Folded Sheet Product Cartridges and Dispensing Systems, Assemblies, and Methods

Abstract

Folded sheet product cartridges and dispensing assemblies, systems, and methods of dispense therefor are provided. A dispensing assembly includes a housing for vertically stacked cartridges. The housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end and a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end. A sheet product cartridge includes a plurality of folded sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to sheet product dispensing, and more particularly to folded sheet product cartridges and dispensers, systems, methods, and assemblies for use therewith.

BACKGROUND

Sheet product dispensers, such as facial tissue, paper towel, or wipe dispensers, are used in a range of locations having varying amounts of user traffic and distinct dispenser performance needs. For example, in the patient rooms of hospitals or other medical facilities, user traffic at the dispenser may be low, but performance requirements on the dispenser are great due to the increased need for hygienic operation, as well as the dispenser efficiency demands of medical personnel who wash their hands frequently, among other reasons.

For example, dispensers may be used in the patient rooms of medical facilities, where certain dispenser performance features are desirable. Typically, sheet product dispensers in patient rooms are wall-mounted stainless steel manual dispensers into which folded sheet towels are loaded and dispensed via a wide opening in the bottom. These dispensers experience many performance issues, including maintenance and dispensing issues. For example, to load these dispensers, facility environmental services (EVS) personnel, such as janitorial personnel, must unlock the dispenser, estimate the number of sheet towels needed, select a number of sheet towels from a larger stack or from multiple sleeves of towels, load the towels into the dispenser, remove any overflow, and close and lock the dispenser. Thus, it would be desirable to provide dispensers that are more efficient for maintenance staff, such as for reloading the dispenser.

Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide dispensers in which contamination is prevented or minimized. In the traditional sheet product dispensers mentioned above, the sheet products may be exposed to unsanitary conditions prior to being loaded into a dispenser (e.g., after being unloaded from a case, during transit through the facility, or while being loaded in the form of a stack of loose towels). Moreover, when users reach into these dispensers to obtain one or more towels, adjacent towels that are left for the next user often become wet, and it may be difficult to pull out only the desired number of towels, resulting in overflow towels that must be handled by the user or tabbing, in which only a portion of the towel pulled by the user is dispensed. For example, additional towels may fall to a counter or other surface, where germs are present, and then be picked up to be disposed by the user after hand washing has occurred. In hospitals, hygienic practices are critical for preventing hospital acquired infections. Thus, it would be desirable to provide dispensers that minimize the contact of the sheet products with other things prior to dispense, prevent contamination, and encourage hygienic practices.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved sheet product dispensers and cartridges that reduce or prevent contamination of the folded sheet products and/or provide improved sheet product loading and dispensing.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a sheet product dispensing system is provided, including a housing having one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, with each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge. The housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, with the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough. The housing also defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, with the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. The cartridges are each formed of a flexible panel material, such that an exhausted cartridge may be removed via the dispensing slot.

In another aspect, a sheet product cartridge is provided, including a plurality of individual folded sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge and a plurality of flexible material panels containing the folded sheet products. The folded sheet products are interleaved for sequential dispense. One of the panels includes a detachable area that is configured to be detached to form the dispensing opening, the detachable area having a weakened perimeter and an integral pull tab disposed within the weakened perimeter. The pull tab includes a weakened neck portion associated with a partially detached stub portion, such that the detached stub portion is graspable by a user to detach the weakened neck portion and successively detach the weakened perimeter to detach the detachable area and form the dispensing opening.

In yet another aspect, a sheet product dispensing assembly is provided, including a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, with each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge. The housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, with the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough. The housing also defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, with the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. The load opening includes a notched portion corresponding to a complementary projection of each cartridge, such that cartridges comprising the complementary projection are loadable into the housing via the load opening.

In still yet another aspect, a sheet product dispensing assembly is provided, including a base panel configured to support one or more cartridges stacked thereon and a cartridge mounting panel extending from the base panel and comprising one or more notched rails configured to mount the one or more cartridges via one or more complementary projections on each cartridge. Each cartridge houses a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge.

In another aspect, a sheet product dispensing assembly including a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, with each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge. The housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, with the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough. The housing also defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, with the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. The cartridge includes two non-rectangular side panels and the housing comprises two complementary non-rectangular side panels.

These and other aspects and improvements of the present disclosure will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating examples of the disclosure, in which use of the same reference numerals indicates similar or identical items. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include elements, components, and/or configurations other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some of the elements, components, and/or configurations illustrated in the drawings may not be present in certain embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a material panel of a sheet product cartridge having a detachable area for forming a dispensing opening.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge having a material panel with a detachable area for forming a dispensing opening.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the sheet product dispensing assembly of FIG. 5A loaded with two sheet product cartridges.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of one embodiments of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the sheet product dispensing assembly of FIG. 7A loaded with one sheet product cartridge.

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the sheet product dispensing assembly of FIG. 7A loaded with two sheet product cartridges.

FIG. 7D is a perspective view of the sheet product dispensing assembly of FIG. 7A loaded with two sheet product cartridges, one of which is being removed from the assembly.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge for use with a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly loaded with two sheet product cartridges.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional plan view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly and a corresponding sheet product cartridge therefore.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the sheet product assembly of FIG. 10A loaded with three sheet product cartridges.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view of one embodiment of a plurality of interleaved folded sheet products.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product cartridge.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly loaded with three cartridges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Sheet product cartridges and dispensing assemblies systems, and methods therefor, have been developed to meet one or more of the above-noted needs. For example, the sheet product dispensing assemblies and cartridges described herein may be used in settings where certain performance functionalities, such as hygienic operation and improved loading, are desirable. In particular, these assemblies and cartridges may be used in settings where it is beneficial for the sheet products to remain unexposed to unsanitary conditions in the local environment, such as through handling and loading by EVS personnel and/or contamination of undispensed sheet products by exposure to water or infectious materials.

Embodiments of these cartridges and dispensing assemblies will be described below in more detail. While features of the cartridges and assemblies are described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not limited to such embodiments, but rather that cartridges and dispensing assemblies may incorporate any number of combinations, variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not described herein.

Sheet Product Cartridges

Generally, the sheet product cartridges disclosed herein are designed to contain a plurality of individual folded sheet products. As used herein, the term “sheet product” refers to any natural and/or synthetic cloth or paper sheets. Sheet products may include both woven and nonwoven articles. Examples of sheet products include, but are not limited to, wipes, napkins, tissues, towels, and other types of fibrous or film products. A plurality of folded sheet products may be releasably attached to one another and housed within the cartridge. Suitable releasable attachment means include, but are not limited to, friction, cohesion, or other forces that releasably attach adjacent articles. Perforations between the individual sheet products may provide such releasable detachment. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the sheet products 1510, 1520, 1530, 1540, 1550, 1560 may be interfolded, or interleaved, such that releasable attachment may result from friction or cohesion between adjacent sheets. In one embodiment, the folded sheet products are interleaved for sequential dispense. The interleaving configuration shown in FIG. 15 is merely exemplary and other interleaving or interfolding configurations may also be used.

As used herein, the term “cartridge” refers to a housing or carton for containing a plurality of folded sheet products and for providing for dispense of the sheet products therefrom. Cartridges described herein may be formed of a plurality of material panels that are formed or associated so as to at least partially surround and contain a stack of folded sheet products.

In one embodiment, at least two of the material panels are formed from a unitary material sheet that is folded to form distinct panels about the surfaces of the stack of sheet products. In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the plurality of material panels 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860 is formed from a unitary material sheet that is foldable to form the cartridge 800. In other embodiments, the plurality of material panels includes at least two distinct material panels that are associated or connected to form the cartridge.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the plurality of material panels form a parallelepiped structure. In one embodiment, each material panel is rectangular. In one embodiment, two of the material panels are non-rectangular. In one embodiment, the two non-rectangular material panels are parallelogram-shaped.

In certain embodiments, as discussed in more detail below, the cartridge includes one or more projections or keyed edge portions, in addition to or formed by the material panels. In one embodiment, the cartridges include a beveled edge. In one embodiment, one or more tabs extend from one of the material panels of the cartridge.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the cartridge 1700 may completely surround the sheet products, or, as shown in FIG. 12, the cartridge 1200 may expose the sheet products 1202 at one or more surfaces. Embodiments in which the cartridge completely surrounds the sheet products may be particularly useful for applications in which contamination of the sheet products is undesirable, such as in hospital room settings. Embodiment in which the cartridge partially surrounds the sheet products on specific surfaces, such as those that may be exposed in a certain dispenser, may also be useful for applications in which contamination of the sheet products is undesirable.

The material panels forming the cartridge may be substantially rigid or substantially flexible in nature, depending on the particular application and dispensing assembly design. For example, a cartridge formed from material panels that are substantially rigid will generally maintain its shape when empty of sheet products, whereas a cartridge formed from material panels that are substantially flexible will not generally maintain its shape when empty of sheet products. For example, the materials panels forming the cartridge may be formed of cardboard, paperboard, polymer materials, and other suitable materials. In one embodiment, the material panels are flexible and formed from a polymer film, such as low density polyethylene. For example, certain polymer materials may provide superior moisture protection versus paper based materials, which may be desirable for cartridges used at sites close to sinks or where EVS personnel use wet wipes or other cleaning supplies to clean room surfaces. In certain embodiments, the cartridges are formed of a flexible panel material so that an exhausted, or empty, cartridge may be removed in the same manner in which the sheet products were dispensed. In certain embodiments, the cartridges are formed of a combination of substantially flexible and substantially rigid panels, such as a combination of polymer film and paperboard panels, to achieve the desired cartridge characteristics.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge 800 includes a dispensing opening 802 disposed on one or more of the material panels and through which the sheet products may be dispensed from the cartridge. The dispensing opening may be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the application and dispensing assembly in which it will be used. For example, the dispensing opening may be substantially rectangular (with or without rounded edges) (see FIGS. 1, 2, 8, 14, 16), elliptical (see FIGS. 3, 4, 7), circular, or other suitable shapes. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the dispensing opening 1704 is formed of two elongated parallel sides connected at semi-circular ends.

The dispensing opening may be sized to include any portion of the material panel(s) in which it is disposed. That is, in certain embodiments, the dispensing opening includes a portion of the material panel(s) in which it is disposed. In other embodiments, the dispensing opening is disposed to occupy the space of the entire material panel from which it is formed.

One or more panels of the cartridge may include a detachable area that is configured to be detached from the panel(s) to form the dispensing opening. That is, one or more of the material panels of the cartridge may be configured to be removed, in whole or in part, to create the dispensing opening through which the sheet product is dispensed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 18, one or more cartridges 1700 may be loaded into a dispensing assembly with the material panels 1710 intact (i.e., with the dispensing opening 1704 not yet formed by detaching the detachable area 1706), such that the cartridges 1700 remain sealed until dispense of the sheet products is desired, at which point EVS personnel or another user can detach the detachable area to form the dispensing opening.

Advantageously, the dispensing opening may be large relative to the material panel in which it is formed, such that the cartridge may function in dispensers having a variety of designs, including those with dispensing slots (with which the dispensing opening of the cartridge must at least partially align) of various sizes and locations. Thus, as discussed in more detail below, the cartridges of the present disclosure may be used in a broad range of commercially available dispensers.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a material panel 110 of the cartridge includes a detachable area 111 having a weakened perimeter 112 and an integral pull tab 113 disposed within the weakened perimeter 112. Thus, the weakened perimeter forms a boundary about the pull tab. As used herein, the term “weakened” refers to the material having a line or zone of frangibility, such as with perforations, score lines, or any other suitable weakening mechanism. As used herein, the term “integral pull tab” refers to the pull tab being formed from the material of the material panel in which the weakened perimeter is formed. That is, the detachable area, including the weakened perimeter and pull tab, is formed from a unitary portion of the material panel(s) in which it is disposed.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the pull tab 113 includes a weakened neck portion 115 associated with a partially detached stub portion 116. As used herein, the term “partially detached” refers to the stub portion having at least a portion of its edge fully separated, such as fully cut or punched, from the surrounding portions of the material panel. Thus, the detached stub portion is graspable by a user to detach the weakened neck portion (represented by arrow A) and successively detach the weakened perimeter from the material panel (represented by arrow B) to form the dispensing opening. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the user may begin the pull at the stub portion, causing the weakened neck portion to detach (arrow A), and successively causing the weakened perimeter to detach (arrow B).

This pull tab/weakened perimeter design advantageously allows a user to remove the detachable area in a sequential tear, or “zipper,” action, rather than simultaneously removing the pull tab and detachable area in a single tear action. In particular, when the detachable area is present on a downward-facing panel of the cartridge, a user can gain access to the sheet product by pulling the pull tab down, and then continuing the downward pulling motion, while avoiding contact with the sheet product. Thus, the present cartridge and detachable area design enables a user to fully disengage the detachable opening and therefore gain access to the sheet products in a single pull in a direction perpendicular to the material panel in which the pull tab is disposed. That is, in certain embodiments, the detachable area is configured to be detached by the application of a substantially constant pull force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the material panel in which the pull tab is disposed. This force may be relatively lower than the pull force required to remove other detachable areas of traditional sheet product containers, such as slits or tabs, which typically involve simultaneous removal, or “popping,” of the entire detachable area.

The dispensing opening will generally have the shape of the weakened perimeter. Thus, the perimeter may be substantially rectangular (with or without rounded edges), elliptical, circular, or other suitable shapes. In one embodiment, the perimeter is formed of two elongated parallel sides connected at semi-circular ends. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the perimeter is formed of two elongated sides and two ends having a length that is shorter than a length of the elongated sides.

The weakened neck portion of the pull tab may have a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the size of the detachable area to be removed, as well as the design of the dispenser in which the cartridge is used. In some embodiments, the weakened neck is perforated. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the weakened neck 115 includes two substantially parallel weakened strips 114. In some embodiments, the weakened neck 115 further includes one or more pairs of weakened portions 118, 120 extending from an end of the weakened strips 114 toward the weakened perimeter 112. In one embodiment, the pairs of weakened portions 118, 120 extend away from each other, which may reduce tearing. In some embodiments, the weakened strips 114 are substantially parallel to two elongated sides of the weakened perimeter 112. In certain embodiments, the weakened strips 114 are offset relative to the two elongated sides and are centered relative to two ends of the weakened perimeter that are shorter in length than the elongated sides. In one embodiment, the strips 114 are disposed in a first half of the detachable area 111. In some embodiments, the weakened neck is disposed in a first half of the detachable area.

In certain embodiments, the pull tab is centered in at least one direction on the detachable area. In certain embodiments, the pull tab has a longitudinal axis that is centered between two elongated sides of the weakened perimeter.

The detached stub portion may have a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the size of the detachable area to be removed, as well as the design of the dispenser in which the cartridge is used. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the detached stub portion 116 includes a semicircular cut portion of the material panel forming the detachable area 111.

As shown in FIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the detachable area 111 is a portion of the material panel 110 in which it is disposed. That is, when the detachable area 111 is removed, a portion of the material panel 110 remains to restrict dispense of the sheet products and thereby minimize multiple dispenses. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the detachable area 211 includes substantially all of the material panel 210 in which it is disposed. That is, when the detachable area 211 is removed, the dispensing opening is at least an entire surface of the cartridge 200. In some embodiments, the detachable area may be disposed in multiple material panels.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, the dispensing opening of the cartridge 1400 may be defined in the material panel 1404 by one or more flaps or tabs 1403 formed in the material panel 1404. Advantageously, such breakaway flaps provide a less rigid dispensing opening by eliminating the tight corners of other dispensing openings, so that the incidence of tabbing (i.e., when a user pulls the exposed tail of the towel and a small piece of the towel is torn off, with the majority of the towel left in the dispenser) is reduced.

In certain embodiments, the stub portion is generally centered in the material panel that will be positioned adjacent the dispensing slot of the particular dispenser to be loaded with cartridges, so that the cartridge can be opened after being loaded into a variety of dispenser designs (i.e., any dispenser that has a centralized dispensing slot for the sheet product on a wall that aligns with the dispensing opening of the particular cartridge). For example, as shown in FIG. 18, such cartridges 1700 may be loaded into a traditional manual sheet dispenser having a bottom-facing dispensing slot, which is configured to receive a stack of loose sheet product, and the detachable area 1706 may be removed to form the dispensing opening 1704 in the cartridge.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, an individual sheet product 1510 adjacent the detachable area prior to detachment of the detachable area to form the dispensing opening 1504 includes a reinforced leading end 1511 having a folded portion of the sheet product. Thus, the leading sheet product 1510 contained within the cartridge 1600 may include a reinforced leading edge 1511, such as a tuck or fold of the edge of the sheet product, to effectively double the thickness/strength of the leading edge. This gives the user easier access to initiating dispense of the sheet products and also makes the leading sheet product less prone to tabbing. Moreover, the reinforced leading end may be folded so that the leading sheet product edge is located at the center of the surface of the cartridge, such that the leading edge is exposed and accessible when the detachable area is removed. Such reinforced leadings ends may include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,361, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0062209, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,748, which are incorporated by reference herein.

The cartridges described herein may be configured to contain any number of individual sheet products therein. In certain embodiments, the cartridges contain 200 individual sheet products or fewer. In one embodiment, the cartridge contains 150 individual sheet products.

These relatively low sheet product counts enable multiple cartridges to be loaded into a single dispenser, while keeping all but the cartridge in use sealed. Instead of stuffing the dispenser with loose sheet product and removing any overflow, EVS personnel can simply load the maximum number of cartridges that can be contained by the dispenser, with the detachable areas oriented toward the dispensing slot of the dispenser. Thus, discrete cartridge packages take the guesswork out of loading the dispenser, because dispensing assemblies can only hold a set number of cartridges, so to refill the dispenser, EVS must wait until there is a large enough headspace in the dispenser to insert an entire cartridge. This reduces stress on EVS, by removing ambiguity in refilling operations, and, because the dispenser is not over-filled, dispensing defects (e.g., tabbing, multiple sheet dispensing) are reduced.

A user removes the detachable area of the initial cartridge and is able to dispense sheet product without contaminating all of the sheet products in the dispenser and without experiencing the tabbing issues associated with overloaded dispensers. When a cartridge is exhausted of sheet product, the cartridge housing is removed via a cartridge removal slot or through the dispensing slot of the dispenser. A subsequent cartridge may then be opened for dispense.

Dispensing Assemblies, Systems, and Methods

Various embodiments of dispensing assemblies, or dispensers, systems including a dispensing assembly and one or more cartridges, and methods of dispense are described below. These dispensing assemblies, systems, and methods may be used in combination with sheet product cartridges having any combination of the features disclosed above, or with any other suitable cartridges. For example, the assemblies may be sized to mount one, two, three, four, or more cartridges.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, a sheet product dispensing assembly 400 includes a housing 402 configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges 410 therein. In some embodiments, the housing includes four side walls (i.e., front, back, left, and right side panels), a top wall (end), and a bottom wall (end), such that the cartridges are substantially enclosed by the housing. In certain embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes a mounting mechanism, such as bracket(s), for attachment to a wall or other structure.

The housing 402 defines a load opening 404 in a side panel (not shown) or top end of the housing 402, to receive the cartridges 410 therethrough. The load opening may occupy an entire side panel or wall of the housing, or some portion thereof. The housing 402 also defines a dispensing slot 406 in a side panel 408 or bottom end (not shown) of the housing 402. Thus, in some embodiments, the housing form a chute between the load opening and the dispensing slot, along which the cartridge(s) travel.

The dispensing slot 406 is configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the vertical stack, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. The dispensing slot may have a variety of shapes and sizes, including, but not limited to, substantially rectangular (with or without rounded edges), elliptical, circular, or a channel having two elongated parallel sides connected at ends.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the cartridges are each formed of a flexible panel material, such that an exhausted cartridge may be removed via the dispensing slot 406. In some embodiments, the dispensing slot is sized such that a detachable panel of the cartridge is removable therethrough. Thus, as shown in FIG. 18, a user may access the pull tab of a detachable area 1706, or panel, of the cartridge 1700, and detach the area through the dispensing slot 1708. In certain embodiments, the housing comprises rectangular side panels that are complementary to rectangular side panels of a cartridge to be loaded in the housing. In certain embodiments, the housing is configured to house three vertically stacked cartridges.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly 300, in which the housing 302 further includes an exit opening 309 configured such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably removed from the housing therethrough. The cartridge may also be removed using a pull tab on one side of the cartridge to pull it out of the exit opening of the dispenser, such that the next cartridge falls into the active position. Such an exit opening may be beneficial for us with cartridges having a rigid panel material or for applications in which it would be desirable to remove cartridges that are not completely empty, such as in hospital rooms between patients.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sheet product dispensing assembly 600 in which one or more material panels 610 of the housing 602 are open. Such a dispensing assembly would allow EVS personnel to easily observe when additional cartridges are needed, without opening the dispenser. For example, the housing 602 includes three side wall panels and a load opening in the top end. The dispensing slot occupies a substantial portion of the front panel of the housing and provides for removal of exhausted cartridges from the assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the housing 502 of the dispensing assembly 500 may include a hinged load opening 510 in one of the panels or top of the housing. For example, the housing may include a flip door through which cartridges may be loaded or unloaded. The assembly may be sized to house one, two, three, or more cartridges. Once expended, a cartridge may be pushed through the door opening 510, for example via a hole on the opposite side of the housing. Alternatively, a user may open the door 510 and pull out the expended cartridge. In certain embodiments, the housing 502 includes top and bottom panels, a dispensing slot in the front side panel, and a load opening (hinged door) in another side panel.

As shown in FIG. 18, in another embodiment, the assembly is front loaded via a hinged load opening 1720 in the housing 1712. That is, a flip door or other loading feature may be provided at the front panel of the assembly. The housing includes four side panel, with the front side panel being hinged at the interface with the bottom end panel, as well as a top end panel and bottom end panel, in which the dispensing slot it provided. Advantageously, front loading the dispenser does not add to the footprint of the dispenser. In certain embodiments, top and side load dispensers may require additional space around the dispenser for loading operations to occur. At certain sites this may be undesirable, and a front loading assembly may be beneficial.

In certain embodiments, the dispenser assembly is designed to receive only cartridges having a particular shape or profile. Such assemblies may be desirable in sites where cartridges having particular features (e.g., water resistance) are desirable, so that EVS personnel is able to load only those cartridges into the assembly.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a sheet product dispensing assembly 1100 includes a housing 1102 configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein. The housing 1102 defines a load opening 1104 in a side panel or top end (not shown) of the housing 1102, to receive the cartridges therethrough. The housing 1102 also defines a dispensing slot (not visible in this view) in a side panel or bottom end of the housing 1102. Thus, the housing includes top and bottom end panels, and four side panels, one having a load opening therein, and one having a dispensing slot therein.

The dispensing slot is configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the vertical stack, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. In certain embodiments, the load opening 1104 includes a notched portion 1105 corresponding to a complementary projection 1203 of each cartridge 1200, such that cartridges 1200 comprising the complementary projection 1203 are loadable into the housing 1102 via the load opening 1104.

In one embodiment, the complementary projection includes a beveled surface. In one embodiment, the housing is configured to house three vertically stacked cartridges. In one embodiment, the dispensing slot is sized such that a detachable panel of the cartridge is removable therethrough. In one embodiment, the housing further includes an exit opening configured such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably removed from the housing therethrough. In one embodiment, the exit opening is adjacent the bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges in a side panel of the housing other than the panel in which the dispensing slot is disposed.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the cartridge 1400 is uniquely shaped to be received by a complementarily shaped housing 1302 of the dispensing assembly 1300. The sheet product dispensing assembly includes a housing 1302 defining a load opening 1307 and a dispensing slot 1304. The housing 1302 includes four side panels, a bottom end panel having the dispensing slot therein, and a top end in which the load opening is formed.

In particular, the end panels of the housing and cartridge may have a parallelogram shape. Advantageously, having the overall cartridge shape be unique simplifies manufacture, because notched/beveled cartridge edges are not necessary to achieve keyed loading and dispensing. Moreover, when used in the vertical orientation shown in FIG. 13, the angled face of the housing 1302 in which the dispensing slot 1304 is located allows for either an outward or downward pull force to dispense a sheet product. This provides increased flexibility in location/placement of the dispenser within a room. For example, the option of an outward pull might allow the dispenser to be located under a cabinet (e.g., over a countertop) where there is insufficient space for a downward pull. Moreover, the assembly may advantageously be intuitive and simple, such that EVS personnel are not necessary for reloading. Additionally, this assembly design may allow the dispenser to have a narrower depth relative to the width of the sheet product, as the sheet product is angled within the dispenser and does not lay flat.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, a sheet product dispensing assembly 700 includes a base panel 702 configured to support one or more cartridges 710 stacked thereon and a cartridge mounting panel 704 extending from the base panel 702. The cartridge mounting panel 704 includes one or more notched rails 705, 706 configured to mount the one or more cartridges 710 via one or more complementary projections 712 thereon.

In certain embodiments, the cartridge mounting panel extends substantially perpendicularly from the base panel. In one embodiment, the assembly is sized to mount three cartridges.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the one or more complementary projections 812 are tabs extending from a wall 830 of the cartridge 800. Thus, the projections may be integral with one or more of the material panels forming the cartridge.

In one embodiment, the assembly includes channels on the outer edges that retain the tabs on the outer back edges of the cartridges. At the lowest cartridge position, the rails may be held in place by spring-loaded hinges that can resist the pull force needed to remove sheet products from the cartridge, but that yield when the EVS personnel pull the cartridge outward, allowing the next full cartridge to drop into position for dispense.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cartridge mounting panel 904 includes two parallel notched rails 905, 906 that are substantially perpendicular to the base panel 902 and the complementary projections 812 are two tabs extending from a second wall or panel 830 of the cartridge 800 opposite a first wall or panel 810 in which the dispensing opening 802 is disposed. In some embodiments, a first of the two parallel notched rails 905 is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel 904 such that a gap 907 between the base panel 902 and the first parallel notched rail 905 has a height equal to or greater than a height of the cartridge 900, such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably dismounted from the assembly 900 through the gap 907 (also shown in FIGS. 7A-7D). As discussed in further detail below, a dispensing panel/lip 909 may be used in combination with such rails, to maintain the bottommost cartridge on the base panel.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, a second of the two parallel notched rails 706 is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel 704 such that a gap between the base panel 702 and the second parallel notched rail 706 has a height less than the height of the cartridge 710. As discussed in further detail below, a dispensing panel 709 may be used in combination with such rails, to maintain the bottommost cartridge on the base panel.

In some embodiments, the assembly may include a dispensing slot in the base panel 702, such that cartridges having a downward-facing dispensing opening may be utilized.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, the assembly 700 further includes a dispensing panel 709 extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel 702 opposite the cartridge mounting panel 704, the dispensing panel 709 including a dispensing slot 711 configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening 713 of the cartridge 710 adjacent the base panel 702, such that the individual sheet products 715 are accessible therethrough.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the assembly 900 also includes a dispensing panel 909 extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel 902 opposite the cartridge mounting panel 904, the dispensing panel 909 having a lip configured to laterally retain the cartridge 910 adjacent the base panel 902.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7C, the dispensing panel 709 has a height substantially similar to, or slightly larger than, a height of the one or more cartridges 710 the assembly 700 is sized to accommodate. This may protect the cartridges from incidental contamination and damage (e.g. cleaning solution, users' hands).

A cartridge 1010 and corresponding dispenser assembly 1000 having a single rail 1002 and notch configuration are shown in FIGS. 10A-10B. The cartridges 1010 include a projection 1011 corresponding to a notch 1003 in the rail 1002 of the assembly.

Such “keyed” dispenser assemblies , for example as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, advantageously provide a propriety towel dispenser system, so that cartridges uniquely suited to the dispenser must be used with the dispenser. These dispensing assemblies provide a towel/dispenser system that is convenient to load, inexpensive, and proprietary.

Thus, the sheet product dispensing assemblies and cartridges of the present disclosure provide improved loading and dispense for folded sheet products, as compared to traditional folded sheet product dispensers. These assemblies and cartridges also beneficially provide for reduced contact and contamination of sheet products prior to dispense.

In certain embodiments, sheet product dispensing systems are provided, which include any embodiment of a sheet product dispensing assembly described herein as well as one or more cartridges for use therewith. For example, in one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a sheet product dispensing system includes a housing 1712 having one or more vertically stacked cartridges 1700 therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge. The housing 1712 defines a load opening 1720 in a side panel or top end (not shown) of the housing to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough. The housing also defines a dispensing slot 1708 in a side panel (not shown) or bottom end of the housing, to at least partially align with the dispensing opening 1704 of a bottommost cartridge 1700, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough. In one embodiment, the cartridges 1700 are each formed of a flexible panel material, such that an exhausted cartridge may be removed via the dispensing slot 1708.

Methods for dispensing sheet products from a dispensing assembly are also provided, including (i) providing any embodiment of a dispensing assembly described herein, (ii) loading the dispensing assembly with one or more sheet product cartridges via the load opening in the housing of the dispensing assembly, and (iii) dispensing individual sheet products from a bottommost cartridge via a dispensing slot of the dispensing assembly that is at least partially aligned with a dispensing opening of the cartridge. In some embodiments, methods further include detaching a detachable area of the cartridge to form the dispensing opening of the cartridge via the dispending slot of the dispensing assembly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure further include any one or more of the following paragraphs:

1. A sheet product dispensing system, comprising:

• • a housing having one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge,
  • wherein the housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough,
  • wherein the housing defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough, and
  • wherein the cartridges are each formed of a flexible panel material, such that an exhausted cartridge may be removed via the dispensing slot.

2. The system of paragraph 1, wherein the dispensing slot is sized such that a detachable panel of the cartridge is removable therethrough.

3. The system of paragraph 1, wherein the cartridge comprises rectangular side panels and the housing comprises complementary rectangular side panels.

4. The system of paragraph 1, wherein the housing is configured to house three vertically stacked cartridges.

5. The system of paragraph 1, wherein the flexible panel material comprises a polymer film.

6. A sheet product cartridge, comprising:

• • a plurality of individual folded sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge, the folded sheet products being interleaved for sequential dispense; and
  • a plurality of flexible material panels containing the folded sheet products,
  • wherein one of the panels comprises a detachable area that is configured to be detached to form the dispensing opening, the detachable area comprising a weakened perimeter and an integral pull tab disposed within the weakened perimeter,
  • wherein the pull tab comprises a weakened neck portion associated with a partially detached stub portion, such that the detached stub portion is graspable by a user to detach the weakened neck portion and successively detach the weakened perimeter to detach the detachable area and form the dispensing opening.

7. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the flexible panel material comprises a polymer film.

8. The cartridge of paragraph 7, wherein the polymer film comprises low density polyethylene.

9. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the weakened perimeter and the weakened neck portion comprise perforations.

10. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the plurality of flexible material panels form a parallelepiped.

11. The cartridge of paragraph 7, wherein each flexible material panel is a rectangle.

12. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the weakened perimeter is substantially rectangular.

13. The cartridge of paragraph 12, wherein the weakened perimeter comprises two elongated sides and two ends having a length that is shorter than a length of the elongated sides.

14. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the weakened neck comprises two substantially parallel weakened strips.

15. The cartridge of paragraph 14, wherein the strips are substantially parallel to two elongated sides of the weakened perimeter.

16. The cartridge of paragraph 15, wherein the strips are offset relative to the two elongated sides and are centered relative to two ends of the weakened perimeter having a length that is shorter than a length of the elongated sides.

17. The cartridge of paragraph 16, wherein the strips are disposed in a first half of the detachable area.

18. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the detached stub portion comprises a semicircular cut portion of the material panel forming the detachable area.

19. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the detachable area comprises a portion of the material panel in which it is disposed.

20. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the detachable area comprises substantially all of the material panel in which it is disposed.

21. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein the detachable area is configured to be detached by application of a substantially constant pull force to the stub portion of the pull tab, the pull force being applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the material panel in which the pull tab is disposed.

22. The cartridge of paragraph 6, wherein an individual sheet product adjacent the detachable area prior to detachment of the detachable area comprises a reinforced leading end comprising a folded portion of the sheet product.

23. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising:

a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge,

• • wherein the housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough,
  • wherein the housing defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough, and
  • wherein the load opening comprises a notched portion corresponding to a complementary projection of each cartridge, such that cartridges comprising the complementary projection are loadable into the housing via the load opening.

24. The assembly of paragraph 23, wherein the complementary edge comprises a beveled edge.

25. The assembly of paragraph 23, wherein the housing is configured to house three vertically stacked cartridges.

26. The assembly of paragraph 23, wherein the dispensing slot is sized such that a detachable panel of the cartridge is removable therethrough.

27. The assembly of paragraph 23, wherein the housing further comprises an exit opening configured such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably removed from the housing therethrough.

28. The assembly of paragraph 27, wherein the exit opening is adjacent the bottommost cartridge in a side panel of the housing other than the panel in which the dispensing slot is disposed.

29. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising:

• • a base panel configured to support one or more cartridges stacked thereon, each cartridge housing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge; and
  • a cartridge mounting panel extending from the base panel and comprising one or more notched rails configured to mount the one or more cartridges via one or more complementary projections on each cartridge.

30. The assembly of paragraph 29, wherein the cartridge mounting panel extends substantially perpendicularly from the base panel.

31. The assembly of paragraph 29, wherein the one or more complementary projections comprise one or more tabs extending from a wall of the cartridge.

32. The assembly of paragraph 29, wherein the assembly is sized to mount three cartridges.

33. The assembly of paragraph 29, wherein:

• • the cartridge mounting panel comprises two parallel notched rails that are substantially perpendicular to the base panel, and
  • the complementary projections comprise two tabs extending from a second wall of the cartridge opposite a first wall in which the dispensing opening is disposed.

34. The assembly of paragraph 33, wherein a first of the two parallel notched rails is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel such that a gap between the base panel and the first parallel notched rail has a height equal to or greater than a height of the cartridge, such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably dismounted from the assembly through the gap.

35. The assembly of paragraph 34, wherein a second of the two parallel notched rails is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel such that a gap between the base panel and the second parallel notched rail has a height less than the height of the cartridge.

36. The assembly of paragraph 29, further comprising a dispensing panel extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel opposite the cartridge mounting panel, the dispensing panel comprising a lip configured to laterally retain the cartridge adjacent the base panel.

37. The assembly of paragraph 29, further comprising a dispensing panel extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel opposite the cartridge mounting panel, the dispensing panel comprising a dispensing slot configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of the cartridge adjacent the base panel, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough.

38. The assembly of paragraph 37, wherein the dispensing panel has a height substantially similar to a height of the one or more cartridges the assembly is sized to accommodate.

39. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising:

• • a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge,
  • wherein the housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough,
  • wherein the housing defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough, and
  • wherein the cartridge comprises two non-rectangular side panels and the housing comprises two complementary non-rectangular side panels.

40. The assembly of paragraph 39, wherein the cartridge comprises two parallelogram-shaped side panels and the housing comprises two complementary parallelogram-shaped side panels.

41. The assembly of paragraph 39, wherein the side panel of the housing in which the dispensing slot is located is angled with respect to a base panel of the housing, such that the individual sheet products are dispensable therethrough via an outward or downward pull.

42. The assembly of paragraph 39, wherein the dispensing opening of the cartridge is defined by one or more flaps extending from edges of the cartridge defining a dispensing panel.

Although certain embodiments of the disclosure are described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, although certain embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with respect to specific sheet product dispenser configurations, it will be appreciated that numerous other sheet product dispenser configurations are within the scope of the disclosure. Conditional language used herein, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, generally is intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, or functional capabilities. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that certain features, elements, or functional capabilities are in any way required for all embodiments.

Claims

1. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising: a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge,wherein the housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough,wherein the housing defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough, andwherein the load opening comprises a notched portion corresponding to a complementary projection of each cartridge, such that cartridges comprising the complementary projection are loadable into the housing via the load opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the complementary edge comprises a beveled edge.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to house three vertically stacked cartridges.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dispensing slot is sized such that a detachable panel of the cartridge is removable therethrough.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an exit opening configured such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably removed from the housing therethrough.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the exit opening is adjacent the bottommost cartridge in a side panel of the housing other than the panel in which the dispensing slot is disposed.

7. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising: a base panel configured to support one or more cartridges stacked thereon, each cartridge housing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge; anda cartridge mounting panel extending from the base panel and comprising one or more notched rails configured to mount the one or more cartridges via one or more complementary projections on each cartridge.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the cartridge mounting panel extends substantially perpendicularly from the base panel.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the one or more complementary projections comprise one or more tabs extending from a wall of the cartridge.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the assembly is sized to mount three cartridges.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein: the cartridge mounting panel comprises two parallel notched rails that are substantially perpendicular to the base panel, andthe complementary projections comprise two tabs extending from a second wall of the cartridge opposite a first wall in which the dispensing opening is disposed.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein a first of the two parallel notched rails is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel such that a gap between the base panel and the first parallel notched rail has a height equal to or greater than a height of the cartridge, such that an exhausted cartridge may be slideably dismounted from the assembly through the gap.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein a second of the two parallel notched rails is disposed on the cartridge mounting panel such that a gap between the base panel and the second parallel notched rail has a height less than the height of the cartridge.

14. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a dispensing panel extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel opposite the cartridge mounting panel, the dispensing panel comprising a lip configured to laterally retain the cartridge adjacent the base panel.

15. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a dispensing panel extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the base panel opposite the cartridge mounting panel, the dispensing panel comprising a dispensing slot configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of the cartridge adjacent the base panel, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the dispensing panel has a height substantially similar to a height of the one or more cartridges the assembly is sized to accommodate.

17. A sheet product dispensing assembly, comprising: a housing configured to house one or more vertically stacked cartridges therein, each cartridge containing a plurality of individual sheet products for dispense through a dispensing opening of the cartridge,wherein the housing defines a load opening in a side panel or top end of the housing, the load opening being configured to receive the one or more cartridges therethrough,wherein the housing defines a dispensing slot in a side panel or bottom end of the housing, the dispensing slot being configured to at least partially align with the dispensing opening of a bottommost cartridge of the one or more vertically stacked cartridges, such that the individual sheet products are accessible therethrough, andwherein the cartridge comprises two non-rectangular side panels and the housing comprises two complementary non-rectangular side panels.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the cartridge comprises two parallelogram-shaped side panels and the housing comprises two complementary parallelogram-shaped side panels.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the side panel of the housing in which the dispensing slot is located is angled with respect to a base panel of the housing, such that the individual sheet products are dispensable therethrough via an outward or downward pull.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the dispensing opening of the cartridge is defined by one or more flaps extending from edges of the cartridge defining a dispensing panel.