Wipe Package with Enlarged Aperture to Reduce Multi-Sheet Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art packages for dispensing interleaved sheets, such as wet wipes, often cause interference between sheets as they pass through the aperture and closure, leading to multiple sheets being inadvertently drawn through, resulting in increased waste due to the small size of the aperture and closure.
Innovation Solution
A package design with a larger aperture, where the aperture's area is between 70% and 81% of the top wall's area, and a perimeter space of at least ¼″ around the aperture, allowing for easier dispensing of individual sheets without compression from adjacent sheets, and a cover that securely engages over the aperture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aperture size is increased, then the ease of dispensing individual sheets is improved, but the closure size and adhesive placement space are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the aperture size parameter from small (prior art) to large (at least 50% of top wall area), which fundamentally alters the dispensing mechanism. This parameter change enables sheets to pass through easily while the closure is designed to accommodate this larger aperture through extended sides and bottom walls that provide sufficient adhesive placement space around the perimeter.
2Ease of operation
If the aperture size is increased, then the interference between sheets during dispensing is reduced, but the closure engagement security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The closure employs curved surfaces including a curved front wall and curved top surface that extend over the aperture. This curvature design allows the closure to securely cover the large aperture while maintaining structural integrity and engagement security. The curved geometry provides smooth transitions that prevent sheet snagging while ensuring reliable closure engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure extends in multiple dimensions with sides and bottom walls that project beyond the aperture perimeter. This multi-dimensional extension provides sufficient adhesive placement space in all directions around the large aperture, ensuring secure engagement while maintaining the benefits of the enlarged aperture for sheet dispensing.
3Quantity of substance
If a small aperture is used, then the closure can be made smaller, but multiple sheets are inadvertently drawn through due to interconnection constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the aperture size parameter to at least 50% of the top wall area, which eliminates the constriction effect that causes multiple sheets to be drawn through. This parameter change ensures that only one sheet is dispensed at a time, reducing waste while the closure design compensates for the larger aperture size to maintain security.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a package for holding and dispensing a number of individual material sheets held therein. The package includes an aperture that is formed large enough to enable the sheets, such as wet wipes, to be individually dispensed form the package without interference from adjacent or successive sheets.