Dispenser for sheet material

• US 6,997,345 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Freese, John B., Long, Leslie T., Mitchell, Joseph, Welchel, Debra N., Morton, Tim J., Piacenza, Donna Ann, Delman, Joel G., Velazquez, Herb F., Andres, Melanie L., Bullock, Richard H. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US10/439,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 221/45, 221/63, 221/282, 221/283, 242/595, 242/598.5, 242/594.1, 248/214, 248/311.2, 248/213.2, 206/494, 206/806, 206/409, 206/812, 206/233
• US Class Current: 221/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/42 dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3233 Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall

Abstract

A dispenser is provided which is adapted for dispensing from a table top and it is convertible to dispensing from a conventional rolled product fixture. The dispenser includes a housing having a compartment configured to hold sheets. The housing also has a dispensing opening. The housing is configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheets therefrom, and the housing includes a sling which permits the housing to be coupled to a conventional rolled product fixture. The sling is masked when the dispenser is positioned for dispensing from a table top. The sling is readily releasable to permit the housing to be coupled to a fixture in a bathroom.

Claims

1. A non-refillable dispenser adapted for dispensing from a table top and convertible to dispensing from a conventional rolled product fixture, the non-refillable dispenser comprising:

a housing having a compartment configured to hold sheets therein and a dispensing opening, the housing configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheets therefrom, the housing including connecting means including a sling which permits the housing to be coupled to a fixture, the connecting means masked as a portion of the housing and the sling folded down and held against the housing by one of adhesive on the sling, a seal, and a combination thereof when the housing is positioned on a table top for dispensing therefrom, the connecting means readily releasable to permit the housing to be coupled to a fixture.

2. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing when coupled to a fixture is disposed at an oblique angle and positioned such that a first axis extends vertically through a highest point of the housing and a lowest point of the housing, the housing positioned such that a second axis extends horizontally through a depth dimension of the housing, the sheets dispensing through the dispensing opening on a third axis which is positioned between the first and second axis.

3. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 2 wherein the housing is configured to be disposed diagonally relative to a fixture.

4. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned substantially parallel to a vertical support surface when coupled to a fixture.

5. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sling is positioned along a midline of an end of the housing and extends in a loop therefrom when coupled to a fixture.

6. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sling is positioned to extend from an edge of a portion of the housing, and the housing is positioned at an oblique angle when the sling is coupled to a fixture.

7. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least an upper portion of the housing has a width dimension which is less than a width dimension between support arms of a fixture.

8. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheets include dry sheets.

9. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 8, wherein the dry sheets are toilet tissue.

10. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheets include dry sheets and premoistened sheets.

11. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 10, wherein the sling includes an opening to permit access to the premoistened sheets.

12. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a resealable cover.

13. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, polymer film, cellophane, and any combination thereof.

14. A dispenser adapted for dispensing from a table top and convertible to dispensing from a conventional rolled product fixture, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a compartment configured to hold sheets therein and a dispensing opening, the housing configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheets therefrom, the housing including a sling which permits the housing to be coupled to a fixture, the sling masked as a portion of the housing and the sling folded down and held against the housing by one of adhesive on the sling, a seal, and a combination thereof when the housing is positioned on a table top for dispensing therefrom, the sling readily releasable to permit the housing to be releasably coupled to a fixture in a bathroom.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the housing when coupled to a fixture is disposed at an oblique angle and positioned such that a first axis extends vertically through a highest point of the housing and a lowest point of the housing, the housing positioned such that a second axis extends horizontally through a depth dimension of the housing, the sheets dispensing through the dispensing opening on a third axis which is positioned between the first axis and the second axis.

16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the housing is configured to be disposed diagonally relative to a fixture.

17. The non-refillable dispenser of claim 14, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned substantially parallel to a vertical support surface when coupled to a fixture.

18. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the sling is positioned along a midline of an end of the housing and extends in a loop therefrom when coupled to a fixture.

19. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the sling is positioned to extend from an edge of a portion of the housing, and the housing is positioned at an oblique angle when the sling is coupled to a fixture.

20. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein at least an upper portion of the housing has a width dimension which is less than a width dimension between support arms of a fixture.

21. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the sheets include dry sheets.

22. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein the dry sheets are toilet tissue.

23. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the sheets include dry sheets and premoistened sheets.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the sling includes an opening to permit access to the premoistened sheets.

25. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the housing includes a resealable cover.

26. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the housing is constructed from paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, polymer film, cellophane, and any combination thereof.

27. A dispenser adapted for dispensing from a table top and convertible to dispensing from a conventional rolled product fixture in a bathroom, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a compartment configured to hold dry sheets and premoistened sheets therein and a dispensing openings positioned to permit the dry sheets and the premoistened sheets to be dispensed therefrom, the housing configured to be positioned on a table top for dispensing sheets therefrom, the housing including sling which permit the housing to be coupled to a fixture, the sling masked as a portion of the housing and the sling folded down and held against the housing by one of adhesive on the sling, a seal, and a combination thereof when the housing is positioned on a table top for dispensing therefrom, the sling readily releasable and the housing configured to dispense from an upper end or a lower end when the housing is coupled to a fixture in a bathroom.

28. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the housing when coupled to a fixture is disposed at an oblique angle and positioned such that a first axis extends vertically through a highest point of the housing and a lowest point of the housing, the housing positioned such that a second axis extends horizontally through a depth dimension of the housing, the sheets dispensing through the dispensing opening on a third axis which is positioned between the first axis and the second axis.

29. The dispenser of claim 28, wherein the housing is configured to be disposed diagonally relative to a fixture.

30. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned substantially parallel to a vertical support surface when coupled to a fixture.

31. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the sling is positioned along a midline of an end of the housing and extends in a loop therefrom when coupled to a fixture.

32. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the sling is positioned to extend from an edge of a portion of the housing, and the housing is positioned at an oblique angle relative to a vertical support surface when the sling is coupled to a fixture.

33. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein at least an upper portion of the housing has a width dimension which is less than a width dimension between support arms of a fixture.

34. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the dry sheets are toilet tissue.

35. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the sling includes an opening to permit access to the premoistened sheets.

36. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the housing includes a resealable cover.

37. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the housing is constructed from paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, polymer film, cellophane, and any combination thereof.