Abstract:
A portable refillable dispenser for absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material, has a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion. The upper housing portion is connected via a first hinge to the lower housing portion, wherein the upper and lower housing portions, in a closed position, form a compartment for the absorbent tissue or nonwoven material and an inner dispensing opening there between and, in an open position, allow refilling of the dispenser. The dispenser has a lid connected with the upper and lower housing portions for holding the upper and lower housing portions together. The lid at least partially covers the inner dispensing opening from at least one direction. The lid is provided with an outer dispensing opening. The absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material is dispensable via the inner and outer dispensing openings.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable refillable dispenser for absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material according to the precharacterizing portion of claim  1 . 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Different kinds of portable dispensers for paper, tissue or nonwoven material, for e.g. wiping purposes, are known. For domestic use there are for instance box-like napkin holders with an upper dispensing opening to be set on a table and simple holders comprising a vertical axle which supports a roll of paper tissue. For use in commercial situations such as in factories or workshops, a somewhat larger holder with a horizontal axle for a roll of paper tissue is known, the horizontal axle being supported by a leg structure and provided with a carrying handle. 
         [0003]    There are situations when the above-mentioned types of portable dispensers are not fully satisfactorily. For instance, for outdoor use, domestic or commercial, where the portable dispenser may be subjected to rain or may be set down on a wet surface there is a need for a dispenser which will protect the paper, tissue or nonwoven material to be dispensed from becoming wet. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser which will protect paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the dispenser to be dispensed therefrom from outside physical influence at least to a certain extent. 
         [0005]    According to an aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a portable refillable dispenser for absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material, comprising a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion. The upper housing portion is connected via a first hinge to the lower housing portion. In a closed position the upper and lower housing portions form a compartment for the absorbent tissue or nonwoven material and an inner dispensing opening therebetween. In an open position the upper and lower housing portions allow refilling of the dispenser with the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material. The dispenser further comprises a lid connected with the upper and lower housing portions for holding the upper and lower housing portions together in the closed position and for at least partially covering the inner dispensing opening from at least one direction. The lid is provided with an outer dispensing opening. The inner and outer dispensing openings are disposed such that the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material is dispensable via the inner and outer dispensing openings. 
         [0006]    Since the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material is arranged in the compartment, which has an inner dispensing opening and the dispenser comprises a lid which at least partially covers the inner dispensing opening, the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the compartment of the dispenser is protected from, for instance, rain, snow or splashing liquids. Thanks to the lid being provided with an outer dispensing opening, absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be dispensed from the dispenser without opening the lid and since the lid also performs the function of holding the housing portions together, the dispenser is portable also when being set for dispensing. As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved. 
         [0007]    When a user dispenses absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material from the dispenser it is dispensed through both the inner and outer dispensing openings. A free end of the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be arranged between the inner and outer dispensing openings for easy access by a user. The absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be arranged on a roll or in a stack. The absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be in the form of a continuous web, which may be perforated for ease of separating sheets from the roll or stack. In case of a stack, it may alternatively contain separate sheets of paper, tissue or nonwoven material. The separate sheets may be interleaved to prepare a next sheet, following a dispensed sheet, for easy grasping. 
         [0008]    The dispenser being portable entails inter alia that it is of practical size and is adapted to be placed on a surface, e.g. by its lower housing portion on its outside being provided with a support arrangement in the form of feet or an even surface. 
         [0009]    According to example embodiments, the lid may be arranged at a distance from the inner dispensing opening. In this manner the inner dispensing opening, and accordingly also the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material in the compartment, may be protected from outside physical influence, such as rain. 
         [0010]    According to example embodiments the compartment in the closed position may be enclosed, with the exception of the inner dispensing opening. In this manner the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the compartment is protected from outside physical influence such as rain or liquid on a wet surface, on which the dispenser is placed. 
         [0011]    According to example embodiments the upper housing portion is provided with a handle for carrying the dispenser. Portability of the dispenser may thus be improved. 
         [0012]    According to example embodiments the lid may be connected by means of a second hinge either to the upper or to the lower housing portion and by means of a releasable connection to the other of the said upper and the said lower housing portion. In this manner the lid may be pivotably attached to the dispenser, which facilitates handling of the lid, e.g. when the dispenser is to be refilled. 
         [0013]    According to preferred example embodiments the weight of the lower housing portion and the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be transferred via the first hinge and the lid to the upper housing portion when the dispenser is suspended from the handle. The lid may thus form part of the supporting structure of the dispenser. 
         [0014]    According to example embodiments the lid may be provided with a lock for locking the lid to one of the upper and lower housing portions. The lock may, or may not, have a load supporting function. 
         [0015]    According to example embodiments the lid may be provided with a closing hatch for the outer dispensing opening. By means of the closing hatch the outer dispensing opening may be closed and thus, the dispenser becomes completely closed. The dispenser, when completely closed, may keep the paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside dry even during long periods in, for instance, heavy rain. 
         [0016]    According to example embodiments the closing hatch may be slidably arranged on or in the lid. The closing hatch may be arranged on an inside or an outside surface of the lid. The closing hatch may abut against the lid to form a seal around the closing hatch. 
         [0017]    According to example embodiments the lid may be provided with a drainage arrangement in connection with the outer dispensing opening, and the drainage arrangement may be arranged for diverting liquid to an outside of the dispenser. Accordingly, if liquid, such as water, should happen to get into a space between the lid and the upper and/or lower housing portions, the liquid may be drained out from this space via the drainage arrangement. 
         [0018]    According to example embodiments, a chamber may be formed between the lid and at least the upper housing portion. Thanks to the chamber, a space may be formed between the lid and the inner dispensing opening. The inner dispensing opening is thus better protected from outside physical influence. Furthermore, the chamber may house a free end of a paper, tissue or nonwoven material web ready for grasping by a user through the outer dispensing opening in the lid. If provided with a closing hatch the free end of the web in the chamber may be protected when the closing hatch is closed. 
         [0019]    According to example embodiments the upper housing portion, in the chamber, may be provided with a channel system for diverting liquid away from the inner dispensing opening. In this manner liquid, which may have entered the chamber from an upper end thereof, may be prevented from reaching the paper, tissue or nonwoven material at the inner dispensing opening. The channel system may be in fluid communication with the draining arrangement of the lid. 
         [0020]    According to example embodiments the outer dispensing opening may have a smaller width than a width of the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the compartment. Such a smaller width opening contributes to making it difficult for moisture to enter the inside of the dispenser. A smaller width opening may also make it easier for a user to grasp the paper, tissue or nonwoven material for dispensing thereof through the dispensing openings. Further, the dispensing force exerted by a user on the free end of the paper, tissue or nonwoven material web through the smaller width outer dispensing opening may be evenly distributed over the width of the web. 
         [0021]    According to example embodiments the compartment may be adapted to contain a roll of the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material. 
         [0022]    According to example embodiments the dispenser may comprise a drive roller at the inner dispensing opening adapted to abut the roll of absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material to thereby rotate substantially at the same peripheral speed as the roll of absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material when paper, tissue or nonwoven material is dispensed. In this manner the rotation of the roll of paper, tissue or nonwoven material may be controlled by properties of the drive roller. 
         [0023]    According to example embodiments the compartment may be adapted to contain a stack of sheets of the absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material. 
         [0024]    According to example embodiments the lid may form part of a substantially vertical side surface of the dispenser. 
         [0025]    According to example embodiments the lower housing portion may form a liquid tight trough. In this manner the dispenser may be placed for instance in snow or wet grass without the paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the dispenser becoming wet. 
         [0026]    Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art will realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0028]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate schematically dispensers for paper, tissue or nonwoven material according to example embodiments, and 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates schematically a cross section of a part of a dispenser according to example embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0031]    Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically a dispenser  2  for paper, tissue or nonwoven material according to example embodiments. The dispenser  2  is portable and is provided with a handle  4  to facilitate carrying or suspending the dispenser  2 . The dispenser  2  has an upper housing portion  6  and a lower housing portion  8 . The upper housing portion  6  extends from an upper portion, where the handle  4  is arranged, downwards to form side surfaces of the dispenser  2 . The lower housing portion  8  forms a trough up to the lower part of the inner dispensing opening, such that liquid cannot enter the dispenser  2  from below. The housing portions  6 ,  8  are connected to each other at one end by means of a first hinge  10 . Opposite to the first hinge  10  there is formed an inner dispensing opening  11  between the upper and lower housing portions  6 ,  8 , which in  FIG. 1  are shown in a closed position. A lid  12  is attached by means of a second hinge  14  to the lower housing portion  8 . 
         [0033]    The lid  12  is foldable about the second hinge  14  into a shut position, in which an end portion  16  of the lid  14  engages with the upper housing portion  6 . With the housing portions  6 ,  8  in the closed position and the lid  12  engaged in the shut position, the dispenser  2  may be carried by the handle  4 . For securing the lid  12  to the upper housing portion  6  there is provided a lock  18  on the lid  12  adapted to engage with an engaging part  20  on the upper housing portion  6 . The lock  18  and  20  do not have a load carrying function when engaged. 
         [0034]    When the lid  12  is in the shut position, a chamber  22  is formed between the lid  12  and the upper and lower housing portions  6 ,  8 . The lid  12  protects the inner dispensing opening  11  and is provided with an outer dispensing opening  24 . The outer dispensing opening  24  may be closed, preferably from the outside, by means of a closing hatch  26 . Paper, tissue or nonwoven material from a compartment inside the dispenser  2  is dispensed via the inner and outer dispensing openings  11 ,  24 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates schematically a dispenser  2  for paper, tissue or nonwoven material according to example embodiments. The dispenser  2  is shown with an upper housing portion  6  and a lower housing portion  8  in an open position. The housing portions  6 ,  8  are joined via a first hinge (not shown). When in a closed position, the housing portions  6 ,  8  form a compartment  28 . 
         [0036]    A roll  30  of paper, tissue or nonwoven material web is rotatably arranged inside the compartment  28 . A free end  32  of the web extends out from the dispenser  2  in a position where an inner dispensing opening is formed when the housing portions  6 ,  8  are in a closed position. Upstream the dispensing direction from the free end  32 , the web passes over a drive roller  34 . 
         [0037]    The roll  30  of paper, tissue or nonwoven material is arranged to abut the drive roller  34 . The roll  30  and the drive roller  34  are frictionally engaged. As the web leading from the roll to the free end  32  passes over the drive roller  34 , and when paper, tissue or nonwoven material is dispensed from the roll  30 , the drive roller  34  is rotated by the dispensed end of the web passing over the drive roller  34  and the roll  30  is rotated by the drive roller  34 . 
         [0038]    The dispenser  2  is adapted to be provide with a lid (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) with an outer dispensing opening. A chamber  22  is formed between the non-shown lid and the upper housing portion  6 . At a part  38  of the upper housing portion  6  forming part of an inner dispensing opening, the upper housing portion  6  inside the chamber  22  is provided with a channel system  39  in the form of a ledge  40  for diverting liquid away from the inner dispensing opening. When in a closed position of the housing portions  6 ,  8  should a liquid penetrate into the chamber  22 , the liquid will flow downwards along the upper housing portion  6  and be led by the ridge  40  away from the inner dispensing opening. The liquid will thus not reach the paper, tissue or nonwoven material inside the compartment  28 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates schematically a dispenser  2  for paper, tissue or nonwoven material according to example embodiments. Again, the dispenser  2  is provided with upper and lower housing portions  6 ,  8 , a first hinge  10 , a lid  12  with an outer dispensing opening  24  and closing hatch  26 , and a chamber  22  formed between the lid  12  and the upper and lower housing portions  6 ,  8  when in closed and shut positions. The lid  12  is pivotally attached via a second hinge to the upper housing portion  6 . Accordingly, the lid  12  is adapted to engage with the lower housing portion  8  when in the shut position. Also, when the housing portions  6 ,  8  are in the closed position, there is formed an inner dispensing opening between the housing portions  6 ,  8 , and the lid  12  is adapted to engage with the lower housing portion  8 . 
         [0040]    In a closed position the housing portions  6 ,  8  form a compartment  28 , which is adapted for receiving a stack of paper, tissue or nonwoven material. Sheets of web from the stack of paper, tissue or nonwoven material are dispensed via the inner dispensing opening and the outer dispensing opening  24 . A spring loaded movable wall section  42  forces the stack against an inner side surface of the compartment  28  and towards the inner dispensing opening. If the sheets are interleaved or torn from a continuous web, which may be perforated, a free end to be grasped by a user may suitably be situated in the chamber  22  between the first and second dispensing openings. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates schematically a cross section of a part of a dispenser according to example embodiments. An inner dispensing opening  11  is formed between an upper housing portion  6  and a lower housing portion  8 . A roll  30  of paper, tissue or nonwoven material is arranged inside the dispenser in a compartment  28  formed by the housing portions  6 ,  8 . The roll  30  abuts a drive roller  34  and web from the roll  30  of paper, tissue or nonwoven material extends over the drive roller  34 . 
         [0042]    A lid  12  provided with an outer dispensing opening  24  is arranged at a distance from the housing portions  6 ,  8  such that a chamber  22  is formed there between. The lid  12 , shown in a shut position, is provided with a closing hatch  26 . When opened and closed, the closing hatch  26  is slid in a track  44  arranged above the outer dispensing opening  24  in the lid  12 . The closing hatch  26  is provided with a hatch grip  52 , for a user to grip when opening and closing the closing hatch  26 . A free end  32  of the web is graspable in the chamber  22 . 
         [0043]    A system for draining liquid from inside the chamber  22  away from the inner dispensing opening  11  and out of the chamber  22  is provided. In close proximity to the inner dispensing opening  11 , the upper housing portion  6  is provided with a channel system  39 , which comprises a ledge  40  with a rim  46 . Further, the lid  12  is provided with a drainage arrangement  48  in connection with the outer dispensing opening  24 . The drainage arrangement  48  comprises a shelf  50 , which is slanted in a direction from inside the chamber  22  to outside the chamber  22 . Liquid coming from an upper end of the chamber  22  will flow on the ledge  40  and be diverted to the sides of the chamber  22  where it can flow down without coming into contact with the paper protruding from the inner dispensing opening  11  (see also  FIG. 2 ). Any liquid on the shelf  50  flows downwards to an outside of the dispenser. 
         [0044]    Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The dispenser may for instance be manufactured from a plastic material or from sheet metal. A lock for securing the lid to one of the housing portions may be arranged on one of the housing portions and may engage with the lid, e.g. by abutting against an outer surface of the lid. The trough formed by the lower housing portion may extend from a bottom portion upwardly e.g. 3-20 cm. 
         [0045]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, combinations of features of disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0046]    As used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof. 
         [0047]    As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0048]    As used herein, the common abbreviation “e.g.”, which derives from the Latin phrase “exempli gratia,” may be used to introduce or specify a general example or examples of a previously mentioned item, and is not intended to be limiting of such item. If used herein, the common abbreviation “i.e.”, which derives from the Latin phrase “id est,” may be used to specify a particular item from a more general recitation. 
         [0049]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0050]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0051]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.