Pre-moistened towelette dispenser

Claim 2

A dispenser for a pre-moistened, roll-type web of a plurality of individually separable towelettes defined in said web by spaced apart lines of perforations extending transversely across said web from one side to the other thereof, comprising: (a) a body having inclined side walls defining a base receiving portion broader than a top receiving portion in a ratio tending to prevent tipping over of said dispenser upon one-handed tearing of individual towelettes from said roll, and a cavity for receiving said towelette roll, (b) a base portion cooperatingly engagable to said body, (c) a removable and replaceable top portion having a generally planar surface which includes a feed slit substantially the width of said roll-type web as said web is withdrawn from roll, (d) said slit is disposed in a plane generally parallel to said top portion planar surface and inclined to an oblique angle relative to a line defined by a junction of the planes of at least one side wall and said top portion; and (e) said slit is disposed at an angle oblique to said perforations in said web so that a tearing separation is initiated by action of said slit itself from one side edge of said web thereacross to separate an individual towelette therefrom.

Claim 3

A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said top portion includes: (a) an inner top member, and (b) an outer top member, said slit being disposed in said inner top member, said outer top member being hingedly attached to said inner top member along an edge common to said top members, said inner top member and outer to member, said inner top member and said body, and said base portion and said body, all being adapted to provide a tight fit therebetween resulting in lower vapor loss therethrough.

Claim 4

A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein said slit is serrated to provide a tearing edge.

Claim 5

A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein said slit is sinusoidal in configuration to provide a tearing edge.

Claim 6

A dispenser as in claim 2 having two pairs of spaced apart, generally planar side walls, one pair of which is longer than the other, one of said long side walls defining a front wall, and said slit is disposed at an angle to the juncture of said top to said front wall.

Claim 7

A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein said inner top member includes an outer margin and an inner recessed portion oriented spaced apart and parallel to each other and generally parallel to said base, said slit being disposed in said inner recessed portion, said inner recessed portion and said outer top member defining a space for retaining a portion of a towelette or its leader in a manner to reduce vapor loss from said towelette.

Claim 8

A dispenser as in claim 6 wherein said inner top member includes means for providing a snap-fit with said body.

Claim 9

A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said base portion is adapted to cooperatingly engage means for removably holding said dispenser on a surface.

Claim 10

A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein a portion of said body is adapted to cooperatingly engage means for removably holding said dispenser on a surface.

Claim 11

In a pre-moistened towelette dispenser assembly having a body portion defining a cavity for receiving a towelette roll comprising a web: (i) having a first and a second parallel side edge, (ii) having individual towelettes defined in said web by spaced lines of perforations transverse to the web, and (iii) being of absorbent material containing a fluid impregnated therein, and a generally planar top portion having a slit therein for withdrawing said roll material from said cavity through said slit, the improvement which comprises: (a) said body portion adapted with at least one inclined side wall forming a juncture with said slit-containing top portion; (b) said slit is substantially the width of said web roll and is disposed at an angle oblique to said juncture; and (c) said perforation lines in said roll being substantially parallel to said juncture so that upon feed of said towelette material through said slit, said slit is disposed at an oblique angle to said perforations and pull on a first towelette projecting through said slit at an angle to the web as it is unrolled from said roll automatically initiates a tearing separation by action of said slit itself of said first towelette from said web from said first edge across said web to said second edge.

Claim 12

In a pre-moistened towelette dispenser assembly having a body portion defining a cavity for receiving a towelette roll comprising a web: (i) having a first and a second parallel side edge, (ii) having individual towelettes defined in said web by spaced lines of perforations transverse to the web, and (iii) being of absorbent material containing a fluid impregnated therein, and a generally planar top portion having a slit therein for withdrawing said roll material from said cavity through said slit, the improvement which comprises: (a) said body portion adapted with at least one inclined side wall forming a juncture with said slit-containing top portion; (b) said slit is substantially the width of said web roll and is disposed at an angle oblique to said juncture; and (c) said perforation lines in said roll being substantially parallel to said juncture so that upon feed of said towelette material through said slit, said slit is disposed at an oblique angle to said perforations and pull on a first towelette projecting through said slit at an angle to the web as it is unrolled from said roll automatically initiates a tearing separation by action of said slit itself of said first towelette from said web from said first edge across said web to said second edge.