Devices for pre-wetting wipes at point of use and methods of use

The present invention generally provides a towel wetting or pre-wetting device for the wetting of towels at the point of use. More specifically, the present invention provides for disposable towel pre-wetting devices which provide a point of use wetting for cleaning and disinfecting wipes or towels. Embodiments allow for activation of the towel pre-wetting device with a towel through the lid which temporarily unseals the bowl from the cap allowing fluid to be released from the reservoir to pre-wet a towel as it is extracted through the lid. Embodiments allow for the adjustment of the bowl relative to the cap which controls the volume of fluid to be released to wet the towel. The pre-wetting device is intended to be affixed to the top of a cylinder of towels. Thus the present invention solves the unmet need of providing for wet cleaning wipes or towels at the point of use.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of disposable towel wetting or pre-wetting devices. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of towel wetting or pre-wetting devices for the wetting of towels at the point of use.

BACKGROUND

One of the major problems facing the healthcare system, along with additional markets including retail and industrial markets, is the difficulty in stopping the spread of infection from one person to another. This problem is ubiquitous and many individual consumers are highly interested in limiting their exposure to dangerous microbes at home, in the workplace and at points of care. For the healthcare industry, however, the problem has reached staggering proportions. In 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control published the results of a study on the direct hospital cost of treating healthcare-associated infections (“HAIs”). In 2017, The Leapfrog Group reported a US HAI study revealed 2 million hospital patients will contract a HAI and 90,000 of those will die each year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates on any given day 1 in 25 hospital patients has a HAI complication and is considered the 4th leading cause of death in the US.

HAIs can have devastating effects on physical, mental/emotional and financial health. They cost billions of dollars in added expenses to the healthcare system. In 2009, the CDC published the results of a study on the direct hospital cost of treating HAIs that showed that after adjusting for inflation, “the overall annual direct costs of HAI to U.S. hospitals ranges from $28.4 to $33.8 billion (after adjusting to 2007 dollars using the [Consumer Price Index] for all urban consumers) and $35.7 billion to $45 billion (after adjusting to 2007 dollars using the [Consumer Price Index] for inpatient hospital services).” That same study found that benefits of preventing such infections ranged from $5.7 billion to $31.5 billion.

Given this disturbing trend, the importance of delivering quality care is even more essential as hospitals and health systems face increased pressure to reduce and prevent HAIs from government agencies to end users/consumers. With the emergence of the coronavirus, heightened consumer awareness has alerted them to take preventive steps to protect their own health. They have been reminded of the benefits of frequent hand hygiene and wearing personal protection equipment (“PPEs”/i.e., masks) to help stop the spread of disease. Cleaning and disinfectant supplies have rapidly become highly prized for keeping environments and surfaces decontaminated. Not unlike hospital system protocols for reducing the spread of infection, the challenge for any user/consumer lies within choosing which products are most effective for addressing the need and assuring users follow manufacturers labeling instructions correctly to achieve the desired outcome. If either of these key areas is overlooked, directly or indirectly, the likelihood of reducing or eliminating microbes becomes compromised. As it relates to prepared or pre-wet disinfecting wipes (ready-to-use, “RTU”), by law wipes must be saturated with an appropriate EPA registered disinfectant germicide and the solution allowed to remain wet on the surface for the manufacturers recommended minimum contact time to kill microorganisms.

Two of the biggest related challenges in the use of pre-wet disposable wipes, for a variety of reasons, is the towels tend to dry out over time in the dispenser and when applied, the surface does not remain wet for the required contact kill times. As a result, the product efficacy at the “point of usage” comes into question, even with using an EPA approved solution that was applied to wipes at the time of manufacture; when it comes time to apply the wipe to a surface, a user may not knowingly have a wet enough wipe. The best intentions may not achieve the desired outcome with a compromised product at the time of use if not applied correctly and effectively. Furthermore, because the law demands following duration of exposure, if a user selects exposure conditions that are different than the EPA regulated label, the user assumes all liability for any injury resulting from off-label use and is potentially subject to enforcement under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In addition to user error, cross-contamination results from time constraints in healthcare settings, adding to the challenge of adherence to required EPA disinfectant guidelines and remains a threat to the spread of infection. To address these challenges, disinfectant wipe manufacturers have continued to improve their formulas to shorten the exposure time required, from 10 minutes down to 3 or 1 minute. However, the problem still exists, mostly due to user error or the like, which is not being addressed with formula enhancements or existing packaging. A novel point of use wetting system directly addresses the critical issues by providing assurance of a fully wet saturated wipe or towel when being used for increased confidence, efficiency, efficacy and improved outcomes. This novel invention is not limited to healthcare but has wide application into a variety of wipes and industries, from retail to industrial as examples.

Although many infections and nosocomial infections are technically preventable, one limitation on the healthcare or other industry's ability to fight them is the inadequacy of the current state of sanitary wipes or towels and their dispensers. As our understanding of microbes and infectious diseases grows, scientists have tried to provide increasingly effective antiseptic germicide solutions to clean and disinfecting surfaces, instruments, and patient's skin.

Often, pre-wetted wipes are used to transfer and apply solutions to the objects needing to be cleaned and/or disinfected. One limitation that many such solutions have is that, to be effective, the fluids used must be present in sufficient quantities to either carry the dissolved antiseptic components to the site of the microbes, or to attack the microbes themselves—e.g., with solutions using alcohol to disinfect surfaces. Unfortunately, often the solutions most effective at killing microbes have high vapor pressures and evaporate quickly. With such highly evaporative solutions, through either time or when users accidentally leave the cap to towelette dispensers open towelettes often dry out wasting money and exposing patients and facilities to cross-contamination risks. When the fluid or solution level and the active components of such solutions, which are often correlated, are diminished, any towel or wipe that has been treated with the solution loses much, if not all, of its effectiveness at killing microbes. The ability of a pre-wet disinfectant wipe to effectively sanitize or kill microbes is correlated to the amount of solution dispensed with the wipe and applicable to the surface. Many disinfecting wipe dispensers specify the duration of time the disinfecting solution must be present, in liquid form, on the surface to be sanitized. Dryer wipes often do not dispense enough liquid to surfaces to be sanitized to meet such specified kill durations. Because manufacturers recognize the market potential for providing an effective way of dispensing adequately moistened towels, much time and energy has been spent trying to meet this demand.

Currently, manufacturers address the moistening or wetting problem one of two ways: first, by providing towelette containers into which an antiseptic solution has been poured or sprayed on wipes in large quantities to fully saturate the wipes (i.e., “pre-moistened”); and second, by adding a tamper evident plastic safety seal on the wipes container to avoid the liquid from spilling or evaporating prior to opening. Both attempts have serious drawbacks in terms of product efficacy: first, during transit and storage, the solution usually ends up pooling at the bottom of the upright container, leaving an uneven distribution of liquid on wipes. Second, once the safety seal is removed and discarded, it cannot address ongoing liquid evaporation challenges mainly caused by environmental exposure, such as the user error of leaving the lid open thereby accelerating solution evaporation and adding to the problem of ineffective dry wipes.

Thus there exists an unmet need to the above-stated problems by providing point-of-use wetting for cleaning and disinfecting wipes, towels, towelettes, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for disposable towel pre-wetting devices which provide a point of use wetting for cleaning and disinfecting wipes, towels, towelettes, and the like.

In one aspect of the invention, a towel pre-wetting device is defined by a lid and a bowl combined to form a reservoir. Activation of the towel pre-wetting device with a towel through the lid temporarily unseals the bowl from the cap allowing fluid to be released from the reservoir to pre-wet a towel as it is extracted through the lid. Embodiments allow for the adjustment of the bowl relative to the cap which controls the volume of fluid to be released to wet the towel. The pre-wetting device is intended to be affixed to the top of a cylinder of towels.

In one aspect of the invention, the reservoir is pre-filled or filled with solution as needed.

Other aspects of the invention provide for self-contained towel pre-wetting devices where towels and fluid are in a common container and towels are wet by being pulled through a volume of wetting fluid as they are extracted from the device.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope. It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed towards devices for wetting disposable towels at the point of use. More specifically, the present invention is directed towards devices and use cases where the pre-wetting of towels too far in advance may cause the dehydration or deactivation of active ingredients or chemicals over time. More specifically, the present invention is necessary where a liquid or solution based chemical is applied to a pre-wetted towel for use in a medical or laboratory setting.

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses, which may vary. The invention is described with relation to the non-limiting definitions and terminology included herein. These definitions and terminology are not designed to function as a limitation on the scope or practice of the invention, but are presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes only.

The object of the present invention is to provide pre-wetting devices that provide point-of-use wetting solutions for wipes, towels, towelettes, or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a towel or towelette pre-wetting device is defined by an upper (lid) and a lower (bowl) that together form a reservoir. In this embodiment, activation occurs as a towelette is drawn through the upper, temporarily unsealing the upper from the lower and allowing fluid or solution to be released from the reservoir onto and or into the pre-wet or dry towel or towelette as it is extracted through the upper. Upon removal of the towelette from the upper, the force applied by the user is released, causing the upper and the lower to reseal the reservoir, preventing the flow of fluid from the reservoir into additional towels. Variations of this embodiment allow for the adjustment of the preloaded interference force between the upper and the lower in order to control the volume of fluid to be released to wet the towel when a towel or towelette is extracted. Generally, the pre-wetting device of this embodiment is intended to be affixed to the top of a cylindrical vessel containing towels or towelettes. Optionally, the pre-wetting device of this embodiment may store towels or towelettes in a dry condition and wet them only as they are withdrawn from the pre-wetting device at the point-of-use.

Other pre-wetting embodiments of this invention provide towel pre-wetting devices where towels and fluids or solutions are in a common container and towels are wet by being stored in, or fed through, a volume of wetting fluid as they are extracted from the device.

It is to be understood that in instances where a range of values are provided that correlate to the wetness of the towel or towelette to be dispensed, the range is intended to encompass not only the end point values of the range including but not limited to on or off entirely, but also intermediate values of the range to be explicitly included within the range and varied by the last significant figure of the range. By way of example, a recited range of from 1 to 4 is intended to include 1-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, and 1-4. Low to high or medium to high are other recited ranges. Such ranges can help the dispenser account for the viscosity of the fluid to be dispensed.

As used herein “wipes” or “towels” shall mean any woven or non-woven paper towel, tissue, cleaning and disinfecting wipe, towels, towelettes, wipes and the like.

As used herein “disposable wipes” shall mean single use disposable, semi-disposable or reusable, wipes may be dry, pre-wet or RTU.

As used herein “disinfecting wipes” shall mean any wipe that is prepared with a solution used for single or multi-purpose, such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, and the like.

As used herein “point-of-use” shall mean at the time the towel is pulled or withdrawn from a towel-holding container or dispenser for use.

Generally

The present invention provides a cap for wetting towels at the point-of-use. In at least one embodiment, the cap has at least a fluid holding portion and a towel wetting portion. The fluid holding portion will contain an antiseptic fluid, the makeup of which is not a subject of this invention, which wets the towels as they are pulled through the towel wetting portion so the towels may be effective for their disinfecting purpose.

The present invention further provides for configuring a cap to a towel holder. It is appreciated that many towel holders exist, and it is thus understood that the cap, while retaining its functional features, can be made in several sizes and shapes in order to be compatible with towel holders being used in a desired industry. In at least one embodiment the cap is an after-market replacement for existing caps of pre-wetted or dry towels. In other embodiments, the cap is used by a manufacturer and fitted custom to a manufacturer's towel container. In certain embodiments, the cap is further provided with a fastening mechanism that allows the cap to attach to a container for holding dry or pre-moistened towels. Many methods are known in the art for fastening caps to containers, and nothing herein should be considered to limit the available techniques or methods for fastening a cap to a container. In at least one embodiment the cap is threaded to the towel container. In another embodiment, the cap is secured to the towel container through the use of a ridge or valley, or a series of ridges or valleys which affixes the cap to the towel container.

Lid and Bowl

A fluid holding portion is intended to hold the desired wetting fluid for the dry towels to be applied at the point of use. It is intended that the fluid holding portion only release fluids upon demand to the towels which may be dry or slightly pre-wetted with the desired chemical or some other fluid, such as water. In at least one embodiment, the fluid holding portion is a fluid reservoir disposed within the cap. In at least one embodiment, the fluid reservoir surrounds the towel wetting portion.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a disposable towel pre-wetting device300is comprised of a lid310and further a separate inner bowl314such that the lid310and the inner bowl314are configured to form a reservoir315. The towel pre-wetting device300is intended to be affixed over a canister of dry towel, whose combination allows for providing a point of use wetted towel for use.

In at least one embodiment the lid310is comprised of a lid surface319with a lid surface interruption that defines a towel void321that further defines a void wall323between the lid surface319and the void top surface322.

In at least one embodiment, the void top surface322is interrupted by a patterned interruption324that extends clear through the void top surface322. Optionally, and depicted inFIGS.1A through1Jthe void top surface322is opposed by a void bottom surface325that hosts a rib326that extends from the void bottom surface325.

In at least one embodiment the outer surface of the rib326and the reservoir side surface of the void wall323between the lid surface319and the void top surface322are continuous. Optionally, the rib326may taper as it extends away from the void top surface322.

In at least one embodiment, the inner bowl314is comprised of an inner bowl surface and an outer bowl surface329, where the inner bowl surface is interrupted by a bowl lip330that further defines an inner bowl wall331that extends between the inner bowl lip330and an inner bowl bottom332that is further interrupted by an inner bowl dam335between the inner bowl bottom332and a towel inlet336, where the dam335follows a path that enables a sealing interference337between the dam335and the rib326.

Optionally, and not shown in this embodiment, the rib326may be absent and the reservoir may be formed by an interference seal between the portion of the body defined by the void bottom surface325and the dam335.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the disposable towel pre-wetting device300further includes a lid cap311connected by a flexible material connection313to the lid310providing a seal for the towel void321. In this embodiment the lid cap311comprises a lid cap top surface316and a lid cap bottom surface317separated by a lid cap side318. In at least one embodiment the lid surface319is configured to accept the lid cap311to form a seal. In at least one embodiment the void wall323is configured to accept the lid cap311to form a seal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a towel pre-wetting device300is comprised of a lid310and an inner bowl314such that the lid310and the inner bowl314are configured to form a reservoir315. The towel pre-wetting device300is intended to be affixed as a lid or replacement lid over a canister of dry towels, the combination of which enables the provision of a towel that is wet at the point-of-use. Alternatively, the towel pre-wetting device300may be affixed to a canister of pre-wet towels to provide supplementary wetting at the point-of-use.

In one embodiment the lid310is comprised of a lid surface319with a surface interruption that defines a towel void321that further defines a void wall323that spans (between) the lid surface319and the sealing rib326and further, the sealing interference337. In one embodiment, a towel retainer338exists at or between the lid surface319and the towel void321and the sealing interference337between the lid310and the inner bowl314.

In one embodiment, the towel retainer338void top surface322is interrupted by a patterned interruption324that extends clear through the towel retainer338. Optionally, the towel retainer338void top surface322is opposed by a towel retainer338bottom surface325that hosts a sealing rib326that extends from the towel retainer338bottom surface325. Optionally, the sealing function and implementing design elements may be distributed or exchanged between the lid310and the inner bowl314.

In one embodiment the outer surface of the sealing rib326and the reservoir-side surface of the towel outlet tube323between the lid surface319and the towel retainer338void top surface322are continuous. Optionally, the sealing rib326may change in shape or narrow or taper as it extends towards or away from the towel retainer338.

In one embodiment, the inner bowl314is comprised of an inner surface331and an outer surface329, where the inner surface is interrupted by a lip330that further defines an inner wall331that extends between the lip330and an inner surface bottom332. In one embodiment the inner surface bottom332is interrupted by a dam335that continues between the inner surface bottom332and the inner bowl314towel inlet336. In one embodiment the dam335follows a path that enables a sealing interference337between the dam335and the rib326. Optionally, the sealing function and implementing design elements may be distributed or exchanged between the lid310and the inner bowl314. Optionally, and not shown in this embodiment, the rib326may be absent and the reservoir may be formed by an interference seal between the portion of the body defined by the void bottom surface325and the dam335.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the disposable towel pre-wetting device300further includes a sealing cap311connected by a flexible material connection313to the lid310providing a seal for the towel void321. In one embodiment the sealing cap311comprises a sealing cap top surface316and a sealing cap bottom surface317that are separated by a sealing cap side318. In one embodiment the lid surface319is configured to accept the sealing cap311to form a seal, hermetic seal, or other connection. In one embodiment the towel outlet tube323is configured to accept the sealing cap311to further or exclusively form a seal.

In one embodiment, when a user pulls a disposable towel through the patterned interruption324, a force is transmitted through the towel outlet tube323to the portion of the lid310that is defined by the lid surface319, which deflects and temporarily opens the sealing interference337formed between the rib326and the dam335until the force is released and a unit of disposable towel is separated from the towel pre-wetting device300.

In one embodiment, the towel retainer338is comprised of towel retaining levers340where the towel retaining levers extend from the body of the towel retainer338. The distance between the contact location of the towel retaining levers339and the towel and the body of the towel retainer338and the towel serves to retain the towel and present the towel to the user in an accessible way.

In one embodiment, the towel pre-wetting device300is comprised of a lid310, an inner bowl314, and a towel holding portion where the circumference of the towel pre-wetting device300defined by the lid310and inner bowl314that enable the attachment to the towel holding portion where the circumference is separated, segmented, relieved, or otherwise configured to attach to the towel holding portion. Such segmentation of the circumference enables the coordinated assembly of the lid310and the inner bowl314of the towel pre-wetting device300.

At least one element of the present invention is the on-demand point of use application of a fluid to a towel. In order to achieve this, a fluid holding portion only releases liquids to a towel holding portion on demand. In at least one embodiment, the fluid reservoir includes a bottom surface with an opening through which a towel may pass from a towel holding portion, a top surface with an opening through which a towel may pass after passing through the towel wetting portion, an outer wall extending up from an outer edge of the bottom surface to an outer edge of the top surface, a fill port through which a user may add fluid to the reservoir, and a capping mechanism for closing the fill port and preventing spilling or rapid evaporation of the fluid from the fluid reservoir. In some embodiments, the fill port is located in the top surface of the reservoir, while in other embodiments, the fill port is located in the outer wall of the fluid reservoir.

In at least one embodiment, the fluid reservoir further includes an interior wall extending down from an inner edge of the opening in the top surface. This interior wall would be concentric with the towel wetting portion and so dimensioned as to allow space for a spring mechanism to fit between the wall of the wetting portion and the interior wall. In order to maximize the volume of fluid able to be held in the fluid reservoir, the space between the wall of the towel wetting portion and the interior wall may be reduced as much as possible but still allow the spring mechanism to move freely in the space.

Other embodiments of the present invention, including such embodiments illustrated inFIG.2AandFIG.2Bprovide a disposable towel pre-wetting device400is comprised of a top portion401and a bottom portion402, where the top portion401and the bottom portion402are connected by a flexible material connection403. In this embodiment the top portion401and the bottom portion402together define a lip seal405,407, a towel feed portion406, and where the lip seal405,407are fully sealed along their respective lengths, and the and the towel feed portion406is partially sealed along its length affording the removal of, and separation of a disposable towel408there-through and generally therefrom, respectively. Optionally, in this embodiment the top portion401and the bottom portion402are able to be sealed along the lip seal405,407by a re-sealable or permanent interference fit or a re-sealable or permanent adhesive bond, or a permanent solvent or thermal bond.

Other embodiments of the present invention provide a towel pre-wetting device400that is comprised of a top portion401and a bottom portion402, where the top portion401and the bottom portion402are connected by a flexible material connection403. In this embodiment the top portion401and the bottom portion402together define complementary lip seals405and407, and a towel feed portion406there through. The lip seals405and407may be fully or partially sealed along its respective length to provide an adaptable towel feed portion406to afford the removal of, and separation of a disposable towel408there through and generally therefrom. The distance between the flexible material connection403and the end of the lip seal409may be varied for manufacturing. For thermoforming, the distance between the flexible material connection403and the end of the lip seal409would be substantially zero as the device400would be made from a single piece of material, thermoformed, and folded. For molding out of silicone, the distance between the flexible material connection403and the end of the lip seal409would be substantially long to permit the device400to be loaded with a new roll of towels and first to be removed from the mold. Optionally, in this embodiment the top portion401and the bottom portion402are able to be sealed along the lip seal405and407by a resealable or permanent interference fit or a resealable or permanent adhesive bond, or a permanent solvent or thermal bond.

Another pre-wetting device500is presented inFIG.3AtoFIG.3H, where the pre-wetting device500is comprised of a first component501and a second component502, where optionally, the first component501and the second component502may be identical, similar, or dissimilar. In one embodiment, where the first component501and the second component502are identical or similar, the primary mating surfaces503and504are embedded with magnets or other attractive, capturing, or retaining design elements. In the same embodiment, where the first component501and the second component502are identical or similar, the secondary mating surfaces505and506are embedded with magnets or other attractive, capturing, or retaining design elements. Such attractive, capturing, or retaining design elements enable the device with stability in both open and closed conditions, where the open condition is shown inFIG.3DthroughFIG.3Gand the closed condition is not shown. When in the closed condition, and when a towelette roll and antiseptic liquid have been inserted into the reservoir507, towelettes can be unrolled and dispensed through the surfaces503and504. Where magnets are used as attractive design elements, they increase the normal force applied to the towelette being dispensed and assist in tearing the towelette. Optionally, the open bottom surface508of one or both of the components may be sealed with a film with a frangible area through which gloves, masks, or other forms of personal protective equipment may be dispensed. Optionally, the open bottom surface508may be covered with a film that can be torn open or off to access gloves, masks, or other forms of personal protective equipment may be dispensed. Optionally, the film may be resealable or supplemented with additional materials including but not limited to cardboard.

In at least one embodiment, the reservoir is pre-filled prior to deployment with a pre-selected cleaning or sanitizing fluid for one or more particular use. In at least one embodiment, the reservoir is filled at the point of user using a user-selected fluid as needed. It should be appreciated that while the reservoir may be pre-filled, or filled at the point of use, that it is intended that the reservoir remains accessible, therefore fillable, at all times, as an end-user may elect.

Towel Wetting Portion

The towel wetting portion is a generally dry channel through which the towel is pulled to release fluid from the fluid holding portion to the towel wetting portion for a point of use application of a fluid to a towel. It is desired as part of this invention for the fluid to be released from the fluid holding portion only upon the drawing of a towel into, through, or near the towel wetting portion. In at least one embodiment the towel wetting portion lies between the fluid holding portion and the towel holding portion.

Adjustment

It is appreciated that a user may desire to have a towel of varying wetness for different uses, and it is intended as part of this invention to include a system that can accommodate for varying wetness ranges for towels travelling through the towel wetting portion. In at least one embodiment using the inner bowl includes a series of grooves through the dam that when aligned, allow for additional fluid to be applied from the reservoir to wet the towel when a towel is pulled through the lid.

In at least one embodiment the towel wetting lies between the inner bowl and the lid. In this embodiment, when a user pulls a disposable towel through the patterned interruption324, a force is transmitted through the void wall323to the portion of the lid310that is defined by the lid surface319, which deflects and temporarily opens the sealing interference337formed between the rib326and the dam335until the force is released and a unit of disposable towel is separated from the towel pre-wetting device300.

Optionally, and not shown, the lid310and the inner bowl314may be configured with at least a first continuous or a first intermittent helical thread or at least a first helical protrusion333and complementary relief334such that the lid310may be rotated relative to the inner bowl314in order to increase or decrease the force necessary to remove a disposable towel from the device and in doing so, vary the rate of flow of the liquid from the reservoir onto and into the disposable towel to be withdrawn and separated from the device.

Towel Holding Portion

Certain embodiments include a towel holding portion for holding dry towels to be fed into the fluid wetting portion to be wetted at the point of use. The towel holding portion may be a container that holds rolls or stacks of dry or pre-moistened towels, and that has a bottom, walls, and a top opening through which towels may pass. In at least one embodiment, the top opening of the towel holding portion would have a fastening mechanism that corresponds to the fastening mechanism provided on the cap. In at least one embodiment, the cap and the towel holding portion may be reversibly fastened to one another via the fastening mechanism. In other embodiments, the cap and the towel holding portion may be permanently affixed to one another and the openings in the cap will enable towels to be inserted through the cap into the towel holding portion.

EXAMPLES

A cap for point of use wetting of sanitizing towels is provided and illustrated inFIGS.1A-1J.

A cap for point of use wetting of sanitizing towels is provided and illustrated inFIGS.2A-2B.

A cap for point of use wetting of sanitizing towels is provided and illustrated inFIGS.3A-3H.

Other Embodiments

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the described embodiments in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments.