WO2010011231A1

WO2010011231A1 - Men's personal hygiene napkin dispenser cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2010011231A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/072501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Javier A. Lorenzati; Justin F. Aiello
Original assignee: PECKERTRAX A SERIES OF INVENTION MACHINE LLC
Current assignee: PECKERTRAX A SERIES OF INVENTION MACHINE LLC
Priority date: 2008-07-24
Filing date: 2008-08-07
Publication date: 2010-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-24

Abstract

A persona! hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge includes integrated first and second compartments. The first and second compartments contain wet or dry wipes. The two compartments are connected, but separable by a frangible partition. The compartments are side-by-side or vertically aligned. The first compartment has a first opening on a first surface through which wipes are dispensed and the second compartment has a second opening on a second surface through which wipes are dispensed. The cartridge is replaceable and the wipes in the cartridge may be tiushable and/or biodegradable. The pre-filled dry and wet wipe cartridge allows the dispenser to be refilled without a user having to handle the wipes and prevents over or under filling of the compartments of the cartridge which may lead to bunching or tearing of the wipes.

Description

MEN'S PERSONAL HYGIENE NAPKIN DISPENSER CAR TRIDGE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[ 0001] The present invention is directed to a men's personal hygiene product. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a men's personal hygiene wet and dry napkin or wipe dispenser cartridge for mounting in a napkin dispenser adjacent to a urinal,

[0002] Dispensers for paper towels or wipes used in restrooms of offices, public areas, and households are well known. These often are located near restroom sinks for use after hand washing and often contain only dry paper towels.

[0003] Following urination, men typically shake or tap their penises in order to eliminate the last vestiges of urine. This can cause embarrassing spotting or staining in the event that urine is inadvertently splashed onto one's clothing or person, and unsanitary conditions by splashing in the general area. Moreover, individuals with urinary complications, such as an enlarged prostate gland, may experience a residual urinary stream which, again, can cause embarrassing spotting or .staining,

|0004| Convention has not been to teach men to wipe their penises following urination. In addition, given the configuration of most men's restrooms, there is generally no tissue or wipe dispenser or waste receptacle that is convenient to the urinals. Typically, urinals are installed next to one another with a partition wall between them,

[0005] At times, however, there is a need for wet wipes, as well as dry wipes, nearer to the facilities that a person uses in the restroom, such as men's room urinals. Accordingly, there is a need for a moυntable personal hygiene wipe dispenser that houses both wet and dry napkins or wipes that are positioned in a replaceable napkin cartridge. Furthermore, the wet and dry napkin cartridge would desirably be made of disposable materials and be easily positionabk within the dispenser. The cartridges would contain both wet and dry napkins and be housed in containers that are attached together yet easily separable. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A persona! hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge includes a housing having integrated first and second compartments. In one embodiment, the first and second compartments are upper and lower compartments in which the upper compartment contains one of wet or dry wipes and the lower compartment contains the other of the wet or dry wipes. Preferably, the two compartments are connected, but separable by a frangible portion. In an alternate embodiment, the compartments are side- by-side and are also connected by a frangible portion.

[0007] The upper compartment also has a first opening on a first, surface through which dry (or wet) wipes are dispensed and the lower compartment has a second opening on a second surface through which wet (or dry) wipes are dispensed. In the first embodiment, the first opening is on a lower surface and the second opening is on an upper surface so that the wipes are dispensed from the top and bottom of the cartridge, ϊn the second embodiment, the first and second opening may be dispensed from the top, bottom, or sides of the cartridge.

[0008] The cartridge is replaceable within a men's personal hygiene napkin or wipe dispenser and the wipes in the cartridge can be flushable and/or biodegradable. The pre-fϊHed dry and wet wipe cartridge allows the dispenser to be refilled without a user having to touch or handle the wipes and potentially contaminating the wipes during refilling of the dispenser. In addition, the prefϊlied cartridge prevents over or under filling of the compartments of the cartridge which may lead to bunching or tearing of the wipes.

[0009] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: [0011 ] FIG, 1 is a front perspective view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge embodying the principles of the present invention;

[0012] FlG, 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

[0O13] FTG, 3 is a top view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

[0015] FlG, 5 is a side view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

[0016] FiG. 6 is an exploded view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge shown with the rear panel removed for ease of illustration;

[0018] FIG 8 is a cross- sectional view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge showing the fan-foided wipes;

[0019| FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present personal hygiene dispenser cartridge being placed in a personal hygiene dispenser;

[0020] FlG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the personal hygiene dispenser cartridge;

{0021] FIG, 11 is a perspective view, from the rear, of the embodiment of FlG. 10;

[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view, from the bottom, of the embodiment of FIG. Ϊ0;

[0023] FlG. 13 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.

[0025| It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, "Detailed Description Of The Invention", relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

{0026] Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FlG. 1, there is illustrated a persona! hygiene napkin dispenser cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 is an integrated, combination two-type napkin/ wipe dispenser cartridge 10. The napkins or wipes, hereafter referred to as "wipes," are wet wipes 16 and dry wipes 18, and can be tissues, napkins, towelettes, or other type of conventional wipe and may be disposable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable, flushable, or non-flushable, and made from recycled or partially recycled materials, or virgin materials. Both the wet wipes 16 and dry wipes 18 are individually and separately dispensed from the cartridge 10. The wet wipes 16 may contain an antibacterial, antiseptic, or cleaning solution to help minimize the spread of germs, including bacteria and viruses, find may also contain a fragrance.

[0027] The cartridge 10 can be formed from a paper-base material, such as cardboard that, in the case of the wet wipes may be lined, a plastic material, or the like, and can be of refillable or disposable construction. Of course, the cartridge can be made from a non -biodegradable and/or non-flushable material that may or may not be made from recycled or partially recycled materials. The cartridge is configured for use with a persona] hygiene dispenser, such as disclosed in co-pending U.S. Pat. Appl. Serial Nos. 12/043,629, filed March 6, 2008, and 12/144,408, filed June 23, 2008, commonly assigned with the present application and incorporated herein by reference.

[0028) In FIGS. 1-6, a present embodiment of the cartridge 10 has two compartments, an upper compartment 12 and a lower compartment 14. The upper compartment 12 is attached to and separable from the lower compartment 14 by a frangible region 20. The upper compartment 12 contains, in a present embodiment, wet wipes 16 and may be lined in the interior of the upper compartment 12 with a water-proof liner or protective barrier 22. The upper compartment 12 of cartridge 10 includes a cover 12a and a base 12b. The cover 12a is foπned with an opening 26 in the upper surface 30 of cover 12a to access and dispense the wet wipes 16. The wet wipes 16 may he stored in the base 12b with the cover 12a positioned over the base 12b when the cartridge I O is assembled. The upper surface 30 of the cover 12a of the upper compartment 12 is sloped α with respect to the vertical.

[0029] The lower compartment 14 contains, in a present embodiment, dry wipes 18 and may be lined in the interior of the lower compartment 14 with a water -proof liner or protective barrier 24 as well. The lower compartment 14 of cartridge 10 includes a cover 14a and a base 14b. The cover 14a is formed with an opening 28 in the lower surface 32 of cover Ha to access, and dispense the dry wipes 18. The dry wipes 18 may be stored in the base 14b with the cover 14a positioned over the base 14b when the cartridge 10 is assembled. The lower surface 32 of the cover 14a of the lower compartment 14 is sloped β with respect to the vertical. It will be appreciated that in another embodiment, the wet wipes 16 may be located in the lower compartment and the dry wipes 18 in the upper compartment. It is anticipated that the cover 14a is attached to the base 14b such that the cover 14a does not become loose during dispensing of the wipes 18 or that the dispenser in which the cartridge 10 is slid holds the cover 14a to the base 14b such that the cover 14a and base 14b do not separate during dispensing of the wipes 18.

[0030] The frangible portion 20 connects and provides a separable region 50 between upper compartment 12 and lower compartment 14. The frangible portion 20 is a vertical member that may be continuous along the length of the cartridge, from the posterior to the anterior of the cartridge 10 or may consist of one or more shorter partitions. The frangible port) on 20 is aligned along the center of the cartridge, but it is contemplated that two or more frangible portions may be used along lateral or central aspects of the cartridge 10. The frangible portion 20 is configured to slide in tongue-in- groove fashion into a groove of the dispenser, such as is described in the aforementioned Lorenzati, U.S. Pat. App. Serial No, 12/043,629. The frangible portion 20 is also easily separable so that either the upper compartment 12 or the lower compartment 14 can be replaced without having to replace both compartments in the dispenser and potentially wasting unused wipes 16, 18. [0031] The cartridge 10 upper and lower surfaces 30, 32 are sloped, toward the front of the dispenser 10, to facilitate seeing and dispensing the wipes 16, 18. The sloped lower surface 32 also facilitates seeing of and access to a waste receptacle of the dispenser which may be positioned beneath the lower compartment 14,

[0032] The wipes 16, 18 arc positioned within the compartments 12, 14 in a stacked, fan-folded manner, as shown in FIGS. 6-8. The wipes 16, 18 are fan-folded or iiiterfoldcd and overlapped such that as a wipe 16, 18 is dispensed through the opening 26, 28, a second wipe follows the first through the opening 26, 28 and is ready for use. In addition, a separator, 40, 42, may be present to assist in separating a top wipe from the wipe following as the top wipe is drawn through the opening, and to assist in preventing tear-out of the wipes 16, 18. It is also contemplated that the wipes will be provided in coil form, that, for example, feed from the center of the coil and include perforations to separate individual wipes from one another.

[0033] The openings 26, 28 of the upper 12 and lower 14 compartments are complimentary to the openings 46, 48 of the dispenser 60, shown in FIG. 9. When the cartridge 10 is slid into position inside the dispenser 60, the dispenser openings 46, 48 coincide with the openings 26, 28 of the cartridge 10 for easy access to the wipes 16, 18.

[0034| It is anticipated that the dry wipes 18 will be used to dry the penis or other private areas, the wipe disposed of. and the wet wipe 16 used to wipe one's hand, and then also disposed. Of course, the wet wipe 16 may be also used to cleanse the genital or private area, followed by the use of the dry wipe 18. In addition, a wipe may be used to wipe the urinal to use or to protect one's hands from contamination when flushing.

[0035] In another embodiment shown in FIGS, 10-1 3, the wet and dry wipes 1 16, 1 18 are positioned side-by-side, rather than above and below one another. As such, the cartridge 100 is formed with two compartments 1 12, 1 14 having openings 126, 128 in the upper surfaces 130, 132 to access the wipes 1 16, 1 18. The wipes 1 16, 1 18 are stored in the bases 1 12b, 3.14b of the compartments 1 12. 1 14 that are located in the cartridge 100. The bases 1 12b, 1 14b are covered by covers 1 12a, 1 14a. A frangible portion 120 is present to connect the two compartments 1 12, 1 14 of the cartridge 100 together in a side- by-side configuration yet allow for a space 124 between the compartments 1 12, 1 14. The frangible portion 120 is easily separated to separate the two compartments 3 12, 1 14. The frangible region may have one single tear region or two tear regions 122 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0036] The upper surfaces 130, 132 are again sloped (much like the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9), toward the front of the dispenser (not shown), to facilitate seeing and dispensing the wipes 116, 118.

|0037] The benefits of the present cartridge 10, 100 are numerous. Having the present personal hygiene device and cartridge 10, 100 mounted within easy reach of the user allows the user to remove excess fluid after urination, thereby preventing unsanitary conditions, mess, odor, or staining on clothing that might otherwise occur, and to quickly wipe or sanitize their hands quickly thereafter. The cartridge 10, 100 helps increase personal cleanliness and hygiene and may help prevent the spread of disease. Of course, it will be appreciated that the wipes can be used to clean any area, and the use of the wipes (in lieu of shaking and/or tapping) will eliminate the need to shake or tap and thus reduce the opportunity to spread urine in the general area,

[0038} All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

[0039] hi the present disclosure, the words "a" or "an" are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

[0040] From the foregoing it will he observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims ai! such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1 . A personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge, the cartridge comprising; a first compartment for storing a plurality of wipes, the first compartment having a first surface, the first compartment having at least one aperture therein configured for dispensing some of the wipes therethrough; a second compartment for storing a plurality of wipes, the second compartment having a second surface, the second compartment having at least one aperture therein configured for dispensing some of the wipes therethrough; and a frangible portion between the first and second compartments configured to detachabiy connect the first and second compartments.

2. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein some of the wipes are wet wipes and others of the wipes fire dry wipes, the wet wipes and the dry wipes being separated from each other and dispensed through separate apertures.

3, The persona! hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 2 wherein the wet wipes and the dry wipes are disposed in sidε-by-side relation to one another and wherein the apertures are disposed on the cartridge upper surface.

4. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 2 wherein the wet wipes and the dry wipes are disposed in an upper and lower configuration, and wherein the apertures are disposed on the upper compartment upper surface and on the lower compartment lower surface.

5, The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cartridge is slidably engageahle with a personal hygiene wipe dispenser.

6. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first compartment first surface and the second compartment second surface are angled away from one another.

7. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cartridge is formed from a polymeric material,

8. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cartridge is formed from a paper material.

9. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second compartments is lined.

10. The persona! hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1, further comprising multiple frangible portions.

11 . The persona! hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frangible region is shorter than a dimension of the cartridge.

12. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of wipes in the first compartment are interfolded and the plurality of wipes in the second compartment are interfolded.

13. The personal hygiene wipe dispenser cartridge in accordance with claim I wherein the cartridge is refillable.