Abstract:
A personal hygiene wipe dispenser and waste receptacle device has amounting plate with mount elements, and upper compartment and a lower compartment. The upper compartment stores a plurality of wipes and has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper compartment has at least two apertures therein, each configured for dispensing some of the wipes therethrough. Engaging elements on the upper compartment engage some of the mount elements to secure the upper compartment to the mounting plate. The lower compartment stores a waste receptacle. A door is present on an upper surface, opposing the upper compartment lower surface. Engaging elements engage some of the mount elements to secure the lower compartment to the mounting plate. A locking bar is disposed on the mounting plate, between the upper and lower compartments, and is configured to lock the upper and lower compartments to the mounting plate. The compartments are removed from the mounting plate by disengaging the compartment from the locking bar and disengaging the engaging elements from their cooperating mounting plate mounting elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a men&#39;s personal hygiene product. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a men&#39;s personal hygiene wet and dry napkin dispenser and waste receptacle for mounting adjacent to a urinal. 
         [0002]    Dispensers for paper towels or wipes used in restrooms of offices, public areas, and households are well known. These often are located near restroom sinks for use after hand washing and often contain only dry paper towels. 
         [0003]    Following urination, men typically shake or tap their penises in order to eliminate the last vestiges of urine. This can cause embarrassing spotting or staining in the event that urine is inadvertently splashed onto one&#39;s clothing or person, and unsanitary conditions by splashing in the general area. Moreover, individuals with urinary complications, such as an enlarged prostate gland, may experience a residual urinary stream which, again, can cause embarrassing spotting or staining. 
         [0004]    Convention has not been to teach men to wipe their penises following urination. In addition, given the configuration of most men&#39;s restrooms, there is generally no tissue or wiper dispenser or waste receptacle that is convenient to the urinals. Typically, urinals are installed next to one another with a partition wall between them. 
         [0005]    At times, however, there is a need for wet wipes, as well as dry wipes, nearer to the facilities that a person uses in the restroom, such as men&#39;s room urinals. Accordingly, there is a need for a mountable personal hygiene wipe dispenser that houses both wet and dry wipes in a convenient manner and provides a waste receptacle for the used wipes, while being easily mountable near restroom stalls and urinals. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A personal hygiene wipe dispenser and waste receptacle device includes a housing having an integrated first and second compartments. In one embodiment, the first and second compartments are upper and lower compartments in which the upper compartment has at least one cartridge having wet wipes and dry wipes. Preferably, two, separate cartridges are used, one for wet wipes and one for dry wipes. In an alternate embodiment, the compartments are side-by-side. 
         [0007]    The upper compartment also has a first aperture on a first surface, through which dry wipes are dispensed and a second aperture on a second surface through which wet wipes are dispensed. The cartridges are replaceable through an upper access door on the upper compartment. The lower compartment has a waste receptacle and at least one lower access door. The wipes can be flushable and/or biodegradable. 
         [0008]    The first aperture is on a lower surface and the second aperture is on an upper surface so that the wipes are dispensed from the top and bottom of the upper compartment. 
         [0009]    The waste receptacle can be a plastic bag, a trash bin or the like. An adhesive is disposed on a rear surface of the housing for mounting the dispenser to a surface. 
         [0010]    The dispenser upper compartment can be configured with rails transversely mounted therein that cooperate with recesses formed in the cartridges such that the cartridges are positioned in the upper compartment with the rails received in the recesses to secure the cartridges in the compartment. 
         [0011]    In an alternate embodiment, the dispenser has a mounting plate having mount elements. The upper compartment has engaging elements for engaging some of the mount elements to secure the upper compartment to the mounting plate and the lower compartment, which has a door on an upper surface, likewise, has engaging elements for engaging some of the mount elements to secure the lower compartment to the mounting plate. 
         [0012]    A locking bar is disposed on the mounting plate, between the upper and lower compartments, and is configured to lock the upper and lower compartments to the mounting plate. 
         [0013]    The compartments are removed from the mounting plate by disengaging the compartment from the locking bar and disengaging the compartment engaging elements from their cooperating mounting plate mounting elements. In this manner, the upper compartment is removed to place wipes in the compartment, and the lower compartment can be is removed to access and empty or replace the waste receptacle in the lower compartment. 
         [0014]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present dispenser shown mounted on a bathroom wall adjacent to a urinal 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the present dispenser; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present dispenser shown in a partial exploded view; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the dispenser illustrating the upper compartment side door; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  Illustrates a rail and recess mounting for the wipe cartridges within the upper compartment; 
           [0021]    FIG,  6  illustrates a side loading arrangement for the cartridges in the upper compartment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a bottom compartment unloading door that swings downward; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates a mechanical hook mounting arrangement for the dispenser and a wall mount plate; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the dispenser in which, the wipe compartments are mounted in a horizontal manner relative to the waste container; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 10-13B  are perspective, sectional and exploded views of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser; and 
           [0026]      FIGS. 14-17B  are perspective, sectional and exploded views of still another alternate embodiment of the dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0028]    It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         [0029]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a personal hygiene napkin dispenser and waste receptacle device  10  mounted adjacent to a urinal U in a men&#39;s restroom. The device  10  is an integrated, combination two-type napkin/wipe dispenser  12  and waste receptacle  14 . The napkins or wipes, hereafter referred to as “wipes,” are wet wipes  16  and dry wipes  18 , and can be tissues, napkins, towelettes, or other type of conventional wipe and may be disposable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable, flushable, or non-flushable. Both the wet wipes  16  and dry wipes  18  are individually and separately dispensed from the device  10 . The wet wipes  16  may contain an antibacterial, antiseptic, or cleaning solution to help minimize the spread of germs, including bacteria and viruses. 
         [0030]    The device  10  is formed so as to mount to a surface  20 . The device  10  has a housing  11  with an integrated upper compartment  22  and a lower compartment  32 . The upper compartment  22  houses the two-type napkin dispenser  12  in which both the wet and the dry wipes  16 ,  18 , respectively, are stored and dispensed. The dispenser  12  may be either a single cartridge housing both the wet and dry wipes  16 ,  18  or may be individual cartridges  24 ,  26  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The dry wipes  18  are dispensed from a lower cartridge  24  of the napkin dispenser  12  and the wet wipes  16  from an upper cartridge  26  of the napkin dispenser  12 . It will be appreciated that the cartridges can be combined to form a single cartridge that includes both the wet and dry wipes partitioned from one another by an internal partition wall. Alternately still, although not preferred, the dry wipes can be dispensed from the upper cartridge and the wet wipes from the lower cartridge. The cartridges can be formed with channels  25  that are fitted onto rails  27  or the like, in the upper compartment  22  to hold the cartridges  24 ,  26  in place, 
         [0031]    The upper compartment  22  has a lockable access door  28  by which the cartridges  24 ,  26  of the wipes  16 ,  18  can be replaced. The upper compartment  22  also has apertures  42 ,  44  through which the wet-and dry wipes  16 ,  18  are accessed. The access door  28  can be located on the side of the housing  11  (see  FIG. 4 ) so that the wipe cartridges  16 ,  18  are slidable into and out of the upper compartment  22 . Alternately, the door  28  can be located on the top of the compartment  22  (see  FIG. 3 ). Alternately still, as seen in  FIG. 6 , the upper compartment  22  can be configured to swing away (on hinges  23 ) to open the entire compartment  22  to replace the cartridges  24 ,  26 . 
         [0032]    The lower compartment  32  includes a waste receptacle  34  that, once full, is emptied and replaced. The lower compartment  32  has at least one opening  36  for discarding the wet and dry wipes  16 ,  18  into the waste receptacle  14 , and may have at least one door  38  through which the waste receptacle  14  may be removed. The waste receptacle  14  may be a plastic liner or conventional trash bag, basket, bin, can, or other type of receptacle for the wipes  16 ,  18 . Preferably, the waste receptacle door  38  is also lockable. The door  38  can also be configured to swing down (as seen in  FIG. 7 ) to empty the receptacle  14 . The door can be configured to slide to the side, or downward to empty as well the receptacle as well. 
         [0033]    The device  10  is provided with an adhesive, such as a commercial grade two-sided tape  45 , glue band, two-part mechanical hook and loop fastening systems (e.g., VELCRO®) or the like on the rear surface of the housing  11  to adhere quickly and easily to walls such that no hardware or permanent installation is required. The device  10  is also easily removed and replaced if needed. However, it is also contemplated that the device  10  may be mounted on a surface  20  such a bathroom wall or bathroom stall using cement or other type of bonding agent or other conventional means such as mechanical fasteners (e.g., bolts) or the like, if for example, a more permanent mounting is desired. Alternately still, as seen in  FIG. 8 , the dispenser  10  can be mounted to a plate  47  having slotted openings  49  and the dispenser can include hooks  51  that insert into the openings  49  to secure the dispenser  10  in place on the wall. It is anticipated that multiple dispensers  10  will be mounted in each restroom with one mounted next to each urinal. 
         [0034]    An alternate embodiment of the dispenser  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 9  in which the waster receptacle  114  compartment  132  is mounted side-by-side with the cartridge  124 ,  126  compartment  122 . In this embodiments, the wipe compartment  122  is mounted horizontally adjacent to the waste receptacle compartment  132 . This configuration can be used where horizontal space is a premium. As seen, the cartridge compartment door  128  can be on the side of the dispenser  110  and the waste receptacle door  138  can be on the side (not shown) or on the bottom of the dispenser  110 . All such arrangements are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0035]    It is anticipated that the dry wipes  18  will be used to dry the penis or other private areas, the wipe disposed of, and the wet, wipe  16  used to wipe one&#39;s hand, and then also disposed. Of course, the wet wipe  16  may be also used to cleanse the genital or private area, followed by the use of the dry wipe  18 . In addition, a wipe may be used to wipe the urinal to use or to protect one&#39;s hands from contamination when flushing. It is also anticipated that advertising A or other signage may be placed on the housing  11  of the device  10 . 
         [0036]    Still another embodiment of the device  210  is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13B . This embodiment of the device includes a mounting plate  247  that also serves as a carriage for the dispenser compartments. Upper and lower compartments  222 ,  232  are mounted to the mounting plate  247  by a series of tabs  251  on opposite sides of each compartment  222 ,  232  that engage runners or rails  253  in the mounting plate  247 . In this manner, the upper compartment  222  is removed from the plate  247  by sliding the compartment  222  up to disengage the tabs  251  from the runners  253  and likewise, the lower compartment  232  is removed by sliding the compartment  232  downward to disengage the tabs  251  from the runners  253  on the plate  247 . 
         [0037]    A central locking bar  256  on the mounting plate  247  includes latches  258  into which the upper and lower compartments  222 ,  232  lock to secure the compartments  222 ,  232  to the plate  247 . The latches  258  can be resilient so as to snap into place to lock into the compartments  222 ,  232  or spring biased (not shown) to lock into place. In the illustrated embodiment  210 , the locking bar  256  is formed integral with the plate  247  and is formed from a resilient (plastic) material to facilitate the snap-lock configuration. Recesses  260  in the compartment  222 ,  232  walls provide a location into which the latches  258  lock into place. 
         [0038]    The upper compartment  222  is formed with openings  242 ,  244  in the upper and lower surfaces  243 ,  245  to access and dispense the wet and dry  16 ,  18  wipes. The wipes  16 ,  18  are stored in one or more cartridges  24 ,  26  that are located in the compartment  222 . The cartridges  24 ,  26  can be formed in any of a number of ways. In a present dispenser, the wet wipes  16  (in their cartridge  24 ) are in the upper portion  261  of the upper compartment  222  and the dry wipes  18  (in their cartridge  26 ) are in the lower portion  263  of the upper compartment  222 . The cartridges  24 ,  26  can be formed from a paper-base material, such as cardboard that, in the case of the wet wipes may be lined, a plastic material or the like, and can be of a single piece or two-piece, refillable or disposable construction. It will also be appreciated that a single cartridge having both wet and dry wipes can be used. It will be further appreciated that the wet wipes  16  can be located in the lower (downwardly oriented) cartridge and the dry wipes in the upper cartridge, 
         [0039]    The upper compartment upper and lower surfaces  243 ,  245  are sloped, toward the front of the dispenser  210 , to facilitate seeing and dispensing the wipes  16 ,  18 . The sloped lower surface  245  also facilitates seeing of and access to the lower (disposal) compartment  232  waste receptacle door  238 . Accordingly, the waste receptacle  214  is positioned in the lower compartment  232  and is accessed (for disposing wipes) through the hinged door  238 . The door  238  is biased to the closed position so that it remains closed for hygienic and aesthetic purposes. The receptacle  214  can be a reusable container, e.g., a plastic container, it can be lined or it can be a disposable, e.g., cardboard, container. The receptacle  214  is accessed for emptying or disposal by sliding the compartment  232  down to disengage the tabs  251  from the rails  253  and removing the receptacle  232  from the plate  247 . As illustrated, the corner of the upper and lower and front and side surfaces can be formed with rounded or rolled corners as indicated at  271 . 
         [0040]    In a present embodiment  210 , the upper and lower compartment front and side surfaces are formed with a recess  260 ,  262  into which upper and lower bands  265 ,  267  fit. The bands  265 ,  267  can be used to provide advertising or other promotional materials. The bands  265 ,  267  can be formed from a transparent material and the advertising material positioned between the inside of the band  265 ,  267  and the compartment  222 ,  232  wall to permit the material to be viewed, but also readily changed or updated. Alternately, the advertising or promotional material can be provided directly on the band  265 ,  267 . 
         [0041]    Another alternate embodiment  310  is illustrated in  FIGS. 14-17B . In this embodiment, again, the upper and lower compartments  322 ,  332  are mounted to a mounting plate  347  by tabs  351  on opposite sides of each compartment  322 ,  332  that engage rails  353  in the mounting plate  347 . The upper compartment  322  is removed from the plate  347  by sliding the compartment  322  up and the lower compartment  332  is removed by sliding the compartment  332  downward to disengage the tabs  351  from the rails  353 . 
         [0042]    The central locking bar  356  includes latches  358  into which the upper and lower compartments  322 ,  332  lock. The latches  358  can be resilient to snap-lock into the compartments  322 ,  332  or spring biased (not shown) to lock into place. In the illustrated embodiment, the latches  358  are mounted to a latch plate  359  that is disposed in the locking bar  356 . The latches  358  are positioned in an opening  361  in the locking bar  356  and secured between the locking bar  356  and the latch plate  359 . 
         [0043]    In this embodiment the wet and dry wipes  16 ,  18  are positioned side-by-side, rather than above and below one another. As such, the upper compartment  322  is formed with two openings  342 ,  344  in the upper  343  surface to access the wipes. The wipes  16 ,  18  are stored in one or more cartridges  24 ,  26  that are located in the compartment  322 . 
         [0044]    The upper compartment upper and lower surfaces  343 ,  345  are again sloped (much like the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-13B ), toward the front of the dispenser  310 , to facilitate seeing and dispensing the wipes  16 ,  18  and the sloped lower surface  345  facilitates seeing of and access to the lower compartment waste receptacle door  338 . The lower compartment  332  has a spring  369  biased closed hinged door  338  to access the receptacle  314  for disposing of used wipes. The receptacle  314  is accessed for emptying or disposal by sliding the compartment  332  down from the plate  347  disengaging the tabs  351  from the rails  353 . 
         [0045]    The compartment front and side surfaces can again be formed with inter-fitting, e.g., recessed, bands  365 ,  367  to provide an area for advertising or other promotional materials. As illustrated, the corners of the upper and lower and front and side surfaces can be formed with rounded or rolled corners, as indicated at  371 . It is anticipated that the dispensers  210 ,  310  will be formed as molded (polymeric) products. 
         [0046]    The benefits of the present device  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  are numerous. Having the present personal hygiene device  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  mounted within easy reach of the user allows the user to remove excess fluid after urination, thereby preventing unsanitary conditions, mess, odor, or staining on clothing that might otherwise occur, and to quickly wipe or sanitize their hands quickly thereafter. The device  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  helps increase personal cleanliness and hygiene and may help prevent the spread of disease. Of course, it will be appreciated that the wipes can be used to clean any area, and the use of the wipes (in lieu of shaking and/or tapping) will eliminate the need to shake or tap and thus reduce the opportunity to spread urine in the general area. 
         [0047]    All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
         [0048]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0049]    From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.