FIELD OF THE INVENTION
-
This disclosure relates to a dispenser system for dispensing tea, in particular to such dispenser system that comprises a paper tube for holding tea and a dispenser unit. This disclosure further relates to a paper tube for holding tea.
BACKGROUND
-
Almost every dispenser system, such as the dispenser system disclosed in
US5495962 , needs to be refilled every now and then, for example when the material to be dispensed is no longer present in some reservoir of the dispenser system. Refilling a dispenser system typically involves pouring or scooping or shifting to-be-dispensed material into such reservoir of the dispenser system, which is quite laborious and comes with a risk of spillage. Hence, there is a need in the art for a dispenser system that at least partially alleviates these drawbacks.
SUMMARY
-
To that end, a dispenser system for dispensing tea is disclosed. The dispenser system comprises a paper tube configured to hold tea. The paper tube comprises a rolled edge defining an opening. The dispenser system also comprises a dispenser unit that is configured to dispense tea. The dispenser unit comprises one or more snap-fit elements that are configured to establish respective one or more snap-fit connections with the rolled edge of the paper tube herewith attaching the paper tube and dispenser unit to each other for allowing tea to move from the paper tube through the opening into the dispenser unit. The paper tube comprises a tear line at the rolled edge, wherein the tear line is configured to facilitate tearing of the paper tube at the rolled edge for releasing the one or more snap-fit connections.
-
This dispenser system is advantageous in that the paper tube, once attached to the dispenser unit, serves as a reservoir that holds the to-be-dispensed material, such as tea. Hence, refilling the dispenser system is performed simply by attaching the paper tube to the dispenser unit and does not require any pouring, scooping, or shifting to-be-dispensed material, such as tea, from one container into a reservoir of the dispenser system.
-
The system is further advantageous in that the tear line allows for very tight snap-fit connections between rolled edge and the snap-fit elements, and thus for the paper tube and dispenser unit to be firmly attached to each other. Irrespective of how tight the one or more snap-fit connections are, the tear line allows to tear the paper tube at the rolled edge, which alleviates the tension of the rolled edge. When the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit, this tension causes the rolled edge to be pressed firmly against the one or more snap-fit elements. Upon the tension being released somewhat due to the formation of a tear at the rolled edge, the snap-fit connection between the one or more snap-fit elements and the rolled edge becomes less firm, which allows the paper tube to be detached from the dispenser unit. In other words, the tear line allows the one or more snap-fit connections between the paper tube and dispenser unit to be permanent snap-fit connections in that they cannot be released without damaging a component of the snap-fit connections. In the dispenser system disclosed herein, the one or more snap-fit connections between the one or more snap-fit elements and the rolled edge are preferably only releasable if the paper tube is teared at the rolled edge, which may be understood as damaging the rolled edge to some extent. This is also advantageous in that it allows to detect tampering as will be explained in the next paragraph.
-
In an example, the paper tube holds tea and the dispenser unit will only function upon someone performing a payment for the tea. In such a situation, it would be undesirable if someone could remove the paper tube without damaging it, take out an amount of tea from the paper tube without paying, and placing the paper tube back on the dispenser unit. This would not possible if, in accordance with an embodiment, the paper tube can only be released from the dispenser unit by damaging the rolled edge, for example by creating a tear along the tear line, preferably through the rolled edge.
-
Typically, the fabrication of a paper tube involves by default rolling back the edges on both respective ends of the tube, inwards or outwards, as this enhances the durability of the paper tube as well as its appearance. Hence, the dispenser unit disclosed herein advantageously does not require custom-made paper tubes and utilizes an already present rolled edge of the paper tube. Preferably, the tear line is configured to facilitate tearing through the rolled edge.
-
The paper tube may have an interior cylindrical surface that defines a holding space of the paper tube, which holding space is suitable for holding tea. In case the rolled edge is an inwardly rolled edge, then the rolled edge may be understood to be the part of the paper tube at one of the paper tube's ends, which part sits inside of an imaginary, infinite cylinder that coincides with the interior cylindrical surface.
-
The paper tube may have an exterior cylindrical surface. In case the rolled edge is an outwardly rolled edge, then the rolled edge may be understood to be the part of the paper tube at one of the paper tube's ends, which part sits outside of an imaginary, infinite cylinder that coincides with the exterior cylindrical surface.
-
A further advantage of the paper tube is that, after it has become empty and has been released from the dispenser unit, it can be recycled easily. A paper tube is for example a tube that essentially consists of paper and/or paperboard and/or cardboard and/or any other type of paper-based material.
-
A tear line as referred to herein is not necessarily a straight line. A tear line as referred to herein may comprise several differently directed tear line segments, and each tear line segment may be curved or straight, for example. The tear line may be formed by the provision of a local weakening of the material, such as by the provision of spaced apart perforations or indents or cuts along the tear line, and/or by the provision of a local strengthening along the tear line, such as by the provision of a tear string.
-
The dispenser unit typically has an opening which the paper tube covers when the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit. The tea may be understood to move through the paper tube's opening and the dispenser unit opening when it moves from the paper tube into the dispenser unit.
-
In an embodiment, the rolled edge is an inwardly rolled edge rolled inwardly into the paper tube. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows for embodiments wherein the one or more snap-fit elements are positioned within paper tube when the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit. The one or more snap-fit elements are thus not readily accessible from the outside, which prevents tampering.
-
In an embodiment, each of the one or more snap-fit elements is configured to exert an outwardly directed force on the paper tube when the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit.
-
This embodiment ensures that there is some tension at the rolled edge of the paper tube so that a firm connection between paper tube and dispenser unit is established.
-
Preferably, the one or more snap-fit elements comprises at a first snap-fit element and a second snap-fit element that are positioned opposite each other.
-
An outward direction as referred to herein, may be understood as a radial direction extending from a center region of the opening of the paper tube, for example from the midpoint of the opening if the opening is circular.
-
In an embodiment, each snap-fit element of the one or more snap-fit elements comprises a hook-shaped element that is configured to hook around the rolled edge for establishing the snap-fit connection.
-
In an embodiment, each the one or more snap-fit elements comprises a rim that extends outwardly from the dispenser unit, the rim comprising a hook shape. This embodiment enables a firm attachment of the paper tube and dispenser unit to each other.
-
The rim may have a cross section that is shaped as a hook.
-
An outward direction from the dispenser unit may be understood as a radial direction extending from a center region of the dispenser unit's opening referred to above, which is covered by the paper tube when the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit.
-
In an embodiment, the paper tube has a tube height extending along a height axis. A bottom of the paper tube is at a first height along the height axis and a top of the paper tube is at a second height along the height axis. The rolled edge has an edge height extending along the height axis. A bottom of the rolled edge is at the first height along the height axis and a top of the rolled edge is at a third height along the height axis. The third height is between the first height and second height.
-
In an embodiment, the tear line runs from a first tear line position on the paper tube to a second tear line position on the paper tube to a third tear line position on the paper tube. As viewed in a direction perpendicular to the height axis, the first tear line position is at the rolled edge and the third tear line position is at the rolled edge, wherein the third position is different from the first position. Further, the second tear line position is at a fourth height along the height axis, the fourth height being between the third height and second height.
-
Thus, in this embodiment, the tear line runs to a height that is above the height of the rolled edge. This is advantageous as it ensures that upon tearing the paper tube along the tear line, the tension of the rolled edge is properly released as a result of which the one or more snap-fit connections between the respective one or more snap-fit elements and rolled edge can be released.
-
In an embodiment, the first tear line position and third tear line position are separated from each other by a distance of at least 1 cm, preferably of at least 2 cm, more preferably of at least 3 cm. This embodiment is advantageous in that upon tearing the paper tube along the full tear line interrupts and/or weakens the rolled edge along at least 1 cm. Herewith, the tension of the rolled edge, which clamps it against the one or more snap-fit elements, is properly released.
-
In an embodiment, the first tear line position is at the first height along the height axis and/or the third tear line position is at the first height along the height axis. This embodiment ensures that the tear line starts, and optionally also ends, at the bottom of the paper tube. Hence, upon tearing the paper tube along the full tear line, it results in the paper tube having a cutaway part that interrupts the rolled edge and that significantly releases the tension in the rolled edge.
-
In an embodiment, a height difference between the third height and fourth height is at least 1 cm, preferably at least 1.5 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm. This embodiment enables to significantly release the tension in the rolled edge.
-
In an embodiment, the edge height that extends from the first height to the third height is at least 0.5 cm.
-
In an embodiment, at least part of the paper tube is shaped as a hollow cylinder.
-
The base of the cylinder may be circular or non-circular, such as rectangular. As referred to herein, a cylinder may be understood as a so-called generalized cylinder in that it does not necessarily have a circular base.
-
The at least part of the paper tube that is shaped as a hollow cylinder has a constant transverse cross section, wherein a transverse cross section is an intersection of the paper tube with a plane perpendicular to the heigh axis.
-
The at least part preferably spans a significant portion, for example at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the entire height of the paper tube.
-
Of course, the paper tube may have a rolled edge at each of its ends. However, preferably, the paper tube has an opening at only one end when it is going to be attached to a dispenser unit. At the other end, the paper tube is preferably closed so that the tea is not accessible when the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit.
-
When the paper tube is shipped, it for example comprises a removable lid that covers the opening as defined by the rolled edge, which lid is removed just before the paper tube is attached to the dispenser unit.
-
In an embodiment, the at least part of the paper tube is shaped as a hollow cylinder having a circular base. In this case, the constant transverse cross section referred to above has a circular, annular shape.
-
In an embodiment, the rolled edge has been obtained by performing steps of:
- providing a paper tube having a straight edge, and
- rolling back the straight edge of the paper tube.
-
This embodiment allows common paper tubes to be used for the dispenser system disclosed herein.
-
One aspect of this disclosure relates to a paper tube configured to hold tea. In this aspect, the paper tube comprises a rolled edge defining an opening. The paper tube comprises a tear line at the rolled edge, wherein the tear line is configured to facilitate tearing of the paper tube at the rolled edge for releasing one or more snap-fit connections between the rolled edge and one or more snap-fit elements of a dispenser unit.
-
In this aspect, the paper tube may comprise any feature of any of the paper tubes disclosed herein.
-
One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for detaching a paper tube, which may be any of the paper tubes disclosed herein, from a dispenser unit, which may be any of the dispenser units disclosed herein. The method comprises tearing the paper tube along at least part of the tear line, and then releasing the paper tube from the dispenser unit.
-
Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Embodiments of the present invention will be further illustrated with reference to the attached drawings, which schematically will show embodiments according to the invention. It will be understood that the present invention is not in any way restricted to these specific embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
Aspects of the invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1A shows attachment of a paper tube and dispenser unit to each other according to an embodiment;
- FIG. 1B shows the dispenser system of FIG. 1A with the paper tube attached to the dispenser unit;
- FIG. 1C illustrates tearing of the paper tube along the tearing line according to an embodiment;
- FIG. 1D illustrates release of the paper tube from the dispenser unit according to an embodiment;
- FIG. 2A shows the paper tube and dispenser unit of figures 1A - 1D in more detail;
- FIG. 2B shows a detail of figure 2A;
- FIG. 3A is a front view of a paper tube according to an embodiment;
- FIG. 3B is the same front view only with part of the paper tube being cut away to show the paper tube's interior;
- FIG. 4A is a cross section of the dispenser system in which paper tube and dispenser unit are attached to each other;
- FIG. 4B is a detail of figure 4A;
- FIG. 5A shows a dispenser unit according to an embodiment;
- FIG. 5B shows the dispenser unit of figure 5A in perspective view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
In the figures, identical reference numbers indicate identical or similar elements.
-
Figures 1A - 1D show a dispenser system 2 according to an embodiment and illustrates how a paper tube 4 according to an embodiment can be attached and detached from a dispenser unit 6 according to an embodiment. The dispenser system 2 disclosed herein is suitable for dispensing tea, however, the dispenser system 2 would typically also be suitable for dispensing other types of products, such as coffee. Likewise, the paper tube 4 disclosed herein is suitable for holding tea, but would typically also be suitable for holding other types of products, such as coffee.
-
In the depicted embodiment, at least part of the paper tube is shaped as a hollow cylinder, in particular a hollow cylinder having a circular base. However, at least part of the paper tube may be shaped as a hollow cylinder having a rectangular base, for example, or a triangular base, or another polygon shaped based, such as a hexagonal base.
-
In figure 1A, dispenser unit 6 and paper tube 4 are shown to attach to each other by holding the dispenser unit 6 upside down and lowering it on paper tube 4. In the depicted embodiment, the dispenser unit 6 is mounted on a standard 34 that ensures that the dispenser system has an appropriate height when the standard 34 is placed on a table. Paper tube 4 comprises an opening 8, at least when the paper tube attaches to the dispenser unit 6, so that the paper tube 4 is preferably kept in the orientation as shown in figure 1A to prevent product from falling out of the paper tube 4. Preferably, during transportation, the opening 8 of the paper tube is covered, for example by a removable lid. Once the paper tube is at the dispenser unit 6 and is going to attached to the dispenser unit, can the removable lid be removed to reveal opening 8. Further, paper tube 4 comprises a tear line 10 at the side of the paper tube where it attaches to the dispenser unit 6, which tear line is configured to facilitate tearing of the paper tube 4 along the tear line.
-
As the dispenser unit dispenses products from, in the depicted embodiment, opening 14, the paper tube is emptied. Once the paper tube 4 is completely empty, it needs to be detached from the dispenser unit 6 so that another, full paper tube 4 can be attached again to the dispenser unit 6. This detaching is shown in figures 1C and 1D.
-
In the depicted embodiment, the tear line surrounds a part 12 of the paper tube and figure 1C illustrates that upon tearing the paper tube 8 along the full tear line 10, the part 12 comes loose. As a result, the connection between the dispenser unit 4 and paper tube 4 loosens, which allows the paper tube 4 and dispenser unit 6 to detach from each other as shown in figure 1D.
-
Figure 2A shows the paper tube 4 and dispenser unit 6 of figures 1A - 1D in more detail. Figure 2B shows detail A indicated in figure 2A.
-
The dispenser unit 6 comprises a snap-fit element 16 in the form of a rim 16 that extends outwardly from the dispenser unit 6, in a radial direction from a center region of opening 11. Further, as can be clearly seen in figure 2B, the paper tube 4 comprises a rolled edge 18 that defines opening 8 (see figure 1A) of paper tube 4. In this embodiment, the rolled edge 18 is rolled inwardly into the paper tube 4. The rim 16 is configured to establish a snap-fit connection with the rolled edge 18. Once this snap-fit connection has been established, the paper tube 4 is attached to the dispenser unit 6 and the tea, or other to-be-dispensed material in the paper tube 4 can move from the paper tube 4 into the dispenser unit 6 through paper tube opening 8 (see figure 1A) and through dispenser opening 11.
-
The tear line 10, which is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart perforations, is positioned at the rolled edge 18 as can be seen in figure 2B. As a result, the paper tube 4 can be relatively easily feared at the rolled edge 18, which released the tension in the rolled edge, which, in turn, allows for releasing the snap-fit connection between rim 16 and rolled edge 18.
-
Figure 3A is a front view of paper tube 4 of figures 1A - 1D. Figure 3B is the same front view only with a part cut away so that the interior of the paper tube, in particular the rolled edge 18, is visible. The paper tube 4 has a tube height H extending along a height axis h. The bottom of the paper tube, which may be understood as the lowest part of the paper tube 4, is at a first height h1 along the height axis and a top of the paper tube, which may understood as the highest part of the paper tube 4, is at a second height h2 along the height axis. The rolled edge 18 has an edge height extending along the height axis. A bottom of the rolled edge 18 is at the first height h1 along the height axis and a top of the rolled edge 18 is at a third height h3 along the height axis. In the embodiment, the edge height is equal to (h3 - h1) and the third height h3 is between the h1 and h2.
-
The tear line runs from tear line position 20 on paper tube 4 to tear line position 22 on paper tube 4 to tear line position 24 on paper tube 4. Herein, tear line positions 20 and 24 are both at the rolled edge. In the depicted embodiment both tear line positions 22 and 24 are at height h1. Tear line position 22 is at a height h4. Height h4 is between h3 and h2. Preferably, tear line positions 20 and 24 are separated from each other by a distance of at least 1 cm. Further, preferably, (h4 - h3) is at least 1 cm. Also, preferably, (h3 - h1) is at least 0.5 cm.
-
Figure 4A is a cross section of the dispenser system shown in figures 1A - 1D wherein the paper tube 4 and dispenser unit 6 are attached to each other. Figure 4B shows detail 8 indicated in figure 4A. In cross section, the rim 16 has a hook shape, so that the rolled edge 18 latches behind the hook when the paper tube is pushed on the dispenser unit, or vice versa, herewith establishing the snap-fit connection between rolled edge 18 and rim 16.
-
In cross section, figure 4B, the rolled edge 18 may be understood as the part of the paper tube that sits in the area between height h1 and h3, and between x1 and x3. Line x3 coincides with the inner surface 26 of paper tube 4.
-
Figure 5A is a front view of a dispenser unit 6 according to an embodiment, while figure 5B is a perspective view on this dispenser unit 6. In this embodiment, the dispenser unit 6 comprises a plurality of snap-fit elements 16a - 16h. Each snap-fit element 16a - 16h comprises a rim that extends outwardly from the dispenser unit 6, which rim comprises a hook shape.
-
Figures 6A-E illustrate how a paper tube 4 according to an embodiment may be attached to a dispenser unit 6 according to an embodiment, while figures 6F-I illustrate how the two may be detached from each other. Figures 6A and 6B show that the paper tube 4 may comprise a lid 32 that is removable upon the tearing of strip 30. The removal of lid 32 exposes the opening of the paper tube 4 through which to-be-dispensed material can exit the paper tube 4. Figures 6C and 6D illustrate that the dispenser unit 6, which in this embodiment is releasable from stand 34, is attached with a downwards movement to the paper tube by means of one or more snap-fit connections disclosed herein. Figure 6E shows that, once the dispenser unit 6 and paper tube 4 are attached to each other, the dispenser system may be turned upside down and attached to stand 34.
-
Figure 6F illustrates that, once the paper tube 4 has been emptied, the dispenser system 2 may be detached from stand 34 and turned upside down again. Figures 6G and 6H illustrate the subsequent tearing of the paper tube 4 along tear line 10 for releasing the one or more snap-fit connections so that the paper tube 4 and dispenser unit 6 can be released from each other as shown in figure 6I.