Diaphragm for a container assembly

Abstract

A diaphragm for a container assembly for dispensing products such as wipes or sheets, or collecting and/or storing products, including waste products. The container assembly has diaphragm with a central aperture and at least one petal. The diaphragm is a portion of the lid or the container. The aperture allows a user to insert one or more fingers (or hand) to pull the first sheet out or alternatively, deposit an item into the container. The diaphragm has one or more slits separating the outer periphery of the diaphragm from portions of the petals, thereby reducing the force required to deflect the diaphragm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a plurality of petals separated by at least one substantially linear slit, the plurality of petals each comprising:
 a base region at least partially connected to a diaphragm; 
 a tip region distal to said base region, the tip region of said plurality of petals cooperating to define an aperture towards a center region of said diaphragm, the aperture having a first state where each tip region is substantially parallel to a horizontal axis, and a second state where said petals are other than parallel to said horizontal axis, 
 wherein said diaphragm is a deflectable material; 
 wherein said aperture has a larger size in said second state than said first state; and 
 wherein said base region of at least one of said plurality of petals comprises a substantially arcuate slit to facilitate deflection of said diaphragm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising: an additional slit in the diaphragm, with the additional slit intersecting at least one of the substantially linear slits. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the additional slit includes a plurality of additional slits in the diaphragm with each additional slit being intersected by at least one of the substantially linear slits. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the additional slit is arcuate in shape relative to the substantially linear slits. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of petals further comprise a central region between said base region and said tip region, wherein said tip region is out of plane with respect to at least one of said base region and said central region. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the diaphragm is circular in cross-section and the additional slit is shaped to match the arcuate shape of a portion of the circular diaphragm. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a bubble attached to the tip region of a petal.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a tip in the tip region is covered with a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a tip in the tip region is rounded. 
     
     
         10 . A container lid configured to dispense sheet material from a container, comprising
 a plurality of petals separated by at least one substantially linear slit, the plurality of petals each comprising:
 a base region at least partially connected to a diaphragm; 
 a tip region distal to said base region, the tip region of said plurality of petals cooperating to define an aperture towards a center region of said diaphragm, the aperture having a first state where each tip region is substantially parallel to a horizontal axis, and a second state where said petals are other than parallel to said horizontal axis, 
 wherein said diaphragm is a deflectable material; 
 wherein said aperture has a larger size in said second state than said first state; and 
 wherein said base region of at least one of said plurality of petals comprises a substantially arcuate slit to facilitate deflection of said diaphragm. 
   
     
     
         11 . The container lid of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an additional slit in the diaphragm, with the additional slit intersecting at least one of the substantially linear slits.   
     
     
         12 . The container lid of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a bubble attached to the tip region of a petal.   
     
     
         13 . The container lid of  claim 10 , wherein a tip in the tip region is covered with a polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The container lid of  claim 10 , wherein a tip in the tip region is rounded. 
     
     
         15 . A diaphragm providing an accessible barrier within a container, comprising:
 a plurality of petals separated by at least one substantially linear slit, the plurality of petals each comprising:
 a base region at least partially connected to an outer perimeter of said diaphragm; 
 a tip region distal to said base region, the tip region of said plurality of petals cooperating to define an aperture towards a center region of said diaphragm, the aperture having a first state where each tip region is substantially parallel to a horizontal axis, and a second state where said petals are other than parallel to said horizontal axis, 
 wherein said diaphragm is a deflectable material; 
 wherein said aperture has a larger size in said second state than said first state; and 
 wherein said base region of at least one of said plurality of petals comprises a substantially arcuate slit to facilitate deflection of said diaphragm. 
   
     
     
         16 . The diaphragm of  claim 15  wherein the opening includes a widened portion of at least one substantially linear slit. 
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm of  claim 16  wherein
 the substantially linear slit and an additional substantially linear slit intersect each other at a point other than at the center of the diaphragm. 
 
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a bubble attached to the tip region of a petal.   
     
     
         19 . The diaphragm of  claim 16 , wherein a tip in the tip region is covered with a polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The diaphragm of  claim 16 , wherein a tip in the tip region is rounded.