Towel dispensing and treatment system

• US 20060151513A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William S. Shadrach III
• Original Assignee: William S. Shadrach III
• Inventors: Shadrach, William S. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3818 with a distribution opening which is perpendicular to the rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3273 moistened just before use

Abstract

A method for dispensing towels contained in a compartment and selectively treating the towels with a fluid comprises the steps of extracting a dispensable towel from the compartment, through a towel delivery conduit extending through a removable cover disposed on the compartment, and from a top opening of the cover, and selectively applying the fluid to the towel as the towel is extracted through the conduit.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing towels contained in a compartment and selectively treating the towels with a fluid, comprising the steps of:

extracting a dispensable towel from the compartment, through a towel delivery conduit extending through a removable cover disposed on the compartment, and from a top opening of the cover; and

selectively applying the fluid to the towel as the towel is extracted through the conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of containing at least a portion of any excess fluid directed to the towel within the towel dispensing conduit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the fluid to the towel includes the further step of applying the fluid to the towel at substantially a midpoint of a length of the towel dispensing conduit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the fluid to the towel includes the step of spraying the liquid on the towel.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of applying the fluid to the towel from at least two application directions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the towel dispensing conduit extends at least partially through the fluid reservoir and is substantially centered within a cross section of the fluid reservoir.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the towel dispensing conduit extends through the fluid reservoir from a bottom of the reservoir to a top of the reservoir.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one dispensable towel selected from the group consisting of:

interfolded towels;

a continuous, perforated towel sheet;

a continuous, perforated towel sheet formed in a roll; and

a continuous towel sheet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cover forms a portion of the towel dispensing conduit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the compartment forms a portion of the towel dispensing conduit.

11. A method for configuring a portable dispenser to dispense towels selectively treated with a fluid, comprising:

providing a compartment, configured to contain at least one dispensable towel therein;

disposing a removable cover on the compartment to form an enclosure with the compartment;

associating a fluid reservoir with the compartment;

associating a fluid applicator with the compartment and disposing the fluid applicator in fluid communication with the reservoir, the fluid applicator being selectively operable by a user of the dispenser to apply the fluid to the dispensable towel;

wherein the enclosure formed by disposing the removable cover on the compartment has at least two distinct configurations, including;

i) an upright configuration, in which a longitudinal axis of the enclosure is substantially vertical; and

ii) a slanted configuration, in which the longitudinal axis of the enclosure is slanted with respect to vertical;

the fluid applicator and reservoir cooperatively defining a sealed unit to contain the fluid within the cover when the dispenser is oriented in either of the upright configuration and the slanted configuration.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising associating a towel dispensing conduit with the compartment, the towel dispensing conduit extending through the cover to a top opening of the cover, the conduit defining a path through which the dispensable towel is extracted from the compartment and dispensed from the top opening of the cover.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid applicator includes a delivery portion directed toward an inside of the towel dispensing conduit, and wherein the towel dispensing conduit circumscribes the dispensable towel as the towel is extracted from the compartment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the towel dispensing conduit has a length and includes a substantially rounded cross section, and wherein the delivery portion of the fluid applicator is directed toward the inside of the conduit at a midpoint along the length of the conduit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid applicator includes a selectively operable pump and wherein the delivery portion of the fluid applicator includes a spray nozzle directed toward the inside of the conduit.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the towel dispensing conduit includes a circular cross section.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the towel dispensing conduit extends at least partially through the fluid reservoir and is substantially centered within a cross section of the fluid reservoir.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the towel dispensing conduit extends through the fluid reservoir from a bottom of the reservoir to a top of the reservoir.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs, each reservoir being configured to receive and store a different fluid therein.