Abstract:
A container and container cap for storage and dispensing of moist articles and for storing at least one normally dry article. The container includes a body defining a first compartment for storage of moist articles. The cap defines a second compartment for storage of at least one normally dry article. The cap also defines an opening for dispensing moist articles from the first compartment. A lid is coupled to the cap and includes a pair of sealing flaps for selectively closing the first and second compartments. The ventilated flap for closing the second compartment includes openings for ventilating the second compartment to help dry the normally dry article.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/247,857 filed Oct. 8, 2008. Application Ser. No. 12/247,857 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0002]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/978,295, filed Oct. 8, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a dual-zone container having a first compartment for containing a moist product and a second compartment for containing a normally dry product. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    When cleaning or wiping an object with a normally wet cloth, it is possible for the surface of the object to remain moist subsequent to the cleaning action. Many times, a dry cloth is required to completely dry the object and eliminate the possibility of streaks forming on the surface. Known wipe containers maintain a single compartment for moist cloths, resulting in the user needing to also obtain and carry a separate dry cloth. Additionally, as the dry cloth is used, it retains moisture from the surface of the object and, if not properly dried between cleaning cycles, can be left damp and thereby susceptible to mold or mildew formation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A container for storage and dispensing of moist articles and for storing at least one normally dry article includes a body at least partially defining a first compartment for storage of moist articles. The container further includes a cap defining a second compartment therein for storage of at least one normally dry article. The cap also defines an opening for dispensing moist articles from the first compartment. A lid of the container has a sealing flap for selectively closing the first compartment and sealing the first compartment from the environment and a ventilated flap for selectively closing the second compartment. The ventilated flap includes at least one opening for ventilating the second compartment when the ventilated flap is closed. 
         [0006]    The container incorporates a second vented chamber within the cap of the first chamber. The first chamber may therefore maintain wet wipes necessary for cleaning, while the second chamber provides a convenient location to store a dry cloth. Moreover, the flap that covers the second chamber includes venting holes to promote drying of the dry cloth between cleaning cycles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a dual-zone container. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 1  with both portions of a two-part lid in open positions. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of a cap of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the two-part lid shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of an alternative construction of a dual-zone container. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 6  with both portions of a two-part lid in open positions. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of a cap of the dual-zone container of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the two-part lid shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Before any constructions of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a dual-zone container  20 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the container  20  in a closed configuration, and  FIG. 3  illustrates the container  20  in an open configuration. The container  20  includes a body  24  and a cap  28  removably attached to the body  24 . Both the body  24  and the cap  28  have a generally rectangular polyhedral shape such that the entire container  20  also has a generally rectangular polyhedral shape. The cap  28  is provided with a two-part lid  32  allowing selective access to an interior of the container  20 . The interior of the container  20  includes a first compartment  36  ( FIG. 2 ) formed by both the body  24  and the cap  28 . The interior of the container  20  further includes a second compartment  40  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) formed solely by the cap  28 . The first and second compartments  36 ,  40 , while both formed at least partially by the cap  28 , are separated from each other such that the contents of the first and second compartments  36 ,  40  are not mixed or touching. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first compartment  36  is substantially larger than the second compartment  40  in the illustrated construction of the container  20 . In other constructions, the second compartment  40  can be larger than the first compartment  20  or the first and second compartments  20 ,  40  can have substantially the same size. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the cap  28  includes a first part  44  having a slit-type opening  48 . In the illustrated construction, the opening  48  in the first part  44  is generally star-shaped, being formed by six equally-spaced slits intersect at a center of the opening  48 . Alternatively, the opening  48  can be other shapes. The opening  48  in the first part  44  of the cap  28  is configured to retain a sheet article (not shown) in a position to be grasped by a user. Typically, sheet articles are interleaved so that the dispensing of one sheet article positions a portion of the following sheet article in the opening  48  so that it may be easily grasped as desired. The first part  44  of the cap  28  is selectively covered by a first flap  52  of the lid  32 . The first flap  52  is rotatable between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) that closes and seals the first compartment  36  from the external environment and an open position ( FIG. 3 ) that provides access to the first compartment  36  through the opening  48 . 
         [0020]    The cap  28  further includes a second part  56  adjacent the first part  44 . The second part  56  forms the second compartment  40  of the container  20 . The second compartment  40  is accessible by a second flap  60  rotatable between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated construction, the second flap  60  includes at least one opening  64  for venting the second compartment  40  when the second flap  60  is in the closed position. In other words, the interior of the second compartment  40  is in fluid communication with the external environment via opening  64  to facilitate venting of the interior of the second compartment  40 . In other constructions, the second flap  60  may not include an opening and the second flap  60  may engage or be connected to the cap  28  in a manner that facilitates fluid communication with the environment. In yet other constructions, the second compartment  40  may not be in fluid communication with the environment. 
         [0021]    In between the first part  44  and the second part  56  of the cap  28 , an attachment portion  68  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) provides a location for coupling the lid  32  to the cap  28 . The attachment portion  68  of the cap  28  includes at least one opening  72  ( FIG. 2 ) configured to receive a corresponding post  76  ( FIG. 5 ) extending from a central portion  80  of the lid  32  between the first and second flaps  52 ,  60 . In the illustrated construction, five openings  72  in the attachment portion  68  receive five corresponding posts  76  of the lid  32 . Alternatively, the container  20  can include other components and means for attaching the lid  32  to the cap  28 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  24  includes a recessed edge  84  over which the cap  28  is positionable to removably connect the cap  28  to the body  24 . The body  24  and the cap  28  fit together at the recessed edge  84  allowing for the cap  28  to remain attached during normal use of the container  20  and allowing for the cap  28  to be removed from the body  24  to access the first compartment  36 . The first compartment  36  may be accessed periodically to replenish or replace the contents thereof. In one construction, the first compartment  36  contains a stack of interleaved “wet wipes” or moist tissues. The wet wipes may be individually dispensed through the opening  48  and used for cleaning various objects and/or body parts. The first flap  52  of the lid  32  includes a peripheral rim  88  ( FIG. 5 ) configured to selectively engage a corresponding edge  92  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the cap  28  to maintain the first flap  52  in the closed position and seal the first compartment  36  closed so that its contents do not dry out. 
         [0023]    The second compartment  40  is configured to contain one or more normally dry products such as a “dry wipe” or polishing cloth. The second compartment  40 , which is configured to contain one or more reusable items, may be smaller than the first compartment  36 , which is configured to contain a bulk supply of one-time-use articles. The second flap  60  of the lid  32  may be provided with a snap closure mechanism similar to that of the first flap  52  (i.e., rim  88  and edge  92 ). However, the openings  64  in the second flap  60  expose the second compartment  40  and the contents therein to the external environment for purposes of ventilation. For example, the second compartment  40  may contain a reusable polishing or drying cloth that may become damp during use. When returned to storage in the second compartment  40 , the cloth is able to dry-out due to the ventilation of the second compartment  40  provided by the openings  64 . 
         [0024]    Thus, the container  20  provides a first compartment  36  for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment  40  unitarily formed with the cap  28  for storage and ventilation of a normally dry article. In some constructions, the container  20  provides a first compartment and a second compartment as described above, except that neither compartment is unitarily formed as part of the cap  28 . For example, the body  24  may include a separator wall dividing the interior space into a first compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment for storage and ventilation of a normally dry article. It is also conceived that the compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles may be unitarily formed with and as part of the cap  28 , or that both of a first compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment for storage and ventilation of a dry article are unitarily formed with and as part of the cap  28 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6-10  illustrate a container  120  according to a second construction. The container  120  has similarities with the container  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  except for the particular differences pointed out below. Therefore, reference is made to the description above (relating to the container  20  of  FIGS. 1-5 ) with respect to the features in common with the container  120 . Those features of the container  120  in common with features of the container  20  are labeled with reference numerals corresponding to those of  FIGS. 1-5 , but with each number incremented by 100 in  FIGS. 6-10 . 
         [0026]    The container  120 , including the body  124  and the cap  128 , is generally cylindrical as opposed to the rectangular container  20  of  FIGS. 1-5 . In addition to rectangular and cylindrical, other known shapes may be utilized as well. These include other polyhedral and prismatic shapes as well as non-polyhedral and non-prismatic shapes. 
         [0027]    Although illustrated as having a press fit at the recessed edge  184  of the body  124 , the cylindrical shape of the body  124  and the cap  128  allow the container  120  to optionally be opened and closed for selectively accessing the first compartment  136  by a set of male and female threads provided on the body  124  and the cap  128 . Where this feature is desired, at least the mating portions of the body  124  and the cap  128  can be of cylindrical form. 
         [0028]    It should be understood that although the illustrated construction of the container is a dual-zone and dual-compartment container, the container is capable of having more than two zones and two compartments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such constructions could have any combination of wet compartments and dry compartments. 
         [0029]    It should also be understood that a large variety of alternatives and variations exist to the constructions discussed above and illustrated in the drawings. The constructions described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to recognize such alternatives and variations from the disclosure herein and, therefore, such alternatives and variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.