Personal sanitary wipe dispensing device

Abstract

A personal dispensing device having a container adapted to hold disposable sanitary wipes within. The container includes an aperture to dispense the wipes, wherein the container includes a selectively openable lid to allow insertion of the wipes into the container. The device preferably includes an attachment feature which coupled to a rear exterior surface of the container, wherein the attachment feature is adapted to attach the dispensing device to an external object. The attachment feature can be an actuatable clip, a loop member or any other mechanism. The device preferably has a rear exterior surface which has an arcuate shape adapted to mate with an exterior surface of a fluid container. The device preferably includes a compartment which is adapted to hold discarded wipes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hygiene products, and in particular, to a refillable personal sanitary wipe dispensing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, many people have discovered that the timeworn combination of soap, water and faucets isn't the only way to clean one's hands, face, or otherwise “wash up.” There exist myriad anti-bacterial gels and wipes designed to help people cleanup wherever they may be. However, while personal sanitary gels cannot be used effectively on surfaces such as tables and kitchen counter-tops, a variety of sanitary wipes can be effectively used for these purposes. But they do have limitations, in that most types of sanitary wipes are packaged in relatively large and cumbersome containers and are thus awkward to conveniently carry from place to place, such as at the gym or when fly fishing.

Therefore, what is needed is a refillable personal sanitary wipe dispensing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a personal dispensing device which comprises a body that is configured to hold disposable wipes in an interior compartment. The body is configured to selectively dispense wipes, wherein the body is selectively openable to insert disposable wipes into the interior compartment. The body includes an exterior surface and an aperture in the exterior surface which is adapted to dispense wipes therethrough, whereby the aperture is in communication with the interior compartment of the body. The device includes a selectively openable lid which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the interior compartment is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The body includes a rear external surface which adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto. Such attachment member includes, but is not limited to, a belt clip, a magnet, adhesive, hook and loop, and loop belt. The rear external surface can have an arcuate shape which allows the device to mate with an exterior surface of a fluid container, or other object. The device can also include a disposal compartment which holds discarded wipes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a personal dispensing device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the personal dispensing device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a personal dispensing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a personal dispensing device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 preferably includes a container body 102 having a front surface 104, a rear surface 106, and two sides 108, 110 between the front and rear surfaces 104, 106. The body 102 also includes a top 112 as well as a bottom 114, whereby the top 112 preferably has an opening 115 which leads into a container within the body 102. The body 102 also preferably includes a top cover 116 which is preferably attached to the body 102 at the top 112. The top cover 116 selectively opens and closes to allow access to the interior of the container body 102. However the top cover 116 can be attached to the body 102 in any other appropriate way to allow selective access to the interior of the container 102. It is not necessary for the cover 116 to be located at the top 112. Thus, the device 100 can include an opening means which is located anywhere on the body 102 (e.g. side, front, back).

The container 102 is preferably sized to contain one or more sanitary fiber wipes 99 therein. It is preferred that the container 102 is configured to receive a stack of wipes as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the wipes 99 are inserted into the container through the opening 114 in the top 112. Alternatively, the wipes 99 are insertable into the container from any other side of the body 102. The container body 102 is preferably made of a material which will not rust from the fluid in the sanitary wipe, such as plastic. In addition, the container body 102 is preferably configured to prevent moisture from escaping from the wipes 99 when stored inside the container body 102.

In the preferred embodiment, the body 102 includes a circular dispensing aperture 118 preferably along the front surface 101, as shown in FIG. 1. The dispensing aperture 118 communicates with the interior of the container body 102, whereby individual sanitary wipes are dispensable through the dispensing aperture 118. The aperture 118 preferably includes a number of times which serve to separate the wipes from one another when the user pulls a wipe through the aperture 118. Although the dispensing aperture 118 is circular in FIG. 1, the dispensing aperture can be any other shape or configuration.

A closeable door 119 is shown connected to the body 102 at the hinge 132, whereby the door 119 is used to prevent the wipe 99 from being exposed and thereby preserving the moisture of the wipes 99 when not in use. The door 119 is preferably able to snap open and shut at the user's desire. In another embodiment, the device 100 does not include a door.

In one embodiment, upon the stack of wipes 99 being loaded into the container body 102, the first wipe in the stack 99 preferably protrudes out through the aperture 118 and is exposed. In another embodiment, the wipe 99 to be dispensed is not exposed outside of the body 102, but is easily able to be dispensed. Preferably, the user simply pulls the wipe 99 to be dispensed through the dispensing aperture 118 when desired. In one embodiment, the dispensing aperture 118 is configured to automatically draw the next wipe in the wipe stack 99 through the dispensing aperture 118 when the exposed wipe is pulled through the dispensing aperture 118. In one embodiment, the dispensing aperture 118 is configured to prevent moisture in the wipes 99 from escaping through the dispensing aperture 118 even when the door 119 is open.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stack of wipes 99 are able to be selectively loaded into the device 100 through the top 112. In another embodiment, the stack of wipes are able to be loaded into the device 100 through a side, back or bottom of the body 102. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wipes 99 are stacked horizontally. In another embodiment, the wipes 99 are stacked vertically. In one embodiment, a stack of wipes 99, itself, is inserted into the body 102 by the user. In another embodiment, the wipes 99 are configured in a cartridge unit which is insertable into the container 102 by the user. The cartridge unit can be configured to be ejected from the container 102 by actuating a button or other mechanism, whereby the spent cartridge unit is ejected after all of the wipes have been dispensed. The cartridge unit can then be refilled with new wipes 99 by the user in one embodiment. Alternatively, the cartridge unit can be disposed of, whereby the user inserts a new replacement cartridge unit into the body 102. In another embodiment, the entire dispensing device 100 is disposable, whereby the container body 102 does not allow insertion of additional wipes. In one embodiment, the wipes 99 are specially sized to fit within the device 100 of the present invention. In another embodiment, the wipes 99 inserted into the device 100 are standard sizes which are available in the market.

In one embodiment, the device 100 includes a disposal chute 120, as shown in FIG. 1. The disposal chute 120 allows the individual to use the present device without having to worry about where to discard the used wipes. The disposal chute 120 is shown in FIG. 1 attached to one side 103 of the body 102 (i.e. the left side of the body). However, the disposal chute 110 is alternatively located anywhere else on the body 102, such as the right side of the body. In another embodiment, the chute 110 is located inside the compartment 102. The disposal chute 120 can be removable from the body 102 or alternatively mounted to the body 102 permanently. In one embodiment, the disposal chute 120 includes an aperture in the top opening 122, whereby the user can dispose of the used wipes by placing or stuffing them inside the chute 120 via the top opening aperture 122. In one embodiment, the disposal chute 120 can include a closeable top to selectively enclose the disposal chute 120 when not in use.

In one embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chute 130 includes an emptying mechanism to empty the chute 120 of disposed wipes. The mechanism preferably includes a vertically movable surface 124 located within the chute 120 which is coupled to a slide feature 126. It is preferred that the movable surface 124 remains near the bottom surface of the chute when not in use, although not necessarily. The slide feature 126 preferably protrudes through a groove 128 which is located on the outer surface of the chute 120. The movable surface 124 is configured to be moveable in the vertical direction along the height of the chute 120 upon actuation of the slide feature 126. Thus, as the slide feature 126 is vertically raised along the groove 128, the attached surface 124 also moves vertically toward the top opening 122. As the surface 124 moves toward the top opening 122, any disposed wipes disposed in the chute 120 will be pushed out of the top opening 122 of the chute 120. In another embodiment, the surface 124 can push the disposed wipes out of an opening in the bottom of the chute 120. It should be noted that the disposal chute 120 and emptying mechanism can be configured in a variety of ways and is no way limiting to the manner or means described herein. For instance, the chute 120 can merely be an expandable pouch which can be disposable or reuseable. Alternatively, the device 100 does not include a disposal chute 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the personal dispensing device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereby the chute is located on the left side of the body 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the device includes a belt clip 130 which is attached to the rear side 106 of the container body 102. The belt clip 130 allows the device 100 to be carried on the user belt or other clothing. In one embodiment, the belt clip 130 is removable from the rear side 106 of the body 102 to allow other attachment means to be coupled to the body 102. For example, the device 100 can alternatively include a magnet, adhesive, or hook and loop strap (Velcro®) on the rear surface 106 which allows the device 100 to be secured to any surface.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a personal dispensing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the device 200 includes a loop belt 206 attached to the rear side 204 of the container 202. The loop belt 206 allows the device 200 to be coupled to an external object, such as a bottle 98 or the user arm. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 may be useful for an individual exercising at a gym, whereby the individual can have easy access to wipes 99 while not having to carry the device 200 separately. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear side 204 of the container 202 is arcuate or curved shape such that the device 200 is able to contour the curved outer surface of the object. In another embodiment, the rear side 204 does not have an arcuate shape. In one embodiment, the loop 206 is adjustable such that the device 200 can be attached to any size bottle. The adjustable loop 206 would also allow the present device 200 to be attached to any external object (e.g. shoulder strap of a backpack or diaper bag).

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalence.

Claims

1. A personal dispensing device comprising a body configured to hold disposable wipes in an interior compartment, the body configured to selectively dispense wipes, wherein the body is selectively openable to insert disposable wipes into the interior compartment.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises an exterior surface and an aperture in the exterior surface adapted to dispense wipes therethrough, the aperture in communication with the interior compartment of the body.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a selectively openable lid moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the interior compartment is accessible when the lid is in the open position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto, wherein the attachment member is an actuatable clip.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto, wherein the attachment member is a loop member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface having an arcuate shape, the rear external surface adapted to mate with an exterior surface of a fluid container.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a compartment adapted to hold discarded wipes.

9. A personal dispensing device comprising:

a. an enclosed body having an interior compartment to hold sanitary wipes, the body having an aperture in communication with the interior compartment; and

b. a lid coupled to the body and configured to selectively allow access to the interior of the body.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto, wherein the attachment member is an actuatable clip.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface adapted to face an external object and having an attachment member coupled thereto, wherein the attachment member is a loop member.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises a rear external surface having an arcuate shape, the rear external surface adapted to mate with an exterior surface of a fluid container.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises a compartment adapted to hold discarded wipes.

15. A wearable personal dispensing device comprising:

a. a container adapted to hold disposable wipes within, the container including an aperture to dispense the wipes, wherein the container includes a selectively openable lid to allow insertion of the wipes into the container; and

b. an attachment feature coupled to a rear exterior surface of the container, wherein the attachment feature is adapted to attach the dispensing device to an external object.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the attachment feature is an actuatable clip.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the attachment feature is a loop member.

18. The device of claim 15 further comprising a door coupled to the container to allow selective access to the aperture.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the rear exterior surface has an arcuate shape adapted to mate with an exterior surface of a fluid container.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the body further comprises a compartment adapted to hold discarded wipes.