WEB-STORING CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a web-storing container that stores webs such as wet tissue and wet sheets.

In the present description, the term “web” is used conceptually to designate generically members in which fiber sheets such as wet tissues, cleaning sheets, baby wipes and eyeglass cleaners are impregnated with a chemical solution. The term “web” denotes herein a fiber sheet having a substantially rectangular shape, while the term “web stack” encompasses stacks resulting from stacking of folded individual webs, with part of the webs overlapping each other, and stacks in which equidistant cuts are made in an elongate fiber sheet to create break-apart sections, and the sheet is then folded and stacked.

At present, articles where webs are impregnated with water, alcohol or some other chemical solution, for instance wet tissues and wet sheets, are used for various applications, for instance cleaning, wiping and the like. Such liquid-impregnated webs are packed in various known forms, for instance forms in which a plurality of webs is stacked and stored inside a cylindrical bottle made of plastic (bottle types), and forms in which the webs are stored inside a bag-shaped plastic film (bag types) (see, for instance, Patent Literature 1 and 2).

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-116200

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H9-156676

Herein, articles of so-called “bag-type”, in which webs are stored inside a bag-shaped plastic film (bag body), are problematic in that, when the quantity of remaining stored webs decreases, wrinkles form readily in the bag body, i.e. in the plastic film, which impairs outer appearance.

Wet tissue storage bodies are not limited to bag-type ones, and bodies have been proposed in which webs are stored in a wet tissue storage body made up of plastic (Patent Literature 1). Wet tissue storage bodies made of plastic constitute so-called refillable containers. However, content refilling is complicated.

To do away with the refilling operation, therefore, attempts have been made at accommodating a bag-shaped container, having webs stored therein, into a wet tissue package that is a combination of a paper box and plastic (Patent Literature 2). However, the distance to an outlet in such storage bodies increases as the quantity of contents decreases. In a case where the leading end of a web cannot be held at the outlet, therefore, removing a next web is not easy. These storage bodies, moreover, are placed horizontally, and webs are removed upward. The sites at which the storage bodies can be placed are thus limited to horizontal surfaces. In these storage bodies, the portion of remaining space once the space taken up by the bag-shaped container is excluded from the internal space of the wet tissue package, constitutes a dead space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a web-storing container, which is easy to refill and has excellent appearance, and with which webs can be removed easily and a lid can be opened and closed easily regardless of whether an outlet faces upward, horizontally or downward, and to provide a web-storing container in which the internal space can be utilized more effectively.

The web-storing container of the present invention has the following features, as a means for solving the above problem. For convenience in the explanation, a web removal direction will be referred to as horizontal direction, and hence the explanation will apply to a state in which the short sides of the bag-shaped container face downward; however, this does not denote the direction at a time where the wet tissue container of the present invention is being used.

The present invention is a web-storing container provided with a bag-shaped container in which a web stack is stored, and a holding frame for storing and holding the bag-shaped container, wherein the holding frame has a rear section, a side section and a bottom section, the bag-shaped container is provided with, in a front surface thereof, a web outlet and an engaging section that protrudes from the front surface or the side surface of the bag-shaped container, an engagement section supported by a support section that protrudes from the side section of the holding frame into the holding frame is formed, the engagement section are disposed at predetermined position spaced apart from the front section toward the rear section of the holding frame, and the bag-shaped container is held by the holding frame through engagement of the engaging section and the engagement section.

In the present invention, the engagement section may be disposed so as to be positioned frontward of the engaging section, in a state where the engaging section and the engagement section are engaged.

In the present invention, the holding frame may have two opposing side sections, the support section may be formed on both side sections of the holding frame, and the engagement section supported by respective support sections may be formed.

In the present invention, a frame opening may be formed on the front face of the engagement section of the holding frame, at a position opposing the web outlet.

In the present invention, the engaging section of the bag-shaped container may be disposed on the face of the bag-shaped container where the web outlet is located.

In the web-storing container according to the present invention, a holding frame can be placed stably on a horizontal surface, in a state where the bag-shaped container is held in a vertical orientation. Accordingly, the webs can be used stably, placed upright on a table.

In the present invention, the engagement section is supported by support section that protrudes into the holding frame, from the side section of the holding frame, with a gap between the engagement section and the front section of the holding frame. Therefore, a space is formed between the engagement section and the front section of the holding frame, and a cushioning material can be fitted into this space; the lid body is thus hidden by the cushioning material, and the internal space of the holding frame can be utilized more effectively. Specifically, even if the web-storing container is dropped accidentally, with the front section side of the holding frame facing downward, during conveyance, transport or the like of the web-storing container, the lid body is protected by the cushioning action of the cushioning material, and damage to the lid body is suppressed. Thus, the present invention allows utilizing more effectively the internal space of the holding frame, so as to elicit an effect whereby damage to the lid body is suppressed. In the present invention, the space between the engagement section and the front section of the holding frame can hold advertising paper, scrap paper or the like. The lid body can thus be hidden, and aesthetics thus further enhanced.

In the present invention, a state can be brought about in which the engagement section is covered by the front section of the holding frame; and thus the engagement section can be protected in that case. Even when a strong load acts on the web due to a pull-out force upon pulling of the web out of the frame opening, through the web outlet, in a state where the bag-shaped container and the holding frame are engaged, the pull-out force can be absorbed by the support section, and the shape of the holding frame is not readily distorted on account of the force with which the storage container is loaded. When the shape of the holding frame is distorted, a concern arises in that the bag-shaped container may jump out of the holding frame through the opening of the top face of the latter. As described above, however, the shape of the holding frame in the present invention is not readily distorted, and, accordingly, that concerned is allayed.

Through placing of the rear section of the holding frame on a table, the web-storing container of the present invention can be used stably, with the webs laid horizontally on the table.

In the web-storing container of the present invention, the front surface of the bag-shaped container is held by the engagement section and the support section of the holding frame. Therefore, the bag-shaped container can be held stably inside the holding frame, without wobbling of the bag-shaped container, even when the number of webs inside the bag-shaped container decreases gradually, and thus webs can be easily pulled out to the last. The web-storing container bag-shaped container of the present invention does not wobble readily, and, accordingly, the webs can be easily pulled out, with the bag-shaped container held stably inside the holding frame, also in a state where the webs are, for instance, hung on a hanging implement outside the holding frame.

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained next on the basis of drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 illustrate a web-storing container of a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the detailed configuration of a top face, a bottom face 11f and so forth of a bag-shaped container 10 have been omitted for convenience in the explanation.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the web-storing container comprises a bag-shaped container 10 in which a stack 1 of webs (i.e. wet tissues or the like) is stored, and a holding frame 20 for storing and holding the bag-shaped container 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates the bag-shaped container 10. The bag-shaped container 10 in the present embodiment is formed to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, with the stack 1 of webs being stored and packaged inside a bag body 11 that is formed of a soft plastic film. In a front face 11a of the bag body 11, there is opened a web outlet 12 for separately drawing out, one by one, wet tissues from the stack 1 that is inside the bag-shaped container 10. The front face 11a of the bag body 11 refers to the face at which the web outlet 12 is opened and disposed, from among the six faces of the bag body 11. With reference to a state in which the web outlet 12 is opened in the horizontal direction, faces other than the front face 11a are thus referred to as rear face 11b, left-right side faces 11c, 11d, a top face 11e and a bottom face 11f, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the bag-shaped container 10, the portion that makes up the front face 11a of the bag body 11 constitutes a front surface 10a, while a portion that makes up the side face 11c of the bag body 11 and a portion that makes up the side face 11c of a bag body 11 constitute respective side surfaces 10d, 10c.

In a state where the bag-shaped container 10 is stored in, and held by the holding frame 20, the front face 11a, the rear face 11b, the two left-right side faces 11c, 11d, and the bottom face 11f of the bag-shaped container 10 oppose respectively a front section 20a, a rear section 20b, two left-right side sections 20c, 20d and a bottom section 20f, described below, of the holding frame 20.

An outlet member 13, being a structural member made of a comparatively hard plastic, is fixed to the web outlet 12. Inside the outlet member 13, there is provided a known resistance imparting section 14 for, when pulling out a leading web pinched with the fingertips, imparting friction resistance to the second web that is being dragged out with the former web, in such a manner that the webs are separated and only the leading web is pulled out to the exterior. A lid body 15 that can seal and open the web outlet 12 is provided at a central position in the outlet member 13.

The holding frame 20 is configured to be capable of storing and holding the bag-shaped container 10. The holding frame 20 is formed to a substantially hexahedral shape having the top face thereof completely open, and is configured out of a bottom section 20f plus a front section 20a, a rear section 20b and side sections (two left-right side sections 20c, 20d in the example of FIG. 1) that rise from the bottom section 20f. The two left-right side sections 20c, 20d are disposed opposing each other. The front section 20a and the rear section 20b as well are disposed so as to oppose each other. The holding frame 20 in this embodiment has respective holes of various shapes, for the purpose of reducing weight, formed in the bottom section 20f, the front section 20a, the rear section 20b and the side sections 20c, 20d.

Amounting wall 21 that extends upward is formed at the upper end portion of the rear section 21 of the holding frame 20. An engaging hole 22 for engagement with, for instance, a wall-hanging hook or a suction cup (not shown) is formed in the mounting wall 21. Further, the front section 20a has, at a position that opposes the web outlet 12, a frame opening 23 for avoiding interference of the holding frame 20 with, for instance, the web outlet 12 and the lid body 15 of the bag-shaped container 10, when in a state where the bag-shaped container 10 is stored in and held by the holding frame 20. The frame opening 23 in the present embodiment is formed to have a cutout hole shape, sunk in the form of a U, from the top face side of the holding frame 20.

The frame opening 23 is formed at a position and to a size corresponding to the position and size of the web outlet 12, in such a way so as not to interfere with the bag-shaped container 10 side (i.e. the web outlet 12, outlet member 13, lid body 15 and so forth) and avoid thus hindrance during the operation of pulling the web out in a state where the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20 are engaged.

Strapping holes 30 are provided at an upper end portion of the two left-right side sections 20c, 20d of the holding frame 20. A string is threaded through the strapping holes 30 and is tied up so as not to come off the holding frame 20 easily; as a result, the string can be hooked on, for instance, a hook for wall hanging.

Two support sections 32 are formed, in the holding frame 20, protruding into the holding frame 20, from the two left-right side sections 20c, 20d of the holding frame 20. The support sections 32 are formed at positions that are spaced, toward the back side, from the front section 20a of the holding frame 20. The size of the spacing between the support sections 32 and the front section 20a ranges for instance from about 1 to 20 mm. The two support sections 32 are formed in the example of the holding frame 20 of FIG. 1 and so forth, but it suffices that at least one support section 32 be formed. In this case, it suffices that the support section 32 be formed protruding into the holding frame 20 from at least one of the side sections 20c, 20d of the holding frame 20.

The shape of the support sections 32 is not particularly limited, and each support section may be one plate-like section, for instance such as those of FIG. 1, or may be formed to have a plurality of plate-like sections disposed parallelly to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 7A. The support sections 32 may be configured out of a round bar-shaped single structure, or may be configured through arrangement of a plurality of round bar-shaped structures that are parallel to each other, in a direction bearing away from the bottom section 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 7B.

Engaging sections 18 and engagement sections 28 are provided in the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20, respectively. Through engagement of the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28, the bag-shaped container 10 becomes stored in, and held by, the holding frame 20, in a state where the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20 are connected to each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cross-section of the engaging sections 18 is formed to an L-shape, referred to as an angle member shape (also called a rail-like member). The engaging sections 18 are provided as a parallel pair thereof, separated to the left and the right so as to flank the web outlet 12 at the front face 11a of the bag-shaped container 10. The engaging sections 18 protrude forward, at a uniform height, from the front face 11a of the bag-shaped container 10. The engaging sections 18 are formed of a comparatively hard plastic material. The engaging sections 18 may be formed integrally with the outlet member 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or may be provided separately from the outlet member 13, and be fixed securely to the bag body 11. In the example of FIG. 1, the engaging sections 18 are formed so as to protrude from the front face 11a of the bag-shaped container 10, but may be provided so as to protrude (not depicted in the figures) from the side faces 11c, 11d of the bag-shaped container 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, which is a rear perspective-view diagram of the holding frame 20, the engagement sections 28 are supported by the support sections 32 of the holding frame 20. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, there are provided two engagement sections 28 that are respectively supported by the support sections 32. The engagement sections 28 have a structure in which there is formed a groove, having an L-shaped cross-section, such that the engaging sections 18 engage without wobbling. Further, the engagement sections 28 are disposed at a spacing corresponding to the arrangement of the pair of engaging sections 18.

The engagement sections 28 may be molded integrally with the support sections 32 of the holding frame 20, or may be provided formed separately from the support sections 32, and be fixed to the support sections 32. In this case, the engagement sections 28 may be fixed to the leading ends of the support sections 32 at portions, in the engagement sections 28, that oppose the side sections 20c, 20d, or may be fixed to the leading ends of the support sections 32, at portions, in the engagement sections 28, that oppose the front section 20a.

The engagement sections 28 are disposed at predetermined positions spaced apart from the front section 20a toward the rear section 20b of the holding frame 20, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The engagement sections 28 are disposed so as to be positioned frontward of the engaging sections 18 in a state where the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28 are engaged.

The engagement sections 28 are disposed in such a way so as not to face into the frame opening 23, when the frame opening 20 is viewed from the outer surface of the front section 20a of the holding frame 20. As a result, a state can be achieved where the engagement sections 28 are covered by the front section 20a of the holding frame 20, and the engagement sections 28 can be protected from the exterior.

The engagement sections 28 are supported by the support sections 32 that protrude from the side section of the holding frame 20 into the holding frame 20. As a result, a space becomes formed between the front section 20a and the engagement sections 28 in the holding frame 20, such that a cushioning material or the like can be disposed in the space. By virtue of the cushioning material, it becomes possible to dispel the concern of damage to the lid body 15, even upon dropping of the web-storing container with the frame opening 20 facing downward. The space between the front section 20a and the engagement sections 28 of the holding frame 20 can hold, for instance, advertising paper, scrap paper or the like, and thus the internal space of the holding frame 20 can be utilized more effectively.

Herein it suffices that the engagement sections 28 can be brought to an engaged state with the engaging sections 18 of the bag-shaped container 10; preferably, thus, the engagement sections 28 are disengageable from the engaging sections 18, in terms of facilitating exchange of the bag-shaped container 10. In this case, the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28 can be separated easily from each other, and hence the bag-shaped container 10 can be removed from the holding frame 20, be placed in a pocket or the like, and be easily used also for instance outdoors.

Upon engagement of the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28 in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and so forth, the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20 can be caused to slide relatively to each other, in the vertical direction, while preserving the engaged state of the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28. The bottom face 11f of the bag-shaped container 10 is brought to a state of resting on the bottom section 20f of the holding frame 20, as illustrated in FIG. 5; as a result, the bag-shaped container 10 can be stored in and held by the holding frame 20 in a stable state in the downward direction.

During use of the web-storing container, the webs are pinched, with the fingers or the like, out of the frame opening 23, through the web outlet 12, in a state where the lid body 15 is open toward the outside of the frame opening 23 and the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20 are engaged. Preferably, the positional relationship between the bag-shaped container 10 and the holding frame 20 of the web-storing container is such that there is avoided contact between the fingers and the engagement structure of the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28, to preclude, as much as possible, offsetting of the engagement position of the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28, also when the area involved in the engagement relationship between the engaging sections 18 and the engagement relationship is large and the webs are taken out with the fingers or the like. By virtue of this configuration, when the webs are sequentially removed from inside the bag-shaped container 10 in the web-storing container of the present embodiment, the fingers or the like do not collide readily the engagement sections 28, and thus for instance upward offset of the position of the bag-shaped container 10 with respect to the holding frame 20 is yet unlikelier to occur.

The web-storing container thus can be disposed in a very stable state, whether in an upright state such as the one illustrated in FIG. 5, or in a state of lying flat, with the web outlet 12 facing upward, and the webs can be used by being easily pulled out. The web-storing container can be used very stably also when a hook, suction cup, hanging string or the like (not shown), provided for instance on an indoor or outdoor wall, pillar or the like, is fitted to the mounting hole 22 and/or the strapping holes 30.

FIGS. 6A and 6B each illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the inner ends of the engagement sections 28 are further extended inward, and respective ribs 31 are erected, toward the back, at the positions of the extending ends of the engagement sections 28. The strength of the engagement sections 28 is enhanced by the ribs 31 thus provided. Specifically, in a case where, for instance, a force acts on the engagement sections 28 from the front of the lid body 15 upon closing of the lid body 15, warping or the like of the engagement sections 28 can be suppressed by the ribs 31 that have been provided. The configuration of the second embodiment may be identical to that of the first embodiment, except for the ribs 31 described above.

The protruding height of the ribs 31 is set to a height such that the ribs 31 do not come in contact with the outlet member 13, in a state where the engaging sections 18 and the engagement sections 28 are engaged. The positions at which the ribs 31 are formed are predetermined positions at which the ribs 31 do not face into the frame opening 23, when the web-storing container is viewed from the front face of the front section 20a. The reason for this is the same as the reason why the positions of the engagement sections 28 in the first embodiment are set to positions that do not face into the frame opening 23.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments above, and encompasses all implementations conceptually included in the invention as set forth in the appended claims.