Inner wipes

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cleaning wipes, and more particularly to hygienic tissues for bathroom use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Towelettes, or wipes, find multiple uses in a bathroom or lavatory. In addition to housekeeping use, they can be used to cleanse or dry skin. Dry wipes are sometimes inadequate, however, when sensitive or stubbornly soiled skin is involved. Wet wipes are needed for this purpose but are rarely in a handy location, particularly when a need arises at the toilet. Wet wipes require container storage to protect against evaporative losses. The containers are generally placed on a surface remote from the handy wall location of the toilet tissue roll and may not be within reach for a person at need at the toilet.

The prior art has attempted to address this inconvenience. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,326 to Mikelionis, two rolls are placed side-by-side on the typical toilet roll spool. One of the rolls is dry and the other, pre-moistened. Each roll is one-half the width of a standard toilet tissue roll. The half-size is achieved by folding the tissues lengthwise, such that each dispensed tissue is one folded-over sheet. The moist tissues are housed in a cylindrically-configured container and are dispensed through a horizontal slot therein. Such an arrangement has several disadvantages. In the first place, it is unlikely that consumption of both wet and dry will be matched, so managing inventories of customized products may be expensive and troublesome. Secondly, dispensing from one side may involve unintended movement of the other side. The dry side is unwound by spinning the roll on the same spool supporting the wet side. This might cause a synchronous drift of the container and result in rotating the slot out of reach. Finally, and more importantly, the consumer is forced to pay extra for a specialty product in place of the ubiquitous, and relatively less expensive, commodity toilet tissue roll.

Synchronous movement is not a problem in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,960 to Marino. Marino places dry and wet rolls in two separate but connected containers hung above and below a toilet roll spool mounted in a conventional wall bracket. Both containers are loaded through hinged covers, and the dispensing from one can be independent from the other. The structure is rather bulky, however, and would cramp tight spaces. Space encroachment would prove to be a nuisance, particularly when the need for the wet version is infrequent. Additionally, it involves equipment purchase and installation.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,598 to Masting resolves the space problem by storing pre-moistened towelettes in the core of a paper towel roll. Masting converts a vertical stand for the roll to a container with a towelette dispensing aperture at the top. While it known to dispense wet wipes from the otherwise available space inside the core of a roll of dry goods, what is not known is how to accomplish this from a hanging toilet tissue roll. A toilet roll is conventionally suspended from a spool connected to the horizontal arms of a wall bracket. The spool partially fills the core space leaving little room for alternative use of that space. The present invention presents a novel solution for accommodating the spool while providing access to the total volume of the core.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a convenient way to dispense wet wipes in a bathroom. It is a further object to make wet wipes available to a person seated on a toilet. It is a further object to combine the dispensing of wet wipes with that of ordinary dry toilet tissue. It is a further object to accomplish this in a way that does not involve a requirement to purchase specialty toilet tissue rolls. It is a further object to utilize existing installations of toilet roll brackets without requiring modification or new equipment. It is a further object to fully utilize the space in the core of a common toilet tissue roll for the purpose of dispensing the wet wipes. It is a further object to maintain a moisture barrier to prevent evaporative losses from the wet wipes, or dampening of the dry wipes, during active use of the invention. It is a further object to maximize the capacity inside the core of a mounted toilet tissue roll by eliminating the existing toilet roll spool. It is further object to provide a convenient refill put-up to replenish the wet wipes. It is a further object to provide a simplified changeover method for replenishment.

These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a toilet roll dispenser for moisturized sheets comprising a cylindrical dispenser, having a rotational axis, configured to fit within the core of a toilet roll. Further, the toilet roll dispenser comprises a plurality of moisturized sheets contained within the cylindrical dispenser, said moisturized sheets connected to dispense sequentially from, at least, one end of the core. Finally, the toilet roll dispenser comprises a means for connecting the cylindrical dispenser to a wall bracket having two arms with recesses to receive a conventional toilet roll spool. With the aforementioned, a roll of toilet paper rotatably mounted on the cylindrical dispenser and suspended within the wall bracket by the means for connecting can unwind conventionally about the rotational axis, while the moisturized sheets can dispense from the interior of the core.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for connecting comprises end caps placed at each end of the cylindrical dispenser. The end caps have bosses configured to fit the recesses and a means for articulating the bosses to removably and securely mount the cylindrical dispenser between the two arms of the wall bracket. At least one of the end caps comprises a dispensing aperture centered on the rotational axis in communication with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser. The bosses lie along an axis parallel to and offset from the rotational axis.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the end caps telescope onto the ends of the cylindrical dispenser and the means for articulating the bosses comprises a coil spring positioned between at least one of the telescoping end caps and the cylindrical dispenser. The end cap telescopes from a bypass to a seated position in a corresponding recess while the coil spring biases said end cap to the seated position. In an alternate version, the means for articulating comprises a flexible beam for each boss. The beam has the boss at a distal end and a base at a proximal end where it is positioned above an axis of rotation. The beam is rotatably fitted to the end cap such that the axis of rotation of the beam and the axis of rotation of the cylindrical dispenser coincide. The beam positions the boss to articulate into the recess by flexing the distal end.

Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical dispenser comprises a hermetically-sealed refill unit having moisture vapor barrier properties. The refill unit is comprised of a closed end at one end of the cylindrical dispenser and an open end at the other end. Further, the refill unit comprises a means for hermetically sealing the open end. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the means for hermetically sealing comprises a bonded foil membrane. In an alternate version, the means for hermetically sealing comprises a treaded cap.

In an alternate embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets comprises the steps of providing a toilet roll dispenser as described above; providing a refill unit as described above; removing the toilet roll dispenser from a used roll of toilet paper; removing the end caps from the toilet roll dispenser; discarding the used cylindrical dispenser; removing the means for hermetically sealing to expose the open end of the refill unit; placing the end caps on both ends of the refill unit to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser; placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser in the core of another, or the same, roll of toilet paper; and dispensing the moisturized sheets from the open end through an aperture in the end cap

As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the toilet roll dispenser with a roll of toilet paper positioned thereon;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the first embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an end elevation view of the first embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a sectional view taken along the lines <b>5</b>-<b>5</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a perspective view of the refill assembly of the first embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an exploded perspective view of the refill assembly of the first embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the toilet roll dispenser with a roll of toilet paper positioned thereon;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a perspective view of the second embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is an exploded view of the second embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is an end elevation view of the second embodiment;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a sectional view taken along the lines <b>12</b>-<b>12</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is an exploded view of the refill assembly of the second embodiment, showing an alternative disposable cap;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is an exploded view of the refill assembly of the second embodiment, showing an alternative hermetic seal;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is a perspective view of the cylindrical dispenser showing the sealed end;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is a perspective view showing details of the spinner component of the second embodiment; and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref> is a perspective view of toilet roll wall bracket and spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref>, <b>2</b> and <b>17</b>, a toilet roll <b>2</b>, wound around a core <b>3</b>, is conventionally suspended in a wall bracket <b>5</b> by a spool <b>7</b> placed through the core and into recesses <b>6</b> of a pair of bracket arms <b>8</b>. The toilet roll <b>2</b>, thusly mounted in the wall bracket <b>5</b>, can dispense sheets of toilet paper by unwinding from around the spool <b>7</b>. In the present invention, the spool <b>7</b> is replaced by a toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b>. The toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> provides the additional capability of dispensing a plurality of moisturized sheets <b>4</b>. The moisturized sheets <b>4</b> are conveniently located together with the dry sheets while both are close at hand for toilet use.

Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2-5</figref>, the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> is comprised of a cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> and a means for connecting <b>20</b> the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> to the wall bracket <b>5</b>. The cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> provides a housing for the moisturized sheets <b>4</b>, which are contained there within. The cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> protects the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> from the evaporation of the moisture. The cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> is formed as a unitary container with a closed end <b>13</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>). The other end, an open end <b>12</b>, provides access for the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> and is the only aperture to the container requiring some form of sealing to complete the protective envelope. The container is comprised of a moisture-vapor barrier material. The cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> has a rotational axis <b>11</b> about which the toilet roll <b>2</b> unwinds.

The means for connecting <b>20</b> is comprised of end caps <b>21</b> placed over each end of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>. Each end cap <b>21</b> has a boss <b>22</b> configured to fit within the recess <b>6</b> of the bracket arm <b>8</b>. The bosses <b>22</b> lie along an axis parallel to, and offset from, the rotational axis <b>11</b>. The offset is essentially the same as that of the axis of core <b>3</b> to the axis of spool <b>7</b> when the toilet roll <b>2</b> is conventionally mounted. The reader is reminded that the diameter of the spool <b>7</b> is significantly less, typically, than the diameter of the core <b>3</b>; consequently, the axis of the hanging roll is offset from that of the spool.

The end caps <b>21</b> are further comprised of a means for articulating <b>30</b> the bosses <b>22</b> to removably, and securely, mount the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> between the bracket arms <b>8</b> of the wall bracket <b>5</b>. In a first embodiment, the means for articulating <b>30</b> comprise a coil spring <b>31</b> positioned between at least one of the end caps <b>21</b> and the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>. The end cap telescopes over the cylindrical dispenser from a bypass position <b>24</b> to seated position <b>25</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>). The coil spring <b>31</b> biases the end cap <b>21</b> to its seated position <b>25</b> by compression based against spring stop <b>14</b>.

A second embodiment of the means for articulating <b>30</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 8-12</figref> and <b>16</b>, wherein primed reference characters (′) indicate features essentially equivalent to the first embodiment. The second means for articulating <b>30</b> is comprised of end caps <b>21</b>′ placed over each end of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′. Each end cap <b>21</b>′ is provided with an annular aperture <b>38</b>. A spinner <b>39</b> is rotatably fitted to each annular aperture <b>38</b>. The spinner <b>39</b> is secured to end cap <b>21</b>′ by means of a ring of ledges <b>36</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>). The ring of ledges <b>36</b> can be resiliently compressed by means of slots <b>37</b> to narrow the ring diameter so as to pass through the annular aperture <b>38</b>. The ring of ledges <b>36</b>, once passed, snaps the ledges into place where an interference of structures locks the assembly together. The compression results from forcing the ring of ledges <b>36</b> into the space of the annular aperture <b>38</b>.

The spinner <b>39</b> is further comprised of a flexible beam <b>32</b>. Flexible beam <b>32</b> flexes from its base at a proximal end <b>33</b>. A boss <b>22</b>′, configured to fit within the recess <b>6</b> of the bracket arm <b>8</b>, is positioned at a distal end <b>34</b>. The bosses <b>22</b>′ lay along an axis parallel to, and offset from, a rotational axis <b>11</b>′. As in the case of the first embodiment, the offset is essentially the same as that of the axis of core <b>3</b> to the axis of spool <b>7</b> in a conventional mount. In the second embodiment, the flexible beam <b>32</b> arcuately articulates (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>) to move the boss <b>22</b>′ from a bypass position <b>24</b>′ to a seated position <b>25</b>′. The end caps <b>21</b>′ are rigidly held in position relative to the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′ by end cap stops <b>15</b>. The stops function to form a firm base for each flexible beam <b>32</b>. The flexible beam <b>32</b> may provide a pre-load at the seated position <b>25</b>′ to assure the interposition of boss <b>22</b>′ in recess <b>6</b> and, thereby, the secure mounting of cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′ to the wall bracket <b>5</b>.

The spinner <b>39</b> is further comprised of a spinner axis <b>35</b> located at or near the proximal end <b>33</b>. Spinner axis <b>35</b> is coincident with the rotational axis <b>11</b>′. In the second embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′ is such that there is a snug fit to the diameter of core <b>3</b>. When toilet roll <b>2</b> unwinds, it spins the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> about the spinner axis <b>35</b>. In the case of the first embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> is such that there is a loose fit to the diameter of core <b>3</b>. When the toilet roll <b>2</b> unwinds in this case, the core <b>3</b> slips over the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> and does not spin it. In both the first and second embodiments, the unwind direction <b>9</b> of toilet roll <b>2</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 8</figref>) is counterclockwise, such that the sheets unspool from the bottom. In this way, the unwind pull lifts the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> away from the wall and frees the rotation. Otherwise, with the unwind direction clockwise, the roll becomes pinned against the wall by rotation about the boss axis.

At least one of the end caps <b>21</b> further comprises a dispensing aperture <b>23</b>, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The dispensing aperture <b>23</b> is preferably centered on the rotational axis <b>11</b>, and communicates with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> to enable moisturized sheets <b>4</b> to be withdrawn there from. The moisturized sheets <b>4</b> are interleaved or, otherwise, connected with perforations, so that they can be singulated when withdrawn from the dispensing aperture <b>23</b> and replaced therein with the next succeeding sheet. The moisturized sheets <b>4</b> can be wound in a roll without a core to dispense from the center of the roll. Alternatively, the moisturized sheets can take the conformation of a coiled rope-twist. The dispensing aperture <b>23</b> is sized and configured to minimize exposure to evaporative losses. A preferred configuration of dispensing aperture <b>23</b> is crossed slits, wherein the triangular-shaped vanes at the intersection of the slits are feathered to yield easily when withdrawing a sheet. An alternate version is shown by dispensing aperture <b>23</b>′ in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>. In this version, the moisturized sheets pass through the annular aperture <b>38</b>, the opening of which is narrowly restricted to the minimized breadth of a singular sheet.

Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6</figref>, <b>7</b>,<b>13</b> and <b>14</b>, a refill unit <b>40</b> is shown. The refill unit <b>40</b> is comprised of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> (<b>10</b>′) and a means for hermetically sealing <b>41</b>. In the preferred embodiment, the means for hermetically sealing <b>41</b> is a foil membrane <b>42</b>, which is bonded to the open end <b>12</b> (<b>12</b>′). The foil membrane <b>42</b> may be frangible, or otherwise strippable, to facilitate its removal from the open end. Alternatively, the means for hermetically sealing <b>41</b> can be a threaded cap <b>44</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>). When the foil membrane <b>41</b> is used, a disposable cap <b>43</b> is required to protect the frangible membrane from inadvertent puncture. Preferably, the disposable cap <b>43</b> is comprised of low cost and environmentally-friendly materials. One such example is a spiral-wound paper core <b>45</b>, (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>). The open end of the spiral-wound paper core <b>45</b> can be plugged with interlocked paperboard partitions <b>46</b>, as shown. Alternatively, the disposable cap <b>43</b> is a friction-fit cap <b>47</b>, which can be slipped over the end of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> (<b>10</b>′) to cover the foil membrane <b>41</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>).

In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> (<b>10</b>′), the end caps <b>21</b> (<b>21</b>′), the spinner <b>39</b>, the threaded cap <b>44</b> and the friction-fit cap <b>47</b> are all injection molded. The thermoplastic resins of choice will have the properties of toughness and stiffness. The molded parts may be translucent, transparent or opaque. The wall thickness should be sufficient to prevent critical moisture loss over the period of the preferred shelf life. The preferred resins are commodity-grade polyethylene, polypropylene, high-impact polystyrene, or polyolefin. The foil membrane <b>42</b> can be bonded to the open end by induction sealing or gluing. The spiral-wound paper core <b>45</b> is fabricated by lapping strips of paper in a glued winding over a mandrel, as known in the art, and then cut to length.

In an alternative embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li id="ul0001-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li id="ul0002-0001" num="0042">i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> after having used up the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> therein;</li><li id="ul0002-0002" num="0043">ii. providing the refill unit <b>40</b>;</li><li id="ul0002-0003" num="0044">iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> from the core <b>3</b> of the existing toilet roll <b>2</b>;</li><li id="ul0002-0004" num="0045">iv. removing the end caps <b>21</b>′ from the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′;</li><li id="ul0002-0005" num="0046">v. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>′;</li><li id="ul0002-0006" num="0047">vi. removing the means for hermetically sealing <b>41</b> to expose the open end <b>12</b>′ of the refill unit <b>40</b>;</li><li id="ul0002-0007" num="0048">vii. placing the end caps <b>21</b>′ onto both ends of the refill unit <b>40</b> to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b>;</li><li id="ul0002-0008" num="0049">viii. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> through the dispensing aperture <b>23</b>′ to provide a starter-edge;</li><li id="ul0002-0009" num="0050">ix. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> into the core <b>3</b> of another, or the same, toilet roll <b>2</b>; and</li><li id="ul0002-0010" num="0051">x. dispensing the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> from the dispensing aperture <b>23</b>′.</li></ul></li></ul>

In another alternative embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none"><li id="ul0003-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0004" list-style="none"><li id="ul0004-0001" num="0053">i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> after having used up the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> therein;</li><li id="ul0004-0002" num="0054">ii. providing the refill unit <b>40</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0003" num="0055">iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> from the core <b>3</b> of the existing toilet roll <b>2</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0004" num="0056">iv. removing the end caps <b>21</b> from the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0005" num="0057">v. removing the coil spring <b>31</b> from the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0006" num="0058">vi. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0007" num="0059">vii. removing the means for hermetically sealing <b>41</b> to expose the open end <b>12</b> of the refill unit <b>40</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0008" num="0060">viii. placing the coil spring <b>31</b> over the open end <b>12</b> of the refill unit <b>40</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0009" num="0061">ix. placing the end caps <b>21</b> onto both ends of the refill unit <b>40</b> and over the coil spring <b>31</b> to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b>;</li><li id="ul0004-0010" num="0062">x. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> through the dispensing aperture <b>23</b> to provide a starter-edge;</li><li id="ul0004-0011" num="0063">xi. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> into the core <b>3</b> of another, or the same, toilet roll <b>2</b>; and</li><li id="ul0004-0012" num="0064">xii. dispensing the moisturized sheets <b>4</b> from the dispensing aperture <b>23</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> may be a tube having a closed end <b>13</b> comprised of a bonded foil membrane <b>42</b>. Further, the toilet roll dispenser <b>1</b> may be made up from end cap <b>22</b> on one end of the cylindrical dispenser <b>10</b> and end cap <b>22</b>′ on the other end. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.