D e s c r i p t i o n

The invention relates to a container and a method for manufacturing such kind of a container, by means of which wipes can be stored and dispensed.

EP 1 341 431 Bl discloses a system for dispensing wipes comprising a pouch with two sealed lateral sealing strips, wherein an endless roll of wipes is positioned inside the pouch. A bottom of the pouch is folded between a front side and a back side of the pouch and unfolded when the endless roll is provided inside the pouch.

There is a permanent need to facilitate the handling of a container for dispensing wipes.

It is an object of the invention providing measures enabling a facilitated handling of a container for dispensing wipes.

The solution of this object is provided according to the invention by a container according to the features of claim 1 as well as a method according to the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the invention are given by the dependent claims and the following description, which can constitute each solely or in combination an aspect of the invention. An aspect of the invention is directed to a container for storing and dispensing wipes, comprising a mainly flat bottom sheet for bordering an interior volume at the bottom and a jacket sheet for bordering the interior volume at its lateral sides, wherein the jacket sheet is sealed to the bottom sheet via several, particularly at least three or four, bottom sealing strips, wherein the bottom sealing strips protrude outwards away from the interior volume.

The bottom sheet may provide a flat and even bottom by which the container can rest onto a ground. The weight of the content inside the container may be evenly distributed onto the ground, so that the container is supported onto the ground in a very stable manner. It is less likely that the container may fall over, even when the container is mainly empty. The flat and even bottom is not pressed into an uneven state by means of further seams and/or sealing strips of the jacket sheet, so that the flat bottom is not lifted significantly from the ground when the container is emptied. This may be reached by using two different separated sheets for the bottom sheet on the one hand and the jacket sheet on the other hand. In addition the bottom sealing strips protrudes outwards and are not positioned inside the interior volume of the container. The bottom sealing strips may draw the bottom sheet into a flat and even state. In addition the bottom sealing strips provide a further support for the container which make it more difficult for the container to fall over. Due to the flat bottom sheet and the outwardly protruding bottom sealing strips a falling over of the container is hindered so that a facilitated handling of a container for dispensing wipes is enabled.

The container may be designed as pouch, wherein the sheets are mainly flexible. The container may be a standing pouch. If so, the (flexible) container may be inserted into a shell, which is more rigid than the container. Particularly the shell may be designed like a banderole which surrounds the container in circumferential direction but extends in longitudinal direction, particularly in mainly vertical direction, only over a part of the extension of the container. The shell may be made from carton, metal or plastic material. Particularly it is possible to omit a bottom at the shell. The bottom sheet may be adapted for directly resting onto the ground. Particularly the bottom sheet may be provided at its outside pointing away from the interior volume of the container with a resting layer. The resting layer may provide a higher friction coefficient compared to the material of the bottom sheet and/or a higher tear resistance compared to the material of the bottom sheet. For example, the bottom sheet may be provided with a plurality of rubber dots provided at the outside of the bottom sheet so that a resting layer with a high anti slip characteristic may be provided.

The bottom sheet may be rectangular so that an outer rim of the bottom sheet may be covered by a part of the jacket sheet and used for the bottom sealing strip by welding the overlapping part of the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet together. The jacket sheet and the bottom sheet may be connected to each other via four bottom sealing strips, which may intersect at the comers, so that a“quad sealed standing pouch” is provided. The jacket sheet may be wrapped in circumferential direction and sealed together at one lateral side and/or at a top side for bordering the interior volume of the container. The jacket sheet may comprise cuts at the mainly rectangular corners of the container so that the lower parts of the jacket sheets can be bent away for being sealed with the bottom sheet at the bottom sealing strip. In addition or in the alternate the bottom sheet may comprise cutouts at its comers so that the bottom sheet comprises parts protmding from the remaining bottom sheet which provides the bottom sealing strip, where the bottom sheet is sealed to the jacket sheet. A circumferential continuous sealing may be provided by the plurality of bottom sealing strips, particularly when the jacket sheet is welded to the bottom sheet at the bottom sealing strips. The sealing of the jacket sheet to the bottom sheet may be water-proof, particularly air-tight. When the bottom sealing strips are manufactured, a tool may press a part of the bottom sheet and a part of the jacket sheet together in the region of the bottom sealing strips. If so, the tool may press a part of the jacket sheet inwards at the lower end of the jacket sheet. The tool may apply a heat so that the jacket sheet and the bottom sheet may be welded together in the region of the bottom sealing strips. Particularly a part of the inwardly pressed material of the jacket sheet at one side may come into contact with a part of the inwardly pressed material of the jacket sheet at another side at one corner, so that a continuously welding from one bottom sealing strip to the other bottom sealing strip around the comer takes place and a circumferential continuous sealing may be provided. Generally it is possible that the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet are one-piece. However, it is preferred using two different separate sheets for the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet, so that waste when the sheets are cut out from a half- finished product could be reduced and a bending by 180° at one bottom sealing strip can be omitted. The manufacturing of the container may be facilitated and cost-efficient.

Particularly a part of the bottom sheet bordering the interior volume is arranged in one, particularly mainly horizontal, plane. A concave or convex course of the bottom of the container can be prevented. The risk that the container fall over may be reduced.

Preferably the bottom sealing strips are inclined downwards away from the interior volume by an angle a with respect to the plane of the bottom sheet of 0° < a < 90°, particularly

30° < a < 60° und preferably a = 45° ± 5° in the unstressed state. The unstressed state may be reached when the empty container is lifted from a ground. In this situation the bottom sealing strips may be inclined with respect the bottom towards the ground. The inclination may be reached automatically by a balance of forced provided in the bottom sealing strips from the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet. When the container is set down onto the ground at its bottom the bottom sealing strips are pressed into the plane of the bottom of the container. This leads to the effect that the bottom sheet is drawn outwards so that the bottom of the container tends into a flat and even state where the three-dimensional forming of the bottom of the container is adapted to the three-dimensional forming of the ground, which is usually flat and even. Further the bottom sealing strips, which are elastically bent into the plane of the bottom, could be loaded with a resilient force acting against a falling over of the container.

Particularly preferred the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet are made from an thermoplastic material, particularly PET, wherein the thermoplastic material provides a, particularly progressive, resilient force against a bending of the respective bottom sealing strip. These materials allows a good sealing in the bottom sealing strips by welding. At the same time a significant resilient force can be provided, when the bottom sealing strips are elastically bent into one common plane with the bottom of the container so that the risk may be reduced that the container may fall over.

Particularly the bottom sheet and the jacket sheet are coated at the inside pointing towards the interior volume with a protection layer for sealing the interior volume, wherein particularly the protection layer is particularly made from a thermoplastic material, particularly PE. The protection layer may be adapted to the content of the container such that unwanted

interactions of the content with the material of the container are prevented or at least reduced. For example, the protection layer may prevent that the content of the container may dissolve a plasticizer of the sheet material or the like. Further, the material of the protection layer may ensure easier sealing during production and/or may ensure leaking free seals.

Preferably the jacket sheet is sealed along several, particularly at least three or four, lateral sealing strips, wherein the lateral sealing strips protrude outwards away from the interior volume, wherein at least one, particularly each, lateral sealing strip is sealed to one bottom sealing strip or two bottom sealing strips. One of the lateral sealing strips may be used to fix two ends of the jacket sheet together, which is wrapped in circumferential direction for bordering the interior volume of the container. The lateral sealing strips may be provided at the corners of the mainly rectangular bottom of the container. The lateral sealing strips may give the container a stable three-dimensional forming. The jacket sheet may be bent by ca. 180° at the lateral sealing strips so that a stiffening effect may be provided at the comers and/or at the lateral sealing strips. The sealing at the lateral sealing strips can be provided by welding overlapping parts of the jacket sheet together. The lateral sealing strips may provide a water-proof, particularly air-tight, sealing.

Particularly preferred the jacket sheet comprises a dispenser opening for dispensing wipes, wherein a closure is provided comprising a frame for bordering the dispenser opening, wherein the frame is sealed to the jacket sheet, a dispenser collar for covering partially the dispenser opening and for holding a wipe and a lid for, particularly air-tight, closing the dispenser collar, wherein the dispenser collar is detachably connected to the frame, particularly via a bayonet closure, wherein particularly the dispenser collar is air-tight connectable to the frame. The jacket sheet may be welded together at its top so that the content of the container can only be dispensed via the dispenser opening, wherein particularly only one dispenser opening is provided. The frame may be welded to the part of the jacket sheet surrounding the dispenser opening. The dispenser collar may comprise projections, particularly protruding mainly in radial direction, which can be bent away for pulling a wipe of an endless roll or the like. When a wipe is cut off the remaining wipes, particularly via a perforation line, the next wipe may be held between the protrusions, so that the next wipe can be easily dispensed and so on. For example, the projections can be provided by a thin thermoplastic plate comprising cuts arranged star- shaped for providing the projection between two neighboring cuts in circumferential direction. The lid may close the dispenser opening and cover the protrusions in closed state. Particularly the lid is connected to the dispenser collar and/or the frame via a strap so that the lid cannot be loosed in opened state. The dispenser collar together with its projections can be detached from the frame so that the dispenser opening is accessible without the projections of the dispenser collar. The filling of the container with a content is facilitated in the detached state of the dispenser collar. The closure may be provided during production before the content is filled into the interior volume of the container. Further the same emptied container may be reused und refilled with a content in the detached state. Particularly the container may be filled with a disinfecting liquid or the like, so that a roll of dry wipers could be wet. Due to the increased stability of the container provided by the protruding bottom sealing strips the container does not fall over when the liquid is filled in and splash against a lateral side provided by the jacket sheet. The roll of wipers could be stored in the interior volume of the container over a long storing term and could only be wet when the wipers should be used so that a too soon aging of the wet wipers may be prevented.

Particularly the jacket sheet is sealed via a top sealing strip for bordering the interior volume at its top side, wherein a top sheet protrudes form the top sealing strip away from the interior volume, wherein the top sheet provides a handle for carrying the container. The top sheet may be one-part with the jacket sheet. The area of the top sheet may comprise a welding line at the top sealing strip. The top sheet may be one layer protruding upwards from the top sealing strip. In the alternate the top sheet may be folded at the top end, wherein the free end of the top sheet is connected at the top sealing strip, particularly by welding to the jacket sheet, so that two or more layers may be provided in the area of the top sheet leading to an increased tear resistance when the filled container is carried. The handle may be provided by a handle opening in the top sheet, particularly by punching. Preferably the handle opening is bordered by a welding seam providing an increased tear resistance around the handle opening. Due to the handle the container is automatically aligned in upright position when carried and kept in this position by its weight. When the container is put down onto a ground the container may be automatically positioned in a stable stand so that the container may not fall over. Even when a liquid is filled into the interior volume of the container a swashing of the liquid would not let the container fall over.

Preferably a content, particularly a roll of several in series interconnected wipes, is provided in the interior volume. The wipes are protected against a contamination inside the interior volume of the container and can be used for cleaning purposes. The roll may supported to the ground via the bottom sheet at its whole bottom area so that high stability is given. This leads further to a high friction area between the bottom sheet and the ground so that the container may less likely slide onto the ground. Particularly the friction between the bottom sheet and the ground may be such high due to the weight of the content of the container that a wipe may be tear off from the roll without risking the container to fall over.

Particularly preferred a cross sectional area of the dispenser opening bordered by the frame is larger or smaller than the maximum diameter of the content. When the dispenser opening is smaller than the roll, it may be prevented that the remaining roll is pulled out the container when a wiper is teared off. The roll may be provided inside the interior volume of the container before the container is sealed at its top. When the dispenser opening is larger than the roll, it is possible to reuse the container for a further roll of wipers, particularly for a dry roll of wipers.

Particularly a liquid, particularly a cleaning agent, is at least partially filled in the interior volume. The cleaning effect of the wipers may be increased by the cleaning agent. Due to the protruding bottom sealing strips a falling over of the container may be prevented even when the liquid swashes inside the container.

A further aspect of the invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a container, which may designed as previously described, wherein a jacket sheet is sealed with a bottom sheet providing bottom sealing strips protruding outwards away from an interior volume of the container, a content, particularly a roll of several in series interconnected wipes, is placed onto the bottom sheet inside the interior volume and the interior volume is sealed by sealing the jacket sheet at a top sealing strip after the content is placed onto the bottom sheet. Due to the flat bottom sheet and the outwardly protruding bottom sealing strips a falling over of the container is hindered so that a facilitated handling of a container for dispensing wipes is enabled. Since the content is placed into the interior volume before the container is sealed at its top a large and/or bulky content may be provided inside the container even when a dispenser opening is much smaller.

Preferably the interior volume is sealed by sealing the jacket sheet at least one lateral sealing strip after or before the content is placed onto the bottom sheet. When the lateral sealing strips are provided before the content is placed inside the container, the container may already have an increased form stiffness, which facilitates particularly a filling in of a liquid content. When the lateral sealing strips are provided after the content is placed inside the container, the container may already have an increased stand so that the already filled container may not slide away when a tool is applied for providing the lateral sealing strips. Particularly preferred a liquid, particularly a cleaning agent, is filled into the interior volume via a closable dispenser opening in the jacket sheet after the interior volume is sealed by the jacket sheet. The liquid is filled in, when the container already have an increased form stiffness so that the container may not fall over when the liquid is filled in. Preferably the container is sealed at its top, before the liquid is filled in.

Particularly the liquid is provided by diluting a concentrated cleaning agent with water to a predefined concentration, wherein the diluting takes place inside the interior volume or outside the interior volume. The concentrated cleaning agent needs less storing place than in the diluted state. The required water can be provided only when needed. Further it is possible using the same concentrated cleaning agent for different concentrations adapted to a specific use. It is possible to fill the concentrated cleaning agent and the water successively into the container, so that the dilution to the intended concentration takes place inside the container. In the alternate the dilution may be provided first outside the container, particularly in a measuring jug, so that a liquid of the intended concentration is filled into the container. A direct contact of the highly concentrated cleaning agent with the further content inside the container is prevented so that, if so at all, unwanted chemical interactions inside the container may be prevented.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter, wherein the described features can constitute each solely or in combination an independent aspect of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1: is a schematic exploded perspective view of a container at a first stage of production, Fig. 2: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 1 at a second stage of production,

Fig.3: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 2 at a third stage of production, Fig. 4: is a schematic perspective view of the container of fig. 3 at a fourth stage of production, Fig. 5: is a schematic plan view of a closure of the container of fig. 3 and fig. 4 and

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the closure of fig. 5.

The container 10 illustrated in fig. 1 is designed as pouch, which is provided by welding a bottom sheet 12 to a separate jacket sheet 14. The bottom sheet 12 may be provided at a flat and even rectangular foil placed onto a ground. The jacket sheet 14 is wrapped in

circumferential direction for providing four lateral sides of the container 10. In the illustrated embodiment the jacket sheet 14 comprises at each lateral side a strip 16 protruding outwards in mainly horizontal direction. The jacket sheet 14 is fixed to the flat bottom sheet 12 by welding the strips 16 to the material of the bottom sheet 12 so that at the bottom of each lateral side a bottom sealing strip 18 is provided which protrudes away from an interior volume 20 bordered by the bottom sheet 12 and the jacket sheet 14. The bottom sealing strips 18 may protrude outwards and/or downwards particularly by an angle of around 45° inclined to the mainly horizontal plane of the bottom sheet 12. The bottom sealing strips 18 are connected with each other so that a continuous air-tight sealing in circumferential direction is provided. In addition a lateral sealing strip 22 protruding outwards away from the interior volume 20 are provided at the corners of the jacket sheet 14 between two neighboring lateral sides. The lateral sealing strips 22 provides an increased form stiffness of the container 10 and provides an air-tight sealing at the free ends of the jacket sheet 14 in one comer. The lateral sealing strips 22 are provided by welding two parts of the jacket sheet 14 together. The lateral sealing strips 22 are connected with the bottom sealing strips 18 so that the container 10 is air tight sealed and leakage-free.

As illustrated in fig. 2 the interior volume 20 may be closed at the top by means of a top sealing strip 24 where two or more opposing parts of the jacket sheet 14 are welded together. A top sheet 26 which may be one-part with the jacket sheet 14 protmdes upwards from the top sealing strip 24. The top sheet 26 comprises a handle opening 28 so that a handle 30 is provided for carrying the container 10 by hand. The jacket sheet 14 comprises a dispenser opening 32 which is provided by a frame 34 of a closure 36. The frame 34 is provided in an opening of the jacket sheet 14 and air-tightly connected to the jacket sheet 14 preferably by welding.

The container 10 can be manufactured by different producing methods. For example it is possible, that the lateral side strips 16 are sealed first in a way that the lateral side strips 16 protrudes outwards. Afterwards the jacket sheet 14 can be turned inside out, so that the lateral side strips 16 protrudes inwards. Subsequently the strips 16 can be sealed to the bottom sheet 12 so that the provided bottom sealing strips 18 protrudes outwards. The lateral side strips 16 can be sealed to the bottom sheet 12 inside the container 10 providing an fluid-tight sealing. The sealing of the top sealing strips 22 can take place before or after the jacket sheet 14 is turned inside out. When the lateral sealing strips 22 protrude outwards, it is possible, that the sealing strips could be folded over the outside surface of the bottom sheet 12 such that the lateral sealing strips 22 are exterior to the container but protrude only partially outwards. Particularly the lateral sealing strips 22 located outside the interior volume 20 can be folded onto the jacket sheet 14 contacting the jacket sheet 14 within a two-dimensional contact area.

As illustrated in fig. 3 the dispenser opening 32 can be partially closed by a dispenser collar 38 which is detachably connected to the frame 34 via an air-tight bayonet closure. The dispense collar 38 comprises several bendable projections 40 protruding radially inwards into the dispenser opening 32 within the plane of the associated lateral side of the container 10. The projections 40 may hold a wipe 42 of an endless roll 44 of interconnected wipes 42 as illustrated in fig. 4. A lid 46 is provided for, particularly air-tightly, closing the remaining cross section of the dispenser opening 32 which is not covered by the projections 40. When the dispenser collar 38 is attached to the frame 34 the dispenser collar 38 may be inserted into the frame 34 while the lid 46 protrudes mainly upwards. Subsequently the dispenser collar 38 may be turned inside the frame 34 for closing the bayonet closure between the dispenser collar 38 and the frame 34. Finally the lid 46 may protrude mainly downwards so that the lid 46 may collect drops dropping down from a wet wipe 42. In a preferred embodiment the lid 46 protrudes mainly downwards in the assembled state of the closure 36 when the lid 46 is opened. The lid 46 is connected to the dispenser collar 38 via a strap 48 so that the lid 46 is loss-proof connected even in the opened state as illustrated in fig. 5. Particularly the projections 40 are designed as parts of an area of a circle. Particularly preferred four projections 40 are provided, wherein each projection 40 is designed as a quadrant. Due to the rounded tip of the projections 40 pointing to the center of the dispenser opening 32 the risk, that the wipes 42 can be damaged by the tips of the projections 40 is reduced. The dispense collar 38 particularly comprises a hole 50 communicating with the interior volume 20 of the container 10. The hole may be preferably provided at a corner between a circumferential rim of the dispenser collar 38 and a part inside the circumferential rim which closes the dispenser opening 32 partially. Drops dropping down from a wet wipe 42 can be collected by the dispense collar 38 and led to the hole 50 so that the drops can be feed back into the interior volume 20 of the container 10.