Abstract:
A kit containing at least one cleaning article and a package therefor. The cleaning article has a layer of tow fibers and a layer of sheet material, joined together in a layered construction. The cleaning article is compressed as contained in the package and releases as dispensed to ambient pressure. Such release aids in fluffing of the cleaning article, improving cleaning performance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cleaning articles, more particularly to cleaning articles comprising tow fibers/nonwoven sheets and more particularly to autogenous fluffing of such cleaning articles, typically referred to as dusters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various cleaning articles have been created for dusting and light cleaning. For example, cloth rags and paper towels used dry or wetted with polishing and cleaning compositions have been used on relatively flat surfaces. But, rags and paper towels are problematic for reasons such as hygiene (the user&#39;s hand may touch chemicals, dirt or the surface during cleaning), reach (it may be difficult to insert the user&#39;s hand with the rag or paper towel into hard-to-reach places) and inconvenience (cleaning between closely-spaced articles typically requires moving the articles). 
     To overcome the problems associated with using rags and paper towels, various dust gathering devices having feathers, lamb&#39;s wool, and synthetic fiber brushes have been utilized for more than a century, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 823,725 issued in 1906 to Hayden. Such dust gathering devices can be expensive to manufacture, and as such are designed to be cleaned and reused. One problem associated with a reusable dust gathering device is that such dust gathering devices may not hold or trap dust very well. Soiled, reusable devices are typically cleaned via shaking or through other mechanical agitation. This process is not entirely satisfactory as it requires an extra step during, interrupting and/or following the cleaning process. Furthermore, the attempted restoration of the device may not be successful, allowing redeposition of the previously collected dust. 
     To address the problems experienced with reusable dust gathering devices, disposable cleaning articles have been developed which have limited re-usability. The cleaning article may be used for one job (several square meters of surface) and discarded as being disposable, or may be restored and re-used for more jobs, then discarded. Traditional cleaning articles including feather dusters, cloths, string mops, strip mops and the like, are not disposable for purposes of this invention. 
     These disposable cleaning articles may include brush portions made of synthetic fiber bundles, called tow fibers, attached to a sheet as shown in Publication 2010/0319152. The tow fibers and sheets in such articles may be bonded together as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,578; U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,671; U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,502; U.S. Pat. No. 7,788,759; U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,797; U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,001 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,349. Or the tow fibers may be attached to a plate as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,787. The cleaning articles may be manufactured using the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,743,392 and/or 7,003,856. 
     Such cleaning articles may be made, for example, according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,813,801; 6,968,591; 6,984,615; 7,228,587; 7,231,685; 7,234,193; 7,234,914; 7,237,296; 7,237,297; 7,243,391; 7302729; 7,302,730; and/or 7,334,287 (having a common related application). The patents in this linage have a common feature—strips laterally extending from both sides of a generally planar article. U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,784 teaches strips extending not only from both sides of the article, but also from the front. Other geometries include U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,671 which does not use laterally extending strips but cleans only from one side of the implement and U.S. Pat. No. 7,251,851 which teaches a duster having a spiral configuration when disposed on the handle. Dusters which advantageously do not require gather strips are shown in commonly assigned publications: 2013/0232710A1, having differential overhang between the sheet and fibers; 2013/0232711A1, having a sheet with apertures; 2013/0232714A1, having an elastically contracted sheet; and 2013/0232706A1, having an elastically contracted upstanding panel, all filed Mar. 9, 2012. Optionally the cleaning article  10  may further comprise a non-planar structure, as disclosed in commonly assigned US publication 2011/0131746A1, filed Dec. 4, 2009 or wetting as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,726. 
     All such cleaning articles are typically packaged in a flat state. A plurality of these articles may be stacked together in a common cardboard box. Such stacking increases the planarity of these articles conserving packaging and handling costs, but potentially leading to diminished cleaning performance. 
     To get optimum performance, a user should pre-fluff the cleaning article prior to use. Fluffing, as defined herein, is the process of increasing the apparent volume of the cleaning article. The volume may be increased if the tow fibers and optionally any sheet layers extend out of the plane. In a particular embodiment, the tow fibers extend radially outwardly approximately 360 degrees from the longitudinal axis. A desirably fluffed cleaning article has no, or only minimal, apparent planarity. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,151,402 teaches the importance of fluffing, but relies upon unusual and complex manufacturing to achieve the fluffing. But this attempt does not provide fluffing without extraneous steps by the manufacturer or user. 
     Even with instructions, many users simply do not correctly perform the fluffing step. Some users do not read the instructions and entirely skip this step. Fluffing can be frustrated if the gather strips are partially joined together due to improper cutting during manufacture, making the fluffing insufficient or more difficult. The user may tire of the fluffing steps and not fully complete this process. Accordingly, a system which fluffs but does not require extra steps by the user is needed. 
     Thus, there is a need for a cleaning article which does not require the user to perform a separate, but optional, fluffing step at the point of use. Such cleaning article may be fluffed during dispensing and provide ready-to-use performance without the need for a separate fluffing step. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a kit containing at least one duster type cleaning article, and packaging for containing and dispensing the cleaning article(s) therefrom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic exploded perspective view of a cleaning article according to the prior art and having strips on two outer laminae. 
         FIG. 1B  is a broken schematic top plan view of a cleaning article according to the prior art and having a sheet with a concave notch on one side of the longitudinal axis L and having convex shapes on the other side of the longitudinal axis L. 
         FIG. 2A  is a broken perspective view of an exemplary package according to the according to the present invention shown partially in cutaway to reveal interleaved cleaning articles for pop up dispensing. 
       FIGS.  2 B 1  and  2 B 2  are schematic side elevational views of a stack of cleaning articles prior to compression and after compression, respectively. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevational view of non-interleaved cleaning articles folded about the transverse axes. 
         FIGS. 4A-4E  are schematic side elevational views of various interleaved cleaning articles. 
         FIGS. 5A-5E  are schematic side elevational views of various folded cleaning articles which are adjacent and not interleaved. 
         FIGS. 6A-6G  are frontal views of various shapes of dispensing apertures suitable for use with the present invention, any of which such apertures may wrap two or more contiguous sides of a dispensing package. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a system according to the present invention having an external dispensing panel. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view, shown partially in cutaway, of an alternative system according to the present invention having a convex outward dispensing wall, internal dispensing panel and cover over the aperture. 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus usable to test linear compression of cleaning articles according to the present invention, showing three articles in an uncompressed state. 
         FIG. 8B  is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 8A , showing the three articles in a compressed state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the cleaning article  10  may be generally elongate, having a longitudinal axis L, although other shapes are contemplated and feasible. These cleaning articles  10  are typically referred to as dusters. The cleaning article  10  may be removably attachable to a handle  35  and/or may be used without a handle  35 . A suitable handle  35  is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,564. Cleaning articles  10  having a pocket for receiving the handle  35  are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,650,664; U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,650 and 20130340191. 
     The z-direction of the cleaning article  10  is the direction perpendicular to the sheet  12  which is typically closest to the handle  35  (if present) of the cleaning article  10 , the XY plane is defined as the plane defined by the sheet  12  and is typically perpendicular to the z-direction. The cleaning article  10  may have a longitudinal axis L and a transverse axis T orthogonal thereto. The cleaning article  10 , and respective components thereof, may have two longitudinal edges  20  parallel to the longitudinal axis L and two transverse edges  22  parallel to the transverse axis T. 
     The length of the cleaning article  10 , etc. is taken in the longitudinal direction. The width of the cleaning article  10  corresponds to the transverse direction perpendicular to the length direction and disposed within the plane of the sheet  12 . The thickness is defined as the dimension in the z-direction. The length and width of the strips shown in the art are taken in the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively. 
     The cleaning article  10  may be thought of as having two, three or more laminae joined in face-to-face relationship. The laminae may comprise a tow fiber lamina  14 , intermediate two laminae of generally planar sheets  12 . Alternatively, a single tow fiber layer  14  may be joined to a single generally planar sheet  12 . The tow fiber layer  14  is shown to comprise four layers, although one of skill will understand from one to several layers are feasible and contemplated for use with the present invention. Likewise, one, two, three or more sheets  12  are feasible and contemplated for use with the present invention. As used herein, a cleaning article  10  comprising a laminate of at least one tow fiber lamina  14  and at least one sheet  12  and usable to collect dust from a surface is referred to as a duster. It is to be recognized that the duster may be fluffed into various configurations, including non-flat, generally cylindrical, etc. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 1A  the cleaning article  10  may optionally further comprise gather strips  17 , as known from the prior art. As used herein, gather strips  17  refer to cantilevered elements extending transversely outwardly from the longitudinal centerline of the article  10 , and having a length (taken in the transverse direction) greater than the corresponding width (as taken in the longitudinal direction). The gather strips  17  lie within the XY plane as intended by manufacture, although may be deformed out of the XY plane due to fluffing before use, and/or deformations which occur in use due to movement against the target surface. The gather strips  17  may be incorporated into one of the sheets  12  described above or may be deployed on a separate sheet  12 . The gather strips  17  may be incorporated on an outermost portion of the tow fiber bundle  14 , may be incorporated between tow fiber bundle layers  14  and/or combinations thereof. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 1B , if desired, each longitudinal edge of either and/or more sheets  12  may be notched to be concave. This arrangement provides the advantage that the relatively greater differential overhang near the center of the cleaning article  10  may provide relatively greater fluffing of the tow fibers near the center of the cleaning article  10 . Or the sheet  12  may be convex as shown. 
     An attachment system may provide for removable attachment of the cleaning article  10  to a suitable and optional handle  35 . The cleaning article  10  attachment system and optional complementary handle  35  attachment may comprise adhesive joining, cohesive joining, mechanical engagement, etc. One common attachment system comprises sleeves  30  into which the tines  36  of the handle  35  may be inserted. The sleeves  30  may be disposed on an outer lamina  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the sheet  12  may have an outwardly facing preferential cleaning side and a second inwardly facing attachment side opposed thereto. The sheet  12  may comprise a nonwoven sheet  12 . Suitable nonwovens may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,797,357; 6,936,330, D489,537 and/or D499,887. 
     Adjacent the sheet  12  may be a compressible and/or deformable second lamina of fibers  14 . The second lamina may comprise tow fibers  14 . The tow fiber lamina  14  may be joined to the sheet  12  in face-to-face relationship. The tow fiber lamina  14  may be suitable for directly contacting the target surface during cleaning. 
     The tow fibers  14  may be synthetic. As used herein “bundle fibers” and/or “tow” refer to fibers comprising synthetic polymers including polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, bio-derived polymers such as polylactic acid, bio-polyethylene, bio-polyester and the like. Tow fibers  14  also include fibers from natural sources such as cellulose, cellulose acetate, flax, hemp, jute and mixtures thereof manufactured wherein the individual fibers are relatively long strands manufactured in bundles. The bundle fibers may be defined as any fibers having distinct end points and at least about 1 cm in length. The cleaning article  10  of the present invention may further comprise an optional absorbent core (not shown). 
     The sheet  12 , fibrous layer  14  and non-planar structure  16  may be joined together by thermal bonding, autogenous bonding, ultrasonic bonding, heat sealing, adhesive and/or other means known in the art. The sheet  12  may comprise two plies, joined together in face-to-face relationship. The sheet  12 , fibrous layer  14  and non-planar structure may be bonded in a pattern which provides a central spine parallel the longitudinal axis L. 
     The joining of the tow fiber layer  14  and generally planar sheets  12  may be done with any combination of continuous bonds  38  and/or spot bonds  38 , as known in the art. The bonds  38  may be used to create sleeves for an attachment system as known in the art and discussed herein. 
     The bonding pattern joining the two plies may be provided in a pattern which provides a sleeve  30  complementary to and able to receive the tines  36  of the handle  35 , if used with the cleaning article  10  of the present invention. Particularly, the bonding may be provided in a pattern which is generally longitudinally oriented, so that the tines  36  may be inserted into the sleeve  30  created between adjacent bonds  38 . 
     The bond pattern may provide a continuously bonded or discretely bonded central spine  42 . Outboard of the central spine, the bond pattern may comprise one or more continuous or discontinuous bond sites. The space between the central spine bond and the outboard bonds  38  may create a sleeve  30  for receiving a tine  36  of the optional handle  35 . If desired, the sheet  12  may be shrunk/strained in the cross-direction. This process can provide rugosities or wrinkles in sheet  12 . The rugosities/wrinkles space apart the plies of sheet  12 , allowing for easier insertion of the tines  36  into the sleeve  30 , if so desired. 
     If desired, the various cleaning articles  10  described herein may be packaged and sold in a kit. Some of the cleaning articles  10  may have the aforementioned concave sheet  12  and other cleaning articles  10  may have a convex sheet  12 . This arrangement provides the benefit that the user has a choice of different cleaning articles  10  for different tasks. 
     One of skill will recognize that hybrids and combinations of the embodiments described above are contemplated and feasible. For example, a single cleaning article  10  may comprise plural sheets  12  having like or different geometries and/or plural tow fiber layers  14  having like or different geometries. Such sheets  12  and tow fiber layers  14  may be disposed next to each other, interspersed or placed in any desired configuration of layers. 
     Any of the sheet  12  and/or layer of tow fibers  14  may be completely or partially coated with adhesive, wax, Newtonian or non-Newtonian oils or a combination thereof, in order to improve cleaning and increase retention of absorbed debris. If desired, the cleaning article  10  may optionally be used with a cleaning solution or other solution usable for other purposes such as treating the surface for appearance or disinfectant, etc. The cleaning solution may be pre-applied to the cleaning article  10 , creating a pre-moistened cleaning article  10  or may be contained within a separate reservoir for dosing onto the cleaning article  10  and/or target surface. The cleaning solution may comprise a majority water, and at least about 0.5, 2, 5 or 10% solids, or at least about 30% or 50% aqueous solvents, non-aqueous solutions or mixtures thereof (all by weight). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-3 , the cleaning article(s)  10  of the present invention may be stored, transported and/or sold in a package. The package  70  may prevent undesired intrusion of dirt, allow for stacking and provide billboard effect on the store shelf. The package  70  may be a common parallelepiped, as shown or may be of any other suitable shape and geometry. 
     The package  70  may have one or more discernible sidewalls  72 . The package may have a dispensing aperture  74 , which may be disposed in one or more of the sidewalls  72 . The aperture  74  may be disposed in a single sidewall  72  or intercept two or more contiguous sidewalls  74  as desired. The cleaning articles  10  are dispensed from inside the package  70 , through the aperture  74  for use as desired. One of skill will understand that the aperture  74  may be disposed on the top, left/right, front, bottom or back sidewall  72  or any contiguous combination thereof. For convenience, the sidewall  72  of the package  70  having the predominant or largest area of the aperture  74  is referred to as the dispensing sidewall  72 . It is to be understood that the aperture  74  may have a cover  78  as sold, which cover  78  is later optionally or selectively removed by the user, yet still comprise an aperture  74  as sold. 
     The package  70  may be made of ordinary carton board, as is well known in the art. The package  70  may be coated with wax or with other impervious coatings, to prevent permeation of wax or oil from the cleaning article through the carton board. Alternatively the package  70  may be made of common plastic film, such as PE or LDPE, hard plastic material, or any other suitable material. 
     The package  70  may have an interior package  70  volume. The interior package  70  volume may be ascertained by simple geometry or other known means, such as using CAD software. The cleaning articles  10  likewise have a cleaning product  10  volume. The cleaning product  10  volume may be generally determined by multiplying length×width×height under a nominal 5 gram load applied perpendicular to the plane of the cleaning article  10  as set forth below. 
     A single cleaning article  10 , plurality of cleaning articles  10 , and in a particular case a stack of cleaning articles  10 , may be provided and have a predetermined stack height. These one or more cleaning articles  10  may be provided with a package  70  to form a kit comprising the cleaning article(s)  10  and package  70  therefor. Such package  70  may have an interior dimension which is less than the stack height. Such interior dimension is referred to as the package  70  height. 
     The package  70  height may be 30 to 70 or 40 to 60 and particularly about 50 percent less than the stack height of the cleaning articles  10  sold therein. It is prophetically believed that a package  70  height providing a linear compression of 30 to 70 or 40 to 60 and particularly about 50 percent provides for adequate rebound of the cleaning article  10 , to minimize the fluffing required by the user at the point of use. Less compression is prophetically believed to be insufficient to restore a cleaning article  10  fluffed prior to insertion into the package  70  to a fluffed condition. If the package  70  is made of a flexible film, such as PET, compression less than 30 or 40% may be insufficient to prevent an irregular package  70  shape. The irregular package  70  shape makes it difficult to stack package  70  on the shelf. 
     Greater compression is prophetically believed to cause plastic deformation of the tow fiber lamina(e)  14 , preventing full rebound of the cleaning article  10  to a fluffed condition following removal from the package  70 . If the package  70  is made of a flexible film, such as PET, compression greater than 60% or 70% may cause tearing of the film. 
     The package  70  height may be measured using an ordinary scale as sold by the Starrett Corporation of MA. If the package  70  height is not constant, the height at the portion of the package  70  having the dispensing aperture  74  is considered. The stack height is determined as the free height of the cleaning articles  10  as set forth below. The stack height can be determined after the cleaning articles  10  are removed from the box and equilibrated for 24 hours as set forth below. 
     Manufacture and/or insertion of the cleaning articles  10  into the package  70  results in compression of the cleaning articles  10 , due to the difference between the stack height and the package  70  height. Likewise, the cleaning article(s)  10  may likewise have a cleaning article  10  volume which is greater than the interior package  70  volume. The cleaning articles  10  may be compressed to 30 to 70 or 40 to 60 and particularly about 50 percent of the original volume upon being disposed in the package  70 . Alternatively or additionally, if the package  70  is made of film or other appropriate material, compression of the cleaning articles  10  may be accomplished through vacuum packing, as is known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A-8B , the percentage of linear compression may be measured using a common type of apparatus  100  known for this purpose. The apparatus  100  may have four rigid walls, and have an interior floor sized to closely match the footprint of the cleaning article  10  under consideration. The apparatus  100  may further comprise weights  102 , each weight  102  having a footprint likewise closely matching that of the cleaning article  10  under consideration. The apparatus  100  may further provide one or more optional guides  104  to assist in the linear and even travel of the weight  102 , as it compresses the cleaning article(s)  100 . 
     One or more scales  106  may be provided on the apparatus to measure the height of the cleaning articles  10 . The scale(s)  106  may be provided with ordinary markings to m make the height measurements. The heights of the cleaning article(s)  10  are measured between the top of the floor and bottom of the appropriate weight  102 . If the cleaning articles  10  do not uniformly compress, the height is measured at the center of the cleaning article(s)  10 . 
     At least two rigid weights  102  are provided. The weights  102  may be sized to have a foot print slightly smaller than that of the apparatus  100  and which closely approximates that of the cleaning article(s)  10 . For example, the footprint of the weights  102  may be 11.5 cm×16 cm to approximate the footprint of the cleaning article  10 . The weights  102  must move freely in the apparatus  102 , without binding or restriction. The weights  102  may have a shape complementary to the optional guides  104 , so that the weights  102  each travel on the guides  104  in a manner as close as reasonably possible to being rectilinear with the face of each weight  102  being perpendicular to the compression direction. 
     The first weight  102  to be used weighs 5.0±0.1 grams. This weight  102  is used to establish a free, or uncompressed, height. The second weight  102  to be used weighs 100.0±0.1 grams. This weight  102  is used to establish a compressed height. 
     To measure the compression of the cleaning articles  10 , the articles are equilibrated at 20±1 degrees Celsius and 50±5% relative humidity for 24 hours. A number of cleaning articles  10 , comparable to the number sold in a particular package  70 , is selected. The cleaning articles  10  are tested in an a flat state. 
     The cleaning articles  10  are placed in the apparatus  100 . The first weight  102  of nominally 5 grams is placed on top of the stack of cleaning article(s)  10  and a free height is measured using the scales  106  three seconds after the first weight  102  is applied. The first weight  102  is removed. The second weight  102  of nominally 100 grams is immediately placed on top of the stack of cleaning article(s)  10  and a compressed height is measured using the scales  106  three seconds after the second weight  102  is applied. 
     The percentage compression is then determined as:
 
{(Free Height−Compressed Height)/(Free Height)}*100.
 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cleaning articles  10  may be folded about either the longitudinal axis, transverse axis, or any other suitable fold line. Upon removal from the package  70 , the cleaning article  10  may be unfolded providing the benefit of allowing the cleaning article  10  to spring back into a more fluffed state. Furthermore it is believed that such folding of adjacent cleaning articles  10  minimizes chaining, reducing or even preventing premature dispensing of the successive cleaning article  10 . 
     Conversely, and referring to  FIGS. 4A-4E , popup dispensing may be desired. If so successive cleaning articles  10  may be interfolded using any of the fold patterns illustrated. This arrangement provides the advantage that after the first cleaning article  10  is dispensed, the next cleaning article  10  is visible, available and ready for use. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5E , if desired, the cleaning articles  10  needed not be interfolded. Instead the cleaning articles  10  may be folded with various adjacencies. This arrangement allows for differential compression of various portions of the cleaning articles  10 . This arrangement provides the unpredicted advantage that differential fluffing occurs upon dispensing of the cleaning articles  10  from the package  70 . Such differential fluffing provides the benefit that different portions of the cleaning article  10  will reach into different areas to be cleaned, prophetically resulting in improved cleaning performance. 
     Referring to back to  FIG. 2A , the package  70  may have a dispensing aperture  74 . The dispensing aperture  74  may have a cross section smaller than the cross section of the cleaning article  10  immediately prior to being dispensed therethrough. Upon removal of the cleaning article  10  from the package  70  through the dispensing aperture  74 , the cleaning article  10  is constricted, then rebounds as the cleaning article  10  is no longer constrained by the cross section of the dispensing aperture  74 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6G , various cross sections of the dispensing aperture  74  may be utilized. The dispensing aperture  74  may constrict the cleaning articles  10  in the width direction, the height direction or both. Or the dispensing aperture  74  may selectively deform the cleaning articles, as occurs with a crescent shaped or wavy shaped dispensing aperture  74 . It is prophetically believed that such selective constriction of the cleaning article  10 , autogenously during dispensing, improves fluffing by the differential deformation of the tow fiber laminae  14 . 
     It is believe that such constriction/rebound increases fluffing of the cleaning article  10 . This process provides the benefit that without optional additional fluffing steps, the cleaning article  10  is fluffed immediately prior to and at the point of use. A package  70  and dispensing aperture  74  may be made according to the teachings of commonly assigned US 2007/0215629, published Sep. 20, 2007; US 2008/0105699 published May 8, 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,074 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,001. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7B , the package  70  may be made of a plastic film or other flaccid material. If so, the dispensing sidewall  72  may be reinforced with a dispensing panel  76 . The dispensing panel  76  may be generally rigid. As used herein, a flaccid sidewall  72  deforms under ordinary dispensing and use conditions and does not fully constrict or extrude the cleaning article  10  as desired during extrusion through the dispensing aperture  74 . As used herein, a rigid dispensing panel  76  generally does not deform under ordinary dispensing and use conditions and does improves how the cleaning article  10  is constricted during extrusion through the dispensing aperture  74 . 
     By extrusion it is meant that the cleaning article  10  is constricted in at least a portion, if not all, of its cross section during dispensing through the aperture  74 . As used herein, deformation is considered in the dispensing direction, which dispensing direction is generally perpendicular to the plane of the dispensing sidewall  72 , dispensing aperture  74  and dispensing panel  76 . The aperture  74  is considered to be smaller than the cleaning article  10  if the aperture is smaller in any dimension within the sidewall  72  and generally perpendicular to the dispensing direction. By having any such smaller dimension, it is believed that the aperture will constrict the cleaning article as it is dispensed therethrough. If the edge of the aperture  74  has minor asperities, it is prophetically believed friction against the asperities may improve fluffing. 
     The rigid dispensing panel  76  may be made of cartonboard, rigid plastic material or other material which resists deformation perpendicular to the plane of the dispensing panel  76 . The dispensing panel  76  has an aperture  74  for dispensing the cleaning articles from the package  70 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 7B , the dispensing panel  76  may be generally the same size, shape and geometry as the dispensing sidewall  72 . This arrangement provides for convenient assembly of the components and increases package  70  shape retention. If desired in an exemplary parallelepipedal package  70 , the dispensing panel  76  may have one, two, three or four tabs. The tabs may extend in the direction of, and parallel to, sidewalls  72  contiguous and generally perpendicular to the dispensing sidewall  72 . The tabs may provide for maintaining the location of the dispensing panel  76  in the package  70 . 
     The package  70  may have sidewalls  72  which are not mutually perpendicular/parallel. Instead, if desired, the sidewalls  72  may converge towards the dispensing sidewall  72  having the aperture  74 . This arrangement provides the benefit of beginning to compress or pre-fluff the cleaning article prior to extrusion through the aperture  74 . 
     If desired, the dispensing sidewall  72 , and associated dispensing panel  76 , may be curvilinear. For example, the dispensing sidewall  72 , and associated dispensing panel  76 , may be oriented convex outwardly. This arrangement provides the benefit that the convex dispensing sidewall  72  and associated dispensing panel  76  provide a funnel or funneling effect as the cleaning article  10  approaches, and is dispensed through the aperture  74 . 
     The dispensing panel  76  and aperture  74  may provide for reach-in to pop up dispensing. This arrangement provides for the user to reach his/her fingers into the package  70  to retrieve the first cleaning article  10  through the aperture  74 . Successive cleaning articles  10  may encounter a greater constriction or smaller portion of the aperture  74 , to prevent chaining. The cleaning articles  10  may be extruded upon removal through the aperture  74  so that each cleaning article  10  is constricted/then rebounds upon removal from the package  70 . 
     The rigid dispensing panel  76  may have a second aperture  74  therethrough for dispensing of the cleaning articles  10  through the first aperture in the sidewall  72 . The first aperture  74  and second aperture  74  may be of identical size, shape, and alignment on the dispensing wall. Alternatively, the first aperture  74  and second aperture  74  may be of mutually different size or shape, to provide for differential fluffing of the cleaning article  10  as it is extruded therethrough. 
     The present system may have, but does not rely upon, an aperture  74  having a larger area for reach in and a smaller area for pop up, as is known in the art. The present system may have a less complex aperture  74  which provides a common opening which can accommodate both the fingers of the user and provide for constriction/rebound of the cross section of the cleaning article  10  upon removal therethrough. 
     The aperture  74  may be further provided with an optional cover  78  as is known in the art. The cover  78  minimizes intrusion of dust and debris into the package  70 . The aperture  74  need not be sealed, as the cleaning articles  10  are generally used dry. If pre-wetted cleaning articles  10  are used, the aperture  74  may be hermetically sealed and sealable by the cover  78  as is known in the art. The cover  78  may be hinged, adhesively sealed, have a snap fit, etc. comprise a portion of the sidewall  72  joined by a line of weakness such as perforations, as are known in the art. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 7A , alternatively, the dispensing panel  76  may be smaller than the dispensing sidewall  70 . If desired such a dispensing panel  76  may be congruent the dispensing aperture  74  to concentrate reinforcement of the rigidity in the dispensing direction and perpendicular to dispensing panel  76  at the aperture  74 . This arrangement provides the benefit of material savings. Of course, any sidewall  72 , such as the dispensing sidewall  72  need not be flat as shown. 
     The dispensing panel  76  may be joined to the inside or outside of the dispensing sidewall  74 . Disposing the dispensing panel  76  inside the package  70  provides the benefit that the package graphics look more uniform and may provide a larger billboard effect. Also the dispensing panel  76  is less likely to become dislodged during shipping and handling. Disposing the dispensing panel  76  on the outside of the package  70  provides the benefit that potential tearing of the cleaning article  10  is reduced. Adhesive joining may be used as is known in the art, or the dispensing sidewall  72  and associated dispensing panel  76  may be thermally bonded if the materials are compatible. 
     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.