Information
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Patent Grant
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6378726
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Patent Number
6,378,726
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Date Filed
Friday, November 22, 199628 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 30, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 221 48
- 221 51
- 221 52
- 221 53
- 221 55
- 221 56
- 221 63
- 206 494
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An interfolded paper napkin dispensing system composed of: (a) an outer housing defining an interior space; (b) stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of paper napkins within the interior space; and (c) a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means. The dispensing face has a central portion projecting out from the dispenser and a dispensing throat located in the central portion. The dispensing throat is composed of a slot portion having a length sufficient to permit a paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few napkins from being pulled through the throat at one time. The dispensing throat further includes a finger access portion to help a user grip and pull a paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates the field of dispensing devices and systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of devices and systems for dispensing folded sheets of material.
BACKGROUND
Dispensers for paper napkins are often provided at quick service food locations. One disadvantage of many conventional paper napkin dispensers is that they often permit removal of large clumps of napkins at one time. Studies have shown most paper napkins removed in this manner are wasted. Many end up scattered about an eating area, tossed as litter or, even worse, being stuffed in plumbing fixtures. When clumps of napkins are taken, dispensers quickly run out and must be refilled inconveniencing both customers and operators of quick service food locations.
A long and unfilled need exists for a paper napkin dispensing system that will deter and resist wasteful dispensing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems and needs described above are addressed by the present invention which provides an interfolded paper napkin dispensing system composed of: (a) an outer housing defining an interior space; (b) stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of paper napkins within the interior space; and (c) a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means.
The dispensing face has a central portion projecting out from the dispenser and a dispensing throat located in the central portion. The dispensing throat is composed of a slot portion having a length sufficient to permit a paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few napkins from being pulled through the throat at one time. The dispensing throat further includes a finger access portion to help a user grip and pull a paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot.
According to the invention, the stacking means are composed of a staging area proximate the dispensing throat for spacing, bowing and slowing napkins as they approach the dispensing throat. The staging area may be composed of at least two curved bumpers oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, and a number of ribs defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat. Desirably, the staging area and bumpers are configured to cause the napkins to bow out into the dispensing throat.
In an aspect of the invention, the slot portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of minimum width that is less than about 1.0 inch. For example, the slot portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of minimum width that is less than about 0.75 inches. As another example, the slot portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of minimum width that is less than about 0.5 inches.
According to the invention, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of maximum width that is greater than about 0.75 inches. For example, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of maximum width that is greater than about 1 inch. Desirably, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat is at the center of the dispensing throat and may have a length (i.e., a length along the dispensing throat) of about 1 inch or more. For example, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length from about 1 inch to about 3 inches or more. Typically, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length that is about one-half the length of the dispensing throat. Of coarse, it is contemplated that the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length that is about one-quarter to about three-quarter the length of the dispensing throat.
According to the present invention, the central portion of the dispensing face may project out from the dispenser in the form of a first surface and a second surface joined at an obtuse angle. In such an embodiment, the dispensing throat should be located at about the intersection of the first and second surfaces. Other configurations of the dispensing face which provide a crease or break in the plane of the dispensing face at the dispensing throat may also be used.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view illustration of an exemplary interfolded napkin dispensing system.
FIG. 2
is an illustration of a detail of an exemplary interfolded napkin dispensing system.
FIG. 3
is an illustration of a detail of an exemplary interfolded napkin dispensing system.
FIG. 4
is an illustration of a dispensing throat of an exemplary interfolded napkin dispensing system.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view illustration of a dispensing face from an exemplary interfolded napkin dispensing system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, there is shown an exemplary interfolded paper napkin dispensing system. The system includes an outer housing
12
defining an interior space
14
that contains a stacking means
16
which is mounted within the outer housing
12
for holding a stack of paper napkins
18
within the interior space.
The system also includes a dispensing face
20
defined in the outer housing
12
proximate to an end of the stacking means
16
.
The dispensing face
20
has a central portion
22
projecting out from the outer housing
12
and a dispensing throat
24
located in the central portion
22
. The dispensing throat
24
is composed of a slot portion
26
having a length sufficient to permit a paper napkin to he pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few napkins from being pulled through the throat at one time.
The dispensing throat
24
further includes a finger access portion
28
to help a user grip and pull an interfolded paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot
26
.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, the stacking means
16
are composed of a staging area
30
proximate the dispensing throat
24
for spacing and slowing napkins as they approach the dispensing throat. The staging area
30
may be composed of at least two bumpers
32
oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, and a number of ribs
34
defined on the bumpers
32
for temporarily arresting movement of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat.
The bumpers
32
, in combination with a spring loaded plate
36
that pushes against the stack of napkins
18
, cause the interfolded napkins to bow out or buckle into the dispensing throat
24
. Such a configuration is believed to aid dispensing of the napkins by causing the napkins to feed into the dispensing throat
24
relatively uniformly and relatively independent of how full the dispenser is during dispensing. The bumpers also center the napkins on the dispensing throat to reduce the likelihood that napkins will drag against an end of the dispensing slot creating friction that may tear a napkin and interrupt dispensing. The bow or buckle in the napkins is thought to enhance the contact/friction between interfolded sheets of the paper napkin for more reliable dispensing.
Referring now to
FIG. 4
, there is shown a detail of the dispensing throat
24
which reveals a configuration to prevent large clumps of paper napkins from being pulled out of the dispenser at one time. Specifically, the dispensing throat
24
has a slot portion
26
that has a length sufficient to permit a paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that will prevent more than a few paper napkins from being pulled through the throat at one time. The dispensing throat
24
includes a finger access portion
28
to help a user grip and pull a paper napkin through the dispensing slot
26
despite the relatively narrow width of the slot.
The slot portion
26
of the dispensing throat
24
may have a point of minimum width “W” that is less than about 1.0 inch. For example, the slot portion “W” of the dispensing throat may have a point of minimum width that is less than about 0.75 inches. As another example, the slot portion “W” of the dispensing throat may have a point of minimum width that is less than about 0.5 inches.
The finger access portion
28
of the dispensing throat may have a point of maximum width “F” that is greater than about 0.75 inches. For example, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a point of maximum width “F” that is greater than about 1 inch.
Desirably, the finger access portion
28
of the dispensing throat
24
is at the center of the dispensing throat and may have a length “L” (i.e., a length along the dispensing throat) of about 1 inch or more. For example, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length “L” from about 1 inch to about 3 inches or more. Typically, the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length “L” that is about one-half the total length “T” of the dispensing throat. Of coarse, it is contemplated that the finger access portion of the dispensing throat may have a length “L” that is about one-quarter to about three-quarter the total length “T” of the dispensing throat.
Referring now to
FIG. 5
, it can be seen that the central portion
22
of the dispensing face
20
projects out from the outer housing
12
of the dispenser. In an embodiment of the invention, the central portion
22
of the dispensing face
20
projects out in the form of a first surface
40
and a second surface
42
joined at an obtuse angle α (i.e., greater than 90 and less than 180 degrees). The dispensing throat
24
should be located at about the intersection
44
of the first and second surfaces
40
,
42
where there is a crease or break in the plane of the dispensing face
20
. Such configuration is thought to provide better access to the paper napkins through the relatively narrow dispensing slot
26
. It is contemplates that other configurations of the dispensing face which provide a suitable crease or break in the plane of the dispensing face at the dispensing throat may be used.
Generally speaking, the angle α may range from about 175 degrees to about 160 degrees to provide a crease or break in the plane of the dispensing face
20
. For example, the angle α may range from about 173 degrees to about 162 degrees. As another example, the angle α may range from about 170 degrees to about 165 degrees.
During normal operation, a consumer will grasp the interfolded paper napkin by grabbing the portion or tail of the interfolded napkin protruding/extending through the dispensing slot. As the interfolded napkin is dispensed, another portion of the succeeding napkin is withdrawn to provide the next outwardly extending protruding portion/tail of the napkin. If the consumer encounters a new stack of interfolded napkins in which the tail does not protrude through the dispensing slot
26
or if the previous dispensing failed to properly draw a new tail through the slot, the user will grasp the exposed portion of the paper napkin and pinch the body of the napkin by placing one or more fingers in the finger access portion
28
of the dispensing throat
24
. If the user pulls too aggressively, such as in an attempt to pull a large clump of paper napkins out of the dispenser, the attempt will be thwarted because a large clump of napkins will not fit through the dispensing slot
26
. Accordingly, wasteful dispensing of the paper napkins is reduced.
The present invention had been found to be particularly desirable for use with horizontally placed interfolded paper napkin dispensers. The combination of a narrow dispensing throat, projecting dispensing face, stacking means and bumpers that bow out the napkins in a staging area provide reliable and less wasteful dispensing of interfolded paper napkins.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
- 1. An interfolded paper napkin dispensing system comprising:an outer housing defining an interior space; stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of interfolded paper napkins within the interior space, the stacking means comprising a staging area proximate a dispensing throat for spacing and slowing the interfolded napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, the staging area comprising at least two curved bumpers oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, and a number of ribs defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat; and a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means, the dispensing face having a central portion projecting out from the dispenser and a dispensing throat located in the central portion, the dispensing throat comprising a slot portion having a length sufficient to permit an interfolded paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few interfolded napkins from being pulled though the throat at one time, the dispensing throat further comprising a finger access portion to help a user grip and pull an interfolded paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot.
- 2. An interfolded paper napkin dispensing system comprising:an outer housing defining an interior space; stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of interfolded paper napkins within the interior space, the stacking means comprising a staging area proximate a dispensing throat for spacing and slowing the interfolded napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, the staging area comprising at least two curved bumpers oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, and a number of ribs defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the napkins as they approach the dispensing throat, the staging area and bumpers configured to cause the napkins to bow out into the dispensing throat; and a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means, the dispensing face having a central portion projecting out from the dispenser and a dispensing throat located in the central portion, the dispensing throat comprising a slot portion having a length sufficient to permit an interfolded paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few interfolded napkins from being pulled though the throat at one time, the dispensing throat further comprising a finger access portion to help a user grip and pull an interfolded paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot.
US Referenced Citations (73)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
178495 |
Jul 1935 |
CH |
336986 |
Nov 1903 |
FR |
2115834 |
Jul 1972 |
FR |