US20060118567A1

US20060118567A1 - Wipes dispenser with mounting bracket and refuse bag hooks

Info

Publication number: US20060118567A1
Application number: US11/003,043
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Linnebur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2004-12-03
Publication date: 2006-06-08

Abstract

A wipes dispenser that has the capability of being mounted in a variety of locations and with a variety of methods and has the capability of having a refuse bag attached to it for the convenient disposal of used wipes. The dispenser is comprised of a body for containing wipes, a lid and dispensing aperture common to many wipe dispensers. However, this invention consists of a mounting bracket with hook holes as part of the back panel of the dispenser and refuse bag hooks located at the bottom of the dispenser making it convenient to be mounted and displayed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to moistened towelette dispensers and containers.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Moistened towelettes, or more commonly known as wet wipes, have become very popular in the past few decades. Many companies are currently manufacturing dispensers and containers for wet wipes. Some are merely containers in which a lid opens and one removes wipes. Others are manufactured so as to dispense an individual wipe which detaches once one wipe is dispensed and the successive wipe is partially removed, referred to as “pop-up” dispensing. This is desirable because it allows for one handed dispensing without having to contact the container or other wipes that may have been handled previously.
Because of the wipes convenience, affordability and effectiveness, they have become extremely popular for personal hygiene. However, they are predominantly located in private settings but there is a great need in public settings. Most illnesses are transmitted from family to family in places such as grocery stores. Therefore, the purpose of this invention is not to improve upon the effectiveness of wipes or the ease with which they dispense, but it is to bring the convenience and sanitary benefits of wet wipes into public settings. As well as providing a more convenient means of placing wipes in a private setting like home or work. This dispenser provides the capability of mounting it in various locations and the capability of having a refuse bag attached to it.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing wipes that can be hung or mounted in a variety of locations such as near shopping carts, public telephones, in public restrooms, in private bathrooms, on cabinet doors at home or work, and many other locations.
The dispenser is comprised of a lid which is attached to the body (or the container of the wipes) and is hinged so as to allow access to the wipes for refills and/or refeeding misfed wipes. The lid includes a dispensing aperture and a cover for the aperture that may or may not be permanently removed. The lid also has a locking mechanism to prevent the lid from opening unintentionally.
The novelty of this dispenser is two-fold. The first aspect is that the back panel, or mounting bracket is formed in the shape of an inverted “J” or hook with hook holes formed into the back panel. This configuration allows the dispenser to be mounted or displayed in a variety of places and methods such as over a display panel or partition in a store, on peg board hooks, over a restroom stall door, or on a towel bar to name a few. The hanging hook holes also provides a means to secure the dispenser by placing plastic ties, string or ribbon through them and whatever the dispenser is mounted to.
The second aspect are the hook like structures located at the bottom of the dispenser on each side. These hooks allow for a refuse bag to be attaced to the dispenser such as a common plastic shopping bag.
The present invention, therefore, provides convenience for having wipes available in a public setting. It is designed to be mounted in a variety of locations and has the capability of having a refuse bag attached where waste receptacles aren't readily available.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The “Wipes Dispenser with Mounting Bracket and Refuse Bag Hooks” provides the sanitary benefits and convenience of wipes to be made more available in a variety of locations due to the ease of mounting the dispenser and the ability to attach a refuse bag to the dispenser for the disposal of used wipes.
America is fast approaching another flu and cold season and countless shoppers are getting ready for the holiday season and nearly everyone is indirectly in contact with someone else merely by touching the handle on a shopping cart or basket, opening doors, talking on the public telephone and countless other ways. Children are especially notorious for spreading germs and susceptible to contracting illnesses because they are touching everything and then touching their hands to their faces. Many mothers are well aware of the germs that get spread and are prepared by having wet wipes available in their purse or diaper bag to wipe down the shopping cart and/or their children's hands and faces, as well as their own. However, for most people, wipes are just not an important part of their hygene. As a result, colds and flu and other illnesses are much more widespread than they have to be, especially among children.
One of the principle objectives of this inventions is therefore to provide an easy and convenient means of mounting (or hanging) a wet wipes dispenser in a variety of locations by means of the back panel mounting bracket formed in the shape of a long hook or by hanging the dispenser on a hook or hooks through the holes formed in the mounting bracket.
The other principle objective of this invention is to provide a convenient and secure mans to attach a refuse bag to the dispenser for the disposal of used wipes.
Another objective of this invention is provide an easy means of securing the dispenser through the use of plastic ties, string or ribbon through the hanging hook holes.
Another objective of this invention is to accommodate various styles, shapes and sizes of wipes in bulk, such as the rectangular wipes stored in a stack like fashion, or wipes stored in a; roll like fashion.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a hinge type lid such that consumer can have access to the wipes stored in the dispenser in order to refill the dispenser or refeed a misfed wipe or the first wipe of a refill.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a dispensing aperture such that the “pop-up” dispensing is reliable and easy with a single hand and not requiring one to touch the dispenser or the successive wipe.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism for the lid such that the lid will not open unintentionally.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a cover over the dispensing aperture such that the wipes don't dry out prematurely.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view in an upright position showing a rectangular type wipes dispenser which uses wipes in bulk in a stack like fashion (wipes not shown).
FIG. 2 is an isometric view in an upright position showing a circular type wipes dispenser which uses wipes in bulk in a roll like fashion (wipes and symmetrical Refuse Bag Hook on opposite side not shown).
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the wipes dispenser (lid and hinge not shown).
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the wipes dispenser shown in FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Wipes Dispenser (wipes not shown)
2 Body of the dispenser or the storage container for wipes
3 Lid
4 Hinge mechanism for the Lid
5 Dispensing Aperture (cover not shown)
6 Locking Mechanism for the Lid
7 Back Panel Mounting Bracket
8 Hook Hole
9 Refuse Bag Hook

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, reference numeral 1 broadly identifies the wipes dispenser as either a rectangular type, which accomodates wipes in a stack like fashion, as shown in FIG. 1 or as a circular type, which accomodates wipes in a roll like fashion, as shown in FIG. 2. These dispensers may be of varying styles and sizes to accommodate various styles and sizes of wipes. Reference numeral 2 identifies the body of the dispenser which houses the wipes. The lid 3 is attached to the body 2 of the dispenser by means of a hinge mechanism 4. The dispenser aperture 5 is a part of the lid 3. Not shown is the cover over the dispensing aperture 5 which may or may not be permanently removable. The lid is held closed by a locking mechanism 6.
The novel apects of the wipes dispenser does not lie with the hinge mechanism for the lid, the dispensing aperture, the cover for the dispensing aperture, or the locking mechanism for the lid or cover but rather in the mounting or hanging capabilities of the dispenser and in the capability to attach a refuse bag to the dispenser. Reference numeral 7 identifies the back panel mounting bracket or hook constructed as a single unit with the dispenser body 2. The back panel mounting bracket 7 is configured such that it spans the length of the dispenser 1. The width and vertical depth of the mounting bracket 7 or hook is configured such that it can be placed over many vertically oriented panels and horizontally oriented rods or bars and remain without risk of dismounting unintentionally.
Formed into the back panel mounting bracket 7 are hook holes 8. These are plurality of holes in both the front portion and rear portion of the back panel mounting bracket, aligned so as to slide upon a single or double set of hooks. The holes 8 also allow the dispenser to be secured to its mount.
Located at the bottom and on each side of the dispenser 1 are refuse bag hooks 9 constructed as a single unit with the body 2 and the back panel mounting bracket 7. These hooks 9 are configured in such a way so that a refuse bag, such as a common plastic shopping bag can be attached to the dispenser 1 and held in place securely such that the bag does not fall off unintentionally but can still be removed easily.

OPERATION OF INVENTION

The “Wipes Dispenser with Mounting Bracket and Refuse Bag Hooks” essentially operates the same as any wet wipes dispenser does in that the action of removing wipes from the dispenser or refilling wipes in bulk into the dispenser is the same as most other wipe dispensers. The differentiating features of this dispenser are 1) its ability to be mounted in a variety of locations and 2) the ability to attach a refuse bag to the dispenser.
This invention can be mounted or hung over many vertically oriented boards such as a display peg board or on the display hooks found in places of commerce. It can be hung over a cabinet door at work or at home, or on the walls or door of a public restroom stall. It can be hung over horizontally oriented bars or rods such as a bathroom towel bar or next to a public telephone. Anywhere that the public indirectly comes into physical contact with one another through what they touch.
This invention can be somewhat secured from theft when attaching the dispenser to whatever it is mounted to by using plastic ties, string or ribbon through the hook holes.
This invention provides the ability of attaching a refuse bag to the dispenser, negating the need to have a waste receptacle nearby. It was designed such that a common plastic shopping bag can be attached conveniently and securely and detached easily.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

If wet wipe use is more widespread, especially in public, the spread of germs and illnesses can be greatly reduced. Therefore, this invention is focused on conveniently providing wipes in a public setting but also in private settings such as at work or at home.
While the above desciption and figures describe a certain embodiment of the dispenser, it should not be construed that different shapes, styles and sizes cannot be utilized and should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. For example, a wipes dispenser with a very deep Back Panel Mounting Bracket or hook that can go over very thick doors or panels or a dispenser with the same mounting capabilities that can dispense from the side or the front instead of from the top or a dispenser with the same mounting capabilities that can store many hundreds of wipes.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalent.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing wipes having mounting and display capabilities and having refuse bag attachment capabilities comprising of:

a. a body having an interior for containing wipes in a stack like or roll like fashion;

b. a back panel mounting bracket or hook constructed as a single unit with said body used as a means for mounting or hanging said dispenser in a variety of locations;

c. holes formed in said back panel mounting bracket used as a means for mounting said dispenser or as a means for securing said dispenser;

d. hooks at the base of the dispenser constructed as a single unit with said body and said back panel mounting bracket used as a means of attaching a refuse bag to said dispenser.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, said dispenser is also comprised of:

a. a lid which is attached to said body;

b. a hinge which connects said lid to said body;

c. a dispensing aperture through which wipes are removed from said dispenser;

d. a cover over said dispensing aperture;

e. a locking mechanism for said lid;

f. a locking mechanism or detaching mechanism for said cover.