Method and apparatus for dispensing cleanroom wipes

Abstract

A cleanroom wipe dispenser is provided. The cleanroom wipe dispenser may include a housing forming a compartment for removably storing a plurality of cleanroom wipes. The plurality of cleanroom wipes may be uniquely folded so that they are not interfolded so as not to abrade the adjacent cleanroom wipe when being dispensed, thereby eliminating cross contamination of cleanroom wipes. A bottom wall of the housing may define a generally elongated elliptical dispensing opening adapted to limit access to the plurality of cleanroom wipes so as to prevent wasteful usage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleanroom wipe dispenser comprising:
 a housing made out of ESD-resistant material formed by a plurality of walls so as to define a compartment; and   a dispensing opening formed in one of the plurality of walls and defined by a front edge and a back edge, wherein the front edge has a generally elongated elliptical shape so that its width toward a central portion thereof is greater than its width at its ends,   whereby access through the dispensing opening is afforded at the central portion thereof, comparatively to its ends.   
     
     
         2 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the back edge has a generally elongated elliptical shape so that its width toward a central portion thereof is greater than its width at its ends. 
     
     
         3 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 1 , further including a viewing window formed in one of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         4 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls comprises a bottom wall and a front wall. 
     
     
         5 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the bottom wall forms the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         6 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the front wall forms the viewing window. 
     
     
         7 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of cleanroom wipes housed within the compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein each cleanroom wipe is double-c folded having an open side and a closed side. 
     
     
         9 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein each cleanroom wipe is disposed so that their open side faces the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         10 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein each cleanroom wipe is disposed so that its closed side abuts the open side of an adjacent cleanroom wipe. 
     
     
         11 . The cleanroom wipe dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein each cleanroom wipe forms a flap configured to protrude out of dispensing opening when adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         12 . A unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof, comprising:
 a first portion of the unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material, wherein the first portion comprises a first edge;   a second portion of the unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material, wherein the second portion comprises a second edge,   wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected along a first fold so that the first portion and the second portion substantially overlap from the first fold extending to at least the first edge of the first portion, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are complementarily folded at two complementarily second folds and two complementarily third folds so that the first portion and the second portion form a general C-shape.   
     
     
         13 . The unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof of  claim 12 , wherein a distance from the third folds to the second edge of the second portion is longer than a distance from the third folds to the first edge of the first portion forming a flap at the second edge of the second portion. 
     
     
         14 . The unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof of  claim 12 , wherein the C-shape comprises an open side and a closed side, and wherein the open side abuts the closed side of an adjacent unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing cross contamination of a plurality of cleanroom wipes comprising when being distributed, comprising:
 providing a unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material;   folding the unitary sheet along a first fold so that a first portion having a first edge overlaps a second portion having a second edge; and   complementarily folding the overlapped first and second portions at two complementarily second folds and two complementarily third folds so that the overlapped first and second portions form a general C-shape, wherein a distance from the third folds to the second edge of the second portion is longer than a distance from the third folds to the first edge of the first portion forming a flap at the second edge of the second portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  15 , further including stacking an open side of the general C-shape cleanroom wipe on top of a closed side an adjacent general C-shape cleanroom wipe. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  16 , further including providing a housing made out of ESD-resistant material formed by a plurality of walls so as to define a compartment; and a dispensing opening formed in one of the plurality of walls and defined by a front edge and a back edge, wherein the front edge has a generally elongated elliptical shape so that its width toward a central portion thereof is greater than its width at its ends. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  17 , further including housing the plurality of cleanroom wipes within the housing so that the open side of each cleanroom wipe faces the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  18 , wherein a portion of the flap of the cleanroom wipe adjacent the dispensing opening is protruding out of said dispensing opening.