EP0746223A4 - Distributeur de feuilles a support ou elements de fixation optionnels - Google Patents

Distributeur de feuilles a support ou elements de fixation optionnels

Info

Publication number
EP0746223A4
EP0746223A4 EP19940914720 EP94914720A EP0746223A4 EP 0746223 A4 EP0746223 A4 EP 0746223A4 EP 19940914720 EP19940914720 EP 19940914720 EP 94914720 A EP94914720 A EP 94914720A EP 0746223 A4 EP0746223 A4 EP 0746223A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dispenser
bottom wall
portions
stack
adjacent
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP19940914720
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0746223A1 (fr
EP0746223B1 (fr
Inventor
Casey L Carlson
Thomas L Connolly
Elmer Blackwell
Bruce E Samuelson
Gerald E Mueller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/064,403 external-priority patent/US5299712A/en
Priority claimed from US08/063,519 external-priority patent/US5358141A/en
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority to EP03018661A priority Critical patent/EP1378374B1/fr
Priority to EP99123228A priority patent/EP1044825B1/fr
Publication of EP0746223A4 publication Critical patent/EP0746223A4/fr
Publication of EP0746223A1 publication Critical patent/EP0746223A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0746223B1 publication Critical patent/EP0746223B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D5/00—Sheets united without binding to form pads or blocks
    • B42D5/003—Note-pads
    • B42D5/005—Supports for note-pads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C11/00—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/08—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
    • B65D83/0894—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing thin flat articles in succession the articles being positioned relative to one another or to the container in a special way, e.g. for facilitating dispensing, without additional support
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/41—Portable or hand-held apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/41—Portable or hand-held apparatus
    • B65H2402/411—Portable or hand-held apparatus with means for mounting the apparatus on the user body, e.g. arm, wrist
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1934—Sticky notes, e.g. sheets partially coated with temporary adhesive

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to dispensers for pressure sensitive adhesive coated sheets and retaining means to which such dispensers can be attached to releasably retain them at predetermined locations.
  • Refillable dispensers adapted to dispense pressure sensitive adhesive coated sheets are known, as are retaining means to which such dispensers can be attached to releasably retain them at predetermined locations.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,086,946 issued February 11, 1992, (the content whereof is incorporated herein by reference) describes such a dispenser, and includes a discussion of the background art relating to such dispensers.
  • the present invention provides an improved dispenser from which sheets in a stack of sheets of the type described in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,086,946 or
  • 4,907,825 can be dispensed, together with improved and novel retaining means to which the dispenser can be attached, and by which the dispenser can be positioned at predetermined locations, such as along the back of a user's hand or wrist, or along a vertical or horizontal surface.
  • a dispenser for pressure sensitive adhesive coated flexible sheets from a stack of such sheets adhered one on top of another which sheets may, for example be used for securing gift wrapping paper, marking electrical wire, or highlighting portions of a document.
  • the dispenser comprises walls having surfaces defining a cavity adapted to receive the stack, which walls can include an arcuate bottom wall defining a bottom surface for the cavity and an opposite generally cylindrically convex outer surface, end walls defining end surfaces for the cavity at opposite ends of the bottom surface, first and second arcuate top wall portions normally both in normal positions extending generally toward each other from the end walls and defining arcuate top surface portions for the cavity spaced from the bottom surface, which top wall portions in their normal positions have spaced adjacent end surfaces defining an outlet opening from the cavity between the top wall portions, and opposite side walls defining opposing side surfaces for the cavity extending between the top surface portions and the bottom surface.
  • the surfaces defining the cavity are shaped to afford longitudinal movement of the stack of sheets within the cavity in response to a force manually applied to the second end portion of the uppermost sheet on the stack projecting through the opening so that the uppermost sheet on the stack can be manually pulled through the opening and will carry with it the second end portion of the sheet beneath it on the stack to which the uppermost sheet is adhered by the adhesive coating, placing that second end portion in a position where it also may be grasped and pulled to withdraw that sheet from the stack.
  • the dispenser comprises a first housing portion including its bottom wall, end walls, side walls and first top wall portion, a second housing portion comprising the second top wall portion which is mounted on the first housing portion for relative movement between its normal position and an open position spaced from the first wall portion to afford inserting a stack of sheets in the cavity, and means for releasably retaining the second top wall portion in its normal position.
  • the arcuate top wall portions include base parts adjacent the end walls and flexible cantilever parts extending toward each other from those base parts adapted to deflect in response to forces applied to the stack to remove the uppermost sheet from the dispenser to thereby decrease the amount of force required to remove the uppermost sheet from the dispenser.
  • the base part of the first top wall portion is fixed to the side walls.
  • the base part of the second top wall portion is fixed with respect to the side walls when it is in its normal position and is mounted on the side walls for longitudinal sliding movement between its normal and open positions, and the means for releasably retaining the second top wall portion in its normal position comprises latch parts mounted on the base part of the second top wall portion and on the first housing portion adapted for releasable engagement to releasably retain the second top wall portion in its normal position.
  • the first and second top wall portions can have pairs of parallel ribs extending generally parallel to the side walls to define portions of the arcuate top surface portions for the cavity.
  • Such ribs restrict adhesive oil the sheets from transferring to the top surface portions, and tend to guide movement of the stack in the cavity as sheets are withdrawn from the dispenser, which is particularly useful when only a small number of sheets remain in the stack.
  • the side walls can have top edges adjacent and unattached to the top wall portions, and the ribs can be spaced smaller distances from the bottom wall than the top edges of the side walls so that the ribs restrict sheets on the stack from becoming wedged between the top surfaces and the top wall portions.
  • the dispenser further includes attaching means adapted for releasably attaching it to several different retaining means adapted for releasably retaining the dispenser at various predetermined locations including attached to a surface, attached along the back of a user's hand or wrist, or supported on a horizontal surface.
  • Those attaching means include (1) two transversely extending loop like portions of the dispensers bottom wall, each adjacent a different one of its end walls.
  • the bottom wall has transverse openings along opposite edges of the loop like portions affording positioning a strap around the sides of said loop like portions adjacent the cavity by which strap the dispenser can be releasably secured with the outer surface of the bottom wall along the top surface of a user's hand or wrist with the strap extending around the palm of the user's hand or around the user's wrist.
  • Also included in those attaching means are (2) two transversely extending openings in the bottom wall partially defined by lip like portions of the bottom wall that extend toward the end walls of the dispenser on opposite sides of the central opening.
  • the lip-like portions of the bottom wall are adapted to be engaged by opposed hook-like distal end portions of a novel support member.
  • That support member has finger engagement surfaces that face in opposite directions on opposite sides, which finger engagement surfaces are shaped to engage adjacent side surfaces of a user's fingers.
  • the support member includes a narrow web like portion between the finger engagement surfaces adapted to comfortably extend between a user's fingers positioned along the finger engagement surfaces.
  • the support member has a retainer portion that is wider than the web like portion and is adapted to be positioned along the inner surfaces of a user's fingers.
  • the attaching means includes (3) two docking tabs extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of the bottom wall and centrally along the bottom wall. Those docking tabs are adapted to be releasably engaged under locking tabs in a base having a slot in which the bottom wall of the dispenser can be inserted or removed by moving its bottom wall longitudinally into or out of the slot.
  • a base can either be weighted and adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface, or can be un-weighted and adapted to be attached to a surface by means such as adhesive, a suction cup or magnetic material.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first embodiment of a sheet dispenser according to the present invention respectively showing a second housing portion of the dispenser in a normal and open position relative to a first housing portion of the dispenser;
  • Figure 3 is a reduced top view of the dispenser of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a reduced side view of the dispenser of Figure 1;
  • Figure 5 is a reduced bottom view of the dispenser of Figure 1;
  • Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 6-6 of Figure 3;
  • Figure 7 shows the second housing portion of the dispenser removed from the first housing portion of the dispenser
  • Figures 8 " , 9 and 10 are cross sectional views respectively taken approximately along lines 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10 of Figure 3;
  • Figures 11-18 are sectional views taken approximately along line 6-6 of Figure 3 that sequentially illustrate dispensing a sheet from the dispenser of Figure 1.
  • Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of the sheet dispenser shown in Figure 1 in combination with a strap by which the dispenser can be attached to a user's hand or wrist;
  • Figure 20 is a perspective view of the sheet dispenser of Figure 1 releasably engaged with a support member adapted to be held between a persons fingers;
  • Figure 21 is a side view of the sheet dispenser and support member shown in Figure 20;
  • Figure 22 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 22-22 of Figure 20;
  • Figure 23 is a perspective view of the sheet dispenser of Figure 1 releasably engaged with a weighted base;
  • Figure 24 is a side view of the sheet dispenser and weighted base shown in Figure 23;
  • Figure 25 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 25-25 of Figure 23;
  • Figure 26 is a perspective view of the sheet dispenser of Figure 1 releasably engaged with a base adapted to be attached to a substrate;
  • Figure 27 is a side view of the sheet dispenser and base shown in Figure 26; and Figure 28 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 28-28 of Figure 26.
  • a dispenser according to the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral 20.
  • the dispenser 20 can be used for dispensing flexible sheets from a stack 10 of sheets (see Figures 11-18) of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 5,086,946, the portion of which patent describing those sheets is incorporated herein by reference, with the same reference numerals being used in this application as in that patent to describe parts of the sheets and stack 10.
  • the stack 10 is of sheets 11 disposed one on top of another, with each sheet 11 comprising a backing B having first and second opposite major side surfaces 3 and 5 and first and second opposite ends 4 and 6 with the first end 4 of each sheet 11 being in alignment with the second end 6 of an adjacent sheet 11 in the stack 10, and a layer 2 of adhesive permanently adhered to the first side surface 3 of the sheet backing B.
  • the layer 2 of adhesive of each sheet 11 is releasably adhered along the second surface 5 of the adjacent sheet 11 in the stack 10.
  • the sheets 11 comprise release means in the form of premium low adhesion backsize 1' for providing a first adhesion level (which may be no adhesion) along a first end portion 15 of each of the sheets 11 adjacent the first end 4 of the backing B between the layer 2 of adhesive and the second side surface 5 of the adjacent sheet 11 in the stack 10 to which the layer 2 of adhesive is releasably adhered, which first adhesion level provides a sufficiently low release force between the layer 2 of adhesive and the adjacent sheet 11 to which the layer 2 of adhesive is releasable adhered to afford sliding movement between the side surfaces 3 and 5 of the adjacent sheets 11 along the first end portion 15, and attachment means for providing a second adhesion level along a second end portion 17 of each of the sheets 11 adjacent the second end 6 of the backing B between the layer 2 of adhesive and the second side surface 5 of the adjacent sheet 11 in the stack 10 to which the layer 2 of adhesive is releasably adhered, which second adhesion level provides a release force that is higher than the low release force along the first end
  • the stack of sheets could be the stack described in U.S. Patent No. 4,907,825 (i.e., the stack of sheets sold in a dispenser under the trade designation "Post-it” (T.M.) Tape Flags) the content of which U.S. Patent No. 4,907,825 is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the dispenser 20 comprises walls having surfaces defining a cavity 22 which is adapted to receive the stack 10.
  • Those walls include a generally arcuate bottom wall 23 defining a generally cylindrically convex bottom surface 24 for the cavity 22 and an opposite generally cylindrically convex outer surface 25, end walls 26 defining end surfaces 27 for the cavity 22 at opposite ends of the bottom surface 24, and first and second arcuate top wall portions 28 and 29 normally both in normal positions extending generally toward each other from the end walls 26 and defining arcuate top surface portions 30 for the cavity 22 spaced from the bottom surface 24.
  • the top wall portions 28 and 29 in their normal positions have spaced adjacent end surfaces 31 defining an outlet opening 32 for the cavity 22 between the top wall portions 28 and 29.
  • top wall portions 28 and 29 have central through openings 34 so that a user can see the stack 10 in the cavity 22 to determine the number of sheets 11 remaining in it.
  • the walls of the dispenser 20 include opposite side walls 33 defining opposing side surfaces for the cavity 22 extending between the top surface portions 30 and the bottom surface 24.
  • the surfaces defining the cavity 22 are shaped to afford longitudinal reciprocating movement of the stack 10 of sheets 11 within the cavity 22 in response to a force manually applied to the second end portion 17 of the uppermost sheet 11 in the stack 10 projecting through the opening 32 (see Figures 11 through 18) so that the uppermost sheet 11 in the stack 10 can be manually pulled through the opening 32 and will carry with it the second end portion 17 of the sheet 11 beneath it in the stack 10 to which the uppermost sheet 11 is adhered by the coating 2 of adhesive, placing that second end portion 17 in a position where it also may be grasped and pulled to withdraw that sheet 11 from the stack 10.
  • the dispenser 20 comprises a first housing portion 35 including the bottom wall 23, the end walls 26, side walls 33 and the first top wall portion 28; a second housing portion 36 (shown separated from the first housing portion 35 in Figure 7) comprising the second top wall portion 29; and means mounting the second housing portion 36 or second top wall portion 36 on the first housing portion 35 for relative movement between the normal position of the housing portions 35 and 36 ( Figures 1,3 and 4) and an open position of the housing portions 35 and 36 ( Figure 2) with the second top wall portion 29 spaced from the first wall portion
  • the arcuate wall portions 28 and 29 include base parts 37 adjacent the end walls 26 and flexible cantilever parts 38 extending toward each other from the base parts 37 that are adapted to deflect in response to forces applied to the stack 10 to remove the uppermost sheet 11 from the dispenser 20 and thereby decrease the amount of force required to remove the uppermost sheet 11 from the dispenser 20.
  • the base part 37 of the first top wall portion 28 is fixed relative to the side walls 33, whereas the base part 37 of the second top wall portion
  • the means for mounting the second housing portion 36 or second top wall portion 29 on the first housing portion 35 for longitudinal sliding movement between the normal and open positions of the second top wall portion 29 or second housing portion 36 include flange portions 40 extending transversely outwardly along opposite sides of the second top wall portion 29 adapted to slide between the top edges of the side walls 33 that are opposite the bottom wall 23 and flange portions 41 of the first housing portion 35 that extend over those top edges of the side walls 33.
  • the means for releasably retaining the second top wall portion 29 in its normal position comprises latch parts including tabs 43 projecting toward the cavity 22 from the sides of the flange portions 41 of the first housing portion 35 which are releasably received in openings 44 along the flange portions 40 on the second top wall portion 29 when the second top wall portion 29 is in its normal position.
  • latch parts 46 of the flange portions 40 on the sides of the openings 44 adjacent the end surface 31 will deflect and move past the tabs 43, which deflection will be assisted by a component of the opening force applied to the lug 45 pressing the flanges 40 toward the ends of the tabs 43; and when the second top wall portion 29 is moved back from its open to its normal position, the latch parts 46 of the flange portions 40 will again deflect and move past the tabs 43 so that the tabs 43 can again move back into the openings 44 to again releasably retain the second top wall portion 29 in its normal position.
  • the end surfaces 31 of the top wall portions 28 and 29 are defined by a plurality of spaced bars 47 which restrict the coating 2 of adhesive on the sheets 11 from “wetting” the opposed end surfaces 31. Such "wetting” could make it difficult to dispense the sheets 11 because of adhesion of the sheets 11 to the dispenser 20.
  • the inner or top surface portions 30 on the first and second arcuate top wall portions 28 and 29 are each partially defined by distal and proximal pairs of longitudinally extending parallel spaced ribs 48 and 49 included in the arcuate top wall portions 28 and 29, which ribs 48 and 49 project toward the bottom wall 23.
  • the upper surface of the stack 10 of sheets 11 bears against the ribs 48 and 49 as the stack 10 moves within the cavity 22 as a sheet 11 is withdrawn from the dispenser 20.
  • the ribs 48 and 49 restrict adhesive on the sheets 11 from transferring to the top surface portions 30.
  • the ribs 48 and 49 tend to guide movement of stacks 10 that have only small numbers of sheets 11 remaining so that such stacks 10 move in directions parallel with the ribs 48 and 49 as sheets 11 are withdrawn from the dispenser 20.
  • the proximal pairs of ribs 49 are more closely spaced than, and are centered between, the distal pairs of ribs 48, and the distal pairs of ribs 48 normally are more closely spaced from the bottom wall 23 than the top edges of the side walls 33.
  • the inner or bottom surface 24 of the bottom wall 23 is in part defined by the arcuate top surfaces opposite the outlet opening 32 of transversely spaced longitudinally extending ribs 50.
  • the ribs 50 defining the central portion of the bottom wall 23 and the ribs 48 and 49 partially defining the inner or top surface portions 30 of the arcuate top wall portions 28 and 29 can be sized and shaped to provide a desired arcs for the top surface portions 30 and bottom surface 24 defining the cavity 22 to accommodate stacks 10 of different numbers of sheets 11 between those top surface portions 30 of the first and second arcuate top wall portions 28 and 29 and bottom surface 24 of the bottom wall 23.
  • the second housing portion 36 or second top wall portion 29 may be a unitary molded structure (e.g. , a polymeric molding of polystyrene)
  • the first housing portion 35 may be formed of two such unitary moldings (one including the bottom wall 23, the side walls 33 and the end walls 26; and the other the first top wall portion 28) that have mating peripheries 51 at which the two unitary moldings are glued or heat fused together.
  • Figures 11 through 18 illustrate dispensing the top sheet 11 from the stack 10 of sheets 11 using the dispenser 20.
  • the stack 10 is positioned with its opposite ends contacting the top wall surface portions 30, with a portion of the stack 10 opposite the outlet opening 32 contacting the arcuate top surfaces of longitudinally extending ribs 50 defining the bottom surface 24 of the cavity 22 in that location so that the stack 10 is slightly bowed by the curved surfaces 30 and 24, and with the first end portion 15 of the uppermost sheet 11 in the stack 10 projection through the outlet opening 32.
  • the dispenser 20 includes attaching means adapted for releasably attaching the dispenser 20 to several different retaining means for releasably retaining the dispenser 20 at predetermined locations.
  • those attaching means comprise (1) two transversely extending cantilevered strap receiving portions 52 included in the bottom wall 23, each of which strap receiving portions 52 is adjacent a different one of the end walls 26.
  • the bottom wall 23 has transverse openings 53 along opposite edges of the strap receiving portions 52 affording positioning a strap 54 around the sides of the loop like portions 52 adjacent the cavity 22, by which strap 54 the dispenser 20 can be releasably secured with the outer surface 25 of the bottom wall 23 along a surface such as the top surface of a user's hand or wrist with the strap 54 extending around the palm of the user's hand, or around a user's wrist.
  • the bottom wall 23 also has a side opening 55 along a different side of each of the strap receiving portions 52 (see Figures 4 and 5) , which side openings 55 join the openings 53 along opposite edges of the strap receiving portions 52 and afford movement of the strap 54 sideways to its position on sides of the cantilevered strap receiving portions 52 adjacent the cavity 22.
  • the strap receiving portions 52 each have a lip adjacent the side opening 55 projecting toward the cavity 22 and adapted to help retain the strap 54 along the side of the strap receiving portion 52 adjacent the cavity 22.
  • the strap receiving portions 52 space the rest of the bottom wall 23 from the user's hand or wrist to provide ventilation beneath it, and help distribute the pressure applied to the user's hand or wrist by the strap 54.
  • the strap 54 may be of elastic or non-elastic material, and ends of the strap 54 may be releasably joined by a conventional buckle or other attachment means (not shown) such as lengths of hook and loop fastener.
  • those attaching means also comprise (2) the bottom wall having two transversely extending openings 58 partially defined by lip like portions 59 of the bottom wall 23 extending toward the end walls 26 of the dispenser 20 on opposite sides of the central outlet opening 32.
  • the lip-like portions 59 are adapted to be engaged by opposed hook-like distal end portions 60 of a support member 61 extending through the openings 58, which hook like distal end portions 60 provide means for releasably attaching the support member 61 to the bottom wall 23 of the dispenser 20.
  • the support member 61 is adapted to be engaged by a user's fingers and has finger engagement surfaces 62 that face in opposite directions on opposite sides of the support member 61.
  • the finger engagement surfaces 62 on the support member 61 are shaped to engage adjacent side surfaces of a user's fingers, and the support member 61 includes a narrow web like portion 64 between the finger engagement surfaces 62 adapted to comfortably extend between the fingers of a user positioned along the finger engagement surfaces 62. Also, the support member 61 includes a semi spherical retainer portion 66 wider than the web like portion 64 that is adapted to be positioned along the inner surfaces of a user's fingers. As illustrated, the finger engagement surfaces 62 that face in opposite directions on opposite sides of the support member 61 are arcuate around parallel axes so that they can fit closely along the surface of the fingers, however, the finger engagement surfaces 62 could have other contours that contact the side surfaces of the fingers only in spaced locations.
  • the retainer portion 66 that is significantly wider than the web like portion 64 and is adapted to be positioned along the inner surface of a user's fingers is generally semi- spherical.
  • the retainer portion 66 has parts including spaced projecting parts 68 around its distal end that define a socket opening through the side of the retainer portion 66 opposite the web like portion 64.
  • the assembly further includes a pedestal 70 including a generally conical base portion 71 having a circular bottom surface 72 adapted to be attached to a substrate (e.g., by adhesive, a magnet or a suction cup), and a spherical portion 73 attached to the apex of the base portion 71 and adapted to be removably received in the socket with the projecting parts 68 frictionally and releasably engaging the spherical portion 73.
  • a pedestal 70 including a generally conical base portion 71 having a circular bottom surface 72 adapted to be attached to a substrate (e.g., by adhesive, a magnet or a suction cup), and a spherical portion 73 attached to the apex of the base portion 71 and adapted to be removably received in the socket with the projecting parts 68 frictionally and releasably engaging the spherical portion 73.
  • Patent No. 4,907,825 could be modified for engagement by the opposed hook-like distal end portions 60 of the support member 61 by cutting spaced slots in its bottom wall 37.
  • those opposed hook-like distal end portions 60 of the support member 61 could be spaced to engage around the peripheral edge of that dispenser package 32.
  • those attaching means also comprise (3) the dispenser 20 having two docking tabs 76 extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of the bottom wall 23 of the dispenser 20 generally centrally along the length of the bottom wall 23 and having distal end portions spaced from the outer surface 25 of the bottom wall 23.
  • the dbcking tabs 76 are adapted to be engaged in either a weighted base 78 ( Figures 23, 24 and 25) or an un-weighted base 80 ( Figures 26, 27 and 28) , each of which bases 78 and 80 has, respectively, a top surface 82 or 83, a recessed surface 84 or 85 defining a recess from the top surface 82 or 83 of the base 78 or 80 that is adapted to closely receive the outer surface 25 of the dispenser 20, and retaining tabs 86 or 87 projecting into the recess from opposite sides at locations spaced from the recessed surface 84 or 85.
  • retaining tabs 86 and 87 are adapted to engage the sides of the docking tabs 76 adjacent the outer surface 25 of the bottom wall 23 of the dispenser 20 in the recess in the base 78 or 80 to thereby releasably retain the dispenser 20 in a docked position in engagement with the base 78 or 80.
  • the outer surface 25 of the bottom wall 23 includes curved cam surfaces adjacent its ends adapted for engagement with the top and recessed surfaces 82, 84 or 83, 85 of the base 78 or 80 to afford movement of the docking tabs 76 under the retaining tabs 86 or 87 while deflecting the bottom wall 23 or tabs 76 and/or 86 or 87 upon longitudinal movement of the bottom wall 23 along the recess from a disengaged position with the docking tabs 76 and retaining tabs 86 and 87 side by side.
  • the same cam surfaces afford movement of the docking tabs 76 from under the retaining tabs 86 or 87 while deflecting the bottom wall 23 or tabs 76 and/or 86 or 87 upon longitudinal movement of the bottom wall 23 along the recess from their engaged position to a disengaged position.
  • the need to thus deflect the bottom wall 23 or tabs 76 and/or 86 or 87 provides a detent to releasably retain the dispenser 20 in the docked position in engagement with the base 78 or 80.
  • the weighted base 78 for use with the dispenser 20, illustrated in Figures 23, 24 and 25, has a bottom surface 89 adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface and has sufficient weight that one of the sheets 11 can be withdrawn from the dispenser 20 with one hand without moving the dispenser 20 attached to the weighted base 78.
  • the weighted base 78 includes two portions 90 and 91 having peripheries engaged and sealed together (e.g., by glue or heat fusion) to define a chamber 92 filled with ballast such as sand, gravel or rocks.
  • the weighted based 78 includes walls defining a replacement stack supply chamber 94 accessible from-the top of the weighted base 78 when the dispenser 20 is removed from the base 78, which supply chamber 94 is adapted to receive and store a number (e.g., 4) of stacks 10 of sheets 11 prior to their use.
  • the un-weighted base 80 for use with the dispenser 20, illustrated in Figures 26, 27 and 28, is adapted to be attached to a horizontal or vertical surface so that one of the sheets 11 can be withdrawn from the dispenser 20 with one hand without detaching the un-weighted base 80 from the surface.
  • the un-weighted base 80 has a generally circular planar surface 96 on its side opposite the recess for the dispenser 20, which surface 96 can be attached to such a horizontal or vertical surface by means (not shown) such as a length of foam tape coated with pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides, a length of magnetic material such as plasteform, a suction cup, or a sheet of flexible material attached at its center to the center of the surface 96 in the manner described in U.S. Patent No. 5,014,946, which flexible material then momentarily acts like a suction cup against a surface on which the un-weighted base 80 is supported when a sheet 11 is withdrawn from the dispenser 20.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un distributeur (20) de feuilles souples (11) provenant d'une pile (10) de feuilles revêtues d'un adhésif et placées les unes sur les autres. Le distributeur (20) comprend une première partie de logement (35) comportant une paroi inférieure (23), des parois terminales (26), des parois latérales (33) et une première partie de paroi supérieure (28); ce distributeur comprend également une seconde partie de logement (36) comprenant une seconde partie de paroi supérieure (29) montée sur la première partie de logement (35) permettant le déplacement entre une position normale dans laquelle les parties de paroi supérieure (28 et 29) forment une ouverture par laquelle sortent les feuilles (11) entre des extrémités adjacentes, et une position ouverte, dans laquelle la seconde partie de paroi supérieure (29) est espacée de la première partie de paroi supérieure (28), ce qui permet d'insérer une pile (10) de feuilles (11) dans la cavité (22). Le distributeur (20) comprend un élément de fixation qui permet de le fixer de manière libérable à plusieurs éléments de retenue comportant une sangle (54), grâce auquel le distributeur (20) peut être fixé sur la main ou le poignet d'un utilisateur; un élément de support (61) conçu pour être maintenu entre les doigts de l'utilisateur; une base pondérée (78); ou une base (80) conçue pour être fixée à une surface par divers moyens tels qu'un adhésif, des ventouses ou un matériau magnétique.
EP94914720A 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles a support ou elements de fixation optionnels Expired - Lifetime EP0746223B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03018661A EP1378374B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels
EP99123228A EP1044825B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/064,403 US5299712A (en) 1993-05-18 1993-05-18 Sheet dispenser with optional support or attachment means
US63519 1993-05-18
US08/063,519 US5358141A (en) 1993-05-18 1993-05-18 Support or attachment means for a sheet dispenser
PCT/US1994/003111 WO1994026158A1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles a support ou elements de fixation optionnels
US64403 1998-04-22

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99123228A Division EP1044825B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0746223A4 true EP0746223A4 (fr) 1996-09-20
EP0746223A1 EP0746223A1 (fr) 1996-12-11
EP0746223B1 EP0746223B1 (fr) 2000-05-31

Family

ID=26743503

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03018661A Expired - Lifetime EP1378374B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels
EP99123228A Expired - Lifetime EP1044825B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels
EP94914720A Expired - Lifetime EP0746223B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles a support ou elements de fixation optionnels

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03018661A Expired - Lifetime EP1378374B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels
EP99123228A Expired - Lifetime EP1044825B1 (fr) 1993-05-18 1994-03-21 Distributeur de feuilles à support ou éléments de fixation optionnels

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (3) EP1378374B1 (fr)
JP (3) JP3622968B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2161420A1 (fr)
DE (3) DE69433187T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1994026158A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1197443A1 (fr) * 2000-10-12 2002-04-17 SCA Hygiene Products Holding GmbH Distributeur jetable
DE20100243U1 (de) * 2001-01-08 2001-05-17 Bredent Dentalgeraete U Materi Halter für schmale, blattartige Streifen aus Papier, Folie oder ähnlichem Material
US7622174B2 (en) 2001-10-26 2009-11-24 3M Innovative Properties Company Tape sheet pads and dispenser and method of dispensing individual tape sheets from such pads
GB2399338A (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-09-15 Sustainable Trading Ltd Dispenser for a pad of paper
US7541080B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2009-06-02 Tama Plastic Industry Wrapping material with a Z-lock system
US6787209B2 (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-09-07 Tama Plastic Industry Wrapping material with a Z-lock system and methods of making and using the same
JP4729313B2 (ja) 2005-02-08 2011-07-20 エム・エフ・ヴィ株式会社 シート状物収納容器
US8261937B2 (en) * 2006-07-14 2012-09-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Attachment system and dispensers used therewith
US9599544B2 (en) 2012-12-21 2017-03-21 Langston Companies Inc. Method and apparatus for preparing a bale sample from a bale of fibrous material, and a bale sample produced thereby

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US606914A (en) * 1898-07-05 John w
US2356722A (en) * 1943-04-09 1944-08-22 Rivet O Mfg Co Hand-supported liquid dispensing pad
FR1016522A (fr) * 1950-04-21 1952-11-14 Perfectionnements aux distributeurs automatiques de papier hygiénique
US2908519A (en) * 1957-05-14 1959-10-13 Orloff W Holden Ball and socket joint
DE2048592A1 (de) * 1970-06-25 1972-02-03 Slick Tripod Co Ltd Kameralagerungs oder Befestigungskopf
US3826407A (en) * 1972-07-12 1974-07-30 Paris American Corp End wrap dispenser
US4136805A (en) * 1977-07-01 1979-01-30 Alpha Nova Development Corp. Wrist band holder for electronic calculator
US4401233A (en) * 1981-03-20 1983-08-30 Frey Joseph V Dispenser for sheets of paper and the like
US4595154A (en) * 1984-07-16 1986-06-17 Swope Thomas A Portable roll stock dispenser
US4735317A (en) * 1986-10-15 1988-04-05 Nordic Industries, Inc. Self sealing dispenser pack for pre-moistened towelettes
US4770320A (en) * 1987-06-03 1988-09-13 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet and dispenser package therefor
US4907825A (en) 1987-06-03 1990-03-13 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet and dispenser package therefor
JPH02195098A (ja) * 1988-08-17 1990-08-01 Bruno Gruber 保持部材から成る吸着保留保持手段
US4928864A (en) * 1988-08-22 1990-05-29 Jerry Walker Hand clasp tape dispenser
US5165570A (en) * 1989-05-26 1992-11-24 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet dispenser
US5080254A (en) * 1990-02-09 1992-01-14 Rubbermaid Incorporated Adhesive note pad paper dispenser
US5086946A (en) * 1990-12-10 1992-02-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet stack and dispenser package therefor
US5127545A (en) * 1991-04-11 1992-07-07 French R Todd Pouch for holding and dispensing facial tissues
US5222643A (en) * 1991-08-05 1993-06-29 Platt Vanjanette C Hair treatment servicing container

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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Title
No further relevant documents disclosed *
See also references of WO9426158A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69433187T2 (de) 2004-06-09
DE69424804T2 (de) 2001-01-11
DE69433187D1 (de) 2003-10-30
EP1378374B1 (fr) 2007-10-17
JP2006315765A (ja) 2006-11-24
JPH08510147A (ja) 1996-10-29
EP1044825B1 (fr) 2003-09-24
WO1994026158A1 (fr) 1994-11-24
DE69435037T2 (de) 2008-07-24
EP1378374A2 (fr) 2004-01-07
JP2004315236A (ja) 2004-11-11
EP0746223A1 (fr) 1996-12-11
JP3828121B2 (ja) 2006-10-04
EP1044825A1 (fr) 2000-10-18
EP0746223B1 (fr) 2000-05-31
EP1378374A3 (fr) 2004-01-14
CA2161420A1 (fr) 1994-11-24
DE69435037D1 (de) 2007-11-29
JP3622968B2 (ja) 2005-02-23
DE69424804D1 (de) 2000-07-06

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