HK1069367B - Dispenser for wipes - Google Patents

Description

Wet-wiping soft paper dispenser

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/302,265 filed on 29/6/2001.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dispenser for moist wiping tissue. The dispenser is characterized in that the dispenser has a pop-up cover and has a function of popping up wet wiping soft paper.

Background

One disadvantage of the prior art wet wipe soft tissue dispensers is that a single dispenser may be constructed from several different materials. For example, the dispenser body may be constructed of one material, the closure may be constructed of a different material, and the hinge connecting the closure to the body may be constructed of a third substance. This adds complexity to the dispenser manufacturing process.

In addition, the hinge is typically constructed of some mechanical device such as a spring, strap, or other similar resilient material. These devices are disclosed in european patent 0952088, published at 27.10.1999, and U.S. patent 5,699,912 issued to Ishikawa et al, at 23.12.1997. A disadvantage of these types of mechanical hinge devices is that they are prone to mechanical failure. In addition, these types of mechanical hinges also add complexity to the manufacture of the dispenser.

Another disadvantage common to the prior art of wet wipe tissue dispensers is that the wet wipe tissue contained within the dispenser is not adequately protected from moisture loss after the closure is closed.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies. The dispenser comprises only two parts-a body for containing the moist wipe tissue and a closure for covering the moist wipe tissue dispensing aperture. There are no mechanical parts. A living hinge, which is part of the closure construction, is used for the purpose of opening and closing the closure. The process of manufacturing the dispenser can be greatly simplified. In addition, the dispenser includes a sealing member to prevent evaporation of liquid contained in the wet wipe tissue when the closure is in the closed condition. Further, the closure design has a pop-up lid that allows the wet wipes to be easily dispensed with one hand without requiring the user to hold the lid in an open position while dispensing the wet wipes.

Summary of The Invention

The present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing wet wipes. The dispenser includes a closure coupled to the body. The closure is constructed as a unitary piece of material. The closure includes a dispensing aperture and an overcap. The upper cover includes an outer seal, an inner seal, a perimeter seal including a back side perimeter seal, and a locking mechanism. The closure further comprises a hinge connecting the upper lid and the closure. The hinge includes a step, a hinge step contact, and an offset. The closure further includes an inner band adjacent the dispensing orifice. The middle ring is adjacent to the inner ring. The outer ring is adjacent to the middle ring. The lower end cover is adjacent to the outer ring. The lower endcap includes a relief. The hinge step contact piece is in contact with the step to generate first interference, so that the offset piece deflects outwards to generate first stored energy. The rear peripheral seal of the upper cover contacts the wall formed by the middle ring and the outer ring, creating a second interference and resulting in additional stored energy. The outer seal is in contact with a wall formed by the outer ring and the closure surface. The spring catch engages the locking mechanism.

The dispenser also has an inner ring including an outer conical surface leading to the middle ring. The dispenser also has an internal seal with a conical surface. The dispenser may also optionally include support ribs.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a dispenser according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the dispenser of fig. 1 showing the upper cover in an open position.

Fig. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 2.

Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 2.

Fig. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the dispenser of fig. 1 showing the dispenser top cover in a closed position.

Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of fig. 3.

Figure 4 is a partial isometric top view of the dispenser shown in figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial isometric side view of the dispenser shown in figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial isometric top view of the dispenser of fig. 1 showing the upper cover in a closed position.

Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing wet wipe test wipes. Referring to fig. 1, the dispenser 1 includes a cover 3 attached to a body 5. The closure 3 comprises a dispensing opening 64 and an upper lid 9 connected to the closure 3 by a hinge 51. The closure 3 and all its components are constructed from one integral piece of material. Closure 3 further includes an inner ring 66 adjacent dispensing aperture 64, a middle ring 68 adjacent inner ring 66, and an outer ring 70 adjacent middle ring 68. The inner race 66 preferably has an outer conical surface leading to the middle race 68.

A lower end cap 72 is adjacent the outer race 70. The lower end cap 72 also includes a pressure relief 62. When the upper lid 9 is in the closed state shown in fig. 6, the user can release the upper lid 9 to the open state by depressing the pressure-reducing member 62, as shown in fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5. This will cause the upper cover 9 to spring open.

Referring to fig. 1, the upper cover 9 includes a hinge 51. The hinge 51 includes a step 50 and a step contact 52. The upper cover 9 also includes a perimeter seal 20 consisting of a rear perimeter seal 24. The upper cap 9 further comprises an outer seal 21 and an inner seal 22. The inner seal 22 preferably has a conical surface. The upper cover 9 further comprises a locking mechanism 23. Optionally, the upper cover 9 may include one or more support ribs 45.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the pop-open function of the upper lid 9 works by the following mechanism. Referring to fig. 2, 2A, 2B and 2C, the user begins to close the lid 9 with the hinge step contact 52 contacting the step 50. This will create a first interference 56, see fig. 2B, causing the offset 53 to be offset outwardly. The first interference 56 produces a first stored energy. Referring to fig. 2C, as the user continues to close the lid 9, the rear peripheral seal 24 of the lid 9 comes into contact with the wall 69 formed by the middle ring 68 and the outer ring 70, creating a second interference 57. This second interference 57 results in additional stored energy. As shown in fig. 3A, 6 and 6A, when the outer seal 21 is in contact with the wall 71 formed by the outer ring 70 and the cover face 72, and the spring catch 61 engages the locking mechanism 23, the upper cover 9 is fully closed and sealed. This creates a seal around the dispensing opening 64, thereby preventing the loss of moisture from the wet wipe tissue.

Optionally, one or more ribs 45 may be used as structural support for the upper cover 9, as shown in FIG. 1. When the user depresses the depressurize 62, the stored energy is released, allowing the upper lid 9 to spring open.

Dispensers 1 suitable for the present invention may be produced by injection molding or other suitable processes similar to those of ordinary skill in the art. Non-limiting materials suitable for the construction of the dispenser include plastics such as polypropylene. Suitable polypropylenes include polypropylenes having a melt flow rate of 1.9. One such polypropylene is sold under the trade name PP TR375 and is commercially available from Equistar Chemicals LP Houston, Texas.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, various changes or modifications can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A dispenser for dispensing wipes, said dispenser comprising

A closure connected to the body, the closure being constructed from a single unitary piece of material, the closure comprising:

a) a dispensing aperture;

b) an upper cap comprising an outer seal, an inner seal, a perimeter seal comprising a back side perimeter seal, and a locking mechanism;

c) a hinge connecting the upper lid and the closure, the hinge including a step, a hinge step contact, and an offset;

d) an inner ring adjacent the dispensing aperture;

e) a middle ring adjacent to the inner ring;

f) an outer ring adjacent to the middle ring;

g) a lower end cap adjacent the outer race, the lower end cap including a relief;

whereby contact of said hinge step contact with said step produces a first interference causing said biasing member to bias outwardly and produce a first stored energy; said rear peripheral seal of said upper cover being in contact with said wall formed by said middle ring and said outer ring, thereby creating a second interference resulting in additional stored energy; the outer seal is in contact with the wall formed by the outer race and the cover face and has a spring catch engaging the locking mechanism.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the inner ring has an outer conical surface leading to the middle ring.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the inner seal has a tapered face.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is injection molded.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the dispenser comprises polypropylene.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the polypropylene has a melt flow rate of 1.9.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a support rib.