Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title of the Invention
An apparatus for dispensing wipes and hygiene products
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of dispensers, more
specifically it
relates to a bathroom tissue apparatus that dispenses both dry and moist wipes
and/or
feminine protection products; and can be hung from an existing bathroom tissue
roll
holder.
Personal cleanliness involving conventional toilet paper dispensed from a
toilet paper
roll is a complex function requiring quantitative decision making and fine
motor
movements. The user must first determine the required amount of tissue needed,
grasp
both the roll and desired the tissue simultaneously in order to tear off the
desired tissue,
fold and further manipulate the tissue into an adequate wipe that will not
puncture
during use. Since the desired amount of tissue required is arbitrary, the
process is
considered wasteful if excessive or inadequate amounts of tissue are obtained.
The
groups of people which find greater difficulty with this task include
children, the elderly,
the disabled, and those with arm or hand injuries. To avoid the aforementioned
problems, bathroom wipes have been designed in various sizes, shapes,
materials,
moisture content, and processes to offer greater convenience and improved
cleaning
with minimal effort required in preparing the wipe.
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The personal hygienic care involving women requires other products relating to
feminine
protection. Since these products are normally hidden from sight retrieving
them creates
an inconvenience when needed. Thus, having these products close at hand and
hidden from sight especially when combined with other bathroom tasks are both
desirable and convenient.
The use of facial tissue is well known. Many types of containers and packaging
have
been developed to contain and dispense individual facial tissue. Such
containers, or
the more commonly known cartons, allow the user to remove an individual tissue
one at
a time in a manner which makes the adjacent tissue readily positioned for
removal from
the contained tissue group. This is a highly efficient means for dispensing
using a
single tissue and there is no paper manipulation nor guess work required by
the user.
Bathroom tissue shares similar composition to facial tissue but with greater
water
dispersive characteristics. Thus, a carton of bathroom tissue that is
dispensed similar to
facial tissue is relatively easier and more efficient to use compared to
conventional
bathroom tissue on tissue rolls. Similarly, a carton that contained a stack of
individually
folded or prepared bathroom tissue would also be of greater ease and
efficiency.
A few prior art structures lend themselves to a dispensing container for the
containment
and packaging of tissue sheets or wipes so that such a container may be
adapted to a
conventional bathroom roll holder. Boutin, U.S. Pat.No. 4913312, discloses a
device
that is mountable to an existing spindle and dispenses individual tissues from
a
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contained stacked array. Boone, U.S.Pat. No.4106616 discloses a device
attachable to
standard toilet tissue dispenser of a roll type to dispense supplemental
material such as
pre-wetted toilet sheets. Paul et al,U.S. Pat No 6446808, discloses a
dispenser having
supports attaching to a bathroom spindle housing a moist tissue roll. Newman
et
al.,U.S.Pat. No.6626395, discloses a dispenser for both pre-moistened wipes
and dry
bathroom tissue, and mountable to a conventional bathroom fixture using a
mounting
device.
Ross, US. Pat. No. 3982659, discloses a dispensing device employed in a bulk
package
having successive sheets that are individually dispensed. Julius et
al.,U.S.Pat.No.4428497 discloses an open mouthed container for the housing of
moist
towelettes. Hotchkiss,U.S.Pat.No.4411374 discloses a tissue dispenser system
for the
dispensing of interleaved facial tissue from a wall mounted dispensing
cabinet.
None of the prior art structures lends itself to support or contain
conventional size
cardboard cartons of facial tissue while being adapted to conventional wall
mounted
bathroom tissue holders or a free standing bathroom tissue holders that use a
bar to
hold the bathroom tissue roll rather than a removable spindle roll.
Accordingly, it would
be desirable to provide a dispenser that holds and permits the loading and
unloading of
conventional size tissue cartons, and is able to be adapted to the majority of
bathroom
tissue roll holders. It would also be desirable to have a dispenser that can
be
permanently or semi-permanently mounted, portable and/or free standing. While
prior
technology limits the containment of tissue to one kind of tissue such as
individual
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sheets as described by Boutin; or rolled wet and dry tissue in both Paul, et
al., and
Newman, et al.; it would be desirable to provide a dispenser that allows for
the
dispensing of both moist and dry individual tissues or wipes. In addition, few
if any prior
art structures lends to the housing or dispensing of feminine hygienic
products thus
having an attached dispensing structure to accompany a bathroom tissue
dispensing
unit would also be desirable.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that holds and
dispenses various bathroom hygienic products such as bathroom tissue/ wipes,
moisten
bathroom wipes, and feminine pads or tampons.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be mounted
on an existing bathroom tissue holder, the holder's spindle roll or the
holder's bar, be
fixed to a wall, or stand alone.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can hold
carton
type packaging.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can attach
additional storage and dispensing containers.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide and apparatus that can hold
more
bathroom tissue than a standard bathroom tissue roll..
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
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from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings,
wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present
invention is
disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed
an apparatus for dispensing wipes and hygiene products comprising: a
rectangular
container having a bottom, a top, and upstanding sides defining an enclosed
space with
one open side, and hanging means disposed at the top or the sides of the
dispenser
and adapted for suspending the dispenser from an existing bathroom tissue
holder's
spindle roll or holder's bar used for mounting a conventional bathroom tissue
roll, three
hook like arms at the top end, a nipple on the outside of both side walls,
openings on
both side walls for means to secure lugs, and detachable square side
containers having
lugs and an attached lid.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary
embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to
be
understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be
shown
exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the bathroom tissue dispenser
according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective back view of the invention of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top view of the invention of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front view of the invention of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a side view of the invention of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a perspective back view of the attachable side dispenser according
to
the present invention.
Figure 7 is a perspective front view of the invention of Figure 5.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is
to be
understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various
forms.
Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as
limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching
one skilled in
the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately
detailed system,
structure or manner.
Figures 1 to 2 illustrate a bathroom tissue dispenser according to a
embodiment of the
present invention. Figure 1 is a perspective front view showing the appearance
of the
dispenser and the essential parts of it. Referring to Figure 1 and 2, the
dispenser
generally comprises a rectangular body 100, a top part 112, a front wall 109
with an
opening 114 therein, a back panel 202, a bottom panel 111, and upstanding side
panels
11 Oa and 11Ob defining an enclosed space with one open side. The top part of
112 is
formed with three curved hook shaped arms 101,102 and 103, which mutually
overlap
in such a way as to provide a loop like structure 203 through which the
spindle or bar of
an existing bathroom tissue roll holder can be inserted and the dispenser can
be
suspended therefrom. The outer sides of 11 Oa and 11 Ob is formed with
semicircular
nipples 104 and 201 that can be pressed fitted into the sockets of certain
conventional
bathroom tissue holders providing a suitable alternative means for hanging the
apparatus. A carton of bathroom tissue or a stack of wipes can be loaded
through the
front opening 114. The bathroom tissue can be removed one by one through the
front
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opening 114 as required. As seen in figure 1, the front wall 109 consists of a
narrow lip
like structure that allows for maximum opening clearance and acts like a stop
to prevent
a carton or stack of tissues from sliding out of the dispenser. The top wall
112 has a
front cut-out 113 that provides a top opening from which the carton can be
grasped and
removed. In the illustrated embodiment the side walls 11 Oa and 110b is formed
with
apertures 105,106,107 and 108 for the purpose of securing lugs 609 and 610
from
separate attachable side dispensers Figure 6 and Figure 7.
In accordance with the present invention Figures 6 to 7 illustrate the
detachable side
adjoining dispensers or containers. Figure 6 is a perspective rear view and
figure 7 is a
perspective front view showing the appearance of the adjoining dispenser and
the
essential parts of it. Referring to Figure 6 and 7, the adjoining dispenser
comprises a
square body 600, a front wall 602, side walls 601 and 604, a bottom panel 611,
a back
panel 608, and a top panel or lid 606 which can be open and closed and is
connected to
the back panel 608 by a crease line (living) hinge 607, and creating a defined
enclosed
space 702. A carton of moist wipes or feminine hygiene products can be loaded
into the
compartment 702 of the side dispenser Figure 7 by lifting the protrusion 701
on the lid
606. The lid 606 can be closed by using a press fit technique and the
protrusion 701 on
the lid 606. Provision is made for alternative locking techniques to keep the
lid closed
such as a clip. The back panel 608 is formed with two circular protruding lugs
609 and
610 which are inserted through the openings 105 and 106 of the main dispenser
Figure
1, and the adjoining dispenser Figure 6 can be suspended therefrom. Removal of
the
side dispenser Figure 6 from the main dispenser Figure 1 is achieved by
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positioning side dispenser Figure 6 so that the lugs 609 and 610 are aligned
to the
proper opening of apertures 105 and 106 of the main dispenser Figure 1.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred
embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the
particular form
set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives,
modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined
by the appended claims.
