TABLETOP FOLDED SHEET DISPENSER

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser for dispensing sheet material, the dispenser including a moveable platform and a releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform, the releasable locking mechanism including a first arm movably attached to one of the side walls, wherein the first arm has a top end and a base end, a second arm movably attached to the base, wherein the second arm has a side wall end and a locking end, the side wall end cooperating with the base end of the first arm to cause movement of the second arm, the locking end releasably interlocking with a locking portion arranged at the platform to hold the platform in the locking position, wherein the lid has an engaging portion at its lower surface engageable with the top end of the first arm upon closing the lid to release the platform from a locking position.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, comprising: a body having four side walls, a base, an opening in a top of the body, a lid for covering the opening in use and enabling access to the opening for refilling, wherein the lid has a dispensing opening therein to enable sheet material to be dispensed therefrom, a platform for supporting a plurality of sheet material from below, wherein the platform is movable from a lowermost position when the dispenser is filled with sheet material to an uppermost position adjacent the lid when the dispenser is more nearly empty of sheet material, a biasing means for urging the platform towards the lid, a releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform in a locking position in the lowermost position, the releasable locking mechanism comprising: a first arm movably attached to one of the side walls and extending in a direction from the top towards the base of the body, wherein the first arm has a top end and a base end, a second arm movably attached to the base and extending in a direction from the side wall to which the first arm is attached towards a center of the base, wherein the second arm has a side wall end and a locking end, the side wall end being configured to cooperate with the base end of the first arm such that a movement of the first arm causes a movement of the second arm, the locking end being configured to releasably interlock with a locking portion arranged at the platform to thereby hold the platform in the locking position, wherein the lid has an engaging portion at its lower surface configured to engage with the top end of the first arm upon closing the lid to thereby release the platform from the locking position.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is arranged at a lower side of the platform.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a spring attached between a central region of the base and a central region of the platform and wherein the locking portion of the platform is located closer to the central region of the platform than to an edge portion of the platform, optionally, wherein the locking portion is located in the central region of the platform.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion protrudes from the lower surface of the lid, optionally, wherein the engaging portion has a length (L1) of 1/20 to ?, preferably 1/15 to ?, more preferably 1/12 to ?, most preferably 1/10 of the length (L2) of the first arm.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the body has a box shape with two long side walls and two short side walls respectively opposing each other, wherein the lid is attached to one of the short side walls and the first arm is provided on the other one of the short side walls.

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first arm is rotatably attached to the side wall about a first axis of rotation (A) and the second arm is rotatably attached to the base about a second axis of rotation (B).

7. The dispenser according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second arms is rotatably attached with a spring-loaded mechanism, wherein the spring-loaded mechanism is configured such that the at least one of the first and second arms rotates about the first or second axis of rotation (A, B), respectively, against a biasing force of the spring-loaded mechanism upon bringing the platform in the locking position and/or upon closing the lid.

8. The dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the engaging portion has a slanted surface matching with a corresponding slanted surface provided on the top end of the first arm.

9. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser has a spring-loaded latch for releasably locking the lid to the body.

10. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first arm is arranged along a central axis (C) of the one of the side walls, the central axis (C) of the one of the side walls extending in a direction from the top to the base and dividing the one of the side walls into two halves, wherein the second arm is arranged along a central axis (D) of the base, the central axis (D) of the base extending in a direction from the side wall at which the first arm is arranged towards the opposite side wall and dividing the base into two halves.

11. The dispenser according to claim 1, comprising: a first pair of the first arms, a second pair of the second arms, a pair of the engaging portions, a pair of the locking portions.

12. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the locking portions of the platform are symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis or a transversal axis of the platform, wherein the first pair of the first arms is symmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis (C) of the one of the side walls, the central axis (C) of the one of the side walls extending in a direction from the top to the base and dividing the one of the side walls into two halves, wherein the second pair of the second arms is symmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis (D) of the base, the central axis (D) of the base extending in a direction from the side wall at which the first pair of the first arms is arranged towards the opposite side wall and dividing the base into two halves.

13. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the lid is moveably attached to at least one of the side walls of the body via a hinge.

14. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to be reversibly removable and attachable to the body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop dispenser.

[0082] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tabletop dispenser of FIG. 1 with an open lid, wherein a platform is omitted.

[0083] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tabletop dispenser of FIG. 1 wherein a base, a side wall, a biasing means, and a lid are omitted.

[0084] FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1, wherein a lid, a platform, and a biasing means are omitted.

[0085] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line B-B in FIG. 1, wherein a lid and a biasing means are omitted.

[0086] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line C-C in FIG. 1, wherein a platform and a biasing means are omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT

[0087] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to describe the disclosure using illustrative examples. Further modifications of certain individual features described in this context can be combined with other features of the described embodiments to form further embodiments of the disclosure.

[0088] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for similar elements.

[0089] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop dispenser. The tabletop dispenser comprises a body 1 having four side walls 2, 3, 4, and 5 (the side wall 4 is the side wall opposite to the side wall 2, and the sidewall 5 is a side wall opposite to the side wall 3). The tabletop dispenser further has a base 6 and a lid 8. The tabletop dispenser of this embodiment has a box shape with the two short side walls 2, 3 and the two long side walls 3, 5. In this embodiment, the lid 8 is movably attached to the short side wall 4. The lid 8 is provided with a dispensing opening 9 having a slot shape, wherein the two sections to the side are slot shaped and the central portion of the opening has an oval shape. Moreover, the tabletop dispenser comprises a spring-loaded latch 21.

[0090] In an alternative (non-illustrated) embodiment, the lid 8 may be configured to be reversibly removable and attachable to the body 1 of the dispenser. In such a configuration, the lid 8 can be put aside for (re-)filling the dispenser (open refilling position) and put back onto the body 1 in order to arrive at the closed use position thereof.

[0091] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tabletop dispenser of FIG. 1 with an open lid 8, wherein a platform 10 is omitted. The lid 8 is movably attached to the short side wall 4 by means of hinges, such that the lid 8 can be opened across the short side wall 4. When the lid 8 is completely opened, the opening 7 in a top of the body is easily accessible. In this embodiment, a coil spring is provided as a biasing means 11. The coil spring shown in FIG. 2 is in a relaxed state. Furthermore, the lid 8 has a pair of engaging portions 19 provided at its lower surface. Each of the engaging portions 19 has a slanted surface 20.

[0092] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tabletop dispenser of FIG. 1 wherein the base 6, the side wall 3, the lid 8, and the biasing means 11 are omitted. A first pair of first arms 12 is attached to the side wall 2 (the side wall 2 is opposite to the side wall 4). In this embodiment, the first pair of the first arms 12 is rotatably attached to the side wall 2 by means of a pair of pins 22. Moreover, as can be seen, the first arms 12 are mirror symmetric with respect to a central axis C of the side wall 2, wherein the central axis C extends in a direction from the base 6 of the body 1 towards the top of the body 1 and divides the side wall 2 into two halves (shown in more detail in FIG. 5). Likewise, the second pair of the second arms 15 is attached to the base 6 (the base 6 is not shown in FIG. 3). The second pair of second arms 15 is rotatably attached to the base 6 by means of pins 23. Moreover, as can be seen, the second arms 15 are mirror symmetric with respect to a central axis D of the base 6, wherein the central axis D extends in a direction from the side wall 2 towards the side wall 4 and divides the base 6 into two halves (shown in more detail in FIG. 6). In this embodiment, the second arms 15 are also mirror symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis of the platform 10.

[0093] Each of the first arms 12 has a top end 13 and a base end 14. The top end 13 is provided with a slanted surface matching with the slanted surface 20 of the engaging portion 19. The base end 14 is configured to cooperate with the side wall end 16 of the second arm 15. Each of the second arms 15 has the side wall end 16 configured to cooperate with the base and 14 of the first arm 12 and has a locking end 17 configured to releasably interlock with a locking portion 18 arranged at the platform 10, thereby holding the platform 10 in the locking position, as seen in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the locking portion 18 has a snap hook design. Further, in this embodiment, each of the second pair of the second arms 15 comprises a spring-loaded mechanism.

[0094] Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 3, hooks 24 are provided on the lower side of the platform 10 for attachment of the biasing means 11 which, in the present embodiment, is a coil spring, as described above. In this case, the central region of the platform 10 corresponds to the region where the upper end of the coil spring is attached to the platform 10. Since the locking portions 18 are located closer to the central region of the platform 10 than to an edge portion of the platform 10 and are symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the platform 10, the platform 10 can be held in the locking position in a horizontal orientation, thereby achieving the above-described advantages. Specifically, upon releasing the locking mechanism, the platform 10 and the stack of sheet material placed thereon is urged towards the dispensing opening 9 in an upright orientation which enables easy grasping of individual sheet material.

[0095] FIGS. 3 and 4 also illustrates the releasable locking mechanism according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, the platform 10 is in the locking position in the lowermost position. In order to release the locking mechanism, the lid 8 is brought into the closed position, whereby the slanted surface 20 of the engaging portion 19 is brought into contact with the slanted surface provided at the top end 13 of the first arm 12. As a result, each of the first arms 12 rotates about a first axis of rotation A (shown in FIG. 4) passing through the pins 22. In this embodiment, specifically, as seen in a direction towards the first arms 12, the left first arm 12 rotates counterclockwise, whereas the right first arm 12 rotates clockwise. At the same time, since the base end 14 of the first arm 12 is configured to cooperate with the side wall end 16 of the second arm 15, each of the second arms 15 is also subjected to a rotational movement about a second axis of rotation B (shown in FIG. 4) passing through the pins 23. In this embodiment, specifically, as seen from below, the left second arm 15 cooperating with the left first arm 12 rotates counterclockwise, whereas the right second arm 15 cooperating with the right first arm 12 rotates clockwise. With this movement, the locking end 17 of each of the second arms 15 disengages from each of the locking portions 18, thereby releasing the locking mechanism.

[0096] FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1, wherein the lid 8, the platform 10, and the biasing means 11 are omitted. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the first arm 12 is rotatably attached at the sidewall 2 about the first axis of rotation A. The second arm 15 is rotatably attached at the base 6 about the second axis of rotation B. In this embodiment, the first axis of rotation A is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation B. Moreover, the base 6 has a circular wall portion 25 which is provided for holding the biasing means 11 in form of a coil spring in place. Thus, considering the above explanations with respect to the central region, this portion of the base 6 may be considered as central region of the base 6.

[0097] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line B-B in FIG. 1, wherein the lid 8 and the biasing means 11 are omitted. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the locking portion 18 is arranged at a lower side of the platform 10. Furthermore, each of the second pair of the second arms 15 is disposed below the platform 10, thereby not interfering with the stack of sheet material.

[0098] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line C-C in FIG. 1, wherein the platform 10 and the biasing means 11 are omitted. FIG. 6 illustrates the mirror symmetric configuration of the second pair of the second arms 15 with respect to the central axis D of the base 6. Due to the second arms 15 being arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis D, the platform 10 of the dispenser can be particularly reliably held in the locking position in a horizontal orientation, thereby enabling a more reliable urging of the platform 10 and the stack of sheet material towards the dispensing opening 9 in an upright orientation and, thus, easy withdrawal of individual sheet material.

[0099] As a first step to load a stack of sheet material, which is now be described in the exemplary form of napkins, into the dispenser, the above-described lid 8 is moved from the above-mentioned closed use position into the open refilling position.

[0100] Then, the stack of napkins is placed with a bottom face (trailing face) of the stack of napkins on the platform 10 of the dispenser via the opening 7 of the dispenser, wherein said platform 10 is reciprocally movable within the body 1 of the dispenser, as described above.

[0101] Subsequently, a force is exerted on a top face (leading face) of the stack of sheet material opposite to the bottom face (trailing face) to thereby push the platform 10 into the body 1 of the dispenser.

[0102] Before or after exerting the force on the top face of the stack of the sheet material and before or after placing the stack of napkins with the bottom face of the stack of napkins on the support surface, it may be particularly useful to at least partially fold the leading napkin at at least one of its edges. As a result, a so-called starter fold is formed.

[0103] The starter fold enables to easily grasp the leading napkin when the dispenser is freshly refilled.

[0104] On top of that, the napkins are usually distributed in bundles (stacks of sheet material) comprising a predetermined number of sheet material (e.g. napkins). In many cases more than one bundle (stack of sheet material) is inserted into the dispenser during refilling. Whereas the sheet material is usually interfolded within one bundle (stack of sheet material), the trailing sheet material of a first bundle (first stack of sheet material) and the leading sheet material of a second bundle (second stack of sheet material) are not interfolded. As a result, once the trailing sheet material of the first bundle is dispensed during use, the leading sheet material of the second bundle is not automatically withdrawn through the dispensing opening in part for being easily graspable. As a result, it is beneficial to also fold the leading sheet of any bundle (stack of sheet material) inserted into the dispenser in the same manner as described above forming a starter fold.

[0105] Even though there is no interfolding at a stack-break (also called bundle break), i.e. the transition from one stack of sheet material to another one, a consistent and reliable use of the dispenser can be ensured by at least partially folding the leading napkin of each bundle at at least one of its edges, and the user is never confronted with any napkin that is hard to grasp.

[0106] Afterwards, the lid 8 is pivoted from the open refilling position into the closed use position again, such that the lid 8 is closed.

[0107] Finally, a portion of a leading sheet material, i.e. a (partially folded) leading napkin is extracted from the top face of the stack of napkins through the dispensing opening 9 of the lid 8 to thereby dispose that leading napkin.

[0108] Accordingly, the stack of napkins can be successfully and easily loaded into the dispenser, and the dispenser is thereby filled with napkins.