Slanted sheet dispenser

• US 20090236358A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Arendt, Jonathan K., McDonald, Duane L., Berger, Maggie VanderHeiden, Christoffel, Sarah L., Rippl, Carl G., McManus, James D., Sojka, Marci E., Nukuto, George I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/42 dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked

Abstract

A sheet dispenser is defined by at least six panels having outwardly facing surfaces, wherein at least one of the panels is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the other panels. Sheets may be dispensed from an opening located on the oblique surface. The sheet dispenser may sit on a surface such as a countertop for dispensing, or may be placed between a wall and other structure attached to the wall such as a towel bar. Furthermore, the sheet dispenser may be hung from a structure using a strap attached to the towel dispenser.

Claims

1. A sheet dispenser comprising:

a carton comprising six outwardly-facing surfaces;

the six outwardly-facing surfaces defined by three pairs of panels comprising;

a face panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from a contact panel, a first side-panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from a second side-panel, and a dispensing panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from an obscure panel;

wherein the dispensing panel comprises a surface area having a removable surfboard member therein defined by an opening edge, the surfboard member being directly adjacent a bearing region, wherein the bearing region is 38 to 60 percent of the dispensing panel surface area and does not coincide with the removable surfboard member;

wherein each of the first and second-side panels together define a trapezoid; and

wherein the carton has an interior volume.

2. The sheet dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a stack of folded sheet material disposed within the interior volume of the carton to form a sheet dispenser assembly.

3. The sheet dispenser of claim 1 wherein the bearing region is 39 to 45 percent of the dispensing panel surface area.

18. A method of dispensing sheets comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet dispenser of claim 1;

identifying a wall having a towel bar mounted thereon at a distance from a floor;

facing the contact panel toward the wall and sliding the sheet dispenser between the towel bar and the wall such that the dispensing panel is oriented toward the floor.

4. A sheet dispenser comprising:

a carton comprising six outwardly-facing surfaces;

the six outwardly-facing surfaces comprising;

a face panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from a contact panel, a first side-panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from a second side-panel, and a dispensing panel spaced apart from an obscure panel, wherein an acute edge is located between the dispensing panel and the contact panel, and an obtuse edge is located between the dispensing panel and the face panel;

wherein the dispensing panel comprises a first longitudinal axis and has an opening for dispensing a sheet defined by an opening edge, and wherein the opening edge defines a shape having an opening longitudinal axis; and

wherein the opening longitudinal axis is located between the first longitudinal axis and the acute edge.

5. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a hanger member extending from one of the six outwardly facing surfaces and selectively attachable to the sheet dispenser.

6. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 wherein an angle formed at the acute edge between the dispensing panel and the contact panel is 45°

.

7. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a bidirectional indicia located on one of the six outwardly-facing surfaces.

8. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a raised body forming indicia on one or more of the six outwardly-facing surfaces.

9. The sheet dispenser of claim 8 wherein the raised body has a thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm.

10. The sheet dispenser of claim 9 wherein the raised body comprises expandable ink.

11. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a stack of towel substrate contained within the container.

12. The sheet dispenser of claim 11 wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are trapezoidal in shape.

13. The sheet dispenser of claim 12 wherein the stack of towel substrate comprises individual multi-folded or inter-folded towels making contact with each other at an overlap portion, wherein the stack comprises a leading edge that is oriented so that it lies within the opening edge that defines the opening.

14. The sheet dispenser of claim 13 wherein the stack of towel substrate comprises a front side having a first height and an opposite rear side having a second height, wherein the first height is less than a second height by 10 mm to 30 mm.

15. The sheet dispenser of claim 12 wherein the stack of towel substrate comprises individual multi-folded towels having an overlap portion with a depth of 2.75 inches to 3.25 inches.

16. The sheet dispenser of claim 12 wherein the stack of towel substrate comprises individual inter-folded towels having an overlap portion with a depth of 4.75 inches to 5.25 inches.

17. The sheet dispenser of claim 4 wherein the entire opening edge is between the longitudinal axis and the acute edge.

19. A method of dispensing sheets comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet dispenser of claim 4;

identifying a wall having a towel bar mounted thereon at a distance from a floor;

facing the contact panel toward the wall and sliding the sheet dispenser between the towel bar and the wall such that the dispensing panel is oriented toward the floor.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the step of providing a blocked stack of the sheets.