DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR SHEET MATERIAL

Abstract

A hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package comprising a base wall; a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge; at least one side expansion wall extending between said base wall and said top wall, expandable between a compacted state and an expanded state; a hanging arrangement for hanging of the dispensing package having a hanging portion which at a hanging position is disposed closer to the rear edge than the front edge; and a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough. The dispensing location being disposed at a top portion of the dispensing package.

Claims

1-48. (canceled)

49. A hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package, comprising: a base wall; a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge; at least one side expansion wall extending between said base wall and said top wall, the at least one side expansion wall expandable between a compacted state and an expanded state; a hanging arrangement for hanging of the hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package, said hanging arrangement having a hanging portion which at a hanging position is disposed closer to said rear edge than said front edge; and a dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough, said dispensing location being disposed at a top portion of the dispensing package.

50. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said at least one expansion wall comprises a folded portion configured to unfold so as to facilitate said expansion of the at least one expansion wall from the compacted state to the expanded state.

51. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 50, wherein said folded portion is adjacent to the top wall.

52. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 50, wherein said folded portion is narrower at an area thereof disposed proximal to the rear edge of the top wall, than at an area thereof disposed proximal to the front edge of the top wall.

53. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said at least one expansion wall include two expansion walls.

54. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said prism is a cuboid.

55. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package is made of sheet material.

56. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said hanging arrangement is in the form of a tubular loop.

57. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein the hanging arrangement is connected at a rear portion of the dispensing package.

58. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein said at least one expansion wall is configured to be positioned upright when the dispensing package is suspended from said hanging arrangement.

59. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein the hanging arrangement is connected to the dispensing package such that when suspended therefrom, the base wall is oriented at an angle with respect to the horizon.

60. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 58, wherein the angle is in a range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees.

61. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 58, wherein at said orientation the sheet material on the front wall of the dispensing package.

62. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein the sheet material is in the form of a Zig-Zag folded strip positioned within a storing space such that a limb thereof is adjacent to the base wall, and a hinge axes side thereof is adjacent to a front wall of the hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package.

63. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein the dispensing location is positioned on the front edge of the top wall.

64. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, wherein the positioning of the sheet material within a storing space is such that an uppermost edge thereof is positioned most proximal to the dispensing location.

65. The hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package according to claim 49, further comprising a dispensing port at said dispensing location configured to facilitate dispensing of sheet material therethrough.

66. A kit for assembling a hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package; the kit comprising: an expandable container including: a base wall; a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge; at least one side expansion wall extending between said base wall and said top wall which are expandable between a compacted state and an expanded state; and a dispensing location facilitating dispensing of sheet material therethrough, said dispensing location being disposed at a top portion of the dispensing package; and a hanging arrangement for hanging of the dispensing package, the hanging arrangement having a hanging portion which at a hanging position is disposed closer to said rear edge than said front edge.

67. A hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package, comprising: a base wall; a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge, displaceable with respect to said base wall at least from a first position to a second position; a storing space defined between said base wall and said top wall, containing at least one strip of sheet material which is compacted at the first position of the top wall and expanded at the second position of the top wall; a hanging arrangement for hanging of the dispensing package, said hanging arrangement having a hanging portion which at a hanging position is disposed closer to said rear edge than said front edge; and a dispensing location configured to provide access to said storing space disposed at a top portion of the dispensing package at the second position of the top wall.

68. A kit for assembling a hangable and expandable prism-shaped dispensing package, the kit comprising: an expandable container comprising: a base wall; a top wall having a rear edge and a front edge which is displaceable with respect to said base wall at least from a first position to a second position; a storing space defined between said base wall and said top wall, containing a strip of sheet material which is compacted at the first position of the top wall and expanded at the second position of the top wall; and a dispensing location configured to provide access to said storing space disposed at a top portion of the dispensing package at the second position of the top wall; and a hanging arrangement for hanging of the dispensing package, said hanging arrangement having a hanging portion which at a hanging position is disposed closer to said rear edge than said front edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0098] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0099] FIG. 1A is a front view of a dispensing package, according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, illustrated at a packaged mode thereof;

[0100] FIG. 1B is a side, partial cutaway view of the dispensing package of FIG. 1A, with a side wall thereof partially removed;

[0101] FIG. 1C is a top-front perspective view of the dispensing package of FIG. 1A, with a hanging arrangement illustrated at a deployed state;

[0102] FIG. 2A is a side view of the dispensing package of FIG. 1C, illustrated at an operational mode;

[0103] FIG. 2B is a front-top perspective view of the dispensing package of FIG. 2A, with a dispensing port illustrated in an open state, where a removable member thereof is removed;

[0104] FIG. 2C is a front view of the dispensing package of FIG. 2A, illustrated with an upper portion of a front wall thereof removed;

[0105] FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the dispensing package of FIG. 2A, illustrated in operation, suspended from a hanger;

[0106] FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of the dispensing package of FIG. 3A;

[0107] FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3B along line A-A;

[0108] FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a dispensing package according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter, illustrated at a packaged mode; and

[0109] FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of the dispensing package of FIG. 4A, illustrated at an operational mode, suspended from a hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0110] Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the present disclosure, illustrating a hangable and expandable cuboid-shaped dispensing package 1 for storing and dispensing sheet material, e.g., a perforated long strip of toilet paper 80 arranged in a Zig-Zag fold therewithin, according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0111] The dispensing package 1 is formed out of a single sheet of cardboard and comprises four circumference walls, a base wall 11, and a top wall 13 defining a storing space 17 therebetween for the sheet material 80.

[0112] The dispensing package 1 further comprises a dispensing port 19 disposed at a dispensing location adjacent a front edge 13a of the top wall 13, configured to provide access to the storing space 17, for pulling out the sheet material 80 therethrough. In FIG. 1C, the dispensing port 19 is seen sealed by a detachable member 19a preventing sheet material from passing therethrough. The detachable member 19a herein is formed as a shaped pattern of perforations in the sheeted cardboard. In FIGS. 2 and 3, this detachable member 19a is seen removed, rendering the dispensing port 19 open for passing of sheet material 80 therethrough, optionally by pulling.

[0113] It should be appreciated that the beside the dispensing port 19, the storing space 17 is sealed, preserving hygiene of the sheet material 80 disposed thereiwthin.

[0114] The four circumference walls consist of: a front circumference wall 15c, an opposite rear circumference wall 15d, and two side walls 15a and 15b extending therebetween.

[0115] The font circumference wall 15c is a two-part wall having disconnected upper and lower portions 15c′,15c″, each of which is connected to the top wall and the base wall 13,11, respectively, and is displaceable, together with the respective wall, with respect to the other.

[0116] The two side circumference walls 15a and 15b are expansion walls 15a and 15b, each of which being configured to expand between a compacted state, seen in FIGS. 1A to 1C, and an expanded state, seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0117] The expansion of the expansion walls 15a and 15b is facilitated herein by a folding portion 25a and 25b thereof, folded in a Z fold in the compacted state thereof, and unfolded in the expanded state thereof. The Z fold is best seen in FIG. 2C.

[0118] Each of the expansion walls 15a, 15b, has an upper edge 15a′,15b′, connected to the top wall 13, and a lower edge 15a″,15b″, connected to the base wall 11. Expansion of the expansion walls 15a,15b moves the upper edges 15a′15b′ away from the lower edges 15a″,15b″, and thereby elevates the top wall 13, together with the upper portion 15c′, with respect to the base wall 11 and the lower portion 15c″.

[0119] When the expansion walls 15a and 15 reach maximum expansion, a user can tuck the upper portion 15c′ of the front wall 15c behind the lower portion 15c″ thereof, as seen in FIG. 2B, to induce friction therebetween which maintains the expansion walls 15a and 15b at the expanded state.

[0120] The elevation of the top wall 13 with respect to the base wall 11, is performed herein in an angle due to the structure of the folding portions 25a, 25b, which is narrower at an area thereof closer to a rear edge 13d than a front edge 13c of the top wall 13.

[0121] As seen in FIG. 2C, the Z fold of the folding portions 25a, 25b, is configured inwardly, into the storing space 17, so as to minimize the dimensions of the dispensing package 1. Further, the positioning of the folding portions 25a and 25b is such that at the compacted state of the expansion walls 15a and 15b, when sheet material is disposed within the storing space 17, the Z fold is disposed above an uppermost portion of the sheet material, such that folding/unfolding the folding portions 25a and 25b is not interrupted by the sheet material.

[0122] It should be appreciated that expansion of the expansion walls 15a,15b, i.e., elevation of the top wall 13 with respect to the base wall 11, increases the volume of the storing space 17, rendering the storing space 17 bigger at the expanded state of the expansion walls 15a and 15b than at the compacted state thereof, as the top wall 13 is positioned further from the base wall 11.

[0123] With such arrangement, sheet material which can compress and expand, e.g., the stack of Zig-Zag folded toilet paper 80, can be inserted compressed into the storing space 17 when the expansion walls 15a and 15b are at the compacted state, and expand therein when the expansion walls 15a and 15b shift from the compacted state to the expanded state.

[0124] It should be appreciated that compressed sheet material can also be inserted to storing spaces of conventional dispensing packages, however, the compression induces friction forces which make it difficult for a user to pull the sheet material out therefrom without tearing it. Expanding the storing space 17 when the compressed sheet material is disposed therewithin, e.g., when the dispensing package 1 is in use, reduces friction, and provides the ability for the sheet material 80 to swirl within the storing space 17.

[0125] This allows filling the dispensing package 1 with an “extra” amount of sheet material, for storing and transportation thereof, without loosing the ability to pull it therefrom later on, e.g., when the dispensing package 1 is ready for use.

[0126] The dispesing package 1 further comprises a hanging arrangement 12 in the form of a tubular loop, adapted for hanging on a toilet paper hanger, e.g, hanger 30, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0127] The hanging arrangement 12 comprises a hanging portion 12a which is seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B engaging the hanger 30. The hanging portion 12a herein is elongated to counter pulling forces emerging due to friction induced by pulling of the sheet material 80 through the dispensing port 19.

[0128] The elongation induces large contact surface of the hanging portion 12a with the hanger 30, which induces large distribution of forces along the hanging portion 12a.

[0129] The hanging arrangement 12 is connected to the rear circumference wall 15d of the dispensing package 1, causing the dispensing package 1 to be positioned in a 45 degrees angle with respect to the horizon, when hanged therefrom, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter the hanging arrangement 12 can be provided separately from the rest of the dispensing package 1, and be connected to the rear circumference wall, or any other area at a rear portion of the dispensing package 1, a priory, optionally by a duct tape.

[0130] When the hanger 30 is positioned proximal to a wall, e.g., wall 90, the hanging position of the dispensing package 1 can be such that a portion thereof engages the wall 90, as seen in FIG. 3B, increasing the stability of the dispensing package 1.

[0131] It should be appreciated that the sheet material 80 is Zig-Zag folded within the storing space 17 such, that a limb 81 thereof is adjacent the base wall 11, and a hinge axes side thereof 82 is adjacent the front wall 15c. The sheet material 80 is further arranged such that an uppermost edge 83 thereof is positioned most proximal to the dispensing port 19, and is seen protruding therefrom in FIG. 3C.

[0132] It should be appreciated that the positioning of the dispensing port 19, i.e., the dispensing location, on an upper edge of the front wall 15c, most proximal to the uppermost edge 83 of the sheet material, causes the sheet material 80 being pulled to not bear the sheet material 80 own self weight, thereby reducing the chances of potential tearing of the sheet material in times of pulling.

[0133] It should further be appreciated that the orientation of the dispensing package 1, determines the orientation of the sheet material 80 therewithin, such that when an uppermost edge 83 of the sheet material 80 protrude through the dispensing port 19 and the dispensing package 1 is angled, as seen in FIG. 3C, the protruding portion of the sheet material tends to fall out through the dispensing port due to gravity, thereby reducing the chances of that protruded portion from falling back into the storing space 17.

[0134] The dimensions of the dispensing port 19 correspond to those of a cross section of the sheet material 80, however a length L of the dispensing port 19 is shorter than that cross section to induce friction between the protruding portion and the dispensing port 19, thereby maintaining the protruding portion in place, preventing it from falling into/out from the dispensing port 19.

[0135] In FIGS. 3A to 3C, the hanging arrangement 12 is seen hanging from the hanger 30, while in FIGS. 1A to 1C it is seen lying flat on the top wall 13, taped to the front circumference wall 15c by a piece of tape 71 to maintain this position.

[0136] The dispensing package 1 is seen in the figures hereinabove in two operational modes—a packaged mode for use when the dispensing package 1 is stored or transported, i.e., when it is desired to merely store the sheet material 80 within the storing space 17, seen in FIG. 1A and 1B, and an operational mode for use when the dispensing package 1 is ready for use, i.e. when it is desired to dispense the sheet material 80 from the storing space 17 through the dispensing port 19.

[0137] At the packaged mode, the two expansion walls 15a and 15b are at their compacted state, the hanging arrangement 12 is lying flat on the top wall 13, held in that position by the tape 71, and the dispensing port 19 is blocked by the element 19a. At such packaged mode the shape of the dispensing package 1 is of a cuboid. The cuboid shape utilizes to maximum the space in a cuboid shipping container, and thereby cheapens transportation costs for the dispensing package.

[0138] At the operational mode, the two expansion walls 15a and 15b are at their expanded state, the hanging arrangement 12 is released from the front wall 13c, and the dispensing port 19 is open. In that mode the shape of the dispensing package 1 is of a trapezoid. The trapezoid shape, as well as the cuboid shape, prevent the dispensing package 1 from rolling, e.g., when it falls from the hanger.

[0139] Attention is now directed to FIG. 4A and 4B of the present disclosure, illustrating a dispensing package 100, having identical features to those of the dispensing package 1, however having four expansion walls 119, displaceable between a compacted state, seen in FIG. 4A, and an expanded state, seen in FIG. 4B, each being connected to a base wall 111 and a top wall 113 respectively. Such arrangement causes the top wall 113 to be elevated parallel to the base wall 111, instead of at an angle as in the dispensing package 1.

[0140] The dispensing package 100 further comprises a storing space 117 defined between the top and base walls 111,113, which include a checkup slit 117a, configured to provide a user with visibility into the storing space 117 for performing checkup of the amount of sheet material 180 left therewithin. The checkup slit can further facilitate entering of air therethrough into the storing space 117, when the expansion walls 119 expand from the compacted state to the expanded state.

[0141] The dispensing package 100 is formed of paper instead of cardboard, which are a water perishable material, so that the entire dispensing package 100 can be flushed down the toilet in the end of use.