Lint-reducing container

• US 20060151516A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: VanBuren, Daphne Lynn, Myers, David Lewis, Richardson, Kathy Geralyn, Balzar, Tammy Jo, Etheridge, Sara Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/45
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/42 dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/08 for dispensing thin flat articles in succession towel dispensers intended for re-use A47K10/24; dispensers for surgical scalpel blades A61B17/3215

Abstract

An electrostatically charged polymeric material, such as a polyolefin non-woven web, can be used in conjunction with a container, such as a tissue carton, for example, to attract lint and reduce the amount of lint that is deposited on the surface area surrounding the carton when the tissues are dispensed.

Claims

1. A container having a dispensing opening for removal of products therefrom, said container comprising an electrostatically charged polymeric material.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a coating on the inside of the container.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a sheet within the container.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the electrostatically charged material is a sheet positioned to substantially surround the dispensing opening.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the dispensing opening includes a slit in the electrostatically charged sheet.

17. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a film.

18. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a non-woven web.

19. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a meltblown web.

20. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a spunbond web.

21. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value of about 50 volts or greater.

22. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value of from about 50 to about 15,000 volts.

23. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value of from about 50 to about 6000 volts.

6. A product comprising a dispensing carton containing a stack of tissues and a dispensing opening through which the tissues are dispensed, said product further comprising an electrostatically charged polymeric material which contacts the tissues within the carton and/or during dispensing.

7. The product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a sheet positioned within the container substantially overlaying the stack of tissues.

8. The product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a coating on the inside of the carton.

9. The product of claim 6 wherein the electrostatically charged material is a sheet positioned to substantially surround the dispensing opening.

10. The product of claim 6 wherein the dispensing opening comprises a slit in one or more sheets of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

11. The product of claim 6 wherein the dispensing opening consists of a slit in a single sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

12. The product of claim 6 wherein the dispensing opening comprises a slit in a poly film and a slit in one or more electrostatically charged non-woven webs.

13. The product of claim 6 wherein the dispensing opening consists of a slit in a poly film and a slit in a single electrostatically charged non-woven web.

14. The product of claim 6 wherein the dispensing opening consists of a slit in a poly film and a slit in two electrostatically charged non-woven webs.

15. The product of claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein the poly film is not electrostatically charged.

16. The product of claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein the poly film is electrostatically charged.