Patent Publication Number: US-10327603-B2

Title: Napkin dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an apparatus for use in dispensing napkins or similar products. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing napkins from a recessed container. 
     Dispensers for napkins are often provided at quick service food locations, such as fast food restaurants and convenience stores. These dispensers are frequently positioned on a condiment serving bar or maintained on a stand. These dispensers allow food service patrons easy access to napkins. 
     While providing easy access to the napkins, conventional placement of such napkin dispensers is on a countertop. Countertop space, however, can be limited as other food-related items, such as condiments and cutlery, can also be stored on the countertop. Moreover, it is quite common for an ice and beverage dispenser and cup and lid dispensers to be positioned on the countertop. As a result, many restaurants and other establishments are increasingly using in-counter napkin dispensers that fit into the counter itself leaving only a small portion of the container—usually the faceplate—extending above and onto the counter. Such in-counter napkin dispensers generally consist of an elongated housing, a faceplate, a movable pressure plate, and a biasing spring. The faceplate and the housing collectively define an elongated storage chamber for receiving and storing a stack of napkins to be dispensed. The pressure plate is biased toward the faceplate by the biasing spring applying upward pressure on the stack of napkins to push the topmost napkin against the faceplate, which is preferably substantially flush mounted to the countertop. 
     To install the in-counter napkin dispenser, an opening must be cut or otherwise formed in the countertop. The elongated housing is then dropped into the opening until a flange at the upper end of the housing sits against the outer surface of the countertop. After loading the housing with the stack of napkins, a bracket is attached to the flange and the faceplate is then attached to the bracket. In some instances, fasteners are used to secure the housing flange to the countertop to fix the elongated housing in place. 
     One of the drawbacks of conventional in-counter napkin dispensers is that the size of the opening needed in the countertop is typically tailored to the particular dispenser to be used. As a result, it can be necessary to replace the entire countertop when changing dispensers. Another drawback is that in addition to cutting a hole in the countertop, fasteners, e.g., screws, are required to secure the elongated housing in place. This requires an installer to drill holes through the countertop, which can be time-consuming and permanently mars the countertop beyond the hole cut for the dispenser. Moreover, to remove the elongated housing, such as for cleaning, requires the fasteners to be removed, which can also be a time-consuming endeavor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing napkins or similar materials that can be mounted in a recessed position, either in-counter or, in another example, in a wall or cabinet. The apparatus is constructed to be workable with a number of different counter opening sizes and thus can often be used as a replacement napkin dispenser. Moreover, the apparatus can be installed without the use of tools and fasteners, and thus is believed to install more easily than conventional recessed napkin dispensers. The apparatus is also usable with countertops of varying thicknesses. 
     In this regard, it is believed the present invention provides an improved high-capacity napkin dispenser with multiple features that provide for enhanced operation compared to conventional napkin dispensers. For example, a napkin dispenser according to one embodiment of the invention, includes a collar that fits against the top surface of the countertop to allow the napkin dispenser to be used with counter openings that otherwise are too large for the napkin dispenser or to permit varying size dispensers to fit tightly into a wide variety of countertop openings. Moreover, the collar includes a set of hand-tightening screws, e.g., thumb screws, that when tightened draw the dispenser housing upward against the underside of the countertop. The dispenser housing may include lateral flaps that extend outwardly and engage the underside of the countertop as the hand-tightening screws are tightened down. 
     Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the invention an apparatus for holding a product includes a mounting collar having a peripheral flange and an opening defined by the peripheral flange. The opening is configured to receive a container, and the mounting collar includes an upper surface for engaging the container and a lower surface for engaging a top of a mounting surface. The apparatus further has a locking arrangement supported by the mounting collar and operative to secure the mounting collar to the mounting surface without tools. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a dispensing system for use in a recessed position is provided. The system includes a collar adapted to fit in an opening formed in a wall or counter and a set of retainers for releasably securing the collar to the wall or counter. Each retainer includes a clamping member operative to clamp the collar to the wall or counter. The system further has a product dispenser having an elongated housing adapted to fit within the collar opening and a faceplate assembly releasably attached to the elongated housing and having an aperture that facilitates removal of product from the elongated housing. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a napkin dispenser is comprised of an elongated housing adapted to hold a stack of napkins and a faceplate pivotally connected to the elongated assembly. The faceplate has an aperture for withdrawing an outermost napkin from the stack of napkins, and is pivotal between an open position and a closed position. A collar fits within an opening of a supporting surface, and is adapted to receive the elongated housing and support the elongated housing in a recessed position behind the supporting surface. The dispenser also has a set of clamps that releasably secure the collar to the supporting surface. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a napkin dispenser according the invention shown in an in-counter position; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation partial cutaway view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1  with the faceplate assembly of the napkin dispenser pivoted to a raised position; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom isometric view of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top isometric view of a collar of the napkin dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a latch of a locking assembly according to another aspect of the invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the napkin dispenser of the present invention shown in an in-wall position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the figures, the present invention provides a napkin dispenser  20 , which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as in-counter dispenser. The napkin dispenser  20  generally consists of an elongated housing  22 , a collar  24 , a faceplate assembly  26 , which is comprised of a mounting bracket  28  and a faceplate  30  having an aperture  32 , a pressure plate  34 , and a biasing spring  36 , shown in  FIG. 3 . The faceplate assembly  26  is hinged to the elongated housing  22  in a conventional manner, which allows the faceplate assembly  26  to be pivoted between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position for reloading ( FIG. 7 ). It will thus be appreciated that the elongated housing  22  and the faceplate assembly  26  collectively define a storage chamber generally indicated at  38  ( FIG. 6 ) for receiving a stack of napkins  40  to be dispensed. 
     The elongated housing  22  is comprised of a front panel  42 , back panel  44 , side panels  46 ,  48 , and base panel  50 . The set of panels are preferably formed as a single, unitary structure and are preferably made of plastic, metal or similar washable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant material. Alternately, the set of panels could be joined together in a conventional manner, such as snap-fit connections or sonic welds. In one preferred method of manufacture, the elongated housing is formed by injection molding. 
     The biasing spring  36  is interconnected between the pressure plate  34  and the base panel  50 . The biasing spring  36  consists of a coiled wire  52 , with one end being retained against the base panel  50  by retainers  54  and the opposite end being retained against the pressure plate  34  by retainers  56 . The biasing spring  36  is a compression spring and thus is compressed as the pressure plate  34  is moved toward the base panel  50 , as would happen when the napkin dispenser  20  is loaded with the stack of napkins  40 , i.e., the weight and volume of the stack of napkins compresses the spring. As the stack of napkins is depleted, the biasing spring  36  pushes the pressure plate  34  toward the upper end of the napkin dispenser  20 , i.e., toward the faceplate  30 , to present the top of the stack of napkins  40  for removal. As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the pressure plate  34  preferably includes a pressure focus feature  58  formed, or otherwise attached to, the upper surface  34   a  of the pressure plate  34 . The pressure focus feature  58  is designed to apply a constant pressure to the stack of napkins  40  in a particular, localized area as the pressure plate  34  moves toward the faceplate  30 . The pressure focus feature  58  preferably cooperates with the faceplate  30  to maintain the napkins in normal alignment relative to the napkin dispenser  20 . The location of the pressure focus feature  58  on the pressure plate  34  can be at a variety of locations but, as shown in  FIG. 4 , is positioned so that the pressure focus feature  58  applies a force to the napkins at about the location of the aperture  32  of the faceplate  30 . 
     The aperture  32  enables access to the stack of napkins  40 . The faceplate  30  is preferably made of injection-molded, translucent (or transparent) plastic. The aperture  32  in the illustrated embodiment is shaped for dispensing interfolded napkins but it is understood that the faceplate  30  could be designed to dispense other types of napkins. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 7 , a pair of hinges  60  preferably connects the faceplate assembly  26  to the elongated housing  22 . The hinges  60  each have a generally L-shaped body with a lower end mounted to the inner surface of respective side panels  46 ,  48  and an upper end that extends above and outward and rearward of the elongated housing  22 . Each hinge  60  has mounting pins  62  extending outwardly in a lateral direction from the upper end of the hinge  60 . The mounting bracket  28  preferably has a pair of ribs  64  formed, or connected to, its underside that interfit with the mounting pins  62  to allow the faceplate assembly  26  to pivot between the open and closed positions. 
     The elongated housing  22  has a front lip  66  and a rear lip  68  that each extend outwardly along a plane transverse to the elongated housing. The lips  66 ,  68  allow the elongated housing  22  to be retained above the collar  24  when it is drop loaded into an opening  24   a  formed in the collar  24 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the collar  24  has an outer peripheral flange  70  that extends outwardly from the upper ends of a front partial wall  72 , rear partial wall  74 , and first and second partial sidewalls  76 ,  78 . The partial walls collectively define opening  24   a  that is slightly larger than the diameter of the opening to the elongated housing  22 . The outer peripheral flange  70  extends outwardly and is designed to sit on or against the top surface of a counter or wall, and more importantly, provide some leeway in the size of the opening that is needed in the counter or wall. In other words, while the opening  24   a  of the collar  24  is fit to the elongated housing  22 , the outer peripheral flange  70  provides additional width so that the opening cut into the counter or the wall does not have to be precisely cut to retain the dispenser in place. 
     The napkin dispenser  20  preferably has a locking assembly  80  that includes a pair of locks  82 ,  84  for releasably locking the faceplate assembly  26  to the collar  24 . Each of the locks  82 ,  84  preferably includes a latch  86  formed on the underside of the mounting bracket  28  and a keeper  88  that extends upward from a front portion of the outer peripheral flange  70 . When the latch is engaged with the keeper, the keeper holds the front end of the mounting bracket  28  down against the collar  24 . 
     Each latch  86  includes a pusher  90  having a push pad  92  at one end and a compression spring  94  at the opposite end. The inboard end of each compression spring  94  has a tab  96  for attaching the inboard end of the compression spring  94  within the mounting bracket  28 . The pusher  90  also includes a tab  98  opposite tab  96  for attaching the push pad  92  end of the pusher  90  to the mounting bracket  28 . Each compression spring  94  is compressible by the application of a lateral (inward) force on the push pad  92 . In this regard, each pusher  90  is movable in a lateral direction. The body of each pusher  90  has a cutout  100  that allows the keeper  88  to be received within the pusher  90 . As best shown in  FIG. 10 , the pusher  90  includes a catch  102  that engages the keeper  88  to lock the latch  86  down. On the other hand, when the push pad  92  is pressed inwardly, the catch  102  is moved inwardly so as to move clear of the keeper  88  and thus allow the faceplate assembly  26  to be moved from the closed position to the open position. As the napkin dispenser  20  has a pair of latches  86 , both latches  86  have to be released to move the faceplate assembly  26  to the open position. Each catch  102  automatically engages a respective keeper  88  when the faceplate assembly  26  is moved to the closed position as each catch  102  is deflected slightly by the keeper  88 . 
     One of the drawbacks of conventional in-counter or in-wall dispensers is the difficulty in securing the dispenser in place. Typically, an installer must either allow the dispenser to sit unattached in the opening formed in the counter or wall, or alternately, use fasteners, such as wood screws, to fix the dispenser in place. This typically involves drilling holes into the counter and then driving screws through corresponding holes in a mounting member of the dispenser. Not only do the wood screws, or similar fasteners, mar the countertop or wall but they are also time-consuming to install. Moreover, this type of installation frequently requires the use of shims or the like to insure proper fit of the dispenser in the countertop or wall. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a napkin dispenser that can be securely attached in place without the use of tools and more efficiently than conventional in-counter/in-wall dispensers. The napkin dispenser  20  includes a set of twist-locks  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, four twist-locks  104  are used to secure the collar  24  in place and thus the remaining components of the napkin dispenser  20  when the faceplate assembly  26  is locked down on the collar  24 . The twist-locks  104  are arranged such that two twist-locks are positioned adjacent one side of the outer peripheral flange  70  and the other two twist-locks  104  are positioned adjacent the opposite side of the outer peripheral flange  70 . In this regard, the collar  24  includes first and second carriages  106 ,  108  that extend from the outer peripheral flange  70  toward the base panel  50  of the elongated housing  22 . Each carriage  106 ,  108  includes a planar member  110  that extends generally adjacent the side of the elongated housing  22  and terminates in an upturned lip  112 . 
     Each twist-lock  104  consists of an elongated screw  114  that is threadingly engaged with a flap  116 . Each screw  114  includes a threaded shaft  118  that extends downwardly from a head formed by an angled nut  120  through a hole (not shown) formed in the outer peripheral flange  70  and then through hole (not shown) formed in the upturned lip  112 . A cap  122  is attached to the distal end of the threaded shaft  118  that prevents the threaded shaft  118  from being pulled out of the upturned lip  112 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 . As the angled nut  120  is rotated in a first direction (i.e., clockwise) the respective flap  116  is drawn upward along the threaded shaft  118 . The angled nut  120  is rotatable in the first direction until the flap  116  reaches the upper end of threaded shaft  118  or, and as will be described more fully below, abuts against a stop, such as the underside of the countertop or the inside surface of a wall. The threaded shaft  118  passes through a respective bore  124  formed in the outer peripheral flange  70  of the collar  24 . Rotation of the angled nut  120  in the opposite direction, i.e., counterclockwise, causes the flap  116  to move in the opposite direction and thus down the threaded shaft  118  to loosen the collar  24 . 
     As noted above, the collar  24  is designed to fit within an opening formed in the countertop. The aforedescribed twist-locks  104  facilitate securing the collar  24  in place. Accordingly, after the collar  24  is seated in the countertop opening, the installer only needs to rotate each angled nut  120  to draw each flap  116  upward. The flaps  116  rotate with the angled nuts  120 . Each flap rotates until it engages the underside of the countertop (or inside of wall). The installer can then make an additional quarter or half turn of the angled nut  120  to compress the corresponding flap  116  against the stopping surface. In one preferred embodiment, the top surface of each flap  116  includes a deformable member in the form of a compressible pad or rubber pad  126  that compresses as the flap  116  is tightened against the stopping surface to provide additional friction and some “play” to permit a tight fit of the dispenser to the counter or wall. 
     Referring briefly to  FIG. 9 , it can be seen that each angled nut  120 , while preferably a single unitary structure, consists of first and second angled members  128 ,  130  preferably angled at approximately 90° relative to each other. The angular relationship of these two members is preferably set so as to conform to the desired width of the flange  70 . This is because the faceplate assembly  26  will not close if the angled members  128 ,  130  of any of the screws  114  extend outwardly over the edge of the flange  70  and the housing  22  will not fit through the collar opening  24  if the angled members  128 ,  130  of the screws  114  extend inwardly over the opposite edge of the flange  70 . As such, when installing the collar  24 , the installer must first tighten the screws  114  until the flaps  116  are drawn into contact with the underside of the countertop for an in-counter mounting. The rubber pads  126  on the top of the flaps  116  allow the installer additional slack to further rotate the thumb screws  114  if necessary to position the angled members  128 ,  130  within the confines of the flange  70  so that the elongated housing can be placed through the collar opening  24   a  and the faceplate assembly  26  closed. It will thus be appreciated that the screws  114  perform two separate functions. They are used to mount and hold the collar in place but also secure the flaps in place once the screws are tightened. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , in one embodiment, the napkin dispenser  20  is mounted in a counter. However, the napkin dispenser  20  can also be mounted horizontally such as in a counter or in a wall, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to a napkin dispenser, it is understood that the principles and features of the invention can be incorporated and are applicable with other types of dispensers, such as cup dispensers, lid dispensers, tissue or paper dispensers, trash/refuse chutes, scrap collectors, and the like. 
     Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.