MXPA02011500A - Moist tissue dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for moist tissue is provided including a housing formed of two housing sections for a moist tissue roll, a dispenser slit having a stepped inner surface configuration and a retaining latch. The retaining latch limits the degree of opening of the housing sections which are joined by a hinge. The dispenser is positioned for use by two arms attached to a housing section

Description

WET TISU DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wet tissue dispenser. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser that effectively seals the moist tissue housed therein to keep it moist and that includes means for hanging it from a conventional toilet tissue holder. The pre-wetted tissues are formed of a highly absorbent laminar material such as tissue paper that can contain polymer fibers that provide strength and that are moistened with a liquid cleaning agent. Said agent may also contain a medicament, deodorant or the like. Since the tissue is moist, it should be stored in a container that seals it from the atmosphere surrounding the dispenser to prevent the liquid from evaporating. In addition, the dispenser must allow easy access to the user of the moist tissue so that it can be dispensed in the amount desired by the user. The requirements for sealing and having easy access present conflicting criteria since the requirement of easy access also requires that at least a part of the moist tissue is actually accessible to the user without opening the dispenser. In this way, the exposed tissue provides a means for allowing evaporation of the moist tissue stored in the dispenser whose evaporation is to be minimized. It is also desirable that the dispenser can conveniently be stored in the area of use, which is primarily the part of the bathroom in an area of the room. In addition, it is desirable that the dispenser be reusable such that, after all the wet tissue has been used, it can be opened to insert a new supply of wet tissue. In this way, the dispenser should be able to be resealed after the new tissue has been installed. Since moist tissue is normally used in the bath, it would be desirable to provide a means for storing the dispenser and cooperating with the bath accessories, such as a reel on which toilet paper rolled over a hollow center is stored. Said storage means should provide the user with a convenient choice of wet or dry tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,074 discloses a tissue paper dispenser having a cylindrical housing formed by two sections. Each section has an arm attached to it. Both arms support the dispenser and seal the two sections together to minimize evaporation of the moist tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,595 presents a wet tissue roll dispenser in the shape of a cylindrical box. Said box includes an open cylinder and one or more circular sealing tabs, which close and seal the openings in the cylinder. Said cylinder contains a slot through which the moist tissue is dispensed. When it is desired to replace a wet tissue roll, the tabs are detached from the cylinder, a new roll of wet tissue is placed inside the cylinder and the end of the roll is re-threaded through the cylinder groove. In addition, the sealing tabs must be placed in an appropriate manner to effect the desired sealing and prevent the evaporation of moisture from the new roll. This dispenser is undesirable since it can not be used with a conventional bath tissue support structure that includes a reel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,333 discloses a moist tissue dispensing device that must be fixed to a bathroom wall. In addition, when the tissue is dispensed, a cover must be lifted to allow access to it. When the cover is raised, the liquid in the tissue evaporates, so it eventually dries out and becomes undesirable. U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,353 presents a wet tissue dispenser. Said dispenser has a cylindrical configuration formed by two sections that are articulate together. The interior of the dispenser is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere either with a spring activated plate at the outlet of the dispenser or with an auxiliary storage means for adding liquid through which the wet tissue is passed. Means for storing the dispenser in a conventional toilet paper roll are not provided. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a wet tissue dispenser that allows a desirable stretch of tissue to be dispensed while isolating it from the atmosphere, to prevent it from drying out. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser that allows tissue to be dispensed without opening it. In addition, it would be desirable to have a dispenser that can be secured to conventional storage media for toilet paper. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser that can also be placed on or against a flat horizontal or vertical surface to provide convenience in dispensing wet tissue in various positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a wet tissue dispenser formed by two housing sections joined together by means of a sealed hinge and which are also capable of securing each other with two sealing locks P1627 placed on opposite ends of the dispenser. Two arms adapted to be secured to a fixed element, are secured to a section of the housing so that the dispenser can be hung from the fixed element. At least one latch bolt is secured to a section of the housing. The latch (s) function to limit the distance between the sections of the housing when the dispenser is opened. A guide edge of the tissue housed within the dispenser is placed within a slot defined by the joining of the flanges of the sections. A flange is provided on each section in the slot so that the tissue dispensing must pass between the ridges before being released by the user of the tissue within the dispenser. The ridges include coupled stepped surfaces that extend substantially along the width of the slot, so that said surfaces provide a sealing means for the tissue positioned within the dispenser and whereby excessive evaporation of the tissue liquid is prevented. The sealing locks, when secured, function to keep the stepped surfaces in the sealing position. When the sealing locks are released, the dispenser can be opened. The arms used to hang the dispenser can also be provided with means for folding them in a compact position so that the complete dispenser, which includes the arms, is You can pack easily during manufacturing, for your shipment to a desired point of use. The dispenser can also be provided with means to support it on a relatively flat horizontal or vertical surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top isometric view of a mode of the dispenser of this invention in position for use. Figure la is a view of the conventional tissue roll retainer from which the dispenser of this invention can be hung. Figure 2 is an isometric view of the base of the dispenser of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an isometric view of the interior surfaces of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stepped surfaces that seal the rim in the tissue dispensing slot of the dispenser of Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure 5 is a side view of the dispenser of Figures 1 , 2 and 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of the Figure . Figure 7 is a side view of the preferred configuration of a wet tissue roll for use with the dispenser of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC MODALITIES The tissue dispenser of this invention is capable of hanging on a fixed support, placed on a relatively flat horizontal or vertical surface. The dispenser of this invention is formed by two sections and is capable of housing wet tissue and thus keeping it from preventing evaporation of the liquid in the wet tissue during storage. In addition, the dispenser of this invention allows to remove desired tissue lengths without opening it. The tissue dispenser of this invention includes a slot defined by the position of two ridges, each on one of the sections of the housing. The flanges include coupled step sections, formed of at least two steps. The two sections are joined together in sealing relationship by means of sealing locks, which place the step sections in a coupled relationship. At least one latch bolt attached to one of the housing sections is releasably attached to the other section and is provided with a stop configuration. The holding bolt limits the distance between the two housing sections when the dispenser is opened, so that the wet tissue roll is retained within the dispenser even when opened. The moist tissue roll that is preferably used in the dispenser of this invention consists of a solid roll of tissue that is wound on itself and not around a centrally positioned support arm, such as an open cylinder formed of a deformable material as cardboard or left with a central hollow without support. Referring to Figures 1, 1 and 2, a dispenser of this invention 10 is configured to be hung from a conventional bath fixture for housing dry tissue 12 including two tips 14 and 16 having recesses to accommodate each end of a reel with action of spring 18. A roll of toilet paper 12 has a recess located in the center through which the reel 18 extends. Said reel can be removed from the tips 14 and 16 by compressing a spring (not shown) internally, so that the tissue roll 12 can be replaced with a new one. The dispenser 10 of this invention includes two arms 20 and 22. Each of these arms includes a hook end 23 or 24 for accommodating the spool 18. Alternatively, the ends of the hooks 23 or 24 can be connected to the arms 20 and 22 to form openings through which the spool 18 extending, is They can use instead of a hook to hang the dispenser. The arms 20 and 22 are placed between the tissue roll 12 and one of the tips 14 and 16. These arms can also be folded by snapping into the gaps 19, which fit into the extensions 21. A housing 27 formed sections 26 and 28 are joined together by a rear hinge 30 which seals the interior of the housing formed by the sections 26 and 28 of the surrounding atmosphere 32. The interior of the housing 27 is also sealed from the outer atmosphere 32 by means of of sealing locks 34 and 36. Said locks are secured on raised bars 29 and 31, so that a seal is generated along the connecting line 38 of the sections 26 and 28, between the atmosphere 32 and the interior of the dispenser 27 A flange 37 on the housing 26 is retained sufficiently close to the flange 39 in the section 28 that, together with the wet tissue 40 placed between the two flanges 37 and 39, an effective seal is formed between the atmosphere 32 and the interiorof the dispenser 10. The sealing is also performed by means of a stepped configuration of the inner surfaces of the flanges 37 and 39, which will be described in detail with reference to Figure 4. In this way, the interior of the housing 27 is sealed to isolate it from the atmosphere by means of a rear hinge 30, the sealing means consists of the locks P1S27 sealants 34 and 36 forming an in-line seal 38 extending along both side surfaces of the housing and the seal formed by the stepped configuration of the flanges 37 and 39 (Figure 4) and the wet tissue 40. A slot 41 can be formed in the flange 37. Said slot is useful for the user since it exposes a part of the tissue 40, so the user can use a finger and / or thumb to pull the edge of the guide 43 of the tissue 40 out of the inside the housing 27. Optionally, the tissue 40 can be segmented with partial grooves extending across the width thereof. Section 28 also includes latching locks 42 and 44 that are integrally formed with said section. Said latching locks include an arm 46 or 48 and an end 50 or 52 that is slightly wider than the arm 46 or 48. The latches 42 and 44 are formed of a flexible material, such as a conventional moldable plastic composition, so the ends 50 and 52 can be manually forced through the openings 54 or 56 when the dispenser 10 is constructed. However, the ends 50 and 52 are sufficiently rigid so that they are retained by the walls or openings 54 or 56 when the dispenser 10 is opened by separating the sections forming it 26 and 28. By configuring the latches 42 and 44, in this way, sections 26 and 28 are P1627 they separate a distance defined by the length of the arms 46 and 48, so that a roll of wet tissue can be placed within the section 28, without falling off there. In this way, the latch bolts 42 and 44 perform the important function of allowing the dispenser 10 to be filled with a roll of wet tissue in an effective and sanitary manner. It is understood that only one latch 42 or 44 can be used. However, it is preferred to use two latching latches. It is also understood that the latching latches 42 and 44 can be made integral with the section 26 while the openings 54 and 56 are placed in the section 28. It is only necessary that the latching bolts 42 and 44 fix the open position of sections 26 and 28 when the dispenser is empty or when it contains a roll of wet tissue. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dispenser of this invention can be provided with retaining plates 51 and 53 that can be accommodated in a conventional wall support (not shown) to retain the dispenser in the wall. The dispenser 10 can also be provided with the flanges 55, 57, 59 and 61, so that the dispenser can be supported on a horizontal surface. Referring to Figure 3, the dispenser 10 is shown in a fully open position before P1627 placing the retention latches 42 and 44 within the recesses 54 and 56. The arms 22 and 24 are shown in an extended position with the hinges 58 and 60 open. Said hinges are formed with any conventional method for molding plastic, where the hinges 58 and 60 have less thickness than the arms 22 and 24, so that they can be bent around the hinges 58 and 60. As shown in Figure 3 , the inner surface 62 of the section 26 and the inner surface 64 of the section 28 are provided with reinforcing channels 66. Said channels extend over the surfaces 62 and 64, so that the wet tissue roll housed inside the dispenser 10 it undergoes a reduced surface friction as it contacts a reduced area of the reinforcing channels 66, instead of the entire area of the surfaces 62 and 64. As shown in Figure 3, the flange 39a is provided with a recess 39b, as well that the user can place a finger to cooperate with his thumb extending within the indentation 37a of the flange 37 to hold and pull the leading edge of a tissue roll of the dispenser 10. Referring to FIG. the configuration of the essential step surface of the flanges 37 and 39 or 39a. The flanges 37 include three steps, 65, 63 and 67 while the flange 39 includes two steps 68 and 69 which engage the steps 65, P1627 63, and 67 to define the sinuous path 70 between the two edges 37 and 39, for the wet tissue delivered by the dispenser 10. The steps 65, 63, 67, 68 and 69 are formed around 90 ° turns. The flanges 37 and 39 are retained together in the position shown in Figure 4 by the sealing locks 34 and 36 in the manner described above. The flanges 37 and 39 are kept separated by a distance to allow the majority of the tissue to pass through them, while sealing the interior of the dispenser 10 against the atmosphere 32 surrounding it. Typically, the distance between steps 65, 63 and 67 of 68 and 69 is between 2 and 4 times the thickness of most of the tissue sheets. This step configuration prevents the tissue passing between the ridges from being returned to the interior of the dispenser 10. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the dispenser 10 is shown in a closed configuration. The housing sections 26 and 28 are sealed together on the sides of the dispenser 10 along the lines 71 and 72. The seal is affected by the engagement of the flanges 74 and 76 contacting the support surfaces 78 and 80. In this way, this sealing means along the sides of the dispenser 10 cooperates with the rear hinge 30 and the step configuration of the flanges 37 and 39 (Figure 4) to seal the interior of the dispenser 10 containing the P1627 roll of the wet tissue of the atmosphere 32. The preferred configuration of a wet tissue roll for use in the dispenser of this invention is shown in Figure 7. The roll 82 consists of a sheet 83 of wet tissue that is rolled on itself , in the absence of a conventional hollow cylinder at the center 84 of the roll 82. The guide edge 86 of the sheet 83 extends between the stepped shoulders 37 and 39 (Figure 4) when removed from the dispenser 10.

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Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A dispenser for housing a wet tissue sheet roll consisting of: a hollow shaped housing for storing the wet tissue sheet roll, the hollow housing consisting of first and second sections joined together, each one of the sections has a flange, the flanges are placed adjacent one another to form a groove on a periphery of the housing when the sections are in the closed position, each of the flanges having a stepped inner surface adjacent to the slot, surfaces are coupled together to form a path for the wet tissue sheet, a sealant latch means positioned on each of the opposite side surfaces of the ridges to join them together, each of the housing sections having opposite end surfaces, two arms, where each has one end thereof joined to respective opposite end surfaces of the first section and each or the arms are formed at one end opposite the end of the arm attached to one of the sections, to hang the dispenser from a fixed substrate.
2. 2. The dispenser of claim 1 including a latch means for retaining the housing sections is in a partially open position.
3. 3. The dispenser of claim 1 comprising a molded single piece.
4. 4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one of the ridges includes a slot.
5. 5. The dispenser of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein each of the arms is joined to the first housing section by means of a hinge.
6. The dispenser of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 including means for folding the arms.
7. 7. A dispenser for housing a wet tissue sheet roll consisting of: a hollow shaped housing for storing the wet tissue sheet roll, the hollow housing consisting of first and second sections joined together, each of the housing sections have a flange, the flanges are positioned adjacent one another to form a groove on a periphery of the housing when the sections are in a closed position, each of the flanges has a stepped inner surface adjacent to the slot, said stepped surfaces engage with each other to form a path for the wet tissue sheet, a sealing bolt means placed on each of the opposite side surfaces of the flanges to join them together, each of the sections of the housing has opposite end surfaces, two arms, where each is joined at one end thereof to one of the respective opposite end surfaces of one of the first sections, each of the arms it is formed at an end opposite the end of the arm attached to the first section to hang the dispenser of a fixed substrate and a roll of wet tissue sheet wound on itself in the absence of an independent support center, the roll is placed inside of the accommodation sections.
8. The dispenser of claim 7 including a latch means for retaining the housing sections in a partially open position.
9. 9. The dispenser of claim 7 comprising a molded single piece.
10. 10. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein at least one of the ridges includes a groove.
11. 11. The dispenser of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein each of the arms is joined to the first housing section by means of a hinge.
12. 12. The dispenser of any of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10 including means for folding the arms. P1627