Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an apparatus for dispensing and collecting single-use items.
The global spread of pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungus, etc.) has caused the outbreak of diseases throughout the world. These outbreaks include, for example, the Western African Ebola virus epidemic (2013-2016) and the Coronavirus pandemic (2019-2020). As a result of these outbreaks, people have been encouraged by governments, health systems, and the like, to take precautionary measures to eliminate these pathogens and combat the spread of these diseases. These precautionary measures may include, for example, adequate hand washing, social distancing, and the cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
Specifically, in regards to the cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (or any other surface that may be near or in contact with people), it is common to use disinfectant wipes as quick, easy way of disinfecting that surface. These wipes may include, for example, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes available from the Clorox Company of Oakland, Calif., or Lysol Disinfecting Wipes available from Reckitt Benckiser Group, PLC, of Slough, England. However, in times of scarcity, these wipes (as well as other cleaning supplies) may be in short supply due to increased demand, theft, and/or otherwise being lost. As such, owners/proprietors of public places (e.g., restaurants, ball parks, etc.) may be reluctant to make these wipes available to the public.
Disclosed are apparatus for dispensing and collecting items.
In a first embodiment, the apparatus includes a dispensing container that includes a first receptacle having an open end, a first lid configured to be received over the open end of the first receptacle, a first interior space defined by the first receptacle and the first lid, and an opening defined in the first lid that extends into the first interior space. The apparatus also includes a collecting container that includes a second receptacle having an open end, a second lid configured to be received over the open end of the second receptacle, and a second interior space defined by the second receptacle and the second lid, wherein the collecting container further comprises an opening into the second interior space. The apparatus further includes a mount configured to be attached to a structure, wherein the mount is attached to at least one of the dispensing container and the collecting container.
In a second embodiment, the apparatus includes a dispensing container that includes a first receptacle having an open end, a first lid configured to be received over the open end of the first receptacle, a first interior space defined by the first receptacle and the first lid, and an opening defined in the first lid that extends into the first interior space. The apparatus also includes a collecting container that includes a second receptacle having an open end, a second lid configured to be received over the open end of the second receptacle, a second interior space defined by the second receptacle and the second lid, and an opening defined in the second lid that extends into the second interior space. The apparatus further includes a first mount releasably attachable to the dispensing container, and configured to secure the dispensing container to a structure, as well as a second mount releasable attachable to the collecting container, and further configured to secure the collecting container to a structure.
In a third embodiment, the apparatus includes a dispensing container that includes a first receptacle having an open end, a first lid configured to be received over the open end of the first receptacle, a first interior space defined by the first receptacle and the first lid, and an opening defined in the first lid that extends into the first interior space, the dispensing container further comprising a first elongated dovetail. The apparatus also includes a collecting container that includes a second receptacle having an open end, a second lid configured to be received over the open end of the second receptacle, a second interior space defined by the second receptacle and the second lid, and an opening defined in the second lid that extends into the second interior space, the collecting container further comprising a second elongated dovetail. The apparatus further includes a mount comprising a first dovetail slot configured to receive the first elongated dovetail, and a second dovetail slot configured to receive the second elongated dovetail.
Other examples of the disclosed notebook binding system will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific examples described by the disclosure. Other examples having different structures and operations do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals may refer to the same feature, element, or component in the different drawings.
Illustrative, non-exhaustive examples, which may be, but are not necessarily, claimed, of the subject matter according the present disclosure are provided below. Reference herein to “example” means that one or more feature, structure, element, component, characteristic and/or operational step described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment and/or implementation of the subject matter according to the present disclosure. Thus, the phrase “an example” and similar language throughout the present disclosure may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same example. Further, the subject matter characterizing any one example may, but does not necessarily, include the subject matter characterizing any other example.
Referring to
Ostensibly, the apparatus 100 may be utilized to dispense and collect items 10 of any suitable variety. However, it is generally contemplated that the apparatus 100 might be best suited to dispense and collect, for example, disposable, single-use items such as sanitation wipes, tissues, napkins, plastic cutlery, associated packaging, and the like. By providing separate containers, one for dispensing and one for collecting, a clean, sterile environment for the items may be maintained.
As depicted, the dispensing and collecting containers 20, 40 may be generally cylindrical in shape, substantially equal in size, and oriented parallel to one another (
Whatever the size, shape, and orientation, the dispensing and collecting containers 20, 40 may each generally include a top portion 22, 42 and a bottom portion 24, 44. Lids 26, 46 may be disposed on the top portions 22, 42, the bottom portions 24, 44, or both portions of the dispensing container 20 and the collecting container 40. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, lids 26, 46 disposed on the top portions 22, 42 may enable items to be loaded into the dispensing container 20 and/or emptied from the collecting container 40, from above. Lids 26, 46 disposed on the bottom portions 24, 44 may enable items to be quickly dropped out of the bottoms thereof. While various configurations are contemplated, the present disclosure provides four non-limiting embodiments of the apparatus, each of which are discussed in turn below.
Still referring to
The collecting container 40 also includes a lid 46, a receptacle 48, an interior space 50 (defined by the lid 46 and the receptacle 48), and an opening 52 disposed along its top portion 42 (extending into the interior space). However, the opening 52 is located on the receptacle 48 (instead of the lid 46) and the lid 46 is disposed on the bottom portion 44 of the collecting container 40 (instead of the top portion 42). This configuration enables items 10 to be inserted through the opening 52 and then removed from the interior space 50 of the collecting container 40 by being dropped out the bottom. Further, like with the dispensing container 20, the lid 46 may be coupled to the receptacle 48 by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, hinge brackets, friction fits, and the like.
In one or more examples, the dispensing container 20 and the collecting container 40 may also be provided with a locking feature 60 that locks the respective lids 26, 46 onto the respective receptacles 28, 48. Doing so secures the contents of either container within their respective interior spaces 30, 50 thereby preventing the loss of items 10 (e.g., theft). This locking feature 50 may include any suitable locking mechanism, such as, for example, cam locks, deadbolts, padlocks, and the like. In the example shown, hex key cam locks are used for both containers.
Referring to
Referring to
The mount 70 may attach the dispensing and collecting containers 20, 40 to a structure 90 such as, but not limited to, walls, fences, doors, door knobs, shopping carts, bleacher seats (e.g., underneath), cup holders, gas pumps, automated teller machines, and drive-through units (e.g., at banks, restaurants, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom side of stadium seats (which fold upwards to close) may also be a suitable structure for attachment.
The mount 70 shown in
Referring to
The present disclosure will now describe a first exemplary example of the apparatus 100 for dispensing and collecting. The dispensing container and the collecting container may be sustainably identical in both size and shape, with each defining a height and a width. In this example, the height HD, HC of the containers 20, 30 may range from about 6 inches to about 8 inches (preferably 7 inches), and the width WD, WC of the containers 20, 30 may range from about 2 inches to about 3 inches (preferably 2.5 inches). Further, the mount 40 may define length LM and width WM, with the length LM ranging from about 4 inches to about 6 inches (preferably 5 inches), and the width WM ranging from about 1 inch to about 2 inches (preferably 1.5 inches).
The present disclosure will now provide a second exemplary example of the apparatus 100 for dispensing and collecting. In this example, the height HD, HC of the containers 20, 30 may range from about 8.5 inches to about 10.5 inches (preferably 9.5 inches), and the width WD, WC of the containers 20, 30 may range from about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches (preferably 3 inches). Further, the attachment member 40 may define length LA and width WA, with the length LA ranging from about 5 inches to about 7 inches (preferably 6 inches), and the width WA ranging from about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches (preferably 2 inches). The mount 40 may also include tabs 56 extending from the end portions 44 of the attachment member 40. These tabs 56 may range from about 3 inches to about 6 inches in length LT (preferably 4.5 inches). As configured, these tabs 56 may enable the apparatus to be attached to, among other things, the bottom side of stadium seats.
Referring to
The collecting container 140 of the second embodiment differs slightly from the collecting container 40 of the first embodiment in that the lid 146 is disposed along the top portion 142 of the container instead of the bottom portion 144, with the opening 152 extending through the lid 146. With this configuration, users may dispose of items 10 by inserting the items 10 through the opening 152 in the lid 146, which may then be removed by opening the lid 146 and taking the used items 10 out of the collecting container 140 through the top.
In exemplary embodiments, the dispensing container 120 and/or the collecting container 140 may be provided with coupling features on their lids 126, 146 and receptacles 128, 148 that help to secure the lids 126, 146 on the receptacles 128, 148. For example, small protrusions 162 (
Further, in other embodiments, the dispensing container 120 and/or the collecting container 140 may include an assembly 166 for removing items 10 from the containers 120, 140. The assembly 166 shown includes a bottom 168 and two arms 169 that connect the bottom 168 to the lid 126 of the collecting container 140 (
The dispensing container 120 and the collecting container 140 may each be provided with their own mounts 170 (compared to only one mount 70 in the first embodiment). In doing so, the collecting and dispensing containers 120, 140 no longer have to be attached to the same structure 90. Further, each mount 70 may be configured to correspond to the shape of the containers 120, 140 and/or the shape of the structure 90 to which it is to be attached. For example, the mounts 70 shown in
Further, the dispensing container 120 and the collecting container 140 may be configured for removable attachment to their mounts 170. The ability to remove the containers 120, 140 facilitates ease of loading/emptying, while also enabling the mounts 170 to be secured to a structure 90 (e.g., by way of screws insertable 176 into holes 178 in the mounts). As shown, each of the containers 120, 140 may be provided with an elongated dovetail 180 that corresponds to a dovetail slot 182 in the mounts 170, collectively forming sliding dovetail joints (
Referring to
Referring to
The apparatus (any of the four embodiments described herein 100, 200, 300, 400 as well other embodiments) may be fabricated from any suitable material. For example, materials such as plastic, metal, and wood may be utilized to fabricate one or more parts of the apparatus (e.g., the dispensing containers, the collecting containers, and/or the mounts). Further, the material compositions need not be the same from part to part. For example, a metal bracket may be utilized with plastic containers. In another example, the entire apparatus may be fabricated from plastic as a single monolithic piece. Whatever the case, it is generally contemplated that the material(s) selected should provide for a lightweight apparatus that is sufficiently resilient to withstand water and/or outdoor environmental conditions.
In one or more embodiments, the dispensing container, the collecting container, the mount, and/or any combinations thereof may include designs, logos, text, and/or the like printed or otherwise shown on their exterior surfaces. These designs/logos/text may be included for informational and/or aesthetic purposes.
Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
This application is a non-provisional patent application and makes a priority claim to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/013,221.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20010035416 | Dodson | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20060226316 | Sellers | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20090223991 | Lorenzati | Sep 2009 | A1 |
Entry |
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Clorox Company, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Multi-Surface Cleaning, webpage, accessed Jul. 30, 2021, 7 pages. |
Lysol, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, wepbage, accessed Jul. 30, 2021, 4 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210321834 A1 | Oct 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63013221 | Apr 2020 | US |