US3982659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bulk package for substantially wet sheets and dispensing device therefor
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Tissue Co
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Filing: 1975-12-24
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1995-12-24
Abstract
Abstract Dispensing devices employed in a bulk package of substantially wet sheets include a substantially flat section having an opening through which successive sheets are adapted to be individually dispensed. The opening includes curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends to provide spaced lobes. Hingedly connected flexible flaps are normally disposed within the spaced lobes in substantially the same plane as the flat section, and the flaps have substantially curved outer margins which are closely positioned to curved surfaces providing the lobes to form restricting channels into which successive sheets are directed during sheet dispensing. Bulk packages including the above-described dispensing device also form a part of this invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard T. Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K10/00; A47K10/16; A47K10/18; A47K10/185; A47K10/24; A47K10/32; A47K10/42; A47K10/426; B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/08; B65D83/0805; A47K2010/3266; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A dispensing device employed in a bulk package of substantially wet sheets which are successively and temporarily interconnected for permitting individual pop-up dispensing of the wet sheets, said dispensing device including: A. a substantially flat section having an opening therethrough which is adapted to communicate with the sheets, and through which successive sheets are adapted to be individually dispensed, said opening including curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends providing spaced lobes; and B. hingedly connected flexible flaps normally disposed within said lobes in substantially the same plane as the flat section, said flaps having substantially curved outer margins which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends, the outer margins of said flaps being closely positioned to curved surfaces providing the lobes to form restricting channel means into which successive sheets are directed during sheet dispensing, successive sheets encountering frictional resistance by surfaces of restricting channel means during dispensing of immediately preceding sheets to separate a successive sheet from its immediately preceding sheet after said immediately preceding sheet has been withdrawn from the package with a portion of the successive sheet extending through the opening to
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A dispensing device employed in a bulk package of substantially wet sheets which are successively and temporarily interconnected for permitting individual pop-up dispensing of the wet sheets, said dispensing device including: A. a substantially flat section having an opening therethrough which is adapted to communicate with the sheets, and through which successive sheets are adapted to be individually dispensed, said opening including curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends providing spaced lobes; and B. hingedly connected flexible flaps normally disposed within said lobes in substantially the same plane as the flat section, said flaps having substantially curved outer margins which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends, the outer margins of said flaps being closely positioned to curved surfaces providing the lobes to form restricting channel means into which successive sheets are directed during sheet dispensing, successive sheets encountering frictional resistance by surfaces of restricting channel means during dispensing of immediately preceding sheets to separate a successive sheet from its immediately preceding sheet after said immediately preceding sheet has been withdrawn from the package with a portion of the successive sheet extending through the opening to
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said curved surfaces are generally sinuate for providing an intermediate neck region in the opening which connects the spaced lobes and is narrower than said lobes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the narrow transverse dimension of the neck region is defined by a pair of spaced and opposed inwardly extending tongues forming a part of the substantially flat section, peripheral surfaces of said tongues cooperating with a segment of the outer margin of each flap to provide a central passage in the opening which communicates with each of the restricting channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dispensing device according to claim 3, including a cover member for overlying the opening through the substantially flat section to provide a
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein it is a unitary
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the curved surfaces providing the lobes and the outer margins of said flaps cooperate to define a generally S-shaped opening through which the successive sheets
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, said package comprising: A. a stack of wet sheets; B. means for temporarily interconnecting successive sheets within said stack to produce a sheet-to-sheet force resisting separation of successive sheets and to permit partial removal of successive sheets outwardly from the package upon withdrawal of each preceding sheet; C. a container receiving the stack of wet sheets; D. a dispensing device including a substantially flat section having an opening therethrough which is in overlying relationship with flat surfaces of the sheets in the stack; and E. a cover member for overlying the opening to provide a seal; the improvement of
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A bulk package for individually dispensing substantially wet sheets from a stack of such sheets, said package comprising: A. a stack of wet sheets; B. means for temporarily interconnecting successive sheets within said stack to produce a sheet-to-sheet force resisting separation of successive sheets and to permit partial removal of successive sheets outwardly from the package upon withdrawal of each preceding sheet; C. a container receiving the stack of wet sheets; D. a dispensing device including a substantially flat section having an opening therethrough which is in overlying relationship with flat surfaces of the sheets in the stack; and E. a cover member for overlying the opening to provide a seal; the improvement of
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
said opening including curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends providing spaced lobes; and 2. hingedly connected flexible flaps normally disposed within said lobes in substantially the same plane as the flat section of the dispensing device, said flaps having substantially curved outer margins which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends, the outer margins of said flaps being closely positioned to curved surfaces providing the lobes to form restricting channel means into which successive sheets of said stack are directed during sheet dispensing, successive sheets encountering frictional resistance by surfaces of restricting channel means for separating from its immediately preceding sheet with a portion of the next succeeding sheet extending outwardly of the opening for subsequent manual
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
said opening including curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends providing spaced lobes; and 2. hingedly connected flexible flaps normally disposed within said lobes in substantially the same plane as the flat section of the dispensing device, said flaps having substantially curved outer margins which are substantially free of sharp angles and bends, the outer margins of said flaps being closely positioned to curved surfaces providing the lobes to form restricting channel means into which successive sheets of said stack are directed during sheet dispensing, successive sheets encountering frictional resistance by surfaces of restricting channel means for separating from its immediately preceding sheet with a portion of the next succeeding sheet extending outwardly of the opening for subsequent manual
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bulk package according to claim 7, wherein the curved surfaces of the dispensing device are generally sinuate for providing an intermediate neck region in the opening which connects the spaced lobes and is narrower
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The bulk package according to claim 8, wherein the narrow dimension of said intermediate neck region is provided by a pair of spaced and opposed tongues which form a part of the substantially flat section, peripheral surfaces of said tongues cooperating with outer margins of the flaps to provide a central passage in the opening communicating with the
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the curved surfaces providing the lobes and the outer margins of said flaps cooperate to define a generally S-shaped opening through with the successive sheets are
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The bulk package according to claim 7, wherein said dispensing device and cover member constitute a single unit, said container body including an opening through a wall thereof, and said unit including retention means for cooperating with said container body for retaining said unit assembled with said container body when the unit is positioned within the opening in the wall of the container body, said retention means being manually defeatable to permit removal of said unit from said container body but not being defeatable by frictional forces imposed upon it during sheet
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The bulk package according to claim 7, wherein said dispensing device
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bulk package according to claim 7, wherein the cover member is hingedly connected to said container body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |