Dispensing Container with Handle Means
Improved dispensing containers of the invention comprise a container part having a cavity adapted for containing a plurality of preimpregnated treatment wipes, preferably wherein the said wipes are a roll of treatment wipe articles which can be separated by a consumer prior to use, a cap through which one or more of the treatment wipes can be dispensed by being withdrawn from the cavity were the cap or part thereof is optionally but preferably resealable, and further wherein the dispensing container comprises at least one handle means. The handle means preferably depends from a part of the container, such as the container part, the cap, or both or alternately can be integrally formed as part of the container part, the cap, or both. The handle means may operate to provide an element which can facilitate the grip of the dispensing container and/or retention of the dispensing container by the hand or hands of a consumer holding, or otherwise retaining the container in the close proximity of a consumer utilizing the dispensing container during a surface treatment operation. The handle means may also operate to retain a connecting means.
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The present invention relates to improvements in containers. More specifically the present invention relates to improved dispensing containers adapted to hold and to dispense sheet-like articles, especially treatment wipes.
Treatment wipes which comprise substrate, typically a fibrous substrate or other flexible substrate material which are preimpregnated with a quantity of a surface treatment composition are well known. Such are popular and in widespread commercial use. The nature of the treatment compositions vary widely, and include for example hard surface treatment compositions, disinfecting or sanitizing compositions, furniture polish compositions, window cleaning compositions, as well as many more. Such treatment wipes are popular as they are particularly convenient from a consumer perspective. Use of a treatment wipe provides for a clean substrate which is predosed or preimpregnated with an appropriate amount of the treatment composition which is utilized by a consumer for (typically) a single surface treatment operation. The treatment wipe is used to simultaneously dispense the treatment composition to a hard surface or other surface in need of treatment, optionally can be used to abrade or “scrub” the surface being treated, and simultaneously any released soils are typically at least partially absorbed into or adsorbed onto the treatment wipe. After the treatment operation, the treatment wipe is typically disposed of by the consumer. In the next operation, a new treatment wipe is used for the succeeding surface treatment operation. Such use is popular as it negates the need for requiring both a separate wiping article, and a separate treatment composition supplied by a flask, bottle, aerosol canister, and the like. Furthermore, the use of a new treatment wipe ensures that potential resoiling, such as by use of a dirty or already soiled treatment applicator, e.g., wipe, sponge, pad and the like is avoided. Further, such preimpregnated treatment wipes are conveniently stored between uses. Typically, plurality of treatment wipes, such as a web of an appropriate substrate which is preimpregnated with a surface treatment composition are typically provided within a resealable dispensing container either as a plurality of single treatment wipes, or as a roll of treatment wipe articles which can be separated by a consumer prior to use. For surface treatment applications, a preferred format is to provide a roll of treatment wipe articles which can be separated by a consumer prior to use which roll is typically provided in a cylindrical dispensing container having an opening at one end, which is spanned by a (typically) resealable cap through which the treatment wipes may be pulled and dispensed. Between uses, the cap may be closed or sealed to avoid premature volatilization or drying out of the preimpregnated treatment wipes.
While such dispensing containers are satisfactory and in widespread use, they suffer from several shortcomings. A primary shortcoming is that typically, the diameter of the dispensing container is difficult to hold for smaller hands. Furthermore, as such dispensing containers are typically also formed of a polyolefin material, which has inherent lubricating properties, a consumer utilizing a preimpregnated treatment wipe typically has moist or wet hands which provide a poor gripping surface and which poor grip is exacerbated by the polyolefin material which undesirably causes the dispensing container to easily slip and fall out of a consumer's hands. Furthermore, these problems are exaggerated with larger and/or heavier dispensing containers which are used to store and dispense larger quantities of treatment wipes. This is due to the fact that with increasing internal volume required to contain a larger number of treatment wipes, the exterior dimensions and in particular the diameter of such dispensing containers increases proportionately. Larger or “economy sized” dispensing containers may have a diameter in excess of 4, 5 or 6 inches making them virtually impossible to securely grip in one hand by most consumers.
These and other shortcomings known to the art are overcome by the improved dispensing containers according to the present invention. The improved dispensing containers of the invention comprise a container part having a cavity adapted for containing a plurality of preimpregnated treatment wipes, preferably wherein the said wipes are roll or other plurality of treatment wipe articles which can be dispensed or separated by a consumer prior to use, a cap through which one or more of the treatment wipes can be dispensed by being withdrawn from the cavity where the cap or part thereof is optionally but preferably resealable, and further wherein the dispensing container comprises at least one handle (or gripping) means. The handle means preferably depends from a part of the container, such as the container part, the cap, or both or alternately can be integrally formed as part of the container part, the cap, or both. The handle means preferably extends outwardly from the container when the container is configured in an “open” configuration allowing for the withdrawal of the treatment wipes therefrom. The handle means may operate to provide an element which can facilitate the grip of the dispensing container and/or retention of the dispensing container by the hand or hands of a consumer holding, or otherwise retaining the container in the close proximity of a consumer utilizing the dispensing container during a surface treatment operation, e.g., such as by suspending the container. The handle means may also operate to retain a connecting means, such as a lanyard, cord, string, rope, clip, buckle, band, belt, and the like which can be used to removably connect the dispensing container to a body part of the consumer (e.g., a wrist strap, a lanyard, etc.) or to a part of the consumer's clothing (e.g., a belt, a belt loop, a button, etc.) whereby the container can be suspended or supported via this connecting means retaining it within the immediate proximity of the consumer, but not requiring that the consumer hold or carry the dispensing container. The said connecting means can be provided by the consumer, or can be prepackaged with a dispensing container when the latter is sold to a consumer. Further, the said connecting means can be conveniently detached from the handle means of the dispensing container in between cleaning treatment operations and/or when the dispensing container is stored for a period of time between uses.
Advantageously such an improved dispensing container provides facilitates the transport and use of the dispensing container and the treatment wipes which are dispensed therefrom. The improved dispensing containers taught herein provided an added convenience benefit to a consumer, in that such a container may be carried or suspended by/from one hand of the consumer, permitting for the hand or part thereof to carry a further article, such as cleaning article or implement (e.g., brush, trigger-spray bottle, broom, sponge, and the like) thereby providing for a “hands-free” benefit whereby a consumers hand(s) are not primarily or solely engaged in gripping or carrying the dispensing container between uses.
Exemplary and preferred embodiments of the improved dispensing containers according to the present invention are illustrated in the following figures.
It is to be understood that although not necessarily shown, a connecting means 70 and optionally, an openable clip 74, may be used with any embodiment of at the dispensing container 10.
Claims
1. An improved dispensing container adapted for storing and dispensing one or more treatment wipes, comprising:
- a container part adapted to storing said one or more treatment wipes;
- a cap through which one or more of the treatment wipes can be dispensed by being withdrawn from the cavity were the cap or part thereof is optionally resealable; and
- a handle means.
2. A dispensing container according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a connecting means.
3. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the said cap or part thereof is resealable.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 11, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 4, 2013
Applicant: Reckitt Benckiser LLC (Parsippany, NJ)
Inventor: Taco Dietvorst (Eindhoven)
Application Number: 13/639,610
International Classification: B65D 85/16 (20060101);