Patent Grant
10413137
N/A.
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to pop-up dispensing systems for wipes, for example, to dispensing systems containing a rectangular stack of wipes, which allow dispensing one wipe at a time from the container.
2. Description of Related Art
Cleaning wipes are readily available and well known in the art. Such wipes are often housed within a container, allowing the consumer to dispense a wipe when desired for use. Existing dispensing containers though are not particularly well suited to the desired aesthetics of a kitchen, bathroom, or other typical consumer room where they may be employed, so that consumers will typically store such containers of wipes within a cupboard or drawer, rather than on a tabletop or countertop, where easier access would be possible. As such, while various dispensing devices exist, there remains a continuing need for improved devices.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a dispensing container including a container that may include a bottom, a top, and one or more side walls defining an interior cavity within the container. A support structure is provided within the interior cavity which is adjacent to the bottom of the container, and which forms an initial angle with the bottom of the container that is greater than 90°. At least a portion of the support structure (e.g., the supporting top surface thereof) forms an angle with the bottom of the container that is from 120° to 150°. For example, the initial angle formed by the supporting top surface of the support structure relative to the bottom of the container, or an angle formed further up the supporting top surface of the support structure relative to the bottom (i.e., floor) may be from about 120° to about 150°. A rectangular stack of wipes (i.e., having a short side and a long side) may be positioned within the interior cavity of the container, in contact with the support structure so that the stack has an angled, substantially vertical orientation within the container. The stack of wipes may be taller than the height of the container, so as to only fit into the container due to the slightly angled orientation of the stack, in combination with the flexible nature of the stack of wipes, coupled with the support structure allowing the stack to bend or flop over the support, allowing the long stack of wipes to fit within the container, as it rests against the support structure.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a container (e.g., including a bottom, top, and one or more side walls defining an interior cavity), a convex support structure in the interior cavity, which is adjacent the bottom of the container, and which forms an angle with the bottom of the container that is from about 120° to about 150°. The angle provided between the bottom and the supporting top surface of the support structure may vary along the arc length of the convexly curved top surface, so that the initial angle may be greater than 90°, and somewhere within a mid-portion thereof the angle may be from about 120° to about 150°. In some embodiments, the terminating angle at the highest point along the top surface of the support structure may form a terminating angle relative to the bottom that is from about 140° to about 170°. A rectangular stack of wipes may be positioned within the interior cavity so that a short side of the stack of wipes contacts the bottom of the container, and the stack of wipes is supported against the top surface of the support structure. The angled orientation of the stack, and its flexible nature allows a stack of wipes that is taller than the container to be accommodated therein.
The described containers may be of variously defined shapes. For example, in an embodiment, the container may be generally rectangular (e.g., with 4 side walls). In another embodiment, the container may be cylindrical. A cylindrical container may include a bottom, a top, and a side wall defining an interior cavity, and a support structure in the interior cavity which is adjacent to the bottom of the container. The support structure (e.g., the supporting top surface thereof) forms an angle with the bottom of the container that is from about 120° to about 150°. The angle formed with the bottom may vary along the length of the supporting top surface, e.g., increasing from a location adjacent the base towards the highest point along the top surface of the support structure. The container may include a dispensing orifice beneath a lid associated with the top of the container, which forms an angle that is from about 120° to about 150° relative to the bottom. A rectangular stack of wipes having a short side and a long side may be provided in the interior cavity of the container, positioned so that the short side of the stack contacts the bottom of the container, with the stack being supported by the top surface of the support structure.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of preferred embodiments below.
To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the drawings located in the specification. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particularly exemplified systems or process parameters that may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
The term “comprising” which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
The term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention.
The term “consisting of” as used herein, excludes any element or step not specified in the claim.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “surfactant” includes one, two or more surfactants.
Unless otherwise stated, all percentages, ratios, parts, and amounts used and described herein are by weight.
Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein may include that value, and also other values that are about or approximately the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result, and/or values that round to the stated value. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a typical manufacturing or formulation process, and may include values that are within 10%, within 5%, within 1%, etc. of a stated value. Furthermore, the terms “substantially”, “similarly”, “about” or “approximately” as used herein represent an amount or state close to the stated amount or state that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the term “substantially” “about” or “approximately” may refer to an amount that is within 10% of, within 5% of, or within 1% of, a stated amount or value.
Some ranges may be disclosed herein. Additional ranges may be defined between any values disclosed herein as being exemplary of a particular parameter. All such ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.
In the application, effective amounts are generally those amounts listed as the ranges or levels of ingredients in the descriptions, which follow hereto. Unless otherwise stated, amounts listed in percentage (“%'s”) are in weight percent (based on 100% active) of a composition.
As used herein, the terms “nonwoven” or “nonwoven web” means a web having a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted web. Nonwoven webs may be formed from many processes, such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, spunlace processes, airlaid processes and bonded carded web processes. The particular method for fiber lay down for layers of a nonwoven wipe is not particularly limited.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.
In an aspect, the present invention is directed to “designer” wipes dispensing containers. Such containers are more readily accepted for long term placement on a table or countertop, rather than being relegated to placement in a closed or hidden location (such as a drawer or cupboard). According to an embodiment, such a container may include a bottom, top, and one or more side walls defining an interior cavity. The container is configured to accommodate a rectangular stack of wipes. Such a stack of wipes may have a short side (the width), and a long side (the length). The stack may also have a thickness, which depends on how many wipes are included in the stack. A typical stack may include about 20 to about 100, about 25 to about 80, or about 30 to about 50 wipes. For example, such a stack may be about 0.5 inch (about 12.7 mm) to about 1.25 inch (about 31.75 mm), or about 1 inch (about 25.4 mm) thick. The wipes may have various desired width and length dimensions, e.g., about 7 inches (177.8 mm) by about 8 inches (203.2 mm). The wipes may be folded, to decrease the width and/or length dimension. For example, a typical folding pattern may result in a folded wipe having a length of 7 inches (177.8 mm) and a width of about 4 inches (101.6 mm). It will be apparent that various sizes, folding patterns, etc. may be employed, as desired.
The length of the stack of wipes may actually be greater than the height of the interior cavity of the container, although the stack of wipes may still be accommodated within the interior cavity as will be described herein. The container may further include a support structure in the interior cavity, which support structure is adjacent the bottom of the container (e.g., it may contact the container bottom). In an embodiment, a top surface of the support structure may form an angle relative to the bottom of the container. Such angle may be in a range from about 120° to about 150°.
The support structure may include a supporting top surface that is curved, or angled. For example, the top surface of the support structure may be convexly curved. The support structure serves as a support against which the rectangular stack of wipes may lean. Because of the flexible, bendable nature of the rectangular stack of wipes, the stack of wipes may bend so as to follow at least a portion of the contour of the top surface of the support structure. In an embodiment, the support structure may have a height that terminates short of the top of the interior cavity, and the stack of wipes may “flop” or bend over the rear end of the top surface of the support structure. As a result of this bent or “flopped-over” orientation assumed by the stack of wipes, the relatively tall stack of wipes may be accommodated within the interior cavity of the container.
The top surface 110c of the support structure may form an initial angle θ1 that is greater than 90°. Because of the backward, convex curvature of the top surface 110c, the angle formed between the bottom and the supporting top surface 110c (or a line tangent thereto) varies along the arc length of top surface 110c.
As mentioned, where the top surface 110 is convexly curved, it will be apparent that the angle formed relative to bottom wall 102 by top surface 110 may increase from the bottom front corner 111b to the top rear corner 111a. For example, the initial angle θ1 between bottom wall 102 and top surface 110 at 111b may be somewhat more than 90° (e.g., greater than 90° to about 95°), and may increase as the location progresses up the wedge shaped support structure 110, so as to be from 120° to 150° at location 111c, within a mid-section of top surface 110. Such a curved top surface may, in some embodiments, cause the stack of wipes 112 to also assume a curved orientation, aiding to fit the length of the stack of wipes into the container, as such a curve includes a longer arc length than a straight line between any two given points would provide.
In an embodiment, both the bottom surface 110a and side surface 110b may be flat. The bottom surface 110a may be shorter in length than the side surface 110b. For example, the bottom surface may be about 40 mm in length (e.g., from about 30 to about 50 mm). The side surface 110b may extend to a height that is about half or more of the height of the container 100. For example, the side surface may be about 80 mm in height (e.g., about 70 to about 90 mm), while the height of the container at a location aligned with the side surface 110b may be about 120 to about 150 mm. The front of the container 100 may be about 105 mm in height (e.g., about 95 mm to about 115 mm), while the back of the container 100 may be about 140 mm in height (e.g., about 130 mm to about 150 mm). Such dimensions are merely exemplary. Various sizes are of course possible. It will be apparent that in one such embodiment, the stack of wipes (e.g., 7 inches in height) may thus be taller than at least the front of the cylindrical container 200, only fitting therein because of the bent over, flopped, or draped configuration assumed by the stack of wipes within the container.
As will be apparent from
The container may be configured to provide for dispensing of the wipes 112 through the top 104 of the container 100. As shown, the top 104 of container 100 may be angled downward, sloping downward towards the front. In other words, the rear sidewall 106 may have a height that is greater than the front sidewall. By way of example, the top 104 may form an angle relative to the bottom wall 102 that ranges from about 120° to about 150°. Such a sloping configuration to the top wall aids with accessing a single wipe of the stack of wipes that is threaded through an orifice associated with the top of the container as seen in
According to an embodiment, as seen in
As shown, dispensing orifice 114 may be provided in top 104, e.g., in lower top portion 104a, beneath top portion 104b, which selectively covers orifice 114. Where top portion 104a is angled relative to bottom 102, the orifice 114 may similarly be angled relative to the bottom 102. For example, dispensing orifice 114 may be in a plane forming an angle from about 120° to about 150° relative to the bottom 102 of container 100. In other words, the dispensing orifice may be substantially parallel with the top of the container. As described above, where a substantial length (e.g., particularly the central portion) of the stack of wipes is also in this angled orientation, the stack 112, the orifice 114, and the top 104 may all be generally parallel with one another. The orifice 114 may be disposed over, parallel to, and/or aligned with the support structure 110.
As shown in
A dispensing orifice 214 may be provided within the top 204 of container 200, e.g., beneath the lid portion 204b, which closes over orifice 214. As shown, the dispensing orifice may be recessed into a top container portion 200b, below the top of portion 200b, where the container body may include separate portions (a lower portion 200a, and an upper portion 200b). The dispensing orifice 214 may be angled relative to bottom 202. For example, similar to container 100, orifice 214 may be in a plane that forms an angle that is from about 120° to about 150° relative to bottom 202. Stack of wipes 212 may be disposed within interior cavity 208 so that the short side of the rectangular stack of wipes contacts the bottom 202 of container 200.
As seen in
As seen in
Upper portion 200b may be relatively short, having a diameter equal to that at the top of the bottom portion 200a. The top 204 of the container 200 may be sloped, or angled, as described relative to top 104 of container 100. For example, the lid 204b and top 204 may form an angle from about 120° to about 150° relative to bottom wall 202. As a result, the height of portion 200b adjacent the front (where lid 204b may latch) may be about 25 to about 30 mm in height, while the height of portion 200b at the rear (e.g., where lid 204b may be hinged) may be about 55 mm (e.g., about 50 to about 60 mm) in height. With upper portion 200b coupled over lower portion 200a as seen in
Any configuration of rectangular stack of wipes may be employed with the described containers.
The stack of wipes may be prewetted with any desired cleaning or other composition. For example, such a composition may include water, and any desired functional ingredients. For example, one or more surfactants may often be included. Various other components may be included, as desired. For example, an organic or mineral acid (e.g., to aid in cleaning) may be included. One or more of a chelating agent, an oxidizing agent (e.g., any peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide), or a hypochlorite, (e.g., sodium hypochlorite), or one or more other adjuncts selected from the group consisting of fragrances, dyes, preservatives, humectants, solvents, polymers, pH adjusters, solubilizers, and combinations thereof may also be provided. A quaternary ammonium compound for disinfection may be included. Exemplary amounts of some optional components may include less than 5%, less than 4%, less than 3%, less than 2% (e.g., from 1% to 2%, or from greater than 0.5% to about 1.5%) of an acid; less than 3%, less than 2%, less than 1% (e.g., from about 0.5% to 1%) of a pH adjuster (e.g., a hydroxide); less than 1%, less than 0.5%, less than 0.3% (e.g., from about 0.01% to 0.5%) of a solubilizer (e.g., to solubilize a fragrance or other oil); less than 1%, or less than 0.5% of dye, fragrance, and/or preservative; or less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 4%, less than 3%, less than 2%, less than 1%, or less than 0.5% of any other optional adjuvant. The majority of the composition may comprise water or another solvent (e.g., alcohols). Any suitable surfactants may be employed, including nonionic, anionic, cationic, ampholytic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples include, but are not limited to sulfates, sulfonates, betaines, alkyl polysaccharides, (e.g., alkyl polyglycosides (“APG”), also known as alkyl polyglucosides), alcohol ethoxylates, and combinations thereof. One or more of the selected surfactants may provide foam building characteristics.
By way of example, amine oxide chains may be provided with the one or more surfactants. For example, the surfactant(s) may include from 30% to 100% amine oxide components. Exemplary amine oxide chain lengths may include C8 to C16, e.g., C12 and C14. Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) are examples of suitable sulfate based amine oxide surfactants. APG chain length may be from C8 to C16, such as C8 to C14. Such chain lengths provide a good balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, creating a composition that can generate foam easily with minimal water, and which can also continue to generate foam under relatively high water conditions (e.g., as occurs when cleaning with rinse water). Various suitable APG surfactants are available from BASF under the tradename GLUCOPON (e.g., GLUCOPON 600). Various suitable SLS and SLES surfactants are available from STEPAN under the tradenames STEPANOL (e.g., STEPANOL WA EXTRA) and STEOL (e.g., STEOL CS 230). Various other surfactants available from these and other surfactant suppliers may be suitable for use.
A typical listing of anionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic classes, and species of these surfactants, is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin. A list of cationic surfactants is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,217 to Murphy. Various alkyl polysaccharide surfactants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,872 to Giret et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,059 to Furman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,062 to Addison et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,973 to Ouzounis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647 to Llenado. Various nonionic surfactants can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin. Each of the above patents is incorporated by reference.
A cleaning composition pre-dosed on the wipes may be effective at cleaning and removing soils and spills typically present on countertops, tabletops, and other hard surfaces. Some cleaning compositions could be formulated for safe use on hands, or other skin surfaces, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. While a pre-dosed stack of wipes including a cleaning or other liquid composition held thereon and/or therein may be preferred, it will be appreciated that the containers may also be used to dispense wipes from a stack where the wipes are dry, or at least dry to the touch. For example, a dry-to-the-touch wipe may feel generally dry, and may be intended to be wetted with water prior to use. Some fraction of water may already be included in a dry to the touch wipe. Such a dry to the touch wipe may be pre-dosed with a desired cleaning or other composition that becomes “activated” upon addition of additional water.
Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, one of ordinary skill can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. As such, these changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalence of the following claims.
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