DISPENSER FOR SHEET PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY NAPKINS

Abstract

A dispenser for sheet products comprising a base, an outer shell mounted to the base, wherein 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 and second portion being non-detachably and non-movably fixed relative to each other, a platen reciprocally moveable relative to the base and spring biased toward the dispensing opening, and first and second columns respectively extending from the base parallel to a movement direction of the platen on opposite sides of the platen, wherein the outer shell is detachable from the base for inserting a stack of paper products between the first and second columns onto the platen.

Claims

1. 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; a platen (60) reciprocally moveable relative to the base (10) and spring biased toward the dispensing opening (54); and first and second columns (13, 14) respectively 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 detachable from the base (10) for inserting a stack of paper products between the first and second columns onto the platen.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, 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).

3. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first (52) and second (53) portions are made of one piece.

4. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a 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.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the stops (17, 18) are flexible parallel to the movement direction of the platen (60).

6. The dispenser according to claim 5, 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.

7. The dispenser according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the stops (17, 18) are made of an elastic material.

8. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the stops (17, 18) are made of polypropylene.

9. The dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the stops (17, 18) are separate parts fitted to the respective ends (16) of the first and second columns (13, 14).

10. 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).

11. The dispenser according to claim 10, 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.

12. 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.

13. 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).

14. The dispenser according to claim 13, 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).

15. The dispenser according to claim 14, 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).

16. The dispenser according to claim 14 or 15, 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.

17. The dispenser according to claim 14 or 15, 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.

18. 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).

19. That dispenser according to anyone 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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the outer shell of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the outer shell being detached and embodying stops.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a partial top view of FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a dispenser of FIG. 1 with the outer shell of FIG. 2 being detached and embodying a first example of a retention mechanism.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 5.

[0033] FIGS. 7A and B show a schematic cross-section through the retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 5 for describing its function.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a dispenser of FIG. 1 with the outer shell of FIG. 2 being detached and embodying a second example of a retention mechanism.

[0035] FIG. 9 shows a partial enlarged perspective of the retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 8.

[0036] FIGS. 10A and B show a schematic cross-section through the retention mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 8 for describing its function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] An example of a dispenser according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. 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. For this purpose, 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. When the outer shell 50 is to be detached from 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.

[0038] The outer shell 50 also shown in FIG. 2 comprises a first portion 52 defining a circumferential enclosure for a stack of sheet products (not visible in FIG. 1) to be dispensed from the dispenser via a dispensing opening 54 disposed in a second portion 53 of the outer shell 50. Accordingly, the outer shell 50 may comprise two pairs of opposite side walls 55 and connected to each other at the corners or corner portions 56. Accordingly, 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. In one embodiment, 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.

[0039] The base 10 is shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated example, 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.

[0040] Moreover, the base 10 comprises two columns 13, 14. In one example, the columns 13, 14 are manufactured together with the bottom portion 12 from a rigid plastic material such as ABS. Alternatively, the columns 13, 14 may be separate parts which are subsequently attached or assembled with the bottom portion 12. Yet, as with respect to the outer shell 50, 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.

[0041] The columns 13, 14 may, as in the illustrated example, be 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. In this context, 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.

[0042] In the particular example shown in the figures, 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). In an example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 15 mm and 50 mm. In another example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is within the range of 20 mm and 40 mm. In a particular example, the width of the columns 13, 14 is between 25 mm and 35 mm, such as 25 mm.

[0043] 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. In the illustrated example, 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).

[0044] 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.

[0045] The stops 17, 18 are prevented from being flexed upward beyond the position shown in FIG. 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.

[0046] 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 FIG. 3 (Y direction). In particular, 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 FIG. 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] Further, at the sides of the columns 13, 14 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. In the illustrated example, 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. To put it differently, 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.

[0049] In the following, reference is made to the refilling process of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0050] 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.

[0051] In this situation, 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.

[0052] The user then grips a stack of sheet products and inserts the stack from the top in FIG. 3 between the columns 13, 14 flexing the stops 17, 18 at the hinge 21 about the axis 22 towards the inner surfaces of the columns 13, 14 so that the stack of sheet products may pass the stops 17, 18. During this process, 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.

[0053] Once the leading sheet product (uppermost sheet product) in the stack of sheet products has passed 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 FIG. 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.

[0054] A further dispenser is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to 7. The only difference as compared to the dispenser described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 is that the stops 17, 18 are omitted and instead a retention mechanism 80 is embodied. 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.

[0055] For this purpose, 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.

[0056] The engaged member may be in the form of a cutout 83 formed in a side surface of the platen 60.

[0057] Accordingly, 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. Once the platen 60 reaches the retracted position as shown in FIG. 5, 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. As a result, 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.

[0058] When attaching the outer shell 50 as shown in FIGS. 7A and B by translationally moving the outer shell 50 along the arrow A in FIG. 7A, an inner surface 58 of the outer shell 50 comes in contact with the release portion 84 of the engaging member 81 and pushes the engaging member 81 inward whereby the latch 82 is released from the cutout 83. Consequently, the platen 60 may move upward as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 7B being urged by the spring 17.

[0059] An alternative retention mechanism 90, which may be used instead of the retention mechanism 80, is shown in the dispenser depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 to 10. 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.

[0060] For this purpose, 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.

[0061] The engaged member may be in the form of one or more hooks 93 formed at the bottom portion 12 of the base 10.

[0062] Accordingly, 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. Once the platen 60 reaches the retracted position as shown in FIG. 9, 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. As a result, 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.

[0063] When attaching the outer shell 50 as shown in FIGS. 10A and B by translationally moving the outer shell 50 along the arrow A in FIG. 10A, a ramp 59 on an inner surface 58 of the outer shell 50 comes in contact with the release portion 94 of the engaging member 91 and pushes the engaging member 91 inward (see arrow C in FIG. 10A), whereby the latches 92 are released from the hooks 93. Consequently, the platen 60 may move upward as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 10B being urged by the spring 17.

[0064] The use of the 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 disclosure is not limited to the above examples, but various modifications and alterations are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.