Special receptacle or package – Nesting or vertical stacking within container or within...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-15
2001-05-29
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Nesting or vertical stacking within container or within...
C206S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237774
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stack of contiguous elements (e.g., filter elements) in a container that are intended for individual use outside of the container, which elements have sufficient engagement with adjacent elements in the stack to normally maintain the integrity of the stack when it is handled.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known in the prior art are stacks of contiguous filter elements in a container that are intended for individual use outside of the container (e.g., the coffee and tea filters sold by “BUNN” (registered trade mark)). Those filter elements have sufficient engagement with adjacent filter elements in the stack to normally maintain the integrity of the stack when it is handled. Difficulties arise when a user removes the stack of filter elements from the container and attempts to remove a single filter element from the stack. The outer edges of the filter elements are closely disposed, very flexible, and of somewhat fragile consistency so that it is difficult for the user to separate a single filter element from the other filter elements in the stack. A user will typically pick at the edge of the stack with his or her fingernails, and if that causes separation of filter elements in the stack it will often cause separation of two or three filter elements that then have to be separated from each other in a separate operation. This difficulty in separating a single filter element can be frustrating and can reflect negatively on use of the filter elements.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention facilitates separation of a single element from a stack of elements, such as separation of a single filter element of the type described above.
The present invention provides the combination of a container, a stack within the container of contiguous stacked elements intended for individual use outside of the container, which elements have sufficient engagement with adjacent elements in the stack to normally maintain the integrity of the stack when it is handled; and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive firmly attached along a surface of the container. The adhesive is adapted to adhere sufficiently to an outer or end element in the stack to separate at least a portion of that end element from the adjacent element in the stack when that end element is pressed against the layer of adhesive and the stack of elements is then moved away from the adhesive; and the adhesive is adapted so that the separated element can then be easily peeled from the layer of adhesive.
The layer of pressure sensitive adhesive can be attached along any of the surfaces of the container that is positioned to facilitate pressing the stack of elements against it, such as one of the outer surfaces of the container, or an inner surface of a cover for the container.
A release liner can be removably adhered over the surface of the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive opposite the container to restrict contact with the adhesive when it is not being used to separate an element from the stack.
The present invention has been found to be particularly useful in separating a single filter element from a generally cup shaped stack of similar porous filter elements formed of non woven fibers in which the shape of the stack and the fibers of adjacent filter elements provide sufficient engagement between adjacent filter elements in the stack to normally maintain the integrity of the stack when it is handled (e.g., the coffee and tea filter elements sold by “BUNN” (registered trade mark)).
REFERENCES:
patent: 2112959 (1938-04-01), Harvey
patent: 4362623 (1982-12-01), Holopainen
patent: 5741535 (1998-04-01), Cope et al.
patent: 5884763 (1999-03-01), Ozawa
patent: 5924563 (1999-07-01), Salyers
patent: 6116418 (2000-09-01), Sadow
Bui Luan K.
Huebsch William L.
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