Abstract:
A removable and replaceable lid for use in dispensing sheets such as wet wipes from a container, a dispenser incorporating the lid, and methods of using the lid and dispenser are provided. An intermediate member is hingedly connected to a base member and a top cover member to form a three-part lid. The base member includes an opening and is removably mountable on a container. The intermediate member includes a recessed portion with a slit or webbing, and is engaged with the base member to cover the opening. The top cover member is engaged with the intermediate member to cover the slit. The opening in the base member is sized to permit access to manually withdraw an initial or starter sheet from the roll of sheets disposed within the container so that the sheet can be pushed through the slit in the intermediate member without having to remove the lid from the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/391,761, filed Jun. 26, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to dispensing containers, and more particularly to lids for use in dispensing sheets such as moist toilettes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers are known for dispensing individual moisten towelettes from a continuous roll. The lids of such containers typically have a slit or webbing through which a towelette is drawn from the container and automatically separated from the continuous roll along perforations between the towelette sheets. A hinged cover is disposed over the slit and extended end of the towelette to prevent the remaining towelettes from drying out between uses. A disadvantage of such dispensers is that in the initial use, the lid must be completely removed from the container in order to withdraw a first towelette from the roll and convey it through the slit in the lid. The lid is then replaced onto the container, and towelettes are individually withdrawn through the slit. 
     It would be desirable to provide a dispensing lid and container that eliminates such disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a removable and replaceable lid for use in dispensing sheets such as wet wipes from a container, a dispenser incorporating the lid, and methods of using the lid and dispenser. 
     In one aspect, the invention provides a removable and replaceable lid for use with a container for dispensing individual sheets from a continuous length. In one embodiment, the dispensing lid comprises a base member having an opening and removably mountable on the container; an intermediate member hingedly connected to the base member and removably and pivotally engagable with the base member to cover the opening in the base member, the intermediate member having a recessed portion with a slit or webbing for passage of a sheet therethrough; and a top member hingedly connected to the intermediate member and removably and pivotally engagable with the intermediate member to cover the slit. The opening in the base member is sized to permit access to manually withdraw a sheet from the roll of sheets disposed within the container. 
     The hinges, preferably living hinges, molded between the intermediate member and the top member and the base member allow the intermediate member to be pivoted out of engagement with the base member of the lid to allow the user to withdraw a sheet such as a moist towelette from the cavity of the container through the opening in the base member, and maneuver (e.g., poke) the sheet through the slit disposed in the intermediate member. The intermediate member can then be pivoted into engagement with the base member by a force fit or snap fit to seal the opening in the base member. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides a dispenser for dispensing individually separable sheets from a rolled length of a plurality of sheets. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a container body defining a base, sidewalls, a top portion having an opening, and a cavity for receiving and containing the rolled sheets, and a dispensing lid according to the invention that is removably mounted on the top portion of the container body. The dispenser can further comprise a continuous roll of a plurality of sheets connected in an end to end relationship and individually separable along a tear line (e.g., perforations) between individual sheets disposed in the cavity of the container body. The base member of the dispensing lid comprises an opening sized for manual access to rolled sheets within the cavity of the container body and passage of a sheet therethrough. The intermediate member of the lid is hingedly connected to the base member and removably engaged with the base member to seal the opening in the base member. The intermediate member comprises a recessed portion with a slit for passage of a sheet therethrough. The top cover member is hingedly connected to the intermediate member and removably engaged with the intermediate member to cover the slit. 
     In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for dispensing an individual sheet from a continuous roll of sheets. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a dispenser according to the invention and, while maintaining the base member attached to the container body, disengaging the intermediate member from the base member; manually drawing an end of a sheet from the roll of sheets disposed within the cavity of the container body through the opening in the base member; disengaging the top cover member from the intermediate member; passing the end of the sheet through the slit in the intermediate member; and engaging the intermediate member with the base member. One or more sheets can be drawn through the slit, disengaged from the dispenser; and the top member engaged with the intermediate member of the lid to cover the slit and an end of a sheet extending through the slit within the recessed portion. 
     Advantageously, the present dispensing lid eliminates the need to remove the lid from the container to initially withdraw and thread a sheet from the container through the slit in the lid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. Throughout the following views, the reference numerals will be used in the drawings, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the several views and in the description to indicate the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispensing lid according to the invention in an open position, showing the upper sides of the top and base members and the underside of the intermediate member. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 1, showing the undersides of the top and base members and the upper side of the intermediate member. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dispensing lid depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dispensing lid as depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 3, taken along line  5 — 5 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 5 in a closed position, showing the under sides of the base and intermediate members. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the dispensing lid of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the dispensing lid of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 8, taken along lines  10 — 10 . 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 8, taken along lines  11 — 11 . 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, incorporating the dispensing lid of FIGS. 1-11. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded, partial perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, incorporating an embodiment of a dispensing lid, shown in partial cut-away view, having screw threads in the base member, and screw threads on the outside surface of the top of the container. 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 12, showing passage of a sheet through the slit in the lid while mounted on the container. 
     FIGS. 15-19 depict another embodiment of a top cover member of a lid. FIGS. 15-16 are perspective views of the dispensing lid in a closed position. FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the top cover member of the dispensing lid. FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the top cover member. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the bottom or underside of the top cover member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention will be described generally with reference to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating embodiments only and not for purposes of limiting the same. 
     One embodiment of a lid in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-11. The lid  10  is illustrated and will be described as being secured to a container  12  in a cylindrical configuration, as depicted in FIG. 12, to form a dispenser  14 , although other geometric shapes such as square or elliptical, for example, can be employed for the lid  10  and the container  12 . 
     The lid  10  is constructed with three main parts: a base member  16  with an opening  18 , an intermediate member  20  with a slit or webbing  22 , and a top cover member  24 . 
     The base member  16  of the lid  10  has an opening  18  that is sized to permit access to the interior of a container  12  (FIG. 12) to manually extract a sheet from a roll housed within the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  18  is centrally located in the base member  16 . As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the base member  16  further includes structure  26  shown as a lip that may be force fit or snap fit over a ridge  28  around the top  30  of a container  12 , as illustrated in FIG.  12 . The lip  26  and interior recess  32  of the base member  16  of the lid fits around the top of the container. The base member  16  of the dispensing lid can be releasably mounted over the top of the container in other ways as known in the art. For example, in another embodiment, as depicted in an exploded view in FIG. 13, the base member  16 ′ of the dispensing lid  10 ′ can include screw threads  34 ′ on the interior surface  36 ′ which can be threaded onto corresponding screw threads  38 ′ disposed on the outer surface  40 ′ of the top  30 ′ of the container  12 ′. 
     The base member  16  is sealed by a removable intermediate member  20 . A hinge  42 , preferably a living hinge, is molded between the base member  16  and the intermediate member  20 , which allows the intermediate member to be pivoted into and out of engagement with the base member. 
     The intermediate member  20  includes and integrally defines a recessed portion  44  with a slit or webbing  22  through which sheets can be removed from the container. The slit  22  frictionally retains a sheet unless it is manually drawn through the slit. The slit  22  is structured to facilitate tearing of a sheet along perforations between individual sheets after the sheet is withdrawn through the slit. The slit can be fabricated in a variety of shapes and configurations including a single slit, a cross slit, a straight slit, a V-shaped slit, a W-shaped slit (as shown), among others. The edges of the slit can be serrated or toothed to provide a tearing edge for the perforations between sheets. 
     The recessed portion  44  preferably has a depth (d) (FIG. 5) to contain the withdrawn leading end of the sheet without interfering with the engagement of the top cover member  24  with the intermediate member  20  to cover the slit  22 . As such, the recessed portion  44  provides a sealed area for the storage of a portion of a sheet extending out of the container. In exemplary embodiments, the internal depth (d) of the recess can range from about 0.2 inch to up to about 1 inch or more, typically up to about 0.5 inch or more. In the illustrated embodiment, the base  46  of the recessed portion  44  is an inclined surface, with the depth (d) ranging from about 0.2 inch to about 1 inch or more at the deepest portion  47 , typically to about 0.5 inch. The inclined surface promotes pulling of the sheets out of the container and through the slit  22  at an angle in the direction of arrow  48  (FIG.  10 ). As such, the severing action at the perforations between individual sheets is enhanced due to the increased amount of drag on the sheet as it is pulled through the slit. 
     The intermediate member  20  can include a protruding lip or tab  50  and the base member  16  can include a slot or recess  52  to facilitate lifting the intermediate member out of engagement with the base member. The hinge  42  between the base member  16  and the intermediate member  20  is located opposite to the protruding lip  50  of the intermediate member. 
     The intermediate member  20  can be pivoted in the direction of arrow  54   a  and into engagement with the base member  16  by a force fit or snap fit to seal the opening  18  in the base member. The intermediate member  20  preferably provides a tight seal when engaged with the base member  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate member  20  includes an annular seal ring  56  that integrally extends from the inner surface  58 . A seal is formed when the seal ring  56  engages the walls  60  of the base member about the opening  18 , as best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     The intermediate member  20  is sealed by a removable top cover member or cap  24  positioned over the slit  22  and a sheet disposed within the recessed portion  44  to prevent evaporation of liquid from the sheet within the recessed portion and the roll of sheets within the container. A hinge  62 , preferably a living hinge, is molded between the intermediate member  20  and the top cover member  24 . The hinge  62  allows the top cover member  24  to be pivoted in the direction of arrow  64   a ,  64   b  into and out of engagement with the intermediate member  20 . 
     The top cover member  24  can include a protruding lip or tab  66  that can be lifted to facilitate disengaging the top cover member  24  from the intermediate member  20 . The hinge  62  between the top cover member  24  and the intermediate member  20  is positioned opposite to the lip  66 . 
     In another embodiment, the top cover member  24  can be structured such that lip  66  is in the form of a flange or other structure that mates with a recess or notch  68  formed in the intermediate member  20 . Manual pressure to the top cover member  24  on or about a pressure point  70  (FIGS. 1 and 5) can be applied to pivot a front portion  72  of the top cover member  24  upwardly in the direction of arrow  73 , to release flange  66  from contact with the notch  68  in the intermediate member  20  and lift the top cover member  24 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 15-19, in yet another embodiment of the lid  10 ″, the top cover member  24 ′ can be structured with a recessed lip portion  67 ″ that is diametrically opposed to the hinging member  62 ″, and provides a gap or slot  69 ″ between the top cover member and the intermediate member  20 ″ to facilitate insertion of a user&#39;s finger under the top cover member  24 ″ to lift and disengage the top cover member from the intermediate member to an open position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the intermediate member  20  can be fabricated to include a recess  74  that is sized and shaped to receive the top cover member  24  therein such that, when shut, the top cover member is preferably flush with the intermediate member  20 , resulting in a lid  10  of minimal height. 
     The top cover member  24  preferably provides a tight seal when engaged with the intermediate member  20  to maintain the dispenser in a hermetically sealed condition. In the illustrated embodiment, the top cover member  24  comprises an annular seal ring  76  that integrally extends from the inner surface  78 . A seal is formed when the seal ring  76  engages the inside surface  80  of the recessed portion  32  in the intermediate member  20 , as best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     The three members of the dispensing lid can be integrally molded by injection molding employing a split mold technique, which is well known in the art. Suitable plastics include polypropylene and low density polyethylene, for example. The thickness of the plastic material in the lid members is typically about 0.04-0.05 inch. 
     The dispensing lid  10  is separately formed and, as illustrated in FIG. 12, can be secured to the top  30  of a container  12  to form a dispenser  14 . As depicted, the container  12  houses a continuous roll  84  of wound severable sheets of moist wipes, towelettes, or liquid impregnated fibrous tissues. 
     As depicted, the container  12  includes a body  88  that defines a receptacle. An exemplary container body  88  is a single-molded plastic element comprising a base portion  90 , side walls  92  defining a cavity  94 , and a top portion  30  with an opening  96  to the cavity  94 . The top portion  30  of the container can include a recess or ridge  28  adapted to receive the lid  10  in a snap fit attachment. As depicted in FIG. 13, in another embodiment, the top portion  30 ′ of the container  12 ′ includes screw threads  38 ′ for mounting the base member  16 ′ of the lid  10 ′, which has screw threads  34 ′, by threading it thereon. The opening  96  in the top portion of the container  12  is sized to accommodate the placement of a roll form  84  of the sheets into the cavity  94  of the container and the withdrawal of sheets therethrough during use. 
     The container body  12  can be fabricated from any suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, a low density polyethylene, or polystyrene, for example, by known and used methods in the art such as thermoforming or injection molding techniques, among others. The thickness of the plastic material in the body of the container is typically about 0.025-0.03 inch. 
     The sheets (e.g., moist towelettes, wet wipes, etc.) of the roll  84  are connected together in a continuous length such that individual sheets can be pulled apart from the continuous length by a user. The sheets are typically made of a suitable paper cloth or nonwoven fabric that is absorbent and has a wet strength suitable for the intended use. The pre-saturated sheets can be impregnated with a cleaning solution, lotion, medicated solution, among other solvents, for example. 
     Referring now to FIG. 14, in the initial use of the dispenser  14 , while the dispensing lid  10  remains attached to the container  12 , the intermediate member  20  is disengaged from the base member  16  of the dispensing lid  10  and pivoted in the direction of arrow  54   b  to expose the opening  18  in the base member  16  and the rolled sheets  84  within the container  12 . The leading end  98  of a sheet  100   a  from the cylindrical roll  84  of wound sheets is drawn from the container  12  through the opening  18  in the base member  16  and poked through the slit  22  in the intermediate member  20 . The intermediate member  20  is then pivoted in the direction of arrow  54   a  to engage the base member  20  and seal the opening  18  in the base member. To remove a sheet  100   a  from the dispenser, the user grasps the leading end  98  of the sheet  100   a  and pulls the sheet through the slit  22  in the direction of arrow  48 . The drag of the slit causes the perforations  102  between individual sheets  100   a ,  100   b  to separate, and thus severs the sheet  100   a  while leaving a new leading end within the recessed portion  44  of the intermediate member  20 . Thus, the sheets can be withdrawn sequentially and individually by pulling through the slit and tearing apart at perforations between the sheets. 
     The top cover member  24  of the dispensing lid  10  is then pivoted in the direction of arrow  64   a  to frictionally engage the intermediate member  20 . The top cover member  24  effectively seals the recessed portion  44  to prevent the leading edge of the sheet from drying out and moisture from passing through the slit  22  when the dispenser is not being used. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.