US2765909A - Method and apparatus for dispensing - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1956 GRAHAM 2,765,909

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING Filed Dec. 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE A- GRAHAM BY 7x 4 ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1956 A. GRAHAM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 50, 1954 INVENTOR LAWRENCE A. GRAHAM ATTORNEYS United grates Patent 2,765,909 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING Lawrence A. Graham, Hoiyoke, Mass., assignor to Graham Manufacturing Company, Inc, Hoiyoke, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 30, 1934, Serial No. 478,621 2 Claims. (Cl. 20657) This invention relates to a dispensing arrangement for folded paper towels or tissues, or the like, and in particular relates to a container and a supporting arrangement for the container in which the towels or tissues are placed.

A relatively common article of commerce comprises paper towels arranged in an endless strip or roll, with the roll being perforated between successive towels, and with the roll being adapted for being supported in a holder so that the strip of toweling can be drawn therefrom and individual towels torn from the strip.

This arrangement, while generally fairly satisfactory, involves the disadvantage in that it often requires two hands to remove the towel from a roll in order to prevent the roll from unwinding rather than the towel tearing off at the perforation line.

Paper towels and disposable paper tissues are also quite often packaged in a box, usually with an opening in one wall of the al towels and individually, but involves the disadvantage that the box is not conveniently located in a fixed place at all times.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for dispensing paper towels and tissues in such a manner as to embody the advantages of both of the known methods referred to above.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an arrangement for dispensing paper towels and tissues, and the like, so that the towels and tissues can be packaged in a box at the time of manufacture thereby insuring sterile conditions and ease of handling and storing, and with the said box being adapted for being supported in a fixed position in a holder or the like for ease in dispensing the tissues or towels from the box.

A particular object of this invention is the provision of a box in which towels or tissues are placed in a conventional manner, which is especially adapted for being supported in a wall-hung bracket somewhat in the manner that rolls of paper toweling or tissues are now supported in such brackets.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a box in which paper towels or tissues can be packaged adapted for being suported in a conventional bracket constructed for receiving a roll of paper towels.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a box or carton according to my invention supported in a wall-hung bracket;

Figure 2 is a Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, but showing an arrangement in which the supporting memplan sectional view of the arrangement of her which engages the carton is of a somewhat different shape than the one illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view showing a carton or box supported on a supporting member of still another shape;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing how the end walls of the carton can be formed with apertures of further different configurations for receiving supporting members to support the carton in a stationary bracket;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified arrangement according to my invention showing a different arrangement of the recesses in the ends of the carton for receiving the support members of the support bracket, and also showing a different arrangement of the opening in the front through which the articles are removed from the carton;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing one end of the carton according to Figure 7 with the flaps on the end of the carton open outwardly; and

Figure 9 is a action on the articles within the carton being supported.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view showing a carton supported on bracket arms having non-circular supporting members which prevent rotation of the carton when towels are withdrawn therefrom.

Referring to the drawings somewhat in more detail, Figure 1 shows a box or carton 10 within which is disposed, in folded, interleaved relation, paper towels or disposable paper tissues 12 that are accessible through the opening 14 in the front wall of the carton which is closed up to the time the carton is placed in use by the tear strip 16.

According to the present invention the carton 10 is adapted for being supported in a stationary bracket 18 that may be, for example, fixed to a wall 20. Bracket 18 may be of special manufacture or may consist of a conventional bracket of the nature manufactured for receiving rolls of paper towels.

The bracket 18 comprises the end portions 22 that extend along the opposite end walls of carton 10, and which end portions have secured thereto the cylindrical plug members 24 which are received in the apertures 26 in the end walls of the carton.

The end portions 22 of the bracket are either pivotally or resiliently connected with the back portion of the bracket so that they can readily be sprung outwardly, or swung outwardly to permit the carton to be placed therebetween.

As will be seen in Figure 2, the carton 10 preferably extends to a position close to or immediately adjacent the rear portion of the bracket 18 so that the carton is held in the upright position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1. This makes it quite easy to pull the towels or tissues from the carton without it tilting during this operation.

As will be seen in Figure 3, the supporting members 24 could be of a different shape than they are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; for example square as at 28, and this shape of supporting member will, in itself, prevent the carton from tilting when the towels are drawn therefrom, thereby making it unnecessary to make the bracket of such a size that the back wall of the carton is closely adjacent the back portion of the bracket.

As will be seen in Figure 4, the supporting member, indicated at 30 therein, could be of an octangular shape, and this supporting member could be either received in an octagonal hole in the end walls of the carton, or the carton could be formed with circular holes, as in the case of the Figure 1 modification, and substantially equivalent results would obtain.

In Figure 5 the apertures in the end walls of the carton are shown as the elongated vertical slot means 32, and the supporting bracket could, of course, be provided with correspondingly shaped supporting members.

In Figure 6 the apertures are in the form of the crossshaped configuration 34, and an aperture of this nature could either receive a cross-shaped supporting member or could receive a supporting member of the nature illustrated in Figure 5.

In connection with any of the apertures formed in the end wall of the carton, it will be understood that a closure piece could be retained in the aperture similarly to the manner in which the tear strip 16 is retained in aperture 14, thus providing for a completely sealed carton until the user removes the tear strip from the front wall and either removes the closure pieces in the apertures of the end walls of the carton, or pushes them to the inside of the carton so that the supporting members can be received in the apertures.

It will be understood, however, that the carton of the present invention has a full measure of utility in the absence of the supporting bracket merely by removing the tear strip 16 therefrom so that towels or tissues can be removed therefrom in a conventional manner.

Referring now to Figures 7 through 9, there is shown therein a carton 50 in which the opening 52 in the front of the carton, through which the articles 54 contained in the carton are withdrawn, is formed with the narrower end portions of the opening being arcuate lengthwise as at 56.

This configuration is readily imparted to the opening at the time the perforations outlining the tear strip are punched into the carton blank. The provision of the curved portions at the narrow ends of the opening provide for a certain amount of friction or resistance to movement of the articles that are being withdrawn from the carton.

Another feature of the modification of Figures 7 through 9 is to be found in the apertures provided in the end walls of the carton for receiving the support members for the supporting bracket.

As will be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the recesses for receiving the supporting members 58 are provided by the punched holes 60 and 62 in the outer flaps 64 and 66 of the carton blank. The end walls of the carton also comprise the half flaps 68 and 70, and these half flaps are provided with the recessed portions 72 and 74, which align with each other to form a recess that will register with the holes 60 and 62 in the outer flaps when the carton is made up.

This arrangement results, as will be seen in Figure 9, in the inner half flaps being pressed inwardly against the ends of the articles wit 'n the carton as at 76, thus providing a gripping action thereon that will tend to hold'the articles upright within the carton as they are dispensed therefrom.

This arrangement also permits the carton to remain entirely sealed without requiring the outer fiaps to have punch-out openings on the end of the carton for receiving the support members of the bracket in which the carton is mounted.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to "adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A rectangular box for detachable mounting between spaced end members extending from a bracket and containing interleaved disposable paper sheet-like articles stacked from front to back therein, said box having front, back, top, bottom, and end walls, said back wall facing toward said bracket and spaced therefrom, there being means defining an elongated slot in said front wall to provide a dispensing opening for said disposable paper articles, said end walls comprising engaging inner flaps and two overlapping outer flaps, said end walls having means for supporting the box between said spaced end members, said end walls having apertures through said outer flaps only, said apertures being located in about the center of said end walls so that said box is substantially balanced relative to its points of support, said inner flaps being unapertured and having recessed portions therein registering with said apertures for receiving portions of said spaced end members to support said box therebetween.

2. A rectangular box for detachable mounting between spaced end members extending from a bracket and containing interleaved disposable paper sheet-like articles stacked from front to back therein, said box having front, back, top, bottom and end walls, said back wall facing toward said bracket and spaced therefrom, there being means defining an elongated slot in said front wall to provide a dispensing opening for said disposable paper articles, said end walls comprising inner flaps with the ends thereof engaging and two overlapping outer flaps with each being of a size to substantially cover an end wall, said end walls having means for supporting the box between said spaced end members, said end walls having circular apertures through said outer flaps only, said inner flaps being unapertured.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,552 Ebersold Mar. 9, 1897 1,824,862 Young Sept. 29, 1931 2,169,399 Steiner Aug. 15, 1939 2,620,153 Haskell Dec. 2, 1952 2,655,338 Stoger Oct. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,529 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1940 66,086 Norway Apr. 12, 1943

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