DISPENSER FOR A STACK OF NOTE PAPER

Abstract: A dispenser (60) for sheets (11) of note paper disposed in a stack (9) with each of the sheets (11) having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets (11) are adhered together and with the sheets (11) being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets at alternate opposite edges of the stack (9). The dispenser (60) comprises a base (61) having a top surface with a generally planar support surface portion (63) adapted to support a lower surface of the stack (9). Also included is a body (64) having a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions (66) adapted to engage and be supported on an upper surface of the stack (11) adjacent the edges of the sheets along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions (66) engaging the upper surface of the sheets (11) at predetermined distances from the edges of the sheets along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions (67) between the pressure surface portions (66) and a top surface (65) defining a slot (68) through and extending centrally across the body (64). The convex arcuate surface portions (67) have radii with a dimension at least as large as the predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets of paper pulled from the dispenser (68) through the slot (68), and the body (64) has sufficient weight to afford pulling a sheet (11) from the stack (9) through the slot (68) without substantially lifting the body (64) from the stack (9).

Description: Technical Field The present invention relates to dispensers for sheets of note paper disposed in a stack having upper and lower surfaces with each of said sheets having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets are adhered together and with the sheets being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets at alternate opposite edges of the stack. Background Art Such a dispenser for such sheets from such a stack is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,416,392, assigned to the assignee of this application, wherein the stack of sheets is disposed in a box and the sheets are dispensed through a slot in the top of the box and centrally disposed parallel to the opposite edges of the sheets which are coated with the bands of adhesive. Furthermore, U.S. Patent No. 4,416,392 discloses a dispenser for such a stack of sheet material wherein a base is provided for supporting a removable cover within which is disposed the stack of sheet material. The cover is provided with an opening in its top wall and the stack of sheets are urged toward the top wall by a spring. The top wall is formed by two inclined portions which terminate at the dispensing opening. This dispenser comprises four basic parts to dispense the stack of sheets, and the sharp edges in the dispenser at the opening cause sheets that are dispensed to become stressed during the dispensing action about the edges of the opening so that the sheets retain a curl after they are dispensed. A second US Patent NO. 4,653,666, assigned to the assignee of this application discloses a further embodiment of a dispenser for such a stack of sheets. This dispenser comprises a box which fits about the stack of sheets and has a centrally disposed opening transverse to the edges coated with the adhesive. A spring member in the box presses the stack of sheets toward the opening. Extending from the top wall of the box and into the opening are flexible polymeric flaps which during dispensing of the sheets bend to form arcuate walls about which the sheets are drawn as they are dispensed. This structure thus avoids the development of any curl in the dispensed sheets so that the sheets, after being dispensed and positioned on a receptor lay generally flat along the surface of the receptor and thus are not as subject to becoming dislodged as they would be had a curl been present in the dispensed sheet. This dispenser, as noted however, comprises a number of parts, and because it is formed from a box which is not refillable it lacks certain advantages. Further, the lightweight nature of the dispenser does not make it convenient as a desk dispenser since the sheets could not be removed from the box with one hand. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a dispenser for sheets of note paper disposed in a stack with each of the sheets having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets are adhered together and with the sheets being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets at alternate opposite edges of the stack, which dispenser is refillable, affords single hand removal of sheets from the dispenser, includes few parts, can be made to be very attractive for use on the desk top, and does not leave a curl in dispensed sheets of paper. The dispenser according to the present invention (Claim 1) comprises a base part having a bottom surface adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and a top surface comprising a generally planar support surface portion adapted to support a lower surface of the stack; and a body part having a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions adapted to engage and be supported on the upper surface of the stack adjacent the edges of the sheets along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions engaging an upper surface of the sheets at predetermined distances from the edges of the sheets along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions between the pressure surface portions and a top surface of the body part defining a slot through and extending centrally across the body part. The convex arcuate surface portions have radii having a dimension at least as great as the predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets of paper pulled from the dispenser through the slot, and the body part has sufficient weight (e.g., about 1/2 to 1 1/2 pound) to afford pulling a sheet from the stack through the slot without substantially lifting the body part from the stack, means for locating the stack with the edges of the sheets along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to said arcuate surface portions and with said slot extending generally transversely across the stack (9) centrally between those edges, and means for positioning said body part above said base part, whereby one of said parts has a periphery disposed at generally a right angle to said support surface portion, and the other of said parts has a peripheral wall adapted to project along said periphery with the stack between said parts to provide said means for positioning said body part above said base part. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims 2 to 5. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in which a stack of sheets to be dispensed is positioned; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 11-11 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in which a stack of sheet to be dispensed is positioned; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser and stack of sheets of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 4 with the stack of sheets between parts of the dispenser greatly diminished in height; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the dispenser and stack of sheets of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in which a stack of sheets to be dispensed is positioned; Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser and stack of sheets of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 8 with the stack of sheets between parts of the dispenser greatly diminished in height; Figure 11 is an exploded view of the dispenser and stack of sheets of Figure 8. Detailed Description Referring now to Figures 1, 2, and 3 there is illustrated a first embodiment of a dispenser 60 according to the present invention for sheets 11 of note paper disposed in a stack 9 having upper and lower surfaces with each of the sheets 11 having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets 11 are adhered together with the sheets 11 being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets 11 at alternate opposite edges of the stack 9. The dispenser 60 comprises a base part or base 61 having a bottom surface adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and a top surface comprising a generally planar support surface portion 63 adapted to support the lower surface of the stack 9, and a body part or body 64 having a top surface 65, and a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions 66 adapted to engage and be supported on the upper surface of the stack 9 adjacent the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions 66 engaging the upper surface of the sheets at predetermined distances (i.e., about 1/8 to 1/2 inch) from the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions 67 between the pressure surface portions 66 and the top surface 65 defining a slot 68 through and extending centrally across the body 64. The convex arcuate surface portions 67 have radii with dimensions at least as great as said predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets 11 of paper pulled from the dispenser through the slot 68, and the body 64 is a metal casting (e.g., of zinc, at least 8 ounces in weight) so that it has sufficient weight to afford pulling one of the sheets 11 from the stack 9 through the slot 68 without substantially lifting the body 64 from the stack 9. The body 64 has a periphery 70 disposed at generally a right angle to the support portion 63 of the top surface, and the base 61 has an upwardly projecting peripheral wall 71 adapted to project along the periphery 70 of the body 64 with the stack 9 between the body 64 and base 61 to provide means for positioning the body 64 above the base 61. The peripheral wall 71 has rectangularly disposed portions adapted to receive the sides of the stack 9 in close fitting relationship; and the periphery 70 being rectangular together with the relative orientation of the base 61 and body 64 provided by the rectangular periphery 70 and the peripheral wall 71 provides means for locating the stack 9 with the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to the arcuate surface portions 67 and with the slot 68 extending generally transversely across the stack 9 centrally between those edges. Referring now to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 there is illustrated a second embodiment of a dispenser 80 according to the present invention for sheets 11 of note paper disposed in a stack 9 having upper and lower surfaces with each of the sheets 11 having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets 11 are adhered together with the sheets 11 being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets 11 at alternate opposite edges of the stack 9. The dispenser 80 comprises a base part or base 81 having a bottom surface adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and a top surface comprising a generally planar support portion 83 adapted to support the lower surface of the stack 9, and a body part or body 84 having a top surface 85, and a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions 86 adapted to engage and be supported on the upper surface of the stack 9 parallel to and adjacent the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions 86 engaging the upper surface of the sheets at predetermined distances from the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions 87 between the pressure surface portions 86 and the top surface 85 defining a slot 88 through and extending centrally across the body 84. The convex arcuate surface portions 87 have radii having dimensions at least as great as said predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets 11 of paper pulled from the dispenser through the slot 88, and the body 84 is a metal casting (e.g., of brass) so that it has sufficient weight to afford pulling one of the sheets 11 from the stack 9 through the slot 88 without substantially lifting the body 84 from the stack 9. The base 81 has a cylindrical periphery 90 disposed at generally a right angle to the support surface portion 83 of its top surface, and the body 84 has a downwardly projecting generally cylindrical peripheral wall 91 adapted to project along the periphery 90 of the base 81 with the stack 9 between the body 84 and base 81 to provide means for positioning the body 84 above the base 81. The body 84 has spaced locating lugs 94 projecting toward the base 61 adapted to receive opposite sides of the stack 9 in close fitting relationship to provide means for locating the stack 9 with the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to the arcuate surface portions 87 and with the slot 88 extending generally transversely across the stack 9 centrally between those edges. The base 81 has a circular groove 96 recessed from the support surface 83 adapted to receive the locating lugs 94 in any orientation of the slot 88 transverse to the base 81 when the thickness of the stack 9 is less than the distance the locating lugs 94 project from the pressure surface portions 86 (as is illustrated in Figure 15) to afford dispensing the last sheets in the stack 9. Referring now to Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 there is illustrated a third embodiment of a dispenser 100 according to the present invention for sheets 11 of note paper disposed in a stack 9 having upper and lower surfaces with each of the sheets 11 having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets 11 are adhered together with the sheets 11 being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets 11 at alternate opposite edges of the stack 9. The dispenser 100 comprises a base part or base 101 having a bottom surface adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and a top surface comprising a generally planar support surface portion 103 adapted to support the lower surface of the stack 9; and a body part or body 104 having a top surface 105, and a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions 106 adapted to engage and be supported on the upper surface of the stack 9 parallel to and adjacent the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions 106 engaging the upper surface of the sheets at predetermined distances from the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions 107 between the pressure surface portions 106 and the top surface 105 defining a slot 108 through and extending centrally across the body 104. The convex arcuate surface portions 107 have radii with dimensions at least as great as said predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets 11 of paper pulled from the dispenser through the slot 108, and the body 104 is a metal casting (e.g., of brass) so that it has sufficient weight to afford pulling one of the sheets 11 from the stack 9 through the slot 108 without substantially lifting the body 104 from the stack 9. The body 104 has a cylindrical periphery 110 disposed at generally a right angle to the support surface portion 103 of the top surface, and the base 101 has an upwardly projecting generally cylindrical peripheral wall 111 adapted to project along the periphery 110 of the body 104 with the stack 9 between the body 104 and base 101 to provide means for positioning the body 104 above the base 101. The body 104 has spaced locating lugs 114 projecting toward the base 101 adapted to receive opposite sides of the stack 9 in close fitting relationship to provide means for locating the stack 9 with the edges of the sheets 11 along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to the arcuate surface portions 107 and with the slot 108 extending generally transversely across the stack 9 centrally between those edges. The base 101 has a circular groove 116 recessed from the support surface 103 adapted to receive the locating lugs 114 in any orientation of the slot 108 transverse to the base 101 when the thickness of the stack 9 is less than the distance the locating lugs 114 project past the pressure surface portions 106 (as is illustrated in Figure 10 ) to afford dispensing the last sheets in the stack 9. With any of the dispensers described above, when the end of a sheet that initially projects through the slot in the body is manually pulled through the slot, the opposite end of the sheet being pulled will carry with it the end of the underlying sheet due to the adhesive engagement therebetween while that end of the underlying sheet slides over the sheet beneath it to which it is not adhesively attached. After the opposite end of the sheet being pulled and the adhesively attached end of the underlying sheet move from under the pressure surface portion over them, the follow the adjacent arcuate surface portion and move through the slot, whereupon the adhesive layer on the sheet being pulled will peel away from the underlying sheet to separate it from the dispenser and leave the end of the underlying sheet projecting through the slot. Having thus described the present invention with respect to several embodiments thereof it will be appreciated that further changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

Claims: A dispenser (60, 80, 100) for sheets (11) of note paper disposed in a stack (9) having upper and lower surfaces with each of said sheets (11) having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets (11) are adhered together and with the sheets (11) being stacked (9) with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets (11) at alternate opposite edges of the stack (9), said dispenser (60, 80, 100) being characterized by: a base (61, 81, 101) part having a bottom surface adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and a top surface comprising a generally planar support surface portion (63, 83, 103) adapted to support the lower surface of the stack (9), a body part (64, 84, 104) having a top surface (65, 85, 105), and a bottom surface including spaced pressure surface portions (66, 86, 106) adapted to engage and be supported on the upper surface of the stack (9) adjacent the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated with the spaced pressure surface portions (66, 86, 106) engaging the upper surfaces of the sheets (11) at predetermined distances from the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated, and convex arcuate surface portions (67, 87, 107) between said pressure surface portions (66, 86, 106) and said top surface (65, 85, 105) defining a slot (68, 88, 108) through and extending centrally across said body part (64, 84, 104), said convex arcuate surface portions (67, 87, 107) having radii with a dimension as least as large as said predetermined distances to restrict curling of sheets (11) of paper pulled from the dispenser (60, 80, 100) through the slot (68, 88, 108), said body part (64, 84, 104) having sufficient weight to afford pulling a sheet from the stack (9) through the slot (68, 88, 108) without substantially lifting the body part (64, 84, 104) from the stack (9), means for locating the stack (9) with the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to said arcuate surface portions (67, 87, 107) and with said slot (68, 88, 108) extending generally transversely across the stack (9) centrally between those edges, and means for positioning said body part (64, 84, 104) above said base part (61, 81, 101), whereby one of said parts (61, 81, 101; 64, 84, 104) has a periphery (70, 90, 110) disposed at generally a right angle to said support surface portion (63, 83, 103), and the other of said parts has a peripheral wall (71, 91, 111) adapted to project along said periphery (70, 90, 110) with the stack (9) between said parts (61, 81, 101; 64, 84, 104) to provide said means for positioning said body part (64, 84, 104) above said base part (61, 81, 101). A dispenser (60) according to claim 1 wherein said body part (64) has said periphery (70) disposed at generally a right angle to said support surface portion (63), and said base part (61) has said peripheral wall (71) adapted to project along said periphery (70) with the stack (9) between said parts (64, 61) to provide said means for positioning said body part (64) above said base part (61), said peripheral wall (71) having rectangularly disposed portions adapted to receive the sides of the stack (9) in close fitting relationship, and said periphery (70) being rectangular, with the orientation provided by said rectangular periphery (70) and said peripheral wall (71) providing said means for locating the stack (9) with the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to said arcuate surface portions (67) and with said slot (68) extending generally transversely across the stack (9) centrally between those edges of the sheets (11). A dispenser (60) according to claim 1 wherein each of said arcuate surface portions (67) is defined by spaced elongate parts, and said arcuate surface portions (67) are spaced from said pressure surface portions (66). A dispenser (80) according to claim 1 wherein said base part (81) has said periphery (90) with said periphery (90) being generally cylindrical and disposed at generally a right angle to said support surface portion (83), and said body part (84) has said peripheral wall (91) with said peripheral wall (91) being generally cylindrical and adapted to project along said periphery (90) with the stack (9) between said parts (81, 84) to provide said means for positioning said body part (84) above said base part (81); said body part (84) has locating lugs (94) projecting toward said base part (81) adapted to receive opposite sides of the stack (9) in close fitting relationship to provide said means for locating the stack (9) with the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to said arcuate surface portions (87) and with said slot (88) extending generally transversely across the stack (9) centrally between those edges of the sheets (11); and said base part (81) has a circular groove (96) recessed from said support surface portion (83) adapted to receive said locating lugs (94) in any orientation of said slot (88) transverse to said base (81) part to afford dispensing the last sheets (11) in the stack (9). A dispenser (100) according to claim 1 wherein said body part (104) has said periphery (110) with said periphery (110) being generally cylindrical and disposed at generally a right angle to said support surface portion (103) and said base part (101) has said peripheral wall (111) with said peripheral wall (111) being generally cylindrical and adapted to project along said periphery (110) with the stack (9) between said parts (104, 101) to provide said means for positioning said body part (104) above said base part (101); said body part (104) has locating lugs (114) projecting toward said base part (101) adapted to receive opposite sides of the stack (9) in close fitting relationship to provide said means for locating the stack (9) with the edges of the sheets (11) along which the narrow bands of adhesive are coated generally parallel to said arcuate surface portions (107) and with said slot (108) extending generally transversely across the stack (9) centrally between those edges; and said base part (101) has a circular groove (116) recessed from said support surface portion (103) adapted to receive said locating lugs (114) in any orientation of said slot (108) transverse to said base part (101) to afford dispensing the last sheets (11) in the stack (9).

Inventors: WINDORSKI, DAVID C. C/O MINNESOTA MINING AND
Applicants: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: B42D5, B65D83, B65H3, A47K10