Lint-reducing container

• US 7,325,699 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Myers, David Lewis, Etheridge, Sara Marie, VanBuren, Daphne Lynn, Richardson, Kathy Geralyn, Balzar, Tammy Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/017,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20060151516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 221 1-312 C
• 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 lint-containing products therefrom, said container comprising a sheet of an electrostatically charged polymeric material positioned to substantially surround the dispensing opening as the products are removed from the container through the dispensing opening, said sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material being electrostatically charged prior to being incorporated into the container, wherein lint released from the products during dispensing is attracted to and retained by the sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the dispensing opening includes a slit in the electrostatically charged sheet.

7. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 3 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material is a film.

8. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 3 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value of about 50 volts or greater.

9. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 3 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value from about 50 to about 15,000 volts.

10. The container of claim 1 or the product of claim 3 wherein the electrostatically charged polymeric material has a surface potential absolute value from about 50 to about 6000 volts.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein the sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by corona discharge electret treatment.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by electron beam electret treatment.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein the sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by plasma contact electret treatment.

3. 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 electret electrostatically charged polymeric material adhered to the carton and which contacts the tissues within the carton during dispensing, said electret electrostatically charged polymeric material being electrostatically charged prior to being incorporated into the dispensing carton, wherein the tissues release lint during dispensing and the lint is attracted to and retained by the sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

4. The product of claim 3 wherein the electrostatically charged material is a sheet positioned to substantially surround the dispensing opening.

5. The product of claim 3 wherein the dispensing opening comprises a slit in one or more sheets of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

6. The product of claim 3 wherein the dispensing opening consists of a slit in a single sheet of electrostatically charged polymeric material.

14. The product of claim 3 wherein the electret electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by corona discharge electret treatment.

15. The product of claim 3 wherein the electret electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by electron beam electret treatment.

16. The product of claim 3 wherein the electret electrostatically charged polymeric material is electrostatically charged by plasma contact electret treatment.