U.S. patent application number 16/981361 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-14 for dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins.
The applicant listed for this patent is Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag. Invention is credited to John P. Devlin, Peter J. McNulty, Jeffrey S. Mekler.
Application Number | 20210007561 16/981361 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005118319 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210007561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McNulty; Peter J. ; et
al. |
January 14, 2021 |
DISPENSER FOR SHEET PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY NAPKINS
Abstract
A dispenser for sheet products comprising a base, an outer shell
mounted to the base, wherein the outer shell has a first portion
configured to enclose a stack of sheet products to be dispensed and
a second portion having a dispensing opening, the first and second
portion being non-detachably and non-movably fixed relative to each
other, a platen reciprocally moveable relative to the base and
spring biased toward the dispensing opening, and first and second
columns respectively extending from the base parallel to a movement
direction of the platen on opposite sides of the platen, wherein
the outer shell is detachable from the base for inserting a stack
of paper products between the first and second columns onto the
platen.
Inventors: |
McNulty; Peter J.; (Boston,
MA) ; Devlin; John P.; (Tewksbury, MA) ;
Mekler; Jeffrey S.; (Boston, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag |
Goteborg |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005118319 |
Appl. No.: |
16/981361 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 19, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/056839 |
371 Date: |
September 16, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/422 20130101;
A47K 2010/3233 20130101; A47K 2010/3246 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42 |
Claims
1. A dispenser for sheet products comprising: a base (10); an outer
shell (50) mounted to the base, wherein the outer shell has a first
portion (52) configured to enclose a stack of sheet products to be
dispensed and a second portion (53) having a dispensing opening
(54), the first and second portion being non-detachably and
non-movably fixed relative to each other; a platen (60)
reciprocally moveable relative to the base (10) and spring biased
toward the dispensing opening (54); and first and second columns
(13, 14) respectively extending from the base (10) parallel to a
movement direction of the platen (60) on opposite sides of the
platen, wherein the outer shell (50) is detachable from the base
(10) for inserting a stack of paper products between the first and
second columns onto the platen.
2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first portion
(52) comprises two pairs of opposite side walls (55) and the second
portion (53) comprises a top wall (57) non-detachably and
non-movably fixed to the side walls (55).
3. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first (52)
and second (53) portions are made of one piece.
4. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims,
further comprising a stop (17, 18) at each of the first and second
columns (13, 14), respectively provided at an end (16) of the first
and second columns opposite to the base (10), the stops being
configured to engage with a leading sheet product of the stack of
sheet products and/or the platen (60) in an extended position.
5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the stops (17, 18)
are flexible parallel to the movement direction of the platen
(60).
6. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the stops (17, 18)
are more flexible parallel to the movement direction of the platen
(60) in a direction towards the base (10) than a direction away
from the base.
7. The dispenser according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the stops
(17, 18) are made of an elastic material.
8. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the stops (17, 18)
are made of polypropylene.
9. The dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the
stops (17, 18) are separate parts fitted to the respective ends
(16) of the first and second columns (13, 14).
10. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the platen (60) has guide members (63) on opposite sides,
respectively engaged with the first and second columns (13,
14).
11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein each guide member
(63) has a pair of distanced grooves (64), respectively engaged
with opposite longitudinal side edges(24, 25) of the respective
first and second columns.
12. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the base (10) and/or the columns (13, 14) and/or the outer
shell (50) are made of a rigid plastic material, particularly of
the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene group.
13. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims,
further comprising a retention mechanism (80; 90) configured to
temporarily retain the platen (60) in a retracted position while
the outer shell (50) is detached from the base (10).
14. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the retention
mechanism (80 ;90) comprises an engaging member (81; 91) and an
engaged member (83; 93), wherein the engaging member is configured
to be engaged with the engaged member when manually moving the
platen (60) into the retracted position while the outer shell (50)
is detached from the base (10).
15. The dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the engaging
member (81; 91) is provided with a release portion (84; 94)
configured to be engaged with the outer shell (50) to release the
engaging member from the engaged member when the outer shell is
attached to the base (10).
16. The dispenser according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the engaging
member (81) is a latch (82) fixed relative to the base and to be
engaged with a cutout or hook, as the engaged member (83), fixed
relative to the platen.
17. The dispenser according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the engaging
member (91) is a latch (92) fixed relative to the platen and to be
engaged with a cutout or hook, as the engaged member (93), fixed
relative to the base.
18. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the outer shell (50) has channels (101) parallel to the
movement direction of the platen respectively engaged with the
first and second columns (13, 14).
19. That dispenser according to anyone of the preceding claims,
wherein a width of the columns (13, 14) in a direction
perpendicular to the movement direction of the platen and to a
distance between the columns (13, 14) is not more than 50 mm and
not less than 10 mm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a U.S. national stage entry under
35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of, and claims priority to, International
Application No. PCT/EP2018/056839, filed Mar. 19, 2018, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to a dispenser
for sheet products, and more particularly to a dispenser configured
to contain and dispense sheet products. The dispenser may be for
dispensing sanitary paper sheet products such as hand towels,
napkins, facial tissues, toilet paper or other wiping products in
sheet form. Even more particular, the disclosure relates to
so-called table top dispensers usually disposed on a table or a
countertop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Napkins in the form of sheets of material (e.g., paper or
non-woven) intended for wiping and for hygienic purposes are common
commercial items (e.g., in restaurants or cafeterias) that may be
provided in the form of stacks of napkins disposed in a dispenser
having a dispensing opening from which individual napkins can be
readily removed when needed. The dispenser for the napkins should
be easy to handle, should protect the napkins until use and should
be easy to move to a location where the napkins are needed, such as
a table or a counter and the like.
[0004] A commonly used option is to arrange the napkins in an
interfolded stack which is placed standing on a spring biased
platen 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. The platen and thereby
the stack are urged towards the dispensing opening to feed the
individual napkins to the dispensing opening until all of the
napkins have been removed from the dispenser.
[0005] 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 in which 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 (leading sheet) in
the stack. In this manner, the first sheet is extracted at the same
time as a predetermined part of the leading panel of a subsequent
sheet is fed into a dispensing position in the dispenser.
[0006] Some dispensers have 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. After all the napkins contained in
the dispenser have been removed, the dispenser has to be refilled.
For this purpose, the lid or cover is usually pivotably hinged to
the body of the dispenser. Thus, the lid or cover may be opened
giving access to the interior of the body for inserting a new stack
of napkins. Examples of such dispensers may be found in WO
2014/037041 A1, WO 2006/132618 A1 or WO 2017/180070 A1.
[0007] Dispensers of the kind described above are generally made of
a plastic material, thus being relatively inexpensive to
manufacture. Nevertheless, those dispensers are made up of many
parts requiring a relatively laborious assembly of the dispenser
and are sometimes even double-walled (see, e.g., WO 2016/029964 A1,
WO 2006/132618 A1 or WO 2017/180070 A1) leading to a relatively
high material usage. Particularly for emerging markets, there is
accordingly a need to further simplify those dispensers so as to
decrease the manufacturing costs. At the same time, however, the
dispensers need to be user-friendly regarding the dispensing
process as well as the refilling process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser
made up of a relatively few number of parts, that is easy and
inexpensive to manufacture and still provides satisfying or even
improved user-friendliness.
[0009] According to one aspect, a dispenser for sheet products is
disclosed. The dispenser can be particularly configured for
containing and dispensing sanitary paper products in sheet form.
Examples of sanitary paper products are hand towels, paper napkins,
facial tissues, toilet paper and other wiping products in sheet
form. The sheet products may be made of tissue paper (ISO 12625-1)
or non-woven (ISO 9092). The dispenser may consist of a base, an
outer shell detachably mounted to the base and having a dispensing
opening, a platen reciprocally moveable relative to the base and a
biasing member such as a spring, biasing the platen away from the
base and toward the dispensing opening in the outer shell. In one
aspect, the dispenser may consequently consist of four structural
parts only. Upon the detachment of the outer shell from the base,
an upper supporting surface of the platen is readily accessible and
one may easily insert or place a new stack of sheet products on the
platen so that the refilling process is simplified. In order to
even further improve the user-friendliness, the base may comprise
first and second upright columns on opposite sides of the platen
that may serve for guiding the platen in the direction of its
movement and/or for aligning a new stack of sheet products on the
supporting surface of the platen. The columns may be longitudinal,
vertically extending from the base. Further, the columns may be
flat. Furthermore, the columns may be positioned at the shorter
sides of the platen, if the platen is substantially
rectangular.
[0010] In this context and throughout this disclosure, an outer
shell may be understood as an external, usually hard (rigid),
protective and/or enclosing case or cover of the dispenser. In the
same manner, the base may be understood as the bottom and/or
supporting part of the outer shell. The dispensing opening in the
outer shell is to be understood as the opening through which a
sheet product may be withdrawn from the dispenser by a user. The
base may have a supporting surface or a pedestal configured to
place the base and, thus, the dispenser on a horizontal surface
such as a table or countertop. In this disclosure, the platen may
be a support for supporting the sheet products within the dispenser
and by means of the spring pressing them against the inner surface
of the outer shell surrounding the dispensing opening. The platen
may be plate-shaped having a substantially square supporting
surface which may in shape and/or area correspond to the shape of
the sheet products or the foot print of the stack.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect, a dispenser for sheet
products comprises a base and an outer shell mounted to the base.
The outer shell has a first portion configured to enclose a stack
of sheet products to be dispensed and a second portion having a
dispensing opening. In particular, the first portion may define a
space circumferentially enclosing the stack of sheet products and
being open at its bottom and closed at its top by the second
portion. When mounted to the base, the base closes the open bottom
and supports the outer shell. The first portion and the second
portion are fixed relative to each other. In this context, "fixed"
is to be understood in that the portions are non-movable relative
to each other and/or permanently fixed to each other in that no
separation of the portions by a user is intended for refilling the
dispenser. Yet, the portions may still be made from separate parts
being attached to each other. In particular, "fixed relative to
each other" is meant to exclude a lid having the dispensing opening
and being hinged to side walls or being detachably fixed to the
side walls for refilling. Rather and according to the present
disclosure, the entire outer shell, including the first and second
portion, is to be removed for refilling. In one example, the first
portion comprises two pairs of opposite side walls which may be
connected to each other at their vertical edges, and the second
portion comprises a top wall fixed to the side walls, i.e., at
their upper edges. In one aspect, the outer shell is made of one
integral piece, particularly an injection molded part. The
dispenser of this aspect further comprises a platen reciprocally
moveable relative to the base and spring biased toward the
dispensing opening. First and second columns, respectively,
extending or protruding from the base parallel to a movement
direction of the platen on opposite sides of the platen are
provided. According to an example, the columns may vertically
extend or protrude from the base and the base may be configured for
being placed on a horizontal surface such as on a table or a
countertop. The first and second columns may be separate parts that
are attached or mounted to the base. Alternatively, the first and
second columns may be integrated parts of the base, i.e., the first
and second columns and the base are one piece, for example an
injection molded part. For inserting a stack of paper products
between the first and second columns onto the platen, the outer
shell is detachably mounted to the base. Thus, the outer shell may
translationally be removed from the base in the direction of
movement of the platen and/or along the extension of the
columns.
[0012] Once the outer shell is removed from the base and a new
stack of sheet products is placed on the platen, the user has to
temporarily hold the stack of sheet products with the platen being
retained in a retracted position against the force of the spring.
In this context, the retracted position may be considered as a
position in which the platen is moved to a position closest to the
base.
[0013] To avoid or reduce this necessity, the dispenser may further
comprise a stop at each of the first and second columns,
respectively, provided at an end of the first and second columns
opposite to the base. In particular, the columns are attached to
the base or integrally formed with the base at a first end
vertically extending from the base to a second end in a
longitudinal direction. The stops are provided at the second end.
The stops are configured to engage with a leading sheet product of
the stack of sheet products and/or the platen in an extended
position. The leading sheet product of the stack of sheet products
is to be considered as the first sheet product of the stack of
sheet products to be dispensed through the dispensing opening,
i.e., the uppermost sheet product in the stack of sheet products
supported on the platen. The extended position of the platen is a
position in which the platen is moved furthest away from the base
by the spring without any sheet product being supported on the
platen and in which the platen contacts or is engaged with a
surface of the stops facing the platen. In one example, the stops
may extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the
columns and/or the direction of movement of the platen, i.e.,
horizontally, from the second end of the columns. In this example,
it is no longer required to manually retain the platen in the
retracted position once a new stack of sheet products has been
placed on the platen, because this task is taken over by the stops
engaged with the leading sheet product of the stack of sheet
products and thereby holding the platen via the stack in the
retracted position. A further advantage of this example is that the
platen is retained in the extended position by the stops upon
detachment of the outer shell from the base for refilling. Thus,
the platen does not move in an uncontrolled manner when detaching
the outer shell from the base.
[0014] In order to enable an easy refilling process and
particularly a simple process of placing a new stack of sheet
products on the platen, the stops are flexible. According to one
aspect, the stops are flexible in opposite directions, but stiff
enough to counteract a force exerted via a stack of sheet products
by the spring biased platen and/or a force exerted directly by the
spring biased platen onto the stops to thereby maintain the stack
of sheet products in position on the platen and/or limit the upward
movement of the platen. In a particular example, the stops are more
flexible in a direction towards the base parallel to the movement
direction of the platen than in a direction away from the base
parallel to the movement direction of the platen. In another
example, the stops are flexible in only one direction, namely the
direction towards the base parallel to the movement direction of
the platen. For this purpose, the stops may have a stack engaging
part for engaging with the leading sheet product of the stack of
sheet products or the supporting surface of the platen in an
extended position and a fixing part which is fixed to the free ends
of the first and second columns. The engaging part and the fixing
part are connected by a hinge such as a living hinge. For more
details regarding the configuration of the stops and on how to
achieve flexibility, reference is made to WO 2016/029964 Al the
content of which is incorporated by reference. In this context, the
entire description of the "holdback members 11" of this document is
incorporated by reference. In this embodiment, a new stack of sheet
products may be inserted between the second ends of the columns
flexing the stops toward the base and thereby pushing the platen
against the force of the spring toward the retracted position. Once
the stack of sheet products has passed the stops, the stops spring
back and the user may release the stack. Subsequently, the platen
is retained in the retracted position via the stack of sheet
products with the leading sheet product of the stack of sheet
products being in contact or engaged with a lower surface of the
stops.
[0015] In one example, the stops are made of an elastic material
such as polypropylene. The stops may be separate parts fitted to
the respective end of the first and second columns. This is
particularly advantageous because the first and second columns are
preferably made of a hard, rigid plastic material such as
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
[0016] So as to enable a controlled movement of the platen and
thereby a simplified refilling process, the platen has guide
members on opposite sides, respectively engaged with the first and
second columns. In an example, the guide members may hook on the
first and second columns. Thus, the guide members may guide the
platen along the first and second columns in the direction of
movement of the platen and limit the movement of the platen in at
least one or even two direction(-s) perpendicular to the movement
direction of the platen.
[0017] In one example, each guide member has a pair of distanced
grooves, respectively engaged with opposite longitudinal side edges
of the respective first and second columns to limit the movement of
the platen in two directions perpendicular to each other and
perpendicular to the movement direction of the platen.
[0018] According to an aspect, the base and/or the columns and/or
the outer shell may be made of a rigid plastic material,
particularly of the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
group.
[0019] In addition or alternatively to the stops, the dispenser may
further comprise a retention mechanism configured to temporarily
retain the platen in the retracted (refilling) position while the
outer shell is detached from the base. As previously described, it
may be cumbersome to insert a new stack of sheet products and at
the same time manually retain the platen in the retracted position
or pushing the platen toward the retracted position while inserting
a new stack. Thus, in some embodiments, the dispenser includes a
retention mechanism that enables a user to manually push the platen
against the spring force towards the base and thereby engage the
platen with the retention mechanism with the platen being retained
in the retracted position, thereby enabling easy refilling.
[0020] According to one configuration of this aspect, the retention
mechanism may comprise an engaging member and an engaged member
with the engaging member being configured to be engaged with the
engaged member when manually moving the platen into the retracted
refilling position while the outer shell is detached from the
base.
[0021] In those embodiments, it may be beneficial to automatically
release the retention mechanism from the platen upon attachment of
the outer shell to the base so that the platen again supplies the
sheet products to the dispensing opening by being urged toward the
dispensing opening. In particular, the engaging member may be
provided with a release portion configured to be engaged with the
outer shell to release the engaging member from the engaged member
when the outer shell is attached to the base.
[0022] For example, the engaging member may be a latch fixed
relative to the base and to be engaged with a cutout or hook, as
the engaged member, fixed relative to the platen.
[0023] Alternatively, the engaging member may be a latch fixed
relative to the platen and to be engaged with a cutout or hook, as
the engaged member, fixed relative to the base.
[0024] Moreover, channels may be provided on an inner surface of
the outer shell, the channels engaging with the columns upon
attachment of the outer shell to the base. When attaching/detaching
the outer shell to/from the base, the outer shell is guided along
the columns simplifying a controlled attachment/detachment.
[0025] According to an aspect, a width of the columns is within the
range of 15 mm and 50 mm. In another example, the width of the
columns 13, 14 is within the range of 20 mm and 40 mm. In a
particular example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is between 25
mm and 35 mm.
[0026] Further aspects of the present disclosure may be found in
the following description of a particular embodiment making
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the outer shell of the
dispenser of FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1
with the outer shell being detached and embodying stops.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a partial top view of FIG. 3.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a dispenser of FIG. 1
with the outer shell of FIG. 2 being detached and embodying a first
example of a retention mechanism.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention
mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0033] FIGS. 7A and B show a schematic cross-section through the
retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 5 for describing its
function.
[0034] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a dispenser of FIG. 1
with the outer shell of FIG. 2 being detached and embodying a
second example of a retention mechanism.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention
mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 8.
[0036] FIGS. 10A and B show a schematic cross-section through the
retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 8 for describing its
function.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] An example of a dispenser according to the present
disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The dispenser comprises a base 10
and an outer shell 50 defining a housing of the dispenser. The
housing defines an interior volume configured to accommodate a
stack of sheet products, such as napkins. The outer shell 50 is
detachably attached to the base 10. For this purpose, the base has
elastic latches 11 on opposite sides which are engaged with a
respective cutout 51 in the outer shell 50 so as to releasably fix
the outer shell 52 to the base 10. When the outer shell 50 is to be
detached from the base 10, the latches 11, which are accessible
through the cutout 51, may be pressed inward by a user to disengage
them from the cutouts 51 and enable detachment of the outer shell
50.
[0038] The outer shell 50 also shown in FIG. 2 comprises a first
portion 52 defining a circumferential enclosure for a stack of
sheet products (not visible in FIG. 1) to be dispensed from the
dispenser via a dispensing opening 54 disposed in a second portion
53 of the outer shell 50. Accordingly, the outer shell 50 may
comprise two pairs of opposite side walls 55 and connected to each
other at the corners or corner portions 56. Accordingly, the side
walls 55 define the first portion 52, which is open at its bottom
facing the base 10 and closed at its top by a top wall 57 defining
the second portion 53 having the dispensing opening 54. In one
embodiment, the outer shell 50 is made of rigid plastic material
such as ABS. The outer shell 50 may be manufactured in an injection
molding process so that the outer shell 50 is an integral one piece
component.
[0039] The base 10 is shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated example,
the base 10 comprises a bottom portion 12, which is configured to
correspond to a lower portion of the outer shell 50 so as to define
the housing upon attachment of the outer shell 52 to the base
10.
[0040] Moreover, the base 10 comprises two columns 13, 14. In one
example, the columns 13, 14 are manufactured together with the
bottom portion 12 from a rigid plastic material such as ABS.
Alternatively, the columns 13, 14 may be separate parts which are
subsequently attached or assembled with the bottom portion 12. Yet,
as with respect to the outer shell 50, the columns 13, 14 may as
well be manufactured in an injection molding process together with
the bottom portion 12 so that the bottom portion 12 and the columns
13, 14 are an integral one piece component.
[0041] The columns 13, 14 may, as in the illustrated example, be
longitudinal elements having opposite ends 15, 16 as seen in the
longitudinal direction and vertically extending or protruding from
the bottom portion 12 of the base 10. In this context, the columns
13, 14 are attached to the bottom portion 12 of the base 10 at
their ends 15, whereas the opposite ends 16 may be considered as
free ends.
[0042] In the particular example shown in the figures, the columns
13, 14 extend or protrude from the bottom portion 12 of the base 10
and taper away from the base. Further, the columns 13, 14 are
formed as flat elements in that their length in the longitudinal
direction (Y direction) and their width in a width direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Z direction) are
larger than the thickness in the thickness direction perpendicular
to the longitudinal direction and to the width direction (X
direction). In an example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is
within the range of 15 mm and 50 mm. In another example, the width
of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 20 mm and 40 mm. In a
particular example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is between 25
mm and 35 mm, such as 25 mm.
[0043] Each of the columns 13, 14 comprises a stop 17, 18 at its
free end 16. The stops 17, 18 are made of an elastic material such
as polypropylene. In the illustrated example, the stops 17, 18 are
made separately from the columns 13 and 14 and are attached to the
free end 16 of the columns 13, 14 by means of a releasable
connection, such as, and without limitation, a snap fit connection
(e.g., hooks 19 of the stops 17, 18 engaged with cutouts 20 at the
free end 16 of the columns 13, 14).
[0044] The stops 17, 18 are flexible in a direction towards the
base 10 (bottom portion 12). To put it differently, the stops 17,
18 may be flexed at a film (living) hinge 21 about an axis 22
parallel to the width direction (Z direction) of the columns 13,
14.
[0045] The stops 17, 18 are prevented from being flexed upward
beyond the position shown in FIG. 3 (substantially parallel
orientation to the platen 60 or more particularly the supporting
surface 61 of the platen). Accordingly, the stops 17, 18 are
flexible or elastic in only one direction, namely a direction
toward the bottom portion 12 of the base 10 or toward an inner
surface of each of the columns 13, 14. At least, however, flexing
upward is not intended and the stops 17, 18 are less flexible in an
upward direction than in a downward direction. In order to achieve
the required and intended flexibility, the configuration of the
hinge as well as the manufacturing process (e.g., injection
molding) are of importance. For details in regard of the
configuration of the stops, reference is made to WO 2016/029964
A1.
[0046] The dispenser comprises a platen 60. The platen 60 has an
upward supporting surface 61 on which the sheet products are to be
placed. The platen 60 is reciprocally movable along the columns 13,
14 in a direction indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 3 (Y
direction). In particular, the platen 60 is movable between a
retracted position close to the base 10 or the bottom portion 12 of
the base 10 as shown in FIG. 3 and an extended position in which
the upwardly facing supporting surface 61 of the platen 60 is in
contact with a downwardly facing surface of the stops 17, 18
limiting further upward movement of the platen 60 beyond the stops
17, 18.
[0047] In order to continuously feed the sheet products towards the
dispensing opening 54 upon withdrawal of the sheet products from
the dispenser, the platen 60 is urged towards the dispensing
opening 54 by a spring 70. The spring 70 is disposed between a
downward surface 62 of the platen 60 and an upward surface 23 of
the bottom portion 12 of the base 10.
[0048] Further, at the sides of the columns 13, 14 the platen 60 is
provided with a guide member 63 engaging with (e.g., hooking on)
the columns 13, 14 and guiding the platen along the columns 13, 14
in the Y direction and limiting the movement in the width direction
(Z direction) and/or the X direction. In the illustrated example,
the guide member 63 is in the form of a T-groove guide with the
platen 60 having the T-grooves and the respective column
respectively engaging the T-groove. To put it differently, a pair
of distanced grooves 64 is provided and the grooves 64 are
respectively engaged with opposite longitudinal side edges 24, 25
of the respective first and second columns.
[0049] In the following, reference is made to the refilling process
of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0050] When all the sheet products contained in the dispenser are
dispensed and new sheet products need to be filled into the
dispenser, the user first pushes the latches 11 to disengage them
from the cutouts 51. Subsequently, the user is enabled to detach
the outer shell 50 from the base 10 substantially in a
translational movement along the Y direction.
[0051] In this situation, the upward surface (supporting surface)
61 of the platen 60 is in an extracted position in which the upward
surface 61 is in abutting contact with a surface of the stops 17,
18 facing the upward surface 61 of the platen 60. Accordingly, the
platen 60 is maintained in the extracted position by the stops 17,
18.
[0052] The user then grips a stack of sheet products and inserts
the stack from the top in FIG. 3 between the columns 13, 14 flexing
the stops 17, 18 at the hinge 21 about the axis 22 towards the
inner surfaces of the columns 13, 14 so that the stack of sheet
products may pass the stops 17, 18. During this process, the stack
contacts the supporting surface 61 of the platen 60 and the platen
60 is pushed downward toward the bottom portion 12 of the base 10
against the spring force of the spring 70 and guided along the
columns 13 and 14 by the guide member 63 in a controlled
manner.
[0053] Once the leading sheet product (uppermost sheet product) in
the stack of sheet products has passed the stops 17, 18, the stops
17, 18 spring back due to their elasticity. Once the user releases
the stack of sheet products, the surfaces of the stops 17, 18
facing the leading sheet product come in contact with the leading
sheet product when the stack of sheet products is pushed upward by
the platen 60 being urged upwardly by the spring 70. Consequently,
the stack of sheet products is maintained in position and the outer
shell 50 may easily be attached to the base 10 by engaging the
latches 11 with the cutouts 51. Further and as visible from FIG. 2,
the outer shell 50 has ribs 100 on its inner surface 58 forming
channels 101 which are respectively engaged with the columns 13, 14
during attachment of the outer shell 50 to the base 10.
Accordingly, the outer shell 50 is guided by the channels 101 along
the columns 13, 14 during attachment/detachment of the outer shell
50 to/from the base 10.
[0054] A further dispenser is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to 7. The
only difference as compared to the dispenser described with respect
to FIGS. 1 to 4 is that the stops 17, 18 are omitted and instead a
retention mechanism 80 is embodied. The retention mechanism 80 is
provided to temporarily retain the platen 60 in the retracted
position for refilling when the outer shell 50 is detached from the
base 10.
[0055] For this purpose, the retention mechanism 80 comprises an
engaging member 81 and an engaged member. The engaging member 81
may, for example, be fixed to the bottom portion 12 of the base 10.
The engaging member 81 may be made of bent sheet metal, thus being
flexible and elastic. The engaging member 81 may have a latch 82.
The engaging member 81 may further have a release portion 84
configured to engage with an inner surface 58 of the outer shell 50
upon attachment of the outer shell 50 to the base 10.
[0056] The engaged member may be in the form of a cutout 83 formed
in a side surface of the platen 60.
[0057] Accordingly, a user may place a new stack of sheet products
on the supporting surface 61 of the platen 60 and push the platen
60 downward against the spring force of the spring 70. Once the
platen 60 reaches the retracted position as shown in FIG. 5, the
latch 82 is first pressed inward and subsequently springs back to
engage with the cutout 83. Accordingly, the platen 60 is retained
in the retracted position, even if the user releases the platen 60.
As a result, the stack of sheet products can easily be placed on
the supporting surface resting between the columns 13 and 14 and on
the upward supporting surface 61 enabling easy attachment of the
outer shell 50.
[0058] When attaching the outer shell 50 as shown in FIGS. 7A and B
by translationally moving the outer shell 50 along the arrow A in
FIG. 7A, an inner surface 58 of the outer shell 50 comes in contact
with the release portion 84 of the engaging member 81 and pushes
the engaging member 81 inward whereby the latch 82 is released from
the cutout 83. Consequently, the platen 60 may move upward as shown
by the arrow B in FIG. 7B being urged by the spring 17.
[0059] An alternative retention mechanism 90, which may be used
instead of the retention mechanism 80, is shown in the dispenser
depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 to 10. The retention mechanism 90 is
provided to temporarily retain the platen 60 in the retracted
position for refilling when the outer shell 50 is detached from the
base 10.
[0060] For this purpose, the retention mechanism 90 comprises an
engaging member 91 and an engaged member. The engaging member 91
may, for example, be fixed to the platen 60. The engaging member 91
is one piece with the platen 60 and integrally formed in an
injection molding process. The engaging member 91 may have one or
more flexible latches 92. The engaging member 91 may further have a
release portion 94 configured to engage with an inner surface 58 of
the outer shell 50 or a ramp 59 at the inner surface 58 of the
outer shell 50 upon attachment of the outer shell 50 to the base
10.
[0061] The engaged member may be in the form of one or more hooks
93 formed at the bottom portion 12 of the base 10.
[0062] Accordingly, a user may place a new stack of sheet products
on the supporting surface 61 of the platen 60 and push the platen
60 downward against the spring force of the spring 70. Once the
platen 60 reaches the retracted position as shown in FIG. 9, the
latches 92 are first pressed inward by the slanted surfaces 94 of
the hooks 93 and subsequently spring back to engage with the hooks
93. Accordingly, the platen 60 is retained in the retracted
position, even if the user releases the platen 60. As a result, the
stack of sheet products may be placed on the supporting surface and
rests between the columns 13 and 14 and on the supporting surface
61 enabling easy attachment of the outer shell 50.
[0063] When attaching the outer shell 50 as shown in FIGS. 10A and
B by translationally moving the outer shell 50 along the arrow A in
FIG. 10A, a ramp 59 on an inner surface 58 of the outer shell 50
comes in contact with the release portion 94 of the engaging member
91 and pushes the engaging member 91 inward (see arrow C in FIG.
10A), whereby the latches 92 are released from the hooks 93.
Consequently, the platen 60 may move upward as shown by the arrow B
in FIG. 10B being urged by the spring 17.
[0064] The use of the stops 17, 18 and of the retention mechanisms
80; 90 has been disclosed separately in the illustrated example
embodiments. Yet, it will be apparent that the stops and a
retention mechanism may as well be embodied in one dispenser. Thus,
the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples, but
various modifications and alterations are conceivable within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *