# US 11,076,727 B2 · Dispenser

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- Number: US 11,076,727 B2
- Document ID: US11076727B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/651,923
- Filed: 2017-09-27
- Published: 2020-10-01
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-27
- Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Inventors: Brian C. McCachren; Andrew J. Thomson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076727B2

## CPC

- A47K 10/38: the web being rolled-up
- A47K 10/3827: {with a distribution opening which is parallel to the rotation axis}
- A47K 2010/3233: {Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall}
- B01J 2219/00837: comprising coatings other than catalytically active coatings
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing absorbent product having an outer cover having a first cover portion, a second cover portion and an interior region configured to hold the absorbent product and at least partially defined by one or more of the first and second cover portions, wherein the first cover portion is removably engaged to at least a portion of the second cover portion along a cover joint; and wherein the outer cover includes a hydrophobic section proximate the cover joint to direct any liquid on the cover near the cover joint away from the cover joint.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
applying a hydrophobic material to a dispenser for dispensing absorbent product, wherein the dispenser has an outer cover having a first cover portion, a second cover portion and an interior region configured to hold the absorbent product and at least partially defined by one or more of the first and second cover portions, the first cover portion is removably engaged to at least a portion of the second cover portion along a cover joint; and the hydrophobic material is applied proximate the cover joint to direct any liquid on the cover near the cover joint away from the cover joint, wherein
applying the hydrophobic material comprises applying a coating of the hydrophobic material proximate the cover joint which comprises applying the hydrophobic material as a wide line at a top of the dispenser proximate the cover joint and providing a narrower line of the hydrophobic material at a portion of the dispenser below the top.

### Claim 2

A dispenser for dispensing absorbent product comprising:
an outer cover having a first cover portion, a second cover portion and an interior region configured to hold the absorbent product and at least partially defined by one or more of the first and second cover portions, wherein the first cover portion is movably engaged to at least a portion of the second cover portion along a cover joint; and
wherein the outer cover includes a hydrophobic section proximate the cover joint to direct any water on the cover near the cover joint away from the cover joint, wherein the hydrophobic section comprises two lines of hydrophobic material separated by a first distance to create a channel for the liquid directing the liquid away from the cover joint.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic section comprises a hydrophobic coating applied on the outer cover.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the outer cover comprises a thermoplastic material and the hydrophobic section comprises a hydrophobic additive to the thermoplastic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic section is only proximate the cover joint.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the outer cover has a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and the top portion comprises the hydrophobic section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the outer cover comprises a hydrophilic section adjacent to the hydrophobic section.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
applying a hydrophobic material to a dispenser for dispensing absorbent product, wherein the dispenser has an outer cover having a first cover portion, a second cover portion and an interior region configured to hold the absorbent product and at least partially defined by one or more of the first and second cover portions, the first cover portion is removably engaged to at least a portion of the second cover portion along a cover joint; and the hydrophobic material is applied proximate the cover joint to direct any liquid on the cover near the cover joint away from the cover joint, wherein
applying the hydrophobic material comprises applying a coating of the hydrophobic material proximate the cover joint which comprises providing two lines of hydrophobic material separated by a first distance to create a channel for the liquid directing the liquid away from the cover joint.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the outer cover comprises a thermoplastic material and applying the hydrophobic material comprises adding a hydrophobic additive to the thermoplastic material during a molding process forming the outer cover.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the dispenser is a paper hand towel dispenser.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein applying the hydrophobic material comprises applying the hydrophobic material to a previously installed dispenser.