GB2523542A

GB2523542A - TrackPack

Info

Publication number: GB2523542A
Application number: GB1401268.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-26
Filing date: 2014-01-26
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Also published as: GB201401268D0; GB2522514A; WO2015111011A3; EP3133971A2; WO2015111011A2; WO2015111011A4; GB2522514B; GB201420796D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a soft pack dispensing container (fig 1) for wipes and housing C comprising a soft pack dispensing container for wipes with hermetically sealed edges and featuring a rigid flip top. The housing includes at least two longitudinal supports 23, 24 having a hollow or tubular channel over at least part of their length and open from at least one end, so that when considered in cross section, each support has a boundary wall that contains the hollow or tubular channel, this boundary wall having a gap 27, 28 in its perimeter. The rigid flip top has a frame fixed to the dispensing container; the fixed frame features at least two slide rails (3, 4), enabling the dispensing container to attach to the supports within the housing if at least one of the slide rails is of a specific shape that corresponds to the shape of its corresponding support. Further, by varying the shape of the slide rails and supports or the height or width between the supports, specific types of containers of wipes can be made proprietary for specific types of housing, thereby ensuring that only the correct type of wipes are dispensed from within them.

Description

A Container of Wipes with a rigid Flip Top The present invention relates to a rigid flip top device for a soft pack dispensing container for wipes within a dispenser and to remain in a stable position as wipes are extracted from it.

Wipes are often sold in dispensing containers that take the form of a soft pack with hermetically sealed side edges and a mouth in the middle of the top side of the pack from which to access the wipes. in order to prevent moisture loss from the pack, this mouth is generally sealed in one of two ways: either by way of a removable self adhesive strip or by way of an integral hard plastic lid assembly called a Rigid Flip Top' (RFT). The latter consists of a hard plastic frame fixed to the upper side of the soft pack with a lid or cap connected to it by a hinge mechanism. The frame defines the opening or mouth of the soft pack through which the wipes will be dispensed and is permanently fixed to the soft pack by adhesive, the lid or cap can he closed after wipes have been dispensed in order to seal the pack.

Soft pack dispensing containers are becoming increasingly popular because these packs are less expensive to make than hard plastic tubs or canisters, require less raw materials to make them and are perceived to be far more environmentally friendly.

It is also well known to deploy wipes that are sold in hard plastic tubs in a lockable dispenser housing, such as described in UK patent application no PCTIGB2007/0038189, wherein the housing allows an empty tub of wipes within the housing to be replaced with a new tub of wipes. Due to the rigid constTuctlon of a tub, tubs can be held in a fixed position within the housing without compressing the wipes, thereby giving stability to the wipes as they are extracted from the housing.

There are however challenges associated to deploying hermetically sealed soft pack containers within such housings. Due to their flexible nature, it is much more difficult to hold these soft pack containers in a fixed position within the housing. The mechanism that fixes the packs within the housing must be able to accommodate the vertical pressures from the weight of the packs and resist any horizontal pressures resultant from the action of pulling wipes from the pact Additionally in certain circumstances, organisations or households wifi want to be able to ensure that only a specific type of wipe is deployed into a specific dispenser housing.

It may be desirable that a number of similar wipe dispenser housings might be located in various places around a building, e.g. in a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, but that container of wipes in each housing should be adapted to perform a different task. For example wipes used in the kitchen may need to be impregnated with a liquid to cut through grease, wipes used in the bathroom may need to be impregnated with an antiseptic, and wipes used in the baby changing room may need to be impregnated with a gentle cleansing liquid suitable for cleaning the sensitive skin of a baby. If however a container of kitchen wipes should erroneously be placed in a dispenser housing in the baby changing room, a person will end up using a kitchen wipe on the baby's skin which could be detrimental to the baby's health.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a soft pack dispensing container for wipes and housing compnsing: a) a soft pack dispensing container for wipes with hermetically sealed edges featuring a rigid flip top, the rigid flip top featuring a frame fixed to the dispensing container, the fixed frame surrounds an aperture though which wipes are extracted from the dispensing container, b) the fixed frame featuring at least two slide rails which enables the dispensing container to attach to supports within the housing, at least one of the slide rails featuring a shape such that the slide rail can be inserted into the support in a horizontal plane but resist dislodgement due to any pressures exerted in the horizontal plane and at least one of the slide rails featuring a shape such that the slide rail can be inserted into the support in a horizontal plane but resist dislodgement due to any pressures exerted in the horizontal plane.

Preferably the slide rails are parallel with each other in the horizontal plane.

Preferably the slide rails are parallel to each other in both the horizontal and vertical plane.

Preferably the slide rails enable the dispensing container to be moved into the correct position along the supports within the housing.

Preferably at least one of the supports features a first projection against which the slide rails abut in order to prevent the dispensing container to move any further along the support or supports in the direction in which the container of wipes is moved along the support or supports within the housing.

Preferably the slide rails and the supports co-operate such that when engaged they are able to prevent the dispensing container from movement in any plane honzontal to the supports other than in the plane of the direction in wilich the container of wipes is moved on the support or supports within the housing.

Preferably at least one of the slide rails needs to be of a specific tape in order to co-operate with its corresponding support.

Preferably the support or supports are tubular with either a round, square or rectangular face or any other geometric shape with a hollow shape and a gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support or supports within the housing, the hollow shape matching the shape of the or part of the slide rail thereby enabling the soft pack container of wipes to be inserted into the housing.

Preferably the ends of the slide rail are bulbous, t' thape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the slide rail through the gap in the circumferential strucwre running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing.

Preferably at least one of the slide rails features an end which is bulbous, t' shape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the slide rail through the gap in the

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circumferential structure running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing when pressures are applied in the horizontal plane, perhaps from wipes being extracted from the pack though the orifice of the housing.

Preferably at least one of the slide rail features an end which is bulbous, t' shape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the slide rail through the gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing due to downward pressures perhaps caused by the weight of the pack of wipes.

Preferably at least one of the slide rails and at least one of the supports feature first and second co-operating components respectively which, when engaged, discourage the soft pack dispensing container for wipes from movement in any plane horizontal to the supports within the housing.

Preferably the slide rails feature ends which are of similar geometric shapes.

Preferably the slide rails feature ends which are of completely different geometric shapes.

Preferably the soft pack dispensing container of wipes includes a hinged removable cap or lid to seal the aperture of the soft pack dispensing container of wipes, Preferably there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container each having RFT's with sets of slide rails that are different in shape to each other and at least two different types of housing each having supports with different hollow shapes running through them such that, in use, each housing is only able to receive a soft pack container of wipes when the shapes of the RET slide rails and the hollow shapes within the supports are mutually compatible.

Preferably each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the shape of the hollow section running through the support or supports.

Preferably there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container each having RFT's with sets of slide rails and sealing caps that are different in shape to each other and at least two different types of housing each having supports with different hollow shapes and different shaped receptacle sections running through them such that, in use, each housing is only able to receive a soft pack container of wipes when the profile shapes of the RFT slide rails plus sealing caps are nmtually compatible with the hollow shapes within the supports and the receptacle section.

Preferably each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the shape of the hollow section running through the support or supports and the shape of the receptacle section.

Preferably there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container and at least two different types of housing, each housing having supports set at different widths apart such that, in use, each housing is only able to receive a wipe container when the width between the protuberances on the RET and the width between the supports are mutually compatible.

Preferably each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the relative width between the supports.

Preferably there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container and at least two different types of housing, each housing having supports set at different heights such that, in use, each housillg is only able to receive a wipe container when the relative heights between the slide rails on the RFT and the relative heights between the supports are mutually compatible.

Preferably each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the relative height between the supports.

Preferably the slide rail and the supports are arranged in a manner such that the container of wipes is received in a particular direction or orientation which orientates the position of the sealing cap relative to the housing.

Preferably co-operation between the first and second components results in the sealing cap of the container (whell removed) to automatically align with the receivifig means on the outside of the housing.

Preferably the sealing cap is orientated such that it lies adjacent the back of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip top.

Preferably the sealing cap is orientated such that it lies adjacent the front of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip top.

Preferably the sealing cap is orientated such that it lies adjacent the side of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip top.

Preferably the cap features a third component which co-operates with a lug on the outside of the housing in order to keep the cap in a stable position.

Preferably the third component on the cap is mate, the ug on the outside of the housing being female.

Preferably the third componern on the cap is female, the lug on the outside of the housing being male.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the soft pack and RFT.

Figure 2 shows the top view of an RFT and soft pack dispensing container of wipes.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the housing revealing the supports, the aperture of the housing and the lug with which the sealing cap of the dispensing container cooperates.

Figures 4(i) to (vi) show cross sectional views of seven different embodiments of RFTs and the corresponding support rails.

Figure 5 (i) and (ii) show cross sectional views of two different embodiments of RFTs and the corresponding support rails Figure 6 (i) and (ii) show cross sectional views of two different embodiments of RFTs and the corresponding support rails Referring to FigLire 1, a soft pack dispensing container of wipes B features an RFT A on its upper surface. The soft pack is generally cuboid, having two similar rectangular sides (only one side 8 being here visible), two rectangular ends 10, 11, and an upper face 12, and lower face 13 (not here visible). The soft pack contains a stack of wipes encapsulated by an outer covering of flexible, impermeable material, typically formed from a sleeve of material bonded at each of the ends 10, 11, so that the soft pack is hermetically sealed, apart from the opening through the RFT A. The upper face 12 is rectangular, having two long edges 14, 15 and two short edges 16, 17 where it meets the sides (that is, side 8 and the opposite side not here visible) and ends 10, II respectively. The lower face 13 has the same dimensions as the upper face. The height of the soft pack (the distance between the upper face 12 and the lower face 13) is small relative to the two long edges 14, 15 and two short edges 16, 17.

The soft pack has an RFT A bonded to the upper face 12. The RFT A will LisLially he rectangular, smaller but in similar proportions to the upper face 12, and centrally positioned, so that the long edges of the RFT A are parallel to the long edges 14, 15 of the upper face 12.

The RFT A has a central aperture (which conveniently could he circular), which is shown with the tail of a wipe 6 protruding through the aperture 7. The aperture may be sealed using a sealing cap 1 here shown in its open position.

The RFT A features slide rails 3 & 4. These extend along each side of the RFT A, parallel to the long edges 14, 15 of the upper face 12. In use, these slide rails would engage with supports within a housing (not shown) so as to enable the container of wipes B to be maneuvered into the correct position within the dispenser housing.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a top view of an RET A attached to a hermetically sealed soft pack dispensing container of wipes B. The RFT A features slide rails 3 & 4 in the form of extensions to the RFT A. These slide rails 3 & 4 could be formed during the process of manufacturing the RFT A or could he bonded or retrofitted to the RFT A. The slide rails 3 & 4 shown in Figure 1 extend along the length of the RFT A, parallel to each other and to the long sides 14, 15 of the container B. In this figure, the sealing cap 1 is shown in its closed position, sealing the aperture 7. The sealing cap I is attached to the RFT A by a stem and hinge 5, the hinge terminating near the one of the sliding rails 3. The sealing cap 1 features a female engagement means 2 which, once the soft pack dispensing container of wipes has been maneuvered into position, connects with an engagement means on the outside of a housing C as

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shown in figure 3 in order to deter movement of the soft pack dispensing container of wipes during use.

Referring to FigLire 3, there is shown a front-side view of the dispenser housing C. The housing C comprises an upper panel 30, a base panel 31, and two side panels 32, 33 (not here visible).

The housing C is generally cuboid, with an openable flap or lid on at least one side, aild sufficiently large to accept the soft pack dispensing container B. The upper panel 30 of the housing C has two long sides 35, 36 and two short sides 37, 38. On the inner surface of the upper panel 30, inside the housing C, the housing C features two support rails 23, 24 which extend from the short side 38 inside the housing C. The support rails 23, 24 extend parallel to each other and to the long sides 35, 36 of the upper panel 30, located approximately in the mid-section of the upper panel, and the support rails' length corresponds to the length of the slide rails 3, 4 ( the slide rails 3,4 which extend along part of the length of the pack, are typically smaller in length than support rails, the latter extending from side 37 to at least the position 5 on the RFT.) The support rails 23, 24 are generally hollow in section, with gaps in their perimeter 27, 28; details of the configuration will he described in more detail below.

The Housing C also features an aperture 22 in the upper panel 30, and a lug 21 on the outside of the housing C. Referrillg to figure 4(i) the slide rails 3, 4 each have a generally square section, and are spaced from the RFT A by webs 43, 44. The web 43 of slide rail 3 is inclined 45° from the vertical, while the web 44 of slide rail 4 is vertical. The section of the slide rails shown in figure 4(i) extends in a uniform marnier throughout the length of both slide rails.

The sectional wtiles of the support rails 23, 24 correspond and conform to the sectional profile of slide rails 3, 4, so that the slide rails can he inserted into the support rails. Each support rail 23, 24 has a hollow square section. As for the slide rails, the section of the support rails shown in figure 4(i) extends in a uniform manner throughout the length of both slide rails.

Support rail 23 has a gap 27 ill its sectional perimeter, at the lower corner, having inclined edges, corresponding to the inclined web 43 of the slide rail 3. Similarly, support rail 24 has a gap 28 in its sectional perimeter, in this case in the lower surface, which corresponding to the vertical web 44 of the slide rail 4. The separation between the support rails 23, 24 corresponds to the separation between the slide rails 3, 4.

Referring hack to figures 1-3, in use, the soft pack container A is placed in the dispenser hoLising C by aligning the slide rails 3, 4 with the support rails 23, 24 so that the ends of the slide rails 3, 4 engage with the hollow sections of the support rails, and pressing the soft pack container forward so that the slide rails 3, 4 slide into the support rails axd the soft pack container is fully accommodated within the housing C, and the aperture 7 of the RFT A is aligned within the aperture 22 of the upper panel 3 I, and the cap of the RFT A is accessible through the aperture 22 of the housing C. The user would then be able to release the sealing cap 1 from the aperture 7 of the RFT A, the hinge 5 which connects the sealing cap 1 to the RFT A allowing the user to flex the sealing cap 1 back so as to enable the female engagement component 2 on the sealing cap to engage with the male lug 2! which is on the outside of the housing C. By removably fixing the sealing cap ito the lug 21, the cap will thereby lot impede access to the wipes as they are withdrawn from the dispensing container of A and also help prevent movement of the pack of wipes within the housing C during use.

The hollow sectional profile of the support rails ill Figure 4(i) is such that in order for the pack of wipes to be compatible with housing, the slide rails on the RET must be of a particular corresponding shape shown in Figure 4(i). A convenient material for the manufacture of the RFT and slide rails, and for the support rails is some type of plastic or polymer.

The slide rail 3 on the left hand side of the RET is of a wide square shape and the engagement of the web 43 with the side position of narrow gap 27 prevents a horizontal force applied to the pack of wipes from dislodging the pack of wipes from its position. The slide rail 4 on the right hand side of the RFT is of a wide squ are shape and the engagement of the web 44 with the vertical position of the narrow gap 27 prevents the pack of wipes from becoming dislodged due its own weight.

Referrillg again to figure 3, at the position 25 of the support rail 23, a stop is included to preveilt the user from pushing the container of wipes B too far into the housing C, ensuring that the user can only push the container of wipes B along the support or supports 23 & 24 to a position at which the sealing cap 1 of the container of wipes B can be accessed through the aperture 22 of the housing C and flexed backwards in order for the female engagement means and the lug can engage. Alternatively, an end or abutment may be provided on one of the walls of the housing C to prevent the soft pack dispensing container of wipes from being pushed along the support rails beyond a specific point, or some stop member may be provided on the slide rails or the RFT for the same purpose.

Referring to Figures 4(u) to 4(vii), there is shown seven different iterations of front side views of RFT A as shown in figures 1 & 2. The RFT A features slide rails 3 & 4 of various shapes and sizes and a sealing cap 1. Next to these iterations of the RFT A are the corresponding compatible iterations of the receptacle section 26 comprising the support rails 23, 24 of the dispenser housing C that are required in order for the pack of wipes to be received by the dispenser housing. The hollow shapes within 23 & 24 compliment the shapes of the slide rails 3 & 4 respectively so as to enable the user to insert the slide rails 3 & 4 of into the supports 23 & 24. This then enables the user to maneuver the soft pack dispensing container of wipes B into the desired position, the slide rails thereby sliding within the hollow shapes of the supports 23 & 24 until the correct position for the container of wipes B has been reached.

As shown, the slide rails 3 & 4 shown in iteration (i) can only engage with supports 23 & 24 because the geometric cross sectional shape of the slide rails are compatible with the geometric cross sectional shape of the cavities running through those support rails, and not with any of the geometric shapes of the supports featured in the other iterations. A pack of wipes with an RFT featuring slide rails similar to those featured in (i) could therefore only he received into a dispenser housing featuring supports with the respective shapes. A pack of wipes with an RFT featuring slide rails as shown in iteration (iv), for example, could not mistakenly be deployed into a dispenser featuring a receptacle section shape as shown in iteration (v), and so on.

Therefore, housings may be adapted or labeled for a particular uses, each use being assigned a particular configuration of support rails, so that the particular wipe suitable for that use is supplied with the specific RFT and sliding rails produced thr that housing. Having different shaped RFT's with dimensions that exclusively compliment the dimensions of the reception sections for specific dispenser housings ensures that only the correct types of wipes are placed within appropriate dispenser housings.

Therefore a container of, say, kitchen wipes impregnated with a harsh grease cutting ingredient would simply not fit into a baby wipe dispenser housing fixed next to a baby changing table, because the shape of the RFT fitted onto a soft pack of kitchen wipes would be incongruous to the shape of the supports within the baby wipe dispenser housing. Such a deployment mistake as to the pack of kitchen wipes, which could have detrimental consequences because of the sensitive nature of a baby's skin, could therefore not be made.

A similar principle is presented in Figure 5 in which there is shown two different iterations of front side views of RFT A and the respective front side views of the receptacle sections 26 both of which are shown in figures 1 & 2. In both iterations (i) & (ii), the RFT A features a sealing cap 1 and slide rails 3 & 4 of similar shapes and sizes. However, the slide rails in (i) are separated at a different horizontal spacing to the slide rails featured in (ii). A pack of wipes with an RFT featuring slide rails that are spaced as per iteration (i) could therefore not be received into a dispenser housing with support rails spaced apart as per iterations (ii), and vice versa. By restricting RET's featuring slide rails at particular widths apart to certain specific types of packs of wipes, the manufacturer could therefore ensure that only those types of packs of wipes can he received into their intended housings, thereby eliminating the sort of user mistakes mentioned earlier.

Another similar principle is presented in Figure 6 in which there is shown two different iterations of front side views of RFT A and the respective front side views of the receptacle sections 26 as shown in figures 1 & 2, both of which are shown in figures 1 & 2. In both iterations (i) & (ii), the RFT A features a sealing cap I and slide rails 3 & 4 of similar shapes and sizes. However, the slide rails in (i) are at a different heights as compared to the slide rails featured in (ii). A pack of wipes with an RET featuring slide rails that are spaced as per iteration (i) could therefore not be received into a dispenser housing with support rails spaced as per iterations (ii), and vice versa. By restricting RET's featuring slide rails at particular relative heights to certain specific types of packs of wipes, the manufacturer could therefore ensure that only those types of packs of wipes can be received into their intended housings, thereby again eliminating the sort of user mistakes mentioned earlier.

The soft pack container A will he subjected to forces relative to the dispenser housing C, due to users extracting tissues, and the weight of the container itself, in the direction that the container is inserted and removed -hereafter, the insertion axis -the movement of the container is constrained by the stop in one direction, and an openable flap or lid (not here shown) on the side of the housing C in the other direction.

The material of the slide rails and guide rails (typically plastic), its resilience, and the precise shape and tolerances, will determille how securely the slide rails fit in the guide rails. 111 particular, these parameters are chosen so that the container of wipes B can withstand a sufficient force applied in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis, so that tile guide rails do not cause the support rails to flex and deform and allow the slide rails to snail out of the guide rails.

Specifically, the bulbous or thickened shape of the ends of the slide rails catch against the corresponding shape of the guide rails so that a force acting in the direction of the stem does not pull the slide rail from the guide rail. Further, since ideally one slide rail and guide rail (and specifically the stem and gap) is oriented in a differeilt manner to the other slide rail and guide rail, one of the slide rail/gifide rail pairs will be able to resist a force applied in a direction perpendicular to the ifisertioll axis.

Referrillg for example to figures 4 (iii) to (vi), in each of these embodiments the stem and gap of one slide rail/guide rail pairing is suited to resist a horizontal force, while the stern and gap of the other slide rail/guide rail pairing is suited to resist a vertical thrce. Of coLirse, an angled force acting perpendicularly to the insertion axis will have a horizontal component and a vertical component, so the vertical component of this force will he resisted by one slide rail/guide rail and the horizontal component by the other slide rail/guide rail.

In figures 4 0), (ii), (vii) and (viii) one of the stem and gap of one slide rail/guide rail pairing is angled at 45° to the horizontal, so this will resist an angled force while the other slide rail/guide rail pairifig resists a vertical force. A horizontal force will be resisted by the angled slide rail/guide rail pair, since the slide rail/guide rail pair is angled. Each slide rail/guide rail will resist some force in any direction perpendicular to the insertion axis, though it will he seen that it is advantageous if the stem and gap of one slide rail/guide rail pair is angled with respect to the stern and gap of the other slide rail/guide rail pair.

The embodiments described herein all show hollow or tubular support rails disposed in the housing into which the wipe contailling dispensing inserted, with the RET for the wipe coiltainer having sliding rails having a solid cross section which engage with the support rails and slide inside them. It will he realized that the support rails may have a solid section (with supporting web), while the sliding rails of the RET may have a hollow or tubular section (with a corresponding gap for the web). Equally, one support rail rnay have a solid section (with supportrng web), while the other support rail has a hollow or tubular section (with a corresponding gap for the web), and the RFT has a corresponding solid section sliding rail and hollow or tubular section sliding rail.

Also, the support rails and guide rails herein have all been illustrated using continuous examples (conveniently made by extrusion of plastic material for example). It would also be possible though that either or both guide rails and/or support rails are sectional. In particular, if the guide rail is continuous, the support rail may be formed from two or more clips, having sections as described and which the guide rail is inserted into as previously, but which do not extend in a continuous longitudinal manner. Similar, the support rail maybe continuous, while the guide rail comprises two of more discrete sections.

Further modifications will he apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A soft pack dispensing container for wipes and housing system comprising a housing featuring at least two longitudinal supports having a hollow or tubular channcl over at least part of their length and opcn from at least onc end, so that whcn considered in cross section, each support has a boundary wall that contains the hollow or tubular channel, this boundary wall having a gap in its perimeter, and a soft pack dispensing container br wipes featuring a rigid flip top. the rigid flip top featuring a frame fixed to the dispensing container, the fixed frame sunounds an aperture though which wipes are extracted from the dispensing container, the fixed frame featuring at least two longitudinal extensions which engage with the supports within the housing, each of the extensions having a cross sectional shape such that the extension can be inserted through the open end of the support and axially inserted into the hollow or tubular channel, and having a supporting stem which spaces the extension from the fixed frame. the supporting stem being accommodated by the gap in the circumference of the boundary wall of the support, such that the extensions resist dislodgement of the dispensing container from its support due to a forces acting in the plane perpendicifiar to the axes of the extensions and supports.
2. A system according to claim I wherein one extension and support are adapted to resist a force in one diitction, and another extcnsion and support are adapted to resist a force in another different direction.
3. A system according to cither previous claim wherein at least extension comprises a longitudinal bulbous or thickened shape upon a longitudinal stem, which engages with a corresponding longitudinal cavity and longitudinal gap in the support.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein each extension comprises a longitudinal bulbous or thickened shape upon a longitudinal stem, each of wilich engages with a corresponding longitudinal cavity and longitudinal gap provided in each support, and the longitudinal stem and longitudinal gap of the first support are oriented at a different angle to the longitudinal stem and longitudinal gap of the second support, so that the first support and extension are adapted to resist a force in one direction, and the second extension and support are adapted to resist a force in another different direction.
5. A system according to any previous claim wherein the supports are parallel with each other in thc horizontal plane.
6. A system according to any previous claim wherein the supports are parallel to each other in both the horizontal and vertical plane.
7. A system according to any previous claim wherein (he supports enalie (lie dispensing container to be moved into the correct position along the supports within the housing.
8. A system according to any previous claim wherein at least one of the supports features a first projection against which the extension or extensions abut in order to prevent the dispensing container to move any further athng the support or supports in the direction in which the container of wipes is moved along the support or supports within the housing.
9. A system according to any previous claim wherein the extensions and the supports co-operate such that when engaged they are able to prevent the dispensing container from movement in any plane horizontal to the supports other than in the plane of the direction iii which the container of wipes is moved on (he support or supports within the housing.
10. A system according to any previous claim wherein at least one of the supports needs to he of a specific shape in order to co-operate with its corresponding support.
11. A system according to any previous claim wherein the support or supports are tubular with either a round, square or rectangular face or any other geometric shape with a hollow shape and a gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support or supports within the housing, the hollow shape matching the shape of the or part of the extension thereby enabling the soft pack container of wipes to he inserted into the housing.
12. A system according to any previous claim wherein the ends of the extensions are bulbous, t' shape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the extensions through the gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing.
13. A system according to any previous claim wherein at least one of the extensions features an end which is bulbous, t' shape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the support through the gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing when pressures are applied in the horizontal plane, perhaps from wipes being extracted from the pack though the orifice of the housing.
14. A system according to any previous claim wherein at least one of the extensions features an end which is bulbous, t' shape, or any other geometric shape that prevents dislodgement of the support through the gap in the circumferential structure running through the length of the support rail or supports within the housing due to downward pressures perhaps caused by the weight of the pack of wipes.
15. A system according to any previous claim wherein at least one of the extensions and at least one of the supports feature first and second co-operating components respectively which, when engaged. discourage the soft pack dispensing container for wipes from movement in any plane vertical to the supports within the housing.
16. A system according to any previous claim wherein the extensions feature ends which are of similar geometric shapes.
17. A system according to any previous claim wherein the extensions feature ends which are of completely different geometric shapes.
18. A system according to any previous claim wherein the soft pack dispensing container of wipes includes a hinged removable cap or lid to seal the aperture of the soft pack dispensing container of wipes,
19. A system according to any previous claim wherein there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container each having RET's with sets of supports that are different in shape to each other and at least two different types of housing each having supports with different hollow shapes running through them such that, in use, each housing is only able to receive a soft pack container of wipes when the shapes of the RFT supports and the hollow shapes within the supports are mutually compatilie.
20. A system according to any previous claim wherein each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the shape of the hollow section running through the support or supports.
21. A system according to any previous claim wherein there arc at least two types of soft pack dispensing container each having RET's with sets of supports and sealing caps that are di ilcrcnt in shape to each oilier and at least two di Iferent types ol housing each having supports with different hollow shapes and different shaped receptacle sections running through them such that., in use, each housing is only able to receive a soft pack container of wipes when the profile shapes of the RET supports plus scaling caps arc mutua'ly compatible with the hollow shapes within the supports and the receptacle section.
22. A system according to any previous claim wherein each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the shape of the hollow section running through the support or supports and the shape of the receptacle section.
23. A system according to any previous claim wherein there arc at least two types of soft pack dispensing container and at least two different types of housing, each housing having supports set at different widths apart such that. in use, each housing is oniy able to receive a wipe container when the width between the protuherances on the RET and die width between the supports are mutually compatible.
24. A system according to any previous claim wherein each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the cxccption of the relative width hetwccn the supports.
25. A system according to any previous claim wherein there are at least two types of soft pack dispensing container and at least two different types of housing, each housing having supports set at different heights such that, in use, each housing is oniy able to receive a wipe container when the relative heights between the supports on the RFT and the relative heights between the supports are mutually compatible.
26. A system according to any previous claim wherein each type of housing is similar in size and shape with the exception of the relative height between the supports.
27. A system according to any previous claim wherein the support and the supports are arranged in a manner such that the container of wipes is received in a particular direction or orientation which orientates the position of the sealing cap relative to the housing.
28. A system according to any previous claim wherein co-operation between the first and second components results in the sealing cap of the container (when removed) to automatically align with the receiving means on the outside of the housing.
29. A system according to any previous claim wherein the sealing cap is orientated such that it lies adjacent the back of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip top.
30. A system according to any previous claim wherein the sealing cap is orientated such that it lies adjacent the front of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip (op.
31. A system according to any previous claim wherein the sealing cap is onentated such that. it lies adjacent the side of the housing when removed from the aperture of the rigid flip top.
32. A system according to any previous claim wherein the cap features a third component which co-operates with a lug on the outside ol the housing iii order to keep thc cap in a stable position.
33. A system according to any previous claim wherein the third component on the cap is male, the lug on the outside of the housing being female.
34. A system according to any previous claim wherein the third component on the cap is female, the lug on the outside of the housing being male.
35. A system according to any previous claim wherein two extensions are provided as a single integral structure.
36. A system according to any previous claim wherein two supports are provided as a single integral structure.
37. A wipe dispensing system comprising a plurality of housings and a multiplicity of sealed wipe containers each of which can be supported by a housing, each container having a rigid flip top with a frame surrounding an aperture through which wipes are extracted from the container, the housings and containers being divided into sets, each set of containers having projections such that the containers of any given set cannot be supported by housings of another set, wherein each housing has two tubular supports each having a gap in its structure running through at least part of its length. and each fixed frame having two protrusions that are compatible with the tubular supports.
38. A wipe dispensing system according to claim 37 wherein each housing has two tubular supports each having a gap in its structure running through at least part of its length, and each fixed frame having two protrusions to match with the tubular supports.