TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to devices intended to hold a stack of sheet materials to be dispensed in an upright condition, and more particularly to a napkin holders.
BACKGROUND
Devices such as napkin holders are well known commercial products. Typically, napkin holders comprise a base having laterally spaced-apart side walls that extend upward. The side walls define a path therebetween, open at opposite ends and terminating at a bottom floor, for receiving a stack of napkins on edge. The side walls are spaced apart a sufficient distance to create a path that is wide enough to receive a vertical stack of napkins.
Such existing napkin holders have particular shortcomings. First, while the napkin holder path is generally wide enough to receive a sufficient number of napkins at the outset, and adequately functions to maintain the napkins in a vertical orientation, upon removal of a quantity of napkins the napkin stack tends to collapse. This is because, as napkins are withdrawn, the reducing stack thickness becomes substantially less than the width of the path. Thus, the napkin stack slides downward along the bottom floor until the bottom edges of the napkins contact the bottom edge of an opposite vertical wall. The weight of the napkin stack forces the stack against the bottom path floor and the stack assumes a generally curved shape that makes it more difficult to withdraw the next napkin.
If the vertical walls are less than the height of the napkin stack, the stack may hang over the top of one of the vertical walls, making it relatively more difficult to grasp and withdraw one or more of the napkins.
Other known napkin holders incorporate a mechanism, such as a pressure plate, for pressuring the stack of napkins against one of the vertical walls. Such holders are, however, substantially more expensive, require assembly, and are more difficult for the end user to use.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a napkin holder assembly including a first sidewall with upper and lower ends and an support structure disposed between the upper and lower ends, a second sidewall with upper and lower ends and an support structure disposed between the upper and lower ends, and a hinge having a stop structure engageable with the support structure of the first sidewall and the support structure of the second sidewall.
A feature of the invention is the provision of a napkin holder assembly that continues to secure napkins as the stack of napkins contained therein is depleted, while preventing the sidewalls of the assembly from contacting one another after the last napkin is removed.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a napkin holder having opposing sidewalls that are connected by a hinged and elevated base.
In an embodiment, there is further provided a napkin holder assembly including a first sidewall with upper and lower ends and an support structure disposed between the upper and lower ends, a second sidewall with upper and lower ends and the support structure disposed between the upper and lower ends, and a flexible hinge formed in the support structure of the first and second sidewalls.
The disclosed invention is a significant enhancement of the typical construction of conventional napkin holders, wherein opposing sidewalls are connected by a hinged and elevated base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the drawings depict preferred embodiments of the present invention, they are by way of example only and it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is expected that variations and further modifications as well as further applications of the principles of the invention will occur to others skilled in the art and while differing from the foregoing, remain within the spirit and scope of the invention as described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a napkin holder;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the napkin holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of hinge member 26 of the napkin holder of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3A is a side view of the hinge member of FIG. 3;
FIG. 3B is a bottom view of hinge member 28 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3C is a front view of the hinge member of FIG. 3B;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the napkin holder of FIG. 1, illustrating the hinge members;
FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention, showing a sidewall;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the napkin holder of FIG. 1 with several napkins positioned between the sidewalls;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a napkin holder in accordance with the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the napkin holder with a flexible hinge;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the napkin holder with a leaf spring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as napkin holder 10. Napkin holder 10 includes sidewalls 12a, 12b, having upper ends 14a, 14b, lower ends 16a, 16b, and support structures 18a, 18b disposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, upper end 14a, lower end 16a, and support structure 18a can be formed as a unitary construction of sidewall 12a by folding lower end 16a over itself, towards upper end 14a, and bending a portion away from sidewall 12a to form support structure 18a. Similarly, upper end 14b, lower end 16b, and support structure 18b can be formed as a unitary construction of sidewall 12b by folding lower end 16b over itself, towards upper end 14b, and bending a portion away from sidewall 12b to form support structure 18b.
Referring now to FIG. 2, napkin holder 10 can incorporate gripping members 20a, 20b for facilitating a better gripping surface for a user. Gripping members 20a, 20b can be made from any one of a number of materials known in the art to provide sufficient grip, including, but not limited to, rubbers and plastics. Gripping members 20a, 20b are received in openings 22a, 22b, respectively, so that they can be secured to upper ends 14a, 14b of sidewalls 12a, 12b.
As is further shown in FIG. 2, support structures 18a, 18b include hinge securing regions 24a, 24b, respectively, for receiving hinge members 26 and 28. A connecting rod 30 (illustrated in FIG. 2) is used to hingedly interconnect hinge members 26 and 28 for pivotal movement about the axes of the rod 30, in a known manner.
By way of example, referring now to FIG. 2A, support structure 18a is illustrated with hinge securing region 24a. Hinge securing region 24a is formed from a portion of support structure 18a and is positioned lower than support structure 18a. Positioning hinge securing region 24a lower than support structure 18a allows the upper surface of hinge member 26 to be substantially flush with that of support structure 18a once hinge member 26 is engaged to hinge securing region 24a (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4). As is further shown in FIG. 2A, hinge securing region 24a includes receptacles 31a for receiving securements 34a (illustrated in FIG. 3). Although the example of FIG. 2A is shown with respect to support structure 18a, it should be understood that its application extends to the relationship between support structure 18b and hinge securing region 24b.
Referring now to FIG. 3, hinge member 26 is shown. As illustrated, hinge member 26 includes upper hinge portion 32a for engaging the upper surface of hinge securing region 24a (of FIG. 2A). The engagement of hinge member 26 to hinge securing region 24a is further accomplished by lower hinge portion 36a and securements 34a.
In operation, upper hinge portion 32a frictionally engages the upper surface of hinge securing region 24a while lower hinge portion 36a, with angled end 44a, frictionally engages the lower surface of hinge securing region 24a. Securements 34a are positioned into receptacles 31a as upper hinge portion 32a and lower hinge portion 36a frictionally engage hinge securing region 24a so as to prevent hinge member 26 from disengaging from hinge securing region 24a. Preferably, securements 34a are angled in order to facilitate passing over the upper surface of hinge securing region 24a and into receptacles 31a.
As is further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, hinge member 26 further includes connecting rod support members 38a having bores 40a therethrough for receiving connecting rod 30. Hinge stop 42a of lower hinge portion 36a, in connection with hinge stop 42b of FIGS. 3B and 3C, prevents sidewalls 12a, 12b from contacting each other and prevents lower ends 16a and 16b from contacting each other.
Referring now to FIGS. 3B and 3C, hinge member 28 further includes connecting rod support members 38b having bores 40b therethrough for receiving connecting rod 30. Hinge stop 42b of lower hinge portion 36b, in connection with hinge stop 42a of FIGS. 3 and 3A, prevents sidewalls 12a, 12b from contacting each other and prevents lower ends 16a and 16b from contacting each other. As illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 3C, hinge member 28 includes upper hinge portion 32b for engaging the upper surface of hinge securing region 24b (of FIG. 2). The engagement of hinge member 28 to hinge securing region 24b is further accomplished by lower hinge portion 36b and securements 34b.
As described above with respect to hinge member 26, in operation, upper hinge portion 32b frictionally engages the upper surface of hinge securing region 24b while lower hinge portion 36b, with angled end 44b, frictionally engages the lower surface of hinge securing region 24b. Securements 34b are positioned into receptacles 31b as upper hinge portion 32a and lower hinge portion 36b frictionally engage hinge securing region 24b so as to prevent hinge member 28 from disengaging from hinge securing region 24b. Preferably, securements 34b are angled in order to facilitate passing over the upper surface of hinge securing region 24b and into receptacles 31b.
Referring now to FIG. 4, hinge members 26 and 28 are illustrated engaged to one another along bore 40a. As shown, hinge stops 42a and 42b of lower hinge portions 36a and 36b are positioned adjacent to one another so that as sidewalls 12a and 12b are pulled away from one another hinge stops 42a and 42b prevent hinge members 26 and 28 from overextending.
In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 6, paper products, such as napkins 60, are frictionally secured between sidewalls 12a and 12b in a vertical orientation, contacting support structures 18a and 18b. It is preferred that sidewalls 12a and 12b incorporate arcuate portions 15a and 15b that extend through upper ends 14a and 14b, respectively. Arcuate portions 15a and 15b compress napkins 60, thereby frictionally securing napkins 60 between sidewalls 12a and 12b. Lower ends 16a and 16b ensure that napkins 60 are raised sufficiently above the substrate supporting napkin holder 10.
Referring now to FIG. 7, as napkins 60 are removed from napkin holder 10, sidewalls 12a and 12b approach one another as a result of hinge members 26 and 28, supported by support structures 18a and 18b, rotating about connection rod 30 (not shown) with respect to one another. It is preferred that hinge stops 42a and 42b, discussed with reference to FIGS. 3 through 4 above, prevent sidewalls 12a and 12b from contacting one another.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 as napkin holder assembly 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, support structures 18a and 18b are a single, unitary construction uniting sidewalls 12a and 12b. Flexing hinge member 50 is formed as a thinned region between support structures 18a and 18b, compressed at flexing hinge regions 56 and 58 of the juncture between upper surface portions 52a and 52b and lower surface portions 54a and 54b, respectively. As a result of this construction the separate hinge members detailed above are not required, since flexing hinge member 50 can bend and flex along flexing hinge regions 56 and 58. In doing so, sidewalls 12a and 12b can accommodate napkins therebetween.
Another alternative embodiment of the hinge assembly is illustrated in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, hinge member 26a has an upper hinge portion 32c having securements 34c (shown through the upper surface) projecting from the bottom surface thereof. Likewise, hinge member 28a has an upper hinge portion 32d having securements 34d projecting from the bottom surface thereof. Securements 34c and 34d are received in receptacles 72 of lower hinge portions 36c and 36d, respectively, so as to engage upper hinge portions 32c and 32d to lower hinge portions 36c and 36d, respectively. Lower hinge portions 36c and 36d also include a receiving region 70 for receiving a biasing structure, such as leaf spring 80 or the like, which is held in position by the engagement of the upper hinge portions 32c and 32d to lower hinge portions 36c and 36d. Lower hinge portions 36c and 36d may also include securements (not shown) opposite of receptacles 72 so as to engage receptacles, such as receptacles 31b of hinge securing region 24b. Alternatively, lower hinge portions 36c and 36d may frictionally engage their respective hinge securing regions. Rod 30 fastens upper hinge portions 32c and 32d together, preferably above leaf spring 80, so that a hinging action can be performed. The incorporation of a biasing member, such as leaf spring 80, counters the gravitational effects on sidewalls 12a and 12b. As the number of napkins disposed between the sidewalls 12a and 12b diminishes, the sidewalls 12a and 12b tend to approach one another, with the force of gravity increasing the difficulty in removing the remaining napkins as sidewalls 12a and 12b are pulled downward towards one another. Incorporation of leaf spring 80 provides resiliency to counteract the force of gravity and permits sidewalls 12a and 12b to maintain an orientation that allows for the removal of napkins therebetween with relative ease.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other objects and refinements of the present invention may be made with the present invention within the purview and scope of the present invention.
The invention, in its various aspects and disclosed forms, is well adapted to the attainment of the stated objects and advantages of others. The disclosed details are not to be taken as limitations on the invention, except as those details may be included in the appended claims. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:
Patent Application
20070068884
