Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02573753 2007-01-12
DISPENSER FOR SHEET PRODUCTS
BACKGROUND
This disclosure relates to a dispenser for sheet products such as wipers,
napkins, facial tissues, towels, and the like. More specifically, the
disclosure relates to
carton-type dispensers for sheet products.
Carton-type dispensers for sheet products such as wipers and tissues are well
known in the art. Such sheet products may be supplied dry, with lotion, or
moistened. The
sheet products are generally rectangular in shape and are supplied as, for
example,
interleaved, discrete sheets or separably connected. Dispensers for such sheet
products
typically are in a carton form (e.g., a box form) and have an opening,
typically at the top,
through which individual articles or sheets are removed by the user. The
desire for increased
convenience led to sequential or "pop-up" dispensers. In a pop-up dispenser, a
sheet product
usually extends through an opening to an elevation above that of the
dispenser. The user
grasps the exposed portion of the sheet product, without the necessity of
inserting fingers
through the opening. In pop-up dispensing, each sheet product has a leading
portion that is
first to pass through the opening, and a trailing portion that later passes
through the opening.
In an interleaved arrangement, the trailing portion of a first sheet product
to be dispensed
overlaps the leading portion of the next sheet product to be dispensed. As the
first sheet
product is withdrawn by the user, the leading portion of the next sheet
product is pulled
through the opening for later dispensing. The sheet products are folded
against one another
in a variety of configurations so that the friction of the trailing portion of
the withdrawn sheet
against the succeeding sheet pulls the leading portion of the succeeding sheet
through the
opening.
One problem frequently encountered in pop-up dispensers is the transition
from the reach-in dispensing mode in which the product is shipped to the pop-
up dispensing
mode preferred by the user, as well as recovery from the dispenser of sheet
products that
have fallen back in order to reinitiate the pop-up sequence. Typically, the
opening through
which the sheet product is dispensed is sized large enough to allow the user
to reach his or
her fingers therethrough to grasp the sheet product and begin the pop-up
dispensing process.
However, the opening is also typically sized to be small enough to constrict
the sheet
CA 02573753 2007-01-12
products dispensed therethrough, so that a sheet product may be separated from
succeeding
sheet products. Faliback is exacerbated with relatively tall dispensers that
are often preferred
by the user for economic reasons. The usable height of the dispenser is often
limited to the
length of the overlap of the interfolded sheet product. This limitation occurs
due to the
leading and trailing portions of adjacent sheet products unfolding inside a
package taller than
the overlap, resulting in the second sheet product falling back into the
dispenser.
Furthermore, fallback can occur as a consequence of the sheet product being
impregnated
with another substance, such as moisture, lotion, cleansing composition, and
the like. When
the sheet product is impregnated it is heavier and its surface friction may be
reduced,
therefore making it more susceptible to falling back.
A common problem among carton-type dispensers involves the issue of
"double pull." This occurs when more than one sheet product comes out when the
leading
sheet product is withdrawn. Additionally, the problem of "streaming" can occur
in carton-
type dispensers. Streaming occurs when the user pulls the first sheet product
out, and
subsequent sheet products are also withdrawn, with separation of the following
ones
sometimes occurring.
All of these situations are defined as quality defects, and they are
considered
to be major inconveniences to the user. A continual need exists in the art for
dispensers that
eliminate these problems and improve the performance of dispensers, especially
carton-type
dispensers.
BRIEF SUMMARY
In one embodiment, a dispenser includes a housing, a first aperture and a
second aperture. The housing of the dispenser includes a dispensing wall, a
bottom wall
disposed opposite the dispensing wall, a side wall connecting the dispensing
wall to the
bottom wall, and an end wall disposed adjacent to the side wall and connecting
the
dispensing wall and the bottom wall. The first aperture has an
intercommunicating first
portion and a second portion, the first portion being located in the
dispensing wall and the
second portion being located in the side wall, wherein the first portion is
located generally in
the center of the dispensing wall. The second aperture is independent of the
first aperture,
with at least a first portion being located in the dispensing wall.
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In one embodiment, a dispenser includes a housing, a first aperture, and a
second aperture. The housing includes a dispensing wall, a bottom wall
disposed opposite
the dispensing wall, a side wall connecting the dispensing wall to the bottom
wall, and an
end wall disposed adjacent to the side wall and connecting the dispensing wall
and the
bottom wall. The first aperture is located at least in the dispensing wall.
The second
aperture is independent of the first aperture with at least a first portion
being located in the
dispensing wall, wherein the second aperture comprises a generally circular
portion
intercommunicating with an elongated slot portion.
In one embodiment, a dispenser includes a housing, a first aperture, and a
second aperture. The housing includes a dispensing wall, a bottom wall
disposed opposite
the dispensing wall, a side wall connecting the dispensing wall to the bottom
wall, and an
end wall disposed adjacent to the side wall and connecting the dispensing wall
and the
bottom wall. The first aperture has an intercommunicating first portion and a
second
portion, the first portion being located in the dispensing wall and the second
portion being
located in the side wall. The second aperture is independent of the first
aperture, with a first
portion being located in the dispensing wall and a second portion being
located in the end
wall and intercommunicating with the first portion.
In one embodiment, a dispenser includes a housing and an aperture. The
housing includes a dispensing wall, a bottom wall disposed opposite the
dispensing wall, a
side wall connecting the dispensing wall to the bottom wall, and an end wall
disposed
adjacent to the side wall and connecting the dispensing wall and the bottom
wall. The
aperture having an intercommunicating first portion and a second portion, the
first portion
being located in the dispensing wall and the second portion being located in
the side wall,
wherein the first portion is located generally in the center of the dispensing
wall, and the
second portion extends along the side wall a distance less than or equal to
half a height of
the side wall.
The above described and other features are exemplified by the following
Figures and detailed description.
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CA 02573753 2007-01-12
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered
alike in the several Figures:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser for sheet
products that illustrates one mode of operation of the dispenser.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the dispenser illustrated in
FIG. 1 that illustrates another mode of operation of the dispenser.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the dispenser illustrated in
FIG. 1 that illustrates yet another mode of operation of the dispenser.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a blank form suitably used to define the embodiment of
the dispenser of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser for sheet
products.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 depicting a different
dispensing mode of operation than that illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a blank form used to define the embodiment of the
dispenser of FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of a mounting bracket.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser for sheet
products.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser for sheet
products.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Disclosed herein is a dispenser for, among other things, sheet products
comprising one or more apertures that are configured to minimize or eliminate
the problems
encountered in the prior art dispensers (e.g., "fallback", "double-pull",
"streaming", and the
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CA 02573753 2007-01-12
like). While the dispenser is discussed hereinafter as being a disposable
carton-type
dispenser for convenience in discussion, it is to be understood that in
various embodiments
the dispenser may be refillable. In other words, the dispenser may be
disposable or
refillable. Further, in various embodiments, the dispenser may be used in
dispensing dry
sheet products or moisture-impregnated sheet products.
As used herein, the term "disposable" dispenser refers to a dispenser intended
to be discarded after the sheet products supplied therewith are depleted, that
is, the dispenser
is not intended to be restocked with such articles. In contrast, the term
"refillable" refers to a
dispenser that may be restocked with sheet products after the supply has been
depleted.
The term "sheet products" is inclusive of natural and/or synthetic cloth or
paper sheets. Further, sheet products can include both woven and non-woven
articles.
Examples of sheet products include, but are not limited to, wipers, napkins,
tissues, and
towels.
The term "moisture-impregnated sheet products" is defined to include articles
impregnated with at least one substance. Suitable impregnating substances
include, but are
not limited to, water, a surface cleaner, a cleaning composition capable of
attracting
particulate matter, a medicament, skin cleanser, skin moisturizer, skin lotion
and antiseptic.
Referring now to FIGS. 1- 4, an embodiment of a dispenser, generally
designated 10, is illustrated. The dispenser 10 may be portable and
lightweight, a rigid
container, a semi-rigid container, a flexible container, or any combination of
the foregoing,
and the like. The materials for the dispenser can vary depending on the
desired application,
that is, whether the dispenser is intended to be disposable or refillable.
Suitable materials for
the dispenser include, but are not limited to, paperboard product and plastics
(e.g., a
polyolefin such as polypropylene).
Paperboard products may be particularly useful for making a low cost
disposable container. Suitable paperboard products include, but are not
limited to,
cardboard, corrugated cardboard, fiberboard, and composite materials. In
addition, the
paperboard can be combined or treated with one or more additional materials in
order to
improve the strength, water resistance, colorfastness or other characteristics
as desired. By
way of example only, the paperboard can be coated or impregnated with one or
more resins
or polymeric materials such as waxes, polyolefins, polyvinylidine chlorides,
polyvinyl
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CA 02573753 2007-01-12
chlorides, and the like. In addition, paperboard product can comprise, in
whole or in part,
laminate or multi-layer materials such as, for example, two or more layers of
paperboard
bonded together. In one embodiment, the dispenser 10 may be formed from a
single sheet of
paperboard blank stock 6, which is cut along its perimeter and pressed and/or
scored along
fold lines 8 and adapted to be folded into a one-piece rectangular container,
generally shown
in FIG. 1.
The dispenser 10 can comprise a size and shape corresponding to the desired
shape of the sheet products and the desired volume of the sheet products.
Suitable shapes for
the dispenser include, but are not limited to, parallelepiped shapes,
cylindrical shapes, and
polygonal shapes. For example, the dispenser may be generally in the shape of
an elongated
box. In one embodiment, the dispenser 10 has an elongated box shape defined by
six walls.
More particularly, the dispenser comprises two side walls disposed adjacent to
two end walls
14, a bottom wall 15 located adjacent to all of the side walls 12 and end
walls 14, and a
dispensing wall 16 located on the opposite end from the bottom wall 15 and is
adjacent to all
of the end walls 14 and side walls 12 of the dispenser 10. The terms side
walls, end walls,
bottom wall and dispensing wall are used merely for convenience in discussion
and do not
necessarily represent spatial orientation relative to the user. For example,
in some
embodiments the dispensing wall 16 may be located at the "bottom" of the
dispenser 10
relative to a user when the dispenser is mounted, for example, on a wall.
Further, it is to be
understood that in some embodiments, there will be no differences between the
term "side
wall" and the term "end wall", e.g., a square container has equally shaped
walls.
In one embodiment, the dispensing wall 16 has a first aperture 20 located
generally in the center of the dispensing wall 16. In other embodiments, the
first aperture 20
may be off-center. In one embodiment, the first aperture 20 is connected to an
elongated,
slotted end aperture portion 22 defining an elongated sheet product retainer
on a side wall 12.
In other words, the first aperture 20 is disposed in at least two walls of the
dispenser (e.g.,
the dispensing wall 16 and the side wall 12 and/or end wall 14). The
elongated, slotted end
aperture portion 22 comprises a shape that aids in mitigating or eliminating
fallback of the
sheet product into the dispenser 10. In other words, the elongated, slotted
end aperture
portion 22 is adapted to retain a portion of sheet product when the sheet
product is pulled
through the elongated, slotted end aperture portion 22 (Fig. 2). Suitable
shapes for the
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CA 02573753 2007-01-12
elongated, slotted end aperture portion 22 include, but are not limited to, U-
shaped and V-
shaped.
In one embodiment, the elongated, slotted end aperture portion 22 extends
along a side wall 12 in a direction away from the dispensing wall 16, that is,
in a direction
toward the bottom wall 15. The length that the elongated, slotted end aperture
portion 22
extends along the side wall 12 is less than the entire height of the side wall
12, more
specifically a distance less than or equal to half the height of the side wall
12, and even more
specifically a distance less than or equal to a quarter of the height of the
side wall 12. In one
embodiment, the length that the elongated, slotted end aperture portion 22
extends along the
side wall 12 is a distance less than or equal to an eighth of the height of
the side wall 12.
The height of the side wall is defined as the distance between the dispensing
wall 16 and the
bottom wall 15.
The first aperture 20 is shown as being substantially a parallelogram, i.e.,
opposite side edges of first aperture 20 are generally parallel to each other
(e.g., substantially
diamond shaped). In other embodiments, first aperture 20 may comprise other
suitable
shapes including, but not limited to, semi-circular, oval, ellipse, polygon,
and non-
axisymmetric shapes. In one embodiment, the first aperture 20 is sized large
enough to
allow the user to reach his or her fingers therethrough to grasp the sheet
product 4, thereby
allowing the user to begin the pop-up dispensing process or allow the user to
retrieve sheet
product 4 that may have fallen back into the dispenser 10.
The dispenser 10 may also have a second aperture 30. The location of the
second aperture 30 relative to first aperture 20 may vary depending on the
desired use or user
preference. For example, the second aperture 30 may be located near a corner
of the
dispensing wall 16, that is, the second aperture 30 may be located next to an
end wall 14 and
a side wall 12. In this configuration, the second aperture 30 may be referred
to as a"corner"
aperture. Other locations of the second aperture 30 are discussed in greater
detail below in
relation to other embodiments. For example, the second aperture can be located
off-center
relative to a center of the dispensing wall 16 and/or located along a central
axis.
In one embodiment, the second aperture 30 is generally "key-hole" in shape.
More particularly, the key-hole shape of the second aperture 30 can include a
generally
circular aperture with an elongated, slotted sheet product retainer portion
32. In one
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embodiment, the elongated, slotted sheet product retainer portion 32 is
directed toward the
corner of the dispenser 10. In other embodiments, the elongated, slotted sheet
product
retainer 32 can be directed toward side wall 12 or toward end wall 14. In one
embodiment,
the second aperture 30 can have a size substantially less than that of the
first aperture 20,
wherein "substantially less than" is defined as at least 50 percent smaller in
size relative to
the first aperture 20. The elongated, slotted sheet product retainer 32
comprises a shape that
aids in mitigating or eliminating fallback of the sheet product into the
dispenser 10. In other
words, the elongated, slotted sheet product retainer portion 32 is adapted to
retain a portion
of sheet product when the sheet product is pulled through the elongated,
slotted end aperture
portion 32 (FIG. 1). Suitable shapes for the elongated, slotted sheet product
retainer portion
32 include, but are not limited to, U-shaped and V-shaped.
The elongated, slotted sheet product retainer structure 32 includes a pair of
side walls, disposed sufficiently close to one another to grasp and retain
individual sheet
products that are at least partially removed or dispensed from the dispenser
10, i.e., in a pop-
up position. It is to be understood that although described as generally key-
hole shaped,
second aperture 30, in other embodiments, may be any of a variety of different
shapes
including semi-circular, oval, square, or rectangular.
In one embodiment of making the dispenser 10, the first aperture 20 and
second aperture 30 are formed by a material removal process. Apertures 20, 30
are defined
upon user removal of blank portions 40, 42, respectively. Blank portions 40,
42 (shown in
FIG. 4) may be formed during manufacturing via a die cut process or similar
known
paperboard processing technologies. Prior to use, the blank portions 40, 42
are removed by a
user to provide access to the sheet products 4. Blank 6 may comprise a
paperboard product
and/or a petroleum-based plastic material.
The sheet products 4 are disposed within the dispenser 10 such that they are
releasably attached to each previous and subsequent sheet product (except,
respectively, for
the first and last) by any releasable attachment means that allows easy
separation to occur as
the sheet product is being dispensed. Suitable releasable attachment means
include, but are
not limited to, friction, cohesion, or other forces that releasably attach
adjacent articles.
Perforations upon the articles may serve to provide releasable detachment
between adjacent
articles. Where articles are interleaved, releasable attachment results from
friction or
cohesion between adjacent articles. One skilled in the art can readily
determine the
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appropriate configuration without undue experimentation to assure separation
of the articles
without undue tearing as well as assuring that the article is dispensed
through the dispenser
aperture(s) to assure availability of the succeeding article in the pop-up
mode.
In one method of use, the user may withdraw the sheet products 4 through a
pulling motion directed upward and through the second aperture 30 toward the
dispenser
corner. FIG. 1 illustrates the sheet product 4 partially extending through
second aperture 30.
In this manner, the subsequent sheet product 4 is retained within the
elongated, slotted sheet
product retainer portion 32. This embodiment may be particularly beneficial to
prevent fall
back when the sheet product 4 has been depleted to a location proximate the
bottom surface
15. In another method of use, the user may withdraw the sheet product 4
through first
aperture 20 as depicted in FIGS. 2 - 3. As depicted in FIG. 2, the sheet
product 4 may be
retained by elongated, slotted end aperture portion 22. As depicted in FIG. 3,
the sheet
product 4 may simply be accessed through first aperture 20. It is envisioned
that during the
life of the product, individual sheet products 4 may be passed through the
first aperture 20
and/or the second aperture 30 depending on, for example, user preference, and
the like.
Advantageously, the dispenser 10 reduces or eliminates the problems
associated with previous disposable sheet product dispensers (e.g., carton-
type dispensers).
The problems of fall-back, double pull, multiple pulls, and streaming are
either eliminated or
reduced through use of second aperture 30 and/or retainer structure defined by
elongated,
slotted end aperture portion 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 - 7, an embodiment of a dispenser, generally
designated 50 is illustrated. For ease in discussion, only those differences
between dispenser
10 (FIGS. 1-4) are discussed in order to highlight desirable features of
dispenser 50. In
comparison to dispenser 10, this embodiment does not include a second aperture
30.
Nevertheless, the problems of fall-back, double pull, multiple pulls, and
streaming are either
eliminated or reduced through use of retainer structure defined by elongated,
slotted end
aperture portion 22. In various alternative embodiments, the dispensing wall
16 may be
convex or concave rather than planar. Without wanting to be bound by theory,
dispenser 50
may be particularly useful for applications where the dispenser 50 is wall
mounted.
Numerous mounting brackets are known in the art and believed suitable for
use with the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., dispenser 50). In one
embodiment, one or
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more slits 17 can be provided in the dispensing wall 16. Mounting bracket 44,
such as
generally depicted in FIG. 8, has a mounting surface 46 for attaching mounting
bracket 44 to
a wall or other surface (not shown). When attached to a wall, mounting surface
46 will lie
substantially flush against the wall. Mounting bracket 44 further includes a
pair of plates 48
that extend vertically and parallel with mounting surface 46. Slit openings 17
can be sized
and spaced to accept plates 48. Dispenser 50 (Fig. 5) can then be placed upon
plates 48 of
mounting bracket 44, wherein plates 48 extend upwardly into the interior area
of the
dispenser 50, substantially flush with the inside of one of side wall 12, via
slits 17.
. In one embodiment of making the dispenser 50, the first aperture 20 is
formed
by a material removal process. Aperture 20 is defined upon user removal of
blank portion
40. Blank portions 40 (shown in FIG. 7) may be formed during manufacturing via
a die cut
process or similar known paperboard processing technologies. Prior to use, the
blank portion
40 is removed by a user to provide access to the sheet products 4.
Additionally, as part of
the manufacturing process, slits 17 are cut into the blank 6. Blank 6 may be a
paperboard
product and/or a petroleum-based plastic material as discussed above in
relation to dispenser
10.
FIG. 5 depicts one mode of use of the dispenser 50 wherein the sheet products
4 are dispensed through first aperture 20 and held within the retainer
structure defined by an
elongated, slotted end portion 22. FIG. 6 depicts another mode of use of the
dispenser 50
wherein the sheet products 4 are dispensed in a conventional manner through
first aperture
20. FIG. 7 illustrates a blank form 6 in top plan view suitable for
construction of the
embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6.
Referring now to FIG. 9, an embodiment of a dispenser, generally designated
60 is illustrated. For ease in discussion, only those differences between
dispensers 10, 50
(FIGS. 1-8) are discussed in order to highlight desirable features of
dispenser 60. In this
embodiment, the location of the second aperture 30 relative to first aperture
20 is varied
compared to the locations discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-4 of dispenser 10.
More
particularly, in this embodiment, the second aperture 30 is not disposed near
a corner.
Rather, second aperture 30 is disposed along a central axis 19 such that the
second aperture
30 is disposed between two side walls 12 and is disposed proximate to an end
wall 14.
Without wanting to be bound by theory, it is believed that this location of
second aperture 30
can perform equally as well as a corner location.
CA 02573753 2007-01-12
Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment of a dispenser, generally designated
70 is illustrated. For ease in discussion, only those differences between
dispensers 10, 50, 60
(FIGS. 1- 8) are discussed in order to highlight desirable features of
dispenser 60. In this
embodiment, the location of the second aperture 30 relative to first aperture
20 is varied
compared to the locations discussed in relation to dispensers 10 and 60. More
particularly,
the second aperture 30 is connected to an elongated, slotted end aperture
portion 33 defining
an elongated sheet product retainer on end wall 14. In other words, the second
aperture 30 is
disposed in at least two walls of the dispenser (e.g., the dispensing wall and
the end wall 14).
The elongated, slotted end aperture portion 33 comprises a shape that aids in
mitigating or
eliminating fallback of the sheet product into the dispenser 70. In other
words, the
elongated, slotted end aperture portion 33 is adapted to retain a portion of
sheet product
when the sheet product is pulled through the elongated, slotted end aperture
portion 33.
Suitable shapes for the elongated, slotted end aperture portion 33 include,
but are not limited
to, U-shaped and V-shaped.
In each of the embodiments of dispensers disclosed, the problems of fall-back,
double pull, multiple pulls, and streaming are either eliminated or reduced
through use of
second aperture and/or retainer structure defined by elongated, slotted end
aperture portion.
The dispensers allow for single pull and ease of use to the user. It is
further noted that while
the dispensers have been discussed for use with sheet products, it is to be
understood that the
advantages obtained for sheet products may also be realized for other products
including, but
not limited to, plastics (e.g., plastic bags), and cloths.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary
embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing
from the
scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt
a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing
from the essential
scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to
the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this
disclosure, but
that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of
the appended
claims.
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