Patent Publication Number: US-11638505-B2

Title: Wipe dispensing system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of, and priority from, U.S. provisional application 63/111,388 filed 9 Nov. 2020. The contents of such prior application and any other documents referenced in this application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to cleaning products, and more particularly to a dispensing system for saturated cleaning wipes stored in a soft-sided pliable bag containing the wipes and a saturating liquid for cleaning and/or disinfection. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In settings such as public waiting rooms, restaurants, airports, gyms, buses and the like, it may be desirable for users and/or cleaning staff to have access to disposable wipes pre-saturated with cleaning and/or disinfecting solution for use in cleaning and sanitizing surfaces before and after use. Such wipe products are well known and are typically packaged in small disposable cannisters. While such small packaging is convenient for use in the home or in a controlled work environment, the use of small portable containers may not be practical in public settings. Specifically, such packaging may have to be frequently replaced and may be susceptible to theft. Moreover, using larger cannisters may be impractical due to space limitations and does not overcome the issue of possible theft. Additionally, public settings may lack a proper shelf or other support surface for placement of free-standing cannisters. 
     A further difficulty associated with using either large or small cannisters is that cleaning staff without proper training may inadvertently place the products in sub-optimal locations. Finally, cannisters may not be suitable for wall mounting in compliance with requirements under various laws and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the like which promote access for persons in wheelchairs or having other physical challenges. Conversely dispensing systems in accordance with the present disclosure may be made fully compliant with such laws and regulations. 
     In recognition of these deficiencies, an ADA compliant system that is suitable for wall mounting and which provides large quantities of pre-saturated wipes without requiring substantial space and which reduces the possibility of theft would represent a useful advancement over the current art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure offers advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a wipe dispensing system including a wall-mountable dispenser adapted to clamp a bag of wipes and saturating fluid in place in hanging relation below the dispenser such that no additional support structure is required. By mounting the dispensers at optimal locations, large quantities of wipes can be made available where most needed. The mounting locations can be selected to provide access at varying heights directly against a wall without relying on a shelf thereby promoting availability to wheelchair users. Moreover, very little space is required since the bags hang down against the support wall thereby maintaining a relatively small outwardly projecting profile. Additionally, the clamping arrangement substantially eliminates the possibility of theft. These and other benefits will be recognized through reference to the accompanying drawings and corresponding description below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a wipe dispensing system consistent with the present disclosure including a wall-mountable dispenser in clamping relation to a downwardly extending hanging bag; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear view of the wall-mountable dispenser of  FIG.  1    illustrating the mounting surface; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the wall-mountable dispenser of  FIG.  1    in open condition with no bag in place illustrating the dispensing port and hinging clamping members in extended condition; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the base of the wall-mountable dispenser of  FIGS.  1  and  3    with the hinging clamping members in extended condition and with the cover removed; 
         FIG.  5    is a side view of the wall-mountable dispenser of  FIGS.  1  and  3    illustrating the hinging clamping members in extended condition; 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view of the wall-mountable dispenser of  FIGS.  1  and  3    illustrating the hinging clamping members in extended condition; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a wall-mountable dispenser consistent with the present disclosure adapted for acceptance of interchangeable grommets (not shown) defining pass-through surface openings to allow for different fabrics and/or tear strengths; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an exemplary interchangeable grommet for use in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   ; and 
         FIG.  9    is a view similar to  FIG.  7    with the interchangeable grommet in place to define a pass-through surface opening. 
     
    
    
     Before embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments consistent with the present disclosure will now be described through reference to the drawings wherein like elements are designated by like reference numerals in the various views. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the disclosure. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following description. The inventors and applicant expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate and intend expect that the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the elements described herein in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 
     Referring now to the drawings, an exemplary wipe dispensing system  10  consistent with the present disclosure is shown. As illustrated, the exemplary wipe dispensing system  10  includes a wall-mountable dispenser  12  in clamping relation to a downwardly extending hanging bag  14  (shown in phantom) containing a roll or folded arrangement of pre-saturated wipes in combination with a cleaning and/or disinfection solution (not shown). In this regard, the hanging bag  14  may be formed from any suitable pliable material such as plastic or the like with sufficiently low permeability to prevent leaking and evaporation of the cleaning and/or disinfection solution. Such pliable bag material will be well known to those of skill in the art. The hanging bag  14  will preferably include a tear opening or other withdrawal opening along an upper edge held within the dispenser  12  for alignment with an opening in the dispenser  12  for withdrawal of the wipes by a user as will be described further hereinafter. 
     The dispenser  12  is preferably formed from an injection molded thermoplastic material such polyester, nylon, acetal polymer or like although other polymeric or non-polymeric materials may likewise be used. As best seen through joint reference to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the dispenser  12  may include a cover  16  which is removably attached to a base  18 . In the illustrated exemplary construction, cover  16  may include an exterior shroud portion  17  having have a split dome configuration with a substantially flat rear surface and a convex curved outer face. As best seen in  FIG.  2   , cover  16  may include an internal flooring surface  24  and an internal access compartment  26  having raised walls extending upwardly away from flooring surface  24 . 
     By way of example only, and not limitation, cover  16  and base  18  may be held together by raised platform posts  20  extending upwardly from base  18 . In this regard, raised platform posts  20  may snap over flooring surface  24  of cover  16  ( FIG.  2   ) at locations outboard from internal access compartment  26 . Using this construction, base  18  may be first mounted to a wall or other support surface using mounting tabs  22  ( FIG.  4   ) which are adapted to receive screws or other attachment elements which pass through openings in the mounting tabs to engage a supporting wall (not shown) or other support surface. Once base  18  is in place, cover  16  may then be pushed into place with portions of flooring surface  24  secured under the platform posts  20  to establish a reversible connection. 
     As illustrated, in the exemplary construction base  18  includes a mounting arm  30  disposed along the rear side which supports the platform posts  20  and the mounting tabs  22 . The mounting arm  30  may include a substantially flat rear surface  28  for disposition is opposing relating to a flat wall surface. In the illustrated exemplary construction, mounting tabs  22  project upwardly away from the rear surface with the rear of the mounting tabs being generally coplanar with rear surface  28  of mounting arm  30  to facilitate attachment to a flat support surface. In the illustrated exemplary construction, base  18  also includes an outer clamping arm  32  and an interior clamping arm  34 . The interior clamping arm  34  is located between the mounting arm  30  and the outer clamping arm  34 . Outer clamping arm  32  and an interior clamping arm  34  may move independently from one another about a common hinging axis or different axes. Accordingly, when mounting arm  30  is secured to a support wall, outer clamping arm  32  and an interior clamping arm  34  may pivot outwardly away from the support wall. As illustrated, in the outwardly pivoted configuration ( FIGS.  3 - 6   ), spacing is established on either side of interior clamping arm  34 . This spacing may be used to accept opposing edges of an opening in hanging bag  14  to clamp the bag in place when outer clamping arm  32  and interior clamping arm  34  are pivoted back to a closed position. Wipes may then be withdrawn through the bag opening between the clamped edges. 
     As best seen through reference to  FIG.  4   , interior clamping arm  34  may include a proximal arm segment  38  and a substantially diamond-shaped floating island  40  at its distal end. As shown, floating island  40  preferably has an enhanced effective diameter and thickness relative to the proximal portion of interior clamping arm  34 . Of course, floating island  40  is not limited to a diamond shape and alternative polygonal or curved structures including ovals, circles, rectangles, hexagons and the like may likewise be used. As will be appreciated, floating island  40  can move towards or away from mounting arm  30  by pivoting interior clamping arm  34  about its hinging axis. 
     As illustrated, in the exemplary construction floating island  40  is configured to nest between opposing complementary indents  42 ,  44  in outer clamping arm  32  and mounting arm  30 . Accordingly, while the illustrated diamond-shaped floating island structure  40  may be desirable, other polygonal or non-polygonal shapes may likewise be used, including pentagons, hexagons, ovals, circles, and the like. 
     As best seen through reference to  FIG.  6   , floating island  40  has a concave interior with a pass-through surface opening  46  for withdrawal of wipes on an individualized basis. In this regard, while a substantially star-shaped opening may be desirable, any other suitable shape may likewise be used. During use of the wipe dispensing system  10 , the concave interior of floating island  40  may be substantially aligned with a tear opening or the like on an upper edge of the hanging bag  14  such that wipes may be pulled out of the bag opening and through pass-through surface opening  46  and an aligned slot opening  48  in the floor of cover  16 . 
     In the illustrated exemplary construction, a selectively opening door  50  may be disposed within the cover to provide access to internal access compartment  26  for wipe withdrawal during use. In this regard, door  50  may be normally biased to a closed position by a spring hinge  52  ( FIG.  2   ) thereby maintaining a closed environment within cover  16  between uses. As will be appreciated, maintaining such a closed environment may aid in preventing undesired premature evaporation of saturating solutions within hanging bag  14  thereby keeping the wipes moist. 
     As noted previously, base  18  may act to securely clamp hanging bag  14  in place during use. In the illustrated exemplary construction, this clamping function is facilitated by a pair of spaced ridges  60 ,  62  projecting outwardly away from an interior surface of the mounting arm  30  and towards the clamping arms  32 ,  34 . A corresponding pair of spaced ridges  64 ,  66  projects outwardly away from the floating island  40  and towards the outer clamping arm  32 . An opposing ridge element  67  projects away from the outer clamping arm  32  for insertion in the grooves between the spaced ridges  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  when the base  18  is closed. A perimeter channel  68  ( FIG.  5   ) at the base of floating island  40  receives and retains the opposing segment of ridges  60 ,  62  which do not engage the outer clamping arm  32  when the base  18  is closed. 
     The arrangement of complementary ridges and grooves provides a secure clamping arrangement for the hanging bag  14  within base  18  during use. 
     Specifically, the pliable bag material on either side of a withdrawal opening may be pressed into the grooves between the spaced ridges  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and held in place by the complementary ridge element  67  on the outer clamping arm  32 . A depressible snap-in locking tab  70  or other suitable reversible latching mechanism may be used to hold the clamping arms in place during use until a new bag is required. 
       FIGS.  7 - 9    illustrate an alternative and potentially preferred embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure wherein like elements to those previously described are designated by like reference numerals increased by 100. As illustrated, in the alternative embodiment of  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the floating island  140  may include a hollow well  180  in place of the star opening or other integral pass-through surface opening. The hollow well  180  may be adapted to receive a replaceable grommet  185  ( FIG.  8   ) including a pass-through surface opening  146  for withdrawal of the wipes during use. In this regard, the grommet  185  is preferably formed from relatively low-durometer rubber or other pliable material to facilitate deformation when pressed into the hollow well  180 . 
     As best seen in  FIG.  7   , hollow well  180  preferably includes a circumferential shelf  187  at an intermediate elevation within its interior. Grommet  185  likewise may include a complimentary shoulder  188  disposed around a lower perimeter of an annular wall  190 . During assembly, the pliable grommet  185  may be pressed into hollow well  180  causing the annular shoulder  188  to be captured below the circumferential shelf  187 . In this condition, the circumferential shelf  187  also presses against annular wall  190  to establish a substantially fluid tight compression fit. In this condition, individual wipes may thus be withdrawn through the pass-through surface opening  146 . 
     As will be appreciated, the embodiment of  FIGS.  7 - 9    facilitates adjustment to accommodate wipe materials of different constructions and/or tear strengths by changing the grommet being used. By way of example only, a grommet with a smaller pass-through surface opening  146  may be used for thinner wipe materials while a grommet with a larger pass-through surface opening  146  may be used for thicker materials. Since the grommets may be easily changed, an array of different wipe materials may thus be accommodated. If desired, a covering shroud (not shown) such as a half-cylinder with an access door or other design as may be desired may be used in any of the described embodiments to cover the bag during use. However, such a shroud is not essential and will not alter the operation of the dispenser. 
     Of course, it is to be understood that variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, it is to be understood that the disclosure disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the disclosure and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments and equivalents to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.