Deformation By Non-coextensive Outlet Opening Patents (Class 221/63)
  • Publication number: 20020108962
    Abstract: The present application relates to a container for dispensing substrates, for example wipes which are capable of vertical stacking. The container comprises top and bottom sides opposing each other, back and forward sides opposing each other and left and right side walls opposing each other. The angle between the front and bottom wall is greater than 90° but less than 180°. The container also comprises a dispensing opening which is located in the top or front walls or on the intersection between the top and front walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Raphael Louis Mangin
  • Publication number: 20020096533
    Abstract: A storage and dispensing package for wipes comprising a non-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. A collapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positioned within the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storage portion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structure includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass and communicate with the dispensing portion. A resealable mechanism can also be included at an end of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: John David Amundson, Dennis Edward Fryer, Peter Booth, Martin Christopher Bunce
  • Publication number: 20020096534
    Abstract: A storage and dispensing package for wipes comprising a non-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. A collapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positioned within the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storage portion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structure includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass and communicate with the dispensing portion. A resealable mechanism can also be included at an end of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: John David Amundson, Dennis Edward Fryer, Peter Booth, Martin Christopher Bunce
  • Patent number: 6422416
    Abstract: A cartridge is disclosed for holding and dispensing a plurality of paper products in a dispensing direction. The cartridge is insertable into an interior area of a container having a housing. The interior area is disposed within an interior surface defined by a plurality of exterior walls. The housing includes at least one protrusion extending into the interior of the housing proximate a dispensing throat. The cartridge comprises a cartridge body including cartridge side walls and a cartridge end wall and at least one opening defined through at least the end wall of the cartridge body so that when the cartridge is placed in the interior area of the housing the protrusion extends through at least a portion of the opening disposed in the end wall to contact the plurality of paper products to oppose movement of the paper products through the dispensing throat in the dispensing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Patent number: 6419114
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a box (10) for containing tissues, comprising at least one opening (11) located on at least one side of the box, under which a dispensing insert (14) is positioned so that it covers at least partially said opening of the box, said dispensing insert further comprising a cut-out portion (15) or a dispensing slot with at least two portions (16) that contact the border of the box opening, said box being characterized in that the dispensing insert is made out of material with high resilience, so that after being bent it is capable of coming back to its initial shape on its own, without losing its elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Martina Lenz, Rached Menif
  • Patent number: 6419113
    Abstract: A cartridge is disclosed for holding and dispensing a plurality of paper products in a dispensing direction, the cartridge being insertable into an interior area of a container having a housing defining a plurality of exterior walls and a dispensing throat, the interior area being disposed within an interior surface defined by the plurality of exterior walls, at least one protrusion extending from the interior surface into the interior area. The cartridge includes a cartridge body including a plurality of cartridge side walls and an end defining a dispensing opening configured to guide paper products in the dispensing direction through the dispensing throat. At least one opening is defined in at least one of the side walls of the cartridge body extending through the at least one of the cartridge side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul F. Tramontina
  • Patent number: 6412656
    Abstract: A dispenser for pre-moistened wipes has a moisture-impermeable housing containing a supply of pre-moistened wipes and having a dispensing wall. A flexible and resilient bulbous dispensing structure is carried by the dispensing wall and projects outwardly therefrom in use so as to be manually squeezable by a user to open normally-closed slits therein to define an opening permitting removal of wipes from the housing. The dispensing structure may define a nose portion of housing indicia depicting a face. In one embodiment, the housing is in the form of a bag which is initially vacuumed sealed, drawing the dispensing structure into the bag to present a substantially flat dispensing wall to facilitate stacking of plural dispensers, the dispensing structures assuming its normal use position when the interior of the housing is exposed to atmospheric pressure. The wipes may be designed for safe use on babies and are moistened with an appropriate fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Lora Placik
  • Patent number: 6409044
    Abstract: There is provided a dispensing orifice. The edge surfaces of the orifice define a breadth and a width for the orifice. The ratio of the minimum breadth of the orifice to the thickness of a dispensed sheet is preferably about 8:1 to about 18:1. The ratio of the width of a dispensed sheet to the maximum width of the orifice is preferably about 2:1 to about 5:1. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the sides of the orifice is curved. Moreover, at least one of the sides of the orifice preferably has a plurality of nodules extending a distance into the orifice. Preferably, the ratio of the minimum breadth of the orifice to the distance that the nodules extend into the orifice is about 2:1 to about 8:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brown, Cathy Durden, Dane R Jackson
  • Publication number: 20020056719
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for a stack of interfolded tissue sheets. The container has a generally planar bottom wall and a top wall and side walls connecting the bottom wall with the top wall. An opening is provided in the top wall for the removal of the tissue-sheets from the container, which opening is wider than the width of the tissue-sheets. The stack of interfolded tissue-sheets is placed in the container with 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. The opening is provided with a positioning feature having elongated, overlapping projections extending from opposite sides of the opening in order to allow the uppermost tissue-sheet to be dispensed, holding it substantially flat. The invention also relates to a method for producing the positioning feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Morin, Urban Widlund
  • Publication number: 20020056718
    Abstract: The invention consists of a paper towel dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of paper towels from a roll of paper having regularly spaced apart lines of partial severance. The dispenser is comprised of a housing and a housing door which can be pivotally opened to allow a roll of sheet material to be inserted into the dispenser. The dispenser has a funnel-shaped exit to allow the end of the roll to protrude in order to be grasped by the user. A paper towel tearing member is located adjacent to the exit aperture of said funnel and the opening of this member is adjustable in order to vary the size of the opening of the dispenser. This adjustment of the exit size creates an adjustment in the position at which the sheet tears away from the roll to allow the use of different types of sheet material in a single dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: Global Plastics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ladislav Paukov, Jed C. Friesen, Daniel J. Morton
  • Patent number: 6378726
    Abstract: An interfolded paper napkin dispensing system composed of: (a) an outer housing defining an interior space; (b) stacking means mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of paper napkins within the interior space; and (c) a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means. The dispensing face has a central portion projecting out from the dispenser and a dispensing throat located in the central portion. The dispensing throat is composed of a slot portion having a length sufficient to permit a paper napkin to be pulled through by a user, but a relatively narrow width that prevents more than a few napkins from being pulled through the throat at one time. The dispensing throat further includes a finger access portion to help a user grip and pull a paper napkin through the dispensing slot despite the relatively narrow width of the dispensing slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Yuwah Chan, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Publication number: 20020040913
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser for dispensing a stack of interfolded napkins includes an enclosure with a top, bottom, sidewalls, a back wall and a dispensing wall provided with a dispensing aperture spanning along its major axis at least the transverse dimension of an interfolded napkin to be dispensed therethrough as well as a pressure carriage slidably mounted in the enclosure provided with biasing means. The enclosure and pressure carriage are configured to receive a stack of interfolded napkins between the dispensing wall and the pressure carriage, whereas the dispensing means urge the carriage and thus the interfolded napkins towards the dispensing wall. The improved dispensing aperture of the napkin dispenser defines a narrow elongated slit about its central portion and a pair of open areas about its terminal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: John R. Moody, Jean-Louis Neveu, Craig D. Yardley
  • Patent number: 6354462
    Abstract: The invention proposes a dispenser of paper, or other equivalent product, including a housing storing the product in the form of folded sheets to be dispensed through a dispensing opening. The paper is contained in a detachable cartridge compatible with the paper dimensions and assembled to the dispenser inside the housing. The cartridge includes an end wall situated opposite an opening of the housing wherein is located a dispensing slot of which the shape matches the paper sheets to be dispensed. The cartridge includes walls which guide the stack of folded sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Sébastian Conran, Joseph Patrick O'Connor, Jean-Louis Neveu, Bernard Louis Dit Picard, Yves Malecot
  • Patent number: 6352172
    Abstract: A folded web product dispensing system includes an outer housing that defines an interior space. A dispensing face is defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of a stacking means. The dispensing face has a central portion and a dispensing throat located in the central portion. The stacking means are mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of folded web product within the interior space and have a staging area proximate to the dispensing throat including at least two curved bumpers. These curved bumpers are oriented so as to be parallel to the path of travel of the folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. A number of ribs may be defined on the bumpers for temporarily arresting movement of the folded webs as they approach the dispensing throat. The folded web product may be a stack of paper napkins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Yuwah Chan, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Patent number: 6349849
    Abstract: A tissue dispenser includes a box with a top wall and a front wall having a first slot and a second slot respectively. The slots are rectangular and parallel to each other. The slots are non-intersecting and each allow access to tissues in the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Harold T. Pehr
  • Patent number: 6334544
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser includes a housing having upright walls and a floor together forming a vertical compartment for the reception of a vertical stack of horizontal paper napkins. A horizontal slot is formed between the floor and a lower end of a front wall of the housing. That slot communicates with a lower portion of the compartment for facilitating the simultaneous removal of a bunch of napkins from the compartment. The positioning of a user's fingers above and beneath a selected number of napkins to be removed is facilitated by providing a vertical slot extending upwardly from the midpoint of the horizontal slot, and a finger notch formed about midway in a front edge of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Christensen, Craig D. Yardley
  • Patent number: 6328252
    Abstract: A dispenser of individual sheets by unwinding from the center of a product in roll form, without a central tube, having a plurality of successive sheets forming a coiled strip, a free end of which projects toward the outside of the roll from the center, of the type including a fixed dispensing nozzle which delimits a passage of frustoconical general shape and which includes a generally vertically oriented cutout to make it easier to introduce the free end of the strip of a roll into the passage, the width of the cutout in the vicinity of the upper orifice of the passage being markedly greater than its width in line with the lower outlet orifice of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Georgia Pacific France
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Neveu, Philippe Guillemette
  • Patent number: 6315155
    Abstract: The device for dispensing multi-fold paper towels has a housing for holding a generally vertical stack of the paper towels and including a lower portion through which individual towels can be dispensed from the stack. The lower portion includes an elongated opening through which a fold of the bottommost towel can extend and be accessible for a user to grab and pull the bottommost towel from the stack. One side portion of the towels rest on a plurality of laterally spaced ribs or ramps located in the vicinity of the front edge of the opening and inclined at an angle upwardly and forwardly relative to the front edge. These ribs or ramps effectively transfer a portion of the pressure applied by the stack on the bottommost towel toward the rear, thereby reducing the force required to pull the bottommost towel from the stack. The opening preferably is shaped to cause the fold of the bottommost towel to assume a C-like shape and thereby reduce the amount of the fold readily accessible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Coleman Group
    Inventors: Brian D. Hubanks, Paul A. Omdoll
  • Patent number: 6299017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing face (10) for a dispensing unit (11) comprising at least one stack of laminar articles (12) wherein the dispensing face (10) is continuous, comprises lateral outer edges (13, 14) and longitudinal outer edges (15, 16) and not less than two orifices (17, 18). The first orifice (17) and the second orifice (18) are coplanar, the second orifice (18) being independent of the first orifice (17) and being disposed at a distance not greater than 20 millimetres from the first orifice (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Simon David Julian Hill
  • Patent number: 6296143
    Abstract: Dispensing apparatus 12 adapted for dispensing interleaved folded paper products 10 and 28 by means of a plurality of conventional dispensing perforations including one such perforation on the top face of a paper products container 14 and at least one other similar such perforation 20 on another face 22 of the container positioned at a point intermediate the height of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Maged Ghabriel
  • Publication number: 20010023874
    Abstract: An element for adjusting the width of the outlet (11) in paper towel dispensers (10) consists of a single piece molded in a plastic material having resilience features, in two specular left (1a) and right (1b) versions, which is substantially C-shaped with two lugs extending from a central body. Said lugs are parallel and spaced by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom wall (12) of the dispenser (10) in the area where the outlet (11) is formed, so as to enclose said area between a first lug of smaller extension on the outer side and a second lug of greater extension on the inner side. The inner lug carries a securing member suitable to couple with any of a plurality of mating fixing members provided close to the outlet (11) of the dispenser (10), so as to reduce by an adjustable extent the free width of the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: QTS S.r.I.
    Inventor: Gianandrea Niada
  • Patent number: 6286713
    Abstract: A dispensing system for individual folded webs having an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web is composed of several components. An outer housing defines an interior space in which stacking means for holding a stack of individual folded webs are mounted. A dispensing face is defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking means. The dispensing face has a central portion projecting out from the dispenser in the form of a first surface and a second surface joined at an obtuse angle and a dispensing throat located in the central portion at about the intersection of the first and second surfaces. The dispensing system also includes a stack of individual folded webs having an area of non-uniform thickness across the length of the web aligned so that an area of greatest thickness extends across the width of the dispensing throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Yuwah Chan, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Publication number: 20010019064
    Abstract: A towel dispenser (20) comprising a case container (24) and one lid (22) attached to the container (24) by a hinge (40). A removable inner box (26), placed upside down in the case container defines an inner case compartment (27) destined to receive a pile of wet towels (30). The inner box has a bottom (31) and a jagged slot (29) provided in the bottom to dispense towels. The slot of the lid and the passage of the towels through the jagged slot allow the dispensing, by traction, of towels stored in a controlled atmosphere chamber. The compartment can be divided into two closed chambers, a wet one (28) and a dry one (32) by a partition (52) to allow the use of a second type of towels. One can also install a lid compartment (25) (FIG.7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Alain Jacques, Richard Verreault
  • Patent number: 6279775
    Abstract: A tissue dispenser which includes a container portion for holding tissues or other articles. The container portion includes a lower portion which may fit within an adjustable or non-adjustable vehicle cup holder, a transition portion positioned above the lower portion, and an upper portion positioned above the transition portion. The lower portion preferably has a diameter that can fit most non-adjustable vehicle cup holders provided by automobile manufacturers. The transition portion extends outwardly from the lower portion and typically has a flare-like shape. The upper portion extends upward from the transition portion and is preferably larger in height and diameter than the lower portion in order to increase the containment volume for the present tissue dispenser. The lower portion, transition portion and upper portion of the container portion define an interior space for receiving and containing tissues or other articles to be dispensed by the present tissue dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Remington Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy H. Parkes, Arnold M. King
  • Patent number: 6267262
    Abstract: A dispenser for game tickets for playing games of chance includes top, bottom, front, back and opposite end panels. The panels are folded and secured to each other to form a dispenser box. A cutout in the top panel is adapted for removal by separating the top panel along a perforated tear line to form a discharge opening. Game ticket assemblies comprising one or more folded and secured game tickets are placed in the box for dispensing through the discharge opening. A game ticket dispensing method includes the steps of providing a box with a top panel having perforated tear line, loading ticket assemblies each comprising one or more tickets in the box, removing the cutout from the top panel to form a discharge opening, and dispensing ticket assemblies through the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph Wilner
  • Patent number: 6202889
    Abstract: An upright facial tissue carton is disclosed with improved tissue dispensing. The carton has a top wall, four sidewalls and a bottom wall. The top wall has an aperture formed therein through which the tissue can be withdrawn. An inverted U-shaped clip of interfolded tissue is positioned within the carton. The clip of tissue is maintained in close proximity to the aperture by a support means to facilitate singular dispensing of the tissues from the carton. The support means is formed from a flexible material that is folded into an inverted U-shape along with the clip of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Steven Veith
  • Patent number: 6199723
    Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for covering the discharge end of a cup dispenser that stores a plurality of cups in a nested stack. The diaphragm includes an inner continuous edge defining a central discharge opening through which the bottom of the outermost cup in the stack extends to be grasped and withdrawn from the stack. The inner continuous edge is configured in a polygonal shape to retain the stack of cups to be dispensed while permitting the outermost cup in the stack to be withdrawn from the stack. Preferably, the inner continuous edge is hexagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Colman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Collins, James R. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6182858
    Abstract: A wet towel dispensing lid assembly includes an upper first wall portion pivotally connected to a lower wall of a chamber with the lower wall and first wall portion having opposing circular walls engagable in nesting relationship when the first wall portion is in its closed position. The opposed walls form a towel end tip well maintaining the towel end tip in a damp sealed accessible condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Lawrence Den Hartog
  • Patent number: 6179162
    Abstract: A towel dispensing device provides a device for warming towels prior to the towels being removed from the dispensing device. The dispensing device includes an electrically powered heating member, the degree of heat being controllable by the user, for warming the space of a warming chamber containing the towels to be dispensed. The towels to be dispensed can be pre-moistened by water or other fluids as required by the user. The dispensing device can also be presented as a serialized group of warming chambers; each individual chamber being able to contain towels pre-moistened with different fluids and warmed to different temperatures prior to being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Gregg A. Motsenbocker
  • Patent number: 6170698
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for dispensing stacked interfolded sheets from a rolled product dispenser. The adapter includes a body having a configuration so as to fit over an open front of a conventional rolled product dispenser. The body cooperates with the dispenser to define a receptacle space for stacked interfolded sheets, such as bathroom or facial sheets. A dispensing opening is defined through the front wall of the body. The opening may have a width dimension so that side edges of the stacked interfolded sheets are urged inwardly upon being pulled through the dispensing opening. A releasable attaching device is configured on the body whereby the body is removably attachable to the rolled product dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Phelps, Diane Scheurell
  • Patent number: 6158614
    Abstract: A dispenser of wet wipes from a coreless log includes a semi-cylindrical chimney member in the lid of the container that houses the log or houses a refill cartridge in which the log is disposed. The chimney member is disposed and configured to shelter the main portion of a dispensing opening without sealing the dispensing opening. The chimney member influences the user to extract the wipe in a way that reduces the wasteful incidence of streaming of wipes from the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Haines, Peter Maddern, Donaghue R. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6152322
    Abstract: A cap for use on containers to selectively dispense individual pre-moistened tissues from a web of perforated tissues. The cap is removably secured to a container body having a top portion with a depending annular flange on its peripheral edge and a dispensing recess centered within. An integral access lid extends from the top portion for sealing registration over the dispensing recess. A dispensing outlet is formed within the dispensing recess through which the tissues may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Marino
  • Patent number: 6138867
    Abstract: A towelette container and a closure for the towelette container that includes a well that is sized and shaped to contain a portion of a towelette extending out of the container and that further includes a selectively movable cover having an opening defined therein that, when brought into alignment with the well, permits access to a towelettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Chemical Company Incorporated
    Inventor: Stanley K. Stelmack
  • Patent number: 6135842
    Abstract: A spill-resistant bubble-blowing apparatus, adapted to be used with a bottle filled with bubble solution and a bubble-blowing wand disposed in the bottle and being sized to allow the bubble-blowing wand to pass through the opening in the bottle, is provided with a cap portion adapted to be coupled to a bubble-solution bottle and having an opening formed therein and an insert adapted to be disposed adjacent the cap portion. The insert has a raised portion with a perimeter that corresponds to the opening in the cap portion and a central portion with a slot formed therein, with the central portion of the insert being composed of a flexible material. The slot in the central portion is sized to allow a bubble-blowing end of a bubble-blowing wand to pass through it and has a width small enough to prevent significant passage of bubble solution through the cap portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Oddzon, Inc., TOI, LLC
    Inventor: John E. LaFata
  • Patent number: 6129240
    Abstract: A center-pull dispenser nozzle includes a nozzle segment with an inner wall having a truncated cone-like configuration. A restrictor ring restricts an outlet opening of the nozzle segment. The restrictor ring engages a web passing through the nozzle and redirects and resists movement of the web at the location of the outlet opening to improve sheet separation and provide a less wrinkled dispensed sheet product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Perrin Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 6123222
    Abstract: There is provided a system for dispensing a plurality of nurser liners one at a time. The system includes a dispenser having a bottom wall with an edge that defines a flap, and a plurality of nurser liners stacked in a nesting arrangement. The flap is adapted to move from a first position to a second position in which the flap exposes an aperture in the bottom wall. Each one of the plurality of nurser liners has a single open end, and the open end has a flexible rim with a diameter greater than that of the aperture. The plurality of nurser liners are positioned so that the rims are adjacent the aperture with a lowermost one of the plurality of nurser liners abutting the edge. Accordingly, the edge acts as a dual-sided guide for deflecting the rim inward of the lowermost nurser liner as the rim passes through the aperture, and restricts the remainder of the plurality of nurser liners from moving with the lowermost nurser liner out of the dispenser to overcome friction forces caused by the nesting arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Richiger, Salvatore J. Leone, Emanuel P. Morano, Anthony E. Flecknoe-Brown
  • Patent number: 6112936
    Abstract: An envelope made of tubular net material is stretched around a glove dispensing box or the like and closed on each end. Positioned immediately adjacent an opening in the dispensing box is a sphincter closure in the net material. The sphincter closure is created by cutting a hole in the net material and weaving an elastic band in a circle around the hole. Closure of the netting on either end of the dispensing box is accomplished by stitching, safety pins, or other such closures. It is preferable that one end of the envelope be permanently closed with stitching or a tied cord or the like. It is also preferable that the second end be releasably closed with any of a number of well-known bag or netting closure devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Edward Louis Arizmendi
  • Patent number: 6109473
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheets of fibrous material, such as a non-woven or cellulose wadding of a specific surface weight between 15 and 90 g/m.sup.2 per ply, a strip of the fibrous material wound into a roll and pre-perforated so as to provide a sequence of sheets linked to one another by rows of perforation bridges. The dispenser is fitted with a feed cone. The material is dispensed by the cone through a smaller diameter apex. The proportion of perforation bridges is selected to be no more than 30% above that constituting the machining limit of the fibrous material and in that the diameter of the apex of the cone is between a minimum value corresponding to a force of removal just exceeding the force of rupture of the material and a maximum value corresponding to an effectiveness equal to or larger than 90%, in particular equal to or larger than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Fort James France
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Neveu, Bernard Louis Dit Picard
  • Patent number: 6109787
    Abstract: A soft bag for accommodating a stack of personal-hygiene articles, especially of cosmetic cotton pads, which comprises a side wall, a bottom wall and removal mechanism, located in the bottom area of the bag, with a tear-off latch, defined by weakening lines in the bag wall. Two separate tear-off latches on two sides of the bottom area facing away from each other are provided in order to form two separate removal openings. The tear-off latches extend from the bottom wall into the side wall of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble
    Inventor: Christof Karl Stary
  • Patent number: 6070756
    Abstract: A dispenser for individually dispensing paper towels from a stack of interfolded paper towels. The paper towels are received in a housing and dispensed by their ends through a slot in a smooth and generally uninterrupted manner. The slot is formed with a narrow medial portion and enlarged end portions to release only one paper towel at a time. Moreover, the dispenser effectively resists a user pulling a bunch of paper towels from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard E. Dodge, John S. Formon
  • Patent number: 6053357
    Abstract: An upright, or "pop-up", box dispenser having a curvilinear opening for dispensing thin sheets of paper such as tissues or non-woven products. The curvilinear opening may be in the shape of an "S", multiple "S" shapes or arcs. Preferably, the effective open area of the curvilinear opening is about 2.5 square inches or less. Typically, the curvilinear opening is incorporated into a thin plastic film overlaid on the top of a cardboard box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Irving Tissue Inc.
    Inventor: Julie Yoh
  • Patent number: 6013149
    Abstract: A pad comprising a plurality of flexible sheets in a stack, and padding means for releasably adhering parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together to maintain the sheets in the stack. That padding means is provided in that at least some of said sheets having patterns of coadhesive coated on their major surfaces, which patterns of coadhesive are adhered to patterns of coadhesive on adjacent sheets in the stack and releasably adhere parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together in surface to surface relationship until the patterns of coadhesive are peeled apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lee A. Timmerman, Randall M. Mills, Michael S. Groess, Robert P. Molenda
  • Patent number: 5971138
    Abstract: A plurality of wipe-containing moisture-resistant flapped envelopes are interconnected end-to-end to form a train of envelopes stored in roll form and containing wipes or towelettes treated with cleanser or other skin-treating agent. Each flap is held closed in the roll until the flap's associated envelope is unrolled from the end of the roll, whereupon the flap falls open and the envelope's contents may be easily removed without any need for peeling or unzipping the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: John J. Soughan
  • Patent number: 5950863
    Abstract: An insert device for a sheet dispenser having a housing for receiving a stack of folded sheets, a bottom opening of the housing being formed as a rounded elongate slot having an enlarged center portion, includes a rear panel portion; an upwardly and forwardly sloping front ramp portion, a pair of side panel portions connecting the front ramp potion to the rear panel portion; and a ledge portion extending forwardly from the panel portion toward the ramp portion. Also disclosed is a method for bottom loading of the insert device (with stacked sheets therein) into a dispenser having door members defining a bottom opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Perrin Manufacturing
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Schutz, Niko A. Cvjetkovic, Michel Morand, Patrick C. Perrin
  • Patent number: 5944219
    Abstract: A pop-up coupon dispenser for small sheets which have a repositionable adhesive is provided with a flexible plastic cable tie. The dispenser includes a box filled with such sheets having an adhesive stripe along one margin and stacked in accordion fashion, the sheets being printed as manufacturer's coupons supplied to a retailer who attaches the box by the cable tie to a wire rack, to a cardboard display or other suitable support, such as a shelf, and cuts off the excess end of the cable tie. Customers can remove the coupons one-at-a-time and affix them by their adhesive backing to the product for which the coupon is redeemable. A check-out cashier can, therefore, immediately determine that the purchaser is purchasing the product for which the coupon was issued. The dispenser box may also be provided with a conventional shelf clip connected to the bottom of the dispenser box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Michael J. Emoff, Mary Jayne Miller
  • Patent number: 5938069
    Abstract: A combination telephone disinfecting towelette and dispenser for dispensing individual telephone disinfecting towelettes. The combination includes a plurality of telephone disinfecting towelettes each being treated with a disinfectant and in a layered interlocking position with an adjacent one of the plurality of telephone disinfecting towelettes. The plurality of telephone disinfecting towelettes are positioned within the dispenser. The dispenser includes a cylindrical shell including a sealed bottom side and a top side including a recess therein and a device for releasably sealing the recess. The dispenser further includes a device for dividing the dispenser into first and second sections, hermetically sealing the plurality of telephone disinfecting towelettes within the second section whereby a top one of the plurality of telephone disinfecting towelettes extends through the dividing device and into the first section where it may be removed from the dispenser through the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Joe Macchia
  • Patent number: 5939161
    Abstract: A centrally tabbed adhesive tape strip pad and centrally tabbed adhesive tape flag pad in which the centrally positioned pull tab portion of the leader strip facilitates initiation of dispensing without the use of prethreaded leader bands and facilitates insertion of a new pad into typical refillable dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Bruce E. Samuelson
  • Patent number: 5931339
    Abstract: A dispenser for individually dispensing paper towels from a stack of interfolded paper towels. The paper towels are received in a housing and dispensed by their ends through a slot in a smooth and generally uninterrupted manner. The slot is formed with a narrow medial portion and enlarged end portions to release only one paper towel at a time. Moreover, the dispenser effectively resists a user pulling a bunch of paper towels from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard E. Dodge, John S. Formon
  • Patent number: 5927543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glove dispenser comprising a box (5) essentially constituted by at least one wall which defines an internal volume capable of containing a batch of a predetermined number of gloves, in which wall is provided at least one slot (6) through which gloves can be extracted.This dispenser is characterized in that the slot (6) of the box (5) has a cross section at least equal to the cross section that the batch (3) intended to be placed inside the box (5) has in a predetermined transverse plane of a group of fingers constituted by the stacking of the same fingers of the gloves (1) of a batch in such a way that this group of fingers can be inserted into the slot (6) at least as far as the transverse plane in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventors: Pascal Dejardin, Veronique Dejardin, Nathalie Dejardin
  • Patent number: 5927488
    Abstract: A rolling paper dispenser includes a cover defining an inner periphery, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet is sized to receive the booklet of rolling paper. The outlet is configured to dispense individual rolling papers from the booklet of rolling paper. When the inlet receives a rolling paper booklet, the enclosure holds a rolling paper booklet by the edges of the booklet. Preferably, the rolling paper booklet is held by an inner rim integrated with the inner periphery of the enclosure. The inner rim is precisely sized to hold a booklet of rolling paper in a press-fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Keith W. Gray