Patent Publication Number: US-8113400-B1

Title: Dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Non-Provisional Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/015,225, filed Dec. 20, 2007, which is incorporated herein within its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to food storage wrap dispensers in general and, more particularly, to a single dispensing apparatus for both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     This invention relates to a dispenser for rolled sheet goods, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, wax paper, and the like, and more particularly relates to a wall mountable or countertop dispenser for a plurality of rolled sheet goods. 
     Food wrap materials are packaged in dispensing rolls and placed within paper or cardboard rectangular shaped box. The lid on each box opens providing the user with access to the dispensing roll. The wrap material is pulled forward over a cutting edge located atop a front wall. 
     A variety of rolled sheet goods, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, wax paper and the like are used in kitchens. These sheet goods are generally manufactured as a continuous sheet and packaged on rolls placed in elongated rectangular boxes. The boxes generally have a hinged lid, and the end of the sheet goods is extended between the flap of the lid and a front wall of the rectangular box. The goods are unrolled and torn off, against a serrated metal strip affixed at the top of the front wall. 
     The wrap is provided in individual boxes. The boxes are not conducive to being stored in a manner desirable for ease of access and use. The rectangular boxes containing the rolled sheet goods are normally stored in kitchen drawers or cabinets, dictating a need for storage space within in drawers or cabinets. More importantly, the rolled sheet goods are not readily accessible when needed. 
     Several teachings provide dispensing apparatus for food storage sheet goods. Meisner, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,563) presents a dispensing body comprising a containment space for a full roll of sheet material. Meisner is limited by the design, only allowing for the storage and dispensing of a single roll of sheet material. It is desirable to provide a plurality of sheet material types when working in the kitchen. Meisner cannot achieve that desire. 
     Brandon (U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,278) teaches a dispensing apparatus for food storage sheet goods comprising an outer clamp (36) pivotally assembled to the top of the housing. Brandon, like Meisner, is limited by the design, only allowing for the storage and dispensing of a single roll of sheet material. It is desirable to provide a plurality of sheet material types when working in the kitchen. Brandon cannot achieve that desire. 
     Several teachings present a dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing a plurality of different sheet goods. Cayer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,929) teaches a plurality of sheet material rolls placed vertically in a dispenser, each being dispensed at a respective corner of the apparatus. The design is limited by several factors: (1) The design is not conducive to being horizontally oriented. The user must turn the unit in order to dispense two or more of the sheet goods; (2) The design can not be wall mounted, and (3) Structurally, the slot must run the entire length of the side walls weakening the overall housing. 
     Kosa (U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,259) teaches a multi-sheet roll dispensing apparatus, the dispenser using two parallel side walls for holding each of the sheet rolls. Kosa is limited by the design, dictating that all of the rolls must be of the same width. The rolls are exposed, which is not desirable for food storage materials. Additionally, the design dictates that the apparatus be mounted for use. 
     Geleziunas (U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,310) teaches a sheet roll dispensing apparatus defined as having an elongated chamber that opens at the front. Geleziunas is limited by the design, wherein the cutting edge (74) is disposed upon the hinged lid (6). This design dictates the user to pull the sheet goods outward in a downward motion, then outward for a cutting step. The outward force can potentially lift the hinged lid. 
     Ideally, it is desirable to provide a storage apparatus for containing and dispensing a plurality of food storage wraps. The storage apparatus should be aesthetically pleasing and of a form factor that is functionally equal or better than the originally provided box. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a storage and dispensing apparatus for food wraps, more specifically a dispensing compartment comprising a first compartment for receiving and dispensing a roll of plastic wrap and a second compartment for receiving and dispensing a roll of aluminum foil. 
     A dispenser for rolled sheet goods according to the invention herein generally comprises a housing receiving at least one and preferably a plurality of rolled sheet goods in a horizontal orientation, with the housing defining a horizontal slot for each roll of sheet goods through which the sheet goods is dispensed. The desired amount of the sheet goods is drawn from the roll through the slot in the housing, the roll rotating within the goods containing section. A pair of end caps can be inserted into each end of the roll, the end caps providing a resistance and prevents it from turning, thereby preventing additional amounts of sheet goods from being dispensed and permitting the sheet goods to be pulled into tensioned condition and torn off at the edge of the slot. The edge of the vertical slot may be sufficiently sharp, preferably comprising a serrated cutting edge to facilitate cutting of the sheet goods. 
     In one preferred embodiment, each compartment within the housing is approximately square, the housing having interior partitions defining two vertical compartments each receiving one roll of sheet goods whereby the rolls of sheet goods The upper compartment comprising a front wall that is angled projecting outward towards the top. A shearing edge is disposed along the top edge of the front wall. An access lid is disposed along the top of the upper compartment. The lower compartment comprising a bottom floor comprising a horizontal slot. A cutting edge carrier is attached to an underside of the bottom floor located parallel to and forward of the slot. 
     The dispensers efficiently store and make readily available a plurality of rolls of sheet goods in an attractive countertop or wall mount unit. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention herein to provide a dispenser for rolled sheet goods. 
     It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a dispenser for a plurality of rolls of sheet goods in an attractive unit adapted for countertop or wall mounted use. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention herein provides a dispenser for rolled sheet goods that is fabricated of few parts with simple construction, and is easy to operate and load. 
     Yet another aspect provides a dispenser that incorporates a simple, easy, repeatable, and safe means for cutting the sheet goods. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is a storage and dispensing apparatus comprising a lower cartridge containing section comprising a front access door member providing access to the containing section. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is a storage and dispensing apparatus comprising an upper cartridge containing section comprising a top access door member providing access to the containing section. 
     Yet another aspect assembles access door member to the housing via a hingeable coupling interface. 
     Yet another aspect assembles access door member to the housing via a slideable coupling interface. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 , presenting the compartments in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a rolled food storage sheet goods and an exemplary roll supports embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a rolled food storage sheet goods and an alternate roll supports embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 , further presenting the insertion of the food storage sheet goods rolls into each of the two compartments; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 , further presenting the food storage sheet goods rolls partially inserted into each of the two compartments; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 , further presenting the food storage sheet goods rolls seated into each of the two compartments; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 , further presenting the food storage sheet goods rolls seated as being dispensed; 
         FIG. 9  is a left side view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser as presented in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a dual compartment rolled food storage sheet goods dispenser comprising an alternate access door embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed view of one slide interface design for the access door; and 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed view of an alternate slide interface design for the access door. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  present the structure and components of a dual food storage sheet goods dispenser  100 . The dual food storage sheet goods dispenser  100  is divided into two (2) subsections, a lower cartridge compartment section  101 , and an upper cartridge compartment section  118 . The lower cartridge compartment section  101  is fabricated in a shape of an elongated rectangular box, having a lower cartridge compartment end wall  102  on each of the two ends, a lower cartridge compartment access door  104  assembled to a front of the lower cartridge compartment section  101  and a lower cartridge compartment bottom  110  assembled to a bottom of the lower cartridge compartment section  101 . The lower cartridge compartment section  101  further comprises a top and a rear wall section (not shown but understood by description). The lower cartridge compartment access door  104  can be hingably assembled to the lower cartridge compartment section  101 , providing access to an interior compartment of the lower cartridge compartment section  101  via a lower door motion  114 . A lower cartridge dispensing slot  112  is fabricated in the lower cartridge compartment bottom  110 , wherein the lower cartridge dispensing slot  112  provides a port for dispensing of the rolled sheet goods. A lower shearing edge  108  is disposed onto a lower cutting edge carrier  106 , and the assembly is affixed to a bottom of the lower cartridge compartment bottom  110 , located between the lower cartridge dispensing slot  112  and a front edge of the lower cartridge compartment section  101 . The lower cutting edge carrier  106  and lower shearing edge  108  provide a guide and geometry conducive for the shearing of the rolled sheet goods. Housing magnets  140  are affixed to either the lower cartridge compartment end wall  102  or the lower cartridge compartment bottom  110  of the lower cartridge compartment section  101 . Door magnets  142  are affixed to the lower cartridge compartment access door  104 , each at a location that aligns with the housing magnets  140 , when the lower cartridge compartment access door  104  is placed in a closed orientation. The lower cartridge compartment access door  104  is secured in a closed configuration via magnetic attraction between housing magnets  140  and each respective door magnet  142 . 
     The upper cartridge compartment section  118  is fabricated in a shape of an elongated rectangular box, having a upper cartridge compartment end wall  120  on each of the two sides, a upper cartridge compartment access door  124  assembled to a top of the upper cartridge compartment section  118  and a upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  assembled to a front of the upper cartridge compartment section  118 . The upper cartridge compartment section  118  further comprises a bottom and a rear wall section (not shown but understood by description). The upper cartridge compartment access door  124  can be hingably assembled to the upper cartridge compartment section  118 , providing access to an interior compartment of the upper cartridge compartment section  118  via a upper door motion  130 . An upper cartridge dispensing gap  126  is formed between the upper cartridge compartment access door  124  and the upper cartridge compartment front wall  122 , wherein the upper cartridge dispensing gap  126  provides a port for dispensing of the rolled sheet goods. An upper serrated edge  128  is affixed onto a top edge of the upper cartridge compartment front wall  122 . The upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  is angled, providing a guide and geometry conducive for the shearing of the rolled sheet goods via the upper serrated edge  128 . Housing magnets  140  are affixed to either the upper cartridge compartment end wall  120  or the upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  of the upper cartridge compartment section  118 . Door magnets  142  are affixed to the upper cartridge compartment access door  124  at a location that aligns with the fixed magnets  140 , when the upper cartridge compartment access door  124  is placed in a closed orientation. The upper cartridge compartment access door  124  is secured in a closed configuration via magnetic attraction between the housing magnets  140  and each respective door magnet  142 . 
     A sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is assembled by inserting a pair of cartridge end caps  160  into a sheet goods core center  156  on each end of a sheet goods tubular core  154  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The food wrap sheet goods  152  are wrapped about the sheet goods tubular core  154 . The cartridge end caps  160  are formed having a core mounting protrusion  162  for inserting into each of the respective  156  via an end cap assembly step  164 . The core mounting protrusion  162  ( FIG. 3 ) is formed having a tapering, generally square geometry. The tapered core mounting protrusion  162  provides a friction force between the sheet goods tubular core  154  and the core mounting protrusion  162 . The core mounting protrusion  162   a  ( FIG. 4 ) is formed having a generally circular geometry. The linear core mounting protrusion  162   a  provides a lift with limited friction, supporting the food wrap sheet goods  152  in a manner to de-spool from the sheet goods tubular core  154  without rubbing the food wrap sheet goods  152  against a bottom of the compartment. It is understood that other geometries can be utilized for the core mounting protrusion  162 , such as an oval, a star, a rectangle, a cross, and the like. 
     The insertion and dispensing of the food wrap sheet goods  152  is presented in  FIGS. 5 through 8 . The user would open the lower cartridge compartment access door  104  and the upper cartridge compartment access door  124  to gain access to each of the two compartments  101 ,  118 . The sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is inserted into the lower cartridge compartment section  101  via a lower cartridge insertion  166  and the sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is inserted into the upper cartridge compartment section  118  via a upper cartridge insertion  168 . In a preferred embodiment, the roll  150  inserted into the lower cartridge compartment section  101  is of a plastic wrap and the roll  150  inserted into the lower cartridge compartment section  101  is of an aluminum foil. The lower sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is routed through the lower cartridge dispensing slot  112  then down-ward and passing across the lower shearing edge  108 . The lower shearing edge  108  is preferably serrated, whereby the food wrap sheet goods  152  grabs onto the teeth of the serrated lower shearing edge  108 . The dispensing path is presented as a lower cartridge dispensing path  170 . The upper sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is routed through the upper cartridge dispensing gap  126  passing across the upper serrated edge  128 . The dispensing path is presented as an upper cartridge dispensing path  172 . The upper serrated edge  128  is disposed upon the top edge of the upper cartridge compartment front wall  122 . The upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  is angled projecting outward towards the top edge. This configuration provides assistance to the shearing process. The upper serrated edge  128  is preferably serrated, whereby the food wrap sheet goods  152  grabs onto the teeth of the serrated upper serrated edge  128 . Once the sheets good food wrap cartridge assembly  150  is inserted into each of the two compartments  101 ,  118  and the food wrap sheet goods  152  is properly routed for use, the user closed each of the access doors  104 ,  124 . 
     Additional illustrations of the dual food storage sheet goods dispenser  100  are presented in  FIGS. 9 through 12 , presenting the left side (symmetric to the right side), the front, the top, and the bottom, respectively. The lower cutting edge carrier  106  projects down-ward from the bottom of lower cartridge compartment section  101  to aid in the shearing process of the food wrap sheet goods  152 . The user would pull the desired amount of the food wrap sheet goods  152  downward, then turning forward and slightly upward to shear the material. The lower cartridge compartment access door  104  can extend slightly below the bottom of the lower cartridge compartment section  101 , but not equal to the bottom of the lower cutting edge carrier  106 , providing a lip for assisting the user in the lower door motion  114 . The upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  is angled, wherein a top edge is positioned forward of the bottom edge. The user would pull the desired amount of the food wrap sheet goods  152  outward, then turning the material downward for shearing. With the upper cartridge compartment front wall  122  being angled, the apparatus provides clearance, wherein the user simply applies a downward force shearing the food wrap sheet goods  152  via the upper serrated edge  128 . 
     An alternate access door having a sliding interface is presented in  FIG. 13  with details of two slide designs being illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . In the alternate embodiment, the hingably connected doors  104 ,  124  are replaced with slideably connected doors  180 ,  190 . The orientations of each slideably connected door  180 ,  190  dictates certain requirements. The sliding front access door  180  is oriented vertically, wherein the sliding design needs to consider gravity. One solution is a horizontally oriented sliding dovetail joint  182 . The sliding dovetail joint  182  would be provided along top and bottom edges of the lower cartridge compartment end wall  102 . The user would slide the sliding front access door  180  front either left to right via a side to side sliding door insertion  184  (or right to left) assembling the sliding front access door  180  to the lower cartridge compartment end wall  102  via the horizontally oriented sliding dovetail joint  182 . The sliding dovetail joint  182  provides a smooth, aesthetically pleasing interface between the sliding top access door  190  and the lower cartridge compartment end wall  102 . The sliding top access door  190  is oriented horizontally, wherein the effects of gravity are not as critical. The sliding top access door  190  is slideably coupled to both a left and a right upper cartridge compartment end wall  120  via a sliding half lap joint  192 . The sliding top access door  190  is inserted via a front to rear sliding door insertion  194 . The sliding half lap joint  192  interface can be designed such to provide a flush top surface. 
     The dual food storage sheet goods dispenser  100  is fabricated of any known material, including but not limited to wood, plastic, composite, metal, and any combination therein. Each of the walls: lower cartridge compartment end wall  102 , lower cartridge compartment access door  104 , lower cartridge compartment bottom  110 , upper cartridge compartment end wall  120 , upper cartridge compartment front wall  122 , and upper cartridge compartment access door  124 , as well as a back and a center member are fabricated individually and jointed using a method respective to the material. Each of the right and left end walls  102 ,  120 , can optionally be fabricated as a single member. 
     Yet another method for manufacturing can be accomplished via an extrusion process. The back (rear) member (not shown but understood), bottom  110 , upper to lower cartridge horizontal divider (located between the upper and lower cartridge compartments), and the upper cartridge front wall  122  can be extruded as one member. The extrusion is then cut to length, whereby the two end walls are assembled. The extrusion can include fastener receiving features, which are well known in the extrusion industry. The slot  112  is then cut into the bottom  110  via a tool and die process, machined using any machining process, or formed via any other known process. The access doors  104 ,  124  are fabricated and assembled to the housing extrusion. The magnetic closure components  140 ,  142  are fastened to the assembly via an adhesive. The cutting edges  108 ,  128  are assembled in accordance with the embodiments presented herein.