Wiper Packaging Incorporating Magnetic Seal

Abstract

A containment package for presaturated wiper sheets including a substantially liquid and vapor impermeable body having an interior adapted to receive and store a plurality of wiper sheets presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation. The body includes an access opening adapted for insertion and withdrawal of the wiper sheets through the access opening. At least a first sealing element defining a magnet is supported on a first support structure at a position outside of the interior. At least a second sealing element with magnetic attraction to the first sealing element is disposed on a second support structure at a position outside of the interior.

1 . A containment package for presaturated wiper sheets, the containment package comprising:
 a substantially liquid and vapor impermeable body having an interior adapted to receive and store a plurality of wiper sheets presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation, the body including an access opening adapted for insertion and withdrawal of the wiper sheets through the access opening;   at least a first sealing element defining a magnet supported on a first support structure at a position outside of the interior; and   at least a second sealing element having a complimentary magnetic attraction to the first sealing element, the second sealing element being disposed on a second support structure at a position outside of the interior, the second support structure being selectively moveable relative to the first support structure to open and close the access opening such that with the first support structure disposed in contacting, opposing relation to the second support structure, the first sealing element and the second sealing element will act through the first support structure and the second support structure to cooperatively form a magnetic seal to reversibly seal the access opening in a closed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The containment package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a pliable expansible envelope with the access opening disposed between a first deformable wall of the envelope and a second deformable wall of the envelope, wherein the first deformable wall defines the first support structure supporting the first sealing element and the second deformable wall defines the second support structure supporting the second sealing element. 
     
     
         3 . The containment package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the a pliable envelope is formed from a foil laminate material. 
     
     
         4 . The containment package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first sealing element is a magnetized strip disposed in substantially adjacent, parallel relation to a first boundary edge of the access opening across a surface of the first deformable wall facing away from the interior and wherein the second sealing element is a magnetized strip disposed in substantially adjacent, parallel relation to a second boundary edge of the access opening across a surface of the second deformable wall facing away from the interior. 
     
     
         5 . The containment package as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the first boundary edge is a folded edge with a portion of the first deformable wall folded in covering relation over the first sealing element. 
     
     
         6 . The containment package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the first deformable wall folded in covering relation over the first sealing element is secured to the body at a position below the first sealing element. 
     
     
         7 . The containment package as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second boundary edge is a folded edge with a portion of the second deformable wall folded in covering relation over the second sealing element. 
     
     
         8 . The containment package as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the second deformable wall folded in covering relation over the second sealing element is secured to the body at a position below the second sealing element. 
     
     
         9 . The containment package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a pliable envelope with the access opening disposed between a first deformable wall of the envelope and a second deformable wall of the envelope, wherein the first deformable wall defines the first support structure supporting the first sealing element and the second deformable wall defines the second support structure supporting the second sealing element, and wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element each comprise a magnetized pliable ferromagnetic material and wherein the first boundary edge is a folded edge with a portion of the first deformable wall folded in covering relation over the first sealing element, the portion of the first deformable wall folded in covering relation over the first sealing element being secured to the body at a position below the first sealing element and wherein the second boundary edge is a folded edge with a portion of the second deformable wall folded in covering relation over the second sealing element, the portion of the second deformable wall folded in covering relation over the second sealing element being secured to the body at a position below the second sealing element. 
     
     
         10 . The containment package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a tray with the access opening surrounded by perimeter walls, wherein a flange extending radially away from a perimeter wall defines the first support structure supporting the first sealing element disposed across the underside of the flange and a removable lid adapted to cover the access opening defines the second support structure supporting the second sealing element disposed across the upper surface of the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The containment package as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the removable lid is operatively connected to the tray along a living hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The containment package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first sealing element comprises a plurality of magnetized strips extending in a first pattern substantially around the perimeter of the tray not including the living hinge and wherein the second sealing element comprises a plurality of magnetized strips extends in a mirror image pattern around the perimeter of the lid not including the living hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The containment package as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first sealing element is covered by polymeric cap structure. 
     
     
         14 . The containment package as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the second sealing element is covered by polymeric cap structure. 
     
     
         15 . The containment package as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element each are covered by polymeric cap structures. 
     
     
         16 . A containment package for presaturated wiper sheets, the containment package comprising:
 a substantially liquid and vapor impermeable body having an interior adapted to receive and store a plurality of wiper sheets presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation, the body including an access opening adapted for insertion and withdrawal of the wiper sheets through the access opening;   at least a first magnetized strip of a defined polarity disposed adjacent to an edge of the access opening, the first magnetized strip being supported on an outer surface of a first support structure at a position outside of the interior, the first magnetized strip being covered so as to be substantially isolated from the outside environment; and   at least a second magnetized strip of a defined polarity opposite to the polarity of the first magnetized strip, the second magnetized strip being disposed on an outer surface of a second support structure at a position outside of the interior, the second magnetized strip being covered so as to be substantially isolated from the outside environment, the second support structure being selectively moveable relative to the first support structure to open and close the access opening such that with the first support structure disposed in contacting, opposing relation to the second support structure, the first magnetized strip and the second magnetized strip will act through the first support structure and the second support structure to cooperatively form a magnetic seal to reversibly seal the access opening in a closed condition.   
     
     
         17 . The containment package as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the body is a pliable expansible envelope with the access opening disposed between a first deformable wall of the envelope and a second deformable wall of the envelope, wherein the first deformable wall defines the first support structure supporting the first magnetized strip and the second deformable wall defines the second support structure supporting the second magnetized strip. 
     
     
         18 . The containment package as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first magnetized strip is disposed in substantially adjacent, parallel relation to a first boundary edge of the access opening across a surface of the first deformable wall facing away from the interior and wherein the second magnetized strip is disposed in substantially adjacent, parallel relation to a second boundary edge of the access opening across a surface of the second deformable wall facing away from the interior. 
     
     
         19 . The containment package as recited in  claim 16  wherein the body is a tray with the access opening surrounded by perimeter walls, wherein a flange extending radially away from a perimeter wall defines the first support structure supporting the first magnetized strip disposed across the underside of the flange and a removable lid adapted to cover the access opening defines the second support structure supporting the second magnetized strip disposed across the upper surface of the lid, wherein the removable lid is operatively connected to the tray along a living hinge and wherein a plurality of magnetized strips extends in a first pattern substantially around the perimeter of the tray not including the living hinge and a plurality of magnetized strips extends in a mirror image pattern around the perimeter of the lid not including the living hinge. 
     
     
         20 . A method of packaging presaturated wiper sheets, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a containment package comprising:   a substantially liquid and vapor impermeable body having an interior adapted to receive and store a plurality of wiper sheets presaturated with a solution subject to evaporation, the body including an access opening adapted for insertion and withdrawal of the wiper sheets through the access opening;   at least a first sealing element defining a magnet supported on a first support structure at a position outside of the interior; and   at least a second sealing element having a complimentary magnetic attraction to the first sealing element, the second sealing element being disposed on a second support structure at a position outside of the interior, the second support structure being selectively moveable relative to the first support structure to open and close the access opening such that with the first support structure disposed in contacting, opposing relation to the second support structure, the first sealing element and the second sealing element will act through the first support structure and the second support structure to cooperatively form a magnetic seal to reversibly seal the access opening in a closed condition; and   (b) storing the wiper sheets within the containment package.