WO2022236152A1 - Bathroom product delivery system - Google Patents

Bathroom product delivery system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022236152A1
WO2022236152A1 PCT/US2022/028215 US2022028215W WO2022236152A1 WO 2022236152 A1 WO2022236152 A1 WO 2022236152A1 US 2022028215 W US2022028215 W US 2022028215W WO 2022236152 A1 WO2022236152 A1 WO 2022236152A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
delivery system
flushable
receptacle
housing
product delivery
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2022/028215
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Shane L. YATES
David S. PIERPONT
Original Assignee
Yates Shane L
Pierpont David S
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yates Shane L, Pierpont David S filed Critical Yates Shane L
Publication of WO2022236152A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022236152A1/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/34Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
    • A47K10/38Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge
    • A47K10/3836Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge with roll spindles which are supported at one side
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/16Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/18Holders; Receptacles
    • A47K10/22Holders; Receptacles for rolled-up webs
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/34Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
    • A47K10/38Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge
    • A47K10/3809Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge with roll spindles which are not directly supported
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/42Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
    • A47K10/426Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the front or sides of the dispenser
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K2010/3233Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K2010/326Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing simultaneously from several rolls or stacks
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K2010/3266Wet wipes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/24Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
    • A47K10/32Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
    • A47K10/34Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
    • A47K10/38Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge
    • A47K2010/389Accessories or combination with other devices, e.g. music boxes, clocks, heating devices or shelfs

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates generally to devices used to deliver products in bathrooms, including toilet paper holders. More specifically, this disclosure relates to systems that hold toilet paper and other products that are used in the bathroom, including flushable wipes, fragrances, hand sanitizer, and the like.
  • Toilet paper is a tissue paper product used primarily after an individual uses the toilet.
  • the purpose of toilet paper is to enable the individual to clean themselves while keeping their hands clean and to be disposed of by flushing the toilet.
  • the use of toilet paper apparently originated in China, and its use spread as flushable toilets became more common.
  • Toilet paper was first provided in rolls in about 1871 (see U.S. Patent 117,355), which were popularized in the United States in around 1890.
  • the increased popularity of toilet paper rolls was surely accompanied by an increase in the use of toilet paper dispensers in bathrooms.
  • flushable wipes have been available since the 1990s. The popularity of flushable wipes has increased steadily since about 2005. Flushable wipes are typically packaged in the same way other wet wipes have been packaged — in stacks or rolls that are placed within resealable containers that enable them to remain moist over time. While these types of packages have proven to be reliable over time, they are typically not readily accessible to an individual as they use the toilet.
  • toilet paper dispensers have been made to include boxes that hold flushable wipe containers.
  • the boxes of such containers even include lids to “hide” the flushable wipe containers.
  • the use of such dispensers is undesirably complicated.
  • an individual to access a flushable wipe, an individual must first open the lid on the box of the dispenser, then open the lid of the flushable wipe container, then remove a flushable wipe from the flushable wipe container, make sure the next flushable wipe remains in the flushable wipe container, then close the lid of the flushable wipe container, and, finally, close the lid of the box of the dispenser.
  • flushable wipes have been provided in rolls in donut (i.e., torus) shaped packages that can be placed on conventional toilet paper holders. While the placement of such donut shaped packages on conventional toilet paper holders can make the flushable wipes therein readily accessible to an individual as they use they toilet, they displace conventional dry toilet paper, eliminating that option for those individuals who may prefer it.
  • donut i.e., torus
  • a bathroom product delivery system which may also be referred to herein more simply as a “delivery system,” includes a toilet paper holder and a holder for at least one other product.
  • the at least one other product may be a packaged roll of flushable wipes, a fragrance, a hand sanitizer, or the like.
  • a delivery system of this disclosure may include a toilet paper roll holder (or, more simply, a “roll holder”), a housing that defines a flushable wipe holder, and a support.
  • a delivery system may additionally include one or more recesses in a top of the housing.
  • Each recess may define a receptacle for items that may need safekeeping as an individual uses the toilet, such as a phone, keys, a watch, jewelry, a pen, or the like.
  • a delivery system may also a receptacle for one or more items, such as a fragrance, a toilet deodorizer, hand sanitizer, or the like.
  • Other optional features of the delivery system include wireless chargers, lights, and the like.
  • the roll holder of the delivery system may be supported by the housing.
  • the roll holder may be located beneath the housing (i.e., below the bottom of the housing).
  • other positions of the roll holder relative to the housing are also within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the roll holder may have any suitable configuration.
  • the roll holder may comprise a horizontal axle with a free end that enables a roll of toilet paper to be readily slid thereon and removed therefrom.
  • delivery systems with captive roll holders i.e., those including an axle between two arms that prevent side-to-side movement of a toilet paper roll) are also within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the flushable wipe holder may include a receptacle for a flushable wipe container, an opening to the receptacle, a cover that closes over the opening to hold the flushable wipe container in the receptacle, and an access port (e.g., in the cover, the housing, etc.) that enables flushable wipes to removed from the flushable wipe container and from the flushable wipe holder.
  • the receptacle of the flushable wipe holder may be cylindrical in shape, which enables the receptacle to receive a cylindrical flushable wipe container that holds a roll of flushable wipes.
  • the cover of such a flushable wipe holder may close over the opening to the receptacle and over a top, or a lid, of the flushable wipe container.
  • the cover may include an access port that aligns with a dispensing nozzle in the top of the flushable wipe container and, thus, enables flushable wipes to be pulled from the container with the cover closed over the top of the flushable wipe container.
  • the support of the delivery system may facilitate mounting of the housing of the delivery system to horizontally oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door.
  • a support may simply comprise screws and associated hardware that will securely and stably mount the housing to the vertically oriented surface.
  • a support may include a bracket that mounts to the vertically oriented surface and then couples with (e.g., releasably engages, etc.) complementary mounting features on the housing of the delivery system (e.g., mounting features that have been integrated into a back side of the housing, another mounting bracket that has secured to the back side of the housing, etc.).
  • the support of the delivery system may comprise a stand or pedestal with a base that rests upon the floor or another surface in a bathroom, a post that extends upwardly from the base to a height where the delivery system is to be located, and a top that couples to the housing (e.g., to the back side thereof, to a side thereof, to a bottom thereof, etc.).
  • Such a method may include making a roll of toilet paper and a roll of flushable wipes (e.g., a conventionally packaged roll of flushable wipes, etc.) simultaneously available to an individual as they use the toilet.
  • the roll of toilet paper and the roll of flushable wipes may be presented at adjacent locations of a bathroom product delivery device.
  • flushable wipe When an individual decides to use a flushable wipe, they merely need to pull an end of the flushable wipe exposed through the access port in the cover of the flushable wipe holder until the entire flushable wipe has emerged from the flushable wipe holder and been tom away from or otherwise dissociated from the next flushable wipe within the flushable wipe container, whose end will then be exposed and ready for access through the access port.
  • obtaining the flushable wipe may consist of grabbing an exposed end of the flushable wipe, pulling on the flushable wipe until it has been removed from the flushable wipe dispenser and the flushable wipe holder, and dissociating the flushable wipe from the next flushable wipe.
  • the flushable wipe By simply pulling on the flushable wipe, it may be dissociated from the next flushable wipe as soon as the next flushable wipe begins to emerge from the dispensing nozzle in the top of the flushable wipe container (e.g., the resistance the dispensing nozzle exerts on the next flushable wipe and, thus, the force required to pull the flushable wipe through the dispensing nozzle may exceed and, thus, be sufficient to overcome the force needed to dissociate the flushable wipe from the next flushable wipe).
  • the resistance the dispensing nozzle exerts on the next flushable wipe and, thus, the force required to pull the flushable wipe through the dispensing nozzle may exceed and, thus, be sufficient to overcome the force needed to dissociate the flushable wipe from the next flushable wipe.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C are close-up views of the side of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1, with FIG. 3 A showing an opening to a receptacle of a flushable wipe holder of the bathroom product delivery system, FIG. 3B showing an embodiment of a cover in an unlocked orientation over the opening, and FIG. 3C showing the cover in a locked orientation over the opening;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional representation of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of flushable wipe container that contains a roll of flushable wipes and that may be used with the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIGs. 1-4;
  • FIG. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system, showing an embodiment of a support therefor;
  • FIG. 7 is a side view showing an embodiment of a manner in which the support may secure the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 6 to a horizontally oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door;
  • FIG. 8 is a first frontal perspective view of another embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system according to this disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 is a second frontal perspective view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8;
  • FIGs. 11-13 are side views of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8, depicting an embodiment of an accessory coupler on the side of the bathroom product delivery system and a concealment panel that may be positioned over the accessory coupler;
  • FIG. 14 is a frontal perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory that may be used with the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 15 is a frontal perspective view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 8 with the embodiment of the accessory shown in FIG. 14 assembled therewith.
  • the delivery system 10 includes a flushable wipe holder 20 and a roll holder 60.
  • a configuration of the flushable wipe holder 20 may enable it to receive and hold a flushable wipe container 50 that in turn contains a roll of flushable wipes 52 that may be dispensed though a dispensing nozzle 56 in an end 54 (e.g., a lid, etc.) of the flushable wipe container 50.
  • the roll holder 60 of the delivery system 10 may be secured to a housing 22 that at least partially defines the flushable wipe holder 20. As illustrated, the roll holder may be secured to a bottom 24 of the housing 22.
  • the flushable wipe holder 20 includes a receptacle 30 within (e.g., defined by, etc.) the housing 22.
  • An open end 36 of the receptacle 30 opens to an outer surface of the housing 22, such as a side 26 of the housing 22. Accordingly, the open end 36 of the receptacle 30 may also be referred to herein as an “opening 36.”
  • a shape and dimensions of the opening 36 enable the flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) to pass through the opening 36.
  • a shape and dimensions of the receptacle 30 enable it to receive and retain the flushable wipe container 50.
  • the opening 36 and the receptacle 30 may be configured to receive a specific size and shape of flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5); for example, a flushable wipe container 50 with a proprietary shape and/or proprietary dimensions designed specifically for use with the delivery system 10, etc.
  • the opening 36 and the receptacle 30 may be configured to receive flushable wipe containers 50 having a variety of different shapes and/or dimensions.
  • the end 36, or opening, of the receptacle 30 may be circular in shape, while the receptacle 30 may be cylindrical in shape, as illustrated by FIG. 3A.
  • the flushable wipe holder 20 also includes a cover 40, as shown in FIGs. 1, 3, 3B, 3C, and 4.
  • the cover 40 may be removably securable over the opening 36 of the receptacle 30.
  • the cover 40 may have a configuration that, when positioned over the opening 36, enables it to be twisted, or rotated, to secure it into place over the opening 36 (e.g., by clockwise rotation of the cover 40, etc.) or to facilitate its removal from the opening 36 (e.g., by counterclockwise rotation of the cover 40, etc.).
  • the cover 40 may include coupling features 42 (e.g., threads, slots, etc.) that receive complementary coupling features 38 (e.g., threads, protrusions, etc.) associated with the opening 36.
  • An outer surface 44 of such a cover 40 may include grips 46 (e.g., the depicted indentations (see FIGs. 1 and 3), one or more protrusions, etc.).
  • Covers 40 with alternative configurations are also within the scope of this disclosure.
  • FIGs. 3A-3C show the side of the delivery system 10 with the cover 40 in different states of assembly over the opening 36 of the receptacle 30.
  • FIG. 3A shows the opening 36 to the receptacle 30 without a cover 40 over it.
  • FIG. 3B shows the cover 40 over the opening 36, in a loose position or an unlocked orientation.
  • FIG. 3C shows the cover 40 over the opening 36, in a secured position or a locked orientation.
  • An access port 48 may extend through the cover 40. A location of the access port 48 through the cover 40 may enable it to align with the dispensing nozzle 56 (FIG. 5) of a flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) within the receptacle 30. Thus, the access port 48 may provide access to an end 53 (FIG. 5) of a flushable wipe 52 (FIG. 5) that extends through the dispensing nozzle 56.
  • Such a cover 40 when secured or locked into place over the opening 36, enables flushable wipes 52 (FIG. 5) to be selectively removed from a flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) that has been placed in the receptacle 30 (FIG. 4).
  • a cap 49 may be provided to cover the access port 48 until access to a flushable wipe 52 (FIG. 5) is desired or needed (i.e., to provide selective access to the access port 48).
  • the cap 49 may provide an additional seal over the access port 48 to limit airflow to the flushable wipes 52 within an interior of the flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) and, thus, to further limit evaporation of water and/or other liquid(s) from the flushable wipes.
  • the cap 49 may have any suitable configuration; for example, it may comprise a snap-on cap or the like, and it may optionally be secured to the cover 40 (e.g., with a hinge, a tether, or the like).
  • the roll holder 60 of the delivery system 10 may be supported by the housing 22.
  • the roll holder 60 may be located beneath the housing 22 (i.e., below the bottom 24 of the housing 22). In other embodiments, the roll holder 60 may be secured to the housing 22 at other locations. While FIGs. 1-4 depict an embodiment of roll holder 60 that comprises a horizontal axle 62 with a free end 64 that enables a roll of toilet paper (not shown) to be readily slid thereon and removed therefrom, the roll holder 60 may have any suitable configuration. Delivery systems 10 with captive roll holders (i.e., those including an axle between two arms that prevent side- to-side movement of a toilet paper roll) and other configurations of roll holders are also within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the delivery system 10 may also include a support 70, which may facilitate positioning of the delivery system 10 at a desired location and height.
  • the support 70 may securely and stably mount the housing 22 and, thus, the delivery system 10, to a vertically oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door.
  • the support 70 comprises a bracket 72 that mounts to the vertically oriented surface in the bathroom.
  • the bracket 72 may include at least two holes 74 that can receive screws or other fasteners that can permanently fasten the bracket to the vertically oriented surface (e.g., alone, with anchors in the vertically oriented surface, etc.).
  • the bracket 72 may couple with (e.g., releasably engage, etc.) a complementary bracket coupler 78 on or in a rear 28 of the housing 22.
  • the bracket coupler 78 may slide onto the bracket 72. Gravity may then hold the delivery system 10 in place on the horizontal surface to which the bracket 72 has been secured.
  • complementary locking features of the bracket 72 and the bracket coupler 78 may lock (e.g., releasably, etc.) the delivery system 10 into place on the bracket 72 and, thus, on the horizontally oriented surface.
  • a delivery system 10 may include one or more receptacles 80, 85 in a top 23 of the housing 22.
  • Receptacle 80 may comprise an elongated receptacle, such as a slot with a configuration (e.g., a slot, etc.) that enables it to orient a personal computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.) in an upright orientation (e.g., vertically, at a slightly reclined angle (e.g., about 85°, about 80°, about 75°, about 70°, about 65°, about 60°, etc.) to the top 23 of the housing 22, etc.).
  • a personal computing device e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.
  • a slightly reclined angle e.g., about 85°, about 80°, about 75°, about 70°, about 65°, about 60°, etc.
  • FIG. 1 shows the receptacle 80 as being located adjacent to the front of the top 23 of the housing 22, but it may be positioned closer to the rear of the housing.
  • a wireless charger 82 may be associated with the receptacle 80 in a manner that enables the wireless charger 82 to supply power to a personal computing device held by the receptacle 80.
  • Receptacle 85 may comprise a depression in the top 23 of the housing 22.
  • the receptacle may receive one or more small articles (e.g., keys, a watch, rings, jewelry, a pen, etc.) for safekeeping (e.g., from interfering with use of the toilet, from falling out of pockets, or holding items the individual has carried into the bathroom, etc.) as an individual uses a toilet with which the delivery system 10 is associated.
  • the receptacle 85 receives the small article(s) and holds it (them) in a manner that prevents them from following to the floor and in a visible location where the individual will see them and from which the individual can readily retrieve them as they finish using the toilet.
  • the delivery system 10' includes a housing 22', a flushable wipe holder 20', a roll holder 60', and a support (not shown) that are the same as or similar to those of the embodiment of delivery system shown in and described with reference to FIGs. 1-4, 6, and 7.
  • the delivery system 10' may also include any of a variety of other features.
  • FIG. 10 which provides a view of a top 23' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10', shows that the delivery system 10' may also include a fragrance holder 90'. More specifically, FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a fragrance holder 90' that includes a fragrance receptacle 92' in the top 23' of the housing 22' and a door 94' with vents 96' that closes over a fragrance receptacle 92'.
  • the fragrance receptacle 92' may have a configuration (i.e., a shape and dimensions) that enables it to hold one or more fragrances or deodorizers (e.g., in solid or semisolid form, as fragrance-infused articles, etc.).
  • the vents 96' in the door 94' allow fragrance to diffuse from the fragrance receptacle 92' into the air surrounding the delivery system 10'.
  • the door 94' may also include a handle 98' that enables an individual to open it to access the fragrance or deodorizer from the fragrance receptacle 92' and to place fragrance or deodorizer into the fragrance receptacle 92'.
  • FIG. 10 shows a receptacle 80' in the top 23' of the housing 22'.
  • FIGs. 8 and 11-13 illustrate an accessory coupler 100' on a side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'.
  • FIGs. 11 and 12 show the accessory coupler 100' on the side 25' of the housing 22'.
  • the accessory coupler 100' enables the delivery system 10' to receive one or more accessories.
  • the accessory coupler 100' may enable the delivery system 10' to removably receive the accessory.
  • the accessory coupler 100' comprises a raised area that protrudes from the side 25' and includes a pair of oppositely facing edges 102' and 104' with recesses that that enable a concealment panel 108' or an accessory 110' (FIGs. 14 and 15) to slide onto and be securely held in place by the accessory coupler 100' and, thus, onto the side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'.
  • the oppositely facing edges 102' and 104' are illustrated as being a top edge and a bottom edge, respectively; however they may comprise front and rear edges of the accessory coupler 100'.
  • the accessory coupler may include a locking tab 106' that engages (e.g., releasably, etc.) a corresponding locking feature 109' (e.g., a lock receptacle, etc.) of the concealment panel 108' or accessory 110' to ensure that it remains in place on the side 25' of the housing 22'.
  • FIG. 11 shows the accessory coupler 100'
  • FIG. 12 shows the concealment panel 108' during the process of assembling it with the accessory coupler 100' (e.g., by sliding it from front to back, etc.), and FIG. 13 (and FIG. 8) shows the concealment panel 108' in place over the accessory coupler 100' and, thus, over the side 25' of the housing 22', with the locking tab 106' of the accessory coupler 100' engaging the corresponding locking feature 109' of the concealment panel 108'.
  • the concealment panel 108' may be removed from the side 25' of the housing 22' by disengaging the locking tab 106' from the corresponding locking feature 109' (e.g., by depressing the locking tab 106' through an aperture of the lock receptacle of the corresponding locking feature 109', etc.) and then reversing the assembly processes (e.g., by sliding the concealment panel 108' forward, etc.).
  • the concealment panel 108' may have an outer surface that matches an outer surface of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'.
  • FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of accessory 110' for the delivery system 100'.
  • the accessory 110' includes an accessory housing 112'.
  • the accessory housing 112' may include a hand product dispenser 120' (e.g., a dispenser for hand sanitizer, hand lotion, etc.) and a fragrance dispenser 130'.
  • a hand product dispenser 120' e.g., a dispenser for hand sanitizer, hand lotion, etc.
  • fragrance dispenser 130' e.g., a fragrance dispenser 130'.
  • the hand product dispenser 120' may include a hand product receptacle 122', which may have a configuration that enables it to receive a hand product or even a bottle of hand product.
  • the hand product receptacle 122' of the hand product dispenser 120' comprises a reservoir for a hand product.
  • Such a hand product dispenser 120' may also include a dispensing button 124' and a nozzle and internal components (e.g., a tube, a valve, etc.) that function in a known manner to dispense hand product from the reservoir of the hand product receptacle 122'.
  • the hand product receptacle 122' may receive a bottle of hand product in an inverted orientation; thus, a hand product nozzle (e.g., a push button spray nozzle, a pump nozzle, etc.) may extend through an opening through a bottom of the hand product bottle receptacle 122' and a bottom 114' of the accessory housing 112' to enable an individual to access hand product from the hand product dispenser 120'.
  • a hand product nozzle e.g., a push button spray nozzle, a pump nozzle, etc.
  • the fragrance dispenser 130' may include a fragrance receptacle 132', which may have a configuration that enables it to receive a fragrance or even a cartridge or a bottle of fragrance.
  • the fragrance receptacle 132' may include a dispensing button 134' and an atomizer nozzle and internal components (e.g., a tube, a valve, etc.) that function in a known manner to deliver fragrance into the environment (e.g., a bathroom, etc.) in which the delivery system 10' and accessory 110' are located.
  • the accessory 110' may be coupled to the side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10' in the same manner as the concealment panel 108', as described in reference to FIGs. 11-13.
  • FIG. 15 shows the accessory 110' in an assembled relationship with a main part of the delivery system 10'.
  • the accessory 110' may extend the functionality of the delivery system 10', as well as its length.

Abstract

A bathroom product delivery system includes a toilet paper holder and a flushable wipe holder. The toilet paper holder and the flushable wipe holder bathroom are positioned adjacent to each other. The flushable wipe holder may receive and retain a flushable wipe container that contains a roll of flushable wipes, orienting the flushable wipe container in a manner that makes the flushable wipes readily accessible to an individual as they use a toilet. Methods of using such a bathroom product delivery system are also disclosed.

Description

BATHROOM PRODUCT DELIVERY SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
A claim for the benefit of priority to the May 6, 2021 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/185,270, titled BATHROOM PRODUCT DELIVERY SYSTEM (“the ’270 Provisional Application”) is hereby made. The entire disclosure of the ’270 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to devices used to deliver products in bathrooms, including toilet paper holders. More specifically, this disclosure relates to systems that hold toilet paper and other products that are used in the bathroom, including flushable wipes, fragrances, hand sanitizer, and the like.
RELATED ART
Toilet paper is a tissue paper product used primarily after an individual uses the toilet. The purpose of toilet paper is to enable the individual to clean themselves while keeping their hands clean and to be disposed of by flushing the toilet. The use of toilet paper apparently originated in China, and its use spread as flushable toilets became more common. Toilet paper was first provided in rolls in about 1871 (see U.S. Patent 117,355), which were popularized in the United States in around 1890. The increased popularity of toilet paper rolls was surely accompanied by an increase in the use of toilet paper dispensers in bathrooms.
Moist toilet paper, or flushable wipes, have been available since the 1990s. The popularity of flushable wipes has increased steadily since about 2005. Flushable wipes are typically packaged in the same way other wet wipes have been packaged — in stacks or rolls that are placed within resealable containers that enable them to remain moist over time. While these types of packages have proven to be reliable over time, they are typically not readily accessible to an individual as they use the toilet.
In an effort to make flushable wipes more accessible, toilet paper dispensers have been made to include boxes that hold flushable wipe containers. The boxes of such containers even include lids to “hide” the flushable wipe containers. In addition to being odd in appearance, the use of such dispensers is undesirably complicated. In particular, to access a flushable wipe, an individual must first open the lid on the box of the dispenser, then open the lid of the flushable wipe container, then remove a flushable wipe from the flushable wipe container, make sure the next flushable wipe remains in the flushable wipe container, then close the lid of the flushable wipe container, and, finally, close the lid of the box of the dispenser.
More recently, flushable wipes have been provided in rolls in donut (i.e., torus) shaped packages that can be placed on conventional toilet paper holders. While the placement of such donut shaped packages on conventional toilet paper holders can make the flushable wipes therein readily accessible to an individual as they use they toilet, they displace conventional dry toilet paper, eliminating that option for those individuals who may prefer it.
SUMMARY
A bathroom product delivery system according to this disclosure, which may also be referred to herein more simply as a “delivery system,” includes a toilet paper holder and a holder for at least one other product. In some embodiments, the at least one other product may be a packaged roll of flushable wipes, a fragrance, a hand sanitizer, or the like.
In various embodiments, a delivery system of this disclosure may include a toilet paper roll holder (or, more simply, a “roll holder”), a housing that defines a flushable wipe holder, and a support. Optionally, such a delivery system may additionally include one or more recesses in a top of the housing. Each recess may define a receptacle for items that may need safekeeping as an individual uses the toilet, such as a phone, keys, a watch, jewelry, a pen, or the like. A delivery system may also a receptacle for one or more items, such as a fragrance, a toilet deodorizer, hand sanitizer, or the like. Other optional features of the delivery system include wireless chargers, lights, and the like.
The roll holder of the delivery system may be supported by the housing. In some embodiments, the roll holder may be located beneath the housing (i.e., below the bottom of the housing). Of course, other positions of the roll holder relative to the housing are also within the scope of this disclosure. The roll holder may have any suitable configuration. Without limitation, the roll holder may comprise a horizontal axle with a free end that enables a roll of toilet paper to be readily slid thereon and removed therefrom. Of course, delivery systems with captive roll holders (i.e., those including an axle between two arms that prevent side-to-side movement of a toilet paper roll) are also within the scope of this disclosure. The flushable wipe holder may include a receptacle for a flushable wipe container, an opening to the receptacle, a cover that closes over the opening to hold the flushable wipe container in the receptacle, and an access port (e.g., in the cover, the housing, etc.) that enables flushable wipes to removed from the flushable wipe container and from the flushable wipe holder. In some embodiments, the receptacle of the flushable wipe holder may be cylindrical in shape, which enables the receptacle to receive a cylindrical flushable wipe container that holds a roll of flushable wipes. The cover of such a flushable wipe holder may close over the opening to the receptacle and over a top, or a lid, of the flushable wipe container. The cover may include an access port that aligns with a dispensing nozzle in the top of the flushable wipe container and, thus, enables flushable wipes to be pulled from the container with the cover closed over the top of the flushable wipe container.
The support of the delivery system may facilitate mounting of the housing of the delivery system to horizontally oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door. Such a support may simply comprise screws and associated hardware that will securely and stably mount the housing to the vertically oriented surface. Alternatively, such a support may include a bracket that mounts to the vertically oriented surface and then couples with (e.g., releasably engages, etc.) complementary mounting features on the housing of the delivery system (e.g., mounting features that have been integrated into a back side of the housing, another mounting bracket that has secured to the back side of the housing, etc.). In other embodiments, the support of the delivery system may comprise a stand or pedestal with a base that rests upon the floor or another surface in a bathroom, a post that extends upwardly from the base to a height where the delivery system is to be located, and a top that couples to the housing (e.g., to the back side thereof, to a side thereof, to a bottom thereof, etc.).
Methods for delivering bathroom products are also within the scope of this disclosure. Such a method may include making a roll of toilet paper and a roll of flushable wipes (e.g., a conventionally packaged roll of flushable wipes, etc.) simultaneously available to an individual as they use the toilet. The roll of toilet paper and the roll of flushable wipes may be presented at adjacent locations of a bathroom product delivery device. When an individual decides to use a flushable wipe, they merely need to pull an end of the flushable wipe exposed through the access port in the cover of the flushable wipe holder until the entire flushable wipe has emerged from the flushable wipe holder and been tom away from or otherwise dissociated from the next flushable wipe within the flushable wipe container, whose end will then be exposed and ready for access through the access port. Stated another way, obtaining the flushable wipe may consist of grabbing an exposed end of the flushable wipe, pulling on the flushable wipe until it has been removed from the flushable wipe dispenser and the flushable wipe holder, and dissociating the flushable wipe from the next flushable wipe. By simply pulling on the flushable wipe, it may be dissociated from the next flushable wipe as soon as the next flushable wipe begins to emerge from the dispensing nozzle in the top of the flushable wipe container (e.g., the resistance the dispensing nozzle exerts on the next flushable wipe and, thus, the force required to pull the flushable wipe through the dispensing nozzle may exceed and, thus, be sufficient to overcome the force needed to dissociate the flushable wipe from the next flushable wipe).
Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;
FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C are close-up views of the side of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1, with FIG. 3 A showing an opening to a receptacle of a flushable wipe holder of the bathroom product delivery system, FIG. 3B showing an embodiment of a cover in an unlocked orientation over the opening, and FIG. 3C showing the cover in a locked orientation over the opening;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional representation of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of flushable wipe container that contains a roll of flushable wipes and that may be used with the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIGs. 1-4;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system, showing an embodiment of a support therefor;
FIG. 7 is a side view showing an embodiment of a manner in which the support may secure the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 6 to a horizontally oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door;
FIG. 8 is a first frontal perspective view of another embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system according to this disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a second frontal perspective view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8;
FIGs. 11-13 are side views of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system shown in FIG. 8, depicting an embodiment of an accessory coupler on the side of the bathroom product delivery system and a concealment panel that may be positioned over the accessory coupler;
FIG. 14 is a frontal perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory that may be used with the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 15 is a frontal perspective view of the embodiment of the bathroom product delivery system of FIG. 8 with the embodiment of the accessory shown in FIG. 14 assembled therewith.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIGs. 1-4, an embodiment of a bathroom product delivery system 10, which is also referred to more simply as a “delivery system,” is shown. The delivery system 10 includes a flushable wipe holder 20 and a roll holder 60.
With added reference to FIG. 5, a configuration of the flushable wipe holder 20 may enable it to receive and hold a flushable wipe container 50 that in turn contains a roll of flushable wipes 52 that may be dispensed though a dispensing nozzle 56 in an end 54 (e.g., a lid, etc.) of the flushable wipe container 50. With returned reference to FIGs. 1-4, the roll holder 60 of the delivery system 10 may be secured to a housing 22 that at least partially defines the flushable wipe holder 20. As illustrated, the roll holder may be secured to a bottom 24 of the housing 22.
As best seen in FIG. 4, the flushable wipe holder 20 includes a receptacle 30 within (e.g., defined by, etc.) the housing 22. An open end 36 of the receptacle 30 opens to an outer surface of the housing 22, such as a side 26 of the housing 22. Accordingly, the open end 36 of the receptacle 30 may also be referred to herein as an “opening 36.” A shape and dimensions of the opening 36 enable the flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) to pass through the opening 36. A shape and dimensions of the receptacle 30 enable it to receive and retain the flushable wipe container 50.
The opening 36 and the receptacle 30 may be configured to receive a specific size and shape of flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5); for example, a flushable wipe container 50 with a proprietary shape and/or proprietary dimensions designed specifically for use with the delivery system 10, etc. Alternatively, the opening 36 and the receptacle 30 may be configured to receive flushable wipe containers 50 having a variety of different shapes and/or dimensions. In some embodiments, including those where the receptacle 30 is designed to receive a cylindrical flushable wipe container 50, the end 36, or opening, of the receptacle 30 may be circular in shape, while the receptacle 30 may be cylindrical in shape, as illustrated by FIG. 3A.
The flushable wipe holder 20 also includes a cover 40, as shown in FIGs. 1, 3, 3B, 3C, and 4. The cover 40 may be removably securable over the opening 36 of the receptacle 30. In some embodiments, the cover 40 may have a configuration that, when positioned over the opening 36, enables it to be twisted, or rotated, to secure it into place over the opening 36 (e.g., by clockwise rotation of the cover 40, etc.) or to facilitate its removal from the opening 36 (e.g., by counterclockwise rotation of the cover 40, etc.). Thus, the cover 40 may include coupling features 42 (e.g., threads, slots, etc.) that receive complementary coupling features 38 (e.g., threads, protrusions, etc.) associated with the opening 36. An outer surface 44 of such a cover 40 may include grips 46 (e.g., the depicted indentations (see FIGs. 1 and 3), one or more protrusions, etc.). Covers 40 with alternative configurations (e.g., a hinge and latch, etc.) are also within the scope of this disclosure.
FIGs. 3A-3C show the side of the delivery system 10 with the cover 40 in different states of assembly over the opening 36 of the receptacle 30. FIG. 3A shows the opening 36 to the receptacle 30 without a cover 40 over it. FIG. 3B shows the cover 40 over the opening 36, in a loose position or an unlocked orientation. FIG. 3C shows the cover 40 over the opening 36, in a secured position or a locked orientation.
An access port 48 may extend through the cover 40. A location of the access port 48 through the cover 40 may enable it to align with the dispensing nozzle 56 (FIG. 5) of a flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) within the receptacle 30. Thus, the access port 48 may provide access to an end 53 (FIG. 5) of a flushable wipe 52 (FIG. 5) that extends through the dispensing nozzle 56. Such a cover 40, when secured or locked into place over the opening 36, enables flushable wipes 52 (FIG. 5) to be selectively removed from a flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) that has been placed in the receptacle 30 (FIG. 4).
In some embodiments, a cap 49 may be provided to cover the access port 48 until access to a flushable wipe 52 (FIG. 5) is desired or needed (i.e., to provide selective access to the access port 48). The cap 49 may provide an additional seal over the access port 48 to limit airflow to the flushable wipes 52 within an interior of the flushable wipe container 50 (FIG. 5) and, thus, to further limit evaporation of water and/or other liquid(s) from the flushable wipes. The cap 49 may have any suitable configuration; for example, it may comprise a snap-on cap or the like, and it may optionally be secured to the cover 40 (e.g., with a hinge, a tether, or the like).
The roll holder 60 of the delivery system 10 may be supported by the housing 22. In the embodiment illustrated by FIGs. 1-4, the roll holder 60 may be located beneath the housing 22 (i.e., below the bottom 24 of the housing 22). In other embodiments, the roll holder 60 may be secured to the housing 22 at other locations. While FIGs. 1-4 depict an embodiment of roll holder 60 that comprises a horizontal axle 62 with a free end 64 that enables a roll of toilet paper (not shown) to be readily slid thereon and removed therefrom, the roll holder 60 may have any suitable configuration. Delivery systems 10 with captive roll holders (i.e., those including an axle between two arms that prevent side- to-side movement of a toilet paper roll) and other configurations of roll holders are also within the scope of this disclosure.
Turning now to FIGs. 6 and 7, the delivery system 10 may also include a support 70, which may facilitate positioning of the delivery system 10 at a desired location and height. In some embodiments, the support 70 may securely and stably mount the housing 22 and, thus, the delivery system 10, to a vertically oriented surface in a bathroom, such as a wall, cabinet, partition, or door. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 6, the support 70 comprises a bracket 72 that mounts to the vertically oriented surface in the bathroom. As illustrated by FIG. 6, the bracket 72 may include at least two holes 74 that can receive screws or other fasteners that can permanently fasten the bracket to the vertically oriented surface (e.g., alone, with anchors in the vertically oriented surface, etc.).
The bracket 72 may couple with (e.g., releasably engage, etc.) a complementary bracket coupler 78 on or in a rear 28 of the housing 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket coupler 78 may slide onto the bracket 72. Gravity may then hold the delivery system 10 in place on the horizontal surface to which the bracket 72 has been secured. In some embodiments, complementary locking features of the bracket 72 and the bracket coupler 78 may lock (e.g., releasably, etc.) the delivery system 10 into place on the bracket 72 and, thus, on the horizontally oriented surface.
Specifically referring now to FIG. 1, a delivery system 10 may include one or more receptacles 80, 85 in a top 23 of the housing 22. Receptacle 80 may comprise an elongated receptacle, such as a slot with a configuration (e.g., a slot, etc.) that enables it to orient a personal computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.) in an upright orientation (e.g., vertically, at a slightly reclined angle (e.g., about 85°, about 80°, about 75°, about 70°, about 65°, about 60°, etc.) to the top 23 of the housing 22, etc.).
FIG. 1 shows the receptacle 80 as being located adjacent to the front of the top 23 of the housing 22, but it may be positioned closer to the rear of the housing. In some embodiments, a wireless charger 82 may be associated with the receptacle 80 in a manner that enables the wireless charger 82 to supply power to a personal computing device held by the receptacle 80.
Receptacle 85 may comprise a depression in the top 23 of the housing 22. The receptacle may receive one or more small articles (e.g., keys, a watch, rings, jewelry, a pen, etc.) for safekeeping (e.g., from interfering with use of the toilet, from falling out of pockets, or holding items the individual has carried into the bathroom, etc.) as an individual uses a toilet with which the delivery system 10 is associated. The receptacle 85 receives the small article(s) and holds it (them) in a manner that prevents them from following to the floor and in a visible location where the individual will see them and from which the individual can readily retrieve them as they finish using the toilet.
Referring now to FIGs. 8-15, another embodiment of a delivery system 10' according to this disclosure is depicted. The delivery system 10' includes a housing 22', a flushable wipe holder 20', a roll holder 60', and a support (not shown) that are the same as or similar to those of the embodiment of delivery system shown in and described with reference to FIGs. 1-4, 6, and 7. The delivery system 10' may also include any of a variety of other features.
For example, FIG. 10, which provides a view of a top 23' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10', shows that the delivery system 10' may also include a fragrance holder 90'. More specifically, FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a fragrance holder 90' that includes a fragrance receptacle 92' in the top 23' of the housing 22' and a door 94' with vents 96' that closes over a fragrance receptacle 92'. The fragrance receptacle 92' may have a configuration (i.e., a shape and dimensions) that enables it to hold one or more fragrances or deodorizers (e.g., in solid or semisolid form, as fragrance-infused articles, etc.). The vents 96' in the door 94' allow fragrance to diffuse from the fragrance receptacle 92' into the air surrounding the delivery system 10'. The door 94' may also include a handle 98' that enables an individual to open it to access the fragrance or deodorizer from the fragrance receptacle 92' and to place fragrance or deodorizer into the fragrance receptacle 92'.
In addition, FIG. 10 shows a receptacle 80' in the top 23' of the housing 22'.
As another example of an optional feature, FIGs. 8 and 11-13 illustrate an accessory coupler 100' on a side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'.
FIGs. 11 and 12 show the accessory coupler 100' on the side 25' of the housing 22'. The accessory coupler 100' enables the delivery system 10' to receive one or more accessories. In some embodiments, the accessory coupler 100' may enable the delivery system 10' to removably receive the accessory.
In the embodiment depicted by FIGs. 11 and 12, the accessory coupler 100' comprises a raised area that protrudes from the side 25' and includes a pair of oppositely facing edges 102' and 104' with recesses that that enable a concealment panel 108' or an accessory 110' (FIGs. 14 and 15) to slide onto and be securely held in place by the accessory coupler 100' and, thus, onto the side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'. The oppositely facing edges 102' and 104' are illustrated as being a top edge and a bottom edge, respectively; however they may comprise front and rear edges of the accessory coupler 100'. In addition, the accessory coupler may include a locking tab 106' that engages (e.g., releasably, etc.) a corresponding locking feature 109' (e.g., a lock receptacle, etc.) of the concealment panel 108' or accessory 110' to ensure that it remains in place on the side 25' of the housing 22'. FIG. 11 shows the accessory coupler 100',
FIG. 12 shows the concealment panel 108' during the process of assembling it with the accessory coupler 100' (e.g., by sliding it from front to back, etc.), and FIG. 13 (and FIG. 8) shows the concealment panel 108' in place over the accessory coupler 100' and, thus, over the side 25' of the housing 22', with the locking tab 106' of the accessory coupler 100' engaging the corresponding locking feature 109' of the concealment panel 108'.
The concealment panel 108' may be removed from the side 25' of the housing 22' by disengaging the locking tab 106' from the corresponding locking feature 109' (e.g., by depressing the locking tab 106' through an aperture of the lock receptacle of the corresponding locking feature 109', etc.) and then reversing the assembly processes (e.g., by sliding the concealment panel 108' forward, etc.).
The concealment panel 108' may have an outer surface that matches an outer surface of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10'.
FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of accessory 110' for the delivery system 100'. The accessory 110' includes an accessory housing 112'. The accessory housing 112' may include a hand product dispenser 120' (e.g., a dispenser for hand sanitizer, hand lotion, etc.) and a fragrance dispenser 130'.
The hand product dispenser 120' may include a hand product receptacle 122', which may have a configuration that enables it to receive a hand product or even a bottle of hand product. As depicted, the hand product receptacle 122' of the hand product dispenser 120' comprises a reservoir for a hand product. Such a hand product dispenser 120' may also include a dispensing button 124' and a nozzle and internal components (e.g., a tube, a valve, etc.) that function in a known manner to dispense hand product from the reservoir of the hand product receptacle 122'. In other embodiments, the hand product receptacle 122' may receive a bottle of hand product in an inverted orientation; thus, a hand product nozzle (e.g., a push button spray nozzle, a pump nozzle, etc.) may extend through an opening through a bottom of the hand product bottle receptacle 122' and a bottom 114' of the accessory housing 112' to enable an individual to access hand product from the hand product dispenser 120'.
The fragrance dispenser 130' may include a fragrance receptacle 132', which may have a configuration that enables it to receive a fragrance or even a cartridge or a bottle of fragrance. In some embodiments, the fragrance receptacle 132' may include a dispensing button 134' and an atomizer nozzle and internal components (e.g., a tube, a valve, etc.) that function in a known manner to deliver fragrance into the environment (e.g., a bathroom, etc.) in which the delivery system 10' and accessory 110' are located. The accessory 110' may be coupled to the side 25' of the housing 22' of the delivery system 10' in the same manner as the concealment panel 108', as described in reference to FIGs. 11-13. FIG. 15 shows the accessory 110' in an assembled relationship with a main part of the delivery system 10'. The accessory 110' may extend the functionality of the delivery system 10', as well as its length.
Methods of assembling and using embodiments of a delivery system 10, 10', etc., according to this disclosure should be apparent from the foregoing.
Although the preceding disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed subject maher. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject maher and of their elements and features may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed:
1. A bathroom product delivery system, comprising: a housing; a toilet paper holder secured to a bottom of the housing an including a horizontally extending axle; and a flushable wipe holder including a receptacle within the housing, an opening to the receptacle at a first side of the housing, and a cover removably positionable over the opening to enable flushable wipes to be selectively removed from the receptacle, the receptacle having shape and dimensions that enable it to receive a flushable wipe container.
2. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one receptacle in a top of the housing, the at least one receptacle including: an elongated slot for receiving an edge of a personal computing device and orienting the personal computing device in an upright orientation; or a depression that can receive one or more items carried by an individual.
3. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 2, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises the elongated slot and the depression.
4. The bathroom product delivery system of any of claims 1-3, further comprising: a support that positions the housing, the toilet paper holder, and the flushable wipe holder at a desired location.
5. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 4, wherein the support mounts the housing to a vertically oriented surface.
6. The bathroom product delivery system of any of claims 1-3, wherein the receptacle of the flushable wipe holder has a configuration that enables it to receive a flushable wipe container that contains a roll of flushable wipes and includes a dispensing nozzle in a top end thereof.
7. The bathroom product delivery system of any of claims 1-3, wherein the cover of the flushable wipe holder rotatably couples to the housing.
8. The bathroom product delivery system of any of claims 1-3, further comprising: an accessory coupler on a second side of the main housing, opposite from the first side.
9. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 8, further comprising: a concealment panel that couples to the accessory coupler.
10. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 9, wherein the concealment panel has an outer surface that matches an outer surface of the main housing.
11. A bathroom product delivery system, comprising: a housing; a toilet paper holder secured to a bottom of the housing an including a horizontally extending axle; a flushable wipe holder including a receptacle within the housing, an opening to the receptacle at a first side of the housing, and a cover removably positionable over the opening to enable flushable wipes to be selectively removed from the receptacle, the receptacle having shape and dimensions that enable it to receive a flushable wipe container; and at least one receptacle in a top of the housing, the at least one receptacle including: an elongated slot for receiving an edge of a personal computing device and orienting the personal computing device in an upright orientation; or a depression that can receive one or more items carried by an individual.
12. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 11, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises the elongated slot and the depression.
13. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising: a support that positions the housing, the toilet paper holder, and the flushable wipe holder at a desired location.
14. The bathroom product delivery system of claim 13, wherein the support mounts the housing to a vertically oriented surface.
15. A method for delivering bathroom products, comprising: making a roll of toilet paper and a roll of flushable wipes simultaneously available to an individual at adjacent locations of a bathroom product delivery system; enabling the individual to obtain a flushable wipe from the roll of flushable wipes, consisting essentially of: pulling an end of the flushable wipe until the entire flushable wipe has emerged from a flushable wipe holder; and dissociating the flushable wipe from a next flushable wipe of the roll of flushable wipes.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bathroom product delivery system exposes an end of the flushable wipe through an access port in a cover positioned over an opening of a receptacle for a flushable wipe container that contains the roll of flushable wipes.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the bathroom product delivery system selectively exposes the end of the flushable wipe.
18. The method of any of claims 15-17, further comprising: providing a receptacle that enables the individual to securely store at least one item on the bathroom product delivery system while using the bathroom product delivery system.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the receptacle comprises receiving an edge of a personal computing device and orienting the personal computing device in an upright orientation.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: charging the personal computing device.
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