The invention relates to the field of dispensing substantially flat articles such as wipes out of a pack.

Wipes are substantially flat articles commonly used to help cleaning and removing residues from soft or hard surfaces such as floors or parts of the human body. Wipes are conventionally provided with a composition, for example a cleansing lotion, intended to facilitate the intended action of the wipe. Wipes are generally provided as stacks of multiple wipes enclosed in an envelope (i.e. a hard container or a flexible pouch). A dispensing orifice allows for the wipes to be dispensed individually.

US 6,202,845 discloses wet wipes which are folded and interleaved to provide an improved stacking configuration whereby each wipe can be readily separated from the wet wipe stack by the consumer. US 2002/0096533 discloses a dispensing package for wipes including a non-rigid container and a collapsible-expandable baffle within the container. US 6,550,634 discloses a wet wipe dispensing system which facilitates single wipe separation from the stack and the container, such as the wipe is unfolded and ready for use. US 5,540,332 discloses wet wipes having a non-linear pattern at the edges of the wipes to facilitate the dispensing of wet wipes.

Using conventional packs of wipes it is known that the users can encounter a variety of problems. For example, the first wipe of the stack can be difficult to reach and to dispense out of the pack. Conventionally the issue can be partially solved by interfolding the wipes in the stack so as to have a first wipe of the stack lifting a portion of a second wipe of the stack. The lifted portion, so called "exposed leading portion" is easy to reach. However, the exposed leading portion of a wipe can be difficult to grip as it stands-out without the support of the underneath wipes. This is especially important when the wipes are provided with a liquid composition that softens the material, making it less rigid, hence more difficult to grip.

Also, the stack of wipes can be subject to significant evaporation. The so-called "dry-out" of the stack of wipes has a direct negative influence on the performance of the wipes. This problem is conventionally addressed by provided a dispensing orifice having a relatively small area of opening. Other ways to address the problem, that can be combined, include (a) providing a reseal lid or reseal label that can reduce the rate or amount of evaporation, (b) providing the stack of wipes with a reserve quantity of composition to balance out the expected evaporation, (c) configuring the interfolding of the wipes so as to obtain the lift of a reduced portion of the second wipe, hence exposing only a reduced portion of the wipe (exposed leading portion) to potential evaporation.

These solutions, however, can in turn impair the accessibility of the wipes. An exposed leading edge with a small dimension is typically more difficult to grip than an edge with a greater dimension. A small dispensing orifice can impair the ease of accessing the first wipe, as the user may have more difficulty to reach the edge of the first wipe and to grip it for dispensing the wipe.

Hence, there is a need to provide a pack of wipes that provides an improved balance between reduced dry-out effect and accessibility of the wipes. There is a need for a pack of wipes that dispenses out of a pack easily and is conveniently accessible to the user. There is a need for a pack of wipes of which the exposed leading portions are easily gripable by the user. There is a need for a reduced exposed leading portion of the wipe still providing adequate accessibility to the wipe for dispensing.

The present invention provides for a pack of wipes according to claim 1. The pack of wipes comprises a plurality of wipes arranged in a stack and an external envelope enclosing the stack. The external envelope comprises a dispensing orifice. Each of the plurality of wipes is folded, each of the folded wipes comprises a leading panel, a central panel, a trailing panel, a leading fold and a trailing fold. The leading fold separates the leading panel from the central panel and the trailing fold separates the central panel from the trailing panel. The stack has a first wipe and a second wipe. The first wipe is a wipe disposed proximate the dispensing orifice and the second wipe is positioned sequentially adjacent and in contacting engagement with the first wipe. The first wipe remains in contacting engagement with the second wipe during removal of the first wipe through the dispensing orifice. The removal of the first wipe through the dispensing orifice induces a portion of the central panel of the second wipe and a portion of the leading panel of the second wipe to protrude from the dispensing orifice.

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pack of the invention with the exposed leading edge of a wipe protruding from the dispensing orifice.
• Figure 2 is a schematic section of the pack of Figure 1 through the line A-B showing the wipes interfolding configuration.
• Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the folding of wipes of the pack of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pack of the invention, the pack being a hard walled container.
• Figure 5 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
• Figure 6 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
• Figure 7 is a dispensing opening of a pack of the invention.
• Figure 8 is a schematic representation of another possible folding and stacking configuration of the wipes of pack of Figure 1.
• Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the interfolding configuration for a pack of wipes according to the invention.
• Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a wipe as used by the invention.
• Figure 11 is a schematic representation of prior art pack of wipes and stacking configuration.

Generally, wipes are articles comprising a substantially flat substrate. Conventionally wipes are articles used for cleaning, treating and/or and removing residues from surfaces. The surfaces may include hard surfaces (such as the surface of a piece of furniture or a floor) or soft surfaces, including parts of a human body. Certain wipes include baby, children and adult wipes conventionally used for cleaning the anal area of adults or children. Yet, other wipes includes articles for cleaning floors, kitchen surfaces, windows or office surfaces. Other typical wipes include tissues (e.g. facing cleansing tissues), paper handkerchiefs (to clean the nasal area of the human body), kitchen towels and toilet papers. The substrate of the wipes is usually soft and flexible. The substrate can include synthetic fibers, natural fibers or mixtures thereof. Most common body cleaning wipes are made of a polyethylene/polypropylene substrate. The wipes are generally impregnated with a composition. The composition conventionally facilitates the removal of residues and/or delivers an active ingredient to the treated surface. The composition is conventionally fluid or semi-fluid at ambient temperature. The wipes are generally characterized by a width 17 and a length 18. The width 17 of the wipe is conventionally measured edge to edge, transverse to the dispensing direction of the wipes. The length 18 of the wipes is conventionally measured parallel to the dispensing direction of the wipes. Wipes are typically rectangular or quadratic. For most rectangular wipes, the length 18 is greater than the width 17.

Folded wipes: Because wipes are generally larger than the pack in which they are provided, the wipes are often folded. A conventional folding configuration creates 2 folds and 3 panels. As shown for example in Figures 3 and 9, a leading panel 6, 6a, 6b articulates around a leading fold 7 to a central panel 8, 8a, 8b. The central panel 8, 8a, 8b articulates around the trailing fold 9 to a trailing panel 10, 10a, 10b. More panels and more folds can be provided. In particular the central panel 8, 8a, 8b can comprise more than one panel and comprise one or more folds. Conventionally the wipes are folded in a way that divides their length (i.e. the folding lines are transverse to the dispensing direction, parallel to the width of the wipes). The length 18 of the wipes is measured edge to edge, unfolded.

Stack of wipes: Wipes are conventionally provided in selling units comprising multiple wipes. The wipes are conventionally folded and stacked one over the other to form a stack of wipes 13. Stacks of wipes can be made of interfolded wipes and non-interfolded wipes. The stack of wipes 13 of Figure 2 is interfolded whereas the stack of wipes 13 of Figure 8 is not interfolded. In interfolded stacks, at least a portion of a second wipe in the stack is located in between portions of two panels of a first wipe in the stack 13. First and second wipes are defined as being the most external wipes in the stack (first wipe) and the next wipe in row (second wipe), when considering the intended order of dispensing. Once the first wipe is dispensed, the second wipe becomes the first wipe in the stack. As a typical interfolding configuration, Figure 3 shows a portion of the central panel 8b and of the leading panel 6b of the second wipe in the stack being located in between a portion of the central panel 8a and of the trailing panel 10a of the first wipe in the stack. The manner the wipes are folded can create an overlap 19 between two consecutive wipes. The overlap 19 is the portion of the two consecutive wipes that overlap with each other at the leading 7 and trailing 9 folds. Further, a corner gap 20 may be created when the leading/trailing folds of two consecutive wipes do not touch each other. Typically the dimension of the corner gap 20 added to the dimension of the overlap 19 is equal to the dimension of the respective trailing 1 or leading 6 panels.

External envelope: Stacks of wipes are conventionally enclosed in an external envelope. The external envelop can serve as a protective envelope and/or a selling unit and/or a dispensing device. The external envelope can be made of a flexible film (for example polyethylene or polypropylene or mixture thereof) to a refill pouch or a flexible pack convenient for traveling. Alternatively, the external envelope can be made of a rigid material to form rigid envelopes, a rigid container or tub. Typical materials for rigid tubs comprise polymeric resins. Others can comprise metals, ceramics, wood or other rigid materials.

Dispensing orifice: External envelopes generally comprise a dispensing orifice through which the enclosed wipes can be dispensed. Conventionally dispensing orifices 4 can have a variety of form and dimensions. Figures 5, 6, and 7 show some conventional dispensing orifices 4, respectively of oval, round and rectangular shape. The dispensing orifices 4 are characterized by a length 11 and a width 12. The length 11 is the maximum dimension of the dispensing orifice 4 in a direction that is substantially parallel to the leading edge 14 of the wipes. The width 12 of the dispensing orifice 4 is the maximum dimension of the dispensing orifice 4 in a direction orthogonal to the length 11 of the dispensing orifices 4.

The pack of wipes of the invention comprises multiple wipes 3 forming a stack of wipes 13, and an external envelop 2 having a dispensing orifice 4. Upon dispensing of the first wipe of the stack a portion of the central panel 8 and a portion of the leading panel 6 of the next wipe on the stack is lifted from the stack such as to protrude from the dispensing orifice 4. This protruding part of the wipe 3 is called the exposed leading portion 5. Whereas conventionally a single portion of the second wipe in the stack is lifted by the removal of the first wipe (usually a portion of the leading panel), the pack of wipes of the present invention is different in that the exposed leading portion 5 of the second wipe comprises both a portion of the leading panel 6, 6a and a portion of the central panel 8, 8a of the second wipe. These portions are left unfolded during the dispensing of the first wipe. In the exposed leading portion 5 of the second wipe, the portion of the leading panel 6, 6a contacts the portion of the central panel 8, 8a and these portions stay in contact after dispensing of the first wipe. The configuration of these portions is an unfolded U-fold, and the exposed leading portion 5 is then at least partially dual-layer of the second wipe. The contact surface can be over the whole width 17 of the wipe. Alternatively, the contact surface can be limited to an amount lesser than the entire width 17 of the wipe, such as, for example, about ½, about ¼ or about 1/10 of the width 17 of the wipe or to an equivalent area. Importantly, the contact surface is sufficient to induce or improve grip-ability of the wipe. The contact area of the contact surface can be at least about 1 cm², at least about 3 cm², or at least about 10 cm².

On the contrary, in the prior art pack of wipes (e.g. illustrated in Figure 11), the exposed leading portion 5 is not a dual-layer but a single layer, and i.e. it is substantially or completely unfolded. In the pack of wipes of the invention, thus, the leading fold 7 is also partially protruding through the dispensing orifice 4. The exposed leading portion 5 of the pack of wipes of the invention can comprise a partial dual layer of material (portions of leading and central panels contacting each other). The dual layer exposed leading portion of the invention (e.g. 5 in Figures 2 and 8), may constitute a more rigid assembly in comparison to a conventional single layer exposed leading portion (e.g. 5 in Figure 11). The exposed leading portion of the wipe may then be easier to grip and induce a more convenient dispensing of the wipes. Such a better grip allows for a relatively smaller length of the exposed portion (smaller length of material exposed). A shorter exposed portion can reduce the drying out effect of the pack of wipes, as illustrated in Tables 1a and 1b. Without being bound by the theory, it is believed that the beneficial effect of the invention is based on the fact that a relatively short and rigid dual layer exposed leading portion induces less dry-out than a relatively long and floppy single layer exposed leading portion, while preserving an adequate grip of the first wipe.

Table 1a describes the frequency of the various lengths in mm of the exposed leading portions 5 in a typical pack of wipes of the invention. The normalized frequency of occurrence for each length range of the exposed leading portion is reported (measured from the edge of the dispensing orifice to the highest point of the fold 7). The data reported are frequencies over the measurement of 5 packs of 48 dispensed wipes. The packs of wipes of the inventions measured are those described in table 2a (with a round dispensing orifice 30mm in diameter). The prior art wipes have material compositions as described in table 2b. However, they have a folding configuration as in Fig. 11 (prior art). Their folding has a center panel of about 80 mm, a leading panel of about 25 nun, and a corner gap of about 12 mm. While prior art shows frequency peak around about 50 mm (average about 47 mm over one pack), the wipes of the invention show an average of about 18 mm with the highest population around about 16 mm. This illustrates the short exposed leading portions created by the packs of the present invention. Table 1a Bin (length in mm of exposed leading portion measured as described) Prior Art (frequency) Invention (frequency) 0 0.006494 0.014184 1 0 0 4 0 0 8 0 0.056738 12 0.002165 0.205674 16 0 0.262411 20 0.012987 0.170213 24 0.012987 0.120567 28 0.028139 0.078014 32 0.073593 0.014184 40 0.238095 0.014184 50 0.28355 0.056738 60 0.212121 0.007092 70 0.056277 0 80 0.034632 0 90 0.02381 0 100 0.008658 0 125 0.004329 0 150 0.002165 0 Average 47mm 18mm

The mass loss over time of the exposed leading portions of wipes was recorded and is shown in Table 1b. For this purpose, about 27 mm of the double layered leading edge were cut off after the given drying time (t) over the full width of the wipe. The packs of wipes are the same as those used for Table 1a.

Table 1b shows that after t = 240 mins the mass-loss of the invention remains stable while prior art samples dry-out to a much higher extent. This illustrates the reduced dry-out of the wipes of the invention versus prior art wipes. Table 1b % mass loss Drying time (min) Prior Art Invention 0 0.0% 0.0% 7.5 1.8% 5.5% 15 1.4% 4.8% 30 5.3% 6.7% 34 7.9% 36 4.3% 45 5.9% 60 3.0% 5.7% 120 9.0% 6.4% 130 9.8% 135 9.0% 12.5% 240 13.0% 12.3% 242 15.8% 9.9% 480 16.9% 9.1% 500 13.3% 505 20.4% 1440 23.5% 14.3% 2880 40.0% 15.3% 2905 28.9% 14.5% 4320 38.5% 14.5% 4337 38.1% 5760 54.9% 7380 66.6% 13.1%

In one embodiment of the present invention, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is between about 5mm and about 120mm or between about 20mm and about 100mm. The length 11 can alternatively be between about 30mm and about 75mm. In one embodiment, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is about 75mm and the width 17 of the wipes is about 110mm.

In one embodiment of the invention the width 17 of the wipes is between about 50mm and about 150 mm, alternatively between about 60mm and about 130mm or between about 80 mm and about 120 mm. In an embodiment the width 17 of the wipes is about 110mm.

According to the invention, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is about 20% to about 70% of the width of the wipes. Alternatively, the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is about 30% to about 50% of the width 17 of the wipes. Without being bound by the theory, it is believed that within the above range, the friction between the edges of the wipe and the edges of the dispensing orifices during dispensing induces a relatively high adhesion between the first and the second wipe. This forces a portion of the leading panel 6b and a portion of the central panel 8b of the second wipe to be lifted such as to protrude from the dispensing orifice 4, forming a dual layer exposed leading portion 5. If the length 11 of the dispensing orifice is relatively too large in comparison to the width 17 of the wipes, then the low friction of the wipe along the edges of the dispensing orifice induces a complete unfolding of the wipe. The same occurs when the dispensing orifice 4 is too narrow in comparison to the width 17 of the wipes, caused by too high friction. Additionally, it is believed that a dispensing orifice within above range induces less occurrence of "fall-back" (leading panel of a second wipe falling back into the external envelope and not protruding from the dispensing orifice - this is inconvenient for dispensing the wipes). Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is believed that the adhesion forces between the wipes can also play a role in the above interactions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the overlap 19 between two consecutive wipes is between about 15mm and about 30mm for a wipe length 18 of about 150mm, and the corner gap between about 3 and about 5 mm.

In certian embodiments of the invention the wipes have a corner gap 20 that is a constant throughout the stack. In other embodiments, it has been observed that a variable corner gap 20, trailing panel length 10 and thus the resulting overlap 19 can induce some dispensing advantages. For example, a corner gap 2 that is between about 8 and about 10mm for the first 10 wipes of a stack of 48 and that is then between about 3 and about 4mm for rest of the wipes in the stack has been shown to provide advantages for the dispensing (i.e. more uniform and reliable dispensing). This was observed for a stack of wipes in a flexible film pouch, having the following dimensions: wipes length about 150 mm, wipes width about 110 mm, leading panel length about 45mm (first ten wipes), leading panel length about 40mm (wipes # 11 to 48), central panel length about 80mm, trailing panel length about 25mm (first ten wipes), trailing panel length about 30mm (wipes #11 to 48), stack dimension, (height about 44 mm, width about 90 mm, length about 110 mm) dispensing orifice dimension about 30 mm in diameter. The variable corner gap and trailing panel length can vary step by step throughout the height of the stack or can continuously (e.g. linearly) vary between two extreme values. This has also been shown when the variable corner gap and trailing panel length is combined with the present invention.

The external envelop 2 of the pack of wipes 1 of the invention can be a flexible film, as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the external envelope can be a rigid container as illustrated in Figure 4. Optionally the dispensing orifice can be reversibly covered by a lid 16.

The central panel 8 of the wipes of the pack of the present invention can be a single panel as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 9. Alternatively, the central panel 8 can comprise a fold and hence comprise more than one panel.

Figure 2 shows the interfolding configuration of the wipes in a stack of Figure 1. The interfolding configuration is further illustrated in more details by Figures 3 and 9. As shown on Figure 3 and 9, a portion of the leading panel 6b and a portion of the central panel 8b of the second wipe is located in between a portion of the central panel 8a and of the trailing panel 10a of the first wipe in the stack. Other interfolding configurations are however possible and within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment of interfolded wipes, the characteristics of the wipes and the dimensions of the dispensing orifice dimensions are as shown in Table 2a. Table 2 Wipes substrate and dimension Lotion composition Shape and dimension of opening orifice Separation force (as measured by method described) Table 2a - Wipes dimensions: 110mm x 150mm Ingredients: Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Methylparaben, Sodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone , Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal circular 30 mm diameter 1.15 N Pack of the invention - Interfolded Dry caliper 0.5mm wipes (as illustrated by e.g. Fig. 3) Basis weight: 60 g/m² Substrate composition: 40% pulp/ 60% Lyocell blend Table 2b- Wipes Dimensions: 110mm x 150mm Ingredients: Aqua, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylate / Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Polysorbate 20. rectangular 35 mm x 45 mm 1.15 N Pack of wipes of the invention, non- interfolded wipes (as illustrated e.g. in Fig. 8) (folding: length of leading panel 36 mm, centre panel 80 mm, trailing panel 36 mm. Dry Caliper 0.5mm As sold under Charmin Soft & Fresh trademark in Germany in September 2005 Basis weight: 60 g/m²

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the invention where the wipes 3 are not interfolded. In this embodiment, the characteristics of the wipes (e.g. substrate material of the wipes, impregnating composition) are such that the dispensing of the first wipe in the stack induces the lift of a portion of the leading panel 6a and of a portion of the central panel 8b of the second wipe. It creates an exposed leading portion comprising both a portion of the leading panel 6b and a portion of the central panel 8a, both portions 6a and 8a contacting together upon dispensing. In one embodiment of non interfolded wipes, the characteristics of the wipes and the dimensions of the dispensing orifice dimensions are as shown in Table 2b.

It is to be noted that the figures are only schematic representations. In particular Figures 1, 2 and 8, the distance between the exposed portions of the leading panel 6a and of the central panel have been exaggerated. As detailed above and in the claims, these portions may be in contact with each other.

In one embodiment of the invention, the separation force between the wipes is between about 0.05 N and about 5N or between about 0.1N and about 2N. In a particular embodiment, the separation force is about 1.15N. The separation force is measured as described hereafter. Without desiring to be bound by the theory, it is believed that separation forces within the cited range, possibly associated with the cited dimension of the dispensing orifice and the overlap area 19, induce the correct forces to create an exposed leading portion comprising a portion of the leading and a portion of the central panel of the second wipe contacting together upon dispensing of the first wipe.

For measuring separation forces, twenty wipes are unfolded and placed flat on top of each other so as to overlap the leading panels of the wipes; the dimension of the overlapping zone is 12 cm. When a lotion is present on the wipes the sides of the wipes comprising the lotion are overlapped. The stack of wipes is compressed with 40 kg for 15 seconds over a surface of 25 cm x 25 cm or to an equivalent pressure. A compression stand is used to apply the pressure (PSP-Lockwood Green Pressure Device, manufacturer: PSP-Lockwood Greene GmbH, Germany - used according to manufacturer instructions). Samples are stored prior to separation force measurement for 72 hours +/- 4 hours at a constant temperature (25°C) and constant relative humidity, (50% relative humidity).

The reported separation force is the maximum (peak) force observed during the vertical separation of two consecutive wipes in the stack (One pair of wipes is removed from the stack and fixed in the tensile tester for measurement). The separation force is measured with a tensile tester (ZWICK Roell Tensile Tester, type BTC-FR2, Zwick GmbH & Co. KG, Ulm, Germany). The tester is used according to manufacturer instructions. The operation parameters are as follows : start distance clamps: 270mm, clamps with flat rubber surface, width 60mm, pre-force: 0.05N, pull-speed: 300 mm/min, load-cell: 10-20N with resolution of 0.01N.

The dimensions and/or values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact dimension and/or numerical value recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension and/or numerical value is intended to mean both the recited dimension and/or numerical value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that dimension and/or numerical value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

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 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.