Abstract:
A device for sequentially dispensing pre-moistened flexible sheets that can conveniently be worn about the wrist of the user and one that maintains the pre-moistened flexible sheets in a moist condition until they are dispensed from the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus that can be worn around the wrist of the user and can be used for conveniently dispensing flexible, moisturized sanitary wipes. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    Moisturized wipes and towelettes are not new and have been relatively widely used in the past for personal hygiene, for cosmetic purposes, for various types of cleansing purposes and for preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses and other disease causing germs. Typically, the wipes are dispensed from hand held or wall mounted dispensers of various designs and are commercially available from several sources including drug stores and grocery stores. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,753 issued to Leto and entitled “Device for Dispensing End Wraps” describes a device for dispensing flexible sheets of absorbent paper or other fibrous material. The sheets are preferably end-wrap papers used in the art of cosmetology and particularly for permanently setting waves in hair. The device employs a container with a slit in the top. The preferred device is of triangular cross-section having a width less than the width of a given end-wrap sheet. The end wraps are withdrawn from the container through the slit such that the removal of one end wrap causes the next lower end wrap to be partially withdrawn through the slit. The container can be removably fastened to a wrist bracelet which is adjustable to fit a user&#39;s arm. 
         [0009]    Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,545 issued to French entitled “Pouch For Holding And Dispensing Facial Tissues” concerns a pouch, preferably made of pliable and soft material such as a moisture-proof or moisture repelling fabric, designed for holding and dispensing facial tissues from small pocket sized packages which pouch is removably attachable to a selected location of the body of the person using the pouch, preferably an arm or leg and including a closable flap which when opened exposes the facial tissue for removal and use and which flap may additionally contain such items as licenses, passes, note pads and the like. In the preferred pouch there is also provided a pocket into which used facial tissues are placed which may be later removed for proper disposal. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,347,823 issued to L. Goodman et al. entitled “Dispenser Container For Sheet Material” describes a container for hair-waving retention-end papers from which the operator with wet hands can withdraw the sheets one at a time. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    By way of brief summary, one form of the device of the present invention which is wearable about the wrist of the user, comprises in combination a generally annular shaped housing having top, bottom and side walls defining an interior chamber having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings for receiving specially designed containers, each of which contains a plurality of the pre-moistened flexible sheets. 
         [0012]    With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for sequentially dispensing pre-moistened flexible sheets that can conveniently be worn about the wrist of the user and one that maintains the pre-moistened flexible sheets in a moist condition until they are dispensed from the device. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the aforementioned character in which the containers that house the flexible sheets can be easily installed into and removed from the interior chamber of the device through a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is provide a dispensing device of the character described in which the containers that house the flexible sheets are designed so that the removal of one flexible sheet causes the next flexible sheet to be partially withdrawn so that it can be easily grasped by the user. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced openings that receive the specially designed containers that contain the flexible sheets can be closed in a manner to maintain the flexible sheets in a moist and sterile condition. 
         [0016]    Another object of the invention is provide a dispensing device of the character described that is attractive in appearance, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to use. 
         [0017]    The foregoing objectives, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the apparatus of the invention for sequentially dispensing pre-moistened flexible sheets. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, side elevational view partly in cross-section, showing the manner of operation of one of the closure mechanisms of the invention for closing one of the three interior chambers of the device housing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a generally perspective view of one of the three pre-moistened flexible sheet containers of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a generally perspective exploded view illustrating the manner of positioning one of the three pre-moistened flexible sheet containers of the invention within one of the three interior chambers of the device housing. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a generally perspective exploded view of the form of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , one form of the apparatus of the invention for sequentially dispensing pre-moistened flexible sheets is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  14 . The apparatus, which is conveniently wearable about the wrist of the user, here comprises a generally annular shaped housing  16  that is generally rectangular in cross-section and has top, bottom and side walls  18 ,  20  and  22  respectively. Housing  16  is preferably formed of a soft, flexible, substantially waterproof material, such as soft rubber. Walls  18 ,  20  and  22  of housing  16  cooperate to define three interior chambers  24 ,  26  and  28  respectively ( FIG. 2 ). Each of the three interior chambers is provided with an opening  30  ( FIG. 3 ) that is adapted to removably receive a selected one of the three substantially identical containers  32 , each of which contains a plurality of the pre-moistened flexible sheets  34  that are successively interconnected for permitting individual dispensing of successive sheets ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Each of the containers  32  is generally rectangular in shape and has a top, bottom and side wall  35 ,  36  and  38  respectively which walls cooperate to define an interior chamber for holding the pre-moistened flexible sheets in an interlocking configuration such as is illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. As best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the top wall  35  of each container  32  is provided with a discharge slit  40  for use in the sequential removal of the pre-moistened flexible sheets. 
         [0025]    An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of closure mechanisms  42  that are connected to housing  16  for sealably closing the plurality of circumferentially spaced openings  30  formed in the housing. Each of the closure mechanisms here comprises a closure member  44  that is hingedly attached to the housing proximate one end of each of the openings  30  for pivotal movement about a pivot axis ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). With this construction, each closure member  44  is movable between a first closed position and a second open position as shown in the upper right hand portion of  FIG. 3  to permit access to the openings  30 . Each of the plurality of closure mechanisms  42  further includes a locking mechanism  46  for locking the closure members  44  in the first closed position. These locking mechanisms here comprise a generally “I” shaped locking member  48  that is mounted within a slotted portion  49  formed in housing  16  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) for movement between a first locked position and a second open position. In its locked position, one end  50   a  of the inner leg  50  of the locking member  48  is lockably received within a slot  52  formed in the end wall  44   a  of each closure member  44 , which locks the closure member  44  in a closed position (see the upper central portion of  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the apparatus of the invention further includes a plurality of yieldably deformable O-ring like sealing members  56  that are strategically positioned within the three interior chambers  24 ,  26  and  28  formed in the housing. When the closure members  44  are in a closed position the end portions  44   e  of the closure members sealably engage deformable sealing members  56  so as to seal the chambers from atmosphere and thereby maintain the pre-moistened flexible sheets in a moist condition. 
         [0027]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.