WO2017218688A1

WO2017218688A1 - Wipes warmer and the method of dispensing and warming wipes

Info

Publication number: WO2017218688A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/037529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas E. Mcconnell
Original assignee: Mcconnell Thomas E
Priority date: 2016-06-16
Filing date: 2017-06-14
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Also published as: CA3041470A1; EP3518719A1; ES2955843T3; EP3518719A4; EP3518719B1; EP3518719C0; CA3041470C

Abstract

A wipes warmer for storing, warming, and dispensing a wipe, wherein the wipes warmer has a housing with an inside compartment to hold a plurality of wipes, a first lid attached to the housing, and a second lid disposed between the first lid and the inside compartment, and a tank to hold and warm a liquid. The wipes warmer additionally has a dispensing opening disposed on the second lid, wherein the dispensing opening is configured to allow a wipe to pass therethrough.

Description

WIPES WARMER AND THE METHOD OF DISPENSING AND

WARMING WIPES

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The field of the disclosure is wipes warmers.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Wipes warmers for moistened wipes are known for medical use, home use, and other uses.

One known problem of such dispensers is that the tip of the first wipe is prone to dry up both because the tip is extended and exposed out from the dispensing opening, and because it is away from the moist environment of the storing area where the rest of the wipes are stored.

Another common problem being uneven heating applied to the stack of wipes in the storing area. The bottom of the stack is typically warmer than the top of the stack for a bottom heater wipes warmer. Conversely, the top of the stack is generally warmer for a top heater wipes warmer.

Yet another problem being increased chances of cross-contamination when the lid of a wipes warmer are repeatedly handled by soiled hands.

Thus, there is still a need for a wipes warmer that may satisfy one of more of the above-mentioned desires.

All referenced patents, applications and literatures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. Although the present embodiments may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned desires, it should be understood that some aspects of the disclosed embodiments might not necessarily obviate them. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Contemplated disclosure includes a wipes warmer for storing, warming, and/or dispensing a wipe. One embodiment of the wipes warmer can include a housing having an inside compartment to hold a plurality of wipes, and a first lid attached to the housing and is configured to open and close. Another embodiment of the disclosure may have a second lid disposed between the first lid and the inside compartment.

In one embodiment, a dispensing opening is disposed on the second lid, wherein the dispensing opening is configured to allow a wipe to pass therethrough.

The contemplated embodiments can have a liquid tank and a heater. The liquid tank can hold a liquid, and the heater is configured to heat the liquid. In another embodiment, the liquid tank can have a flexible bladder to hold the liquid.

One embodiment of the wipes warmer can have a filling port and a vent, both of which can be fluidly connected to the liquid tank.

In yet another embodiment, the wipes warmer can include a transparent/Aranslucent viewing window or a transparent/translucent wall configured to allow visual inspection of the liquid level in the liquid tank.

Some embodiments of the wipes warmer can have a moisture-retaining chamber disposed below the first lid to enclose the dispensing opening. In other embodiments the moisture-retaining chamber is disposed between the first lid and the second lid when the first lid is closed, enclosing the dispensing opening which is on the second lid. In another embodiment, the dispensing opening makes up part of the bottom floor of the moisture- retaining chamber. In a further embodiment, the dispensing opening is the lowest point within the moisture -retaining chamber, allowing condensate to flow towards the dispensing opening.

In one embodiment, a gasket can form part of the moisture-retaining chamber to help retain moisture within the moisture-retaining chamber.

One embodiment of the moisture-retaining chamber has a side wall, a bottom floor, and a top ceiling. The bottom floor is contemplated to include a portion of the second lid, and the ceiling is contemplated to include a portion of the first lid. In some embodiments the walls are part of the first lid. In another embodiment the walls are part of the second lid. In yet another embodiment, the walls are part of both the first and the second lids. It is also contemplated that the walls are sealed along its edges when the first lid is closed.

The walls of the of the moisture-retaining chamber can have a downward slope or a upward slope, to divert condensate towards the dispensing opening.

At least a portion of the second lid is contemplated to be transparent/translucent in some embodiments, allowing a user to visually inspect the number of wipes stored in the inside compartment. A light source such as LED lighting can be provided to illuminate the inside compartment, allowing a user to see the stack of wipes within the inside compartment even when the ambient environment is dark.

In one embodiment, a gasket can be provided between the rim of the second lid and the housing to minimize escape of moisture from the inside compartment.

In some embodiments of the wipes warmer can or cannot have a locking mechanism to lock the first lid to the housing. Regardless whether the wipes warmer can or cannot have a locking mechanism, the first lid can be pivotably connected to the housing and can be kept closed because the weight of the first lid keeps the first lid in a down position and the appropriate gasket between the first and second lids retains moisture within the moisture- retaining chamber. In this embodiment, a user can open the first lid by lifting it by its edge. In some embodiments, this edge is an extended lip of the first lid.

A portion of the disclosure relates to a method of storing, warming, and/or dispensing a wipe. One embodiment of the disclosed method includes filling a liquid tank in the housing of a wipes warmer with liquid and warming the liquid with a heater. In another embodiment, the liquid tank is configured to surround the inside compartment. In another embodiment of the disclosed method, the liquid tank has a flexible bladder to hold the liquid, and the flexible bladder may or may not be user-fillable.

One embodiment of the disclosed method can include enclosing a space to surround an exposed portion of the topmost wipe to retain moisture within this enclosed space, wherein this exposed portion of the topmost wipe is the portion extending from the dispensing opening.

In another embodiment, this enclosed space to retain moisture is disposed between the first lid and the second lid, and the dispensing opening is on the second lid, and wherein a gasket can be coupled to either the first lid or the second lid, or both, to provide a sealed enclosure.

One optional feature of the contemplated methods can include a first lid that can close without a locking mechanism to keep it closed. In one embodiment, the first lid can be kept closed by its own weight, and a user may lift it open by lifting a portion of the first lid that extends beyond the general contour of the housing.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present embodiment will become more apparent from the following detailed written description of the disclosed embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be noted that the drawing figures may be in simplified form and might not be to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, distal, and proximal are used with respect to the accompanying drawings Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the embodiment in any manner. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer with a first lid being opened.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer with a first lid and a second lid being opened, exposing the inside compartment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer with a first lid being opened, and a transparent/translucent second lid which is shown in a closed position and having a sheet of wipe extending therethrough.

Fig. 5 is a side view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer.

Fig. 6 is a front view of one embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer. Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the housing. Fig. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the housing with both first and second lids.

Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the housing with a bladder. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed wipes warmer having a transparent/translucent window which allows a user to view the liquid level.

Fig. 11 is a side cross-sectional illustration which shows the topmost wipe and its relative position within the moisture-retaining chamber when the first lid is closed.

Fig. 12 is a side cross-sectional illustration which shows the topmost wipe and its relative position within the moisture-retaining chamber when the first lid is open.

Figs. 13A-13D illustrates a sequence to retrieve the topmost wipe from the wipes warmer by lifting the first lid with the knuckle of a soiled hand, without contaminating any part of the wipes warmer.

Fig. 14 illustrates the major knuckles and the minor knuckles of a hand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMB ODIMENT

The various embodiments of the disclosed device and method can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are presented as illustrated examples of what is defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated

embodiments described below.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments set forth below are only for the purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the contemplated embodiments include other combinations of fewer, more, or different elements, all of which are disclosed herein even when not initially claimed in such combinations.

The words used in this specification to describe the disclosed embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

The definitions of the words or elements in the claims therefore include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described herein as acting in certain combinations and may even initially be claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

As used herein, the term "chamber" and "compartment" refer to an enclosed space that can be fully enclosed when their associated lid/top/door/wall is closed. As used herein, the term "locked" when referencing the ability to keep a lid in a closed position refers to having some kind of known moving mechanical means such as a latch to keep a lid/door closed. This includes having moving mechanical means that are controlled either mechanically or electrically, or both. The term "locked," however, does not include using magnets or electromagnets to keep a lid/door in a closed position.

FIGS. 1-3 generally depict the basic elements of one embodiment of the wipes warmer 100. Wipes warmer 100 can have a housing 102 and a power cord 103 that can be plugged into a wall outlet. Wipes warmer 100 can have a first lid 110 coupled to the housing 102, for example, by a pivoting hinge 105. In another embodiment, the first lid 110 does not need a pivoting hinge and can be entirely detached from the housing 102 and then fit back onto the housing 102 for a tight coupling when needed.

In one contemplated embodiment, the wipes warmer 100 can have a second lid 120 disposed between the first lid 110 and the housing 102 when the first lid 110 is closed. The second lid 120 can be pivotably coupled to the housing 102 via a pivoting hinge 105, and the second lid 120 can move independently of the first lid 110. The second lid 120 has a circular through hole 123 within which a circular flexible piece 122 is sealingly fitted along the circular edges of the circular through hole 123. The circular flexible piece 122 can be made of a flexible polymeric material and can have a dispensing opening 121 disposed thereon. The dispensing opening 121 can be of any suitable configuration such as a straight slit, a corrugated gap, a circular opening, or an opening of any shape, size, and material. In Fig. 2, the dispensing opening 121 is a slit with an undulating wave-like shape. In some embodiments, the dispensing opening 121 is sufficiently narrow or small to only allow a single wipe to pass at a time. In a further embodiment, the second lid 120 need not be pivotably coupled to the housing 102 and can be entirely detachable from the housing 102 and reattachable back onto the housing when needed (not shown).

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment where both the first lid 110 and the second lid 120 are pivoted open to show the inside compartment 108. The inside compartment 108 is where a stack of wipes 180 can be stored and kept warm and moist. The wipes can be dispensed one wipe at a time through the dispensing opening 121 of the second lid 120. In one embodiment, both the first and second lids 110, 120 are not coupled to a biasing force such as a spring capable of keeping them in an open position when needed. That is, if there were no outside force holding the first and second lids 110, 120 open, the first and second lids 110, 120 as shown in FIG. 3 would drop down into a closed position as shown in FIG. 1 by gravitational pull.

In another embodiment, the first lid 110, or the second lid 120, or both, can be coupled to a biasing spring to keep the corresponding lid(s) in an open position. In this embodiment, there would be provided some kind of mechanical locking mechanism or magnets to keep the first lid 110 in a closed position when desired.

In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the first and second lids 110, 120 are not locked closed, and there are no mechanical latches or snaps to keep the first and second lids 110, 120 closed. It is contemplated that a mechanical lock such as a latch or a snap can be provided in some embodiments. It is also contemplated for some embodiments to use magnets or electromagnets to keep the first lid 110, or the second lid 120, or both, in a closed position.

Although the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-3 has a pivoting second lid 120 allowing easy access to the inside compartment 108, some contemplated embodiments do not have a second lid 120. In such embodiments, the inside compartment 108 can be enclosed by a non- movable top ceiling/panel (not shown) that looks similar to the second lid 120 except it is fixed to the housing 102 and does not pivot open. Such top ceiling/panel (not shown) can have a dispensing opening similar to the dispensing opening 121 of FIG. 2. There can be provided other ways to access the inside compartment 108 such as with a side door (not shown).

The second lid 120 can optionally have a sealing gasket 125 disposed around the peripheral edges of the second lid 120. Alternatively, a gasket can be provided all around on the top side 107 of the side walls 106 of the inside compartment 108 where the peripheral edges of second lid 120 meet the top side 107 of the side walls 106. The goal is to seal the interface between the second lid 120 and the housing 102 somehow. Contemplated gasket 125 can minimize the escape of moisture from the inside compartment 108 when the second lid 120 is closed.

In one contemplated embodiment, the housing 102 can have a light source 104 such as LED lighting. The light source 104 can be anywhere on or within housing 102 and can designed to radiate light in any desired direction. In one embodiment as shown in Fig. 3, the light source 104 can brighten the inside compartment 108 so a user can see how many wipes are left in the inside compartment 108 without having to turn on ambient lighting in the middle of the night. Additionally or alternatively, the light source 104 can act as a night light when shone though second lid 120 as shown in Fig. 1 even when both the first and second lids 110, 120 are closed.

In another embodiment as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the light source 104 can be positioned behind the window 109 so a user can see the liquid level 131 easily. Additionally or alternatively, this light source 104 behind the window 109 can act as a night light.

Contemplated second lid 120 can be fully or partly made of transparent/translucent material. In FIG. 4, the first lid 110 is open, and the second lid 120 is shown as transparent/translucent in a closed position. The transparent/translucent second lid 120 can allow a user to see through the second lid 120 and visually inspect and determine if the stack of wipes 180 in the inside compartment 108 needs replenishment. The topmost wipe has an exposed part 181 extending through the dispensing opening 121. A user simply pulls on the exposed topmost wipe 181 to retrieve it.

Additionally or alternatively, any part of the first lid 110, the housing 102, or both, can be transparent/translucent to allow visual inspecting of the stack of wipes 180 when the first lid 110 is closed.

In another embodiment, the inside compartment 108 is not covered by the second lid 120, thereby allowing the entire stack of wipes 180 to be exposed when the first lid 110 is open. In such an embodiment, the topmost sheet in the stack 180 does not dispense through a dispensing opening. Instead, a user can directly pick up the topmost sheet because the user has direct access to the entire stack of wipes 180.

FIG. 5 shows the side view of one embodiment of the wipes warmer 100 where both the first lid 110 and the second lid 120 (not shown) are closed. The first lid 110 can have a lip 118 which is the foremost edge of the first lid 110. A sufficiently wide gap 126 is provided between the lip 118 and the outer contour 119 of the housing 102 so as to fit any of major knuckles 191, minor knuckles 192, or the back of any finger of a user therein.

Alternatively, the lip 118 can be longer (not shown) than that shown in Fig. 5 such that the lip 118 extends beyond the outer contour 119 of the housing 102 without having a gap 126. In this way, a user can lift the first lid 110 by lifting the lip 118.

FIG. 6 shows the front view of one embodiment of the wipes warmer 100 where both the first and second lids 110, 120 are closed. The housing 102 has a transparent/translucent window 109 disposed on the front of the housing 102. As shown in FIG. 7, an exemplary wipes warmer 100 may use a heating element 132 at or near the bottom portion of the housing 102 to keep the stack of wipes 180 warm. The heating element 132 may be arranged to directly apply heat to the inside compartment 108 by being a part of the floor of the inside compartment 108. In other embodiments, the heating element 132 may apply heat indirectly to the inside compartment 108 via a liquid tank 130.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, wipes warmer 100 has a stack of wipes 180 disposed within the inside compartment 108. The topmost wipe has an exposed part 181 extended through the dispensing opening 121. The unexposed part 182 of the topmost wipe remains within the inside compartment 108. The liquid tank 130 generally surrounds the inside compartment 108 on its sides and its bottom. Other configurations and arrangements of the liquid tank 130 are specifically contemplated. For example, the liquid tank 130 may be disposed only on the floor portion of the housing 102 and not within the walls 106 of the housing 102. Alternatively, the liquid tank 130 may be disposed only within the walls 106 of the housing 102 and not within the floor of the housing 102. The liquid tank 130 can consist of a single tank. In another embodiment, there can be a plurality of liquid tanks 130 that may or may not interconnect with each other.

The liquid tank 130 can have a plug 136 disposed over a filling port near the upper portion of the housing 102 allowing a user to fill the liquid tank with appropriate liquid, such as water. In the example of FIG. 8, the liquid in the liquid tank 130 has a liquid level 131. There is a contemplated vent 137, or a one-way or a two-way valve disposed on the wall 106 of the inside compartment 108. The vent 137 can allow moisture to escape from the liquid tank 130 into the inside compartment 108.

It should be understood that water is exemplary and provides a source of moisture desired in the inside compartment 108. There can be other embodiments where moisture can be provided by a known moist pad placed in the inside compartment 108, thus water can be replaced by any other liquid, gel and/or solid material for purposes of indirect and uniformed heating. One example is to use sand in the liquid chamber as a medium for uniformed heat distribution.

Other contemplated embodiments can have a liquid tank 130 that is entirely self- contained such that no filling ports or vents are provided. In these embodiments, the liquid tank 130 can be pre-filled with the appropriate liquid, gel, sand, or other suitable material capable of distributing heat.

The disclosed liquid, gel, and/or other suitable material for distributing heat can also be contained within a flexible bladder 134. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has a flexible bladder 134 located within the tank 130. This flexible bladder may or may not be user- fillable. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is user-fillable and has a plug 136 over a filling port and a vent 137. The vent allows moisture to escape into the inside compartment 108.

Although a bladder made of flexible material is disclosed herein, it should be noted that the contemplated bladder can be of non-flexible material.

In any of the disclosed embodiments having a tank 130, a bladder 134, or both, the heating element 132 can be disposed below or beside the tank 130 and/or the bladder 134.

Alternatively, the heating element 132 can be disposed within the tank 130 or the bladder

134.

FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose an embodiment where the wipes warmer can have a moisture-retaining chamber 111 enclosing the exposed part 181 of the topmost wipe. The moisture-retaining chamber 111 can be an enclosed space to sealingly enclose the dispensing opening 121 such that the dispensing opening 121 is entirely enclosed within the moisture- retaining chamber 111 when the first lid 110 is closed. One intended goal of the moisture- retaining chamber is to have an additional safeguard against escape of moisture into the ambient environment by using seals/gaskets or any suitable material and/or shapes of structural walls 115 to have a sealed interface 116 when the first lid 110 is closed. Another intended goal of the moisture-retaining chamber 111 is to create a moist micro-environment to minimize drying and yellowing of the exposed part 181 of the topmost wipe. The moisture- retaining chamber 111 is disposed below the first lid 110. In another embodiment, the moisture-retaining chamber 111 can be disposed between the first lid 110 and the second lid 120. The contemplated moisture-retaining chamber 111 can be in any size. In the illustrated example, the moisture-retaining chamber 111 has a width smaller than the length of the stack 180 of wipes and wider than the dispensing opening 121. In other embodiments, the moisture-retaining chamber 111 has a height shorter than the height of the exposed portion 181 of the topmost wipe such that the exposed portion 181 directly contacts the absorbing material 117 when the first lid 110 is closed. The absorbing material 117 is disposed against the top ceiling 114 of the moisture-retaining chamber, and can be any known material (e.g., a sponge, polyurethane foam) capable of absorbing moisture.

It is specifically contemplated in some embodiments that the moisture-retaining chamber 111 has shapes or curvatures in its top ceiling 114, walls 115, and/or bottom floor 113 to facilitate returning of condensates back towards the exposed portion 181 of the topmost wipe. In the example of Figs. 11 and 12, the bottom floor 113 of the moisture- retaining chamber is the circular flexible piece 122 of the second lid 120. Its flexible texture provides a sealed interface 116 when the walls 115 of the moisture-retaining chamber 111 comes down and abuts against the circular flexible piece 122. The walls 115 generally curves or tilts toward the dispensing opening. In this way, condensate gathered on the absorbing material 117 can be directed to flow back towards the dispensing opening 121 and may moisten the exposed portion 181 of the topmost wipe.

The walls 115 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 are formed as an extension or integral of the first lid 110. In other embodiments, the wall 115 can be detachable pieces and/or can be made of flexible material coupled to the first lid 110. The wall 115 being made of flexible material can sealingly abut against the bottom floor 113 to form a sealed interface 116 whether or not the bottom floor 113 is made of a flexible material.

In one embodiment, retention of moist air in the moisture-retaining chamber 111 is maximized by using the absorbing material 117 which can be pre-loaded with an amount of water. The absorbing material 117 is kept moist so the exposed part 181 of the topmost wipe is also kept moist by physically touching the moist or wet absorbing material 117.

In yet another embodiment, the wipes warmers does not have a moisture-retaining chamber 111. In other words, there is not a specific space clearance to create a moist micro environment. The first lid 110 can simply have a wet absorbing material 117 disposed under the first lid 110 that presses upon the exposed part 181 of the topmost wipe, sandwiching the exposed part 181 in between the dispensing opening 121 and the absorbing material 117 when the first lid 110 is closed.

The disclosure contemplates a method of storing, warming, and dispensing wipes. The contemplated method can include warming the inside compartment 108 of wipes warmer 100 indirectly by using a heating element 132 to warm a medium. The contemplated medium can be a liquid (e.g., water), a gel, or a solid (e.g., sand). The method can include having a tank 130 within the housing 102 to hold the contemplated medium.

Some embodiments can include filling the tank 130 or the bladder 134 with the medium. Such embodiments also provide a way to keep a stack of wipes 180 moist by venting moisture into the inside compartment 108 from the heated tank 130 via vents 137.

The disclosed method can include ways to operate a wipes warmer 100 to prevent or minimize cross contamination. As illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13D, a user with a soiled hand can singled-handedly retrieve a wipe from the contemplated wipes warmer 100 without soiling the wipes warmer 100. As previously described, one embodiment of the wipes warmer 100 can have a first lid 110 that does not have a locking mechanism. The first lid 110 closes upon the housing 102 due to gravitational pull. In FIG. 13B, the user can use the unsoiled back of his or her soiled hand/fingers 195 to lift the first lid 110 by its edge so that his or her soiled fingers do not touch any part of the wipes warmer 100. In FIG. 13C, the user grabs the exposed portion of the topmost wipe 181 while the unsoiled back of his or her hand holds the first lid 110 open. In FIG. 13D, the user pulls the wipe away and all parts of the wipes warmer is left uncontaminated.

The disclosure also includes a method of infant behavior management, by correlating diaper-change events with visually-stimulating elements provided within a wipes warmers. In one embodiment, the method includes warming a plurality of baby wipes in a wipes warmer, and allowing the infant to see the wipes warmer which warmer has a transparent or translucent window disposed on its front face. The window allows the infant to see the liquid within the wipes warmer. The liquid or the tank can be lit in a dark environment. The disclosure also contemplates having a floaty 150 or floating element that floats above the liquid or within the liquid, a moving element 150, a rotating wheel, within the window to provide visual stimulation to the infant. By doing so, the infant can be conditioned to associate diaper changing with a fascinating experience of visual spectacle. Such visual display on a wipes warmer can help calm a crying infant during diaper change. Optionally, the wipes warmer can have LEDs of different colors to provide the visual stimulation. The disclosed method includes allowing the infant to see the visual stimulation either before, during, and or after a change of diaper.

This method can be especially effective when the tank is lit against a dark ambient environment.

Further, the contemplated infant behavior management method can utilize any embodiments of the wipes warmer discussed herein. Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a wipes warmer have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the disclosed concepts herein. The embodiment, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalent within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiment. In addition, where the specification and claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C .... and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A wipes warmer for storing and dispensing a plurality of wipes, the wipes warmer comprises:

a housing having at least one side wall, a bottom, and an inside compartment, wherein the inside compartment is configured to hold the plurality of wipes;

a first lid attached to the housing;

a dispensing opening disposed below the first lid, wherein the dispensing opening is configured to allow a wipe to pass therethrough;

a tank disposed within the housing configured to contain an amount of liquid, and wherein the tank is disposed in at least one of a) said at least one side wall, and b) said bottom of the housing;

a heater coupled to the housing;

a vent disposed on the housing configured to allow venting of moist air from the tank into the inside compartment.

2. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a moisture-absorbing material disposed on a bottom side of the first lid, directly above the dispensing opening when the first lid is closed.

3. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1, further comprising a moisture-retaining

chamber below the first lid and is configured to sealingly enclose the dispensing opening when the first lid is closed.

4. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second lid sealingly attached to the inside compartment, wherein the dispensing opening is disposed on the second lid and allows passage of only one wipe therethrough at a time, and the inside compartment is sufficiently sealed during dispensing of a wipe such that moisture cannot escape from the inside compartment except through the dispensing opening.

5. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 4 further comprising a moisture-absorbing material or a seal disposed at the bottom of the first lid to block said moisture from escaping to an ambient environment.

6. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flexible bladder within the tank configured to hold said liquid.

7. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a view window disposed on an exterior of the housing configured to allow a user to visually inspect a level of said liquid, and at least one movable element disposed in the tank and visible through the view window.

8. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 7 further comprising at least one movable element disposed in the tank and visible through the view window.

9. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a temperature-insulating material disposed in the bottom of the housing and is configured to minimize passage of heat in a downward direction.

10. A wipes warmer comprising:

a housing;

a heater disposed in the housing;

an inside compartment in the housing configured to hold a plurality of wipes; a first lid coupled to the housing;

a dispensing opening disposed under the first lid when the first lid is closed; and a moisture-absorbing material or a seal disposed under the first lid configured to stop a moisture from escaping from the inside compartment when the first lid is closed.

11. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 10, wherein the dispensing opening is sized to allow passage of only one wipe therethrough.

12. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 11 further comprising a tank disposed in the housing surrounding the inside compartment, wherein the tank is configured to contain a liquid, the heater is configured to heat the liquid.

13. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 12 further comprising a vent disposed within the inside compartment, wherein the vent is configured to release warm water vapor into the inside compartment from the tank.

14. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 13, wherein the inside compartment is

configured to withhold a warm water vapor from escaping therefrom during dispensing of a wipe, and the only egress of warm water vapor from the inside compartment is through the dispensing opening.

15. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 12 further comprising a view window disposed on an exterior of the housing configured to allow a user to visually inspect a level of said liquid.

16. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 15 further comprising at least one floatable element disposed in the tank and visible through the view window.

17. A wipes warmer comprising:

a housing having an inside compartment, said inside compartment is configured to hold a plurality of wipes and a warm water vapor;

a first lid coupled to the housing;

a second lid disposed under the first lid and is coupled to the housing; a dispensing opening disposed on the second lid, said dispensing opening is a sole egress of said warm water vapor from the inside compartment when the first lid is open; and

wherein the dispensing opening is sized to allow passage of no more than a wipe therethrough.

18. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 17 further comprising a seal disposed between the first lid and the second lid to prevent escape of said warm water vapor from the wipes warmer when the first lid is closed.

19. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 17 further comprising a condensate-diverting wall disposed on an underside of the first lid to capture or collect a condensate of said warm water vapor, said condensate-diverting wall is angled either vertically or inwardly converging.

20. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 17 further comprising a water tank disposed in the housing, and a vent allowing said warm water vapor to pass therethrough into the inside compartment.

21. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 20 further comprising a light source coupled to the housing such that a level of water within the water tank is lit and visible through a view window in a dark environment, wherein the view window is disposed on the housing.

22. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 17 further comprising a water tank configured to hold water, and a view window disposed on the housing such that a user may visually see a level of the water in the water tank.

23. The wipes warmer as recited in claim 22 further comprising a moving element

disposed in the water tank and visible by said user through said view window.

24. A method of storing and dispensing a plurality of wipes, the method comprising: placing the plurality of wipes into an inside compartment of a wipes warmer; heating the plurality of wipes indirectly with a heater by first heating a volume of water in a tank, wherein the tank is disposed within a housing of the wipes warmer; and

venting a warm water vapor from the tank into the inside compartment.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the tank has a flexible bladder to hold the volume of water.

26. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising insulating a base of the wipes warmer from a temperature of the heater.

27. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising minimizing escape of said warm water vapor from the inside compartment during dispensing of a wipe by having no other openings to the ambient environment during dispensing of the wipe, except a dispensing opening sized to allow passage of only a single wipe therethrough.

28. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising trapping the water vapor within a space between a first lid of the wipes warmer and a dispensing opening of the wipes warmer so when the first lid is closed, a topmost wipe extended above the dispensing opening is kept in a moist environment of said space.

29. A method of minimizing cross-contamination when changing a diaper, the method comprising:

providing a wipes warmer having a plurality of wet wipes enclosed therein; providing a top lid pivotably coupled to a housing of the wipes warmer;

providing a dispensing slot on the housing and under the top lid when the top lid is closed;

wherein the top lid does not lock close and can be freely lifted open; providing a gap between a front edge of the top lid and a front face of the housing;

wherein the gap is sufficiently large to fit a width of a finger or a width of a knuckle therein;

lifting open the top lid with a back of said finger or a back of said knuckle nudged between the gap to lift the top lid; and

exposing one of said plurality of wet wipes and allowing retrieval of said one wet wipe;

allowing the top lid to fall close without applying any external force.

30. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein all steps that require a hand is performed by said hand, and only said hand is required to perform the said method without assistance from another hand to unlock or to lift up said top lid.

31. A method of infant behavior management, comprising:

warming a plurality of baby wipes in a wipes warmer;

allowing the infant to see the wipes warmer, wherein the wipes warmer has a transparent or translucent window disposed on a front face of the wipes warmer;

wherein the wipes warmer has an internal liquid tank to hold a liquid and a moving elements within the liquid tank;

allowing the infant to see the moving element either before, during, and/or after a change of diaper.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, provide lighting to the internal liquid tank so the moving element can be seen in a dark environment.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the moving element floats on said liquid.

34. The method as recited in claim 32, venting a warm water vapor from said internal tank into an inside compartment where the plurality of baby wipes are being warmed.

35. A wipes warmer, comprising:

a housing having an internal compartment to hold a plurality of wipes;

a top lid coupled to the housing;

a second lid disposed below the top lid;

a dispensing opening disposed on the second lid and is sufficiently small to allow passage of only one wipe;

a moisture-retaining chamber surrounded by walls, wherein the moisture -retaining chamber is disposed between the top lid and the dispensing opening when the top lid is closed, and the walls is part of the top lid, or part of the second lid, or both;

wherein the moisture-retaining chamber encloses the dispensing opening when the top lid is closed.

36. The wipes warmers as recited in claim 35, wherein the walls divert condensate

towards the dispensing opening, and the dispensing opening is the lowest point within the enclosure.