Patent ID: 6315155
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
A device for dispensing generally rectangular multi-fold paper towels having opposed, longitudinally extending side portions and opposed end portions, said device comprising:a housing defining a chamber 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, said lower portion includinga front wall, rear wall, opposed side walls and a bottom wall having a front portion, a rear portion and opposed side portions,an elongated opening smaller than the paper towels in said bottom wall and through which a fold of the bottommost paper towel in the stack can extend and be disposed in a position where a user can grab such fold and pull the bottommost towel from the stack, said opening having a first side edge located in one of the front and rear portions of said bottom wall, a second side edge located in the other of the front and rear portions of said bottom wall and opposed end edges spaced inwardly from respective of said side walls, anda plurality of laterally spaced ribs located in the vicinity of said first side edge of said opening, each of said ribs having an inclined surface extending at an angle upwardly and in a direction away from said first side edge of said opening and adapted to be engaged by and support one side portion of the stack of paper towels with the other side portion of the paper towels supported on the other of the front and rear portions of said bottom wall and thereby transfer a portion of the pressure applied by the stack on the bottommost towel from the side portion supported on said ribs toward the other side portion,wherein at least one of said ribs is substantially centrally located relative to said first side edge of said opening and the angles of said inclined surfaces of other of said ribs located on opposite sides of said one rib progressively increase in a direction away from said one rib to cause the side portion of the towels supported on said ribs to assume an arcuate configuration and to distribute pressure applied by the stack on the bottommost towel in opposite directions away from said one rib.