Sliding cover for moist wipes dispenser

Abstract

A moist wipes dispenser including a receptacle in which moist wipes are disposed, the receptacle defining an opening through which the moist wipes are removable from the receptacle, and a cover that slides over the opening, the cover including a closed position wherein the cover is secured to the receptacle and overlies the opening and an open position wherein the cover is slid sufficiently to permit removing at least one of the moist wipes from the receptacle via the opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to readily openable and reclosable dispensers for dispensing individual moisture-impregnated tissues, also referred to interchangeably herein as moist wipes dispensers or boxes, and particularly to such a moist wipe dispenser with a sliding cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is nothing more frustrating to a parent than trying to hold and steady his/her infant with one hand while at the same time trying to open up a moist tissue dispenser and pull out the tissues with the other hand. This is not only awkward and aggravating, but sometimes is impossible to accomplish due to the construction of the moist tissue dispenser.

It is better for both the parent and the infant if the parent can simply and easily open up a moist tissue dispenser with one hand and also pull out subsequent tissues with only one hand. For the parent, aggravation and frustration are greatly reduced if the moist tissue can be retrieved from the dispenser while the parent is performing the delicate balancing act of holding the child, opening the dispenser, pulling out a moist tissue, cleaning the child, closing the dispenser, and then reopening the dispenser and pulling out another tissue, and possibly even repeating these steps as necessary. For the child, if the parent can open the dispenser and retrieve the moist tissue with only one hand, safety is increased since the parent can use the other hand to hold and steady the child so the child is less likely to crawl off a changing table or slip from the arms of the parent.

Dispensers, boxes or canisters (the terms being used interchangeably throughout) for moist wipes, towelettes, moisture-impregnated tissues and the like (the terms being used interchangeably throughout) generally contain a hinged lid or pop-up opening.

One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,506 to Julius, which describes a resealable dispenser for dispensing a plurality of interleaved, individual moisture-impregnated articles, such as moist tissues, includes a housing having sufficient rigidity to retain its shape subsequent to its manufacture, side and a unitary top wall having a substantially planar outer surface and a recessed portion provided with an orifice for removing individual moist tissues from the housing through the orifice. The recessed portion is formed to accommodate a portion of one of the moist tissues projecting from said orifice so as to allow pop-up dispensing. A resealable flexible label is attached to the outer surface of said top wall and completely covers the recessed portion whereby moist tissues can be individually removed from the housing such that subsequent tissues are drawn into a removal position with a portion of the next tissue remaining within the recess. The flexible label can be resealably sealed to the outer surface of the top wall when a subsequent tissue is in its pop-up, removal position.

Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,101 to Schultz which describes a moist wipes container comprising a lid having an orifice therein for withdrawal of the wipes, and a cap over the orifice to prevent evaporation of liquid from the container. The wipes may be placed in the container in roll form, and withdrawn sequentially and individually by pulling through the orifice and tearing apart at perforations between the wipes. The lid is removably attached by a snap fit to the container, and the lower edge of the lid is protected by an outwardly extending circumferential protrusion on the vertical side of the container adjacent the lower edge of the lid, so as to inhibit accidental removal of the lid. An opening is provided in the protrusion to permit removal of the lid as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved moist wipes dispenser with a sliding cover, as described more in detail hereinbelow.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a moist wipes dispenser comprising a receptacle in which moist wipes are disposed, the receptacle defining an opening through which the moist wipes are removable from the receptacle, and a cover that slides over the opening, the cover comprising a closed position wherein the cover is secured to the receptacle and overlies the opening and an open position wherein the cover is slid sufficiently to permit removing at least one of the moist wipes from the receptacle via the opening.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the cover is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention n the receptacle comprises side walls extending from a bottom surface, the side walls forming a top-facing edge that defines the opening.

Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the cover comprises a non-sliding interface member attached to the receptacle, the interface member being formed with an aperture aligned with the opening, and a sliding member that slides with respect to the interface member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the interface member comprises a protrusion that the sliding member snappingly slides over when the cover is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in the sliding member comprises a finger-gripping portion.

Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the finger-gripping portion comprises a depression formed on a top surface of the sliding member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the interface member and the sliding member are slidingly attached to one another by means of a channel that slides over a rail. The rail may be formed on the interface member and the channel may be formed on the sliding member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a moist wipes dispenser, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a moist wipes dispenser, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a moist wipes dispenser 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Moist wipes dispenser 10 may comprise a receptacle 12 in which moist wipes 14 are disposed. Receptacle 12 preferably defines an opening 16 through which moist wipes 14 are removable from receptacle 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, receptacle 12 is a solid (e.g., plastic) box.

A cover 18 may be provided that slides over opening 16. The solid lines in FIG. 1 show cover 18 in an open position wherein cover 18 is slid sufficiently to permit removing one or more moist wipes 14 from receptacle 12 via opening 16. Cover 18 may comprise a closed position, indicated by phantom lines and arrow 17 in FIG. 1, wherein cover 18 is secured to receptacle 12 and overlies opening 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, cover 18 is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. However, the invention is not limited to straight-line movement and cover 18 may be slid in a rotary manner, for example.

Receptacle 12 and cover 18 may be constructed of a sturdy plastic. Receptacle 12 may have side walls 20 that extend from a bottom surface 22. The side walls 20 may form a top-facing edge that defines the boundaries of opening 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, cover 18 may comprise a non-sliding interface member 24 attached to receptacle 12, such as by snugly fitting over the top-facing edge of side walls 20. The interface member 24 may be formed with an aperture 26 aligned with opening 16. A sliding member 28 may be provided that slides with respect to interface member 24.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, interface member 24 comprises a protrusion 30 that sliding member 28 snappingly slides over when cover 18 is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

Sliding member 28 may comprise a finger-gripping portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment, finger-gripping portion 32 comprises a depression formed on a top surface of sliding member 28.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, interface member 24 and sliding member 28 may be slidingly attached to one another by means of a channel 36 that slides over a rail 34. In the illustrated embodiment, rail 34 is formed on interface member 24 and channel 36 is formed on sliding member 28, however, the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1, except that in FIG. 2, cover 18 is used with a receptacle 40 that comprises a flexible refill pack. All the other elements are numbered as in FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

1. A moist wipes dispenser comprising:

a receptacle in which moist wipes are disposed, said receptacle defining an opening through which said moist wipes are removable from said receptacle; and

a cover that slides over said opening, said cover comprising a closed position wherein said cover is secured to said receptacle and overlies said opening and an open position wherein said cover is slid sufficiently to permit removing at least one of said moist wipes from said receptacle via said opening.

2. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said cover is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

3. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises side walls extending from a bottom surface, said side walls forming a top-facing edge that defines said opening.

4. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a non-sliding interface member attached to said receptacle, said interface member being formed with an aperture aligned with said opening, and a sliding member that slides with respect to said interface member.

5. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said interface member comprises a protrusion that said sliding member snappingly slides over when said cover is slid in a translatory motion from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

6. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said sliding member comprises a finger-gripping portion.

7. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said finger-gripping portion comprises a depression formed on a top surface of said sliding member.

8. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said interface member and said sliding member are slidingly attached to one another by means of a channel that slides over a rail.

9. The moist wipes dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said rail is formed on said interface member and said channel is formed on said sliding member.