SHEET PRODUCT DISPENSER

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a stack of napkins is of a gravity feed kind and includes a base upon which the dispenser is to stand and a dispensing opening at a bottom of a stack housing portion of the dispenser so that the napkins are fed to the dispensing opening along a slide member. The slide member defines a steep, planar upper surface for guiding the stack of napkins, and a less steep, curved lower sliding surface forming a turn in the slide toward the dispensing opening. The lower sliding surface is formed by a plurality of spaced runners separated by recesses. The stack is held by first and second compression members against a bottom part of the steep portion of the sliding surface to take the weight of the upper part of the stack from the part of the stack sliding on the lower curved surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for dispensing sheet products through a dispensing opening. The dispenser is particularly of the gravity feed kind, which includes a slide surface for supporting and guiding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening.

BACKGROUND

US 2008/0099497 A1 discloses a gravity feed dispenser having a back wall defining a constant radius of curvature. The radius of curvature helps to support the stack so that there is not too much pressure on the stack at the aperture when the dispenser is loaded. There is also provided a plurality of sidewall ridge members which are configured to frictionally engage the stack and further support it. The dispenser includes a support with a base for placement on a countertop.

The stack housing takes up a relatively large footprint of the countertop when viewed from above because of the relatively laid back position of the housing, which comes about as a result of the constant radius of curvature of the housing. It is desirable to reduce the countertop footprint of the device, while maintaining or increasing stack capacity. To do so, a more vertical stack housing is required.

US 2011/0174834 A1 discloses in the figures a sheet product dispenser including a body portion having a rear wall with a more vertical planar upper portion and a less steep, curved lower portion extending to a bottom assembly including a dispensing orifice. The curved lower portion does not turn so much as to have the dispensing orifice facing vertical, which is desirable to reduce the weight of the stack at the dispensing orifice for improved dispensing, and is also desirable from a consumer use perspective, where forward dispensing is preferred to downward dispensing. However, if the lower portion was extended until the curve brought the dispensing orifice to a forward facing position, compactness, and particularly a countertop footprint, would be compromised.

Accordingly, a dispenser that allows forward dispensing, while maintaining or increasing stack capacity, while also aiming to minimise the footprint of the dispenser on a counter surface or other such surface when the dispenser is viewed in plan would be desirable.

SUMMARY

It has been found by the present inventors that by incorporating a sharper turn in a slide guiding the stack of napkins to a dispensing opening, a majority of a stack housing can be relatively vertically oriented for reducing the dispenser footprint and maintaining stack capacity, while the relatively sharp turn brings the dispensing opening into a forward facing position. The sharper turn, however, presents further design problems.

In particular, getting the stack to follow the turn has proven problematic because of a tendency for the stack to maintain the vertical orientation and resist turning around the bend. This can result in the sheet products falling over along the slide so that edges of sheet products are presented at the dispensing opening, rather than a leading face of the stack, as is desirable for proper dispensing. That is, a stack includes four side faces connecting a leading face and a trailing face. It is desirable for the leading face to be presented at the dispensing opening. If sheet products in the stack fall over, part of a side face can instead be presented at the dispensing opening.

In a first aspect, there is provided a dispenser including:

a dispensing opening;

a slide defining a feed path for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;

wherein the slide includes a more vertical feed path portion, and a less vertical feed path portion that distinctly turns at a turning point toward the dispensing opening relative to the more vertical feed path portion;

wherein a sliding surface of the less vertical feed path portion, at least at a turning point end thereof, contacts a back side of the stack with a reduced frictional force than a frictional force between a sliding surface of the more vertical feed path portion, at least at a turning point end thereof, and a back side of the stack.

In prior art designs such as US2011/0174834 A1 where there is a distinct turning point in the slide, the frictional force on the stack at the turn is greater than before the turn because of the weight of the stack. This, it is hypothesised, tends to cause the stack to bunch or stick on a back side thereof contacting the slide and can cause the sheet products to fall over as described above. The present disclosure provides a slide configured so that the frictional force is reduced (which can be implemented in a number of ways as the skilled person will appreciate) after the turn. This reduced frictional force can be considered to accelerate the movement of the back side of the stack at the turn portion, thereby ensuring that the back side of the stack is brought around at the turn to bring a front face of the stack successfully to the dispensing opening, even if the turn is tighter than in prior art dispensers.

The less vertical feed path portion may include a plurality of spaced runners along which the stack is to slide toward the dispensing opening. The runners serve to provide reduced friction as compared to a planar surface, while the space between the runners can provide a guiding effect. The reduced friction could be otherwise provided such as by making the less vertical feed path portion of a lower friction coefficient material with respect to the back side of the stack than the more vertical feed path portion. For example, a Teflon layer for at least part of the less vertical feed path portion could be provided.

In a second aspect, there is provided:

a dispenser including:

a dispensing opening

a slide defining a feed path for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;

wherein the slide includes a feed path portion that distinctly turns toward the dispensing opening about a turning point;

wherein the feed path portion includes a plurality of spaced runners extending from a turning point end of the feed path portion toward the dispensing opening.

The spaced runners at the turning point of the turning portion of the slide provide a guiding and reduced friction function. The runners can be seen as accelerating the stack about the turn to ensure that a bottom face of the stack is successfully delivered to the dispensing opening.

The distinct turn could be achieved by a change in radius of curvature where curved surfaces are provided either side of the turning point, or a change of angle between planar surfaces or a change from a planar surface to a curved surface on either side of the turning point. Thus, the slide portions of the disclosed aspects are not provided by a constant radius of curvature as then a distinct turn is not present.

The dispenser includes a base and the dispenser is to be stood on said base on a counter surface or other such surface. The slide may include an upper feed path portion and a lower feed portion providing said feed path portion, wherein the upper feed path portion is more vertically oriented and the lower feed path portion is less vertically oriented when the dispenser is stood on the base on a horizontal surface. The upper feed path portion may have, at least at a turning point end, a relatively continuous sliding surface as compared to the sliding surface provided by the runners.

The runners may start at the turning point. The runners may end at an end of the slide adjacent the dispensing opening.

The sliding surface of the slide can be flat and the runners may be formed by spaced apart elongate recesses or slots in the flat sliding surface. In certain embodiments, this is considered preferable to forming protrusions or bumps in the sliding surface, which may not as effectively reduce friction as having a continuous sliding surface for the slide with recesses or slots formed therein.

The slide may include an upper planar portion and a lower curved portion respectively forming the more vertically oriented feed path portion and the less vertically oriented feed path portion. The boundary between the upper planar portion and the lower curved portion provides the turning point. The lower curved portion may follow a circular path or may define a composite curve.

The more vertical slide portion of the stack feed path may be a major part, whereas the less vertical slide portion of the stack feed path may be a minor part. This feature ensures that a majority of the stack is positioned more vertically to reduce dispenser footprint.

The slide is slanted relative to the vertical in order to be able to support and guide the stack of napkins. The slide may be angled at least 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9° or 10° relative to the vertical at an upper end of the slide. It may be from 5 to 15° or 10° to 15°. The slide is slanted relative to the vertical at an angle of at least 20°, at least 25°, at least 30°, at least 35°, or at least 40° at a dispensing opening end of the slide. The angle may be in the range from 20° to 70°, 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50°. Alternatively, the angle of the slide at the dispensing opening end is 45°. For curved surfaces, a tangent is taken for measuring the angle at the relevant location. These slide angles at the dispensing opening end ensure that a relatively forward facing dispensing opening is achieved. In an embodiment, the back surface of a wall including the dispensing opening, against which a leading face of the stack is to be supported, defines an angle of less than or equal to 70°, 60°, or 50° relative to the vertical, wherein an angle of 90° would have the back surface parallel with horizontal. The angle of the back surface may be in the range of 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50° relative to vertical. This ensures that the dispensing opening is relatively forward facing, while not being so forward facing as to require an increase in dispenser footprint.

The angle ranges above corresponding to a relatively steep upper portion and a relatively forward facing dispensing opening are desirably combined, as this allows a reduced footprint, while still achieving a forward facing dispensing opening. Further, such designs will correspond to a tight turn, which dispensers are able to implement while still ensuring good dispensing performance.

The dispenser may further include at least one stack compression member located at a turning point end of the more vertical feed path portion of the slide, wherein the stack in the less vertical feed path portion of the slide is relatively uncompressed. Such a compression member serves to take the weight of the stack from the portion of the stack going about the turn, to aid turning of the stack.

In a third aspect, there is provided a dispenser, including:

a dispensing opening;

a slide for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;

wherein the slide includes a distinct turn toward the dispensing opening so that a portion of the feed path before a turning point is more vertically oriented than a portion of the feed path after the turning point when the dispenser is stood on its base on a horizontal surface; and

at least one stack compression member located at a turning point end of a portion of the slide located before the turning point for compressing the stack, the dispenser arranged so that the stack after the turning point is relatively uncompressed.

This distribution of the at least one compression member means that the stack is impeded before the turning point to take the weight from the stack after the turning point. Further, the stack is not so compressed after the turning point, allowing it to freely swing around the turn to successfully bring a bottom face of the stack into the dispensing opening. Further, the weight of the stack before the turning point is not entirely pressing on the dispensing face of the dispenser as a result of the at least one compression member, allowing for smoother retrieval of a sheet product through the dispensing opening.

The at least one stack compression member may be positioned to provide a compression force from a front of the stack so that a back side of the stack is in contact with a sliding surface of the slide with greater force. In this way, the frictional relationship between the back side of the stack and the sliding surface increases before the turn and is then reduced at and after the turn, which can be considered to provide an acceleration effect for turning the back side of the stack around the turn.

The at least one compression member may, in use, overlap with at least part of a front side of the stack when the dispenser is viewed from the front, wherein the front side of the dispenser includes the dispensing opening. The dispenser may include first and second compression members respectively disposed on opposed sides of the stack for overlapping with at least part of a front side of the stack. The first and second compression members may be located at the same position along the slide. The compression member serves to ensure the stack is properly mounted as it requires a bottom face of the stack to be lifted over the compression member and then into contact with the slide for movement to the dispensing opening passed the turn. It can be that maintenance operatives try to place the stack directly into contact with the slide and the dispensing opening simultaneously, rather than the stack first being placed against the slide and then slid into position against the dispensing opening. Incorrect stack loading can lead to poor dispensing performance.

The dispenser may include guide arms respectively located on left and right sides of the slide to guide the stack along the slide to the dispensing opening.

The at least one compression member may include at least one, or first and second, compression members located on the guide arms to engage a front side of the stack to compress the stack so that a back side of the stack contacts a sliding surface of the slide with greater force. This arrangement of guide arms and compression members provides lateral guiding of the stack, ensures that the stack is properly loaded and also serves to take part of the weight of the stack from pressing on the part of the stack going through the turn.

The at least one compression member may define a shaped surface whereby the stack is progressively more compressed with respect to a direction along the slide toward the dispensing opening. The shaped surface may be such that the stack is progressively more compressed and then less compressed with respect to a direction along the slide toward the dispensing opening. The shaped surface may be a curved surface.

The guide arms and compression member described in the preceding paragraphs may be independently useful in a dispenser for guiding loading and dispensing of the stack, independent of the sharply turning slide, the reduced friction part of the slide, and the longitudinal runners.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a dispenser, including:

a dispensing opening;

a slide for supporting and feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening for withdrawal from the dispenser through the dispensing opening;

at least one compression member for compressing a part of the stack between the sliding surface and the compression member; and

a plurality of spaced runners forming part of the slide and extending between the compression member and the dispensing opening.

The dispenser serves to hold up the stack on the slide through the compression member, while the spaced runners allow subsequent relative freedom of movement of the stack, unhindered by at least part of the weight of the stack. The transition from a compressed stack to a stack on runners is believed to allow the stack to turn along the slide. Thus, these parts can be placed in a location of the slide where it is felt that there is a possibility of the stack falling over or otherwise not successfully sliding.

This aspect is independent of the slide having a distinct turn as in the previous aspects. The statements given above, generally describing various features of the dispenser are applicable to the present aspect, without also including the distinct turn of the slide.

The slide may define a curve. The curve may be continuous from a top end to a dispensing opening end, or it may be only provided along a part of the slide. For example, an upper portion of the slide may be planar and a lower portion of the slide leading to the dispensing opening may be curved. The upper portion of the slide may be a major portion of the slide. When the dispenser is stood on its base on a horizontal surface, an upper portion may be more vertically oriented than a lower portion. That is, when the dispenser is stood on its base on a horizontal surface, it may define a slide into the dispensing opening that becomes more horizontal toward the dispensing opening. The slide may be angled according to the angle ranges described above.

The compression member may be located at a lower end of the slide so that a major portion of the weight of the stack is located above the compression member. In this way, the compression member is positioned to take at least part of the weight of most of the stack from the part of the stack located closest to the dispensing opening, which can serve to improve dispensing smoothness.

The dispenser may be arranged so that the stack is uncompressed along the part of the slide formed by the runners. In this way, the reduced friction, improved running of the stack at this location is unimpeded. In fact, the compression member may form the only stack compression location in a direction along the slide toward the dispensing opening.

The dispenser may include guide arms as described above, and the compression member in the form described above.

In the various aspects, the sheet products may include a stack of napkins, which may be interfolded or not. The napkins are generally folded napkins. The dispenser may include the stack of sheet products.

The dispenser may include a face member including the dispensing opening, wherein the slide is configured to feed the stack of napkins to rest a bottom face of the stack of sheet products on an inside surface of the face member.

The dispenser may include a door member openable relative to a housing member, for loading the stack of sheet products inside the housing member. The compression member described above and/or the guide arms may not move with opening of the door member so that the guide, compression and other such functions may be carried out on the stack during loading and with the door member opened. However, the compression function may be independently achieved from the stack loading assistance function, in which case, it can be imagined that the compression member or members could be mounted to the door so as to engage a front of the stack when the door is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a dispenser according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a dispenser for dispensing a stack of napkins from a dispensing opening. The dispenser is of a gravity feed kind and includes a base upon which the dispenser is to stand and a dispensing opening at a bottom of a stack housing portion of the dispenser so that the napkins are fed to the dispensing opening. FIG. 1 shows the dispenser with a door member in an open position for loading the stack housing portion with a stack of napkins. The dispenser includes first and second compression members attached to the stack housing and which engage a front side of the stack of napkins to apply a force in a rearward direction, so as to compress the engaged part of the stack against a backside of the stack housing.

FIG. 2 shows the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the stack and a face piece including the dispensing opening removed so that a slide member can be viewed. Also removed is one of the compression members, again to allow clear viewing of the form of the slide member. The slide member defines a steep, planar upper surface for guiding the stack of napkins, and a less steep, curved lower sliding surface forming a turn in the slide toward the dispensing opening. The lower sliding surface is formed by a plurality of spaced runners separated by recesses formed in the sliding surface. The stack is held by the compression member against a bottom part of the steep portion of the sliding surface to take the weight of the upper part of the stack from the part of the stack sliding on the lower curved surface. The frictional force between the sliding surface and a backside of the stack where the stack is compressed is greater than the frictional force of the part of the stack sliding on the runners.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the dispenser to illustrate the slope of the sliding surface and the relative positions of the runners and the compression members. It can be seen that the lower curved portion offers a distinct turn relative to the upper planar portion of the sliding surface toward the dispensing opening. In FIG. 3, it can also be seen that the compression members are disposed on the end of guide arms. The guide arms serve to laterally guide the stack of napkins along the slide toward the dispensing opening.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a dispenser 1 including a stack housing 2 and a door member 3. The door member 3 is openable relative to the stack housing 2 about first and second hinges 4. The door member 3 is side mounted to the stack housing 2, rather than being top or bottom mounted (relative to a vertical direction when the dispenser 1 is stood on a horizontal surface).

The dispenser 1 includes a face piece 5 removably mounted to the stack housing 2 against which a leading face of a stack of napkins 6 loaded in an interior cavity defined by the stack housing 2 rests. The stack 6 includes a leading or bottom face, a trailing or top face and four side faces connecting them, with a stacking direction being defined between the leading face and the trailing face. The face piece 5 includes a dispensing opening 7 through which napkins can be removed from the stack housing 2 to dispense those napkins. The face piece 5 is removable in order to allow it to be interchanged with a face piece of a different kind, such as one including a different type of dispensing opening, such as a dispensing opening that is configured for one at a time dispensing as with the dispensing opening of FIG. 1 and a dispensing opening configured for dispensing of a plurality of napkins at one time.

The dispenser 1 further includes first and second compression members 8 fixed to the stack housing 2, and thus stationary with respect to opening of the door member 3. The compression members 8 are provided in the form of curved plates that engage on opposing side portions (left and right sides) of a front face of the stack of napkins 6. The compression members 8 are respectively disposed on free, distal ends of guide arms 9 as can be seen in FIG. 3. The guide arms 9 are provided in the form of planar plates for respectively guiding left and right faces of the stack of napkins 6 to maintain the horizontal position of the stack 6 along its path to the dispensing opening 7. The guide arms 9 include a bracket for mounting to a rear surface of the stack housing 2, to thereby allow the compression and guiding functions of the compression members 8 and the guide arms 9 to be achieved independently of opening of the door member 3.

The compression members 8 constrict the feed path for the stack of napkins 6. The compression members 8 are located toward a bottom of the feed path of the stack of napkins so as to support at least part of the weight of a major part of the stack of napkins 6, to thereby take this portion of the weight from the part of the stack disposed below the compression members 8, which eases removal of the napkins from the dispensing opening 7.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a slide member 10 for supporting and guiding the stack 6 can be seen. The slide member 10 is mounted in the stack housing 2 and forms a sliding surface 11 against which a backside of the stack of napkins 6 is positioned during use. The sliding surface 11 includes a planar portion 12 forming an upper portion of the sliding surface 11 and a curved portion 13 forming a lower portion of the sliding surface 11. The curved portion 13 defines a distinct turn in the sliding surface 11 relative to the planar portion 12 toward the dispensing opening 7. The turn occurs at a turning point 14, which forms a boundary between the curved portion 13 and the planar portion 12. The planar portion 12 is relatively vertical as compared to the less vertical curved sliding surface 13 after the turning point 14. The curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11 is formed by a plurality of spaced runners 15 extending from the turning point 14 to a dispensing opening end of the sliding surface 11.

The runners 15 are formed by a plurality of spaced recesses 16 formed in the sliding surface 11 and oriented along the sliding surface 11. A turning point end of the planar portion 12 of the sliding surface 11 forms a relatively continuous sliding surface for a part of the stack of napkins, which transitions after the turning point 14 to a sliding surface formed by a plurality of runners 15, thereby reducing the contact area between a backside of a stack of napkins 6 and the sliding surface 11. This reduced contact area aids turning of the stack of napkins 6 about the turn defined by the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11. The runners 15 start at or substantially at the turning point 14 and extend along the sliding surface 11 to a dispensing opening end of the sliding surface 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates more fully the interaction between the compression members 8 and the runners 15. The compression members 8 in the form of a curved, plate-like surface are disposed so as to engage a front face of the stack 6 to exert a force pressing a back face of the stack against the upper, planar portion 12 of the sliding surface 11. The compressive force takes at least part of the weight of the stack 6 disposed on the upper portion 12 of the sliding surface 11 to reduce the weight of the stack 6 disposed on the lower portion 13 of the sliding surface 11. In particular, the curve of the compression members 8 is such that there is a point of maximum compression of the stack against the upper portion 12 of the sliding surface 11, while the compression progressively reduces as the sliding surface 11 transitions about the turning point 14 such that a minimum compression applied by the compression member 8 to the stack 6 occurs substantially at or immediately after the turning point 14. In this way, as the stack 6 passes the compression area, the stack is uncompressed to slide along the low friction runners 15 of the lower portion 13 of the sliding surface 11.

This combination of a compression area immediately before the turning point 14 and the low friction runners 15 for an uncompressed lower part of the stack 6 has been found to ensure that the stack 6 successfully turns, despite the relatively steep turn defined by the lower curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11, to ensure that a bottom face of the stack 6 is successfully received against an inside surface of the face piece 5 for dispensing through the dispensing opening 7. The runners 15, in combination with the recesses 16, also serve a guiding function to ensure the horizontal position of the stack 6 as it extends through the dispensing opening 7.

The dispenser 1 offers a steep sliding surface 11 as compared to prior art designs, thereby providing a more upright stack housing 2. This requires a relatively sharp turn in the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11 in order to allow the face piece 5 to be more forward facing than downward facing, as is desirable. Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, the dispenser 1 is shown in a condition in which the base 18 is placed on a horizontal surface. The planar upper portion 12 of the sliding surface 11 defines an angle α relative to the horizontal, while the curved surface 13 defines an angle β taken from a tangent of the curved surface 13 at a dispensing opening end of the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11. If the upper portion 12 were to be slightly curved (although it would have a greater radius of curvature than the curved portion 13 in order to define the distinct turning point 14), then the angle α can be taken from a tangent at the upper end of the upper portion 12 of the sliding surface 11. In the shown embodiment, the angle α is about 79° relative to the horizontal or about 11° relative to the vertical, whereas the angle β is about 135° relative to the horizontal or about 45° relative to the vertical. This angle ensures that the stack is angled at 45° relative to the vertical at the dispensing opening end of the sliding surface 11, to thereby ensure relatively forward dispensing. In particular, an inside surface of the face piece 5 is arranged so that a leading surface of the stack, as shown by angle θ, is angled at 135° relative to horizontal (45o relative to vertical).

These relatively steep angles have the effect of increasing the downward gravity force components of the weight of the stack 6, thereby increasing the frictional interaction with the sliding surface 11 at a dispensing opening end of the sliding surface 11, whereat the sliding surface 11 is more horizontal. This is problematic when there is a sharp turn in the sliding surface 11, such as the sharp turn starting at the turning point 13 in the present embodiment. The present inventors have found that the combination of the compression members 8 and the runners 15 allow the turn to be successfully traversed with a leading face of the stack 6 coming consistently into proper relation with an inside surface of the face piece 5 without the stack 6 falling over. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a higher friction interaction with the stack 6 on the sliding surface 11 and a lower friction interaction of the stack 6 with the sliding surface 11 either side of the turning point 14 allows the turning point 14 to be successfully traversed. The higher friction interaction is believed to be caused in part by the compression force applied by the compression member 8 so as to cause a backside of the stack 6 to strongly interact with the sliding surface 11 and the fact that the sliding surface 11 is relatively continuous (as compared to the discontinuous sliding surface across the stack 6 below the turning point 14). The lower friction is believed to be caused by the lessened area of contact with a backside of the stack 6 by way of the runners 15 and the recesses 16. This combination of features can be imagined as the stack 6 accelerating through the turn after the turning point 14 in order to ensure that a backside of the stack 6 in contact with the curved, turning portion 13 comes properly around the turn, rather than getting stuck and the stack 6 falling over.

FIG. 3 also shows a distance between the compression member 8 and the sliding surface 11 in a direction normal to the sliding surface 11 at a most restricted part of the feed path of the stack of napkins 6 caused by the compression member 8. This distance is identified by reference sign γ. In an embodiment in which the stack of napkins have a width from a front wall to a back wall of the stack 6 of about 4.25 inches, then the distance γ is 3.99 inches. It is envisaged that the compression of the stack of napkins can be in the range of 2% to 10%, 3% to 9%, 4% to 8% or 5% to 7% of the corresponding dimension of the stack. The restriction dimension shown provides enough of a compression of the stack 6 for taking a useful amount of weight of the stack 6 and also pressing a backside of the stack against the sliding surface 11 for the reasons described above, while not compressing the stack so much as to compromise the integrity of the stack and the running of the stack along the sliding surface 11.

In use, the dispenser 1 can be mounted so that the base 18 stands on a counter surface or other such surface so that the napkins in the stack 6 are gravity fed to the dispensing opening 7. A leading face of the stack 6 is brought into parallel relation with an inside surface of the face piece 5 so that a leading edge of a leading napkin in the stack 6 is available at the dispensing opening 7 for pulling a napkin one at a time therethrough. The napkin dispenses smoothly as a result of the weight of the stack 6 being partly removed from the leading napkin as a result of the compression members 8. Further, the success in turning the stack around the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11 is ensured by the combination of the compression members 8 before the turning point 14 and the runners 14 after the turning point 18, as described above.

To reload the dispenser 1, a bottom face of the new stack must be lifted over the compression members 8 in order to position the new stack between the guide arms 9. The new stack is then lowered so as to slide along the sliding surface 11 between the guide arms 9 and behind the compression members 8 in order to pass along the turning point 14 and the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11 before reaching an inside surface of the face piece 5 adjacent the dispensing opening 7. The compression members 8 block the new stack from being placed directly against the sliding surface in line and instead requires the stack 6 to be lifted over the compression members 8 so that a bottom face of the stack 6 is passed along the turning point 14 and the curved portion 13 of the sliding surface 11 to reach the dispensing opening 7. Further, the guide arms 9 ensure proper horizontal positioning and feeding of the new stack during loading.

The dispenser 1 may also be hung from an upright wall by way of brackets 17 (FIG. 3). In this use, the face piece 5 may be removed and replaced with an alternative style of face piece, if desirable. The bracket or brackets 17 define a planar surface for interfacing with the upright wall, which, if the upright wall is vertical, will ensure that the base 18 is properly aligned with the horizontal.

A number of alternatives to the specific embodiments described above could be provided, as would be appreciated by the skilled person.

For example, in the embodiment shown there are provided first and second compression members 8. It can be envisaged that just one compression member 8 could be provided, which can be disposed on just one side (left or right) of the slide member 10. Alternatively, a compression member could be provided that extends from a left side to a right side of the slide member 11 to be fixed at both sides to the stack housing 2. This continuous compression member, as opposed to the first and second separated compression members 8 shown in FIG. 1, would obscure the ability for a maintenance personnel to be able to view through the door member 3 the depth of the stack as a trailing face of the stack passes along the compression member 8. Such a problem could be overcome by making the continuous compression member at least partly transparent, such as in a middle portion.

In the shown embodiments, the compression members 8 are disposed on the end of respective guide arms 9. It can be imagined, however, that horizontal guide surfaces could be provided as distinct components from the compression members 8. The integral combination of the compression members 8 and the guide arms 9 is beneficial for ease of manufacture, parts costs and also because the integral combination of the guide arms 9 and compression members 8 best encourages proper loading of the stack 6, as described above.

In the shown embodiments, the compression members 8 are curved to define a progressively increasing and then decreasing compression of the stack 6 in a direction from top to bottom along the sliding surface 11. The curved surface 8 could be replaced by first and second planar surfaces angled with respect to one another, for example, and still achieve the progressively increasing and decreasing compression of the stack. However, it is believed that the curved surface is better for achieving the desired effect.

In the shown embodiment, compression members 8 are mounted independently of movement of the door 3 so as to offer stack loading assistance. The compression function alone could be achieved in an alternative embodiment, by loading the compression members 8 to the door 3 so that the compression members engage the stack once the door is closed and come away from the stack when the door 3 is open.

In the shown embodiment, there is provided runners 15 formed by making recesses in the sliding surface 11. Accordingly, the runners 15 are a continuation of the sliding surface 11, which is to say the sliding surface 11 is flat. Instead of the runners and recesses 15, 16, it can be imagined that a low friction surface could be provided, relative to the part of the sliding surface 11 disposed before (in the dispensing order) the turning point 14. For example, one can imagine that the recesses 16 are not provided and the sliding surface 11 is thus continuous at at least portions on either side of the turning point 14, but the turning point 14 defines a boundary between lower and higher friction surfaces. For example, a Teflon or other such non-stick coating or layer could be used for forming the low friction surface.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising: a dispensing opening;a slide defining a feed path for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;a base for standing the dispenser on a horizontal surface;wherein the slide comprises a more vertical feed path portion, and a less vertical feed path portion that distinctly turns at a turning point toward the dispensing opening relative to the more vertical feed path portion when the dispenser is stood by its base on the horizontal surface; wherein a sliding surface of the less vertical feed path portion, at least at a turning point end thereof, contacts a back side of the stack with a reduced frictional force than a frictional force between a sliding surface of the more vertical feed path portion, at least at a turning point end thereof, and a back side of the stack.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the less vertical feed path portion comprises a plurality of spaced runners along which the stack is to slide toward the dispensing opening.

3. A dispenser comprising: a dispensing openinga slide defining a feed path for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;wherein the slide comprises a feed path portion that distinctly turns toward the dispensing opening about a turning point;wherein the feed path portion comprises a plurality of spaced runners extending from a turning point end of the feed path portion toward the dispensing opening.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the dispenser comprises a base and the dispenser is to be stood on said base on a counter surface or other such surface, wherein the slide comprises an upper feed path portion and a lower feed portion providing said feed path portion, wherein the upper feed path portion is more vertically oriented and the lower feed path portion is less vertically oriented when the dispenser is stood on the base on a horizontal surface.

5. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the more vertically oriented feed path portion has, at least at a turning point end, a relatively continuous sliding surface as compared to the sliding surface provided by the runners.

6. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the runners start at the turning point.

7. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the runners end at an end of the slide adjacent the dispensing opening.

8. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the sliding surface of the slide is flat and the runners are formed by spaced apart, elongate recesses or slots in the flat sliding surface.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the slide is angled at least 5° relative to the vertical at an upper end of the slide.

10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the angle relative to the vertical at the upper end of the slide is from 5° to 15°.

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the slide is slanted relative to the vertical at an angle of at least 20° at a dispensing opening end of the slide.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the angle relative to the vertical at a dispensing opening end of the slide is in the range from 20° to 70°.

13. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser further comprises at least one stack compression member located at a turning point end of the more vertical feed path portion of the slide, wherein the stack in the less vertical feed path portion of the slide is relatively uncompressed.

14. A dispenser, comprising: a dispensing opening;a slide for gravity feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening;wherein the slide comprises a distinct turn toward the dispensing opening so that a portion of the feed path before a turning point is more vertically oriented than a portion of the feed path after the turning point when the dispenser is stood on its base on a horizontal surface; andat least one stack compression member located at a turning point end of a portion of the slide located before the turning point for compressing the stack, wherein the stack after the turning point is relatively uncompressed.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the at least one stack compression member is positioned to provide a compression force from a front side of the stack so that a back side of the stack is in contact with a sliding surface of the stack with greater force.

16. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the at least one compression member overlaps with at least part of a front side of the stack when viewed from the front so that the stack is required to be lifted over the at least one compression member to be placed on the slide, and the stack is then slid along the slide under the compression member to a position whereby a bottom face of the stack is located adjacent the dispensing opening.

17. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the dispenser comprises guide arms respectively located on opposed sides of the slide to guide the stack along the slide to the dispensing opening.

18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the at least one compression member is located on the guide arms to engage a front side of the stack to compress the stack so that a back side of the stack contacts a sliding surface of the slide with greater force.

19. A dispenser, comprising: a dispensing opening;a slide for supporting and feeding a stack of sheet products to the dispensing opening for withdrawal from the dispenser through the dispensing opening;at least one compression member for compressing a part of the stack between a sliding surface of the slide and the compression member; anda plurality of spaced runners forming part of the slide and extending between the compression member and the dispensing opening.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the dispenser is arranged so that the stack is uncompressed along the part of the slide formed by the runners.

21. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the compression member forms the only stack compression location in a direction along the slide toward the dispensing opening.

22. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the dispenser comprises a door member openable relative to a housing member, for loading a stack of sheet products inside the housing member, wherein the compression member and/or the guide arms are fixed to the housing member so as not to move with opening of the door.