Folded paper towel dispenser

Details Folded paper towel dispenser Folded paper towel dispenser

1999-09-09

2001-11-13

Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)

Article dispensing

Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article

Deformation by non-coextensive outlet opening

C221S038000, C221S041000, C221S053000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06315155

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to paper towel dispensers and, more particularly, to dispensers for multi-fold paper towels.
Dispensers for multi-fold paper towels typically include a housing or cabinet for storing a generally vertical stack of the paper towels and a slot-like opening in the bottom of the cabinet through which a user can pull the bottommost towel from the stack. The pressure applied to different parts of the bottommost towel tends to be uneven and a user can tear off only a portion of the towel flap, instead of the entire towel, particularly when his or her hands and thumbs are wet. In many cases, a relatively large portion of a fold is accessible to a user and he or she can grab the fold at any location along substantially the entire length. Consequently, the amount of force required to pull the bottommost towel from the stack varies significantly depending on the particular location the user grabs the fold and the direction he or she pulls on the fold. Also, there is a tendency for more than one towel to be pulled from the stack when the stack becomes quite small. These problems are particularly prevalent when more absorbent towels are being dispensed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing multi-fold paper towels that is arranged to minimize the force required to pull the bottommost towel from a substantially vertical stack.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that is arranged to reduce the amount of a fold on the bottommost towel accessible for grabbing by a user.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a device that is arranged to present a fold of the bottommost towel in a configuration for facilitating grabbing the central portion of the fold by a user.
Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following detailed description, the drawings, and the appended claims.
The device for dispensing multi-fold paper towels provided by the invention includes a housing for holding a generally vertical stack of the paper towels and a lower portion through which individual towels are dispensed from the stack. The lower portion includes a front wall, rear wall, opposed side walls and a bottom wall. The paper towels are dispensed through an elongated opening in the bottom wall through which a fold of the bottommost towel in the stack can extend and be disposed in a position where a user can grab the fold and pull the bottommost towel from the stack. A plurality of laterally spaced ramps or ribs is located in the vicinity of one edge of the opening. These ribs have an inclined surface extending at an angle upwardly and in a direction away from that edge and are adapted to be engaged by and support one side portion of the towels with the other side portion supported adjacent of opposite wall of the bottom portion. These ribs transfer a portion of the pressure applied on the bottommost towel from the side portion supported on the ribs toward the other side portion, thereby reducing the force required to pull the bottommost towel from the stack. Likewise, triangular pads located on either end of the opening transfer a portion of the pressure applied on the bottommost towel from the end portions supported on the pads toward the opening, thereby reducing the force required to pull the bottommost towel from the stack.
One edge of the opening preferably is generally U-shaped and the other edge preferably is configured to cause the fold of the towel extending through the opening to assume a C-like shape.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2830728 (1958-04-01), Krueger et al.
patent: 4623074 (1986-11-01), Dearwester
patent: 4678099 (1987-07-01), Matsui
patent: 4938382 (1990-07-01), Frazier et al.
patent: 5074430 (1991-12-01), Roberts
patent: 5090592 (1992-02-01), Petterson et al.
patent: 5950863 (1999-09-01), Schutz et al.
patent: 6003723 (1999-12-01), Morand

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