Patent Abstract:
A packaging system for sheet material comprises a length of substantially planar material with a series of linear scale indicia applied along the length of the substantially planar material, and dispensing means adapted for retaining and dispensing desired lengths of the material, the dispensing means further including a reference indicator in operative association with the series of linear scale indicia to indicate the amount of the material dispensed before severance and/or the amount of the material remaining in the dispensing means.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a sheet material product, and more particularly to sheet material dispenser packaging designed to indicate measured amounts of sheet material drawn during dispensing, and the amount remaining therein.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Sheet material such as aluminum foil, paper products, plastic films and the like, are usually packaged in association with a dispenser or holder to yield an integrated sheet material product for both consumer and industrial use. The packaging for such material is typically a container used for storing and protecting the packaged item, and is often used as a dispenser. Packaging for sheet material is known in the art and is quite useful for preventing contamination by dirt, insects, bacteria, mold, moisture, or oxygen, for example. Typically the sheet material is packaged in roll form and dispensed through a slotted opening. A cutting blade is usually provided and mounted on the packaging to facilitate separation of the dispensed portion from the roll in the package. Alternatively, the sheet material may be folded into a stacked form and dispensed in a similar fashion. Some of these products include pre-cut or perforated sheet material for dispensing discrete, fixed sheet amounts.  
           [0003]    In many applications including those involved in food service and packaging, the use of sheet material products is quite extensive. Users of such products dispense the sheet material by drawing out the material, and cutting or separating the desired portions from the package. Often, it is preferable for the user to measure the dispensed portion prior to cutting to minimize waste. Some products adapted for measuring length amounts include straight-edged rulers placed in alignment with the dispensed material, mechanical counters, mechanical level indicators, and the like. Such products are often unreliable, tedious and time consuming to use, as well as being complicated and costly to assemble and implement. Such methods also add to the bulk of packaging which undesirably adds extra space requirements. In addition, many of these methods are limited and fail to simultaneously indicate the amount of sheet material remaining in the package. Conversely, means for indicating remaining amounts of sheet material in a package often are not adapted for measuring amounts dispensed.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for sheet material packaging designed to indicate measured amounts of sheet material drawn during dispensing, and the amount remaining therein. There is a further need for such sheet material packaging that is simple, compact, inexpensive and easy to assemble and implement. It would be desirable to implement sheet material packaging for dispensing a range of sheet materials including, but not limited to metal foils, polymer films including plastic and elastomers, paper sheets, fabric sheets, and the like, for application in a range of uses. It would be further desirable to design sheet material packaging that overcomes the limitations of the prior art methods in a cost effective and simple manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is generally directed to sheet material packaging designed to indicate measured amounts of sheet material drawn during dispensing, and the amount remaining therein. In one aspect of the present invention, the sheet material product includes a length of sheet material with a series of linear scale indicia applied along a surface thereof, and dispensing means for retaining and dispensing desired lengths of the sheet material. The dispensing means further includes a reference indicator operatively associated with the series of the linear scale indicia on the sheet material for indicating to the user both the dispensed amount of the sheet material before severance, and the amount remaining within the dispensing means. The series of indicia of the present invention may be applied directly or indirectly on the sheet material being dispensed and indicates by its relative position, the length of the sheet material dispensed, and the length of the undispensed sheet material remaining within the packaging.  
           [0006]    In one particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging system for sheet material which comprises:  
           [0007]    a length of substantially planar material with a series of linear scale indicia applied along the length thereof; and  
           [0008]    dispensing means adapted for retaining and dispensing a desired length of the material, the dispensing means further including a reference indicator in operative association with the series of linear scale indicia to indicate a desired amount of the material to be dispensed, and/or the amount of the material remaining in association with the dispensing means. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which like items are identified by the same reference designation, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of sheet material packaging for one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet material packaging of FIG. 1 with a lid in an open position in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    The present invention is generally related to sheet material packaging for dispensing sheet material with linear scale indicia applied along the length thereof. Generally, the present invention comprises a length of sheet material and a dispensing means for retaining and dispensing the sheet material. The sheet material can comprise any substantially planar material of a range of widths and thickness suitable for storage and dispensing, and can be provided in a form compatible for convenient dispensing including rolled and stacked forms. In one particular aspect, the present invention provides the user with visual means to accurately measure the length of the sheet material as it is being drawn, and simultaneously monitor the depletion of the sheet material remaining in the associated container. In addition, the sheet material packaging of the present invention is easy and cost effective to produce using commercially known methods. In accordance with the present invention, the convenient and compact manner in which the sheet material product can be fabricated and implemented makes it especially suitable for a range of applications including, but not limited to, food service, package-making, consumer, and retail use, for example.  
         [0013]    With reference to FIG. 1, a sheet material packaging configuration is generally designated by the reference numeral  1   0 , for one embodiment of the present invention. The sheet material packaging  10  generally comprises a container  12  with a rectangular configuration. The container  12  includes an interior volume  24  (as shown best in FIG. 2) enclosed by an elongated rectangular base  14 , a rectangular rear panel  16 , an elongated rectangular front panel  18 , a pair of square side panels  20  coupled therebetween, and a top rectangular lid  22  for permitting access to the interior volume  24  thereof, in this example.  
         [0014]    The container  12  may be comprised of any suitable rigid and durable material. The container  12  is a substantially complete self contained sealed box or unit preferably formed from a corrugated cardboard material, and sealed up to the usual flaps and openings therein through which material contained therein may be dispensed. The product  10  further includes a quantity of sheet material  26  wound or journalled around a spool  28  to form a roll  30 . An end portion  32  of the sheet material  26  extends through a slit-like opening  34  for permitting dispensing sheet material  26  in the direction of the arrow  36  as desired and needed. The roll  30  is arranged in any suitable manner so that as the material  26  is pulled out of the container  12  the roll  30  will turn therein but sufficient friction is provided to create desired resistance to movement so that overrunning will not occur.  
         [0015]    The sheet material  26  is sealed within the container  12  until premeasured dispensing commences as will be described. The sheet material  26  is free from dirt, moisture, dust, air and the like, while protected within the container  12 . The slit opening  34  is dimensioned to be in contact with the sheet material  26  to slightly grip it to prevent self unrolling. In this manner, the sheet material  26  is positively pulled out of the container  12  against the frictional gripping thereon. In addition, the sheet material  26  forms a barrier in the slit opening  34  to prevent entry of external contaminants thereinto.  
         [0016]    The sheet material  26  may include any sheet item including, but not limited to tapes, strips, paper sheets, ribbons, elastomer films, polymer films, plastic wraps, metal foils such as aluminum, wax papers, parchment papers, butcher papers, gift wrap papers, fabric sheets, wall papers, carpetings, rugs, packing sheets, cellophane films, packaging films, and the like. The shape of the container  12  is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1, and may include other shapes, sizes and configurations deemed necessary or desirable, and may depend on several factors including product use, application, sheet material, and the like.  
         [0017]    Referring again to FIG. 1, the sheet material  26  includes a series of indicia  38  applied along the length of an edge thereof. The series of indicia  38  may be applied through a range of means including, but not limited to, sewing, printing, woven, gluing, lithographing, embossing, and the like or otherwise attached or mounted directly or indirectly upon the sheet material  26 . The series of indicia  38  is arranged on a linear scale to provide quantitative information about the sheet material  26  in the product  10 . The series of indicia  38  enables a user to accurately mete out the desired length of the sheet material  26  visually as it is being drawn from the container  12 . At the same time, the series of indicia  38  also provides the user with quantitative information about the length of sheet material  26  remaining in order to anticipate the depletion thereof.  
         [0018]    Any measurement typically involves the comparison of a measured quantity with a known standard unit. The series of indicia  38  may have graduations or rulings, for example, for measuring material drawn from the container  12 . The series of indicia  38  may comprise a plurality of evenly spaced ticks or marks applied in association with numerical indications. The distance between each tick may correspond to a standard length unit such as inches or centimeters, for example. The numerical indications may represent the length of sheet material dispensed and remaining in the product  10 . The series of indicia  38  may be applied along any surface portion of the sheet material (e.g. along the edge, or along the middle portion), and in the alternative, the series of indicia  38  can be imprinted indirectly on a strip of tape, for example, and reversibly affixed to the sheet material which may be removed upon dispensing.  
         [0019]    In the example of FIG. 1, assume the indicia ticks are one-half inch apart, and the numerals shown represent the length of sheet material  26  from a given numeral that remains back to the trailing end of the associated roll  30 . In FIG. 1, for example the amount of sheet material  26  drawn out of the container  12  from the slit opening  34  is (36-inches−26 inches=10 inches). Accordingly, through use of simple subtraction, a user will be able to accurately measure a desired length of sheet material  26 .  
         [0020]    The incorporation of the series of indicia  38  into the sheet material packaging  10  enables the user to monitor the supply of the sheet material  26  without requiring the user to open the container  12 , and allows the user to predict the point in time by which the sheet material  26  will require replenishing. In this manner, time is saved for the user as the series of indicia  38  will indicate the amount remaining within the container  12 , or its complete depletion. In addition, the series of indicia  38  eliminates the need to use prior known costly and complicated mechanisms for the same purpose. It is understood that the content and design of the series of indicia  38  may include any and all forms that is useful for indicating to the user the amount of sheet material dispensed as well as the amount of sheet material remaining in the container  12  as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The example given in FIG. 1 is not meant to be limiting.  
         [0021]    To provide a reference point for measuring the dispensed portion of the sheet material  26 , the container  12  includes a window  40  mounted into the top rectangular lid  22  aligned with the series of indicia  38  on the sheet material  26 . The window  40  permits the user to visually see the indicia  38  on a lead portion of the sheet material  26  residing in the interior volume  24  of container  12 . The window  40  can be mounted on any portion of the container  12  depending on the location of the series of indicia  38  on the sheet material  26 . The container  12  further includes a cutting edge  42  extending along the slit opening  34  to facilitate the separation of the dispensed end  32  of the sheet material  26  from the packaging  10 . The cutting edge  42  contacts and catches the sheet material  26  as the end portion  32  deflects upward. An upward pulling force applied to the end portion  32  causes the cutting edge  42  to transversely cut and separate the end portion  32  of the sheet material  26  from the roll  30  as it is ripped off.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, the sheet material packaging  10  is shown with the top rectangular lid  22  in an open position to illustrate the interior thereof. The lid  22  includes a front lip  44  for defining the slit opening  34 , and a pair of side flaps  46  each at one end thereof. The front lip  44  and the side flaps  46  are each frictionally engaged with an inside surfaces of the front panel  18  and the side panels  20 , respectively, in the closed position. With this feature, the lid  22  is securely retained in the closed position particularly during use of the packaging  10 .  
         [0023]    The bottom face of the lid  22  further includes a retaining strip  48  extending from one end to the other end thereof proximate the side flaps  46 . The dispensed end  32  of the sheet material  26  extends between the bottom face of the lid  22  and the retaining strip  48 . The retaining strip  48  biases the sheet material  26  flush against the bottom face of the lid  22 . In this regard, the indicia  38  is retained against the window  40  for optimizing measuring accuracy and maximum viewing clarity and visibility. The retaining strip  48  also prevents the roll  30  of the sheet material  26  from unrolling under its own accord and provides some frictional gripping for a controlled pul for effective measuring and dispensing.  
         [0024]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation and use of the sheet material product  10  will be described. The user grips the end portion  32  of the sheet material  26  journalled around the spool  28  in the interior volume  24  through the slit opening  34 . The retaining strip  48  holds the immediate portion of the sheet material  26  with the series of indicia  38  biased against the window  40  for clarity and optimal visibility. The user pulls the end portion  32  in the direction of the arrow  36  while monitoring the series of indicia  38  displayed in the window  40 . Simultaneously, the user may also note the amount of the sheet material  26  remaining in the container  12  from the series of indicia  38  displayed in the window  40 . When the desired length of sheet material  26  has been withdrawn, as indicated by substracting or counting successive indicia  38 , the user deflects the end portion  32  upward to contact the cutting edge  42 . The cutting edge  42  cuts transversely along the sheet material  26  for executing a clean detachment therefrom, as previously described. The user may proceed to use the dispensed portion of the sheet material  26  as desired. The remaining portion of the sheet material  26  is effectively protected and stored in the container  12  as the window  40  continues to display the series of indicia  38 , whereby the amount remaining in the sheet material packaging  10  is effectively indicated by the indicia  38  appearing in window  40 .  
         [0025]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimal dimensional relationships for the components of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and implementation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed in the present invention.  
         [0026]    Accordingly, although various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, they are not meant to be limiting. Those of skill in the art may recognize various modifications to these embodiments, which modifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8