Self sealing dispenser pack for pre-moistened towelettes

A dispenser providing access to a plurality of pre-moistened towelettes and having dual orifices covered by a self sealing lid. A larger recessed orifice in the top side of the container accommodates a smaller opening and both openings are covered by a lid attached to a ledge surrounding the larger recessed orifice perimeter. The lid has approximately the same planar dimensions as the combination planar dimensions of the recess and ledge and is held in a closed position by press fitting under an outer border curbing the perimeter of the outermost edge of the ledge. A removable back panel is provided for ease of refilling prepackaged towelettes in the dispenser, and a second back attachment means is provided for attaching or mounting the dispenser to a flat surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a dispenser for pre-moistened towelettes having, 
in particular, a dual orifice with a self sealing lid that forms a part of 
the container. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the art of dispenser packaging, containers with resealable lids for 
maintaining moistened tissues are well known. The most frequently observed 
containers of this type contain a plurality of pre-moistened tissues 
stacked within the container or package. Access to the towelettes is 
usually achieved through a symmetrical opening in a top side of the 
container which is resealed by a flap extending directly over and beyond 
all sides of the opening. 
An example of such dispenser construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,819,043-Harrison. The dispenser pack has an opening in a top side of the 
container covered by a flap which may have a depression molded onto its 
bottom side having the same shape as the opening. The flap self closes 
when allowed to return to a horizontal position and the optional 
depression protrudes into the opening to further tighten the seal. 
Further examples of access openings covered directly by extended flaps are 
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,420,080; 4,143,762; and 4,131,195. 
Problems associated with these dispenser constructions are the immediate 
exposure of the towelettes to moisture loss when the flap seal is left 
open or fails and soiling of the towelettes during opening and closing of 
the flap. 
The present invention with dual orifices covered by a self sealing flap 
represents an improved means of closing dispenser packs. The invention 
presents further improvements over prior art dispensers such as a 
removable bottom side facilitating easy refill of the towelette packages 
while reducing moisture loss and an additional back panel which may have 
an adhesion or mechanical means for attaching the dispenser to a flat 
surface. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In its broadest aspects this invention provides a molded plastic container 
having a top side with dual orifices covered by a self sealing lid and a 
removable bottom side which may be further provided with an attachment 
panel. 
One of the aforementioned orifices is a recess or cavity which accommodates 
a smaller opening at the bottom of the cavity. A self sealing lid is 
attached to one side of the cavity covering the entire cavity and sealing 
by its free end on the opposing side of the cavity. 
In the preferred embodiment, a ledge surrounds the perimeter of the cavity 
in the dispenser's top side and has an outer border or riser wall 
extending inwardly and in a perpendicular direction relative to a 
horizontal axis of the cavity. This outer border or riser wall 
configuration provides a closure means by which the free ends of the flap 
are held in a closed position by press fitting the flap below the inward 
curve of the outer border. For convenience, the unsecured end of the flap 
is provided with a tab which extends into a thumb print-like impression 
along the riser wall and flush with the ledge and in the topside of the 
container and facilitates moving the flap to an open position. 
The bottom side of the dispenser may be provided with an opening which will 
accommodate a finger and aid in its removal from the dispenser. 
Preferably, the bottom side press fits into a molded configuration of the 
bottom of the dispenser to form a part of it. Additionally, a slip-on 
panel attachment having an adhesive or mechanical means may be attached to 
the bottom side of the container so that the dispenser may be mounted or 
attached to a flat surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention 10 provides a container 1 for dispensing a packet 5 
of pre-moistened towelettes or tissues 6 having a resealable lid 20 
covering dual orifices cavity 12 and opening, 14 as shown in FIG. 1. 
The container 1 is preferably molded of a resilient plastic and has a top 
2, bottom 3 and sides 4. Although a plastic material is preferred because 
it is inexpensive and easy to mold, it may be appreciated that any 
material which is moisture resistant may be used to produce the dispenser. 
A plurality of towelettes 6 are preferably packaged in a flexible packet 5 
for ease of refilling the container 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A 
preformed slit or cut 7 may be provided in one side of the package 5 for 
dispensing the towelettes 6. (See FIG. 3.) 
The towelettes may be folded in any manner known in the art. For example, 
interfolded pop up or individually folded non-pop up towelettes with such 
folds configuration as C, J, S or Z may be used. The term "pop up" in 
reference to towelettes is a term of art referring to the fact that the 
trailing edge of a removed towelette causes the leading edge of a 
subsequent towelette to protrude through an opening for use. In the 
preferred embodiment, pop up towelettes are used, however, it may be 
appreciated that non-pop up towelettes may also be accomodated in the 
dispenser. 
Access to the towelettes 6 in the dispenser 10 is gained through cavity 12 
and opening, 14. The cavity 12 may be of any shape known in the art but 
preferably has a rectangular shape with the longer dimension parallel to 
the longer dimension of the preferably rectangular container 1. The cavity 
(12) is formed from a base wall (18) and peripheral walls (15), which 
peripheral walls extend from said base wall to said top of said container, 
said aforementioned base wall (18) having an opening (14) transversely 
positioned relative to a presented edge of the premoistened towelettes. In 
the preferred embodiment, the cavity 12 is recessed from the top 2 of the 
container 1 and has a ledge 11 and a corresponding riser wall (17) 
surrounding the perimeter 13 of the cavity 12 at substantially the same 
level in the dispenser top 2 as the peripheral walls 15 of the cavity 12. 
The width 16 of the ledge 11 is preferably less than 1/2" inches wide. It 
may be appreciated that the peripheral walls 15 of the cavity 12 may be 
flush with the top 2 of the container 1 in another embodiment. 
Along an outermost edge of the ledge 11 away from the cavity, a riser wall 
17 is preferably provided. The riser wall 17 surrounds the ledge 11 and 
extends inwardly and upwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction 
relative to an imaginary horizontal axis of the cavity 12. Preferably, the 
riser wall is approximately 1/4" wide. 
The smaller opening 14 may be of any shape known in the art but is 
preferably H-shaped and is provided in the base wall 18 of the cavity 12 
with the longer dimensions of the letter configuration parallel to the 
longer sides of the cavity 12. Optionally, a plastic material sheet may 
horizontally traverse the opening 14 and attach to the bottom wall 18 of 
the cavity 12. This plastic sheet leaves an opening approximating a "U" 
shape permitting access to the towelette 6 and further preventing excess 
evaporation of moisture from the dispenser 10. 
Towelettes 6 may be placed in the dispenser 10 with the edges 8, 9 parallel 
to the longer dimensions of the cavity 12 and opening, 14 with an exposed 
edge of a top towelette 6 protruding through both cavity 12, and opening 
14. As a result of this presentation, one may tug the exposed edge of the 
towelette 6 to remove it through the opening (14) and cavity (12) from the 
dispenser 10 leaving a second exposed edge of the towelette immediately 
behind it and protruding through the opening (14) cavity 12, when a second 
tissue 6 is desired. 
Access to the cavity 12 opening, 14 is gained through a resilient sheet lid 
20 preferably made of a plastic material. The lid 20 may be rectangular in 
shape and have approximately the planar dimensions of both the recessed 
cavity 12 and the ledge 11 so as to fit within the area defined within 
riser walls (17). The lid 20 may be attached to the dispenser 1 by 
adhering a longitudinal edge 21 to a corresponding longitudinal edge of 
the ledge 11. Heat sealing is a preferred means of attaching the lid 20, 
although it may be appreciated that any means known in the art may be used 
depending on the selected dispenser material. 
The diametrically opposing free end 22 of the lid 20 may be provided with a 
tab 23 accommodated in a thumb print-like impression 24 in the riser wall 
17 between the top 2 and sides 4 of the container 1. 
To self seal the lid 20, its free edge 22 may be lightly tapped, moving it 
below the inwardly curving top side of the riser wall 17 and holding it in 
a closed position. In this closed position, the tab 23 extends over the 
impression 24 and a finger may easily reach into the impression 24 to lift 
the tab 23 and open the lid 20. 
Other closure means, such as Velcro.RTM. brand material, brackets, or any 
means known in the art may be used to more securely adhere the free end 22 
of the lid 20 in a closed position. THe provision of the lid 20 closing 
the larger cavity 12, rather than the smaller opening 14 prevents 
excessive evaporation and soiling of the towelettes 6. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3 the bottom side 3 of the container 1 is preferably 
molded with an outer edge 25 extending outwardly and in a perpendicular 
direction relative to the imaginary horizontal axis of the recess 10. A 
bottom plate 26 having a shape and size substantially the same as the 
bottom opening of the container 1 is provided. Along the perimeter 28 of 
the plate 26, an upright curb 29 is provided having a top edge 30 molded 
in an outwardly direction relative to the bottom side 25 of the dispenser 
10. This design enables the back plate 26 to be press fitted into the 
bottom side of the container 1 to a depth determined by the extending edge 
30 of the plate 26. Additionally, an opening 32 may be provided in a 
corner of the plate 26 facilitating finger removal of the back plate 26 
from the container 1. 
The outer edge 30 of the plate 26 further provides an extension which is 
accommodated in a groove 33 of a back panel 34. By this means, the back 
panel 34 may be removably attached to the dispenser 10 to both hold the 
back plate 26 in position and provide a surface for an adhering means 35. 
Examples of adhering means 35 which may be used include Velcro.RTM. brand 
material, brackets, adhesive strips, or any other means known in the art. 
The dispenser 10 may be mounted to either a wall or on a flat surface, 
such as a table. 
While there have been described what are at present considered to be the 
preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those 
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made 
therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed 
to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit 
and scope of the invention.