SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a container for wet wipes, said container having a wipes dispensing opening in a side wall of the container, characterised in that an elastomeric membrane is mounted across said dispensing opening, the elastomeric membrane having a dispensing slot through which wipes are dispensed in use from the container, said membrane being sufficiently elastic and said slot being sized to grip and hold a wipe at said dispensing slot and to allow a user to insert fingers through the dispensing slot if required to grip and pull a wipe through the dispensing slot.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the elastomeric membrane is of silicone material. Aftematively the elastomeric membrane may be of a thermoplastic elastomer material.

In another embodiment the dispensing slot is a circular hole having a diameter in the range 5 millimetres to 20 millimetres. Preferably the hole diameter is about 10.5 millimetres.

Other shapes of dispensing slot are also possible such as an elliptical or oval dispensing slot for example. Typically the dispensing slot will have a cross sectional area in the range 20 sq. mm to 315 sq. mm, and most preferably about 86 sq. mm.

In a further embodiment the elastomeric material has a thickness in the range 0.1 to 3.0 millimetres. Most preferably the thickness is about 0.3 millimetres.

In a further embodiment the elastomeric material has a Shore hardness in the range 30-90 and is most preferably about 60.

In a further embodiment the overall cross sectional area of the elastic membrane is in

the range 1800-5700 square millimetres and most preferably is about 3750 square millimetres.

In another embodiment the weight of the elastomeric membrane will be in the order of 1.1 grams plus or minus 200%.

In another embodiment a cover is provided for mounting over at least the dispensing slot in the elastomeric membrane. Conveniently the cover may be provided by a peel and reseal label adhesive attached to the container such that when dosed it covers the dispensing slot in the elastomeric membrane.

In another embodiment either as an altemative to the cover label or in addition to the cover label the cover may include a lid. Preferably the lid is mounted on the container for movement between a closed position covering the dispensing slot and an open position to allow removal of wipes from the container through the dispensing slot. The lid may be hingedly mounted adjacent the dispensing slot or aHematively the lid could be slidably mounted at the dispensing slot for movement between the open and closed positions.

In a preferred embodiment the container has a body of flexible material.

In another embodiment the container is a flow-wrap container.

In another embodiment the elastomeric membrane is mounted across an opening in a top of the container and is secured by a damp ring about a periphery of the opening.

In a further embodiment the elastomeric membrane is mounted on a dispensing panel, the membrane being secured across an outlet hole in the dispensing panel, said dispensing panel being mounted across an associated opening in a side wall of the container and being secured about a periphery of said opening.

In another embodiment the container is a flow-wrap container of thermoplastics material having an opening in a top panel of the container, a thermoplastics dispensing panel being mounted at the opening, a top surface of a peripheral flange of the

dispensing panel overlapping a bottom surface of the top panel of the container adjacent an edge of the opening and being heat welded thereto.

In another embodiment the elastomeric membrane is attached to the container by heat staking.

In another embodiment the container comprises a stiff plastics top panel with a collapsible plastics container body extending downwardly from the top panel, the dispensing opening and the elastomeric membrane being provided on the top panel.

In another embodiment the container body comprises a base portion of stiff plastics material for reception of the wet wipes and a stiff plastics top mounted on the base portion, the dispensing opening and the elastomeric membrane being mounted on the top. The top may also be removably mounted on the base portion, and hinged thereto if desired, to allow refilling of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dispenser according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view of the dispenser; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispenser ; Fig. 4 is a plan view of an elastomeric membrane portion of the dispenser; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pack of wipes incorporating the dispenser ; Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 showing the dispenser in use for dispensing wipes from the pack;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another wipes dispenser, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container; Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional elevational view of portion of the wet wipes container of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a further wet wipes container ; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a still further wet wipes container; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container according to another embodiment of the invention ; Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view showing a dispensing portion of the container of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a detail view similar to Fig. 14 showing an altemabve construction of the dispensing portion; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view showing a dispensing portion of the wet wipes container shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container according to the invention; Fig. 19 is a detail sectional elevational view showing a dispensing portion of the container of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an underneath plan view of the dispensing portion shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the dispensing portion of the container of Fig.

18; and Fig. 22 is a perspective view of another wet wipes container according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, there is illustrated a container 12 for wet wipes according to the invention having a dispenser indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The dispenser 1 is of plastics material and has a body 2 with a peripheral mounting flange 3 for attachment to a sidewall 14 of a pack 12 of wipes 10 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A tear-open closure 4 is integrally formed with the body 2. A portion of a periphery of the closure 4 is tearable away from the body 2 to leave the dosure 4 attached to the body 2 by a hinge 5. The dosure 4 is mounted at an opening 7 in the body 2 across which is stretched a silicone membrane 8 having a circular dispensing slot or opening 9 through which wipes 10 are dispensed from a flow-wrap plastics pack 12 of wipes.

The silicone membrane 8 is very elastic and is shown in more detail in Fig. 4. The membrane 8 has a Shore hardness of 60 and a thickness of 0.3 millimetres. The dispensing opening 9 has a diameter of about 10.5 millimetres. Overall surface area of the silicone membrane 8 is about 3750 square millimetres and it has a weight of about 1.1 gram.

The closure 4 is defined by the hinge 5 formed along an inner edge of the closure 4 and a generally V-shaped line of weakness 15 formed by reduced material thickness in the body 2 which extends partially around the closure 4, that is around the sides and outer end of the closure 4. Said line of weakness 15 frangibly connects the closure 4 to the body 2 such that it can be pealed away from the body 2 along the line of weakness 15 for hinging about the hinge 5 at an inner end of the closure 4.

Catch means is provided for engaging and holding the closure 4 in an open position to allow dispensing of wipes 10 from the pack 12. In this case the catch means comprises a locking spigot 18 on the body 2 and a complementary receiver slot 19 at a hinge side edge of the closure 4. Thus when the closure 4 is hinged upwardly into an upright position as shown in Fig. 5 the slot 19 engages with the spigot 18 to hold the closure 4 in an open position to provide unrestricted access to the wipes 10 in the pack 12. A tab 20 at an outer end of the closure 4 forms a handgrip which can be gripped between finger and thumb to tear the closure 4 upwardly breaking the line of weakness 15 when initially opening the closure 4 and for subsequent opening and closing of the closure 4. A tongue 21 at an outer end of the closure 4 is engagable under an associated lip 22 at a front end of the opening 7 to lock the closure 4 in a closed position. A cut-out slot 23 in the body 2 above the lip 22 receives the tab 20 when the closure 4 is shut.

The silicone membrane 8 is clamped on an underside of the body 2 by means of a clamp ring 30. The clamp ring 30 has a number of spaced-apart plugs 31 which engage within complementary sockets in tubular posts 32 formed in the body 2 of the dispenser 1. The plugs 31 pass through associated holes 33 in the membrane 8 to engage and clamp the membrane 8 on an underside of the body 2.

The wipes 10 may be arranged in the pack 12 in any suitable fashion. For example the wipes 10 may be joined end to end in a continuous web with spaced-apart lines of perforations extending between opposite sides of the web to define the wipes 10 between lines of perforations. The web may be folded in a zig-zag formation to form a stack of wipes within the pack 12. In an alternative arrangement separate wipes 10 may be interleaved in a stack within the pack 12.

In use, the dispenser 1 is mounted on a sidewall 14 of the pack 12 about an opening in the pack 12. The flange 3 is heat welded, ultrasonic welded or otherwise attached to the sidewall 14 of the pack 12. It will be appreciated that wet wipes 10 can be fully sealed within the pack 12 prior to rupture of the closure 4. To open the pack 12 the tab 20 is gripped and pulled upwardly to break the line 15 of weakness so that the closure 4 can be pivoted upwardly about the hinge 5 into an upright position as shown

in Fig. 5 exposing the opening 7 with the silicone membrane 8 and dispensing slot 9 through which wipes 10 can be pulled. After removal of a wipe 10 the cover 4 can be closed over the opening 7 engaging the tongue 21 with the associated lip 22 to hold the closure 4 in the closed position.

The wipes may be interleaved or interconnected by perforated tear lines. As an uppermost wipe is drawn through the dispensing slot 9 the periphery of the slot will grip the next following wipe sufficiently so that the uppermost wipe can be parted away for use.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser 1 according to the invention helps minimise moisture loss from the wipes 10 within the pack 12. Due to its elasticity the silicone membrane 8 effectively seals the interior of the pack 12 preventing moisture loss.

While a tip of the uppermost wipe 10 will extend through the opening 9 this is protected against moisture loss by virtue of the closure 4. A double barrier against moisture loss is thus provided by the closure 4 and the silicone membrane 8.

If desired, the pack 12 may be provided with an uppermost wipe 10 primed through the opening 9 in the silicone membrane 8 ready for use. Even if when dispensing a wipe 10 the next wipe 10 is not fed into the opening 9, a user can readily easily insert a thumb and forefinger through the opening 9 to grip and pull through the next wipe 10.

Referring now to Fig. 7 there is shown another wipes dispenser pack indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. In this case the peripheral mounting flange of the dispenser 40 is extended to form a full top panel 41. A collapsible plastics container body 43 is attached to the top panel 41 and depends therefrom forming together with the top panel 41 a closed container for reception and storage of a plurality of wipes. A tear open closure 4 is provided in the top panel 41 above the membrane in similar fashion to the dispenser previously described.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a wet wipes container according to another embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 50.

The container 50 comprises a flow-wrap pack 51 of flexible plastics material. A dispenser 52 is mounted on a top face 53 of the flow-wrap pack 51. The dispenser 52

comprises a dispensing panel 54 attached to the top 53 of the pack 51. The dispenser panel 54 has a central opening 55 across which an elastic membrane sheet 56 is mounted. The membrane sheet 56 is secured to a periphery of the opening 55 in a suitable fashion such as by a clamp or rivets or possibly by heat welding or adhesive for example. A circular dispensing slot 57 is provided in the elastic membrane sheet 56 through which wet wipes 10 are dispensed from the flow-wrap pack 51. A peel and reseal label or coversheet 58 is mounted on a top surface of the dispensing panel 54.

This can be pealed back to allow dispensing of wipes 10 and then restored across the slot 57 after use to retain moisture within the pack 51.

Referring now to Fig. 10 there is shown another container for wet wipes indicated generally by the reference numeral 60. This is largely similar to the container 50 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case instead of the peal and reseal cover a hinged cover 61 is provided which is hingedly mounted at one side of the dispensing panel 54 for closure over the membrane 56 when not dispensing wipes 10 from the pack 60.

Referring now to Fig. 11 there is shown another container for wet wipes indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. In this case the container has a box-shaped container body 71 of stiff plastics material. A dispensing opening 72 is provided in a top panel 73 of the body 71. An elastomeric membrane sheet 74 is mounted across the dispensing opening 72 and secured to the top panel 73 by plastic rivets 75. A circular or oval dispensing slot 76 is provided in the membrane 74 through which wet wipes 10 are dispensed as previously described. A hinged cover 78 is mounted at one side of the body 71 for closure over the dispensing opening 72 when not dispensing wipes to retain moisture within the pack 70.

Referring now to Fig. 12 there is shown another container for wet wipes indicated generally by the reference numeral 80. This is largely similar to the pack shown in Fig.

11 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the top panel 73 is either removable or hingedly attached to the body 71 so that it can be opened up for recharging the body 71 with wet wipes.

Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14 there is shown another wet wipes container

according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 90. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the container 90 comprises a flow-wrap pack 51. An elastomeric membrane sheet 56 is mounted on a top face 53 of the pack 51 at an opening 91 in the top face 53. A clamp ring 92 is mounted at a periphery of the opening 91 and has a number of spaced-apart inwardly extending stakes 94 which extend through the top face 53 and a periphery of the membrane sheet 56 having belled inner end 95 which clamps the membrane sheet 56 to the top 53 of the container pack 51. A peel and reseal cover label 96 is mounted on the top 53 to cover the dispensing slot 57 when it is not in use.

Fig. 1 shows a wet wipe 10 being pulled through the dispensing slot 57 from a stack of wet wipes contained within the pack 51.

Fig. 15a shows an altemative construction in which an inner mounting ring 97 is provided for additional support, the membrane sheet 56 and top 53 being clamped between the inner ring 97 and outer ring 92.

Fig. 15b shows an aftemative construction in which the ring 92 is adhesive secured to a periphery of the opening 91 on an inside of the top 53 and the membrane sheet 56 is secured by the stakes 94 on the ring 92.

Referring now to Fig. 16 and 17 there is shown another wet wipes container 100.

Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals.

In this case the container 100 includes a flow-wrap pack 51 containing a stack of wet wipes 10. The elastic membrane sheet 56 is mounted on a dispensing panel 54 as previously described. The dispensing panel 54 is in turn secured by adhesive 101 at a periphery of an opening 102 in the top 53 of the pack 51 on the inside face of the top 53. A peel and reseal cover label 96 is mounted on a top surface of the dispensing panel 54 for extension over the dispensing slot 57 when not dispensing wet wipes from the pack 51. The membrane sheet 56 is attached to the inside face of the dispensing panel 54 by any suitable manner such as by heat staking as previously described.

Referring now to Figs. 18 to 21 there is shown another wet wipes container 110 according to the invention. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the elastic membrane sheet 56 is attached

to a dispensing panel 111 which includes a hinged cover 112 mounted above the dispensing slot 57. An upstanding wall 113 on a top surface 114 of the dispensing panel 111 extends around the dispensing slot 57. The cover 112 is mounted by a hinge 115 at one side of the wall 113 and is engagable with the other sides of the wall 113 when closed as shown in Fig. 21. A peripheral mounting flange 116 of the dispensing panel 111 is attached by adhesive 117 to an inside face of the top 53 of the pack 51 adjacent an edge of the opening in the top 53 at which the dispensing panel 111 is mounted. The membrane sheet 56 is clamped to an underside of the dispensing panel 11 by a plurality of spaced-apart heat stakes 118.

Referring now to Fig. 22 there is shown another wet wipes container 120. The container 120 has a stiff plastics top panel 121 having a peripheral rim 122 to an underside of which a collapsible plastics container body 123 is attached by heat welding for example. A dispenser 125 of similar construction to the dispenser described with reference to Figs. 18 to 21 is incorporated in the top panel 121.

It will be appreciated that the invention is particularly useful for collapsible plastics packs such as flow-wrapped packs. The body of the dispenser is preferably also of plastics material. Ideally the body will be self-supporting, that is substantially stiff to hold its shape but also somewhat flexible.

Various ways of forming the resiliently deformable wipe dispensing opening may be provided. For example said dispensing opening may be formed by mounting a separate grommet, strip or membrane of elastic material such as silicone at an outlet opening of the container. Aftemativety, if desired the material of the container about a periphery of the opening may be constructed and/or treated to render it sufficiently flexible and elastic to form the desired dispensing opening. This treatment could conveniently be effected during the moulding process where the dispenser body is constructed of plastics material.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.