Towelette Dispenser

Abstract

A towelette dispenser is provided with a lid. The lid has a central aperture for allowing access to a roll of towelettes maintained within a tub receiving the lid therein. The lid includes an inwardly tapered annular surface extending towards the tub. A gap segment is configured in the annular surface to define an entrance. The gap segment travels through the surface structure to a capturing element configured to exert a force on a towelette to permit separation of one towelette from supply of interconnected towelettes. The gap segment is further configured to travel upwardly along the surface structure in a direction away from the entrance towards the capturing element, such that the capturing element is offset and upwardly positioned along the surface structure from the entrance.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A towelette dispenser having a tub with an open end and receiving and maintaining a bulk supply of interconnected towelettes, separable from each other by perforations and having a lid received by said tub over said open end, said lid further comprising:
 a base portion having a top annular planar surface with a central aperture, the top annular planar surface includes an interior edge abutting the central aperture,   an interior skirt extends from the interior edge downwardly toward the tub, the interior skirt having a terminal edge, and   an inwardly tapered annular surface structure extending from the terminal edge of the interior skirt, wherein the surface structure includes a free lower edge, the surface structure having a mechanism configured to receive a towelette from the supply of interconnected towelettes and configured to permit said towelette to separate from the supply of interconnected towelettes while being further configure to capture the subsequent towelette,   said mechanism is further defined being having:
 a gap segment configured to start at the free lower edge to create first and second gap edges defined in the surface structure defining an entrance to the mechanism, the gap segment further traveling through the surface structure to a capturing station, and 
 wherein the gap segment is further configured to travel upwardly along the surface structure in a direction away from the entrance towards the capturing station in a narrowing configuration, and wherein the capturing station is offset and upwardly positioned along the surface structure from the entrance to the gap segment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the surface structure tapers inwardly and downwardly towards the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gap edges curve away from the entrance to the capturing station 
     
     
         4 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing station is formed into a cross shaped element with one end of the cross shaped element being configured from the narrowest portion of the gap segment. 
     
     
         5 . A towelette dispenser having a tub with an open end and receiving and maintaining a bulk supply of interconnected towelettes, separable from each other by perforations and having a lid received by said tub over said open end, said lid further comprising:
 a base portion having a top annular planar surface with a central aperture, the top annular planar surface includes an interior edge abutting the central aperture,   an interior skirt extends from the interior edge downwardly toward the tub, the interior skirt having a terminal edge, and   an inwardly tapered annular surface structure extending from the terminal edge of the interior skirt, wherein the surface structure includes a free lower edge, the surface structure having:
 a gap segment configured to start at the free lower edge to create first and second gap edges defined in the surface structure defining an entrance, and the gap segment further traveling through the surface structure to a capturing element configured to exert a force on a towelette to permit separation of one towelette from supply of interconnected towelettes, and 
 wherein the gap segment is further configured to travel upwardly along the surface structure in a direction away from the entrance towards the capturing element, and wherein the capturing element is offset and upwardly positioned along the surface structure from the entrance to the gap segment, whereby the entrance to the gap segment is thus configured to receive a towelette from the supply of interconnected towelettes, further permitting said towelette to travel around the gap segment until being captured at the capturing element wherein the capturing element permits separation of one towelette from supply of interconnected towelettes. 
   
     
     
         6 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the surface structure tapers inwardly and downwardly towards the tub. 
     
     
         7 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second gap edges curve away from the entrance to the capturing element such that the gap segment narrows from the entrance to the capturing element 
     
     
         8 . The towelette dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the capturing element is formed into a cross shaped element with one end of the cross shaped element being configured from the gap segment.