Dispenser for interfolded napkins

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for interfolded napkins, including an inner container defining a dispensing opening, and an outer sleeve including a dispensing mouth. The outer sleeve forms at least one open end portion being arranged to receive the inner container, and the dispensing mouth forms an open end towards an open end portion of the sleeve. When the inner container is located in the outer sleeve, a supporting surface is biased towards the dispensing opening of the inner container and vertically movable inside the inner container between a lower position and an upper position, and, at least in a region adjacent the open end of the dispensing mouth, the outer contour of the upper ends of the side walls of the inner container deviates from the inner periphery of the sleeve, forming an access opening to the space between the upper position and the dispensing mouth.

Claims

1. A dispenser for interfolded napkins, comprising: an inner container having: a bottom wall extending in a horizontal plane, side walls extending from the bottom wall in a vertical direction perpendicular thereto, and a dispensing opening opposite the bottom wall, the side walls of the inner container surrounding a supporting surface for supporting a stack of interfolded napkins; and an outer sleeve comprising: at least one open end being arranged to receive the inner container such that the inner container is insertable into the outer sleeve along an insertion direction extending in parallel to said horizontal plane, and a dispensing mouth that forms an open end towards said open end of the outer sleeve, wherein the dispensing opening and the dispensing mouth both extend along said insertion direction, wherein an area of the dispensing opening is larger than the dispensing mouth, and wherein, when the inner container is located in the outer sleeve, the supporting surface is biased towards the dispensing opening of the inner container and vertically movable inside the inner container between a lower position adjacent the bottom wall of the inner container, and an upper position adjacent the dispensing opening of the inner container, and at a distance from an inner periphery of the outer sleeve, forming a space between the upper position and the dispensing mouth, and wherein, at least in a region adjacent the open end of the dispensing mouth, an outer contour of upper ends of the side walls of the inner container deviates from the inner periphery of the outer sleeve, forming an access opening to the space between the upper position and the dispensing mouth, when the inner container is located inside the outer sleeve.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said upper position is determined by at least one horizontally extending tab arranged in the inner container that contacts the stack of interfolded napkins when said stack of interfolded napkins are present in the inner container.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve forms two opposite open ends, and the dispensing mouth is open towards both open ends, such that the inner container is insertable into the outer sleeve along two opposing insertion directions.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a length of the outer sleeve along the insertion direction substantially corresponds to a length of the inner container along the insertion direction.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mouth has a longitudinal length of at least 75% of a length of the supporting surface extending along the insertion direction (D).

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mouth comprises vertically upwardly protruding edges, for supporting a leading end of a napkin when present in the dispensing opening.

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mouth at least partly having a selected width, in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, said width being in a range of 1 to 3 cm.

8. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing mouth forms at least one portion having another width, greater than said selected width.

9. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the supporting surface is biased towards the dispensing opening of the inner container by a spring.

10. The dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the spring is arranged between the supporting surface and the bottom wall of the inner container.

11. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said tab is flexible.

12. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said tab is rigid.

13. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said tab is pivotably arranged in relation to the inner container so as to define a holding position, in which the tab extends at least horizontally over a portion of the dispensing opening, and a refill position, in which the tab is directed away from the dispensing opening.

14. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said tab is removably arranged in relation to the inner container.

15. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said tab is arranged in the inner container at a vertical distance from the dispensing mouth of the outer sleeve, when the inner container is located in the outer sleeve, wherein said vertical distance is at least 1 cm.

16. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein at least two tabs are arranged on at least two opposing side walls of the inner container.

17. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising releasable locking means for releasably locking the inner container when received in the outer sleeve.

18. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said locking means is arranged between the bottom wall of the inner container and a corresponding bottom wall of the outer sleeve.

19. The dispenser according to claim 18, wherein said locking means comprises a resilient tongue formed in said bottom wall of the inner container, and a groove formed in the corresponding bottom wall of the outer sleeve.

20. The dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the groove forms an opening through the bottom wall of the outer sleeve, such that the resilient tongue, when fit into the opening is accessible from the bottom side of the dispenser, enabling release of the resilient tongue from the opening by pressing the resilient tongue out of the opening.

21. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said locking means is centrally arranged along a length of the inner container and outer sleeve along the insertion direction.

22. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is formed from a metallic or plastic material having a width substantially equal to a length of the inner container along the insertion direction.

23. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein an outline of the dispensing opening essentially corresponds to an outline of the supporting surface.

24. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mouth is elongate and has a maximum length dimension extending in parallel to a pair of opposing side walls of said container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing interfolded napkins;

(3) FIG. 1A is an exploded view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of an inner container which may be used with the embodiment of a dispenser of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3a illustrates a second embodiment of an inner container which may be used with the embodiment of a dispenser of FIG. 1, when in a holding position;

(6) FIG. 3b illustrates the second embodiment of FIG. 3a, when in a refill position;

(7) FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the outer sleeve of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 5 illustrates the dispenser of FIG. 1 when in a ready-to-use position including a stack of napkins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

(9) In the following, different embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by reference to the attached Figures. Identical or similar features will be denoted by the same reference numerals and repeated description thereof will be avoided.

(10) FIGS. 1 to 5 show embodiments of the dispenser 1 of the present application.

(11) The dispenser 1 includes an outer sleeve 3 and an inner container 2. The inner container 2 can be inserted into the outer sleeve 3, as it is shown in the schematic perspective diagram of FIG. 1. The inner container 2 of the dispenser 1 includes a dispensing opening 7 for dispensing e.g. interfolded napkins which are contained inside the inner container 2. The outer sleeve 3 includes a dispensing mouth 9 which is aligned with the dispensing opening 7 of the inner container 2 when the inner container 2 is inserted into the outer sleeve 3. This enables a reliable dispensing process of the interfolded napkins from the inner container 2.

(12) The outer sleeve 3 forms an open end 10 through which the inner container is insertable into the outer sleeve 3 along an insertion direction D, extending in parallel with the dispensing mouth 9. The dispensing opening 7 of the inner container 2 is substantially larger than the dispensing mouth 9 of the outer sleeve 3 such that the dispensing opening 7 of the inner container 2 will not influence the dispensing characteristics of the dispensing mouth 9 of the outer sleeve 3, but simply enables dispensing of the napkins through the aligned dispensing opening 7 and dispensing mouth 9 when the inner container 2 is received in the outer sleeve 3.

(13) The dispensing mouth 9 of the outer sleeve 3 is open towards the open end 10 of the outer sleeve 3. Accordingly, the inner container 2 may be inserted into the outer sleeve 3, while a leading end of a stack of napkins contained in the inner container 2 is allowed to protrude vertically from the dispensing opening 7 of the inner container 2. In this case, the protruding leading end of the stack may be introduced into the dispensing mouth 9 via the open end thereof as the inner container 2 is introduced into the outer sleeve 2 via the open end 10 thereof. Hence, set-up of the dispenser in a ready-to use configuration with a leading end of the stack being present in the dispensing mouth 9 is facilitated.

(14) In the illustrated embodiment, the outer sleeve 3 forms two opposing open ends 10, and the dispensing mouth 9 is open towards both open ends 10 of the sleeve 3. Accordingly, the inner container 2 may be introduced into the outer sleeve 3 along any one of two opposing insertion directions D.

(15) However, it will be understood that other embodiments, displaying only one open end of the sleeve one and corresponding opening of the dispensing mouth 9, may also be envisaged.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the inner container 2. As can be seen, the inner container 2 has a bottom wall 5, and side walls 6 which extend in the vertical direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 5. The side walls 6 define the dispensing opening 7, which is located opposite the bottom wall 5. A supporting surface 8 for supporting a stack of interfolded napkins extends in the horizontal plane inside the inner container 2. Typically, the stack of napkins to be dispensed is held in the volume defined by the side walls 6 and the supporting surface 8.

(17) The supporting surface 8 is biased towards the dispensing opening 7 by means of a spring 14, such as a conical spring as seen in FIG. 1A. The spring 14 is arranged between the bottom wall 5 and the lower surface of the supporting surface 8, such that the largest end surface of the conical spring 14 faces towards the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2, and its smallest end surface faces towards the supporting surface 8. The supporting surface 8 is vertically movable inside the inner container 2 by means of said biasing spring 14. The supporting surface 8 moves between a lower position adjacent the bottom wall 5, and an upper position adjacent the dispensing opening 7.

(18) One end of the spring 14, for example the large end surface of the conical spring, is fitted into a track 17 provided on the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2. The opposite end of the spring 14, i.e. the smaller end surface of a conical spring is fitted into a corresponding track 17 arranged on the underside of the supporting surface 8. Fitting the spring end surfaces into tracks 17 will prevent said spring end surfaces from slipping on the biasing surfaces and thereby stabilize the biased movement of the supporting surface 8 between the lower and upper positions.

(19) The outline of the supporting surface 8 is provided with one or more protrusions 18 protruding from said outline in the horizontal direction into vertically arranged rails 19 provided on one or more side walls 6 of the inner container 2. Said protrusions 18 and rails 19 serve to guide the vertical movement of the supporting surface 8 between the lower and upper positions inside the inner container 2.

(20) The upper position for the supporting surface 8 is determined by one or more tabs 11 extending in the horizontal direction from the side walls 6 of the inner container 2. In FIG. 2, it is seen how two tabs 11 extend from the upper edges of opposing side walls 6 and abut the upper side of the uppermost panel of a stack of napkins. The tabs 11 restrict the upward movement of the supporting surface 8, and ensure that the uppermost napkin is kept in position when it is withdrawn from the dispenser 1. The tabs 11 will also prevent that multiple napkins are unintentionally withdrawn at the same time. As napkins are dispensed, the height of the stack contained in the dispenser 1 will diminish, allowing the supporting surface 8 to move vertically upwards. When all napkins have been withdrawn from the dispenser 1 the tabs 11 will abut the supporting surface 8.

(21) In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the tabs 11 are pivotably arranged in relation to the inner container 2. In this embodiment, the tabs 11 are movable from a holding position in which the tabs 11 extend at least horizontally over a portion of the dispensing opening 7, and a refill position, in which the tabs 11 are directed away from the dispensing opening 7. This arrangement with pivotable tabs 11 will facilitate the loading of a stack of napkins into the inner container 2. FIG. 3b shows an embodiment wherein the pivotable tabs 11 are in a refill position. In a further embodiment, said tabs 11 may be completely removed from the side walls 6 of the inner container 2 to further facilitate the refilling of napkins into the container 2.

(22) In the illustrated embodiment, two tabs 11 are pivotably arranged at the upper end surfaces of the side walls 6. The fastening arrangement includes snap-lock elements, which are snapped to position at the upper end surfaces of the side walls 6. Moreover, in this embodiment, the fastening arrangement includes hinges, formed by the snap-lock elements in combination with the pivotable tabs 11. The tabs 11 extend outwardly from the fastening arrangement along a stem portion, having a relatively narrow length as seen along the corresponding side wall 6. The stem portion is connected to an abutment portion, which is elongate, and which extends along the length of the corresponding side wall 6.

(23) In FIG. 3a it is seen how the tabs 11 as a whole, form an angle of about 45 degrees with the vertical plane including the side wall 6 to which the tabs is attached. Accordingly, the tabs 11 extend in a horizontal direction over the dispensing opening 7 so as to retain a stack of napkins held inside the inner container 2.

(24) In particular embodiments, the tabs 11 are releasably lockable in the holding position of FIG. 3a, such that they may resist any pull forces from a napkin being withdrawn from the stack.

(25) In FIG. 3b, it is seen how the tabs 11 are directed away from the dispensing opening 7, when the inner container is in a refill position. The entire dispening opening 7, as outlined by the side walls 6, is readily available for easy refill of napkins.

(26) It will be understood that numerous alternative embodiments are available, for example as it comes to the size and shape of the pivotable tabs.

(27) FIG. 4 shows the outer sleeve 3 in a schematic perspective drawing. As will be appreciated, the outer sleeve 3 is, in the form shown in the Figures, for example made from an extruded metallic material, in particular a molded aluminum or stainless steel material. In a different embodiment, the outer sleeve 3 may be made from an extruded plastic material. In particular the inner shape of the outer sleeve 3 corresponds to the outer shape of the inner container 2, as becomes immediately apparent from the Figures, in particular FIG. 1.

(28) In another advantageous embodiment, the outer sleeve 3 is made from a band-shaped material which is bent in the form shown in the Figures. The band-shaped material which may be used to manufacture the outer sleeve 3 can be provided in the form of a metal band, in particular an aluminum and/or stainless steel band, or in the form of a band made from a rigid plastic material.

(29) Advantageously the band-shaped material has a width that is substantially equal to the length of the inner container 2 in the direction D.

(30) The outer sleeve 3 includes a dispensing mouth 9, i.e. an opening through which items are dispensed. As seen in FIG. 5, the dispensing mouth 9 is positioned over the items inside the inner container 2, so as to be aligned with a leading end of the stack of napkins protruding from said dispensing opening 7, when the inner container 2 is located inside the outer sleeve 3.

(31) The biased vertical movement of the supporting surface 8 supporting the stack of napkins towards the dispensing opening 7, automatically positions the protruding leading end from the stack inside the dispensing mouth 9 with a constant length of the leading end extending through the dispensing mouth 9.

(32) To further facilitate the presentation of the leading end present in the dispensing opening 7 inside the dispensing mouth 9, the dispensing mouth includes vertically upwardly protruding edges 12. The vertically upwardly protruding edges 12 enable the napkin to assume an up-right position as seen in FIG. 5.

(33) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dispensing mouth 9 is advantageously provided with a portion having a greater width extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D, than the other portions of the dispensing mouth 9. Such a wider portion arranged in the dispensing mouth 9 may facilitate gripping of the napkin, or facilitate the gripping of a leading end of the uppermost napkin when the leading end is lying flatly down on the stack located inside the inner container 2.

(34) The side walls 6 of the inner container 2 need not necessarily be closed, but may be provided with openings or slots. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the upper regions of the side walls 6 of the inner container 2 are provided with an access opening 13 arranged adjacent to the inner periphery of the outer sleeve 3. The access openings 13 may serve as gripping sections to remove the inner container from the outer sleeve 3. The provision of access openings 13 on both sides of the inner container 2 has the advantage that it does not matter in which orientation the inner container 2 is inserted into the outer sleeve 3, but the user can grip and withdraw the inner container 2 from the outer sleeve 3 in both possible directions.

(35) Furthermore, the location of an access opening 13 adjacent the dispensing mouth may also facilitate the gripping of a leading end of a new stack of napkins, and the introduction of said leading end through the dispensing mouth 9.

(36) A further reason for providing slots or openings in the side walls 6 could be to observe the filling level of napkins inside the inner container 2 (not shown).

(37) A releasable locking means for releasably locking the inner container 2 to the outer sleeve 3 is arranged at the bottom of the dispenser 1. FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate one type of locking means that may advantageously be used in the dispenser of the present application. The releasable locking means is centrally arranged along the length between the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2 and the bottom wall of the outer sleeve 3. A resilient tongue 15 is arranged in the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2. Said resilient tongue 15 snap-fits into an opening 16 arranged through the corresponding bottom wall of the outer sleeve 3.

(38) When the inner container 2 is locked to the outer sleeve 3, the resilient tongue 15 is accessible from the bottom side of the dispenser 1, enabling release of the tongue 15 from the opening 16 by manually pressing the tongue 15 out of the opening 16 from the bottom side of the dispenser 1.

(39) In the embodiments shown, the outer sleeve 3 is preferably made from a metal material, preferably from aluminum or stainless steel, which is extruded and cut into the respective form. However, other materials can also be used which are rigid enough to perform the function of receiving the inner container 2, in particular metal band materials, extruded plastic materials, wooden materials and laminates thereof.

(40) The inner container 2 can be made from a wooden material, a plastic material or laminates thereof. As to the plastic material, a transparent or see-through plastic material might be of particular benefit in some applications. Naturally, the inner container 2 can be made from the same material as the outer shell, depending on specific design considerations.

(41) The bottom surface of the outer sleeve is furnished with one or more supporting means 20, such as e.g. rubber feet, or feet lined with an upholstered material to prevent scratching of any surface onto which the dispenser is placed.

(42) In the following, the process of filling the dispenser 1 with napkins will be described. In particular, napkins are provided in the form of a stack, which contains separate napkins that are interfolded such that, when removing the top napkin, the subsequent napkin will automatically present its leading end. The napkins used with the dispenser 1 may have any suitable size which fits into the volume defined by the inner container 2.

(43) The stack of interfolded napkins 5 is inserted into the inner container 2, while pushing the supportive surface 8 towards its lowest position adjacent the bottom wall 5. The stack of napkins is placed on top of the supportive surface 8, such that the tabs 11 extending from the upper edges of opposing side walls 6 abut the upper side of the uppermost panel of a stack of napkins.

(44) According to embodiments, such as for example the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the tabs 11 may be slightly flexible, such that the introduction of napkins past the tabs 11 and into the inner container 2 might be facilitated. The tabs 11 restrict the upward movement of the supporting surface 8, and ensure that the uppermost napkin is kept in position when it is withdrawn from the dispenser 1. The tabs 11 will also prevent that multiple napkins are unintentionally withdrawn at the same time.

(45) From the Figures it is seen that the top panel of the stack will always be located at the position of the tabs 11, such that the vertical distance between the top panel of the stack and the dispensing mouth 9 will always be constant. This means that a specific length of the leading end of the uppermost sheet will extend from the top panel and out via the dispensing mouth 9 to be presented to a user. By selection of the vertical distance between the tabs 11 and the dispensing mouth 9, a suitable length for upright presentation of the end of the sheet may be achieved.

(46) According to other embodiments, for example the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b, the loading of the stack of napkins is facilitated in that the inner container 2 is provided with movable tabs 11, in particular with pivotable tabs 11. When a stack of napkins is loaded into a container 2 provided with pivotable tabs 11, said pivotable tabs 11 are placed in a refill position, wherein the tabs 11 are directed away from the dispensing opening 7 (see FIG. 3b). Thereafter, the supportive surface 8 is pushed towards its lowest position adjacent the bottom wall 5, while the stack of napkins is placed on top of the supportive surface 8. The stack is manually held back while he pivotable tabs are repositioned into the holding position, in which the tabs abut the upper side of the uppermost panel of a stack of napkins (see FIG. 3a). Advantageously, the tabs are lockable in said holding position.

(47) In an alternative embodiment, the tabs may be completely removed before loading the stack of napkins onto the supportive surface 8. Thereafter, the tabs are reattached to the inner container using a releasable fastening arrangement, e.g. a snap-fit locking arrangement (not shown).

(48) As napkins are dispensed, the height of the stack contained in the dispenser 1 will diminish, allowing the supporting surface 8 to move vertically upwards. When all napkins have been withdrawn from the dispenser 1 the tabs 11 will abut the supporting surface 8.

(49) After the stack of napkins has been loaded into the inner container 2, the inner container 2 is inserted into the outer sleeve 3 along the insertion direction D extending in parallel with the dispensing mouth 9, such that when inserted in the outer sleeve 3, the dispensing opening 7 of the container 2 is aligned with the dispensing mouth 9 of the outer sleeve 3.

(50) As described in the above, the inner container 2 may be inserted into the outer sleeve 3, while a leading end of a stack of napkins contained in the inner container 2 is allowed to protrude vertically from the dispensing opening 7 of the inner container 2. Hence, the protruding leading end of the stack is introduced into the dispensing mouth 9 via the open end thereof as the inner container 2 is introduced into the outer sleeve 2 via the open end thereof, enabling easy set-up of the dispenser.

(51) The insertion of the inner container 2 into the outer sleeve 3 is facilitated by means of access openings 13 provided on two opposing side walls 6 of the inner container 2, in that said access openings 13 enable the user to grip the inner container 2 using the access openings 13 and insert said container 2 into the outer sleeve 3 from any direction.

(52) Moreover, the access openings 13 are useful in that they may facilitate gripping of the leading end of a new stack of napkins, contained in the inner container 2, before introduction of the inner container 2 into the outer sleeve 3.

(53) Also, once the inner container 2 is inserted into the outer sleeve 3, the access openings 13 enable the user to grip a leading end of a new stack of napkins and introduce said leading end through the dispensing mouth 9. Such introduction is facilitated by means of the access openings 13 on the side walls 6, through which the user may insert two or more fingers to position the leading end of the stack of napkins into the dispensing mouth 9. Manipulation of the leading end of the stack via the access openings 13 may hence provide an alternative way of setting the dispenser in a ready-to use condition. In particular, this way may be preferred in cases when the stack contained in the dispenser is interrupted, such that a new napkin does not automatically follow a withdrawn napkin.

(54) In the illustrated embodiment, the access openings 13 include cut-outs in the side walls of the inner dispenser.

(55) The dispenser further includes a releasable locking means for releasably locking the inner container 2 inside the outer sleeve 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the releasable locking means centrally arranged between the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2 and the bottom wall of the outer sleeve 3, will automatically enter into a locking position when the inner container 2 is inserted into the outer sleeve 3. The resilient tongue 15 arranged in the bottom wall 5 of the inner container 2 will snap-fit into the opening 16 arranged through the corresponding bottom wall of the outer sleeve 3.

(56) Removal of the inner container 2 from the outer sleeve 3 is enabled by manually pressing the tongue 15 out of the opening 16 from the bottom side of the dispenser 1, and simultaneously gripping the inner container 2, for example by means of the access openings 13 provided on either side wall 6 of the container 2, and pulling the inner container 2 out of the outer sleeve 3 along the insertion direction D.

(57) Although the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the detailed description be regarded as illustrative and that the appended claims including all the equivalents are intended to define the scope of the invention.