ROLLED CENTER DISPENSE PAPER TOWELS PROVIDED IN A NON-CIRCULAR DISPENSER

Abstract

The present application describes a roll of paper products that may be compressed and subsequently provided in a non-circular dispenser. The roll of paper products is coreless, rolled with a specific tension and has a specific center diameter so as to enable individual paper products to be dispensed from the center of the roll even when compressed.

Claims

1. A compressed fabric sheet roll for a non-circular dispenser, comprising: a rolled sheet of continuously formed fabric provided with a plurality of spaced apart perforations along a length thereof; wherein the rolled sheet of continuously formed fabric is wound with a predetermined tension and a coreless center; wherein the rolled sheet is compressed to fit within the non-circular dispenser; wherein the coreless center has a non-circular shape in the compressed rolled sheet; wherein the non-circular shape of the coreless center is dimensioned to allow the continuously formed fabric to be dispensed from the coreless center when in the non-circular dispenser; and wherein the plurality of spaced apart perforations allow portions of the continuously formed fabric sheet to be separated when dispensed from the coreless center.

2. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the compressed rolled sheet has an oval outer shape.

3. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 2, in combination with the non-circular dispenser, wherein the oval outer shape of the compressed rolled sheet is fitted within the non-circular dispenser.

4. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 3, wherein the non-circular dispenser is non-square.

5. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the predetermined tension is greater than about four pounds.

6. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the predetermined tension is less than about six pounds.

7. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the coreless center is oval-shaped.

8. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 7, wherein the oval-shaped coreless center has an enlarged diameter that is less than about 5 inches.

9. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 7, wherein the oval-shaped coreless center has an enlarged diameter that is greater than about 1.875 inches.

10. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the rolled sheet of continuously formed fabric is a rolled sheet of folded fabric.

11. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the continuously formed fabric is a nonwoven fabric.

12. The compressed fabric sheet roll of claim 1, wherein the continuously formed fabric is a wet fabric.

13. A method of providing a center dispense fabric product for a non-circular dispenser, the method comprising: winding a continuous fabric sheet with a predetermined tension into a roll having a coreless center, the continuous fabric sheet in the roll being provided with a plurality of spaced apart perforations along a length thereof; and compressing the continuous fabric sheet roll in order to fit the continuous fabric sheet roll into the non-circular fabric dispenser, causing the coreless center to assume a non-circular shape; whereby the non-circular shape of the coreless center is dimensioned to allow the continuous fabric sheet roll to be dispensed from the coreless center when in the non-circular dispenser, and whereby the plurality of spaced apart perforations allow portions of the continuous fabric sheet to be separated from the fabric sheet roll when dispensed from the coreless center.

14. The method claim 13, wherein: winding the continuous fabric sheet with a predetermined tension into a roll having a coreless center comprises forming a generally circular-shaped roll; and wherein compressing the formed continuous fabric sheet roll comprises compressing the generally circular-shaped roll into a generally oval-shaped roll to fit within the non-circular dispenser.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising fitting the generally oval-shaped roll within the non-circular dispenser.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-circular dispenser is a non-square dispenser.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein winding the continuous fabric sheet with a predetermined tension comprises winding the continuous fabric sheet with a tension greater than about four pounds.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein winding the continuous fabric sheet with a predetermined tension comprises winding the continuous fabric sheet with a tension less than about six pounds.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein compressing the formed continuous fabric sheet roll and causing the coreless center to assume a non-circular shape comprises compressing the formed continuous fabric sheet roll and causing the coreless center to assume an oval-shape.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein causing the coreless center to assume an oval-shape comprises causing the coreless center to have an enlarged diameter that is less than about 5 inches.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein causing the coreless center to assume an oval-shape comprises causing the coreless center to have an enlarged diameter is greater than about 1.875 inches.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein forming a continuous fabric sheet roll with a predetermined tension and a coreless center comprises: folding the continuous fabric in the sheet; and forming the folded continuous fabric sheet roll with a predetermined tension and a coreless center.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the continuous fabric sheet roll is formed from a nonwoven fabric.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising wetting the continuous fabric sheet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following Figures.

[0010] FIG. 1A is a top view of a roll of paper towels according to an example.

[0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the roll of paper towels shown and described with respect to FIG. 1A according to an example.

[0012] FIG. 2A is a top view of a roll of paper towels that have been compressed according to an example.

[0013] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the compressed roll of paper towels shown and described with respect to FIG. 2A according to an example.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a compressed roll of paper towels being disposed in a rectangular dispenser according to an example.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for providing a paper product in a non-circular dispenser according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations, specific embodiments or examples. These aspects may be combined, other aspects may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the present disclosure. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0017] As outlined above, paper products such as, for example, paper towels, moist towelettes and the like, are typically dispensed from a dispenser. The shape of the dispenser typically matches the shape of the paper product to be dispensed. For example, a continuous roll of paper towels is typically dispensed from a round dispenser. In another example, paper towels may be cut, folded, stacked and dispensed from a rectangular or square dispenser. However, as indicated above, it is time consuming and costly to cut and fold paper products versus rolling the paper products.

[0018] Accordingly, the present application describes a center dispense rolled paper product (e.g., dry paper towels) that may be configured to fit within a rectangular dispenser (or non-circular dispenser) that exceeds a diameter of the rolled paper product by more than twenty-five percent. In order to fit within the non-circular dispenser, the center dispense rolled paper product is rolled with a specific tension and with a particular coreless center size. The specific tension and/or the coreless center size enables the center dispense rolled paper product to be compressed and subsequently placed in a non-circular dispenser while still enabling the rolled paper product to be dispensed (e.g., pulled) from the center of the rolled paper product.

[0019] In an example, the center dispense rolled paper product described herein are paper towels. However, the features described herein are not limited to paper towels. For example, the features described herein may be used to dispense wet/moistened paper towels/wipes.

[0020] These and other features will be described in more detail with respect to FIG. 1A-FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 1A is a top view of a roll of paper towels 100 according to an example. In some examples, the roll of paper towels 100 are dry. In other examples, the roll of paper towels may be wet/moist. In an example, the roll of paper towels may be made from different materials and/or have different qualities, grades and/or gauges. For example, the roll of paper towels may be DRC (e.g., pulp with a binder). In another example, the roll of paper towels maybe be a thin layer of plastic with pulp or rayon fibers. In yet another example, the roll of paper towels is a rolled fabric made of either natural fibers or combined with films or threads of plastic. The roll of paper towels maybe 812 or 1014 but other sizes may be used.

[0022] In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the roll of paper towels 100 is coreless or is otherwise configured to dispense paper towels from the center 110 of the roll of paper towels 100. For example and as shown in FIG. 1A, an edge or side of one paper towel 130 may extend from the center 110 of the roll of paper towels 100. As such, an individual may grab the edge of the paper towel 130 and pull outward/upward to remove the paper towel 130 from the center of the roll of paper towels 100.

[0023] In an example, the roll of paper towels 100 is a continuous roll. As such, an individual may tear a length of paper towel 130 from the roll of paper towels 100. In another example and as shown in FIG. 1B, the roll of paper towels 100 includes a plurality of perforations 120 that enable the paper towel 130 in the roll of paper towels 100 to be separated from an adjacent paper towel.

[0024] During a manufacturing process, the roll of paper towels 100 is rolled such that the roll of paper towels 100 is round or substantially round. As indicated above, rolling the roll of paper towels 100 in this manner reduces manufacturing time and cost when compared with other methods of preparing paper towels to be provided in a dispenser (e.g., folding and/or cutting). As indicated above, the roll of paper towels is coreless. As also indicated above, after the manufacturing process, the roll of paper towels 100 is subsequently be compressed which enables the roll of paper towels 100 to be provided in a non-circular dispenser.

[0025] In order to accomplish the above, the roll paper towels 100 is rolled at a specific tension and with a particular coreless center size. This allows the paper towels to be compressed so as to fit within a non-circular dispenser. In an example, the roll of paper towels 100 is rolled with a tension between approximately four pounds to approximately six pounds. If the tension is too tight, the roll of paper towels will not be able to be compressed and subsequently placed in the non-circular dispenser. However, if roll of paper towels is too loose, a desired number of paper towels may not be included in the roll of paper towels. In addition to the tension of the roll of paper towels 100, the size (e.g., diameter 140) of the center 110 is between approximately one and half inches to approximately four inches. The roll tension, along with the size the center 110 enables the roll of paper towels 100 to be compressed and placed in a non-circular dispenser while still allowing a paper towel 130 to be dispensed from the center 110 of the roll of paper towels 100.

[0026] Although specific roll tensions and sizes of the center 110 have been discussed, these may change based, at least in part, on the gauge of the paper towels, whether the paper towels are dry or wet, etc.

[0027] FIG. 2A is a top view of a roll of paper towels 200 that has been compressed according to an example and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the compressed roll of paper towels 200 shown and described with respect to FIG. 2A according to an example.

[0028] The roll of paper towels 200 may be similar to the roll of paper towels 100 shown and described with respect to FIG. 1A-FIG. 1B. For example, the roll of paper towels 200 may have perforations 220 that enable adjacent paper towels to be separated from each other. Likewise, a single paper towel 230 may be dispensed from the center 210. As discussed above, the tension at which the roll of paper towels 200 was originally rolled, along with the size (e.g., diameter 240) of the center 210 enables the paper towel 230 to be center dispensedeven after the roll of paper towels 200 has been compressed.

[0029] In an example, the roll of paper towels 200 may be compressed by hand and subsequently placed in a dispenser. In another example, the roll of paper towels 200 may be compressed by a machine and subsequently placed in a dispenser.

[0030] In an example, the compression process causes the center 210 of the roll of paper towels 200 to elongate such as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B (when compared to the center 110 of the roll of paper towels 100 shown in FIG. 1A). The compression process allows the roll of paper towels 200 to be provided in a rectangular (or other non-circular) dispenser such as shown in FIG. 3 while still enabling a single paper towel 230 (or multiple paper towels) to be dispensed from the center 210 of the roll of paper towels 200.

[0031] When the roll of paper towels 200 is compressed, the shape of the roll of paper towels 200 may change from substantially round/circular to substantially oblong so as to fit within a rectangular dispenser. In an example, the diameter 240 of the of the center 210 of the roll of paper towels 200 may elongate by at least twenty-five percent. The elongation of the center 210 enables the paper towels to be dispensed from the center even when the roll of paper towels 200 has been compressed.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a compressed roll of paper towels 300 being disposed in a rectangular dispenser 310 according to an example. In an example, the roll of paper towels 300 may be similar to the roll of paper towels 200 shown and described with respect to FIG. 2A-FIG. 2B.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the roll of paper towels 300 has been compressed and placed in a rectangular (or non-circular/non-square) dispenser 310. In an example, the dispenser 310 may be 4.598 although other dimensions may be used.

[0034] The dispenser 310 may be made of cardboard, chip board, plastic or other suitable material. The dispenser 310 may define an opening 320 through which one or more paper towels 330 from the roll of paper towels 300 may be dispensed. Although a single opening 320 is shown and described, the dispenser 310 may define any number of openings though which paper towels 330 may be dispensed. Additionally, the opening 320 may be defined at any location on the dispenser 310. In some examples, the opening 320 may have any shape. Additionally, the opening 320 may have a lid or cap that enables the opening to be closed when paper towels 330 are not being dispensed from the dispenser 310.

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for providing a paper product in a non-circular dispenser according to an example. The paper product may be a roll of paper towels such as described above with respect to FIG. 1A-FIG. 2B.

[0036] The method 400 begins when a paper product is rolled (410). Rolling may include rolling a continuous sheet of paper products into a round/circular shape or substantially round/circular shape. In another example, the paper products may be folded and subsequently rolled into a round/circular shape or substantially round/circular shape. The roll of paper products may be dry or wet such as described above.

[0037] In an example, the paper product may be rolled with a tension between approximately four pounds to approximately six pounds. Although a specific rolled tension is mentioned, other tensions may be used. In addition to the tension, the paper product is coreless. However, the paper product may be rolled such that a diameter of a center roll of paper products is between approximately one and a half inches to approximately four inches.

[0038] Once the paper product has been rolled, the paper product is compressed (420). As explained above, the compression causes the center of the roll of paper products to elongate. Once the roll of paper product has been compressed, the roll of paper product may be (optionally) tested (430) or tuffed to determine whether a single paper product (e.g., a single paper towel) can be dispensed from the center of the compressed roll. As discussed above, if the paper product was rolled at the specified tension and with the specified center diameter, the single paper towel will be dispensed from the center, even though the roll of paper products has been compressed. The roll of paper products is then provided (440) in a non-circular dispenser.

[0039] The description and illustration of one or more aspects provided in the present disclosure are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the disclosure in any way. The aspects, examples, and details provided in this disclosure are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimed disclosure.

[0040] The claimed disclosure should not be construed as being limited to any aspect, example, or detail provided in this disclosure. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively rearranged, included or omitted to produce examples with a particular set of features. Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate aspects falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of the general inventive concept embodied in this application that do not depart from the broader scope of the claimed disclosure.

[0041] References to an element herein using a designation such as first, second, and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations may be used as a method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be used or that the first element precedes the second element. Additionally, unless otherwise stated, a set of elements may include one or more elements.

[0042] Terminology in the form of at least one of A, B, or C or A, B, C, or any combination thereof used in the description or the claims means A or B or C or any combination of these elements. For example, this terminology may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or A and B and C, or 2A, or 2B, or 2C, or 2A and B, and so on. As an additional example, at least one of: A, B, or C is intended to cover A, B, C, A-B, A-C, B-C, and A-B-C, as well as multiples of the same members. Likewise, at least one of: A, B, and C is intended to cover A, B, C, A-B, A-C, B-C, and A-B-C, as well as multiples of the same members.

[0043] Similarly, as used herein, a phrase referring to a list of items linked with and/or refers to any combination of the items. As an example, A and/or B is intended to cover A alone, B alone, or A and B together. As another example, A, B and/or C is intended to cover A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.