U.S. patent application number 13/320354 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for dispenser arrangement for interfolded napkins.
This patent application is currently assigned to SCA Hygiene Products AB. Invention is credited to Cecilia Nordlund.
Application Number | 20120067918 13/320354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43085217 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120067918 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nordlund; Cecilia |
March 22, 2012 |
DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERFOLDED NAPKINS
Abstract
A dispenser arrangement for interfolded napkins, the dispenser
including a container having a bottom wall and side walls
surrounding the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a
direction generally perpendicular thereto and defining a dispensing
opening opposite the bottom wall. The bottom wall includes a
supporting surface for supporting a rectangular stack of
interfolded napkins. At least one weight is placed in the
container, the weight having a projected surface on the bottom wall
which is less than or equal to one third of the stack supporting
surface.
Inventors: |
Nordlund; Cecilia; (Soraker,
SE) |
Assignee: |
SCA Hygiene Products AB
Goteborg
SE
|
Family ID: |
43085217 |
Appl. No.: |
13/320354 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
May 15, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2009/050557 |
371 Date: |
December 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/423
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/199 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42 |
Claims
1. A dispenser arrangement for interfolded napkins comprising a
container comprising a bottom wall comprising a supporting surface
for supporting a rectangular stack of interfolded napkins, side
walls surrounding the bottom wall and extending from the bottom
wall in a direction generally perpendicular thereto and defining a
dispensing opening opposite the bottom wall, and at least one
weight placed in the container and being free from attachments to
the container, the weight having a projected surface on the bottom
wall which is less than or equal to one third of the stack
supporting surface.
2. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one weight has an at least partially curved surface.
3. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at
least one weight has a spherical shape.
4. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one weight has an effective cross-section of at least 30
millimeters.
5. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the at
least one weight has an effective cross-section of from 30
millimeters to 100 millimeters.
6. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the at
least one weight has an effective cross-section of from 40
millimeters to 70 millimeters.
7. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one weight has a weight of from 20 to 600 grams.
8. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein more
than one weight is placed in the container.
9. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 8, wherein all
weights in the container have the same effective cross-section.
10. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 8, wherein at
least two weights in the container have different effective
cross-section.
11. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 8, wherein all
weights in the container have the same shape.
12. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 8, wherein at
least two weights in the container have different shapes.
13. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the
total projected surface of the weights is at least 20% of the stack
supporting surface.
14. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
weights are arranged in at least two rows of weights, each row
comprising at least one weight.
15. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
weights are made from one or more materials selected from wood,
glass, ceramics, natural and synthetic polymers, stone and
metal.
16. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
surface of the weights comprises a sound-reducing material.
17. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
container side walls comprise a sound reducing material.
18. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one weight is a natural item.
19. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
container contains a stack of interfolded napkins that is placed on
the supporting surface on the bottom wall with a bottom napkin
resting with a trailing panel on the bottom surface and a leading
panel of a top napkin exposed at the dispensing opening, and
wherein the at least one weight is placed on the top napkin with
the leading panel of the top napkin being lifted to a position
above a lower panel of the napkin and forming a gripping part of
the top napkin.
20. The dispenser arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the
leading panel of the top napkin is positioned between at least two
weights which are placed in the container with at least one weight
on a lower panel of the top napkin and at least one weight on the
leading panel of the top napkin with an edge portion of the leading
panel protruding into the dispensing opening between the at least
two weights.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a .sctn.371 National Stage Application
of PCT International Application No. PCT/SE2009/050557 filed May
15, 2009, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure pertains to a dispenser arrangement for
interfolded napkins, the dispenser including a container having a
bottom wall and side walls surrounding the bottom wall and
extending from the bottom surface in a direction generally
perpendicular to the bottom wall and defining a dispensing opening
opposite the bottom wall, the bottom wall including a supporting
surface for supporting a rectangular stack of interfolded
napkins.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Napkins in the form of sheets of material intended for
wiping and for hygienic purposes are common household items that
may be provided in the form of stacks of napkins from which
individual napkins can be readily removed when needed. The
dispenser for the napkins should be relatively inexpensive, easy to
handle, should protect the napkins up to use and should be easy to
move to a location where the napkins are needed, such as to a
table, a kitchen counter, etc.
[0004] A common type of dispenser for this kind of napkins is an
open cardboard box in which the napkins are arranged in a stack
standing on an edge of the napkins with part of the napkins
protruding through the opening in the box to provide grippability.
This is a simple and inexpensive way of dispensing the napkins.
However, the protruding parts of the napkins tend to fold over the
edge of the box and become ruffled and deformed. Moreover, as soon
as a few napkins have been removed from the box, the remaining
stack does not fill the width of the container with the result that
the stack will buckle in an accordion-like way and sink down into
the box adding to the deformation of the not yet dispensed
napkins.
[0005] A further commonly used option is to arrange the napkins in
an interfolded stack which is placed standing on a non-folded
surface in a container having a dispensing opening at the top of
the container. The napkins are then successively removed from the
top of the stack through the dispensing opening.
[0006] Interfolded napkins are sheets of materials arranged in a
stack of superposed sheets which are each folded at least once. The
sheets are interlinked in such a way that the separate folded
sheets of material form a chain of sheets where each sheet has a
leading panel and a trailing panel, the trailing panel being at
least partly overlapped with the leading panel of the subsequent
sheet in the stack. In this manner, the individual sheets are held
loosely together by means of frictional forces arising between the
overlapping parts. The sheets may be dispensed from a dispenser by
pulling at the leading panel of the first sheet in the stack. In
this manner, the first material sheet is extracted at the same time
as a predetermined part of the leading panel of a subsequent
material sheet is fed into a dispensing position in the
dispenser.
[0007] The dispenser usually has a lid or cover with a dispensing
opening that restricts the width of the dispensed napkin in order
to keep the leading panel of the next napkin to be dispensed from
falling back into the dispenser.
[0008] A problem with this solution is that when a first napkin is
extracted, the napkin restriction caused by the dispensing opening
will cause the napkin to wrinkle in an irreversible manner. There
is also a risk that the leading part of the next paper towel in the
stack becomes tangled or crumpled in the dispensing opening. It may
also happen that when a first napkin is extracted and a
predetermined part of the next napkin is supposed to be fed out the
interlinking function is either too weak, so that the subsequent
towel falls back into the container or the interlinking function is
too strong, so that more than one napkin is withdrawn.
[0009] For napkins that are to be used, for example, at a dinner it
is of importance that they look nice when they are taken out of the
dispenser. It is also important that they are not ripped or
otherwise damaged so that they cannot be used for the intended
purpose.
SUMMARY
[0010] It is desired to solve the above problems by providing an
improved dispenser arrangement for dispensing interfolded
napkins.
[0011] In accordance with aspects of the invention, there is
offered a dispenser for interfolded napkins. The dispenser includes
a container having a bottom wall and side walls surrounding the
bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction
generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and defining a
dispensing opening opposite the bottom wall. The bottom wall
includes a supporting surface for supporting a rectangular stack of
interfolded napkins. The dispenser is primarily distinguished in
that at least one weight is placed in the container, the weight
having a projected surface on the bottom wall which is less than or
equal to one third of the stack supporting surface.
[0012] When the dispenser is being used, a stack of interfolded
napkins is placed on the supporting surface on the bottom wall. The
stack of interfolded napkins has a rectangular shape with
rectangular or square bottom surface formed by a trailing panel of
the last napkin in the stack. The stack may have any suitable
dimensions such as any suitable height, width and length. The width
and length dimensions are defined by the dimensions of the bottom
surface of the stack and the height is measured perpendicular to
the bottom surface and is determined by the number of napkins in
the stack as well as the number of plies and panels in each napkin.
The individual napkins may include one or more plies or layers and
may have been folded into two or more panels.
[0013] In accordance with aspects of the invention, fall-back of
the gripping portion of an uppermost napkin in a stack of
interfolded napkins is avoided without the risk of the tearing or
wrinkling of the napkin being pulled out or of the next napkin. The
dispenser arrangement will also ascertain that only one napkin is
dispensed at a time. The dispenser can easily be operated with only
one hand and has a simple and reliable construction.
[0014] The bottom wall of the container may have any suitable
circumferential shape such as a circular shape, an irregular shape,
a rectangular shape with rounded corners, etc. as long as the
bottom wall provides a sufficiently large planar rectangular
supporting surface for a stack of interfolded napkins. The side
walls of the container may be completely perpendicular to the plane
of the bottom wall or may be slightly inclined outwardly or in over
the bottom wall. The side walls delimit the container space and the
size of the dispensing opening and are arranged to contain and
support the stack of interfolded napkins without deforming the
napkins.
[0015] The container material may be any material suitable for the
purpose such as paper, plastic, cardboard, wood, ceramic, yarn,
etc. The container may be made by folding a sheet of material,
molding, blow-molding, extrusion, knitting, weaving, etc. The
physical form of the container may be a more or less rigid box, a
bag or a basket. If the container is in the form of a bag with a
planar bottom wall, the side walls need to have sufficient rigidity
to stay generally upright and protect and support a stack inside
the bag when the bag is stood on a surface such as a table or a
worktop. A container made of a somewhat flexible material may have
side walls that can be folded down to the outside of the container
so that the container height can be adapted to the height of a
stack of napkins placed in the container. A foldable container
offers the possibility of successively lowering the sidewalls of
the container as the napkins are removed from the container and the
height of the container diminishes.
[0016] The dispenser arrangement has a simple construction and may
be made from inexpensive and readily available materials. Moreover,
the dispenser arrangement has a surprisingly reliable function and
will not damage the dispensed napkins.
[0017] The at least one weight that is placed in the container can
have an at least partially curved surface. By making the weight at
least partly curved, movement of the weight in the container may
take place by means of the weight rolling on the curved surface.
This means that the frictional forces between the weight and the
napkins to be dispensed are minimised and that smooth dispensing is
afforded. By avoiding sharp edges and corners, the risk of damaging
the napkins in the process of dispensing is also largely
eliminated. For example, the weight may be a cube with rounded
corners, it may have an egg-shape or it may have a perfect
spherical shape.
[0018] The weight or weights may theoretically be very small and
still fulfill their function in the dispenser. However, for
practical reasons the weights can preferably have a sufficient size
to allow them to be easily taken out of the dispenser and put back
again without too much manipulation when recharging the dispenser
with a new stack of napkins. For child-safety reasons it may also
be a concern to make the weights big enough so that they cannot be
swallowed. Consequently, it may be suitable that the weights have
an effective cross-section as herein defined of at least 30
millimeters.
[0019] The effective cross-section for the weight or weights is
determined as the inner diameter of the smallest tube through which
the weight can be passed. Hence, for an irregularly shaped weight,
the weight has to be oriented so that the smallest dimension of the
weight can be determined.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the at least one weight may have an
effective cross-section of from 30 millimeters to 100 millimeters
and, in more certain embodiments, an effective cross-section of
from 40 millimeters to 70 millimeters.
[0021] The at least one weight may have a weight of from 20 to 600
grams, preferably of from 50 to 400 grams and most preferably of
from 70 to 200 grams. When only one weight is used it will
preferably have a weight of from 100-500 grams. When more than one
weight is being used the total weight is preferably not more than
1000 grams.
[0022] The dispenser arrangement may include more than one weight
that is placed in the container.
[0023] The weights may be of different size, but preferably all
weights have the same effective cross-section. If the weights are
small such as below 10 mm in cross-section, so that passing them
through a tube to determine the effective cross-section becomes
impractical, the effective cross-section may alternatively be
determined by passing them through a sieve. The mesh-size of the
sieve then determines the effective cross-section of the
weights.
[0024] When using several weights, all weights may have the same
shape, with identically shaped balls being preferred. However,
differently shaped weights are also contemplated, such as naturally
shaped stones, fruit, etc.
[0025] The weights may be of the same weight or may have different
weights. The difference in weight may be achieved by using
differently sized weights and/or by using weights of materials
having different densities.
[0026] When more than one weight is placed in the dispenser, the
total projected surface of the weights on the stack supporting
surface of the bottom wall may be at least 20% of the stack
supporting surface, preferably at least 40% of the stack supporting
surface, more preferably at least 60% of the stack supporting
surface and most preferably at least 80% of the stack supporting
surface. Although it is sufficient to use a single weight in order
for the dispenser to function, the dispenser will preferably
contain two or more weights. Multiple weights may be arranged in
two or more layers on top of each other. However, if more than
approximately 10 weights are used, it may be desirable to use
weights of a sufficiently small size to allow the weights to be
poured in and out of the container. Hence, for such embodiments,
the weights may have an effective cross-section of from 1-30
millimeters, such as from 5-15 millimeters. Suitable multiple
weights are peas, pebbles, small glass balls, metal balls, etc.
[0027] When using more than one weight, the weights may be arranged
in at least two rows of weights each row including at least one
weight.
[0028] The weights may be made from any suitable material or
combination of materials such as wood, glass, ceramics, natural and
synthetic polymers, stone and metal. Accordingly, the weights may
be of glass or plastic and may have a core or an outer layer of a
different material. A particularly aesthetically pleasing design is
a ball of clear plastic or glass having a decorative or informative
object enclosed in the plastic or glass and visible through the
plastic or glass. The weights may also be in the form of a shell
enclosing an inner object in order to produce a sound effect or to
provide a visual effect through the shell. In the latter case, the
shell has to be at least partly see-through by means of being at
least partly made of a transparent material or by having openings
therein.
[0029] The surface of the weights may include a sound reducing
material in order to avoid rattling of the weights against each
other and against the walls of the container. By way of example,
the sound reducing material may be a coating of natural or
synthetic rubber, a frosting, a surface on the weights made of
wood, cork, fibres or similar.
[0030] In a corresponding manner, the dispenser side walls may
include a sound reducing material.
[0031] The at least one weight may be a man-made object or may be
chosen among suitable natural items preferably adding a decorative
function such as fruit, vegetables, seeds, etc. By way of example
it is possible to use suitably sized apples, oranges, pears,
lemons, limes, potatoes, chestnuts, eggs, peas, stones, etc. When
using natural objects as weights in the dispenser, it should be
ascertained that the weights are clean and if using perishable
goods, they should be replaced before they go bad.
[0032] During use, the dispenser contains a stack of interfolded
napkins that has been placed on the planar supporting surface of
the bottom wall of the dispenser with a bottom napkin resting on
the bottom surface and a top napkin exposed at the dispensing
opening. The interfolded napkins are folded at least once to create
a leading panel and a trailing panel, the leading panel being
placed towards the top of the stack of napkins and the trailing
panel being placed towards the bottom of the stack. Except for in
the first and the last napkin in the stack, each trailing panel of
each napkin is connected by interfolding to the leading panel of
the next napkin in the stack. The at least one weight in the
dispenser is placed on the top napkin in the stack with at least a
portion of the leading panel of the top napkin being lifted to a
position above the lower panel of the napkin and forming a gripping
part of the top napkin. The gripping part of the top napkin is held
in the raised position by leaning against a container side wall or
against one or more weight that is placed in the container.
[0033] The napkins may be any kind of household napkins, wipes,
paper towels, etc. The material may be a fibrous material of any
suitable kind such as cellulose based paper materials, with or
without admixture of man-made fibres, binders and fillers. The
napkins may include only man-made fibres. However, it is usually
desired that a napkin has some degree of absorbency or that it at
least is wettable. If the fibrous material contains a large
proportion of fibres of a hydrophobic character implying that the
fibres are non-wettable, it may be suitable to treat the material
with a wetting agent. Wetting agents and other additives are well
known to the person skilled in the art and will not be further
discussed herein. The napkins may have any suitable shape and/or
size and may be embossed, perforated, printed and dyed if desired.
The napkins may be single-ply sheets of material or may include two
or more plies of the same or different materials. In the stack the
napkins are folded at least once in order to obtain an interfolded
arrangement with interconnected panels. However, the napkins may be
additionally folded in order to reduce their planar size to a
practical dimension. Accordingly, any type of interfolding of the
napkins may be used, as known in the art.
[0034] When more than one weight is used in the dispenser, the
leading panel of the top napkin may be positioned between at least
two weights which are placed in the container with at least one
weight on a lower panel of the top napkin and at least one weight
on the leading panel of the top napkin with an edge portion of the
leading panel protruding into the dispensing opening between the at
least two weights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Embodiments of the invention will in the following be
described in detail, with reference to the figures that are shown
on the appended drawings. In the drawings:
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a first
embodiment of the invention with one weight placed therein,
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a second
embodiment of the invention with two weights placed therein,
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a third
embodiment of the invention with three weights placed therein,
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention with four weights placed therein,
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a fifth
embodiment of the invention with a soft-walled container,
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a dispenser arrangement according to a sixth
embodiment of the invention with multiple small weights,
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a container bottom wall,
[0043] FIG. 8 shows a second container bottom wall,
[0044] FIG. 9 shows a third container bottom wall,
[0045] FIG. 10 shows a weight and a device for measuring effective
cross-section,
[0046] FIG. 11 illustrates the projected surface of a weight onto a
stack supporting surface; and
[0047] FIG. 12 illustrates the projected surface of an irregularly
shaped weight onto a stack supporting surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The dispenser arrangements 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4 include a
container 2, a stack 3 of interfolded napkins and one or more
weights 4.
[0049] The container 2 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a transparent box
of glass or plastic having a rectangular bottom wall 5 on which the
stack of interfolded napkins 3 rests and four rectangular side
walls 6 arranged perpendicularly from the edges of the bottom wall
5 towards a dispensing opening 7 opposite the bottom wall 5. The
bottom wall 5, has a supporting surface 8 on which the stack 3 of
interfolded napkins is placed. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1-4,
the supporting surface 8 generally coincides with the bottom wall 5
of the container. However, this is not a necessary feature as other
shapes of the bottom wall may be used as long as the bottom wall
has sufficient size to fully accommodate a planar supporting
surface for a stack of interfolded napkins.
[0050] The material of a container needs not be of glass or plastic
but may be made of any suitable transparent or non-transparent
material such as paper, cardboard, wood, metal, etc. The container
may be made by folding of a sheet of material, by moulding,
blow-moulding, extrusion, knitting, weaving, plaiting or may be
formed from a nonwoven fibrous material. The container may have
solid side walls, as the container 2 shown in FIGS. 1-4 or may have
side walls with openings therein such as a lace-work material or a
net. The container material may be a laminate including two or more
layers of materials and may be made from parts of different
materials. The container may be of any colour and may be provided
with decorative features such as embossed or engraved structures,
surface finishes and patterns and may have printed texts or designs
thereon.
[0051] As used herein, interfolded napkins are sheets of material
arranged in a stack of superposed sheets. The interfolded napkins
are folded at least once in a first direction which is the
interfolding direction to provide each napkin at least with a
leading panel and a trailing panel. When more complicated folding
arrangements are used, the leading and trailing panels may be
separated by one or more intermediate panels. In a simple folding
arrangement, the leading panel and the trailing panel will be
contiguous with the trailing panel following directly after the
leading panel. In the stack, the napkins are arranged as a linked
chain where each trailing panel of each napkin is connected by
interfolding to the leading panel of the next napkin in the stack.
The only exceptions from this arrangement are found at the first
and last napkin in the chain, the first napkin being positioned at
the top of the stack and having a free leading panel and the last
napkin being at the bottom of the stack and being placed in the
container with the trailing panel resting on the supporting surface
of the bottom wall. The napkins are interlinked by means of each
trailing panel being at least partly overlapped with the leading
panel of the subsequent napkin in the stack. In this manner, the
individual sheets are held loosely together by means of frictional
forces arising between the overlapping parts. The napkins may be
single ply or multi ply napkins and may be folded one or more time
in a second direction perpendicular to the first, interfolding
direction.
[0052] The weights used in the dispenser arrangement may be
spherical weights as shown in FIGS. 1-5. Weights having a
non-spherical but rounded shape such as egg-shaped weights, or the
like may also be used. The weights may be only partially rounded or
may have only planar surfaces although non-rounded weights are less
preferred as they will have to slide on the napkin surface in order
to shift position in the container. Moreover, sharp edges and
corners should be avoided as they may catch in the dispensed
material and cause the material to wrinkle and tear.
[0053] The dispenser arrangement shown in FIG. 1 includes only one
weight 4 that is shown to be placed on top of the stack 3 of
interfolded napkins. FIG. 1 shows how the dispenser arrangement
will appear after a napkin has been pulled away from the stack 3 of
interfolded napkins and out of the container 2. The weight is seen
to be resting on top of the leading panel 9 of the uppermost napkin
in the stack with a free end of the leading panel 9 being lifted to
a dispensing position above a lower panel 10 of the uppermost
napkin and leaning against one of the container 2 sidewalls 6. In
this manner the leading panel 9 is accessible for gripping and
removing of the uppermost napkin in the stack 3.
[0054] The napkins 11 are dispensed from the dispenser 2 by pulling
at the leading panel 9 of the first napkin in the stack 3. In this
manner, the first napkin is extracted at the same time as a
predetermined part of the leading panel 9 of the subsequent napkin
is fed into a dispensing position in the dispenser. The weight 4
counteracts the pulling force and keeps the remaining napkins in
the container 2. Pulling at the free napkin end will bring the
leading end of the next napkin into a gripping position by partly
unfolding the fold 12 between the leading panel 9 and the next
panel 13, which may be the trailing panel or an intervening panel
between the leading panel 9 and the trailing panel depending on the
fold configuration of the napkins 11. In this manner the unfolded
part of the napkin will be longer than the length l.sub.1 of the
corresponding side wall 6, causing the leading panel 9 to lean
against the container 2 side walls 6.
[0055] As previously described, the napkins may be interfolded in
numerous different ways. If the napkins are interfolded in simple
interlocking V-folds, extraction of the top napkin 11 in the FIG. 1
arrangement will cause the position of the weight 4 to shift from
being on top of the leading panel 9 to be below the leading panel
9. In this second configuration the weight 4 will serve to keep the
free edge portion of the leading panel 9 in a lifted position,
ready for gripping.
[0056] In the dispensing arrangement shown in FIG. 2, two weights 4
are used. The weights 4 are placed on either side of the free end
portion of the leading panel 9 of the uppermost napkin in the stack
3. As the napkins 11 are successively removed from the container 2
by pulling them up between the weights 4, the weights 4 will hold
the leading panel 9 that is currently being exposed in a raised
gripping position as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement offers the
advantage of avoiding the risk that the leading panel 9 is by
mistake pushed back in alignment with the upper surface of the
stack 3. The grippable portion of the top napkin is held securely
in the raised position until it is removed and a subsequent napkin
takes it place. However, although preferred, it is not necessary to
place one weight 4 on each side of the exposed leading panel.
Instead both weights 4 may be placed on the same side of the free
edge portion on the leading panel 9 of the uppermost napkin. The
resulting dispensing arrangement will work in a manner similar to
the one-weight arrangement shown in FIG. 1.
[0057] The dispensing arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 have
three and four weights 4, respectively. With increasing number of
weights 4, a larger proportion of the supporting surface 8 of the
bottom wall 5 will be covered by the weights 4. The larger
proportion of the supporting surface 8 that is covered by weights
4, the more securely will the napkins be held back in the
container. Then number of weights 4 will also influence the
reliability of the dispensing operation, in particular will a large
number of weights ensure that the raised leading panel will be held
in the raised position. The number of weights may be sufficient to
completely cover the surface of the stack. It is also possible to
arrange weights in more than one layer on top of the stack.
[0058] The weights 4, may be arranged in two or more rows with the
dispensing of the napkins taking place between two neighbouring
rows. In the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1-4, six weights 4 of the
shown size may be placed in two rows so that the leading panel 9 of
the uppermost napkin can be pulled out between the rows. Such
arrangement offers a very smooth and reliable operation of the
dispenser and ensures that the napkins are held in a planar,
non-wrinkled configuration throughout the dispensing operation.
[0059] The dispenser arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 5 differs from
that in FIGS. 1-4 in that the container 2 is made of a flexible or
bendable material such as a wicker basket, a bag of textile, paper
or plastic material, etc. As is shown in FIG. 5, edge portions 15
of the side walls 6 that are located at the dispensing opening 7
are folded down on the outside of the container 2. As the number of
napkins 11 in the stack 3 diminishes, the height of the container 2
can be adjusted in a corresponding manner by pulling down the edge
portions 15 of the side walls 6 even further in the direction shown
at the arrow A in FIG. 5.
[0060] In the FIG. 5 dispenser, four weights 4 are placed in the
container 2 on top of the stack 3 of interfolded napkins 11. The
weights 4 are shown as spherical weights being arranged in two rows
16' and 16'' with two weights in each row 16', 16''. A free edge
portion of the leading panel 9 of the uppermost napkin 11 in the
stack 3 of interfolded napkins protrudes between the two rows 16'
16'' of weights 4. Dispensing of the napkins 11 takes place by
pulling the protruding napkin in the direction of the arrow B
whereby the uppermost napkin is pulled out of the container 2 and
the next interfolded napkin in the stack 3 follows up and is
brought into the gripping position.
[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates a dispenser arrangement 1 in which a
multitude of small weights 4 is placed on top of the stack 3. The
leading panel 9 of the uppermost interfolded napkin 11 is shown
protruding between rows 16 of small weights 4. The weights are
shown to be arranged in a single layer but arrangements with
weights 4 placed in two or more layers are also possible. The shape
and size and other properties of the container 2 may be different
from that shown in FIG. 6, as previously disclosed.
[0062] One advantage in covering a major part or the entire
uppermost surface of the stack with weights 4 is that the weights 4
protect the surface of the uppermost interfolded napkin 11 from
contamination. If the dispenser arrangement is used outdoors, the
weights 4 will prohibit the napkins 11 from blowing out of the
container 2.
[0063] It is to be understood that features of the shown examples
may be freely combined with each other within the scope of the
appended claims. The number of weights, as well as the size, shape
and composition of the components may be varied as set out
herein.
[0064] With reference to FIGS. 7-9, different shapes of container
bottom walls 5 are shown. As can be seen, the bottom walls 5 need
not have the same size or shape as the supporting surface 8. In
FIG. 7, the bottom wall is shown to be circular while the
supporting surface 8 is a square inscribed within the periphery of
the bottom wall 5. In FIG. 8, a bottom wall 5 having bi-lobal shape
will accommodate a rectangular stack of interfolded napkins on the
supporting surface 8 and in FIG. 9, a bottom wall 8 with an
irregular periphery will accommodate a square stack of interfolded
napkins on the square supporting surface 8. The bottom wall in FIG.
9 may, for instance, be the bottom of a wicker basket.
[0065] When the bottom wall 5 of the container has larger size than
the supporting surface 8, the size of the weight 4 or weights that
is chosen should preferably be such that it exceeds the size of the
largest gap that is formed between the side walls 6 of the
container 2 and the sides of the stack 3 of interfolded napkins 11.
By choosing sufficiently large weights 4, it is avoided that the
weights 4 fall down between the container side walls 6 and the
stack.
[0066] FIG. 10 shows a weight 4 for a dispenser arrangement. The
weight 4 in FIG. 10 is irregularly shaped and has a somewhat
elongate appearance. The size of the weight is determined as the
inner diameter 0 of the smallest measuring tube 18 that will allow
the weight 4 to pass therethrough. When measuring irregularly
shaped weights, such as the weight 4 shown in FIG. 10, the weight 4
has to be rotated so that the smallest cross-sectional dimension
can be determined. This is the effective or critical cross-section
of the weight 4. The cross-sectional size of a weight as used
herein refers to the effective or critical cross-section.
[0067] The weights used in the dispenser arrangements may have an
effective cross-section of from 30 millimeters to 100 millimeters
and preferably an effective cross-section of from 40 millimeters to
70 millimeters. It may be a concern to use weights of a dimension
that would not cause a problem if a small child tries to swallow
them. A size of 30 millimeters or above is generally considered to
be safe, as it is too large to swallow. Smaller weights of below 5
mm can generally be swallowed without problem.
[0068] The weights may have a weight of from 20 to 600 grams,
preferably of from 50 to 400 grams and most preferably of from 100
to 200 grams. When only one weight is used it will preferably have
a weight of from 100-500 grams. When more than one weight is used
the combined weight is preferably not more than 1000 grams.
[0069] If more than one weight is used, the weights may be of
different size, but preferably all weights have the same or similar
effective cross-section. If the weights are very small, so that
passing them through a measuring tube to determine the effective
cross-section becomes impractical, the effective cross-section may
alternatively be determined by passing them through a sieve. The
mesh-size of the sieve then determines the cross-section of the
weights.
[0070] The size of the weights 4 can also be expressed as a size in
relation to the portion of the supporting surface 8 or uppermost
surface of the stack 3 of interfolded napkins 11 onto which the
weight 4 projected when seen at an angle of 90.degree. towards the
supporting surface 8. FIG. 11 illustrates the projected area W of a
spherical weight 4 and FIG. 12 illustrates the projected area W of
an irregularly shaped weight 4. In accordance with embodiments of
the invention, the projected area of a single weight 4 is one third
of the supporting surface 8 or less.
[0071] The total projected surface of the one or more weights on
the stack supporting surface of the bottom may be at least 20% of
the stack supporting surface, preferably at least 40% of the stack
supporting surface, more preferably at least 60% of the stack
supporting surface and most preferably at least 80% of the stack
supporting surface. Although it is sufficient to use a single
weight in order for the dispenser to function, it may be desired to
use multiple weights and even weights placed in two or more layers
placed on top of each other. If more than approximately 10 weights
are used, it may be desirable to use weights of a size that can be
poured in and out of the container instead of the weight being
handled one at a time. For such embodiments, the weights may have
an effective cross-section of from 1-30 millimeters, such as from
5-15 millimeters. Suitable multiple weights are peas, pebbles,
small glass balls, metal balls, etc. An example of an embodiment
using multiple small weights 4 is shown in FIG. 6.
[0072] The weights may be made from any suitable material or
combination of materials such as wood, glass, ceramics, natural and
synthetic polymers, stone and metal. Accordingly, the weights may
be of glass or plastic and may have a core or an outer layer of a
different material. A particularly aesthetically pleasing design is
a ball of clear plastic or glass having a decorative or informative
object enclosed in the plastic or glass and visible through the
plastic or glass. The weights may also be in the form of a shell
that may be hollow or may be enclosing an inner object and/or a
liquid. When an object or a liquid is placed in the shell the shell
may be at least partly transparent in order to provide a visual
effect through the shell. An object may be made visible through
openings in the shell and may be selected to produce a sound effect
as the weight moves during a dispensing operation.
[0073] The weights may further have a decorative outer surface
obtained by selecting a particular colour, surface texture or shine
or by means of a three-dimensional pattern or a printed design such
as an ornamental pattern or a text.
[0074] The surface of the weights may include a sound reducing
material in order to avoid rattling of the weights against each
other and against the walls of the container. By way of example,
the sound reducing material may be a coating of natural or
synthetic rubber, a frosting, a surface on the weights made of
wood, cork, fibres or similar.
[0075] In a corresponding manner, the dispenser side walls may
include a sound reducing material or may be made of an inherently
sound reducing material such as textile or rubber.
[0076] The at least one weight may be a man-made object or may be
chosen among suitable natural items which may be perceived as
having a decorative effect such as fruit, vegetables, seeds, etc.
By way of example it is possible to use suitably sized apples,
oranges, pears, lemons, limes, potatoes, chestnuts, eggs, peas,
stones, etc. When using natural objects as weights in the
dispenser, it should be ascertained that the weights are clean and
that they are replaced if they go bad after some time.
* * * * *