US2522427A

US2522427A - Napkin dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2522427A
Application number: US15790A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl N Borden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-03-19
Filing date: 1948-03-19
Publication date: 1950-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1967-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1950 E. N. BORDEN NAPKIN DISPENSER' Filed March 19, 1943 IN V EN TOR. Earl N BOI'dGIL.

This inventiin'relates to dispensers for napkins andsimilar articles which are intendedto be'rernoved from a holder oneatatime. v v

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a dispenser comprising a casin'g'which serves as acholder for a pack or' charge of laminated sheets or napkins, and having-therein a'ispring unit having a capacity. to push the: sheetsor in'ap kins toward the discharge opening by e'ngzatgirig the rear of the pack or charge near the't'opiand bottomithereofso as toexerta more orJ-less uniform outward pressure thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a follower unit in the form of an arched or 'inverted V-shaped member wherein the arms or leaves of said member have the characteristic of a spring which may be compressed when the pack or charge is inserted in the housing of the device and which exerts continuing pressure on the charge until it is fully dispensed. In that connection, the invention contemplates providing the arm or leaf of the follower unit with an integral struck out spring finger which assists in pushing the pack or charge of napkins toward the dispensing opening.

A further object is to provide a napkin dispenser consisting of a minimum number of parts, namely, a casing having opposite side-walls provided with openings and a single or one piece follower unit of inverted V, or equivalent, shaped form, having fingers struck from the leaves thereof and adapted to be held in the housing or casing by a third element, namely, a bottom plate or base. Thus, basically, the invention proceeds from the practical consideration of providing a commercially practical and feasible follower devvice which consists of a minimum number of parts, and which lends itself to standard manufacturing practices, thereby to provide a construction which may be economically produced.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view, illustrating the several parts of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the device, loaded with sheets or napkins for use.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As will be observed from Figure 1, the assembly generally includes a cover or casing A, a spring follower unit B, and a bottom or base C. The casing A is provided with end walls I and l STATES; PA E T: GEE-IC 1 j I 7.v-2"j522427 I I I QM I News. DISPENSER- J ,I' :B'orden, Hillsboro, Ten. I 4,

Application al-a s, 1948, Serial No.'1 5,790

side-walls 2, the latterhaving the openness;

The cover is preferably formed with its upper verted V-shaped follower unitB, Afterthe-unit B is placedin position, the base 'or;bottom C may, be placed-in the open ,end of the cover and affixed thereto by. welding, riveting,-:punchin g or; any well-known'means offastening the base to. the open end. of thecasing, depend-ingon whether the housing-and its several vpartsqare made-of metal or plastic. Thus, it will be seen that the parts A, B and C may be readily made by standard manufacturing practices and assembled by merely placing the unit B in the cover A and then afiixing the bottom or base C.

Referring to the, fo1lower unit B, it will be observed that the same is preferably of inverted V-shaped formation, thereby to provide the arms orleaves 4. Said leaves 4 preferably have their lower ends angularly disposed outwardly, as indicated at 5. Also, each leaf 4 has a spring finger 6 struck out therefrom. This fingeris preferably integrally connected with the lower portion of a leaf at the zone of the junction of the angular portion 5 with the main leaf, and extend upwardly and outwardly from the body of the leaf in its unsprung condition. The upper end of each finger 6 is preferably angularly disposed, as indicated at l. The lower portion 5 of the leaves 4 andthe upper portions 1 of the fingers 6 are intended respectively to engage the upper and lower portions of the pack or charge of napkins N, as will be seen from Figure 2. It will also be observed from this figure that when the arms or leaves 4 of the unit B are compressed, the intermediate portions of the fingers 6 will engage the intermediate parts of the pack of napkins N.

To assist in properly positioning the unit B in the cover or casing A, the apical portion 8 thereof'is preferably anchored to the upper, inner portion of the casing A by inwardly projecting studs or spaced lugs 9. These lugs may be of any appropriate form, either integral or separate, depending on whether the casing A is made of plastic or metal. The purpose of the opposite pairs of spaced lugs 9-9 is to slidably anchor the apical portion of the unit B in the cover and prevent lateral shifting thereof. Clearly, it is within the scope of the invention to make the lugs 9 in the form of spaced extrusions of the end walls I. It will, therefore, be seen that the opposite pairs of spaced lugs not only assure the centering of the unit B when it is assembled rela- 3 tive to the cover, but also assure proper functioning of the unit B when it is in use to the extent that the opposite spring leaves 44 and the spring fingers 6-6 will exert uniform pressure on the charge or pack of napkins in the cover.

The base C may be provided with an abutment H to prevent the lower end of either leaf of the unit B from being moved too far toward the other if usual hand pressure is exerted on one stack of napkins while the other is partially reduced in Volume.

When the device is assembled as shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that the charge or pack of napkins N may be placed in the cover by pushing the same through the openings 33, thereby compressing the opposite spring leaves 4-4, as well as the fingers 6-6. the charge or pack of napkins N becomes reduced by removing the exposed napkins, the leaves 44 and fingers 6-6 will tend to expand to the position shown in Figure 1 until the dispenser is empty. The dispenser may then be refilled for use.

From the foregoing, it is believed that it will be understood that the construction and arrangement described provides a simple and practical form of sheet dispenser that may be readily made of metal or plastic parts, and which, in use, functions efficiently for the intended purpose.

As shown in Figure 1, the end wall iof the As the volume of casing may be provided with cooperating guide larly disposed spring fingers struck out from the body of said leaves, the bottom of said leaves and the upper portions of the fingers serving to engage upper and lower portions of napkins confined between one side of the unit and the inner side of the related opening in the cover, and pairs of spaced studs projecting inwardly from the upper portion of the casing to slidably receive the apex of said unit and anchor the upper portion thereof in the cover.

EARL N. BORDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,678,339 Horwitt July 24, 1928 1,791,586 Todd Feb. 10, 1931 1,793,682 Dahl Feb. 24, 1931 2,055,493 Mothersall Sept. 29, 1936 2,252,616 Broeren et a1 Aug. 12, 1941