Deformation By Non-coextensive Outlet Opening Patents (Class 221/63)
  • Patent number: 5897023
    Abstract: A dispensing carton for tissues, aluminum foils, plastic wraps or the like has a top portion which includes an elongated opening for withdrawing tissues from the carton. The dispensing carton includes a plurality of strings having first and second ends. The first ends are attached to one end of the opening and the second ends are attached to an opposite end of the opening. The plurality of strings are configured to form a slit for holding the tissues to prevent dropping into the carton. The strings may be made of any elastic strings, such as a common rubber band or elongated coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Arnold Yoonho Lee
  • Patent number: 5884803
    Abstract: The invention provides a cup dispenser for sequentially dispensing a stacked column of disposable cups, including a mounting plate provided with means for attaching the dispenser to a vertical surface, a cup-retaining and dispensing body attachable thereto and suspendable therefrom, the body being provided with an annular opening having a lower edge and with retaining means consisting essentially of at least two wedge-like protrusions extending from the inner walls thereof and positioned within a same imaginary first semi-annular, co-planar segment of the opening, the wedge-like protrusions each having an apex, an inside face and a base, wherein the bases face the lower edge and the protrusions taper into the opening from the respective apexes to the respective bases along the inside face, and wherein at least one inner wall segment of the opening, positioned between the protrusions within the same imaginary semi-annular, co-planar segment of the opening, is provided with a recess to facilitate the local outw
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Menachem Vine
  • Patent number: 5862944
    Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a transversely disposed thermoplastic band adjacent the flap opening for reinforcing the pouch at the opening. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended, opened, separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. The folded plastic bags abut the reinforcing band adjacent the bottom of the pouch. A portion of one outermost plastic bag reclosable end is disposed in the pouch opening, so that the user by the thumb and then the forefinger pulls the one plastic bag end portion causing the one plastic bag to slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening without tearing the pouch. After removal of the one bag, the next adjacent bag is then similarly positioned for removal. The removed plastic bag is immediately ready for filling. The dispenser of the present invention avoids undue manipulation to remove and eliminates the need to open the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Plastics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald Scherr
  • Patent number: 5857642
    Abstract: A dispenser for feeding perforated paper towels from a continuous roll. The dispenser includes a dispenser body for containing the paper towel roll which may be mounted to a supporting surface such as a wall. A unique feeder assembly is attached to the dispenser body for dispensing an end portion of the continuous roll. The feeder assembly includes a feeder body having a back wall, first and a second side walls attached on each side edge and a bottom wall attached to the bottom edge of the back and side walls. A first aperture is located on the bottom wall of the feeder body and a face plate having a second aperture overlapping the first aperture also is attached to the feeder body. The pair of overlapping apertures are biased against one another for receiving and dispensing an individual paper towel. In the preferred embodiment, a removable flange attaches the feeder assembly to the dispenser body. The flange includes a locking mechanism for lockingly engaging the flange onto the dispenser body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hygiene Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald B. Zinnbauer
  • Patent number: 5839605
    Abstract: A cup dispenser is disclosed including a housing having an open end and a closed end defining a cup receiving cavity, a cup support reciprocally positioned within the cup receiving cavity for supporting at least one cup received in the cup receiving cavity and a spring for biasing the cup support towards the open end of the cup receiving cavity thereby projecting at least a portion of the cup from the housing. The cup dispenser further includes a guide for guiding the cup support within the housing with a guide including axially extending substantially diametrically opposed rails and a cup restraint for restraining outward movement of the cup within the cavity and a stop position adjacent the guide for stopping outward movement of the cup support. The stop includes at least one circumferentially extending contact surface which contacts a surface of the cup support in order to stop outward movement of the cup support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Hadtke, Jonathan Rush
  • Patent number: 5798159
    Abstract: A dispenser package including a stack of flexible sheets adhered together by layers of pressure sensitive adhesive with first and second ends of successive sheets in the stack adjacent; and an enclosure in which the stack of sheets is positioned having top wall portions with spaced opposed surfaces that define a wide slot. The first end portion of the uppermost sheet on the stack projects through the slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Bruce E. Samuelson
  • Patent number: 5769270
    Abstract: A refillable tape or sheet flag dispenser for dispensing sheets from a stack includes a bottom section and a pair of elastically deformable wing sections extending from opposite ends of the bottom section in overlapping spaced relation relative to the bottom section, thereby forming a generally flat C-shaped dispenser configuration. When the tape or sheet flags in the tape or sheet dispenser are exhausted, the wings are elastically flexed to allow the dispenser to accommodate a new stack of tape or sheet flags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Shin Fujisawa, Takashi Sugibuchi
  • Patent number: 5765718
    Abstract: A center pull towel dispenser includes two housing members which pivot about a vertical pivot axis. A support plate supports the coreless roll product on end with the lead end of the coreless roll product passing through a bottom wall disposed under the support plate. Various structural elements of the apparatus cooperate to provide ease of threading of a roll product lead end into a dispensing member including a downwardly converging, generally cone-shaped wall and to resist inadvertent pinching of the sheet product to be dispensed when the housing members form a closed interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Kamala J. Grasso, Robert D. Schaefer, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: 5755356
    Abstract: A sheet dispenser including a housing, and a stack of dispensable sheets. A front wall of housing has edges that define a slot through which an end portion of the top sheet on the stack projects. That front wall normally projects above the top surface of the stack of sheets to position that end portion of the top sheet in a position projecting above an outer surface of the front wall where it can be easily grasped to withdraw the top sheet from the housing. At least a portion of the front wall is of flexible material so that it can be resiliently bent to lie along the top surface of the stack and thereby reduce the thickness of the dispenser when, for example, it is positioned on one of the pages of a book, magazine, personal organizer or the like that is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Willem V. Bastiaens, Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., David C. Windorski, Timothy A. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 5746369
    Abstract: An improved paperboard carton including a dispensing mouth which when separated from the surrounding carton forms a dispensing mouth for dispensing single units of a row of units, the units typically being individually-wrapped and thinly profiled packages, such as teabags, sweetener packages and the like. The improvement comprises a series of perforations which have been added to create the mouth panel on a known carton pattern. The perforations permit release of the mouth panel from one of either of two end walls whereby a hinged mouth panel and an opening for single dispensing of the unit results. When two mouth panels are provided, the panels are located in positions diagonally opposed to one another on the opposing end walls. The end walls are defined as being the walls which bound each end of a row of arrayed units, whereby the face of the package is parallel with the end walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Virginia B. McDermott
  • Patent number: 5727721
    Abstract: A dispenser for web articles such as plastic bags which are torn from the web includes a support for the webbing, pivotally mounted in a frame. The support and frame each include jaws defining a nozzle through which the webbing passes. The weight of the support and of the webbing draws the jaws together in a clamping action, so as to frictionally engage the webbing, preparatory to tearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Joseph Jerome Guido, deceased, by Marguerite McGrath Guido, trustee, Robert Joseph Guido
  • Patent number: 5718353
    Abstract: A closure assembly for attachment to the lid of a container for the storage and dispensing of towelettes or similar articles is constructed so as to be receivable within a preformed keyhole-shaped opening in the container lid. The assembly includes a body with a main radially extending flange larger than the opening in the lid. The lower portion of the body carries radially extending locking tabs which are dimensioned to fit through the lid opening and, upon the closure being turned, to engage the lower surface of the lid in opposed relationship with the flange which engages the upper surface. Antirotation tabs also extend radially of the lower portion of the body and again, upon rotation, engages the edges of the lid opening to thus secure the closure on the lid. A cap is also provided to releasably engage the upper portion of the closure body to provide a substantially airtight seal for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Kanfer, J. Christopher Wysocki, Detlev F. Smith
  • Patent number: 5697518
    Abstract: Header padded stationery having an adhesive tape strip pad, adhesive tape flag pad and/or adhesive note pad recessively mounted to the header of the stationery pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5688394
    Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a surface being prepared to receive a finish coating or a treatment. Solvent is applied manually to the surface with carrier sheets dispensed from reclosable packages where the solvent is contained along with a plurality of quarter-folded carrier sheets formed from non-woven material. The packages can be grounded to reduce the incidence of static electrical build-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Contec, Inc. of Spartanburg
    Inventors: John S. McBride, Jr., Kenneth J. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5685643
    Abstract: A plastic bag for personal-hygiene articles, in particular for a stack of flexible pads, comprising a sheet-plastic tube forming an essentially cylindrical bag wall, both ends of said bag are initially closed, a suspension string located at one end and at the opposite end of said bag a frangible ring providing an opening allowing pads to be removed, the closure at the first one end being formed by a linear seam running between two diametrically opposite points on the cylindrical wall of the bag and passing through the longitudinal axis of the bag, the suspension string passing through the interior of the bag below the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: VP-Schickedanz SA
    Inventor: Christof Stary
  • Patent number: 5657900
    Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a mounting or retaining element adjacent the top of the pouch. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended, opened, separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. The plastic bags are disposed adjacent the bottom of the pouch with the pouch mounted or retained. A portion of one outermost plastic bag reclosable end is disposed in the pouch opening, so that the user by the thumb and then the forefinger pulls the one plastic bag end portion causing the one plastic bag to slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening. After removal of the one bag, the next adjacent bag is then similarly positioned for removal. The removed plastic bag is immediately ready for filling. The dispenser is particularly useful for dispensing reclosable plastic deli bags where the user's fingers are greasy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Plastics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald Scherr
  • Patent number: 5642836
    Abstract: A towel dispenser consisting of a single unitary molded piece and having a container with a front, a back, right and left sides, and a top, forming a box with an open bottom, arcuate slots in each side, and a bottom member joined to the back with a living hinge and having opposed tabs extending laterally for riding in the slots, and an access opening for passage of a towel from the interior of the container, with the bottom member moveable from an initial position out of the box to a dispensing position with the tabs in the slots for closing the bottom and supporting towels thereon, and to an upward loading position for insertion of towels upward into the box past the bottom member, with the bottom member returning to the dispensing position following insertion of towels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Merriweather, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5607737
    Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elmer Blackwell, John J. Emmel, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5595786
    Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a surface being prepared to receive a finish coating or a treatment. Solvent is applied manually to the surface with carrier sheets dispensed from reclosable packages where the solvent is contained along with a plurality of quarter-folded carrier sheets formed from non-woven material. The packages can be grounded to reduce the incidence of static electrical build-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Contec, Inc. of Spartanburg
    Inventors: John S. McBride, Jr., Kenneth J. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5577634
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheets of paper towelling from a tubular roll of paper towelling that has perforated lines across it at spaced-apart intervals dividing the towelling into joined together sheets. The dispenser has a base on which one end of the towelling roll sits and an opening in the base through which one end of the towelling, from within the roll, is passed in the form of a spiral tail. This tail is then passed through gripping members beneath the base which both flatten the towel into a band-like strip and grip the strip so that when the strip is pulled beneath the gripping means, the outermost sheet of towelling is torn away along a line of perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: G. H. Wood & Wyant, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 5577612
    Abstract: A carton for housing sheets, particularly dryer sheets. The dryer sheets are preferably stacked in a "U" shape and are removed via an access flap which may include 2 hinges and may be recloseable. The carton of the invention includes lines of weakness defining the recloseable access flap in top and front panels. Portions of the front panel lateral to the access flap are attached to an underlying panel or flap, so that when the access flap is separated from the front panel to open the carton, the lateral portions remain attached to the underlying flap or panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Chesson, James Stone
  • Patent number: 5570808
    Abstract: A dispenser for loose, unpackaged protective gloves. A container has at least one compartment for holding a bulk quantity of gloves, and each compartment has a filling shaft with an upper filling opening to permit filling with the gloves. A dispensing portion at the lower end of the container protrudes forwardly from one side of the container. The dispensing portion has a dispensing shaft leading downwardly from the filing shaft for receiving gloves from the filling shaft, and top and bottom walls providing a top and bottom, respectively, to the dispensing shaft and which slope downwardly and forwardly from the filling shaft. An end wall is spaced from the compartment and extends between the top and bottom walls, with a dispensing opening into the inclined dispensing shaft extending within part of each of the end and top walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Vincent A. Tassoni
  • Patent number: 5566873
    Abstract: A dispenser for flexible webbing includes a dispensing nozzle formed by generally parallel wires bent along tortuous paths. The wires are spaced apart to provide a dispensing opening through which the webbing passes. The wires of the dispensing nozzle frictionally engage the webbing to limit the amount of webbing withdrawn, and to support the webbing during a tearing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Marguerite Guido, Trustee for Joseph J. Guido
    Inventor: Joseph J. Guido
  • Patent number: 5560514
    Abstract: A centerflow dispenser for dispensing saturated wipers is disclosed which includes a dispensing nozzle affixed to the container of wet wipes. The nozzle has included therewith a rotatable dispensing disk through which the rolled web is dispensed. The rotatable disk has a dispensing orifice therethrough which includes a node and a plurality of contiguous appendages such that the disk will rotate to the path of least resistance as the saturated wipers are drawn through the dispensing orifice regardless of the direction of extraction of the web through the orifice. One or more drain holes are provided through the dispensing disk to allow liquid squeezed from the wiper as it is drawn through the dispensing orifice to pass back into the container. The nozzle includes a funneled or frusto-conical section which collects any liquid squeezed or which may drip from the wiper as it is extracted from the container to thereby direct such liquid toward the drain holes in dispensing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Tissue Company
    Inventor: Alan D. Frazier
  • Patent number: 5542568
    Abstract: The combination of zig zag folded tissue stack has separate portions of the tissue defined by lateral perforations. The tissue is a moisturized tissue and is retained in a special rectangular container with the free end of the tissue fitted through a slit which frictionally retains the tissue unless it is manually moved through the slit. The slit is fashioned in a manner which facilitates tearing of the portions of the tissue along the perforations after it is withdrawn through the slit. A cap for the slit is designed to keep the exposed portion of the tissue moist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Nice-Pak Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Julius
  • Patent number: 5542566
    Abstract: A reusable dispenser and a plurality of disposable mitt wipes contained therein. The dispenser includes a tub body having a tub interior and a tub opening, a lid member joined to the tub body and being movable between a closed position and an open position, a sealing means between the lid member and the tub body, and a positive latching device for latching the lid member to the tub body. The lid member includes a replaceable access strip member that permits the mitt wipes to be dispensed one at a time, and is replaceable to close and seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Frank S. Glaug, Christopher P. Olson, Kathleen I. Ratliff, Donald A. Sheldon, Valerie V. Finch, L. Warren Collier, IV
  • Patent number: 5542567
    Abstract: The combination of zig zag folded tissue stack has separate portions of the tissue defined by lateral perforations. The tissue is a moisturized tissue and is retained in a special rectangular container with the free end of the tissue fitted through a slit which frictionally retains the tissue unless it is manually moved through the slit. The slit is fashioned in a manner which facilitates tearing of the portions of the tissue along the perforations after it is withdrawn through the slit. A cap for the slit is designed to keep the exposed portion of the tissue moist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Nice-Pak Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Julius
  • Patent number: 5535887
    Abstract: A tissue package comprising a plurality of tissues and a dispensing package. The plurality of tissues is compressed in two discrete stages, each of which stage can be released independently from the other. The first stage of compression is less than the second stage of compression. The tissues are transported and stored while under the second stage of compression. The user releases the second stage of compression, whereby the tissues can expand up to the first stage of compression. The user releases the first stage of compression just before installing the plurality of tissues into a dispensing package or dispenses the tissues through a restraint while they are held in the first stage compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Young, John P. Erspamer, Mark E. Forry, Charles J. Berg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5524763
    Abstract: In the dispensing system disclosed herein, an aligned stack of T-shirt type bags are assembled within a disposable tubular cartridge with the loop handles and a significant portion of the bottoms of the bags extending beyond the ends of the tubular cartridge. The central portions of the bag mouths are releasably attached to an adjacent portion of the cartridge and a rack is provided for supporting the cartridge essentially horizontally with the handles and the bottom portions of the bags hanging freely therefrom. Accordingly, the top bag in the stack can be removed by grasping the exposed bottom portion and pulling the remainder through the tubular cartridge, tearing the mouth of the bag free from the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: BPI Packaging Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Wile
  • Patent number: 5520308
    Abstract: A tissue package comprising a dispensing package and tissues. The dispensing package has a dispensing opening which constricts the tissues as they are withdrawn through the opening. The tissues are disposed in the dispensing package in a non-interleaved pattern. Each tissue is releasably attached to the adjacent tissue, so that upon withdrawal through the dispensing opening, the tissue pulls an adjacent tissue through the dispensing opening. Both reach-in and pop-up dispensing are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Berg, Jr., Charles D. Cook
  • Patent number: 5516001
    Abstract: A tissue package comprising a dispensing package and tissues. The dispensing package has a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening has a large aperture and an arcuately shaped smaller aperture which are spaced apart and connected by an isthmic connection. Tissues may be easily withdrawn by the user through the large aperture, and fed through the isthmic connection to small aperture. Thereafter, the tissues may be dispensed through the small aperture in a pop-up mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Delmar R. Muckenfuhs, Jane L. Bavely
  • Patent number: 5509570
    Abstract: A dispenser having a top surface and a front surface with a cut-out extending between the front and top surfaces with slits extending from sides of said cut-out along the front surface. A stack of plastic bags or plastic sheet pick-up tissues are arranged in the dispenser and are dispensed by grasping an uppermost one via the cut-out and pulling outward with the bags being pulled one at a time through the cut-out and slits. The bags may be sculptured with a wave pattern defining a periphery of the corner regions on either side of the mouth of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Robert B. DeMatteis
  • Patent number: 5505334
    Abstract: A storage rod for temporarily supporting liners for a container is mounted by one end of the rod to the bottom side of a wall having a slot for passing the liners through the wall from the bottom side to the top side of the wall. The attachment to the wall supports the rod with the other end of the rod unsupported for receiving the liners. The end of the rod receiving the liners is unobstructed, for access to the rod coaxially with the rod by a roll of liners for sliding them on the rod. A handle is at one end of the slot and generally normal to the slot to avoid uncontrolled twist of an operator's fingers when handling the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Modern Technological Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Benito Triglia
  • Patent number: 5501365
    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: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Richiger, Salvatore J. Leone
  • Patent number: 5501323
    Abstract: A sealed dispenser includes a cover having a first dispensing hole therein; a base having a second dispensing hole aligned with the first dispensing hole; and first and second flexible overlapping flaps mounted between the cover and base and covering the holes for forming a sealed barrier when the flaps are closed and permitting extraction of dispensable material when the flaps are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Pioneer Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Denesha, deceased, Donald B. Kostanski, Frank L. Carter, Jeffrey G. Shinners
  • Patent number: 5480060
    Abstract: A centerflow rolled wiper system for a coreless rolled web which obviated dispensing problems caused by roping of the web during dispensing while simultaneously achieving significant space saving advantages. The coreless rolled web includes a plurality of wipers defined by lines of perforation across the width of the web, each of said wipers having a length L. The initial center hole of the roll has a cross-sectional perimetric dimension which is less than two times L, the roll having been bi-directionally compressed to a generally rectangular cross section. There is a dispenser carton in which the bi-directionally compressed roll resides, the dispenser carton sized to maintain said generally rectangular cross section of the bi-directionally compressed rolled web. A dispensing port through at least one end of the dispenser carton allows a user to withdraw the wipers from the center of the coreless roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Scott Paper Company
    Inventor: David A. Blythe
  • Patent number: 5467893
    Abstract: An improved container assembly for the storage and dispensing of pre-moistened towelettes is provided. The assembly includes a container and a multi-function cap. The cap matably engages the upper end of the container and further provides an additional storage area for the storage and retention of partially used towelettes. The cap also provides a relatively airtight seal to keep the towelettes moist and prevent them from prematurely drying out. A flexibly web in the cap enables the towelettes, connected to one another by perforations, to be pulled through the web of the cap. An individual towelette is separated from the roll with a sharp jerk or tub which tears the towelette along the perforation and leaves the remaining towelette extending partially through the web. An area underneath the top closure member of the cap and the web provides a sealed area for the storage of partially used towelettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sanford Corporation
    Inventors: Henry J. Landis, II, Russel J. Landis
  • Patent number: 5415320
    Abstract: The tearing of tissues during dispensing from upright tissue cartons is reduced by providing the carton with a plastic film having a dispensing opening with an effective open area of about 3 square inches or greater. Dispensing openings formed by multiple intersecting slits provide improved dispensing while retaining an aesthetic pop-up presentation and protection of the tissues within the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Amie M. North, Troy M. Runge, Linda M. Paulson
  • Patent number: 5401547
    Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elmer Blackwell, Bruce E. Samuelson, John J. Emmel, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5368165
    Abstract: A bag pack or stack dispenser system incorporating its shipping container (C) to dispense the bags using a frictional, template system (17A & 17B) to present the bag (8) in an open disposition when it is dispensed in a longitudinal direction (25). A unique thermoplastic bag is used, as part of a convenient and reliable system maintaining the alignment of the bags and previewing for greater ease in dispensing the bags on an individual basis. The template system incorporates a frictional contact surface for encouraging a bag, when being dispensed, to come out in an open disposition. The template may be made of a polystyrene bock, cardboard, etc., either independent of or emanating item container itself. The container has a removable, perforated, dispenser door (16), configured to provide convenient access to the bags (8), while encouraging communication of the bag being dispensed with the template for opening the bag during the dispensing operation. An alternative embodiment (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: API, Inc.
    Inventor: Tai Ngyuen
  • Patent number: 5363986
    Abstract: The present invention presents improved packages for single-use, disposable folded towels, and more particularly to single- and multi-towel packages which provide for readily grasping a defined portion of the towel upon opening the package and automatic unfolding of the towel upon removal from the package without a separate unfolding step requiring additional consumer action. Single-towel embodiments are disclosed which provide for complete unfolding of the towel by the use of: (a) an opening bearing a particular geometrical relationship to the dimensions of the folded towel; or (b) a flexible bar within the package to provide unfolding of the towel in the longitudinal direction. A multi-towel embodiment which provides for the advantageous dispensing features and convenience of an improved single-towel package while providing the added capability of multi-towel transportation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Cook
  • Patent number: 5361936
    Abstract: The present invention presents improved packages for single-use, disposable folded towels, and more particularly to single- and multi-towel packages which provide for readily grasping a defined portion of the towel upon opening the package and automatic unfolding of the towel upon removal from the package without a separate unfolding step requiring additional consumer action. Single-towel embodiments are disclosed which provide for complete unfolding of the towel by the use of: (a) an opening bearing a particular geometrical relationship to the dimensions of the folded towel; or (b) a flexible bar within the package to provide unfolding of the towel in the longitudinal direction. A multi-towel embodiment which provides for the advantageous dispensing features and convenience of an improved single-towel package while providing the added capability of multi-towel transportation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Cook
  • Patent number: 5348399
    Abstract: The bags may be sculptured with a wave pattern defining a periphery of the corner regions on either side of the mouth of the bag. The bags may be secured to two tabs which are connected to the corner regions via the wave pattern, which is perforated. By attaching the tabs to a carton and pulling the bag, the bag severs cleanly from the tabs at the waveform perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Robert B. DeMatteis
  • Patent number: 5346064
    Abstract: A dispenser package includes a container having an interior and a dispensing aperture communicating with the interior. A coreless, center-pull roll product is positioned in the interior, the roll product having a central opening and a lead end connected to the innermost convolution. The dispenser package also includes a dispenser nozzle which is maintained in the roll product central opening until dispensing is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: James River Paper Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack A. Rizzuto
  • Patent number: 5335811
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a sheet of perforated paper towelling off a roll of paper towelling. The dispenser has a casing with a mounting for the roll in its upper portion and an outlet at the bottom. The outlet is substantially narrower than the width of the towelling. A roller is mounted in the casing for guiding the towelling from the roll mounting to the outlet. The roller maintains the towelling at its full width. The towelling is gathered inwardly in passing from the roller to the outlet. Upon pulling the towelling out of the dispenser, the towelling begins to tear inwardly from its edges along the first line of perforations as the first line of perforations passes over the roller to separate a sheet from the remainder of the towelling. The tearing operation is completed outside the casing leaving a tail end of towelling to be grasped during the next dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Wyant & Company Limited
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 5333742
    Abstract: A sanitary toothbrush holder is provided, which consists of a plate for mounting the holder to a flat vertical surface. A bracket extends outwardly from the plate, while a receptacle is formed on a forward end of the bracket. A roll of sanitary disposable plastic bags is rotatably carried in the bracket. The leading bag can be opened and positioned manually within the receptacle to receive a bristle head of a toothbrush. When the leading bag with the bristle head of the toothbrush is removed, it will protect the bristle head from collecting germs, dust and dirt when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventors: Gregory H. Piedmont, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5328053
    Abstract: The present invention presents improved packages for single-use, disposable folded towels, and more particularly to single- and multi-towel packages which provide for readily grasping a defined portion of the towel upon opening the package and automatic unfolding of the towel upon removal from the package without a separate unfolding step requiring additional consumer action. Single-towel embodiments are disclosed which provide for complete unfolding of the towel by the use of: (a) an opening bearing a particular geometrical relationship to the dimensions of the folded towel; or (b) a flexible bar within the package to provide unfolding of the towel in the longitudinal direction. A multi-towel embodiment which provides for the advantageous dispensing features and convenience of an improved single-towel package while providing the added capability of multi-towel transportation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Charles D. Cook, Charles J. Berg
  • Patent number: 5325992
    Abstract: A dispensing device including a container for a supply of items forming a web. The dispensing device includes a recess formed in an outer wall of the container, a braking unit overlapping the recess. The braking unit includes two lips which work together when items are dispensed and a linear slit between the two lips which enables the items to pass between the two lips, the two lips being fitted with bristles which constitute active elements of the two lips, unattached ends of the bristles of one of the lips extend into, and mesh with, an area of unattached ends of the bristles of the opposite lip. The items are camisole-shaped and sequentially joined bags having a body with a bottom part and handles at the upper part. The bottom part of the body of one of the bags is connected to the leading edge of the handles of the next bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Folag AG Folienwerke
    Inventors: Josef Koller, Rudolf Schmid
  • Patent number: 5316177
    Abstract: Pop-up facial tissue dispensing cartons are provided with a paper dispensing window to replace the typical poly window for environmental reasons. The paper dispensing window is provided with an elongated opening having 2 or more slits emanating from each of its two ends which provide a means for holding the tissues in a pop-up position. Preferably the paper dispensing window is a coated paper having a reduced-friction coating which reduces noise during tissue removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Hans G. K. Boldt
  • Patent number: RE34856
    Abstract: A method and device for dispensing .[.T-shirt type.]. plastic .Iadd.merchandise .Iaddend.bags from a roll joined end to end in series but separable along perforated lines where the bag ends are connected, whereby the bags are rolled and the roll of bags is placed in a cradle for unrolling and passing between two bars above and parallel to the axis of the roll, at least one of the bars having a centrally disposed hooking snagging element past which the series of bags is drawn. When the open space between .[.the straps of each T-shirt bag.]. .Iadd.adjacent bags .Iaddend.passes the snagging element, the latter catches the leading edge of the ensuing bag to restrain it sufficiently so that further pulling on the preceding bag results in its detachment along the perforated line for the ensuing bag. .[.Rack means are.]. .Iadd.A rack is .Iaddend.provided to enable the method to be practiced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Avantage Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Daniels