Claims
- 1. In a combined dispensing system for the dispensing of dissimilar yet related products, and more specifically for the combined dispensing of sheet and fluid products, the invention comprising:
(a) a sheet dispenser comprising:
a sheet-holding enclosure, a dispensing opening in said sheet holding enclosure, and a sheet supply of sheet material of a pattern and grouping appropriate for dispensing through said dispensing opening, (b) a fluid dispenser comprising:
a fluid-holding container, and dispensing means for dispensing fluid from said container, and (c) integral capping means for allowing said fluid dispenser to act as a removable cap to access and refill stored sheets in the sheet dispenser and in which said capping means further serve as the primary means by which said sheet dispenser and fluid dispenser are connected together to form a combined sheet and fluid dispenser, said integral capping means when employed further allowing full access to said dispensing opening, said integral capping means comprising:
an integral lid shape formed together with said fluid-holding container, a cappable opening in said sheet-holding enclosure, and connecting means for repeatable unattachment and reattachment between said integral lid shape and said cappable opening, whereby the manufacturer saves cost which would normally have been expended towards a separate lid, towards further attachment means for joining said sheet dispenser and said fluid dispenser, and towards additional assembly costs; whereby weight is minimized, providing for a more lightweight and easier to carry and use system for the consumer and providing for reduced shipping costs for the manufacturer; whereby an uncomplicated and easy to understand system with a minimal number of parts is presented to the consumer both upon first inspection when seen on supermarket shelves and upon further use at home; and whereby an inexpensive and easy to use combined fluid and sheet dispensing system is provided for the consumer.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sheet dispenser is a pop-up dispensing system, whereby a portion of a single sheet is presented through said opening and the grasping and withdrawal of the presentment through said opening causes said sheet dispenser to dispense that single sheet, such action leaving a portion of the next sheet held in said opening and similarly presented for the next use.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said connecting means are integrally formed together with said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, whereby further manufacturing cost is saved.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said integral connecting means are mating snap-grooves.
- 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said mating snap grooves are engaged by the action of the rim of said cappable opening snapping over said integral lid shape.
- 6. The system of claim 4, wherein said mating snap grooves are engaged by the action of the rim of said cappable opening snapping into said integral lid shape.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, when said integral capping means are employed, themselves form an internal cavity fully containing said sheet supply, whereby said sheet supply is protected from contamination and physical deformation.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, when said integral capping means are employed, themselves form an internal enclosure containing said sheet supply, said internal enclosure formed to house a roll with a core and formed to include integral roll-locating hubs, whereby said roll may freely spin within said internal cavity.
- 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sheet dispenser serves as a base or stand for the fluid dispenser.
- 10. In a combined dispensing system for the dispensing of dissimilar yet related products, and more specifically for the combined dispensing of sheet and fluid products, the invention comprising:
(a) a fluid dispenser comprising:
a fluid-holding container, and dispensing means for dispensing fluid from said container, and (b) a sheet dispenser comprising:
a sheet-holding enclosure, a dispensing opening in said sheet holding enclosure, and a sheet supply of sheet material of a pattern and grouping suitable for pop-up dispensing through said dispensing opening, (c) connecting means for repeatable unattachment and reattachment between said fluid dispenser and said sheet dispenser, and (d) pop-up dispensing means for allowing said sheet supply to be dispensed through said opening such that a portion of a single sheet is presented through said opening and the grasping and withdrawal of the presentment through said opening causes said sheet dispenser to dispense that single sheet, such action leaving a portion of the next sheet held in said opening and similarly presented for the next use, whereby the user may, while walking and without reliance on any surface for placement of any items, dispense fluid with one hand and sheets with the other and thus always have a free hand to wipe with while moving and cleaning uninterruptedly from location to location and within a given location and without concern that sheets may accidentaly self-dispense either in use or, when the user is finished, in storage, whereby the user is afforded an easy to use, convenient, and truly mobile system for the combined dispensing of fluid and sheet products.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said connecting means are integrally formed together with said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, whereby further manufacturing cost is saved.
- 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said integral connecting means are mating snap-grooves.
- 13. The system of claim 10, wherein said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, when said integral standing means are employed, themselves form an internal cavity fully containing said sheet supply, whereby said sheet supply is protected from contamination and physical deformation.
- 14. The system of claim 10, wherein said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, when said integral standing means are employed, together form an internal enclosure containing said sheet supply, said internal enclosure formed to house a roll with a core and formed to include integral roll-locating hubs, whereby said roll may freely spin within said internal cavity.
- 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid dispenser serves as a cap or lid for the sheet dispenser.
- 16. A method for dispensing combined dissimilar, yet related products, and more specifically a method for dispensing sheet and fluid products in combination, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) providing a sheet dispenser comprising:
a sheet-holding enclosure, a dispensing opening in said sheet holding enclosure, and a sheet supply of sheet material of a pattern and grouping appropriate for dispensing through said dispensing opening, (b) providing a fluid dispenser comprising:
a fluid-holding container, and dispensing means for dispensing fluid from said container, and (c) providing an integral capping means for allowing said fluid dispenser to act as a removable cap to access and refill stored sheets in the sheet dispenser and in which said capping means further serve as the primary means by which said sheet dispenser and fluid dispenser are connected together to form a combined sheet and fluid dispenser, said integral capping means when employed further allowing full access to said dispensing opening, said integral capping means comprising:
an integral lid shape formed together with said fluid-holding container, a cappable opening in said sheet-holding enclosure, and connecting means for repeatable unattachment and reattachment between said integral lid shape and said cappable opening, whereby the manufacturer saves cost which would normally have been expended towards a separate lid, towards further attachment means for joining said sheet dispenser and said fluid dispenser, and towards additional assembly costs; whereby weight is minimized, providing for a more lightweight and easier to carry and use system for the consumer and providing for reduced shipping costs for the manufacturer; whereby an uncomplicated and easy to understand system with a minimal number of parts is presented to the consumer both upon first inspection when seen on supermarket shelves and upon further use at home whereby an inexpensive and easy to use combined fluid and sheet dispensing system is provided for the consumer.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said the providing said sheet dispenser further comprises providing a pop-up dispensing system, whereby a portion of a single sheet is presented through said opening and the grasping and withdrawal of the presentment through said opening causes said sheet dispenser to dispense that single sheet, such action leaving a portion of the next sheet held in said opening and similarly presented for the next use.
- 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing said connecting means further comprises the step of are integrally formed said connecting means together with said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure, whereby further manufacturing cost is saved.
- 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the step of providing and subsequently employing said capping means further comprises the step of forming between said fluid holding container and said sheet-holding enclosure an internal cavity fully containing said sheet supply, whereby said sheet supply is protected from contamination and physical deformation.
- 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the step of providing the sheet dispenser further comprises the step of forming an integral base or stand for the fluid dispenser into the sheet dispenser.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/170303, filed Dec. 13, 1999.
[0002] This application hereby incorporates by reference, in its entirety and for all purposes, my U.S. patent application, Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. 13, 2000, titled “Pop-Up Sheet Product Dispensing System,” naming Aram J. Irwin as inventor.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60170303 |
Dec 1999 |
US |