US3744448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means to dispense sterile sheet-like components
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-27
•
Granted: 1973-07-10
•
Expires: 1992-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Treated sheets or pads are each encased in a hertically sealed sheath and stacked within a housing. At least one packet is aligned with a restricted dispensing opening of the housing. A tab is operatively associated with a weakened portion of said aligned packet and adapted to be drawn through said opening whereby said weakened portion is ruptured and continued pulling on said tab effects withdrawal of one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall defining the restricted opening retains the other one of said sheath or treated element.
Inventors
- 👤 P Boone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:42
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K10/00; A47K10/24; A47K10/32; A47K10/42; A47K10/16; A47K2010/3266; A47K2010/3273; A47K2010/328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A device for making available rapidly as a single-handed facile operation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having at least an exposed surface area treated with a substance of given characteristics, said device comprising: an elongated housing including means contributing to separation of hermetically sealed sheath means which enclose and seal each of said treated elements; said housing having at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, in the front wall thereof which comprises both said separating means and means to retain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowing passage of the other one therethrough; a plurality of said sealed sheath means stacked in said housing and at least one of said sheath means in operative alignment with said opening; a draw-tab operatively associated with each sheath and treated element combined therewith; the draw-tab of a said aligned sheath extending through said opening; and each sheath including a weakened area operatively connected with said draw-tab; whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exerted on the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at said weakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall structure defining said restricted opening retains said other one within the housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A device for making available rapidly as a single-handed facile operation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having at least an exposed surface area treated with a substance of given characteristics, said device comprising: an elongated housing including means contributing to separation of hermetically sealed sheath means which enclose and seal each of said treated elements; said housing having at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, in the front wall thereof which comprises both said separating means and means to retain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowing passage of the other one therethrough; a plurality of said sealed sheath means stacked in said housing and at least one of said sheath means in operative alignment with said opening; a draw-tab operatively associated with each sheath and treated element combined therewith; the draw-tab of a said aligned sheath extending through said opening; and each sheath including a weakened area operatively connected with said draw-tab; whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exerted on the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at said weakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall structure defining said restricted opening retains said other one within the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet-like element is in the form of a pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is composed of an inexpensive material such as a plastic composition and is adapted to be thrown away when all of the stack mounted therein have been exhausted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is adapted to be releasably mounted in a more permanent mounting bracket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be fastened to a supporting surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device, as defined in claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be releasably attached to a dispenser of toilet tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a unitary extension of said sheath extends through said opening to prevent contact of said treated suraace of said sheet-like element with an adjacent wall portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is operatively connected to the treated element and extends through said weakened area of the sealed sheath whereby said pulling force effects withdrawal of said treated element from the sheath and housing while the ruptured sheath is retained within the hOusing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating said tab with the treated element is a tear string.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as defined in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating the tab with the treated element is the tab extended to attachment with said element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an aligned plurality of said at least one opening and each of said stacked sheath means and tab associated therewith is in operative alignment with a respective one of said openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein the free end of each tab, excepting the lead tab, is frictionally retained within an adjacent one of said openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein each tab includes a boss portion adapted to abut the free end of the succeeding, frictionally retained tab whereby upon exertion of said pulling force an the lead tab, the boss portion removes the succeeding tab from its frictionally retained position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said opening is of a sufficient width to avoid housing wall contact with the said one of the sheath or element withdrawn therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is directly connected only to said sheath and the sheath is treated by said substance due to sheath contact with the elements exposed surface whereby said pulling force effects the sheath separation at said weakened area and withdrawal of the treated sheath from said housing while the element is retained within said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said pad is received in a receptacle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, which comprise a sheath and treated element, provides a seal means for the adjacent, prior treated element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 16 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, which comprises a sheath and treated element, provides a seal means for the adjacent, prior receptacle and treated element therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said housing bottom comprises a disposal bin in communication with the stacking area and adapted to receive said other one of the sheath or treated element which is retained by the housing and which falls into the bin when the said one of said sheath or element is withdrawn from the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |