Patent Publication Number: US-7913875-B2

Title: Dispenser for folders

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dispenser for folders. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Folders or pockets made of a plastic material or the like are known. For example, these plastic folders are made of a relatively flexible material and the user can put papers in a document pocket of the folder. The plastic folders containing papers can then be placed in a ring binder. Plastic folders are a simple and safe way of storing paper documents such that they are well protected from moisture and dirt by being inserted into the document pocket. 
     Typically, a supply of folders is provided to a customer in a stack contained in a cardboard box or bag. The size of the cardboard box reflects the size of the folder. For example, for A4 sized folders, an A4 size box is provided. However, these boxes take up a considerable amount of room, thus causing inconvenience to the user. Additionally, removing folders out of the box requires a user either to remove a lid or to put his hand in one end of the box. This is not particularly convenient 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an aim of the embodiments of the present invention to address the aforementioned problems. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing flexible folders, the dispensing apparatus comprising a body for housing a roll of a plurality of folders, the body comprising a holding member extending into an interior space defined by the body and arranged for holding the plurality of folders in a roll arrangement. 
     By providing a holding member which extends into the interior of the dispensing apparatus, the plurality of flexible folders may be held in a roll configuration. The holding member prevents the roll from unravelling within the body of the dispensing apparatus. According to an embodiment of the invention the folders do not need to be rolled onto a cylindrical core to form a roll arrangement for insertion into the dispensing apparatus. As no cylindrical core is required, the arrangement is cheaper to manufacture. Folders are inserted directly into the assembled dispensing apparatus in a loose roll without the need for a further element in the form of a cylindrical core. 
     Preferably, the dispensing apparatus comprises an exit for dispensing folders therethrough, the holding member being arranged so as to both hold the plurality of folders in a roll arrangement and also simultaneously act as a guide for aiding the removal of the folders through the exit. 
     Such an arrangement is advantageous as the utilisation of a single member for both holding the supply of folders in a roll and guiding the folders for easy removal through the opening negates the requirement for separate members for holding the supply roll and guiding folders. Manufacturing costs are therefore reduced by decreasing material costs and the complexity of the dispensing apparatus. This arrangement provides a highly efficient use of materials. 
     Preferably, the holding member is positioned adjacent to said exit for guiding the folders through the exit. Preferably, the holding member comprises a surface projecting inside the holder adjacent to the exit for holding an end of the roll of folders adjacent the exit. This arrangement aids a user in griping and pulling the folders through the exit. 
     Preferably, the exit is defined by at least one tear-line defining a lid which is movable between a closed position and an open position for removing folders through the opening. 
     This arrangement is advantageous as the dispensing apparatus can be transported, sold and stored with the lid in a closed configuration so as to protect the folders held therein from dirt and moisture while also preventing accidental dispensing of the folders through the opening. 
     Preferably, the lid has a hole or a flap for a user to grip for breaking the tear-line and moving the lid from a closed to an open configuration. Such an arrangement allows for easier use. 
     Preferably, the tear-line is adapted whereby the lid may be held in its closed configuration after breaking of the tear-line. One such arrangement comprises a plurality of teeth which hold the lid in the closed configuration even after breaking of the tear-line. 
     Preferably, the body of the dispensing apparatus is in the form of a cylinder having a substantially square, a substantially rectangular, or a substantially circular cross-section. 
     Preferably, the dispensing apparatus has a length substantially equal to a width of a standard folder. This may be A4 or A3 size for example. 
     Preferably, the body of the dispensing apparatus has at least one end comprising a projection arranged to support an end of the roll of folders. Preferably, the at least one end comprises an inward projection arranged to be received in the roll of folders. Preferably two opposed ends of the body have an inward projection arranged for being received in the roll of folders. Preferably each end comprises two foldable end portions, each foldable end portion having an inward projection arranged for being received in the roll of folders. 
     Preferably, the holding member comprises foldable end flaps for holding the holding member in a holding configuration, the end flaps and end portions being arranged whereby when the inward projections of the end portions are arranged in the roll of folders, the end portions hold the end flaps thereby holding the holding member in the holding configuration. 
     Preferably, the dispensing apparatus is constructed from a single piece of material. Embodiments of the invention can be achieved with a single piece of material cut into a suitable blank and assembled. Manufacturing costs are reduced by decreasing material costs and the complexity of the dispensing apparatus. This arrangement provides a highly efficient use of materials. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing apparatus containing a supply of a plurality of flexible folders held therein in a roll configuration, the dispensing apparatus comprising a body housing the roll of folders, the body comprising a holding member extending into an interior space defined by the body and arranged to hold the plurality of folders in a roll arrangement. 
     Preferably, the supply of folders is held in the body of the dispensing apparatus in a loose roll without a core member. 
     Preferably, one end of the roll is held against an underside of the holding member with the other end of the roll passing over an upper surface of the holding member for guiding the folders through an exit of the dispenser in use. 
     Preferably, the plurality of flexible folders are in a loose roll configuration substantially in the shape of a number six (“6”) having a lower loop and an upper curve with the holding member passing through a gap between the upper curve and the lower loop. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank for constructing a dispensing apparatus for a supply of flexible folders, the blank comprising a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth panel, each of the panels being substantially rectangular and connected in sequence via fold lines, the first and second panels have tear lines therein defining a lid of the dispensing apparatus, the first, second, third and sixth panels having foldable flaps on opposing sides thereof for forming ends of the dispensing apparatus, and the fourth panel having two slits therein respectively adjacent opposing sides thereof. 
     Preferably, the first and third panels are the same size, the second and fourth panels are the same size, and the fifth and sixth panels are smaller than any one of the first, second, third and fourth panels. The foldable flaps on the first and third panels may be substantially the same shape and comprise foldable projections. The foldable flaps on the second panel may have projections for insertion into the slits of the fourth panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a flexible folder for use with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the lid in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 4  shows an underside of the dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  shows an end of the dispensing apparatus in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 6  shows the end of the dispensing apparatus with an end flap of the holding member folded down; 
         FIG. 7  shows the end of the dispensing apparatus with the two foldable end portions folded such that their inward projections are received in the roll of folders. 
         FIG. 8  shows the dispensing apparatus in an open configuration without flexible folders therein; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a blank of the dispensing apparatus of  FIGS. 2 to 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a transparent plastic storage folder for use with a dispensing apparatus of the present invention. The folder is produced using a transparent plastic film. The plastic film is folded along a folded edge  2  so as to form a front cover  4  and a rear cover  6  which is connected in one piece thereto by the folded edge  2  and overlaps the front cover  4 . Front and rear covers  4 ,  6  are connected to one another by a first interrupted decorative weld seam  8  along a lower edge of the storage folder running transversely to the folded edge  2 . A second weld seam  10  is provided parallel to the folded edge  2  on a side opposed to the folded edge  2 . The first and second weld seams  8 ,  10  and the folded edge  2  form a pocket for insertion of documents through an opening  12  formed in an upper edge. 
     A third weld seam  14  is provided parallel to the second weld seam  10  and adjacent thereto forming a pocket in which a reinforcing material  16  is provided. Three holes  18  are provided along the edge of the folder through the reinforcing material  16  for mounting the folder in a ring binder in use. The reinforcing material  16  prevents the holes  18  being torn when mounted in the ring binder. The holes  18  may be provided at different positions along the edge of the folder depending on the type of ring binder to which the folder is to be mounted. 
       FIG. 2  shows a dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dispensing apparatus comprises a substantially rectangular box having a top  20 , a bottom  22 , two opposing sides  24 ,  26  and two opposing ends  28 ,  30 . The dispensing apparatus has a lid  32  defined by tear-lines  34 ,  36  and fold lines  38 ,  40 . The lid  32  extends partly across the top  20  of the dispenser and partly across one of the sides  24  of the dispenser. The lid  32  has a thumb sized opening  42  for aiding a user in opening and closing the lid  32 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the dispensing apparatus with the lid  32  in an open configuration so as to form an exit  44  through which the folders  46  may be dispensed. In moving the lid  32  into this open configuration, tear-lines  34 ,  36  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) are broken and the lid  32  is folded back along fold lines  38 ,  40  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) so as to form the exit  44 . The exit  44  is formed partially along the side  24  of the dispensing apparatus and partially along the top  20  of the dispensing apparatus to enable a user to easily pull a folder through the exit  44 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the bottom  22  of the dispensing apparatus having curved cut portions  48 ,  50  adjacent either end thereof. Flap  52  in either end  28 ,  30  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the dispensing apparatus are folded along the bottom  22  to form attachment member  75 . One attachment member  75  is inserted into each of the cuts  48 ,  50  so as to hold the dispensing apparatus in its configured arrangement. 
       FIG. 5  shows the end  28  of the dispensing apparatus in an open configuration. The end  28  has opposing end portions  56 ,  58  foldable along lines  60 ,  62 . The end portions have projections  64 ,  66  foldable along lines  68 ,  70 . A top flap  52  is foldable along lines  72 ,  74 . The top flap has an attachment member  75  for cooperating with the cut  48  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The plurality of folders  46  are held in the dispensing apparatus in a loose roll substantially in the shape of a number six (“6”) by a holding member (shown more clearly in  FIG. 8 ) which extends into the interior of the dispensing apparatus between the upper curve and the lower loop of the loose roll of folders  46 . The holding member has an end flap  76  foldable along a line  78 . An overlapping portion  77  extends along an interior surface of the front side  24  and is glued to the front side  24  so as to hold the dispenser body in a cylindrical arrangement. 
     To construct the end  28 , the flap  76  of the holding member is first folded downwards along line  78  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Both end portions  56 ,  58  are then folded inwards with the projecting portions  64 ,  66  (not visible) being inserted into the opening of the lower loop of the roll of folders  46  (not visible). The top flap  52  is then folded downwards and the attachment member  75  inserted into the cut  48  in the bottom  22  of the dispensing apparatus as shown in  FIG. 4  thereby holding the end  28  of the dispensing apparatus in a closed arrangement. 
       FIG. 8  shows the dispensing apparatus in an open configuration with no folders provided therein so as to clearly show the holding member  80  which comprises an elongate member having a flat upper and a flat lower surface extending from one end  28  of the dispenser to the other end  30 . The holding member  80  extends from the front side  24  into the interior of the dispenser toward the rear side  26  at an angle of 90 to 180° relative to the bottom  22 . Preferably the angle is between 40 and 50°. Preferably the holding member extends approximately half way across the interior of the dispenser from the front side  24  to the rear side  26 . The lower surface of the holding member  80  abuts the lower loop of the plurality of folders for holding the folders in a loose roll arrangement as shown in  FIG. 5 . The upper surface of the holding member provides a shelf on which the upper curve of the roll of folders sits. The holding member  80  is arranged such that the upper curve of the roll is held adjacent the exit for easy removal of the folders as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a blank of the dispensing apparatus. The blank is made of a single piece of material from which the whole dispensing apparatus is configured. The blank comprises six panels having fold lines therebetween. The panels are labelled so as to correspond to the parts of the dispensing apparatus illustrated in the previous Figures. As such, the top panel forms the front side  24  of the dispenser, the second panel forms the top  24  of the dispenser, the third panel forms the rear side  26  of the dispenser, the fourth panel forms the bottom  22  of the dispenser, the fifth panel forms the overlapping portion  77  of the dispenser and the sixth panel forms the holding member  80  of the dispenser. The lid  32  is defined in the first and second panels  24 ,  20  by perforated lines  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  (see also  FIG. 2 ). The two curved cuts  48 ,  50  are provided in the fourth panel  22  adjacent opposite sides thereof (see also  FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, end flaps are provided on the first, second, third and sixth panels for constructing the dispensing apparatus (see also  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 ). 
     During construction the blank is folded along the fold lines and an outer surface (as viewed in  FIG. 9 ) of the first panel  24  is glued to a back surface (as viewed in  FIG. 9 ) of the fifth panel  77  so as to form a rectangular cylinder with the six panel  80  extending into an interior thereof. In this configuration a loose roll of folders may be inserted into the rectangular cylinder through an end thereof, the folders being arranged substantially in the form of a “6” with the sixth panel  80  passing between the upper curve of the “6” and the lower loop of the “6” as shown in  FIG. 5 . The ends of the dispensing apparatus are then constructed as previously described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.