Dispenser for dispensing sheet products

Abstract

A set for mounting a dispensing mechanism for dispensing sheet products within an existing dispenser cabinet that comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening, the set comprising the dispensing mechanism, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion, a mounting structure comprising a second connection portion to which the first connection portion of the lower portion is attachable to support the dispensing mechanism, wherein the mounting structure is fastenable to the bottom wall.

Claims

1. A set for mounting a dispensing mechanism for dispensing sheet products within an existing dispenser cabinet, wherein the existing dispenser cabinet comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion, the set comprising: a mounting structure comprising a second connection portion to which the first connection portion of the lower portion is configured to be attached to support the dispensing mechanism, wherein the mounting structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall, wherein the mounting structure is separate from the dispensing mechanism; wherein the dispensing opening of the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet has an edge that is substantially horizontal and the mounting structure is configured to attach to the substantially horizontal edge of the dispensing opening.

2. The set according to claim 1, wherein the first connection portion is pivotably attachable to the second connection portion.

3. The set according to claim 2, wherein the second connection portion comprises a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the first connection portion is substantially U-shaped and engageable with the second connection portion.

4. The set according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mechanism further comprises an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is attachable to the dispenser cabinet.

5. The set according to claim 1, wherein the first connection portion is snappable onto or into the second connection portion.

6. The set according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure comprises a fastening member fastenable to an edge of the dispensing opening.

7. The set according to claim 6, wherein the dispensing opening includes a rear edge, and the fastening member is fastenable to the rear edge of the dispensing opening.

8. The set according to claim 6, wherein the fastening member of the mounting structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall without structurally modifying the bottom wall.

9. The set according to claim 6, wherein the fastening member is selected from the group consisting of a clip, a clamp, a tape, a hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof.

10. The set according to claim 9, wherein the fastening member is a clip, wherein the clip comprises a spring clip having a substantially U-shaped cross section.

11. The set according to claim 10, wherein the clip further comprises a clip body having a substantially U-shaped cross section and encasing the spring clip.

12. The set according to claim 11, wherein the mounting structure comprises one or more than one slot opening, the slot opening having a slot length along its longitudinal axis, wherein the clip body comprises two legs, wherein one of the two legs penetrates the slot opening, the one of the two legs comprising a protrusion portion extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening and having a length longer than the slot length.

13. The set according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is substantially bar-shaped.

14. The set according to claim 13, wherein the mounting structure is adjustable in length in its longitudinal direction.

15. The set according to claim 1, wherein the set is configured for mounting the dispensing mechanism within a recessed cabinet as the existing dispenser cabinet.

16. A method for mounting a dispensing mechanism for dispensing sheet products within an existing dispenser cabinet that comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening using set of claim 1, the method comprises the steps of: i) placing the mounting structure comprising the second connection portion on the bottom wall, ii) fastening the mounting structure to the bottom wall, iii) mounting the dispensing mechanism by at least attaching the first connection portion provided at the lower portion of the dispensing mechanism to the second connection portion of the mounting structure; wherein the dispensing opening of the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet has an edge that is substantially horizontal and the mounting structure is configured to attach to the substantially horizontal edge of the dispensing opening.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first connection portion is pivotably attachable to the second connection portion, wherein the method subsequent the step iii) further comprises the step of: iv) pivoting the dispensing mechanism into the dispenser cabinet.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method subsequent the step iv) further comprises the step of: v) attaching an upper portion of the dispensing mechanism to the dispenser cabinet.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dispensing mechanism is mounted within a recessed cabinet as the existing dispenser cabinet.

20. A dispenser for being mounted within an existing dispenser cabinet, wherein the existing dispenser cabinet comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion, the dispenser comprising: a first side wall, a second side wall opposing the first side wall, a rear wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, a lower wall structure being connected to lower ends of the first side wall, the second side wall, and the rear wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the rear wall, and the lower wall structure form a storage compartment for accommodating a stack of sheet products, the lower wall structure defining a dispensing outlet for dispensing the sheet products, wherein the lower wall structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet through a connection between a first connection portion on the lower wall structure and a mounting structure fastened to the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet; wherein the mounting structure comprises a fastening member fastenable to an edge of the dispensing opening.

21. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the rear wall is attachable to the dispenser cabinet.

22. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the fastening member is fastenable to a rear edge of the dispensing opening.

23. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the fastening member of the mounting structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall without structurally modifying the bottom wall.

24. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the fastening member is selected from the group consisting of a clip, a clamp, a tape, a hook and loop fastener, and combinations thereof.

25. The dispenser according to claim 24, wherein the fastening member is a clip, wherein the clip comprises a spring clip having a substantially U-shaped cross section.

26. The dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the clip further comprises a clip body having a substantially U-shaped cross section and encasing the spring clip.

27. The dispenser according to claim 26, wherein the mounting structure comprises one or more than one slot opening, the slot opening having a slot length along its longitudinal axis, wherein the clip body comprises two legs, wherein one of the two legs penetrates the slot opening, the one of the two legs comprising a protrusion portion extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening and having a length longer than the slot length.

28. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the dispenser is configured for being mounted within a recessed cabinet as the existing dispenser cabinet.

29. A set for mounting a dispensing mechanism for dispensing sheet products within an existing dispenser cabinet, wherein the existing dispenser cabinet comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion, the set comprising: a mounting structure comprising a second connection portion to which the first connection portion of the lower portion is configured to be attached to support the dispensing mechanism, wherein the mounting structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall of the dispenser cabinet, wherein the mounting structure is separate from the dispensing mechanism; at least one clip; the at least one clip includes two legs, the two legs being arranged such that a portion of the mounting structure and an edge of the dispensing opening in the bottom wall can be secured between the two legs so as to fasten the mounting structure to the edge of the dispensing opening in the bottom wall.

30. The set according to claim 29, wherein the clip is a spring clip.

31. A dispenser for being mounted within an existing dispenser cabinet, wherein the existing dispenser cabinet comprises a bottom wall having a dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion, the dispenser comprising: a first side wall, a second side wall opposing the first side wall, a rear wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, a lower wall structure being connected to lower ends of the first side wall, the second side wall, and the rear wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the rear wall, and the lower wall structure form a storage compartment for accommodating a stack of sheet products, the lower wall structure defining a dispensing outlet for dispensing the sheet products, wherein the lower wall structure is configured to be fastened to the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet through a connection between a first connection portion on the lower wall structure and a mounting structure fastened to the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet; wherein the dispensing opening of the bottom wall of the existing dispenser cabinet has an edge that is substantially horizontal and the mounting structure is configured to attach to the substantially horizontal edge of the dispensing opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a recessed dispenser cabinet.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of a set comprising a dispensing mechanism according to an embodiment and a mounting structure according to a first embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the mounting structure of the first embodiment being fastened to the bottom wall of the recessed dispenser cabinet of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the set of FIG. 2, wherein the mounting structure is fastened to the bottom wall, while the dispensing mechanism is in a slanted position.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective lower view of the first connection portion of the dispensing mechanism of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the set of FIG. 2 being mounted within the recessed cabinet of FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting structure of the first embodiment.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting structure according to a second embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a clip of the mounting structure of the first embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective front view of the mounting structure of the first embodiment, wherein the clip of FIG. 9 penetrates a slot opening.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective rear view of the mounting structure of the first embodiment, wherein the clip of FIG. 9 penetrates the slot opening.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a clamp of the mounting structure of the second embodiment.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective top view of the mounting structure of the second embodiment being fastened to the bottom wall of the recessed dispenser cabinet of FIG. 1.

(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective front view of a dispenser according to an embodiment.

(15) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

(16) Hereinafter, embodiments 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.

(17) Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements.

(18) FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a recessed dispenser cabinet 2 in which the dispensing mechanism 1 of the present disclosure can be mounted. The recessed cabinet 2 comprises a first side wall 29, a second side wall 30 opposing the first side wall 29 and a rear wall 31 extending between the first side wall 29 and the second side wall 30. Moreover, the recessed cabinet 2 is provided with an abutting portion 32 which is configured to abut on the wall when the cabinet 2 is installed in the wall. The recessed cabinet 2 comprises a bottom wall 3 which is attached to the cabinet 2 and in which a dispensing opening 4 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recessed cabinet 2 further comprises a bin 23 which is for disposal of used sheet products.

(19) FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the set of the present disclosure comprising the dispensing mechanism 1 according to an embodiment and the mounting structure 6 according to a first embodiment. The dispensing mechanism 1 comprises a magazine part 24 for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part 25 for dispensing the sheet products. In the dispensing mechanism 1 of this embodiment, the sheet products are dispensed from the top of the stack. The magazine part 24 and the dispensing part 25 are respectively attached to a frame 26 of the dispensing mechanism 1. The frame 26 comprises a left side wall and a right side wall, respectively connected to the left side and the right side of the magazine part 24 and the dispensing part 25. The dispensing mechanism comprises an upper portion 8 located at an upper end portion of the frame 26. Each of the left side wall and the right side wall of the frame 26 comprises a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a first connection portion 5. Each of the first connection portions 5 is attached to a second connection portion 7 of the mounting structure 6.

(20) The mounting structure 6 is bar-shaped and comprises an elongated shape extending in the left-right direction with respect to the recessed cabinet 2. Furthermore, the mounting structure 6 according to the first embodiment comprises two clips 11 as fastening members 9 for fastening the mounting structure 6 to the bottom wall 3 of the dispenser cabinet 2.

(21) FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the mounting structure 6 of the first embodiment being fastened to the bottom wall 3 of the recessed dispenser cabinet 2 of FIG. 1. As can be seen, the length of the mounting structure 6 in the left-right direction is almost as long as the length of the bottom wall 3 and the left-right direction. The mounting structure 6 is sized so as to fit to a rear portion of the bottom wall 3 located between the rear edge 10 of the dispensing opening 4 and the rear end of the bottom wall 3. With this configuration, the mounting structure 6 does not cover the dispensing opening 4 of the bottom wall 3. Furthermore, the clips 11 are configured to be fastenable to the rear edge 10 of the dispensing opening 4. Therefore, when the sheet products are dispensed through the dispensing opening 4, a protruding part of the leading sheet product will obscure the clips 11, thereby obtaining improving good appearance of the recessed dispenser.

(22) As can be seen, the second connection portion 7 of the mounting structure comprises a substantially cylindrical shape. More specifically, only certain parts of the second connection portion 7 comprise the cylindrical shape. In addition, in this embodiment, the clips 11 are provided with arrow markings, wherein the arrows point into the direction in which the clips 11 have to be moved in order to fasten the mounting structure 6 to the bottom wall 3.

(23) FIG. 4 is a side view of the set of FIG. 2, wherein the mounting structure 6 is fastened to the bottom wall 3, while the dispensing mechanism 1 is in a slanted position with respect to the recessed cabinet 2. In this case, the first connection portion 5 of the dispensing mechanism 1 is pivotably attachable to the second connection portion 7 of the mounting structure 6. With this configuration, it is possible to first fasten the mounting structure 6 to the bottom wall 3 and subsequently attach the dispensing mechanism 1 to the mounting structure 6. Then, the dispensing mechanism can be readily pivoted into the recessed cabinet 2. Optionally, the upper portion 8 of the dispensing mechanism 1 can be attached to the rear wall of the recessed cabinet 2.

(24) FIG. 5 is a perspective lower view of the first connection portion 5 of the dispensing mechanism 1 of FIG. 2. As can be seen, the first connection portion 5 comprises a U-shape which is configured to be engageable with the respective cylindrical shape of the second connection portion 7 of the mounting structure 6. Hence, with this configuration, it is possible to pivot the dispensing mechanism 1 about the mounting structure 6.

(25) FIG. 6 is a side view of the set of FIG. 2 being mounted within the recessed cabinet 2 of FIG. 1. In this case, the dispensing mechanism 1 may have been pivoted into the recessed cabinet 2. As can be seen, the whole dispensing mechanism 1 is supported by the mounting structure 6 and no further mounting means, except for the optional attachment of the upper portion 8 to the dispenser cabinet 2, is required for mounting the dispensing mechanism 1 in the recessed cabinet 2.

(26) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting structure 6 of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clip 11 of the mounting structure 6 of the first embodiment. The clip 11 comprises a spring clip 12 and a clip body 13 encasing the spring clip 12. The clip body 13 and the spring clip 12 respectively have a U-shape. The clip body 13 comprises two legs 13a, 13b integrally connected with each other so as to form the U-shape of the clip 11.

(27) As can be seen in FIG. 7, the mounting structure 6 comprises slot openings 14. One of the two legs 13a penetrates the slot opening 14 of the mounting structure 6. The one of the two legs 13a comprises a protrusion portion integrally formed with the leg 13a, as can be seen in FIG. 9. The other of the two legs 13b is arranged at a lower position in the up-down direction of the recessed cabinet 2 compared to the mounting structure 6. When being fastened to the bottom wall 3, the mounting structure 6 is arranged on a top side of the bottom wall 3, while the other of the two legs 13b is arranged on the bottom side of the bottom wall 3, as seen in the up-down direction. Moreover, the leg of the spring clip 12 arranged adjacent to the other of the two legs 13b may comprise a bent portion 27 which, when the mounting structure 6 is fastened to the bottom wall 3, abuts on the bottom side of the bottom wall 3. The mounting structure 6 is fastened to the bottom wall 3 by placing the mounting structure 6 on a rear portion of the bottom wall 3 and pushing the clips 11 into the rear direction, i.e. the direction indicated by the arrow marking on the clip body 13, which causes the clips 11 to encompass the rear edge 10 of the dispensing opening 4. In this state, the spring clip 12 is in a loaded state, thereby pressing and fastening the mounting structure to the bottom wall 3.

(28) FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate how the clip 11 is connected to the mounting structure 6. While FIG. 10 is a perspective front view of the mounting structure 6 of the first embodiment, wherein the clip 11 of FIG. 9 penetrates a slot opening 14, FIG. 11 is a perspective rear view thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the slot opening 14 of the mounting structure 6 has an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis corresponding to the left-right direction. In this case, the slot opening 14 may have a slot length L along its longitudinal axis. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the one of the two legs 13a of the clip body 13 penetrates the slot opening 14. The protrusion portion 15 of the one of the two legs 13a extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening 14 and has a length which is longer than the slot length L. With this configuration, the clip 11 can be movably mounted on the mounting structure 6 such that the clip 11 can be moved relative to the mounting structure in a front-rear direction. At the same time, the clip 11 can be prevented from moving out of the slot opening 14 of the mounting structure 6 which prevents losing the clips when the mounting structure is not fastened to the bottom wall.

(29) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting structure 6 according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment of the mounting structure 6, as regards the overall shape of the mounting structure 6 and the second connection portions 7, the mounting structure 6 essentially has the same characteristics as the mounting structure 6 of the first embodiment. The second embodiment of the mounting structure 6 differs from the first embodiment thereof in the fastening member 9.

(30) In the second embodiment, the fastening member 9 is a clamp 22. An enlarged view of the clamp 22 is illustrated in FIG. 12. The clamp 22 comprises a lower U-shaped portion, the U-shaped portion comprising two legs. Similar to the first embodiment of the mounting structure 6, one of the two legs of the lower U-shaped portion penetrates the mounting structure 6, whereas the other of the two legs of the lower U-shaped portion encompasses the rear edge 10 of the dispensing opening 4 when the mounting structure 6 is fastened to the bottom wall 3 of the recessed cabinet 2, as can be seen in FIG. 13. The one of the two legs of the lower U-shaped portion of the clamp 22 is connected to a lever 28. The lever 28 is rotatably connected to the lower U-shaped portion of the clamp 22 in an eccentric-type manner. More specifically, when the lever 28 of the clamp 22 is rotated with respect to the lower U-shaped portion of the clamp 22, the clamp 22 changes from an unloaded state to a loaded state or vice versa. In FIG. 12, when the lever 28 points in an upper direction, the clamp 22 is in the loaded state and, when the lever 28 points in a front direction, the clamp 22 is in the unloaded state.

(31) As can be seen in FIG. 13, when the mounting structure 6 according to the second embodiment is fastened to the bottom wall 3 of the recessed cabinet 2, the lever 28 of the clamp 22 points in an upper direction, that is the clamp 22 is in the loaded state, thereby pressing and fastening the mounting structure 6 against the bottom wall 3. The lever 28 may abut on the rear wall of the recessed cabinet 2 when the clamp 22 is in the loaded state.

(32) Next, a method for mounting the dispensing mechanism 1 according to the embodiment within the recessed cabinet 2 will be described.

(33) In the first step, the mounting structure 6 comprising the second connection portion 7 is placed on the bottom wall 3 of the recessed cabinet 2. In the second step, the mounting structure 6 is fastened to the bottom wall 3, for example, by means of the clips 11 or the clamps 22 described above or a combination thereof. In the third step, the first connection portion 5 provided at a lower portion of the dispensing mechanism 1 is attached to the second connection portion 7 of the mounting structure 6. If the first connection portion 5 is pivotably attachable to the second connection portion 7 and the dispensing mechanism 1 is attached to the mounting structure 6 while being positioned in a slanted position with respect to the recessed cabinet 2, in the fourth step, the dispensing mechanism 1 is pivoted into the dispenser cabinet 2. In the fifth step, the upper portion 8 of the dispensing mechanism 1 is attached to the dispenser cabinet 2.

(34) Next, an embodiment of a dispenser 16 according to the disclosure for being mounted within an existing recessed cabinet 2 will be described.

(35) FIG. 14 is a perspective front view of the dispenser 16 according to the embodiment. The dispenser 16 comprises a first side wall 17, a second side wall 18 opposing the first side wall 17, a rear wall 19 extending between the first side wall 17 and the second side wall 18, and a lower wall structure 20 being connected to lower ends of the first side wall 17, the second side wall 18, and the rear wall 19. The first side wall 17, the second side wall 18, the rear wall 19, and the lower wall structure 20 form a storage compartment for accommodating a stack of sheet products. Furthermore, the lower wall structure 20 defines a dispensing outlet 21 for dispensing the sheet products. As can be seen in FIG. 14, the rear wall 19 is composed of two rear wall parts 19a, 19b which are movably arranged relative to each other such that the space of the storage compartment can be adapted in the direction from the first side wall 17 to the second side wall 18, i.e. in a left-right direction of the recessed cabinet 2. In the same manner, the lower wall structure 20 is composed of two lower wall structure parts 20a, 20b. This configuration allows for an adaption of the dispenser 16 to the size of the sheet products.

(36) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser 16 of FIG. 14. As can be seen, the lower wall structure 20 comprises a clip 11 as fastening member 9 for fastening the dispenser 16 to the rear edge 10 of the dispensing opening 4 of the recessed cabinet 2. The clip 11 is the same or has the same features as the clip 11 described above with respect to the first embodiment of the mounting structure 6. Furthermore, also the clamp 22 described above with respect to the second embodiment of the mounting structure 6 can be used as fastening member for fastening the dispenser 16 within the recessed cabinet 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(37) 1 dispensing mechanism 2 existing dispenser cabinet 3 bottom wall 4 dispensing opening 5 first connection portion 6 mounting structure 7 second connection portion 8 upper portion (of the dispensing mechanism) 9 fastening member 10 rear edge (of the dispensing opening) 11 clip 12 spring clip 13 clip body 13a, 13b legs (of the clip) 14 slot opening 15 protrusion portion 16 dispenser 17 first side wall (of the dispenser) 18 second side wall (of the dispenser) 19 rear wall (of the dispenser) 19a, 19b rear wall parts (of the dispenser) 20 lower wall structure 20a, 20b lower wall structure parts 21 dispensing outlet 22 clamp 23 bin 24 magazine part 25 dispensing part 26 frame 27 bent portion (of the spring clip) 28 lever 29 first side wall (of the cabinet) 30 second side wall (of the cabinet) 31 rear wall (of the cabinet) 32 abutting portion (of the cabinet) L slot length (of the slot opening)