Napkin dispenser
An improved napkin device is set forth. The device includes a front face adapted for opening to load napkins therein. A first downwardly angled steel rod is fixed to a first side face, and a second downwardly angled steel rod is fixed to a second side face. Each of the steel rods has a substantially circular cross section. A plate adapted to slide along the first and second steel rods until it reaches a stop, disposed perpendicular to the first and second side faces of the device is provided. The stop is connected to the first and second side faces. The plate comes to rest at the stop as it slides along the first and second steel rods.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/513,533 filed 31 Aug. 2006, entitled “A NAPKIN DISPENSER”, incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an improved napkin dispenser, and more particularly, to a front loading gravity fed napkin dispenser.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dispensing machines for maintaining articles in a clean and orderly array have been developed for dispensing articles one at a time. Such a dispenser is discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,172 to Reynolds.
The Reynolds dispenser permits articles held in a vertical plane, such as newspapers, magazines, and the like, to be viewed through a transparent front glass. The dispenser is designed to be theft-proof.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,874,642 to Shaffer et al. discusses a napkin dispenser having rectangular ribs extending along inner sidewalls, and a plate adapted with rectangular notches adapted to slide along the ribs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn improved napkin dispenser is set forth. The dispenser includes a front face having a substantially centrally located opening adapted to fit napkins pulled therethrough. A back face connecting two side faces to the front face is provided. At least one downwardly angled steel rod having a substantially circular cross-section is connected in to each of the two side faces. A plate having protruding members, either slots or a notches extending therefrom is also provided. The location of the protruding members corresponds to the location of the steel rod. The plate moves toward the front face by sliding the protruding members along the steel rod until a stop is reached.
As illustrated in
A back face 130 is provided. The back face 130 connects two side faces, such as side face 140 and an opposing side face 150, to the front face 120. Slots 160 are provided, for example, on side face 140. The slots 160 can be arranged, for example in a pair of substantially parallel, downwardly angled slots 160 formed in a parallel and opposing configuration in each of the two side faces, such as side face 140 and side face 150.
A plate 170 is provided. The plate 170 can be formed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, metal plate, plastic, or any other suitable material. The plate 170 includes a set of opposed outwardly extending, protruding members 175A and 175B extending through openings 180 in slots 160, for example. The plate 170 moves toward the front face 120 by sliding the protruding members 175A and 175B in the substantially parallel slots 160.
In another embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in an embodiment of
A suitable plate, such as plate 410, illustrated in
As illustrated in
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An improved napkin dispenser comprising:
- a front face having a substantially centrally located opening adapted to fit napkins pulled therethrough;
- a back face connecting two side faces to the front face;
- at least one steel rod having a substantially circular cross section, downwardly angled along an inside wall of a side of the dispenser;
- a plate, formed of a sheet of material having a substantially similar size and configuration as a conventional napkin, having protruding members adapted to slide along the steel rod; and
- wherein the plate moves toward the front face by sliding the protruding members in the substantially parallel slots and stops when it reaches a stop provided on a bottom of the dispenser, wherein the stop is substantially perpendicular to a side wall of the dispenser.
2. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an upwardly sloped bottom connected to a rear stop.
3. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 2, further an opening provided in a back face of the dispenser for dispensing napkins therefrom. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hinge at a bottom of the front face.
4. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protruding members are further defined by downwardly extending angled notches having a substantially circular cross section.
5. An improved napkin device comprising:
- a front face adapted for opening to load napkins therein;
- a first downwardly angled steel rod fixed to a first side face, and a second downwardly angled steel rod fixed to a second side face, each of the steel rods having a substantially circular cross section;
- a plate adapted to slide along the first and second steel rods; and
- a stop, disposed perpendicular to the first and second side faces and connected thereto, for stopping the plate as it slides along the first and second steel rods.
6. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
- a sloped floor connected to a back stop of the device.
7. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
- Third and fourth steel rods provided along the first and second side faces, repectively, and adapted to slide the plate thereon.
8. An improved napkin device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the third and fourth steel rods have a substantially circular cross-section.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 3, 2011
Inventor: James A. Schaefers (Tinley Park, IL)
Application Number: 12/804,760
International Classification: B65D 83/08 (20060101);