Patent Document

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/453,553 filed Mar. 12, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/457,937 filed Mar. 28, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/490,938 filed Jul. 30, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Moist towelettes are commonly sold and used in consumer product markets. Many methods exist for packaging moist towelettes. However, there are no packages that have adequate dispensing mechanisms. Wipes and moist towelettes are packaged as center dispensing rolls in cylindrical containers or as stacks of individual horizontal towelettes. 
   Many existing packaging systems for moist towelettes either have no dispensing mechanism, or if there is a dispensing mechanism, then it has too many limitations that inhibit functionality and ease of use. 
   Current packages attempt to let customers remove one towelette at a time. Normally, the subsequent wipe in a package hangs out from the package for easy grasping. However, should the next wipe fall back through the orifice in the cap and into the canister, current technology requires the user to pull the cap off. This is often very difficult to do. The consumer must then re-thread the wipe through the cap orifice, and then re-apply the cap to the canister for further single towelette dispensing. This is the same activity that a consumer must go through for first dispense of the package also. 
   When using the moist towelettes, hands of a user often become contaminated with substances. Reopening the container, then finding and leading an end of a towelette through a dispensing orifice are difficult when the dispensing interruption occurs before completing a cleaning operation. 
   Needs exist for improved methods for dispensing and storing moist towelettes that allows for easy dispensing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The new invention is intended to allow for easy retrieval of “fallbacks”, as well as easing the initial “threading” process one must go through upon initial opening/use of the package. The new invention allows threading to be done without removing the cap. Also, several of the new embodiments allow refills to be inserted into the canister without removing the lid/cap. The layout of the dispensing system and the geometry and shape of the dispensing orifice/aperture minimize and mitigate product fallbacks. 
   The new invention improves performance of the orifices/apertures through unique geometry and shape as well as using different materials from existing products, or the combination of multiple materials, such as hard thermoplastic molded substrate surrounding the orifice structure, with co-molded rubber-like material filling the void or aperture center. Varying orifice diameter, co-molded density and stiffness or geometry of the actual lobes defining the dispensing aperture allow the precise amount of friction to be created in the dispensing opening for selectively grabbing or releasing the towelette, thereby tearing towelette connection perforations at just the right time. That maximizes dispensing performance, and does not necessarily require the user to pull the towelettes up at an angle, as is suggested by current alternative dispensers, to ensure that the user removes only one towelette at a time. 
   These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a locking trap door embodiment in a towelette access position. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a locking trap door embodiment in a towelette dispensing position. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a multiple lobe orifice. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of a dual lid. 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the dual lid shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a closed cross-sectional elevation of the dual lid shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the dual lid shown in  FIGS. 6–8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an opened perspective view of the dual lid shown in  FIGS. 6–9 . 
       FIG. 11  shows adjusting the inner lid in a perspective view of the dual lid shown in  FIGS. 6–10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a plan view of a towelette access cover and pop-up orifice. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional elevation of the towelette access cover and pop-up orifice of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is an erected cross-sectional elevation of the towelette access cover and pop-up orifice of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional elevation of a telescoping dispenser orifice for towelettes in an extended dispensing position. 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional elevation of a telescoping dispenser orifice for towelettes in a closed position. 
       FIG. 17  is a plan view elevation of a dispensing cap thermoplastic elastomer dispenser orifice for towelettes. 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing cap shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a dispensing cap. 
       FIGS. 20–24  are plan view details of different lobe designs for towelette dispensing orifices in towelette dispenser caps. 
       FIGS. 25 and 26  show slitted soft thermoplastic elastomer layers below the dispensing orifice and thermoplastic lobes. 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a single trap door embodiment. 
       FIG. 28  is a top view of an open dual trap door embodiment with an orifice on one side. 
       FIG. 29  is a side view of an open dual trap door embodiment with an orifice on one side. 
       FIG. 30  is a top view of a closed dual trap door embodiment with an orifice on one side. 
       FIG. 31  is a side view of a closed dual trap door embodiment with an orifice on one side. 
       FIG. 32  is a top view of a single trap door embodiment with a wide opening. 
       FIG. 33  is a side view of a single trap door embodiment with a wide opening. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , a trap door embodiment of the invention is generally referred to by the numeral  1 . A container  3  has an open upper end  5  that is configured to receive a complementary lower end  7  of the cylindrical wall  9  of the dispenser  1 . The dispensing top  11  has two mirror-imaged portions  13  pivoted on living hinges  15 . Each half  13  has a dish shape with product-engaging lobes  17  formed between generally radially extending recesses  19 . Elongated recesses  21  are formed along the parting line  23  of the two dish-shaped halves  13 . A cover  25  with a lifting tab  27  is joined with the top about a living hinge  29 . The tab  27  lies within a recess  31  when closed. 
   In one embodiment, an inward-extending tab  33  cooperates with a rim  35  on the top of the container and extends between two living hinges  37  to assist in holding the cover  25  fully opened or fully closed. Door lock stops  39  extend inward from the central opening  41  to prevent upward travel of the dish-shaped halves  13 . When accessing the inner towelette  43  in a roll  44 , an index finger and a thumb push inward on the dish-shaped halves  13 , which rotate around the living hinges  15  to allow pinching of the top of the innermost towelette  43 , and lifting the towelette upward. The lobes  17  and radial recesses  19  and  21  allow the innermost towelette  43  to be pulled through the central opening  45 . 
   Towelettes in the roll  44  are joined together by four or five small bridges. As the next adjacent towelette passes through the central opening  45 , the lobes  17  and radial recesses  19  grip and slow the next adjacent towelette while the bridges rupture by continued pulling of the first towelette. The result is that the second towelette protrudes slightly through the opening  45  so that it may be gripped between a thumb and index finger when the next towelette is desired. Between uses, the cover  25  is snapped into closed position, retaining the moisture in the towelettes. 
     FIG. 5  shows an alternate form of the orifice  45  in which the radial recesses  19  and  21  in the halves  13  are of equal size, making the lobes  17  of equal size. 
     FIGS. 6–8  show a dual lid embodiment. The lower portion  7  of the cylindrical wall  9  is configured for snapping onto the moist towelette container. When the container is square or rectangular, the wall  9  and the lower end attachment are square or rectangular. The main portion  53  has a central opening  55  with a center support lobe  57 , which extends into the opening. An orifice-holding lid  59  has a central portion  61  with lobes  17  separated by radial recesses  19 , and a relatively large recess  63  with a radial split  65  used to thread the towelette. A throat  67  has an outward-extending rim  69 , which snaps between an inward-extending rim  71  in the central portion  53 . A tab  73  is provided to lift the orifice lid  59  around living hinge  75  if required. The split  65  and the large opening  63  align over the center support lobe  57 , which provides the fifth lobe which cooperates with the four other lobes  17 , forming a towel-lifting opening  45  in the center. When it is necessary to reach the innermost towelette  43 , pressing inward on the lobe  17  near the central lobe  57  allows the split  65  to open for reaching the innermost towelette  43 . Pulling that towelette upward through the opening  45  and continuing the upward pulling of the towelette draws the next adjacent towelette partially through the opening until the towelette bridges are ruptured. The result is that the next adjacent towelette is partially extended through the opening  45 , allowing the next towelette to be conveniently removed through the orifice, and holding the end of the succeeding towelette in the orifice. A cover  25  similar to the cover shown in  FIGS. 1–4  is connected to the container end with a living hinge  29 . A tab  27  aids in opening the cover. A rib  77  extends around an outside of the throat  78  of the cover for cooperating with an inward-extending lip  79  on the throat of the orifice-holding lid  59 . 
     FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  are perspective views of the container end  51  with the cover  25  raised and the orifice holder  59  closed. 
     FIG. 10  shows an orifice holder  59  raised with the innermost towelette  43  being pulled from the towelette roll  44 . 
   The orifice holder is shown with the slit  65  separated to aid in the lateral placement of the towelette  43  through the orifice  45 . 
     FIG. 11  shows the closing of the orifice holder  59  while partially pulling the first towelette  43  through the orifice  45 . 
     FIGS. 12–14  show a cap  81  of the invention with a pop-up orifice. The container  3  has an upper end  5  with a shape that is gripped by the shaped lower end  7  of the wall  9 . A cover  25  is connected to the wall  9  by a living hinge  29 . The cover has parallel V-shaped receiver brackets  83  on its inner surface, which receive outward-extending pins  85  on detachable hinge  87  at the outer end of the hinge plate  89 . Living hinges  91  connect the hinge plate  89  to the orifice plate  93 , which is in turn connected by a living hinge  95  to the top of the container. As the container is packaged, the hinge plate  89  may be folded around the living hinge  91  inward in the container. The orifice plate  93  and hinge plate  89  are lifted around the living hinge  95 , and the innermost towelette  43  from the roll  44  is started through the orifice  45 . Then the hinge pins  85  are connected to the V-shaped receivers  83  on the cover  25 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . The drawing of the towelette upward through the orifice  43  draws the next connected towelette from the inner surface of the roll  44  until the bridges connecting the towelette are fractured into the resistance of the orifice  45 . The cover  25  is closed, folding the hinge plate  89  around the living hinge  91  on top of the orifice plate  93  as the cover is closed, as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 13 . An inner lip  76  on the throat  78  of the cover snaps around an outward projection  97  at the inner portion of the orifice holder plate  99 , which holds the living hinge  95  in the cap  81 . 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  show a cap  101  with a telescoping member  103 , which fits through a central opening  105  in a central recess  107 . A rim  109  at the bottom of the member  103  prevents or retards withdrawal of the member  103  through the central opening  105  in the recess  107 . A funnel-shaped guide  111  cooperates with the sloped wall of the rim  109  to permit assembly of the telescoping member in the central opening  105 . The sliding member has a central opening  113  that leads to an enlarged orifice  115 , through which a lead towelette is pulled from the center of the roll  44 . A top  117  of the sliding member  103  substantially fills the central depression  107 . A hinged handle  116  extends upward from the top  117 , and a throat  118  extends downward and has an inward rib  119 , which snaps over an outer edge of the guide  111  to retain the telescoping member in inward position, as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
   When using the telescoping member, the cap may be removed and the innermost towelette on the roll  44  may be fed through the central opening  113  and out through the orifice  115  to start the dispensing. Lifting bail  116  raises the telescoping member  103  and the orifice  115 , and makes the innermost towelette available for pulling from the orifice. As the towelette leaves the orifice and pulls the end of the next towelette through the orifice, increased resistance causes the towelette bridges to break, leaving the second towelette partially exposed for pulling outward through the orifice. Simply pushing in on the top  117  of the telescoping member  103  closes the container. 
   One cap  121 , as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , has an integrally molded central dish  123 , which is connected at parting line  125  with a soft, relatively flexible orifice portion  127 , which contains the orifice  129 . Reaching down through the orifice  129  stretches the orifice and allows the user to grasp the innermost towelette on roll  44  and pull the towelette through the orifice. As the next succeeding towelette begins to pull through the orifice, the resistance increases and the bridges between the towelettes tear, leaving a short portion of the successive towelette on top of the orifice. Closing the cover  25  around living hinge  29  enables the inward-extending rim  76  on throat  78  to engage the outward extension  126  on the portion  128  of the thermoplastic substrate  123 , which extends above the shelf  122 . A recess  126  permits the lifting of the remote edge  27  of the cover when the cover is closed. 
   In one embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 19 , cap  131  has a sidewall  9  and an inward extending orifice shelf  133 , in which the orifice  45  is formed. A large opening  135  is provided in the cap  131  through which the innermost towelette in the underlying roll may be grasped and slid laterally through a slot  137  into the orifice  45 . Cover  25  is mounted on living hinge  29  to close the cap  131  and the underlying container. 
     FIGS. 20–24  show varied orifices and lobe shapes. 
     FIG. 20  shows an orifice  45  with five lobes  17  and five thin triangular recesses  19  extending radially from the center of the orifice. 
     FIG. 21  shows an orifice  45  with six similar lobes  17  spaced between triangular shaped recesses  19  leading outward from the center of the orifice. 
     FIG. 22  shows a circular orifice  145  with four curved lobes  147  between four curved slots  149 . 
     FIG. 23  shows an orifice  45  similar to the orifice shown in  FIG. 20 , with five lobes  17  and with enlarged radial recesses  19 . 
     FIG. 24  shows an orifice  45  with round laterally touching lobes  17  and circumferentially enlarged recesses  19 . 
     FIGS. 25 and 26  show an orifice  45  similar to the orifice shown in  FIG. 20 , with five lobes  17  and five triangular radially extending recess slots  19  formed in an orifice thermoplastic shelf  151 . Immediately beneath the shelf is a TPE layer  153  with radial slits  155 , which cooperate with the orifice  145  to allow passage and encourage gripping of the innermost towelette. 
     FIG. 27  shows a single trap door embodiment  160  that has an orifice  45  formed between the trap door  161  and the stationary part  163  and particularly between a lobe  165  formed on the stationary part and lobes  167  formed on the trap door. The trap door swings inward, around living hinge  169 . Upward travel is limited by lugs  173  on the stationary part  163  that overlap sides  171  of the trap door  161 . 
   A central depression  175  formed by depressions  177  and  179  in the stationary part and trap door allow part of the next towelette to remain above the orifice  45  when the cover is closed. 
   In one embodiment, the trap door may flip up or down and may be snapped into its operative position in which the top of a towelette extends through orifice  45 . 
   The embodiment  160 , shown in  FIG. 27  is similar to the trap door shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , except that it has only one flip down door instead of two. This single trap door could also flip up as well as down. This additional single door that flips down or up enables the innermost towelette, from a roll, to be started through the orifice. 
   The rim  181  on cover  25  tightly fits within opening  183  in the cap  160  to seal the container. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 28–31 , a dual trap door embodiment of the invention is generally referred to by the numeral  185 . A container  3  has an open upper end  5  that is configured to receive a complementary lower end  7  of the cylindrical wall  9  of the dispenser  185 . The dispensing top  11  has two trap doors  187 ,  189  pivoted on living hinges  15 . One trap door  187  has a dish shape with five product-engaging lobes  191  and with enlarged radial recesses  193 . The other door  189  does not have any product-engaging regions. An orifice  195  is located completely on one trap door  187 . This trap door  187  has a slit  197  for easy threading of a towelette  43  from a roll  44 . Both doors  187 ,  189  open to allow a user to reach into the container  3  and thread the next towelette  43  through the orifice  195 . 
   A cover  25  with a lifting tab  27  is joined with the top  11  about a living hinge  29 . The tab  27  lies within a recess  31  when closed. 
   In another dual trap door embodiment, an inward-extending tab  33  cooperates with a rim  35  on the top of the container and extends between two living hinges  37  to assist in holding the cover  25  fully opened or fully closed. Door lock stops  39  extend inward from the central opening  41  to prevent upward travel of the dish-shaped halves  13 . When accessing the inner towelette  43  in a roll  44 , an index finger and a thumb push inward on the dish-shaped halves  13 , which rotate around the living hinges  15  to allow pinching of the top of the innermost towelette  43 , and lifting the towelette upward. The lobes  191  and radial recesses  193 , located on only one of the trap doors  187 , allow the innermost towelette  43  to be pulled through a slit  197  and a central opening  195 . 
   Towelettes in the roll  44  are joined together by four or five small bridges. As the next adjacent towelette  43  passes through the central opening  45 , the lobes  191  and radial recesses  193  grip and slow the next adjacent towelette while the bridges rupture by continued pulling of the first towelette. The result is that the second towelette protrudes slightly through the opening  195  so that it may be gripped between a thumb and index finger when the next towelette is desired. Between uses, the cover  25  is snapped into closed position, retaining the moisture in the towelettes. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , a cap  199  has a sidewall  9  and a single inward extending trap door  201 , in which an orifice  203  is formed. The trap door  201  is connected to the container via a living hinge  209 . The trap door  201  has stiffening ribs  211  on the underside of the trap door  201  for added structural support. A large opening  205  is provided in the cap  199  through which the innermost towelette  43  in the underlying roll  44  may be grasped and slid laterally through a slot  207  into the orifice  203 . The trap door  201  opens by pivoting down along the living hinge  209  during towelette retrieval and snaps back into position with door locks  39  for dispensing. The opening of the trap door  201  allows for easier access to the roll of towelettes  44 . A cover  25  is mounted on a living hinge  29  for closing the cap  199  and the underlying container. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1