Patent Publication Number: US-11641986-B2

Title: Multi-orientation towel dispenser

Description:
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/119,807, filed Dec. 1, 2020 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a process and apparatus for dispensing paper towels, and more particularly for a stack of interfolded paper towels. For this invention, the term “paper towel” is intended to broadly cover all sheet paper products designed to dry or clean surfaces including, for example, napkins, wipes, towels and tissues as well as other items generally referred to as paper towels. 
     Individual paper towels are frequently dispensed from a stack of interfolded or C-fold paper towels. The paper towels can have a single-fold or multifold construction. A single-fold paper towel is formed from a rectangular sheet which has one fold line extending generally parallel to the two side edges of the sheet. The fold line subdivides the sheet into two sections which are usually of equal size. When stacked, the sections of each paper towel are superposed and adapted to receive therebetween one section from each of the two adjacent towels. The fold lines of the two adjacent paper towels are opposed to the fold line of the first towel. Further, the two adjacent towels will each receive one section of the first towel between their overlapping sections. 
     One form of multifold paper towel is interfolded in a stack much like a single fold paper towel. These towels include a plurality of fold lines to define a multiple of overlapping sections arranged in an accordion style. In a stack, one section of each paper towel is received between a pair of sections of each adjacent paper towel. Another form of multifold paper towel is the C-fold paper towel. A C-fold paper towel is formed from a single sheet and folded to have a generally C-shaped configuration. While the towels are stacked for dispensing, they are not interfolded together. 
     A stack of paper towels may be dispensed from an enclosed bin provided with an elongate opening along its bottom surface. Typically, this type of dispenser may be mounted on a wall in a kitchen, bathroom, workshop or other environment. One section of the bottommost paper towel protrudes from the opening to be grasped and dispensed by a user. In an interfolded stack such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,554, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, pulling a paper towel from the bin will cause the lower section of the next paper towel to protrude from the opening. In a stack of C-fold towels, a flap of the next towel is exposed for grasping after the bottommost towel is removed. However, in either case, multiple towels are occasionally dispensed when the bottommost towel is pulled out of the opening. The risk of dispensing multiple towels is particularly acute when the stack is low, and less weight and friction are available to hold the remaining towels in the bin. 
     Interfolded paper towels may also be dispensed from an opening in the top of an enclosed box. Typically, this type of dispenser is located on a countertop or other horizontal surface in a kitchen, bathroom, workshop or other environment. In essentially the same way, pulling the uppermost paper towel out of the box causes one section of the next paper towel to protrude from the opening. However, as the stack becomes smaller, a larger and larger gap is formed between the opening and the top of the stack. 
     Finally, many dispensers are provided to a commercial, industrial or retail establishment by a service provided such as Cintas®, the assignee of this invention. Such providers of service equipment must stock and inventory a wide variety of equipment. It is duplicative and cumbersome to stock and provide multiple types of paper towel dispensers, such as wall mounted bottom dispensers and countertop top dispensers. The problem is multiplied when a variety of finishes are available and each finish must be available in both wall mounted and countertop paper towel dispensers. 
     Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved paper towel dispenser that does not suffer from these and other drawbacks with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other shortcomings in the prior art have been addressed by this invention, which in various embodiments is a multi-orientation paper towel dispenser. Dispensers of this invention are capable of being used in one orientation for dispensing paper towels upwardly when situated on a countertop and also in a second orientation for dispensing paper towels downwardly when mounted on a wall or other surface. Moreover, the dispensers of various embodiments of this invention can be easily modified to present a different finish by installing the desired outer shell components on the dispenser. As such, a single dispenser can be employed in a variety of orientations, appearances and environments thereby reducing the number of dispenser types required for supplying a variety of installations. 
     In various embodiments, a dispenser of this invention utilizes an inner cartridge adapted to house a stack of interleaved paper towels. The paper towels are urged by a spring toward a dispensing slot situated on a housing surrounding the cartridge. A cover may be provided on an end of the housing opposite from the dispensing slot. As such, the dispenser of this invention may be utilized in an upward dispensing orientation when situated on a countertop or the like or in a downward dispensing orientation when mounted on a wall. The spring urges the leading paper towel in the stack toward the dispensing slot in either orientation for convenient access to the towel by a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a paper towel dispenser in a first orientation according to this invention; 
         FIG.  2    is view similar to  FIG.  1    with the dispenser in a second orientation; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the components of the dispenser of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  3 A- 3 F  are enlarged perspective views of select components shown in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  5 - 7    are sequential views similar to  FIG.  4    showing the release and upward movement of a cartridge within a housing of the dispenser; 
         FIG.  7 A  is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion  FIG.  7    of the engagement of the cartridge with the housing of the dispenser; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a stack of paper towels being loaded in the cartridge of the dispenser of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG.  4    with the stack of paper towels loaded in the cartridge; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG.  1    in a second orientation with hardware for mounting the dispenser on a wall; and 
         FIGS.  11 - 13    are partial cross sectional views of the dispenser of  FIG.  10    being mounted on the wall with the hardware. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an embodiment of a paper towel dispenser  10  according to this invention is shown in a first orientation with leading edge  12  of a paper towel  14  projecting upwardly through a dispensing slot  16  in a cap  18  of the dispenser  10 . In the first orientation, rubber or other material feet  19  ( FIGS.  4 - 7   ) may be installed on the end of the dispenser  10  opposite from the cap  18  to support the dispenser  10  on a countertop or other surface. In  FIG.  2   , the dispenser  10  is shown in a second orientation with the leading edge  12  of the paper towel  14  projecting downwardly from the dispensing slot  16 . A cover  20  is mounted on the end of the dispenser  10  opposite from the cap  18  and slot  16 . The dispenser  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 2    includes a housing  22  positioned between the cap  18  and the cover  20 . A viewing port  24  and an access port  26  are formed in a longitudinal end of the housing  22 . The purpose and function of the ports  24 ,  26  will be detailed hereinbelow. 
     The components of the dispenser  10  according to one embodiment of this invention are shown in  FIG.  3    in the first orientation. The housing  22  according to this embodiment includes a pair of inner shell members  28  and a pair of outer shell members  30 . The inner and outer shell members  28 ,  30  mate with the associated member along joints  32 ,  34 , respectively, extending generally vertically at longitudinal ends of the dispenser  10 . Complimentary portions of the ports  24 ,  26  are formed in each outer shell member  30  adjacent to one of the joints  34   a . A pair of posts  36  extend upwardly from an upper edge of each outer shell member  30  adjacent to each joint  34 . The cap  18  sits atop the upper edge of each outer shell member  30  and is positioned on the housing  22  by the posts  36 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in this art that the outer shell  30  may have a first finish and the appearance of the dispenser  10  may be modified by removing the outer shell  30  and replacing it with another outer shell  30  of a different finish. Likewise, the finish of the cap  18  may be altered by installing a cap  18  of a different finish complimentary to the finish of the outer shell  30 . 
     A cartridge  38  is captured within the inner shell members  28  and has a generally rectangular shape with one sidewall  40  opposite from an open face  42  of the cartridge  38 . The cartridge  38  also has a split top wall  44  with an outlet  46  extending longitudinally along the top wall  44  thereof. Opposite from the top wall  44  is a pair of cartridge bottom flanges  48  each extending inwardly from a cartridge end wall  50 . Each bottom flange  48  is also joined to a bottom edge of the sidewall  40 . A spring access duct  52  is formed between the bottom flanges  48 . Each end wall  50  has a vertically oriented open channel  54  formed therein and a pair of outwardly oriented and spaced vertical ribs  56  flank each side of each channel  54 . A latch mechanism may releasably retain the cartridge  38  within the housing  22 . In one embodiment, the latch mechanism includes a generally rectangular pusher plate  58  captured within the cartridge  38  for vertical movement to and between the bottom flanges  48  and the top wall  44 . A pair of stubshafts  60  each project along a longitudinal centerline of the pusher plate  58  from a longitudinal end of the plate  58 . A pair of detents  62  are formed on each stubshaft  60  and extend laterally in opposite directions from the side edges of the stubshaft  60 . When the pusher plate  58  is captured in the cartridge  38 , each stubshaft  60  extends into one of the open channels  54  and the detents  62  help to retain the stubshafts  60  in the open channels  54  and the pusher plate  58  in the cartridge  38 . 
     A pair of spring clips  64  are each fastened to one of the bottom flanges  48  of the cartridge  38  by one of a pair of screws  66 . Each spring clip  64  has a spring clip arm  68  which extends outwardly from the clip  64  and is captured within a rail  70  formed proximate the joint  32  of the inner shell members  28 . A sloped brace  72  is formed at an upper edge of the rail  70 . An indicator  74  is captured within an outer passage  76  formed at the joint  32  of the inner shell members  28 . The indicator  74  has an indicator face  78  and an upwardly extending arm  80 . The indicator  74  is coupled to an indicator extension spring  82  to bias the indicator  74  to position a “filled” portion of the indicator face  74  to be exposed and visible through the viewing port  24  in the outer shell  30 . 
     An oval shaped panel  84  is at a bottom end of the housing  22  when the dispenser  10  is in the first orientation of  FIGS.  1  and  3   . A lock plate  86  is juxtaposed between an inner face of the panel  84  and the bottom flanges  48  of the cartridge  38 . A pair of conical springs  88  is sandwiched between the bottom flanges  48  and lock plate  86 . The panel  84  has a number of spring retainers  90  on its inner face to secure an end of an hourglass shaped spring  92  to the panel  84 . The spring  92  extends from the panel  84  and through a spring hole  94  in the lock plate  86  and the spring access duct  52  in the cartridge  38  to engage a face of the pusher plate  58 . A release tab  96  extends from an end of the lock plate  86  adjacent to the access port  26 . The lock plate  86  is coupled to an extension spring  98  proximate the release tab  96  to bias the lock plate  86  toward the access port  26 . In the second orientation of  FIG.  2   , the cover  20  is snapped onto the dispenser  10  to cover the panel  84 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , a cross sectional view of the dispenser  10  according to this embodiment of the invention is shown without paper towels loaded therein. The access port  26  is covered by the release tab  96  at the interior of the outer shell  30 . The viewing port  24  is covered by a first portion  78   a  of the face  78  on the indicator  74 . The face  78  also includes a second portion  78   b  and the first and second portions  78   a ,  78   b  may be colored differently to indicate to a user whether the cartridge  38  has paper towels  14  loaded therein or not. Since the cartridge  38  in  FIG.  4    does not have paper towels therein, the first portion  78   a  of the face  78  is visible through the viewing port  24  and the spring  82  coupled to the indicator  74  is extended. 
     One method of loading the dispenser  10  with paper towels  14  begins in  FIG.  5    by a user inserting a probe, tool, key or other device (not shown) into the access port  26  as indicated by arrow A and depressing the release tab  96 . Movement of the release tab  96  in the direction of arrow A toward the interior of the housing  22  overcomes the bias of release spring  98  connected thereto. The inward movement of the release tab  96  slides the lock plate  86  connected thereto in a similar direction which is to the right in  FIG.  5   . The lock plate  86  has a pair of retention hooks  102  spaced on either side of the spring hole  94 . Prior to the movement of the release tab  96  and lock plate  86 , the cartridge  38  is retained against the lock plate  86  by the retention hooks  102  which extend upwardly from the lock plate  86  and through a pair of release apertures  100  each in one of the bottom flanges  48  of the cartridge  38 . The retention hooks  102  are oriented toward the access port  26  so that when the release tab  96  and lock plate  86  move in the direction of arrow A, the retention hooks  102  disengage from the bottom flanges  48  of the cartridge  38  as shown by comparing  FIGS.  4  and  5   . 
     Once the cartridge  38  is released from the retention hooks  102  on the lock plate  86 , the springs  88  sandwiched between the bottom flanges  48  and the lock plate  86  urge the cartridge  38  upwardly in the direction of arrows B in  FIG.  6    and away from the lock plate  86 . As a result of the upward movement of the cartridge  38  as shown in  FIG.  6   , the cap  18  is dislodged from the housing  32 . A user may then pull the cartridge  38  and cap  18  away from the housing  22  and expose the open face  42  of the cartridge  38  out of the housing  22 . While pulling the cartridge  38  from the housing  22 , the spring clips  64  mounted to the cartridge  38  ride within the rails  70  on the inner shell  28  until they reach the sloped brace  72 . Once the arms  68  on the spring clips  64  traverse over the sloped brace  72 , a latch  104  on each arm  68  hooks onto a shelf  106  on the sloped brace  72  to retain the cartridge  38  in an extended position relative to the housing as shown in  FIG.  7   . The hourglass spring  92  is extended as shown in  FIG.  7    when the open face  42  of the cartridge  38  is free of the housing  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , with the cartridge  38  extended from the housing  22 , the open face  42  is accessible and a user may insert a stack  14   a  of paper towels  14  into the cartridge  38  in the direction of arrow C. The cartridge  38  with the stack  14   a  of paper towels  14  loaded therein may then be gently pushed back into the housing  22  thereby releasing the latch  104  on each spring clip arm  68  from the associated shelf  104  and compressing the hourglass spring  92 . Once the bottom flanges  48  of the cartridge  38  reach the lock plate  86 , the retention hooks  102  are urged away from the access port  26  slightly and against the bias of the spring  98  to allow for insertion of the retention hooks  102  once again into the associated release apertures  100  in the bottom flanges  48 . The retention hooks  102  then hook onto the bottom flanges  48  to retain the cartridge  38  in the housing  22  with the hourglass spring  92  compressed against the pusher plate  58  and urging the stack  14   a  of paper towels  14  against the dispensing slot  16  in the cap  18 . As shown in  FIG.  9    with the paper towels  14  loaded in the cartridge  38 , the second portion  78   b  of the face  78  on the indicator  74  is presented in the viewing port  24  with the spring  82  compressed thereby indicating paper towels  14  in the cartridge  38 . 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that with various embodiments of this invention, the paper towels  14  may be replenished in the dispenser  10  without dismantling the dispenser  10  or removing the housing  22 , inner shell  28  or outer shell  30 . Moreover, the cartridge  38  may be loaded with paper towels  14  while the dispenser  10  is in the first orientation ( FIG.  1   ) or the second orientation ( FIG.  2   ) and with or without the cover  20  mounted to the dispenser  10 . Additionally, the leading edge  12  of the paper towel  14  is conveniently accessible through the dispensing slot  16  to a user and the stack  14   a  of paper towels  14  is urged toward the dispensing slot  16  in both first and second orientations. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  10 - 13   , one embodiment for mounting the dispenser  10  to a wall  110  or other, typically vertical, surface is shown according to this invention. Commonly, the dispenser  10  will be in the second orientation when mounted to the wall  110 , but other orientations are also contemplated within the scope of this invention. In the second orientation with the cap  18  and dispensing slot  16  oriented downwardly, the cover  20  will be installed on the end of the dispenser opposite from cap  18 . To mount the dispenser  10  to the wall  110 , a mounting assembly which may include a mounting plate  112  and mounting bracket  114  are utilized in the embodiment of  FIGS.  10 - 13   . The mounting plate  112  may be mounted to a back face  116  of the dispenser  10  by mounting screws  118  ( FIGS.  11 - 13   ). The mounting plate  112  has an upper rearwardly projecting flange  120  with an obliquely directed downward strut  122 . The mounting plate  112  also has a lower rearwardly projecting ledge  124  with a mounting hole  126  therethrough. 
     The mounting bracket  114  may be secured to the wall  110  by wall screws  128  and includes an upper obliquely oriented sill  130  adapted to support the flange  120  of the mounting plate  112 . A vertically oriented mounting pin  132  is inserted into an upper mounting pin hole  134  and a lower mounting pin hole  136  in upper and lower generally horizontal shelves  138 ,  140 , respectively. The mounting pin  132  may have a head  142  with an annular collar  144 . A mounting pin spring  146  surrounds the mounting pin  132  and is captured between the upper and lower shelves  138 ,  140  to bias the mounting pin  132  downwardly. 
     The mounting plate  112  and attached dispenser  10  may be mounted to the wall  110  by hooking the strut  122  atop the sill  130  of the mounting bracket  114  as shown in  FIG.  11   . The dispenser  10  and mounting plate  112  are then pivoted in the direction of arrow D toward the wall no until a leading sloped edge  148  of the ledge  124  on the mounting plate  112  contacts the head  142  of the mounting pin  132  as in  FIG.  12   . Continued pivotal movement of the cap  18  or lower end of the dispenser  10  toward the wall no will force the pin  132  upwardly as the head  142  slides up the sloped edge  148  of the ledge  124  until the head  142  of the pin  132  is seated in the mounting hole  126  on the mounting plate  112 . The pin spring  146  urges the pin  132  toward the ledge  124  to be seated in the hole  126 . The dispenser  10  is then releasably, but securely mounted to the wall  110  as shown in  FIG.  13   . 
     The dispenser  10  may be removed from the wall no by pushing the head  142  of the pin  132  upward until it is unseated from the mounting hole  126  and then the ledge  124  and lower end of the dispenser  10  may be pivoted away from the wall  110  and the flange  120  removed from the sill  130  of the mounting bracket  114 . 
     From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, we desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.