Bulk package incorporating movable dispenser insert for individual dispensing of substantially wet sheets from stack

Claim 2

In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet sheets and a container removably receiving said stack, said container having integrally formed bottom and upstanding walls to provide a box-shaped member defining an enclosed volume openable along its top surface, a cover at said top surface having means for forming a substantially moiSture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets and mounted to said container proximate said top surface, said barrier having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets within the enclosed volume may be individually and successively removed via the top surface when the cover is opened; the improvement which comprises: a. said barrier comprising an insert normally disposed at a fixed position proximate said top surface within the container but manually movable with respect to said fixed position to permit interior access to the enclosed volume of the container via said top surface, and said insert including i. a non-coextensive sheet restricting opening disposed in overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the stack and defining sheet engaging surface means adjacent thereto for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or displace the insert from said fixed position, and ii. mounting means on the insert adjacent the walls of the container; and b. said container having supporting means for normally engaging said mounting means on the insert proximate said top surface with a retention force sufficient to balance the removal forces imparted to the insert by withdrawal of the successive sheets through said sheet restricting opening and thereby support and maintain the insert in said fixed position proximate said top surface; and said supporting means being manually defeatable and disengaging from said mounting means on the insert by manual displacement of the insert from said fixed position proximate said top surface to effect access via said top surface to the enclosed volume and stack of wet sheets located therein.

Claim 3

The bulk package of claim 1, in which the supporting means on said container and the mounting means on said insert comprise cooperating detent means and recess means, and in which one of said container and said insert incorporates the detent means and the other of said container and said insert incorporates the recess means for removably securing the insert in said fixed position within the container.

Claim 4

The bulk package of claim 1, in which the supporting means on said container comprises a number of ledges at a pre-selected height of the interior walls of the container, said ledges providing a substantially planar support for the insert and defining said fixed position of the insert within the container spaced from the uppermost sheet of the stack of wet sheets.

Claim 5

The bulk package of claim 1, in which the insert is a generally planar member having peripheral rib means extending transversely of the plane of the insert for imparting increased rigidity to the insert.

Claim 6

The bulk package of claim 1, including flexible hinge means integral with said cover and said container for mounting the cover on the container, and cooperating sealing means and detent means on each of the cover and the container, said hinge means, sealing means and detent means providing the substantially moisture-proof seal between the container and the atmosphere when the cover is in its closed position.

Claim 7

The bulk package of claim 1, in which the sheet restricting opening is defined by a generally diamond shaped aperture in said insert having a major axis substantially aligned with and shorter than the width of said sheets and a minor axis substantially aligned with the length of said sheets.

Claim 8

The bulk package of claim 1, in which said container is plastic and said insert is a relatively rigid plastic member removable from the container.

Claim 9

In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stacK of wet sheets and a container removably receiving said stack and having a cover incorporating means for forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets and having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may be individually and successively removed when the cover is opened; the improvement which comprises: a. said container and said barrier comprising separate plastic members; b. said barrier comprising a substantially planar insert normally disposed at a fixed position within the container spaced from the uppermost sheet in said stack of wet sheets but so movable with respect to said fixed position to permit access to the interior of the container, and said insert having i. a generally diamond-shaped aperture defining said sheet restricting opening and being disposed in overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the stack, said aperture having a major axis generally aligned with and shorter than the width of said sheets and a minor axis generally aligned with the length of said sheets, ii. sheet engaging surface means defined adjacent said aperture for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or remove the insert from the container, iii. at least a pair of spaced detents integral with and disposed on opposite sides of said insert, and iv. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side ribs formed integrally with said insert; c. said container including i. at least a pair of recesses formed in the upstanding walls thereof and aligned with said detents for receiving and engaging the same, ii. posts integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of the juncture of the adjacent walls of said container and having upper, substantially planar surfaces defining a supporting plane for positioning said insert at said fixed position, and iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on the walls of the container for engaging said cover; and d. said cover icluding i. a flexible plastic hinge integral with said cover and said container for mounting the former to the latter, ii. sealing surfaces for forming a seal with the container when the cover is in its closed position, and iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on said cover, aligned with the locking detents on said container for engaging the latter when the cover is in its closed position and holding the cover in such position to maintain the substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere; the detents on said insert and the recesses and posts in said container supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed position within the container when the successive sheets are removed therefrom through said sheet restricting opening yet permitting manual removal of the insert from the container for access to the interior thereof.

Claim 10

In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stacK of wet sheets and a container removably receiving said stack and having a cover incorporating means for forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets and having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may be individually and successively removed when the cover is opened; the improvement which comprises: a. said container and said barrier comprising separate plastic members; b. said barrier comprising a substantially planar insert normally disposed at a fixed position within the container spaced from the uppermost sheet in said stack of wet sheets but so movable with respect to said fixed position to permit access to the interior of the container, and said insert having i. a generally diamond-shaped aperture defining said sheet restricting opening and being disposed in overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the stack, said aperture having a major axis generally aligned with and shorter than the width of said sheets and a minor axis generally aligned with the length of said sheets, ii. sheet engaging surface means defined adjacent said aperture for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or remove the insert from the container, iii. at least a pair of spaced detents integral with and disposed on opposite sides of said insert, and iv. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side ribs formed integrally with said insert; c. said container including i. at least a pair of recesses formed in the upstanding walls thereof and aligned with said detents for receiving and engaging the same, ii. posts integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of the juncture of the adjacent walls of said container and having upper, substantially planar surfaces defining a supporting plane for positioning said insert at said fixed position, and iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on the walls of the container for engaging said cover; and d. said cover icluding i. a flexible plastic hinge integral with said cover and said container for mounting the former to the latter, ii. sealing surfaces for forming a seal with the container when the cover is in its closed position, and iii. a plurality of locking detents integrally formed on said cover, aligned with the locking detents on said container for engaging the latter when the cover is in its closed position and holding the cover in such position to maintain the substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere; the detents on said insert and the recesses and posts in said container supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed position within the container when the successive sheets are removed therefrom through said sheet restricting opening yet permitting manual removal of the insert from the container for access to the interior thereof.

Claim 11

In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet sheets and a container removably receiving said stack, said container being a box-shaped member openable along its top surface and having a cover at said top surface incorporating means for forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets proximate said top surface, said barrier having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may be individually and successively removed when the cover is opened; the improvement which comprises: a. said barrier comprising an insert normally disposed at a fixed positioN proximate said top surface within the container but manually movable with respect to said fixed position to permit access to the interior of the container, and said insert including: i. a sheet restricting opening disposed in overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the stack and defining sheet engaging surface means adjacent thereto for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or displace the insert from said fixed position, and ii. mounting means on the insert adjacent the walls of the container; and b. said container having supporting means for normally engaging said mounting means on the insert proximate said top surface with a retention force sufficient to balance the removal forces imparted to the insert by withdrawal of the successive sheets through said sheet restricting opening and thereby support and maintain the insert in said fixed position proximate said top surface; and said supporting means being manually defeatable and disengaging from said mounting means on the insert by manual displacement of the insert from said fixed position proximate said top surface to effect access to the stack of wet sheets; c. said mounting means including at least two spaced detents integral with and disposed on each of a pair of opposte sides of said insert; d. said supporting means including corresponding recesses formed in the walls of said container and aligned with said detents for receiving said detents and removably supporting said insert; e. a post integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of each pair of adjacent upstanding walls of the container and having an upper, substantially planar surface for further supporting said insert within the container; and f. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side ribs formed integrally with said insert for bearing against the adjacent surfaces of said container; said detents, recesses, posts and ribs being cooperatively arranged for removably supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed position within the container.

Claim 12

In a bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, including the stack of wet sheets and a container removably receiving said stack, said container being a box-shaped member openable along its top surface and having a cover at said top surface incorporating means for forming a substantially moisture-proof seal between the interior of the container and the atmosphere, and a barrier overlying the stack of wet sheets proximate said top surface, said barrier having a sheet restricting opening therein through which the wet sheets may be individually and successively removed when the cover is opened; the improvement which comprises: a. said barrier comprising an insert normally disposed at a fixed positioN proximate said top surface within the container but manually movable with respect to said fixed position to permit access to the interior of the container, and said insert including: i. a sheet restricting opening disposed in overlying relation with respect to the faces of the respective superposed wet sheets in the stack and defining sheet engaging surface means adjacent thereto for frictionally engaging the successive sheets removed therethrough with forces sufficient to overcome the forces resisting separation of the successive wet sheets yet not so large that the force required to remove each successive wet sheet from the stack will tear any of the sheets or displace the insert from said fixed position, and ii. mounting means on the insert adjacent the walls of the container; and b. said container having supporting means for normally engaging said mounting means on the insert proximate said top surface with a retention force sufficient to balance the removal forces imparted to the insert by withdrawal of the successive sheets through said sheet restricting opening and thereby support and maintain the insert in said fixed position proximate said top surface; and said supporting means being manually defeatable and disengaging from said mounting means on the insert by manual displacement of the insert from said fixed position proximate said top surface to effect access to the stack of wet sheets; c. said mounting means including at least two spaced detents integral with and disposed on each of a pair of opposte sides of said insert; d. said supporting means including corresponding recesses formed in the walls of said container and aligned with said detents for receiving said detents and removably supporting said insert; e. a post integrally formed with and extending lengthwise of each pair of adjacent upstanding walls of the container and having an upper, substantially planar surface for further supporting said insert within the container; and f. pairs of oppositely disposed elongated front and rear and side ribs formed integrally with said insert for bearing against the adjacent surfaces of said container; said detents, recesses, posts and ribs being cooperatively arranged for removably supporting and maintaining the insert at said fixed position within the container.

Claim 13

The bulk package of claim 9, in which said detents are formed integrally with the respective side ribs of said insert, and in which each detent tapers upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a leading edge which is received in and engages the corresponding recess in the adjacent wall of said container.