Abstract:
The present invention provides a dispenser for moisturized sheets in the core of a toilet paper roll. Not only are wet and dry wipes provided coincidentally, the location is particularly handy for toilet use. In a utilization of existing bathroom fixtures, the novel concept offsets the rotational axis of the toilet paper roll to make an aperture available to dispense the moisturized sheets from the volume of the core previously occupied by the conventional spool. The invention further provides a hermetically sealed refill unit and a method of dispensing and refilling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to cleaning wipes, and more particularly to hygienic tissues for bathroom use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Towelettes, or wipes, find multiple uses in a bathroom or lavatory. In addition to housekeeping use, they can be used to cleanse or dry skin. Dry wipes are sometimes inadequate, however, when sensitive or stubbornly soiled skin is involved. Wet wipes are needed for this purpose but are rarely in a handy location, particularly when a need arises at the toilet. Wet wipes require container storage to protect against evaporative losses. The containers are generally placed on a surface remote from the handy wall location of the toilet tissue roll and may not be within reach for a person at need at the toilet. 
         [0003]    The prior art has attempted to address this inconvenience. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,326 to Mikelionis, two rolls are placed side-by-side on the typical toilet roll spool. One of the rolls is dry and the other, pre-moistened. Each roll is one-half the width of a standard toilet tissue roll. The half-size is achieved by folding the tissues lengthwise, such that each dispensed tissue is one folded-over sheet. The moist tissues are housed in a cylindrically-configured container and are dispensed through a horizontal slot therein. 
         [0004]    Such an arrangement has several disadvantages. In the first place, it is unlikely that consumption of both wet and dry will be matched, so managing inventories of customized products may be expensive and troublesome. Secondly, dispensing from one side may involve unintended movement of the other side. The dry side is unwound by spinning the roll on the same spool supporting the wet side. This might cause a synchronous drift of the container and result in rotating the slot out of reach. Finally, and more importantly, the consumer is forced to pay extra for a specialty product in place of the ubiquitous, and relatively less expensive, commodity toilet tissue roll. 
         [0005]    Synchronous movement is not a problem in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,960 to Marino. Marino places dry and wet rolls in two separate but connected containers hung above and below a toilet roll spool mounted in a conventional wall bracket. Both containers are loaded through hinged covers, and the dispensing from one can be independent from the other. The structure is rather bulky, however, and would cramp tight spaces. Space encroachment would prove to be a nuisance, particularly when the need for the wet version is infrequent. Additionally, it involves equipment purchase and installation. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,598 to Masting resolves the space problem by storing pre-moistened towelettes in the core of a paper towel roll. Masting converts a vertical stand for the roll to a container with a towelette dispensing aperture at the top. While it known to dispense wet wipes from the otherwise available space inside the core of a roll of dry goods, what is not known is how to accomplish this from a hanging toilet tissue roll. A toilet roll is conventionally suspended from a spool connected to the horizontal arms of a wall bracket. The spool partially fills the core space leaving little room for alternative use of that space. The present invention presents a novel solution for accommodating the spool while providing access to the total volume of the core. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a convenient way to dispense wet wipes in a bathroom. It is a further object to make wet wipes available to a person seated on a toilet. It is a further object to combine the dispensing of wet wipes with that of ordinary dry toilet tissue. It is a further object to accomplish this in a way that does not involve a requirement to purchase specialty toilet tissue rolls. It is a further object to utilize existing installations of toilet roll brackets without requiring modification or new equipment. It is a further object to fully utilize the space in the core of a common toilet tissue roll for the purpose of dispensing the wet wipes. It is a further object to maintain a moisture barrier to prevent evaporative losses from the wet wipes, or dampening of the dry wipes, during active use of the invention. It is a further object to maximize the capacity inside the core of a mounted toilet tissue roll by eliminating the existing toilet roll spool. It is further object to provide a convenient refill put-up to replenish the wet wipes. It is a further object to provide a simplified changeover method for replenishment. 
         [0008]    These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a toilet roll dispenser for moisturized sheets comprising a cylindrical dispenser, having a rotational axis, configured to fit within the core of a toilet roll. Further, the toilet roll dispenser comprises a plurality of moisturized sheets contained within the cylindrical dispenser, said moisturized sheets connected to dispense sequentially from, at least, one end of the core. Finally, the toilet roll dispenser comprises a means for connecting the cylindrical dispenser to a wall bracket having two arms with recesses to receive a conventional toilet roll spool. With the aforementioned, a roll of toilet paper rotatably mounted on the cylindrical dispenser and suspended within the wall bracket by the means for connecting can unwind conventionally about the rotational axis, while the moisturized sheets can dispense from the interior of the core. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the means for connecting comprises end caps placed at each end of the cylindrical dispenser. The end caps have bosses configured to fit the recesses and a means for articulating the bosses to removably and securely mount the cylindrical dispenser between the two arms of the wall bracket. At least one of the end caps comprises a dispensing aperture centered on the rotational axis in communication with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser. The bosses lie along an axis parallel to and offset from the rotational axis. 
         [0010]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the end caps telescope onto the ends of the cylindrical dispenser and the means for articulating the bosses comprises a coil spring positioned between at least one of the telescoping end caps and the cylindrical dispenser. The end cap telescopes from a bypass to a seated position in a corresponding recess while the coil spring biases said end cap to the seated position. In an alternate version, the means for articulating comprises a flexible beam for each boss. The beam has the boss at a distal end and a base at a proximal end where it is positioned above an axis of rotation. The beam is rotatably fitted to the end cap such that the axis of rotation of the beam and the axis of rotation of the cylindrical dispenser coincide. The beam positions the boss to articulate into the recess by flexing the distal end. 
         [0011]    Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical dispenser comprises a hermetically-sealed refill unit having moisture vapor barrier properties. The refill unit is comprised of a closed end at one end of the cylindrical dispenser and an open end at the other end. Further, the refill unit comprises a means for hermetically sealing the open end. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the means for hermetically sealing comprises a bonded foil membrane. In an alternate version, the means for hermetically sealing comprises a treaded cap. 
         [0012]    In an alternate embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets comprises the steps of providing a toilet roll dispenser as described above; providing a refill unit as described above; removing the toilet roll dispenser from a used roll of toilet paper; removing the end caps from the toilet roll dispenser; discarding the used cylindrical dispenser; removing the means for hermetically sealing to expose the open end of the refill unit; placing the end caps on both ends of the refill unit to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser; placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser in the core of another, or the same, roll of toilet paper; and dispensing the moisturized sheets from the open end through an aperture in the end cap 
         [0013]    As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the toilet roll dispenser with a roll of toilet paper positioned thereon; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of the first embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the refill assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the refill assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the toilet roll dispenser with a roll of toilet paper positioned thereon; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the second embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is an end elevation view of the second embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the refill assembly of the second embodiment, showing an alternative disposable cap; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the refill assembly of the second embodiment, showing an alternative hermetic seal; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the cylindrical dispenser showing the sealed end; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing details of the spinner component of the second embodiment; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of toilet roll wall bracket and spool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  17 , a toilet roll  2 , wound around a core  3 , is conventionally suspended in a wall bracket  5  by a spool  7  placed through the core and into recesses  6  of a pair of bracket arms  8 . The toilet roll  2 , thusly mounted in the wall bracket  5 , can dispense sheets of toilet paper by unwinding from around the spool  7 . In the present invention, the spool  7  is replaced by a toilet roll dispenser  1 . The toilet roll dispenser  1  provides the additional capability of dispensing a plurality of moisturized sheets  4 . The moisturized sheets  4  are conveniently located together with the dry sheets while both are close at hand for toilet use. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the toilet roll dispenser  1  is comprised of a cylindrical dispenser  10  and a means for connecting  20  the cylindrical dispenser  10  to the wall bracket  5 . The cylindrical dispenser  10  provides a housing for the moisturized sheets  4 , which are contained there within. The cylindrical dispenser  10  protects the moisturized sheets  4  from the evaporation of the moisture. The cylindrical dispenser  10  is formed as a unitary container with a closed end  13  ( FIG. 15 ). The other end, an open end  12 , provides access for the moisturized sheets  4  and is the only aperture to the container requiring some form of sealing to complete the protective envelope. The container is comprised of a moisture-vapor barrier material. The cylindrical dispenser  10  has a rotational axis  11  about which the toilet roll  2  unwinds. 
         [0034]    The means for connecting  20  is comprised of end caps  21  placed over each end of the cylindrical dispenser  10 . Each end cap  21  has a boss  22  configured to fit within the recess  6  of the bracket arm  8 . The bosses  22  lie along an axis parallel to, and offset from, the rotational axis  11 . The offset is essentially the same as that of the axis of core  3  to the axis of spool  7  when the toilet roll  2  is conventionally mounted. The reader is reminded that the diameter of the spool  7  is significantly less, typically, than the diameter of the core  3 ; consequently, the axis of the hanging roll is offset from that of the spool. 
         [0035]    The end caps  21  are further comprised of a means for articulating  30  the bosses  22  to removably, and securely, mount the cylindrical dispenser  10  between the bracket arms  8  of the wall bracket  5 . In a first embodiment, the means for articulating  30  comprise a coil spring  31  positioned between at least one of the end caps  21  and the cylindrical dispenser  10 . The end cap telescopes over the cylindrical dispenser from a bypass position  24  to seated position  25  ( FIG. 2 ). The coil spring  31  biases the end cap  21  to its seated position  25  by compression based against spring stop  14 . 
         [0036]    A second embodiment of the means for articulating  30  is shown in  FIGS. 8-12  and  16 , wherein primed reference characters (′) indicate features essentially equivalent to the first embodiment. The second means for articulating  30  is comprised of end caps  21 ′ placed over each end of the cylindrical dispenser  10 ′. Each end cap  21 ′ is provided with an annular aperture  38 . A spinner  39  is rotatably fitted to each annular aperture  38 . The spinner  39  is secured to end cap  21 ′ by means of a ring of ledges  36  ( FIG. 16 ). The ring of ledges  36  can be resiliently compressed by means of slots  37  to narrow the ring diameter so as to pass through the annular aperture  38 . The ring of ledges  36 , once passed, snaps the ledges into place where an interference of structures locks the assembly together. The compression results from forcing the ring of ledges  36  into the space of the annular aperture  38 . 
         [0037]    The spinner  39  is further comprised of a flexible beam  32 . Flexible beam  32  flexes from its base at a proximal end  33 . A boss  22 ′, configured to fit within the recess  6  of the bracket arm  8 , is positioned at a distal end  34 . The bosses  22 ′ lay along an axis parallel to, and offset from, a rotational axis  11 ′. As in the case of the first embodiment, the offset is essentially the same as that of the axis of core  3  to the axis of spool  7  in a conventional mount. In the second embodiment, the flexible beam  32  arcuately articulates ( FIG. 9 ) to move the boss  22 ′ from a bypass position  24 ′ to a seated position  25 ′. The end caps  21 ′ are rigidly held in position relative to the cylindrical dispenser  10 ′ by end cap stops  15 . The stops function to form a firm base for each flexible beam  32 . The flexible beam  32  may provide a pre-load at the seated position  25 ′ to assure the interposition of boss  22 ′ in recess  6  and, thereby, the secure mounting of cylindrical dispenser  10 ′ to the wall bracket  5 . 
         [0038]    The spinner  39  is further comprised of a spinner axis  35  located at or near the proximal end  33 . Spinner axis  35  is coincident with the rotational axis  11 ′. In the second embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical dispenser  10 ′ is such that there is a snug fit to the diameter of core  3 . When toilet roll  2  unwinds, it spins the toilet roll dispenser  1  about the spinner axis  35 . In the case of the first embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical dispenser  10  is such that there is a loose fit to the diameter of core  3 . When the toilet roll  2  unwinds in this case, the core  3  slips over the toilet roll dispenser  1  and does not spin it. In both the first and second embodiments, the unwind direction  9  of toilet roll  2  ( FIGS. 1 and 8 ) is counterclockwise, such that the sheets unspool from the bottom. In this way, the unwind pull lifts the toilet roll dispenser  1  away from the wall and frees the rotation. Otherwise, with the unwind direction clockwise, the roll becomes pinned against the wall by rotation about the boss axis. 
         [0039]    At least one of the end caps  21  further comprises a dispensing aperture  23 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The dispensing aperture  23  is preferably centered on the rotational axis  11 , and communicates with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser  10  to enable moisturized sheets  4  to be withdrawn there from. The moisturized sheets  4  are interleaved or, otherwise, connected with perforations, so that they can be singulated when withdrawn from the dispensing aperture  23  and replaced therein with the next succeeding sheet. The moisturized sheets  4  can be wound in a roll without a core to dispense from the center of the roll. Alternatively, the moisturized sheets can take the conformation of a coiled rope-twist. The dispensing aperture  23  is sized and configured to minimize exposure to evaporative losses. A preferred configuration of dispensing aperture  23  is crossed slits, wherein the triangular-shaped vanes at the intersection of the slits are feathered to yield easily when withdrawing a sheet. An alternate version is shown by dispensing aperture  23 ′ in  FIG. 10 . In this version, the moisturized sheets pass through the annular aperture  38 , the opening of which is narrowly restricted to the minimized breadth of a singular sheet. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  13  and  14 , a refill unit  40  is shown. The refill unit  40  is comprised of the cylindrical dispenser  10  ( 10 ′) and a means for hermetically sealing  41 . In the preferred embodiment, the means for hermetically sealing  41  is a foil membrane  42 , which is bonded to the open end  12  ( 12 ′). The foil membrane  42  may be frangible, or otherwise strippable, to facilitate its removal from the open end. Alternatively, the means for hermetically sealing  41  can be a threaded cap  44  ( FIG. 14 ). When the foil membrane  41  is used, a disposable cap  43  is required to protect the frangible membrane from inadvertent puncture. Preferably, the disposable cap  43  is comprised of low cost and environmentally-friendly materials. One such example is a spiral-wound paper core  45 , ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The open end of the spiral-wound paper core  45  can be plugged with interlocked paperboard partitions  46 , as shown. Alternatively, the disposable cap  43  is a friction-fit cap  47 , which can be slipped over the end of the cylindrical dispenser  10  ( 10 ′) to cover the foil membrane  41  ( FIG. 13 ). 
         [0041]    In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical dispenser  10  ( 10 ′), the end caps  21  ( 21 ′), the spinner  39 , the threaded cap  44  and the friction-fit cap  47  are all injection molded. The thermoplastic resins of choice will have the properties of toughness and stiffness. The molded parts may be translucent, transparent or opaque. The wall thickness should be sufficient to prevent critical moisture loss over the period of the preferred shelf life. The preferred resins are commodity-grade polyethylene, polypropylene, high-impact polystyrene, or polyolefin. The foil membrane  42  can be bonded to the open end by induction sealing or gluing. The spiral-wound paper core  45  is fabricated by lapping strips of paper in a glued winding over a mandrel, as known in the art, and then cut to length. 
         [0042]    In an alternative embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps:
       i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser  1  after having used up the moisturized sheets  4  therein;   ii. providing the refill unit  40 ;   iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser  1  from the core  3  of the existing toilet roll  2 ;   iv. removing the end caps  21 ′ from the cylindrical dispenser  10 ′;   v. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser  10 ′;   vi. removing the means for hermetically sealing  41  to expose the open end  12 ′ of the refill unit  40 ;   vii. placing the end caps  21 ′ onto both ends of the refill unit  40  to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser  1 ;   viii. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets  4  through the dispensing aperture  23 ′ to provide a starter-edge;   ix. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser  1  into the core  3  of another, or the same, toilet roll  2 ; and   x. dispensing the moisturized sheets  4  from the dispensing aperture  23 ′.       
 
         [0053]    In another alternative embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps:
       i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser  1  after having used up the moisturized sheets  4  therein;   ii. providing the refill unit  40 ;   iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser  1  from the core  3  of the existing toilet roll  2 ;   iv. removing the end caps  21  from the cylindrical dispenser  10 ;   v. removing the coil spring  31  from the cylindrical dispenser  10 ;   vi. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser  10 ;   vii. removing the means for hermetically sealing  41  to expose the open end  12  of the refill unit  40 ;   viii. placing the coil spring  31  over the open end  12  of the refill unit  40 ;   ix. placing the end caps  21  onto both ends of the refill unit  40  and over the coil spring  31  to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser  1 ;   x. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets  4  through the dispensing aperture  23  to provide a starter-edge;   xi. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser  1  into the core  3  of another, or the same, toilet roll  2 ; and   xii. dispensing the moisturized sheets  4  from the dispensing aperture  23 .       
 
         [0066]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, the cylindrical dispenser  10  may be a tube having a closed end  13  comprised of a bonded foil membrane  42 . Further, the toilet roll dispenser  1  may be made up from end cap  22  on one end of the cylindrical dispenser  10  and end cap  22 ′ on the other end. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.