Patent Publication Number: US-2010122985-A1

Title: Dispenser for Personal Care Products With a Wide Lid-Activation Button

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a lid structure for use with dispensers of personal care products. More particularly, a dispenser that has a wider lid-activation button to enable easier access to the personal care products is disclosed. 
     2. General Background 
     There is a variety of storing and dispensing containers in the market, particularly those for storing and dispensing personal care products. Personal care products, particularly wipes, have been made from a variety of materials which can be dry or wet when used. Wet wipes can be moistened with a variety of suitable wiping solutions. Typically, wet wipes have been stacked in a container in either a folded or unfolded configuration. For example, containers of wet wipes have been available wherein each of the wet wipes stacked in the container has been arranged in a folded configuration such as a c-folded, z-folded or quarter-folded configuration as are well known to those skilled in the art. Sometimes the folded wet wipes have also been interfolded with the wet wipes immediately above and below in the stack of wet wipes. Wet wipes have also been placed in containers in the form of a continuous web of material which includes perforations to separate the individual wet wipes and which is wound into a roll. Such wet wipes have been used for baby wipes, hand wipes, household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes and the like. 
     The conventional containers which contain wipes have typically been designed to be positioned on a flat surface such as a countertop, table or the like. Such conventional packages have generally provided a plastic container, tub or package which provides a sealed environment for the wet wipes to ensure that they do not become dirty and/or overly dry. To access the wipes, many containers have an access lid that is opened by pressing a button on top of the container. Some of these conventional packages have been configured to provide one at a time dispensing of each wet wipe which can be accomplished using a single hand after the container has been opened. Such single handed, one at a time dispensing is particularly desirable because the other hand of the user or care giver is typically required to be simultaneously used for other functions. For example, when changing a diaper product on an infant, the care giver typically uses one hand to hold and maintain the infant in a desired position while the other hand is attempting to dispense a baby wipe to clean the infant. The care giver may not want to look away from the infant to open the container and access the wipes. 
     However, the dispensing of wipes from such conventional containers for wipes has not been completely satisfactory. For example, many conventional containers have small buttons that can be difficult for a consumer to press or find when not looking directly at the package. Additionally, there have been issues with the buttons not functioning properly if pressed away from the center of the button. Therefore, there is a need to provide a dispenser with a wider lid-activation button which allows consumers access to the wipes for easier dispensing, particularly in a pop-up wipes product format. 
     SUMMARY 
     A container for storing personal care articles comprising a lid structure attached to the container is disclosed. The lid structure has a top lid portion connected to a base lid portion by at least one hinge, the top lid portion having a lid fastener mechanism extending from the opposing side of the hinge. The base lid portion having a dispensing aperture formed therethrough. Additionally, the lid structure has a lid-activation button with a button fastener mechanism along a longitudinal edge of the button in communication with the lid fastener mechanism. The lid-activation button has a width that is at least as wide as the width of an arm of a human being to allow for easier single-hand opening. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the lid-activation button extends the entire width of the lid structure. In other embodiments, the lid-activation button has a width greater than 52 mm. In still other embodiments, the lid-activation button has a width greater than 72 mm. In still other embodiments, the lid-activation button has a width greater than 105 mm. 
     In another embodiment, the entire lid-activation button rotates about the same axis when pressed by a user to release the lid fastener mechanism from the button fastener mechanism and allow the top lid portion to rotate away from the bottom lid portion. 
     In exemplary embodiments, to provide a lid-activation button that uniformly rotates, the rigidity of the lid-activation button increases closer to the inner longitudinal edge. 
     In other embodiments, the lid-activation button is an integral portion of the lid structure connected to the lid base via a living hinge. In some embodiments, to provide a lid-activation button that uniformly rotates, the living hinge has a width at least 50% the width of the lid-activation button. In other embodiments, the living hinge has a width that is substantially equal to the width of the lid-activation button. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary dispenser for personal care articles. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the exemplary dispenser for personal care articles depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid structure in the closed position depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid structure depicted in  FIG. 1  with the lid-activation button depressed. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary dispenser for personal care articles. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the exemplary dispenser for personal care articles depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary dispenser for personal care articles depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary dispenser for personal care articles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally stated, a lid structure for use with a container for storing personal care products is disclosed. The lid structure includes a lid top that is connected by a hinge to a lid base. In exemplary embodiments, the lid structure includes a lid-activation button that, when pressed, allows the lid top to rotate about the lid base via a hinge giving a consumer access to contents of the container. The lid-activation button is wide enough to allow a consumer to easily make contact with the lid-activation button and cause the lid top to open. Additionally, the lid-activation button functions so that the lid top is released independent of where the lid-activation button is pressed by the consumer. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure include such modifications and variations. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , a container for storing personal care products having a lid structure  12  with a lid top  15  hingedly attached to a lid base  14  and to allow a consumer access to contents of the container therethrough. A tension member  75  is positioned against the lid top and lid base at the hinge. The tension member  75  is formed by a band or strip of flexible rubber or plastic, such as silicone, and/or a metal spring. The end of the tension member  75  forces against the lid top  15  to urge apart the lid top  15  and lid base  14  when a consumer pushes a lid-activation button  30  to open the lid structure  12 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the personal care products stored in the container are wet wipes that are used for baby wipes, hand wipes, household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes and the like. The lid structure  12  may be formed as an integral part of the container  10  or may be positioned over a lid base  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, the lid base  14  is connected to a container base  25  by a hinge  22  to enable a second opening into the container  10 . A consumer may then be able to, if desired, refill the container with additional wipes. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the lid base  14  contains a pop-up style dispensing partition wherein a flexible, rubber-like material or sheet  60  having a slit or hole through which individual wet wipes are removed from the container. In other embodiments, there is not a flexible sheet, but simply an open area to enable reach-in dispensing of the wet wipes through the base lid. Examples of flexible rubber-like materials used in the container of the present disclosure include thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) materials that can be used to provide acceptable dispensing. Materials which can be employed include (but are not limited to): any of the family of styrenic-based TPE&#39;s (i.e. styrenic block copolymer compounds); styrenic-based TPE&#39;s containing rubber modifiers such as Kraton™, Santoprene™, or other rubber modifiers; specialty copolymers, such as ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers (e.g. EMAC™ of the Eastman Chemical Company); thermoset rubbers; polyurethane; alloys; amides; engineering TPE&#39;s; olefinic-based; olefinic vulcanizates; polyester-based; polyurethane-based. One such material for the flexible, rubber-like sheet could be that manufactured by the GLS Corporation of McHenry, Ill., USA and known as resin #G2701. The G2701 material is one of the resins in the product family of TPEs. G2701 is a styrenic-based material and is in the family of Styrenic block copolymer compounds. Some particular properties of the G2701 can be: specific gravity of 0.90 g/cc (per ASTM D792); hardness (Shore A durometer) of 68 (ASTM D2240); and compression set of 24% at room temperature, 96% at 70° C. (per ASTM 395B). Another similar material is known as G2755 and also sold by GLS Corporation. In addition, a lubricant (e.g., wax) can be added to lower the coefficient of friction of the continuous slit which can benefit injection molding, wet wipes dispensing, and physical handling of the flexible orifice. The G2701 TPE resin with 0.25% wax additive sold by GLS Corporation and known as #LC217-189 can be used. 
     To enable access to the wipes stored within the container, the lid structure  12  includes a lid-activation button  30  having an inner longitudinal edge  35 . The lid-activation button  30  comprises a substantially planar top surface  50  with a peripheral outer edge  45  adapted to be contacted by a user. The inner longitudinal edge  35  of the lid-activation button  30  extends downward from the top surface  50  and is connected to the lid base  14 . In some exemplary embodiments, the flexible rubber-like material  60  extends up from the lid base  14  and connects the remainder of the peripheral outer edge  45  of the lid-activation button  30  to the lid base  14  to effect a proper seal. Once the lid-activation button  30  is pressed and released by a consumer, the flexible rubber-like material  90  helps to compel the lid-activation button  30  back to its original position. 
     After the lid-activation button  30  is pressed, the lid top  15  is released from the lid base allowing a user to access an opening into the container. The lid top  15  is secured in a closed position by a suitable lid latching mechanism  40  engaged with a button latching mechanism  80 . In exemplary embodiments, the lid latching mechanism  40  includes a protrusion latch in the front edge of the lid top  15  that is engaged by a button latching mechanism  80  including an aperture catch on the inner longitudinal edge of the lid-activation button  30 . In other exemplary embodiments, the lid latching mechanism  40  includes a protrusion latch in the front edge of the lid top that is engaged by a button latching mechanism  80  including a protrusion catch in the inner longitudinal edge  35  of the lid-activation button  30 . In still other embodiments, the lid latching mechanism  40  includes an aperture catch in the front edge of the lid top  15  that is engaged by button latching mechanism  80  including a protrusion latch on the inner longitudinal edge  35  of the lid-activation button  30 . 
     In particular embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  is wide enough so that a consumer will be able to easily press or contact the lid-activation button  30 . Many conventional dispensers have small lid-activation buttons designed to be pressed by a thumb or single finger to open the lid. The small buttons require precise contact by a consumer. For example, in some instances, care givers changing infants would need to look away from the infant and towards the dispenser to accurately open the lid. Infants could move or roll away from the care giver unexpectedly potentially causing harm to the infant. Other consumers, such as toddlers or the elderly, may lack the dexterity or strength to accurately open the lid. 
     The lid-activation button  30  of the present disclosure has a width  55  generally parallel to the rotational axis of the hinge enabling a consumer to open the container hands-free by utilizing a portion of his or her arm to easily open the lid top  15  and obtain access to the contents of the container. For example, a consumer could use the palm of his or her hand, his or her arm, or his or her elbow to press the lid-activation button  30  and open the lid top  15 . This allows the consumer to easily open the lid of the container with less dexterity or without looking at the container. Thus, the care giver could easily reach to the container and open the lid without taking their eyes off of an infant and looking directly at the container. 
     In addition, a wider lid-activation button  30  may prevent the spread of bacteria onto the surface of the container. A care giver may acquire bacteria on their hand prior to use of the wipes in the container while changing diapers on an infant, using the restroom, or other activities that require use of a wipe. By allowing a consumer to press a wider lid-activation button with a different portion of his or her arm, the consumer does not pass any bacteria from their hand onto the lid of the container. Thus, the wider lid-activation button provides a potentially more sanitary way to access wipes in the container. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the width  55  of the lid-activation button  30  extends the entire width of the container  10 . In other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least 50% the width of the lid-structure  12 . In other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least 75% the width of the lid-structure  12 . 
     In other exemplary embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  that is as least as wide as the width of an arm of an average human being. Accordingly, the width must be at least the width of a target user of the dispenser. Therefore, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 52 mm. In other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 72 mm. In still other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 105 mm. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the lid-activation button  30  is specifically designed to provide a button wherein the entire top surface  50  of the lid-activation button  30  rotates about a single axis or pivot point. Previous dispensers having lid-activation buttons  30  have been pressed at the sides or edges of the lid-activation buttons by consumers and would sometimes fail and not open. By increasing the width of the lid-activation button  30 , one skilled in the art would expect to create additional failures as the potential areas of contact increase away from the center of the button. 
     However, the present disclosure solves this potential issue by allowing the top surface  50  of the lid-activation button  30  to rotate about a single axis or pivot point. Therefore, the lid-activation button  30  may be pressed at any point along its entire width and still cause the lid top to rotate and allow access into the container. In one embodiment, the rigidity of the lid-activation button  30  increases towards the inner longitudinal edge  35 . An increase in rigidity at the inner longitudinal edge  35  causes the lid-activation button  30  to rotate more uniformly as the entire rigid portion rotates and pivots as one piece. Thus, the lid-activation button  30  may be pressed at any point along its width and still provide access into the container. 
     As used herein, rigidity means a level of stiffness commonly associated with materials used to manufacture tubs containing wet wipes or parts thereof. Numerically, these materials typically have a flexural modulus (as measured in accordance with ASTM D790 “Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials”) of at least 100 Newtons per square millimeter. In particular embodiments, the lid-activation button has a flexural modulus of between about 1100 to about 1500 Newtons per square millimeter. In accordance with the present disclosure, the rigidity of the lid-activation button  30  may be at least 10% greater at the inner longitudinal edge than the remainder of the lid-activation button  30 . For example, the inner longitudinal edge  35  of the lid-activation button  30  may be at least 1350 Newtons per square millimeter if the remainder of the lid-activation button  30  is 1215 Newtons per square millimeter. To accomplish a more rigid inner longitudinal edge  35 , the lid activation button may be formed with more rigid materials at the inner longitudinal edge  35  or be formed with thicker sections of materials at the inner longitudinal edge  35 . 
     In another embodiment as shown by  FIGS. 1-3 , the inner longitudinal edge  35  of the lid-activation button  30  is attached to the lid bottom via a living hinge  65  that is formed integrally with the lid base  14 . Living hinges may be constructed from plastic and other materials and formed integrally between two members. A living hinge permits pivotable movement of one member in relation to another connected member. To facilitate the lid-activation button  30  functioning when it is pressed anywhere on the lid-activation button  30 , the living hinge  65  has a certain width with respect to the width of the lid-activation button  30 . In an exemplary embodiment, the living hinge  65  has the same width generally parallel to the rotational axis of the hinge as the lid-activation button  30 . In other exemplary embodiments, the living hinge  65  has a width that is at least 50% the width of the lid-activation button. The lid-activation button  30  may additionally have increased rigidity towards the inner longitudinal edge  35  to increase the ability of the lid-activation button  30  to rotate about a single axis point in addition to the living hinge  65 . 
     When it is desired to open the lid structure  10 , the lid-activation button  30  is pressed. This causes the inner longitudinal edge  35  and top surface  40  of the lid-activation button  30  to rotate about the living hinge  65 . As the lid-activation button  30  rotates, the latching mechanism  40  on the lid top  15  is released. Once the lid top  12  is released from the lid-activation button  30 , the tension member  75  forces the lid top  12  away from the lid base  14  to enable a consumer to access the wipes. The lid top  12  can be reclosed by moving the latching mechanism  40  in communication with the lid-activation button to reseal the container. 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate an additional embodiment of the container for storing personal care products of the present disclosure. As shown, a lid structure  112  with a lid top  115  is hingedly attached to a lid base  120  to give a consumer access to contents of the container therethrough. To enable access to the wipes stored within the container, the lid structure  112  includes a lid-activation button  130  having an inner longitudinal edge  135 . The lid-activation button  130  comprises a substantially planar top surface  150  with a peripheral outer edge adapted to be contacted by a user. The inner longitudinal edge  135  of the lid-activation button  130  extends downward from the top surface  150 . 
     In this embodiment, the lid-activation button  130  is a separate piece of the lid structure  110  from the lid base and lid top. To connect to the lid structure  112 , a hinge mechanism  145  connects the lid-activation button  130  to the lid base  120 . In an exemplary embodiment, the hinge mechanism  145  includes protrusions extending from the inner longitudinal edge  135  of the lid-activation button  30  that are in communication with apertures in the lid base  120 . In another embodiment, the lid-activation button is connected to a rod that is also in communication with apertures in the lid base. When the lid-activation button  130  is pressed, this causes the inner longitudinal edge  135  and entire top surface  150  of the lid-activation button  130  to rotate about the hinge mechanism  145 . As the lid-activation button  130  rotates, a latching mechanism  140  on the lid top  115  is released from a matching latching mechanism in the lid-activation button  130  allowing access into the container. In exemplary embodiments, the lid-activation button  130  extends for a width  55  that is as least as wide as the width of an arm of an average human being. Therefore, the lid-activation button  130  extends for a width  55  of at least about 52 mm. In other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 72 mm. In still other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 105 mm. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another container  210  in accordance with the present disclosure, in which the container is a flexible package, such as a plastic film-wrapped package, having a dispensing opening having a lid structure  212 . A lid structure is provided on the top of the flexible package, which lid structure  212  comprises a lid top  215  hingedly attached to a lid base  220  surrounding a flexible, rubber-like sheet having one or more slits or holes or simply a hole in the film-wrapped package through which the wipes are removed from the package. In exemplary embodiments, a lid-activation button  230  extends for a width  55  that is as least as wide as the width of an arm of an average human being opens the lid structure  212  when contacted by a consumer. Therefore, the lid-activation button  230  extends for a width  55  of at least about 52 mm. In other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 72 mm. In still other embodiments, the lid-activation button  30  extends for a width  55  of at least about 105 mm. 
     The product, e.g., wipes or wet wipes, can be arranged in the dispenser in any manner which provides convenient and reliable one at a time dispensing and which assists the wipes in not becoming dirty and/or overly dry. For example, the wipes may be arranged in the dispenser or container as a plurality of individual sheets arranged in a stacked configuration to provide a stack of wipes which may or may not be individually folded. The wipes may be individual wipes which are folded in a c-fold, z-fold, quarter fold or other zigzag fold or interfolded or non-interfolded configurations as are known to those skilled in the art. The product may include a plurality of wipes stacked one on top of each other in a non-interfolded configuration, for “reach-in” dispensing. For such a non-interfolded wipe, each wipe is folded onto itself with no portion of another wipe being positioned between or underneath any portion of the folds of the adjacent wipe(s). These configurations for wipes, as well as those discussed herein, may be provided by means known to those skilled in the art. 
     Alternatively, the individual wipes can be interfolded or in other ways related such that the leading and trailing end edges of successive wipes in the stacked configuration overlap, for “pop-up” dispensing. In such a configuration, the leading end edge of the trailing wipe is loosened from the stack by the trailing end edge of the leading wipe as the leading wipe is removed by the user. The wipes can be interfolded to facilitate such dispensing by means known to those skilled in the art. 
     Yet alternatively, the wipes can be arranged in the dispenser as a continuous web of interconnected wipes which are folded in an accordion-like stacked configuration or a roll. The individual wipes can be connected together along lines of frangibility, such as lines of perforations, to ensure that the trailing wipe is in position for grasping by the user after the leading wipe is removed. For example, the wipes can be provided by a continuous web of material which has a series of lines of frangibility extending across the width of the web. The portion of the web of material between successive lines of frangibility provides each individual wipe. The lines of frangibility can be provided by means known to those skilled in the art such as perforations, indentations or cuts in the web of material. For example, the lines of frangibility or perforations can be provided in the web of material by passing the web of material between a die cutter roll and anvil roll. After the lines of frangibility have been incorporated into the web of material, the web can then be arranged in a stacked configuration for easy insertion into the dispenser during formation thereof. 
     The container can include any suitable number of individual wipes depending upon the desired packaging and end use. For example, the container can be configured to include a stack of wipes which can include at least about 5 wipes and desirably from about 8 to about 320 individual wipes, and more desirably from about 16 to about 80 wipes. The size and shape of the stack of wipes is dependent upon the size and shape of the container and vice versa. 
     Each wipe is generally rectangular in shape and defines a pair of opposite side edges and a pair of opposite end edges which can be referred to as a leading end edge and a trailing end edge. The leading end edge of each wet wipe is typically positioned in the dispenser under the dispensing orifice to be grasped by a user to facilitate a removal of the wipe from the container. 
     Materials suitable for the wipes of the present disclosure are well known to those skilled in the art. For wet wipes, these can be made from any material suitable for use as a moist wipe, including meltblown, coform, air-laid, bonded-carded web materials, hydroentangled materials, high wet-strength tissue and the like and can comprise synthetic or natural fibers or combinations thereof. The wipes of the different aspects of the present disclosure can contain a liquid which can be any solution which can be absorbed into the wipes, thus making them “wet wipes.” The liquid contained within the wet wipes can include any suitable components which provide the desired wiping properties. For example, the components can include water, emollients, surfactants, preservatives, chelating agents, pH buffers, fragrances or combinations thereof. The liquid can also contain lotions, ointments and/or medicaments. The amount of liquid contained within each wet wipe can vary depending upon the type of material being used to provide the wet wipe, the type of liquid being used, the type of container being used to store the stack of wet wipes, and the desired end use of the wet wipe. Generally, each wet wipe can contain from about 15 to about 600 weight percent and desirably from about 200 to about 400 weight percent liquid based on the dry weight of the wipe for improved wiping. 
     Accordingly, the different aspects and features of the present disclosure can provide containers for wipes which, when compared to conventional containers for wipes, provide improved same container storage and dispensing. Such containers are particularly useful for dispensing baby wipes since the caregiver typically only has one hand free during the diapering process. Thus, the packages for wipes, e.g., wet wipes, of the present disclosure are reliably and easily opened by one hand of the user or care giver for improved convenience and personal hygiene. Additionally, the packages of the present disclosure can provide better, easier dispensing. 
     While the container useful for purposes of this present disclosure has been specifically illustrated in the figures, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many different container designs are possible, including canister style containers, without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that the foregoing description, given for purposes of illustration, is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the following claims and all equivalents thereto.