Freestanding dispenser for dispensing two different substrates

• US 20050139719A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Russell, Kenneth Graham, Grebonval, Loic, Salmon, David Eugene, Maskell, William John, O'Brien, Gerard Michael, Balzar, Tammy Jo, Morenikeji, Jason, Masting, Danny Fraser
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/597.700
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3266 Wet wipes

Abstract

A freestanding dispenser for dual dispensing of a wet substrate and a dry substrate includes: a base for supporting the freestanding dispenser on a substantially horizontal surface; a support member connected to the base, the support member holding a roll of a dry substrate in a substantially vertical position; and a source of a wet substrate supported by the freestanding dispenser.

Claims

1. A freestanding dispenser for dual dispensing of a wet substrate and a dry substrate comprising:

a base for supporting the freestanding dispenser on a substantially horizontal surface;

a support member connected to the base, the support member adapted for holding a roll of a dry substrate in a substantially vertical position; and

a source of a wet substrate supported by the freestanding dispenser.

2. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein the source of the wet substrate is placed vertically either above or below the roll.

3. The freestanding dispenser of claim 2 wherein the wet substrate is housed in a separate container attached to the freestanding dispenser.

4. The freestanding dispenser of claim 3 wherein the container is attached to the freestanding dispenser adjacent the roll.

5. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the roll'"'"'s exterior surface is exposed.

6. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the base comprises a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and at least one opening;

the support member comprises a spindle attached to the top; and

the wet substrate is located inside of the base.

7. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the base comprises a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and at least one opening;

the support member comprises a shroud; and

the wet substrate is located inside of the base.

8. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the base comprises a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and at least one opening;

the support member comprises a spindle and a shroud; and

the wet substrate is located inside of the base.

9. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 wherein the spindle is detachable from the top.

10. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 wherein a diameter of the spindle is between about 5 mm to about 100 mm.

11. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 wherein a length of the spindle is between about 10 mm to about 400 mm.

12. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 wherein the spindle is attached at an angle A relative to a vertical axis between about 0 degrees to about 20 degrees.

13. The freestanding dispenser of claim 7 or 8 wherein the top is angled at an angle B relative to a vertical axis between about 70 degrees to about 90 degrees.

14. The freestanding dispenser of claim 7 or 8 wherein the top has a perimeter and the shroud is attached to the perimeter and extends along a portion of the perimeter.

15. The freestanding dispenser of claim 14 wherein the shroud comprises a gap.

16. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 comprising a dispensing cover covering a dispensing opening located in the base.

17. The freestanding dispenser of claim 16 comprising a sealing ring surrounding the dispensing opening for sealing engagement when the dispensing cover is closed.

18. The freestanding dispenser of claim 17 wherein the dispensing cover springs open by force exerted from the cover compressing the sealing ring when closed.

19. The freestanding dispenser of claim 16 wherein the dispensing cover is pivotally attached to the base by a hinge.

20. The freestanding dispenser of claim 16 wherein the dispensing cover is opened by actuating a button.

21. The freestanding dispenser of claim 20 wherein the dispensing cover springs open when the button is actuated.

22. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 wherein the base comprises a dispensing compartment and a storage compartment.

23. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6 or 8 comprising a dispensing opening in the sidewall and a refill opening in the bottom.

24. The freestanding dispenser of claim 23 comprising a dispensing cover and a refill cover.

25. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6, 7, or 8 wherein the dry substrate comprises a roll of paper towels.

26. The freestanding dispenser of claim 6, 7, or 8 wherein the wet substrate comprises a plurality of wet wipes contained in a package.

27. The freestanding dispenser of claim 26 wherein the package comprises a soft pack having a removable label for access to the wet wipes.

28. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 comprising:

a separate container housing the wet substrate;

the container having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall;

the sidewall comprising a dispensing opening; and

the container having a bore through the top and the bottom for placing the container onto a spindle acting as the support member.

29. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the container is vertically stacked above the roll.

30. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the container is vertically stacked below the roll.

31. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the top is removable for refilling the container.

32. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the wet substrate comprises a wet roll.

33. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the container comprises a dispensing cover for covering the dispensing opening.

34. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the container comprises a sleeve inserted into the bore.

35. The freestanding dispenser of claim 28 wherein the sleeve extends past both the top and bottom.

36. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the base comprises a top, a bottom, and a sidewall;

the support member comprises a hollow spindle attached to the top;

the wet substrate is located inside of the base; and

wherein the wet substrate is dispensed by threading the substrate through the hollow spindle.

37. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 comprising:

a separate container housing the wet substrate;

the container having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and a dispensing opening; and

a hanger member for attaching the container to the freestanding dispenser.

38. The freestanding dispenser of claim 37 wherein the bottom is arcuate.

39. The freestanding dispenser of claim 37 wherein the support member comprises a spindle, the hanger member comprises an extension member having a bore, the extension member is attached to the sidewall of the container at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, and the spindle is inserted into the bore.

40. The freestanding dispenser of claim 39 comprising a sleeve inserted into the bore and the spindle is inserted into the sleeve.

41. The freestanding dispenser of claim 39 comprising a dispensing cover for covering the dispensing opening and the dispensing opening is located in the top.

42. The freestanding dispenser of claim 37 wherein the support member comprises a spindle and the hanger member is attached to the spindle above the roll.

43. The free standing dispenser of claim 41 comprising a brace attaching the container to the base.

44. The freestanding dispenser of claim 37 wherein the support member comprises a spindle and the hanger member is attached to the spindle below the roll.

45. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 comprising:

a substantially vertical spindle support member attached to the base;

a substantially vertical container spindle attached to the base;

a separate container housing the wet substrate, the container having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and a dispensing opening; and

the container is attached to the container spindle.

46. The freestanding dispenser of claim 45 wherein the base comprises a platform and a plurality of legs.

47. The freestanding dispenser of claim 45 wherein the dispensing opening is located in the top.

48. The freestanding dispenser of claim 45 wherein the dispensing opening comprises a slot and is located in the sidewall.

49. The freestanding dispenser of claim 45 wherein a sleeve is attached to the sidewall and the container spindle is inserted into the sleeve.

50. The freestanding dispenser of claim 45 wherein the container comprises a bore through the top and the bottom and the container spindle is inserted into the bore.

51. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 comprising:

a substantially vertical spindle support member attached to the base;

a separate container housing the wet substrate, the container having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, a dispensing opening, and a container spindle; and

the container is attached to the base by inserting the container spindle into a hole.

52. The freestanding dispenser of claim 1 comprising:

a substantially vertical spindle support member attached to the base;

a container housing the wet substrate, the container having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and a dispensing opening; and

the container directly or indirectly attached spindle above the roll.

53. The freestanding dispenser of claim 52 wherein the bottom of the container comprises a bore for attachment to the spindle.

54. The freestanding dispenser of claim 52 comprising a dish attached to the spindle above the roll and the container placed in the dish.

55. The freestanding dispenser of claim 54 wherein the dispensing opening is located in the top.

56. The freestanding dispenser of claim 55 wherein the top is removable for refilling the container.

57. The freestanding dispenser of claim 55 comprising a dispensing cover for covering the dispensing opening.

58. The freestanding dispenser of claim 57 wherein the dispensing cover is opened by pressing a button.

59. The freestanding dispenser of claim 58 wherein the dispensing cover springs open.

60. The freestanding dispenser of claim 52 comprising a shroud attached to the base.

61. The freestanding dispenser of claim 54 comprising a shroud attached to the base.

62. The freestanding dispenser of claim 61 wherein the shroud extends from the base to the dish.