IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0126006
(2005-05-10)
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등록번호 |
US-7568593
(2009-08-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cittadino, Antonio M.
- Maroney, David R.
- Burns, Brent J.
- Kissinger, Karl D.
- Kirkpatrick, Andy L.
- Kilgore, Michael R.
- Budz, Gregory D.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Georgia Pacific Consumer Products LP
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대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
A large capacity napkin dispenser for in counter mounting includes: (a) an elongate housing having a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture, the faceplate being hinged to the housing so as to be movable between an open positio
A large capacity napkin dispenser for in counter mounting includes: (a) an elongate housing having a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture, the faceplate being hinged to the housing so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing; (c) a movable support member mounted in the housing; (d) biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and (e) sequestered means for locking the faceplate in the closed position. The locking means includes release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser, thereby eliminating the need for a key. The dispenser further includes internal gripping surfaces which facilitate re-loading and smooth operation as well as molded-in features which greatly reduce cost of manufacture.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: (a) an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispense
What is claimed is: 1. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: (a) an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispenser, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first side so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispenser when the faceplate is in the closed position; (c) a movable support member mounted in the housing; (d) biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and (e) means for locking the faceplate in the closed position, the locking means being slideably operable relative to the faceplate to lock the faceplate to the second side of the dispenser in the closed position and including release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser and accessible through the dispensing aperture. 2. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate is hinged to a mounting bracket secured to the housing. 3. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the release means of the locking means is located adjacent one end of the dispensing aperture. 4. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the locking means includes an injection-molded unitary latch including both an integrally formed spring and a latch member. 5. The napkin dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the injection-molded unitary latch is formed from an injection-molding composition comprising nylon, polyacetal or polyester. 6. The napkin dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the injection-molding composition comprises nylon. 7. The napkin dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the injection-molding composition comprises polyacetal. 8. The napkin dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the faceplate has a plurality of guide ridges at its inner surface and the injection-molded unitary latch has a pair of spring arms configured to engage a guide ridge. 9. The napkin dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the unitary latch is provided with a beveled edge. 10. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate is integrally formed by injection-molding and includes a plurality of guide ridges at its inner surface. 11. The napkin dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the guide ridges comprise triangular guide ridges having a profile inclined toward the dispensing aperture so as to guide the napkin stack thereto. 12. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate is provided with a plurality of guide ridges on its inner surface, the guide ridges extending progessively further from the inner surface of the faceplate with increasing distance from the aperture thereby flaring away therefrom; the guide ridges being further characterized in that: (i) the guide ridges are generally orthogonal to an elongate axis of the dispensing aperture; and (ii) the guide ridges are generally parallel to an axis of the storage chamber when the faceplate is in the closed position. 13. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate is formed from an injection-molding composition comprising an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin. 14. The napkin dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the faceplate is formed from an injection-molding composition comprising an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin. 15. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made by way of injection-molding at least two panels having molded-in features for joining the panels to each other. 16. The napkin dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the panels are made from an injection-molding composition comprising an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin. 17. The napkin dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the panels are made from an injection-molding composition comprising an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin. 18. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the generally rectangular storage chamber has sidewalls defined by two substantially identical U-shaped channel members molded from a polymer composition. 19. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate is made by injection-molding and includes a molded-in label film at its outer surface. 20. The napkin dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the label film comprises a polymer film layer and an ink layer. 21. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing is vertically oriented. 22. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the dispenser is sized to accommodate at least about 1,000 single-fold napkins. 23. The napkin dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means includes a helical spring which is secured to two substantially identical plates, wherein the plates are molded from a polymer composition. 24. The napkin dispenser according to claim 23, wherein the substantially identical plates include molded-in locking means for securing the helical spring. 25. The napkin dispenser according to claim 24, wherein the helical spring has at its extremity two end portions which project radially inwardly with respect to the axis of the spring and the plates eachinclude molded-in quick lock features for securing the spring thereto without other hardware. 26. The napkin dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the quick lock features include a radial hook with a radial locking finger extending radially outwardly with respect to the axis of the helical spring and a tangential hook with a locking finger extending tangentially with respect to the coils of the helical spring. 27. The napkin dispenser according to claim 26, wherein the locking fingers of the tangential hooks have protuberances on surfaces thereof opposed to their respective plates in order to hinder rotation of the spring with respect to the plates to which it is secured. 28. The napkin dispenser according to claim 23, wherein each of the plates has a plurality of molded-in positioning posts for positioning the spring with respect to the plates. 29. The napkin dispenser according to claim 23, wherein one of the plates is adapted to operate as the movable support member to advance napkins to the dispensing aperture. 30. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: (a) an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack napkins: (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispencer, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first sidewall so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispencer when the faceplate is in the closed position; (c) a movable support member mounted in the housing; (d) biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; (e) means for locking the faceplate in the closed position, the locking means being slideably operable relative to the faceplate; and (f) means for gripping the napkin stack adjacent the faceplate to control advancement of the napkin stack to the aperture, and wherein the biasing means includes a helical spring which is secured to two substantially identical plates wherein the plate are molded from a polymer composition, wherein the substantially identical plates include molded-in locking means for securing the helical spring, and wherein the helical spring has at its extremities two end portions which project radially inwardly with respect to the axis of the spring and the plates each include molded-in quick lock features for securing the spring thereto without other hardware. 31. The napkin dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the quick lock features include a radial hook with a radial locking finger extending radially outwardly with respect to the axis of the helical spring and a tangential hook with a locking finger extending tangentially with respect to the coils of the helical spring. 32. The napkin dispenser according to claim 31, wherein the locking finger of the tangential hooks have protuberances on surfaces thereof opposed to their respective plates in order to hinder rotation of the spring with respect to the plates to which it is secured. 33. A method of dispensing napkins comprising: (a) disposing a stack of napkins in a dispenser comprising: (i) an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (ii) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and second side of the dispenser, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first side so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispenser when the faceplate is in the closed position; (iii) a movable support member mounted in the housing; (iv) biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and (v) means for locking the faceplate in the closed position, the locking means being slideably operable relative to the faceplate to lock the faceplate to the second side of the dispenser in the closed position and including release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser and accessible through the dispensing aperture; and (b) withdrawing napkins from the dispenser. 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the faceplate is provided with a plurality of guide ridges on its inner surface, the guide ridges extending progressively further from the inner surface of the faceplate with increasing distance from the aperture, thereby flaring away therefrom; the guide ridges being further characterized in that: (i) the guide ridges arc generally orthogonal to an elongate axis of the dispensing aperture; and (ii) the guide ridges are generally parallel to an axis of the storage chamber when the faceplate is in the closed position. 35. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispenser, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first side so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispenser when the faceplate is in the closed position; a movable support member mounted in the housing; biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and means for locking the faceplate in the closed position, the locking means being operable to lock the faceplate to the second side of the dispenser in the closed position and including release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser and accessible through the dispensing aperture; wherein the locking means has an injection-molded unitary latch having a pair of spring arms configured to engage a support surface extending from the inner surface of the faceplate. 36. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispenser, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first side so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispenser when the faceplate is in the closed position; a movable support member mounted in the housing; biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and means for locking the faceplate in the closed position, the locking means being operable to lock the faceplate to the second side of the dispenser in the closed position and including release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser and accessible through the dispensing aperture; wherein the biasing means include a helical spring which is secured to two support plates each having molded-in locking means for securing the helical spring; wherein the helical spring has at its extremity two end portions which project radially inwardly with respect to the axis of the spring and the molded-in locking means of the support plates capture the spring thereto without the need for other hardware. 37. A large capacity napkin dispenser comprising: an elongate housing defining a storage chamber with a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; a faceplate with a dispensing aperture extending between a first and a second side of the dispenser, the faceplate being hinged to the housing at the first sidewall so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing, the faceplate having an outer surface and an inner surface which is inside the dispenser when the faceplate is in the closed position; a movable support member mounted in the housing; biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; means for locking the faceplate in the closed position; and means for gripping the napkin stack adjacent the faceplate to control advancement of the napkin stack to the aperture; wherein the biasing means includes a helical spring which is secured to two support plates each having molded-in locking means for securing the helical spring; wherein the helical spring has at its extremities two end portions which project radially inwardly with respect to the axis of the spring and the molded-in locking means of the support plates capture the spring thereto without the need for other hardware. 38. The napkin dispenser of claim 4, wherein the integrally formed spring includes a plurality of cantilevered arms that flex independently of one another.
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