Patent Publication Number: US-11375860-B2

Title: Stack of interleaved wipes

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is for entry into the U.S. National Phase under § 371 for International Application No. PCT/GB2016/053604 having an international filing date of Nov. 18, 2016, and from which priority is claimed under all applicable sections of Title 35 of the United States Code including, but not limited to, Sections 120, 363, and 365(c), and which in turn claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Great Britain Patent Application No. 1520470.4 filed on Nov. 20, 2015. 
     The present invention relates to a stack of interleaved wipes. 
     Wipes are flat sheets of material generally used for cleaning. Wipes may either be dry, or more commonly wet—impregnated with a liquid such as a cleansing agent which assists the cleaning action of the wipe. Wipes are often provided in stacks of wipes enclosed within a container, typically as a flow wrap pack. The container typically has an opening through which the wipes can be individually extracted. 
     Normally, the wipes are interleaved, by providing each wipe with a fold between two portions of it having a portion of the next wipe between them. This arrangement draws the portion of the next wipe to the opening when the first wipe is withdrawn through the opening. It should be noted that not every pair of wipe portions connected by a fold necessarily has a portion of the next wipe between them. The folds in the interleaved wipes are normally such that the wipes are folded back double against each other or the intervening portion of the next wipe. As such the term “fold” is used herein to mean such a double-back fold unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     The way the wipes are folded, that is to say their fold pattern, the quantity of the wetting/cleansing agent and its nature all have an influence on the dispensing of the wipes, i.e. the way the next wipe is drawn to the opening. 
     The concept of this invention is to provide a stack of wipes with an improved fold pattern. More particularly the concept involves a wipe arrangement in which one wipe is enfolded within another wipe having an enfolding fold. This arrangement enables an enfolded portion of the next wipe to be drawn towards a dispensing aperture due to friction between the enfolded portion of the next wipe and the enfolding fold of the one wipe, when the one wipe is dispensed. 
     Accordingly in a first aspect of the invention within the concept, there is provided a stack of interleaved wipes, the stack comprising:
         wipes each having:
           a main panel,   two folded panels connected to the main panel by respective creases at respective opposite edges of the main panel and forming respective folds, both folded panels being folded to the same side to the main panel and   at least one further folded panel connected to one of the folded panels at a further crease;   
           the wipes being interleaved with:
           the crease at one main panel edge of one wipe being enfolded within an enfolding fold formed by the main panel and the respective folded panel of the next wipe on the side in the stack opposite from the same side and   the crease at the opposite main panel edge of the one wipe being part of an enfolding fold, having enfolded within it the crease at that edge of the next wipe on the same side.   
               

     Please note that the distinction between the enfolding fold and the enfolded fold is important. 
     Normally, the stack will be oriented for dispensing with the said same side being on the underside of a respective wipe or at least a side facing away from a dispensing aperture in a container of the stack. In this orientation on dispensing of a wipe, the folded panel of the enfolding fold or the further fold connected to it of the wipe being dispensed tends to draw the folded panel of the enfolded fold or the further fold connected to it towards the opening by frictional contact therewith. 
     Alternatively, with the stack oppositely oriented, on dispensing the folded panel of the enfolded fold or the further fold connected to it of the wipe being dispensed tends to draw the folded panel of the enfolding fold or the further fold connected to it towards the opening by frictional contact therewith. 
     In either case dispensing does not involve a folded panel, or a further folded panel, acting directly on a main panel, whereby the risk of successive wipes being dispensed in place of a single wipe is ameliorated. 
     In an arrangement which we refer to as the Modified C Fold, the further folded panel is provided at the edge of the folded panel in the fold at the opposite main panel edge and is folded away from the main panel to lie against the main panel of the next but one wipe on the same side of the main panel. We can envisage the further folded panel could be folded in to lie against the folded panel of the next wipe. 
     Alternatively, the further panel could be folded in against the main panel of its wipe from the enfolded folded panel or it could be folded out from the enfolding folded panel to lie against the enfolding folded panel. 
     It can also be envisaged that both folded panels could have a further folded panel each being arranged in any of the above arrangements. 
     The enfolded crease can extend into the full depth of the enfolding fold or partially so in accordance with the extent of friction required to draw the enfolded wipe to a dispensing aperture. 
     The enfolded and enfolding folded panels will normally be of the same extent but can be of different extents, again in accordance with the extent of friction required. 
     Normally the crease of the further folded panel will extend substantially to the middle of the stack, whereby the number of thicknesses of wipe is uniform at substantially all cross-sectional positions. In practice, the crease positions can be set to provide a degree of tolerance in crease position such as to avoid folded panel overlap, with a consequential thick region of the stack. This can result in a minor region where there are fewer thicknesses of wipe. 
     Accordingly in a second aspect of the invention within the concept, there is provided a stack of interleaved wipes, the stack comprising:
         wipes each having:
           a main panel,   two folded panels connected to the main panel by respective creases at respective opposite edges of the main panel, one of the folded panels being folded to the one side to the main panel and the other to the other and   at least one further folded panel connected to one of the folded panels at a further crease;   
           the wipes being interleaved with:
           the crease at one main panel edge of one wipe being part of an enfolding fold, having enfolded within it the crease at that edge of the next wipe on the dispense side of the one wipe and   the crease at the opposite main panel edge of the one wipe being part of an enfolded fold, enfolded within an enfolding fold of the wipe on the opposite side of the one wipe.   
               

     As in the first aspect, the main panel of the next wipe being drawn to the opening is not acted on, again ameliorating the risk of multiple wipe dispensing. 
     The folded panel of the enfolded fold can folded to either side of its main panel and the further folded panel, when provided at it can be folded to either side of it. Equally the further panel can be provided at the enfolding folded panel, folded to either side of it. 
     Again further folded panels can be provided at each folded panel. 
     Accordingly in a third aspect of the invention within the concept, there is provided a stack of interleaved wipes, the stack comprising:
         wipes each having:
           a main panel,   two folded panels connected to the main panel by respective creases at respective opposite edges of the main panel, one of the folded panels being folded to the one side to the main panel and the other to the other and   at least one further folded panel connected to one of the folded panels at a further crease and folded away from its main panel;   
           the wipes being interleaved with:
           a free edge of the further folded panel, remote from the further crease, of one wipe enfolded within the fold of a folded panel and the main panel of the next wipe in the stack and   the folded panel of the one panel at the opposite edge enfolding a free edge of the further panel, remote from its further crease, of the next wipe on the other side.   
               

     As in the first and second aspects, the main panel of the next wipe being drawn to the opening is not acted on, again ameliorating the risk of multiple wipe dispensing. 
     The enfolding further panel, enfolding the free edge of the further folded panel of the next wipe, can be plain without its own further folded panel or it can have an infolded or out folded further folded panel. 
    
    
     
       To help understanding of the invention, several embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side view of four representative wipes of a stack of a first embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a similar view of a single wipe of the four shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a similar diagrammatic side view of the first stack in a container, with a dispensing opening, showing an initial wipe and the four wipes of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a further similar view, showing the initial wipe close to complete withdrawal and the first of the wipes of  FIG. 1  being drawn to an opening of the container; 
         FIG. 5  is side view of an inverted variant of the container and wipes of  FIG. 3 , with the wipes of the stack inverted; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of four interleaved wipes with a variation in their folding; 
         FIG. 7  is another view similar to  FIG. 1  of four interleaved wipes with another variation in their folding; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic side view similar to  FIG. 1  of four representative wipes of a stack of a second embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a similar view of a single wipe of the four shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic side view similar to  FIG. 1  of four representative wipes of a stack of a third embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a similar view of a single wipe of the four shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a similar view of a single wipe of the four shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  of the accompanying drawings, four wipes  10 ,  20   30 ,  40  are shown in  FIG. 1  with wipe  10  dotted, wipe  20  with a full line, wipe  30  dotted and wipe  40  chain dotted for clarity of their folding and interleaving. 
     The single wipe  20  shown in  FIG. 2  has the following features:
         a main panel or portion  21  with a first face  22  and a second face  23 . When the stack is oriented for dispensing upwards, the first face  22  will be uppermost;   a first folded portion  24  folded from a first crease  25  at one edge of the main portion underneath it, i.e. to the second face side  23 ;   a second folded panel or portion  26  similarly folded from a second crease  27  at an opposite edge of the main portion underneath the main portion, whereby both the first and the second portions would lie against the same face  23 , if it were not for the interleaving shown in  FIG. 1 ; and   a further folded panel or portion  28  folded from the second folded portion at a further crease  29 , which is at the edge of the second folded portion opposite from its second crease  27 , and is at the proximal edge of the further folded portion  28 . This portion lies underneath the second folded portion.       

     It should be noted that in folding one portion with respect to another at a crease, a generally U-shaped or V-shaped arrangement of the panels is created which can enfold another portion of the same wipe or another wipe. This arrangement is referred to as a fold with the numeral of the crease in the fold followed by the suffix 0. So the fold formed by the main and first folded portions  21 , 24  with the crease  25  is referred to as fold  250 . 
     The first and second folded portions  24 , 26 , both being on the same side of the main portion  21  form have a general C configuration, not contributed to by the further folded portion  28 . This gives rise to the folded arrangement of the wipes, that is their fold pattern, being referred to as a Modified C fold. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the interleaving of the wipes will be described with reference to the wipe  20 . In practice, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first wipe  10  will have its first crease  15  drawn to the region of or partially through an opening  1  in a container  2  of the wipes, so that it can be grasped and drawn through the opening. The second wipe  20  and those below are in their interleaved arrangement. 
     The crease  25  together with adjoining parts of the portions  21 , 24 , is enfolded in a fold  170  of the wipe  10  formed by its portions  11 , 16  and the crease  17 . The wipe  10  is the wipe next to the wipe  20  on its side opposite from its portions  24 , 26 . 
     The crease  27  at the opposite edge from crease  25  of the main portion  21  forms with the main portion  21  and the second folded portion  26  a fold  270  which enfolds the fold  350  of the wipe  30 . Thus the wipes are interleaved for successive dispensing of the wipes one after the other. 
     On dispensing of the wipe  10 , by drawing it through the opening  1  of the container  2 , the folded portion  16  of the enfolding fold  170  of the wipe  10  tends to draw the folded portion  24  of the enfolded fold  250  towards the opening by frictional contact therewith. It should be noted that the frictional contact is not with the main portion  21 . As such there is more opportunity for the wipe  20  to be held back and the for the portion  16  to break away from the portion  24  and avoid dispensing of the wipe  20  as well as the wipe  10  as the latter is withdrawn through the opening. This effect is believed to be helped by the further folded portion  18  being folded against the portion  16 . 
     It will be appreciated that the very first wipe in a Modified C fold stack does not present a convenient edge to be grasped for dispensing. For this reason, as show in  FIG. 3 , a slightly differently folded initial wipe  00  is provided with its folded portion  04  oppositely folded to present its free, distal edge at the opening. This wipe is folded into a W format. 
     Because there are three thicknesses of each wipe on one side of the centreline  3  of the container and two on the other, the total width of the pack, and hence its shelf footprint, is reduced—compared with two and two conventional thicknesses. 
     In practical terms, the free edges of the first folded portions and creases  19 , 29 , etc. do not extend fully to the centreline, to avoid tolerance build up causing a ridge in the middle of the stack. Rather these edges and portions are kept a short distance from the centreline. Further as shown in  FIG. 4 , the enfolded creases  25 , 35 , etc. can be spaced inwards from the enfolding creases  17 , 27 , etc. to enable the parameters of the interleaving to be adjusted to suit such factors known to the skilled reader such as variation in inter-wipe friction caused by variations in the compositions with which the wipes are impregnated. 
     Conveniently the stack is manufactured by introducing a pre-fold at creases  19 , 29 , etc. into each web prior to their folding at creases  15 , 17 , 25 , 27 , etc., and their interleaving. The operation of a web processing machine to perform these operations will be within the capabilities of the skilled person and will not be described further. 
     Further the most common form of container for wet wipes is a flow-wrap pack. In manufacture, the seal is made with the pack inverted and the opening downwards the pre-fold will normally be made upwards with the stacks and flow-wrap packs being inverted, at least before use. 
     Alternatively as shown in  FIG. 5 , where corresponding features are given the same reference numeral prefixed with  1  the stack can be oppositely oriented. With the pre-fold further folds  118 , 119  etc. being folded down prior to stack inversion to the use orientation shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The dispensing operation is different in this instance. The folded portions  114 , 124 , etc abut beneath the portions  126 , 136  etc. The creases  119 ,  129  etc. are already presented close to the opening  102  and little drawing through the opening is required. This fold pattern, known as the Inverted Modified C is suitable where very low inter-wipe friction exists. 
     In either case dispensing does not involve a folded panel, or a further folded panel, acting directly on a main panel, whereby the risk of successive wipes being dispensed in place of a single wipe is ameliorated. 
     In the both the Modified C and Inverted Modified C folds, portions  11 , 16 , 18 , etc.,  21 , 26 , 28 , etc.;  111 , 116 , 118  etc.,  121 , 126 , 128  etc. these portion are folded in a Z format. These could be folded in with a C format as shown in  FIG. 6  in respect of a variant of the Modified C fold. The portions concerned are  211 , 216 , 218 , etc.,  221 , 226 , 228 , etc. The further folded portions  218 , 228  are folded between the main portions  211 , 221  and folded portions  216 , 226 . 
     Equally other variants are possible as shown in  FIG. 7 , which is a Modified C fold with Z folded or out-folded “further folded portions” on both “folded portions”. In a non-illustrated variant, the further folded portions could be in- or C-folded. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , another interleaved wipe stack embodying the inventive concept of narrow width and improved dispensing is shown. One  320  of the wipes of this stack has:
         a main panel or portion  321  with a first face  322  and a second face  323 . When the stack is oriented for dispensing upwards, the first face  322  will be uppermost;   a first folded portion  324  folded from a first crease  325  at one edge of the main portion over it, i.e. to the first face side  322 ;   a second folded panel or portion  326  similarly folded from a second crease  327  at an opposite edge of the main portion underneath the main portion, i.e. to the opposite, second face side  323  of the main panel; and   a further folded panel or portion  328  folded from the second folded portion at a further crease  329 , which is at the edge of the second folded portion opposite from its second crease  327 , and is at the proximal edge of the further folded portion  328 . This portion lies underneath the second folded portion, with the wipe being folded into a W format.       

     The wipes of this stack are interleaved as follows:
         the first crease  325  of the wipe  320  together with its first folded and further folded portions  324 , 3241  is enfolded in the enfolding fold  3150  of the next wipe in the dispensing direction, at its crease  317 ;   The second crease  327  is part of an enfolding fold  3250  around the first crease  335  of the previous wipe in the dispensing direction, with the second folded portion  326 , or the further folded portion  328 , extending against the main portion  341  of the wipe below.       

     During dispensing, as in the first embodiment, the main panel of the next wipe being drawn to the opening is not acted on, again ameliorating the risk of multiple wipe dispensing. 
     A variant is indicated in  FIG. 9 , whereby the first folded portion has a W-folded further folded portion  3241 . Again the further folded portion  3241  could be provided in place of the further folded portion  328 . 
     Other variants are possible whereby the or each further folded portion is in-folded as opposed to being out-folded. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a third interleaved wipe stack embodying the inventive concept of narrow width and improved dispensing is shown. One  420  of the wipes of this stack has:
         a main panel or portion  421  with a first face  422  and a second face  423 . When the stack is oriented for dispensing upwards, the first face  422  will be uppermost;   a first folded portion  424  folded from a first crease  425  at one edge of the main portion over it, i.e. to the first face side  422 ;   a second folded panel or portion  426  similarly folded from a second crease  427  at an opposite edge of the main portion underneath the main portion, i.e. to the opposite, second face side  423  of the main panel;   a first further folded panel or portion  4281  folded from the first folded portion at a first further crease  4291 , which is at the edge of the first folded portion opposite from its first crease  425 , and is at the proximal edge of the further folded portion  4281 . This portion lies over the first folded portion; and   a second further folded panel or portion  4282  folded from the second folded portion at a further crease  4292 , which is at the edge of the second folded portion opposite from its second crease  427 , and is at the proximal edge of the further folded portion  4282 . This portion lies underneath the second folded portion. Thus the wipe is folded into a W format with an extra limb.
 
It will be noted that this wipe is in fact folded in the same manner as the variant wipe of  FIG. 9 . However the manner of interleaving as follows is quite different.
       

     The wipes of this stack are interleaved as follows:
         the free, distal edge of the first further folded portion  4281 , remote from the first further crease  4291 , of the wipe  420  is enfolded within the fold  4170  of a folded portion  416  and the main portion  411  of the next wipe  410  in the dispensing direction and;   the folded panel  426  of the wipe  420  at the opposite edge enfolding a free edge of the second further panel  4382 , remote from its further crease  4392 , of the next wipe  430 .       

     On withdrawal to the wipe above the enfolded further folded portion is drawn to the opening of the stack&#39;s container by the enfolding fold. 
     As in the first and second embodiments, the main panel of the next wipe being drawn to the opening is not acted on, again ameliorating the risk of multiple wipe dispensing. 
     The enfolding further panel, enfolding the free edge of the further folded panel of the next wipe, can be plain without its own further folded panel or it can have an infolded or out folded further folded panel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , in this embodiment, the crease of the further folded panel will extend substantially to the middle of the stack.