Not applicable
Not applicable
Dispensing of toilet tissue in roll form is well known in the art. Typical dispensers for tissue rolls generally include a base that is attached to a wall or other supporting surface, and support arms that extend transversely from the base. A spindle is inserted through the roll and engaged in recesses or divots at the ends of the support arms.
Numerous dispensers have been developed in the art specifically for dispensing stacked individual tissue sheets. Such dispensers typically permit the user to remove any number of sheets one at a time in a manner such that the adjacent sheet is presented for easy grasping and removal from the dispenser. Efforts have been made to incorporate such dispensers with existing conventional rolled product dispensing fixtures so that the dispenser need not be separately mounted.
One embodiment provides an improved folded tissue sheet dispenser adapted for configuration with conventional roll product dispensing fixtures.
While certain novel features of this invention shown and described below are pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details specified, since a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. No feature of the invention is critical or essential unless it is expressly stated as being “critical” or “essential.”
The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a improved folded tissue sheet dispenser adapted for configuration with conventional roll product dispensing fixtures.
One embodiment provides a supplemental sheet dispenser compatible with conventional toilet paper dispensing systems.
One embodiment provides a supplemental sheet dispenser wherein the sheets may be pre-wetted and supplied in substantially sealed container with sealable access door. In one embodiment the container can include extendable connecting arms which can detachably connect to a conventional toilet paper dispenser. One embodiment provides a dispenser for dry sheets which can be wetted by a liquid added to the container component by the user or consumer.
In one embodiment is provided a supplemental dispenser for detachably mounting on a conventional toilet paper dispenser, the apparatus having a container component adapted to accept or pre-loaded with wetted, self-wetting or wettable sheet material.
In one embodiment is provided releasable attachment mechanism for the container housing for detachably mounting on a conventional toilet paper dispenser.
In one embodiment is provided a detachable mount having extendable arms for attachment of the container conventional toilet-tissue dispenser to releasably engage a toilet-tissue supporting spindle of the dispenser.
One embodiment provides a supplementary dispenser configured for dispensing a supply of folded tissues from a dispenser fixture that has extendable and retractable support arms. The fixture may be, for example, a conventional tissue roll dispenser wherein the support arms include a opening at their ends into which the ends of a spindle are received. The spindle is typically inserted through a core or hollow member provided in the bathroom tissue roll.
The dispenser includes a housing container having an internal compartment volume configured to retain a supply of folded issue sheets. The housing is not limited to any particular style, configuration, or shape, and may take on any aesthetically pleasing configuration and be made of any conventional material.
In one embodiment, the housing is an elongated box-like structure. The housing may be refillable, or can be a disposable item to be discarded after depletion of the tissue supply. It should also be appreciated that the dispenser is not limited to any particular type of product to be dispensed, but is particularly well suited for dispensing a stack of interfolded tissue sheets. The tissue sheets may be dry or pre-moistened.
A dispensing opening is defined in a wall of the housing. The opening may be, for example, a door in a top surface, bottom surface, or side surface of the housing. The opening provides a location for a consumer to easily access, grasp, and pull individual tissue sheets from the dispenser.
Retractable and extendable support arms can be provided on opposed exterior side walls of the container housing. Each support arm can include an opening with a shape and configuration for engagement with a portion of a spindle.
In one embodiment the support arms can be extendable and retractable in positions along their respective tracks allowing the container housing to be adaptable with different fixtures having varying length support arms along with allowing the container housing to provide frictional resistance to the roll of toilet paper. In one particular embodiment, the support arms are variably positionable along their tracks. In one embodiment a releasable engagement mechanism is provided between each support arm and the container housing, which can include a ratcheting mechanism such as a resiliently mounted positioning button which can be connected to one of a plurality of positioning openings disposed along each arms length.
In one embodiment the extension member may be resiliently biased towards the openings. Any configuration of engaging members operatively disposed between the slide member and position bar may be used. In an alternate embodiment, each arm may be frictionally retained in position relative to the track.
In one embodiment the dispenser may also include a supply of folded tissues disposed within the container housing. The container housing may be openable and refillable with a cartridge of tissues in the form of, for example, a bag or pouch-like container insertable into the housing.
In one embodiment is provided a container including an openable door
(a) when closed is hermetically seals the interior volume of the container, and
(b) when opened provides access to at least one sheet of a plurality of sheets. In one embodiment the door is pivotally connected to the container (e.g. hingedly connected).
In one embodiment a basic liquid employed as above described may, for example, be largely a distilled sterile water, water and alcohol, or water, alcohol and an emollient such as lanolin. A fragrance may also be included. Other possible ingredients comprise a humectant, e.g., glycerine or propylene glycol, an appropriate antiseptic or germicidal substance, or a bacteriostat, a mineral oil, an emulsifying agent and a stabilizing agent. While a liquid as, for example, a liquid having a cleansing and sterilizing property may be used, the sheets may alternatively use a treating agent such as a powder, a salve, a cream or the like.
In one embodiment the wetted sheets have an adequate tear strength to withstand withdrawal from the container and such sheets they may multilayered.
In one embodiment the container and its components are comprised of plastic composition, e.g., a thermoplastic such as polystyrene, polypropylene, a polycarbonate, ABS, etc., and are formed, for example, by an injection molding method.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments 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 any appropriate system, structure or manner.
Referring to the figures in general, in one embodiment is provided a supplementary dispenser 10 is provided for storing and dispensing folded tissue sheets 250 from a toilet paper dispenser 100, the supplemental dispenser 10 having extending and retracting support arms 400,500, a container 200, and an interior volume 210.
In one embodiment supplemental dispenser 10 can be provided for dispensing pre-moistened or dry tissue sheets 250 from a container housing 200. In one embodiment, various types of sheets 250 can be dispensed from supplemental dispenser 10, such as dry or pre-moistened tissues. In one embodiment, supplemental dispenser 10 can dispense individual stacked interfolded sheets—either dry or pre-moistened. Such stacked configurations for dry or pre-moistened sheets are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring particularly to the figures, container housing 200 can have has a configuration with a width and a depth to contain conventionally available pre-moistened wipes. Container housing 200 can include an interior volume 210 in which the tissue sheets 250 are stored and dispensed from. Container housing 200 may take on any shape or configuration, and the rectangular box-type configuration shown in the figures is for illustrative purposes only. Top 205 of container 200 can include dispensing opening 208 (to interior volume 210) which can be sealed/closed by door 220. In different embodiments dispensing opening 208 may be included on any side of container housing 200. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing opening 208 is shown on the top 205. In various embodiments dispensing opening 208 may take on any suitable shape or configuration.
The container housing 200 may be formed of any conventional material, and may be a relatively inexpensive plastic disposable material, paperboard material, paper, cardboard, and the like. It may be desired to form the container housing 200 of a liquid impermeable material if it is desired to contain and dispense premoistened tissue sheets 250. In one embodiment, container housing 250 may be formed of any type of material, including a liquid absorbent, and the pre-moistened tissue sheets 250 may be encased in a liquid impermeable film. Alternatively, interior volume 210 may be lined with the film. The premoistened sheets 250 may be provided in a refill package or cartridge that may be placed into the interior volume 210, the refill package including the liquid impermeable film. In this configuration, the container 200 can have a resealable wall, lid, or other member that may be opened to allow a refill cartridge of tissues to be inserted into the interior volume 210.
It may further be desired that interior volume 210 include a door 220 over a dispensing opening 208. In the case of pre-moistened sheets 250, door 220 may be hinged with hinge 224 and when door 220 is closed, it prevents significant loss of moisture from sheets 250 and prevents undesired drying out. In one embodiment door can be snap closed on top 205 with lock 226. In on embodiment door 220 can be frictionally locked with a rim of opening 208.
In one embodiment supplemental dispenser 10 can be supported on toilet paper dispenser 100 by a plurality of arms 400,500. In one embodiment the support arms 400,500 can be foldably connected to container 200 by hinges 402,502.
In one embodiment supplemental dispenser 10 can be attached to a conventionally available toilet paper dispenser 100 having a roll of toilet paper 170. Such fixtures 100 are well known and a typical fixture 100 is shown in
The following is a list of reference numerals:
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/795,236, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, (issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,383 on Dec. 27, 2016), which is a continuation in part of U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/436,531, filed Nov. 7, 2012, (now U.S. design Pat. No. D688063), which applications are incorporated herein by reference and priority of/to which applications is hereby claimed.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13795236 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 15391054 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 29436531 | Nov 2012 | US |
Child | 13795236 | US |