US20090114669A1

US20090114669A1 - Sheet Product Dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20090114669A1
Application number: US12/262,344
Authority: US
Inventors: Kip K. Decker; Todd R. Lappi; Alan P. Paal; Matthew T. Wilcox
Original assignee: Georgia Pacific Consumer Products LP
Current assignee: Georgia Pacific Consumer Products LP
Priority date: 2007-11-05
Filing date: 2008-10-31
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: CA2703284A1; MX2010004650A; WO2009061693A1; EP2205511A1; RU2010123011A

Abstract

A nozzle for dispensing sheet product is disclosed. The nozzle includes a base portion having an inner periphery and an outer periphery and oriented substantially perpendicular to a dispense direction of the sheet product. A sloping portion of the nozzle is disposed proximate a center of the base portion. The sloping portion extends from the inner periphery of the base portion toward the center in the dispense direction and terminates at an edge defining an opening of the nozzle. The nozzle further includes a lip portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion, and a retention feature extending from the lip portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/985,366, filed Nov. 5, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a sheet product dispenser, and more particularly to features that provide for the dispensing of sheet product from the dispenser.
Sheet products, such as disposable absorbent wipers or towels for example, have many uses. Disposable wipers are particularly popular with do-it-yourself homeowners and trades people who find wipers valuable for cleaning tools, work areas and their hands. Disposable wipers are also used frequently in factories, on farms and in the boating industry (both commercial and recreational). These are just a few of the wide variety of people and multitude of uses of disposable wipers. Frequently, disposable wipers are used by people who are on the go, whether it be trades people moving from job to job, maintenance people moving from machine to machine within a factory or farmers dealing with issues wherever they come up. Containers of disposable wipers thus are often treated as valuable items of one's normal equipment for performing jobs and are often carried in the back of trucks to job sites along with other tools or on maintenance carts in factories. Disposable wiper containers end up in countless types of places, wherever people do work.
Often, because these containers may be used and stored outside, they can become exposed to inclement weather or they can be indoors in dusty and dirty environments. Mobile and water resistant sheet product containers include a dispensing nozzle or orifice that is typically integrated with the supply of sheet product within the container. Accordingly, such nozzles may only be used with the associated supply of sheet product, and are replaced as part of each replacement supply of sheet product for use within the dispenser. A configuration of the dispensing nozzle is generally adapted for proper dispensing (such as to result in tearing at a pre-scored perforation line) of a particular sheet product media or material. Alternatively, dispensers may utilize nozzles integrated with a lid of the dispenser and therefore require a different lid for each different type of sheet product material for which the nozzle is adapted to dispense. Therefore, each different type of sheet product material to be dispensed requires a different lid, each different lid having associated therewith design and tooling costs. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a sheet product dispensing arrangement that overcomes these drawbacks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention includes a nozzle for dispensing sheet product. The nozzle includes a base portion oriented substantially perpendicular to a dispense direction of the sheet product and having an inner periphery and an outer periphery. A sloping portion is disposed proximate a center of the base portion and extends from the inner periphery of the base portion toward the center in the dispense direction to terminate at an edge defining an opening of the nozzle. The nozzle further includes a lip portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion, and a retention feature extending from the lip portion. The retention feature has a leg portion and a latch portion, the leg portion is oriented substantially parallel to the dispense direction, and the latch portion extends from a free end of the leg portion substantially perpendicular to the dispense direction.
A further embodiment of the invention includes a sheet product dispenser. The sheet product dispenser has a main body with a bottom and side walls that define a top opening and an interior of the main body and a lid removably disposed upon the top opening. The lid includes a nozzle having a base portion oriented substantially perpendicular to a dispense direction of the sheet product with an inner periphery and an outer periphery. A sloping portion is disposed proximate a center of the base portion and extends from the inner periphery of the base portion toward the center in the dispense direction to terminate at an edge defining an opening of the nozzle. The nozzle further includes a lip portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion. The retention feature has a leg portion and a latch portion, the leg portion is oriented substantially parallel to the dispense direction, and the latch portion extends from a free end of the leg portion substantially perpendicular to the dispense direction.
These and other advantages and features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the accompanying Figures:

FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of a sheet product dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the sheet product dispenser with a lid removed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a top perspective view of a unitary nozzle and cover assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the lid depicted in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross section view of the lid depicted in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged section view of the cross section depicted in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a top perspective view of the lid shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 depicts a top perspective view of a lid and unitary nozzle and cover assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 depicts a top perspective view of a unitary nozzle and cover assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 depicts a top perspective view of a lid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention provides a nozzle for the dispensing of sheet product. In one embodiment, the nozzle is removably attached to a lid of the dispenser, thereby allowing the nozzle to dispense more than one supply (such as a roll for example) of sheet product, and allowing different nozzles to be utilized with the same container and lid to dispense different types or sizes of sheet product. As used herein, the terms “sheet product” and “sheet products” are inclusive of natural and/or synthetic cloth or paper sheets. Further, sheet products can include both woven and non-woven articles. Examples of sheet products include, but are not limited to wipers, napkins, tissues, and towels.
FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a sheet product dispenser 10. The sheet product dispenser 10 includes top, bottom and side walls 15, 20, 25, respectively, forming a sealable container 30 having a main body 35. A lid 55 is removably attached to the body 35, and provides the top wall 15 of the container 30. The lid 55 may be removably attached to the body 35 in various ways, such as through the use of a connection 57 disposed at an outer radial position of the lid 55, such as a threaded connection, complementary circumferential grooves, or beads enabling the lid 55 to be snapped onto the body 35 for example. Removal of the lid 55 exposes the interior of the container 30 to enable a supply of sheet product to be inserted. A nozzle 60 or aperture through which to dispense sheet material is removably attached to the lid 55, as will be described further below.
The container 30 is illustrated in the various Figures as being generally cylindrical in shape, which is a spatially efficient configuration to house a roll of towels having a vertical axis, and is an economical configuration with regard to container material costs. However, the container 30 may have other shapes as desired.
FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the dispenser 10 shown with the lid 55 removed. A continuous roll 65 of sheet product is shown in an interior 70 of the main body 35 of the container 30. As described above, the sheet product may be made from either a woven or nonwoven material. There are a wide variety of nonwoven processes and they can be either wetlaid or drylaid. Some examples include hydroentagled (sometimes called spunlace), DRC (double re-creped), airlaid, spunbond, carded, paper towel, and meltblown sheet products. The sheet product may have perforations (not shown) extending in lines across its width to separate individual sheets and facilitate separation or tearing of individual sheets from the roll at discrete intervals. Individual sheets may be sized as desired to accommodate the many uses of the sheet products. For example, perforation lines may be formed every 13 inches to define a universally sized sheet. Multiple perforation lines may be provided to allow the user to select the size of sheet depending on the particular need.
The roll 65 of sheet product may be provided without a central core so that a free end 75 in the center portion of the roll 65 is accessible. The roll 65 is positioned with its axis extending vertically, and the roll 65 of sheet product is consumed from its center to its outside. The roll 65 may be of any size to fit within the dispenser 10. In one embodiment, the diameter of the roll 65 ranges from about 6 to about 12 inches. In other embodiments, a roll may have a diameter of approximately 8 inches or of approximately 10 inches.
FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the lid 55 with the nozzle 60 in place. With reference to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, lid 55 substantially covers the opening to the interior 70 of the container 30. Nozzle 60 defines an opening 110 through which sheet product is dispensed. In one embodiment, the opening 110 is a circular opening 110. In use, the free end 75 of the roll 65 is pulled from the interior 70 of the dispenser 10 through the opening 110.
To seal the container 30, such as to improve water tightness for example, opening 110 may be covered with an openable cover 115. FIG. 4 depicts a top perspective view of one embodiment in which the cover 115 and nozzle 60 are formed as a removable, integrated, unitary nozzle and cover assembly 120, including a living hinge 125 disposed between the nozzle 60 and the cover 115. The cover 115 is integrally arranged with the hinge 125 and in pivotal communication with the nozzle 60 via the hinge 125. Material of the nozzle 60, material of the cover 115, and material of the hinge 125 are merged together with one another in the integrated, unitary assembly 120, thereby defining hinge 125 as the living hinge 125.
FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the lid 55 and unitary assembly 120 depicted in FIG. 3. With reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, one embodiment of the nozzle 60 includes a flat base portion 130, sloping raised portion 135 and a circumferential wall portion 137. The sloping raised portion 135 is disposed sloping in an upward direction 140 (also herein referred to as a “dispense direction of the sheet product”) from the base portion 130. The upward direction 140 represents the direction of withdrawal of sheet product from the interior 70 of the container 30. The flat base portion 130 includes an inner periphery 142 and an outer periphery 143 and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the upward direction 140 (or is parallel to the top wall 15 and bottom wall 20). The circumferential wall portion 137 is disposed about the outer periphery 143 and is oriented substantially parallel with the upward direction 140 (substantially parallel to side wall 25). The wall portion 137 extends from the base portion 130 in the upward direction 140, thereby defining a nozzle chamber 144 having an inner diameter of dimension x. A height h1 of the raised portion 135 of the nozzle 60 is less than a height h2 of the circumferential wall portion 137.
As used herein, the term “substantially” with reference to relative orientation, shall represent a minimal deviation, such as resulting from manufacturing, design, and assembly tolerances, for example.
The sloping portion 135 is disposed proximate a center 155 of the base portion 130 and extends from the inner periphery 142 toward the center 155 in the upward direction 140. The sloping portion 135 terminates at an edge that defines the opening 110. In one embodiment, the sloping portion 135 of the nozzle 60 defines a continuous conical surface 145 having a straight, sloped surface that originates from the base portion 130 at a first radial distance 150 from the center 155 of the nozzle 60 and terminates at the edge (indicated generally by reference numeral 110) that defines an opening 110 at a second radial distance 160 from the center 155. The first radial distance 150 is greater than the second radial distance 160. The second radial distance 160 defines the radius of the opening 110.
The raised portion 135 of the nozzle 60, specifically the radius of the opening 110 defined by the second radial distance 160, is configured such that the opening 110 provides frictional resistance to the removal of the sheet product disposed within the container 30. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening 110 is configured such that a strength of a portion of the sheet product absent perforations is greater than the frictional resistance provided by the opening 110 of the nozzle 60. Further, a strength of a portion of the sheet product having perforations is less than the frictional resistance provided by the nozzle 60. Accordingly, as the portion of the sheet product having the perforations is withdrawn beyond the opening 110 and in response to a continued application of force to the sheet product, the frictional resistance of the opening 110 causes a first individual sheet to separate from a next individual sheet at the perforations, leaving a small portion of sheet product disposed beyond the opening 110 for subsequent dispensing (or withdrawal) of the next individual sheet.
The cover 115 has a cap portion 165 and a wall portion 167. The wall portion 167 of the cover 115 is disposed proximate an outer periphery 168 of the cap portion 165 and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the cap portion 165. Cover 115 pivots about pivot point 170 of hinge 125. In response to the cover 115 being pivotally coupled with the nozzle 60, the wall portion 167 of cover 115 interfaces with the wall portion 137 of the nozzle 60, which, in conjunction with cap portion 165 thereby seals the nozzle 60, particularly the opening 110 and the sheet product within the interior 70 of container 30. In an embodiment, the wall portion 167 is defined by an outer diameter having a dimension of approximately x, and the outer diameter of wall portion 167 interfaces with the inner diameter of circumferential wall portion 137 to seal the container 30. As used herein, the term “approximately” represents deviation resulting from manufacturing and design tolerances as well as a desired interface fit, such as one of an interference, slip, or transition fit, for example.
While an embodiment has been depicted having circumferential wall portions 137, 167, it will be appreciated that scope of the invention is not so limited, and is contemplated to include other wall portion geometry, such as square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or any other desired shape for example. Further, while an embodiment has been described with the outer diameter of the cap portion 165 of the cover 115 interfacing with an inner diameter of the circumferential wall portion 137 of the nozzle 60, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not so limited, and is contemplated to include other arrangements, such as the inner diameter of the cap portion 165 of the cover 115 interfacing with an outer diameter of the circumferential wall portion 137 of the nozzle, for example.
FIG. 6 depicts another cross section view of FIG. 3, with particular attention to an interface between the nozzle 60 and the lid 55. The nozzle 60 includes retention features 175 disposed at the outer circumference of the nozzle 60 to retain the nozzle 60 within the lid 55. The retention features 175 extend from a lip portion 177 disposed outboard of the wall portion 137. The retention features 175 interface with the lid 55 via openings 180 (best seen with reference to FIG. 7) that have matching, or complementary geometry to the retention features 175. The lip portion 177 is disposed surrounding an outer periphery 192 of the circumferential wall portion 137 and is oriented perpendicular to the upward direction 140 (parallel to the top wall 15, bottom wall 20, and base portion 130).
FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged portion of FIG. 6 illustrating the interface between the nozzle 60 and lid 55. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, an embodiment of the retention feature 175 includes a leg portion 185 and a latch portion 200. The leg portion 185 is disposed at an outer periphery 193 of the lip portion 177, extends from the lip portion 177 in the upward direction 140, and is oriented substantially parallel with the upward direction 140 (substantially parallel to side wall 25). The latch portion 200 extends from a free end 190 of the leg portion 185 substantially perpendicular to the upward direction 140. Further, FIG. 4 depicts the hinge 125 integrally arranged with the lip portion 177. In one embodiment, the lip portion 177 is disposed surrounding the full circumference of the circumferential wall portion 137. The retention feature 175 is disposed at one or more discrete circumferential positions on the lip portion 177 surrounding the circumferential wall portion 137, such as at four discrete circumferential positions as depicted in FIG. 4, for example.
The unitary assembly 120, including the nozzle 60, is assembled or attached to the lid 55 via the leg portion 185 and latch portion 200 of the retention feature 175. In an embodiment, the unitary assembly 120 is removably assembled with or attached to the lid 55 from an interior side 195 (also herein referred to as an “underside”) (FIGS. 5 and 6) defined by an orientation of the lid 55 relative to the interior 70 such that the leg portion 185 is disposed through the opening 180 of the lid 55. In one embodiment, the latch portion 200 is disposed upon the leg portion 185 extending toward the center 155 of the base portion 130 to retain the nozzle 60 within the lid 55. The disposition of the leg portion 185 relative to the opening 180 of the lid 55 is such that the retention feature 175 is biased in a radially inward direction 205 toward the center 155 of the nozzle 60. Accordingly, the latch portion 200 retains the unitary assembly 120 within the lid 55, preventing separation of the assembly 120 from lid 55 toward the interior 70 of the container 30 (opposite to the direction 140). Additionally, the latch portion 200 may include a lead 207 to facilitate an ease of installation of the assembly 120 with the lid 55. For example, in response to an application of force in the upward direction 140 to assemble the assembly 120 with the lid 55, contact between the lead 207 and the opening 180 results in generation of a force opposite the radially inward direction 205. Contact between the lip portion 177 and the lid 55 at a contact interface 210 retains the assembly 120 within the lid 55 and prevents separation of the assembly 120 from the lid 55 in the upwardly direction 140.
While an embodiment has been described with the leg portion 185 of the retention feature 175 having a radially inward bias and the latch portion 200 disposed upon the radially inward side of the leg portion 185, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not so limited, and may apply to other retention feature 175 arrangements, such as the leg portion 185 having a radially outward bias and the latch portion 200 disposed upon the radially outward side of the leg portion 185 of the retention feature 175, for example.
In response to withdrawal or dispensing of sheet product from the interior 70 in the upward direction 140, interaction between the sheet product and the opening 110 results in a frictional force upon the nozzle 60 directed in the upward direction 140. This frictional force is transferred from the nozzle 60 to the lid 55 via contact interface 210. The frictional force is further transferred from the lid 55 to the main body 35 via the connection 57 between the lid 55 and the body 35. Insertion of the assembly 120 into the lid 55 via the interior side 195, in conjunction with the retention features 175, and openings 180, prevents separation of the assembly 120 from the lid 55 in response to the frictional force that results from withdrawal of the sheet product.
With reference back to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, a radial distance from the center 155 to the connection 57 between the lid 55 and the body 35 is greater than the radial distance from the center 155 to a periphery 212 of the nozzle 60. Therefore, the connection 57 between the lid 55 and the body 35 includes a greater circumference and interface surface area than a connection between nozzle 60 and the lid 55. The greater circumference and interface surface area thus results in a lower stress level for a given applied load (such as the frictional force). Accordingly, insertion of the assembly 120 into the lid 55 via the interior side 195 to prevent separation of the assembly 120 from the lid 55 results in a transfer of all of the frictional force to the connection between the lid 55 and the body 35. This provides an advantage over alternate designs that may include insertion of the assembly via an exterior side 215 of the lid 55, in that assembly via the exterior side 215 does not provide the positive restraint to prevent separation of the nozzle 60 from the lid 55 in the upward direction 140 as is provided by contact interface 210 between the lid 55 and the lip portion 177, which results from insertion of the assembly 120 from the interior side 195 of the lid 55.
Different sheet product materials may have different characteristics, such as thickness and perforation strength for example. Therefore the desired frictional force that results from withdrawal of different sheet product may vary in order to properly dispense the sheet product, such as to cause the sheet product to tear at perforations for example. Accordingly, nozzles 60 having different opening 110 configurations may be selected for use with the dispenser 10 in conjunction with different sheet product materials. Further, selection of appropriate nozzle 60 configuration and material is contemplated to provide useful function for at least three replacement supplies of sheet product.
Insertion of the assembly 120 into the lid 55 further allows a single design of the lid 55 and main body 35 to be utilized with more than one configuration of nozzle 60, such as more than one nozzle opening 110 configuration for example. Flexibility to use the same main body 35 and lid 55 of the container with different sheet product materials is contemplated to reduce overall costs related to dispenser 10 manufacture. It will be appreciated that costs of tooling are often related to the size of the tools. Therefore, for example, fixed costs related to tooling of the container 30 and lid 55, which represent the larger (by size) of dispenser 10 components may be applied across more units produced, with any variation required (such as to accommodate different sheet product materials for example) to be accommodated via different unitary assemblies 120, having a smaller and less costly tool. Additionally, it will be appreciated that replacement of the comparatively smaller assembly 120 following wear of the nozzle 60 is contemplated to be more cost effective than replacement of an entire lid 55 into which the nozzle 60 has been integrated.
Insertion of the assembly 120 into the lid 55 such that it can be subsequently removed also allows for an end user to purchase one dispenser 10 that can be used with a variety of sheet product materials by removing and inserting into the lid 55 the appropriate nozzle and cover assembly 120 for the sheet product to be dispensed. As such, the end user need not maintain an inventory of different dispensers 10 that are each suited to dispensing particular sheet product.
FIG. 8 depicts a top perspective view of the lid 55 and unitary assembly 120 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 depicts alternate embodiments of the nozzle 60 that include slits 220, such that a raised portion 225 of the nozzle 60 includes more than one non-continuous segment 230. With reference to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 5, one embodiment includes a slit 235 that is disposed entirely within the raised portion 225, such that the slit 235 originates at an opening 240 of the nozzle 60 and terminates at a location having a radial distance from the center 155 that is less than the first radial distance 150. In another embodiment, the nozzle 60 includes a slit 245 that is disposed within the raised portion as well as a base portion 250 of the nozzle. Therefore, slit 245 originates at opening 240 and terminates at a location having a radial distance from the center 155 that is greater than the first radial distance 150.
FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment of a lid 255 and unitary assembly 260 that includes a nozzle 265 and cover 270. The nozzle 265 includes two flaps 275. Each flap 275 is configured to be capable to pivot about its base 280 or point of attachment to the nozzle 265. Pivot stops 285 disposed behind the flaps 275 limit a range of motion of the flaps 275. In response to withdrawal of sheet product from the interior 70, the flaps 275 pivot about their respective base 280 until they contact pivot stops 285. In response to contact with pivot stops 285, the pivots 275 are held at angle such that they contact and interfere with perforations within the sheet product, resulting in tearing of the sheet product in response to continued application of withdrawal force following contact and interference by the flaps 275 with the perforations.
FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of the unitary assembly 260 depicted in FIG. 10. Retention tab features 290, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 provide retention of the unitary assembly 260 with the lid 255. It will be appreciated that, as described above, the unitary assembly 260 is assembled with the lid 255 via an interior side 295 (best seen with reference to FIG. 10) of the lid 255.
FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of a lid 300. The lid 300 includes a recess 305. The recess 305 is configured to include geometry that is complementary to, or matches geometry of a cover, such as covers 115, 270 of unitary assemblies 120, 260, respectively. A retention feature 310, such as a tab for example, interferes with the cover and thereby retains the covers in an open position, such as to allow a user to withdraw sheet product from the dispenser 10.
Referring back now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an alternate retention feature 315 to retain the cover (such as cover 115, 270) in an open position is depicted. The retention feature 315 includes geometry that is complementary to or matches geometry of an opening 320 within the hinge 125.
As disclosed, some embodiments of the invention may include some of the following advantages: a sheet product dispensing nozzle that may be used with more than one replacement supply of sheet product, a sheet product dispenser incorporating a nozzle that can be used with more than one replacement supply of sheet product material; elimination of dispensing nozzles previously incorporated within replacement supplies of sheet product; and flexibility to utilize a sheet product dispenser having a removable nozzle to accommodate multiple sheet product materials
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Claims

1. A nozzle for dispensing sheet product therethrough, the nozzle comprising:

a base portion having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the base portion oriented substantially perpendicular to a dispense direction of the sheet product;

a sloping portion disposed proximate a center of the base portion and extending from the inner periphery of the base portion toward the center in the dispense direction, the sloping portion terminating at an edge defining an opening of the nozzle;

a lip portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion;

a retention feature extending from the lip portion, the retention feature having a leg portion and a latch portion, the leg portion oriented substantially parallel to the dispense direction, the latch portion extending from a free end of the leg portion substantially perpendicular to the dispense direction.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a wall portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion and extending from the base portion in the dispense direction, wherein the lip portion is disposed outboard of the wall portion.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the retention feature comprises more than one retention feature, each of the more than one retention features being disposed at a discrete circumferential position on the lip portion.

4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the sloping portion comprises a slit.

5. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the latch portion extends toward the center of the base portion.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge integrally arranged with the lip portion; and

a cover integrally arranged with the hinge and in pivotal communication with the nozzle via the hinge;

wherein the cover comprises a cap portion and a wall portion, the wall portion of the cover disposed proximate an outer periphery of the cap portion and oriented perpendicular to the cap portion;

wherein in response to the cover being pivotally coupled with the nozzle via the hinge, the wall portion of the cover interfaces with the wall portion of the nozzle, thereby sealing the nozzle.

7. The nozzle of claim 6, wherein material of the nozzle, material of the hinge, and material of the cover are merged together such that the hinge is a living hinge.

8. A sheet product dispenser comprising:

a main body having a bottom and side walls that define a top opening and an interior of the main body;

a lid removably disposed upon the top opening, the lid comprising a nozzle, the nozzle comprising:

a lip portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion; and

9. The dispenser of claim 8, further comprising a wall portion disposed about the outer periphery of the base portion and extending from the base portion in the dispense direction, wherein the lip portion is disposed outboard of the wall portion.

10. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the retention feature comprises more than one retention feature, each of the more than one retention features being disposed at a discrete circumferential position on the lip portion.

11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the sloping portion comprises a slit.

12. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the latch portion extends toward the center of the base portion.

13. The dispenser of claim 8, further comprising:

a hinge integrally attached with the lip portion; and

wherein the cover comprises a cap portion and a wall portion, the wall portion of the cover disposed proximate an outer periphery of the cap portion and oriented perpendicular to the cap portion; and

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein material of the nozzle, material of the hinge, and material of the cover are merged together such that the hinge is a living hinge.

15. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein:

the nozzle is removably attachable to the lid via the retention feature.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein:

the nozzle is attachable to an underside of the lid, the underside of the lid disposed proximate the interior of the main body.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the nozzle is removably attachable to the underside of the lid.

18. The dispenser of claim 8, further comprising:

sheet product disposed within the interior of the main body.

19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein:

the sheet product comprises at least one of double re-creped material, carded material, hydroentangled material, and paper towel material.