Article dispensing – Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article – With casing or support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-05-15
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article
With casing or support
C221S049000, C221S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230929
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to folded sheet adapters for roll dispensers, and more particularly to bottom-dispensing folded sheet adapters for standard, vertically stacked dual roll dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of dispensers are available for dispensing materials such as tissues, paper towels and the like. Most dispensers are configured to dispense such materials either from a roll or from a stack of interfolded sheets. Dispensers for multiple rolls of paper material, such as rolls of bathroom tissue, are also well known in the art. With typical conventional dispensers of this type, two rolls of tissue are vertically oriented within the dispenser so that the top roll falls or otherwise is moved into a dispensing position when the bottom roll is depleted. In selected applications, the use of stacked, interfolded sheets offers several advantages to users over materials in roll form.
Unfortunately, dispensers configured to dispense materials from rolls are not typically able to dispense stacked, interfolded sheets. Thus, when a user desires to switch from dispensing rolled materials to dispensing stacked, interfolded materials, a new dispenser must be purchased and installed. To avoid the additional cost and labor incurred in installing a new dispenser, an adapter is needed which enables a user to easily and inexpensively adapt a roll dispenser to dispense stacked, interfolded sheets.
In selected circumstances, it may be desirable to alternate between dispensing rolled materials and dispensing stacked, interfolded sheets. In such circumstances, an adapter must be able to be installed into the roll dispenser without damaging the mechanisms within the dispenser which permit rolled materials to be dispensed. Thus, it may be desirable that an adapter be easily removed from and reinstalled into the rolled material dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an adapter for dispensing a plurality of vertically stacked, interfolded sheets. The adapter is configured to fit within a dispenser which dispenses rolled materials. In selected embodiments, the adapter is configured to be placed within a dispenser which dispenses two vertically stacked rolls of material. The adapter includes a housing having an interior that is adapted to receive a plurality of vertically stacked, interfolded sheets. Each sheet includes a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by spaced-apart side edges. The housing may include a bottom wall. In some embodiments, a boss is disposed on the bottom wall, the boss extending upwardly into the interior of the housing. The housing may also include a front wall, a back wall spaced apart from the front wall, and two spaced-apart side walls, each side wall extending between the back wall and the front wall.
An opening is formed in the housing and, in selected embodiments, is disposed on the front wall. The opening is characterized by a width dimension and a height dimension. In some embodiments, the width dimension is greater than the height dimension. The opening may be variously shaped and is adapted to dispense vertically stacked interfolded sheets from the interior of the housing. The side edges of the sheets may be urged inwardly by the width dimension of the opening as the sheets pass through the opening.
In some embodiments, a door may be attached to the housing, the door adapted to permit ease of access to the interior of the housing. The door may be pivotably or otherwise attached to the housing.
In certain embodiments, the front wall further includes an upper portion and a lower portion joined along a front edge. In such embodiments, the opening may be disposed on the lower portion of the front wall. A first interior angle formed by the lower portion and the upper portion of the front wall may, in particular embodiments, be less than 180 degrees.
Similarly, the back wall may also include an upper portion and a lower portion joined at a back edge. A second interior angle formed by the lower portion and the upper portion of the back wall may be less than 180 degrees.
An attachment mechanism may be provided, the attachment mechanism being adapted to attach the housing to a dual roll vertically stacked dispenser. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism may include an adhesive and may be positioned on the back wall of the housing.
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PCT International Search Report dated Jan. 12, 2000.
Lewis Richard Paul
Phelps Stephen Lawrence
Tramontina Paul Francis
Crawford Gene O.
Dority & Manning
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Valenza Joseph E.
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