Stacked paper product dispensing cartridge

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6752290
  • Patent Number
    6,752,290
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 19, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 22, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge is disclosed including a plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall, the end wall having four side edges and each of the side walls having a bottom edge, each of the side edges meeting the bottom edge of a respective one of the side walls to form a bottom corner, the side walls and the end wall defining an interior area therein. A dispensing opening is defined within at least the end wall, and a plurality of side openings are defined within the side walls and spaced from the dispensing opening. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls, the stacked paper products being dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening and wherein at least one of the side openings is configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area. Additional openings may be provided extending across at least one of the bottom corners.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to the field of dispensing devices and systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of devices and systems for dispensing paper products such as napkins, towels, toilet tissue, etc.




Various types of dispensers for paper products have been developed to provide ready availability of the paper product to users. Such dispensers are often provided in public places such as restaurants or rest rooms where customers remove from the dispenser a desired amount of paper products for personal use. In some high traffic areas, such as fast food restaurants, a large number of customers may use a paper product dispenser such as a napkin dispenser in a short period of time. Therefore, dispensers have been developed that hold a large number of paper products for use by a large number of consumers.




Unfortunately, large dispensers are subject to a number of drawbacks. First, it is difficult to uniformly dispense individual paper products from a large dispenser without dispensing more paper products than necessary to a user. Thus, too many paper products are removed by a user, and some of the paper products are wasted. If too many paper products are removed from a dispenser, the benefits provided by a large dispenser are eliminated as the dispenser is emptied more rapidly.




Second, many dispensers are difficult to load, and that difficulty can increase with the size of the dispenser. If paper products are not properly loaded into the dispenser, the paper products may jam as they are removed thereby preventing further removal of paper products by users. Also, a person refilling a large dispenser is more likely, due to the larger number of paper products involved, to drop some of the paper products onto a floor. Any dropped paper products are then unsanitary and must be discarded, thereby creating more waste and again defeating the benefits of the larger dispenser.




A further drawback of many currently available dispensers regardless of size is that it is impossible to determine without opening the dispenser how many paper products remain within the dispenser. Thus, a person must either periodically check the dispenser to determine how many paper products remain or be vigilant to refill the dispenser as soon as it is empty. Both alternatives involve much personal attention and, especially during peak usage, can lead to empty dispensers if dispensers are not vigilantly monitored.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to certain aspects of the invention, a stacked paper product dispensing cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge comprises a plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall, the end wall having four side edges and each of the side walls having a bottom edge. Each of the side edges meets the bottom edge of a respective one of the side walls to form a bottom corner, the side walls and the end wall defining an interior area therein. A dispensing opening is defined within at least the end wall, and a plurality of side openings are defined within the side walls and spaced from the dispensing opening. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls. The stacked paper products are dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening. At least one of the side openings is configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.




The dispensing opening may be defined only through the end wall, or may be defined through the end wall and at least one of the side walls.




The plurality of walls may include first, second, third and fourth side walls, and the plurality of side openings may include a first side opening defined within the first side wall and a second side opening defined within the second side wall. The first and second side openings may be configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area. The first and second side walls may be opposing side walls. The plurality of side openings may further include at least one side opening located in the third wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.




The at least one end wall may be formed not perpendicular to at least one of the side walls, and the side walls may be substantially longer than the at least one end wall. The at least one end wall may include two end walls disposed at opposite ends of the side walls.




The cartridge may also include at least one additional opening defined within the first end wall and one of the side walls so as to extend across one of the bottom corners. The at least one additional opening may include a plurality of the additional openings. Two of the bottom corners may be located along opposite side edges of the end wall, and at least one of the plurality of additional openings is respectively disposed along each of the two bottom corners.




A plurality of slot openings may be defined within the first end wall and at least one of the side walls such as the fourth wall, so as to extend across one of the bottom corners. The slot openings may be substantially diamond shaped.




According to other aspects of the invention, a cartridge for stacked paper products is disclosed including a cartridge housing a plurality of side walls and end walls, and wherein the end walls contact the side walls to define an interior area. A dispensing opening is defined within a first end wall, and a first side opening is defined within a first side wall. A second side opening is defined within a second side wall, and the second side wall is opposite the first side wall. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the side walls.




The dispensing opening may be defined entirely within the first end wall, or may be defined within the first end wall and a third side wall. A third side opening may be located in the third side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.




According to another aspect of the invention, a stacked paper product dispensing cartridge is disclosed including a cartridge including a plurality of side walls and first and second end walls. The end walls contact the side walls to define an interior area. A dispensing opening is at least partially defined within the first end wall, and at least one slot opening defined within the first end wall and one side wall. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls. The at least one slot opening may be a plurality of slot openings, and at least one of the slot openings may be defined within the first end wall and first side wall, and at least one of the slot openings may be defined within the first end wall and a second end wall. The first and second end walls may oppose one another. The dispensing opening may be sized to provide metered delivery of paper products, and may be centrally located within the first end wall. A plurality of the slot openings may be positioned on opposite sides of the dispensing opening. A first side opening may be at least partially defined within a third side wall and a second side opening may be at least partially defined within a fourth side wall, the side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area. A side opening may be located in the second side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.




The at least one slot opening may be a plurality of slot openings, and the plurality of slot openings may be defined within the first end wall and a first side wall. The dispensing opening may be defined within the first end wall and a second side wall.




The first side wall and second side wall may oppose one another, and a side opening may be located in the second side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area. A first side opening may be defined within at least a third side wall, and a second side opening may be at least partially defined within a fourth side wall, the side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.




According to another aspect of the invention, a stacked paper product dispensing cartridge is disclosed including a plurality of walls including side walls and first and second end walls. The end walls contact the side walls at opposite ends thereof and define an interior area therein. A first removable section is provided for forming a dispensing opening, the first removable section including at least a portion of the first end wall and one side wall. A plurality of side openings are defined within the side walls and are spaced from the removable section. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls. The stacked paper products are dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening. The side openings are configured to allow contact of the stacked paper product from outside of the interior area.




The dispensing opening may be created by removing all of the first end wall and a portion of at least one of the side walls. The side walls may include first, second, third and fourth side walls, and the plurality of side openings may include a first side opening defined within the first side wall and a second side opening defined within the second side wall. The first and second side openings maybe configured to allow contact of the paper products from outside of the interior area. The first and second side walls may be opposing side walls, and an additional opening may be located in the third wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area. The removable section may include the entire first end wall and a portion of the first, second, third and fourth side walls, the side walls may be substantially longer than the end walls.




Additional aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be learned through the practice of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an exemplary container for dispensing paper products according invention;





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of the container of

FIG. 1

taken along line


2





2


in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a view of a cross-section of an exemplary curved bumper protrusion of the container shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4A

is a partial sectional view of a lower portion of the container shown in

FIG. 1

taken along a line perpendicular to line


2





2


in

FIG. 1

showing an exemplary arrangement of rib members;





FIG. 4B

is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary tall rib member taken along line


3





3


of

FIG. 4A

;





FIG. 4C

is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary short rib member taken along line


4





4


of

FIG. 4A

;





FIG. 4D

is a top view showing an exemplary arrangement of rib members proximate a dispensing throat;





FIG. 5

is a diagrammatical view of a preferred mounting arrangement of the container shown in

FIG. 2

, mounted on a substantially vertical wall;





FIG. 6

is a sectional view of an exemplary container according to another embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 7

is perspective view of an exemplary housing of a container according to yet embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8A

is a perspective view of an exemplary cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 8B

is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of the cartridge of

FIG. 8A

; and





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing an exemplary cartridge placed in an exemplary housing depicted in FIG.


7


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations.




As broadly embodied in

FIGS. 1-5

, a first embodiment of container


10


is disclosed for dispensing paper products


12


. Container


10


includes a housing


14


in which paper products


12


are placed and from which paper products


12


are dispensed. Paper products


12


may be paper napkins, paper towels, toilet tissue, or any other similar material.




Housing


14


includes a number of exterior walls


16


for housing paper products


12


. The housing


14


includes a first end wall


40


and a second end wall


42


opposite the first end wall


40


. The first end wall


40


includes a dispensing throat


32


through which paper products


12


are individually removed by a user, as will be described below. A first wall


18


, a second wall


20


and a third wall


22


intersect the first end wall


40


, the second wall


20


and third wall


22


being on opposite sides of the first wall


18


. A fourth wall


24


extends between second wall


20


and third wall


22


. The exterior wall


16


(i.e., first wall


18


, second wall


20


, third wall


22


and fourth wall


24


) together define an interior surface


30


of housing


14


, within which an interior area


28


is located. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, exterior walls


16


and end walls


40


and


42


may each, if desired, be made of two planar portions. Such construction strengthens housing


14


and is useful in locations where the housing might be vandalized. The outer portions of walls


16


help withstand any blow or impact to housing


14


to prevent its destruction or removal of the housing from its mounting or paper products from the housing.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, fourth wall


24


includes a door


34


which may be hingedly attached to third wall


22


(or to the second wall


20


). Door


34


is openable for insertion of paper products


12


into interior area


28


of housing


14


when the supply of paper products


12


runs low. Door


34


includes a latching mechanism


36


including a number of interfering notched tabs


38


on door


34


and second wall


20


that hold door


34


closed. Tabs


38


on either door


34


or second wall


20


are movable when desired to reopen door


34


by turning a key lock (now shown). The lock may be either located on door


34


, in which case the tabs


38


on door


34


are movable, or on the main part of housing


14


, in which case the tabs


38


on second wall


20


are movable. Leaf springs


39


may be provided to assist in reopening door


34


upon unlocking. Any other type of latching mechanism for reopenably securing door


34


may be used within the scope of the invention.




It is contemplated that the fourth wall


24


may be fixed and the paper products


12


may be inserted into the interior area


28


of the housing


14


through the second end wall


42


. In such case, the second end wall


42


may be fitted with latches, springs and the like. It is also contemplated that the second end wall may be removed entirely and that portion of the housing be left open.




In accordance with the invention, a means is provided for urging paper products


12


within interior area


28


toward dispensing throat


32


in a dispensing direction


44


. Various alternatives are possible within the scope of the invention to urge paper products


12


toward dispensing throat


32


in dispensing direction


44


.




For example, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, an attachment portion


46


of housing


14


may be provided for attaching housing


14


to a substantially nonhorizontal surface such as vertical wall


48


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, attachment portion


46


may define holes through first wall


18


of housing


14


for receiving attachment members (not shown) such as screws, bolts, nails, etc. for attaching housing


14


to wall


48


. Alternatively, a mounting bracket could be formed on an exterior surface of first wall


18


for contacting and being supported by another bracket, screws, bolts, nails, etc. extending from wall


48


. Further, housing


14


could be secured to wall


48


via a glue, epoxy, etc., or any other type of adhesive. Also, it would be possible to locate attachment portion


46


on any part of housing


14


, such as second wall


20


, third wall


22


, first end


40


, or second end


42


, and to use combinations of mounting devices on several of the above-identified parts of housing


14


. Further, housing


14


could simply be portioned such that first end


40


is lower than second end


42


, and so that first end


40


and possibly first wall


18


are supported in some way without fixing housing


14


to any particular structure.




Thus, the means for urging paper products


14


toward dispensing throat


32


in dispensing direction


44


may comprise any structure or orientation, or both, of housing


14


and/or wall


48


that allows paper products


12


to be dispensed from dispensing throat


32


and to be urged in dispensing direction


44


by gravity. A second type of a mechanism for urging paper products


12


toward dispensing throat


32


in dispensing direction


44


will be discussed below in relation to a second embodiment (110) of container


10


.




In accordance with the invention, at least one protrusion, referred to generally as


50


, extends from interior surface


30


on at least one of exterior walls


16


into interior area


28


of housing


14


. Preferably, as shown in

FIG. 2

, second wall


20


and third wall


22


include protrusions


50


extending into interior area


28


. Protrusions


50


preferably comprise curved bumpers


52


, which may include a plurality of ridges


54


extending across the curved bumpers perpendicular to dispensing direction


44


.




As shown bet in

FIG. 2

, bumpers


52


extend into interior area


28


to contact paper products


12


and thereby oppose the means for urging paper products


12


in dispensing direction


44


. By extending into interior area


28


to contact paper products


12


, bumpers


52


impede the movement of paper products


12


toward dispensing throat


32


, but do not prohibit such movement. Ridges


54


allow numerous paper products


12


to be contacted by an individual bumper and allow for a smoother movement of paper products through housing


14


. In embodiments where the means for urging paper products


12


in dispensing direction


44


includes mounting housing


14


so that gravity causes such movement, protrusions


50


also support paper products


12


against the force of gravity. Protrusions


50


therefore reduce the gravitational force of the bottom of the paper products


12


on dispensing throat


32


, thereby making it easier for a user to remove the individual paper products from dispensing throat


32


.





FIG. 3

shows a preferred profile of one of the bumpers


52


. As shown, the exterior curve of bumper is defined by a radius r of about 1.125 to 1.750 in. The bumper has a chordal length


1


of from about 1.625 to 1.875 in. Two ridges


54


each have a radius of from about 0.125 to 0.250 in., and their centers are each spaced about 0.250 in. from the center of bumper


52


. While the disclosed bumper shape is the currently preferred shape, other shapes could be used if desired.




In accordance with the invention, protrusions


50


on second wall


20


are desirably staggered from protrusions


50


on third wall


22


relative to dispensing direction


44


. Such staggering provides a smooth movement of paper products


12


along dispensing direction


44


and out dispensing throat


32


. Paper products


12


, being supported alternatively on one side or the other by the staggered protrusions


50


, “walk” down housing


14


in dispensing direction


44


and out dispensing throat


32


. Staggering protrusions


50


in dispensing direction


44


is important in embodiments where paper products


12


are moved in dispensing direction


44


due to the mounting or orientation of housing


14


by gravity. For example, if protrusions


50


were spaced opposite from each other on second wall


20


and third wall


22


, paper products


12


might be entirely prevented from moving in dispensing direction and thus sit on top of a pair of protrusions


50


. Also, paper products


12


might unevenly move in spurts past a pair of non-staggered protrusions


50


which could lead to misaligning of paper products and ultimately jamming of paper products within housing


14


. Thus, staggering of protrusions


50


allows an orderly walking of paper products


12


along housing


14


in dispensing direction


44


where first one side of the paper products, and then the other, moves more steadily toward dispensing throat


32


.




Preferably, container


10


includes a second group of protrusions


50


extending from first wall


18


and fourth wall


24


into interior are


28


to contact paper products


12


. The second group of protrusions


50


is preferably disposed in a staging area


56


near dispensing throat


32


for spacing, slowing, aligning and supporting paper products


12


as they are moved in dispensing direction


44


through dispensing throat


32


. Preferably, the second group of protrusions


50


includes several rib members


58


extending parallel to dispensing direction


44


on both sides of the dispensing throat


32


as shown in FIG.


4


A. Rib members


58


may have different dimensions to properly support and guide the paper products


12


into the dispensing throat


32


as illustrated in FIG.


4


B. In particular, a tall rib member


59


which is adjacent first wall


18


and first end wall


40


extend into the interior area


28


by a greater amount than short rib member


60


. Tall rib member


59


is illustrated to show an exemplary sloping configuration and an optional radius of curvature. As can be seen in

FIG. 4A

, a top surface


62


of the tall rib member


59


closest to the dispensing throat


32


may be offset from the first end wall


40


. The short rib member


60


is adjacent the fourth wall


24


and the first end wall


40


. The short rib member


60


is illustrated to show an exemplary sloping configuration. As illustrated in

FIG. 4A

, a top surface


64


of the short rib member


60


may be configured so there is no offset from the first end wall


40


.




Generally speaking, the tall rib member


59


may have a height ranging from about 1 to about 2 inches at the location where it intersects with the first wall


18


and an offset or height ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.5 inch adjacent the dispensing throat. As an example, the tall rib member


59


may have a height of about 1.5 inch at the location where it intersects with the first wall


18


and an offset or height of about 0.25 inch adjacent the dispensing throat.




The short rib member


60


may have a height ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 inch at the location where it intersects with the fourth wall


24


and an offset or height ranging from 0 to about 0.24 inch adjacent the dispensing throat. As an example, the short rib member


60


may have a height of about 0.75 inch at the location where it intersects with the fourth wall


28


and no offset or height adjacent the dispensing throat.




However, it should be understood that the dimensions of these rib members may be varied to accommodate a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the size of the paper product, basis weight of the paper product, composition/texture of the paper product, fold pattern of the paper product, height of the stack of paper products, force supplied by the means to urge the paper products to the dispensing throat, amount and dimensions of protrusions located on the second and third walls of the container as well as amount of other rib members positioned proximate the dispensing throat.





FIG. 4B

is a sectional view taken along line


3





3


in

FIG. 41

showing a portion of an exemplary tall rib member


59


.

FIG. 4C

is a sectional view taken along line


4





4


in

FIG. 4A

showing a portion of an exemplary short rib member


60


. The rib members may have various widths or thicknesses and the width of a rib member may vary along any dimension or dimensions. Desirably, the portion of the rib member contacting the paper product will be relatively thin and smooth to minimize friction.





FIG. 4D

is a view from the interior of a container for dispensing papers looking out through the dispensing throat


32


and illustrating a top view of exemplary rib members


58


.




Housing


14


may be made of injection-molded plastic such as plyethylene or nylon. However, other suitable materials, such as other plastics or metals, may be provided for any or all of the parts of housing


14


. Curved bumpers


52


and rib members


58


are preferably formed integral with housing


14


. However, curved bumpers


52


and rib members


58


may be formed separately from housing


14


and attached later. Also, curved bumpers


52


and rib member


58


may be made of different material from housing


14


if desired. For example, curved bumpers


52


and/or rib members may be made of a more resilient material than the materials described above, such as an elastomer or rubber.




While curved bumpers


52


have been described as disposed on second or third walls


20


and


22


, which are side walls in

FIGS. 1 and 2

where housing


14


is mounted to wall


48


, curved bumpers


52


could be disposed on any pair of opposite walls of housing


14


. Also, although rib member or members


58


have been described as disposed on first and fourth wall


18


and


24


, which are front and back walls in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, rib member or members


58


could be disposed on any wall or pair of opposite walls of housing. Preferably, curved bumpers


52


are disposed on one such pair of walls and rib member or members


58


are disposed on one or both of a different pair of side walls located


90


from those on which curved bumpers


52


are located.




Dispensing throat


32


may have many shapes within the scope of the present invention, as long as the throat provides easy access for a user and metered delivery of individual paper products.




Preferably, paper products


12


are interfolded or tab interfolded to provide metered feeding of individual napkins one at a time. However, the present invention does not require the use of interfolded paper products.




Housing


14


may hold multiple clips of paper products


14


, as shown in

FIG. 5

, and may extend from 30 to as much as 48 in. from end to end. Preferably, first wall


18


is angled between 0-5 from the vertical to prevent paper products from falling out of housing


14


during refilling.




A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in

FIG. 6

, which discloses a container


110


similar to container


10


in most ways. Container


110


includes a housing


114


holding paper products


112


and including exterior walls


116


. The paper products


112


are dispensed in a dispensing direction


144


through a dispensing throat


132


. At least one protrusion


150


extends from interior surface


130


into interior area


128


to contact paper products


112


.




Protrusions


150


include curved bumpers


152


including ridges


154


similar to those discussed above in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. Curved bumpers


152


are staggered in dispensing direction


144


as discussed above. A staging area


156


is provided adjacent dispensing throat


132


at first end


140


of housing


114


. Staging area


156


includes additional curved bumpers


153


not staggered in dispensing direction


144


. Bumpers


153


allow paper products


112


to bow at the middle toward dispensing throat


132


to make it easier for a user to remove a single paper product from dispensing throat


132


.




In container


110


, the means for urging paper products


112


from interior area


128


toward dispensing throat


132


in dispensing direction


144


is different from that of container


10


. As shown in

FIG. 6

, a spring-loaded plate


155


is disposed within second end


142


of housing


114


along with at least one spring


157


. When spring


157


is compressed by spring-loaded plate


155


, spring


157


urges spring-loaded plate


155


in dispensing direction


144


. Thus, when paper products


112


are placed in container


110


and spring-loaded plate is pushed to the right (as shown in

FIG. 6

) thereby compressing spring


157


, spring-loaded plate


155


and spring


157


urge paper products


112


in dispensing direction


144


toward dispensing throat


132


. Use of a spring-loaded plate and spring mechanism allows container


110


to be used in situations where dispensing direction


144


is substantially horizontal. Thus, container


110


, which provides spring-loaded urging, can be used in locations where container


10


, which provides gravity-assisted urging, could not. It should be understood that the staging bumpers


153


of container


110


could be replaced with rib members similar to those used with container


10


shown in FIG.


1


and as depicted, for example in FIG.


4


A through FIG.


4


D.




In accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, a container


210


is provided for holding paper products


212


to be dispensed to a user. As shown in

FIGS. 7-9

, container


210


includes a housing


214


defined by exterior walls


216


, including first wall


218


, second wall


220


, third wall


222


, and fourth wall


224


. Exterior walls


216


define an interior surface


230


, within which is disposed an interior area


228


. A dispensing throat


232


is provided through first end wall


240


which is positioned opposite a second end wall


242


. Paper products


212


are dispensed in a dispensing direction


244


through dispensing throat


232


. Housing


214


includes plurality of protrusions


250


, including curved bumpers


252


having ridges


254


and rib members


258


disposed in a staging area


256


.




However, housing


214


need not include a door, as found in some other embodiments of the invention, although a door may be provided for security reasons. In this embodiment, the fourth wall


224


is quite small and located near the dispensing throat


232


in the first end wall


240


leaving a face of the container


210


substantially open. Further, housing


214


can also be constructed with double walls, as in housing


14


, for security reasons. Also, paper products


212


are not directly loaded into interior area


228


, as in the first and second embodiments.




As shown in

FIG. 8A

, a cartridge


262


is provided for insertion into interior area


228


of housing


214


for containing paper products


212


to be dispensed. As shown in

FIG. 7

, cartridge


262


has first through fourth outside walls


272




a-d


, and end wall


272




e


configured and sized to fit snugly within interior area


228


of housing


214


. Outside walls


272




a-d


have bottom edges that meet side edges of end wall


272




e


at a respective bottom corner


272




f


. If desired, leaf springs


264


may be provided attached to the inside of second end


242


of housing


214


to hold cartridge


262


in place. Any other suitable mechanism such as a tab or other interlock may be used to hold cartridge


262


in housing


214


within the scope of the invention.




Preferably, cartridge


262


includes a plurality of removable portions


268


, the removal of which creates side openings


270


through cartridge


262


. As shown in

FIG. 8A

, cartridge


262


includes a plurality of removable portions


268


that create side openings


270


upon removal.




Removable portions


268


are disposed in outside walls


272




a


and


272




b


of cartridge


262


so that, once removable portions


268


are removed, side openings


270


may encompass and receive protrusions


250


extending from interior surface


230


of housing


214


.




Cartridge


262


may also include another removable portion


278


disposed at end


280


of cartridge


262


. Removable portion


278


may be removed to receive a spring-loaded plate if cartridge


262


is to be used in a container such as that shown in

FIG. 6

with a spring-loaded plate.




As shown in

FIG. 8A

, a removable portion


274


may be provided at end


276


of cartridge


262


to create a dispensing opening along edge


276




a


so that paper products


212


can be supported and aligned by rib members


258


for dispensing through dispensing throat


232


. Alternatively, end


276


of cartridge


262


may be formed as shown in

FIG. 8B

, so that removable portion


274


is not required and cartridge


262


fits into housing


214


without substantial modification of end


276


. As shown in

FIG. 8B

, optional removable portions


274




a


may be placed on front outside wall


272




c


and/or a back wall


272




d


of cartridge


262


. Removable portions


274




a


may be used if optional protrusions


258


(i.e., rib members of the type shown in

FIGS. 4A-4D

) are used on the first wall


218


and the fourth wall


224


of housing


214


(see, for example, FIG.


7


). Such protrusions or rib members


258


may also be used on the first wall


18


and the fourth wall


24


of first embodiment housing


14


, if desired. Thus, if desired, a plurality of smaller removable portions


274




a


(see

FIG. 8B

) may be provided corresponding to rib members


258


, and a smaller removable portion


274




b


may be provided corresponding to dispensing throat


232


. Of course, these removable portions


274




a


and


274




b


may simply not be formed or may be removed during manufacture of the cartridge. Removal of portion


274




a


creates an additional opening in the cartridge. Removal of portion


274




b


creates a dispensing opening. Each additional opening may comprise a diamond-shaped opening or slot, and may extend across a bottom corner


272




f.






Removable portions


268


,


278


,


274




a


and


274




b


may either be removed (or simply not formed) during manufacture of cartridge


262


or removed during installation of cartridge


262


in housing


214


. If removable portions


268


,


278


,


274




a


and


274




b


are to be removed as part of the manufacturing process, cartridge


262


should be shipped to the user wrapped, for example in a polyethylene bag, to preserve the sterility of the paper products in the cartridge. If removable portions


268


,


278


,


274




a


and


274




b


are to be removed as part of the installation process, the edges of the removable portions should be weakened, scored, etc. for easy removal. Removable portion


274


should not be removed as part of the manufacturing process to ensure that paper products


12


remain properly located in cartridge


262


.




Thus, upon removal of removable portions


268


and


274




a


and placement of cartridge


262


in housing


214


, curved bumpers


252


and rib members


258


contact the paper products


212


within the interior area of cartridge


262


via openings


270


and the additional openings and act just as the bumpers and rib members do in the first two embodiments of the invention.




Preferably, cartridge


262


includes at least one additional side opening which may comprise a slot


282


extending through one of the cartridge walls


272




c


. Slot


282


is visible from outside of housing


214


when cartridge


262


is mounted in interior area


228


. A user can visually determine the amount of paper products


212


remaining within cartridge


262


by inspecting the amount of paper products visible through slot


282


. As shown in

FIG. 8A

, two slots may be provided to provide a greater range of visual inspection. Any number or arrangement of slots is possible within the scope of the invention.




Cartridge


262


is preferably made of heavy paper or cardboard, but may be made of any other suitable material within the scope of the invention.




It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge comprising:a plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall, the end wall having four side edges and each of the side walls having a bottom edge, each of the side edges meeting the bottom edge of a respective one of the side walls to form a bottom corner, the side walls and the end wall defining an interior area therein; a dispensing opening being defined within at least the end wall; a plurality of side openings defined within the side walls and spaced from the dispensing opening, and at least one additional opening defined within the first end wall and one of the side walls so as to extend across one of the bottom corners; and stacked paper products disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls, the stacked paper products being dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening and wherein at least one of the side openings is configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the dispensing opening is defined only through the end wall.
  • 3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the dispensing opening is defined through the end wall and at least one of the side walls.
  • 4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the end wall is not perpendicular to at least one of the side walls.
  • 5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the side walls are substantially longer than the at least one end wall.
  • 6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one end wall includes two end walls disposed at opposite ends of the side walls.
  • 7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional opening comprises a plurality of slot openings defined within the first end wall and at least one of the side walls so as to extend across one of the bottom corners.
  • 8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional opening includes a plurality of the additional openings.
  • 9. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein two of the bottom corners are located along opposite side edges of the end wall, and at least one of the plurality of additional openings is respectively disposed along each of the two bottom corners.
  • 10. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls includes first, second, third and fourth side walls and wherein the plurality of side openings include a first side opening defined within the first side wall and a second side opening defined within the second side wall, the first and second side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 11. The cartridge of claim 10 wherein the first and second side walls are opposing side walls.
  • 12. The cartridge of claim 10 wherein the plurality of side openings further include at least one side opening located in the third wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 13. The cartridge of claim 10 wherein the at least one additional opening comprises a plurality of slot openings defined within the first end wall and the fourth side wall so as to extend across the respective bottom corner.
  • 14. The cartridge of claim 13 wherein said slot openings are substantially diamond shaped.
  • 15. A cartridge for stacked paper products comprising:a cartridge comprising a plurality of side walls and end walls, and wherein the end walls contact the side walls to define an interior area; a dispensing opening defined within a first end wall; at least one additional opening defined in the first end wall and one of the side walls; and stacked paper products disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the side walls.
  • 16. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the dispensing opening is defined entirely within the first end wall.
  • 17. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the dispensing opening is defined within the first end wall and a side wall.
  • 18. The cartridge of claim 17 further comprising a side opening located in the side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 19. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the at least one additional opening comprises a plurality of openings.
  • 20. The cartridge of claim 19 wherein at least one of said additional openings is defined within the first end wall and first side wall and further wherein at least one of said additional openings is defined within the first end wall and a second side wall.
  • 21. The cartridge of claim 20 wherein said first and second end walls oppose one another.
  • 22. The cartridge of claim 20 further comprising a first side opening at least partially defined within a third side wall and a second side opening at least partially defined within a fourth side wall, the side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 23. The cartridge of claim 20 further comprising a side opening located in the second side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 24. A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge comprising:a cartridge including a plurality of side walls and first and second end walls and wherein the end walls contact the side walls to define an interior area; a dispensing opening at least partially defined within the first end wall; at least one slot opening defined within the first end wall and one side wall; and stacked paper products disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls.
  • 25. The cartridge of claim 24 wherein the at least one slot opening comprises a plurality of slot openings and wherein the plurality of slot openings are defined within the first end wall and a first side wall.
  • 26. The cartridge of claim 25 wherein the dispensing opening is defined within the first end wall and a second side wall.
  • 27. The cartridge of claim 26 wherein the first side wall and second side wall oppose one another.
  • 28. The cartridge of claim 27 further comprising a side opening located in the second side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 29. The cartridge of claim 27 further comprising a first side opening defined within at least a third side wall and a second side opening at least partially defined within a fourth side wall, the side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 30. The cartridge of claim 24, wherein the at least one slot opening comprises a plurality of slot openings.
  • 31. The cartridge of claim 30 wherein at least one of said slot openings is defined within the first end wall and first side wall and further wherein at least one of said slot openings is defined within the first end wall and a second side wall.
  • 32. The cartridge of claim 31 wherein said first and second end walls oppose one another.
  • 33. The cartridge of claim 32 wherein said dispensing opening is sized to provide metered delivery of paper products.
  • 34. The cartridge of claim 33 wherein said dispensing opening is centrally located within the first end wall.
  • 35. The cartridge of claim 33 wherein a plurality of slot openings are positioned on opposite sides of said dispensing opening.
  • 36. The cartridge of claim 33 further comprising a first side opening at least partially defined within a third side wall and a second side opening at least partially defined within a fourth side wall, the side openings configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 37. The cartridge of claim 36 further comprising a side opening located in the second side wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 38. A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge comprising:a plurality of walls including side walls and first and second end walls, the end walls contacting the side walls at opposite ends thereof and defining an interior area therein; a first removable section for forming a dispensing opening, the first removable section including the entire first end wall and a portion of at least two of the side walls; a plurality of side openings defined within the side walls and being spaced from the removable section; and stacked paper products disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls, the stacked paper products being dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening and wherein said side openings are configured to allow contact of the stacked paper product from outside of the interior area.
  • 39. The cartridge of claim 38 wherein said side walls comprise first, second, third and fourth side walls and wherein the plurality of side openings include a first side opening defined within the first side wall and a second side opening defined within the second side wall, the first and second side openings being configured to allow contact of the paper products from outside of the interior area.
  • 40. The cartridge of claim 39 wherein the side walls are substantially longer than the end walls.
  • 41. The cartridge of claim 39 wherein the first and second side walls are opposing side walls.
  • 42. The cartridge of claim 41 including an additional opening located in the third wall and configured so as to provide a visual indication of the number of paper products within the interior area.
  • 43. The cartridge of claim 41 wherein the removable section includes the entire first end wall and a portion of the first, second, third and fourth side walls.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/703,529, filed Nov. 1, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,416, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/156,230, filed Sep. 18, 1998 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,118, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/991,669 filed on Dec. 16, 1997 U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,113. The disclosures of each of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/703529 Nov 2000 US
Child 10/199371 US
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/156230 Sep 1998 US
Child 09/703529 US
Parent 08/991669 Dec 1997 US
Child 09/156230 US