Patent Publication Number: US-2019174973-A1

Title: Flushable wipe holder and system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The following application is a based on and claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/597,983 filed on Dec. 13, 2017 currently co-pending; the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A flushable wipe holder and system is provided. The system has a housing having an air-resistant seal to prevent moisture from escaping from flushable wipes. The housing is easily secured to existing toilet paper holders. The housing dispenses wet tissues and has an optional holder for also dispensing standard dry toilet paper. A pivoting cover allows replacement of the flushable wipes. 
     Over the years, attempts have been made to provide improved toilet paper holders. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,730,561 Heymann discloses a multipurpose rolled tissue dispensing stand having a pair of tubular legs attached to a pair of tubular vertical rods further attached at their top ends to a horizontal rod holding a tissue dispensing unit comprised of a base plate holding a tissue dispensing orifice with a serrated edge at the front end and a handle with a lock at the back end. A tubular tissue holding rod is attached to the vertical rods and holds the rolled tissue on the stand. The handle on the base plate of the tissue dispensing unit can be unlocked and actuated to swing the base plate up when inserting the tissue roll into the tissue holding rod and actuated down to place the base plate locked over the tissue. A standard tissue dispensing box with an open bottom can be placed over the rolled tissue dispensing stand. 
     Further, U.S. Pat. No. 9,661,959 to Prior discloses a toilet paper holding device for storing toilet paper in an organized manner. The toilet paper holding device includes a baseplate that can be mounted to a wall or other support surface via one or more fasteners, such as screws. The baseplate includes one or more telescopic arms extending therefrom. The telescopic arms can be extended or retracted in length so as to hold a desired number of toilet paper rolls thereon. In embodiments having several arms, the arms are substantially parallel to one another and are separated by a space. The telescopic arms can be removably secured to the baseplate via a threaded connection. In this way, the toilet paper holding device allows a user to store a number of toilet paper rolls in an organized manner. 
     Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,000 to Morris discloses a toilet paper roll holder with wet wipe. In one embodiment, a system includes an elongated container body, a first endcap, a second endcap, at least one connector, and a bias member. The elongated container body has a central first axis, an internal storage space, a first end, and a second end. The elongated container body fits within a toilet paper roll. The first endcap is coupled to the first end of the elongated container body. The second endcap is coupled to the second end of the elongated container body. The second endcap includes an access lid to provide access to the internal storage space. The at least one connector is to secure the system relative to a mounting location on a second axis. The bias member is on a third axis. The bias member is coupled between the at least one connector and the elongated container body. 
     However, these patents fail to describe a flushable wipe holder and system which is easy to use and efficient as is described in the present application. A need, therefore, exists for an improved flushable wipe holder and system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A flushable wipe holder and system is provided. The system has a housing having an air-resistant seal to prevent moisture from escaping from flushable wipes. The housing is easily secured to existing toilet paper holders. The housing dispenses wet tissues and has an optional holder for also dispensing standard dry toilet paper. A pivoting cover allows replacement of the flushable wipes. 
     An advantage of the present flushable wipe holder and system is that the present flushable wipe holder has an interior with an air-resistant seal. 
     And another advantage of the present flushable wipe holder and system is that the present flushable wipe holder may dispense a single wipe at a time from a roll or a folded stack. 
     Still another advantage of the present flushable wipe holder and system is that the housing of the present device may have an optional extended securing device for securing a roll of dry standard toilet paper in addition to the moist wipes stored in the interior of the housing. 
     Yet another advantage of the present flushable wipe holder and system, in an alternative embodiment, is that the present flushable wipe holder and system may have a sensor which automatically feeds the wipes out from the interior of the housing upon the sensor being triggered by movement from a person by, for example, waiving his/her hand under the housing. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the present flushable wipe holder and system reference should be made to the detailed description and the detailed drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the flushable wipe holder in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the flushable wipe holder in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top/interior view of the flushable wipe holder in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the flushable wipe holder with the top cover open and a roll of the wipes visible. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the housing secured to a standard toilet paper holder in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of the housing of the present device without the flushable wipes being present within the interior of the housing. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top perspective view of the housing of the present device with the flushable wipes inserted into the housing. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment wherein the housing has a detachable securing device for holding dry toilet paper in addition to the moist wipes stored in the interior of the housing. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 8  wherein dry toilet paper is secured in addition to the flushable wipes of secured within the interior of the housing. 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates a downward looking view of the housing secured to a wall by an attachment mechanism attached to the wall. 
         FIG. 10B  illustrates a view of the bracket of the back of the housing for securing the housing to a wall. 
         FIG. 11A-B  illustrate the detachable mechanism of the extended securing device in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the steps utilized to insert a roll of the flushable wipes into the housing in one embodiment of the system and method. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device wherein a stack of folded wipes may be used. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the device of  FIG. 13  wherein the stack of folded wipes are visible within the alternative housing. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment wherein a spring plate forces the wipes upward and wherein the device has pegs for tearing the wipes. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment when the wipes are pulled downward forcing the spring plate downward and wherein the pegs help tear the wipes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A flushable wipe holder and system is provided. The system has a housing having an air-resistant seal to prevent moisture from escaping from flushable wipes. The housing is easily secured to existing toilet paper holders. The housing dispenses wet tissues and has an optional holder for also dispensing standard dry toilet paper. A pivoting cover allows replacement of the flushable wipes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, a flushable wipe holder  1  is provided. The flushable wipe holder  1  has a housing  10  having a top  11 , a bottom  12 , a front  13 , a back  14 , a first side  15 , a second side  16  ( FIG. 2 ) and a generally hollow interior  17  ( FIG. 4 ). Located at the top  11  of the housing  1  may be a movable cover  40 . The movable cover  40  may rotate at a pivot hinge  41  so that the interior  17  of the housing  10  may be accessed. The movable cover  40  may have an extended handle portion  42  which allows a user to more easily grasp and move the movable cover  40  from the first position ( FIG. 1 ) to the second position ( FIG. 4 ) so that flushable wipes  50  may be inserted into the interior  17  of the housing  10 . In an embodiment, the movable cover  40  is transparent so as to allow a user to visually inspect the contents of the interior  17  of the housing  10  to, for example, determine if a refill of flushable wipes  50  is needed without introducing air into the interior  17  and, potentially, drying the flushable wipes  50 . 
     Extended along the top surface  11  of the housing  10  may be a gasket  35  ( FIG. 4 ). The gasket  35  may be, for example, made of rubber and may provide a seal which predominately seals the movable cover  40  of the housing  10  to the top  11  of the housing  10 . As a result, only a small elongated rectangular opening  130  ( FIG. 2 ) is present so allow the flushable wipes  50  to pass from the interior  17  of the housing  10  out of the interior  17  of the housing  10  so that a user can grasp and use the flushable wipes  50 . The small elongated rectangular opening  130  restricts as much air as possible from gaining access to the interior  17  of the housing  10  and drying out the moist flushable wipes  50 . In an embodiment, a movable clasp  37  ( FIG. 1 ) may allow a user to seal the movable cover  40  to the top  11  of the housing  10  so that the movable cover  40  remains tightly sealed to the top  11  of the housing  10 . 
     The flushable wipe holder  1  may be suitable for storing and dispensing a flushable wipe  50 . The flushable wipe  50  may be, for example, standard toilet paper  300  ( FIG. 9 ) or moistened wipes. In an embodiment, the flushable wipes  50  may have a plurality of perforated tear lines as is common in standard toilet paper  300 . An optional flat surface  500  ( FIG. 6 ) may be present at the top  11  of the housing  10  so as to extend the flushable wipes  50  away from the interior  17  of the housing  10  for easy grasping. The optional flat surface  500  may also allow the wipes  50  to exit the interior  17  of the housing in a parallel orientation with respect to the ground. Further, an optional recessed portion  501  may make grasping the flushable wipes  50  easier as well. In particular, the optional recessed portion  501  may allow a user to grasp the flushable wipes  50  on both sides of the flushable wipes  50  at the recessed portion  501 . 
     In an embodiment, the front  13 , and the bottom  12  of the housing  10  may be generally curved so as to take up less space in a bathroom. In an embodiment, the back  14  of the housing  10  may have an extended back surface  20 . The extended surface back  20  may have a generally flat back side  21 . The generally flat back side  21  may contact a wall  100  of a bathroom and therein may allow the housing  10  to be attached to a standard toilet paper holder  90  ( FIG. 5 ) without the housing  10  tilting forward. More specifically, the extended back surface  20  may act as a stop to prevent the housing  10  from rotating forward. In the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 13-16  the bottom  12  of the housing is flat so as to hold folded flushable wipes  50 , as described below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 12 , in an embodiment, located within the generally hollow interior  17  of the housing  10  may be a rod  30 . The rod  30  may have a first end  31  and a second end  32 . The rod  30  may be comprised of two telescoping sides which are spring-loaded to expand. When in the extended state, the rod  30  may have a length  33  which is substantially equal to a length  80  of housing  10 . The length  80  of the housing  10  may be slightly less than the distance between the two opposing arms of a standard toilet paper holder  90  ( FIG. 5 ). The rod  30  may be the standard rod  30  which accompanies the standard toilet paper holder  90  of  FIG. 5 . When using the present device, the rod  30  may rest on two u-shaped braces  400  located in the interior  17  of the housing  10  surrounding the holes  75  of the housing  10 . 
     During use, the user removes the rod  30  from the standard toilet paper holder  90  and then inserts the housing  10  into place so that holes  75  of the sides  15 ,  16  of the housing  10  align with the standard toilet paper holder  90 . Once aligned, the flushable wipes  50  are inserted onto the rod  30  and the rod  30  and flushable wipes  50  are inserted into the interior  17  of the housing  10 . The movable cover  40  is then secured to the top  11  of the housing  11  to reduce the air accessing the flushable wipes  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in an alternative embodiment, the housing  1  may have an extended securing device  180 . The extended securing device  180  may be, for example, a detachable elongated arm that holds a rod  181  which, in turn, holds a standard toilet paper roll  300 . In this alternative embodiment, a user may have access to both wet flushable wipes  50  which may be properly stored within the air-resistant interior  17  of the housing  10  as well as standard toilet paper  300  attached to the rod  181  of the extended securing device  180 . 
       FIGS. 11A-B  illustrate the attachment mechanism, in one embodiment, which allows the extended securing device  180  to be electively secured to or removed from the side  15 ,  16  of the housing  10 . In particular, the extended securing device  180  may have a hook portion  190  which extends out from the main body of the extended securing device  180 . The hook portion  190  may be temporarily and selectively secured within a bracket  191  of the housing  10 . In an embodiment, the bracket  191  may be located on both sides  15 ,  16  of the housing  10  so that a user may select which side of the housing  10  to hang the extended securing device  180 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the back  14  of the housing  10  may have a bracket  210  which may be temporarily secured to a brace  211  which is pre-mounted against the wall  100 . In this version, the device  1  may be not need to be secured with the standard toilet paper holder  90  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates the bracket  210  of the back  14  of the housing in the process of being placed over and secured to the brace  211  of the wall  100 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the device  1  may be electrical. In particular, an option sensor  700  ( FIG. 1 ) may automatically feed the wipes  50  out from the interior  17  of the housing  10  upon the sensor  700  being triggered by movement from a person by, for example, waiving his/her hand under or around the housing  10 . 
     Finally, referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in an alternative embodiment, the interior  17  of the housing  10  may store a stack of folded wipes  600  as opposed to the wipes being stored on a roll (as shown in  FIG. 2  for example). In this embodiment, the housing  10  may have a generally flat bottom surface  120  for holding the stack of folded flushable wipes  600 . The generally flat bottom surface  120  may be located between the folded flushable wipes  600  and the holes  75  of the side  15 ,  16  of the housing  10 . The air-tight cover  40  of this embodiment may be largely identical to the cover  40  of the rolled wipes version of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate an embodiment wherein an optional spring plate  695  is utilized. The spring plate  695  may move from a first position ( FIG. 15 ) to a second position ( FIG. 16 ). In the relaxed state, the spring plate  695  is biased in the upward position of  FIG. 15  as a result of a pivot spring  705  forcing the spring plate  695  upward toward a slanted front end  712  of the cover  40 . The wipes  50  may extend from within the interior  17  of the device  1  to outside of the interior  17 . More specifically, the end of the wipes  50  may pass through the small elongated rectangular opening  130  and, thus, a portion of the wipes  50  may be located pressed between the top of the spring plate  695  and the slanted front end  712  of the cover  40 . Having the spring plate  695  force the wipes  50  upward prevents air from entering into the interior  17  of the device  1  and drying out the wipes  50  and further keeps the wipes  50  in a predetermined location to easily grasp. 
     When a user wants to use a wipe  50 , the user pulls the wipe  50  downward so that the wipe  50  forces the spring plate  695  down into the downward position of  FIG. 16 . In this position, the wipe  50  may be more easily pulled from within the interior  17  of the housing. Further, in one embodiment, the optional flat surface  500  of the device  1  may have, for example, a plurality of pegs  711  which may be used to help a user tear off a wipe  50  at, for example, a perforation  710  of the wipe  50 . When the user lets go of the wipe  50  the spring plate  695  automatically returns to the first position of  FIG. 15 . 
     Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.