Abstract:
A dispenser container ballast for removably providing an additional mass to a light weight dispenser container. The container ballast includes a weighted mass that may be inserted between a sidewall of a dispenser container and a flap secured to the sidewall. The ballast permits single handed dispensing of carried by the dispenser, such as a tissue.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates dispensing containers, and more particularly to a ballast apparatus for light weight dispensing containers. 
         [0002]    Dispensing containers for light weight articles, such as tissues, have difficulty with remaining in place when a user attempts to remove an in item from the container. In the case of tissue containers, this problem is particularly pronounced when the dispensing container is first opened and the container is relatively full. The problem is also encountered when the dispenser is close to an empty condition. In these circumstances, when the user attempts to use for example a tissue, the whole container may lift from its place, without dispensing the tissue. As such, a user may need to utilize another hand to hold the container while withdrawing a tissue from the container. This is inconvenient, and may facilitate the spread of germs when multiple users may be utilizing the same dispenser. More susceptible containers may be found in a common area of an office, restrooms, and especially in a doctor&#39;s office where sick people may be present in higher numbers. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that can stabilize a dispenser to facilitate single handed dispensing of articles from the container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a dispenser ballast, includes a substantially flat plate having a first end and a second end. The first end has a pointed tip adapted for insertion between a sidewall of the dispenser and a flap adhered to the sidewall of the dispenser. The flat plate is has a length such that it is substantially contained beneath the flap when inserted. The dispenser ballast may also be configured with a tab extending laterally outward from the second end of the substantially flat plate. The tab may be dimensioned to extend outward by at least a thickness of the flap. 
         [0005]    In certain embodiments of the invention, a bevel is defined along an edge surface of the pointed tip. The substantially flat plate is formed of a weighted material, which may be a metal or a ceramic. 
         [0006]    Other aspects of the invention include a method of weighting a dispenser. The method includes providing a dispenser ballast, having a substantially flat plate with a first end and a second end. The first end has a pointed tip adapted for insertion between a sidewall of the dispenser and a flap adhered to the sidewall, the flat plate should have a length such that it is substantially contained beneath the flap when inserted. 
         [0007]    The method includes inserting the dispenser ballast between the sidewall and the flap. In certain preferred embodiments, the method includes inserting the dispenser ballast until a tab extending laterally outward from the second end of the substantially flat plate contacts a side edge of the flap. In other aspects of the invention, the method includes removing the dispenser ballast from the dispenser when a supply of articles carried by the dispenser has been depleted. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser ballast in use. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser ballast in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the dispenser ballast in use. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the dispenser ballast. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the dispenser ballast. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the dispenser ballast. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a weighted ballast that may be readily secured within a dispenser carton. 
         [0017]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 1  a dispenser ballast  10  is illustrated in use with a dispenser container, in this case a carton of tissues  12 . The dispenser carton  12  is typically made of a cardboard material that is folded into shape and will typically have flaps or tabs  14  that may be joined with the carton  12  via an adhesive. One or more dispenser ballasts  10  may be inserted beneath the flap  14  and conveniently received in a void between the adhesive and the body of the carton  12 . 
         [0018]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the dispenser ballast  10  may be formed from a substantially flat plate  16 , formed of a dense weighted material, such as metal, ceramics, or the like. The plate  16  has a first end  20  that is pointed to facilitate insertion of the ballast  10  between the flap  14  and the container  12 . The point  20  may have beveled side edges to assist with lifting or wedging the point  20  beneath the flap  14  for initial insertion of the ballast  10 . The point  20  may further guide the first end of the ballast around the adhesive layer securing the flap  14  to the carton  12 . 
         [0019]    The ballast  10  has a second end  18  that may be blunt or slightly rounded to facilitate pushing the ballast  10  between the flap  14  and the walls of the container  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the second end of the ballast  10  has a tab  18  that protrudes from an outer face of the flat plate  16 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 3 , the tab  18  is preferably dimensioned to extend outwardly from the outer face of the flat plate  16  by at least the thickness of the flap  14  so that tab  18  may engage with a side edge of the flap  14 . In this case, the tab  18  serves as a stop to limit the insertion of the ballast  10  beneath the flap  14 . More preferably, the tab  18  is dimensioned to be slightly greater that the thickness of the flap  14  so that the tab  18  may be accessible by a user&#39;s finger tips to facilitate extraction of the ballast  10  from the carton  12  when the contents of the carton  12  have been depleted. The ballast  10  may then be reused with a new dispensing carton  12 . 
         [0020]    For optimum performance, the ballast  10  may be coated with a frictional coating that will facilitate the side surfaces of the ballast with griping the inner surfaces of the container  12  into which they are inserted and be retained therein until removed by the user. The coating may be of a resilient, or rubberized compound, or the like. 
         [0021]    According to the present invention, a plurality of dispenser ballasts  10  may be inserted beneath the various flaps  14  of the carton  12  to provide additional mass for the particular dispenser  12 . In the embodiments shown, each of the plurality of dispenser ballasts  10  are received within its own flap  14  pocket. Depending on the configuration of the particular dispenser  12 , where there are for example fewer flaps  14 , two or more ballasts  10  may also be inserted beneath the same flap  14  to provide sufficient weight for maintaining the dispenser in place. 
         [0022]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.