EP3749158B1 - Dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins - Google Patents
Dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3749158B1 EP3749158B1 EP18713830.0A EP18713830A EP3749158B1 EP 3749158 B1 EP3749158 B1 EP 3749158B1 EP 18713830 A EP18713830 A EP 18713830A EP 3749158 B1 EP3749158 B1 EP 3749158B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- platen
- base
- columns
- outer shell
- dispenser according
- 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.)
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Links
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- XECAHXYUAAWDEL-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Chemical group C=CC=C.C=CC#N.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 XECAHXYUAAWDEL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920000122 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000001815 facial effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N novaluron Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(OC(F)(F)C(OC(F)(F)F)F)=CC=C1NC(=O)NC(=O)C1=C(F)C=CC=C1F NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
- A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
- A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
- A47K10/421—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the top of the dispenser
- A47K10/422—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the top of the dispenser with means for urging the whole stack upwards towards the dispensing opening, e.g. a spring, a counterweight
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
- A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
- A47K2010/3233—Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
- A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
- A47K2010/3246—Locking mechanisms for the housing
Definitions
- 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.
- the disclosure relates to so-called table top dispensers usually disposed on a table or a countertop.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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.
- the present invention relates a dispenser having the features defined in claim 1.
- Particular examples and embodiments of the present disclosure are named in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.
- a dispenser for sheet products is disclosed.
- the dispenser can be particularly configured for containing and dispensing sanitary paper products in sheet form.
- 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 consists 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 spring, biasing the platen away from the base and toward the dispensing opening in the outer shell.
- the dispenser may consequently consist of four structural parts only.
- 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.
- the base comprises 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 are longitudinal and extend vertically 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.
- an outer shell may be understood as an external, usually hard (rigid), protective and/or enclosing case or cover of the dispenser.
- 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.
- 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.
- the 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.
- 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.
- the base closes the open bottom and supports the outer shell.
- the first portion and the second portion are fixed relative to each other.
- "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.
- the portions may still be made from separate parts being attached to each other.
- "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.
- the entire outer shell, including the first and second portion is to be removed for refilling.
- the first portion comprises two pairs of opposite side walls which may be connected to each other at their vertical edges
- the second portion comprises a top wall fixed to the side walls, i.e. at their upper edges.
- the outer shell is made of one integral piece, particularly an injection molded part.
- the dispenser of the invention 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.
- the columns do vertically extend and 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.
- 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.
- the outer shell is detachably mounted to the base.
- the outer shell is translationally removable from the base in the direction of movement of the platen and/or along the extension of the columns.
- the retracted position may be considered as a position in which the platen is moved to a position closest to the base.
- the dispenser further comprises 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the stops are flexible.
- 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.
- 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.
- the stops are flexible in only one direction, namely the direction towards the base parallel to the movement direction of the platen.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
- the platen has guide members on opposite sides, respectively engaged with the first and second columns.
- the guide members may hook on the first and second columns.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
- 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.
- a retention mechanism configured to temporarily retain the platen in the retracted (refilling) position while the outer shell is detached from the base.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- a width of the columns is within the range of 15 mm and 50mm.
- the width of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 20 mm and 40 mm.
- the width of the columns 13, 14 is between 25 mm and 35 mm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the outer shell 50 also shown in Figure 2 comprises a first portion 52 defining a circumferential enclosure for a stack of sheet products (not visible in Figure 1 ) to be dispensed from the dispenser via a dispensing opening 54 disposed in a second portion 53 of the outer shell 50.
- the outer shell 50 comprises two pairs of opposite side walls 55 and connected to each other at the corners or corner portions 56.
- 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.
- 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.
- the base 10 is shown in Figure 3 .
- 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.
- the base 10 comprises two columns 13, 14.
- the columns 13, 14 are manufactured together with the bottom portion 12 from a rigid plastic material such as ABS.
- the columns 13, 14 may be separate parts which are subsequently attached or assembled with the bottom portion 12.
- 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.
- the columns 13, 14 are, as in the illustrated example, 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- the width of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 15 mm and 50 mm.
- the width of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 20 mm and 40 mm.
- the width of the columns 13, 14 is between 25 mm and 35 mm, such as 25mm.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- the stops 17, 18 are prevented from being flexed upward beyond the position shown in Figure 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 .
- 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 Figure 3 (Y direction).
- 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 Figure 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.
- the platen 60 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the user 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 figure 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.
- a further dispenser is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 to 7 .
- the only difference as compared to the dispenser described with respect to Figures 1 to 4 is that the stops 17, 18 are omitted and instead a retention mechanism 80 is embodied. This embodiment without stops doesn't form part of the invention.
- 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.
- 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.
- the engaged member may be in the form of a cutout 83 formed in a side surface of the platen 60.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- FIG. 1 An alternative retention mechanism 90, which may be used instead of the retention mechanism 80, is shown in the dispenser depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 7 to 10 , wherein the dispenser doesn't form part of the invention.
- 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.
- 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.
- the engaged member may be in the form of one or more hooks 93 formed at the bottom portion 12 of the base 10.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 invention is not limited to the above examples, but various modifications and alterations are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.
Description
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 orWO 2017/180070 A1 . - 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 orWO 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. - Another dispenser is known from
US 1,362,449 forming the basis for the preamble of claim 1. - Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser made up of a relatively few number of parts, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and still provides satisfying or even improved user-friendliness.
- The present invention relates a dispenser having the features defined in claim 1. Particular examples and embodiments of the present disclosure are named in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.
- According to the invention, 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 consists 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 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 comprises 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 are longitudinal and extend vertically 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.
- 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.
- In accordance with the invention, the 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. 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 the invention 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 the invention, the columns do vertically extend and 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 is translationally removable from the base in the direction of movement of the platen and/or along the extension of the columns.
- 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.
- To avoid or reduce this necessity, the dispenser further comprises 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.
- 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 A1 . - In this context, the entire description of the "
holdback members 11" of this document is disclosed. - 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition 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 mentioned, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- According to an aspect, a width of the columns is within the range of 15 mm and 50mm. In another example, the width of the
columns columns - Further aspects of the present disclosure may be found in the following description of a particular embodiment making reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
-
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser. -
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the outer shell of the dispenser ofFigure 1 . -
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the dispenser ofFigure 1 with the outer shell being detached and embodying stops. -
Figure 4 shows a partial top view ofFigure 3 . -
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a dispenser ofFigure 1 with the outer shell ofFigure 2 being detached and embodying a first example of a retention mechanism, wherein the first example doesn't form part of the invention. -
Figure 6 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention mechanism of the dispenser ofFigure 5 . -
Figures 7A and B show a schematic cross-section through the retention mechanism of the dispenser ofFigure 5 for explaining its function. -
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a dispenser ofFigure 1 with the outer shell ofFigure 2 being detached and embodying a second example of a retention mechanism, wherein the second example doesn't form part of the invention. -
Figure 9 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention mechanism of the dispenser ofFigure 8 . -
Figures 10A and B show a schematic cross-section through the retention mechanism of the dispenser ofFigure 8 for explaining its function. - An example of a dispenser according to the present disclosure is shown in
Figure 1 . The dispenser comprises abase 10 and anouter 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. Theouter shell 50 is detachably attached to thebase 10. For this purpose, the base haselastic latches 11 on opposite sides which are engaged with arespective cutout 51 in theouter shell 50 so as to releasably fix theouter shell 52 to thebase 10. When theouter shell 50 is to be detached from thebase 10, thelatches 11, which are accessible through thecutout 51, may be pressed inward by a user to disengage them from thecutouts 51 and enable detachment of theouter shell 50. - The
outer shell 50 also shown inFigure 2 comprises afirst portion 52 defining a circumferential enclosure for a stack of sheet products (not visible inFigure 1 ) to be dispensed from the dispenser via a dispensingopening 54 disposed in asecond portion 53 of theouter shell 50. Accordingly, theouter shell 50 comprises two pairs ofopposite side walls 55 and connected to each other at the corners orcorner portions 56. Accordingly, theside walls 55 define thefirst portion 52, which is open at its bottom facing thebase 10 and closed at its top by atop wall 57 defining thesecond portion 53 having the dispensingopening 54. In one embodiment, theouter shell 50 is made of rigid plastic material such as ABS. Theouter shell 50 may be manufactured in an injection molding process so that theouter shell 50 is an integral one piece component. - The
base 10 is shown inFigure 3 . In the illustrated example, thebase 10 comprises abottom portion 12, which is configured to correspond to a lower portion of theouter shell 50 so as to define the housing upon attachment of theouter shell 52 to thebase 10. - Moreover, the
base 10 comprises twocolumns columns bottom portion 12 from a rigid plastic material such as ABS. Alternatively, thecolumns bottom portion 12. Yet, as with respect to theouter shell 50, thecolumns bottom portion 12 so that thebottom portion 12 and thecolumns - The
columns bottom portion 12 of thebase 10. In this context, thecolumns bottom portion 12 of the base 10 at theirends 15, whereas the opposite ends 16 may be considered as free ends. - In the particular example shown in the figures, the
columns bottom portion 12 of thebase 10 and taper away from the base. Further, thecolumns columns columns columns - Each of the
columns stop free end 16. The stops 17, 18 are made of an elastic material such as polypropylene. In the illustrated example, thestops columns free end 16 of thecolumns stops cutouts 20 at thefree end 16 of thecolumns 13, 14). - The stops 17, 18 are flexible in a direction towards the base 10 (bottom portion 12). To put it differently, the
stops axis 22 parallel to the width direction (Z direction) of thecolumns - The stops 17, 18 are prevented from being flexed upward beyond the position shown in
Figure 3 (substantially parallel orientation to theplaten 60 or more particularly the supportingsurface 61 of the platen). Accordingly, thestops bottom portion 12 of the base 10 or toward an inner surface of each of thecolumns stops WO 2016/029964 A1 . - The dispenser comprises a
platen 60. Theplaten 60 has an upward supportingsurface 61 on which the sheet products are to be placed. Theplaten 60 is reciprocally movable along thecolumns Figure 3 (Y direction). In particular, theplaten 60 is movable between a retracted position close to the base 10 or thebottom portion 12 of the base 10 as shown inFigure 3 and an extended position in which the upwardly facing supportingsurface 61 of theplaten 60 is in contact with a downwardly facing surface of thestops platen 60 beyond thestops - In order to continuously feed the sheet products towards the dispensing
opening 54 upon withdrawal of the sheet products from the dispenser, theplaten 60 is urged towards the dispensingopening 54 by aspring 70. Thespring 70 is disposed between adownward surface 62 of theplaten 60 and anupward surface 23 of thebottom portion 12 of thebase 10. - Further, at the sides of the
columns platen 60 is provided with aguide member 63 engaging with (e.g. hooking on) thecolumns columns guide member 63 is in the form of a T-groove guide with theplaten 60 having the T-grooves and the respective column respectively engaging the T-groove. To put it differently, a pair of distancedgrooves 64 is provided and thegrooves 64 are respectively engaged with opposite longitudinal side edges 24, 25 of the respective first and second columns. - In the following, reference is made to the refilling process of the dispenser shown in
figures 1 to 4 . - 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 thecutouts 51. Subsequently, the user is enabled to detach theouter shell 50 from the base 10 substantially in a translational movement along the Y direction. - In this situation, the upward surface (supporting surface) 61 of the
platen 60 is in an extracted position in which theupward surface 61 is in abutting contact with a surface of thestops upward surface 61 of theplaten 60. Accordingly, theplaten 60 is maintained in the extracted position by thestops - The user then grips a stack of sheet products and inserts the stack from the top in
Figure 3 between thecolumns stops hinge 21 about theaxis 22 towards the inner surfaces of thecolumns stops surface 61 of theplaten 60 and theplaten 60 is pushed downward toward thebottom portion 12 of the base 10 against the spring force of thespring 70 and guided along thecolumns guide member 63 in a controlled manner. - Once the leading sheet product (uppermost sheet product) in the stack of sheet products has passed the
stops stops stops platen 60 being urged upwardly by thespring 70. Consequently, the stack of sheet products is maintained in position and theouter shell 50 may easily be attached to thebase 10 by engaging thelatches 11 with thecutouts 51. Further and as visible fromfigure 2 , theouter shell 50 hasribs 100 on itsinner surface 58 formingchannels 101 which are respectively engaged with thecolumns outer shell 50 to thebase 10. Accordingly, theouter shell 50 is guided by thechannels 101 along thecolumns outer shell 50 to/from thebase 10. - A further dispenser is shown in
Figures 1, 2 and5 to 7 . The only difference as compared to the dispenser described with respect toFigures 1 to 4 is that thestops retention mechanism 80 is embodied. This embodiment without stops doesn't form part of the invention. - The
retention mechanism 80 is provided to temporarily retain theplaten 60 in the retracted position for refilling when theouter shell 50 is detached from thebase 10. - For this purpose, the
retention mechanism 80 comprises an engagingmember 81 and an engaged member. The engagingmember 81 may for example be fixed to thebottom portion 12 of thebase 10. The engagingmember 81 may be made of bent sheet metal, thus being flexible and elastic. The engagingmember 81 may have alatch 82. The engagingmember 81 may further have arelease portion 84 configured to engage with aninner surface 58 of theouter shell 50 upon attachment of theouter shell 50 to thebase 10. - The engaged member may be in the form of a
cutout 83 formed in a side surface of theplaten 60. - Accordingly, a user may place a new stack of sheet products on the supporting
surface 61 of theplaten 60 and push theplaten 60 downward against the spring force of thespring 70. Once theplaten 60 reaches the retracted position as shown inFigure 5 , thelatch 82 is first pressed inward and subsequently springs back to engage with thecutout 83. Accordingly, theplaten 60 is retained in the retracted position, even if the user releases theplaten 60. As a result, the stack of sheet products can easily be placed on the supporting surface resting between thecolumns surface 61 enabling easy attachment of theouter shell 50. - When attaching the
outer shell 50 as shown inFigures 7A and B by translationally moving theouter shell 50 along the arrow A inFigure 7A , aninner surface 58 of theouter shell 50 comes in contact with therelease portion 84 of the engagingmember 81 and pushes the engagingmember 81 inward whereby thelatch 82 is released from thecutout 83. Consequently, theplaten 60 may move upward as shown by the arrow B inFigure 7B being urged by thespring 70. - An
alternative retention mechanism 90, which may be used instead of theretention mechanism 80, is shown in the dispenser depicted inFigures 1, 2 and7 to 10 , wherein the dispenser doesn't form part of the invention. Theretention mechanism 90 is provided to temporarily retain theplaten 60 in the retracted position for refilling when theouter shell 50 is detached from thebase 10. - For this purpose, the
retention mechanism 90 comprises an engagingmember 91 and an engaged member. The engagingmember 91 may for example be fixed to theplaten 60. The engagingmember 91 is one piece with theplaten 60 and integrally formed in an injection molding process. The engagingmember 91 may have one or moreflexible latches 92. The engagingmember 91 may further have arelease portion 94 configured to engage with aninner surface 58 of theouter shell 50 or aramp 59 at theinner surface 58 of theouter shell 50 upon attachment of theouter shell 50 to thebase 10. - The engaged member may be in the form of one or
more hooks 93 formed at thebottom portion 12 of thebase 10. - Accordingly, a user may place a new stack of sheet products on the supporting
surface 61 of theplaten 60 and push theplaten 60 downward against the spring force of thespring 70. Once theplaten 60 reaches the retracted position as shown inFigure 9 , thelatches 92 are first pressed inward by the slanted surfaces 94 of thehooks 93 and subsequently spring back to engage with thehooks 93. Accordingly, theplaten 60 is retained in the retracted position, even if the user releases theplaten 60. As a result, the stack of sheet products may be placed on the supporting surface and rests between thecolumns surface 61 enabling easy attachment of theouter shell 50. - When attaching the
outer shell 50 as shown inFigures 10A and B by translationally moving theouter shell 50 along the arrow A inFigure 10A , aramp 59 on aninner surface 58 of theouter shell 50 comes in contact with therelease portion 94 of the engagingmember 91 and pushes the engagingmember 91 inward (see arrow C inFigure 10A ), whereby thelatches 92 are released from thehooks 93. Consequently, theplaten 60 may move upward as shown by the arrow B inFigure 10B being urged by thespring 70 . - The use of the
stops 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 invention is not limited to the above examples, but various modifications and alterations are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (17)
- 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, 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);a platen (60) reciprocally moveable relative to the base (10) and spring biased toward the dispensing opening (54);first and second upright, longitudinal columns (13, 14) respectively vertically 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 translationally removable from the base (10) along the vertical extension of the columns (13, 14) for inserting a stack of paper products between the first and second columns onto the platen; characterized in thata 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.
- The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first (52) and second (53) portions are made of one piece.
- The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stops (17, 18) are flexible parallel to the movement direction of the platen (60).
- The dispenser according to claim 3, 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.
- The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stops (17, 18) are made of an elastic material.
- The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the stops (17, 18) are made of polypropylene.
- The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stops (17, 18) are separate parts fitted to the respective ends (16) of the first and second columns (13, 14).
- 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).
- The dispenser according to claim 8, 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- The dispenser according to claim 11, 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) .
- The dispenser according to claim 12, 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).
- The dispenser according to claim 12 or 13, 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.
- The dispenser according to claim 12 or 13, 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.
- 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).
- The dispenser according to any one 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.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL18713830T PL3749158T3 (en) | 2018-03-19 | 2018-03-19 | Dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2018/056839 WO2019179593A1 (en) | 2018-03-19 | 2018-03-19 | Dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3749158A1 EP3749158A1 (en) | 2020-12-16 |
EP3749158B1 true EP3749158B1 (en) | 2022-03-16 |
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ID=61801900
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP18713830.0A Active EP3749158B1 (en) | 2018-03-19 | 2018-03-19 | Dispenser for sheet products, particularly napkins |
Country Status (15)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20210007561A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3749158B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN111698933B (en) |
AR (1) | AR114707A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2018414440B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3094407C (en) |
CO (1) | CO2020010653A2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK3749158T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2912747T3 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2020009688A (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ767571A (en) |
PL (1) | PL3749158T3 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2753786C1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019179593A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA202006028B (en) |
Citations (1)
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US1362449A (en) * | 1918-06-12 | 1920-12-14 | Tissue Company | Container for paper napkins |
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US5076466A (en) * | 1991-03-12 | 1991-12-31 | James River Ii, Inc. | Folded sheet product dispenser with anti-overfill mechanism |
US5794815A (en) * | 1996-06-19 | 1998-08-18 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Dispensers with optional support or attachment means |
CN1300537C (en) * | 1999-09-14 | 2007-02-14 | 宫比株式会社 | Wet tissue warmer |
US6799695B1 (en) * | 2002-04-02 | 2004-10-05 | Miguel Borrero | Sanitary napkin dispensing device |
US7028860B2 (en) * | 2003-02-10 | 2006-04-18 | Fort James Corporation | Inter-folded sheet dispenser with replaceable cartridge |
US6915923B1 (en) * | 2003-11-10 | 2005-07-12 | Floorgraphics, Inc. | Coupon dispenser |
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US8863984B2 (en) * | 2011-08-30 | 2014-10-21 | Sca Hygiene Products Ab | Product dispenser and cover member for a product dispenser |
EP2850984B1 (en) * | 2011-10-31 | 2016-07-13 | SCA Hygiene Products AB | Tabletop napkin dispenser |
AU2012389291B2 (en) | 2012-09-06 | 2016-11-10 | Essity Hygiene And Health Aktiebolag | Dispenser for sheet products |
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CN108697281B (en) * | 2016-02-29 | 2020-02-07 | 金伯利-克拉克环球有限公司 | Dispensing system |
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-
2018
- 2018-03-19 EP EP18713830.0A patent/EP3749158B1/en active Active
- 2018-03-19 AU AU2018414440A patent/AU2018414440B2/en active Active
- 2018-03-19 RU RU2020133957A patent/RU2753786C1/en active
- 2018-03-19 PL PL18713830T patent/PL3749158T3/en unknown
- 2018-03-19 US US16/981,361 patent/US20210007561A1/en active Pending
- 2018-03-19 WO PCT/EP2018/056839 patent/WO2019179593A1/en active Search and Examination
- 2018-03-19 CA CA3094407A patent/CA3094407C/en active Active
- 2018-03-19 CN CN201880089053.1A patent/CN111698933B/en active Active
- 2018-03-19 MX MX2020009688A patent/MX2020009688A/en unknown
- 2018-03-19 ES ES18713830T patent/ES2912747T3/en active Active
- 2018-03-19 DK DK18713830.0T patent/DK3749158T3/en active
- 2018-03-19 NZ NZ767571A patent/NZ767571A/en unknown
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2019
- 2019-03-19 AR ARP190100689A patent/AR114707A1/en active IP Right Grant
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2020
- 2020-08-27 CO CONC2020/0010653A patent/CO2020010653A2/en unknown
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Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1362449A (en) * | 1918-06-12 | 1920-12-14 | Tissue Company | Container for paper napkins |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
PL3749158T3 (en) | 2022-06-20 |
AU2018414440B2 (en) | 2021-05-06 |
BR112020017328A2 (en) | 2020-12-15 |
RU2753786C1 (en) | 2021-08-23 |
CA3094407A1 (en) | 2019-09-26 |
EP3749158A1 (en) | 2020-12-16 |
AU2018414440A1 (en) | 2020-07-16 |
ES2912747T3 (en) | 2022-05-27 |
DK3749158T3 (en) | 2022-05-09 |
AR114707A1 (en) | 2020-10-07 |
US20210007561A1 (en) | 2021-01-14 |
CO2020010653A2 (en) | 2020-10-30 |
CA3094407C (en) | 2023-02-28 |
NZ767571A (en) | 2022-08-26 |
WO2019179593A1 (en) | 2019-09-26 |
CN111698933A (en) | 2020-09-22 |
ZA202006028B (en) | 2022-06-29 |
CN111698933B (en) | 2023-11-07 |
MX2020009688A (en) | 2020-10-12 |
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