With Presentation Of Non-coextensive Or Distorted Fold Patents (Class 221/47)
  • Patent number: 10954029
    Abstract: Variations for flat-folding box covers with four distinct design configurations: one piece; two piece; flat-folding structural frames and clear, rigid box covers with decorative inserts. Construction techniques comprise a variety of methods including use of cutout stock sheet materials; use of stiffening panels; use of structural frame elements; use of lamination; use of clear plastic panels; and the use of coatings. Fastening techniques comprise a variety of methods including; magnets, snaps, structural frames, hinges, and adhesives. The end user may purchase finished box covers or components or select from a set of design options offered by a manufacturer; or supply custom decorative images to a manufacturer to apply to the box cover; or purchase a kit in order to make or embellish a box cover themselves. Some designs allow for the end user to update and reconfigure the design elements of the box cover after it is purchased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
  • Publication number: 20150028049
    Abstract: An assembly of a recipient for in a using state of the assembly receiving objects of different kinds and of a retainer for in a resting state of the assembly retaining the recipient. The retainer is formed as a case and the recipient is, before being assembled with the case, formed as a tube which has a first and second end part and in the resting state of the assembly has been folded up in a predetermined way into at least nearly parallel folds and, which are placed close to and/or are abutting each other. The assembly forms, when being in use, a desirable large bag for containing objects of different kinds and when not being in use a small case which is comfortable to store and handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: ALL IN ONE BAG APS
    Inventor: Bjørn Karlo Larsen
  • Patent number: 8931663
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for dispensing horizontally stacked moist towelettes. One embodiment involves turning a tub upside down and providing a side door for accessing the stacked towels. Another embodiment involves orienting a tub in an upright position and providing a means for users to easily access the contents. Moist towelettes are dispensed one at a time, from beginning to end. Once one towelette is removed, the next is in position for removal. Any towelette that falls back into the tub can be easily retrieved through the opening without having to open the entire package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Union Street Brand Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Evans, Christopher Gieda
  • Patent number: 8662346
    Abstract: A removing mechanism is disclosed for removing the bottom or top sheet from a stack of sheets; a delaying member for a delay of a predetermined time between the dispensing of two successive sheets; and an actuating mechanism for driving the removing mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is driven via a physically supplied mechanical drive force of an operator of the dispensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Infostop, B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Christina Langen, Herman Josef Langen
  • Patent number: 8657152
    Abstract: To provide a wet tissue package that allows for easy taking out of a wet tissue accommodated in a package body. A wet tissue package includes: a package body having an opening; and a plurality of wet tissues accommodated in the package body in a state of being individually folded and stacked without being interfolded, in which each of the plurality of wet tissues includes: a first folding line parallel to the first side edge; a second folding line parallel to the first folding line; and a turn-back portion formed by folding the wet tissue on the first folding line and the second folding line, in which the turn-back portion is directed toward the opening and a part of the turn-back portion is disposed so as to be exposable through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Bando, Takahiro Ueda, Ikue Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8608023
    Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a body portion defining an inner cavity arranged to support a stack of sheet products and a faceplate attached to the body portion. The faceplate portion is arranged to support and dispense the sheet products, has an opening comprising a rectangular portion with a centrally disposed arcing triangular portion having a centrally disposed arced apex, the rectangular portion extends from an upper edge of the faceplate to the arced apex, the opening is arranged to expose a plurality of the sheet products on one end of the body portion through the rectangular portion and to expose a planar surface of a single sheet product through the arcing triangular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Abby C. Case, Matthew K. F. Williquette
  • Patent number: 8602258
    Abstract: A container including: a container top having a dispensing opening formed from a plurality of top flaps; a container bottom disposed opposite the container top formed from a plurality of bottom flaps; and a plurality of decorative panels forming a sidewall of the container having a continuous decorative surface. The container is formed from a substantially symmetrical blank. As a result, the container can be loaded from either end on a cartoner. The container's continuous decorative surface on the sidewall allows for graphics on the container's sidewall to continue unimpeded. Advantageously, the container is designed for use on high speed cartoners and can be filled from either the top or the bottom as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Thomas Long, Daniel Studd Grubb, Jr., Michael Alan Hermans
  • Patent number: 8540117
    Abstract: The present invention is a compartmentalized portable container and body wash wipes, which allows the user to substitute the traditional showering or bathing cycle with a series of body wipes. These body wipes are carried in a slender container, which allows the present invention to be a very portable device. The series of wipes include a number of pre-wash wipes, soap wipes, moisturizing wipes, and deodorizing wipes. Once the user finishes the series of wipes, the user throws the wipes away. The container stores and separate each kind of wipe in their own compartment. The dispensing mechanisms on the container allows the user to take only one of each kind of wipe at a time. The present invention can also be cleaned out with warm soapy water or alcohol once the supply of body wipes has been exhausted, which provides a replacement pack of body wipes with a clean container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Connie M Andrews, Timothy B Andrews
  • Publication number: 20130213989
    Abstract: A system for dispensing gloves including a dispenser and a plurality of gloves positioned in a frictional fit within the dispenser in a compressed configuration. The dispenser has a removable section that forms a dispensing opening for removing an outermost glove from the dispenser. The dispensing opening is shaped such that, upon removal of the removable section of the dispenser, the frictional engagement between the dispenser and a cuff portion of the outermost glove is less than the frictional engagement between the dispenser and a finger portion of the outermost glove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Kimple, Damon H. Cooner
  • Patent number: 8418879
    Abstract: Various pop-up bath tissue dispensing devices are described. In one embodiment, the bath tissue dispenser is configured to dispense bath tissues one at a time. In order to educate a child during toilet training on how much tissue to use, the tissue sheets contained within the dispenser have a size sufficient such that only one sheet is necessary for wiping. The dispenser can include an attachment device for attaching the dispenser to a spindle while still permitting the spindle to hold a conventional roll of bath tissue. In various embodiments, the tissue sheets or the dispenser may include designs or other indicia to either encourage a child during toilet training or to help educate the child during toilet training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Crystal Espinoza Sherman, Benjamin C. Sarbo, Heather Anne Sorebo, Daniel Hoo
  • Patent number: 8261937
    Abstract: A dispenser includes an upper member having a slot and a lower member attached to the upper member thereby forming a housing, the lower member having an outer surface; a stack of sheets assembled in a fan-fold configuration disposed in the housing; and a polymeric holding film having a first surface attached to the outer surface of the lower member. The holding film having a flexural modulus less than about 50 MPa, as measured according to ASTMD790 standard, and a roughness parameter, Ra of less than about 1 micrometer, as calculated according to ASME B46.1 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Bodziak, James E. Nash, Peter Newbould, Timothy J. O'Leary, David C. Windorski
  • Patent number: 8186541
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing interfolded disposable sheets is disclosed. The dispenser includes a removable panel that is attached to the first sheet in the stack contained in the container. When the removable panel is pulled off the container, the first sheet in the stack is partially or completely withdrawn from the container. The removable panel may be adhered to the first sheet using an adhesive material. The adhesive material may be contained in a recess formed in the removable panel. The recess is designed to protect the adhesive material during manufacture of the product and/or to prevent the adhesive material to adhering to other portions of the product. In one embodiment, after the stack of sheets are loaded into the dispenser, the recess is inverted forming a protrusion that contacts the first sheet in the stack and forms a bond between the removable panel and the first sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Andrzej Szymonski, Daphne Lynn VanBuren, Sara Marie Etheridge
  • Patent number: 8033421
    Abstract: A dispenser configured to close and fold into a small, compact, refillable package for storing personal care products is disclosed. Specifically, the dispenser has significantly less surface area in the closed (i.e., folded) position as compared to the unfolded personal care product that is stored within the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine Marie Cowell, Robert Samuel Schlaupitz, Kevin C. Possell, Jason Robert Boon, Daphne Lynn VanBuren, Erica Marie Golub
  • Patent number: 7992744
    Abstract: A dispenser, and associated method for producing such dispenser, for interfolded disposable sheets includes a dispensing container defining an interior volume sufficient for receipt of a clip of interfolded disposable sheets, the container including a first wall with a dispensing opening defined by a removable panel. At least a portion of an adhesive material is disposed at a location on the removable panel such that the adhesive is not exposed to the interior volume of the container in an adhesive state. A clip of interfolded disposable sheets is inserted into the interior volume of the container. After insertion of the clip, the adhesive material is exposed in an adhesive state to the interior volume of the container and contact is made between the adhesive and the uppermost sheet of the clip of interfolded sheets such that the removable panel is attached to the uppermost sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof A. Szymonski, Herb Velazquez
  • Publication number: 20110184864
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide currency solutions for the visually impaired by, for example, providing automated teller machines (ATMs) or other cash dispensers configured to dispense folded bills to the customer. The bills are folded based on denomination to allow the customer receiving the bills from the cash dispenser to be able to identify the denomination of each bill. In some embodiments, the cash dispenser is configured to automatically identify whether the customer prefers to receive folded bills and, in some embodiments, the cash dispenser is configured to fold and dispense bills according to customer preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Felix A. Mon, William F. Borowski, Susan Smith Thomas, Carl (II) Frederick, Jason Michael Ackiss, Maile George, Robert Fleetwood Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7954665
    Abstract: A wipe includes a generally flat piece of material (10) made of paper, cloth or the like. The generally flat piece of material (10) is formed into a non-planar form having a three-dimensional shape, for example conical, for storage and dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Oday Abbosh
    Inventors: Oday Abbosh, Ian Hamilton Dryburgh, Nigel Lawson
  • Patent number: 7922036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for dispensing vertically configured wipes, which provides improved sequential dispensing of the contained wipes while permitting enhanced accessibility to the wipes within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Yarron Bendor, Marcia Cole-Yocom, Donna Barker, Stefano Bartolucci, Johannes Lambertus Maria Mensink
  • Patent number: 7845515
    Abstract: In a gravity-feed towel dispenser for dispensing C-fold and interfolded towels having a transverse length, L, through an elongated bottom dispensing aperture having a length of L or greater, an adapter plate for securing to the bottom portion of the towel dispenser is configured to abridge the length of the dispensing aperture to a length, L? of from about 80 percent to about 90 percent of the transverse length L of the interfolded towels. In a preferred embodiment the adapter plate is provided with a pair of upwardly inclined terminal portions projecting laterally and upwardly at each end of the adapter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventor: John R. Moody
  • Patent number: 7837057
    Abstract: A dispenser for individual webs from a stack of such individual webs. The dispenser includes an outer housing defining an interior space; stacking elements mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of individual folded webs within the interior space; a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking elements; a stack of individual folded webs, and at least one edge of a dispensing opening which contacts the stack of individual folded webs so that a portion of individually folded webs is exposed by the dispensing opening. In addition, a cross-section through dispensing face has a curved shape with an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Kent Zeiron
  • Patent number: 7766187
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser with a springless means for urging napkins therein toward an opening in the front face of the dispenser. The front face has two side edges with each side edge connected a side wall of the dispenser and each side wall has at least one inclined guide that is sloped downwardly toward the front face. The means for urging napkins comprises a generally vertical plate having at least one nub on each side edge, with each nub associated with an inclined guide of one of the side walls, so that the plate urges the napkins disposed in the structure to move toward the opening in the front face through which the napkins can be withdrawn from the napkin dispenser independent of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: James A. Schaefers
  • Patent number: 7681756
    Abstract: A method for increasing the thickness of a fibrous sheet including stretching the sheet beyond its relaxed length and returning the sheet to about the relaxed length, causing the sheet to have a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The sheet can be a wet-wipe. The wet-wipe includes an elastic layer and a fibrous layer, which increases in thickness when stretched then relaxed. The wet-wipe can be stored in a container which causes the wet-wipe to stretch as it is removed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Baer, Kenneth B. Close
  • Patent number: 7669731
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing healthcare products comprising at least one dispenser section having at least one dispensing orifice and one disposal section having a disposal opening. The disposal section has fully compressed and fully uncompressed positions and is capable of remaining positioned in any position between the fully compressed and uncompressed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher B. Hewett
  • Patent number: 7661554
    Abstract: A dispenser, and associated method for producing such dispenser, for interfolded disposable sheets includes a dispensing container defining an interior volume sufficient for receipt of a clip of interfolded disposable sheets, the container including a first wall with a dispensing opening defined by a removable panel. At least a portion of an adhesive material is disposed at a location on the removable panel such that the adhesive is not exposed to the interior volume of the container in an adhesive state. A clip of interfolded disposable sheets is inserted into the interior volume of the container. After insertion of the clip, the adhesive material is exposed in an adhesive state to the interior volume of the container and contact is made between the adhesive and the uppermost sheet of the clip of interfolded sheets such that the removable panel is attached to the uppermost sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof A. Szymonski, Herb Velazquez
  • Patent number: 7648045
    Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser for a stack of sheets such as inter-folded napkins includes a generally rectangular housing provided with a front wall, a back wall, two sidewalls and a lower portion as well as a funnel portion coupled to the lower portion of the housing provided with a generally convergent profile such that a front wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the front wall of the housing, a rear wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the rear wall of the housing and two sidewalls of the funnel portion extend downwardly substantially in alignment with the sidewalls of the housing. A dispensing aperture defined by the funnel portion of the dispenser has an elongate portion extending substantially from one sidewall of the funnel portion to the other sidewall of the funnel portion thus defining an elongate axis of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: James B. Christensen, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: 7571832
    Abstract: A pack of tissues includes multiple interfolded tissues arranged in a stack and an external envelope enclosing the stack. The external envelope includes a dispensing orifice and the tissues are folded so as to include a leading panel, an optional central panel, a trailing panel, a leading fold and an optional trailing fold, wherein the leading fold separates the leading panel from the central panel and the optional trailing fold separates the optional central panel from the trailing panel. The stack has a first tissue and an second tissue, the second tissue being positioned next to the first tissue in the stack and further away in the stack from said dispensing orifice. The tissues are interfolded so as to have an overlapping portion of the first tissue under a portion of the second tissue. The surface area of the overlapping portions is not constant throughout the stack; preferably it increases with the distance to the dispensing orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Erwin Paul Mark, Daniel Yugueros Tarrasón
  • Patent number: 7530460
    Abstract: A single use disposable dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material therefrom is provided and includes a housing configured to provide a shipping carton and a dispenser housing for a roll of sheet material. The housing includes a base having a central area and an opening therein. The base is configured to support a roll of sheet material above at least a portion of the central area. The housing includes an exit port positioned a distance from the opening in the base. Sheet material disposed in the dispenser flows through the opening in the base and the exit port in a circuitous path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Publication number: 20080135572
    Abstract: A plurality of textured wipes is stored in a dispenser having an orifice in a configuration such that when a wipe is pulled through the orifice, a dispensing force is applied to the wipe. The dispensing force is chosen such that the wipes increase in thickness from about 15% to about 200% during dispensing without losing their structural integrity such as via ripping, tearing, delaminating and the like. During dispensing, a visual signal of the thickening of a wipe is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Brennan, Michael Sean Pratt, Judson Leroy Haynes
  • Publication number: 20080105699
    Abstract: A package containing sheets and having an orifice for dispensing the sheets from the package. The sheets may be joined together to allow pop-up dispensing. The sheets have first and second faces facing first and second directions, respectively. The package has two orifices in communication with each other. The sheet may be grasped through the first orifice and communicated to the second orifice for subsequent pop-up dispensing. The sheet inverts about an axis during such communication so that the first side of the sheet may face towards the second direction, and vice versa. If the sheets are wetted this arrangement also allows the wetting liquid to be distributed onto an adjacent sheet during dispensing without an additional step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Arthur Wong, Stefano Bartolucci
  • Publication number: 20080078857
    Abstract: A bathroom tissue dispenser comprising: a bathroom tissue container with a front side, left side, right side, bottom side and a rear side; a mounting device attached to the bathroom tissue container, to facilitate mounting upon a fixed bathroom tissue roll dispenser without requiring any modification to that fixed dispenser; and an opening or a tear away portion located generally on the front side of the bathroom tissue container. This bathroom tissue dispenser can be quickly and easily mounted upon a fixed bathroom tissue dispenser and may replaced with a new one when the bathroom tissue inside is used up. The used dispenser may be discarded or recycled. A bathroom tissue dispenser comprising: a bathroom tissue container with a front side and a rear side; a wall mounting device attached to the bathroom tissue container; and an opening or tear away portion located generally on the front side of the bathroom tissue container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: Michael I. Parietti
  • Patent number: 7275654
    Abstract: A tissue dispenser and method includes a weighted ring or plate or other single or multi-piece member which sits on top of a stack of interleaved tissues. The ring or plate or other member has an aperture, through which the tissues are dispensed. The weight of the ring or plate or other member applies constant pressure to the stack of tissues, causing enough friction between the tissues to pull the next one partially through the aperture into the ready position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Vessel Inc
    Inventor: Scott Christensen
  • Patent number: 7275658
    Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the first member by a hinge that is coaxially aligned with the first hinge. The third member is capable of pivoting on its hinge to cover the second entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Vincent Decker, Christopher Michael Bechyne, Stephen Robert Kehn, Cleary E. Mahaffey, Herb Flores Velazquez, John Martin Wydeven
  • Patent number: 7273156
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet materials includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a restraining member preventing the top and bottom portion from separating. The top portion and the bottom portion can telescope to vary the dispenser's overall height. In one embodiment, by designing a dispenser having bottom sidewalls and top sidewalls of approximately the same length, problems with access to the exposed sheet or excessive manipulation to change the dispenser's height can be avoided. In another embodiment, by designing the dispenser such that the height of the dispenser can automatically reduce as the sheet material is depleted or where the height can be adjusted by simply pushing down on the dispenser's top makes the dispenser convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongxia Gao, Gary Douglas Williams, Patricia Ann Samolinski, Scott Allen Baum, Sara Marie Vermillion, Daphne Lynn VanBuren, Tammy Jo Balzar, Cynthia Watts Henderson
  • Publication number: 20070194036
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the storage of flexible sheet materials in a space-efficient manner and may provide a continuous point-of-use dispensing capability of such sheet materials at such stored location. Serially joined sheet materials may be separated from one another at sheet materials separation zones utilizing interference tabs having yieldable configurations, intra-planar configurations, trans-axial configurations, movement resistive configurations, and projective configurations. Such interference tab configurations may permit the simplified design and construction of a sheet materials dispensation apparatus, and multiple flexible sheet materials may be serially joined for use with such configurations. A substantially rigid enclosure for storing such serially joined sheet materials and incorporating an interference tab having one or more of such configurations may be dimensioned to dispense sheet materials from within an open-ended receptacle, for example a refuse container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel J. Barella
  • Patent number: 7232040
    Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the second member at a first location and has a second hinge spaced apart from the first location. The first and second hinges are situated on opposite sides of the dispenser. The third member is capable of pivoting on the second hinge to cover the second entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Vincent Decker, Stephen Robert Kehn, Cleary E. Mahaffey, Herb Flores Velazquez, John Martin Wydeven
  • Patent number: 7204390
    Abstract: A stack of material sheets, which material sheets have a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and which material sheets are folded at least once in the transverse direction along a transverse folding line and at least once in the longitudinal direction along a longitudinal folding line. The material sheets are interlinked such that, when a first material sheet is extracted, a predetermined part of the next material sheet is fed out. Two consecutive material sheets in the stack are folded into one another and are in this way interlinked by panels of the respective material sheets. The said panels constitute rectangles each having two delimiting edges namely a longitudinal fold edge and a transverse fold edge. The two consecutive material sheets lie stacked with the longitudinal fold edge of a first material sheet arranged in the opposite direction in relation to the corresponding longitudinal fold edge of the next, second material sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Urban Widlund
  • Patent number: 7134571
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser has a container body for holding a stack of napkins, and a pair of interchangeable face plates each connectable to the container body. One of the face plates has a first elongated dispensing opening exposing a bottom region of the napkin stack, for one-by-one dispensing, and the other face plate has a second elongated dispensing opening exposing an edge region of the napkin stack, for dispensing a plurality of napkins simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SCA Tissue North America LLC.
    Inventors: Robert C Hochtritt, Andrew M Conger
  • Patent number: 7134572
    Abstract: A container for a stack of connected tissue-sheets has a generally planar top wall, a bottom wall and side walls connecting the bottom wall with the top wall and an opening provided in at least the top wall. The stack is placed in the container with at least a pair of edges of a lowermost tissue-sheet placed on the bottom wall and an uppermost tissue-sheet placed near or in contact with the top wall and adjacent to the opening, which is provided with elongated, overlapping projections extending from opposite sides thereof. Each projection has a tip terminating the projection before an edge of an opposing side of the opening, and the tips of adjacent projections extend past each other both in an inactive position, wherein all projections are placed in the same or in parallel planes, and in an active dispensing position, wherein the projections are turned upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products GmbH
    Inventor: Emmanuelle Morin
  • Patent number: 6981610
    Abstract: A dispenser for a paper product having a faceplate defining a slot including a center portion, a first end and a second end. The center portion is larger than the first and second ends. The faceplate has a plurality of outwardly projecting lips positioned adjacent to the center portion for engaging a person's fingers to limit access to a paper product being dispensed through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Traex Company
    Inventors: Charles F. Smiley, Michael A. Ecksein
  • Patent number: 6925763
    Abstract: Apparatus for permitting sanitary egress from a restroom having a wall, a doorway in the wall and a door in the doorway, the apparatus including a dispenser assembly adapted to contain and dispense a supply of sheets to a user prior to exiting the restroom and a disposal container assembly adapted to receive the supply of sheets upon exiting the restroom and located adjacent the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Brian J. Stark, Peter J. Stark
  • Patent number: 6899251
    Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser for a stack of sheets such as inter-folded napkins includes a generally rectangular housing provided with a front wall, a back wall, two sidewalls and a lower portion as well as a funnel portion coupled to the lower portion of the housing provided with a generally convergent profile such that a front wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the front wall of the housing, a rear wall of the funnel portion extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the rear wall of the housing and two sidewalls of the funnel portion extend downwardly substantially in alignment with the sidewalls of the housing. A dispensing aperture defined by the funnel portion of the dispenser has an elongate portion extending substantially from one sidewall of the funnel portion to the other sidewall of the funnel portion thus defining an elongate axis of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Christensen, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: 6851572
    Abstract: A box contains a spring or other biasing member and a stack of individual, non-interleaved flexible sheets, such as coupons, booklets or other promotional items. The spring is disposed between the stack of sheets and a bottom wall to push the stack of sheets toward an opening in a top wall of the dispenser. The spring imparts a bend in the stack so that the folded end of the sheet adjacent the opening is spaced from the stack and extends through the opening to allow for individual sheets to be dispensed one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Menasha Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Simpson
  • Publication number: 20040256403
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing interconnected sheets arranged in a stack, includes a top surface, a bottom surface and side surfaces connecting the top surface with the bottom surface. An opening is provided in at least one surface for the removal of sheets from the dispenser. The opening extends over essentially the whole diagonal extension of the stack of sheets. The stack of interconnected sheets are further arranged in the dispenser with an uppermost sheet placed near or in contact with the top surface and adjacent to the opening in the top surface and at least the edges of a lowermost sheet arranged on the bottom surface. A method of manufacturing the dispenser having an opening which extends over essentially the whole diagonal extension of the stack of sheets is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Urban Widlund
  • Patent number: 6824007
    Abstract: A curl reducing adapter kit for a napkin dispenser used for dispensing interfolded napkins including an enclosure with a dispensing wall defining a dispensing slot and a slidably mounted, biased pressure carriage adapted to advance a stack of napkins in the enclosure toward the dispensing wall includes a tongue for mounting about the dispensing wall such that the tongue projects into the dispensing slot and narrows the slot. The tongue further includes a plurality of friction tabs configured to project inwardly into the enclosure from the upper inner lip of the dispensing slot and frictionally engage the napkins to limit bulge through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Timmers, Chester W. Gooding, Jr., Daniel J. Geddes
  • Publication number: 20040217122
    Abstract: Produce bags are delivered with less waste and in more sanitary condition through a container holding a roll of bags having overlapping but separate ends. Adhesion between the bags and ultimate separation of the bags may be flexibly controlled with an interfolding of the bags and control of an orifice which applies drag to the bags and compression as they are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Trinko, Dominic Trinko
  • Patent number: 6779683
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of a paper product from a stack of sheets loaded in the dispenser includes a housing having an internal compartment configured to hold a stack of sheets, and at least one door coupled to the housing. The door provides access and closure to the internal compartment, and the door has at least a portion of a dispensing opening formed therein through which individual sheets are dispensed. The door is configured to move into the internal compartment to provide an opened loading position for loading a stack of sheets. The door is also configured to move into alignment with adjacent portions of the housing when in a closed dispensing position such that the door abuts adjacent portions of the housing to provide a closure and hides an entry point into the dispenser, thereby providing an illusory appearance of being an unmovable portion of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Antwain Demone Taylor, Victoria L. Bischoff, Robert C. Ziegenfuss
  • Patent number: 6758368
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing interfolded disposable sheets is provided. The dispenser includes a flexible dispensing container that is configured to house the stack of interfolded disposable sheets. At least one side of the flexible dispensing container is flexible. The flexible dispensing container has a slit in one side from which sheets are dispensed from the flexible dispensing container. The flexible dispensing container has at least one end slit on an end of the slit. The end slit is configured to aid in the dispensing of the interfolded disposable sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Sarbo, Walter G. Bauer, Chi P. Duong
  • Patent number: 6758369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for a collection of interfolded or mechanically connected tissue-sheets, the container having a generally planar bottom wall and a top wall and a pair of side walls and a par of end walls connecting the bottom wall with the top wall and an opening provided in at least the top wall for the removal of the tissue-sheets from the container, the stack of interfolded tissue-sheets being placed in the container with at least a pair of edges of a lowermost tissue-sheet placed on the bottom wall and an uppermost tissue-sheet placed near or in contact with the top wall and adjacent to the opening in the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Morin, Thami Chihani
  • Patent number: 6752290
    Abstract: A stacked paper product dispensing cartridge is disclosed including a plurality of walls including side walls and at least one end wall, the end wall having four side edges and each of the side walls having a bottom edge, each of the side edges meeting the bottom edge of a respective one of the side walls to form a bottom corner, the side walls and the end wall defining an interior area therein. A dispensing opening is defined within at least the end wall, and a plurality of side openings are defined within the side walls and spaced from the dispensing opening. Stacked paper products are disposed in the interior area oriented so as to extend substantially perpendicular to at least one of the side walls, the stacked paper products being dispensable out of the interior area through the dispensing opening and wherein at least one of the side openings is configured to allow contact of the stacked paper products from outside of the interior area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Patent number: 6688488
    Abstract: A package for dispensing individual sheets of material from a stack includes a base and a compartment with side walls connected to the base and a cover connected to the side walls for holding the stack of sheet material. The cover includes an opening that is configured to define a pair of flanges on either side of the opening. The flanges are formed to be angularly displaced relative to the cover toward the base to bias the stack of sheet material toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dale O. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20040020936
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dispenser of paper articles, in particular interlocked table napkins, including a receptacle closed by a panel 7 forming the front surface and provided with an opening 71 for the distribution of articles with an edge 73. This dispenser is characterized by the fact that at least a portion of the edge of the opening is extended by a wall element 74 extending outward in relation to the plane of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Philippe Guillemette, Olivier Joulin, Jean-Louis Neveu