Abstract:
A portable folded wiper dispensing system for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. The system includes a refillable apparatus and a stack of sheets. The refillable apparatus is composed of: 1) a relatively flat, flexible base devoid of dispensing slots, the flexible base being adapted to resiliently fold along a fold axis; and 2) a flexible cover defining an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base such that the flexible cover is attached to said flexible base and is adapted to contain a stack of sheets. The opening defines a dispensing slot through which flexible sheets may be individually dispensed while the flexible base remains unfolded. When the flexible base is folded back along the fold axis, the opening defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted. The stack of sheets may be in the form of a pack of sheets within a plastic wrap provided with an aperture along a major face of the pack which conforms to the dispensing slot of the apparatus.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/431,919 entitled “Portable Folded Wiper System” and filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 28, 1995, now abandoned. This entirety of this application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for dispensing flexible sheets from stacks of sheets. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Refillable dispensers for dispensing flexible sheets from stacks of sheets are known. These dispensers may suffer from several drawbacks. For example, the dispensers may have separate openings for dispensing and reloading. Such arrangements can require complex flaps, latches, hinges or the like that may add to the cost, complexity and likelihood of failure of the dispenser. Another disadvantage is that many of these dispensers are not conveniently portable. That is, they fail to offer “hands-free” portability and must be hand-carried by the user. Some conventional dispensers have yet another disadvantage in that they offer little or no protection to the flexible sheets from splashes of liquid, dirt, grease or other contaminants. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from stacks of sheets in which the sheets are dispensed and refilled from the same opening. A need exists for such a refillable apparatus for dispensing and refilling flexible sheets from a single opening without complex flaps, latches, hinges or the like. There is also a need for a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets that is conveniently portable and which may be adapted to offer “hands-free” portability. A need also exists for a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets which protects the stack of sheets from splashes of liquid, dirt, grease or other contaminants. Furthermore, there is a need for a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets which is itself highly conformable, flexible and can be squeezed into limited spaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the needs described above by providing a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. The apparatus is composed of: 1) a relatively flat, flexible base devoid of dispensing slots, the flexible base being adapted to resiliently fold along a fold axis; and 2) a flexible cover (i.e., a flexible top) defining an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base, said flexible cover (i.e., flexible top) being attached to said flexible base and adapted to contain a stack of sheets; such that the opening defines a dispensing slot through which flexible sheets may be individually dispensed while the flexible base remains unfolded, and the opening defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted when the flexible base is folded back along the fold axis. 
     The stack of sheets may be in the form of a pack of sheets within a plastic wrap provided with an aperture along a major face of the pack which conforms to the dispensing slot of the apparatus. 
     The flexible base and/or the flexible cover may be composed of a variety of resilient materials including, but not limited to foamed polymeric materials. For example, the flexible base may be composed of foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate). The foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) may have a density ranging from about 160 kg/m 3  to about 240 kg/m 3 . For example, the foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) may have a density of about 200 kg/m 3 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the flexible base may be formed of any suitable resilient material (i.e., resiliently flexible material) such that it may require from about 2 to about 5 pounds force to fold it back along its fold axis so that the opening in the cover (i.e., flexible top) defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted. For example, the flexible base may require from about 3 to about 4 pounds force to fold it back along its fold axis so that the opening in the cover defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted. According to the invention, the fold axis of the flexible base may be a longitudinal fold axis. 
     The flexible cover (i.e., flexible top) may be composed of two discrete elements arranged to define an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base. The flexible cover (i.e., flexible top) may also be composed of a single piece of material having an aperture which defines an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base. It is contemplated that the flexible base and flexible cover (i.e., flexible top) may also be integral or composed of a single piece of material. In any case, the opening in the flexible cover may be fitted with a closure means. Exemplary closure means for the opening in the flexible cover include, but are not limited to, zippers, clasps, clamps, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, straps, ties, and hooks. 
     According to the invention, the flexible base may include attachment means. That is, the flexible means may include means to removably attach the apparatus to a surface, bracket, holder, article of clothing or to a portion of the body of a person using the apparatus. Exemplary attachment means include, but are not limited to, belt slots, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, clips, clasps, straps, ties, and hooks. 
     The present invention encompasses a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets, the apparatus being composed of: 1) a relatively flat, flexible base devoid of dispensing slots, the flexible base being formed of a foamed polymeric material and adapted to resiliently fold along a fold axis; and 2) a flexible cover defining an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base, said flexible cover being formed of a single piece of foamed polymeric material which is attached to said flexible base and adapted to contain a stack of sheets; such that the opening defines a dispensing slot through which flexible sheets may be individually dispensed while the flexible base remains unfolded, and the opening defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted when the flexible base is folded back along the fold axis. 
     The present invention further encompasses a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets, the apparatus being composed of: 1) a relatively flat, flexible base devoid of dispensing slots, the flexible base being formed of a foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) material having a density ranging from about 160 kg/m 3  to about 240 kg/m 3  and adapted to resiliently fold along a longitudinal fold axis; and 2) a flexible cover defining an opening aligned in parallel relation to the longitudinal fold axis of the flexible base, the flexible cover being formed of a single piece of foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) having a density ranging from about 160 kg/m 3  to about 240 kg/m  3  which is attached to said flexible base and adapted to contain a stack of sheets; such that the opening defines a dispensing slot through which flexible sheets may be individually dispensed while the flexible base remains unfolded, and the opening defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted when the flexible base is folded back along the longitudinal fold axis. 
     Desirably the flexible base and flexible cover are composed of foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) having a density of about 200 kg/m 3  and which is resiliently flexible such that it may require from about 2 to about 5 pounds force to fold the flexible base back along its fold axis so that the opening in the cover defines a refill gap through which a stack of flexible sheets may be inserted. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a rear view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets as well as an exemplary stack of flexible sheets with a plastic wrapper. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a detail of an exemplary refillable apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. FIG. 1 illustrates a rear view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10  for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. The rear view depicts a flexible base  12  which is part of the apparatus  10 . As is clear from FIG. 1, the flexible base  12  may contain openings and/or attachment means but is devoid of dispensing slots. The flexible base  12  may contain or include a variety of attachments means. For example, a female portion of a snap fastener system  14  can be located on a small nub  16  projecting from the flexible base  12 . That portion of a snap faster  14  may be designed to fasten to the corresponding male portion (not shown) which may be attached to a surface, mounted to an article or affixed to an article of clothing or the like. 
     A keyhole slot  18  can be located on the flexible base  12  and may be adapted to mount the flexible base  12  to screws, nails, pegs hooks or the like projecting from a surface, A first slot  20  and a second slot  22  located along the longest dimension  24 - 24 ′ of the flexible base  12  are adapted to receive a belt, strap or the like. In a similar manner a first pair of slots  26  and  26 ′ and a second pair of slots  28  and  28 ′ (in perpendicular relation to the first slot  20  and second slot  22 ) are adapted to receive a belt, strap or the like. The pairs of slots may be used separately or in combination. As can be readily observed from the orientation of the first and second slots  20  and  22  and the pairs of slots  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′, the apparatus  10  may be mounted horizontally or vertically. 
     A large opening  30  can be located on the flexible base  12  and may be adapted to receive a knob, hook or other projectile in order to mount the apparatus. Each of the attachment means described above may be used alone or in combination if present on the apparatus. It is contemplated that other attachment systems such as, for example, clasps, clips, hook and loop fasteners, semi-permanent adhesives or the like may be used. 
     According to the invention, the flexible base  12  is adapted to resiliently fold along a fold axis. A variety of fold axis configurations are contemplated. Desirably, the fold axis will run in relative proximity to a line  32 - 32 ′ bisecting the center of the longest dimension  24 - 24 ′ of the flexible base  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary apparatus  10 . As can be readily seen, the flexible base  12  is joined to a flexible cover  34  (i.e., a flexible top). The flexible base  12  and flexible cover  34  may be joined by any suitable method. Glues, adhesives, solvent welding, ultrasonic welding, stitching, thermal bonding, staples or the like may be used. Of course, it is not necessary that the base and cover (i.e., top) be fabricated separately. It is contemplated that the apparatus may be formed as a single article in which the base and cover (i.e., top) are integral or formed from a single piece of material. This could be accomplished by injection molding or similar operations. The flexible base  12  and flexible cover  34  may be made utilizing conventional vacuum thermo-forming processes. A plug assist may be employed in such processes to help formation of the molded article. It is contemplated the designs may be embossed into the cover and/or base by patterns placed in the vacuum mold and/or on the plug assist. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary apparatus  10  showing the flexible cover  34 . The flexible cover  34  may be composed of two discrete elements (not shown). These elements may be arranged to define an opening aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base. The flexible cover may also be composed of a single piece of material as shown in FIG.  3 . The single piece of material is configured to have an opening which defines a dispensing slot  38  aligned in parallel relation to the fold axis of the flexible base  12  (i.e., the line  32 - 32 ′ bisecting the center of the longest dimension  24 - 24 ′ of the flexible base  12 ). FIG. 3 depicts the apparatus  10  with a zipper  40  closing the dispensing slot  38 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10  for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets while the flexible base is folded along its fold axis (i.e., the line  32 - 32 ′ bisecting the center of the longest dimension  24 - 24 ′ of the flexible base  12 ) causing the opening in the flexible cover  34  to convert from a dispensing slot  38  to a much larger refill gap  42 . As can be seen from this view, folding the flexible base  12  back into a upside down U shape causes the edges  44  of the opening to be thrust wide open thereby creating a refill gap  42  large enough for a clip or stack of sheet material to be inserted into the apparatus  10 . Generally speaking, the force needed to fold or bend back the flexible base  12  and open up the flexible cover  34  should be in the range of about 2 to about 5 pounds force (as measured utilizing an Accuforce® Cadet Force Gage available from Ametek Inc., Mansfield &amp; Green Division). Desirably, the force may be in the range of about 3 to about 4 pounds force. While the force may vary depending upon the material used to make the flexible base  12  and/or the flexible cover  34 , the material should require sufficient force for bending so that the apparatus  10  avoids popping open and dropping or otherwise losing sheet material. 
     Foamed poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) is an example of a suitable material which may be used in to make the flexible base  12  and/or flexible cover  34 . Relatively thin sheets of that foam material having a density between about 160 kg/m 3  to about 240 kg/m 3  require suitable levels of force as described above to open the apparatus  10 . Moreover, once the flexible base  12  is folded, sheets of the poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) exert a retractile force (a force from the material once all external opening force is removed) ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 pounds force (as measured utilizing an Accuforce® Cadet Force Gage available from Ametek Inc., Mansfield &amp; Green Division) which urges the flexible base  12  back into a relatively flat configuration thereby causing the opening in the flexible cover  34  to close back into a dispensing slot  38 . 
     Certainly, other materials may be used to form the flexible base and the flexible cover. A wide variety of foamed and un-foamed polymeric materials are contemplated. Desirably, these materials would have densities and opening and closing properties similar to those described above. It is also desirable that the material (e.g., foamed polymeric material) have some stretch and recovery properties. That is, it is thought that if the material is able to stretch slightly (e.g., stretch up to 5 or 10 percent or more) and substantially recover from that stretching, the flexible cover  34  could more readily be converted from a dispensing slot  38  to a refill gap  42  and back again. 
     Dispensers made of rigid or brittle materials occupy a defined space and cannot be squeezed or conformed to fit into a smaller space or a confined area having different dimensions. The flexible materials provide another advantage in that the dispenser constructed of such material is conformable and can be squeezed to fit into a toolbox or other confined area. Also, flexible materials are unlikely to fracture or break under an impact or if dropped. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10  for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets as well as an exemplary stack  46  of flexible sheets  48  with a plastic wrapper  50 . As can be seen from FIG. 5, the stack  46  of flexible sheets  48  is about the same size as (or slightly smaller than) the apparatus  10 . For example, if the stack  46  is a stack of industrial wipes, it may be about 9.5 inches ( ˜ 24 cm) along its longest dimension, about 4 inches ( ˜ 11 cm) along its width dimension, and about 1.5 inches ( ˜ 4 cm) in height. Accordingly, an apparatus for dispensing such a stack of wipers would have about the same or marginally larger dimensions. 
     The plastic wrapper  50  surrounding the stack  46  of flexible sheets  48  serves to protect the flexible sheets from contamination by incidental splashes of liquid, dust, grease or other materials. It is desirable that the stack  46  of flexible sheets  48  contain an aperture  52  in the plastic wrapper  50  to allow ready access to the flexible sheets  48 . The aperture  52  may be of almost any length. For example, the aperture  52  may run the full length or almost the full length of the stack  46  of flexible sheets  48 . Desirably, the aperture  52  will be about one-half the length of the stack  46  of flexible sheets  48  and will be located at the center of the stack so that the ends of the aperture  52  are separated from each end of the stack  46  by a distance which is approximately a quarter of the length of the stack. 
     When the stack  46  of flexible sheets is inserted into the apparatus  10 , both the apparatus and the plastic wrapper help prevent undesired contamination. Accordingly, it is also desirable that the stack  46  contain flexible sheets  48  (e.g., wipers or the like) which are not interfolded. That is, it is desired in some embodiments of the invention that removal of one sheet should avoid extracting a portion of the next sheet outside the apparatus  10  as is common in many conventional dispenser of interfolded tissues. Keeping all the sheet material inside the dispenser by using non-interfolded stacks of sheets (e.g., Z-folded sheets, C-folded sheets or the like) is desirable because it helps to avoid contamination of the sheets by incidental splashes of liquid, dirt, grease or the like. Such an arrangement of non-interfolded stacks of sheets is practical in the apparatus  10  of the present invention because of the relative flexibility of the flexible cover  34  which permits easy access to the sheets. That is, the flexibility of the cover permits easy access into the dispensing slot and even allows relatively narrow dispensing slots to be employed while permitting practical dispensing. Narrow dispensing slots are desirable because they help prevent contamination of the wipes. Of course, the present invention contemplates the use of interfolded wiper in the apparatus and/or relatively wide dispensing slots. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10 . As can be seen from the illustration, the apparatus  10  has attachment means in the form of a clip  54  and in the form of a band  56  (e.g., a strap). The ends  58  of the band  56  may be joined by any suitable method such as, for example, buckles, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners or the like. Desirably, the ends  58  of the band  56  are fitted with snaps or snap fasteners (e.g., poppers). 
     The clip  54  may be used to attach the apparatus  10  to an article of clothing such as the top of trousers, to a belt, to a belt loop or the like. The band  56  (e.g, strap) may be used to hold the end the apparatus  10  opposite the clip  54  against a portion of the body. For example, the clip  54  may be used to hold the top of the apparatus  10  near the waist and the band  56  may be used to hold the other end against a limb (e.g., a leg). 
     The band  56  may be used with or without the clip  54 . For example, the band and any suitable attachment means fitted at the ends of the band could be looped around a toolbox handle, trolley handle or the like. 
     FIG. 6 also depicts the edges  44  of the cover  34  defining a dispensing slot  38 . A single sheet of flexible material is shown protruding through the dispensing slot  38 . In this example, no closure means are connected to the edges  44  of the cover  34 . Generally speaking, if an appropriate material is selected for the flexible cover  34 , the flexible cover  34  can have adequate levels of flexibility and retractile force which would alleviate the need for closure means on the dispensing slot  38 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10  for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. The apparatus  10  is identical to that shown in FIG. 6 except that the dispensing slot  38  is fitted with a zipper  40 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refillable apparatus  10  for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets. This particular embodiment of the apparatus contains a cut  62  or slice which connect a small hole  64  to the dispensing slot  38 . The cut  62  aids the flexure and ease of opening of the cover  34 . More specifically, the cut  62  and small hole  64  are particularly useful if the dispensing slot  38  is located only on the face  66  of the cover  34  and not the side portion  68 . The small hole  64  serves to dissipate stresses and that may build up at the end of the cut  62 . A cut  62  and small hole  64  are located at each end of the dispensing slot. FIG. 9 is an illustration of a side or head-on view of the side portion  68  showing the cut  62  and the small hole  64  shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a detail of a clip  70  from an exemplary refillable apparatus. In particular, FIG. 10 shows the front element  72  of the clip  70 . The front element  72  defines an opening  74  with two protrusions  76  which serves as a buckle-like fitting for a band or strap. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the rear element  78  of the clip  70 . The rear element  78  defines an opening  80  in the shape of a keyhole which can be used to hook the clip onto a protrusions such as, for example, a nail, screw, peg or the like. The rear element  78  is separate but connected to the front element  72 . Generally speaking, the clip  70  may be formed from a single piece of rigid material by folding the material over to provide a front element  72  and a rear element  78  that are connected at the fold but separated by a gap. 
     FIG. 12 shows the front element  72  serving as a buckle-like fitting for a band  82 . The band  82  fits into the opening  74  underneath the two protrusions  76  and back out of the opening  74 . FIG. 13 shows a side view of the band  82  as it fits into the front element  72 . The portion of the band between the front element  72  and the rear element  78 , that is, the interior band portion  84 , enhances the effectiveness of the clip  70  by serving as an additional catch for holding onto articles. This is particularly true when the band  82  is formed of a leather-like material or a foamed polymeric material. 
     FIG. 14 is an illustration of how the clip  70  and the band  82  can be connected to the apparatus  10  by snap fasteners  14 . As can be seen, the band  82  passes through the front element  72  of the clip. 
     The foregoing description relates to several embodiments of the present invention pertaining to a refillable apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack of sheets, and modifications or alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.