EP0501260A1

EP0501260A1 - Facial tissue package

Info

Publication number: EP0501260A1
Application number: EP19920102537
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerard Leo Downey
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Priority date: 1991-03-01
Filing date: 1992-02-14
Publication date: 1992-09-02
Also published as: AU1069492A; CA2052724A1; MX9200851A

Abstract

A package (1) is disclosed which contains a plurality of individual facial tissue clips (4). The individual clips (4) can be used as refills for facial tissue dispensers, thereby reducing the amount of packaging materials and waste normally associated with the sale and use of conventional individually boxed clips of facial tissues.

Description

Facial tissues are currently manufactured and sold in individual dispensing cartons or packages containing a clip or stack of the tissues. The shape, size and decorative appearance of the dispensing cartons varies, but in all instances the dispensing package or carton is an integral part of the purchased product. However, because of environmental concerns for reducing the amount of materials which must be landfilled or incinerated, there is a desire to reduce the amount of materials used for packaging products.
The invention, therefore, provides a package according to independent claim 1. Further advantageous features, aspects and details of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. The claims are intended to be understood as a first non-limiting attempt to define the invention in general terms.
In general, the invention resides in a package containing two or more separable clips of facial tissues for use in a facial tissue dispensing container. The clips of facial tissues can be suitably separated by individually wrapping each clip in a wrapper such as plastic or paper. Preferably the wrapper and/or the package in which the clips are contained are made from a degradable, biodegradable, compostable or recyclable material. A consumer can purchase the package of this invention, which provides a supply of facial tissues, and use the individual tissue clips as refills for a refillable permanent tissue dispensing container. Utilizing the packages of this invention can result in a substantial savings in materials costs and a substantial reduction in waste production.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred package of this invention containing multiple clips of facial tissue.
Figure 2 is a top view of the package of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wrapped facial tissue clip contained in the package of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the facial tissue clip of Figure 3, illustrating removal of the tissue clip from the wrapper.
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a preferred process for producing the packages of this invention.
Referring to the Drawing, the invention will be described in greater detail. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closed plastic package of this invention containing ten individual clips of facial tissues which have been wrapped in a plastic film wrapper. The package 1 can be any suitable container, preferably a biodegradable plastic bag, which can hold and dispense two or more clips of facial tissue. (For purposes herein, degradable materials are those that undergo a significant change in chemical structure under specific environmental conditions resulting in a loss of some properties. Biodegradable materials are those which degrade as a result of the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae.) The package illustrated in Figure 1 is a plastic bag formed from a single sheet of plastic whose edges are sealed together along a seam 2. The top of the bag is provided with a plastic draw string 3 which serves to facilitate closure of the top of the bag by gathering the top edge of the bag together. The draw string also serves as a carrying handle for the bag and can be made of any material of suitable strength.
Figure 2 is a top view of the package of Figure 1 in an opened position. Shown are ten separable clips of facial tissue 4 standing on end within the package. It will be appreciated that the number of clips within the package can be any number which is convenient for the consumer. As previously stated, the number of clips can be two or more, preferably six or more, and most preferably ten or more.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an individual separable clip of facial tissue which is wrapped in a plastic sleeve 5. The plastic sleeve maintains the individuality and separability of the clip. Within the clip are a multiplicity of individual facial tissues 6. Also shown is a seam 7 where the plastic sleeve is sealed during manufacturing.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the separable clip of Figure 3, illustrating removal of the clip from the wrapper. In use, the clip of facial tissues would be removed from the wrapper and inserted into a facial tissue dispenser.
Figure 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a preferred method of manufacturing the package of this invention. The first step is to fold individual tissue sheets into a continuous stack or log as is produced on a multifolding machine. Such machines are well known in the tissue converting art. In essence, the multifolder continuously interfolds a multiplicity of continuous sheets, unwound from multiple wound rolls of tissue basesheet, to form a continuous log of interfolded tissue having the height of the ultimate clip of tissues. As the continuous log moves along a conveyor, the clip wrapper is placed around the log and sealed to form a continuous sleeve. As the log is sawed into individual clips, the sleeve is simultaneously cut as part of the clip. The resulting wrapped clip is then stacked into a bundle of appropriate size for packaging into the package of this invention. As illustrated, a preferred package utilizes a plastic bag to hold ten clips of tissues. Apparatus for bagging the clips of tissues can be any conventional equipment well known in the packaging art.

Claims

A package (1) containing two or more separable clips (4) of facial tissues (6) for use in a dispensing container.
The package of Claim 1 wherein each of the clips (4) of facial tissues are wrapped in a wrapper (5).
The package of Claim 3 wherein the wrapper (5) is a plastic film.
The package of Claim 4 wherein the wrapper (5) is biodegradable.
The package of one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of clips (4) of facial tissue is six or more.
The package of one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of clips (4) of facial tissue is ten or more.
The package of one of the preceding claims, wherein the package (1) is a plastic bag.
The package of Claim 7 wherein the plastic is biodegradable.