CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This international application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application 12/784,801, filed 5/21/2010, and to U.S. Continuation-In-Part Application

12/898,257, filed 10/5/2010, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cleaning wipes, and more particularly to hygienic tissues for bathroom use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Towelettes, or wipes, find multiple uses in a bathroom or lavatory. In addition to housekeeping use, they can be used to cleanse or dry skin. Dry wipes are sometimes inadequate, however, when sensitive or stubbornly soiled skin is involved. Wet wipes are needed for this purpose but are rarely in a handy location, particularly when a need arises at the toilet. Wet wipes require container storage to protect against evaporative losses. The containers are generally placed on a surface remote from the handy wall location of the toilet tissue roll and may not be within reach for a person at need at the toilet.

The prior art has attempted to address this inconvenience. In U.S. Patent 6,503,326 to Mikelionis, two rolls are placed side-by-side on the typical toilet roll spool. One of the rolls is dry and the other, pre -moistened. Each roll is one-half the width of a standard toilet tissue roll. The half-size is achieved by folding the tissues lengthwise, such that each dispensed tissue is one folded-over sheet. The moist tissues are housed in a cylindrically-configured container and are dispensed through a horizontal slot therein. Such an arrangement has several disadvantages. In the first place, it is unlikely that consumption of both wet and dry will be matched, so managing inventories of customized products may be expensive and troublesome. Secondly, dispensing from one side on a common spool might involve unintended spooling of the other side, or might cause the slot to drift out of reach. Finally, and more importantly, the consumer is forced to pay extra for a specialty product in place of the ubiquitous, and relatively less expensive, commodity toilet tissue roll.

In U.S. Patent 5,950,960 to Marino, dry and wet rolls are placed in two separate but connected containers hung above and below a toilet roll spool mounted in a conventional wall bracket. Both containers are loaded through hinged covers, and the dispensing from one can be independent from the other. The structure is rather bulky, however, and would cramp tight spaces. Space encroachment would prove to be a nuisance, particularly when the need for the wet version is infrequent. Additionally, it involves equipment purchase and installation.

U.S. Patent 7,354,598 to Masting stores pre-moistened towelettes in the core of a paper towel roll. Masting converts a vertical stand for the roll to a container with a towelette dispensing aperture at the top. A novel solution for a toilet- side mount would be to turn Masting on its side and suspend it from a wall bracket. Doing so, however, would compromise the room for the towelettes. A toilet roll is

conventionally suspended from a spool connected to the horizontal arms of a wall bracket. The spool partially fills the core space leaving little room for alternative use of that space. The present invention presents a novel solution for accommodating the spool while providing access to the total volume of the core.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a convenient way to dispense wet wipes in a bathroom. It is a further object to make wet wipes available to a person seated on a toilet. It is a further object to combine the dispensing of wet wipes with that of ordinary dry toilet tissue. It is a further object to accomplish this in a way that does not involve a requirement to purchase specialty toilet tissue rolls. It is a further object to utilize existing installations of toilet roll brackets without requiring modifications or new equipment. It is a further object to fully utilize the space in the core of a common toilet tissue roll for the purpose of dispensing the wet wipes. It is a further object to maintain a moisture barrier to prevent evaporative losses from a storage environment of the wet wipes. It is a further object to maximize the capacity inside the core of a mounted toilet tissue roll by eliminating the existing toilet roll spool. It is a further object to provide a means for singlating individual wet wipe sheets which are connected together to dispense sequentially. It is a further object to facilitate dispensing by providing a means to withdraw an end of the next sheet from the storage environment without prematurely exposing the sheet. It is further object to provide a convenient refill put-up to replenish the wet wipes. It is a further object to provide a means for unwinding the toilet roll from around a closely- fitting core insert without rotating the insert.

These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a toilet roll dispenser for moisturized sheets comprising a cylindrical dispenser, having a rotational axis, configured to fit within the core of a toilet roll. The toilet roll dispenser further comprises a plurality of moisturized sheets contained within the cylindrical dispenser, said moisturized sheets connected by perforations to dispense sequentially from, at least, one end of the core. The toilet roll dispenser further comprises a means for connecting the cylindrical dispenser to a wall bracket having two arms with recesses to receive a conventional toilet roll spool. With the toilet roll dispenser so configured, a roll of toilet paper rotatably mounted on the cylindrical dispenser and suspended within the wall bracket by the means for connecting can unwind conventionally about the rotational axis, while the moisturized sheets can dispense from the interior of the core.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for connecting comprises end caps placed at each end of the cylindrical dispenser. The end caps have bosses configured to fit the recesses and a means for articulating the bosses to removably and securely mount the cylindrical dispenser between the two arms of the wall bracket. At least one of the end caps comprises a dispensing aperture centered on the rotational axis in communication with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser. The bosses lie along an axis parallel to and offset from the rotational axis such that the dispensing aperture can be made accessible from below the wall bracket. The end caps telescope onto the ends of the cylindrical dispenser. The means for articulating each boss comprises a flexible beam with the boss positioned at a distal end thereof, a proximal end thereof anchored at the end cap, the beam positioning the boss to articulate into the recess by flexing the distal end. In an alternate version, the means for articulating the bosses comprises a coil spring positioned between at least one of the telescoping end caps and the cylindrical dispenser. The end cap telescopes from a bypass to a seated position in a corresponding recess while the coil spring biases said end cap to the seated position.

In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the toilet roll dispenser further comprises a means for singlating individual sheets by initiating a tear at a perforation. The means for singlating comprises a horn positioned in the aperture, the position such that a downward pull on an exposed sheet effectively forces the horn into the sheet and snags an elongated slit in the perforation. The snag initiates a tear which leaves the next sheet flush with the aperture after the exposed sheet is separated by tearing. The dispensing aperture can then be closed by a means for covering to prevent moisture loss from the interior of the cylindrical dispenser. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the means for covering is a snap-fit cap. In an alternative embodiment, the means for covering is a plug having a means for extracting the next sheet.

In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical dispenser comprises a hermetically-sealed refill unit having moisture vapor barrier protection. The refill unit is comprised of a closed end at one end of the cylindrical dispenser, an open end at the other end of the cylindrical dispenser, and a means for hermetically sealing the open end. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the means for hermetically sealing comprises a bonded foil membrane.

In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the toilet roll dispenser further comprises a means for unwinding the toilet roll without causing rotation of the cylinder, said rotation possibly causing twisting or displacement of the next sheet in the aperture. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the means for unwinding comprises at least two bearing rings rotating freely in circumscribing races near the ends of the cylinder, the rings are configured to frictionally fit the core of the toilet roll and rotate freely about the stationary cylinder. In an alternate embodiment, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets comprises the steps of providing a toilet roll dispenser as described above; providing a refill unit as described above; removing the toilet roll dispenser from a used roll of toilet paper; removing the end caps from the toilet roll dispenser; discarding the used cylindrical dispenser; removing the means for hermetically sealing to expose the open end of the refill unit; placing the end caps on both ends of the refill unit to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser; placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser in the core of another, or the same, roll of toilet paper; and dispensing the moisturized sheets from the open end through an aperture in the end cap.

As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a toilet roll dispenser with a roll of toilet paper disposed there upon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the preferred embodiment showing an open

aperture;

FIG. 4 is sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

FIG.5 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing a closed aperture;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away plan view of an end cap component showing internal structure; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment featuring a different means for covering the dispensing aperture; FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the alternative cover embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 of Fig. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the alternative cover embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a cut-away elevation view of an end cap assembly of the alternative cover embodiment showing step 1 of extraction;

FIG. 12A is an inside perspective view corresponding to Fig. 12;

FIG. 13 is a cut-away elevation view of an end cap assembly of the alternative cover embodiment showing step 2 of extraction;

FIG. 13A is an inside perspective view corresponding to Fig. 13;

FIG. 14 is a cut-away elevation view of an end cap assembly of the alternative cover embodiment showing step 3 of extraction;

FIG. 14A is an inside perspective view corresponding to Fig. 14;

FIG. 15 is a cut-away elevation view of an end cap assembly of the alternative cover embodiment showing step 4 of extraction;

FIG. 15A is an inside perspective view corresponding to Fig. 15;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment featuring a different means for articulating the bosses;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the articulation alternate embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the articulation alternate embodiment; FIG. 19 is an end elevation view of the articulation alternate embodiment;

FIG. 20 is sectional view taken along the lines 20-20 of Fig. 19;

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of a refill assembly;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the refill assembly;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the cylindrical dispenser of the toilet roll dispenser showing a closed end;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an end-cap insert; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the toilet roll wall bracket and spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Fig's 1, 2 and 25, a toilet roll 2, wound around a core 3, is

conventionally suspended in a wall bracket 5 by a spool 7 placed through the core and into recesses 6 of a pair of bracket arms 8. The toilet roll 2, thusly mounted in the wall bracket 5, can dispense sheets of toilet paper by unwinding from around the spool 7. In the present invention, the spool 7 is replaced by a toilet roll dispenser 1. The toilet roll dispenser 1 provides the additional capability of dispensing a plurality of moisturized sheets 4. The moisturized sheets 4 are conveniently located together with the dry sheets while both are close at hand for toilet use.

Referring to Fig's 1-5 and 7, the toilet roll dispenser 1 is comprised of a cylindrical dispenser 10 and a means for connecting 20 the cylindrical dispenser 10 to the wall bracket 5. The cylindrical dispenser 10 provides a housing for the moisturized sheets 4, which are contained there within. The cylindrical dispenser 10 protects the moisturized sheets 4 from moisture evaporation. The cylindrical dispenser 10 is formed as a unitary container with a closed end 13 (Fig. 23). The other end, an open end 12 (Fig. 7), provides access for the moisturized sheets 4 and is the only aperture to the container requiring some form of sealing to complete the protective envelope. The container is comprised of a moisture -vapor barrier material. The cylindrical dispenser 10 has a rotational axis 11 about which the toilet roll 2 unwinds (Fig. 4).

The means for connecting 20 is comprised of end caps 21 placed over each end of the cylindrical dispenser 10. Each end cap 21 has a boss 22 configured to fit within the recess 6 of the bracket arm 8. The bosses 22 lie along an axis parallel to, and offset from, the rotational axis 11. A preferred offset distance 26 (Fig. 4) is comparable that of the axis of core 3 to the axis of spool 7 when the toilet roll 2 is conventionally mounted. The reader is reminded that the diameter of the spool 7 is significantly less, typically, than the diameter of the core 3; consequently, the axis of the hanging roll is offset from that of the spool, and the preferred offset distance 26 permits access to the moisturized sheets 4 from below the bracket arms 8.

The end caps 21 are further comprised of a means for articulating 30 (Fig. 2) the bosses 22 to removably, and securely, mount the cylindrical dispenser 10 between the bracket arms 8 of the wall bracket 5. In the preferred embodiment, the means for articulating 30 is comprised of a flexible beam 32. The flexible beam 32 connects the boss 22 at a distal end 34 thereof to the end cap 21 at a proximal end 33 thereof. The flexible beam 32, supported from the proximal end 33, arcuately articulates (Fig. 2) the distal end 34 to move the boss 22 from a bypass position 24 to a seated position 25 in the recess 6. A close-tolerance fit of the end caps 21 on the ends of the cylindrical dispenser 10 forms a firm base for each flexible beam 32. The flexible beam 32 may provide a pre-load at the seated position 25 to bias the boss 22 in its engagement to the recess 6. Support spring 35 (Fig. 4) may also be added to further stiffen the flexible beam 32. In a preferred embodiment, support spring 35 is tapered in both thickness and side cut to provide a graduated response to deflection of the beam.

The moisturized sheets 4 are connected by lines of perforations 54 (Fig. 2) to form a continuous web. The continuous web takes up a compact configuration inside the cylindrical dispenser 10. The compact configuration may be a roll, from which the web is pulled inside out, or may otherwise be a non-entangling coil. At least one end cap 21 is provided with a dispensing aperture 38 through which the moisturized sheets 4 are dispensed from the open end 12 of the cylindrical dispenser 10. The dispensing aperture 38 is aligned with the rotational axis 11 to centrally dispense the moisturized sheets 4. The dispensing aperture 38 is comprised of a means for slinglating 50 (Fig. 3) an exposed sheet 52 from a next sheet 53. In the preferred embodiment, the means for singlating 50 comprises a horn 51. The horn 51 is placed in the throat of the dispensing aperture 38 and is configured to snag one of the perforations of the passing web. As an exposed sheet 52 is pulled down over the horn 51 (Fig. 2), a tapered end 56 is insinuated into the folded conformation of the exposed sheet 52 and penetrates one of the perforation slits to nucleate, thereby, a tear. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the perforation slits is a centrally-disposed elongated slit 55. The elongated slit 55 facilitates the penetration of the tapered end 56 while not appreciably weakening the tensile strength of the web. The tapered end 56 may be smoothly chamfered to avoid undue abrasion of the exposed sheet 52.

If the next sheet 53 is prematurely exposed, it would act like a wick to evacuate moisture from the interior of the cylindrical dispenser 10. Instead, the next sheet 53 preferably remains in the throat of dispensing aperture 38, where it is positioned to be drawn out in sequence as exposed sheet 52, and where it is prevented from interfering with a means for covering 60 the dispensing aperture 38. The means for covering 60 provides a means for preventing moisture loss 100 (Fig. 5) by sealing the

containerized environment of the moisturized sheets 4. The means for preventing moisture loss 100 additionally comprises a luer taper 101 (Fig. 4). The luer taper 101 forms a seal between the end cap 21 and the open end 12 by removably force-fitting the open end 12 into the luer taper 101. In the preferred embodiment, the means for covering 60 comprises a removable snap-fit cap 61, as shown in both open and closed positions in Fig's 3-5. Snap-cap 61 is retained in a closed position by snapping together interconnecting lugs 62 (Fig's 7 and 24).

In the preferred embodiment, the flexible beam 32, the dispensing aperture 38, the horn 51 and the snap-fit cap 61 are formed as a part of an end-cap insert 31, best shown in Fig's 7 and 24. The end-cap insert 31 provides a means to avoid undercuts in the molding of these features while simplifying some assembly steps. Tooling access port 39 (Fig. 5) additionally allows the support spring 35 to be molded without an undercut. The end-cap insert 31 can be fitted to an annular aperture 23 in the end cap 21 (Fig. 7). The end-cap insert 31 is secured to the end cap 21 by a ring of ledges 36. The ring of ledges 36 can be resiliently compressed by means of slots 37 to narrow the ring diameter so as to pass through the annular aperture 23. The ring of ledges 36, once passed through, snaps the ledges into place where an interference of structures locks the assembly together. The compression can be achieved in a single assembly step by forcing the ring of ledges 36, facilitated by a chamfering of the edges, into the space of the annular aperture 23. During assembly, an insert key 27 (Fig. 7) is guided to a selected slot 37 to rotationally fix the end-cap insert 31 to the end cap 21.

Referring to Fig's 4 and 7, a means for unwinding 90 is provided to facilitate the unwinding of the toilet roll 2 while avoiding a synergistic rotation of the cylindrical dispenser 10. Rotation of the cylindrical dispenser about axis 11 might twist the web of moisturized sheets 4 into an entangling conformation, or might dislodge the next sheet 53 from the dispensing aperture 38. In the preferred embodiment, the means for unwinding 90 is comprised of bearing rings 91 (Fig. 7), which are constrained to rotate in races 92 (Fig. 4). The races 92 are formed by a gap between the end caps 21 and at least two spacer bars 14 on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical dispenser 10. The inside diameter of the bearing ring 91 is sized to freely circumscribe the cylindrical dispenser 10 at the gap, and the outside diameter is sized to form a close fit with the core 3 of the toilet roll 2 while providing a marginal clearance thereto for the cylindrical dispenser 10. The toilet roll 2 spins the bearing rings 91 while the cylindrical dispenser 10 is rotationally locked about the rotation axis 11 by the insert key 27. If the spin is sufficiently frictionless, any rotation about the offset boss axis, which might cause an interference with the wall bracket 5 in the case of a clockwise unwind, is thereby minimized.

An alternate embodiment of the means for covering 60 is shown in Fig's 6 and 8-11, where primed (') reference characters indicate identical features with the preferred embodiment. The alternate embodiment of the means for covering 60 comprises a plug 63. The plug 63 is slidably and rotatably inter-positioned in the dispensing aperture 38'. The plug 63 slides from a closed position 65, where it seals the dispensing aperture 38', to an open position 64 (Fig. 11), where it gives access to dispense moisturized sheets 4. Both open and closed positions are marked by stops where structural interference occurs.

In a particular alternate embodiment of the means for covering 60, the plug 63 is comprised of a means for extracting 70 the next sheet 53. The means for extracting 70 is comprised of at least two resilient arms 71 (Fig. 11). The resilient arms 71 extend parallel to the axis 11' from the plug 63 to encircle the leading end of the next sheet 53 at the closed position 65. The extension of resilient arms 71 is equivalent to the distance of a preferred extraction stroke 76. The resilient arms 71 are arrayed in opposition to close upon and grab the next sheet 53 when forced together by cam followers 73 positioned at the free ends of resilient arms 71. The cam followers 73 extend radially outward from the resilient arms 71 to slidingly interact with a cam structure 72 (Fig. 6). The cam structure 72 is formed integrally with the end cap 21' and provides a path for the cam followers 73 to cause the next sheet 53 to be dragged into exposure by the extraction stoke 76. As the cam followers 73 reach spring-back gaps 74 along the path, the resilient arms 71 spring open to release the then exposed sheet 52. The extraction stoke 76 is stopped at the open position by abutment of the cam followers 73 against a facing wall of the end cap 21'. The plug 63 can then be rotated to orient the cam followers 73 to retraction channels 75. The retraction channels 75 provide retraction pathways through the cam structure 72 for the cam followers 73 to return to the closed position 65. The return stroke of the cam followers 73 bypasses the then next sheet 53 in parallelism and avoids dislodging it from position in the throat of the dispensing aperture 38'. A reverse rotation of plug the 63 resets the mechanisms and sealingly locks the closed position 65.

A sequence of extraction actions 80, corresponding to the foregoing recitation of structure, is illustrated in Fig's 12-15, where cut-away portions of the end cap 21 subassemblies are shown. Fig's 12A-15A are corresponding perspective views from the inside of the sub-assemblies. Fig's 12 and 12A show the closed position 65 where the next sheet 53 is in position in the aperture 38'. Fig's 13 and 13A show a pull stroke 81 where the resilient arms 71 are bent inwardly by the cam followers 73 to grip the next sheet 53 and drag it forward. Fig's 14 and 14A show a release action 82 at the open position 64 where the cam followers 73 are aligned with the spring-back gaps 74; and where the exposed sheet 52 is accessible for a tear-off 85. Fig's 15 and 15A show a rotation 83 of the plug 63 and a push stoke 84, wherein the cam followers 73, in alignment with the retraction channels 75, are returned to the closed position 65.

An alternate embodiment of the means for articulating 30 is shown in Fig's 16-20, where double-primed (") reference characters indicate identical features with the preferred embodiment. The alternate embodiment of the means for articulating 30 comprises a coil spring 31 positioned between at least one of the end caps 21" and the cylindrical dispenser 10" (Fig. 18). The end cap telescopes over the cylindrical dispenser from a bypass position 24" to seated position 25" (Fig. 17). The coil spring 31 biases the end cap 21" to its seated position 25" by compression based against spring stop 14. At least one of the end caps 21" further comprises a dispensing aperture 38" (Fig. 19). The dispensing aperture 38" is preferably centered on the rotational axis 11", and communicates with the interior of the cylindrical dispenser 10" to enable moisturized sheets 4" to be withdrawn there from. The dispensing aperture 38", in this instance, is crossed slits, wherein the triangular-shaped vanes at the intersection of the slits are feathered to yield easily when withdrawing a sheet. The cylindrical dispenser 10" is configured for a loose fit with the core 3". When the toilet roll 2" unwinds, in this instance, the core 3" slips over the toilet roll dispenser 1" and does not spin it.

A refill unit 40 is shown in Fig's 21 and 22. The refill unit 40 is comprised of the cylindrical dispenser 10 and a means for hermetically sealing 41. The means for hermetically sealing 41 is preferably a foil membrane 42. The foil membrane 42 is bonded to the open end 12 by heat sealing, or other means common in the art. The foil membrane 42 may be frangible, or otherwise strippable, to facilitate its removal from the open end. A disposable cap 43 is required to protect the frangible membrane from an inadvertent puncture. Alternatively, the means for hermetically sealing 41 can be a threaded cap 44 (Fig. 22).

All of the constituent components of the toilet roll dispenser 1, except for the moisturized sheets 4 and the foil membrane 42, are preferably injection molded. The thermoplastic resins of choice will have the properties of toughness, stiffness and low moisture permeability. The molded parts may be translucent, transparent or opaque. The wall thicknesses of the container should be sufficient to prevent critical moisture loss over the period of the preferred shelf life. The preferred resins are commodity- grade polyethylene, polypropylene, high-impact polystyrene, or polyolefm. The snap- fit cap 61 may be molded together with the end cap 21 in a living hinge construction.

The assembly of the toilet roll dispenser 1, in a successive use scenario, involves removal of the disposable cap 43 from the refill unit 40, removal of the foil membrane 42, placement of the bearing rings 91 over each end of the cylindrical dispenser 10, and placement of the end cap 21 subassemblies over each end. In placing the subassembly over the open end 12, however, the leading end of the moisturized sheets 4 must be threaded through the dispensing aperture 38. Also, care must be taken to force the open end 12 into the luer taper 101. The end cap 21 subassemblies are assumed to have been pre-assemblies of the insert component 31, the snap-fit cap 61 and the end cap 21, in the case of the preferred embodiment, and the insert component 31', the plug 63 and the end cap 21', in the case of the alternate embodiment of the means for covering 60. In the case of the alternate embodiment of the means for articulating 30, the end cap 21" subassemblies are place over each end of the cylindrical dispenser 10".

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps: i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser 1 after having used up the moisturized

sheets 4 therein; ii. providing the refill unit 40;

iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser 1 from the core 3 of the existing toilet roll 2; iv. removing the end caps 21 from the cylindrical dispenser 10;

v. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser 10;

vi. removing the means for hermetically sealing 41 to expose the open end 12 of the refill unit 40;

vii. placing the end caps 21 onto both ends of the refill unit 40 to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser 1;

viii. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets 4 through the

dispensing aperture 23 to provide a starter-edge;

ix. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser 1 into the core 3 of another, or the same, toilet roll 2; and

x. dispensing the moisturized sheets 4 from the dispensing aperture 23.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, a method of dispensing moisturized sheets, coincident with a toilet paper roll, comprises the following steps: i. Providing the toilet roll dispenser 1" after having used up the moisturized sheets 4" therein;

ii. providing the refill unit 40;

iii. removing the toilet roll dispenser 1" from the core 3" of the existing toilet roll

2";

iv. removing the end caps 21" from the cylindrical dispenser 10";

v. removing the coil spring 31 from the cylindrical dispenser 10";

vi. discarding the used cylindrical dispenser 10";

vii. removing the means for hermetically sealing 41 to expose the open end 12 of the refill unit 40;

viii. placing the coil spring 31 over the open end 12 of the refill unit 40;

ix. placing the end caps 21" onto both ends of the refill unit 40 and over the coil spring 31 to reconfigure the toilet roll dispenser 1";

x. pulling a corner of the first sheet of the moisturized sheets 4" through the dispensing aperture 38" to provide a starter-edge;

xi. placing the reconfigured toilet roll dispenser 1" into the core 3" of another, or the same, toilet roll 2"; and

xii. dispensing the moisturized sheets 4 from the dispensing aperture 38". It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, the closed end 13 of the cylindrical dispenser 10 may be comprised of the foil membrane 42. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.