The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1999
William R. Newman, Neenah, WI (US);
Herb F. Velazquez, Neenah, WI (US);
Cherry A. Bochmann, Cleveland, OH (US);
Jerry P. DeGreen, Windsor, OH (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A dispensing system and method for premoistened wipes. The dispensing system includes first and second longitudinally extending dispensing guides. The first guide is positioned substantially parallel and in proximity to the second guide to define a gap. The dispensing guides may each be rotatable about a longitudinally extending axis and comprise cylinders having a plurality of lands and grooves. The wipes are dispensed by passage through the gap and a dispensing opening having an edge which is defined in part by an impingement surface. The impingement surface has a first outer portion, a second outer portion and a central portion positioned between the two outer portions. The impingement surface is configured whereby the outer portions of the impingement surface more forcibly engage the wipe into engagement with the dispensing guides than the central portion of the impingement surface. This helps to maintain the wipes in a substantially flat condition as they are dispensed and prevents the “bunching up” of the wipe. The dispensing of the wipes with such a system may involve engaging a wipe with the impingement surface where outer portions of the impingement surface extend a greater distance than the central portion in a direction impinging on the wipe. The two outer portions of the impingement surface engage the wipe in areas adjacent opposite side edges of the wipe.