Portable, vertically oriented automatic towel dispenser apparatus
First Claim
1. A towel dispenser, comprising:
- (a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and
(b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between,(i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and(ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door;
(c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and
(d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and
(e) further comprising one or more rollers that engage the extent of toweling between the loading door and the housing when the loading door is in the closed position, and a motor assembly operatively connected to the one or more rollers for driving of the rollers to advance and retract toweling relative to the housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable towel dispenser includes a housing configured to stand upright and an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly including a roll of towels on an arbor. The interior space is configured to receive in a vertical orientation the arbor for vertical support thereof during unwinding of the roll of towels. A loading door is configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between a closed position, in which the loading door and housing together enclose the toweling assembly within the dispenser, and an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door. The dispenser is battery operated, includes a handle, and is readily hand portable. A button on a bottom of the housing is depressed to enable dispensing when the housing is stood upright.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door; (c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and (d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and (e) further comprising one or more rollers that engage the extent of toweling between the loading door and the housing when the loading door is in the closed position, and a motor assembly operatively connected to the one or more rollers for driving of the rollers to advance and retract toweling relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door; (c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and (d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and (e) further comprising a safeguard located on a bottom of the housing that prevents dispensing of toweling unless the safeguard is engaged. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door; (c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and (d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and (e) further comprising a sensor located on an interior of the housing and configured to sense a leading edge of the toweling between a passageway formed by the main body and the loading door when the loading door is in the closed position.
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13. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door; (c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and (d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and (e) further comprising a sensor located on an exterior of the housing for detecting motion and operatively connected to the motor assembly for causing the motor assembly to drive one or more rollers for advancing toweling outside of the housing when either an object or motion is detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor is located proximate a top of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the toweling assembly for vertical support thereof during dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door configured to rotate relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door; (c) wherein the loading door rotates about a generally vertical axis within a first interior space defined by the housing; and (d) wherein the loading door defines a second interior space within the first interior space of the housing in which second interior space the toweling assembly is received, the loading door further defining a base on which the toweling assembly is supported for rotation about the vertical axis during unwinding and dispensing of toweling from the toweling assembly; and (e) further comprising a light indicator for indicating a status of the towel dispenser, the light indicator being located on an exterior surface of the housing proximate a top of the housing.
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16. A towel dispenser, comprising:
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(a) a housing configured to stand upright in a vertical orientation and defining an interior space for receiving a toweling assembly comprising a roll of towels on an arbor, the interior space configured to receive in a vertical orientation the arbor for vertical support of the roll of towels during unwinding of the roll of towels for dispensing of toweling; and (b) a loading door having one or more rollers extending along a section of the interior side of the loading door, the loading door being configured to rotate relative to the main body about a generally vertical axis between, (i) a closed position, in which the loading door and the housing are configured to receive an extent of toweling therebetween for dispensing of the toweling, and in which the loading door closes off access to the toweling assembly received in the dispenser, and (ii) an open position, in which the dispenser is configured to receive the toweling assembly therein without obstruction by the loading door. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification