System, container, pack and method for packing and dispensing wipes

Abstract

A dispensing container, soft pack, dispensing system and method for wipes and the like are provided, adapted for dispensing wipes that are accommodated having a mid-portion of the wipes vertically displaced from an extremity thereof.

1 . A system for dispensing wipes, comprising 
 a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration; and    a container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein said pack, wherein said pack is arranged therein in a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises said pack accommodated therein in said folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from two opposed unfolded extremities thereof.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein said pack is accommodated in said housing such that said wipes assume any one of the following general configurations: V or U configuration; inverted V or inverted U configuration; N or Z configuration; W or M configuration.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein said housing comprises a general pyramidal configuration, having said dispensing opening on a top wall of the housing, wherein a pair of opposed sloping walls of said housing provide support for maintaining said stack in said folded configuration.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a lid for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the pack is folded about a transverse axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said container comprises a dispensing opening on an upper part of said housing, downwardly spaced from a topmost part of the container.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack, wherein the pack is folded about a longitudinal axis with respect to the length dimension of the wipes thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said dispensing opening is comprised on a top wall of said container.  
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.  
   
   
       14 . A flexible pack comprising a chamber comprising a stack of individual wipes, said pack being foldable about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration, wherein the stack is loosely accommodated within said chamber.  
   
   
       15 . A pack according to  claim 14 , wherein a longitudinal length of the pack exceeds the longitudinal length of the stack by an amount such as to allow deformation of the pack when this is folded, providing for creasing in a concave part of the folded pack, while allowing relative movement between the stack and the pack.  
   
   
       16 . A pack according to  claim 14 , wherein said pack is foldable to assume a U-shaped folded configuration, wherein the arms of the U are angularly displaced by between about 0° and about 30°.  
   
   
       17 . A pack according to  claim 14 , wherein a longitudinal length of said chamber when said pack is in an unfolded configuration is between about 10% and about 60%, between about 15% and about 50%, more particular between about 20% and about 40% longer than a longitudinal length of said wipes accommodated therein.  
   
   
       18 . A pack according to  claim 17 , wherein said pack is made from a sheet material folded along at least one longitudinal seam, and at two longitudinally opposed seams, and further comprising a dispensing opening.  
   
   
       19 . A pack according to  claim 20 , further comprising an optionally reversibly closable cover for reversibly closing said dispensing opening.  
   
   
       20 . A pack according to  claim 18 , wherein said opening is generally located at one of a longitudinal center of said pack and at an intermediate position between a said seam and said longitudinal center of said pack.  
   
   
       21 . A pack according to  claim 14 , wherein said wipes are impregnated with at least one of a suitable liquid, a suitable powder, a suitable paste.  
   
   
       22 . A container for dispensing wipes, adapted for accommodating therein a stack of wipes in a general vertical configuration, such that two opposed longitudinal ends of each wipe are vertically displaced one from the other within the housing, the container comprising a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, and a topmost portion longitudinally spaced from said base, and a dispensing opening located in an intermediate position with respect to said topmost portion and said base.  
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said dispensing opening is located proximate to one of said topmost portion or base, optionally offset with respect to a longitudinally central portion of said container.  
   
   
       24 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said housing comprises a chamber therein for accommodating said stack and having a first dispensing opening, and further comprising a lid member having a second dispensing opening and mounted for rotation with respect to an upper portion of said housing such as to permit registry of said first dispensing opening with said second dispensing opening at a particular angular disposition between said lid member and said housing.  
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 24 , wherein said housing is adapted for accommodating said stack therein in a general C-configuration when viewed from above.  
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein said upper portion and said lid member are frustoconical in form.  
   
   
       27 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said dispensing opening is intermediate said central portion and said topmost portion of said container.  
   
   
       28 . A container according to  claim 27 , wherein said housing comprises a lid for reversibly closing said opening.  
   
   
       29 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.  
   
   
       30 . A container comprising a housing having a base adapted for standing the container on a generally horizontal surface when the container is in a dispensing configuration, said housing adapted for accommodating therein a stack of individual wipes accommodated in a flexible pack, said pack being folded about a folding axis to assume a folded configuration such that for each said wipe in said pack a general central portion of the wipe is vertically displaced from at least one extremity thereof, said housing comprising a pair of sloping opposed walls adapted for maintaining said pack in said folded configuration, such that the longitudinal ends of the pack are in close proximity.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is made from rigid or semi-rigid materials.