Patent Publication Number: US-7721913-B2

Title: Dispenser for repositionable notes

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a dispenser for repositionable notes having a cover and a base forming a housing. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispenser where the cover includes two slots disposed substantially orthogonal to each other. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Repositionable paper notes are used widely today. Some notes are assembled in a z-stacked (also referred to as “fan fold”) construction. In such a construction, the note, typically square, but can also be rectangular, or special die cut shaped, has opposing front and back surfaces. On the back surface, along an edge or region of the note is a stripe of repositionable adhesive. The front of the note may contain a release coating. The notes are stacked so that the adhesive stripe of each note is positioned on alternating ends of the pad of notes. The pad also includes a bottommost sheet that protects the last repositionable note in the pad. Commercially available pads of z-stacked repositionable notes are available from 3M Company under the Post-It® brand, such as Post-It® Pop-up Notes. 
   There are a wide variety of dispensers for pads of repositionable notes. Examples of commercially available dispensers include those from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., such as, the Designer Series Pop-Up Notes Dispenser, DS440-VP or DS330-VA for 4 by 4 inch or 3 by 3 inch notes respectively, the Professional Design Pop-Up Notes Dispenser, PRO440-VP or PRO330 for 4 by 4 inch or 3 by 3 inch notes respectively. 3M also offers a Professional Design Pop-Up Dispenser PRO331-RB for 3 by 3 inch note with a pen holder where the dispenser is mountable on a vertical surface. These dispensers offer attractive designs and are functional. 
   There is a continuing need for different dispensers for the market place. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one aspect, the present invention pertains to dispenser for a pad of repositionable notes. The dispenser comprises a base having opposing interior and exterior surfaces; a cover having opposing interior and exterior surfaces and two slots disposed substantially orthogonally to one another, the slots being sized to accommodate the repositionable notes, the cover disposed on the base forming a cavity; and a biasing mechanism disposed inside the cavity. The two slots are sometimes referred to as a cross-slot. The dispenser is preferably used with a pad of z-stacked repositionable notes. Optionally, the dispenser also comprises means for latching, and if desired, for securing the cover and the base. 
   In another aspect, the present invention pertains to a dispenser for a pad of repositionable notes comprising (i) a housing comprising a cover and a base, the cover comprising two slots disposed substantially orthogonal to one another, the slots being sized to allow for dispensing the notes, and (ii) means for biasing the pad against the cover; the means for biasing the pad disposed inside the housing. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that there exists no preferred orientation to install the cover on to the base. Thus, the user is unlikely to make an error in the assembly process. The dispenser is particularly suited for display on a vertical surface, such as a wall. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that because of the cross-slots, the pad can be installed into the dispenser in two orientations and the dispenser remains operational. 
   In this document, all numerical values are presumed to be modified by the term “about.” 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can be further described with reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary cover for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary base for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary biasing mechanism for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary attachment mechanism for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 4  with the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 6  assembled therein; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 4  with the biasing mechanism of  FIG. 5  and the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 6  assembled therein; 
       FIG. 9  is a back plan view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  taken along line  9 - 9  and further includes a pad of repositionable notes installed in the dispenser. 
   

   These figures are idealized, are not drawn to scale, and are intended merely for illustrative purposes. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary dispenser  10  having cover  20  and base  30 . The shape of the cover and the base are substantially the same. When assembled together, they form a cavity or a housing where a pad of repositionable notes can be installed for dispensing. In this embodiment, the cover and base have a substantially square geometry with rounded corners. Other geometries can be used, such as, without limitation, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, and the like. Non-polygon shaped geometries can be used as well, such as, without limitation, circles. With the polygons, preferably the sides are substantially equal to one another so that any rotation of the cover with respect to the base does not alter their assembly. That is, in the present invention, the cover and the base are designed with no particular alignment of one with respect to the other. The cover includes first slot  26  and second slot  27  that intersect each other at about their respective midpoints, denoted as reference number  28 . The slots are disposed substantially orthogonally to one another forming a cross-slot. The slots create opening in the cover for dispensing of a repositionable note, as further explained below. The dispenser also includes optional utensil holding device  38 . The dispenser has a major axis, denoted as line L 1 , disposed generally parallel to one of the two slots. The major axis also lies parallel to an uppermost sheet of a pad of repositionable notes once installed in the dispenser. The exterior surface of the cover is denoted as reference number  20   b.    
   In one application, a pad of fan-fold repositionable notes is installed in the dispenser such that the adhesive stripes of the notes lie generally parallel to slot  26 . In another application, the pad is installed such that the adhesive stripes of the notes lie generally parallel to slot  27 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a side view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 . This view makes clear that the utensil holding device extends from the base, although the device may extend from the cover, if desired. Reference line L 2  denotes a minor axis of the dispenser disposed orthogonal to the major axis L 1 . The dispenser further includes spring-loaded tab  60  disposed on one side of the base. As further explained below, the spring-loaded tab provides a mechanism for convenient assembly and disassembly of the cover from the base. While the spring-loaded tab is shown to be on the side opposite of the utensil holding device, it may be positioned on the either of the two sides adjacent to the side containing the utensil holding device. An attachment mechanism  70  lies proximate to the exterior surface of the base. The attachment mechanism extends from the spring-loaded tab towards the utensil holding device. As can be seen, the cover is curved from its edge towards its center approaching the slots. 
     FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the cover of dispenser of  FIG. 1  looking primarily at its interior surface  20   a . The cover includes a plurality of optional spacers  23 , each having sheet contacting zone  23   a  disposed between two retainers  23   b . The retainers lie substantially parallel to the minor axis of the dispenser. In this particular embodiment, four spacers are used and are positioned generally at the rounded corners of the substantially square shaped dispenser. In use, once the dispenser has been assembled with a pad of repositionable notes (not shown) disposed in the cavity, the uppermost repositionable note of the pad contacts the sheet contacting zone on the spacers and the retainers generally contact the side of the pad minimizing its movement along the major axis of the dispenser during the dispensing. The cover further includes ribs  24  extending from the interior surface of the cover and tracing nearly the entire length of the perimeter of the two slots. In this particular embodiment, the ribs do not trace the rounded ends of the slots. The cover further includes a plurality of notches  22 , which forms a part of the latching mechanism. The notches are located on the edge of the cover approximately at the midpoint of the each side. 
     FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the base  30  of  FIG. 1  as viewed primarily from its interior surface  30   a . The base includes a tab  32  that cooperates with the notches of the cover to form a latching mechanism. The tab has a prong section  32   a  extending from a body section  32   b . During assembly, the prong section of the tab in the base mate with the notches of the cover thereby latching the two components together. In this embodiment, two tabs are disposed at the midpoint on opposing sides of the base. In this way, the cover can be rotated up to 360° from its initial position with respect to the base, in 90° increments, and latching mechanism enables the assembly of the two. For ease of disassembly, one of the tabs, denoted as reference number  60 , is a spring-loaded tab. The spring loaded tab functions in cooperation with a stop  31  extending from the interior surface of the base. By pushing into the spring-loaded tab (i.e., towards the cavity and into the stop), a user is able to lift one side of the cover off of the base to initiate the disassembly of the dispenser to, e.g., reload it with another pad of repositionable notes. The base also includes a primary arm  33 , with its associated opening  32   a , and a secondary arm  35 , with its associated opening  35   a , that cooperates with a paddle of a biasing mechanism, as discussed in detail below. In this particular embodiment, two primary arms and two secondary arms are used. 
   Disposed between the two primary arms is a spindle  34  having a torsion spring  55  attached. As further explained below, the torsion spring is a component of the biasing mechanism. The torsion spring includes a coil portion  55   a  having opposing first and second ends. The torsion spring further includes first and second tangs  55   b  extending from the first and second end of the coil portion respectively. In use, once assembled, one of the tangs lies in a first groove  41  located on the interior surface of the base. The other tang would be in contact with a second groove located on a bottom surface of the paddle of the biasing mechanism. The combination of the first and second grooves keeps the torsion spring stationary during use. 
   The base optionally includes a utensil holding device  38  disposed on its exterior surface and along one side. If desired, a plurality of utensil holding devices can be added to the base. The utensil holding device has an arcuate surface that would provide interference fit with a writing utensil (not shown). While  FIG. 4  shows the tab  32  disposed on the same edge of the base as the utensil holding device, the two can be on separate sides of the dispenser if desired. Optionally, the base includes a first aperture  36  that cooperates with an attachment mechanism thereby allowing the dispenser to be conveniently mounted to and removed from a display surface. The first aperture has opposing first and second walls,  39  and  40  respectively, that define its length. Extending from the first wall into the first opening towards the second wall is a protrusion  42  that cooperates with the attachment assembly. The base further includes an optional second aperture  37  disposed adjacent to the first aperture. The cooperation of the attachment mechanism with the first and second apertures is discussed further below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle  50  that can be used in cooperation the torsion spring to form the biasing mechanism, which is located inside the cavity formed when the cover and base are assembled together. The paddle is generally an elongated structure having opposing pad contacting surface  50   a  and bottom surface  50   b  being bound by two substantially parallel side walls  50   d ,  50   e . Extension  53  extends from the side edge near a first end  50   c  of the paddle. This particular embodiment uses two extensions, each being generally circular in its cross section. The paddle also includes a distance-controlling unit  54  that cooperates with the second arm of the base to limit the travel distance of the paddle. The distance-controlling unit includes a leg  54   a  extending from the bottom surface of the paddle and a foot  54   b  extending from a distal end of the leg. The leg is elongated and has a substantially straight front surface facing toward the extension. In one embodiment, two distance-controlling units are used. The paddle further includes opening  51  that cooperates with the secondary arm of the base. 
     FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an attachment mechanism  70  that can be used in cooperation with the base to allow for convenient attachment and removal of the dispenser from a display surface, such as a wall. The attachment mechanism includes a generally elongated platform  72  having opposing first surface  72   a  and second surface  72   b . A raised portion  74  is disposed on a portion of the first surface of the platform. At the area where the raised portion is disposed on the platform, the raised area is narrower in width as compared to the platform. One end of the raised portion has a protrusion  74   a  that, in combination with the first surface of the platform forms a hook like feature  78 . The attachment mechanism optionally includes a key  76 . In use, the raised portion and the key of the attachment mechanism cooperates with the first and second apertures of the base respectively. 
     FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 4  with the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 6  installed. As can be seen, the key of the attachment mechanism is located in the second aperture of the base. The key occupies only a portion of the second aperture leaving a gap distance of dimension X. Furthermore, the raised portion of the attachment mechanism is located in the first aperture of the base. The raised portion occupies only a part of the first aperture leaving a gap distance Y. The gap distance X and Y are substantially equal so that when the user slides the dispenser in a direction substantially parallel to its major axis, the key travels from its installed position shown in  FIG. 7  to the first wall  39  of the first aperture and the raised portion travels from its installed position shown in  FIG. 7  to the second wall  40  of the first aperture thereby causing the dispenser to disengage from the attachment mechanism thus allowing the dispenser to be removed from its display surface. 
     FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 4  with the biasing mechanism of  FIG. 5  and the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 6  installed. The placement of the biasing mechanism obscures a portion of the attachment mechanism. The opening  51 , disposed near the first end of the paddle, allows the secondary arm  35  of the base to clear through the paddle. The extension  53  of the paddle is hingedly coupled to the first arm  33  of the base. The feet of the distance controlling unit  54  of the paddle catches onto the secondary arm  35  of the base thereby limiting the travel distance of the paddle along the minor axis of the dispenser. When not in use, i.e., when there is no pad of repositionable notes installed in the dispenser and the dispenser is assembled, a portion of the first surface  50   a  of the paddle comes into contact with the ribs  24  of the cover (see  FIG. 3 ). This position can be referred to as an initial position. When a pad of repositionable notes is installed into the dispenser (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), the pad rests on a pad contacting surface  50   a  of the paddle. The weight of the pad forces the paddle to move towards the interior surface of the base. When loaded with the pad, the torsion spring experiences more compressive force as compared to the initial position. As individual notes are dispensed, the weight of the pad is reduced. The torsion spring, however, maintains an upward force pushing against the bottom surface of the paddle thereby pushing the uppermost note in the pad against the ribs located on the interior surface of the cover. In this way, individual notes are available for dispensing until the last note in the pad has been consumed. 
     FIG. 9  is a back plan view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  showing the exterior surface  30   b  of the base and a stretch release adhesive strip  80  with a rounded non-adhesive end tab. Such an adhesive strip includes an adhesive portion, which would adhere to the second surface of the platform, and the end tab extends from one end of the platform. The use of the stretch releasing adhesive strip provides one convenient method of displaying the dispenser to an intended surface, such as without limitation, a vertical wall. Suitable stretch release adhesive strips are commercially available under the Command™ brand, from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. Also shown are openings  35   a  associated with the secondary arm  35 , openings  32   a  associated with primary arm  33 , and openings  38   a  associated with the optional utensil holding device. 
     FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  taken along line  10 - 10  with a pad  90  of repositionable notes installed with top note  91  of the pad extending through the slot. The paddle  50  supports the pad with its pad contacting surface touching the bottom most sheet in the pad. The pad has an uppermost note that simultaneously touches the ribs located on the interior surface of the cover and the sheet contact zone of the spacers. The sides of the pad contact the retainers of the spacers, which help minimize pad movement when individual notes are dispensed. This view also shows with better clarity a spring  62  of the spring loaded tab. 
   In one embodiment, the dispenser of  FIG. 1  has the following dimensions: length of 12 cm; rounded corners having a radius of curvature of 2.5 cm; slot length of 10.5 cm with a radius of curvature at the end of the slot of 0.7 cm; height of 3.5 cm at the highest point, as measured from the base. The biasing mechanism has a paddle length of 5.7 cm and a width of 3 cm. This particular dispenser is appropriately sized for a 10.2 cm square (4×4 inch) pad of repositionable notes. 
   The dispenser can be made of a variety of materials including, plastics, metals, and woods. Suitable plastic materials include, but not limited to, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer) and polystyrene. 
   Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.