U.S. patent application number 14/481630 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-12 for flushable moist wipe toilet roll core dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ryan E. Bricker. Invention is credited to Ryan E. Bricker.
Application Number | 20150069172 14/481630 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52624567 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150069172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bricker; Ryan E. |
March 12, 2015 |
Flushable Moist Wipe Toilet Roll Core Dispenser
Abstract
A flushable wipe dispenser is insertable into a standard toilet
paper roll and holder. The assembled toilet paper roll and device
are positioned onto a standard toilet roll holder, allowing for
convenient and space-saving access to flushable wipes. The
dispenser allows the user to easily draw-out a moist wipe from a
convenient location at the center of the toilet roll tube. The
convenient location better enables easy usage of the toilet paper
and moist wipes by the consumer and with a less visibly obtrusive
moist wipe container.
Inventors: |
Bricker; Ryan E.; (Dallas,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bricker; Ryan E. |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52624567 |
Appl. No.: |
14/481630 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61875928 |
Sep 10, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/594.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 2010/3266 20130101;
A47K 10/38 20130101; A47K 2010/326 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/594.5 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/38 20060101
A47K010/38 |
Claims
1. A flushable wipes dispenser device for use with a standard
toilet paper roll holder, the device comprising: a housing having a
generally tubular body, a front end cap, and a back end cap; the
body defining an interior cavity for containing flushable wipes,
and the body having an outer diameter sized to fit into a standard
toilet paper roll tube; the back end cap attached to the generally
tubular body, enclosing the back end of the generally tubular body;
the front end cap removably attached to the generally tubular body,
and enclosing the front end of the generally tubular body; the
front end cap having an opening through which wipes can be removed
from the interior cavity; two connectors attached to the housing
and sized to cooperate with the standard toilet paper roll holder,
the connectors extending axially from the housing and supporting
the device from the holder.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing contacts the interior
surface of the toilet paper roll tube and is cylindrical,
polygonal, or has radial projections from its exterior surface.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is
axially movable in relation to the tubular body.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one connector is
axially movable by elastic deformation, by pivoting movement, or by
axial movement.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the two connectors comprise a
first and second connector, and wherein the first connector is
attached to and extends axially from the front end cap, and wherein
the second connector is attached to and extends axially from the
back end cap.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the back end cap is removably
attached to the tubular body, permanently attached to the tubular
body, or is integral to the tubular body.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the back end cap
and front end cap further comprises a radial flange having a
diameter greater than the inner diameter of the toilet paper roll
tube for abutting the tube when the tubular body is inserted
therein.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least the front end cap is
removably attachable to the tubular body by friction fit or
threaded connection.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectors define an axis of
rotation of the device, and wherein the axis of rotation is
unaligned with the axis of the toilet paper roll tube.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end cap opening allows
for removal of a first wipe from the device by pulling, while
retaining a second wipe partially extending through the
opening.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the front end cap further
comprises a movable cover for selectively sealing the opening.
12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
flushable wipes positioned in the interior cavity of the tubular
body, the plurality of wipes arranged in a roll, each wipe
separable from an adjacent wipe by perforations, or arranged in a
inter-folded stack, with both sides of a folded portion of each
wipe abutting an adjacent wipe.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the back end cap is movably
mounted to the tubular body, having a biasing mechanism biasing the
back end cap to move axially away from the tubular body, and
axially movable toward the tubular body upon application of an
axial force.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the front end cap is movably
mounted to the tubular body, having a biasing mechanism biasing the
back end cap to move axially away from the tubular body, and
axially movable toward the tubular body upon application of an
axial force.
15. A method of using a flushable wipe dispenser in connection with
a toilet paper roll tube, the method comprising: Positioning a
generally tubular housing inside the toilet paper roll tube;
Creating a toilet paper roll and dispenser assembly by attaching a
front end cap to the front end of the tubular body, the end cap
enclosing the front end of the tubular body; and Pulling a
flushable wipe from an opening defined through the front end cap
after creating the assembly.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising removing toilet
paper from the toilet paper roll around the tube.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing the front
end cap from the tubular body, re-filling the tubular body with
flushable wipes, replacing the front end cap onto the tubular body,
and placing the toilet paper roll and dispenser assembly onto a
toilet paper roll holder.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a back end
cap to the tubular body.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting the
tubular body into the toilet paper roll tube until a radial flange
of the back end cap abuts the toilet paper roll tube.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving a cover
movably mounted to the front end cap to uncover the opening
therethrough, removing a wipe from the tubular body, and moving the
cover to cover the opening.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Non-Provisional U.S. patent application claiming
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/875,928,
filed Sep. 10, 2013, to Ryan Bricker, which is incorporated herein
in its entirety by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure is in the technical field of personal
hygiene products, and more particularly, relates to a dispenser for
flushable, moist-wipes for use with a roll of toilet paper.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A robust consumer market exists for personal hygiene
products and, in particular, personal wipes for use in a water
closet or bathroom near an existing toilet roll holder. Existing
personal hygiene products offer various shaped box-like containers
and dispensers that are typically stand-alone. Some of these
existing products have ways to attach to wall or other surfaces or
to hang above or below an existing toilet roll holder or stand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0004] The present disclosures are described by reference to
drawings showing one or more examples of how the disclosures can be
made and used. In these drawing, reference characters are used
throughout the several views to indicate like or corresponding
parts. In the description which follows, like or corresponding
parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the
same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing does not purport
to be to scale and proportions of certain parts have been
exaggerated to better illustrate details and features.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
dispenser according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of
the dispenser according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
dispenser according to an aspect of the disclosure positioned for
assembly into a toilet roll.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
dispenser according to an aspect of the disclosure assembled in a
toilet roll and positioned in a toilet roll holder.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
dispenser according to an aspect of the disclosure having an
adapter for use with a single-sided toilet roll holder.
[0010] FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view an exemplary embodiment
according to an aspect of the disclosure having a biased end
cap.
[0011] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION
[0012] For a more complete understanding of the features and
advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the
detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying
figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures
refer to corresponding parts.
[0013] The disclosure herein presents an exemplary device that
contains and dispenses a plurality of flushable, moist personal
wipes and which is designed for insertion into a standard toilet
paper tube. The dispenser device is sized to allow a user to insert
the device into the hollow interior of a standard toilet paper
tube. The assembled tube and device are positioned onto a standard
toilet roll holder, existing or newly added. This allows for
convenient and space-saving access to flushable wipes integrated
into the toilet roll. The dispenser device allows the user to
easily draw-out a moist wipe from the convenient location of the
center of the toilet roll tube. The convenient location better
enables easy usage of the toilet paper and moist wipes by the
consumer and with a less visibly obtrusive moist wipe
container.
[0014] The FIGS. 1-7 will be discussed together to save repetition
even where the particular embodiments differ. Reference characters
are used throughout the several views to indicate like or
corresponding parts.
[0015] A dispenser device 1 has a dispenser housing 10 is generally
tubular, having a tubular body 30 defining an interior space 32 and
having opposing back and front ends, 34 and 36, respectively. In
use, the dispenser housing is inserted by hand into a standard
toilet paper tube 40. The body 30 is shown as cylindrical, although
other shapes can be employed, such as hexagonal, octagonal, or
other polygonal forms, or can have short, outward radial
extensions. Such shapes or extensions can enhance the ability to
easily insert the device into the toilet paper tube while still
providing some stabilizing friction between the housing and
tube.
[0016] In one embodiment, back and front end caps form the back and
front ends of the device housing. The back end cap 12 can be
removably attached to the back end 34 of the body 30, such as by
friction fit, cooperating threads, adhesive, or the like.
Similarly, a front end cap 16 forms the front end 36 of the housing
10, opposite the back end 32. The front end cap 16 can be removably
attached to the body 30, such as by friction fit, cooperating
threads, adhesive or the like.
[0017] Each end cap, in the shown embodiment, has a sleeve portion
19 having an inner diameter equal to or slightly less than the
outer diameter of the body 30 such that the end cap and body are
attachable by a friction fit. Alternately, one or both of the front
and back ends can be permanently attached or integral to (i.e.,
formed of-a-piece) the body 30. The fit of one or both end caps can
be water-tight in an embodiment to maintain the moistness of the
wipes. Further, the front end cap 16 can include a re-sealable flap
or cover 58 (FIGS. 6 and 7), openable to allow access to wipes and
closable to maintain the moisture within the body 30.
[0018] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the front and/or back
ends further include flanges 17 sized to abut the toilet paper tube
40. In such a case, a removable or flangeless end is provided to
allow insertion of the body 30 into the tube 40.
[0019] The back and front ends of the housing further include back
and front holder connectors 13 and 14 respectively. In the shown
embodiment, the holder connectors 13 and 14 are integral to their
respective end caps 12 and 16. Alternately, the holder connectors
can be removably attached to the end caps.
[0020] The connectors 13 and 14 are generally male connectors,
extending axially from the device ends. The connectors are designed
to and do cooperate with the opposing female recesses defined in
standard toilet roll holders such that the device (and toilet roll)
when positioned in the holder is suspended by the holder recesses.
The connectors shown are generally annular although other shapes
and configurations can be used, such as button-shaped,
substantially cylindrical, solid or hollow, etc. At least one of
the holder connectors 13 and 14, in one embodiment, will be
flexible to allow proper insertion of the connectors into
corresponding female recesses on a standard toilet roll holder 24.
Such a flexible connector can be made of plastic, rubber, or other
material capable of elastic deformation under pressures and forces
typically necessary to position the device in a holder.
[0021] Alternately, one or both of the connectors can be
spring-loaded or otherwise movable between a position allowing
movement of the device connectors into alignment with the holder
recesses and an extended position wherein the connectors engage
with the holder recesses, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Similarly, the
connectors can comprise semi-flexible tabs or pivoted extensions
which fold to allow positioning in alignment with the holder
recesses and automatically return to an extended position once
aligned with the recesses.
[0022] The front end cap 16 further includes a perforation or
opening 18 for accessing the flushable wipes positioned in the
device. In one embodiment, the opening 18 comprises cross-hair
slits through the front end cap 16. Alternate embodiments include a
single slit through the end cap, a plurality of intersecting slits
through the end cap, a generally circular opening through the end
cap, and other equivalents known in the art. As used here, the
phrase "through the end cap" means that, in use, the wipes can be
pulled through the opening. It is specifically intended that such
openings can initially be sealed, initially only partially extend
through the end cap, comprise perforations, etc., as is known in
the art.
[0023] A plurality of flushable wipes 20 are positioned or
positionable within the interior 32 defined by the device body 30.
The plurality of wipes 20 can comprise a roll 42 of perforated
wipes, as shown. Alternately, the plurality of wipes can comprise a
series of inter-folded wipes or other arrangement as is known in
the art.
[0024] The opening 18 preferably works to allow removal of a single
wipe 20 using one hand and hold the subsequent wipe in position
extending partially through the opening. Again, such arrangements
are known in the art and are sometimes referred to as pop-up wipes.
In one embodiment, the wipe dispenser and the plurality of
flushable moist wipes 20 are separate products; that is, the
dispenser 10 is refillable with additional rolls or stacks of moist
wipes. In such an embodiment, access to the interior 32 of the
device for inserting additional wipes can be gained by removing the
front end cap 16.
[0025] The toilet paper roll 22 is a separate product from the
disclosed device and is shown for reference. The standard toilet
paper holder 24 is a separate product from the disclosed device and
is shown for reference.
[0026] In an embodiment for use with single-sided toilet paper
holders, an adapter 44 is provided. Arms 26 extend radially from
the housing 10 and define apertures 46 for insertion of a toilet
paper holder arm 48 of a non-standard toilet paper roll holder 28.
The arms 26 can be attachable at one end to the end caps of the
housing, such as at connectors 13 and 14 as shown, or can be
integral to the device housing or caps. Such arms allow use of the
device with a cantilevered or pivoted holder arm 48. The adapter 44
hangs vertically to create clearance for the toilet paper roll 22
beneath the holder arm 48.
[0027] In use, the front end cap is removed. The dispenser body is
slid into a standard toilet roll tube. A first moist wipe is
partially pulled through the front end cap opening. The front end
cap is connected to the dispenser body. The dispenser with the
toilet paper roll attached is then inserted into the toilet paper
holder with the dispenser connectors cooperating with corresponding
holder recesses. A wipe is pulled from the dispenser and a second
wipe is partially pulled through and held by the end cap opening.
To refill the dispenser, the assembled roll and dispenser are
removed from the toilet paper holder. The front end cap is removed.
The dispenser body is optionally removed from the toilet paper roll
tube. A new set of wipes are positioned in the interior space of
the dispenser body. The process is repeated as needed. In use, if
the toilet paper roll is exhausted prior to the moist wipes, the
dispenser is removed from the toilet paper roll tube and positioned
in another such tube.
[0028] The product is made of common manufacturing material or
materials, such as plastic, rubber, aluminum, etc., and can be
manufactured by any known process, such as molding, cast molding,
spinning, injection molding, machining, etc.
[0029] In an alternate embodiment, one or both of the end caps can
be attached or removably attachable to a flexible bag containing a
plurality of moist wipes. The bag is of a flexible material, such
as a flexible plastic, preferably water proof to seal in moistness.
The flexible bag can be permanently attached at one end (or both
ends) to a substantially stiffer plug. The plug can be sized to
cooperate with either a toilet paper roll tube directly or with an
end cap as described elsewhere herein. The plug includes an opening
for dispensing the wipes which can be initially sealed, perforated,
partially perforated, slotted, etc. In use, a bag of wipes is
inserted into either the roll tube directly or is attached, such as
by friction fit, to an end cap having a corresponding opening
therethrough.
[0030] In the embodiment shown, the connectors 13 and 14 serve to
define the axis of rotation of the device and of the assembled
device and toilet paper roll. The axis is off-set from the usual
axis of the toilet paper roll alone. Such a non-centered axis of
rotation should insure that the assembled roll and device always
return to a position with the wipe-dispensing opening at bottom
dead-center for ease and consistency of user access. In an
alternative embodiment, the axis of rotation defined by the
connectors 13 and 14 (when the device is assembled with the toilet
paper roll) is coaxial with the toilet paper roll axis.
[0031] FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view an exemplary embodiment
according to an aspect of the disclosure having a spring-loaded end
cap. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 6. An end
cap, here the back end cap 12, can be spring-loaded with a biasing
mechanism 50 such as a spring. The biasing mechanism 50 seats
against an interior surface, such as the end wall, defined by the
end cap 12 and against a similar interior surface, such as a
shoulder or the like, defined by the body 30. The back end cap 12
includes a sleeve 52 having an inner diameter equal to or slightly
greater than the outer diameter of the body 30. The movable end cap
can be moved axially in relation to the body to a compressed
position, shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 6, allowing positioning
of the device in a toilet paper roll holder. The end cap reverts to
an initial, axially extended position, seen in solid lines in FIG.
6, unless met with resistance. It is possible to have both end caps
axially movable or spring-loaded.
[0032] A flushable wipes dispenser device is presented for use with
a standard toilet paper roll holder, the device comprising: a
housing having a generally tubular body, a front end cap, and a
back end cap; the body defining an interior cavity for containing
flushable wipes, and the body having an outer diameter sized to fit
into a standard toilet paper roll tube; the back end cap attached
to the generally tubular body, enclosing the back end of the
generally tubular body; the front end cap removably attached to the
generally tubular body, and enclosing the front end of the
generally tubular body; the front end cap having an opening through
which wipes can be removed from the interior cavity; two connectors
attached to the housing and sized to cooperate with the standard
toilet paper roll holder, the connectors extending axially from the
housing and supporting the device from the holder. The device can
additionally comprise one or more of the following features:
wherein the housing contacts the interior surface of the toilet
paper roll tube and is cylindrical, polygonal, or has radial
projections from its exterior surface; wherein at least one of the
connectors is axially movable in relation to the tubular body;
wherein the at least one connector is axially movable by elastic
deformation, by pivoting movement, or by axial movement; wherein
the two connectors comprise a first and second connector, and
wherein the first connector is attached to and extends axially from
the front end cap, and wherein the second connector is attached to
and extends axially from the back end cap; wherein the back end cap
is removably attached to the tubular body, permanently attached to
the tubular body, or is integral to the tubular body; wherein at
least one of the back end cap and front end cap further comprises a
radial flange having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of
the toilet paper roll tube for abutting the tube when the tubular
body is inserted therein; wherein at least the front end cap is
removably attachable to the tubular body by friction fit or
threaded connection; wherein the connectors define an axis of
rotation of the device, and wherein the axis of rotation is
unaligned with the axis of the toilet paper roll tube; wherein the
front end cap opening allows for removal of a first wipe from the
device by pulling, while retaining a second wipe partially
extending through the opening; wherein the front end cap further
comprises a movable cover for selectively sealing the opening;
further comprising a plurality of flushable wipes positioned in the
interior cavity of the tubular body, the plurality of wipes
arranged in a roll, each wipe separable from an adjacent wipe by
perforations, or arranged in an inter-folded stack, with both sides
of a folded portion of each wipe abutting an adjacent wipe; wherein
the back end cap is movably mounted to the tubular body, having a
biasing mechanism biasing the back end cap to move axially away
from the tubular body, and axially movable toward the tubular body
upon application of an axial force; and/or wherein the front end
cap is movably mounted to the tubular body, having a biasing
mechanism biasing the back end cap to move axially away from the
tubular body, and axially movable toward the tubular body upon
application of an axial force.
[0033] Various methods are disclosed herein and are not limited to
the particular order of steps of actions mentioned or listed. The
various methods include methods having additional steps,
eliminating steps, repeating steps, and performing the listed steps
in any order. The steps are not listed in every conceivable
combination in order to save repetition and space. Possible methods
are described here using claim terminology and are numbered for
ease of reference and not to limit the method steps, exclude steps,
or to indicate order of steps. 1. A method of using a flushable
wipe dispenser in connection with a toilet paper roll tube, the
method comprising: positioning a generally tubular housing inside
the toilet paper roll tube; creating a toilet paper roll and
dispenser assembly by attaching a front end cap to the front end of
the tubular body, the end cap enclosing the front end of the
tubular body; and pulling a flushable wipe from an opening defined
through the front end cap after creating the assembly. 16. The
method of claim 15, further comprising removing toilet paper from
the toilet paper roll around the tube. 17. The method of claim 16,
further comprising removing the front end cap from the tubular
body, re-filling the tubular body with flushable wipes, replacing
the front end cap onto the tubular body, and placing the toilet
paper roll and dispenser assembly onto a toilet paper roll holder.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a back end
cap to the tubular body. 19. The method of claim 15, further
comprising inserting the tubular body into the toilet paper roll
tube until a radial flange of the back end cap abuts the toilet
paper roll tube. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising
moving a cover movably mounted to the front end cap to uncover the
opening therethrough, removing a wipe from the tubular body, and
moving the cover to cover the opening.
[0034] The words or terms used herein have their plain, ordinary
meaning in the field of this disclosure, except to the extent
explicitly and clearly defined in this disclosure or unless the
specific context otherwise requires a different meaning.
[0035] The words "comprising," "containing," "including," "having,"
and all grammatical variations thereof are intended to have an
open, non-limiting meaning. For example, a composition comprising a
component does not exclude it from having additional components, an
apparatus comprising a part does not exclude it from having
additional parts, and a method having a step does not exclude it
having additional steps. The indefinite articles "a" or "an" mean
one or more than one of the component, part, or step that the
article introduces. The terms "and," "or," and "and/or" shall be
read in the least restrictive sense possible.
[0036] While the foregoing written description of the disclosure
enables one of ordinary skill to make and use the embodiments
discussed, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate
the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the
specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein. The invention
should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments,
methods, and examples. While this disclosure has been described
with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not
intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications
and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other
embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in
the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore,
intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications
or embodiments.
[0037] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative
only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in
different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the
art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is, therefore,
evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed
above may be altered or modified and all such variations are
considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The various
elements or steps according to the disclosed elements or steps can
be combined advantageously or practiced together in various
combinations or sub-combinations of elements or sequences of steps
to increase the efficiency and benefits that can be obtained from
the disclosure.
[0038] It will be appreciated that one or more of the above
embodiments may be combined with one or more of the other
embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The disclosure
illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the
absence of any element or step that is not specifically disclosed
or claimed. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details
of construction, composition, design, or steps herein shown, other
than as described in the claims.
* * * * *