Cotton wool pad dispenser

• US 8,152,022 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eazy-Pac Danmark A/S
• Original Assignee: Eazy-Pac Danmark A/S
• Inventors: Nygaard-Petersen, Anne-Mette Juhl
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US12/307,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 221/303, 221/305, 221/63, 221/45, 221/58, 221/59
• US Class Current: 221/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0817 the articles being automatically urged towards the dispensing aperture, e.g. spring-loaded B65D83/0823 takes precedence

Abstract

A packaging for a stack of articles of absorbing materials such as cotton wool tampons or similar hygiene articles, and where the packaging protects the mentioned articles against soiling and spray from above, as well as the sides, and also preventing contamination from below. The packaging can stand steady on the supporting surface and a the same time easily permit the articles withdrawal, one by one, from the packaging. The packaging is constructed with supporting devices so that the withdrawal aperture faces downwards and is elevated above the supporting surface.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for flat, flexible, absorbing articles, more specifically cotton wool tampons or cotton pads, adapted for withdrawing such articles one by one,

said device comprising an enclosing wall defining an internal volume containing a number of said articles stacked with flat surfaces abutting each other in a longitudinal dimension of said volume, said longitudinal direction being perpendicular to a cross-sectional dimension,

said volume terminating in said longitudinal dimension at a first, closed end and at an opposite, second end, said second end comprising an end wall with an aperture for withdrawing an outermost article, a cross-sectional dimension of said aperture being less than a cross-sectional dimension of said stacked articles such as to allow for withdrawing one of said articles nearest to said aperture through said aperture by means of deformation of said article,

wherein a supporting structure is positioned near said second end and comprises protruding resting points defining a plane for supporting the device in an upright position on a supporting face such as to position said end wall at a distance from said supporting face, said supporting structure comprising at least one opening or cut-out adapted to allow for withdrawing said outermost article through said aperture and, subsequently, through said opening or cut-out,

said supporting structure having cross-sectional dimensions, which are substantially identical to cross-sectional dimensions of said volume at said second end of said volume, said supporting structure forming a uniform continuation of said enclosing wall, which continuation extends in said longitudinal dimension.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is an extension of and is formed integrally with said enclosing wall.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is shaped as a wall, which at a distal end is open such as to define an aperture extending in said cross-sectional dimension.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein a preferably rounded cut-out of said supporting structure wall extends in said longitudinal dimension from said distal end of said supporting structure wall.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure comprises at least three legs, each of said legs forming one said resting point.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is cylindrical with a round shape, such as circular or ellipse-shaped, in cross-section.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said end wall extends in said cross-sectional dimension.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure comprises ventilation holes.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said resting points form an unbroken line.

10. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for advancing said stack of articles towards said aperture by means of elastic elements such as springs.