Dispenser package

• US 5,518,144 A
• Filed: 06/21/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Peck, James M., Emmerling, James R., Samuelson, Bruce E., Strand, Jerome E., Rueb, John T., Machacek, Jane H., Knoll, Kenneth F., Hansen, William L., Callahan, Joseph P. Jr., Groess, Michael S., Darvell, Wayne K., Blackwell, Elmer
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAGGS JR, H GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/263,601
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40, 428/201, 428/212, 221/33, 221/63, 221/45
• US Class Current: 221/33
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/003 Note-pads
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/005 Supports for note-pads B42F9/00 takes precedence; underlays B43L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1481 Dissimilar adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/149 Sectional layer removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1495 Adhesive is on removable layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A dispenser package including a stack of flexible sheets adhered together by layers of pressure sensitive adhesive with first and second ends of successive sheets in the stack adjacent; and an enclosure in which the stack of sheets is positioned having top wall portions with spaced opposed surfaces that define a wide slot. The first end portion of the uppermost sheet on the stack projects through the slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface. As that uppermost sheet is pulled through the slot, successive portions of it will peel away from the first underlying sheet in the stack until it contacts the second abutment surface, whereupon the first end portion of the first underlying sheet separates from the second underlying sheet, the first end portion of the first underlying sheet folds and moves through the slot with the second end portion of the uppermost sheet to leave, after the uppermost sheet is fully peeled from the first portion of the first underlying sheet, the first end portion of the first underlying sheet in a position projecting through the slot and resting against the second abutment surface in a position where it too may be grasped for manual removal in a similar manner.

Claims

1. A dispenser package comprising:

a plurality of flexible sheets, each of said sheets having first and second spaced ends and a predetermined length between said first and second ends, comprising a backing having opposite major top and bottom surfaces, and having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on said bottom surface, said sheets being releasably adhered to each other by releasable adhesion of the layers of pressure sensitive adhesive to the top surfaces of underlying sheets to form a stack with adjacent ends of the sheets in the stack aligned and with the first and second ends of successive sheets in the stack being adjacent, and having release means for providing a first adhesion level along a first end portion of each of said sheets adjacent said first end between said layer of adhesive and the top surface of the adjacent sheet in the stack to which said layer of adhesive is releasably adhered that affords easy separation of surfaces of adjacent sheets along said first end portion, and attachment means for providing a second adhesion level along a second end portion of each of said sheets adjacent said second end between said layer of adhesive and the top surface of the adjacent sheet in the stack, which second adhesion level provides a release force that is higher than said release force along said first end portion and firmly adheres the sheet to the adjacent sheet in the stack during separation of the sheets along said first end portion while affording peeling away of the sheet from the stack along said second end portion, said first end portions having lengths from said first ends toward said second ends of the sheets that are shorter than half said predetermined length so that centered portions of the layers of pressure sensitive adhesive between the first end portions of successive sheets in the stack releasably adhere the sheets in surface to surface relationship in the stack; and

an enclosure comprising walls defining a chamber, said walls including

a bottom wall defining a bottom side of said chamber, said bottom wall having opposite ends and opposite edges extending between said ends;

two top wall portions defining a top side of said chamber opposite said bottom side and having spaced opposed first and second abutment surfaces extending generally parallel to said ends of the bottom wall, said abutment surfaces defining a wide generally central transverse slot having a length between said abutment surfaces that is about equal to or greater than the length of said centered portions of the layers of pressure sensitive adhesive; and

side walls between said top wall portions and said bottom wall;

said stack of sheets being positioned in said chamber with said ends of said sheets generally parallel to said ends of said bottom wall, and the lowermost sheet in said stack adjacent said bottom wall;

said dispenser package includes means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack;

one of said opposed abutment surfaces being disposed with respect to the uppermost sheet in the stack so that the first end portion of said uppermost sheet can project through said slot and rest against said one abutment surface;

the length of said slot between said abutment surfaces affording, as said uppermost sheet is pulled through said slot at said first end portion, peeling of successive portions of said uppermost sheet from the first underlying sheet in said stack to which said uppermost sheet is adhered, and then separation of the first end portion of the first underlying sheet from the second underlying sheet, and movement of the first end portion of the first underlying sheet through said slot with the second end portion of said uppermost sheet to leave, after said uppermost sheet is fully peeled from the first portion of the first underlying sheet, the first end portion of said first underlying sheet in a position projecting through said slot and resting against the abutment surface opposite said one abutment surface and disposed in a position where it may be grasped for manual removal in a manner similar to the removal of the uppermost sheet.

2. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein the lowermost sheet in said stack is adhered to said bottom wall to provide said means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and said means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack.

3. A dispenser package according to claim 1 further including a stiff support sheet within the chamber adjacent said bottom wall having opposite ends at the ends of said bottom wall, and wherein the lowermost sheet in said stack is adhered to said stiff support sheet to provide said means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and said means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack.

4. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein said top wall portions and said side walls are disposed so that when the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projects through said slot and rests against one of said abutment surfaces, the part between said stack and said first abutment surface of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet is disposed at an angle in the range of about 80 to 135 degrees with respect to the second end portion of said uppermost sheet.

5. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein said top wall further includes a cover portion having ends releasably attached to said top wall portions, said cover portion extending over the slot and being manually engageable to afford manual removal of said cover portion from said top wall portions to open the slot and afford manual removal of the sheets.

6. A dispenser package according to claim 5 further including means for attaching the first end portion of the uppermost sheet to said cover portion so that the first end portion of one of said sheets on the stack is positioned against one of the abutment surfaces for subsequent removal upon removal of the cover portion from the housing.

7. A dispenser package according to claim 5 further including means for attaching the first end portion of the uppermost sheet to said cover portion so that the uppermost sheet on the stack is removed upon removal of the cover portion from the housing.

8. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projects through said slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface, said top wall further includes a cover portion having an attached end releasably attached to said second portion of said top wall, a part extending over said slot, and a manually engageable part releasably attached to the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber with a part of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projecting through said slot that projects past said first abutment surface being between the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber and said manually engageable part, said manually engageable part being manually removable from said upper wall to open said slot and afford manual removal of said sheets.

9. A dispenser package according to claim 8 further characterized in that said part of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet positioned between the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber and said manually engageable part is attached to said manually engageable part so that said uppermost sheet is removed from said stack upon removal of said manually engageable part from said housing.

10. A dispenser package according to claim 8 further characterized in that said cover portion is formed from the same sheet of material as said second portion of said top wall, said sheet of material has perforations defining said second abutment surface with said attached end of said cover portion being releasably attached to said second portion of said top wall along said second abutment surface by portions of said sheet of material between said perforations.

11. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein each of said top wall portions comprises a first part generally parallel to said bottom wall adjacent a different one of the opposite ends of said bottom wall, and a projecting part projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, said projecting part defining said abutment surface at the end of said projecting part opposite said first part.

12. A dispenser package according to claim 11 wherein for each of said top wall portions said projecting part is attached to said first part along a fold line and is pivotable along said fold line between said position projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, to a closed position generally co-plainer with said first part.

13. A dispenser package according to claim 1 further including a coating of release material on the surface of each of said top wall portions opposite said chamber, the first end portion of the uppermost sheet on the stack projects through said slot and is releasably adhered on the release material coated surface of the adjacent top wall portion.

14. A dispenser package according to claim 13 wherein each of said abutment surfaces is generally cylindrically concave, and said first end portion of the uppermost sheet projecting through said slot can be separated from the release material coated surface of the adjacent top wall portion by manually pressing said first end portion against said concave abutment surface.

15. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein said side walls provide a space between said second end portion of the uppermost sheet in the stack adhered to the first underlying sheet in the stack and the adjacent top wall portion of at least 0.1875 inch or 0.476 centimeter normal to said top wall portion.

16. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes side walls at the opposite ends and along the opposite edges of said bottom wall, said top wall further includes a cover portion extending over the slot, having ends attached to said top wall portions along lines of weakness, said side walls and said top wall being formed from a single transparent layer of polymeric material, said cover portion having edges extending between said top wall portions and being unattached to said side walls and said edges of said cover portion being manually engageable to afford manual removal of said cover portion from said top wall portions along said lines of weakness to open the slot and afford manual removal of the sheets.

17. A dispenser package according to claim 16 wherein each of said top wall portions comprises a first part generally parallel to said bottom wall adjacent a different one of the opposite ends of said bottom wall, and a projecting part projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, said projecting part defining said abutment surface, and wherein each of said abutment surfaces is generally cylindrically concave.

18. A dispenser package according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes only two side walls, one at each end of said bottom wall between said bottom wall and said two top wall portions, said enclosure has a uniform cross section along planes parallel to said opposite edges and normal to the major surface of said sheets on said stack.

19. A dispenser package according to claim 18 wherein said enclosure is a polymeric extrusion.

20. A dispenser package comprising:

a plurality of flexible sheets, each of said sheets having first and second spaced ends and a predetermined length between said first and second ends, comprising a backing having opposite major top and bottom surfaces, and having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a second end portion of said bottom surface adjacent said second end which second end portion has a length from said second end toward said first end that is longer than half said predetermined length, said sheets being releasably adhered to each other by adhesion of said layers of pressure sensitive adhesive to portions of the top surfaces of underlying sheets adjacent the first ends of the underlying sheets to form a stack with adjacent ends of said sheets aligned and with the first and second ends of successive sheets in said stack being adjacent, and having means for preventing adhesion of first end portions of said sheets adjacent said first ends to underlying sheets in said stack, said first end portions having a length from said first end toward said second end that is shorter than half said predetermined length so that centered portions of the layers of pressure sensitive adhesive between the first end portions of successive sheets in the stack releasably adhere the sheets in surface to surface relationship in the stack; and

an enclosure comprising walls defining a chamber, said walls including

a bottom wall defining a bottom side of said chamber, said bottom wall having opposite ends and opposite edges extending between said ends;

two top wall portions defining a top side of said chamber opposite said bottom side and having spaced opposed first and second abutment surfaces extending generally parallel to said ends of the bottom wall, said abutment surfaces defining a wide generally central transverse slot having a length between said abutment surfaces that is about equal to or greater than the length of said centered portions of the layers of pressure sensitive adhesive; and

side walls between said top wall portions and said bottom wall;

said stack of sheets being positioned in said chamber with said ends of said sheets generally parallel to said ends of said bottom wall, and the lowermost sheet in said stack adjacent said bottom wall;

said dispenser package includes means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack;

one of said abutment surfaces being disposed with respect to the uppermost sheet in the stack so that the first end portion of said uppermost sheet can project through said slot and rest against said one abutment surface;

the length of said slot between said abutment surfaces affording, as said uppermost sheet is pulled through said slot at said first end portion, peeling of successive portions of said uppermost sheet from the first underlying sheet in said stack to which said uppermost sheet is adhered, and then separation of the first end portion of the first underlying sheet from the second underlying sheet, and movement of the first end portion of the first underlying sheet through said slot with the second end portion of said uppermost sheet to leave, after said uppermost sheet is fully peeled from the first portion of the first underlying sheet, the first end portion of said first underlying sheet in a position projecting through said slot and resting against the second abutment surface and disposed in a position where it may be grasped for manual removal in a manner similar to the removal of the uppermost sheet.

21. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein the lowermost sheet in said stack is adhered to said bottom wall to provide said means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and said means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack.

22. A dispenser package according to claim 20 further including a stiff support sheet within the chamber adjacent said bottom wall having opposite ends at the ends of said bottom wall, and wherein the lowermost sheet in said stack is adhered to said stiff support sheet to provide said means for restricting endwise movement of said stack relative to said housing and said means for restricting flexing of the second end portions of all but the uppermost sheet in the stack around an axis parallel to the ends of the sheets in the stack.

23. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein said top wall portions and said side walls are disposed so that when the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projects through said slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface, the part between said stack and said first abutment surface of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet is disposed at an angle in the range of about 80 to 135 degrees with respect to the second end portion of said uppermost sheet.

24. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein said top wall further includes a cover portion having ends releasably attached to said top wall portions and a part extending over the slot, said cover portion being manually engageable to afford manual removal of said cover portion from said top wall portions to open the slot and afford manual removal of the sheets.

25. A dispenser package according to claim 24 further including means for attaching the first end portion of the uppermost sheet to said cover portion so that the first end portion of one of said sheets on the stack is positioned against one of the abutment surfaces for subsequent removal upon removal of the cover portion from the housing.

26. A dispenser package according to claim 24 further including means for attaching the first end portion of the uppermost sheet to said cover portion so that the uppermost sheet on the stack is removed upon removal of the cover portion from the housing.

27. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projects through said slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface, said top wall further includes a cover portion having an attached end releasably attached to said second portion of said top wall, a part extending over said slot, and a manually engageable part releasably attached to the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber with a part of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet projecting through said slot that projects past said first abutment surface being between the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber and said manually engageable part, said manually engageable part being manually removable from said upper wall to open said slot and afford manual removal of said sheets.

28. A dispenser package according to claim 27 further characterized in that said part of the first end portion of said uppermost sheet positioned between the surface of said first portion opposite said chamber and said manually engageable part is attached to said manually engageable part so that said uppermost sheet is removed from said stack upon removal of said manually engageable part from said housing.

29. A dispenser package according to claim 27 further characterized in that said cover portion is formed from the same sheet of material as said second portion of said top wall, said sheet of material has perforations defining said second abutment surface with said attached end of said cover portion being releasably attached to said second portion of said top wall along said second abutment surface by portions of said sheet of material between said perforations.

30. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein each of said top wall portions comprises a first part generally parallel to said bottom wall adjacent a different one of the opposite ends of said bottom wall, and a projecting part projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, said projecting part defining said abutment surface at the end of said projecting part opposite said first part.

31. A dispenser package according to claim 30 wherein for each of said top wall portions said projecting part is attached to said first part along a fold line and is pivotable along said fold line between said position projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, to a closed position generally co-plainer with said first part.

32. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein each of said abutment surfaces is generally cylindrically concave.

33. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein said side walls provide a space between said second end portion of the uppermost sheet in the stack adhered to the first underlying sheet in the stack and the adjacent top wall portion of at least 0.1875 inch or 0.476 centimeter normal to said top wall portion.

34. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes side walls at the opposite ends and along the opposite edges of said bottom wall, said top wall further includes a cover portion extending over the slot, having ends attached to said top wall portions along lines of weakness, said side walls and said top wall being formed from a single transparent layer of polymeric material, said cover portion having edges extending between said top wall portions and being unattached to said side walls and said edges of said cover portion being manually engageable to afford manual removal of said cover portion from said top wall portions along said lines of weakness to open the slot and afford manual removal of the sheets.

35. A dispenser package according to claim 34 wherein each of said top wall portions comprises a first part generally parallel to said bottom wall adjacent a different one of the opposite ends of said bottom wall, and a projecting part projecting from the side of said first part opposite the chamber, said projecting part defining said abutment surface, and wherein each of said abutment surfaces is generally cylindrically concave.

36. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes only two side walls, one at each end of said bottom wall between said bottom wall and said two top wall portions, said enclosure has a uniform cross section along planes parallel to said opposite edges and normal to the major surface of said sheets on said stack.

37. A dispenser package according to claim 36 wherein said enclosure is a polymeric extrusion.

38. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein each of said abutment surfaces is generally cylindrically concave, and said first end portion of the uppermost sheet projects through said slot and along the surface of the adjacent top wall portion opposite said chamber, and said first end portion can be separated from the top wall portion by manually pressing said first end portion against said concave abutment surface.

39. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein each of said layers of pressure sensitive adhesive on each of said sheets extend entirely along said bottom surface, and said means for preventing adhesion of first end portions of said sheets adjacent said first ends to underlying sheets in said stack comprises liners over the layers of adhesive along said first end portions.

40. A dispenser package according to claim 20 wherein each of said layers of pressure sensitive adhesive on each of said sheets extend entirely along said bottom surface, and said means for preventing adhesion of first end portions of said sheets adjacent said first ends to underlying sheets in said stack comprises layers of release material on said underlaying sheets preventing adhesion thereto of said adhesive on the portions of sheets in said stack adjacent said first end portions.