JP7765097B2 - Wrapped towels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to packaged wet towels.

Packaged hand towels wrapped in packaging material have been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This packaged towel is made by forming a rectangular packaging material that can wrap a folded towel in half, and creating a perforation that does not go all the way through the packaging material on either side of the surface that will form the front or back of the folded towel when wrapped, parallel to the vertical or horizontal side, dividing the material in half. The periphery of the packaging material, when wrapped around the folded towel, is joined by heat or pressure bonding. This allows the towel to be removed without tearing the packaging material by pulling the perforation to the left or right and tearing the packaging material.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-285419

However, the packaged towels described in Patent Document 1 require users to pinch and pull both sides of the perforation when opening them, which can be time-consuming as they have to find and pinch the perforations. Furthermore, when thick towels, such as folded cloth towels, are packaged, they can twist in the basket during transport before use, causing stress to concentrate around the perforations, which can lead to tearing along the perforations.

In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention provides packaged towels that include towels folded longitudinally and a packaging bag for packaging the towels. The packaging bag includes a first packaging sheet made of a material that can be cut in a straight line, and a second packaging sheet that includes a member made of a material that cannot be cut in a straight line and is positioned opposite the first packaging sheet. The first and second packaging sheets are sealed together to form a bag.

This configuration allows the packaging bag to be easily torn. Furthermore, when the packaging bag is torn, it can be prevented from breaking into two pieces. This prevents the torn packaging bag from scattering. It also effectively prevents damage to the packaging bag during transport.

The present invention has the advantage that the packaging bag can be easily torn and that when torn, the packaging bag can be prevented from breaking into two pieces.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a wrapped towel according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the packaged towel of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of how the wrapped towel of FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a wrapped towel according to a second embodiment.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the same or corresponding elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a wrapped towel 100 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a wrapped towel 100 according to embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, packaged towels 100 comprise towels 1 and packaging bag 2, with cloth towels 1 packaged in packaging bag 2. Packaged cloth towels 100 are provided, for example, on a rental basis to restaurants and other establishments. The rental company then collects towels 1 used at restaurants, launders them, packages them, and recycles them as packaged towels 100. In this way, packaged towels 100 are reusable towels.

Oshibori 1 is a hand towel folded so that it extends in the longitudinal direction D1. When unfolded, oshibori 1 is, for example, a rectangular cloth hand towel. This unfolded hand towel 1 is folded in half and then rolled from one longitudinal end to the other in the folded state. As a result, oshibori 1 is folded into a cylindrical shape. The axial direction of oshibori 1 folded into a cylindrical shape forms the longitudinal direction D1 of oshibori 1.

The packaging bag 2 is a bag for packaging the wet towels 1. The packaging bag 2 includes a first packaging sheet 21, a second packaging sheet 22, and a seal portion 23.

The first packaging sheet 21 is a roughly rectangular sheet made of a material that can be cut in a straight line, such as a resin film made of high-density polyethylene or oriented polypropylene that can be cut in a straight line. The first packaging sheet 21 has straight-line cutting properties in the short direction D2. The short direction D2, in which the sheet has straight-line cutting properties, intersects with the longitudinal direction D1 of the wet towel 1, and more specifically, is arranged so that it is perpendicular thereto. Straight-line cutting properties refer to the ability of a film or the like to be torn in a roughly straight line in a specified direction.

The second packaging sheet 22 is a substantially rectangular sheet made of a material that cannot be cut in a straight line, such as a resin film made of polyethylene or polypropylene that cannot be cut in a straight line. The second packaging sheet 22 is positioned opposite the first packaging sheet 21 and is formed to be substantially the same size as the first packaging sheet 21.

The sealed portion 23 is the portion of the packaging bag 2 where the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are sealed to form a bag. A pair of longitudinal side edges of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are joined by heat sealing to form a pair of longitudinal sealed portions 41. Furthermore, a pair of lateral side edges of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are joined by heat sealing to form a pair of lateral sealed portions 42. The space between the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22, surrounded by the pair of longitudinal sealed portions 41 and the pair of lateral sealed portions 42, forms the storage space 24.

When packaging the hand towels 1, the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are placed face to face. One of the pair of longitudinal side edges of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 is then heated with a heater to form one of the longitudinal seal portions 41.

The folded towel 1 is then placed between the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22, and the other of the pair of longitudinal side edges of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 is heated with a heater to form the other longitudinal seal portion 41.

Then, a pair of short-side side edges of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are heated with a heater to form a pair of short-side seal portions 42.

This allows the hand towel 1 to be packaged in the packaging bag 2, preventing the hand towel 1 from getting dirty or drying out before use. It also helps the hand towel 1 maintain its folded shape.

In this way, the hand towel 1 is packaged in a packaging bag 2 formed by heat sealing using the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22, allowing the hand towel 1 to be packaged in a simple configuration.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of how the wrapped towel 100 can be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a user uses the wet towel 1, they pinch any two locations P1, P2 of the first packaging sheet 21 that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction D1 of the wet towel 1 and pull the pinched portions apart. This tears the first packaging sheet 21, forming an opening 61 in the packaging bag 2. In this way, the wrapped wet towel 100 can be torn by pinching any two locations of the first packaging sheet 21 that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, making it easy to tear the packaging bag 2. Furthermore, because the first packaging sheet 21 is positioned so that the direction D2 in which it has straight cuttability intersects with the longitudinal direction D1 of the wet towel 1, the packaging bag 2 can be easily pinched and torn.

In addition, because the second packaging sheet 22 is made of a material that cannot be cut straight, it is possible to prevent the second packaging sheet 22 from being torn when the first packaging sheet 21 is torn. This prevents the packaging bag 2 from being torn in two. This also prevents the torn packaging bag 2 from scattering.

The user then removes the towel 1 from the packaging bag 2 through the opening 61.

Furthermore, because the material of the first packaging sheet 21 has straight-line cutting properties, when a large number of wrapped towels 100 are stacked in a box for transport, even if a tensile force acts on the first packaging sheet 21, stress can be prevented from concentrating in certain areas, compared to when perforations are formed in the packaging sheet. This makes it possible to appropriately prevent the first packaging sheet 21 from tearing.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a wrapped towel 200 according to the second embodiment.

The packaged towel 200 differs from the packaged towel 100 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the second packaging sheet, but the rest of the configuration is the same.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second packaging sheet 222 of the packaged towel 200 includes a first member 31 and a second member 32.

The first member 31 is made of the same material as the first packaging sheet 21. The second member 32 is made of a material that does not have straight-line cutting properties and is attached to the outer surface of the first member 31.

In the packaged towel 200 configured in this manner, the second member 32 does not have the ability to be cut in a straight line, so the second packaging sheet 222 as a whole has the same performance as the second packaging sheet 22 in the first embodiment above. Therefore, like the packaged towel 100 in the first embodiment above, the packaged towel 200 can prevent the packaging bag 2 from breaking into two when the first packaging sheet 21 is torn. This prevents the torn packaging bag 2 from scattering.

In addition, it is possible to easily impart non-straight cuttability to the second packaging sheet 22 of a packaging bag 2 in which both the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 have straight cuttability.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, the hand towel 1 is a cloth hand towel, but this is not limiting. Alternatively, the hand towel 1 may be a paper hand towel.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the oshibori 1 is illustrated as being folded in half and then rolled up, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, the oshibori 1 may be folded in thirds or fourths and then rolled up, or may be rolled up without folding. Furthermore, it may be folded without rolling up.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the sealed portion 23 is sealed by heat sealing, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, the sealed portion 23 may be cold sealed using an adhesive.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22 are directly joined, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, a gusset may be interposed between the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22. The gusset may be part of the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22, or may be a separate member from the first packaging sheet 21 and the second packaging sheet 22.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and/or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(List of embodiments)
Embodiment 1: A packaging bag including a towel folded in a longitudinal direction and a packaging bag for packaging the towel,
The packaging bag is
a first packaging sheet made of a material having straight cut properties;
a second packaging sheet including a member made of a material that does not have straight-line cutting properties and disposed opposite the first packaging sheet;
The first packaging sheet and the second packaging sheet are sealed to form a bag.

This configuration allows the packaging bag to be easily torn. Furthermore, when the packaging bag is torn, it can be prevented from breaking into two pieces. This prevents the torn packaging bag from scattering. It also effectively prevents damage to the packaging bag during transport.

Embodiment 2: The packaged towel described in embodiment 1, wherein the first packaging sheet is arranged so that the direction in which it has straight-line cutting properties intersects with the longitudinal direction of the towel.

This configuration makes it easy to pick up and tear the packaging bag.

Embodiment 3: The packaged wet towel according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the first packaging sheet is a straight-tearable film made of high-density polyethylene or oriented polypropylene.

This configuration allows the packaging bag to be properly cut in a straight line.

Embodiment 4: The second packaging sheet is a resin film,
4. The packaged towel of embodiment 3, wherein the seal is a heat seal.

This configuration allows for the hand towels to be packaged in a simple manner.

Embodiment 5: The packaged towel described in embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the second packaging sheet has a first member made of the same material as the first packaging sheet, and a second member made of a material that does not have straight-line cutting properties and attached to the outer surface of the first member.

This configuration allows the second packaging sheet of a packaging bag in which both the first and second packaging sheets have straight-cutting properties to be made non-straight-cut.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Hand towel 2 Packaging bag 21 First packaging sheet 22 Second packaging sheet 23 Sealed portion 31 First member 32 Second member 100 Packaged hand towel

Claims (4)

The package includes a towel folded to extend in the longitudinal direction and a packaging bag for packaging the towel,
The packaging bag is
a first packaging sheet made of a material having straight cut properties;
a first member made of a material that can be cut in a straight line, and a second member made of a material that cannot be cut in a straight line and attached to an outer surface of the first member ; and a second packaging sheet disposed opposite the first packaging sheet,
The first packaging sheet and the second packaging sheet are sealed to form a bag. The wrapped towel according to claim 1, wherein the first packaging sheet is arranged so that the direction in which it has straight-line cutting properties intersects with the longitudinal direction of the towel. The wrapped towels according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first packaging sheet is a straight-tearable film made of high-density polyethylene or oriented polypropylene. the first member of the second packaging sheet is a resin film,
The packaged towel according to claim 3, wherein the seal is a heat seal.