The present invention is generally related to dispensers and, more particularly, to dispensers of napkins and other paper products, as well as methods for dispensing such products.
Retail operations and, more specifically, food establishments such as cafeterias, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants that sell food items, are known to furnish paper products with the food items being sold. These paper products, such as napkins or paper towels, are furnished so that the customers may be able to wipe their hands and faces during and/or after consumption of the food items being purchased by them.
Dispensers of paper products are known. Conventional dispensers typically have an interior for storage of the paper products, and a dispensing mouth through which the paper products can be retrieved from the interior. Dispensers of this type require a specific orientation so that the paper products can be retrieved by the users. This is especially the case for dispensers that are designed to have the dispensing mouth on a side, rather than at the top, of the dispenser. In order to increase the number of useful orientations of dispensers, dispensers are known in the market place that have more than one dispensing mouth. For example, dispensers are known having two such dispensing mouths. But conventional dispensers of this type are rather complex, and often have internal components that limit the paper product-holding capacity of the dispenser.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide dispensers and methods for dispensing paper products that address these and other shortcomings associated with conventional dispensers of the types described above.
In one embodiment, a dispenser of paper products is provided. The dispenser has a plurality of walls defining an interior of the dispenser, with the interior being configured to store the paper products. Two dispensing mouths are located at oppositely disposed ones of the walls, and are configured to provide access to the paper products in the interior. The dispenser also includes a biasing member and a pair of support elements in the interior. The support elements are configured to support the products there against, and the biasing member urges each support element toward one of the dispensing mouths. The dispenser has a geometric center defined by the distance between the dispensing mouths, and each of the support elements is configured to move outwardly toward one of the dispensing mouths and inwardly away from that one of the dispensing mouths. At least one of the support elements is free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center.
In a specific embodiment, the at least one support element is free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center. The biasing member may be a spring, and more specifically a coil spring in some embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, the biasing member may be coupled to each of the support elements. In specific embodiments, each of the support elements is a platen. The plurality of walls may include a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of end walls extending between the top and bottom walls, with the dispensing mouths being located at the end walls. Additionally, at least a portion of the top wall may have a first position defining an opening for loading the paper products into the interior, and a second, closed position. That portion of the top wall may be hingedly coupled to the rest of the dispenser to permit pivotal movement of that portion between the first and second positions.
The plurality of walls may also include a pair of side walls that extend between the top and bottom walls and between the end walls. Each of the support elements may be free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center. Additionally or alternatively, each of the support elements may be free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center. In specific embodiments, the interior includes a first holding volume for storing the paper products, with the first holding volume being defined between one of the support elements and one of the dispensing mouths. In those specific embodiments, the interior also includes a second holding volume for storing the paper products, with the second holding volume being defined between the other of the support elements and the other of the dispensing mouths. The sum of the first and second holding volumes defines a total holding volume of the dispenser.
In those specific embodiments, at least one of the support elements is selectively movable within the dispenser such that at least one of the first or second holding volumes is about 50% or more of the total holding volume of the dispenser. Additionally, each of the support elements may be selectively movable within the dispenser such that each of the first and second holding volumes is variable in the range between about 0% and greater than about 50% of the total holding volume of the dispenser. In other specific embodiments, the biasing member is detached from each of the plurality of walls. In other embodiments, the biasing member is also detached from the support elements.
In another embodiment, a dispenser of paper products is provided. The dispenser includes a plurality of walls defining an interior of the dispenser, with the interior being configured to store the paper products. Two dispensing mouths are located at oppositely disposed ones of the walls, with the dispensing mouths being configured to provide access to the paper products in the interior. The interior includes a first holding volume for storing the paper products, with the first holding volume being defined between one of the support elements and one of the dispensing mouths. The interior also includes a second holding volume for storing the paper products, with the second holding volume being defined between the other of the support elements and the other of the dispensing mouths. The sum of the first and second holding volumes defines a total holding volume of the dispenser. In that embodiment, at least one of the support elements is selectively movable within the dispenser such that at least one of the first or second holding volumes is at least about 50% of the total holding volume of the dispenser.
The dispenser may additionally have a biasing member disposed between the support elements to urge each of the support elements toward a respective one of the dispensing mouths. In a specific embodiment, each of the support elements is selectively movable within the dispenser such that the first and second holding volumes are each variable in the range between about 0% and at least about 50% of the total holding volume of the dispenser. Additionally, each of the support elements may be selectively movable within the dispenser such that the first and second holding volumes are each variable in the range between about 0% and about 100% of the total holding volume of the dispenser.
In yet another embodiment, a napkin dispenser is provided. The dispenser has a top wall, a bottom wall disposed opposite the top wall, first and second end walls disposed opposite one another and extending between the top and bottom walls, and a pair of side walls disposed opposite one another and extending between the top and bottom walls. The walls define an interior of the dispenser for storing napkins. The dispenser has a first dispensing mouth at the first end wall for accessing the napkins, and a second dispensing mouth at the second end wall for accessing the napkins. First and second platens in the interior support the napkins, with the first platen being movable inwardly away from the first dispensing mouth. The second platen is movable inwardly away from the second dispensing mouth. A spring urges the first platen outwardly toward the first dispensing mouth and the second platen outwardly toward the second dispensing mouth.
In that embodiment, the dispenser has a geometric center defined by the distance between the first and second dispensing mouths, and each of the first and second platens is free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center. Additionally, each of the first and second platens may be free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center. Further, the top wall may be pivotally movable between an open position to receive napkins into the interior, and a closed position.
The objectives and features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
With reference to the figures, and more particularly to
Dispenser 10 also includes a pair of dispensing mouths 20a, 22a, located respectively at the end walls 20 and 22, which provide access to the interior 12. Specifically, the dispensing mouths 20a, 22a permit retrieval of napkins N from the interior 12 of dispenser 10. In this regard, the napkins N may be arranged within the dispenser in any suitably chosen form, to facilitate their retrieval. A contemplated exemplary arrangement of the napkins is disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,611,765, entitled STACK OF INTERFOLDED ABSORBENT SHEET PRODUCTS. The entire contents of that patent are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
With continued reference to
Referring again to
A biasing element, such as a spring or some other device, urges the platens 30, 32 toward the dispensing mouths 20a, 22a. In the embodiment of
With particular reference to
Napkins N in either or both of the holding volumes V1, V2 exert inwardly-directed pressure against one or both of the support surfaces 30a, 32a, to thereby compress the coil spring 36. Further, when the dispenser 10 is at least partially loaded with napkins (
With continued reference to
The distance between the dispensing mouths 20a, 22a (and in this embodiment also between the end walls 20, 22) defines a longitudinal dimension (i.e., length) L of the dispenser 10, the geometric center C of which (
With continued reference to
Both of the platens 30, 32 in the embodiments of
While
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described as follows, in non-limiting fashion:
1. A dispenser of paper products, comprising:
a plurality of walls defining an interior of said dispenser, said interior being configured to store the paper products;
a pair of dispensing mouths at oppositely disposed ones of said walls, said dispensing mouths being configured to provide access to the paper products in said interior; and
a biasing member and a pair of support elements in said interior, said support elements being configured to support the products there against, said biasing member urging each support element toward one of said dispensing mouths,
wherein:
said dispenser has a geometric center defined by the distance between said dispensing mouths,
each of said support elements is configured to move outwardly toward one of said dispensing mouths and inwardly away from said one of said dispensing mouths, and at least one of said support elements is free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said support elements is free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center.
3. The dispenser of either of claim 1 or 2, wherein said biasing member is a spring.
4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said biasing member is a coil spring.
5. The dispenser of any of claims 1-4, wherein said biasing member is coupled to each of said support elements.
6. The dispenser of any of claims 1-5, wherein each of said support elements is a platen.
7. The dispenser of any of claims 1-6, wherein said plurality of walls includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of end walls extending between said top and bottom walls, said dispensing mouths being located at said end walls.
8. The dispenser of any of claims 1-7, wherein at least a portion of said top wall has a first position defining an opening for loading the paper products into said interior, and a second, closed position.
9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said at least a portion of said top wall is hingedly coupled to the rest of said dispenser to permit pivotal movement thereof between the first and second positions.
10. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein said plurality of walls includes a pair of side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls.
11. The dispenser of any of claims 1-10, wherein each of said support elements is free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center.
12. The dispenser of any of claims 1-11, wherein each of said support elements is free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center.
13. The dispenser of any of claims 1-12, wherein:
said interior includes a first holding volume for storing the paper products, said first holding volume being defined between one of said support elements and one of said dispensing mouths,
said interior includes a second holding volume for storing the paper products, said second holding volume being defined between the other of said support elements and the other of said dispensing mouths,
the sum of said first and second holding volumes defines a total holding volume of said dispenser, and
at least one of said support elements is selectively movable within said dispenser such that at least one of said first or second holding volumes is about 50% or more of said total holding volume of said dispenser.
14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein each of said support elements is selectively movable within said dispenser such that each of said first and second holding volumes is variable in the range between about 0% and greater than about 50% of said total holding volume of said dispenser.
15. The dispenser of any of claims 1-14, wherein said biasing member is detached from each of said plurality of walls.
16. The dispenser of any of claim 1-4 or 6-14, wherein said biasing member is detached from each of said plurality of walls and detached from both of said support elements.
17. A dispenser of paper products, comprising:
a plurality of walls defining an interior of said dispenser, said interior being configured to store the paper products; and
a pair of dispensing mouths at oppositely disposed ones of said walls, said dispensing mouths being configured to provide access to the paper products, wherein:
said interior includes a first holding volume for storing the paper products, said first holding volume being defined between one of said support elements and one of said dispensing mouths,
said interior includes a second holding volume for storing the paper products, said second holding volume being defined between the other of said support elements and the other of said dispensing mouths,
the sum of said first and second holding volumes defines a total holding volume of said dispenser, and
at least one of said support elements is selectively movable within said dispenser such that at least one of said first or second holding volumes is at least about 50% of said total holding volume of said dispenser.
18. The dispenser of claim 17, further comprising:
a biasing member disposed between said support elements to urge each of said support elements toward a respective one of said dispensing mouths.
19. The dispenser of either of claim 17 or 18, wherein each of said support elements is selectively movable within said dispenser such that said first and second holding volumes are each variable in the range between about 0% and at least about 50% of said total holding volume of said dispenser.
20. The dispenser of any of claims 17-19, wherein each of said support elements is selectively movable within said dispenser such that said first and second holding volumes are each variable in the range between about 0% and about 100% of the total holding volume of said dispenser.
21. A napkin dispenser, comprising:
a top wall, a bottom wall disposed opposite said top wall, first and second end walls disposed opposite one another and extending between said top and bottom walls, and a pair of side walls disposed opposite one another and extending between said top and bottom walls, said walls defining an interior of said dispenser for storing napkins;
a first dispensing mouth at said first end wall for accessing the napkins;
a second dispensing mouth at said second end wall for accessing the napkins;
first and second platens in said interior for supporting the napkins, said first platen being movable inwardly away from said first dispensing mouth and said second platen being movable inwardly away from said second dispensing mouth; and
a spring urging said first platen outwardly toward said first dispensing mouth and said second platen outwardly toward said second dispensing mouth,
wherein:
said dispenser has a geometric center defined by the distance between said first and second dispensing mouths, and
each of said first and second platens is free to travel inwardly to reach at least the geometric center.
22. The napkin dispenser of claim 21, wherein each of said first and second platens is free to travel inwardly beyond the geometric center.
23. The napkin dispenser of either of claim 21 or 22, wherein said top wall is pivotally movable between an open position to receive napkins into said interior, and a closed position. Yet other embodiments are also contemplated for uses and methods associated with any of the dispensers according to any of claims 1 to 23, as described above.
From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Accordingly, this invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.