Napkin Dispenser
A cover, carriage, or faceplate for a napkin dispenser is provided. The cover, faceplate or carriage defines one or more pick zones that facilitate manual extraction of different numbers of multiple napkins from the dispenser during each dispensing event. Preferably, the cover, carriage or faceplate cooperates with a container configured to receive a stack of napkins and is maintained adjacent an end or edge of the stack. More preferably, the cover, faceplate or carriage is configured to cooperate with containers having various shapes and/or configured for countertop, hanging, or in-counter implementation of the container to allow retrofitting of currently available single quantity dispensing napkin dispensers.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/762,093 filed on Feb. 7, 2013 titled “Napkin Dispenser” and the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to napkin dispensers and more particularly, to a napkin dispenser that allows variable numbers of napkins to be manually removed from the dispenser during each dispensing event.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Napkin dispensers have been commonly used in restaurants and other locations for dispensing disposable paper napkins. While napkin dispensers may appear uncomplicated at first glance, a number of problems have been associated with their use. In the past, napkin dispensers have been configured to attempt to dispense a single napkin with each dispensing event. Such configurations have several drawbacks.
For instance, in a single napkin-dispensing configuration, although one napkin may be sufficient for some users, other users, such as those ordering food for multiple people or those ordering for small children, commonly desire, and frequently require, more than one napkin. Attaining the desired number of napkins from such dispensers commonly requires the user to repeatedly remove individual napkins from the dispenser until a desired number of napkins have been retrieved. Such use detracts from efficient utilization of the dispenser and commonly detracts from efficient vender/customer interaction. This is particularly problematic in drive-through environments where the customer service person is charged with quickly and efficiently providing a customer with a completed order and an appropriate number of napkins.
To address the problems in the drive through environment, customer service personnel often simply place one or more stacks of napkins on a nearby counter. While this makes it easy to provide multiple napkins of virtually any amount, such operations can compromise sanitation and safety in that the stacks of napkins are fully exposed to the environment and can be easily knocked over. Similarly, customer service personnel have been known to take an existing dispenser and simply leave it open to allow direct interaction with the paper napkins commonly disposed within the dispenser. While this provides a slightly greater measure of control than a plain stack of napkins, it takes up more space and has similar sanitation issues.
At least one dispenser, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,635, attempts to address this issue by providing a dispenser with a faceplate that allows for the removal of several napkins during a single dispensing event but does so in an uncontrolled manner. With this dispenser, customer service persons may remove, inadvertently or intentionally, more napkins than may be desired or necessary, respectively. Such use tends to increase waste and cost associated with providing only a desired or necessary number of paper napkins to customers as determined by customer request and/or the type and/or quantity of food stuffs being provided. Such interaction can also increase the refill schedule associated with use of such dispensers as most users remove more napkins than would otherwise be necessary thereby detracting from the efficient utilization of staff time. Such systems can also result in employees providing more napkins to consumers than may be necessary in favor of providing expedient customer service such as in a drive-through product exchange environment.
Therefore, there is a need for a napkin dispenser that allows for the selective dispensing of multiple different numbers of napkins during each discrete dispensing activity and does so in a manner that is both expedient and maintains the sanitary condition of subsequent napkins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a faceplate, distribution cover or carriage (hereinafter “cover” when referencing all three) for dispensing napkins that is adapted to fit on or otherwise cooperate with a napkin storage container. The cover has an opening through which napkins may be withdrawn and defines a number of pick zones or grip sites that are each configured to allow different numbers of napkins to be manually removed from the dispenser during each discrete dispensing activity. In one aspect, a carriage is maintained in engagement with an end of a stack of napkins to allow user interaction with any of the pick zones to retrieve different numbers of preselected numbers of napkins from the dispenser. It is appreciated that the carriage or the napkin stack can be biased, gravitationally or otherwise, into engagement with the end of the napkin stack to adjust the tightness of the stack for best presentment and sequential removal of the desired number of napkins from the dispenser. It is further appreciated that the disclosed paper napkin dispensers that can be conveniently configured to accommodate removal of different numbers of multiple napkins during each interaction with one of the respective pick zones or grip sites.
One aspect discloses a carriage of a napkin dispenser that includes a body constructed to overlay a cavity shaped to contain a plurality of napkins. The body of the carriage defines a first pick zone that allows access to a first amount of the plurality of napkins and a second pick zone that allows access to a second amount of the plurality of napkins. In one aspect, the carriage also defines a third pick zone that allows access to yet a third amount of the plurality of napkins for each manual dispensing event. In another aspect, the carriage can be adjustable such that a size of the respective pick zones can be adjusted as a function of the degree of adjustment of the carriage. In another aspect, the carriage can cooperate with an interchangeable base configured to support the plurality of napkins associated therewith. In yet another aspect, the base can include a movable portion biased into engagement with the plurality of napkins but movable to accommodate translation of a gripped number of napkins past the carriage.
Another aspect discloses a dispenser for paper napkins. The dispenser includes a container that defines a cavity shaped to receive a stack of paper napkins. A carriage or faceplate is connected to the cavity. A discharge opening in the faceplate defines a first pick zone, a second pick zone, and an optional third pick zone. Each pick zone is shaped to allow removal of a different number of paper napkins from the cavity as compared to the number of paper napkins accessible at the other pick zones.
Another aspect discloses a method of forming a paper napkin dispenser. The method includes providing a cover that is constructed to be positioned adjacent a stack of napkins. At least two pick zones are formed in the carriage and allow manual removal of different numbers of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser as a function of interaction with a respective pick zone.
These and various other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof; and the invention includes all such modifications.
The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings:
In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word “connected,” “attached,” or terms similar thereto are alien used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSDispenser body 42 and faceplate 44 cooperate with one another to provide an interior storage area or cavity 46 for napkins 48 (
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First pick site 54 and first finger hole 64 are shaped to define a pinch area dimension, as indicated by arrow 70, of approximately 1.9 inches, second pick site 56 and second finger hole 66 are oriented to define a pinch area dimension of approximately 2.15 inches, and third pick site 58 and finger hole 68 are shaped to define a pinch area dimension of approximately 2.325 inches. It should be appreciated that the pinch area dimensions recited above are exemplary and other dimensions are feasible given the adjustability of the height of the base 52. Each pinch area dimension is associated with the introduction of the user's fingers for finger and thumb with dispenser 40 proximate discharge opening 50 to pinch an accessible quantity of the paper napkin product stack associated with the respective pick site 54, 56, 58 with which the user interacts during each dispensing event.
As explained further below, faceplate 44 can be provided in a two-part construction, constructed to slideably cooperate with body 42, and/or constructed to be connected to body 42 at more than one location so as to manipulate the pinch area dimension 70 associated with pick sites 54, 56, 58. Body 42 and faceplate 44 cooperate in a pivotable manner and are shaped to define a seam 72 at the interface therebetween to improve the aesthetic appearance of dispenser 40 and to generally fully enclose the paper napkin product contained therein.
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Body 42 includes a bottom portion 86 that defines a floor surface 88 associated with cavity 46. Bottom portion 86 includes a first opening 90 and a second opening 92 that are associated with each of the opposite lateral end portions 96, 98 of bottom portion 86. End portion 96, 98 are generally aligned with a respective sidewall 82, 84 of body 42. Body 42 includes a cap or cover portion 100 that is formed at an opposite longitudinal end of body 42 relative to bottom portion 86. A first catch 102 and the second catch 104 extend in a generally forward direction from sidewalls 82, 84 proximate cover portion 100. Each catch 102, 104 includes a projection 106 that snap fittingly cooperates with a respective cavity, pocket or opening 108 associated with faceplate 44. Catches 102. 104 secure faceplate 44 in the closed orientation shown in
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Second portion 138 and third portion 140 of base 52 are deflectable in a generally downward direction, indicated by arrow 176 relative to the first portion 136 of base 52 to accommodate translation of different numbers of napkins thereacross associated with user interaction with a respective pick site. It should be appreciated that the degree of deflection of second and third portions 138, 140 of base 52 relative to first portion 136 of base 52 is directly related to the respective number of napkins “pinched” during any given dispensing event. Such a construction mitigates undesirable interaction of dispenser 40 with the paper napkin product being removed therefrom.
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Napkin dispenser 250 includes a napkin dispenser body 252 and a faceplate 254. The dispenser body 252 provides an interior storage area 256 for napkins 258 that are to be dispensed through the carriage or faceplate 254 via a discharge opening 260. The napkins 258 to be dispensed rest on a support plate 261 contained in the dispenser 250 and are urged upwardly toward discharge opening 260 by means of a spring. The spring is usually a low compression spring that causes the support plate to function as a pusher plate to urge napkins 258 toward discharge opening 260. The spring is held in place between the plate and a spring support plate at the bottom of dispenser body 252 by tabs or other suitable attachment mechanisms. Alternatively, the biasing means can be external to body 252.
Understandably, mechanically biasing the plurality of napkins toward the discharge opening is but one means of facilitating sequential dispensing of discrete amounts or numbers of napkins from the plurality of napkins contained in such dispensers. That is, as explained above and further below, it is appreciated that the plurality of napkins can be gravity fed toward the discharge opening and/or the discharge opening can be movably associated with the body of the dispenser such that the discharge opening is maintained proximate an end of a stack of napkins. Advancing the napkins toward the discharge opening and/or maintaining the discharge opening relative to the stack of napkins in such manners is further disclosed below with respect to one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein.
A bezel or collar 262 extends circumferentially about body 252 and is shaped to provide an aesthetic finished appearance of dispenser 250 for those applications where body 252 is contained in a countertop or similar surface such that only collar 262 and the carriage or faceplate 254 of the dispenser 250 are visible to the user. As shown in
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As explained further below as being directed to all of the embodiments disclosed herein, offsetting edges 290, 296, 299 of pick zones 282, 284, 286 in direction 294 allows a user to manually remove different amounts, numbers, or quantities of napkins 258 from dispenser 250 during each dispensing event. The multiple napkin quantity also allows the manual dispensing activity, regardless of which pick zone is utilized, to occur without inadvertent contact with excess paper napkins thereby limiting the possibility of contaminating napkins that are not intended to be removed during any given dispensing event. Preferably, in order to facilitate easier and more controlled dispensing, napkins are loaded into the dispenser 250 opposite their normal dispensing orientation, i.e., with the main napkin fold facing forward. With the majority of napkin designs, this presents only a single edge to be gripped for dispensing.
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That is, it is appreciated that rear wall 308 of body 302 may include an opening similar to opening 338 to allow concurrent utilization and/or removal of napkins 304 from dispenser 300 via user interaction with any of pick zones 332, 334, 336 and/or optional pick zones 340, 342, 344. It is further appreciated that pick zones 332, 334, 336, 340, 342, 344 may have different shapes provided they also limit access to the napkin stack to provide controlled dispensing. Alternatively, it is appreciated that carriage 301 may slideably cooperate with body 302 of dispenser 300 in different orientations to allow the alignment of one group of pick zones 332, 334, 336 or pick zones 340, 342, 344 with discharge opening 338 as based on user preferences. It is further appreciated that when provided in such a multiple orientation configuration, pick zones 332, 334, 336 and pick zones 340, 342, 344 may provide access and/or manual removal of different numbers of napkins 304 from dispenser 300. That is, it is appreciated that carriage 301 may be configured to provide for the removal of at least six common numbers of napkins as the situation of application may desire. It is further appreciated that the generally radial shape of pick zones 332, 334, 336, as compared to the more linear shaped pick zones 340, 342, 344, are contoured to cooperate with a thumb or finger of the user during manual extraction of the respective number of napkins and enhance the ability of the user to index their hand relative to an intended pick zone without visual assessment of the location of their hand relative to dispenser. Such functionality further enhances efficient utilization and/or user interaction with dispenser 300.
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It is further appreciated that carriage 301 can be configured so that it is substantially closed at the top by a plate or the like. In this configuration, a slot is provided with one or more pick zones that form a shaped opening divided by the slot similar to that shown in
Dispenser 300 may be placed directly on a counter, mounted to a wall or mated with a stand to provide a user with a variety of placement options to maximize the utility of the dispenser in the desired environment.
Faceplate 408 includes a first pick zone 420, a second pick zone 422, and a third pick zone 424 that are shaped to allow removal of a different number of napkins 412 from dispenser 400 during each napkin removal event. Pick zones 420, 422, 424 are spaced longitudinally along discharge opening 410 to allow user interaction with any of pick zones 420, 422, 424 and the respective number of napkins 412 accessible thereat. Pick zones 420, 422, 424 extend different distances relative to the longitudinal axis associated with the stack of napkins 412 to allow manual extraction of different numbers of napkins as a function of the respective pick zone utilized. Like pick zones 332, 334, 336 of dispenser 300, pick zones 420, 422, 424 of dispenser 400 have a generally curvilinear shape intended to quickly facilitate cooperation and indexing of the user's finger relative to faceplate 408.
As alluded to above, dispenser 400 is configured to be utilized in a generally horizontal orientation, as shown in
Unlike dispensers 40, 250, 300, and 400, pick zones 512, 514, 516 of dispenser 500 are fluidly isolated from one another and fluidly connected with a respective slot 520, 522, 524 associated with removing a discrete number of napkins 506 through cover 510. It is appreciated that cover 510 may slideably cooperate body 502 of dispenser 500 so as to maintain an orientation of cover 510 proximate a top of the napkins stack and/or disposed along the longitudinal length of the stack or even near the bottom of the respective stack or napkins such that the napkins 506 can be biased and/or gravitationally biased toward pick zones 512, 514, 516 so as to limit undesired or unintentional removal of excess numbers of napkins 506 from dispenser 500.
Each of napkin dispensers 40, 250, 300, 400, 500 allows the manual removal of different numbers of napkins from the respective dispensers during each dispensing action. Preferably, each dispenser 40, 250, 300, 400, 500 is configured to provide smooth and continuous translation of the dispensing opening relative to a desired location of the grip zones and the pertinent portion of the napkin stack so as to not interfere with subsequent interaction and/or use of the dispenser. It is further appreciated that the carriage, faceplate or cover associated with any of dispensers 40, 250, 300, 400, 500 could be configured to cooperate with other preexisting napkin dispensers so as to provide for the removal of multiple numbers of napkins during each dispensing event wherein the preexisting dispensers include carriage or cover assemblies that allow for only the sequential dispensing of single napkins so as to reduce the costs associated with any given vendor retrofitting their dispensing systems to allow manual extraction of more than one number of napkins or individually separated napkins during each dispensing event.
Each of dispensers 40, 250, 300, 400. 500 allows for better control of the number of the napkins dispensed during each dispensing activity thereby promoting efficient use of the paper napkins and doing so in a manner that is efficient and limits unwanted contamination between groups of napkins associated with each dispensing action. Allowing manual interaction with the respective dispensers also provides a multiple count per interaction napkin dispenser that is more economically feasible than other multiple count napkin dispensers and substantially reduces the complexity and integration of the dispenser into retail environments. The adjustability of the various dispensers also allows the end user to better control the number of paper napkins dispensed during each dispensing event and does so in a manner that encourages efficient vendor/customer interaction. However, while each embodiment shown provides for dispensing of differing amounts of stacked sheet materials, each embodiment could be configured with a single “pick zone” to dispense a particular amount (in volume or quantity) of multiple sheets. (The reference to “particular amount” is not intended to convey the notion that the exact same number of sheets will be dispensed with each “pick”, but rather that approximately the same amount (in volume or quantity) will, be “picked” with each use of a dispenser configured with a single pick zone.)
The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A carriage of a napkin dispenser, the carriage comprising:
- a body constructed to overlay a cavity shaped to contain a plurality of napkins, the body defining at least a first pick zone that allows access to a first amount of the plurality of napkins and a second pick zone that allows access to a second amount of the plurality of napkins.
2. The carriage of claim 1 further comprising a support that extends in a longitudinal direction aligned with the first and second pick zones.
3. The carriage of claim 2 wherein the body adjustably cooperates the support to define a size of the first and second pick zones.
4. The carriage of claim 2 wherein the support is shaped to slideably cooperate with an opening defined by a countertop and the body has a footprint that is greater than a size of the opening.
5. The carriage of claim 2 further comprising a base that cooperates with the support at a location proximate the first and second pick zones defined by the body.
6. The carriage of claim 5 further comprising another base that cooperates with the support such that the base and the another base interchangeably cooperate with the support.
7. The carriage of claim 5 wherein the base further comprises at least one deflectable support that is biased toward the plurality of napkins and movable in a direction away from the plurality of napkins.
8. The carriage of claim 1 wherein the first and second pick zones are aligned along a common longitudinal side of the body.
9. The carriage of claim 8 wherein each pick zone is further defined as at least one of a curvilinear and a linear cutout formed in an edge of the body.
10. The carriage of claim 8 further comprising a third pick zone aligned along the common longitudinal side of the body with the first and second pick zones.
11. A dispenser for paper napkins comprising:
- a container that defines a cavity shaped to receive a stack of paper napkins and a discharge opening fluidly connected to the cavity; and
- a carriage shaped to cooperate with the container proximate the discharge opening, the carriage defining at least two pick zones wherein each respective pick zone is shaped to allow removal of a different number of paper napkins from the cavity than other respective pick zones.
12. The dispenser for paper napkins of claim 11 wherein the carriage further comprises at least one pick zone that is oriented on a side of the carriage opposite the at least two pick zones.
13. The dispenser for paper napkins of claim 11 wherein the carriage movably cooperates with the container.
14. The dispenser for paper napkins of claim 11 wherein each of the at least two pick zones are associated with an end of the stack of paper napkins.
15. The dispenser of paper napkins of claim 11 further comprising a first base and a second base that interchangeably cooperate with the container at a location proximate the at least two pick zones.
16. The dispenser of paper napkins of claim 15 wherein at least one of the first base and the second base includes at least one movable napkin support.
17. The dispenser of paper napkins of claim 16 wherein the at least one movable support is biased into engagement with the stack of paper napkins and movable in a direction away from the stack of paper napkins.
18. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the carriage includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining the at least two pick zones and movably connected to the first portion to adjust a size associated with at least one of the at least two pick zones.
19. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein a position of second portion relative to first portion defines the size of each of the at least two pick zones.
20. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a third pick zone defined by the carriage and that is aligned with the at least two pick zones.
21. A method of forming a paper napkin dispenser, the method including:
- providing a carriage constructed to be positioned adjacent a stack of napkins;
- forming a first pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the first pick zone; and
- forming a second pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a different number of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the second pick zone rather than the first pick zone.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming the first and second pick zones in a common side of the carriage.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising forming at least one additional pick zone in a side of the carriage that is one of the common side or opposite the common side.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming in third pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a different number of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the third pick zone than either of the first or second pick zones.
25. The method of claim 22 further comprising biasing the carriage into engagement with an end of the stack of napkins.
26. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming the carriage as a first portion and a second portion that movably cooperates with the first portion such that movement of the first portion relative to the second portion adjusts a size associated with at least one of the first pick zone and the second pick zone.
27. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing a base that cooperates with the carriage proximate the first and second pick zones.
28. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the base with at least one movable support that is biased toward the stack of napkins and movable in a direction away from the stack of napkins.
29. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing another base that cooperates with the carriage and is interchangeable with the base to define different sizes associated with the first pick zone and the second pick zone as a function of which base is utilized.
30. A sheet material dispenser comprising:
- a housing for containing a stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed;
- an opening, defined in said housing, through which the leading edges of a portion of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material are accessible;
- a base for supporting the stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed, wherein the base is configured to permit the leading edges of a portion of the stack of a plurality of sheets of material accessible through the opening to be deflected downwardly to facilitate the removal of all or a subset of the accessible portion of the stack of a plurality of sheets of material from the dispenser.
31. A dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the base is interchangeable.
32. A dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the base includes a retractable portion biased to support the stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed.
33. A dispenser according to claim 30, further comprising a selectively removable insert to alter the interior dimensions of the housing.
34. A dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the base is selectively movable between at least a first and second position to alter the dimensions of the opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 7, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 7, 2014
Applicant: San Jamar, Inc. (Elkhorn, WI)
Inventors: Michael Young (Mukwonago, WI), Brian Albrecht (Elkhorn, WI), Todd J. Muderlak (Whitefish Bay, WI), Kenneth J. Muderlak (Milwaukee, WI)
Application Number: 14/175,579
International Classification: A47K 10/42 (20060101);