Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details.
Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, the discussion that follows, will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawing.
According to one embodiment, a napkin dispenser comprising a structure 1 for holding napkins and means for urging napkins in the structure toward the opening 2 in the front face 3 of the structure. The dispenser has an opening 2, through which napkins disposed in the structure 1 can be withdrawn, in a front face of the structure 1. The front face has two side edges 4 with each side edge connected to the front edge one of a first side wall 5a and a second side wall 5b of the structure. Each of the first side wall 5a and second side wall 5b has at least one inclined guide 6, and each of the at least one inclined guide is sloped downwardly toward the front face 3.
Referring to
Preferably, the plate 7 of the napkin dispenser is sufficiently weighted so that it urges that napkins 12 toward the front face 3 throughout its entire traverse along the inclined guide without the use of a spring. As best shown in
Each protuberance 8 may be rotatingly attached to the plate as shown in
Each of the at least one inclined guide 6 of the napkin dispenser, in embodiments having a non-rotating protuberance, has an angle that is at least 30° from horizontal. In embodiments having a rotating protuberance, the angle from horizontal may generally be in the range of about 15° to about 60°. Each of the at least one inclined guide of the napkin dispenser has an angle that is preferably 30° from horizontal. Furthermore, the angle of the each of the at least one inclined guide may be uniform.
In an embodiment of the napkin dispenser of this important invention, the at least one inclined guide associated with each of the first side wall and second side wall comprises two uniformly spaced inclined guides, and the at least one protuberance associated with each of the first side edge and the second side edge comprises two uniformly spaced protuberances corresponding in spacing to the spacing of the two uniformly spaced inclined guides. See, for example,
As shown in
In an embodiment of the napkin dispenser, the structure 1 may be independent of a stationary rear wall, as shown in
In one embodiment of the napkin dispenser, the structure 1 may be a closed structure with a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, and a back (or rear) wall 18, with the side edges of the top wall is connected respectively to the top edges of the first side wall and the second side wall, the front edge of the top wall is connected to the top edge of the front wall, the back edge of the top wall is connected to the top edge of the back wall, the side edges of the bottom wall is connected respectively to the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall, and the front edge of the bottom wall is connected to the bottom edge of the front wall, and the back edge of the bottom wall is connected to the bottom edge of the back wall. Additionally, the bottom wall 16 may be sloped downwardly, as shown in
In another embodiment of the napkin dispenser of the present invention, the structure 1 has a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, and a back wall 18, with the side edges of the top wall respectively extending over the top edges of the first side wall and the second side wall, the front edge of the top wall extending over the top edge of the front wall, the back edge of the top wall 14 is pivotably connected to the top edge of the back wall, as shown in
A preferred embodiment of the napkin dispenser comprises a structure 1 for holding napkins 12 with an opening 2, through which napkins disposed in the structure can be withdrawn, in a front face 3 of the structure. The structure also has a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a base wall 20, and a back wall 18. The front face 3 has two side edges 4 with each side edge is connected to the front edge one of a first side wall 5a and a second side wall 5b of the structure. Each of the first side wall and second side wall has at least one inclined guide 6; each of the at least one inclined guide 6 is sloped downwardly toward the front face 3; the side edges of the top wall 14 respectively extending over the top edges of the first side wall and the second side wall; the front edge of the top wall extending over the top edge of the front wall; the back edge of the top wall is pivotably connected to the top edge of the back wall; the side edges of the bottom wall is connected respectively to the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall; the front edge of the bottom wall is connected to the front wall at a spaced distance from the bottom edge of the front wall; and the back edge of the bottom wall is connected to the bottom edge of the back wall. The bottom wall 16 is sloped downwardly toward the front face, and the base wall 20 is disposed horizontally and the front edge of the base wall is connected to the bottom edge of the front wall.
Means for urging napkins in the structure 1 toward the opening in the front face of the structure are provided. The means for urging comprise a plate 7 disposed between the first side wall 5a and the second side wall 5b of the structure. The plate has a first side edge 7a and a second side edge 7b with the first side edge 7a being proximate to the first side wall 5a and the second side edge 7b being proximate to the second side wall 5b. The first side edge 7a has at least one protuberance 8 corresponding in number to the number of the at least one inclined guide 6 of the first side wall 5a. The second side edge 7b has at least one protuberance 8 corresponding in number to the number of the at least one inclined guide 6 of the second side wall 5b, and each of the at least one protuberance 8 is operably connected to one of the at least one inclined guide 6, so that the plate 7 urges the napkins 12 disposed in the structure 1 with the sloped bottom wall 16 to move toward the opening 2 in the front face 3 through which the napkins can be withdrawn from the napkin dispenser independent of a spring, and the dispenser is supported uprightly by the horizontal base wall 20.
Preferably, the slope of the bottom wall 16 is substantially the same as the slope of the at least one inclined guide 6 of each of the first and second side walls (5a and 5b).
Furthermore, the at least one inclined guide 6 associated with each of the first side wall and second side wall comprises two uniformly spaced inclined guides, and the at least one protuberance associated with each of the first side edge and the second side edge comprises two uniformly spaced protuberances corresponding in spacing to the spacing of the two uniformly spaced inclined guides. Whereby, the two uniformly spaced protuberances 8 of the first side edge 7a can be operably associated with the two uniformly spaced inclined guides 6 of the first side wall 5a, and the two uniformly spaced protuberances 8 of the second side edge 7b can be operably associated with the two uniformly spaced inclined guides 6 of the second side wall 5b to urge napkins 12 disposed in the structure 1 in front of the plate 7 to be moved toward the front face 3 while maintaining the plate in a generally vertical position.
In addition, the plate 7 may be sufficiently weighted so that it urges the napkins 12 toward the front face 3 throughout its entire traverse along the inclined guide 6, with each protuberance 8 being stationary and integrally attached to the plate 7 and the thickness of plate being uniform throughout its length and width and the angle of the each of the at least one inclined guide is preferably 30° from horizontal. The structure of the dispenser may be made of any suitable manufacturing process and material, including steel, alloys and plastics. The plate can comprise steel, iron, an alloy or other suitable weighty material.
In another embodiment of the napkin dispenser, a structure 1 for holding napkins 12 with an opening 2, through which napkins disposed in the structure can be withdrawn, in a front face 3 of the structure is taught. The front face has two side edges 4 with each side edge being connected to the front edge one of a first side wall and a second side wall of the structure. Each of said first side wall 5a and second side wall 5b has an inclined upper edge 6c as shown in
While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.