The present invention relates to a container, notably to a scented container for rolls of toilet paper.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION:

Rolls of toilet paper are typically sold in packs containing two, four or more rolls so that the purchaser has to store the rolls which are not immediately required, usually in an unwrapped condition once the outer wrapping for the packs has been removed to gain access to the first roll. However, in the interests of economy, the packaging for such packs of toilet rolls is flimsy and often has no aesthetic appeal. The spare rolls are therefore stored out of sight and often not within immediate reach of the toilet where they are required. For example, they may be stored under a kitchen sink or in an airing cupboard. However, such locations are often under conditions which adversely affect the quality of the tissue paper from which the toilet paper is made.

The manufacturers of such paper impose strict quality controls on moisture and on chemicals in the paper so that it is acceptable to touch and does not bring potentially hazardous chemicals into contact with sensitive skin. However, when stored by the user much of the quality control is negated, for example when unwrapped toilet rolls are stored in the immediate vicinity of bleach or other strong chemical or abrasive cleaners. Where an unwrapped roll is stored adjacent a hot water cylinder, the paper loses up to 5% of its weight in 12 hours as the moisture required to retain its soft texture evaporates.

It has been proposed to impregnate toilet paper with a scent composition, but this requires a change to the

conventional toilet paper manufacturing techniques. It has also been proposed to incorporate a scent sachet or block into a toilet paper pack to impart a scent to the paper, see for example US Patent Specifications Nos 3,711,024 and 4,513, 862. However, the scent composition was either in direct contact with the toilet paper or was located so that it would permeate preferentially into the interior of the paper container rather than into the environment, so as to impart scent to the paper as it was being used.

Scent compositions typically contain aromatic oils and anti-oxidantε and these can be strongly absorbed by toilet paper if they are allowed to come into contact with the paper. As a result, such impregnated papers could give rise to allergic reactions and discomfort for a user of the paper.

Furthermore, by impregnating the toilet paper itself or by locating the scent carrier inside the packing for the paper, the scent is only available after the package has been opened. As a result, such packages can not be used both to retain the characteristics of the paper, such as moisture content, and the integrity of the package against intrusion from chemicals in the environment (which require that the package remain closed); and to permit escape of a scent into the environment during storage prior to use (which requires that the package be opened). As a result, there is no incentive for a user to store a spare roll in the toilet since it could not release its scent until actually in use.

In British Patent No 430,577 there is described a toilet paper holder which incorporates a perforated holder for a scent block which allows scent to permeate both onto the paper during use and into the environment around the holder. However, such a holder does not form part of the

packaging for the toilet paper and requires that the packaging around the paper be at least partially removed prior to insertion of the paper into the holder. As a result, not only is the paper exposed during use to the scent composition, with the attendant risk of contamination of the paper, but the scent holder does not form part of the packaging within which the toilet paper is sold and stored prior to use, thus requiring that the holder be purchased as a separate item. Again, there is no incentive for a user to store a spare packet of toilet paper in the toilet.

I have devised a form of package for a toilet roll which reduces the above conflicting problems with existing designs and enables a toilet roll to be stored prior to use under controlled conditions (thus preserving its quality and protecting it against contamination), which can be made visually attractive and releases a scent into its environment prior to use (thus providing an incentive to a user to store a spare toilet roll in the toilet) without the need for the user to purchase anything other than the toilet roll and it packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a storage container containing one or more packets of toilet paper, which container is adapted to have at least part of a wall thereof removed to permit access to the contents of the container for removal thereof from the container and is provided with means located on or adjacent an outer face of the container wall for preferentially releasing a scent or other volatile material externally of the container into the environment of the container and substantially not into the interior of the container. Preferably, such volatile material releasing means is adapted to be actuated to

release the material prior to removal of the container wall to permit access to the contents of the container.

Preferably, the container is made from a flexible material, notably a cardboard, card or paper or a sheet polymer; and in a preferred form comprises a paper, sheet olastics or similar wrapping around a roll of toilet paper and the means for releasing the scent or other volatile material is carried on or at the exterior surface of the wrapping and is provided with means whereby release of volatile material from the means can be actuated by a user when the container is exposed to a desired environment.

The term packet of toilet paper is used herein in general terms to denote any unitary package containing sheets of toilet paper. The term thus includes generally square or rectangular packs of interleaved single sheets of toilet paper, facial tissues or other absorbent papers, as well as generally cylindrical rolls of toilet paper. For convenience, the term toilet paper will be used herein to denote in general such products and the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of a conventional perforated roll of toilet paper, notably a roll of absorbent tissue paper.

The container of the invention can take a wide range of forms, for example tubular containers or boxes adapted to hold a number of rolls or blocks of interleaved sheets. Furthermore, the container need not be a rigid or semi¬ rigid container, but may be provided by a paper or similar wrapper around the roll or rolls. For example, the invention can be applied to a generally rectangular box- like container adapted to hold one, two or three rolls of toilet paper.

However, the invention is of especial use with toilet rolls each contained in an individual paper or plastics film wrapping. Such toilet rolls can be contained in an outer wrapping, for example a plastic outer bag from which the individual rolls are removed prior to placing in the toilet; or each individual wrapping can carry a removable cover or secondary wrapping which is removed to activate the release of scent from the scent release means as described below.

It is preferred that the container totally enclose the toilet roll(s) and be generally closed so that the individual rolls are maintained in a controlled environment until unwrapped for use and so that the scent released from the scenting means carried by the container can not penetrate to any significant into the contents of the container. Thus, in a preferred form, the container takes the form of a paper or sheet plastic sleeve around the roll of paper having its open ends gathered together to form a substantially closed wrapping around the roll. The open ends are closed for example by being stuffed into the open ends of the cardboard tube upon which such rolls are typically wound. A paper or similar disc held in place by a suitable adhesive is affixed to the wrapping across the open ends of the tube to retain the wrapping in position. Such a sleeve is typically formed by wrapping a sheet of paper around the roll so that the edges of the sheet overlap along an axial line along the roll. If desired adhesive can be applied along part or all of the overlap to retain the wrapping in the form of a sleeve. Although such a form of wrapping is not completely air-tight, I have found that such wrapping is acceptable for present purposes. Alternatively, a thermoplastic sheet material can be used as the wrapping material and the overlaps and joints heat sealed together to provide improved air- tightness to the container. If desired, such a

thermoplastic material can be heat shrunk upon the toilet roll.

The container for the roll(s) of toilet paper is provided with a means for releasing a scent preferentially into the environment around the container so that little or none of the scent composition or its carrier medium contacts the toilet paper within the container, notably before the container is opened to permit access to the contents for use.

The source of scent for use in the containers of the invention can take the form of a slow release card, paper or other carrier medium impregnated with the desired scent which is affixed to an outer surface of a wall of the container, for example as a paper or microporous plastic disc or other shaped panel impregnated with an oil based scent composition. Alternatively, the scent can be incorporated into the wall of the container during its fabrication, e.g. by using a card or paper impregnated with the appropriate scent composition for part or all of an outer surface of the container wall.

If desired, the source of the scent can be incorporated in a form which requires physical rupture of a part of the container in order to release the scent. Thus, the scent composition could be encapsulated in a suitable wax or polymer coating to give a particulate composition which can be applied to part or all of the container wall. The scent is released upon rupturing of the coating, for example by rubbing the edge of a coin across the container wall or by the peeling action of removing a panel or cover affixed over the coated area, when it is desired to activate the release of the scent. The panel or cover may also serve as the closure to the container and its removal permits access to the container for removal of the contents of the

container whilst the scent is released during use of the contents. In this case it will be preferred that the volatile material is located some distance, typically 2 to 5 cms, from the aperture formed in the container wall so that little or none of the volatile material enters the container to contaminate the contents.

The compositions and methods of manufacture of slow or delayed release scent compositions are known in the art and such methods and compositions can be used in the present invention.

Where the scent would otherwise be released to the environment, for example where a scent impregnated disc or wall material is used, it will be desirable to provide some means by which the release of the scent can be delayed until the container is placed into the environment into which the scent is to be released. This can be achieved in a number of ways, for example by applying a foil or similar tear off cover over the scent impregnated area of the container which is removed to activate release of the scent.

Thus, in a preferred form, the invention provides a container where the volatile material is impregnated onto a generally planar carrier substrate which is applied to the exterior of a wall of the container, the substrate being provided with a closure member overlying the area impregnated with the volatile material to provide a closure which is to be removed by a user in order to permit release of the volatile material from the substrate.

Alternatively, the container can be packaged in a secondary wrapping which is removed to exposed the container and thus permit release of the scent from the wall of the container. For example, a number of the containers of the invention

can be packaged in a polyethylene or similar outer wrapping having a tie or similar re-usable closure to permit individual containers to be removed, whilst retaining a substantially scent-tight enclosure for the remaining containers. Since each container is substantially air¬ tight, the toilet paper within it is not exposed until the container is removed to gain access to the contents.

As stated above, the volatile material is released preferentially into the environment around the container and not significantly into the interior of the container. This can be achieved as described above by providing the volatile material in or on the external surface of the wall of the container or in a carrier disc or strip affixed to the exterior of the container or as an external coating applied to the container. In order to minimise penetration of the volatile material or its carrier medium through the wall of the container it may be desirable to provide a plastic sheet or other vapour barrier member between the volatile material and the container wall. Thus, where a scented disc is applied, this will usually carry the scent impregnated pad or encapsulated scent on a.. vapour impervious backing sheet, or the wall of the container can be coated with a suitable plastic film forming composition, eg. a wax or resin solution, over the desired area.

The container walls can be printed with suitable decorative motifs or panels so that the container presents an attractive external appearance to the observer.

The container can be manufactured using conventional techniques. If desired, the container can incorporate other features to enhance its utility. Thus, the walls of the covers which are to be removed to release the scent can be formed with apertures having foldable flaps or louvres, which can be opened or closed to provide a measure of

control of the release of the scent into the surroundings.

The container of the invention provides a means by which a toilet roll can be stored in a controlled environment prior to use, thus retaining the quality intended by the manufacturer, in a visually attractive and distinctive form which will promote the manufacturers image and which will provide a source of scent to combat odours at the same time, thus encouraging the user to have a spare toilet roll accessible in the toilet.

If desired, one or more containers of the invention can be incorporated into a conventional multiple pack of toilet rolls so that a purchaser is provided with one or more pre¬ packed containers suitable for storage for future use, together with one or more toilet rolls ready for immediate use.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a unitary package comprising one or more containers of the invention each containing a toilet paper roll, optionally in association with one or more toilet paper rolls not contained in a container of the invention; the whole being contained within a substantially vapour impervious outer wrapping, notably a plastics or similar outer wrapping.

As indicated above, the containers of the invention can be made using conventional techniques and materials so that the invention can readily be achieved without significant disruption of existing toilet roll manufacturing and packing lines. This is especially the case where the container is wrapped in a conventional paper wrapper to which a scent disc is subsequently applied.

The invention has been described above in terms of a container for a roll of toilet paper. However, it will be

appreciated that the paper need not be intended for use on the toilet, but could be any tissue paper for use upon the person. Thus, the invention can be applied to boxes of face tissues or paper handkerchiefs. Furthermore, the volatile material to be released into the environment of the container need not be merely to combat odours. Thus, the material may contain a medicament, eg. menthol or eucalyptus oil and the term scent as used herein is to denote any volatile material which it is desired to release into the environment of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will be described by way of illustration with respect to two forms of container as shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 3 are perspective views of a toilet roll and a box of tissues respectively; and Figures 2 and 4 are vertical sectional views through the containers of Figures 1 and 3 respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

The toilet roll package of Figure 1 comprises a conventional roll of perforated tissue paper 1 in a substantially airtight wrapping of a paper sleeve 2 having each of its ends gathered together into the tube 3 upon which the paper roll is wound. The ends of the sleeve are sealed with a paper disc 4 held in place by a PVA or other suitable adhesive. Such a wrapped toilet roll can be produced from conventional materials and by conventional techniques.

The toilet roll is provided with a scent disc 5 which can either be formed integrally with disc 4 -or can be affixed as a separate component to the package ^" . As shown, the disc

5 has a peel off outer plastic, paper or metal foil layer

6 which exposes a scent impregnated pad 7 when it is desired to activate the release of scent into the environment around the package. In this way the generally airtight packaging around the toilet paper itself is retained whilst the scent disc is exposed to the environment.

When the toilet paper is required, the paper wrapping 2 is removed and discarded, thus exposing the toilet paper for access by a user.

In an alternative form of the package of Figure 1, the scent disc 4 can carry a scent composition encapsulated in a suitable polymer or other coating which is applied to the outer face of disc 4. The disc is activated by rubbing a coin or the like across the disc to rupture the capsules or by the peeling action of the removal of a cover strip or sheet overlying the capsules.

The package of Figure 1 can also or alternatively be wrapped in a removable outer paper or similar wrapping 8 which is removed to exposed the package and its scent disc 4 when it is desired to place the package in the toilet for imminent use and to expose the disc 4 to the environment.

In the case of the package shown in Figures 2 and 4, the container is a cardboard or similar box 10 of conventional rectangular form containing interleaved single sheets of facial or other tissue. The box has a tear out section or panel 11 through which the sheets can be withdrawn by a user. Typically, this panel is formed by perforating the wall of the box around the periphery of the section or panel 11 so that the section or panel is releasably attached to the wall until it is required. to remove it.

The box can carry a scent panel similar to either form of the scent disc 4 described above. Alternatively, a scent composition can be incorporated into the outer face of the cardboard from which the box is made, for example by incorporating a scent into an outer layer of a laminated construction; or capsules of the scent can be applied to an area of the outer face of the box for rupturing to release the scent. For example, such capsules can be applied to an area 12 of a wall of the container and covered with a removable panel 13, the removal of which ruptures the capsules to release the scent.

The box 10 can be wrapped in a secondary wrapping as described above if desired.

The outer face of the box 10 or the sleeve 2 can be printed with decorative motifs or the like to make the package more aesthetically attractive and can also carry the name of the manufacturer so that a user is reminded of the name of the manufacturer at all times. The invention can be applied to sample boxes or sachets of facial tissues with the scent disc or capsules containing a particular perfume which a perfume manufacturer wishes to promote.

I believe that the scent discs for use in the invention are novel and the invention provides a generally planar member adapted to be affixed to a substrate and having scent releasing means applied to one face thereof; and a scent impervious member applied over that face whereby the scent is released into the environment of the member by removal of part or all of the scent impervious member. Preferably, the other face of the planar member is provided with an adhesive layer whereby the member can be affixed to a substrate. Preferably, the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive applied as a coating to one face of the planar member and the scent releasing means is either a

scent impregnated pad or an encapsulated scent composition applied as a layer to the other face of the planar member; and both the adhesive and scent releasing layers are covered by a removable cover, eg. of paper, plastics or metal foil.