Sheet dispensers and methods of making and using the same

• US 6,837,395 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Windorski, David C., Hamerly, Michael E., Kenner, Martin A., Gamradt, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US10/301,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/13, 221/9, 221/21, 221/259, 221/33, 221/45, 221/56, 221/48, 221/63, 271/34, 271/35, 271/149
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/005 Supports for note-pads B42F9/00 takes precedence; underlays B43L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0805 through an aperture in a wall
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/045 for sheet shaped or pliable articles

Abstract

Sheet dispensers, which provide feedback to a user or provide a unique function to a user, are disclosed. Visual, audio, aromatic, or other types of feedback may be provided to a user by the sheet dispenser. Sheet dispensers suitable for use as a switch, a room deodorizer, a flame-generating device, or a combination thereof are disclosed. A method of activating a switch-controlled object is also disclosed. Further, a method of making sheet dispensers is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sheet dispenser capable of providing feedback to a user or a function ether than dispensing sheets, said feedback comprising (a) visual feedback of indicia positioned under a stack of dispensable sheets within a housing of the sheet dispenser and viewable upon movement of the stack of sheets within the housing;

(b) visual feedback from a visual feedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

(c) audio feedback from an audio feedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

(d) aromatic feedback (i) from within the housing or (ii) from an aromatic feedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

or (e) a combination thereof; and

wherein said function comprising (A) sending a signal to a signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing.

2. The sheet dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet dispenser provides visual feedback of indicia positioned under a stack of sheets within a housing of the sheet dispenser and viewable upon movement of the stack of shcets within the housing;

said housing comprising;

an upper housing member having an opening therein; and

a lower housing member having an upper surface at least temporarily attached to the upper housing member; and

wherein the stack of dispensable sheets is positioned between the upper housing member and the lower housing member and shuttles from a first position to a second position within the housing during removal of a sheet from the stack of sheets.

3. The sheet dispenser of claim 2, wherein the upper housing member is transparent or translucent such that the upper surface of the lower housing member and the stack of sheets are viewable through the upper housing member, and wherein the upper surface of the lower housing member has one or more images on the upper surface of the lower housing member, at least one image being viewable when the stack of sheets is in the first position or the second position.

4. The sheet dispenser of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the lower housing member has two or more images on the upper surface of the lower housing member, at least one image being viewable when the stack of sheets is in the first position and at least one image being viewable when the stank of sheets is in the second position.

5. The sheet dispenser of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the lower housing member has three or more images on the upper surface of the lower housing member, at least one image being viewable when the stack of sheets is in the first position, at least one image being viewable when the stack of sheets is in the second position, and at least one image being viewable once the stack of sheets is fully dispensed.

6. The sheet dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet dispenser is capable of sending a signal to a signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing, said sheet dispenser comprises:

at least crne activatable device, wherein the at least one activatable device is activated by movement of the stack of sheets within the housing.

7. The sheet dispenser of claim 6, wherein the at least one activatable device comprises a mechanical switch, a photodiode, a pair of male and female electrical contacts, or a combination thereof.

8. The sheet dispenser of claim 7, wherein the at least one activatable device comprises a mechanical switch, wherein the mechanical switch is “

on”

when the stack of sheets closes the mecbamcal switch and “

off”

when the mechanical switch is open.

9. The sheet dispenser of claim 7, wherein the at least one aetivatable device comprises a first mobile electrical contact on the stack of sheets and a second stationazy electrical contact, wherein the second stationary electrical contact forms at least a portion of a shuttle pathway between a first position and a second position.

10. The sheet dispenser of claim 7, wherein the at least one activatable device is “

on”

when the stack of sheets interrupts a beam of light from a light sensor to the photodiode.

11. The sheet dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet dispenser 18 capable of providing audio feedback from an audio feedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing, said sheet dispenser comprising:

a sound-generating device positioned within the sheet dispenser or external to the sheet dispenser.

12. The sheet dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet dispenser is capable of providing aromatic feedback, said sheet dispenser comprising:

an opening in the housing for dispensing individual sheets, said opening being surrounded by opening side walls having an exterior side wall surface and an interior side wall surface;

a textured coating on at least a portion of the interior side wall surface of the opening side walls for increasing an amount of friction between a sheet removed from the sheet dispenser and an inner surface of the housing;

wherein at least one sheet in the stack of sheets has a sheet coating on an upper surface of the sheet and at least a portion of the sheet coating separates from the sheet when the sheet passes over the textured coating.

13. The sheet dispenser of claim 12, wherein the sheet coating comprises hollow microspheres.

14. The sheet dispenser of claim 13, wherein the hollow microspheres contain a fragrance or perfume.

15. The sheet dispenser of claim 12, wherein the sheet coating comprises a combustible composition containing potassium chlorate, white phosphorus and sulfur.

16. The sheet dispenser of claim 12, wherein the sheet dispenser is capable of providing aromatic feedback by sending a signal to an aromatic fcedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing.

17. A method of making the sheet dispenser of claim 2, said method comprising:

applying indicia onto the upper surface of the lower housing member;

placing the stack of sheets onto the upper surface of the lower housing member; and

attaching a transparent or translucent upper housing member to the upper surface of a lower housing member.

18. A method of making the sheet dispenser of claim 6, said method comprising:

incorporating one or more activatable devices into a housing of the sheet dispenser, wherein the one or more activatable devices are activated by movement of a stack of sheets within the housing.

19. A method ofmaking the sheet dispenser of claim 12, said method comprising:

applying a textured or roughened coating material onto an interior surface of a sheet dispenser housing in order to increase an amount of friction between a sheet being removed from the sheet dispenser and an interior surface of the housing.

21. A sheet dispenser system comprising:

the sheet dispenser of claim 1; and

at least one signal-receiving device.

22. The sheet dispenser system of claim 21, wherein the signal-receiving device comprises a speaker, a sound-generating device, a light, a gas burner, a gas log fireplace, a stopwatch, timer, an alarm clock, a vehicle ignition system, a room deodorizer, a stove an appliance, a personal computer, a calculator, a hand-held computer, an electronic hand-held organizer, an email-receiving device, or a cell phone.

20. A method of providing feedback to a user, said method comprising:

at least partially removing a first sheet from a stack of sheets within a sheet dispenser;

said feedback comprising (a) visual feedback of indicia positioned under the stack of sheets within a housing of the sheet dispenser and viewable upon movement of the slack of sheets within the housing;

(b) visual feedback from a visual feedback-generating signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

(c) audio feedback from an audio feedback-generating, signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

(d) aromatic feedback (i) from within the housing or (ii) from an aromatic feedback-generating signal-receiving device within or outside of the housing;

or (e) a combination thereof.