Wipes dispenser

Abstract

Various dispensers configured to provide access to consumable material are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispenser includes a housing configured to receive a container, a lid configured to move between closed and open positions, an actuator, a transmission configured to transmit force from the actuator to the lid to cause movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position, and a lock including a blocker and a lock engagement feature configured to engage a corresponding container engagement feature on the container. In certain embodiments, the dispenser is configured such that: when the lock engagement feature is not engaged with the container engagement feature, the blocker blocks movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position; and when the lock engagement feature is engaged with the container engagement feature, movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position is allowed.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to receive a container including a plurality of sheets of consumable material;   a lid configured to move between a closed position and an open position to provide a user with access to at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material when the container is received by the housing;   an actuator configured to be operated by the user;   a transmission configured to transmit force from the actuator to the lid to cause movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position; and   a lock comprising a blocker and a lock engagement feature, the lock engagement feature configured to engage a corresponding container engagement feature on the container when the container is received by the housing;   the dispenser configured such that:
 when the lock engagement feature is not engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, the blocker blocks movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position; and 
 when the lock engagement feature is engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position is allowed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a lever coupled to the housing and configured to be depressed by the user, wherein the lever is configured to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position when the lock engagement feature is engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, and wherein, when the lock engagement feature is not engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, said blocker is configured to inhibit the lever from causing the lid to move from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lid includes an arm comprising gear teeth;   the dispenser further comprises a coupler gear coupled to a portion of the lever and configured to rotate upon movement of the lever, the coupler gear comprising gear teeth configured to engage the gear teeth of the arm of the lid; and   when the lock engagement feature is engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, movement of the lever causes movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position via engagement between the gear teeth of the coupler gear and the gear teeth of the arm of the lid.   
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the blocker comprises a protrusion, and wherein, when the lock engagement feature is not engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container, the protrusion engages the gear teeth of the coupler gear and inhibits the lever from causing movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the lid and the lock are rotatably coupled to the housing and are configured to rotate about a first axis, and wherein the lever is rotatably coupled to the housing and is configured to rotate about a second axis that is generally parallel to and spaced from the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the lid and the lock are independently rotatable with respect to one another about the first axis. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising said container, wherein:
 the lock comprises a body and the lock engagement feature extends outward from the body;   the container comprises a body and a tab extending outward from the body of the container, the body of the container comprising an interior for holding said plurality of sheets of consumable material;   when the container is received by the housing, the tab of the container is configured to contact the lock engagement feature, thereby moving the lock from a first position to a second position;   when the lock is in said first position, the blocker blocks movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position; and   when the lock is in said second position, movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position is allowed.   
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the housing and the container comprise corresponding alignment features configured to interact with one another to align the tab of the container with the lock engagement feature when the container is received by said housing. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the tab of the container is located at a first end of the container and wherein the alignment feature of the container is located at second end of said container that is opposite the first end of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the alignment feature of the container comprises an recessed portion on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the container and wherein the alignment feature of the housing comprises a protrusion extending outward from a portion of said housing and configured to be received within the recessed portion on said at least the portion of the bottom surface of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed portion of the container is not aligned with an axis extending through a center of a cross-section of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lever is configured to move between a first lever position and a second lever position;   when the lock engagement feature is engaged with the corresponding container engagement feature on the container:
 movement of the lever from the first lever position toward the second lever position causes said lid to move from the closed position toward the open position; and 
 movement of the lever from the second lever position toward the first lever position causes said lid to move from the open position toward the closed position; and 
   the lever is biased toward said first lever position.   
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the lever is biased toward said first lever position by at least one biasing member coupled to a portion of said lever and a portion of said housing. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising a dampener configured to dampen movement of the lever from the second lever position to the first lever position. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 a cabinet;   a frame connected to the cabinet;   a base, the base and the frame positioned away from each other to define a space for receiving the container; and   a handle movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to connect the base to the cabinet;   wherein movement of the handle allows the base to move from a first position to a second position, and wherein, the base is positioned farther from the frame when in the second position than when in the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one biasing member coupled to the cabinet and the base, wherein the at least one biasing member is configured to bias the base toward the first position. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the handle comprises a slot and wherein the base comprises a cam mechanism configured to slide relative to the slot to allow the base to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a frame configured to be positioned proximate an end of said container when said container is received by said housing, the frame comprising:
 an opening configured to provide access to said at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material of said container when said container is received by said housing;   one or more flexible arms extending adjacent to the opening; and   a nozzle connected to the one or more flexible arms, the nozzle configured to receive and operably position at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material for the user when said container is received by said housing;   wherein the one or more flexible arms are configured to allow an axis extending through the nozzle to be oriented transverse relative to an axis corresponding to gravitational force on at least one of the nozzle and said at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material.   
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said nozzle is configured to move from a first position to a second position when said at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material is pulled by said user, the first position being an at rest position of the nozzle;   when the nozzle is in said first position, the one or more flexible arms are curved; and   when the nozzle is in said second position, the one or more flexible arms are not curved.   
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein:
 when the nozzle is in said first position, the axis extending through the nozzle is transverse with respect to an axis extending through a center of the opening of the frame; and   when the nozzle is in said second position, the axis extending through the nozzle is generally parallel to said axis extending through the center of the opening in the frame.   
     
     
         21 . A dispenser comprising a housing configured to receive a container including a plurality of sheets of consumable material, wherein the housing comprises a frame configured to be positioned proximate an end of said container when said container is received by said housing, and wherein the frame comprises:
 an opening configured to provide access to at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material of said container when said container is received by said housing;   one or more flexible arms extending adjacent to the opening; and   a nozzle connected to the one or more flexible arms, the nozzle configured to receive and operably position at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material for the user when said container is received by said housing;   wherein the one or more flexible arms are configured to allow an axis extending through the nozzle to be oriented transverse relative to an axis corresponding to gravitational force on at least one of the nozzle and said at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material.   
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said nozzle is configured to move from a first position to a second position when said at least one of said plurality of sheets of consumable material is pulled by said user, the first position being an at rest position of the nozzle;   when the nozzle is in said first position, the one or more flexible arms are curved; and   when the nozzle is in said second position, the one or more flexible arms are not curved.   
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein:
 when the nozzle is in said first position, the axis extending through the nozzle is transverse with respect to an axis extending through a center of the opening of the frame; and   when the nozzle is in said second position, the axis extending through the nozzle is generally parallel to said axis extending through the center of the opening in the frame.   
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 23 , further comprising a first tab connected to and extending from the nozzle, the first tab spaced from the one or more flexible arms, wherein the first tab is configured to contact a second tab extending outward from a portion of the frame when the nozzle is in said second position. 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 24 , wherein the second tab extends partially across said opening of the frame.