Article dispensing – Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article – With presentation of non-coextensive or distorted fold
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-13
2001-09-11
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article
With presentation of non-coextensive or distorted fold
C221S033000, C221S048000, C221S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286713
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates the field of dispensing devices and systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of devices and systems for dispensing folded sheets of material.
BACKGROUND
Dispensers for individual folded webs such as paper napkins are often provided at quick service food locations. One disadvantage of many conventional paper napkin dispensers is that they often provide rather poor one-at-a-time dispensing of folded napkins. Such inadequate one-at-a-time dispensing can be particularly noticeable if the napkins are individual folded napkins (e.g., conventional overfold napkins) instead of interfolded napkins. Another disadvantage is that many conventional overfold napkin dispensers often permit removal of large clumps of napkins at one time. Studies have shown most paper napkins removed in this manner are wasted. Many end up scattered about an eating area, tossed as litter or, even worse, being stuffed in plumbing fixtures. When clumps of napkins are taken, dispensers quickly run out and must be refilled inconveniencing both customers and operators of quick service food locations.
A conventional overfold paper napkin
10
typically has a closed end
12
that is defined by a main panel
14
of absorbent paper material and an open end
16
that is defined by second panel
18
. An optional third panel
20
may be folded under the second panel
18
. The second and third panels
18
,
20
are unitary with main panel
14
, and are, respectively, connected to main panel
14
at fold lines that are at opposite ends of main panel
14
, as may be seen in
FIG. 1. A
conventional paper napkin may be made of a single ply or a multiple ply material. For example,
FIG. 1
shows a two ply material having a first ply
22
and a second ply
24
.
One common problem with conventional overfold paper napkins may be seen in reference to
FIGS. 2A and 2B
. Conventional overfold paper napkins are designed to be stacked in a napkin dispenser
26
such as, for example, a spring loaded napkin dispenser or a gravity feed dispenser. Such napkin dispensers have an opening
28
so that the open end
16
of the napkin
10
faces the opening
28
as shown in FIG.
2
A. In this position, a user can grab the second panel
18
to pull the napkin
10
out of the dispenser
26
. However, when stacked improperly, as shown in
FIG. 2B
, with the closed end
12
facing the opening
28
, dispensing is awkward, and often results in wastage. Not uncommonly, maintenance personnel will stack overfold paper napkins improperly, as shown in
FIG. 2B
rather than as shown in FIG.
2
A.
Moreover, conventional overfold paper napkins are two to three times as thick where the second panel
18
and the optional third panel
20
are folded over the main panel
14
. When such paper napkins are arranged in a stack, the stack will have its greatest thickness across an upper or lower edge
30
of the opening
28
in the dispenser
26
as seen in FIG.
3
. Pressure generated by a spring-loaded dispenser or an overfilled dispenser will force the thickest portion of the stack against the edge
30
of the dispenser
26
. If sufficient pressure exists, friction between the edge
30
of the dispenser
26
and the outermost paper napkin will make it difficult to remove a napkin from the dispenser.
A long and unfilled need exists for a dispensing system that provides satisfactory one-at-a-time dispensing for individual folded webs. This unfilled need extends to a dispensing system for individual folded webs that will deter and resist wasteful dispensing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems and needs described above are addressed by the present invention which provides a dispensing system for individual folded webs having an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web from a stack of such individual folded webs. The dispensing system is composed of: (a) an outer housing defining an interior space; (b) stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of individual folded webs within the interior space; (c) a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means, the dispensing face defining a dispensing throat; (d) a stack of individual folded webs having an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web; and (e) at least one recessed section along at least one edge of the dispensing throat which contacts the stack of individual folded webs so that a portion of the stack of individual folded webs projects outward from the dispensing throat.
According to the invention, the dispensing face has a central portion projecting out from the dispenser in the form of a first surface and a second surface joined at an obtuse angle. The dispensing throat is located in the central portion at about the intersection of the first and second surfaces.
One feature of the invention is that the stack of individual folded webs having an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web is aligned so that an area of greatest thickness extends across the width of the dispensing throat.
In an embodiment of the invention, the stacking means may be composed of at least one restricting rib positioned against the stack of individual folded webs to maintain alignment of the stack so that the area of greatest thickness extends across the width of the dispensing throat during dispensing. For example, two or more restricting ribs may be positioned against the stack of webs so that displacement of the stack is minimized during dispensing which helps maintain proper alignment of the stack of webs. The restricting ribs may be mounted on an interior surface of the outer housing. Desirably, the restricting ribs are positioned so the run longitudinally along the stack of webs.
In another embodiment of the invention, the dispensing system may also include a staging area proximate the dispensing throat for spacing and slowing individual folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. The staging area may include at least two curved bumpers oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the individual folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. A number of ribs, ridges, nobs or the like may be defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the individual folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat.
According to the invention, the stack of individual folded webs contains individual webs composed of: (a) a first, central panel; (b) a second panel, unitary with said first panel and folded over a first side of said first panel; (c) a third panel, unitary with the first panel, and folded over a second side of the first panel; (d) a fourth panel, unitary with the second panel, and folded so as to be positioned between the first and second panels; and (e) a fifth panel, unitary with the third panel, and folded so as to be positioned between the first and third panels, such that a portion of the third panel and fifth panel overlap a portion of the second panel and fourth panel generating an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web. The stack of individual folded webs may be a stack of fibrous webs. Desirably, the stack of folded webs is a stack of absorbent paper webs such as, for example, absorbent paper napkins.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 548260 (1895-10-01), Lucas
patent: 1122108 (1914-12-01), Hamilton
patent: 1151064 (1915-08-01), Swift
patent: 1158550 (1915-11-01), Parsons
patent: 1177466 (1916-03-01), Winter
patent: 1511812 (1924-10-01), Horwitt
patent: 1582645 (1926-04-01), Findley
patent: 1681639 (1928-08-01), Hansen
patent: 1697654 (1929-01-01), Jantzen
patent: 1706166 (1929
Chan Michael Yuwah
Tramontina Paul Francis
Crawford Gene O.
Dority & Manning
Ellis Christopher P.
Garrison Scott B.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
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