Abstract:
A system for dispensing paper hand towels comprises a universal frame installed in a fixed location, a first modular paper towel dispenser detachably mounted on the universal frame, and a second modular paper towel dispenser having a dispensing mechanism distinct from a dispensing mechanism of the first modular paper towel dispenser. The second modular paper towel dispenser may be detachably mounted on the universal frame in place of the first modular paper towel dispenser. In another embodiment, a damaged modular paper towel dispenser may be replaced with another modular paper towel dispenser.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a system and method for mounting a modular hand towel dispensing unit.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Wall mounted dispensers for paper or hand toweling have long been known. They find their widest application in institutional settings such as schools, airports, movie theaters, stadiums, and recreation parks, as well as in office buildings, restaurants and other public areas. The dispensers may be provided as individual surface mounted units, or they may be recessed into wall openings. In the latter case, a complete dispenser assembly usually comprises both the towel dispenser itself as well as a frame fixed in place in the wall opening for receiving the dispenser. It is common to rivet, spot weld or otherwise permanently attach the towel dispenser to the frame during construction of the dispenser assembly. At present, such assemblies may be factory pre-assembled, crated, and shipped to a job site for installation of the complete dispenser assembly as a single unit in a recessed opening in a wall.  
         [0003]     Because these towel dispenser assemblies are generally installed in high traffic areas and may be used up to several hundred times a day, it is possible that the dispenser could become damaged or vandalized and need to be replaced. Alternately, it may be desirable to switch from one type of dispenser to another to provide a different type of towel (folded, rolled or center pulled or another method known to one skilled in the art), a different mode of operation (manual to semi manual and/or to electronic), or due to a change in the work environment.  
         [0004]     Currently, because the frame and dispenser assembly are permanently attached to one another and installed together in a recessed opening as a completed assembly, such a change usually requires the costly replacement of the entire dispenser and frame assembly. This at least requires the additional expense of providing a new frame assembly in addition to providing a new dispenser, and may also necessitate refinishing work be done around the frame. As an alterative to this approach, the dispenser only may be replaced. However, since the dispenser fixedly assembles to the frame such that it becomes an integral part of the frame, this requires forcibly separating the towel dispenser from the frame by cutting through portions of the frame. While this may achieve the desired end and functionality, with this approach the new assembly has an undesirable aesthetic look.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     A system for dispensing paper hand towels comprises a universal frame installed in a fixed location, a first modular paper towel dispenser detachably mounted on the universal frame, and a second modular paper towel dispenser having a dispensing mechanism distinct from a dispensing mechanism of the first modular paper towel dispenser. The second modular paper towel dispenser may be detachably mounted on the universal frame in place of the first modular paper towel dispenser. In an alternative embodiment, a method of assembling a paper hand towel dispenser and frame assembly comprises a first step of fixably attaching a universal frame to a support surface, a second step of mounting a first modular paper towel dispenser on the universal frame, and a third step of replacing the first modular paper towel dispenser with a second modular paper towel dispenser having a dispensing mechanism distinct from a dispensing mechanism of the first modular paper towel dispenser.  
         [0006]     In another exemplary embodiment, a system for providing toiletries to a user comprises both a universal frame installed in a fixed location and at least one user module removably mounted in the universal frame using a fastener assembly accessible from an interior of the user module. In a further embodiment, the user module dispenses paper products, and the fastener assembly includes at least one nut and screw pair. In yet another embodiment, a damaged modular paper towel dispenser may be replaced with another modular paper towel dispenser. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a modular paper towel dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the isometric view of  FIG. 1  wherein the user module is mounted within the frame to form a completed assembly;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed isometric view of the point of attachment between the user module and the frame of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  shows the detailed isometric view of  FIG. 3  wherein the fastener assembly is used to join the user module and the frame;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a simplified overhead schematic view of a user module mounted within a frame, the frame in turn being mounted in a recessed wall opening;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a slide-lock assembly is used to join a user module and a frame;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of yet another alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a retaining tab and lock assembly are used to join a user module and a frame;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a top view of yet another alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a slide and snap assembly are used to join a user module and a frame;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart detailing the assembly and installation process of the modular paper towel dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0017]     Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of components set forth in the following description, or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of alternative embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. For example, numerical dimensions and other specified numerical limitations, where they appear on the following drawings represent those of exemplary embodiments only and may be modified by one skilled in the art as conditions warrant. Also, it is to be understood, that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of illustrative description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     In an exemplary embodiment of the present modular paper towel dispenser, a towel dispensing unit is provided as a separate module to be removably mounted on a frame after the installation of the frame in a recessed wall opening. The frame may be a “universal” frame, designed to receive various types of towel dispensers each having a standard profile which may be compatibly received by the frame. With this embodiment, a fast, convenient and economically viable solution may be provided for replacement of the towel dispenser unit. In addition this embodiment is a highly configurable system which allows a greater ease of customization of the completed assembly.  
         [0019]     In another exemplary embodiment, a unit is providing for dispensing various types of toiletries to a user. The toiletry dispensing unit may also be provided as a separate module removably mounted on a “universal” frame, designed to receive various types of toiletry dispensers including but not limited to paper towel dispensers, each dispenser having a standard profile to be received by the frame. In this embodiment, the toiletry dispensing unit is removably mounted in the frame using a fastener assembly which may include at least one nut and screw pair, and may be accessible from an interior of the dispensing unit.  
         [0020]     Furthermore, developers may install the universal frame before a choice is made as to which dispenser module will be used at a particular location, nor need they wait for delivery of the module to do any required aesthetic finishing work around the frame. Moreover with the present embodiment, replacing the dispenser unit becomes an economical and viable possibility. Because in an exemplary embodiment of the present modular paper towel dispenser the universal frame is a common part which can work with a variety of dispenser modules, manufacturers of the frame benefit from an increased economy of scale and a minimized inventory which comes from needing to construct and keep on hand supplies of a single frame design.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a completed modular paper towel dispenser  100  is constructed by assembling a user module  120 , which may be a towel dispensing unit, together with a universal frame  110 . The frame  110  is provided with a pair of vertical frame walls  111  at the sides of the frame  110 , which walls  111  intersect orthogonally with a pair of horizontal frame walls  112  to form a rectangular recess or enclosure for receiving the user module  120 .  
         [0022]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame  110  may be constructed of folded or stamped sheet metal, and more specifically satin finish stainless steel. The frame  110  may be installed recessed into a wall opening, and may be provided with dedicated mounting slots or openings to allow the frame  110  to be mounted on framing members within the wall using known fastening means. Alternately, the frame  110  may be mounted in a recessed wall opening using rivets, welds, construction adhesives, or another method known to one skilled in the art.  
         [0023]     The frame  110  may be provided with edges  114  at the periphery of the frame  110  for overlapping the edges of an opening in which the frame  110  is installed to present a more finished exterior appearance. The additional folds in the material of the frame  110  at the frame edges  114  also serve to reinforce and add rigidity to the frame  110 . The frame is also provided with mounting apertures  115  to allow the mounting of the user module  120 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , other modules in addition to the user module  120 , such as a waste receptacle  119 , may be attached to the frame  110 .  
         [0024]     A variety of user modules  120  may be provided for use with the frame  110 . These units may be of modular construction so that many different units may be installed in the same universal frame. As such, the mode of operation of a particular user module in use on a frame can be changed by simply exchanging it for a new module. In an exemplary embodiment, it is envisioned that the user module  120  will be a paper towel dispensing module for use in a public restroom or other similar facility, although any module useful in a large scale institutional setting such as a school, airport or stadium may be substituted. In an alternative embodiment, the use of a universal frame system with modules which may be removably mounted thereon need not be limited to washroom facilities. For example, the frame may be installed in a hallway or other thoroughfare, and modules may be provided thereon for drinking fountains, ashtrays, fire alarms, etc.  
         [0025]     Returning now to towel dispensing units, multiple designs exist for these systems including folded towel and roll towel units, among others. The type and the design of the towel dispensing unit depends on the type of the paper towels used and the way the unit is operated. For example, in two contrasting methods, towels may be provided in either single folded form or in a roll, and the dispenser module may be operated by manually pulling the folded towel, manually pulling the rolled towel which is in horizontal or in vertical position, or by using a crank (metered or otherwise) or lever which the user operates to dispense toweling. The crank and lever mechanisms are continuously operable so that the user can withdraw any length of towel, whereas the metered crank mechanism allows the user to withdraw only a predetermined length of towel and thereby conserves paper. The dispenser module may also be operated by an electronic dispensing mechanism having an electronic sensor activated by the motion of a hand or other object in the field of the sensor.  
         [0026]     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the user module  120  is a manual pull horizontal roll towel unit having a body  128  housing a dispenser mechanism  121  and a module door  129 . In a further embodiment both the body  128  and module door  129  may be constructed of folded or stamped satin finish stainless steel to match the frame  110  on which the user module  120  will be mounted, although other materials such as injection molded ABS plastic are also possible for the user module  120 . The dispensing mechanism  121  may have a metered crank and paper feed rollers, as well as a cutting element to sever a dispensed length of paper toweling. Hinge elements may also be provided to connect a module door  129  to the body  128 , as well as a lock for the module door  129  to inhibit unauthorized entry. Each of these parts may be mechanically fastened to the body  128 , such as by riveting. The user module  120  may also be provided with one or more mounting apertures  125  to provide for the mounting of the module to the frame  110 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the completed assembly of  FIG. 1  wherein the user module  120  is mounted within the frame  110  to form a completed assembly. As with  FIG. 1 , the frame  110  comprises pairs of frame walls  111  and frame walls  112 . Frame edges  114  are provided to allowed the frame  110  to sit flush in the opening in which it is placed. To install, the user module  120  is placed in the frame  110  such that mounting apertures  125  provided on the user module  120  align with mounting apertures  115  provided on the frame  110 , after which the user module  120  may be attached to the frame  110  as shown in further detail in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the point of attachment between the user module  120  and the frame  110  of  FIG. 2 , showing a fastener assembly  130  which may be passed through the mounting aperture  125  provided on the body  128  of the user module to communicate with a mounting aperture provided on the frame behind (not shown). The mounting aperture  125  and the mounting aperture provided on the frame may be of a matching keyhole type so that the fastener assembly  130  may be passed through the apertures and maneuvered into the slotted portion as shown before tightening to securely join the body  128  of the user module and the frame assembly together. The door  129  may be attached to the body  128  using a hinge  127 , and as mentioned above a lock may be provided for the module door  129  to inhibit unauthorized opening. Given this and given that the fastener assemblies  130  are normally only accessible through the interior of the user module  120 , this prevents unwanted tampering with components in the interior of the user module, including the fastener assemblies themselves.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows the detailed isometric view of  FIG. 3  wherein the fastener assembly has been tightened accordingly to detachably mount the user module on the frame assembly (not shown). Although  FIGS. 3 and 4  shows the fastener assembly  130  as a nut and machine screw pair, alternative embodiments such as sheet metal screws or other appropriate fasteners will be apparent to one skilled in the art to allow a user module to be detachably mounted to a frame assembly. In other alternative embodiments, slide or snap-on connectors may be used, as well as other detachable fastener methods known to those skilled in the art. In this manner one user module may be exchanged for another on a frame assembly using only simple tools, in the case of the nut and machine screw pair, or without tools, in the case of the slide or snap-on connectors. Furthermore, the user module may be exchanged for another without structural damage to either the module itself or the frame on which it is mounted.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a simplified overhead schematic view of a user module mounted within a frame, the frame in turn being mounted in a recessed wall opening. As shown, a completed assembly  500  consists of a frame  510  having a user module  520  mounted therein using at least one fastener assembly  530 . The recessed opening provided in the wall  550  allows the frame to remain flush with the surface of the wall  550  after installation. In the arrangement shown, the frame  510  is secured to the wall  550 . Because the fastener assemblies  530  are accessible from the interior of the user module  520 , it is possible to mount the module to the frame after the frame  510  has been permanently and fixably installed in the recessed wall opening so that neither its exterior nor its interior will be easily accessible once the user module  520  has been put in place for mounting. This is done simply by manipulating the fastener assemblies  530  as described above, which process may be reversed and repeated when a replacement user module is to be installed. In an alternative embodiment, the frame  510  need not be recessed into a wall opening, rather it need only be fixedly attached in a location to provide an easily accessible mounting platform for the user module  520  detachably mounted thereon.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a slide-lock assembly is used to join a user module and a frame. In this embodiment, a frame  660  is provided having frame edges  662 . The frame  660  receives a user module  661 , which user module  661  is supported in the frame  660  using the rails  665  and  667 , the former of which is attached to a side of the user module  661  in the vicinity of the joggled or indented area  663  and the latter is attached to the frame  660 . Rails  665  and  667  together provide an interlocking assembly allowing the user module  661  to slide into the frame  660 . The rail  667  is positioned along a side wall of the frame  660  such that a gap is left between the rail  667  and a rear wall  690  of the frame  660 . Accordingly, a lock assembly  664  is provided on the rear of the user module  661  such that after the module is slid into the frame  660 , the lock assembly  664  may be rotated so that a portion moves behind the joggled area  663  and into position in the gap between the rail  667 , fixing the user module  661  in position within the frame  660  and preventing removal except to those with access to the interior of the user module  661 . The lock assembly  664  comprises in one embodiment a cam tumbler lock.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of yet another alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a retaining tab and lock assembly are used to join a user module and a frame. In this embodiment, the user module  761  is attached to the frame  760  at two points, a tab  772  extending through a slot in the top of the user module  761 , and by a lock assembly  770 , mounted to the frame  760  in a bracket  773  and also having a tab  771  extending through a slot in the user module  761 . In alternative embodiments, the lock assembly  770  may be positioned within the user module  761  so that the tab  771  extends through a slot in the user module  761  to engage with a bracket or other mounting point located exteriorly to the module. In this way the lock assembly  770  is protected within the body of the user module  761  itself, which may be provided with a separate lock assembly  770  to prevent entry. Alternately, a spring latch may be provided within the user module  761  in place of this interiorly mounted lock assembly.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows a top view of yet another alternative embodiment of a modular paper towel dispenser wherein a slide and snap assembly are used to join a user module and a frame. Rails  866  are provided within a joggled area  863  of the user module  861  as an interlocking assembly mounted to both the user module  861  and the frame  860 , allowing the former to slide into the latter. A spring latch  880  is provided mounted to the interior of the user module  861 , and having a deflecting tab  891  extending through a cutout in the module to engage behind a rail mounted on the frame  860 . In this way the user module  861  may be slid into the frame  860  and automatically lock therein when the spring latch  880  snaps into position behind the rail mounted on the frame  860 . A user wishing to exchange the user module  861  need only access the interior of the module and deflect the deflecting tab  891  of the spring latch  880  to free the user module  861  from the frame  860 .  FIG. 9  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . The rails  866  allowing the frame  860  to receive the user module  861  are shown in outline within the joggled area  863 . The spring latch  880  is also shown having a deflecting tab  891  extending through the cutout  881  to engage behind one of the rails  966 .  
         [0034]     Finally, in  FIG. 10 a  flowchart is shown detailing the assembly and installation process of the modular paper towel dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention. A recessed wall opening is prepared to receive a universal frame as shown in box  610 . In box  620 , the frame is installed in the opening. Box  630  shows the optional step of finishing the opening around the frame with the application of a layer of plaster, specialty trim pieces or other means. Boxes  640  and  650  show the selection and installation of a user module to complete the dispenser assembly. Using this exemplary method, the paper towel assembly has both a desired functionality, the aesthetic look and the flexibility of being able to switch back and forth between different types of towel dispenser units. Accordingly, this approach provides a fast, convenient and economically viable solution when a replacement of the towel dispenser unit is needed and or desired.