Refillable flexible sheet dispenser

• US 8,573,398 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reinke, Christopher, Sears, Charles W., Susi, Michael A., Pitcher, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGAN, JENINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/167,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,052 Days
• Field of Search: 206/494, 206/812, 206/449, 206/233, 206/409, 206/229, 206/210, 206/207, 206/205, 206/440, 206/438, 221/49, 221/62, 221/63, 221/303, 221307-310, 221/61, 221/36, 221/39, 221/41, 221/48, 221/45, 220/253, 220/524, 220/525, 220/254.3, 220/254.4, 220/254.6, 220/256.1, 220/826, 220/259.1, 220/254.2, 220/213, 220/229, 220/203.17, 220/263, 220/264
• US Class Current: 206/494
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/421 dispensing from the top of the dispenser A47K10/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/812 Packaged towel

Abstract

A flexible sheet container is provided that permits a user to quickly and easily feed a leading sheet. The container has a base portion that defines a storage area and a top covering the base portion. The top includes an opening into the storage area through which individual flexible sheets are dispensed. A pair of opposing flaps is pivotally attached to the top at their first ends and each extends toward the dispensing opening with its second end. The complementary second ends of the flaps together further define the dispensing opening while in a dispensing position. The flaps pivot inward toward the storage area to provide access through the opening into the storage area. As such, to feed a leading flexible sheet, a user may rotate the flaps inward, grab a leading flexible sheet, and pull it through the opening. During dispensing, the flaps rotate outward and retain subsequent sheets.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a storage cavity, a first wall of the plurality of walls having a dispenser opening formed therethrough;

a first flap having first and second opposed ends, said second end extending toward said opening;

a second flap having first and second opposed ends, said second flap second end extending toward said opening;

a first living hinge connecting said first flap first end to said first wall, said first living hinge having a neutral position orienting said first flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of an upward force applied to the first flap;

a second living hinge connecting said second flap first end to said first wall, said second living hinge having a neutral position orienting said second flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of an upward force applied to the second flap;

a first stop limiting rotation of said first flap outward away from said storage area; and

a second stop limiting rotation of said second flap outward away from said storage area.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said living hinges comprise an elastic material.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein said elastic material comprises a thermoplastic.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said thermoplastic comprises polypropylene.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein each said flap is biased toward said neutral position disposed within said storage area.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein each said stop comprises:

a first surface attached to said first wall proximate to the first end of one of said flaps; and

a second surface attached to said first end of said one of the flaps and contacting said first surface while in a rotation limiting position.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said first wall defines a first side of said dispenser opening and an opposed second side of said dispenser opening such that said first living hinge connects said first flap first end to said first side of said first wall and said second living hinge connects said second flap first end to said second side of said first wall.

8. A container comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a storage cavity, a first wall of the plurality of walls having a dispenser opening formed therethrough;

a first flap having first and second opposed ends, said second end extending toward said opening;

a second flap having first and second opposed ends, said second flap second end extending toward said opening;

a first living hinge connecting said first flap first end to said first wall, said first living hinge having a neutral position orienting said first flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the first flap; and

a second living hinge connecting said second flap first end to said first wall, said second living hinge having a neutral position orienting said second flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the second flap;

wherein a portion of said second flap overlaps a portion of said first flap while said first and second flaps are in a dispensing position.

9. A container comprising:

flexible sheets;

a base portion defining a storage cavity for storing said flexible sheets; and

a cover attached to said base portion, said cover including

an opening into said storage cavity,

a lid covering said opening while in a closed position,

a first flap having first and second opposed ends, said second end extending toward said opening,

a second flap having first and second opposed ends, said second flap second end extending toward said opening,

a first living hinge connecting said first flap first end to said cover, said first living hinge having a neutral position orienting said first flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the first flap,

a second living hinge connecting said second flap first end to said cover, said second living hinge having a neutral position orienting said second flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the second flap,

a first stop limiting rotation of said first flap outward away from said storage cavity, and

a second stop limiting rotation of said second flap outwardly away from said storage cavity.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein said opening is defined by a space between said second ends of said flaps.

11. The container of claim 9, wherein said first flap and second flap include complementary notches at their distal ends that form said opening.

12. The container of claim 9, wherein said first stop and said second stop are stop blocks or interference tabs.

13. The container of claim 9, wherein said first stop and said second stop limit the first flap and second flap from rotating upward beyond an outer plane of the cover.

14. The container of claim 9, wherein each said stop comprises:

a first surface attached to said cover proximate to said first end of one of said flaps; and

a second surface attached to said first end of said one of said flaps and contacting said first surface while in a rotation limiting position.

15. A container comprising:

flexible sheets;

a plurality of walls defining a storage cavity for storing said flexible sheets, a first wall of said plurality of walls having an opening formed therethrough;

a first flap having first and second opposed ends, said second end extending toward said opening;

a first living hinge connecting said first flap first end to said first wall, wherein said first flap only pivots within said storage cavity and wherein said first living hinge having a neutral position orienting said first flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the first flap;

a second flap having first and second opposed ends, said second flap second end extending toward said opening;

a second living hinge connecting said second flap first end to said first wall; and

wherein said first flap and second flap include complementary notches at their distal ends that from said opening, said first flap and said second flap only pivot within said storage cavity, and said second living hinge has a neutral position orienting said second flap second end sloping inward of said storage cavity in the absence of a force applied to the second flap.