Abstract:
A moist towelette dispenser device adapted for use in combination with a toilet paper holder assembly having an elongated cylindrical spindle with two ends engageable which mount on a conventional toilet paper fixture to support a roll of toilet paper. The device provides for concurrent dispensing of toilet paper and moist towelettes and an air freshener. A housing provides a dispensing site for the towelettes and is engageable to the room mount by two elongated members. The toilet paper is operatively mounted on the spindle engaged between the members.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The device herein described and disclosed relates to personal hygiene and the employment of moist towelettes. More particularly it relates to a device adapted for engagement with a conventional toilet paper mount which has an enclosure adapted for engagement to a container of moist towelettes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Over the last decade, pre-moistened towelettes have become a widely employed means for personal hygiene. Such towelettes are conventionally pre-moistened with any of a plurality of liquids which clean and may have antibacterial properties. Other such towelettes may be pre-moistened with skin softeners or medications for employment by a user in daily hygiene or medication purposes. Conventionally, moist towelettes are sold in containers which maintain the moist nature of the towelettes inside and provide an easy means to dispense individual towelettes. 
         [0003]    Personal hygiene, while in a bathroom, has become an ever more favored means of employment of such towelettes. Such towelette dispensers provide easy access to individual towelettes to users in a bathroom while standing in front of the sink or bathroom counter on which the towelette container is supported. However, with bathroom counter top space becoming ever more crowded, it frequently becomes a choice of which hygiene appliance and which personal hygiene product is given counter space at the expense of other favored products. 
         [0004]    Additionally, the toilet in modern bathrooms is frequently in a smaller room housed in the bathroom yet separated from the main area by a door and wall surrounding it. In such small areas, there is frequently no counter space provided at all because of the limited use of the room for its short term occupant. However, it is becoming more and more popular to employ towelettes, in place of or along with toilet paper, in personal hygiene after using the toilet. This is especially true where the application of medications is required or desired to treat or comfort skin or other problems which may be causing discomfort for users of the toilet. 
         [0005]    However, due to the limited space in the small area, and due to the proclivity of other users of a bathroom to remove towelettes from the counter top, it becomes a vexing problem to provide such towelettes in a location proximate to the user of the toilet. This is especially true where multiple people may use the same toilet, but not all wish to use, or need, the towelettes subsequent to finishing up their stay on the toilet. 
         [0006]    As such, there exists an unmet need for a container, or a mount for a container, that is positioned adjacent to a roll of toilet paper. Such a device should accommodate the needs of users of towelettes, yet not displace the roll of toilet paper that others may use or which may be employed in combination with towelettes. 
         [0007]    Further, such a device should provide a means for engagement of a plurality of different types of towelettes for easy dispensing within arms reach of a toilet user. 
         [0008]    With respect to the above, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the towelette dispensing invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components or steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the invention are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, are for the purpose of description, and should not be regarded as limiting in any manner. 
         [0009]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices for the dispensing of towelettes concurrently and proximate to the dispensing of toilet paper. It is important, therefore, that the objects of this invention, and claims herein, be regarded as including any such equivalent construction and methodology as would occur to those skilled in the art insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The device as herein disclosed and described provides a housing adapted to either contain a supply of towelettes internally, or to provide a means to engage a container of towelettes internally. In this fashion, the housing can operate as its own dispenser of sequentially dispensed towelettes, or can have an internal cavity adapted to engage with a container of towelettes to provide easy means to restock, or change the nature of the dispensed towelettes. 
         [0011]    The device features a novel means to engage the conventional projecting or recessed holes for a toilet paper roll mount. Such mounts conventionally employ a member that is telescopic in nature and biased toward its distal ends by an internal spring. This urges the distal ends of the member away from the center of the member and into a firm engagement with the recesses of the projecting or recessed mount. In spite of lacking adequate counter space, virtually every bathroom in the modern world employs some mode of this member and mount system to hold rolls of toilet tissued for use in the bathroom. Because of the precarious position such tissue users occupy during use of the toilet tissue, such dispensers must be within easy reach of the user at all times while in such a position. 
         [0012]    The device herein allows for the concurrent positioning of both toilet tissue and moist towelettes, within easy reach of a user finishing up on the toilet and going about a final act of personal hygiene. It does so by employing a pair of projecting opposing planar members, which have projecting exterior portions adapted to engage within the recessed holes of the mount for the telescopic biased member. On the opposite side of the projecting planar members are a pair of opposing recesses adapted to engage the biased telescopic member which supports the toilet paper roll. The space between the planar members is adapted to allow the toilet paper roll to spin on the axis provided by the telescopic member and thereby dispense sheets of paper to the user. A novel guide slot provides a means to direct the paper forward of the housing when a user pulls on the distal end of the roll which may be advanced through the guide slot. 
         [0013]    On the opposite end of the planar members, from the opposing recesses for the telescopic member, is located a cavity which is adapted for engagement with one or both of, a supply of moist towelettes housed in the cavity, or, a container holding a supply of such towelettes. 
         [0014]    In an especially favored mode of the device, the diameter of the cavity would be such that it would frictionally engage the exterior of a container of towelettes. This would allow for the easy replacement of the supply when used, or when a different moistening agent is desired for medication or hygiene purposes. 
         [0015]    In use, the person finishing up from employment of the toilet has the option of using one or both of the toilet paper or the towelettes for their hygiene purposes. This unique combination is provided within easy reach of the user in their frequently precarious position during such a use, and without the need for any counter space in the room hosting the toilet, thereby allowing for wide use of the device. 
         [0016]    It is thus an object of this invention to provide a convention housing for moist towelettes within easy reach of user leaving a stay on the toilet. 
         [0017]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such a towelette dispenser which requires no counter space and will engage with virtually any conventionally employed toilet paper housing. 
         [0018]    With respect to the above description and background, as noted earlier, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following detailed description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus of the invention herein described and disclosed are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. 
         [0019]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices for engagement with toilet tissue dispensers and concurrent dispensing of tissue and towelettes therefrom. It is important, therefore, that the objects and claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology, insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the device in the as-used position, showing planar members and projections therefrom adapted to engage the conventional recesses used in a toilet paper mount. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective frontal view of the device showing the conventional toilet paper telescopic member engaged within the members and a frictionally engageable moist wipe container. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 2  depicting the wipe container engaged within a cavity of a housing. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the device showing the projections positioned for engagement with a conventional toilet paper holder and races on both sides of the housing adapted to guide sheets of paper therethrough. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  depicts another mode of the wipe container adapted to engage with a cover for the housing cavity and for axial positioning with the cavity held horizontal by the cover engagement. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom perspective view of the device and the air freshener adapted for engagement to a mount with the exterior of the housing bottom. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , as noted  FIGS. 1-3  depict a perspective view of the device  10  which provides a housing  11  at first ends of a pair of opposing planar members  12 . At the opposite end of the planar members  12  is provided a means to engage the device  10  with a conventional projecting or recessed mount, provided on a wall or surface in bathrooms of most homes and businesses. The conventional mount (not shown but well known) is provided for replaceable engagement with a conventional telescopic member  16  which is employed to support a toilet paper roll  20  in position for use wherein the paper wound on the roll  20  is pulled to dispense it causing the roll  20  to rotate on the telescopic member  16 . 
         [0027]    The depicted means to engage the device  10  with the noted conventional mount for the member  16 , employs the pair of projecting opposing planar members  12 , each of which have opposing exterior projections  14 , positioned on the members  12  in a manner adapted to engage the recessed holes of the conventional mount which normally engages the biased telescopic member  16 . 
         [0028]    The planar members  12  are formed of resilient material having a memory for position. Consequently, the distal ends of the planar members  12  may be moved toward each other to allow engagement of the projections  14  with the mount at a home or business and will naturally bias away from each other and into the recesses of the conventional mount. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , on the opposite side of the distal ends of the projecting planar members  12  from the projections  14  are positioned opposing recesses  18 . These recesses  18  are adapted to engage the biased telescopic member  16 , which exists already in most bathrooms having the wall or surface mount to support the toilet paper roll  20  adjacent to the toilet. 
         [0029]    A gap  21  is defined by the area between the planar members  12  and is adapted to allow the toilet paper roll  20  to spin on the axis provided by the telescopic member  16  when engaged in the recesses  18  and thereby dispense sheets of paper from a distal end  22  of the roll  20 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1-3  and in  FIG. 4 , while not required, for a cleaner installation and means to keep the distal end  22  of the roll  20  from becoming hidden behind the roll  20  or housing  11 , guide slots  24  are provided as a means to direct the distal end  22  of the paper during use. Placement of the guide slots  24  on both sides of the housing  11  as shown in  FIG. 4 , allow for their use in either a right handed or left handed mount adjacent to a toilet, which depends upon which side of the toilet the conventional mount for the existing member  16  is placed. 
         [0030]    On the opposite end of the planar members  12  from the engaged telescopic member  16 , formed within the sidewall  25  of the housing  11 , a cavity  26  is provided which is adapted for engagement with one or both of, a supply of moist towelettes which may be placed and housed in the cavity  26 , or, the exterior of a conventional retail container  29  which holds a supply of such towelettes  31 . When the device  10  is engaged with the mount in a bathroom in the as-used position of  FIG. 1 , the towelettes  31  will project slightly from the cover  33  thereby positioning of the towelette  31  supply within the cavity  26 , and immediately adjacent and easily reachable by a user. As shown, the towelettes  31  project from a cover  33  which would either engage the housing  11  or a container  29  depending on whether the towelettes  31  are provided in the container  29  or as a dispensable stack just housed in the cavity  26 . 
         [0031]    Of course those skilled in the art will no doubt realize that other configurations may be employed to provide a dispensable supply of towelettes  31  from such a device  10  and any such mode of dispensing towelettes  31  from a housing  11  adapted to engage both a toilet paper mount and a support for a toilet paper roll  20  are anticipated to be within the scope of this application. 
         [0032]    If the device  10  is configured to use the cavity  26  to house a supply of towelettes  31 , the cavity  26  would feature an engageable removable cover  33  through which individual towelettes  31  would dispense sequentially from the housed supply. Alternatively, the cover  33  could provide access to the cavity  26  for insertion of a towelette  31  supply which would be dispensed through a wall of the device  10  and a cover  33  would seal the cavity  26  to sufficiently maintain the towelettes  31  in their moist state until dispensed. 
         [0033]    If the device  10  is adapted for employment of conventional retail containers  29  housing the towelettes  21 , the cavity  26  would have a diameter adapted to accommodate the exterior of the towelette container  29 , and will be sufficiently long axially, to allow insertion of the container  29  into the cavity  26 . 
         [0034]    Should the cavity  26  be adapted to accommodate conventionally sold containers  29  of towelettes  31 , such as those in grocery stores, a frictional or other removable means for operative engagement between the cavity  26 , and the conventional container  29  would be provided. Such an engagement would be adapted to provide a means to hold the container  29  in a removable and replaceable engagement for use, and to place the dispensing aperture  35  for dispensing towelettes  31  at a side surface of the device  10 . Further, such an engagement would provide for easy replacement of the container  29  such as a frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the container  29 . 
         [0035]    Alternatively, the device  10  may be provided in a manner adapted to engage the container  29  using the cover  33  which would be adapted to both hold the container  29  axially disposed in the cavity  26  and allow for easy removal and replacement. The cover  33  would have means for engagement to the exterior of the device  10  adjacent to the housing  11  defining the cavity  26  within. A first end  37  of the container  29  would be adapted for removable engagement with an interior surface  41  of the cover  33 . The cover  33  would be adapted to engage with the exterior of the device  10  in the area of the housing  11  to allow for insertion of the container  29  into the cavity  26 . The container  29  would be held in the cavity  26  by its engagement to the cover  33  and the cover&#39;s engagement to the housing  11 . 
         [0036]    This alternative mode of mounting the container  29  to the cover  33  would be preferred if the device  10  were to be sold as a unit with the containers  29  of towelettes  31  which would be replaceable. In that fashion the provider of the device  10  and the user, would be assured of a supply of containers  29  of towelettes which will engage operatively with the device. Further, if the towelettes  31  were prescription only or employed for some special hygienic reason, it would insure that the user cannot engage a conventional retail towelette container by mistake. 
         [0037]    In a particularly preferred mode of the device  10 , an air freshener  30  component can be provided, which is adapted for engagement with the exterior of the housing  11  or the planar members  12 . The addition to scents in bathrooms and the like is preferred in many households and businesses. With this component, the device  10  would provide a recess  43  formed in either the housing  11  as shown, or it might be formed in one of the planar members  12 . If formed in the bottom of the housing  11  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the air freshener  30  would provide a pleasant scent to the room in which the device is placed, but would also be out of sight. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , in a preferred mode of the device  10  which would allow for convenient replacement of the air freshener  30  component, the air freshener  30  component is adapted for a slide-in engagement with a recess  43  or second cavity of the device  10  through an aperture  44 . The recess  43  engaging the air freshener  30  may be adapted to engage with commercially available air freshener containers or one that is designed for engagement with the device  10  wherein refills would be made available. An opening on a side of the recess  43  provides a means for the scent impregnated to the air freshener  30  component to escape and improve the odor in the room in which the device is located. 
         [0039]    While the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instance, some features of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications, as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.