Cartridge dispensing system and method

Abstract

A dispenser and method for storing and dispensing a plurality of separably joined wipes are taught. Such comprise a cartridge comprising a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, the walls connected together to define a chamber and an opening in the chamber. A cover is removably fastenable to the top portion of the side wall, the cover and cartridge cooperating to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber. An elongated dispensing passage is disposed adjacent the top portion of the side wall wherein wipes from the plurality of separably joined wipes can be dispensed from the chamber by the wipes passing directly between the cover and the top portion of the side wall and out the dispensing passage when the cover is fastened to the cartridge.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A dispenser for storing and dispensing a plurality of separably joined wipes, comprising: 
 a cartridge comprising a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, the walls connected together to define a chamber and an opening in the chamber located at a top portion of the side wall opposite the bottom wall;    a cover removably self-fastenable to the top portion of the side wall, the cover and cartridge cooperating to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber; and    an elongated dispensing passage disposed adjacent the top portion of the side wall wherein wipes from the plurality of separably joined wipes can be dispensed from the chamber by the wipes passing directly between the cover and the top portion of the side wall and out the dispensing passage when the cover is fastened to the cartridge.    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the elongated dispensing passage comprises a rib projecting from a wall of the passage.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the rib extends a length of the elongated dispensing passage.  
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the elongated dispensing passage extends a length co-extensive with a width of the wipes.  
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the elongated dispensing passage is formed in the cover.  
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the top portion of the side wall comprises a lip extending about the top portion of the side wall and the cover is attachable to the lip in at least two locations about the lip.  
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the cover provides at least a double seal about a perimeter of the lip except at the elongated dispensing passage.  
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of separably joined wipes are formed in a roll.  
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of separably joined wipes are wet wipes.  
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein a seal is secured across the opening of the chamber and locatable between the top portion of the side wall and the cover.  
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge is independently mountable in a separate dispenser without use of the cover and whereby wipes within the chamber can be dispensed from the separate dispenser.  
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge comprises: 
 four side walls;  
 each side wall having a top and a bottom;  
 each side wall having a length and a depth;  
 the cartridge having a length, a width and a depth;  
 the bottom wall joined to each side wall;  
 the bottom wall having a curved section and a planar section;  
 the curved section having a first side and a second side;  
 the planar section having a first side and a second side;  
 the first side of the curved section being joined to the bottom of a first side wall;  
 the second side of the curved section being joined to the first side of the planar section; and  
 the second side of the planar section being joined to the bottom of a second side wall that is opposed to the first side wall.  
 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge comprises: 
 side walls;  
 the cartridge having a length, a width and a depth;  
 a bottom wall joined to each side wall;  
 the bottom wall having an curved section and a planar section;  
 the curved section having a first side and a second side;  
 the planar section having a first side and a second side;  
 the first side of the curved section being joined to the bottom of a first side wall;  
 the second side of the curved section being joined to the first side of the planar section;  
 the second side of the planar section being joined to the bottom of a second side wall that is opposed to the first side wall;  
 a third and fourth side walls opposed to one another;  
 the third and fourth side walls interjoining the first and second side walls;  
 the first and second side walls having a rib; and  
 the third and fourth side walls having a grove.  
 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge comprises: 
 a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a four side wall;  
 each side wall having a top and a bottom;  
 each side wall having a length and a depth;  
 the cartridge having a length, a width and a depth;  
 a bottom wall joined to each side wall;  
 the bottom wall having a curved section and a planar section;  
 the curved section having a first side and a second side;  
 the planar section having a first side and a second side;  
 the first side of the curved section being joined to the bottom of a first side wall;  
 the second side of the curved section being joined to the first side of the planar section;  
 the second side of the planar section being joined to the bottom of a second side wall that is opposed to the first side wall; and  
 a plurality of parallel ribs on the first and second side walls.  
 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser for storing and dispensing a plurality of separably joined wipes, comprising: 
 a cartridge comprising a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, the walls connected together to define a chamber and an opening in the chamber located at a top portion of the side wall opposite the bottom wall;    a cover removably fastenable to the top portion of the side wall, the cover and cartridge cooperating to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber;    the cover comprising a top and at least one top side wall extending from the top wherein the top side wall and the side wall each have at least a portion extending past the other and at the portion each engages the other in an interference relationship; and    an elongated dispensing passage disposed adjacent the top portion of the side wall wherein wipes from the plurality of separably joined wipes can be dispensed from the chamber by the wipes passing directly between the cover and the top portion of the side wall and out the dispensing passage when the cover is fastened to the cartridge.    
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the elongated dispensing passage is formed in the cover.  
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein the elongated dispensing passage comprises a rib projecting from the cover toward the top portion.  
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the rib extends a length of the elongated dispensing passage.  
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the elongated dispensing passage extends a length co-extensive with a width of the wipes.  
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the top portion of the side wall comprises a lip extending outwardly about the top portion of the side wall and the cover is attachable to the lip and wherein the elongated dispensing passage extends from above the lip to below the lip.  
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein the top portion of the side wall comprises a lip extending outwardly about the top portion of the side wall and the cover is attachable to the lip and wherein the elongated dispensing passage extends from above the lip to below the lip.  
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the cartridge comprises: 
 a plurality of walls comprising side walls and a bottom wall  
 each side walls having a top and a bottom;  
 each side wall having a length and a depth;  
 the cartridge having a length, a width and a depth;  
 two opposed side walls corresponding to the length of the cartridge;  
 the other two opposed side walls corresponding to the width of the cartridge;  
 the bottom wall joined to each side wall;  
 the bottom wall having an curved section and a planar section;  
 the curved section having a first side and a second side;  
 the planar section having a first side and a second side;  
 the first side of the curved section being joined to the bottom of a first side wall;  
 the second side of the curved section being joined to the first side of the planar section;  
 the second side of the planar section being joined to the bottom of a second side wall that is opposed to the first side wall;  
 a lip;  
 the lip joined to the top of a side wall;  
 the lip extending outwardly from the top of the side wall; and, the cover contacting the lip.  
 
     
     
         23 . A method for storing and dispensing a plurality of separably joined wipes, comprising: 
 providing a cartridge having a chamber with the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber, the plurality of separably joined wipes having a seal over them to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes from an environment;    removing the seal from the plurality of separably joined wipes;    fastening a removably self-fastening cover to the cartridge over the chamber to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber;    dispensing wipes from the chamber by passing wipes between the cover and the cartridge and out an elongated dispensing passage when the cover is fastened to the cartridge.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein providing comprises providing the cartridge with a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, the walls connected together to define the chamber and an opening in the chamber located at a top portion of the side wall opposite the bottom wall.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein dispensing further comprises causing the wipes to travel in a first direction and then in a second direction as the wipes travel into and then out the elongated dispensing passage and wherein the second direction is at least partially opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein dispensing further comprises separating a leading wipe from a trailing wipe after at least a portion of the trailing wipe is out of the chamber and the elongated dispensing passage.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein fastening comprises friction fitting the cover to the cartridge.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 removing the cover from the cartridge;  
 mounting the cartridge with wipes in the chamber in a separate dispenser without use of the cover; and  
 dispensing wipes from the plurality of separably joined wipes from the separate dispenser.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein providing comprises providing a roll of wet wipes.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein providing comprises providing the seal attached to the cartridge over the chamber.  
     
     
         31 . A method for storing and dispensing a plurality of separably joined wipes, comprising: 
 providing a cartridge having a chamber with the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber, the cartridge having a seal over the chamber to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the cartridge;    removing the seal from the cartridge;    fastening a cover to the cartridge over the chamber to seal the plurality of separably joined wipes in the chamber wherein the cover comprises a top and at least one top side wall extending from the top wherein the top side wall and a side wall from the cartridge each have at least a portion extending past the other and at the portion each engages the other in an interference relationship; and    dispensing wipes from the chamber by passing wipes between the cover and the cartridge and out an elongated dispensing passage when the cover is fastened to the cartridge.    
     
     
         32 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge and the cover are each made of a material having a flexibility characteristic in the range of semi-rigid to rigid.