U.S. patent application number 10/334470 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for cartridge for dispensing paper products.
Invention is credited to Dix, Carrie F., Lilley, David A., Mayfield, Frances W., Moro, Neal G., Tramontina, Paul F..
Application Number | 20040124206 10/334470 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32655065 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040124206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tramontina, Paul F. ; et
al. |
July 1, 2004 |
Cartridge for dispensing paper products
Abstract
A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge includes a
plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall.
The side walls and end wall define an interior area that contains
stacked paper products oriented so as to extend substantially
perpendicular to at least one of the side walls. The cartridge
further includes a bulk dispensing opening defined within at least
one of the side walls. The cartridge may further include at least
one limited-access dispensing opening. The cartridge may further
include removable sections defined in the cartridge walls, removal
of at least a portion of the removable portions creating openings
in the cartridge. Additional openings could be provided for
controlling the dispensing and alignment of the paper products
within the cartridge.
Inventors: |
Tramontina, Paul F.;
(Alpharetta, GA) ; Lilley, David A.; (Duluth,
GA) ; Mayfield, Frances W.; (Marietta, GA) ;
Moro, Neal G.; (Alpharetta, GA) ; Dix, Carrie F.;
(Roswell, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Family ID: |
32655065 |
Appl. No.: |
10/334470 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/424 20130101;
A47K 10/426 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/303 |
International
Class: |
A47F 001/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge comprising: a
plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall,
the side walls and end wall defining an interior area, a bulk
dispensing opening defined within at least one of the side walls,
stacked paper products disposed in the interior area oriented so as
to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side
walls.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing opening is
defined only within the side wall.
3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
comprises a removable panel.
4. The cartridge of claim 3 wherein the removable panel defines an
opening configured to provide a visual indication of the number of
paper products within the interior area.
5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing opening has
a width parallel to the edges of the stacked paper products, the
width of the bulk dispensing opening being between about 50 percent
to about 90 percent of the width of the side wall in which the bulk
dispensing opening is defined.
6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing opening has
a height perpendicular to the edges of the stacked paper products,
the height of the bulk dispensing opening being between about 50
percent to about 99 percent of the height of the side wall in which
the bulk dispensing opening is defined.
7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
exposes a substantial portion of the stacked paper products.
8. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a limited-access
dispensing opening defined within at least the end wall.
9. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein the limited-access dispensing
opening is defined only within the end wall.
10. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein the limited-access dispensing
opening is defined within the end wall and at least one of the side
walls.
11. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
and the limited-access dispensing opening are contiguous.
12. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
and the limited-access dispensing opening are separated by a
portion of the side wall in which the bulk dispensing opening is
defined.
13. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and
second dispensing openings further comprises a removable panel.
14. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising: a first end wall,
a second end wall, a first limited-access dispensing opening
defined within at least the first end wall, a second limited-access
dispensing opening defined within at least the second end wall.
15. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the first limited-access
opening is defined only within the first end wall.
16. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the second limited-access
dispensing opening is defined within the second end wall and at
least one of the side walls.
17. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
and the second limited-access dispensing opening are separated by a
portion of the side wall in which the bulk dispensing opening is
defined.
18. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the bulk dispensing opening
and the second limited-access dispensing opening are
contiguous.
19. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein at least one of the
dispensing openings further comprises a removable panel.
20. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the first and second
limited-access dispensing openings are located at opposite ends of
the stack of paper products.
21. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the paper products are
interfolded napkins.
22. A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge comprising: a
first end wall and a plurality of side walls defining an interior
area; and, a stack of paper products within the interior area;
wherein the first end wall has a first opening therein adapted to
provide access to less than about twenty of the paper products;
and, further wherein at least one of the side walls has a second
opening therein exposing at least a substantial portion of the
stack.
23. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the at least one of the first
and second openings comprises a removable panel.
24. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the second opening has a
width parallel to the edges of the stacked paper products, the
width of the second opening being between about 50 percent to about
90 percent of the width of the side wall in which the second
opening is defined.
25. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the second opening has a
height perpendicular to the edges of the stacked paper products,
the height of the second opening being between about 50 percent to
about 99 percent of the height of the side wall in which the second
opening is defined.
26. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the second opening exposes a
majority of the stacked paper products.
27. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the first opening is defined
only within the end wall.
28. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the first opening is defined
within the end wall and at least one of the side walls.
29. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the first and second openings
are contiguous.
30. The cartridge of claim 22 wherein the first and second openings
are separated by a portion of the side wall in which the second
opening is defined.
31. The cartridge of claim 22 further comprising a second end wall
having a third opening therein adapted to provide access to less
than twenty of the paper products.
32. The cartridge of claim 31 wherein the first opening is defined
only within the first end wall.
33. The cartridge of claim 32 wherein the third opening is defined
within the second end wall and at least one of the side walls.
34. The cartridge of claim 33 wherein the second and third openings
are separated by a portion of the side wall in which the second
opening is defined.
35. The cartridge of claim 33 wherein the second and third openings
are contiguous.
36. The cartridge of claim 31 wherein at least one of the openings
further comprises a removable panel.
37. The cartridge of claim 31 wherein the first and third openings
are located at opposite ends of the stack of paper products.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Various types of dispensers for paper products have been
developed to provide ready availability of the paper products 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.
[0002] Some dispensers are designed to be used in conjunction with
a cartridge containing paper products. Cartridges provide many
advantages to proprietors, custodians, and users of the paper
products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,113 to Tramontina
discloses a cartridge for holding and dispensing a plurality of
paper products. The cartridge is insertable into a dispenser having
a dispensing opening through which paper products are dispensed. As
another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,949 to Tramontina discloses a
reversible cartridge that holds a plurality of paper products and
that dispenses a controlled amount of the same in both a
one-at-a-time mode and a several-at-a-time mode. These cartridges
solve the problems of uniform dispensing of individual or
controlled amounts of paper products from large dispensers, solve
problems associated with loading large dispensers, provide a means
of easily determining how many paper products remain within the
cartridge or dispenser, and reduce the number of types of
cartridges that a facility must have in stock.
[0003] However, there are times at which users of the cartridge
have a need to quickly remove a larger number of products from the
cartridge than is possible with "one-at-a-time" or
"several-at-a-time" cartridges. Such a "bulk" delivery mode may be
advantageous to allow the user discretion to remove as many
products as desired. For example, the cartridge could be used at a
drive in window where an employee needs to be able to quickly
remove a quantity of products that will change depending on the
size of order. Alternatively, the cartridge may be used where
customers have access to it so that it would be advantageous to
limit the number of paper products that can be removed at one time.
Therefore, there is a need for a cartridge that not only provides a
limited-quantity dispensing mode, but additionally provides a bulk
dispensing mode. Desirably, the cartridge allows a proprietor or
custodian to select the mode that is most advantageous for the
particular circumstances.
SUMMARY
[0004] The aforesaid needs are fulfilled and the problems
experienced by those skilled in the art overcome by the improved
stacked paper product dispensing cartridge of the present
invention. The cartridge of the present invention includes a
plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall.
The side walls and end wall define an interior area that contains
stacked paper products oriented so as to extend substantially
perpendicular to at least one of the side walls. The cartridge
further includes a bulk dispensing opening defined within at least
one of the side walls. In another embodiment, the bulk dispensing
opening is defined only within the side wall.
[0005] In a further aspect, the bulk dispensing opening has a width
parallel to the edges of the stacked paper products that is between
about 50 percent to about 90 percent of the width of the side wall
in which the bulk dispensing opening is defined. In another
embodiment, the bulk dispensing opening has a height perpendicular
to the edges of the stacked paper products that is between about 50
percent to about 99 percent of the height of the side wall in which
the bulk dispensing opening is defined. In yet another embodiment,
the bulk dispensing opening exposes a substantial portion of the
stacked paper products.
[0006] In a further aspect, the cartridge further includes a
limited-access dispensing opening defined within at least the end
wall. In another embodiment, the limited-access dispensing opening
is defined only within the end wall. In a further embodiment, the
limited-access dispensing opening is defined within the end wall
and at least one of the side walls.
[0007] In a further aspect, the bulk dispensing opening and the
limited-access dispensing opening are contiguous. In another
embodiment, the bulk dispensing opening and the limited-access
dispensing opening are separated by a portion of the side wall in
which the bulk dispensing opening is defined.
[0008] In a further aspect, the cartridge further includes a first
end wall, a second end wall, a first limited-access dispensing
opening defined within at least the first end wall, and a second
limited-access dispensing opening defined within at least the
second end wall. In another embodiment, the first limited-access
opening is defined only within the first end wall. In a further
embodiment, the second limited-access dispensing opening is defined
within the second end wall and at least one of the side walls. In
an even further embodiment, the bulk dispensing opening and the
second limited-access dispensing opening are separated by a portion
of the side wall in which the bulk dispensing opening is defined.
In an alternate embodiment, the bulk dispensing opening and the
second limited-access dispensing opening are contiguous.
[0009] In a further aspect, at least one of the dispensing openings
includes a removable panel. In another embodiment, the removable
panel defines an opening configured to provide a visual indication
of the number of paper products within the interior area.
[0010] In another aspect, the present invention includes a stacked
paper product dispensing cartridge including a first end wall and a
plurality of side walls defining an interior area, and a stack of
paper products within the interior area. The first end wall has a
first opening therein adapted to provide access to less than about
twenty of the paper products. At least one of the side walls has a
second opening therein exposing at least a substantial portion of
the stack. In another embodiment, the second opening exposes a
majority of the stacked paper products.
[0011] In a further aspect, the second opening has a width parallel
to the edges of the stacked paper products that is between about 50
percent to about 90 percent of the width of the side wall in which
the second opening is defined. In another embodiment, the second
opening has a height perpendicular to the edges of the stacked
paper products that is between about 50 percent to about 99 percent
of the height of the side wall in which the second opening is
defined.
[0012] In a further aspect, the first opening is defined only
within the end wall. In another embodiment, the first opening is
defined within the end wall and at least one of the side walls. In
a further embodiment, the first and second openings are contiguous.
In an alternate embodiment, the first and second openings are
separated by a portion of the side wall in which the second opening
is defined.
[0013] In a further aspect, the cartridge further includes a second
end wall having a third opening therein adapted to provide access
to less than about twenty of the paper products. In one embodiment,
the third opening is defined within the second end wall and at
least one of the side walls. In another embodiment, the second and
third openings are separated by a portion of the side wall in which
the second opening is defined. In an alternate embodiment, the
second and third openings are contiguous.
[0014] In a further aspect, at least one of the dispensing openings
includes a removable panel. In another embodiment, the removable
panel defines an opening configured to provide a visual indication
of the number of paper products within the interior area.
[0015] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious
from the description, or may be learned through the practice of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] 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:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view of an exemplary cartridge
for holding a plurality of stacked paper products and dispensing
the same, the cartridge being configured for several-at-a-time
dispensing.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the FIG. 1 cartridge
configured for bulk dispensing by removal of a removable
portion.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the FIG. 1
cartridge.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the FIG. 1 cartridge
depicting an exemplary slit adapted for the removal of a limited
number of paper products in one dispensing event.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation view of the FIG. 1 cartridge
depicting an exemplary slit adapted for the removal of a single
paper product at a time.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 cartridge, the
cartridge shown in FIG. 1 having been rotated 180 degrees end to
end about the x-axis, the cartridge being configured for
several-at-a-time dispensing.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary cartridge
inserted into a dispenser housing adapted to dispense a limited
number of stacked paper products or bulk quantities of stacked
paper products, the cartridge shown adapted to dispense a limited
number of paper products.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary cartridge
inserted into a dispenser housing adapted to dispense a limited
number of stacked paper products or bulk quantities of stacked
paper products, the cartridge shown adapted to dispense bulk
quantities of paper products.
[0025] FIG. 9 is an alternate rear elevation view of the FIG. 1
cartridge configured for bulk dispensing by removal of a removable
portion.
[0026] FIG. 10 is an alternate front elevation view of the FIG. 1
cartridge configured for bulk dispensing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Reference will now be made in more 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.
[0028] As generally depicted in FIGS. 1-6, one embodiment of a
cartridge 10 is disclosed in which stacked paper products 12 are
placed and from which paper products 12 are dispensed. The paper
products 12 may be paper napkins, paper towels, toilet tissue, or
any other similar material. The cartridge 10 is desirably made of
heavy paper or cardboard, but may be made of any other suitable
material within the scope of the invention.
[0029] The cartridge 10 comprises a plurality of cartridge walls 18
including a top end wall 24, a corresponding bottom end wall 34,
and side walls 44. The cartridge walls 18 together define an
interior area 26. The side walls 44 have bottom edges 45 that meet
the side edges 47 of the bottom wall 34 at the respective bottom
corners 49. Similarly, the side walls 44 have top edges 51 that
meet the side edges 53 of the top wall 24 at the respective top
corners 55. It should be understood that the terms "top" and
"bottom" are used only to describe the relative positions of each
end wall. During use in a dispenser housing, either end of the
cartridge 10 may be located at a bottom or dispensing end of the
dispenser housing. To minimize any potential for confusion, all
terms referring to the topographical features of the dispenser 10,
including the terms "front", "rear" or "back", "top", and "bottom"
are used only to refer to their respective positions as depicted in
FIG. 6.
[0030] The cartridge of the present invention has at least one
dispensing opening adapted for bulk dispensing of paper products
from the cartridge. FIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 10 depict a first type of
dispensing opening adapted for bulk dispensing of paper products
from the cartridge 10. In FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, the rear wall 22 of
the cartridge defines an opening, referred to hereafter as a bulk
dispensing opening 31, which allows substantially unlimited access
to the paper products (not shown) contained within the cartridge
10. The bulk dispensing opening 31 is configured to allow bulk
dispensing of paper products in a single dispense. While FIGS. 1,
2, and 9 depict the bulk dispensing opening 31 at a dispensing zone
700 in the rear wall 22 of the cartridge 10, it is contemplated
that other locations could be used. For example, the bulk
dispensing opening 31 could alternatively and/or additionally be
located in the front wall 36 (see FIG. 10), and so forth.
[0031] In reference to FIG. 1, the rear wall 22 of the cartridge 10
optionally includes a removable portion 21, removal of which
creates the bulk dispensing opening 31 to allow substantially
unlimited access to the paper products contained within the
cartridge 10. To facilitate removal of the removable portion 21,
the edges of the removable portion 21 may be weakened, scored, or
perforated to form one or more lines of weakness 23.
[0032] In reference to FIG. 2, the bulk dispensing opening 31 is
desirably sized such that the horizontal dimension "H1" is about
the same as or only slightly smaller than the width of the paper
products 12 contained within the cartridge 10 and the vertical
dimension "V1" is only slightly smaller than the height of the
stack of paper products 12 contained within the cartridge 10.
Desirably, the bulk dispensing opening 31 has a width in the
x-direction between about 50% to about 90% of the width of the rear
wall 22 in which the bulk dispensing opening 31 is defined. More
desirably, the bulk dispensing opening 31 has a width in the
x-direction between about 60% to about 80% of the width of the rear
wall 22 in which the bulk dispensing opening 31 is defined.
Desirably, the bulk dispensing opening 31 has a height in the
y-direction between about 50% to about 99% of the height of the
rear wall 22 in which the bulk dispensing opening 31 is defined.
More desirably, the bulk dispensing opening 31 has a height in the
y-direction between about 65% to about 95% of the height of the
rear wall 22 in which the bulk dispensing opening 31 is defined.
Even more desirably, the bulk dispensing opening 31 has a height in
the y-direction between about 80% to about 95% of the height of the
rear wall 22 in which the bulk dispensing opening 31 is
defined.
[0033] As such, it can be seen how the cartridge 10 may be used in
a dispenser housing designed to dispense paper products in bulk,
i.e., many at a time. This is accomplished by providing access to
at least a substantial portion of the paper products, a majority of
the paper products, or, desirably, the entire stack of paper
products so that only the discretion of the user will limit the
quantity of paper products to be removed. For example, if the edges
of all the paper products in the cartridge are exposed, the user
can use one hand to grasp and remove a handful of paper products by
grasping the edges of as many products as are desired. As another
example, the user can use two hands to remove as many as the entire
quantity of paper products from the cartridge.
[0034] The bulk dispensing opening 31 may be used in conjunction
with one or more additional dispensing openings that limit access
to the paper products 12 in the cartridge 10, i.e., a
limited-access dispensing opening. By providing more than one
dispensing opening, the cartridge can be configured for different
user selected dispensing modes. For example, the cartridge can
include a limited-access dispensing opening configured to limit
access to a single paper product per dispense, i.e., a
one-at-a-time dispensing opening. Additionally or alternatively,
the cartridge can include a limited-access dispensing opening
configured to limit access to several paper products per dispense,
i.e., a several-at-a-time dispensing opening.
[0035] FIGS. 1, 4 and 9 depict one type of limited-access
dispensing opening in the cartridge 10. A slit, slot, orifice or
channel, referred to hereafter as a several-at-a-time dispensing
opening 20, serves to control access to the paper products (not
shown) contained within the cartridge 10. The several-at-a-time
dispensing opening 20 is desirably configured to dispense a limited
quantity of paper products at each dispense. In one embodiment, the
several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 is configured to dispense
less than 20 paper products per dispense. In other embodiments, the
several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 is configured to dispense
less than 15 paper products per dispense, less than 10 paper
products per dispense, or less than 6 paper products per dispense,
and so forth. Generally speaking, the several-at-a-time dispensing
opening 20 provides for the reliable and trouble free dispensing of
a corresponding amount of paper products in a single dispensing
event.
[0036] Looking more specifically at FIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen
that the several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 is defined by the
cartridge rear wall 22 and top wall 24 of the cartridge 10.
However, it is contemplated that other locations may be used.
Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the several-at-a-time dispensing
opening 20 may be contiguous with the bulk dispensing opening 31.
Alternatively, the several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 may be
separated from the bulk dispensing opening 31 by a portion of the
cartridge walls 18, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0037] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, the several-at-a-time
dispensing opening 20 is desirably sized so that it has a
horizontal dimension "H2" that is about the same as or slightly
greater than the width of the paper products within the cartridge
10 and a vertical dimension "V2" that is large enough to permit the
passage of a limited number of paper products. For example, if the
paper products are in the form of folded paper napkins, the
vertical dimension "V2" of the dispensing opening may be sized so
that a limited number of folded paper napkins may be extracted.
This could be achieved by making the vertical dimension "V2" some
multiple of the thickness of an individual folded paper napkin. For
example, the vertical dimension "V2" is desirably greater than
about 2 and less than about 20 thicknesses, more desirably greater
than about 2 and less than about 10 thicknesses, and even more
desirably greater than about 2 and less than about 6 thicknesses.
Additionally, it is contemplated that the horizontal dimension "H2"
may be greater than, about the same as, or less than the horizontal
dimension "H1" of the bulk dispensing opening.
[0038] The paper product may be accessed by an optional thumb slot
26 and/or an optional finger slot 28. Desirably, these slots are
located on the top wall 24 and rear wall 22 of the cartridge 10 and
may be centered with respect to the dimensions of the cartridge 10
or the dimensions of the several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20.
However, whether the thumb slot 26 is located on the rear wall 22
or top wall 24 is a matter of preference. The point to note is that
the several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 is desirably expanded
to include the thumb slot 26 and/or the finger slot 28.
[0039] FIGS. 3, 5 and 10 depict another type of limited-access
dispensing opening in the cartridge 10. A slit, slot, orifice or
channel, referred to hereafter as a one-at-a-time dispensing
opening 32, serves to control access to the paper products (not
shown) contained within the cartridge 10. The one-at-a-time
dispensing opening 32 is desirably configured to dispense a single
paper product at each dispense.
[0040] The one-at-a-time dispensing opening 32 is defined by the
cartridge bottom wall 34 of the cartridge 10. However, it is
contemplated that other locations may be used. The one-at-a-time
dispensing opening 32 may have many shapes within the scope of the
present invention, as long as the opening provides easy access for
a user and delivery of paper products for "one-at-a-time" or single
product dispensing. It may be desirable that the bottom wall 34 be
disposed at an angle with respect to the front wall 36 as can be
seen in FIGS. 3 and 10.
[0041] Thus, it can be seen how the cartridge 10 may be used in
dispenser housings designed to dispense paper products singly,
i.e., one at a time. This is accomplished by providing access only
to a portion of the face of the paper product 12. For example, if
the paper products are in the form of folded paper napkins, and
only an exposed face of a single napkin is accessible to a user,
extracting that napkin from the cartridge 10 leaves the next napkin
in the stack exposed.
[0042] The cartridge 10 can be provided such that each dispensing
opening 20, 31, and 32 is provided with removable portions 21. This
enables a user to select which dispensing opening 20, 31, or 32
from which the paper products 12 are to be dispensed and thereby
limit access to only the desired opening.
[0043] It is important to understand that the cartridge 10 may
include both a several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 and a
one-at-a-time dispensing opening 32. These openings may be located
at opposite ends of the cartridge 10 or at least at different
dispensing zones within the cartridge 10 as can be at least
partially observed in FIG. 6. This feature enables a single
cartridge 10 to be used in at least three different types of
dispenser housings, for example, a dispenser housing adapted to
dispense a controlled plurality of paper products, a dispenser
housing adapted to dispense paper products singly, or a dispenser
housing adapted for bulk dispensing of paper products.
[0044] It is also important to note that FIG. 1 depicts the
several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 in dispensing zone 500 at a
bottom portion of the cartridge 10. Similarly, FIG. 3 also depicts
the one-at-a-time dispensing opening 32 in dispensing zone 600 at a
bottom portion of the cartridge 10. Since it is more desirable to
dispense limited quantities of paper products from the bottom of a
dispenser housing, the cartridge 10 is made to be flipped 180
degrees end for end along the x-axis. Though not required, it is
also contemplated that the container could be flipped end for end
along the y-axis and/or the z-axis as well. The several-at-a-time
dispensing opening 20 and the one-at-a-time dispensing opening 32
could be relocated accordingly to accommodate numerous variations
of dispenser housings. Positioning the cartridge 10 as shown in
FIG. 1 such that paper products are dispensed from the
several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 allows the cartridge 10 to
be used with a dispenser 100 similar to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8
whereas the FIG. 3 position using the one-at-a-time dispensing
opening 32 is adapted to be used with a dispenser adapted for
one-at-a-time sheet dispensing.
[0045] Referring again to FIGS. 1-6, the cartridge 10 may include a
plurality of openings 16. Optionally, the openings 16 may contain
removable portions 14, the removal of which creates the openings 16
in the cartridge 10. The openings 16 are disposed in outside walls
18 of the cartridge 10 so that the openings 16 can encompass and
receive protrusions from a dispenser housing that may extend into
the cartridge 10. Dispenser housings having protrusions extending
into a cartridge containing paper products are disclosed, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,949 to Tramontina, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Thus, upon
placement of the cartridge 10 into an appropriate dispenser
housing, portions of the dispenser housing may protrude through the
openings 16 to contact the paper products 12 within the cartridge
10.
[0046] To permit visual inspection of the amount of paper products
remaining in the cartridge 10 in the event one of the "front" walls
don't have the bulk dispensing feature, the cartridge 10 may define
at least one additional slot 30 through one of the cartridge walls
18. More desirably, at least one such slot 30 is visible from
outside a dispenser housing when the cartridge 10 is in the
interior area of a dispenser housing. Since the cartridge 10 can be
loaded in more than one orientation, it is desirable to provide at
least one such slot 30 on the rear wall 22 and at least one such
slot 30 on the front wall 36, an amount of paper products 12
disposed within the cartridge 10 being determinable by visually
inspecting the amount of paper products 12 through the slot 30. As
shown in FIG. 7, two slots 30 may be provided in a single wall to
provide a greater range of visual inspection. Note that FIGS. 1-3,
and 6 reflect an embodiment having only one such slot 30 located in
the rear wall 22 and in the front wall 36. In fact, any number or
arrangement of slots is possible within the scope of the
invention.
[0047] Further in accordance with the invention, at least some of
the openings 16 may have removable portions 14 corresponding to a
first group of slots 38 and a second group of slots 40. The slots
38, as shown in FIG. 3, are adapted to receive at least one
protrusion, which is generally an attachment to or a part of a
dispenser housing. These protrusions may extend from the dispenser
housing, through the slot or slots 38 to contact the paper products
within the cartridge 10. By contacting the paper products, the
protrusions may impede, without actually prohibiting, the movement
of the paper products toward the dispensing zones 500 or 600 and
the dispensing openings 20 or 32 depending upon the dispenser
housing used to dispense the paper products.
[0048] The second group of slots 40 may be provided in the
cartridge walls 18 to adapt the cartridge 10 for use in dispenser
housings wherein the dispenser housing contains a rib member or
members designed to protrude through the cartridge walls 18, also
to contact the paper products. These second group of slots 40 are
preferably disposed at least partly in the top wall 24 and/or the
bottom wall 34 of the cartridge 10 and are adapted to receive the
rib members which are mounted or otherwise attached to the
dispenser housing. These slots 40 enable the rib members to space,
slow, align, and support the paper products as they are moved
toward the dispensing zones 500 or 600 and the dispensing openings
20 or 32 depending upon the dispenser housing used to dispense the
paper products.
[0049] Some of these slots 40 can be of a different size than other
of slots 40. In fact, it may be desirable in at least the top wall
24, to make the slots 40 smaller near a centerline of the cartridge
10 and larger near the outer edges of the cartridge 10 as depicted
in FIG. 4. This configuration is adapted to accommodate dispenser
housing rib members of differing heights. The rib members closest
to the centerline may be shorter or protrude less distance into the
cartridge 10 than do the outermost rib members. This has the effect
of bowing the center portions of the paper products toward the
dispensing opening 20 or 32.
[0050] Looking further to FIG. 4, it is also contemplated that the
cartridge may have at least one additional opening 42. This opening
42 may correspond to a key or tab located on a particular dispenser
housing. The key would provide the cartridge 10 with a device
minimizing the possibility that the cartridge could be improperly
loaded into the dispenser housing. It is desirable that the key be
associated with a particular dispenser housing variation. In that
way, in the event a custodian were to attempt to incorrectly load
the cartridge 10 into the particular dispenser housing, or
alternatively attempt to load the cartridge 10 in the wrong
orientation, the key would not engage the opening 42 in the
cartridge 10 thus preventing the cartridge 10 from seating within
the dispenser housing.
[0051] Generally speaking, the removable portions 14 and/or 21 may
either be removed or simply not formed in the cartridge walls 18
during manufacture of the cartridge 10. Depending upon the
circumstances desired, these removable portions 14 and/or 21 can be
removed during installation of the cartridge 10 in an appropriate
dispenser housing. If the removable portions 14 and/or 21 are to be
removed (or simply not formed) as part of the manufacturing
process, the cartridge 10 may be shipped to the user wrapped, for
example in a plastic bag, to prevent contamination and/or to
preserve the sterility of the paper products 12 in the cartridge
10. If the removable portions 14 and/or 21 are to be removed as
part of the installation process, the edges of the removable
portions 14 and/or 21 should be weakened, scored, or perforated,
etc. for easy removal. In an alternate embodiment, the removable
portions 14 and/or 21 are either not formed or are removed prior to
shipment to the consumer. This minimizes the work necessary in
loading the cartridge 10 into a dispenser housing.
[0052] Additional features which could be desirable are that at
least the top wall 24 and/or the bottom wall 34 of the cartridge 10
be disposed at an angle with respect to the front wall 36 and the
rear wall 22 of the cartridge 10 as can be seen in FIG. 3. However,
as depicted in FIG. 6, it may be more desirable to have the top
wall 24, or that wall comprising the several-at-a-time dispensing
opening 20 to be perpendicular to its adjacent walls. In any case,
it is desirable to dispense the paper products 12 from the
several-at-a-time dispensing opening 20 or one-at-a-time dispensing
opening 32 so that a face of the paper products 12 is parallel to
the top wall 24 or bottom wall 34 from which the paper products 12
are being dispensed.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 7-8, the cartridge 10 is adapted to
be inserted into the interior area of a dispenser housing 100. The
cartridge 10 is further adapted for holding or containing the paper
products 12 to be dispensed. It can be seen that the cartridge 10
is sized to fit snugly within an interior area of the dispenser
housing 100. The cartridge 10 disposed within the dispenser housing
100 is configured for either limited quantity dispensing or bulk
dispensing. The cartridge 10 depicted in FIG. 7 has been adapted
for several-at-a-time dispensing. The cartridge 10 depicted in FIG.
8 has been adapted for bulk dispensing through the bulk dispensing
opening 31 by removal of the removable portion 21.
[0054] Though not necessary to practice of the invention, the paper
products contained within the cartridge 10 are desirably
interfolded or tab interfolded napkins to provide metered feeding
of one or a number of such individual napkins at any one time. If
the paper product is, for example, an interfolded paper napkin or
tissue, a leading flap or tail is available to extend from a
dispensing opening for a user to grasp. Pulling the leading flap
will result in one-at-a-time dispensing of the product, while
grasping the edges of a stack will allow the dispensing of the
napkins grasped. The dispensing of interfolded napkins is discussed
in greater detail in Skerrett, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,346 and
Ito et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,243, the entire contents of these
patents being incorporated herein by reference. If a
non-interfolded product is used in the cartridge 10, there will be
no leading flap as in the interfolded format. Generally speaking,
the number of products dispensed will be the same as the number of
napkin edges gripped.
[0055] 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.
* * * * *