MX2007016122A

MX2007016122A - Multiple stack dispensing container.

Info

Publication number: MX2007016122A
Application number: MX2007016122A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Joseph Mitchell; Debra N Welchel
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Co
Priority date: 2005-06-24
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2008-03-10
Also published as: US20060289557A1; BRPI0610273A2; WO2007001611A1; AU2006262816A1; KR20080035516A; CA2611090A1

Abstract

A disposable, non-refillable container (10) for holding and gravity-fed dispensing folded articles is disclosed. The container holds multiple stacks (41, 42, 43) or articles (12). The container is non-permanently affixed to a surface with a mount and the container dispenses an individual stack of articles from an individual dispensing opening (21) when that stack is configured substantially above the dispensing opening. To dispense another stack of articles within the container, the container is reconfigured such that the next stack of articles is placed in position for dispensing. The container may also include an area of the container adapted for use as a waste rece tacle.

Description

CONTAINER MULTIPLE PITIZER DISPENSER Background Various types of dispensers and assortment containers have been developed to provide easy availability of items to users. Such dispensers are common for supplying paper products such as facial tissues, napkins, paper towels and the like. A common type of assortment container supplies paper products from the top of the container. Such containers often use a stack of bent products that are bent together with one another so that when the top product is delivered through the container's dispensing opening, the next product is pulled into the assortment opening for a future supply .

While such assortment containers conveniently provide the user with bent products (e.g., folded tissues), they are inherently limited in capacity. The height of the stack of the products in such upper assortment containers is limited by the dimensions of the paper product that is supplied. If the box is too high the next product to be delivered can not be pulled through the supply opening with the product that is stocked. Instead, the next product is left down inside the pump where It may be very difficult to remove it; the user has to reach down through the supply opening in the assortment to retrieve the product.

One solution to the limited capacity of such assortment containers is to use a container that has two assortment sections. When the first section is completely exhausted from the top, the container is flipped over and the second section is supplied. The container essentially acts as two containers that are attached consecutively. However, each assortment section of such a container may have the same type of height limitation as the single stack described above.

Another type of solution is to use a spring or mechanical means to push the paper products into the supply opening. These types of jets are often found in both vertical and horizontal configurations. However, such a mechanical solution requires additional parts which add costs and can malfunction or break. Such resolutions are not economical in the context of disposable assortment containers.

The supply fed by gravity is another solution to these questions. With the supply fed by gravity the products are assortments of the bottom of the pile. Gravity ensures that the next product is always available in the assortment opening. However, the height of the stack in the gravity fed supply is also limited. The full weight of the battery rests on the product that is being supplied. If the pile is very heavy, the product that is being stocked may be difficult to supply; The product can be damaged or more product than necessary can be removed from the dispenser. This becomes a more problematic issue when dealing with heavier paper products, such as towels or cleansing cloths intended.

Another issue with dispensers of all types is that they are usually found in fixed locations. For example, the towels dispensers in a public toilet are usually fixed to the wall. A person who is looking to provide such products usually has to install a dispenser, but then he is committed to the location of that dispenser. It is difficult for those who wish to provide paper products in a temporary location, to do so with traditional mounting jets.

Synthesis of the Invention In light of the problems and issues described above, it is desired to have an assortment container that is capable of supplying a large quantity of folded items. It is also desired that the container be disposable and non-refillable. Additionally it is desired that such a container be capable of being easily located and / or relocated wherever the user desires.

The present invention is directed to a non-refillable, disposable container for holding and dispensing bent articles fed by gravity. The container has a top panel, and a bottom panel having at least a first supply opening, a front panel, a rear panel, and at least one side panel. A first supply column is also present in the container and is formed by the cooperation of the upper, lower, front, rear and side panels and is configured to maintain stacks of folded articles. The container also has a first support structure within the first supply column and a mounting which does not permanently fix the container to a support surface. The first supply opening is configured to supply a first stack of folded articles when the container is coupled to the support surface such that the first stack of articles is substantially above the first supply opening. The first support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a second stack of folded items while the first stack of folded items is being stocked. The first support structure is configured so that it can be manipulated such that the second stack of folded items can be supplied to the first assortment opening after the first stack of folded items has been supplied.

In several embodiments of the present invention the first support structure can be thus manipulated by the container that is configured for the first support structure to be removed from the container; the container has a shoring structure that supports the first support structure that can be removed from the support of the first support writing; a removable panel integrally connected to the first support structure, where the removable panel and integrally connected to the first support structure are configured to be removable from the container; or the container and the first support structure can be configured for the first support structure to be pulled from and reinserted into the first supply column.

In some embodiments the container may also have a second support structure within the first assortment column, where the second support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a third stack of folded items while the first and second Stacks of folded items are supplied. This second support structure is configured to be manipulated such that the third stack of bent items can be supplied to the first supply opening after the first and second stacks of folded articles have been supplied.

In other embodiments, the container may also have a second supply opening in the interior panel, and an interior wall. The inner wall cooperates with the upper, lower and side panels to provide a second supply column horizontally adjacent to the first supply column and configured to maintain stacks of folded articles. The second supply opening is configured to supply a third stack of folded articles when the container is coupled to the support surface such that the third stack of articles is substantially above the second supply opening. In further embodiments such a container may have a second support structure within the second supply column, wherein the second support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a fourth stack of folded items while the third stack of folded items They are being stocked. This second support structure can be configured to be manipulated such that the fourth stack of folded items can be supplied to the second supply opening after the third stack of folded items has been supplied.

In embodiments of the present invention the folded articles of the first stack are different than the folded articles of at least one of the second, third or fourth stacks. In some embodiments the first stack of folded items comprises a plurality of folded items each having an effective supply length dimension and the first stack having a pre-delivery height dimension which is greater than the effective supply length dimension of an individual folded item inside the first stack.

In several embodiments of the present invention the first support structure can be formed from at least one end tab of the back panel; from a part of the rear panel; of a part of at least one side panel; or of a part of the two side panels.

In another embodiment the container may have an area configured for use as a waste receptacle.

The invention is also directed to a system for maintaining and supplying by gravity a plurality of stacks of folded articles. The system is made of a plurality of stacks of articles, a container which is adapted to contain the plurality of stacks articles in one or more vertical supply columns, for at least one support structure within a vertical supply column that supports the weight of at least one stack of articles while the first stack of items is being delivered, and one assembly which does not permanently fix the container to a surface of support.

Each stack within the plurality of article stacks is configured to supply articles of said stack when the stack is substantially above a supply opening. The support structure is configured to be manipulated such that the stack of articles is supported by the support structure can be supplied to be stocked after the first stack of articles has been supplied.

In several embodiments of the system the support structure can be thus manipulated by the container that is configured for the support structure to be removed from the container; the container has a shoring structure that supports the support stature that can be removed from the support of the support structure; or the container and the first support structure can be configured for the first support structure to be pulled back and forth into the first supply column.

In one embodiment of the system the container has at least one area configured for use as a waste receptacle.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Figure 4A is a perspective view of a simple folded article as may be contained and supplied by the container of the present invention.

Figure 4B is a schematic end view of a folded stack of folded items of Figure 4A (not to scale) as they can be contained and supplied by the container of the present invention.

Figure 5A is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing the end tab of a folded back panel inside the container.

Figure 5B is a side cross-sectional view of the container illustrated in Figure 5A.

Figure 6A is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing a part of the folded back panel inside the container.

Figure 6B is a side cross-sectional view of the container illustrated in Figure 6A and showing a part of the rear panel folded into the interior of the container.

Figure 6C is a front perspective view of the container illustrated in Figure 6A.

Figure 7A is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing a part of the rear panel folded into the interior of the container.

Figure 7B is a rear cross-sectional side view of the container illustrated in Figure 7A and showing a part of the rear panel folded into the interior of the container.

Figure 7C is a front perspective view of the container illustrated in Figure 7A.

Figure 8A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing a part of the side panel folded into the interior of the container.

Figure 8B is a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the container of the present invention, similar to that shown in Figure 8A, showing a portion of both side panels folded into the interior of the container.

Figure 8C is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention, similar to that shown in Figure 8A, showing a portion of both side panels folded into the interior of the container and intertwining with the container. other.

Figure 8D is a top cross-sectional view of the container of Figure 8C and showing the interlacing of the sides of the folded side panels inside the container.

Figure 9A is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Figure 9B is a front perspective view of the container of Figure 9A showing a removable panel removed for access to a removable weight support structure.

Figure 10A is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Figure 10B is a front perspective view of the container of Figure 10A showing a removable panel.

Figure 11 is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing multiple assortment columns and a garbage can section.

Figure 12 is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention showing multiple assortment columns and multiple sections of garbage receptacles.

Figure 13A is a rear view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention with mounting means.

Figure 13B is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 13A attached to a substantially vertical surface.

Figure 14A is a rear view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention with a mounting means.

Figure 14B is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 14A attached to a substantially vertical surface.

Figure 15A is a rear view of another embodiment of the container of the present invention with a mounting means.

Figure 15B is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 15A attached to a substantially vertical surface.

Detailed description The present invention is a non-refillable, disposable container capable of feeding two or more stacks of bent articles by gravity. The articles supplied by the container of the invention are any articles capable of being supplied. Such items may include, but are not limited to, facial tissue, bath tissue, napkins, wipes, towels, absorbent personal care products (for example, diapers, women's care products, incontinence products), and the like.

Such articles may be individually folded and stacked on top of each other or they may be interfolded such that the folds of each individually folded part partially overlap the folds of the folded article adjacent to the stack.

The plurality of stacks of articles to be supplied by the containers of the present invention may be stacks of all the same types of articles. For example, all of the piles can be paper towels. Alternatively, the individual stacks of the container each may be a different type of article or the stacks may be a combination of different and similar types of articles. For example, a single container can supply one or more stacks of facial tissue and one or more stacks of paper towels. In another example, the same container can supply stacks of towels, piles of tissues, stacks of cleaning cloths, and stacks of absorbent personal care products. In a further example, the same container may have multiple stacks of the same type of items (e.g., diapers), but each stack may be of a different size from that type of item (e.g., a stack of diapers). small size, a stack of medium-sized diapers, and a stack of large diapers). The articles and stacks contained within the container can be of any combination of items and attributes that that user desires.

The container of the present invention is intended to be a non-refillable, disposable article dispenser. The articles are loaded into the container during manufacture and delivered to the user as a simple assortment system. The user can use the dispenser on any substantially vertical surface that he wishes and discard the entire container when the items have been supplied; users only need to replace the empty container with a new container instead of filling the container. This reduces the amount of attention the user has to give to the container and prevents problems with overloading the container. Additionally, such a disposable container can be used either if the user wishes to supply the articles of the container; the user is not limited to supply locations where dispensers have traditionally been installed (for example, on or on a wall in a public bathroom).

The container can be made of any material that contains and supplies the articles of the present invention. Preferably, the container can be made of tough paper, cardboard or plastic, but can be made from any other suitable material within the scope of the invention.

The containers of the present invention supply the articles they contain with the help of gravity. The horizontal or higher stocking containers of the prior art depend on the bending of the articles or the use of mechanical springs or other such devices for pushing or pulling the stack of articles into the supply opening. As previously described, such additional parts add costs to those dispensers and may malfunction or break. The container of the present invention depends on gravity to supply the articles while the container is in a substantially vertical configuration. As used herein, "substantially vertical" refers to a surface or container configuration that is more vertical in nature than it is in a horizontal nature; for example, perfectly vertical to less than 45 ° of perfectly vertical. As used herein, "configuration" refers to a particular arrangement of parts or components relative to one another and their surroundings.

As previously described, the vertically oriented dispensers of the prior art use articles between bent to supply those items to the top of such dispensers. Gravity tends to work against those types of suppliers. Meanwhile he Article that follows the item that is being stocked is being pulled up by the preceding item, it is also being pulled in the opposite direction by gravity. Often, such items may fall back into the dispenser and the user must reach inwardly at the dispenser to retrieve the item. By dispensing from the bottom of the container, the container of the present invention delivers with the help of gravity instead of working against gravity.

The containers of the present invention, such as the container 10 shown in Figure 1, supply from a lower surface of the container. In such a configuration, the stack of items that is being stocked will be substantially above the individual item that is being stocked. The surface through which the articles are assorted may often be the lowermost surface of the container 10. It is possible that the container may have lower surfaces than the surface through which the articles are assorted, but in those cases of the item that is assortment may still be stocked from the bottom of a stack of items such that the stack may be substantially above the item that is stocked.

There are many configurations with multiple stacks of articles that are included in the present invention. In Figure 1, the container 10 contains two stacks of articles that they are vertically adjacent to each other with a first support writing 31 separating the two stacks, as seen in the cutout of figure 1. The vertical column of stacks of articles that are dispensed through the same assortment opening, together with the first supporting structure 31 that separates the stacks, from a first supply column.

The container 10 has a front panel 25, an upper panel 26, a lower panel 24 opposite the upper panel 26, side panels 27, and a rear panel (not shown in Figure 1) opposite the front panel 25 which forms the final side of the container 10. It should be understood that the terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", and "lateral" are used only to describe the relative positions of each panel. All panels 24, 25, 26 and 27, cooperate to provide the generally container 10 formed in a polygonal manner with interior compartments configured to maintain multiple stacks of articles. As used herein, "configured" refers to the particular arrangement of parts or components established for the operation especially in a particular manner. During delivery, as will be described below, any panel of the container 10 may be positioned lower than the remainder of the container 10 to allow supply fed by gravity through the opening in that panel.

The container 10 is shown as supplying an article 12 of a first stack 41 of articles to through the first supply opening 21. As seen in Figure 1, the articles 12 of the first stack 41 are supplied when the first stack 41 is oriented above the first supply opening 21. The first supply opening 21 as shown it has an oval opening through the lower panel 24. However, the first supply opening 21 can be any form of closed loop that allows for the regular supply of the articles 12. Additionally, the first supply opening 21 may be formed by the removal of a portion of the lower panel 24 defined by a line of weakness, or the first supply opening 21 may be present in the container 10 while being supplied to the user. The line of weakness may be perforations, flutes, or another similar method to provide weakness in the material.

The first stack 41 is separated from the second stack 42 by a first support structure 31. As seen in the section of Fig. 1, the first support structure 31 supports the second stack 42 while the first stack 41 is supplied. When the first stack 41 is completely filled through the first supply stack 21, the container 10 and the first support structure 31 are configured such that the first support structure 31 no longer supports the second stack 42 and subsequently, the second stack 42 falls to take up the space previously occupied by the first stack 41. The first support structure 31 It can be manipulated to allow the suspended pile of product to fall into position for the assortment. As it is used here, "to manipulate" or "manipulated" or "manipulation" refers to: to cooperate with the hands and / or by mechanical means especially in a skilled manner. To manipulate the first support structure 31, it can be removed, moved aside, influenced by activating an operably adjacent component or otherwise similarly manipulated. Once in position for the assortment, the articles 12 of the second stack 42 can then be supplied from the first supply opening 21.

While the container 10 of figure 1 illustrates a supply column of two article stacks 41 and 42, the container 10 can include more than two stacks of articles. Figure 2 illustrates a container with a supply column of three stacks of articles. As seen in the section of Figure 2, a first support structure 31 supports a second stack 42 above a second stack 41 that is supplying through the first supply opening 21. A third stack 43 is supported above of the second stack 42 by a second support script. As with the container of Figure 1, when the first stack 41 is fully supplied, the first support structure 31 is manipulated such that the second stack 42 can fall and occupy the space previously occupied by the first stack 41 to be dispensed through. the first supply opening 21.

When the second stack 42 is completely stocked, the second support structure 32 is manipulated such that the third stack 43 can fall and occupy the space previously occupied by the first stack 41 and the second stack 42 to be supplied through the first supply opening 21.

The embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 illustrate containers that supply multiple stacks of articles of a single vertical supply column of such stacks. Figure 3 illustrates another possible configuration of the container of the invention; the container can have more than one supply column of multiple batteries. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, there is a first supply column 310 and a second supply column 320 that supply articles 12 through a first supply opening 21 and a second supply opening 22, respectively. The supply columns are horizontally adjacent and separated by an interior wall of 37.

Each of the supply columns 310 and 320 are shown in Figure 3 as having two vertically adjacent compartments of which two stacks of articles 12 can be stocked. A first stack 41 of articles 12 may be contained in the first supply section 311 of the first supply column 310 and another first stack 41 may be contained in the first supply section 321 of the second supply column 320. Of the In the same way, a second stack 42 of articles 12 can be contained in the respective second supply sections 312 and 322 of the supply columns 310 and 320. In each supply column 310 and 320, the first supply sections 311 and 321 and the second supply sections 312 and 322 are separated by the first support structures 31 separating the first and second stacks 41 and 42 within each of the supply columns 310 and 320. When the first stack 41 is completely stocked from either the first supply sections 311 and 321, the first support structures 31 can be manipulated such that the second stack 42 can fall from the respective second supply section 312 and 322 and supply the space previously occupied by the first stack 41.

It is contemplated that more than three or four stacks of articles can be stocked from such containers, as can be seen from the few examples described above, there are many different combinations of container configurations that can supply multiple stacks of items. More horizontally adjacent supply columns can be added to a container, as shown in Figure 3, and each of these supply columns can supply more than two stacks of articles, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figure 2. The different relative sizes of the piles and the adjacent horizontal or vertical configurations can all be individually modified or in combination for produce a container configuration that meets the supply needs of the particular items that are supplied.

An example of the type of article that can be supplied from the container 10 of the present invention is shown in Figure 4A. The article 12 shown in figure 4A is a single sheet which has been folded in half to create a front or bent edge 17. The article 12 also has a rear edge 13 which is formed by the two ends of article 12 on which now resides in a position adjacent to each other. A second fold 15 is imparted to the article 12 substantially parallel to the front edge 17. The second fold 15 divides the effective delivery length of the article 12 into a back flap 14, having a length Ll, and a front flap 16, having a length L2. The "effective delivery length" of article 12 is the length that the user has to pull article 12 of a supply opening of container 10 to remove article 12 from container 10. As shown for article 12 of figure 4A , the effective supply length is the additive length of the front and rear flaps Ll and L2.

Items 12 are supplied from a stack 120 of such articles 12 as illustrated in Figure 4B. Figure 4B shows a schematic final view of a stack between bent 120 of five items 12. In practice, a stack 120 may preferably comprise more than 100 items 12. For purposes of clarity, only five items 12 are shown in Figure 4B and these have been labeled A, B, C , D and E. The stack 120 of articles 12 may be stocked from the container 10 of the present invention by removing the articles 12 from the bottom of the stack 120.

As shown in Figure 4B, the user will be able to grip the front flap 16 of the article A further to the bottom and pull the article 12 of a supply opening of the container 10. The front flap 16 of the following article B will then be available in the Supply opening for easy assortment.

The folded pattern of the individual articles 12 and the bending of the articles 12 in a stack 120 as shown in Figures 4A and 4B are shown as non-limiting examples. The container 10 of the present invention can supply articles 12 that are bent in any of the numerous ways that the articles 12 are bent and are well known in the art. Additionally, the stack 120 may be between bent in any of the numerous ways that are well known in the art or the stack 120 may not be bent at all.

The current interior dimensions of the containers 10 of either Figures 1 to 3 are dependent on The size and weight of the items that are assorted. One of the advantages of the containers 10 of the invention is the ability of the container 10 to supply a stack of items having a higher stack height, before supplying any of the items 12 of the stack 120, than the effective delivery length. of any of the folded items 12 within the stack 120. In FIG. 4B, if the articles 12 are supplied from the top of the stack 120, the length of the last flap (shown in FIG. 4B as the front flap 16 of article E) of the article The next higher item may be drawn in the following article D such that the next article D may be brought to the supply opening for later assortment. Where the articles 12 are supplied from the top of the stack 120, the original height H of the stack (for example, the height H of the stack before supplying any of the items 12) may be limited to less than some height H that the effective delivery length by any of the individual articles 12. If the height H is greater than the effective delivery length of a single article 12, at some point the supply of articles 12, the article 12 may no longer be able to attract the next article to the supply opening. Additionally, in the case where the supply opening will no longer be able to grip the next item to be supplied, a top height H of the stack may correspond to a deep supply section which may be inconvenience for a user to reach to recover a fallen item.

The container 10 of the present invention supplies the articles from the bottom of the stack 120 and does not have the same height limitation. The height H of the stack 120 of articles 12 in the container 10 of the present invention is not limited by the size and weight of the stack of articles 12 that are stocked and the design of the supply opening. As is well known in the art, if much weight of the pile is pressing on the item being supplied, the item supplied may be difficult to stock and may be damaged during the removal.

For example, the inventors have found that a stack of paper towels having a pile height H of approximately 13 inches (33 centimeters) can be effectively supplied from a container 10 of the present invention. Paper towels that have a basis weight of 45 grams per square meter, and that measure 8 inches (20.3 centimeters) in width and 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) in length, were folded in half and between bent that the way shown in Figures 4A and 4B. The effective supply length of the individual paper towels was 6 inches (15.2 centimeters). Each of the folded towels had an individual weight of approximately 2.8 grams.

The stack of towels was contained in the container with interior dimensions of approximately 8 inches (20.3 centimeters) in width by 3.75 inches (9.5 centimeters) in depth. The towels were supplied through an oval supply opening in the container which measured 7 7/8 inches (20 centimeters) wide and 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) deep at its center point. The stack was placed above the supply opening, such that the weight of the stack rests on the sheet to be supplied. It was found that a stack of such towels having a pre-supply weight of approximately 900 grams can be stocked through such an opening. The pile was approximately 13 inches (33 centimeters) high and contained approximately 320 towels. Such stack height H is greater than twice the effective delivery length of the individual towels supplied. Stack weights greater than 1070 grams were found to impede acceptable supply, which cause the sheet to fracture or tear.

Different types of articles 12 of different weight, size and texture, together with supply openings of different design, may allow for higher pile heights H or may require H heights of lower stacks. One skilled in the art will be able to adapt the height H of the stack, and the corresponding dimensions of the container 10 to meet the needs of the particular article 12 that must be supplied.

Various container configurations described above include a support structure for supporting a stack of items while another stack of items, vertically adjacent to the stack held, is being dispensed from the bottom of the container 10. To reduce the cost of materials and simplifying the production of such containers, it is desired that this support structure be part of the body of the container 10.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a first support structure 31 formed of parts of the rear panel 51 of the container. The rear panel 51 of the container 10 shown in Figures 5A and 5B is formed of an upper rear panel 53, which extends from the upper panel 26, and a lower rear panel 55, which extends from the lower panel 24. The distal end of the upper rear panel 53 forms an upper end tab 54 and the distal end of the lower rear panel 55 forms a lower end tab 56. The upper and lower end tabs 54 and 56 are bent inwardly as shown in Figure 5A to form the finished container 10 such that the upper and lower rear panels 53 and 55 form a flat rear panel 51. As seen in Figure 5B, the upper and lower end tabs 54 and 56 form the first support structure 31 inside the container 10. The upper and lower end tabs 54 and 56 may or may not be held together and these may or may not be attached to the inner surface of the front panel 25.

While the lower end tab 56 is shown as extending to the front panel 25 of the container 10, alternatively, one or both of the end tabs can only extend to a part of the distance from the back of the container to the interior surface of the container. front panel 25. The end tabs may be larger than the distance from the back of the container to the front panel 25 and may have additional folds where they contact the inside of the front panel 25. The upper end tab 54 may be larger than the lower end tab 56 or the lower end tab 56 may be larger than the upper end tab 56. The relative sizes of the upper and lower rear panels 53 and 55 and the size of the folds of the upper and lower end tabs 54 and 56 can be appropriately designed to meet the needs of the items to be supplied and the user's wishes.

Another example support structure can be formed from a portion of the rear panel 51 of the container 10. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, a portion of the rear panel 51 can be designed to be folded into the interior of the container 10. This back flap 67 may be any part of the size of the back panel 51 that may be suitable to function as a support structure, but not so large that the articles contained within the container 10 easily fall through the resulting opening in the third panel 51. Although the rear flap 67 is shown as a single piece of rear panel 51, the support structure can be formed of multiple back panel strips 51 are folded into the interior of the container 10 to form multiple back flaps 67. The back flap 67 is also shown as substantially rectangular in shape, but can be in any way, symmetrical or symmetrical, which suitably performs the function of a weight-bearing structure.

The first support structure 31 of Figures 6A and 6B further includes a bracket 35 operably adjacent the back flap 67 when folded into the container 10 and which assists the first support structure 31 to support the weight of a second stack. 42 of items 12 while the first stack 41 is being supplied. As shown in Figures 6B and 6C, the bracket 35 may be a part of the front panel 25 that is pushed into the interior of the container 10, leaving a bracket opening 61 in the front panel 25. Alternatively, the bracket 35 may be an additional piece of material or multiple pieces of material that have been attached to the inner surface of the front panel 25.

In a similar manner, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, a part of the rear panel 51 can be designed to be folded inside the container 10. Instead of using a bracket 35, as in the embodiment of Figure 6B , the first support structure 31 shown in Figures 7B and 7C includes a tab 69 from which a notch 73 engages in the front panel 25 to assist the first support structure 31 to support the weight of the second stack 42. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the tab 69 is an integral part of the rear flap 67 formed from a portion of the back panel 51. The groove 73 is a part of the front panel 25 that has been removed and is appropriately sized to securely receive the tab 69.

Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D illustrate embodiments of support structures formed from a portion of one or more of the side panels 27 of the container 10. Figure 8A shows a portion of only a side panel 27 folded into the interior of the container. container 10. This side flap 77 may be any size of part of side panel 27 that may be suitable to function as a support structure, but not so large that articles contained within container 10 easily fall through the resulting opening in the side panel 27. The single side flap 77 can extend the entire path to the opposite inner side panel surface where it may or may not be attached to the inner surface of the side panel. The lateral flap 77 can be supported by a bracket 35, as in the figure 6B, or a tab 69 and a notch 73, as in Figure 7B.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, side flaps 77 may be formed from more than one side panel 27 of the container 10. The side flaps 77 may be formed from a portion of a side panel 27 that is bent at the side. inside of the container 10 and a part of the opposite side panel 27 that is bent upwards inside the container 10 as shown in Figure 8B. As above, the side flaps 27 can be supported by a bracket 35, as in Figure 6B, or a tab 69 and a groove 73, as in Figure 7B. The sizes of the multiple side flaps 77 may be the same or they may be different.

Alternatively, the support structure can be formed from a portion of both side panels 27 that are bent upwardly inside the container 10 as shown in Figure 8C. In the embodiment shown in Figures 8C and 8D, the side flaps 77 are long enough to be overlapped inside the container 10. The distal ends of both side flaps 77 contain a longitudinal groove 77 such that the side flaps 77 mutually engage one another. with the other one.

The side flaps 77 may be long enough to be overlapped like Figure 8B or these only extend a part of the path inside the container 10. As with the other embodiments of the support structures, the side flaps 77 may be of any size or shape, symmetrical or asymmetrical, that meets the needs of the article being supplied and the wishes of the user.

The opening in one or more of the left side panels 27 when the support structure is formed, provides the additional benefit of allowing the user to see inside the container and therefore act as a calibrator to the user on the number of items that they remain to be supplied. The markings on the outside of the container 10 near the opening can help the user in determining the relative number of items remaining to be delivered. Alternatively or in addition to the outer markings, the shape of the side flap can be designed such that a regular pattern can be formed around the periphery of the left opening in the side panel 27 that the user can use to estimate the items that remain to be supplied.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a single stack of items 12 is stocked while one or more item stacks are held in reserve vertically. adjacent to the stack that is supplied. These one or more backup batteries are separated from the stack that is supplied, and one from the other, by support structures. When the supply stack is completely stocked, these support structures are manipulated such that a backup battery is allowed to fall into position for delivery.

One method of such manipulation of the support structure is the removal of the support structure of the container 10. For example, a line of weakness can be incorporated into the container 10 to facilitate the removal of the support structure. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B show a line of weakness 57 which is incorporated in the lower rear panel 55 of the container 10. While the line of weakness 57 is shown in Figure 5A as in the lower rear panel 55, a Line of weakness 57 can be used either if the support structure is attached to the container 10 in that particular embodiment. Such a line of weakness 57 may be a line of perforations, grooves, or other similar method to provide weakness in panel 55. Line of weakness 57 allows the user to easily remove the first support structure 31 (e.g. bottom end portion 56) of the container 10 of figure 5A. To assist the user, a finger tab 59 can be incorporated into the line of weakness 57 which can give the user a starting point to separate the first support structure 31 from the container 10.

In other embodiments, a tear strip can be used to facilitate removal of the support structure 31; such embodiment is illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, a removable portion 85 defined by a tear strip 83 and located on the front panel 25 of the container. To remove the removable part 85, the user grasps and pulls on the pull tab 87 which engages the tear strip 83 and separates the removable part 85 from front panel 25. As shown in Figure 9B, the removable part 85 is appropriately located on the front panel 25, such that when removed the first support structure 31 is made accessible for removal. The first support structure 31 can then be removed and the second stack 42 of articles 12 can fall down and be ready for delivery.

The tear strip 83 is desirably formed of a ribbon, yarn, cord, and so on, which contains strong fibers therein. The tear strip 83 may be formed from a number of different materials, such as, but not limited to, natural or synthetic fiber, plastic, metal wire, or any combination thereof, and so on. It should be understood that the material forming the tear strip can normally, but not by way of limitation, be applied to the shipping box when it is in a flat form as a section before formation. One such strips to tear is available from H.B. Fuller Company, Linear Products Division, Vancouver, Washington, sold as OPEN SESAME®.

Other tear strips as well as shipping boxes are available from Weyerhaeuser Company, Bo ling Green, Kentucky.

The tear strip 87 may be attached to the container 10 by any method, such as, by way of non-limiting example, with adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, lamination, integrally formed with the container 10, and so on.

As shown in Fig. 9A, the tear strip 83 includes a pull tab 87. The pull tab 87 desirably is, but not by way of limitation, formed as a part of the front panel 25 of the container 10. In this instance , the pull tab 87 is desirably defined by perforations formed around it which allow the pull tab 87 to separate from the panel when it is released and grasped by a user. Additionally, the pull tab 87 desirably also includes pull instructions. The term "pull indications", as used herein, means any word (s), number (s), line (s), symbol (s), drawing (s), and / or combinations thereof, and so on. successively, which indicate to a user the location, release, and method of use of the pull tab 87.

The support structure can alternatively be an integral part of a removable panel, such that the support structure is removed from the container 10 when the removable panel is removed. Such incorporation is illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B. In the incorporation of the figures 10A and 10B a removable panel 90 with a first integral support structure 31 is incorporated with a container 10 having a groove 95 adapted to receive the first support structure 31. The removable panel 90, in this embodiment is therefore with lifting sudden united with the front panel 25 of the container. Additionally, the tear strips 83 with pull tabs 87 are incorporated in the removable panel 90. When the first stack 41 of articles 12 is completely stocked from the container 10, the removable panel 90 is released from the container 10 by the user pulling the the pull tabs 87 for engaging the tear strips 83. While the first support structure 31 is an integral part of the removable panel 90, the first support structure 31 is removed with the removable panel 90 and the second stack 42 of articles 12 it is allowed to fall into place for its supply.

Such removable panels with integral support structures can also be used in other examples of the invention. The removable panel can be incorporated in a side panel 27 or the rear panel 51 of the container 10 or any other panel as the particular design of the panel warrants. container 10. For additions that have multiple supply columns and multiple stacks, and therefore multiple support structures within that column, the removable panel can be broken into separately removable sections. These sections can be defined by the tear strips such that only the part of the removable panel with the particularly desired support structure is removed.

Instead of completing the removal of the support writing, another method for manipulating the support structure is the removal of the bracket structures that support the support structure. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C the first support structure 31 is supported by a bracket 35. When the first stack 41 is completely stocked, the user can reach into the bracket opening 61 and pull, or removing, the bracket 35 and therefore allows the first support structure 31 (e.g., the back flap 67) to fall along with the second stack 42 that it held. In the same way, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7A, 7B and 7C, when the first stack 41 is completely stocked, the user can pull the tab 69 back inside the container 10 and therefore allows the first support structure 31 (for example, the back flap 67) to fall back together with the second stack 42 that it held.

Finally, the container 10 itself can be designed to allow the support structures to be manipulated when another pile must fall down for its supply. For the embodiment shown in Figures 8C and 8D, the container 10 can be designed such that the side panels 27 are allowed to be pulled away from each other such that the side flaps 77 can also be pulled away from each other so that they can be pulled away from one another. no longer mutually engage with each other. The side flaps 77 may then fall back into their original positions in the side panels 27 and allow the article stack 12 to hold them to fall into the supply opening. Similarly, instead of each of the entire side panels 27 being pulled away from each other, the container 10 can be designed such that only a single side panel 27 can be pulled away from the container 10. Alternatively, parts of the side panels 27 can be designed to allow for the side flaps 27 to be pulled away from one another.

Any of the panels incorporating a support structure can be made to be movable such that the support structure is moved away from the container 10, allowing the articles held to fall; The panel can then be moved back into place to maintain the integrity of the container. Alternatively, the support structure itself can be adapted to be movable in or out of the supply columns of the container 10. Each support structure can then be independently slid on or off in such a manner so as to control the stacks of articles 12 that are falling into the supply opening or other support structure.

Any of the above methods for manipulating the support structures of the container 10 can be used individually or in combination with one another.

The examples and embodiments illustrated are not intended to be limiting. One skilled in the art can observe that there are many possible configurations of possible containers 10 of the present invention and many possible methods for manipulating support structures with these configurations.

Additional utility can also be added to the container 10 by supplying the container 10 with fill indicators in the development container 10 by removing the support structure. The term "refill indicator", as used herein, kinetics any word (s), number (s), line (s), symbol (s), color (s), drawing (s), and / or combinations of the same, and so on which indicate to the user that one or more batteries have been supplied and that the container 10 will need to be replaced or otherwise be serviced in the near future. For example, the refill indicator may include a message or colored panel on the front panel 25 of the container 10 of the embodiment of Figures 10A and 10B which is revealed when the removable panel 90 is removed. Another example may be the existence of an opening in the front panel 25 of the container 10 that is formed by the removal of the removable part 85 of the embodiment of Figures 9A and 9B. These examples are not intended to be limiting; the refill indicator may be any signal to the user that one or more support structures of the container 10 have been manipulated to allow a backup battery to be supplied.

The container 10 may also include observation apertures 71, as illustrated in Figures 6C, 7C, 9A, 9B, and 10A, which allow the user to observe how much of a stack of items remains to be delivered. Such an indicator and observation apertures allow for easy service of the containers 10 and help prevent unexpected depletion of items 12.

An additional utility can also be added to the container of the invention by including one or more spaces within the container that can act as waste receptacles. Such spaces can be used for discarding the supplied items after they have been used or for discarding other waste. An embodiment of a container 10 with this added functionality is shown in Figure 11. The container 10 of figure 11 has two supply columns 310 and 320 of which piles of articles can be supplied. Additionally there is an area between the supply columns 310 and 320 within the container 10 is available for use as a waste receptacle 100.

The waste receptacle 100 can be accessed through openings made through one of the panels of the container 10.

Figure 12 illustrates another possible configuration of the container 10 having waste receptacles at 100 available. The container 10 of Figure 12 has first, second and third supply columns 310, 320, and 330. As with the other supply columns 310 and 320, the third supply column 330 is shown with a third support structure 33. which supplies its article stacks from a third supply opening 23. Additionally, two sections of waste receptacles 100 are located between each of the supply columns. Alternatively, the section of the waste receptacle 100 may instead be located at the two ends of the container with the three supply columns horizontally adjacent therebetween. In any case, the waste receptacles 100 can be accessed through openings made through one of the panels of the container 10.

Figures 11 and 12 are only illustrative examples; other configurations of containers 10 by one or more waste receptacles 100 are possible. The size and shape of the waste receptacles 100 may be of any size or shape within the container 10 as required or desired. In addition to the additional spaces within the container 10 set aside as waste receptacles 100, the individual supply sections may also be adopted for use as waste receptacles 100 after the articles have been supplied.

The container 10 is additionally designed not permanently to be attached to a substantially vertical support surface. As used herein, the term "not permanently" refers to such an attribute that the container may be attached to a substantially vertical support surface, disengaged, and reattached to the surface, repeatedly, during the limited life use of the container 10. The substantially vertical support surface can be any surface that when a container 10 is fixed thereto will allow the items to be delivered in a downward direction (for example, the majority of the item stack will be substantially above the particular supply opening). For example, the support surface may be, but is not limited to, a wall, a door, a pole, a rod, a fixed jet to a wall or embedded in a wall. a wall, or the like. The incorporations of the container 10 of this invention may require the removal of the support surface for discarding or for removal of the support structure 31 from the container. As such, the manner in which the container 10 is fixed to the vertical support surface must be non-permanent in nature. However, the coupling means must also be sufficiently strong and configured in such a way that the container 10 is secured to the surface 135 while the articles are supplied from the container 10.

In the embodiment of Figure 13A and 13B, the container 10 is not permanently fixed to the surface 135 by multiple coupling strips 130 on the rear panel 51 of the container 10. The coupling strip 130 can be any type of material that can be fixed the container 10 to the surface 135, but may allow the container 10 to be removed from, and reattached to, the surface 135.

For example, the coupling strip 130 can be a pressure sensitive adhesive or any other type of adhesive, as they are well known, that can work for such purposes. Such an adhesive strip can be protected by a strip of peeling covering the adhesive until the user wishes to fix the container 10 to a surface 135. Such an adhesive can be directly applied to the rear panel 51 of the container 10 or it can be in the form of an adhesive tape of two sides. In another example, the coupling strip can be hook material or a loop that is fixed to the corresponding loop / hook material on the surface 135 that will be attached to the container 10.

The coupling strips 130 are illustrated in Figures 13A and 13B as two strips located on the rear panel 51; a fence of the lower panel 24 and another near the upper panel 26. The coupling strips 130 can be of any shape, any dimension and in any position, relative to one another and to the rear panel 51, which can securely secure the container 10 to surface 135 during delivery. For example, the coupling strips may be long, small, vertically aligned, or otherwise configured on the rear panel 51. Instead of two strips of coupling 130 there may be more than two strips or there may be only one stripping strip.

Figures 14A and 14B illustrate a rear tab 141 for securing the container 10 to a surface 135. As shown, a portion of the rear panel 51 can be adapted to be released from the rear panel 51 along a line of weakness 143 in the back panel 51. Such a line of weakness 143 may be perforations, grooves or other similar method to provide weakness in the material. The rear tab 141 can then be bent in the plane of the rear panel 51 and used to fix the container to the surface 135. In the embodiment shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the rear tab 141 has multiple recei openings 145 which can be perforations present in the rear tab 141 or can be perforations in the rear tab 141 where the material of the rear tab can be removed. Such recei aperture 145 may be attached to a mounting bracket 147 that is present on the surface 135.

Instead of using openings receiving 145, the rear tongue 145 can use a mating strip. Such a coupling strip may be located inside the container 10 until the rear tab 145 is bent out of the plane of the rear panel 51, to secure the container 10 to the surface 135. Alternatively, a combination of rear tabs may be used. , coupling strips 130, receiving openings 145, mounting brackets 147.

The rear tabs 141 in Figs. 14A and 14B are shown as being parts of the rear panel 51 being bent out of the plane of the rear panel 51 and holding the container 10 above. Alternatively, the rear tabs 141 can be formed from one or more portions of side panels 27 that are bent outwardly from the plane of the side panel 27 and fix the container 10 to the surface 135. The rear tabs 141 can also be formed from a combination of one or more parts of the rear panels 51 and the side panels 27.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 15A and 15B, the container 10 was fixed to the surface 135 by a mounting connector 157 which is connected to a receiver 155 on the rear panel 51 of the container 10. The receiver 155 may be holes in the container. the rear panel 51, the holes that can be made in the rear panel 51 by removing parts of the rear panel 51 defined by perforations (as shown in Figure 15A), or other means that will be able to work in conjunction with the mounting connector 157 for securing the container 10 to the surface 135. For example, the rear panel 51 may include a receiver 155 which may be fixed to the mounting connector 157 which is recessed on the surface 135. In another example, the receiver 155 may be a magnetic material which may be fixed to a surface 135 made of metal or to a magnetic mounting connector 157.

Finally, the mounting connector 157 can be fastened with brackets to the surface 135 designed in such a way that the complete container 10 slides in or otherwise goes completely supported by the bracket.

Claims

E I V I N D I C A C? O N E S

1. A non-refillable disposable container for containing and dispensing bent articles dispensed by gravity comprising: a top panel, a bottom panel having at least one first dispensing opening; a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, a first supply column, formed by the cooperation of the upper, lower, front, rear and side panels and configured to contain stacks of folded articles, a first support structure within the first assortment column, and a mount which does not permanently affix the container to the support surface, wherein the first dispensing opening is configured to supply a first stack of folded articles when the container is attached to the support surface so that the first stack of articles is essentially above the first dispensing opening, and wherein the first support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a second stack of folded items while the first stack of folded items is being stocked, and wherein the first support structure is further configured to be manipulated so that the second stack of folded items can be delivered to the first dispensing opening after the first stack of folded items has been stocked.

2. The container as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it further comprises a second support structure within the first dispenser column, wherein the second support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a third stack of articles bent while the first and second piles of bent items assorted, and wherein the second support structure is configured to be manipulated so that the third stack of folded items can be delivered to the first dispensing opening after the first and second piles of folded items have been stocked.

3. The container as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises a second dispensing opening in the lower panel and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall cooperates with the upper, lower and side panels to provide a second supply column horizontally to one side of the first supply column and configured to support stacks of folded articles, and wherein the second dispensing opening is configured to supply a third stack of folded articles when the container is attached to the supporting surface so that the third stack of articles is essentially above the second dispensing opening.

4. The container as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that it also comprises a second support structure within the second dispenser column, wherein the second support structure is configured to support the weight of at least a fourth stack of folded items while the third stack of folded items is being stocked, and wherein the second support structure is further configured to be manipulated so that the fourth stack of folded items can be delivered to the second dispensing opening after the third stack of folded items has been stocked.

5. The container as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rear panel further comprises at least one end appendage and wherein the first support structure is formed in at least one end appendage of the container. back panel.

6. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 4, characterized in that the first support structure is a part of the rear panel.

7. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 4, characterized in that the The first support structure is a part of at least one side panel.

8. The container as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the first support structure is a part of two side panels.

9. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 8, characterized in that the container is configured so that the first support structure is removed from the container.

10. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a fastening structure supporting the first support structure, wherein the fastening structure is configured to be capable of being removed from the support of the support. first support structure.

11. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a removable panel integrally connected to the first support structure, wherein the removable panel and the first integrally connected support structure are configured to be removed from the container.

12. The container as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the container and the first support structure are configured so that the first support structure is pulled from and reinstalled in the first dispenser column.

13. The container as claimed in any one of clauses 2 to 4, characterized in that the folded articles of the first stack are different from the folded articles of at least one of the second, third or fourth stacks.

14. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that it also comprises at least one area configured to be used as a waste receptacle.

15. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the first stack of folded articles comprises a plurality of folded articles each having an effective assortment extension dimension and the first stack having a height dimension prior to assortment which is greater than the effective assortment length dimension of an individual folded item within the first stack. IS U A non-refillable and disposable container for containing and dispensing bent articles provided by gravity is disclosed. The container contains multiple stacks of items. The container is fixed non-permanently to a surface with a frame and the container holds an individual stack of articles of a single assortment opening when the stack is formed essentially above the dispensing opening. To supply another stack of articles within the container, the container is configured so that the next stack of articles is placed in position for the assortment. The container may also include an area of the container adapted to be used as a waste receptacle.