SANITARY WIPE DISPENSER
A sanitary wipe dispenser having a cylindrical housing operatively arranged to store a plurality of sanitary wipes, the housing having an open top and a closed bottom, a resilient cover/dispensing member, the cover/dispensing member having a cylindrical portion arranged to removably surround the open top of the cylindrical housing, an annular portion connected to the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion extending below the annular portion, at least one opening, and a resilient sealing member connected to the resilient cover/dispensing member at a center point, the resilient sealing member further including a rim arranged concentrically about the center point, the resilient sealing member extending above the annular portion.
The present invention relates generally to a sanitary wipe dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPrior to the 21st century, folks had to clean a surface, or themselves, with soap and water and dry it, or the person, with a towel or napkin. In fact, as recently as the 1960's, people were cleaning or tidying up in this primitive fashion. However, as people began traveling more and more, industries became more and more demanding, and folks had less free time, people needed an efficient way to clean up, even if on the go. This saw the introduction of wet wipes, typically a non-woven fabric saturated with water and light cleaning agents.
In present times, we know of countless uses for wet wipes. For example, we use wet wipes to clean kitchen surfaces after cooking, to clean other household areas, to disinfect operating room equipment, to clean and moisturize babies' bottoms, and to clean our hands after a sloppy meal. In fact, it is said that the first introduction of wet wipes was in 1963 at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago by Arthur Julius. Julius came from the cosmetic industry, and after presenting his fine-tuned hand-cleaning aid, he began selling his wet wipes to KFCs everywhere. Many know the phrase, “It's finger lickin' good.” This key phrase coined by KFC's Colonel Sanders was the inspiration for their partnership with the Julius family and their wet wipe, as the original KFC recipe would actually stick to the fingers. Now, wet wipes are expected at chicken wing establishments in Buffalo, N.Y. and across the country.
The packaging for wet wipes has taken various shapes and sizes over the past several decades. Ranging from individually wrapped wet wipes to large resealable packages of a hundred wet wipes. The most common problem trying to be solved by the innovative new packaging designs is the preservation of the moisture. If the package is not perfectly sealed after every use, the moisture eventually evaporates away from the wipe, leaving it less than “wet.” When people are in a hurry, often they find themselves not perfectly sealing the package. Often, two problems still remain. The difficulty in which the packaging is resealed and the less than aesthetically pleasing package of wet wipes sitting on your counter, or in your bathroom.
Thus, there is a long felt need for an aesthetically pleasing sanitary wipe dispenser having an easy to use resilient sealing cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention broadly comprises a sanitary wipe dispenser having a cylindrical housing operatively arranged to store a plurality of sanitary wipes, the housing having an open top and a closed bottom, a resilient cover/dispensing member, the cover/dispensing member having a cylindrical portion arranged to removably surround the open top of the cylindrical housing, an annular portion connected to the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion extending below the annular portion, at least one opening, and a resilient sealing member connected to the resilient cover/dispensing member at a center point, the resilient sealing member further including a rim arranged concentrically about the center point, the resilient sealing member extending above the annular portion.
A primary object of the invention is to provide a sanitary wipe dispenser with an easy to open resilient sealing cover.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sanitary wipe dispenser that is aesthetically pleasing.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon study of the following detailed description in view of the drawings and appended claims.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like reference numbers on different drawing figures represent identical structural elements. It should also be appreciated that, while a number of different embodiments and variations of the present invention are shown in the various drawings, the invention as claimed is not intended to be limited to these specific embodiments, as the claims define a broader invention that can take many different shapes and structures. Also, the adjectives, “top”, “bottom”, “right”, “left”, and their derivatives, in the description herebelow, refer to the perspective of one facing the invention as shown in the figure under discussion.
Adverting now to the drawings,
Notably, in the closed position shown in
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention may be readily imagined by those having ordinary skill in the art, and these changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
- 10 cylindrical housing
- 11 open top
- 12 closed bottom
- 13 second rim
- 20 resilient cover/dispensing member
- 21 cylindrical portion
- 22 annular portion
- 23 opening
- 24 resilient sealing member
- 25 first rim
- 26 dome shaped portion
- 27 receptacle
- 28 fastener
- 100 sanitary wipe dispenser
- F finger
- P center point
Claims
1. A sanitary wipe dispenser, comprising:
- a cylindrical housing operatively arranged to store a plurality of said sanitary wipes, said housing having an open top and a closed bottom; and,
- a resilient cover/dispensing member, said cover/dispensing member further comprising: a cylindrical portion arranged to removably surround said open top of said cylindrical housing; an annular portion connected to said cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion extending below the annular portion; at least one opening; and,
- a resilient sealing member connected to the resilient cover/dispensing member at a center point, said resilient sealing member further including a rim arranged concentrically about the center point, said resilient sealing member extending above the annular portion.
2. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the rim contacts the annular portion in a closed position.
3. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the rim does not contact the annular portion in an open position.
4. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the resilient cover/dispensing member further comprises a dome shaped portion arranged concentrically within the annular portion and the dome shaped portion includes the at least one opening.
5. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the resilient cover/dispensing member and the resilient sealing member are integral.
6. A paper or sanitary wipe dispenser, comprising: a resilient sealing member connected to the resilient cover member at a center point, said resilient sealing member further including a second rim arranged concentrically about the center point, said resilient sealing member extending above the annular portion.
- a cylindrical housing operatively arranged to store a plurality of said sanitary wipes, said cylindrical housing having an open top and a closed bottom, said open top having a first rim;
- a resilient cover/dispensing member, said resilient cover/dispensing member further comprising: a cylindrical portion arranged to removably surround said open top of said cylindrical housing; an annular portion connected to said cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion extending below the annular portion; at least one opening;
- a receptacle operatively arranged to receive said first rim; and,
7. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 6, wherein the rim contacts the annular portion in a closed position.
8. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 6, wherein the rim does not contact the annular portion in an open position.
9. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 6, wherein the resilient cover/dispensing member further comprises a dome shaped portion arranged concentrically within the annular portion and the dome shaped portion includes the at least one opening.
10. The sanitary wipe dispenser of claim 6, wherein the resilient cover/dispensing member and the resilient sealing member are integral.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2021
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2022
Inventor: Matthew J. Carr (Toronto)
Application Number: 17/193,513