Wipes Canister
A packaging container for dispensing wipes, which includes a lid and a base for storing a roll of wipes that is dispensed through an aperture on the lid side surface from the outside of the roll inward.
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to packaging containers for dispensing wet wipes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a packaging container designed to store and dispense a roll of wet wipes.
2. Description of Related Art
Containers that dispense moist wipes are well known in the art. Current packaging containers are widely available in different sizes, shapes, and designs. But many of these packaging containers either have complicated dispensing mechanisms, or no dispensing mechanisms at all. Moreover, the packing containers are not easy-to-open, nor easy-to-use.
Most packaging containers are designed to store a center-dispensing roll of wipes or a vertical stack of interfolded wipes out of the top of the container. Packing containers that store a center dispensing roll of wipes are typically designed to dispense wipes from inside of the roll. When wipes are dispensed from the inside, a user must apply greater force to remove a single wipe. This design also frequently causes the second wipe, which is simultaneously being drawn with the first wipe being pulled, to become disconnected before it is pulled through the opening. Put differently, because a user must apply greater force to remove a wipe from center-dispensing rolls, the perforation that connects consecutive wipes is often broken prematurely.
In addition to the dispensing problems, current packaging containers have covers that are difficult to reclose after use. The location and design of the apertures, and poorly engineered covers require users to manipulate the protruding portion of a wipe in order to close the cover. Accordingly, there is a need for a more user-friendly container.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURETo answer this need, the present invention provides in one embodiment a dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising a container base comprising a bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment; a lid attached to the container base, wherein the lid comprises a body, the body having a top surface and side surface; an aperture entirely within the side surface of the of the body of the lid; and a roll of wet wipes in the compartment positioned to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll as the roll unwinds.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising a container base comprising a bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment; a lid attached to the container base and defining one end of the dispenser, wherein the lid includes a body having a top surface, side surface, and back surface; an aperture entirely within the side surface of the lid positioned beneath a cover; and a roll of wet wipes in the compartment positioned to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll as the roll unwinds.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising a container base comprising a bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment for storing a roll of wet wipes; a lid attached to the container base, wherein the lid includes a body having a top surface and a side surface; an aperture entirely within the side surface and having a first portion and second portion that are in communication via a channel defined by a retention tab; and a the roll of wet wipes positioned in the compartment to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll; wherein the container has a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, and oval.
As used herein, the term “wet wipe” refers to a fibrous sheet that has a liquid applied to the entire roll of wipes thereto during manufacture or prior to dispensing. The amount of liquid or solution contained within each wet wipe can vary depending upon the type of material being used to provide the wet wipe, the type of liquid being used, the type of container being used to store the roll of wet wipes, and the desired end use of the wet wipe. Generally, each wet wipe can contain from about 25 to about 600 weight percent or from about 200 to about 400 weight percent liquid based on the dry weight of the wipe, for improved wiping in certain situations. The liquid can include a fragrance, cleaning agents, sanitizing agents, and/or an emollient and can serve to aid the fibrous sheet in retention of materials, which are to be wiped up during its utilization. Rolls of wet wipes useful with the invention can contain from as little as a few linear inches (or cm) to more than 450 linear inches (11.43 m), to more than linear 600 inches (15.24 m) to more than a thousand linear inches (25.40 m) of wet wipes. The rolls can have a web of material that can have any number of sheets. Usually, the sheets are separated by perforations that enable the sheet to be easily torn from the web but are strong enough that they will not separate while the web is being pulled from the dispenser.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain various aspects of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:
Representative embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to
According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a packaging container for dispensing a roll of pre-moistened wet wipes. The packaging containers of the present invention are not suitable for stack of wipes for dry paper towels. The wipes may also be woven or nonwoven. And, although the containers may generally be made of plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene, it will be understood that the container may be made of any suitable material, such as wood products. Suitable materials may include rigid materials or flexible materials or both. The containers shown in the figures and described the embodiments are not limited to any particular size or shape.
Referring now to
There are many alternative means for attaching the lid 130 to the base 110. For example, the lid 130 may be manufactured with one or more ridges that can be snap-fitted into the receiving grooves in the base 110. Or, the lid 130 may be designed so that it can be friction-fitted to the base 110. In still another embodiment, the lid 130 may be hinged to the base 110 using a living hinge. It will be appreciated that the lid 130 may be attached to the base 110 using any means. The lid 130 also may be formed integral with the base 110. In one embodiment, the lid 130 is attached to the base 110 with a moisture retention seal, such as spaced micro-bead elements as described in U.S. Pat. App. 2007/0045315 to Evans et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The micro-bead element moisture retention seal allows the lid 130 to be rotated relative to the base 110 in order to line up the first wipe from the outside of the roll. Once the first wipe is aligned, the wipes can be dispensed from the aperture, as described below.
As shown in
Still referring to
In one embodiment, the cover 134 may be connected to the side surface 138. The cover 134 may be attached to the side surface 138 opposite from the back surface 144. The cover 134 may be centered on the side surface 138, or it might be off-centered to either the right or left of the center of the side surface 138. The cover 134 may be connected to the body 132 in a manner that allows the cover 134 to pivot between an opened and closed position. The cover 134 may be permanently attached to the body 132 by a hinge, e.g. a living hinge. Any suitable hinge or connecting means that enables the cover 134 to pivot between an opened and closed position may be used to attach the cover 134 to the body 132. The cover 134 may even snap off entirely. The cover 134 may be attached to the body 132 so that it opens from right-to-left or from left-to-right. The cover 134 may be shaped consistently with the side surface 138, thereby the cover 134 when closed, may form a flat and continuous surface with the side surface 138, as best shown in
Still referring to
Referring to
Located inside of the indentation 140 may be an aperture 206. The aperture 206 may provide a user with access, through the body 132 of the lid 130, to a roll of wipes 210 stored inside of the container 100. The aperture 206 may comprise a first portion 212 and a second portion 214. The first portion 212 may be in communication with the second portion 214 via a channel 216. The channel 216 may generally be a narrow passageway for a user to move a wipe drawn initially through the first portion 212 into the second portion 214. In one embodiment, a retention tab 218 may define the channel 216, and substantially separate the first portion 212 from the second portion 214. The retention tab 218 may prevent a threaded wipe from retreating back though the aperture 206. Further the retention tab 218 may facilitate separating individual wipes. Either the first portion 212 or the second portion 214 may be adapted to allow a user to access the roll of wipes 210. In one embodiment, the first portion 214 may be large enough that an average adult may comfortably and easily access the roll of wipes 210 to initially thread a wipe through the first portion 212. The aperture 206 may be located anywhere along the side surface 138. The first portion 212 and second portion 214 may be of different sizes and shapes. In one embodiment, first portion 212 may be substantially larger than the second portion 214. In this embodiment, the second portion 214 may be sized to prevent a threaded wipe from falling back inside the container 100.
It will be understood that the aperture 206 may be located anywhere on the container 100. For example, the aperture 206 may be located in the base 110, rather than in the lid 130. In that embodiment, the removable lid 130 may be used to refill the container 100, and the dispensing aperture 206 may be located in the base 110, for example. In addition, if the aperture 206 were in the container base 110, the cover 134 may also be connected or attached to the container base 110 and be adapted to secure over the aperture 206.
Referring to
The recessed well 142 may be formed at the end opposite of where the cover 134 may be connected to the body 132. The depth of the recessed well 142 may be changed as necessary or desired. The recessed well 142 may be of any suitable shape so as to allow the tail of a wipe to reside in the well 142 when the cover 134 is closed. In one embodiment, the recessed well 142 may be substantially semicircular, as best shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, the roll of wipes 210 may be coreless, as is well known in the art, thereby obviating the need for the post 500.
Referring now to
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Referring now to
Referring to
The aperture 206 may be located within the indentation 140. The first portion 212 of the aperture 206 may be substantially larger in size than the second portion 214. The first portion 212 and the second portion 214 may still be in communication with each other via a channel 216 for moving a wipe that has been threaded through the first portion 212 to the second portion 214. In this embodiment, the first portion 212 may be large enough so that a user can access the roll of wipes, not shown, and thread a wipe through the first portion 212. The first portion 212 may extend over a substantial part of the indentation 140. In this embodiment, the indentation 140 may still comprise the recessed well 142 to allow for the tail of wipe to reside when the cover 134 is closed. The second portion 214 may comprise a central part with several projections. The second portion 214, however, may be of any shape that allows for wipes to be dispensed.
Referring now to
The cover 134, in this embodiment, may have a first pivot 1008 and a second pivot 1010. A living hinge may be used for each pivot. The top face 1002 may open via the first pivot 1008. The first pivot 1008 may be located anywhere along the periphery of the top of the lid 130. The first pivot 1008 may be located opposite from the second pivot 1010, which connects the side face 1004 to the side surface 138 of the lid 130. The second pivot 1010 may also be located on the periphery of the container 100. The pivots 1008 and 1010 may be located along any edge of container 100. Further, the top face 1002 and side face 1004 of the cover 100 may open in any direction, i.e. the pivots 1008 and 1010 need not be opposite from one another. This embodiment allows for the side face 1004 to be open, which exposes the aperture 206, without opening the top face 1002, or vice versa. It will be understood that only one pivot point may be used to achieve the same function.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising:
- a container base comprising a solid bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment;
- a lid attached to the container base, wherein the lid comprises a body, the body having a top surface and side surface;
- an aperture entirely within the side surface of the of the body of the lid; and
- a roll of wet wipes in the compartment positioned to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll as the roll unwinds; and
- a post attached a surface from the group consisting of the base bottom surface, the lid top surface, and the combination and the post supporting the roll.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a cover and an indentation extending over the side surface, wherein the cover secures over at least a portion of the indention.
3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cover extends entirely within the lid side surface.
4. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cover extends over at least a portion of the lid top surface and at least a portion of the lid side surface.
5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a first portion and second portion that are in communication via a channel defined by a retention tab.
6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the first portion is larger than the second portion.
7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the second portion comprises a central part with several projections.
8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the post is attached to the base bottom surface.
9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is cylindrical and the lid is attached to the container based such that the lid can be rotated to align the aperture with a first wipe from the outside of the roll.
10. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising at least two adjacent substantially flat surfaces wherein one surface supports the dispenser and aperture in a vertical dispensing position and the other surface supports the dispenser and aperture in a horizontal dispensing position relative to a supporting surface.
11. A dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising:
- a container base comprising a solid bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment;
- a lid attached to the container base and defining one end of the dispenser, wherein the lid includes a body having a top surface, side surface, and back surface;
- an aperture entirely within the side surface of the lid positioned beneath a cover; and
- a roll of wet wipes in the compartment positioned to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll as the roll unwinds.
12. The dispenser of claim 11, further comprising at least two adjacent substantially flat surfaces wherein one surface supports the dispenser and aperture in a vertical dispensing position and the other surface supports the aperture and dispenser in a horizontal dispensing position relative to a supporting surface.
13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the adjacent flat surfaces meet at a rounded edge.
14. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the container is rectangular.
15. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the lid comprises an indentation extending over the side surface and the cover secures over at least a portion of the indention.
16. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the aperture includes a first portion and second portion that are in communication via a channel defined by a retention tab.
17. A dispenser for cleaning wipes, comprising:
- a container base comprising a solid bottom surface and a side surface, the base defining an interior compartment for storing a roll of wet wipes;
- a lid attached to the container base, wherein the lid includes a cover and a body having a top surface and a side surface;
- an aperture entirely within the side surface and having a first portion and second portion that are in communication via a channel defined by a retention tab;
- the cover fitting into an indentation around the aperture, connecting to the side surface of the lid with a living hinge, and shaped consistently with the side surface that when closed forms a flat and continuous surface with the side surface of the lid and entirely within the lid side surface; and
- a the roll of wet wipes positioned in the compartment to dispense wipes through the aperture from the outside of the roll as the roll unwinds;
- wherein the container has a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, and oval.
18. The dispenser of claim 17, further comprising a cover pivotally attached to the body of the lid to cover the aperture and an indentation adapted to receive the cover located in the side surface of the body of the lid; wherein the indentation is substantially the same shape as the cover, and wherein the indentation comprises a recessed well.
19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the recessed well is located on a different surface of the dispenser than a pivoting attachment point of the cover to the body.
20. The dispenser of claim 17, further comprising a cover pivotally attached to the body of the lid wherein the cover has a top face for covering a major opening in the lid and a side face of covering a side aperture in the lid.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 6, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 6, 2009
Inventors: Rebecca Hoefing (San Francisco, CA), Russell E. Bell (Pleasanton, CA), Alan John Morris (Blackburn), Kon Euan Gerard Wong (Glen Waverly), Chia-Hen Chiang (Collingwood)
Application Number: 12/026,700
International Classification: B65H 1/00 (20060101);