Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser includes a front panel that can be opaque, and a body that includes a sidewall extending from a rear wall. Further, the front panel is coupled to the body and an interior cavity is formed therebetween. The sidewall includes an illuminating portion and a viewing portion. The illuminating portion is translucent and the viewing portion is transparent. The viewing portion is located between the front panel and the rear wall and the viewing portion and the illuminating portion indicate a refill status.

1 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a front panel that is opaque; and   a body having a translucent wall portion that includes a transparent window, wherein the window is disposed at an angle relative to the front panel.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a rear wall that is substantially parallel to a front surface of the front panel and the window is disposed between the rear wall and the front panel. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein a rear edge of the window is spaced apart from the rear wall and a front edge of the window is spaced apart from the front panel. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the wall portion is part of a sidewall and extends from the rear wall of the body to the front edge, wherein the sidewall has a top portion and two opposing wall portions connected by the top portion, wherein the front edge of the top portion of the sidewall extends farther from the rear wall than the front edge of the wall portions, and wherein the window is located on at least one of the wall portions. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein a central plane bisects the front panel and the rear wall of the dispenser, the window extends in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the central plane, and the window extends in a second direction that is disposed at an angle relative to the central plane. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the front edge of the window is located a first distance from the central plane, the rear edge of the window is located a second distance from the central plane, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the window comprises a first window and a second window, and an interior cavity is formed between the first and second windows. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the first window includes a first edge and the second window includes a second edge, the first edge being disposed at a different angle from the front panel than the second edge. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the first window and the second window are each located between and spaced apart from a top and a bottom of the wall portion. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a front panel having a visible light transmission (VLT) value of 5% or less; and   a body having a wall portion with at least two VLT values, wherein two of the at least two VLT values are greater than 5%, and   wherein the two VLT values are different from each other.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein a ratio of the at least two VLT values is about 2:1. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the wall portion has a viewing portion with a VLT value greater than 5%, and wherein the wall portion is part of a sidewall having a surface area, in which a surface area of the viewing portion is at least 30% of a total surface area of the sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein at least 50% of a total surface area of the sidewall comprises a VLT value that is greater than 5% and less than the VLT value of the viewing portion. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the wall portion includes a first VLT value in at least two portions that are discrete and spaced apart from each other, the first VLT value being greater than a second VLT value. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein a viewing plane is defined at an edge formed between the two VLT values and a rear plane is defined by a rear wall of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein a viewing axis extends through the front panel and perpendicular to the viewing plane, a first viewing boundary extends from the viewing plane at a first angle, and a second viewing boundary extends from the viewing plane at a second angle. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein a first viewing zone is formed between the first and second viewing boundaries, the front panel being disposed within the first viewing zone, a second viewing zone is formed between the first viewing boundary and the rear plane, the two VLT values of the wall portion being disposed within the second viewing zone. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a front panel that is opaque; and   a body that includes a sidewall extending from a rear wall, wherein the front panel is coupled to the body and an interior cavity is formed therebetween,   wherein the sidewall includes an illuminating portion and a viewing portion,   wherein the illuminating portion is translucent and the viewing portion is transparent,   wherein the viewing portion is located between the front panel and the rear wall, and   wherein the viewing portion and the illuminating portion are configured to indicate a refill status.   
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein a refill status of the dispenser includes at least two indicators, a first indicator that is configured to be provided in a first direction and a second indicator that is configured to be provided in a second direction, the first and second directions being different from each other. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the viewing portion defines a front edge and a rear edge extending between a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the rear edge is disposed proximate to the rear wall and the front edge is disposed proximate to the front panel. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein a cartridge is adapted to be received within the interior cavity, the cartridge including a side extending between a front side and a rear side, a base, and a neck disposed opposite the base, wherein the base is configured to cooperate with the top edge of the viewing portion to provide the first indicator of the refill status. 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the cartridge is configured to collapse during use, wherein the front side and the rear side are configured to move toward each other as the cartridge collapses, wherein the base is configured to move toward the neck when the cartridge collapses, wherein the cartridge is configured to collapse from a first state to a second state to a third state, wherein each of the front side, the rear side, and the base are configured to be hidden from view through the viewing portion in the first state, wherein at least one but no more than two of the front side, the rear side, and the base are configured to be visible through the viewing portion in the second state, and wherein each of the front side, the rear side, and the base are configured to be visible through the viewing portion in the third state. 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the viewing portion and the illuminating portion includes a symbol that is configured to communicate at least one aspect of the refill status. 
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the refill status is configured to be communicated by a contrast in color. 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the viewing portion includes a plurality of transparent regions that are each bordered on all sides by the illuminating portion. 
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the illuminating portion includes an opening and the viewing portion does not include an opening.