WIPE CONTAINER AND DISPENSER

Abstract

A wipe container and dispenser in which tray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiously to a decorative cover. The tray snaps into the decorative cover from the bottom. A coupling member provides releasable snap fit coupling between the tray and the cover. The cover can have a molded design such as an animal shape or sports related shape.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/891,168, filed Oct. 15, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wipe container and dispenser in which a tray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiously to a decorative cover.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional containers for holding wipes, such as baby wipes, are formed as a rectangular box which can be opened or closed from the top. The lid of the box snaps into engagement with the side of the box.

It is desirable to provide an improved wipe container and dispenser in which the container can be removably attached expeditiously to a decorative cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wipe container and dispenser in which tray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiously to a decorative cover. The tray snaps into the decorative cover from the bottom. The tray and cover combine to preserve the moisture of the wipes. A coupling member provides releasable snap fit coupling between the tray and the cover. In one embodiment, the coupling member is squeezed inwardly to release the tray from the cover. The cover can have a molded design such as an animal shape or a sports related shape. The tray can have a size to receive baby wipes, toddler wipes or adult wipes. The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a bottom view of the wipe container and dispenser in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the tray attached to the housing support plate.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cover attached to the housing support plate being received over the tray.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the cover including an opening for dispensing of the wipes.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the cover attached to the housing support plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the wipe container and dispenser 10 shown from the bottom in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Walls 12 and 13 extend from tray base 14. Adjacent walls 12a, 13a, and 12b, 13a meet at respective corners 15a, 15b. Adjacent walls 12a, 13b, and 12b, 13b meet at respective corners 15c, 15d. Walls 12, walls 13, tray base 14 and corners 15 can be integral to one another to form tray 18.

Tray 18 can have a rectangular shape. Tray 18 can have a width W and a length L to be slightly larger than the size of a conventional baby wipe. Alternatively, tray 18 can be a width W and a length L to be slightly larger than the size of a conventional toddler or adult wipe. For example tray 18 can have a width W in the range of about 5 to about 7 inches and a length L in a range of about 5 to about 7 inches for a baby wipe. For example tray 18 can have a width W in the range of about 7 to about 9 inches and a length L in a range of about 7 to about 9 inches for a toddler wipe. For example tray 18 can have a width W in the range of about 4 to about 5 and a length L in a range of about 5 to about 6 inches for an adult wipe. Tray 18 is slightly larger for example about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches for each of the tray size.

Tray 18 can be coupled to housing support plate 20 as shown in FIG. 2. Walls 12a and 12b of tray 18 can include coupling member 24 for releasable snap fit coupling of tray 18 into housing support plate 20. Coupling member 24 can include protrusion 26.

In the closed position protrusion 26 extends over indentation 30 of housing support plate 20 to lock tray 18 into engagement with housing support plate 20. In the open position, protrusion 26 is moved in the direction of arrow A_l to release tray 18 from housing support plate 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Walls 12a and 12b can include movable section 32 positioned below protrusion 26 for providing spring action of coupling member 24.

Tray 18 in the upright position receives wipes 40 as shown in FIG. 3. Housing support plate 20 is coupled or integral with cover 50 as shown in FIG. 5. Cover 50 and housing support plate 20 can be received over tray 18 such that tray 18 is attached and removed from bottom 52 of cover 50. Housing support plate 20 is snapped into engagement with tray 18. Cover 50 can have a decorative molded design, such as for example an animal shape. Alternatively, cover 50 can have a decorative molded design of a sport related shape, such as for example a shape of an ice rink, football field, baseball field, basketball court and the like. Tray 18 can be disengaged from cover 50 through activation of coupling member 24. Wipes 40 can be removed from opening 54 formed in cover 50 as shown in FIG. 4. Opening 54 can be closed with flap 55 have substantially the same size as opening 54.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A wipe dispenser for dispensing at least one wipe comprising:

a decorative cover, said decorative cover adapted to be removably attached to a container for holding the at least one wipe.

2. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said decorative cover includes a molded decorative design.

3. The wipe dispenser of claim 2 wherein said molded decorative design is an animal shape or a sports related shape.

4. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said container comprises a tray, said tray snapping into said decorative cover from a bottom of said decorative cover.

5. The wipe dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with said decorative cover, said housing support plate being snapped into said tray for snapping said tray into engagement with said decorative cover.

6. The wipe dispenser of claim 4 wherein said tray includes a coupling member including at least one protrusion and further comprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with said decorative cover, said housing support plate including at least one indentation, in a closed position said at least one protrusion extending over a respective said at least one protrusion to lock said tray into engagement with the housing support plate.

7. The wipe dispenser of claim 6 wherein in an open position the at least one protrusion is moved in a direction to release the at least one protrusion from the respective at least one indentation.

8. The wipe dispenser of claim 7 wherein said coupling member is moved with spring action.

9. The wipe dispenser of claim 8 wherein a wall of said tray below said coupling member includes a movable section, said movable section providing the spring action of said coupling member.

10. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said decorative cover includes an opening for dispensing the at least one wipe.

11. The wipe dispenser of claim 10 wherein said decorative cover further comprises a flap for covering said opening.

12. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tray has a size slightly larger than a size of a baby wipe.

13. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tray has a size slightly larger than a size of a toddler wipe.

14. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tray has a size slightly larger than a size of an adult wipe.

15. A wipe dispenser for dispensing at least one wipe comprising:

a decorative cover having a molded shape, said decorative cover adapted to be snap fit to a container for holding the at least one wipe.

16. The wipe dispenser of claim 15 wherein said container comprises a tray, said tray snapping into said decorative cover from a bottom of said decorative cover.

17. The wipe dispenser of claim 16 further comprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with said decorative cover, said housing support plate being snapped into said tray for snapping said tray into engagement with said decorative cover.

18. The wipe dispenser of claim 16 wherein said tray includes a coupling member including at least one protrusion and further comprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with said decorative cover, said housing support plate including at least one indentation, in a closed position said at least one protrusion extending over a respective said at least one protrusion to lock said tray into engagement with the housing support plate.

19. The wipe dispenser of claim 18 wherein in an open position the at least one protrusion is moved in a direction to release the at least one protrusion from the respective at least one indentation.

20. The wipe dispenser of claim 19 wherein said coupling member is moved with spring action.