Universal Towel Dispenser

Abstract

In a cabinet having interior shelf flanges for the support of towels in a stack from which the lowermost is to be dispensed, there is a support for the intermediate portions of successive lowermost towels which support has extensions spaced to project from its opposite ends toward the dispensing slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The subject matter of this application is an improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,592, granted Aug. 30, 1966.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One of the objectives in a towel dispenser of this type is to assure dependability and uniformity of the dispensing operation. This presents something of a problem in a dispenser required to handle towels of different types and dimensions.

In attempting to improve the uniformity of the dispensing operation in using the device of U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,592, it was discovered that this could be done economically and effectively by extending laterally spaced portions of the shelf margin at the respective ends of the shelf without any change in the intermediate portion of the shelf. The extensions are in a direction toward the dispensing opening and the effect is to provide additional support at the sides of the central areas of the lowermost towel in the stack, while allowing the central part of the lowest article to sag away from frictional contact with the next article in the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the cabinet embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottom of the cabinet, the side being shown in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken in section through the cabinet at the plane indicated at 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a further detail view in perspective fragmentarily showing portions of the interior shelves upon which the lowermost towel in a stack is supported pending withdrawal from the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The dispenser comprises a cabinet 6 which is similar in appearance and function to the cabinet shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,592. It has a bottom portion 8 which may be separately prefabricated and which provides support for the article 10 in a position to be withdrawn from the cabinet through the dispensing opening 12. The article 10 shown in position in FIG. 3 has folds 14 and 16 which define its ends and from which its margins 18 and 20 project toward each other. The end fold 16 rests on a flange 22. The end fold 14 is supported on a pair of shouldered tabs 24 which project rearwardly from a partial wall 26. This general organization is shown in the previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,592.

Beneath the shouldered tabs 24, the bottom wall 8 has embossed portions 28 extending in a fore and aft direction. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,592, these connect with a transversely extending rib. In the instant device, the embossed portions 28 are part of a shelf 30 that provides carefully limited support for the intermediate portion of the article which is in a position to be dispensed. According to the present invention, the shelf 30 is provided at each end with extensions 32 that are rounded downwardly at 33 into said opening and are spaced laterally from each other and extend rearwardly beyond the forward edge of dispensing slot 12 as defined by the shelf edge 31 between the extensions.

By virtue of these extensions, additional support is provided for the side portions of towel 10 to keep these from sagging such as might result in dispensing more than one towel at a time. It is desirable that the towel margin 14 should remain on tabs 24 above the shoulders 25 thereof. The extensions 32 are used to maintain the desired relationship while nevertheless permitting the center of the lowest article to sag slightly away from frictional engagement with the successive article.

Whether or not this accounts for the improved result, we are not certain, but it is a fact that with the laterally spaced extensions 32 there is more precision in the dispensing operation and the individual towels can be withdrawn singly and with uniformity by simply grasping, in each case, the depending end 20 and pulling the first towel from the bottom of the stack.

No attempt has been made in the drawings of this application to portray the remaining towels of the stack, it being well-known that these are superimposed, one upon another, above the towel 10.

Claims

We claim:

1. In a cabinet for dispensing folded paper articles from a stack, a bottom including a shelf and an inwardly projecting flange engageable with the lowermost article for the support of the articles of said stack, said shelf being downwardly and rearwardly inclined and said shelf having a rear edge spaced from said flange and cooperating with the adjacent edge of said flange to define a dispensing opening, and laterally spaced extension means on said shelf projecting rearwardly beyond said shelf rear edge to support portions of the paper articles adjacent a central article portion and afford sagging of said central article portion from the stack to facilitate withdrawal of the lowermost article from the stack.

2. A cabinet bottom according to claim 1 in which an intermediate portion of said shelf between said extension means is substantially at the forward margin of said opening, the center of the lowermost article being permitted to sag slightly away from the next lowest article of the stack above said intermediate portion of said shelf.

3. A cabinet bottom according to claim 2 in which said extension means have terminal portions rounded downwardly into said dispensing opening.