Container and cap for dispensing wipes

Abstract

A container for wipes, and a cap for the container, having a pop-up style dispensing means positioned beneath a reclosable lid. The container may be as upright cylindrical container for perforated wipes or a rigid tub for interfolded wipes. The dispensing means comprises flexible, rubber-like material having at least one opening through which wipes are removed from the container when the lid is open, and a hard plastic backing member underneath a portion of the rubber-like material adjacent the opening through which wipes are removed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for wipes having a pop-up style dispensing means positioned beneath a reclosable lid, said dispensing means comprising a flexible, rubber-like material having at least one opening therein through which individual wipes are removed from the container when the lid is open, and a hard plastic backing member underneath a portion of the rubber-like material adjacent the at least one opening through which individual wipes are removed from the container. 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the wipes are perforated and contained within an upright cylindrical container. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the wipes are interfolded and contained within a rigid tub. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one opening is at least one slit and the flexibility of the rubber-like material and the length of the at least one slit are sufficient to enable a user to reach into the container and retrieve a wipe in the event the pop-up feature fails. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the flexibility of the rubber-like material and the length of the at least one slit sufficiently seal moisture in the container to prevent substantial dry-out of wet wipes in the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the hard plastic backing member is covered by or encased within the rubber-like material. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the rubber-like material has at least two intersecting slits which create a “cross” slit configuration through which individual wipes are removed from the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the hard plastic backing member is underneath a portion of the rubber-like material adjacent the at least two intersecting slits which create the “cross” slit configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing means comprises a raised member made of flexible, rubber-like material having at least one opening therein through which individual wipes are removed from the container when the lid is open. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the raised member has a front surface that is inclined upward toward the back of the lid at an angle of from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees when the lid is open, and the front surface of the raised member has at least two intersecting slits which create a “cross” slit configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the hard plastic backing member is underneath a portion of the raised member. 
     
     
         12 . A cap for a container for wipes, said cap having a pop-up style dispensing means positioned beneath a reclosable lid, said dispensing means comprising a flexible, rubber-like material having at least one opening therein through which individual wipes are removed from the container when the lid is open, and a hard plastic backing member underneath a portion of the rubber-like material adjacent the at least one opening through which individual wipes are removed from the container. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 12  for an upright cylindrical container containing perforated wipes. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 12  for a rigid tub containing interfolded wipes. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 12  wherein the at least one opening is at least one slit and the flexibility of the rubber-like material and the length of the at least one slit are sufficient to enable a user to reach into the container and retrieve a wipe in the event the pop-up feature fails. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 15  wherein the flexibility of the rubber-like material and the length of the at least one slit sufficiently seal moisture in the container to prevent substantial dry-out of wet wipes in the container. 
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 12  wherein the hard plastic backing member is covered by or encased within the rubber-like material. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 12  wherein the rubber-like material has at least two intersecting slits which create a “cross” slit configuration through which individual wipes are removed from the container. 
     
     
         19 . The cap of  claim 18  wherein the hard plastic backing member is underneath a portion of the rubber-like material adjacent the at least two intersecting slits which create the “cross” slit configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 12  wherein the dispensing means comprises a raised member made of flexible, rubber-like material having at least one opening therein through which individual wipes are removed from the container when the lid is open. 
     
     
         21 . The cap of  claim 20  wherein the raised member has a front surface that is inclined upward toward the back of the lid at an angle of from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees when the lid is open, and the front surface of the raised member has at least two intersecting slits which create a “cross” slit configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The cap of  claim 20  wherein the hard plastic backing member is underneath a portion of the raised member.