U.S. patent application number 14/088699 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-28 for wet wipe refill container indicator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Terri Lynn Meisel.
Application Number | 20150144649 14/088699 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53179042 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150144649 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meisel; Terri Lynn |
May 28, 2015 |
Wet Wipe Refill Container Indicator
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a wet wipe refill container
and a wet wipes dispensing system. Users frequently refill empty
wet wipe dispensers with wet wipes removed from a wet wipe refill
container. The user can have difficulty estimating the correct
number of wipes to remove from the wet wipe refill container when
filling the wet wipe dispenser to maintain dispensing
functionality. The wet wipe refill container includes an indicator
to assist users in determining the recommended refill thickness of
wet wipes to place into the empty wet wipes dispenser.
Inventors: |
Meisel; Terri Lynn;
(Appleton, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. |
Neenah |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
Neenah
WI
|
Family ID: |
53179042 |
Appl. No.: |
14/088699 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 2010/3266 20130101;
A47K 10/421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/46 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42 |
Claims
1. A refill container having a height dimension, the container
comprising: a bottom wall; at least one side wall contiguous with
the bottom wall and extending in the height dimension upward from
the bottom wall; an exterior surface; an interior surface; an
access opening; a plurality of articles stacked in the height
dimension; and a graduated scale disposed on the side wall, the
graduated scale comprising a first graduation, wherein the first
graduation is spaced a recommended refill thickness from the bottom
wall in the height dimension.
2. The refill container of claim 1, wherein the access opening is
spaced apart from the bottom wall in the height dimension.
3. The refill container of claim 1, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is parallel to the bottom wall.
4. The refill container of claim 1, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is perpendicular to the bottom wall.
5. The refill container of claim 1, wherein the first graduation is
disposed on the exterior surface of the refill container and is
visible or tactilely detectable from the interior surface.
6. The graduated scale of claim 1 comprising a second graduation
that is disposed on the side wall, wherein the second graduation is
spaced the recommended refill thickness upward from the first
graduation in the height dimension.
7. A refill container having a height dimension, the container
comprising: a bottom wall; a first side wall and a second side wall
contiguous with the bottom wall and extending in the height
dimension; an exterior surface; an interior surface; an access
opening; a plurality of articles stacked in the height dimension; a
first graduated scale disposed on one of the first and the second
side walls, the first graduated scale comprising a first
graduation, wherein the first graduation is spaced a first
recommended refill thickness upward from the bottom wall in the
height dimension; and a second graduated scale disposed on one of
the first and the second side walls, the second graduated scale
comprising a first graduation, wherein the first graduation is
spaced a second recommended refill thickness upward from the bottom
wall in the height dimension.
8. The refill container of claim 7, wherein the first graduated
scale comprises a second graduation and wherein the second
graduation is spaced the first recommended refill thickness upward
from the first graduation in the height dimension.
9. The refill container of claim 7, wherein the second graduated
scale comprises a second graduation and wherein the second
graduation is spaced the second recommended refill thickness upward
from the first graduation in the height dimension.
10. The refill container of claim 7, wherein the access opening is
spaced apart from the bottom wall in the height dimension.
11. The refill container of claim 7, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is parallel to the bottom wall.
12. The refill container of claim 7, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is perpendicular to the bottom wall.
13. A wipes dispensing system comprising: a first refillable wipe
dispenser adapted to house a stack of wipes having at most a first
recommended refill thickness; a second refillable wipe dispenser
adapted to house a stack of wipes having at most a second
recommended refill thickness wherein the first recommended refill
thickness is different than the second recommended refill
thickness; a refill container having a height dimension, the
container comprising: a bottom wall; a first side wall and a second
side wall contiguous with the bottom wall, the first side wall and
the second side wall having a width dimension perpendicular to the
height dimension; an access opening; a plurality of articles
stacked in the height dimension; a first graduated scale disposed
on one of the first and the second side walls, the first graduated
scale comprising a first graduation, wherein the first graduation
is spaced the first recommended refill thickness upward from the
bottom wall in the height dimension; a second graduated scale
disposed on one of the first and the second side walls, the second
graduated scale comprising a first graduation, wherein the first
graduation is spaced the second recommended refill thickness from
the bottom wall in the height dimension.
14. The refill container of claim 13, wherein the access opening is
spaced apart from the bottom wall in the height dimension.
15. The refill container of claim 13, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is parallel to the bottom wall.
16. The refill container of claim 13, wherein the access opening is
in a plane that is perpendicular to the bottom wall.
17. The wipes dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the first
graduated scale comprises a second graduation, wherein the second
graduation is spaced a first recommended refill thickness upward
from the first graduation in the height dimension.
18. The wipes dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the second
graduated scale comprises a second graduation, wherein the second
graduation is spaced a second recommended refill thickness upward
from the first graduation in the height dimension.
19. The wipes dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the first
graduated scale has a first centerline extending in the height
dimension and the second graduated scale has a second centerline
extending in the height dimension and wherein the first centerline
and the second centerline share a common position along the width
dimension of one of the first and the second side walls.
20. The wipes dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the first
graduated scale has a first centerline extending in the height
dimension and the second graduated scale has a second centerline
extending in the height dimension, wherein the first centerline and
the second centerline are in the first or the second side walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] There are a variety of storing and dispensing containers in
the market, particularly those for storing and dispensing wipe type
products. Wipe-type products or wipes have been made from a variety
of materials which can be dry or wet when used. Wet wipes can be
moistened with a variety of suitable wiping solutions. Such wet
wipes have been used for baby wipes, hand wipes, personal care
wipes, household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes and the like.
[0002] Conventional dispensers of wipes have often included a
plastic container, tub or package that provides a sealed
environment for the wet wipes to ensure that they do not become
dirty or overly dry. Oftentimes, when the wet wipes have been
consumed from the wet wipe dispenser, users refill the wet wipe
dispenser with wet wipes removed from a wet wipe refill container.
The user realizes increased value by purchasing a wet wipe refill
container of wet wipes since they are not spending money for an
additional or a new wet wipe dispenser. Consumers also appreciate
environmental sustainability by being able to reuse the wet wipe
dispenser and avoid packaging waste.
[0003] An example of a current wet wipe refill container is a
flexible film package in the form of a bag that contains a stack of
wet wipes as is well known to those skilled in the art. Some
commercial wet wipe refill containers include graphic instructions
on the outside of the container showing how to place the refill wet
wipes inside of the wet wipe dispenser. The current commercial wet
wipe containers do not give an indication of how many wet wipes
should be placed within wet wipe dispenser. Consumers often have
difficulty determining how many wet wipes should be removed from
the wet wipe refill container that will fit into the wet wipe
dispenser and still allow for functional dispensation from the wet
wipe dispenser. For example, if too many wet wipes are placed into
the dispenser, the wipes will jam the opening of the dispenser
causing the wipes to tear as they are being pulled out of the
opening or cause a complete clog that does not allow for any wipes
to be dispensed.
[0004] The issue of determining the number of wet wipes to be
removed from the wet wipe refill container becomes exacerbated for
consumers who use multiple types of wet wipe dispensers. For
example, while wet wipes are most commonly used in conjunction with
diapering, wet wipes are increasingly being used for non-diapering
purposes, such as for cleaning of the face and hands, cleaning up
messes, and other uses. Hence, a consumer may use a traditional
"tub" type of wet wipe dispenser in a baby's room and a smaller,
"on the go" type of wet wipe dispenser that more easily fits into
an automobile or a diaper changing bag. As such, a need currently
exists for a wet wipe refill container that indicates the number of
wet wipes that should be removed from the wet wipe refill container
that will adequately fit into the desired type of wet wipe
dispenser to provide functional dispensation.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a refill
container having a height dimension. The container includes a
bottom wall and at least one side wall that is contiguous with the
bottom wall and the side wall extends upward from the bottom wall
in the height dimension. The container has an exterior surface and
an interior surface. The container further includes an access
opening. The container houses a plurality of articles stacked in
the height dimension. The container further includes a graduated
scale disposed on the side wall such that the graduated scale
includes a first graduation. The first graduation is spaced a
recommended refill thickness from the bottom wall in the height
dimension.
[0006] In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a
refill container having a height dimension. The refill container
includes a bottom wall and a first side wall and a second side wall
that is contiguous with the bottom wall and the first side wall and
the second side wall extend upward from the bottom wall in the
height dimension. The refill container has an exterior surface and
an interior surface. The refill container further includes an
access opening. The refill container houses a plurality of articles
stacked in the height dimension. The refill container includes a
first graduated scale disposed on the first side wall or the second
side wall such that the first graduated scale includes a first
graduation of the first graduated scale. The first graduation is
spaced a first recommended refill thickness upward from the bottom
wall in the height dimension. The refill container additionally
includes a second graduated scale disposed on the first side wall
or the second side wall such that the second graduated scale
includes a first graduation. The first graduation of the second
graduated scale is spaced a second recommended refill thickness
upward from the bottom wall in the height dimension.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to
a wipes dispensing system that includes a first refillable wipe
dispenser adapted to house a stack of wipes having a first
recommended refill thickness and a second refillable wipe dispenser
adapted to house a stack of wipes having a second recommended
refill thickness wherein the first recommended refill thickness is
different than the second recommended refill thickness. The wipes
dispensing system also includes a refill container having a height
dimension. The refill container includes a bottom wall and a first
side wall and a second side wall that is contiguous with the bottom
wall and the first side wall and the second side wall extend upward
from the bottom wall in the height dimension and the first side
wall and the second side wall have a width dimension that is
perpendicular to the height dimension. The refill container further
includes an access opening. The refill container houses a plurality
of articles stacked in the height dimension. The refill container
includes a first graduated scale disposed on the first side wall or
the second side wall such that the first graduated scale includes a
first graduation of the first graduated scale. The first graduation
of the first graduation scale is spaced a first recommended refill
thickness upward from the bottom wall in the height dimension. The
refill container additionally includes a second graduated scale
disposed on the first side wall or the second side wall such that
the second graduated scale includes a first graduation of the
second graduated scale. The first graduation of the second
graduated scale is spaced a second recommended refill thickness
upward from the bottom wall in the height dimension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will be more fully understood and
further features will become apparent when reference is made to the
following detailed description of the invention and the
accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely representative and
are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Like parts of
the packages depicted in the drawings are referred to by the same
reference numerals.
[0009] FIG. 1A representatively illustrates a perspective view of
one embodiment of the refill container of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 1B representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
second embodiment of the refill container of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 1C representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
third embodiment of the refill container of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2A representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
third embodiment of the refill container of the present disclosure
in an open configuration.
[0013] FIG. 2B representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
third embodiment of the refill container of the present disclosure
in a closed configuration.
[0014] FIG. 3A representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
stack of wet wipes.
[0015] FIG. 3B representatively illustrates a side view of the
stack of wet wipes illustrated in FIG. 3A.
[0016] FIG. 4A representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
is housing a stack of wet wipes stacked in the height dimension
relative to the bottom wall.
[0017] FIG. 4B representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
is housing a stack of wet wipes stacked in the width dimension
relative to the bottom wall.
[0018] FIG. 4C representatively illustrates a perspective view of
another embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill
container is housing a stack of wet wipes stacked in the height
dimension relative to the bottom wall.
[0019] FIG. 5A representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
has a first graduated scale with a first graduation.
[0020] FIG. 5B representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
has a first graduated scale with a first graduation and a second
graduation.
[0021] FIG. 6A representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
type of tub wet wipe dispenser.
[0022] FIG. 6B representatively illustrates a plan view of the left
end wall of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.
[0023] FIG. 7A representatively illustrates a perspective view of
another type of wet wipe dispenser.
[0024] FIG. 7B representatively illustrates a plan view of the left
end wall of the embodiment of FIG. 7A.
[0025] FIG. 8A representatively illustrates a perspective view of a
travel sized type of wet wipe dispenser.
[0026] FIG. 8B representatively illustrates a plan view of the left
end wall of the embodiment of FIG. 8A.
[0027] FIG. 9 representatively illustrates a perspective view of an
embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container has
a first graduated scale and a second graduated scale with separate
centerlines.
[0028] FIG. 10 representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
has a first graduated scale and a second graduated scale with
common centerlines.
[0029] FIG. 11 representatively illustrates a perspective view of
an embodiment of the present disclosure where the refill container
has a first graduated scale, a second graduated scale and a third
graduated scale with separate centerlines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The present disclosure relates to a wet wipe refill
container and a wet wipes dispensing system. When wet wipes are
consumed from a wet wipe dispenser, users oftentimes refill the wet
wipe dispenser with wet wipes taken from a wet wipes refill
container. The user may have difficulty determining the correct
number of wipes to remove from the wet wipe refill container to
properly fill the wet wipe dispenser. It has been discovered that
if too many wipes are placed in the interior space of the wet wipe
dispenser, the user may encounter dispensing issues. Accordingly,
if the number of wet wipes is stacked such that the top of the wet
wipe stack is too firmly pressed against the inner surface of the
wet wipe dispenser, dispensing of the top wipe or wipes in the
stack can be impeded or even clog the access opening of the wet
wipe dispenser. The wet wipe refill container of the present
disclosure includes an indicator to assist users in estimating the
appropriate number of wet wipes when refilling the empty wet wipe
dispenser.
[0031] A wet wipe refill container 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1A. In
an embodiment, the wet wipe refill container 10 includes a bottom
wall 12, at least one side wall 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d that is
contiguous with the bottom wall 12, and a top wall 15. An access
opening 16 is provided for removal of the wet wipes 24. The wet
wipe refill container 10 includes a height dimension 22 that is
perpendicular to both the plane substantially defined by the bottom
wall 12 and the plane substantially defined by the top wall 15. The
wet wipe refill container 10 includes a width dimension 26 that is
parallel to both the plane substantially defined by a side wall
14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d and the plane substantially defined by an
opposing side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. The wet wipe refill
container 10 includes an exterior surface 18 and an interior
surface 20.
[0032] The access opening 16 is in the plane that defines the
periphery of the access opening 16. That is to say, the plane
occupied by the perimeter of the access opening 16 defines the
periphery of the access opening 16. In an embodiment, the access
opening 16 may be in a plane that is substantially parallel to a
plane that is occupied by the bottom wall 12 such that the access
opening 16 is in the plane occupied by the top wall 15 as shown in
FIG. 1A. In an embodiment, the access opening 16 may be in a plane
that is substantially perpendicular to a plane that is occupied by
the bottom wall 12 such that the access opening is in the plane
occupied by one of the side walls 14 as shown in FIG. 1B. Types of
access openings 16 may include but are not limited to press and
seal or rigid lid type of openings.
[0033] In an embodiment, the wet wipe refill container 10, can be a
rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The top
wall 15 may be a separate piece of material connected to the side
walls 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. In an embodiment, the wet wipe refill
container 10 includes a top wall 15 that is in the plane that is
formed when the top of the side walls 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, that
is, in the height dimension 22 upward from the bottom wall 12, are
brought together forming a polyhedron as shown in FIG. 1C. In an
embodiment, the wet wipe refill container 40 can be a cylinder
wherein the bottom wall 42 is connected to the side wall 44 as
shown in FIG. 2A. The wet wipe refill container 40 forms a sack
when a drawstring 47 is pulled tight to close the access opening 46
that is located upward from the bottom wall 42 in the height
dimension 52 as shown in FIG. 2B. The side walls 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d
and 44 may be formed of one piece of material that is connected to
or continuous with the bottom wall 12, or the side walls 14a, 14b,
14c, 14d or 44 may be two, three or four separate pieces of
material connected to or continuous with the bottom wall 12. The
side walls 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d or 44 and the bottom wall 12 may be
formed from the same piece of material.
[0034] Various components of the wet wipe refill container 10 can
be opaque or, alternatively, can be transparent or translucent to
allow a visual inspection of the quantity of wipes remaining in the
wet wipe refill container 10. Various components of the wet wipe
refill container 10 can be made of various polymers, copolymers,
and mixtures, including, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyester, and polystyrene. Various components of the wet wipe
refill container 10 can be rigid or flexible.
[0035] The wet wipes 24 are stacked upon each other to form a stack
of wet wipes 25 as is known in the art. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B
illustrate rectangular wet wipes 24 in a stack of wipes 25 in a
perspective view and a side view, respectively. In particular
embodiments, the wet wipes 24 are stacked upon each other to form a
stack of wet wipes 25 and are disposed within the wet wipe refill
container 10 in the height dimension 22 as shown in FIG. 4A. In
other embodiments, the wet wipes 24 are stacked to form a stack of
wet wipes 25 and are disposed within the wet wipe refill container
10 in the width dimension 26 as shown in FIG. 4B. FIG. 4C
illustrates a stack of circular wet wipes 25 disposed within the
cylindrical wet wipe refill container 40 in the height dimension
52.
[0036] Wet wipe dispensers 100, 120 or 130 are adapted such that
each wet wipe 24 is to be extracted from the dispenser 100, 120 or
130 preferably one at a time. The wet wipes 24 are desirably
configured within the stack 25 to provide "pop-up" dispensing. In
such configurations, when a wet wipe 24 is removed from the wet
wipe dispenser 100, 120 or 130, the wet wipe 24 pulls along the
leading end of the succeeding wet wipe 24, by virtue of the
succeeding wet wipe 24 being in operative contact with the leading
wet wipe 24 such as via interfolding, via adhesive bonding, or via
an integral connection along a line of weakness. Preferably, as the
leading wipe 24 is pulled out of and away from the dispenser 100,
120 or 130, the trailing end of the leading wet wipe 24 breaks free
from the leading end of the succeeding wet wipe 24, and the leading
end of the succeeding wipe 24 is left protruding from the dispenser
100, 120 or 130. In this way, the leading end of the succeeding wet
wipe 24 is immediately and automatically positioned for grasping
and subsequent withdrawal from the dispenser 100, 120 or 130, and
what was previously the succeeding wet wipe 24 now becomes a
leading wet wipe 24. Alternatively, the dispenser 100, 120 or 130
may include a stack of wet wipes 25 in a non-interfolded
configuration, for "reach-in" dispensing. For such a
non-interfolded stack of wet wipes 25, each wet wipe 24 may be
folded onto itself with no portion of another wet wipe 24 being
positioned between or underneath any portion of the folds of the
adjacent wet wipe(s) 24.
[0037] In particular embodiments, each of the wet wipes 24 in the
stack of wet wipes 25 are interfolded with one another, such as via
c-folds, z-folds, or other zig zag folds. In other embodiments, the
wet wipes 24 in the stack of wet wipes 25 are interconnected via
frangible lines of weakness. For example, the wet wipes 24 can be
arranged in the dispenser 100, 120 or 130 as a continuous web of
interconnected wet wipes 24 which are folded in an accordion-like
stacked configuration. The individual wet wipes 24 can be connected
together along lines of frangibility, such as lines of
perforations, to ensure that the trailing wet wipe 24 is in
position for grasping by the user after the leading wet wipe 24 is
removed. For example, the wet wipes 24 can be provided by a
continuous web of material which has a series of lines of
frangibility extending across the width of the web. Each portion of
the web of material between successive lines of frangibility
constitutes an individual wet wipe 24. The lines of frangibility
can be provided by means known to those skilled in the art such as
perforations, indentations, score lines, or cuts in the web of
material.
[0038] Materials suitable for the wet wipes 24 employed in
conjunction with the present disclosure are well known to those
skilled in the art. For example, the wet wipes 24 can be made from
nonwoven materials such meltblown, coform, air-laid, or
bonded-carded web materials, hydroentangled materials, high
wet-strength tissue, or the like, and can comprise synthetic or
natural fibers or combinations thereof. The wet wipes 24 of the
present disclosure can contain a liquid which can be any solution
which can be absorbed into or entrained within the wet wipes 24.
The liquid contained within the wet wipes 24 can include components
which provide the desired wiping properties. For example, the
components can include water, emollients, surfactants,
preservatives, chelating agents, pH buffers, fragrances, or
combinations thereof. The liquid can also contain lotions,
ointments, and/or medicaments. The amount of liquid contained
within each wet wipe 24 can vary depending upon the type of
material being used to provide the wet wipe 24, the type of liquid
being used, the type of container being used to store the stack of
wet wipes 25, and the desired end use of the wet wipe 24.
Generally, each wet wipe 24 can contain from about 150 to about 600
weight percent and desirably from about 200 to about 400 weight
percent liquid based on the dry weight of the wipe 24.
[0039] The wet wipe refill container 10 has an indicator that is a
graduated scale 59 marked on at least one side wall 14a, 14b, 14c,
14d or 44. The graduated scale 59 assists the user in determining
the appropriate number of wet wipes 24 that should be removed from
the wet wipe refill container 10 that can be placed into the wet
wipe dispenser 100, 120 or 130 for functional dispensation. As used
herein, a "graduated scale" 59 includes one or more graduations,
such as marks, spaced at one or more predetermined intervals in the
direction in which the wet wipes 24 are stacked. While referring to
FIG. 5A, in an embodiment, a wet wipe refill container 10 houses a
plurality of wet wipes 24 stacked in the height dimension 22. A
first graduated scale 59 includes a first graduation 62 positioned
on a side wall 14a at a recommended refill thickness 63 upward from
the bottom wall 12 in the height dimension 22. The "recommended
refill thickness" 63 as used herein means the height of a stack of
wipes 25 that will fit into the particular wet wipe dispenser 100,
120 or 130 of interest to the user that allows for optimum
functioning. While it may be possible to place more wet wipes 24
than the number of wet wipes 24 that constitutes the recommended
refill thickness 63 into the particular wet wipe dispenser 100, 120
or 130, the drawbacks of impeded or clogged dispensing may be
experienced by the user. Hence, the recommended refill thickness 63
can be identified for a particular wet wipe dispenser 100, 120, or
130 such that dispensing functionality for the user is not
negatively impacted.
[0040] The wet wipe refill container 10 of the present disclosure
can contain any number of individual wet wipes 24 that would be
suitable for refilling the wet wipe dispenser 100, 120 or 130 of
interest. For example, certain commercial HUGGIES.RTM. Natural Care
wet wipes 24 are available in a wet wipe dispenser 100 that is
preloaded with sixty-four wet wipes 24. A corresponding
HUGGIES.RTM. wet wipe refill container 10 may be sold with
significantly more than sixty-four wet wipes 24, such as, for
example, two hundred wet wipes 24. In one embodiment, the wet wipe
refill container 10 includes a graduated scale 59 that is marked
with the recommended refill thickness 63 that is the height of
sixty-four HUGGIES.RTM. Natural Care wet wipes 24.
[0041] In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 5B, a wet wipe
refill container 10 houses a plurality of wet wipes 24 stacked in
the height dimension 22. In this embodiment, a first graduated
scale 59 includes a first graduation 62 and a second graduation 64.
The first graduation 62 is marked on a side wall 14a with a
recommended refill thickness 63a upward from the bottom wall 12 in
the height dimension 22. A second graduation 64 is marked on the
same side wall 14a the recommended refill thickness 63b upward from
the first graduation 62. In an embodiment, the wet wipes 24 stacked
above the second graduation 64 may define a recommended refill
thickness 63c and may extend to the top wall 15. In an embodiment,
the wet wipe refill container 10 may have additional graduations
62, 64 marked within the first graduated scale 59 to include
additional sections that define recommended refill thicknesses 63,
marked upward in the height dimension 22 from the prior graduation
mark 62 or 64.
[0042] In an embodiment, the graduation marks 62 or 64 can include
words, numbers, letters, characters, symbols, shapes, lines, dots,
colors, patterns, raised portions, depressed portions or
combinations thereof and can be printed, etched, embossed, or the
like. In an embodiment, the graduation marks 62 or 64 can be
disposed on the interior surface 20 and/or on the exterior surface
18 of the wet wipe refill container 10. In an embodiment,
graduation marks 62 or 64 that are disposed on the interior surface
20 of the wet wipe refill container 10 may be visible and or
tactilely detectable from the exterior surface 18 of the wet wipe
refill container 10. In an embodiment, graduation marks 62 or 64
that are disposed on the exterior surface 18 of the wet wipe refill
container 10 may be visible and or tactilely detectable from the
interior surface 20 of the wet wipe refill container 10. Each of
these embodiments further assists the user in removing the
recommended refill thickness 63 from the wet wipe refill container
10.
[0043] Wet wipes 24 may be used in conjunction with diapering and
non-diapering purposes, such as cleaning of the face and hands,
cleaning up messes, and other uses. Hence, a consumer may use a
traditional "tub" type of wet wipe dispenser 100 in a baby's room
where frequent diapering may occur and thus a greater number of wet
wipes 24 is desired to be kept on hand than the number of wipes 24
that can be held in a smaller wet wipe dispenser 120 or 130. FIG.
6A illustrates an embodiment of a tub wet wipe dispenser 100
including a bottom wall 112, side walls 114, a top wall 115 and an
access opening 116. The tub wet wipe dispenser 100 has an internal
dispenser height 101 that extends in the height dimension 22 from
the interior of the bottom wall 112 to the interior of the top wall
115. In an embodiment, the internal dispenser height 101 does not
correspond to the recommended refill thickness 63; instead, the
recommended refill thickness 63 is less than the internal dispenser
height 101. A recommended refill thickness 63 of wet wipes 24 that
is the same height as the internal dispenser height 101 could in
certain embodiments cause impeded or clogged dispensation from wet
wipe dispenser 100. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the left end wall 114
of the embodiment of FIG. 6A illustrating that the internal
dispenser height 101 is greater than the recommended refill
thickness 63.
[0044] A consumer may use a different wet wipe dispenser 120 for
purposes other than diapering such as cleaning messes or wiping
faces and such dispensers can be kept in other areas such as a
garage or a kitchen. FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of another
wet wipe dispenser 120 including a bottom wall 122, side walls 124,
a top wall 125 and an access opening 126. The wet wipe dispenser
120 has an internal dispenser height 121 that extends from the
interior of the bottom wall 122 to the interior of the top wall
125. In an embodiment, the internal dispenser height 121 does not
correspond to the recommended refill thickness 73; instead, the
recommended refill thickness 73 is less than the internal dispenser
height 121. A recommended refill thickness 73 of wet wipes 24 that
is the same height as the internal dispenser height 121 could in
certain embodiments cause impeded or clogged dispensation from wet
wipe dispenser 120. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the left end wall 124
of the embodiment of FIG. 7A illustrating that the internal
dispenser height 121 is greater than the recommended refill
thickness 73. For example, certain commercial HUGGIES.RTM. Natural
Care wet wipes 24 are available in a wet wipe dispenser 120 that is
preloaded with forty wet wipes 24 that are stacked in the height
dimension 22; such a wet wipe dispenser 120 is illustrated in FIGS.
7A and 7B. The recommended refill thickness 73 for this particular
wet wipe dispenser 120 is forty wet wipes 24.
[0045] A consumer may use yet another wet wipe dispenser 130 for
"on the go" convenience of a wet wipe dispenser 130 that can more
easily fit into an automobile or a diaper changing bag. FIG. 8A
illustrates an embodiment of an "on the go", travel sized wet wipe
dispenser 130 including a bottom wall 132, side walls 134, a top
wall 135 and an access opening 136. The travel sized wet wipe
dispenser 130 has an internal dispenser height 131 that extends
from the interior of the bottom wall 132 to the interior of the top
wall 135. In an embodiment, the internal dispenser height 131 does
not correspond to the recommended refill thickness 83; instead, the
recommended refill thickness 83 is less than the internal dispenser
height 131. A recommended refill thickness 83 of wet wipes 24 that
is the internal dispenser height 131 could in certain embodiments
cause impeded or clogged dispensation from the wet wipe dispenser
130. FIG. 8B is a plan view of the left end wall 134 of the
embodiment of FIG. 8A illustrating that the internal dispenser
height 131 is greater than the recommended refill thickness 83. For
example, certain commercial HUGGIES.RTM. Natural Care wet wipes 24
are available in a wet wipe dispenser 130 that is preloaded with
sixteen wet wipes 24 that are stacked in the height dimension 22;
such a wet wipe dispenser 130 is illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
The recommended refill thickness 83 for this particular wet wipe
dispenser 130 is sixteen wet wipes 24.
[0046] In an embodiment, while referring to FIG. 9, the wet wipe
refill container 10 includes a first graduated scale 59 that
includes a first graduation 62 and a second graduation 64. The
first graduation 62 is placed a first recommended refill thickness
63a upward from the bottom wall 12 in the height dimension 22. The
first recommended refill thickness 63 is associated with the first
graduated scale 59 and is associated with a particular wet wipe
dispenser 100. The second graduation 64 is placed a first
recommended refill thickness 63b associated with the same wet wipe
dispenser 100 upward from the first graduation 62 in the height
dimension 22. The wet wipe refill container 10 additionally
includes a second graduated scale 69 that includes a first
graduation 72 and a second graduation 74. The first graduation 72
is placed a second recommended refill thickness 73a upward from the
bottom wall 12 in the height dimension 22. The second recommended
refill thickness 73 is associated with the second graduated scale
69 and is associated with a particular wet wipe dispenser 120 that
is different from the particular wet wipe dispenser 100 associated
with the first graduated scale 59. The second graduation 74 is
placed the second recommended refill thickness 73b associated with
the same wet wipe dispenser 120 upward from the first graduation of
72 in the height dimension 22. In certain embodiments, it is to be
understood that several graduation marks 62, 64, 72, and 74 may be
present for each graduated scale 59 or 69 for the wet wipe refill
container 10.
[0047] Wet wipe dispenser indicia 65 or 75 may be associated with
each graduated scale 59 or 69 to further assist the user with
identifying the wet wipe dispenser 100 or 120 that is associated
with the graduated scale 59 or 69 of interest. The wet wipe
dispenser indicia 65 or 75 can include words, numbers, letters,
characters, symbols, shapes, lines, dots, colors, patterns, raised
portions, depressed portions or combinations thereof. For example,
as shown in FIG. 9, a first wet wipe dispenser indicia 65 is shown
that is associated with the first graduated scale 59 that is
associated with the first recommended refill thickness 63 for the
associated first wet wipe dispenser 100. A second wet wipe
dispenser indicia 75 is shown that is associated with the second
graduated scale 69 that is associated with the second recommended
refill thickness 73 for the associated second wet wipe dispenser
120.
[0048] The first graduated scale 59 includes a first graduated
scale centerline 60 and the second graduated scale 69 includes a
second graduated scale centerline 70 as shown in FIG. 9. The first
graduated scale centerline 60 and the second graduated scale
centerline 70 run through the center of the graduation marks 62,
64, 72 and 74 and extend in the height dimension 22 from the bottom
wall 12 to the top wall 15 of the wet wipe refill container 10. In
an embodiment, the first graduated scale centerline 60 and the
second graduated scale centerline 70 may not share a common
position along the width dimension 26 as is shown in FIG. 9. In an
embodiment, the first graduated scale centerline 60 and the second
graduated scale centerline 70 share a common position along the
width dimension 26 as is shown in FIG. 10. In an embodiment, the
first graduated scale centerline 60 and the second graduated scale
centerline 70 may each be in a different side wall 14. In an
embodiment, the first graduated scale centerline 60 and the second
graduated scale centerline 70 may be in the same side wall 14a,
14b, 14c, 14d or 44.
[0049] In an embodiment, while referring to FIG. 11, the wet wipe
refill container 10 includes a first graduated scale 59 that
includes a first graduation 62 and a second graduation 64. The
first graduation 62 is placed the first recommended refill
thickness 63a upward from the bottom wall 12 in the height
dimension 22. The first recommended refill thickness 63 is
associated with the first graduated scale 59 and is associated with
a particular wet wipe dispenser 100. The second graduation 64 is
placed the first recommended refill thickness 63b associated with
the same wet wipe dispenser 100 upward from the first graduation 62
in the height dimension 22. The wet wipe refill container 10
includes a second graduated scale 69 that includes a first
graduation 72 and a second graduation 74. The first graduation 72
is placed the second recommended refill thickness 73a upward from
the bottom wall 12 in the height dimension 22. The second
recommended refill thickness 73 is associated with the second
graduated scale 69 and is associated with a particular wet wipe
dispenser 120 that is different from the particular wet wipe
dispenser 100 associated with the first graduated scale 59. The
second graduation 74 is placed the second recommended refill
thickness 73b associated with the same wet wipe dispenser 120
upward from the first graduation 72 in the height dimension 22. The
wet wipe refill container 10 additionally includes a third
graduated scale 79 that includes a first graduation 82. The first
graduation 82 is placed a third recommended refill thickness 83
upward from the bottom wall 12 in the height dimension 22. The
third recommended refill thickness 83 is associated with the third
graduated scale 79 and is associated with a particular wet wipe
dispenser 130 that is different from the particular wet wipe
dispensers 100 and 120 that are associated with the first graduated
scale 59 and the second graduated scale 69, respectively. Wet wipe
dispenser indicia 65, 75 or 85 may be associated with each
graduated scale 59, 69 or 79 to further assist the user with
identifying the wet wipe dispenser 100, 120 or 130 that is
associated with the graduated scale 59, 69 or 79 of interest. A
first wet wipe dispenser indicia 65 may be associated with the
first graduated scale 59 that is associated with the first
recommended refill thickness 63 for the associated first wet wipe
dispenser 100. A second wet wipe dispenser indicia 75 may be
associated with the second graduated scale 69 that is associated
with the second recommended refill thickness 73 for the associated
second wet wipe dispenser 120. A third wet wipe dispenser indicia
85 may be associated with the third recommended refill thickness 83
for the associated third wet wipe dispenser 130. In certain
embodiments, it is to be understood that several graduation marks
62, 64, 72, 74 and 82 may be present for each graduated scale 59,
69 or 79 for the wet wipe refill container 10. In an embodiment,
the first, second and third graduated scales, 59, 69 and 79, may
include centerlines that share a common position along the width
dimension 26. In an embodiment, the first, second and third
graduated scales, 59, 69 and 79, may include centerlines that do
not share a common position along the width dimension 26.
[0050] In an embodiment, the wet wipe refill container 10 may
include more than one graduated scale 59, 69 or 79 as shown in FIG.
9-FIG. 11. In certain embodiments, one of the side walls 14a, 14b,
14c, 14d, or 44 may include all of the graduated scales 59, 69 or
79. In other embodiments, each side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and 44
may include a single graduated scale 59, 69, or 79, or multiple
graduated scales, 59, 69 or 79. For example, one side wall 14a,
14b, 14c, 14d, or 44 may include the first graduated scale 59, the
second side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, or 44 may include the second
graduated scale 69, and the third side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, or
44 may include the third graduated scale 79. In another embodiment,
one side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, or 44 may include the first
graduated scale 59 and another side wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, or 44
may include the second graduated scale 69 and the third graduated
scale 79.
[0051] In the interests of brevity and conciseness, any ranges of
values set forth in this disclosure contemplate all values within
the range and are to be construed as support for claims reciting
any sub-ranges having endpoints which are whole number values
within the specified range in question. By way of hypothetical
example, a disclosure of a range from 1 to 5 shall be considered to
support claims to any of the following ranges: 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to
3; 1 to 2; 2 to 5; 2 to 4; 2 to 3; 3 to 5; 3 to 4; and 4 to 5.
[0052] While particular embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that
various other changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes
and modifications that are within the scope of this disclosure.
* * * * *