GB2024160A

GB2024160A - Dispensing container

Info

Publication number: GB2024160A
Application number: GB7828751A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Priority date: 1978-07-04
Filing date: 1978-07-04
Publication date: 1980-01-09

Abstract

A dispensing container for dispensing premoistened tissues sequentially is moulded as a base and a cap which are snap fitted together, the cap being rotatable on the base to bring into alignment respective apertures in the cap and base side wall in an open position whereby a tissue can be extracted and the cap being rotatable to a closed position in which the apertures are not aligned; the side walls of the container provide the respective apertures in frusto conical wall portions which are urged into contact by interengaging elements on the cap and base permitting relative rotation but opposing relative displacement in the axial direction at least in the closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pre-moist tissue dispensing containers FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container for storing, and when desired, dispensing sheets of material from within the container. The present invention may be especially useful in embodiments in which tissue like materials impregnated with a suitable fluid are stored within the container but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

PRIORART It has hitherto been proposed to package a roll of premoistened tissue material in a container which has a snap fitting top cap with a small aperture therein through which the leading end of the tissue is inserted before snap fitting the top cap. The leading end of the tissue is simply gripped and pulled out and severed from the leading end of the succeeding tissue when it has been pulled through the small aperture. A readily removable sealing cap can be provided for closing the container dispensing aperture between dispensing operations.

In this prior proposal, the dispensing aperture is at the top end of the generally cylindrical package and this may be considered to have an adverse effect on the neatness, stackability of the container and the ability of the container to be made in a form whereby not only can the contents be retained with reliability but also contamination of the contents can be avoided. In particular if the container is to include a moistening liquid, especially a volatile liquid, it is necessary with such prior art proposals to provide effectively a carefully constructed gasket arrangement for sealing the top cap for the end of the container and the small closure cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a container from which sheet material is adapted to be dispensed and comprising a hollow base having an end wall and a side wall the exterior of which includes a frusto conical portion, a hollow cap having an end wall and a side wall the interior of which includes a frusto conical portion corresponding to the frusto conical portion of the hollow base, the hollow cap being formed so as to fit over the hollow base with the respective frusto conical portions coming into engagement in an assembled position, the cap and the base having interengageable retention means for retaining the cap on the base, the cap being relatively rotatable about the common axis of the frusto conical portions, said frusto conical portions on the cap and base side walls having respective corresponding apertures therethrough, the cap and base being rotatable between a first dispensing position in which the apertures are aligned to permit extraction of a sheet of material from within the hollow base, and a second closed position in which the apertures are out of alignment thereby closing the container with the frusto conical portions in contact with one another.

The present invention may provide a neat, compact, easily and economically mouldable container which can be reliable and easy to use as well as providing an effective container for resisting the loss of any liquid contents and contamination of contents.

Preferably, the respective frusto conical surfaces comprise a substantial surface area of the side walls and it is most preferable that the axial length of the frusto conical surfaces on the cap and base are about or more than half the axial length of the hollow base.

In this way substantial surface area for sealing the container is available Various configurations may be employed for the retention means for holding the cap on the base member. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the retention means comprises lug means on the interior of the cap and the provision of a profile on the exterior of the hollow base providing an abutment surface extending around the hollow base for retaining the lug means therein.

For the purpose of ensuring firm contact between the frusto conical surfaces, the abutment surface is preferably provided on a shallow inclined ramp orientated so that on rotating the cap towards the closed position, the axial compressive forces increase to improve the sealing effect. The ramp could be provided on the underside of a helical rib or by the upper side wall of a groove in the exterior of the hollow base.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apertures in the cap and base are relatively large, for example oval shaped, so that at least one finger of an adult can be inserted through the apertures when aligned to extract a sheet of material from the interior of the hollow base.

However, in another embodiment which can be especially advantageous where tissue-like wiping elements are to be dispensed from a roll of separable elements, only a very small aperture is provided in the hollow base for alignment with the aperture in the cap so that the tissue is compressed through the small aperture thereby minimizing the possibility of loss of liquid from within the container or contamination of the contents.In this embodiment it is preferable, for the purposes of facilitating the insertion of a roll of tissues, to provide a larger aperture of finger size in the frusto conical surface at an offset location so that with the cap removed from the base, the leading end of the first wipe is inserted through the large aperture; a slot connects the large aperture with the small aperture so that the leading end of the wiper can be fed down into the small aperture and the cap can then be fitted. A depression is provided in the frusto conical surface of the base around the small aperture for accommodating the leading end of the wipe in a cavity defined between the depression and the frusto conical surface of the cap when the cap is in a closed position.

Other features and an advantage which may be found in or associated with various forms of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS: For illustrative purposes only, embodiments ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accoompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a dispensing container according to one embodiment ofthe invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a cap part of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a base part of the container of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of Figure 3; Figure 6 is an elevation showing only certain parts of the cap and base when the container is in an open position; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the parts when the container is partly opened;; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the parts when the container is closed; Figures 9 to 16 are views corresponding to Figures 1 to 8 respectively of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 17 is a section taken along the line XVII-XVII of Figure 13; Figure iBis a view of the top of a container which is a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 19 is a front elevation, partly broken away of the third embodiment; and Figure 20 is an axial cross-section of the container of Figure 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION: Referring first to Figures 1 to 8, the container comprises a moulded plastic base 10 and a moulded plastic cap 11 having frusto conical side wall portions 1 0a and 11 a respectively, the cone angles of which are desirably the same so that substantial contact occurs between the side wall portions when the cap is fitted on the base.

The cap 11 fits over the base 10 to provide a closed container having top and bottom walls 10b and 1 1b, contact being established between the side wall portions 10a and 1 1a, with the cap and base being rotatable relative to each other about a common axis.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, similar oval shaped apertures 14 and 15 are provided in the frusto conical wall portions 1 la and 10a of the cap and base respectively so that access to the interior of the container is possible with a finger when the apertures are aligned after appropriate rotation of the cap 11. The cap is rotatable from such an open position to a closed position at which the apertures are not aligned.

During rotation of the cap by manual effort, axial forces are applied naturally for urging the two frusto conical wall portions into engagement. These forces are greatly enhanced and positively ensured during closure by the provision of ramp in the form of a shallow inclined rib 12 extending around the base 10 and a co-operating projection or lug 13 on each side of the cap. The thread 12 is formed externally at the bottom ofthefrusto conical wall portion 10a of the base and the lugs 13 projects inwardly from the frusto conical wall portion 11 a of the cap to engage below the rib 12.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate in schematic enlarged elevation the relative positions of the rib 12 and a lug 13 respectively in the open, part open and closed position of the container. In the fully open position of Figure 6, an end of the lug 13 engages a shoulder 12a formed in the rib, which limits rotation of the cap beyond this open position, and an upper face of the lug engages firmly with a first ramp portion 12b of the rib 12 to pull the cap firmly into engagement on the base.

In the part open position of Figure 7, the lug 13 is under a horizontal portion 1 2c of the rib and the cap retaining forces are at a minimum in this position.

When the cap is rotated to the closed position of Figure 8 the lefthand shallow shoulder on the upper surface of lug 13 engages a second ramp portion 12d, which follows a downward helical path such that the axial compressive forces increase as the cap is rotated. This ensures a state of static tension which maintains efficient total closure of the container when not in use and substantial sealing force is applied to prevent contamination of the contents of the container or loss of liquid from the container.

A gap or reduced width portion is provided in the rib 12, preferably at the horizontal portion 12c, as described hereinafter with reference to a second embodiment of the invention. This gap occurs at each side for receiving a respective lug 13 during fitting of the cap.

One particular use of the container of Figures 1 to 8 is for storing material in the form of sheets which are to be dispensed when desired through the aligned apertures 14 and 15; the container however can readily be closed to prevent contamination of the contents and also to retain any fluid which may be a volatile liquid provided within the container for wetting the sheets. The fluid could be an antiseptic or a cleaning solvent and the sheet material of a cellulosic nature. It will be appreciated that the closed container is a neat and smooth package which can readily be transported and stored as well as having an attractive appearance. Furthermore, a simple opening covered by a snap fitting cap which might inadvertently be knocked off has been avoided and the container can be economically manufactured and assembled.

The sheet material could be in the form of a roll or in the form of a pack of interleaved separate sheets.

Particularly where a roll of detachable but interconnected sheets is used, a more preferred embodiment of the invention is that illustrated in Figures 9 to 17 in which parts which are substantially the same as corresponding parts in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 have been given like reference numerals. Only the distinctions between the two embodiments will be now described.

In the embodiment of Figures 9 to 17, the frusto conical side wall portion 10a of the base terminates below the top of the cap 11 and thus does not have the parallel sided top wall section illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8.

Instead of the oval shaped aperture 15 in the base 10, the embodiment of Figures 9 to 17 has a keyhole shaped aperture 15a comprising a circulartop opening 15b, a depending narrow slit 1 5c and a small circular opening 15d at the bottom of the slit 15c. A portion ofthewall in thefrusto conical side wall portion 1Oa has an oval shaped depression 16 extending around the base and arranged for alignment with the oval shaped aperture 14 in the cap; it is only the bottom portion of the slit 1 5c and the small circular opening 15d which intersect the depression 16 and therefore align with the opening 14 in the cap when the parts are in the open position.

The cap and base are interengaged in the same manner as the first embodiment with a lug 13 on the cap engaging under an inclined rib 12 on the base.

This embodiment can best be used for dispensing sheets for wiping purposes from a roll of interconnected sheets. Before initial use, the first sheet is fed by hand through the large circular aperture 1 sub so that the sheet can then be slid down the slot 1 5c so the sheet is compressed and fed substantially through the bottom portion of the slot and the small circular opening 15d. The cap can then be fitted onto the base and the leading end of the sheet will be accommodated in the depression 1 6b.In the closed position the interior of the frusto conical wall 11 a of the cap contacts and engages firmly the frusto conical wall 10a of the base and thus seals the container essentially around the recess 16b and around the circular opening 1 5b and slot 1 5c thereby preventing the sheet working its way back up the slot 15c.

It is a simple matter to rotate the cap to the open position thereby aligning the aperture 14 in the cap with the central portion of the depression 16to permit the leading sheet to be pulled out of the container and detached leaving just the leading end of the next sheet.

The second embodiment of the invention has particular advantage over the first embodiment of the invention when the entry of material such as micro-organisms is to be prevented as much as is practical and this second embodiment is also particularly useful where a volatile moistening liquid is contained inside the container.

Referring now to Figure 17, the cross-section plan view of the base 10 illustrates more particulars of the rib 12. This configuration is also provided in the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 8.

On opposite sides of the base 10, the rib has a similarform respectivelyforengaging each ofthe lugs 13 on opposite sides of the cap 11. Each horizontal portion 1 2c of the rib is recessed on the outside edge thereof to provide a gap 1 2e for accommodating the respective lug 13 when the cap is press fitted so that the lug 13 snaps over the rib easily to engage below the rib 12 for retaining the cap in position of the base. In this position the minimum axially directed force is applied for urging the frusto conical surface into engagement with one another.The fully open position is established by slight rotation of the cap in an anti-clockwise direc tion relative to the base to move the lug 13 underthe first ramp portion 12b whereby the edge of the lug engages against the shoulder 12a.

Upon rotation of the cap is a clockwise direction, the lug runs smoothly along the lower surface of the rib past the horizontal portion 1 2c to move down the inclined ramp surface on the bottom of the second ramp portion 12d of the rib. Rotation through an angle of 105 brings the cap to the fully closed position. If desired a second abutment shoulder could be provided on the bottom of the rib 12 to limit the motion of the lug to define precisely the fully closed position. The embodiment of Figures 18 to 20 is similar to the second embodiment but has the the distinction that the bottom portion of the base 10 is a parallel sides portion 1 0c and the frusto conical wall portion 10a is provided by an upper conical part 10d of shallow cone angle and a short lower conical part 1 Oe of greater cone angle. Furthermore, the base 10a, in place of thin rib 12 of the first two embodiments has a helical groove 1 2a, the upper side wall of which provides the shoulder under which the lugs 13 of the cap engage. At the top of the base 10, a groove 1 Of is provided, the base terminating with an external flange 10g.

The cap 11 is shown in Figure 19 and corresponds in shape to the base 10 in having an upper conical wall portion 11 d of shallow angle, a short frusto conical wall portion 11 e of steeper angle and a parallel sided end portion 1 1f.

This third embodiment can provide even better sealing of the contents when in the closed position.

Claims

1. A container for storing and for dispensing sheet material, the container comprising: (a) a hollow base (b) a cap adapted to fit over the hollow base to form a closed container.

(c) an aperture in the hollow base and an aperture in the cap through which when the container is in an open position sheet material may be extracted from the container, the improvement comprising: (d) the hollow base comprising an end wall and a side wall the exterior of which includes a frusto conical portion, (e) the cap being a hollow cap having an end wall and a side wall the interior of which includes a frusto conical portion corresponding to the frusto conical portion of the hollow base and the hollow cap being shaped for fitting over the hollow base with the frusto conical portion of the cap side wall coming into engagement with the frusto conical portion of the hollow base side wall when the cap and base are in an assembled position, (f) the cap and the base having respective interengageable retention means for retaining the cap on the base when in an assembled position, the cap being rotatable relative to the base about the common axis of said frusto conical portions between a dispensing position and a closed position, (g) said frusto conical portions on the cap and base side walls having respective corresponding apertures therein, the aperture in the cap aligning with the aperture in the base when the cap is in said dispensing position and the aperture in the cap being out of alignment with the aperture in the base when the cap is in said closed position, and (h) when the cap is in said closed position surface contact is established between said frusto conical portions of the cap and base for substantially sealing the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frusto conical portions of said hollow cap and hollow base each extend axially a distance of at least about one-half the axial length of the hollow base.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retention means comprises radially inwardly directed projection means on the interior of the side wall of the hollow cap and a corresponding ramp surface extending around a corresponding portion of the hollow base exterior and extending at a shallow angle to the axial direction, the ramp surface becoming closer to the end wall of the hollow base in the direction in which the hollow cap is rotated as it is moved to said closed position, whereby the cap is drawn into tighter engagement on the hollow base for sealing the container in the closed position.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ramp is provided by a rib extending around the hollow base, at least a portion of the rib following a shallow helical path.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hollow base has a shoulder delimiting an end to said ramp surface and against which the projecting means of the hollow cap is adapted to abut when in the dispensing position.

6. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ramp surface is provided by the side wall of a groove extending around the hollow base, at least a portion of the groove following a shallow helical path and said side wall being the side of the groove remote from the end wall of the hollow base.

7. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projection means comprises lug means on the interior of the hollow cap extending a small distance around the axis compared with the circumference of the cap and the portion of the hollow base providing said inclined ramp having recess means corresponding to said lug means at a position for receiving the lug means when the cap is in a rotatable position from the closed position, the recess means being a portion of reduced radial dimension in the ramp whereby the lug means can be snap fitted by pressure in the axial direction.

8. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projection means comprises a lug on the interior of the hollow cap extending a short distance circumferentially.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said apertures in the cap and base side walls has a diameter of at least about 1/2 inch.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising a multiplicity of interlinked folded sheets material disposed within the hollow base together with a cleaning agent impregnated therein, the sheets being disposed for being dispensed in sequence through the aperture in the hollow base.

11. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aperture in the side wall of the cap is at least about 1/2 inch in diameter and the aperture in the side wall of the hollow base is comparative of very small size, the side wall of the hollow base around the aperture therein being in the form of a depression whereby on assembly of the container a recess is defined between the walls of the depression and the overlying frusto conical sidewall portion of the cap when the cap is in the closed position.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said hollow base further comprises a secondary aperture of diameter of at least about 1/2 inch in a portion of the frusto conical sidewall thereof which does not come into alignment with the aperture in the hollow cap in any rotatable position of the assembled container, and a slot interconnecting said secondary aperture and the first mentioned aperture.

13. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frusto conical portion of the side wall of each of said cap and base comprises in a major proportion of its axial length a portion of shallow cone angle and in a minor proportion of its axial length a portion of substantially greater cone angle, the major portion being nearer the end wall of the cap.

14. A container for storing and for dispensing sheet material substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.