Dispenser for perforated sheet material providing flat sheet delivery

• US 7,040,567 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Richard Paul, Tramontina, Paul Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivera, William A.
• Application Number:
  US11/025,392
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 242/588, 242/588.3, 242/588.4, 242/594.1, 242/595, 242/598.6, 206/389, 206/398, 206/403, 206/408, 206/409
• US Class Current: 242/588.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0841 and for cutting interconnected articles cutting devices for dispensers intended for re-use B65H35/008
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/671 wound in flat spiral form

Abstract

A disposable dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material is provided. The dispenser includes a housing configured to provide a shipping carton for a roll of sheet material as well as a dispenser housing for dispensing sheets of material therefrom. The housing includes a tray configured to support sheet material thereon. The tray includes a dispensing opening. The housing is formed to include an exit port spaced apart from the tray. Sheet material disposed in the dispenser follows a circuitous path between the opening in the tray and through the exit port in a substantially flat configuration. A system for providing a disposable dispenser and a roll of sheet material.

Claims

1. A disposable dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing configured to provide a shipping carton for a roll of sheet material as well as a dispenser housing for dispensing sheets of material therefrom, the housing including a tray configured to support sheet material thereon, the tray including a dispensing opening positioned on a first axis, the housing formed to include an exit port spaced apart from the tray, the exit port positioned on a second axis;

wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser flows between the opening in the tray and the exit port on a third axis in a substantially flat configuration.

2. The disposable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a blank folded in a shipping carton which provides a dispenser housing.

3. The disposable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the exit port is provided in a lower end of the housing.

4. The disposable dispenser of claim 3, wherein a perforated member is provided in the lower end, the perforated member separated and moved downward to provide the exit port, and wherein when the perforated member is positioned to provide the exit port, the perforated member also provides a radiused surface over which sheet material flows from the dispenser.

5. The disposable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the tray controls radial and axial movement of the roll of sheet material.

6. The disposable dispenser of claim 5, wherein the tray includes a base and angular members which cooperate to control radial movement of a roll of sheet material and permit an outer circumference of a roll of sheet material to rotate with minimal frictional resistance thereagainst.

7. The disposable dispenser of claim 5, wherein the tray includes a base and retention members which cooperate to control axial movement of a roll of sheet material disposed in the dispenser.

8. The disposable dispenser of claim 5, wherein the tray includes a top member, and the top member includes a perforated section having a tab which, when the tab is separated and moved downward away from the top member, provides the dispensing opening and a radiused surface over which sheet material flows.

9. The disposable dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet material flows from the roll, through the dispensing opening and the exit port on a substantially circuitous path.

10. A disposable dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing configured to provide a shipping carton for a roll of sheet material as well as a dispenser housing for dispensing sheets of material therefrom, the housing including a tray configured to support sheet material thereon, the tray including a dispensing opening, the housing formed to include an exit port spaced apart from the tray;

wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser follows a circuitous path between the opening in the tray and through the exit port in a substantially flat configuration.

11. The disposable dispenser of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a blank folded in a shipping carton which provides a dispenser housing.

12. The disposable dispenser of claim 10, wherein the exit port is provided in a lower end of the housing.

13. The disposable dispenser of claim 12, wherein a perforated member is provided in the lower end, the perforated member separated and moved downward to provide the exit port, and wherein when the perforated member is positioned to provide the exit port, the perforated member also provides a radiused surface over which sheet material flows from the dispenser.

14. The disposable dispenser of claim 10, wherein the tray controls radial and axial movement of a roll of sheet material.

15. The disposable dispenser of claim 14, wherein the tray includes a base and angular members which cooperate to control radial movement of a roll of sheet material and permit an outer circumference of a roll of sheet material to rotate with minimal frictional resistance thereagainst.

16. The disposable dispenser of claim 14, wherein the tray includes a base and retention members which cooperate to control axial movement of a roll of sheet material disposed in the dispenser.

17. The disposable dispenser of claim 14, wherein the tray includes a top member, and the top member includes a perforated section having a tab which, when the tab is separated and moved downward away from the top member, provides the dispensing opening and a radiused surface over which sheet material flows.

18. The disposable dispenser of claim 10, wherein the opening in the tray is positioned on a first axis.

19. The disposable dispenser of claim 18, wherein the exit port is positioned on a second axis, and the second axis is spaced-apart and parallel to the first axis.

20. The disposable dispenser of claim 19, wherein the sheet material flows on a third axis which intersects both the first axis and second axis.

21. A system, comprising:

a disposable dispenser for dispensing sheet material comprising a housing configured to provide a shipping carton for a roll of sheet material as well as a dispenser housing for dispensing sheets of material therefrom, the housing including a tray configured to support sheet material thereon, the tray including a dispensing opening, the housing formed to include an exit port spaced apart from the tray, wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser follows a circuitous path between the opening in the tray and through the exit port in a substantially flat configuration; and

a roll of sheet material positioned on the tray.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the exit port is provided in a lower end of the housing.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a perforated member is provided in the lower end, the perforated member separated and moved downward to provide the exit port, and wherein when the perforated member is positioned to provide the exit port, the perforated member also provides a radiused surface over which sheet material flows from the dispenser.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the tray controls radial and axial movement of the roll of sheet material.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the tray includes a base and angular members which cooperate to control radial movement of the roll of sheet material and permit an outer circumference of the roll of sheet material to rotate with minimal frictional resistance thereagainst.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the tray includes a base and retention members which cooperate to control axial movement of the roll of sheet material disposed in the dispenser.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the tray includes a top member, and the top member includes a perforated section having a tab which, when the tab is separated and moved downward away from the top member, provides the dispensing opening and a radiused surface over which sheet material flows.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the opening in the tray is positioned on a first axis.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the exit port is positioned on a second axis, and the second axis is space-apart and parallel to the first axis.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the sheet material flows on a third axis which intersects both the first axis and second axis.