Abstract:
A dispenser for folded interconnected disposable wipes includes at least one dispensing container having side and end walls, and a dispensing wall adjacent to the side and end walls. The dispensing wall has a center dispensing aperture located generally in the center thereof. The dispensing wall may also have an additional dispensing aperture, for example an off-center aperture or a corner dispensing aperture located near one corner of the dispensing wall adjacent to one of the end walls and one of the side walls. Disposable wipes can be withdrawn from either the corner and/or off-center dispensing aperture or the center dispensing aperture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a dispenser for disposable wipes made, for example, from paper or non-woven material and like products. More specifically, the present invention relates principally to an improved disposable wiper dispenser for wipe products. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Disposable wiper style dispensers are well known in the art for dispensing individual folded sheet products such as facial tissues, hand wipes, or the like. In general, disposable wiper dispensers typically include a container and a stack or clip of pre-folded, inter-folded wipes disposed within the container. The wipes may be C-folded or V-folded so that once the top wipe in the clip is withdrawn, the underlying wipe is individually presented for subsequent use. 
     With one type of conventional product, a number of wipes are offered for sale in an inter-folded format. They are formed by unwinding two base rolls, perforating the wipes, and then inter-folding them into uniform stacks. The stacks of connected, perforated wipes are then loaded into corrugated cartons that allow for easy wiper access. In use, the wipers are dispensed through a fairly large oval or diamond-shaped opening centrally located in the top panel of the carton. 
     To access the wipers, the user reaches into the carton through the opening to access the top wiper. The user then pulls the top wiper through the opening. Due to the wipers being connected at perforation tabs and inter-folded one after another, the first wiper ideally pulls the second wiper to an accessible point and then breaks away from the second wiper. However, due to variability in the dimensions of the wipes, non-woven structure variability, size of perforation tabs, individual user “grasp and pull” methods, etc., continuous dispensing of one wiper after another is typically not achieved. 
     One of the more common problems found in disposable wiper dispensers concerns the issue of “fall back”. This involves the situation where a following wipe drops back through the dispensing slot after the leading wipe has been withdrawn. 
     Another common problem among disposable wiper dispensers involves the issue of “double pull.” This occurs when more than one wipe comes out when the leading wipe is withdrawn. 
     Additionally, the problem of “streaming” can occur in disposable wiper dispensers. Streaming occurs when the user pulls the first wipe out, and subsequent wipes are also withdrawn, with separation of the following ones never occurring. 
     Another problem among these types of dispensers are what is known in the art as “multiple pulls”. If three or more wipes come out after the lead wipe is pulled, and this happens more than four (4) times per dispenser, the problem of multiple pulls is said to exist. 
     All of these situations are defined as quality defects, and they are considered to be major inconveniences to the user and have resulted in user complaints. 
     A need in the art exists for a disposable wiper dispenser that eliminates these problems and improves the performance of past disposable wiper dispensers. 
     OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Objectives and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned from practice of the invention. 
     In response to the discussed deficiencies in the prior art, a new disposable wiper dispenser has been developed. The dispenser improves the ease at which wipe products are dispensed. 
     A disposable wiper dispenser according to the invention consists of at least one dispensing container which has side and end walls. The side and end walls are of substantial depth to accommodate a type and style of folded interconnected wipers. In one particular embodiment, a dispensing wall has a center dispensing aperture located generally in the center of the wall and a corner dispensing aperture located near one corner of the dispensing wall adjacent to one of the end walls and one of the side walls of the dispensing container. The corner aperture may take on various shapes, for example triangular, quarter-round, etc. The dispensing container also has a bottom wall located opposite from the dispensing wall. 
     With still another embodiment according to the invention, the dispensing wall may have an off-center dispensing aperture located next to the center dispensing aperture. This off-center dispensing aperture may be in place of or in addition to the corner dispensing aperture described above. The off-center dispensing apertures may take on various shapes, including a triangle having at least one rounded corner. 
     With an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for disposable wipes is made of a plurality of the afore-mentioned dispensing containers. 
     Here, the dispensing containers are arranged next to one another, each dispensing container sharing a side wall with the dispensing container located next to it. Each dispensing wall of the plurality of containers may have any combination of a center dispensing aperture, corner dispensing aperture, and/or off-center dispensing aperture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser for disposable wipes in accordance with the present invention. 
     The drawing shows a dispensing container having a corner aperture. The drawing also shows a clip of wipes being located within the dispensing container and being removed from the corner aperture. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective and partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of a dispenser for disposable wipes in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a plurality of dispensing containers located adjacent to one another sharing a common side wall. The dispensing containers each have a center and corner aperture. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a dispenser for disposable wipes in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a dispensing container having a center aperture and an off-center aperture. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a dispenser for disposable wipes in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a plurality of dispensing containers located next to one another. Each of the dispensing containers has a center dispensing aperture and an off-center dispensing aperture. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom side of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention that may be used on any dispenser embodiment according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations. 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser for disposable wipes  120  in accordance with the present invention. The dispenser  120  consists of a dispensing container  122 . The dispensing container  122  is generally in the shape of an elongated box and has two side walls  124  adjacent to two end walls  126 . A bottom wall (not shown in FIG. 1) is located adjacent to all of the side walls  124  and end walls  126 . Due to the orientation of the dispensing container  122  in FIG. 1, one of the side walls  124  and end walls  126  are not shown. 
     On the opposite end from the bottom wall, a dispensing wall  132  is located. Dispensing wall  132  is adjacent to all of the end walls  126  and side walls  124  of the dispensing container  122 . The dispensing wall  132  has a central aperture  134  located generally in the center of the dispensing wall  132 . In one embodiment, the central aperture  134  may have a curved end  138  on one end, and a curved end  136  on the other. The central aperture  134  is therefore shown as being diamond shaped w two curved corners. 
     The dispensing container  122  may also have a corner aperture  144  located in a corner of the dispensing wall  132 . The corner aperture  144  is also located next to an end wall  126  and a side wall  124 . The corner aperture  144  is generally triangular in shape. It is to be understood that although described as generally diamond and triangular shaped respectively, central aperture  134  and corner aperture  144  may be any of a variety of different shapes including oval, square, or rectangular. 
     A portion of side wall  124  and end wall  126  is removed in FIG. 1, indicated as numeral  128 . This cutout shows a clip of interfolded wipes  130  disposed within dispensing container  122 . The clip of interfolded wipes  130  rests on the bottom of the dispensing container  122 . A lead wipe  140  is shown at the top of the dispensing container  122 . This single wipe is shown as being removed from the dispensing container  122  through corner aperture  144 . An end  142  of the single wipe  140  is shown being pulled from the clip of interfolded wipes  130 . 
     The dispenser for disposable wipes  120  shown in FIG. 1 reduces or eliminates the problems associated with previous disposable wiper dispensers. The problems of fall-back, double pull, multiple pulls, and streaming are either eliminated or reduced through use of corner aperture  144 . The reasons for this exists in the cornering position of corner aperture  144 . Locating the dispensing port in a corner of the dispensing container  122  an pulling the wipes toward an end of dispensing container  122  causes an optimal amount of resistance on the single wipes with the dispensing container  122 . This optimal amount of resistance, along with the angle of pull, creates an improved separation between the single wipe  140  and the clip of interfolded wipes  130 . As a result, the aforementioned problems of fall-back, double pull, multiple pulls, and streaming are either reduced or eliminated. 
     The center aperture  134  is provided on the dispensing container  122  in order to reach into the dispensing container  122  and grab a lead wipe  140 . Also, the center aperture  134  is provided to allow a user to dispense wipes  140  in a conventional manner. The center aperture  134  is present in case the condition of fall-back does in fact occur with the clip of interfolded wipes  130  or to begin dispensing of the clip of interfolded wipes  130  when a user first purchases the dispenser  120 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a variation of the dispenser for disposable wipes of FIG. 1 is shown. This dispenser for disposable wipes is indicated generally at  220 . It consists of a plurality of dispensing containers  222 . Each of the plurality of dispensing containers  222  incorporates two side walls  224  in addition to two end walls  226 . Due to the orientation of the dispenser in FIG. 2, only one side wall  224  is visible on the outside of the plurality of dispensing containers  222  and only two end walls  226  and  248  are shown on the plurality of dispensing containers  222  (another end wall  251  is shown in the cut-out section  250  of FIG. 2 as will be later discussed). A bottom (not shown in FIG. 2) is located adjacent to the end walls  226  and  248  and side walls  224 . Opposite to the bottom walls are two dispensing walls  228  and  230 . Each one of the dispensing walls  228  and  230  include an aperture arrangement as shown in FIG.  1 . For example, each dispensing wall has a central aperture  232  and  238  which have a pair of rounded corners ( 236  and  234 , and  242  and  240 ). Located in each corner of the dispensing walls  228  and  230 , there are included a corner dispensing aperture  244  and  246 . As with the previous embodiments, the central apertures  232  and  238 , and the corner dispensing apertures  244  and  246  can be of any variety of shape. 
     Because each of the plurality of dispensing containers  222  is located next to one another, each share a side wall  252 . The side wall  252  is visible in FIG. 2 due to a cut out portion of the side wall which is shown, indicated generally at  250 . The cut out portion  250  shows three intersecting planes. The three planes shown by cut out portion  250  are the side wall  252 , a bottom portion  254  the sidewall  252 , and an end wall  251  opposite to end wall  226 . 
     Side wall  252  has a bottom portion  254  located at the bottom of one of the plurality of dispensing containers  222 . Also, side wall  252  may be provided with a handle  256 , for example in the form of a cut out of side wall  252 . 
     Handle  256  can be used by a user to transport the dispenser  220 . In order to accomplish this, the user must insert his or her hand through one of the central apertures  238  or  232  and then grasp handle  256 . It should be understood that in order for handle  256  to be used, the amount of wipes  140  in dispenser  220  must be removed to a point where they do not block the cut out forming handle  256 . 
     The embodiment of the dispenser  220  allows for a single container to have more than one type of clip of interfolded wipes  130 . For instance, a clip of hand towels can be located in one dispensing container  222  and a clip of facial tissue can be located in another dispensing container  222 . Additionally, clips of different colors can be employed in either dispensing container. Also, the same type of clips can be disposed in all of the dispensing containers  222  to allow for a dispenser which has double the amount of disposable wipes  140 . A dispenser  220  with such different variations of clips both described and obvious to those skilled in the art are to be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment for a dispenser for disposable wipes  320  is provided in accordance with the present invention. The dispenser  320  is composed of a dispensing container  322  having a side wall  324  and an end wall  326 . Due to the orientation of dispensing container  322  in FIG. 3, the other side wall  324  and end wall  326  are not shown. Additionally, a bottom wall (not shown in FIG. 3) is provided. Opposite the bottom wall is a dispensing wall  328 . 
     The dispensing wall  328  has a center dispensing aperture  330  located generally in the center of the dispensing wall. In one desirable embodiment, the center dispensing aperture  330  is generally diamond shaped with one corner  336  being rounded. The center dispensing aperture  330  also has an opposite flattened corner  338 . Also located on dispensing wall  328  is an off-center dispensing aperture  332 . The off-center dispensing aperture may also be generally triangular shaped, having one corner being rounded  334 . It is to be understood that the center dispensing aperture  330  and the off-center dispensing aperture  332  can be of any of a variety of shapes including round, oval, square, or rectangular. 
     In use, wipes  140  are dispensed through either the off-center dispensing aperture  332  or the center dispensing aperture  330 . Wipes dispensed through the off-center dispensing aperture  332  experience less fall-back, double pulls, multiple pulls, and streaming than wipes  140  dispensed from the center dispensing aperture  330 . This is because by pulling the wipes  140  on the ends, an optimal amount of friction is produced between the wipes  140  and the dispensing container  322  to tear the interfolded clip of wipes  130 . The center dispensing aperture is provided to allow a user to retrieve wipes  140  that may have fallen back into the dispensing container  322  and also to begin the dispensing process. Also, a user can use this aperture to pull wipes  140  from the dispensing container  322  in the conventional manner. 
     FIG. 4 shows a dispenser for disposable wipes  420  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser for disposable wipes  420  is composed of a plurality of dispensing containers  422 . A side wall  424  and two end walls  426  and  428  are shown. It is to be understood that the other end walls  426  and  428  and side walls  424  are present in the dispensing containers  422 , but not shown due to the orientation of the dispenser for disposable wipes  420  in FIG.  4 . Bottom walls (not shown) are also provided on one end of the plurality of dispensing containers  422 . 
     Opposite the bottom walls are dispensing walls  432  and  430 . Each of the dispensing walls  432  and  430  are provided with a series of apertures identical to those shown in FIG.  3 . Center dispensing apertures  440  and  434  are shown with a rounded corner  442  and  438 , and a flattened corner  444  and  436 . Additionally, off-center dispensing apertures  446  and  450  are provided. Each of the center dispensing apertures may have a rounded corner  448  and  452 . This embodiment of the present invention provides for the same advantages as discussed with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, the dispensing properties will be similar to the dispenser for disposable wipes  320  that is shown in the embodiment of FIG.  3 . 
     The embodiments shown in FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 may be provided with a corner dispensing aperture as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 on the dispensing walls  328 ,  430 , and  432 . The corner dispensing aperture may be of any shape. Also, it is to be understood that the center dispensing apertures  440 , 434 , and  330  and off-center dispensing apertures  332 ,  450 , and  446  may be any of a variety of shapes including round, oval, square, or rectangular. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a dispenser for disposable wipes  520  is shown. This view shows a dispensing container  522  in an upside down position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A side wall  524  and an end wall  526  are shown. Also, the bottom wall  528  of the dispensing container  522  is shown. The bottom wall  528  has a bottom dispensing aperture  530 . The bottom dispensing aperture  530  is located in the center of the bottom wall  528  and has two rounded corners  534  and  532 . The purpose of the bottom dispensing aperture  530  is to allow a user to invert the dispensing container  522  to dispense disposable wipes  140  in a conventional manner. A bottom dispensing aperture  530  can be provided on the bottom wall  528  of any of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the bottom dispensing aperture  530  may be of any shape including round, oval, square or rectangular. 
     The dispenser for disposable wipes as previously described may be used by placing it on a flat surface and pulling wipes  140  upward. Additionally, the dispenser may be mounted on a vertical wall or upside down in order to remove wipes  140  in any number of directions. 
     It will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made to the above described preferred embodiments of a dispenser for disposable wipes without departing from the scope of the following claims.