WIPE DISPENSER

Abstract

A wipe dispenser for holding and dispensing flushable toilet wipes that can slide onto a preexisting toilet roll bar as a replacement for traditional toilet paper rolls. More specifically, the wipe dispenser has a primary housing; a loading cap; at least one detent button located on the loading cap; at least one cap locking slot on the cap mounting lip that aligns with the at least one detent button; an inner roll bar having two ends; at least one roll bar adapter located on an end of the inner roll bar; a dispensing lid; a dispensing lid finger detent; a dispensing opening covered by the dispensing lid; at least one thin, solid layer protruding into the dispensing opening; a dispensing slot in the at least one thin, solid layer; and snap protrusions on a front of the dispensing lid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a wipe dispenser used for holding and dispensing flushable toilet wipes. More specifically, it relates to a wipe dispenser having a primary housing, a dispensing portion, and a loading portion, wherein the wipe dispenser can slide onto a preexisting toilet roll bar as a replacement for traditional toilet paper rolls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, toilet paper is a dry, tissue paper used as a hygiene product by individuals to wipe clean their anus and surrounding area after defecating. Female individuals also use it to clean their urethra and surrounding area after urination. It is commonly sold in strips of perforated paper wrapped around a hollow, cardboard core and can be held in a dispenser by sliding the hollow, cardboard core around a toilet roll bar.

While toilet paper usually cleans away the majority of urine and fecal matter, it is, occasionally, not as efficient or thorough as pre-moistened wipes. An individual may require the use of a higher volume of dry toilet paper to accomplish the same task that fewer, moist wipes can. One drawback of moist wipes, however, is that there is no common or universal dispenser for the moist wipes to be dispensed from. Therefore, if individuals wish to use moist wipes, they must carry around the container the wet wipes are sold in so that the moist wipes are accessible when the need arises. Therefore, a wipe dispenser is needed that can contain moist wipes and that can attach onto the majority of currently used toilet paper dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a wipe dispenser used for holding and dispensing flushable toilet wipes. The wipe dispenser is comprised of a primary housing to hold the toilet wipes, a dispensing portion, a loading portion, and a roll bar adapter. The wipe dispenser is designed to slide onto a preexisting toilet roll bar as a replacement for traditional toilet paper rolls and to seal in moisture from the moist wipes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wipe dispenser in a closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position. FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 5 is a front right perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in an open position without wipes.

FIG. 6 is a front right perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in an open position with wipes.

FIG. 7 is a front right perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in an open position without wipes.

FIG. 8 is a front right perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 10 is right side elevational cross-sectional view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position taken from the line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational cross-sectional view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position taken from the line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG.13 with the dispensing lid opened.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13 with the loading cap and dispensing lid removed.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13 in a closed position.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13 taken from the line 18-18 in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a right side elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a bottom elevational cross-sectional view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13 taken from the line 20-20 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a top elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 22 is a bottom elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is a back elevational view of the wipe dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 24 illustrates a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates a wipe dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a wipe dispenser that is used for holding and dispensing flushable toilet wipes. Various embodiments of the wipe dispenser will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the wipe dispenser disclosed herein. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the wipe dispenser. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Preferred embodiments of the wipe dispenser disclosed herein include features that are best suited for moist wipes. However, some embodiments of the wipe dispenser disclosed herein can also be used for dry wipes. The various parts of a preferred embodiment of a wipe dispenser include a primary housing to hold the moist wipes, at least one dispensing portion, a loading portion, and a roll bar adapter that allows users to attach the disclosed invention on to a traditional toilet roll bar.

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate various views of one example of a wipe dispenser according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a front elevational view. FIG. 2 is a back elevational view. FIG. 3 is a side elevational view. FIG. 4 is a top elevational view. FIG. 5 is a front right perspective view of an empty, open dispenser. FIG. 6 is a front right perspective view of a full, open dispenser. FIG. 7 is a front right perspective view of an empty, open dispenser. FIG. 8 is a front right perspective view. FIG. 9 is a front elevational view. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of line 10-10 in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a side elevational view. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13-23 illustrate various views of one example of a wipe dispenser according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of an open dispenser. FIG. 14 is a front right perspective view of an open dispenser. FIG. 15 is a front right perspective view of a dispenser excluding the loading cap and dispensing lid. FIG. 16 is a front right perspective view of a closed dispenser. FIG. 17 is a front elevational view. FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of line 18-18 in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a right side elevational view; the left side elevational view is a mirror image of the right side view. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of line 20-20 in FIG. 19. FIG. 21 is a top elevational view. FIG. 22 is a bottom elevational view. FIG. 22 is a back view. FIGS. 24-28 illustrate alternative embodiments of a wipe dispenser and are described in more detail below.

Embodiment #1

Generally, the wipe dispenser is cylindrical. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the wipe dispenser is comprised of an upper loading lid 102, an upper loading lid latch 104, an upper dispensing lid 106, an upper dispensing lid finger detent 108, a lower loading lid 202, a lower loading lid latch 204, a lower dispensing lid 206, a lower dispensing lid finger detent 208, a roll bar adapter 302, and a center housing 502 having outer walls 504 and wipe ribs 506 for preventing the wipes from getting out of position. Underneath the upper and lower dispensing lids 106, 206 are wipe dispensing openings that have wipe dispensing slots. The wipe dispensing slots can be used to separate the moist wipes 612 from each other as they are pulled out of the wipe dispenser.

The majority of the wipe dispenser can be made of any rigid material such as, but not limited to, plastic or metal. Because the wipe dispenser is designed to hold moist wipes, moisture seals are built into each of the areas of the wipe dispenser that open. These moisture seals are, in some embodiments, friction seals between rigid parts. In other embodiments, a rubber or other flexible lining is used to enable the parts to close and seal tightly without letting air or moisture escape.

In a preferred embodiment, the main pieces of the wipe dispenser are the upper loading lid 102, the lower loading lid 202, and the center housing 502. In some embodiments, the center housing 502 is configured to accept and house the moist wipes 612 in its upper and its lower compartments, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202 are configured to cover the center housing 502 and the moist wipes 612.

In some embodiments, the upper and lower loading lids 102, 202 are symmetrical and hinge open on opposite sides. More specifically, the upper loading lid 102 has at least one hinge 210 on the back of the wipe dispenser and the lower loading lid 202 has at least one hinge 110 on the front of the wipe dispenser, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Therefore, if the wipe dispenser runs out of moist wipes 612 in, for example, the upper compartment of the center housing 502, an individual can rotate the wipe dispenser 180 degrees around its roll bar adapter 302 so that the lower compartment of the center housing 502 is now on top and the lower loading lid 202 will open facing front.

In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, the center housing 502 is comprised of an upper and lower compartment, outer walls 504, housing wipe ribs 506, a roll bar cover tube 508 that covers the roll bar adapter 302, and a center divider 510. As described above, the center housing 502 holds stacks of rectangular moist wipes 612 in its upper and lower compartments. Additionally, the upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202 enclose the center housing 502 and create a tight seal that prevents fluid leakage and minimizes the escape of moisture when the wipe dispenser and closed.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper and lower compartments that hold the moist wipes 612 are separated by a roll bar cover tube 508 and, extending out from the roll bar tube 508, a center divider 510. A plurality of housing wipe ribs 506 span each of the upper and lower compartments from front to back and protrude out from the roll bar cover tube 508 and the center divider 510. They are generally arc-shaped, with the peak of the arc being located near the center of the compartment. The housing wipe ribs 506 act to control the location of the moist wipes 612 and to prevent the moist wipes 612 from getting out of position and twisted. The roll bar cover tube 508 and center divider 510 also prevent fluid from leaking out of the center housing 502 and they fit over and around the roll bar adapter 302, which runs through the center of the device.

The areas of the upper and lower compartments are also defined by outer walls 504. More specifically, the outer walls 504 at the front and back regions of the upper and lower compartments are tall enough to contain a stack of moist wipes 612, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and to operate as a friction seal with the upper and lower loading lids 102, 202, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The outer walls 504 at the sides of the upper and lower compartments are shorter than at the front and back regions. The outer walls control the location of the moist wipes 612 and prevent the moist wipes 612 from getting out of position.

When in use, the moist wipes 612 are generally pulled from either the upper or the lower compartment. It is anticipated that all of the moist wipes 612 from the upper compartment of the center housing 502 will be pulled out of the wipe dispenser before moist wipes 612 are pulled out from the lower compartment. To make the transition of use from the upper compartment to the lower compartment easy for an individual, the upper loading lid 102 hinges from the back of the wipe dispenser while the lower loading lid 202 hinges from the front of the wipe dispenser, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Therefore, when the upper compartment runs out of moist wipes 612, a user can rotate the wipe dispenser around the toilet roll bar to move the lower compartment into the upper compartment's previous position. The user can then easily pull moist wipes 612 from the lower compartment, as the lower loading lid 202 will open facing forward.

In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the upper loading lid 102 is comprised of an upper loading lid latch 104, an upper dispensing lid 106 having at least two upper snap protrusions, an upper dispensing lid finger detent 108, at least two upper loading lid hinges 210, an upper dispensing lid hinge 212, an upper dispensing opening 602, an upper dispensing slot 604, upper loading lid wipe ribs 606, an upper loading lid latch slot 608, and an upper loading lid seal rib 610.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the lower loading lid 202 is a mirror image of the upper loading lid 102 and is comprised of a lower loading lid latch 204, a lower dispensing lid 206 having at least two lower snap protrusions 706, a lower dispensing lid finger detent 208, at least two lower loading lid hinges 110, a lower dispensing lid hinge 112, a lower dispensing opening 702, a lower dispensing slot 704, lower loading lid wipe ribs, a lower loading lid latch slot, and a lower loading lid seal rib.

The upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202, generally, are hollow cavities that work in coordination with the center housing 502 to store and distribute the moist wipes 612. More specifically, as described above, the upper loading lid 102 and lower loading lid 202 form friction seals with the outer walls 504 of the center housing 502 to prevent moisture escape. The undersides of the upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202 have, respectively, upper loading lid wipe ribs 606 and lower loading lid wipe ribs that prevent the moist wipes 612 from getting out of position and twisted. Additionally, the upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202 have, respectively, an upper dispensing lid 106 and a lower dispensing lid 206 that an individual can open to access the moist wipes 612.

To add moist wipes 612 to the upper compartment of the center housing 502, an individual can activate the upper loading lid latch 104 on the upper loading lid 102 by, for example, pushing in on the upper loading lid latch 104, which releases the latch from an upper loading lid latch slot 608. When the upper loading lid latch 104 is released, an individual can pull open the upper loading lid 102, which hinges on, for example, two upper loading lid hinges 210, such as living hinges. The moist wipes 612 that are added to the wipe dispenser can be one continuous sheet that folds back and forth to fit into the center housing 502 and contains perforations. The perforations can outline individual rectangular moist wipes 612. When the moist wipes 612 are added to the wipe dispenser, an individual can close the upper loading lid 102 and lock it shut by pushing the upper loading lid latch 104 back into the upper loading lid latch slot 608. The same process can be implemented with the lower compartment of the center housing 502 using the lower loading lid latch 204 on the lower loading lid 202, a lower loading lid latch slot, and two lower loading lid hinges 110.

As described above, the upper loading lid 102 contains an upper dispensing opening 602 out of which an individual can pull the moist wipes 612. An upper dispensing lid 106 covers the upper dispensing opening 602 and opens by rotating about an upper dispensing lid hinge 212. To aid an individual in opening the upper dispensing lid 106, the upper loading lid 102 has an upper dispensing lid finger detent 108 in front of the upper dispensing lid 106. Therefore, an individual can hook a finger underneath the upper dispensing lid 106 and pull up on it to access the moist wipes 612. To close the upper dispensing lid 106, an individual can push the upper dispensing lid 106 down, and two upper snap protrusions on the front edge of the upper dispensing lid 106 can secure it in place by latching onto the inside surface of the upper dispensing opening 602. The same process can be implemented on the lower portion of the wipe dispensing using the lower loading lid 202 that contains a lower dispensing opening 702 covered by a lower dispensing lid 206 that opens by rotating about a lower dispensing lid hinge 112, a lower dispensing lid finger detent 208, in front of the lower dispensing lid 206, and two lower snap protrusions 706 on the front edge of the lower dispensing lid 206 that secure the lower dispensing lid 206 in place when closed.

The upper dispensing slot 604 and the lower dispensing slot 704 can, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively, be thin, non-linear slots in otherwise thin, solid layers 614, 708. However, the upper and lower dispensing slots 604, 704 can, in some embodiments, be linear slots. The thin, solid layers 614, 708 can be made of, for example, plastic or rubber and can cover at least a portion of the upper dispensing opening 602 and lower dispensing opening 702, thereby also covering a portion of the moist wipes 612.

In a preferred embodiment, the thin, solid layers 614, 708 cover approximately one half of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702. More specifically, they can cover the left half of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702 from the edge of the left side of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702 to the center of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702. Therefore, the thin, solid layers 614, 708 can run along half of their upper edges, their entire left side edges, and half of their lower edges, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The upper and lower dispensing slots 604, 704 can, in a preferred embodiment, run from the approximate center of their right most edges of the thin, solid layers 614, 708 located in the center of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702 toward the left edges of their thin, solid layers 614, 708 located on the left edges of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702. In some embodiments, the thin, solid layers 614, 708 can instead cover the right halves of the upper and lower dispensing openings 602, 702, and the upper and lower dispensing slots 604, 704 can run from the center of the left most edges of the thin, solid layers 614, 708 toward the right edges of the thin, solid layers 614, 708.

In some embodiments, and as described above, the moist wipes 612 can be comprised of one continuous sheet that folds back and forth and contains perforations that enable a user to pull one piece off at a time. Therefore, when the upper dispensing lid 106 or lower dispensing lid 206 is open, a user can reach into the upper or lower dispensing opening 602, 702 to grab the moist wipes 612 and can then pull the moist wipes 612 out of the upper or lower dispensing opening 602, 702 and through the upper or lower dispensing slot 604, 704. The upper and lower dispensing slots 604, 704 provide extra friction on the moist wipes 612 as a user pulls them out, thereby enabling the perforation between the section of the moist wipe being pulled and the remainder of the sheet to fully rip. This results in the user being able to separate a section of the moist wipes 612 from the rest of the continuous sheet.

As previously described, because the wipe dispenser is designed to hold moist wipes 612, the disclosed invention includes several moisture seals in order to enable the moist wipes 612 to retain their moisture. These moisture seals are, in some embodiments, friction seals between rigid parts. In other embodiments, a rubber or other flexible lining is used to enable the parts to close and seal tightly without letting air or moisture escape. For example, the wipe dispenser includes an upper loading lid seal rib 610, the upper loading lid 102 forms a friction seal with the outer walls 504, the outer walls 504 at the front and back regions of the upper and lower compartments operate as a friction seal with the upper and lower loading lids 102, 202, and rubber lining may be inserted in between the upper loading lid 102 and the lower loading lid 202.

Embodiment #2

As with embodiment #1, the wipe dispenser is generally cylindrical. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the wipe dispenser is generally comprised of a primary housing 1302, a loading cap 1304, a cap mounting lip 1306 on the primary housing 1302, a cap locking mechanism comprised of a detent button 1308 on the loading cap 1304 and a cap locking slot 1310 on the cap mounting lip 1306 into which the detent button 1308 slides, a roll bar adapter 1314, a dispensing lid 1316, and a dispensing lid finger detent 1318. Underneath the dispensing lid 1316 is a dispensing opening 1320 that has a dispensing slot 1324. The dispensing slot 1324 can be used to separate moist wipes from each other as they are pulled out of the wipe dispenser.

The majority of the wipe dispenser can be made of any rigid material such as, but not limited to, plastic or metal. Because the wipe dispenser is designed to hold moist wipes, moisture seals are built into each of the areas of the wipe dispenser that open. These moisture seals are, in some embodiments, friction seals between rigid parts. In other embodiments, a rubber or other flexible lining is used to enable the parts to close and seal tightly without letting air or moisture escape.

In a preferred embodiment, the main pieces of the wipe dispenser are the primary housing 1302, the loading cap 1304, the roll bar adapter 1314, and the dispensing lid 1316. In some embodiments, the primary housing 1302 is configured to accept and house a roll of moist wipes. Generally, the roll of moist wipes can be inserted into the primary housing 1302 on a side of the housing, can wrap around the inner roll bar 1312, and can be sealed in with the loading cap 1304. The moist wipes can be one continuous sheet that wraps around itself, similar to toilet paper, to fit into the primary housing 1302 and that contains perforations. The perforations can outline individual rectangular moist wipes.

In some embodiments, the wipe dispenser can have two loading caps 1304. However, in a preferred embodiment, the wipe dispenser has only one loading cap 1304. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15, the loading cap 1304 is removable from the primary housing 1302, which allows a user to add a roll of moist wipes for use with the wipe dispenser. In a preferred embodiment, the loading cap 1304 attaches to the side of the primary housing.

To attach the loading cap 1304 to the side of the primary housing, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 16, the primary housing 1302 has a cap mounting lip 1306 comprised of a thin lip protruding out the side of the primary housing and having a circumference slightly less than that of the primary housing 1302, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15. Therefore, when the loading cap 1304 is attached to the primary housing 1302, the transition between the two pieces is smooth.

The loading cap 1304 can secure to the cap mounting lip 1306 via a friction seal between the two pieces. Additionally, the wipe dispenser can have a cap locking mechanism comprised of a detent button 1308 and a cap locking slot 1310. More specifically, the detent button 1308 can be located on the edge of the loading cap 1304, and it can slide into, and lock in, a cap locking slot 1310 on the cap mounting lip 1306. In some embodiments, there are two detent buttons 1308 on opposite sides of the loading cap 1304 from each other and two corresponding cap locking slots 1310 on the cap mounting lip 1306.

To enable a user to secure the wipe dispenser on a toilet roll bar, the wipe dispenser has an inner roll bar 1312 in the center of the primary housing 1302 that encompasses a toilet roll bar. The inner roll bar 1312, in addition to encompassing the toilet roll bar, prevents fluid from the moist wipes from leaking out of the primary housing 1302 and helps the moist wipes retain their moisture content.

Additionally, the wipe dispenser can have a roll bar adapter 1314 located in the center of the loading cap 1304 that encompasses and secures the toilet roll bar in place. For example, the roll bar adapter 1314 can have a plurality of malleable extensions or fingers that secure the wipe dispenser in place on the toilet roll bar. In a preferred embodiment, the fingers can be located along the entire surface of the roll bar adapter 1314, as illustrated in FIG. 20, which is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 19. However, in some embodiments, they may only cover a portion of the surface of the roll bar adapter 1314. The fingers prevent the wipe dispenser from rotating around the toilet roll bar and keeps the dispensing opening 1320 facing forward toward a user. In a preferred embodiment, the wipe dispenser has two roll bar adapters 1314: one in the center of the loading cap 1304 and one in the center of the side wall on the opposite side of the loading cap 1304, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGS. 13-16 and 18, the wipe dispenser has a single dispensing area from where a user can access moist wipes after they have been loaded into the primary housing 1302. The dispensing area is comprised of the dispensing lid 1316, the dispensing lid finger detent 1318, dispensing opening 1320, thin solid layer 1322, dispensing slot 1324, snap protrusions 1326, and dispensing lid hinge 1328.

To use a moist wipe that has been loaded into the wipe dispenser, a user can pull the moist wipes out through the dispensing opening 1320. A dispensing lid 1316 covers the dispensing opening 1320 and opens by rotating about a dispensing lid hinge 1328. To aid an individual in opening the dispensing lid 1316, the dispensing area has a dispensing lid finger detent 1318 that provides space underneath the front edge of the dispensing lid 1316, as illustrated in FIG. 18, which is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 17. Therefore, an individual can hook a finger underneath the dispensing lid 1316 and pull up on the dispensing lid 1316 to access the moist wipes. To close the dispensing lid 1316, an individual can push the dispensing lid 1316 down, and two upper snap protrusions 1326 on the front edge of the dispensing lid 1316 can secure the dispensing lid 1316 in place by latching onto the inside surface of the dispensing opening 1320.

To help a user separate the moist wipes the user wishes to use from the remainder of the moist wipes on the roll, the dispensing opening 1320 may have at least one dispensing slot 1324. The dispensing slot 1324, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-15, can be a gap, notch, or cutout in an otherwise thin, solid layer 1322 that protrudes into the dispensing opening 1320. The thin, solid layer 1322 can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as plastic or rubber, and can cover at least a portion of the dispensing opening 1320. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing opening 1320 is roughly oval in shape with the long edges of the oval, dispensing opening 1320 located on the top and bottom of the dispensing opening 1320. Further, the wipe dispenser preferably has two thin, solid layers 1322, one each covering the left and right curved sides of the dispensing opening 1320, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-15. Therefore, when a user pulls a moist wipe out of the dispensing opening 1320, the user can navigate the wet wipe to the left or right to catch it in the dispensing slot 1324 and tear it away from the remainder of the moist wipes along its perforation.

In some embodiments, and as described above, the moist wipes can be comprised of one continuous sheet that wraps around itself and contains perforations that enable a user to pull one piece off at a time. Therefore, when the dispensing lid 1316 is open, a user can reach into the dispensing opening 1320 to grab the moist wipes and can then pull the moist wipes out of the dispensing opening 1320 and through the dispensing slot 1324. The dispensing slot 1324 provides extra friction on the moist wipes as a user pulls them out, thereby enabling the perforation between the section being pulled and the remainder of the sheet to fully rip. This results in the user being able to separate one section of the moist wipes from the remainder of the continuous sheet.

Because the wipe dispenser is designed to hold moist wipes, moisture seals are built into each of the areas of the wipe dispenser that can be opened to the atmosphere. These moisture seals are, in some embodiments, friction seals between rigid parts. In other embodiments, a rubber or other flexible lining is used to enable the parts to close and seal tightly without letting air or moisture escape. For example, the inner roll bar 1312 enables the wipe dispenser to slide onto a toilet roll bar and simultaneously seals the wet wipes in the primary housing 1302 to prevent moisture escape. In another example, the loading cap 1304 can be removed from the cap mounting lip 1306 to add moist wipes to the wipe dispenser and can then seal onto the cap mounting lip 1306 to prevent moisture escape.

Alternative Embodiments

Alternative embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 24-28. FIG. 24 illustrates one embodiment of a wipe dispenser comprised of a cylindrical housing having a spring access lid that opens to a stack of non-interwoven moist wipes. FIG. 25 illustrates one embodiment of a wipe dispenser comprised of a cylindrical housing having a soft molded membrane by which an individual can pull out a non-interwoven moist wipe from a stack stored inside the housing. FIG. 26 illustrates one embodiment of a wipe dispenser comprised of an arc-shaped housing that fits onto a toilet roll bar, the housing having a re-closable film slot from where moist wipes can be removed. FIG. 27 illustrates one embodiment of a wipe dispenser comprised of a cylindrical housing having a ratchet lever and roller mechanism that a user can activate to distribute moist wipes. FIG. 28 illustrates one embodiment of a wipe dispenser comprised of a cylindrical housing having an off-center lid with an opening and a slot for catching the second moist wipe when an individual is pulling out a first moist wipe from the opening. Each of these embodiments will be described in more detail below.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wipe dispenser comprising: a primary housing;a loading cap;an inner roll bar configured to encompass a toilet roll bar;a first roll bar adapter located on a first end of the inner roll bar;a dispensing lid;a dispensing opening covered by the dispensing lid;at least one thin, solid layer protruding into the dispensing opening; anda dispensing slot in the at least one thin, solid layer.

2. The wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the loading cap attaches to a cap mounting lip of the primary housing, wherein the cap mounting lip is located on a first side of the primary housing.

3. The wipe dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a cap locking mechanism for locking the loading cap to the primary housing.

4. The wipe dispenser of claim 3, wherein the cap locking mechanism is comprised of: a first detent button located on a side edge of the loading cap; anda first cap locking slot on the cap mounting lip that aligns with the first detent button.

5. The wipe dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a second detent button located on the side edge of the loading cap.

6. The wipe dispenser of claim 5, further comprising a second cap locking slot on the cap mounting lip that aligns with the second detent button on the side edge of the loading cap.

7. The wipe dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a second roll bar adapter located on a second end of the inner roll bar.

8. The wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first roll bar adapter has a plurality of malleable extensions to secure the wipe dispenser in place on the toilet roll bar and to prevent the wipe dispenser from rotating around the toilet roll bar.

9. The wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing lid is attached to the primary housing using a dispensing lid hinge.

10. The wipe dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a dispensing lid finger detent.

11. The wipe dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispensing lid finger detent is located on the primary housing in front of the dispensing lid.

12. The wipe dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a snap protrusion on a front of the dispensing lid.

13. The wipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wipe dispenser is cylindrical.

14. A cylindrical wipe dispenser comprising: a primary housing;a loading cap that attaches to a cap mounting lip of the primary housing, wherein the cap mounting lip is located on a first side of the primary housing;two detent buttons located on a side edge of the loading cap;two cap locking slots on the cap mounting lip that align with the two detent buttons on the loading cap;an inner roll bar having two ends;two roll bar adapters located on the ends of the inner roll bar;a dispensing lid attached to the primary housing using a dispensing lid hinge;a dispensing lid finger detent on the primary housing located in front of the dispensing lid;a dispensing opening covered by the dispensing lid;at least one thin, solid layer protruding into the dispensing opening;a dispensing slot in the at least one thin, solid layer; andsnap protrusions on a front of the dispensing lid.

15. A wipe dispenser comprising: an upper loading lid;a lower loading lid;a roll bar adapter; anda center housing for holding moist wipes.

16. The wipe dispenser of claim 15, wherein the upper loading lid is comprised of: an upper loading lid latch;an upper dispensing lid having an upper snap protrusion;an upper dispensing lid finger detent;an upper loading lid hinge;an upper dispensing lid hinge;an upper dispensing opening;an upper dispensing slot;upper loading lid wipe ribs;an upper loading lid latch slot; andan upper loading lid seal rib.

17. The wipe dispenser of claim 16, wherein the lower loading lid is comprised of: a lower loading lid latch;a lower dispensing lid having a lower snap protrusion;a lower dispensing lid finger detent;a lower loading lid hinge;a lower dispensing lid hinge;a lower dispensing opening;a lower dispensing slot;lower loading lid wipe ribs;a lower loading lid latch slot; anda lower loading lid seal rib.

18. The wipe dispenser of claim 17, wherein the center housing is comprised of: an upper compartment;a lower compartment;a first set of outer walls surrounding the upper compartment;a second set of outer walls surrounding the lower compartment; andhousing wipe ribs configured to keep the moist wipes in position.