IP Library Granted Patent US 8,944,279
Granted Patent B2
US 8,944,279 · App. 12/976,023 · Granted Feb 3, 2015

Wet wipe dispenser with improved arc-shaped dispensing partition

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,944,279
App. No.
12/976,023
Granted
Feb 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container for storing personal care articles comprising a lid structure attached to the container is disclosed. The lid structure has a top lid portion connected to a base lid portion. The base lid portion includes a rigid port surrounding a unitary dispensing partition extending in an x and z direction to the rigid port, the unitary dispensing partition having a dispensing slit formed therethrough. The unitary dispensing partition forms an arc extending a first depth into the interior of the container in a z-direction. The depth of the dispensing partition allows for the personal care article to be stored in a pop-up dispensing position with a larger portion of the personal care article extending from the dispensing slit. This allows for easier retrieval of the product by a consumer and less dispensing failures.

Claims (20)

1. A container for storing personal care articles comprising:

a lid structure attached to the container, the lid structure having a top lid portion connected to a base lid portion by at least one hinge, the base lid portion including a rigid port surrounding a unitary dispensing partition, the unitary dispensing partition having a dispensing aperture formed therethrough, the unitary dispensing partition formed of a flexible, rubber-like material;

wherein the unitary dispensing partition forms a rectangular symmetrical arc extending a first depth into an interior of the container in a z-direction;

wherein the dispensing aperture comprises a continuous slit comprising a plurality of convolutions and having at least two ends, the continuous slit extending a distance in an x-direction along the arc, the x-direction being perpendicular to the z-direction.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the first depth of the unitary dispensing partition extends into the interior of the container in the z-direction by a distance of at least 5 mm.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the first depth of the unitary dispensing partition extends into the interior of the container in the z-direction by a distance between about 5 and about 15 mm.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the container has a dispensing failure rate of less than 8%.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least two ends of the continuous slit reside on the arc at a second depth in the z-direction which is less than the first depth.

6. The container of claim 1 further comprising a stack of wet wipes located inside of the wet wipes container, each wet wipe having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein each leading edge and each trailing edge of each wet wipe in the stack extends in the x-direction.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein the leading edge of the wipe extends into a storage space between the dispensing partition and the lid top.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the dispensing partition is a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. A container for storing personal care articles comprising:

a lid structure attached to the container, the lid structure having a top lid portion connected to a base lid portion by at least one hinge, the base lid portion including a rigid port surrounding a unitary dispensing partition, the unitary dispensing partition having a dispensing aperture formed therethrough, the unitary dispensing partition formed of a flexible, rubber-like material;

wherein a portion of the unitary dispensing partition extends in a rectangular symmetrical arc a first depth into an interior of the container in a z-direction;

wherein the dispensing aperture comprises a continuous slit comprising a plurality of convolutions and having at least two ends, the continuous slit extending a distance in an x-direction along the arc, the x-direction being perpendicular to the z-direction.

10. The container of claim 9 further comprising a stack of wet wipes located inside of the wet wipes container, each wet wipe having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein each leading edge and each trailing edge of each wet wipe in the stack extends in the x-direction.

11. The container of claim 9 wherein the first depth of the unitary dispensing partition extends into the interior of the container in the z-direction by a distance of at least 5 mm.

12. The container of claim 9 wherein the first depth of the unitary dispensing partition extends into the interior of the container in the z-direction by a distance between about 5 and about 15 mm.

13. The container of claim 9 wherein the dispensing partition is a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The container of claim 9 wherein the container has a dispensing failure rate of less than 8%.

Assignments (2)
NAME CHANGE Recorded Feb 3, 2015
From: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034880/0704 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2011
From: SHOAF, TIMOTHY WALTER; BRINKDOPKE, ANDREW DALE; SCHLAUPITZ, ROBERT SAMUEL
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 025685/0567 →