Article dispensing – Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article – Plural sources – stacks or compartments
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-31
2001-07-10
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article
Plural sources, stacks or compartments
C221S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to paper dispensers, and more particularly to napkin holders.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, napkin holders have included a multi-piece housing having openings at its longitudinal ends, two apertured doors each hingedly coupled to a respective end of the housing for closing the opening. These doors are maintained in the closed position by elaborate multi-piece structures.
These holders also included two plates disposed in the housing and having a smaller area than the cross-sectional area of the housing. The two plates are each fixedly coupled to a longitudinal end of leaf spring attached at its center to a mechanism disposed on the top wall of the housing. Two variable volume napkin compartments are each formed from one of the plates, and the doors and a portion of the housing.
These type holders suffer several problems. First, they are formed of many pieces which adds more to the raw material and labor costs necessary to construct the holder.
Second, if the leaf spring becomes damaged it is often necessary to replace both the leaf spring and the plates. If the plates can be salvaged and the leaf spring alone needs to be replaced, the replacement is often difficult, time consuming and labor intensive.
Third, each longitudinal end of the leaf spring exerts a force on the plate to which it is affixed independent of the force of the other longitudinal end. Often each of the two napkin holder compartments are overfilled, making it difficult to remove the first few napkins, which cause the napkins to tear or a larger than necessary amount to be removed. Since the force on each plate is independent, both compartments have this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved napkin holder, while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a napkin holder which is of relatively simple and economical construction.
A further feature of the invention is the provision of a holder of the type set forth, the napkin capacity of which can easily be determined without opening its doors.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a holder of the type set forth, which can easily be repaired.
Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a napkin holder which easily allows removal of napkins therefrom, preventing destruction and waste of the napkins and user frustration.
One or more of these features may be attained by providing a napkin holder which includes an upper wall, a lower wall and first and second sidewalls defining a housing having first and second opposed openings. The holder also includes first and second plates disposed and moveable within the housing, the first and second plates respectively having first and second outer peripheries. The holder further includes a biasing structure disposed between the first and second plates biasing the first plate toward the first opening and the second plate toward the second opening, the biasing structure disposed substantially within both the first and second outer peripheries. The holder also includes first and second apertured doors respectively closing the first and second openings. The first apertured door, the first plate, the upper wall, the lower wall and the first and second sidewalls define a first variable-volume napkin compartment and the second apertured door, the second plate, the upper wall, the lower wall and the first and second sidewalls define a second variable-volume napkin compartment.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 695150 (1964-09-01), None
Copy of photograph of Alwin napkin holder model 31, sold prior to Aug. 31, 1997.*
Copies of photographs of Traex Corp. napkin dispenser model 6509-12, sold prior to Aug. 31, 1997.*
Copies of photographs of Alwin napkin holder model 35, sold prior to Aug. 31, 1997.*
Copies of photographs of Alwin napkin holder model F7571, sold prior to Aug. 31, 1997.*
Copy of photograph of Alwin napkin holder model 35, sold prior to Aug. 31, 1997.
Alwin Manufacturing Co.
Emrich & -Dithmar
Noland Kenneth W.
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