walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 are substantially planar walls. As is shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 has a rectangular prism shape.

[0149] The plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 is made of a pliable sheet material, in particular, a plastic sheet material, e.g., a polymer sheet material, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester or the like.

[0150] A stack of sheet products (not shown), such as a stack of tissues, wipes, napkins or the like, is received in the interior volume defined by the plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. Adjacent sheet products in the stack of sheet products are interfolded with each other. The stack of sheet products is received in the interior volume in a compressed state, i.e., in a state in which the stack of sheet products is compressed in the direction from the top wall 4 towards the bottom wall 6.

[0151] A removable panel 16 is provided at the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8. The removable panel 16 is formed by perforations 18 provided in the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8. The perforations 18 penetrate the sheet material of the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8. The removable panel 16 is thus removably attached to portions, i.e., remainders, of the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8 through perforation bridges 19 (see FIG. 9), i.e., portions of top wall material and side wall material arranged between the perforations 18.

[0152] Hence, the removable panel 16 is formed by a sequence of perforations 18, the sequence extending from the top wall 4 to the first side wall 8.

[0153] These perforations 18 are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of the dispenser 2 in an unfolded state thereof, i.e., a schematic top view of an unassembled blank that can be folded into the dispenser 2, and FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the encircled area in FIG. 8.

[0154] As is shown in FIG. 8, the blank comprises portions forming, in the folded state of the dispenser 2, the top wall 4, the bottom wall 6, the first end wall 12 and the second end wall 14. Further, the blank comprises four side flaps 7 and four side flaps 9 forming the first side wall 8 and the second side wall 10, respectively, in the folded state of the dispenser 2.

[0155] The perforations 18 are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to a center line C of the removable panel 16 which extends along the center of the removable panel 16 in the width direction thereof, i.e., in the direction from the first end wall 12 towards the second end wall 14 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0156] This symmetric arrangement of the perforations 18 ensures that the tearing force during removal of the removable panel 16 is evenly distributed along the removable panel 16. Hence, the removable panel 16 can be removed in a particularly controlled and precise manner.

[0157] As is illustrated in FIG. 9, the perforations 18 comprise first perforations 18a at the first side wall 8 and at a portion of the top wall 4 in the vicinity of the first side wall 8 and second perforations 18b at the remainder of the top wall 4. The first perforations 18a are longer, i.e., have a larger extension, than the second perforations 18b.

[0158] Hence, the spacing between adjacent perforation bridges 19 at the first side wall 8 and at the portion of the top wall 4 in the vicinity of the first side wall 8 is larger than the spacing between adjacent perforation bridges 19 at the remainder of the top wall 4.

[0159] Alternatively, a spacing between adjacent perforation bridges 19 at the first side wall 8 may be the same as a spacing between adjacent perforation bridges 19 at the entire top wall 4. In particular, the spacing between adjacent perforation bridges 19 may be substantially constant throughout the entire removable panel 16.

[0160] The length of the first perforations 18a may be in the range of 4 mm to 9 mm, e.g., 6 mm. The length of the second perforations 18b may be in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. The length of the perforation bridges 19 may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm, e.g., 1 mm.

[0161] The number of the first perforations 18a may be in the range of 3 to 15, 5 to 13, or 7 to 11, for example, 9.

[0162] As is further illustrated in FIG. 9, one of the perforations 18a is provided in the side wall 8 at the lowermost part of the portion 20 of the removable panel 16 in the direction from the top wall 4 towards the bottom wall 6 (i.e., at the end of the portion 20 on the right-hand side in FIG. 9). This perforation 18a crosses or intersects the center line C. Hence, the perforations 18a are arranged so that no perforation bridge 19 crosses or intersects the center line C.

[0163] In this way, removal of the removable panel 16 is further facilitated. In particular, by arranging the perforations 18a in this manner, a user can remove the portion 20 of the removable panel 16 from the remainder of the first side wall 8 more easily, also enabling a better grip of this portion 20.

[0164] As is shown in FIG. 1, the removable panel 16 extends from the top wall 4 to the first side wall 8 so that a portion 20 of the removable panel 16 is present at the first side wall 8. In particular, the removable panel 16 reaches over an edge, i.e., the short side edge 22 (see FIGS. 1, 8 and 9), of the rectangular top wall 4 to the first side wall 8.

[0165] The removable panel 16 extends along the top wall 4 over approximately the entire length of the top wall 4 in the direction from the first side wall 8 towards the second side wall 10 (see FIG. 1). However, the removable panel 16 does not extend to the second side wall 10, i.e., so as to be present also on the second side wall 10 (see also FIG. 8).

[0166] The portion 20 of the removable panel 16 present at the first side wall 8 extends along the first side wall 8 over approximately 30% of the height of the first side wall 8 in the direction from the top wall 4 towards the bottom wall 6.

[0167] The part of the removable panel 16 provided at the top wall 4 has a straight shape, i.e., a shape with straight edges, the straight edges being substantially parallel to the long side edges of the rectangular top wall 4.

[0168] The ends of the removable panel 16 in the direction from the first side wall 8 towards the second side wall 10 have curved, e.g., semi-circular, shapes, as is shown in FIG. 1.

[0169] The removable panel 16 can be removed, i.e., removed from the remainders of the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8, by tearing off the panel 16 along the perforations 18. Upon removal of the removable panel 16, an opening in the top wall 4 for removing sheet products is revealed, i.e., formed.

[0170] In particular, a user can grip the removable panel 16 so that his thumb touches the portion 20 of the removable panel 16 present at the first side wall 8 and his index finger touches the part of the removable panel 16 present at the top wall 4 in a position close to the short side edge 22 of the top wall 4. In this way, the end of the removable panel 16 which is arranged at the short side edge 22 can be safely and firmly gripped by the user, enabling removal of the panel 16 in a simple, efficient and precise manner.

[0171] Hence, the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment allows for the sheet products received in the interior volume to be removed in a simple and efficient manner.

[0172] The dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment is manufactured by providing a wall material for forming the plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, i.e., the pliable sheet material detailed above.

[0173] The wall material is provided with the removable panel 16 by perforating the wall material, i.e., by providing the perforations 18 in those portions of the wall material which will form parts of the top wall 4 and the first side wall 8.

[0174] Subsequently, the wall material is cut, i.e., cut to size, e.g., using a cutting tool, such as a cutting blade or the like.

[0175] In the process of cutting the wall material, the removable panel 16 formed by the perforations 18 is used as a cutting mark. The cutting mark indicates where, i.e., at which position or positions, the wall material is to be cut. Thus, the wall material can be cut in a particularly precise and efficient manner, without the need to provide an additional cutting mark.

[0176] As the next step in the manufacturing method, the cut wall material is folded around a stack of sheet products so that the plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 is formed by the folded wall material and the stack of sheet products is received in the interior volume defined by the plurality of walls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14.

[0177] Subsequently, the folded wall material is fixed in its position, e.g., by securing portions of the wall material to each other, for example, through an adhesive and/or by welding.

[0178] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a dispenser 102 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0179] The dispenser 102 of the second embodiment differs from the dispenser 2 of the first embodiment only in the shape of the part of the removable panel provided at the top wall. Hence, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0180] Specifically, as is shown in FIG. 2, the part of the removable panel 116 provided at the top wall 104 of the dispenser 102 has a shape with undulating edges. The undulations of these edges are arranged so that the direction of their amplitude is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the long side edges of the rectangular top wall 104. Further, the undulations are shifted relative to each other along this extension direction, so that the width of the top wall part of the removable panel 116, in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction, periodically varies along the extension direction.

[0181] The dispenser 102 according to the second embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0182] FIG. 3 shows a schematic transparent perspective view of a dispenser 202 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0183] The dispenser 202 of the third embodiment differs from the dispenser 2 of the first embodiment only in that the removable panel is arranged so as to extend also to the second side wall. Hence, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0184] As is shown in FIG. 3, the removable panel 216 of the dispenser 202 extends to the first side wall 208 and to the second side wall 210 so that a first portion 220 of the removable panel 216 is present at the first side wall 208 and a second portion 230 of the removable panel 216 is present at the second side wall 210. This arrangement of the removable panel 216 offers a user greater versatility and flexibility for removing the removable panel 216.

[0185] The first portion 220 of the removable panel 216 and the second portion 230 of the removable panel 216 have the same configuration. Specifically, the first and second portions 220, 230 of the removable panel 216 have the same configuration as the portion 20 of the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0186] The removable panel 216 is formed by a sequence of perforations 218, the sequence extending from the first side wall 208 over the top wall 204 to the second side wall 210, as is shown in FIG. 3.

[0187] The dispenser 202 according to the third embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0188] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a dispenser 302 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0189] The dispenser 302 of the fourth embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the dispenser 2 of the first embodiment and differs only in the details of the structure of the first side wall. Therefore, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0190] Specifically, as is shown in FIG. 4, the first side wall 308 of the dispenser 302 has fold over portions 340 in which the sheet material is folded over so that two layers of sheet material are arranged on top of each other in the fold over portions 340. In these portions 340, the sheet material is folded over from the lateral edges of the first side wall 308 towards the center of the first side wall 308 in the width direction of the first side wall 308. The fold over portions 340 extend almost along the entire height of the first side wall 308.

[0191] The fold over portions 340 are arranged so that there is a gap between the portions 340 in the width direction of the first side wall 308, as is shown in FIG. 4. Thus, only a single layer of the sheet material is present in the region of the first side wall 308 in which the portion 320 of the removable panel is present. In this way, removal of the removable panel is further facilitated.

[0192] The dispenser 302 according to the fourth embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0193] In the method of manufacturing the dispenser 302 of the fourth embodiment, the cut wall material is folded so as to form the fold over portions 340, wherein only a single layer of wall material is present in the region of the first side wall 308 where the portion 320 of the removable panel is present.

[0194] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a dispenser 402 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0195] The dispenser 402 of the fifth embodiment differs from the dispenser 302 of the fourth embodiment only in the configuration and arrangement of the fold over portions. Hence, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0196] As is shown in FIG. 5, the first side wall 408 of the dispenser 402 has fold over portions 440 in which the sheet material is folded over. In these portions 440, the sheet material is folded over from the lateral edges of the first side wall 408 towards the center of the first side wall 408 in the width direction of the first side wall 408.

[0197] In contrast to the fold over portions 340 of the dispenser 302, the fold over portions 440 are folded over so as to overlap each other in an overlap region 450 arranged in the center of the first side wall 408 in the width direction of the first side wall 408. In this overlap region 450, three layers of sheet material are arranged on top of each other. In the remainder of the fold over portions 440, two layers of sheet material are arranged on top of each other.

[0198] The fold over portions 440 have a tapered shape in the direction from the lateral edges of the first side wall 408 towards the center of the first side wall 408 in the width direction of the first side wall 408. Specifically, the fold over portions 440 are tapered so that an extension thereof along the height of the first side wall 408 decreases in the direction from the lateral edges of the first side wall 408 towards the center of the first side wall 408. In the center of the first side wall 408 in the width direction of the first side wall 408, the fold over portions 440 extend only along a part, e.g., approximately 50%, of the height of the first side wall 408, as is shown in FIG. 5. Hence, only a single layer of the sheet material is present in the region of the first side wall 408 in which the portion 420 of the removable panel is present. In this way, removal of the removable panel is further facilitated, substantially in the same manner as for the dispenser 302 of the fourth embodiment.

[0199] The dispenser 402 according to the fifth embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 302 according to the fourth embodiment.

[0200] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a dispenser 502 according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0201] The dispenser 502 of the sixth embodiment differs from the dispenser 402 of the fifth embodiment only in the configuration and arrangement of the fold over portions and in the arrangement of the removable panel. Thus, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0202] Specifically, as is shown in FIG. 6, the fold over portions 540 of the dispenser 502 differ from the fold over portions 440 of the dispenser 402 in that the fold over portions 540, including the overlap region 550, extend all the way to the lower edge of the first side wall 508 in the height direction of the first side wall 508.

[0203] Moreover, the arrangement of the removable panel 516 differs from the arrangement of the removable panel 16 of the dispenser 2 and the removable panel of the dispenser 402 in that the first side wall 508 to which the removable panel 516 extends is arranged at a long side of the rectangular prism shape of the plurality of walls, i.e., at a long side edge of the top wall 504 (see FIG. 6).

[0204] The dispenser 502 according to the sixth embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 402 according to the fifth embodiment.

[0205] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a dispenser 602 according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0206] The dispenser 602 of the seventh embodiment differs from the dispenser 2 of the first embodiment only in that an additional sleeve 700 is provided. Hence, a repeated description of the configuration of the remainder of the dispenser is omitted.

[0207] As is shown in FIG. 7, the sleeve 700 is arranged so as to partially surround the top wall 604, the two opposing end walls 612, 614 and the bottom wall 606 of the plurality of walls, i.e., so as to surround these walls 604, 606, 612, 614 along a part of their lengths in the direction from the first side wall 608 towards the second side wall 610.

[0208] Specifically, the sleeve 700 extends along the plurality of walls over approximately 70% of the length of the plurality of walls in the direction from the first side wall 608 towards the second side wall 610.

[0209] The sleeve 700 is made of a material which is less flexible and pliable, i.e., more rigid, than the sheet material of the plurality of walls. In particular, the sleeve 700 may be made of cardboard.

[0210] By providing the sleeve 700, the stability and robustness of the dispenser 602 are further improved, in particular, during shipping and storing the dispenser 602. Further, the sleeve 700 improves the stackability of the dispenser 602.

[0211] The sleeve 700 is slidable relative to the plurality of walls in the direction from the first side wall 608 towards the second side wall 610. Hence, the sleeve 700 can be removed in a particularly simple manner, facilitating removal of the removable panel and access to the stack of sheet products.

[0212] The sleeve 700 has a see-through window 710 arranged at the top wall 604 of the plurality of walls, as is shown in FIG. 7. The see-through window 710 is formed as an opening in the sleeve 700.

[0213] Although this is not shown in FIG. 7, the top wall 604 may have a see-through window. The see-through window of the top wall 604 may be made of a transparent material, e.g., a transparent plastic material. Such a see-through window allows for a portion of the sheet products received in the interior volume to be seen by a user.

[0214] The see-through window 710 of the sleeve 700 may be arranged at least substantially over the see-through window of the top wall 604. In this way, a user can see a portion of the sheet products received in the interior volume also when the sleeve 700 is slid over the plurality of walls.

[0215] The dispenser 602 according to the seventh embodiment is manufactured substantially in the same manner as the dispenser 2 according to the first embodiment. After forming the plurality of walls and fixing them in their position, the sleeve 700 is slid over the plurality of walls in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular prism shape.

[0216] To this end, the embodiments described above are only descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various variations and modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention by those of ordinary skills in the art, without departing from the design and spirit of the present invention. The variations and modifications should all fall within the claim scope defined by the claims of the present invention.