U.S. patent application number 13/854646 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for dispensing aperture for wipes.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rockline Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald C. Neitzel.
Application Number | 20140291343 13/854646 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51619810 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140291343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neitzel; Donald C. |
October 2, 2014 |
DISPENSING APERTURE FOR WIPES
Abstract
There is provided a method of use and a canister closure member
configured to selectively enclose a canister containing a
continuous web of we towelettes defining individual wet towelettes
by a plurality of perforations so that the web of towelettes can be
separated into individual sheets. The canister closure member
includes a dispensing structure and a single wipe dispenser
structure defined in the dispensing structure. The single wipe
dispenser includes three fingers defined in the dispensing
structure. The fingers define a dispensing orifice with the three
fingers configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of
towellete to exit the canister. Each finger has a characteristic of
flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to
move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of
strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single
towelette separates from the continuous web at the
perforations.
Inventors: |
Neitzel; Donald C.;
(Petersburg, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rockline Industries, Inc. |
Sheboygan |
WI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51619810 |
Appl. No.: |
13/854646 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
A47K 10/3818 20130101; A47K 2010/3266 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/63 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/38 20060101
A47K010/38 |
Claims
1. A canister closure member configured to selectively enclose a
canister containing a continuous web of wet towelettes defining
individual wet towelettes by plurality of perforations so that the
web of towelettes can be separated into individual sheets, the
canister closure member defines a central opening and includes a
lid configured to selectively close the central opening, the
canister closure member comprising: a dispensing structure
extending into the central opening and coupled to an interior wall
of the canister closure member and including an edge exposed to the
central opening; and a single wipe dispenser structure defined in
the dispensing structure, the single wipe dispenser comprising:
three fingers defined in the dispensing structure, with each finger
having a first side and a second side, with the sides defined by a
continuation of the edge; and a dispensing orifice defined by the
second side of each finger, with the dispensing orifice in
communication with the central opening and configured to allow the
wet towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice, with the
three fingers configured to prevent more than one individual sheet
of towelettes to exit the central opening, wherein each finger has
a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow
the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a
characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes
until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the
perforations, and wherein the edge is continuous from the interior
wall to define each finger.
2. The canister closure member of claim 1, further comprising the
edge defining a lead-in opening aligned with the single wipe
dispenser structure and configured to thread the towelettes into
the dispensing orifice from the central opening.
3. The canister closure member of claim 1, further comprising the
edge defining a hook proximate the single wipe dispenser, with the
hook configured to prevent the towelettes from returning to the
canister.
4. The canister closure member of claim 1, wherein each finger is
defined by the first and second sides coupled together at one end
by a semi-circular portion of the edge and extending to another end
at a point where the edge reverses direction.
5. The canister closure member of claim 4, wherein the length of
each finger is the distance between each end of the finger.
6. The canister closure member of claim 5, wherein the length of
each finger is 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters.
7. The canister closure member of claim 4 wherein each finger is
the same thickness as the dispensing structure.
8. The canister closure member of claim 4, wherein the width of
each finger is the distance between the first and second side.
9. The canister closure member of claim 8, wherein the width of
each finger is 3 to 5 millimeters.
10. The canister closure member of claim 1, wherein the thickness
of the dispensing structure is 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters.
11. A method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister
containing a continuous web of wet towelettes, with an individual
towelette defined on the continuous web of towelettes by a
plurality of perforations, with the canister including a canister
closure member having an interior wall that defines a central
opening, the method comprising: pulling on the web of towelettes
through the central opening; engaging the web of towelettes with a
dispensing structure extending into the central opening, dispensing
structure coupled to the interior wall and includes an edge exposed
to the central opening, the dispensing structure defines a single
wipe dispenser structure comprising: three fingers defined in the
dispensing structure, with each finger having a first side and a
second side, with the sides defined by a continuation of the edge;
a dispensing orifice defined by the second side of each finger,
with the dispensing orifice in communication with the central
opening and configured to allow the wet towelettes to move through
the dispensing orifice, with the three fingers configured to
prevent more than one individual sheet of towelettes to exit the
central opening, wherein each finger has a characteristic of
flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to
move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of
strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single
towelette separates from the continuous web at the perforations,
and wherein the edge is continuous from the interior wall to define
each finger; and continuing to pull on the web of towelettes, now
restrained in the single wipe dispenser, until an individual
towelette separates from the continuous web of towelettes.
12. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister
of claim 11, with the dispensing structure further comprising a
lead-in opening defined by the edge and aligned with the single
wipe dispenser structure and configured to thread the towelettes
into the dispensing orifice from the central opening.
13. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister
of claim 11, with the single wipe dispenser structure further
comprising a hook proximate the single wipe dispenser, with the
hook configured to prevent the towelettes from returning to the
canister.
14. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister
of claim 11, wherein each finger is defined by the first and second
sides coupled together at one end by a semi-circular portion of the
edge and extending to another end at a point where the edge
reverses direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to canister closures, more
particularly to a closure that prevents the removal of more than
one wet towelette of a continuous web of towelettes from the
canister.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Wet towelettes, also referred to as wipes, are typically
impregnated or saturated with a cleaner or disinfectant, detergent,
or similar wetting agents and used in a variety of way. For
example, certain wipes are used in cleaning up a child. Wet wipes
are also used for cleaning up spills in the kitchen or other food
preparation areas. Typically, towelettes are provided in a
canister, either as individual wipes or on a continuous web
fashioned as a roll. In the later configuration, individual wipes
are separated by perforations that are pulled apart by a user when
extracting the wipe from the canister. The user would grab an end
of the towellete in the canister and pull it up through an aperture
defined in the canister closure member to extract a towelette.
However, as typically happens, more than one towelette is pulled
from the canister before the perforations separate the towelettes
from the roll.
[0003] Various configurations of canister closures are used but
none control removing more than one towelette or wipe from the
canister.
[0004] The apparatus of the present disclosure must also be of
construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should
also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user
throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market
appeal of the apparatus of the present disclosure, it should also
be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest
possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the
aforesaid advantages and objectives be achieved without incurring
any substantial relative disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] There is disclosed a canister closure member configured to
selectively enclose a canister containing a continuous web of wet
towelettes. The web of towelettes is a series of individual wet
towelettes with each individual towelette defined by a plurality of
perforations. The perforations allow the continuous web of
towelettes to be separated into individual sheets.
[0006] The canister closure member defines a central opening and
includes a lid configured to selectively close the central opening.
The canister closure member includes a dispensing structure and a
single wipe dispensing structure defined in the dispensing
structure.
[0007] The dispensing structure extends into the central opening of
the canister closure member and is coupled to an interior wall of
the canister closure member.
[0008] The single wipe dispenser structure includes three fingers
defined in the dispensing structure, with each finger having a
first side and a second side, with the sides defined by a
continuation of the edge. A dispensing orifice is defined by the
second side of each finger, with the dispensing orifice in
communication with the central opening and configured to allow the
wet towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice. The three
fingers are configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of
towelettes to exit the central opening. Each finger has a
characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow
the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a
characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes
until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the
perforations. The edge is continuous from the interior walls to
define each finger.
[0009] There is further provided a method of dispensing a single
wet towelette from a canister containing a continuous web of wet
towelettes. An individual towelette is defined on the continuous
web of towelettes by a plurality of perforations. The canister
includes a canister closure member having an interior wall that
defines a central opening.
[0010] The method includes pulling on the web of towelettes through
the central opening. The web of towelettes are engaged with a
dispensing structure extending into the central opening. The
dispensing structure is coupled to the interior wall and includes
an edge exposed to the central opening. The dispensing structure
defines a single wipe dispenser structure.
[0011] The method also includes continuing to pull on the web of
towelettes, now restrained by the single wipe dispenser, until an
individual towelette separates from the continuous web of
towelettes.
[0012] The apparatus of the present invention is of a construction
which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require
little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its
operating lifetime. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and
objectives are achieved without incurring any substantial relative
disadvantage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These and other advantages of the present disclosure are
best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary
embodiment of a canister closure member coupled to a canister, the
canister closure member including a dispensing structure defining a
single wipe dispenser;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the canister closure
member illustrated in FIG. 1 with a towelette in a dispensing
orifice of the single wipe dispenser structure with three fingers
engaging the towelette;
[0016] FIG. 3 partial perspective view of the canister closure
member illustrated in FIG. 1 with a towelette in a dispensing
orifice of the single wipe dispenser structure with three fingers
engaging the towelette; the towelette moving up to separate it from
and illustrating the continuous web of towelette along
perforations;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the single wipe dispenser
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the canister closure member
illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrating the single wipe dispenser
structure defined in the dispensing structure coupled to the
interior wall of the canister closure member at two points;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section of a canister closure
member illustrated in FIG. 5 along the line 6-6, illustrating that
the dispensing structure and the single wipe dispenser structure
have the same thickness;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of a dispensing structure
defining a single wipe dispenser structure;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of the dispensing structure
illustrated in FIG. 7 showing the thickness of the dispensing
structure and the single wipe dispenser structure are the same;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a top view of the dispensing structure illustrated
in FIGS. 7 and 8;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the dispensing structure
illustrated in FIG. 9; and
[0024] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section view of the dispensing
structure illustrated in FIG. 9, along the line 11-11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring to the FIGS. 1-11, FIG. 1 is a perspective
illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a canister closure
member 102 that includes a dispensing structure 116 defining a
single wipe dispenser 120. The canister closure member 102 is
coupled to a canister 100. The canister 100 typically is a hollow
cylinder closed at one end with the canister closure member 102
configured to close another end of the canister 100. The canister
100 typically includes a continuous web of wet towelettes 110. The
wet towelettes typically are impregnated or saturated with a
cleaner or disinfectant, detergent, or a similar wetting agent for
various uses.
[0026] It is know that prior art canister structures provide for
movement of wet towelettes from a canister however typically more
than one towelette gets pulled through the canister closure member.
Such arrangements are expensive because more than one towelette is
used.
[0027] The canister closure member 102 of the present disclosure
defines a central opening 106 and includes a lid 108 configured to
selectively close the central opening 106. The canister closure
member 102 includes a dispensing structure 116 and a single wipe
dispensing structure 120 defined in the dispensing structure
116.
[0028] The canister closure member 102 is annular and configured to
couple to a canister 100, typically by friction fit or threading.
The dispensing structure 116 is coupled to an interior wall 104 of
the canister closure member 102. The points of coupling of each end
of the dispensing structure 116 with the interior wall 104 of the
canister closure member, connected by a straight line, would define
a chord of the interior wall 104 circumference. In one embodiment,
the dispensing structure 116 and the canister closure member 102
are a single unitary member formed during a molding process, for
example injection molding.
[0029] The dispensing structure 116 extends into the central
opening 106 of the canister closure member 102 and is coupled to an
interior wall 104 of the canister closure member 102.
[0030] The single wipe dispenser structure 120 is defined in the
dispensing structure 116. The single wipe dispenser 120 includes
three fingers 124 defined in the dispensing structure 116, with
each finger 128 having a first side 130 and a second side 132, with
the sides 130, 132 defined by a continuation of the edge 118. The
second side 132 of each finger 128 defines a dispensing orifice
142, with the dispensing orifice 142 in communication with the
central opening 106. The dispensing orifice 142 is configured to
allow the wet towelettes 112 to move through the dispensing orifice
142, with the three fingers 124 configured to prevent more than one
individual sheet of towelette 112 to exist the central opening 106.
The dispensing structure 116 is coplanar with the single wipe
dispenser structure 120.
[0031] Each finger 128 has a characteristic of flexibility, of
sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes 112 to move through
the dispensing orifice 142. Each finger 128 also has a
characteristic of strength sufficient to retain the towelettes 112
until the single towelette separates 112 from the continuous web
110 at the perforations 114. Typically the canister closure member
102 and the dispensing structure 116 are composed of the same
material. For a preferred embodiment of the dispensing structure
116, the structure is composed of polyethylene.
[0032] Each finger 128 is defined by the first 130 and second side
132 which are coupled together at one end 134 by a semi-circular
portion 138 of the edge 118 and extending to another end 13 at a
point where the edge reverses direction 140. Each finger 128 has a
length that is the distance between each end 134, 136 of the finger
128 with the length of each finger 128 measuring 4.5 to 6.5 mm.
With a nominal length being 5.5 mm. Each finger 128 is the same
thickness as the dispensing structure 116. The thickness of the
dispensing structure 116 is 0.5 mm. to 1.5 mm., with a nominal
thickness of 1.0 mm. The width of each finger 128 is in a range of
3-5 mm. as determined by the manufacturer. The specific length and
width of each finger 128 is governed by the overall design of the
dispensing orifice 142 which preferably is in the range of 4-7 mm.
with the distance between the second side 132 of each finger 128
and the dispensing structure 116 being within the range of 0.5 to 5
mm.
[0033] The edge 118 of the dispensing structure 116 is continuous
and is exposed to the central opening 106. The edge 118 extends
from one point of contact with the interior wall 104 continuously
to the other point of contact with the interior wall.
[0034] The continuous edge 118 defines a lead-in opening 122
aligned with the single wipe dispenser structure 120 and is
configured to guide the towelettes 112 into the dispensing orifice
142 from the canister 100 through the central opening 106. It is
not necessary to thread the towelette into the dispensing orifice
as in the case with some prior art disclosures. The continuous edge
118 further defines a hook 126 proximate the single wipe dispenser
structure 120. The hook 126 is configured to prevent the towelettes
112 from returning to the canister 100 once the web of towelettes
110 is in the dispensing orifice 142 and engaged by the three
fingers 124. The continuous edge 118 further defines each finger
128 of the single wipe dispenser structure 120.
[0035] In a typical operation, a user would pull the towelette 112
from the canister 100 through the central opening 106 and through
the dispensing orifice 142 of the single wipe dispenser structure
120. When the web of towelettes 110 is moving through the
dispensing orifice 142, the three fingers 124 engage the web of
towelettes and applies a restraining force to the web of towelettes
110. As a user continues to pull on the exposed towelettes 112, the
force exerted by the user separates the web of towelettes 110 at
the perforations 114 with the fingers 124 restraining the web of
towelettes 110 at the dispensing orifice 142. The user typically
would then close the lid 108 of the canister closure member 102 to
again seal the canister 100 of towelettes.
[0036] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" means
the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly
or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in
nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the
two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional
intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary
body with one another or the two components and any additional
member being attached to one another. Such adjoining may be
permanent in nature or alternatively be removable or releasable in
nature.
[0037] Although the foregoing description of the present mechanism
has been shown and described with reference to particular
embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for
purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments
and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having
ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications,
variations, or alterations to the mechanism as described herein may
be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the
present disclosure. The particular embodiments and applications
were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the
principles of the mechanism and its practical application to
thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the
disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes,
modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen
as being within the scope of the present disclosure as determined
by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the
breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably
entitled.
* * * * *