Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TABLETOP NAPKIN DISPENSER
Technical Field
The present invention relates to dispensers for inter-folded napkins. There
is disclosed in a preferred embodiment a napkin dispenser having a depth which
is
shorter than the folded length, L', of the lead panels of the folded napkins.
Background of Invention
Inter-folded napkin dispensers are well known in the art. There is shown,
for example, a gravity feed dispenser and method of dispensing inter-folded
napkins in the United States Patent Application Publication No. US
2003/0062375
of Christensen et al. which shows a high capacity gravity feed dispenser. Such
dispensers are particularly useful where a large number of napkins need to be
made available at a single location. Likewise, there is disclosed in United
States
Patent No. 6,585,129 to Moody et al. a napkin dispenser for inter-folded
napkins,
a plurality of which dispensers may be placed on tabletops giving consumers
multiple access points in a given eating establishment. Napkin dispensers for
commercial use have been designed to limit the number of inter-folded napkins
dispensed in order to eliminate waste which occurs when more napkins than
necessary are withdrawn from the dispenser. The '129 patent, for example,
teaches to add a baffle to the dispensing aperture in order to limit digital
access to
the napkin stack.
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Spring-loaded dispenser which are often used in restaurants are somewhat
prone to being over-filled such that they do not operate properly and are
relatively
expensive. These dispensers also may cause unwanted curl to be imparted to the
napkins. See United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0019880
S of Timmers et al. Further features and general background may be found in
the
following patents. United States Patent No. 5,076,466 to Petterson et al.;
United
States Patent No. 4,838,454 to Salzmann et al.; United States Patent No.
4,679,703 to De Luca; United States Patent No. 2,852,158 to Jones et al., as
well
as United States Patent No. 2,426,136 to Agamaite, Jr.
Despite advances in the art, there exists a need for relatively inexpensive
dispensers designed to reliably supply inter-folded napkins in a commercial
setting. It has been found in accordance with the present invention that an
injection-molded dispenser, with a suitably dimensioned internal cavity, and
without moving parts, alleviates drawbacks of existing dispensers.
Summary of Invention
There is provided in a first aspect of the invention a tabletop dispenser for
inter-folded napkins including a housing with a front panel, a back panel, a
pair of
sidewalls, a top wall and a bottom wall for dispensing a stack of inter-folded
napkins each of which napkins has a width, W, and a folded length, L', of its
lead
panel, the dispenser having an elongate dispensing aperture on its front panel
and
further characterized in that the distance between the front and back panels
of the
dispenser is equal to or less than about the folded length, L', of the lead
panels of
the inter-folded napkins. Preferably, the back panel of the dispenser has a
second
elongate dispensing aperture corresponding in size and orientation to the
elongate
dispensing aperture of the front wall. In one preferred embodiment, the
elongate
dispensing apertures on the front and rear walls of the dispenser are
vertically
oriented and another preferred feature is wherein the dispenser consists
essentially
of the apertured housing and the distance between sidewalk of the housing
corresponds to the folded length, L', of the lead panels of the folded napkins
and
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the distance between the top and bottom wall of the housing corresponds to the
width, W, of the napkins of the inter-folded napkin stack.
Typically, at least one of the top wall, bottom wall, sidewalk, front panel
S or back panels is hinged to the housing by way of hinge means such that it
pivots
between a closed position for dispensing napkins and an open position for
reloading. Preferably there is further provided locking means adapted to
require
movement of the hinged wall or panel along a plane defined thereby in a closed
and locked position prior to pivotal motion to its open position. This may be
achieved, for example, wherein the hinge means includes two elongate slots and
the locking means include two L-shaped slots. A preferred construction is
wherein the sidewalls each include an elongate hinge slot and an L-shaped
locking
slot and the front panel includes two hinge posts for mounting in the elongate
hinge slots and two locking posts for engaging with the locking slots, the
posts
and slots being configured such that the front panel is hinged to the housing
when
the hinge posts of the front panel are mounted in the elongate hinge slots and
is
thereby pivotable between a closed position for dispensing inter-folded
napkins
and an open position for reloading, the locking posts of the front panel and
the L-
shaped locking slots of the sidewalk are configured such that when the front
wall
is in a closed and locked position, the locking posts and L-shaped locking
slots
cooperate to prevent pivotal motion of the front panel and wherein the front
panel
is movable between a closed and locked position and an unlocked position by
movement of the front panel in a plane defined thereby in its closed and
locked
position, the front panel being movable to the open position from the unlocked
position.
Another preferred feature is wherein the front panel has a pair of opposed
edge sections generally orthogonal to its front surface adapted to reside in a
pair
of corresponding recesses in the sidewalk of the dispenser when the dispenser
is
in a closed position, such that the edge sections are generally flush with the
sidewalk of the dispenser. In such cases, the edge sections may be provided
with
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hinge posts adapted to fit with corresponding slots in the sidewalls of the
dispenser so as to mount the front panel for pivotal motion with respect to
the
sidewalls, and wherein the recesses in the sidewalk may have arcuate portions
configured to accommodate pivotal motion of the front panel with respect to
the
S sidewalls of the dispenser.
The bottom wall optionally has a plurality of retaining surfaces projecting
upwardly therefrom, the retaining surfaces being transverse to a dispensing
direction; the retaining surfaces are conveniently defined by a plurality of
assembly posts projecting into the interior of the dispenser upwardly a
distance of
from about 1/16" to about 1/4" from an interior surface of the bottom wall.
The housing includes a unitary, injection-molded structure in a preferred
construction comprising at least four walls selected from the front panel, the
back
panel, the top wall, the bottom wall and the two sidewalls. The injection-
molded
structure may be formed from a polymeric composition comprising a resin
selected from ABS resins and polycarbonate resins, mixtures thereof. Most
preferably all of the parts are made of ABS resin injection molding
compostion.
Another aspect of the invention is an improved method for dispensing
inter-folded napkins, each of which has a width, W, and a folded length, L',
of its
lead panel, comprising:
disposing a stack of the inter-folded napkins in a dispenser comprising a
front panel, a back panel, a pair of sidewalk, a top wall and a bottom wall,
the dispenser having an elongate dispensing aperture on its front
panel and further characterized in that the distance between the
front and back panels of the dispenser is equal to or less than
about the folded length, L', of the lead panels of the inter-folded
napkins; and
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withdrawing inter-folded napkins through the dispensing aperture.
wherein the stack of inter-folded napkins is a stack of single-fold inter-
folded
5 napkins. A preferred size napkin is wherein the lead panels and tail panels
each
have a folded length, L', of about 5 inches and a width, W, of about 6.5
inches.
Still further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the
discussion which follows.
Brief Description of Drawings
The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings,
wherein like numerals designate similar parts and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a napkin dispenser of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the dispenser of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the inventive dispenser of Figure 1,
wherein the front panel is in an open position;
Figure 4 is a side view showing a side panel of the dispenser of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a view in section along line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the
geometry of a top panel of the inventive dispenser as well as the geometry of
an
assembly post;
Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a stack of single-fold inter-folded
napkins from the side of a stack;
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Figure 7 is a top view in perspective of a stack of inter-folded napkins
such as the single-fold napkins shown in Figure 6; and
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the geometry of a stack of
two-fold inter-folded napkins.
Detailed Description
The invention is described in detail below with reference to the Figures for
purposes of illustration only. Modifications within the spirit and scope of
the
present invention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent
to
those of skill in the art.
Terminology used herein is given its ordinary meaning; for example,
"ABS" resin, "ABS" composition and like terminology refers to acrylonitrile-
butadiene-styrene copolymers and compositions containing such copolymers.
Referring to Figures 1 through 5 there is shown a dispenser 10 which
includes a housing 12 with a front panel 14, a rear panel 16, and two side
panels
18 and 20. There is further provided a top panel 22 as well as a bottom panel
24.
Housing 12 is attached to a pedestal 26.
Front panel 14 has a dispensing slot 28. Slot 28 has a height 30 as well as
a width 32.
Front panel 14 is also provided with four mounting posts at 34, 36, 38, and
40, as well as outer edges 42, 44, which are generally orthogonal to the front
of
panel 14. There is also provided a sub-housing 46.
Sub-housing 46 is a unitary structure, preferably injection-molded, which
includes side panels 18 and 20 as well as rear panel 16, a top wall 56 and
bottom
24. Side panels 18 and 20 have elongated holes such as hole 48 and L-shaped
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slots such as slot 50 for receiving the mounting posts 34-40 of front panel
14.
There is further provided a recess 52 in each of the side panels for receiving
edges
42 and 44 of front panel 14.
A top wall 56 has a plurality of holes 58, 60, 62, and 64 for purposes of
assembling the inventive dispenser. The rear panel has a second dispensing
slot,
66 which is in spaced facing relationship with front slot 28.
On bottom panel 24 there is provided another plurality of holes 68, 70, 72
and 74 as well as support ribs 76, 78, and 80.
In order to assemble the inventive dispenser, the various portions thereof
are injection-molded, preferably from a substantially amorphous molding resin
such as acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene resin (ABS) resin, polycarbonate
or the
1 S like. The parts contain assembly features such as holes 58, 60, 62, 64,
68, 70, 72,
74, and so on as well as barbed assembly posts such as posts 82, 84, 86, and
88 on
pedestal 26 as well as posts 90, 92, 94, and 96 on top panel 22. The shape of
the
various barbed assembly posts is perhaps best appreciated from Figure 5. That
is
to say, pedestal 26 is secured to sub-housing 46 by way of posts 82, 84, 86
and 88
which are inserted into holes 58, 60, 62, and 64. Likewise, the top panel is
secured to unitary structure 46 by way of mounting posts 90, 92, 94 and 96
inserted into holes 62, 64, 58 and 60. The front panel is hingedly secured to
the
housing by way of posts 34 and 36 inserted into mounting holes 48 and 49.
Likewise, posts 34 and 40 are engaged with slots 50 and 51.
Note that front panel 14 is also mounted for up and down motion with
respect to sub-assembly 46. That is to say the lower posts 36 and 38 are
mounted
in elongated slots 48 and 49 so that the front panel may be opened in order to
provide a stack of napkins to the interior of the dispenser. That is, the
dispenser is
opened as shown in Figure 3 and loaded with napkins. The front panel is then
rotated upwards in the direction shown by arrow 98 (Figure 3) in order to
close
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the dispenser. The entire panel is then slid upwardly in the direction
indicated by
arrow 100 so that the front panel is locked in place. In its fully closed
position,
(Figure 1), the front panel is lockably engaged by the L-shaped slots wherein
the
upper posts of the front panel i.e., post 34 and 40 are engaged in the upper
part 53
of the L-shaped mounting slots of the side panels when the front panel is slid
upwardly in the direction of arrow 100. Note that the edges 42 and 44 rest in
sidewall recesses such as recess 52 so that the edges are generally flush with
the
side panels of the dispenser. It is also noted that edges 44 and 42 are sized
to
frictionally engage recess 52 so that the panel stays in place when slid
upwardly.
In order to provide visual symmetry there is optionally provided a groove 52'
configured to provide an appearance similar to fully assembled dispenser
towards
the front panel.
When loaded with napkins, the dispenser is thus capable of dispensing
napkins through slot 28 of front panel 14 as well as slot 66 of rear panel 16.
The
slots have height such as height 30 which is substantially equal to a width,
W, of a
single-fold napkin.
The inventive dispenser is suitably sized such that the depth, D, of the
dispenser (i.e., the distance between the front and back walls of the
dispenser
when closed) is equal or shorter in length than the lead panels (L') of inter-
folded
napkins to be dispensed thereby as will be appreciated from the discussion
which
follows. Likewise, the distance between the sidewalk, 31, is preferably equal
to
the lead panel folded length, L', and the interior height 33 is equal to the
width of
the napkins when a stack is secured in the "portrait" orientation shown in
Figure
1. An added support feature for a napkin stack so that individual napkins do
not
"fall over" in the interior of the dispenser is provided in the form of a
plurality of
retaining surfaces transverse to dispensing direction 125. These surfaces are
provided by way of posts 82-88 which project upwardly a distance 89 from
bottom 24. Distance 89 may be anywhere from about 1/16" to about 1/4",
typically about 1/8" or so.
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Referring to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown a stack 110 of single-fold
inter-folded napkins which includes, for example, a plurality of napkins such
as
napkins I I2, I14, 116, 118 and 120. Each napkin has a lead panel 122 as well
as
a tail panel 124. The lead panel is made available through dispensing aperture
28,
for example, as is shown in Figure 1 wherein stack 110 is oriented in the
dispenser as shown. When the lead panel is drawn through the dispenser, its
tail
panel, panel 124, drags the next adjacent lead panel, lead panel 126 of napkin
I14
through the aperture. In this way, the napkins are continuously made available
for
consumption.
In accordance with the present invention, the stack of napkins has a lead
panel folded length, L', which is longer than the depth, D, of the inventive
dispenser. Thus when the napkins are oriented such that a stack is aligned
along
slot 28, that is to say, the width, W, of the stack is along the height 30 of
the
dispensing slot 28 each napkin may be drawn there through and bring the tail
of
the next napkin into proximity with the dispensing aperture. Because the lead
panel folded length, L', is longer than or equal to the depth, D, of the
dispenser,
the napkins of the stack are never beyond the reach of a consumer. Thus,
unlike
the prior art which requires more sophisticated geometry, springs and so
forth, the
present invention simply uses the relative sizes of the dispenser and napkins
to
make the napkins available. Note that the dispenser accommodates a stack which
may be of a height H up to where H is about equal to the depth, D, of the
dispenser. In preferred embodiments, the distance between the top and bottom
walls will correspond to the width, W, of the stack, allowing for tolerances
of both
napkin size and the alignment of stacking. Typically, between about 1/4" and
3/8"
of "headroom" will be available.
Referring to Figure 8 there is shown still yet another geometry of a stack
150 of two-fold inter-folded napkins. Two-fold inter-folded napkins have three
panels instead of two panels as is the case with single-fold napkins discussed
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above. Stack 150 includes a plurality of napkins such as napkins 152, 154,
156,
158 and 160 which are inter-folded in the manner shown in Figure 8. Here
again,
the lead panel folded length, L', of the stack is selected so that it is
greater in
length or equal to the depth, D, of inventive napkin dispenser 10 such that
the
napkins are always accessible.
While the invention has been described in connection with several
examples, modifications to those examples within the spirit and scope of the
invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. In view of
the
foregoing discussion, relevant knowledge in the art and references discussed
above in connection with the Background and Detailed Description, the
disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference, further
description is
deemed unnecessary.
