Stackable container for premoistened wipes

Abstract: Moistened wipes are frequently used for infants and toddlers. However, the containers in which these wipes are provided are often not suitable for any further use once all the wipes have been used. Described herein is a stackable container (10) for premoistened wipes which includes a bottom having a pair of circular recesses (20, 22) and a lid portion (14) having a pair of circular projections (16, 18) in alignment with the circular recesses (20, 22) so that the container (10) may stack with other similar containers. Each container (10) is twice as long as it is wide so that the containers may stack in a staggered configuration, extending either parallel or perpendicular with respect to one another.

Description: The present invention relates to interlocking containers and is more particularly concerned with containers for premoistened wipes which are interlockable when stacked. Packages for articles such as moist wipes are available in a number of configurations and vary substantially in size. Generally, these packages are either soft with flexible walls or relatively rigid. The relatively rigid packages are in the form of containers which retain their shape after their contents have been used and then can be used for other purposes. The prior art includes containers which have interlocking surfaces. A prior art container of this type is disclosed in DE-A-39 20 886. The known container consists of a substantially rectangular box having a length double its width, with the top of the container having a plurality of projections extending upwardly therefrom and the bottom having a plurality of recesses opening downwardly therefrom. Adjacent containers can be coupled together with the projections of one container being received in the recesses of an adjacent container. However, the prior art does not include the concept of storing moistened wipes in interlocking containers. Moistened wipes are frequently used in the care of infants and toddlers, which makes it desirable for the packages or containers to have some purpose in addition to containing the wipes. For examples, containers have been marketed which resemble toy animals. As the prior art indicates, containers which can be used as interlocking building blocks can be used as toys which have amusement and educational value for small children. Since when moist wipes are used to care for a child, the wipes are used rather rapidly, it does not take long for a container to empty and need to be replaced by a new container. After a relatively short while, a number of containers can be accumulated, providing a supply of relatively large, discrete structures. To date, having a collection of these containers served no useful purpose. If the container resembled an animal, then one or two animals would be generally enough, and the remaining containers would be disposed of surplus. The prior art also includes a number of disclosures in which containers have interlocking structures so as to provide for stable storage in warehouses, while in transit, and in retain outlets. With these containers, there is no reason to stack the containers after they have been emptied by the consumer. In view of the aforementioned considerations, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved container, useful for packaging moist wipes, which container interlocks with adjacent similar containers for stacking both prior to and after retail sale. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stackable container for premoistened wipes comprising:- a substantially rectangular box portion which defines a space for containing the premoistened wipes, the box portion having an open top, a substantially rectangular bottom, substantially rectangular ends, and substantially rectangular sides, the rectangular ends and rectangular sides providing the container with a length double its width; a lid portion pivoted to the top of the box portion; and a rim of a selected width attachable to the open top of the box portion, the rim having a lid portion unitary therewith and defining an opening through which the premoistened wipes are dispensed, said opening being closable by the lid portion; wherein the rectangular bottom has recesses opening downwardly therefrom and the lid portion has projections extending upwardly therefrom, the projections being in alignment with the recesses at the bottom of the container when the lid portion is closed, the projections and recesses being such that one container interlocks with containers of a similar configuration with recesses of adjacent similar containers being receivable of at least two of the projections of the container and projections of adjacent similar containers being receivable by at least two of the recesses in the one container. For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, showing a single container configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, with portions in phantom, showing a plurality of the containers shown in Figure 1 stacked in interlocking relationship; Figure 3 is an end view of the container shown in Figure 1, with portions in phantom; Figure 4 is a back side view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top view of the container shown in Figure 1, with portions broken away; Figure 6 is a front side view of the container shown in Figure 1, with portions broken away and with an adjacent container shown in phantom; Figure 7 is a planar view of one side of the unitary rim and lid structure in the lid-open mode; Figure 8 is a planar view of the other side of the unitary rim and lid structure in the lid-open mode; Figure 9 is a side elevation, partially in phantom taken along lines 9-9 of Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 is enlarged side elevation showing a latch engaged for latching the lid to the rim; Figure 11 is an enlarged elevation showing how the rim is coupled to a box portion of the container; Figure 12 is an elevation, similar to that shown in Figure 11, but showing the rim coupled to the container; and Figure 13 is an elevation showing how the rim nests with the wall of the box portion at the corners of the container. Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a container 10 having a box portion 11 for containing a stack of premoistened wipes 12 therein which are dispensed from the container after opening a lid 14. The container 10 is substantially rectangular in configuration and includes two circular projections 16 and 18 projecting from the lid 14 and two circular recesses 20 and 22 formed at the bottom of the box portion 11, the projections being in axial alignment with the recesses when the lid 14 is closed. Front and rear walls 24 and 26 and first and second ends 28 and 30 are smooth surfaces upon which labels (not shown) may be placed. Referring now mainly to Figure 2, there is shown a plurality of containers 10 stacked, with the projections 16 and 18 of one container received in the recesses 20 and 22 of the container stacked thereon. The containers 10 may stack in a number of different ways. For example, one container 10 may stack on another with the projections 16 and 18 of the bottom container being received in the recesses 20 and 22 of a single top container, or the containers may stack with one container overlapping two containers. The containers may be oriented either parallel or normal to the other containers in the stack, providing a wide variety of stacking arrangements. When the containers 10 are empty, they are relatively light so that the projections 16 and 18 and recesses 20 and 22 provide a needed stability to stacks of the containers. When a customer has an infant or toddler, the wipes 12 are used at a relatively rapid rate so that the customer is likely to accumulate a substantial number of containers 10 in a relatively short time, providing the customer's child with blocks which are light enough for a child to manipulate while providing a substantial degree of resistance to unstacking when they are stacked due to projections 16 and 18 locking with adjacent recesses 20 and 22. In addition to being relatively light in weight, the containers 10 have rounded corners 32, which minimize risk of injury. Referring now mainly to Figures 3 to 6, it is seen that the box portion 11 of the container 10 has a bottom, designated generally by the numeral 100, which includes a domed floor 102 upon which the stack 12 of premoistened wipes rests. The floor 102 is raised from the absolute bottom portion 104 by a distance sufficient to accommodate the depth of the recesses 20 and 22. The recesses 20 and 22 are formed by circular walls or rings 106 (Figure 3) and 108 (Figure 6) respectively, which have a diameter complementing or perhaps slightly larger than the cylindrical projections 16 and 18 of an adjacent lower block. The rings 106 and 108 define the openings 16 and 18 as each having a depth no greater than the depth of the indentation in the bottom of the box portion defining the domed floor 102. As is seen in Figure 5, the floor 102 appears as an oblong platform projecting into the box portion 11. The floor 102 has a peak 110. Surrounding the raised floor 102 is a peripheral gutter 112 in which moisture accumulates. Since the bottom wipes in the stack 12 drape over the raised floor 102, the edges of the bottom wipes will remain immersed in any moisture which pools in the gutter 112 so as to wick the moisture and keep the stack of premoistened wipes wet. Referring now to Figures 7, 8, and 9, there is shown a top portion, designated generally by the numeral 120, of the container 10, wherein the lid 14 is secured by hinges 122 and 124 to a rim, designated generally by the numeral 126. As is best seen in Figure 8, the rim 126 has two relieved portions, 128 and 130, which receive the leaves 132 and 134 of the hinges 122 and 124 respectively. Hinges 122 and 124 are living hinges which each have reduced thickness portions 136 and 138, which flex to allow the lid 14 to pivot over the rim 126 to assume the phantom line position shown in Figure 9. When the lid 14 is in the closed position shown in phantom Figure 9, it closes the opening 140 defined within the inner perimeter 142 of the rim 126. The relieved portions 128 and 130 of the rim 126 receive leaves 122 and 124 so as to be flush with the remaining upper surface 144 of the rim 126. Depending from a front edge 146 of the lid 14 is a latch tab 148. The latch tab 148 includes a resilient detent 150, depended therefrom, and a finger tab portion 152. The detent 150 is received within a slot 154 in a third relieved portion 156 of the rim 126, so that the upper surface 158 of the latch 148 is flush with surface 144 of the rim 126. Referring now more specifically to Figure 10, where the latch 148 is shown in an enlarged view in its latched position, it is seen that the detent 150 has an enlarged end 162. The enlarged end 162 of the detent 150 is received beneath the lower edge 164 of the beveled side wall 166 defining the slot 154. A tang 170 disposed proximate the beveled wall 166 beneath the slot 154 has a projecting rib 172 with an edge 174 against which the bottom surface of the enlarged end 162 of the detent 150 presses. Rib 172 exerts a bias which urges the detent 150 against the lower edge 164 of the beveled slot wall 166, so as to provide an interference fit which retains the detent within the slot 154. The finger tab 152 projects slightly from a downwardly extending dependent skirt 180 and is accessible by a relieved portion 182 beneath the finger tab 152. As the finger tab 152 is lifted upwardly, the detent 150 is pulled away from the edge 164 so that the lid 14 is liftable to the open position. Referring now more specifically to Figures 11, 12 and 13, it is seen that the box portion 11 of the container 10 includes upper wall sections 200 which are received in slots 202, defined by an inner skirt 204, disposed in spaced relation to the outer skirt 180. The inner skirt 204 has a groove 206 therein which receives rounded ribs 208 on the inner surface of the wall 200 defining the box 11. The walls 200 each further have a land portion 210 upon which rests the lower edge 212 of the outer skirt 180, as is seen in Figure 12. As is seen in Figure 13, the corner portions 220 of the rim 126 and the box portion 11 are different from the straight portions, shown in Figures 11 and 12, in that there is no groove 206 in the inner skirt 204, and no rounded rib 208 proximate the upper edge of wall 200. In the preferred embodiment, the container 10 is substantially rectangular, with curved edges and corners. However, the front, rear, and side walls do exhibit a slight taper of 3/4° to facilitate manufacture of the container from polypropylene. In a preferred embodiment, the container has a length of 21.8cm (8.6"), a width of 10.9cm (4.3"), and a depth of 10.1cm (4"). By having a length which is twice the width, it is possible to build structures having adjacent containers 10 with lengths extending normal to one another. Preferred ranges of dimensions for the container 10 include a length of 17.8-22.9cm (7-9"), a width of 7.6-12.7cm (3-5"), and a depth of 7.6-12.7cm (3-5"). A wall thickness of 1.3mm (0.050") for the polypropylene forming the container 10 (including the rings 86 and 88) is sufficient to provide the container with necessary rigidity. Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent.

Claims: A stackable container (10) for premoistened wipes (12) comprising:- a substantially rectangular box portion (11) which defines a space for containing the premoistened wipes (12), the box portion (11) having an open top, a substantially rectangular bottom (104), substantially rectangular ends (28, 30), and substantially rectangular sides (24, 26), the rectangular ends (28, 30) and rectangular sides (24, 26) providing the container (10) with a length double its width; a lid portion (14) pivoted to the top of the box portion (11); and a rim (126) of a selected width attachable to the open top of the box portion (11), the rim (126) having the lid portion (14) unitary therewith and defining an opening (140) through which the premoistened wipes (12) are dispensed, said opening (140) being closable by the lid portion (14); wherein the rectangular bottom (104) has recesses (20, 22) opening downwardly therefrom and the lid portion (14) has projections (16, 18) extending upwardly therefrom, the projections (16, 18) being in alignment with the recesses (20, 22) at the bottom of the container (10) when the lid portion (14) is closed, the projections (16, 18) and recesses (20, 22) being such that one container (10) interlocks with containers (10) of a similar configuration with recesses (20, 22) of adjacent similar containers (10) being receivable of at least two of the projections (16, 18) of the container (10) and projections (16, 18) of adjacent similar containers (10) being receivable by at least two of the recesses (20, 22) in the one container (10). A container according to claim 1, further including at least one web portion (122, 124) connecting the lid portion (14) to the rim (126), each web portion (122, 124) comprising a living hinge whereby the rim (126), web portion (122, 124) and lid portion (14) are unitary. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid portion (14) includes a latch (148) and the rim (126) includes a keeper (154), wherein the latch (148) engages with the keeper (154) when the lid portion (14) is closed to secure the lid portion (14) shut. A container according to claim 3, wherein the latch (148) is unitary with the lid portion (14) and extends beyond the edge of the lid portion (14) a distance equal to the width of the rim (126), the rim (126) including a recess (156) for receiving the latch (148) so that the surface of the latch (148) is substantially flush with the surface of the rim (126), each web portion (122, 124) having a width equal to the width of the rim (126), the rim (126) including a recess (128, 130) proximate the web portion (122, 124), the web portion (122,124) being substantially flush with the rim (126) when the lid portion (14) is shut. A container according to claim any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom (104) includes an exterior indentation (102) which defines within the box portion (11) a raised floor (102) upon which the stack of moist wipes (12) rests, the raised floor (102) having an area smaller than the bottom (104) of the box portion (11) wherein a gutter (112) is defined between the raised floor (102) and the sides (24, 26) and ends (28, 30) of the box portion (11), so that moisture from the moist wipes (12) can accumulate in the gutter (112) to keep the wipes (12) moist by wicking back through wipes (12) into the stack. A container according to claim 5, wherein the recesses (20, 22) for receiving the projections (16, 18) on the lid portion (14) of an adjacent container (10) are formed by rings (106, 108) positioned in the exterior indentation (102), the rings (106, 108) having a depth no greater than the depth of the indentation (102). A container according to claim 6, wherein the rings (106, 108) have a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the walls (24, 26, 28, 30) of the box portion (11). A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rim (126) includes a groove (202) positioned proximate the periphery of the rim (126) for receiving the upper edge (200) of the box portion (11). A container according to claim 8, wherein the groove (202) and wall (202) of the box portion (11) include interlocking portions (206, 208) for retaining the rim (126) on the box portion (11). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) is made of polypropylene. A container according to claim 10, wherein the walls (24, 26, 28, 30) have thicknesses of approximately 1.3mm (0.050"). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) has a width in the range of 10.2-12.7cm (4-5"), a length in the range of 20.4-22.9cm (8-9"), and a depth in the range of 7.6-12.7cm (3-5"). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are two recesses (20, 22) positioned at the bottom (104) of the box portion (11) and two projections (16, 18) on the lid portion (14) of the container (10). A container according to claim 13, wherein the recesses (20, 22) and projections (16, 18) are circular.

Inventors: SYREK GERALD M, SYREK, GERALD M., Syrek, Gerald M., c/o EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Applicants: PERSONAL CARE GROUP INC, PERSONAL CARE GROUP, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: B65D21, B65D81, A63H33