Refillable, flexible dispenser for stacked moist wipes

Abstract

A refillable dispenser for pre-moistened wipes includes a flexible pouch. The pouch has a front wall, a back wall, and an interior space therebetween. A dispensing opening is formed in the front wall, and a movable cover can cover the dispensing opening. The dispenser includes a seam that can be opened to an open position and resealed to a closed position to connect the front wall to the back wall. The open position defines a refill opening. The front wall and the back wall are each formed from a flexible material having a bending resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and about 300 milligrams of force. In particular embodiments, the flexible material has a thickness of at least 5.0 mils.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refillable dispenser for pre-moistened wipes, the dispenser comprising a flexible pouch, the pouch having a front wall, a back wall, and an interior space between the front wall and the back wall,
 the dispenser comprising a dispensing opening formed in the front wall, the dispenser further comprising a movable cover adapted to cover the dispensing opening,   the dispenser comprising a seam that can be opened to an open position and resealed to a closed position to connect the front wall to the back wall, the open position configured to define a refill opening,   wherein the front wall and the back wall are each formed from a flexible material having a bending resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and about 300 milligrams of force.   
     
     
         2 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between 21.0 milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         3 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between about 40 milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         4 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between about 40 milligrams of force and 125 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         5 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between about 60 milligrams of force and about 100 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         6 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a thickness of at least 5.0 mils. 
     
     
         7 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a thickness of at least about 8 mils. 
     
     
         8 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a thickness of between about 8 mils and about 15 mils. 
     
     
         9 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing opening is surrounded by a rigid ring, wherein the cover is hingedly attached to the ring. 
     
     
         10 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the seam comprises a press and seal seam or a sliding zipper seam. 
     
     
         11 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall has a top edge and first and second side edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the front wall top edge, and wherein the back wall has a top edge and first and second side edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the back wall top edge. 
     
     
         12 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 11 , where the front wall is connected to the back wall via a first side seam that connects the front wall first side edge to the back wall first side edge, via a second side seam that connects the front wall second side edge to the back wall second side edge, and via a bottom gusset wall that extends between and is formed integrally with the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         13 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser further includes a stack of pre-moistened wipes. 
     
     
         14 . A refillable dispenser for pre-moistened wipes, the dispenser comprising a flexible pouch, the pouch having a front wall, a back wall, and an interior space between the front wall and the back wall,
 wherein the front wall has a top edge and first and second side edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the front wall top edge, and wherein the back wall has a top edge and first and second side edges that extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the back wall top edge,   wherein the front wall is connected to the back wall via a first side seam that connects the front wall first side edge to the back wall first side edge, via a second side seam that connects the front wall second side edge to the back wall second side edge, and via a bottom gusset wall that extends between and is formed integrally with the front wall and the back wall,   the dispenser comprising a dispensing opening formed in the front wall, the dispenser further comprising a movable cover adapted to cover the dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing opening is surrounded by a rigid ring, wherein the cover is hingedly attached to the ring.   the dispenser comprising a seam that can be opened to an open position and resealed to a closed position to connect the front wall to the back wall, the open position configured to define a refill opening,   wherein the front wall and the back wall are each formed from a flexible material having a bending resistance of between about 40 milligrams of force and 150 milligrams of force,   wherein the flexible material has a thickness of at least 5.0 mils.   
     
     
         15 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between about 40 milligrams of force and 125 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         16 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible material has a bending resistance of between about 60 milligrams of force and about 100 milligrams of force. 
     
     
         17 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible material has a thickness of at least about 8 mils. 
     
     
         18 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible material has a thickness of between about 8 mils and about 15 mils. 
     
     
         19 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the dispenser further includes a stack of pre-moistened wipes.