Patents Represented by Law Firm Charlton
  • Patent number: 7387274
    Abstract: A method of grounding a dispenser. A low impedance path is connected to elements internal to the dispenser. The low impedance path is also connected to a surface contact spring which is adapted to contact an external mounting surface when the dispenser is affixed thereto. Static electrical charge accumulated on the elements is discharged through the low impedance path and the surface contact spring to the external mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventors: John R. Moody, Joshua M. Broehl
  • Patent number: 7380748
    Abstract: In a dispenser for dispensing rolls of paper towel including means for rotatably mounting the roll, a feed nip including a segmented drive roll with a plurality of drive surfaces and a nip roll adapted to cooperate therewith to advance the towel to a dispensing chute, an improved drive roll having an elongate axis and a plurality of drive segments defining drive surfaces disposed along its length of generally equal radius with respect to the elongate axis of the roll, as well as a plurality of guide disks interposed between adjacent drive segments configured to alleviate wrinkling as the towel is dispensed. Further improvements include a textured delivery chute and a method for dispensing a partially depleted roll of towel together with a fresh roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Harold J. Goeking, Paul Metcalfe, Michael R. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 7370826
    Abstract: The toilet paper dispenser as claimed for the invention including a housing (6) in which is housed a roll (3) of a paper strip (2), which has perforations transverse to strip (2) defining rectangular paper sheets (5) whose width is transverse and whose length is longitudinal. Housing (6) features a nozzle (9) with a dispensing orifice (10), by means of which the paper strip (2) is unwound. The dispenser is characterized in that the nozzle (9) and the paper roll (3) are disposed in such a way that the paper sheets (5) unwind one by one and emerge with a reduced crumpling as they exit the nozzle (9), the width of a sheet (5) is between 125 mm and 180 mm, and the ratio of the width of a sheet (5) to its length is between 0.45 and 1, preferably between 0.5 and 0.65, the paper being consumed optimally and in a pleasant manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Neveu
  • Patent number: 7341170
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bruce T. Boone
  • Patent number: 7341166
    Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser includes an internal blocker assembly to prevent folded sheet from falling away from the dispensing aperture. A preferred embodiment includes a spring biased blocker arm which cooperates with a spring biased guide plate to maintain the napkins in position throughout dispensing of the stack, especially when the stack is depleted and of insufficient weight to urge the remaining sheets into position. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser is provided with a convertible support, suitable for mounting the dispenser on either a wall or a countertop with a quick release mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Robert J. Aloisi
  • Patent number: 7306836
    Abstract: A black pigmented disposable food container is preferably made from a polypropylene matrix polymer, optionally including polyethylene and further includes a mineral filler and a black colorant composition consisting essentially of a black iron oxide pigment and a green pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Donald C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 7270292
    Abstract: An automatic web transfer mechanism in a flexible sheet material dispenser includes a web-sensing member operatively coupled with a transfer arm. The member senses the absence of web from a stub roll at a pre-feed portion between the stub roll and a feed roll nip to activate a transfer of feed to the web of a reserve roll. The transfer is initiated by a transfer arm that advances the reserve web into the proximity of the feed roller nip. In a second aspect, a movable front shield opens automatically upon opening of the outer dispenser cover, presenting an opening for pre-transfer placement and retention of a leading edge of web material from the reserve roll. Upon closure of the dispenser cover, the front shield returns to a closed position placing the transfer arm in a pre-transfer set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventor: Holger Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7237744
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew R. Morris, Bruce T. Boone, Michael A. Susi, Paul Dowd, Will Isaksson
  • Patent number: D543745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Harold J. Goeking, Gregory D. Budz, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: D547581
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Matthew T. Wilcox, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Todd D. Schuelke
  • Patent number: D551474
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Matthew T. Wilcox, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Todd D. Schuelke
  • Patent number: D551475
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Matthew T. Wilcox, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Todd D. Schuelke
  • Patent number: D551476
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Harold J. Goeking, Daniel J. Geddes, Kathleen A. Jordan, Michael R. Kilgore, Andy L. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: D556482
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Harold J. Goeking, Gregory D. Budz, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: D557959
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventors: Nicolas Pommier, Jean-Louis Neveu, Philippe Guillemette
  • Patent number: D564269
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Alan P. Paal, James B. Christensen
  • Patent number: D569151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Matthew T. Wilcox, Alan P. Paal, Gregory D. Budz, Robert W. Cornell
  • Patent number: D570201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Kip K. Decker, Todd R. Lappi, Randall Stark
  • Patent number: D571159
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventors: Nicolas Pommier, Philippe Guillemette
  • Patent number: D572058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Matthew T. Wilcox, Michael R. Kilgore, Karl D. Kissinger, Todd D. Schuelke