IP Library Granted Patent US 11,612,280
Granted Patent B2
US 11,612,280 · App. 17/070,986 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Self-orientating wipes dispensing nozzles and wipes dispensers having the same

Inventors: Christopher J. Mann (Hudson, OH); Aaron D. Marshall (Silver Lake, OH); Nick E. Ciavarella (Seven Hills, OH); Jonathan Michael Johnson (Akron, OH); Donald R. Harris (Mogadore, OH); Kevin Michael Vail (North Royalton, OH); Jenna Ann Matus (Copley, OH)
Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
A47K10/44A47K10/424B65D83/08A47K2010/3233A47K2010/3273B65D2547/063B65D2583/082
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,612,280
App. No.
17/070,986
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of wipes dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary wipes dispenser having a self-centering nozzle includes a container, a plurality of wipes contained within the container, a fluid for wetting the plurality of wipes, a receiving member connected to the container, and an outlet nozzle housing for holding an elastomeric outlet nozzle. The nozzle housing is connected to the receiving member so that the nozzle housing is movable between two or more positions. A biasing member is connected to one of the receiving member, the nozzle housing and the elastomeric outlet nozzle. The elastomeric outlet nozzle moves from a centered upright position, the biasing member deflects and biases the outlet nozzle toward a centered position.

Claims (54)

1. A wipes dispenser comprising:

a container;

a plurality of wipes contained within the container;

a fluid for wetting the plurality of wipes;

a receiving member connected to the container;

a nozzle;

at least a portion of the nozzle having a dome:

the nozzle having a nozzle opening located therethrough;

the opening located in the apex of the dome;

the nozzle having an upper surface of the dome shape;

a nozzle guard located over a majority of the upper surface of the dome;

the nozzle guard having a guard opening above the nozzle opening; and

wherein the nozzle guard is configured to eliminate or slow the wear of the nozzle opening.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises an elastomer.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises silicone.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the nozzle guard opening is substantially the same size as the nozzle opening.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a socket connected to the container and the nozzle is connected to a ball that is retained by the socket.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the socket is connected to a lid that is connected to the container.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member configured to cause the nozzle opening to return to a center upright position.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the biasing member is a resilient member located below the nozzle.

9. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the biasing member is a weighted member and gravitational forces urges the nozzle to the center upright position.

10. A wipes dispenser comprising:

a container for holding a plurality of wipes and a liquid for wetting the wipes;

a container cap;

a socket secured to the cap;

a nozzle secured to a ball;

the nozzle being made at least partially of silicone;

a nozzle opening located in an upper portion of the nozzle;

the nozzle having an upper surface;

a nozzle guard surrounding at least a portion of the upper surface of the nozzle; and

a nozzle guard opening in the nozzle guard;

the nozzle guard opening at least partially surrounding the nozzle opening; and

wherein the nozzle guard serves as a wear guard and eliminates or slows wear of the nozzle opening.

11. The wipes dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a biasing member for urging the nozzle opening toward a centered position when the outlet nozzle is not in the centered position.

12. The wipes dispenser of claim 10 wherein the nozzle guard opening is larger than the nozzle opening.

13. The wipes dispenser of claim 10 wherein the nozzle guard opening is larger substantially the same size as the nozzle opening.

14. The wipes dispenser of claim 10 wherein the nozzle comprise silicone.

15. A wipes dispenser comprising:

a base;

a nozzle secured to the base;

the nozzle having a nozzle shape profile;

a nozzle opening located in the top of the nozzle;

a nozzle guard secured to the base;

the nozzle guard having a nozzle guard shape profile;

wherein the nozzle shape profile and the nozzle guard shape profile are the same shape profile;

the nozzle guard having a nozzle guard opening;

the nozzle guard opening located above the nozzle opening;

the nozzle guard in contact with at least a portion of the nozzle proximate the nozzle opening; and

wherein the nozzle guard is configured to serves as a wear guard and eliminates or slows wear of the nozzle opening.

16. The wipes dispenser of claim 15 wherein the nozzle shape profile and the nozzle guard shape profile are dome shaped profiles.

17. The wipes dispenser of claim 15 wherein the base is movable with respect to a top of a container.

18. The wipes dispenser of claim 15 further comprising a container and a cap, wherein the base is secured to the cap.

19. The wipes dispenser of claim 18 wherein the base is a ball and the cap contains at least a portion of a socket, and wherein the ball is retained in the socket.

20. The wipes dispenser of claim 19 further comprising a biasing member, wherein the biasing member urges the nozzle opening to an upright center position.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL, RECORDED ON OCTOBER 27, 2023 AT REEL 065382 FRAME 0587 Recorded Apr 22, 2026
From: SILVER POINT FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 075435/0852 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2026
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 074903/0480 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2023
From: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: SILVER POINT FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065382/0587 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2023
From: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 065369/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2021
From: MANN, CHRISTOPHER J.; MARSHALL, AARON D.; CIAVARELLA, NICK E.; JOHNSON, JONATHAN MICHAEL; HARRIS, DONALD R.; VAIL, KEVIN MICHAEL; MATUS, JENNA ANN
To: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054905/0599 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16295270 · Mar 7, 2019
Continuation In Part 15964980 · Apr 27, 2018
Provisional Application 62490937 · Apr 27, 2017
Related Publication 20210093128A1 · Apr 1, 2021