By Stationary Guide Or Abutment Acting On Non-coextensive Folds Patents (Class 221/55)
  • Patent number: 11154460
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transporting and dispensing medications for a patient according to a medication schedule for the patient. A smart container from a pharmacy is received at the patient's site and the container is checked to make sure that the container was delivered to the correct patient site. The smart container contains a memory device that contains identification information of the patient, dosage and treatment instructions for the patient. This information and the medication were checked for compatibility before the smart container was delivered. The identity of the patient at the patient's site is then checked and the patient performs on or more biometric tests before the medication is dispensed by the smart container. Upon taking the medication and providing video proof thereof, the smart container is returned to the pharmacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L Molloy, Robert S Milligan, Steven A Waite, Gordan G Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11084647
    Abstract: There is disclosed a dispenser (10), such as a confectionery dispenser, for dispensing product objects such as pieces of confectionery (40). The dispenser (10) comprises a container (12) for storing product objects; and at least one dispensing arrangement (14, 16). The dispensing arrangement (14), (16) comprises an opening (18) provided in the container (12); a collection region (26) located within the container (12) and adjacent to the opening (18); a guide (32) disposed within the container (12) and adjacent to the collection region (26); and a dispensing tray (29) disposed within the container (12) and adjacent to the opening (18). The dispensing arrangement (14), (16) is configured the opening (18) and having a dispensing surface 30 accessible through such that in use in a loading orientation of the dispensing arrangement (14), (16) product objects collect in the collection region (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Gadd, John MacDonald, Matthew Wright, Duncan Colquhoun, Richard Donaldson, Jake Dale-Brown
  • Publication number: 20150108157
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a rigid container for dispensing wet wipes that has a stack of non-intertwined wet wipes inside, and has an opening on its top surface covered by a lid coupled to said container. In this invention, the lid has at least one fastening device on its inner surface. Said fastening device has a first end permanently attached to the inner surface of the lid and has a mechanical element in a second end distant to the first end designed to be attached to the top wet wipe of the stack. Thus, the present invention provides a rigid container with a system for dispensing non-intertwined wet wipes contained therein, wherein only the top wet wipe of the stack contained inside the container is dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Manuel de Jesus Marin-Quintero, Bernardo Fajardo-Eslava, Juan Miguel Martini-Merlo, Lucia del Carmen Sanchez-Fernandez, Carlos Canales-Espinosa De Los Monteros
  • Patent number: 8608023
    Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a body portion defining an inner cavity arranged to support a stack of sheet products and a faceplate attached to the body portion. The faceplate portion is arranged to support and dispense the sheet products, has an opening comprising a rectangular portion with a centrally disposed arcing triangular portion having a centrally disposed arced apex, the rectangular portion extends from an upper edge of the faceplate to the arced apex, the opening is arranged to expose a plurality of the sheet products on one end of the body portion through the rectangular portion and to expose a planar surface of a single sheet product through the arcing triangular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Abby C. Case, Matthew K. F. Williquette
  • Patent number: 8152021
    Abstract: A paper towel cabinet includes an enclosure and an opening that includes first edge a second edge. The cabinet further includes a dispenser module configured to be housed in the enclosure. The dispenser module includes a pair of generally parallel side walls defining a channel having a dispensing end, and a bar extending between the side walls proximate to the dispensing end. When the dispenser module is disposed in the enclosure with the dispensing end disposed at the opening, the bar extends along the opening between the first edge and the second edge of the opening. When a stack of paper towels is placed in the channel, the bar is disposed between a stack of paper towels and the opening. The paper towel cabinet may also include a bar extending along the opening between the first edge and the second edge without having a dispenser module. The bar may be formed at any one of the first edge or second edge of the opening by an inwardly curved surface formed by any one of the first edge and the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Dikran Babikian
  • Patent number: 8118212
    Abstract: A package includes an article group formed of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton includes a top wall, opposed side walls, end walls and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while one end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser is formed from the end and top walls and includes at least one retaining panel to hold all the articles in the carton until removed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The C.W. Zumbiel Co.
    Inventor: Charles A. Miller
  • Patent number: 7938294
    Abstract: A large capacity napkin dispenser for in counter mounting includes: (a) an elongate housing having a generally rectangular cross-section for receiving a stack of napkins; (b) a faceplate with a dispensing aperture, the faceplate being hinged to the housing so as to be movable between an open position for re-loading and a closed position for dispensing; (c) a movable support member mounted in the housing; (d) biasing means for urging the movable support toward the faceplate so that the stack of napkins is advanced to the aperture as it is depleted; and (e) sequestered means for locking the faceplate in the closed position. The locking means includes release means located adjacent the inner surface of the faceplate such that when the faceplate is in the closed position the release means is concealed in the interior of the dispenser, thereby eliminating the need for a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, David R. Maroney, Brent J. Burns, Karl D. Kissinger, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, Michael R. Kilgore, Gregory D. Budz
  • Patent number: 7837057
    Abstract: A dispenser for individual webs from a stack of such individual webs. The dispenser includes an outer housing defining an interior space; stacking elements mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of individual folded webs within the interior space; a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking elements; a stack of individual folded webs, and at least one edge of a dispensing opening which contacts the stack of individual folded webs so that a portion of individually folded webs is exposed by the dispensing opening. In addition, a cross-section through dispensing face has a curved shape with an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Kent Zeiron
  • Patent number: 7661552
    Abstract: By interfolding or interleaving at least a portion of the dispensing panel of a dispenser with the first sheet in a stack of sheet material such that a leading edge of the first sheet is exposed, it is no longer necessary to reach into the dispenser to dispense the first sheet. To dispense the first sheet, the optional removable panel is torn from the dispenser, and then the already exposed leading edge of the first sheet protruding from the dispensing panel is grasped and pulled to withdraw the first sheet from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Allen Baum, Charlcie C. K. Leitner, Leslie Thomas Long
  • Patent number: 7530471
    Abstract: A wet wipes dispenser including a top having a dispensing orifice, a bottom, and a sidewall. At least one lid for retaining moisture in the wet wipes dispenser and for access to a stack of wet wipes located inside of the wet wipes dispenser. At least one restraining member positioned inside of the wet wipes dispenser to hold the stack of wet wipes within the wet wipes dispenser elevated at a distance, H, from the dispensing orifice when the wet wipes dispenser is inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Cohen, Robert S. Schlaupitz, Eric D. Johnson, Steve R. Kehn
  • Patent number: 6905025
    Abstract: A container for a stack of interfolded tissue-sheets has a generally planar top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and an opening provided in the top wall for the removal of tissue-sheets from the container. The opening is provided with elements for presenting the tissue, preferably in the form of elongated projections, extending in-between each other from opposite sides of the opening in a first, inactive position. Adjacent projections are spaced apart both in the first, inactive position, in which the projections are substantially in the same plane as the top wall, and in a second, active position, in which the projections are raised and impart a primary wave-shape to a tissue sheet in a presentation position. The opening has a main axis with a predetermined curvature, which opening imparts a secondary wave-shape to the tissue sheet in the presentation position when the projections are in the second, active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products GmbH
    Inventor: Emmanuelle Morin
  • Patent number: 6824007
    Abstract: A curl reducing adapter kit for a napkin dispenser used for dispensing interfolded napkins including an enclosure with a dispensing wall defining a dispensing slot and a slidably mounted, biased pressure carriage adapted to advance a stack of napkins in the enclosure toward the dispensing wall includes a tongue for mounting about the dispensing wall such that the tongue projects into the dispensing slot and narrows the slot. The tongue further includes a plurality of friction tabs configured to project inwardly into the enclosure from the upper inner lip of the dispensing slot and frictionally engage the napkins to limit bulge through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Timmers, Chester W. Gooding, Jr., Daniel J. Geddes
  • Patent number: 6688488
    Abstract: A package for dispensing individual sheets of material from a stack includes a base and a compartment with side walls connected to the base and a cover connected to the side walls for holding the stack of sheet material. The cover includes an opening that is configured to define a pair of flanges on either side of the opening. The flanges are formed to be angularly displaced relative to the cover toward the base to bias the stack of sheet material toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dale O. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6003723
    Abstract: A dispenser apparatus for stacked single-fold towel sheets has a rear wall, side walls, and front and rear funnel walls extending to a funnel height between bottom portions of the side walls on opposite sides of a feed slot; and a pair of shelf members projecting downwardly and inwardly from respective ones of the side walls, each shelf member having a shelf width perpendicular to the rear wall being approximately 45 percent of a housing depth between upper extremities of the funnel walls, inward extremities of the shelf members, the inward extremities being spaced above the feed slot within the funnel height and being spaced apart by a distance of not greater than approximately 90 percent of the stack width for partially supporting the sheets. Each shelf member has an upwardly and inwardly facing panel surface that forms a side angle of approximately 45 degrees with the side wall. A perimeter contour of each shelf member has a plan radius of approximately 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Perrin Manufacturing
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 5957324
    Abstract: A paper towel dispenser having a housing for supporting a stack of towels and an outlet slot at the bottom of the housing for manual removal of towels one at a time, an adapter positioned within the housing and comprising a single sheet of material having a spacer section and a flange section joined by a hinge section, with the spacer section being positionable adjacent an inner wall of the housing and the flange section being positionable on the bottom of the housing adjacent the outlet slot, with the housing and adapter flange section having interengaging guide means for locating the adapter at at least two positions on the housing bottom for selectively spacing the lower end of the adapter spacer section at at least two distances from the housing inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Gettelman, Frank Merriweather, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5810200
    Abstract: A tissue package comprising tissues and a dispensing package in combination. The dispensing package has a dispensing opening through which the tissues are dispensed. The dispensing package further has an engaging tab which separates one of the tissues as it is dispensed, thereby separating the tissue from succeeding tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Patent number: 5509570
    Abstract: A dispenser having a top surface and a front surface with a cut-out extending between the front and top surfaces with slits extending from sides of said cut-out along the front surface. A stack of plastic bags or plastic sheet pick-up tissues are arranged in the dispenser and are dispensed by grasping an uppermost one via the cut-out and pulling outward with the bags being pulled one at a time through the cut-out and slits. The bags may be sculptured with a wave pattern defining a periphery of the corner regions on either side of the mouth of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Robert B. DeMatteis
  • Patent number: 5356032
    Abstract: A generally rectangular sheet is folded upon itself along a first crease that is parallel with two edges of the sheet. The position of the fold is located to create a structure having a region of double thickness but in which one of the edges is offset from the other. The folded structure is folded upon itself along a second crease that is parallel with the first crease to provide a first flap of double thickness that lies upon one surface of the structure. The structure also is folded upon itself along a third crease that is parallel with the first and second edges and within the region of double thickness to provide a second flap lying upon the one surface. In the totally folded sheet, the one of the edges is closer to the center of the sheet than the other edge. A unique dispenser is provided which allows the user to grasp only the one edge so that the sheet product unfolds completely when pulled from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Encore Paper Company
    Inventor: Randel L. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 5269423
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing large thermoplastic bags utilizing a relatively compact dispensing container. The preferred embodiment of the present invention as implemented teaches a system for dispensing bags, wherein the container is configured to dispense a laterally folded bag stack, reducing the length of the container. The present invention provides a compact, manageable, and more convenient system for dispensing compact bags and the like, resulting in overall cost and time savings. The container of the present invention has formed therein a removable dispenser door, configured for providing convenient access to the bags, while encouraging communication of the bag being dispensed with the container in such a matter as to open the bag during the dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Advance PolyBag, Inc.
    Inventor: Tai Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5255818
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing plates includes a housing for containing a stack of the plates, the housing including a flexible side walls and plate supporting members, the side wall having an open portion with a width of at least the diameter of one of the plates, and a top member extending above the open portion, and a retaining member extending downwardly from the top member for blocking the withdrawal of all but the lowermost plate in the stack. The retaining member has an inner face directed toward the stack, and the inner face is preferably made of a high-friction material. The flexible retaining member preferably has two spaced apart, downwardly directed lobe portions and a narrowed portion between the lobe portions, such that the lobe portions extend essentially to the level of the lowermost plate and each lobe portion makes contact with a plurality of the plates in the stack, when the lowermost plate is pulled through the open portion of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy P. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 5219092
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing folded, interleaved towels. The dispenser has front and back walls joined by side walls and a bottom wall with a central paper towel dispensing slot therein extending between the side walls. The dispenser has supports on the inner surfaces of the front and back walls for partially supporting sub-stacks of a stack of paper towels carried in the dispenser. The supports reduce the weight of towels carried by the bottom sub-stack of towels making it easier to dispense the towels. The dispenser also has support surfaces at the bottom for supporting the bottom towel by narrow portions adjacent its front and back sides making it easier to dispense one towel at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Wyant & Company Limited
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 5131561
    Abstract: A dispenser for folded paper napkins including a door hinged to an opening of a housing and a face plate detachably secured to the door. The face plate includes a dispensing opening through which napkins are withdrawn from the dispenser. The new dispenser allows the use of interchangeable face plates so that the same dispenser can be used to store various styles and/or sizes of folded paper napkins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Wisconsin Tissue Mills Inc.
    Inventors: C. Patrick Casperson, Robert C. Hochtritt, Christopher W. Chudek
  • Patent number: 5100020
    Abstract: A dispenser apparatus for serially dispensing products such as paper napkins from a stack of such products. The dispenser apparatus includes a housing having a back wall which is curved and has a radius of curvature generally corresponding to the radius of curvature of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: James River II, Inc.
    Inventors: Tor Petterson, Jean T. McGregor
  • Patent number: 5090592
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for serially dispensing discrete folded sheet products from a stack through an opening in a nose piece. The nose piece includes two pairs of contact elements disposed at different planes whereby the napkin prior to dispensing is subjected to two sequential bending steps with the bends being formed at right angles to one another. During the bending steps a flap terminal end is unsupported by the nose piece over the central portion of the flap terminal end and the bending of the folded sheet product urges the flap terminal end outwardly of the rest of the product to facilitate grasping and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: James River II, Inc.
    Inventors: Tor Petterson, Jean T. McGregor
  • Patent number: 5054647
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing orthodontic O-rings comprises a main body portion having at least one storage and delivery chamber for holding a plurality of O-rings lying in a single plane and an outlet for allowing dispensing of O-rings. The main body is designed such that the O-rings are restrained from freely falling from the outlet. A further embodiment of the dispenser includes an ejection mechanism for assisting in the discharge of the O-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Haruyasu Yawata
  • Patent number: 4877154
    Abstract: A stack of folded and partially interleaved thin and soft sheets is held in a container such that the sheets can be drawn one at a time from the container. The container has a bottom formed with two pairs of opposing lower flexible lugs together defining a central discharge port and four blind extensions extending obliquely from opposite ends of the discharge port and having respective rounded ends. The flexibility of the lugs is such that on pulling of the lowermost sheet of the stack down through the port first the sheet flexes down one of the lugs of one of the pairs, then both lugs of the other pair, and finally the other lug of the one pair. Two pairs of opposite side have respective upper flexible lugs each extending the full width of the respective side and extending downward from the respective side toward the discharge port. The stack rests on all the upper flexible lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Inventor: Sumio Matsui
  • Patent number: 4768679
    Abstract: A stack of folded and partially interleaved thin and soft sheets is held in a container such that the sheets can be drawn one at a time from the container. The container has a bottom formed with two pairs of opposing lower flexible lugs together defining a central discharge port and four blind extensions extending obliquely from opposite ends of the discharge port and having respective rounded ends. The flexibility of the lugs is such that on pulling of the lowermost sheet of the stack down through the port first the sheet flexes down one of the lugs of one of the pairs, then both lugs of the other pair, and finally the other lug of the one pair. Two pairs of opposite side have respective upper flexible lugs each extending the full width of the respective side and extending downward from the respective side toward the discharge port. The stack rests on all the upper flexible lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Inventor: Sumio Matsui
  • Patent number: 4706844
    Abstract: A distribution cover for a napkin dispenser is in the form of a four-sided member, with three sides conforming to three sides of a truncated, four sided pyramid. The fourth side of the member is a relatively broad, gently sloping face at relatively angle to the base of the cover. A dispensing opening is formed in the lower aspects of this face of the member. A drag area in the form of a step in this face is created on the distribution cover adjacent and below a lower rim of the dispensing opening. Napkins are slightly confined for dispensing along three outer edges by the sides of the pyramid and over a surface area adjacent the opening the drag area. A spring loaded napkin storage container urges napkins against the distribution cover. The cover can dispense napkins of different sizes without adjustment and dispense napkins with reduced likelihood of tearing. The napkins are also removable at different angles from the cover without tearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: San Jamar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Omdoll, Scott J. Collins
  • Patent number: 4678099
    Abstract: A container for storing a stack of thin and soft sheet materials is provided. The container has a discharge port on the underside of the container through which the stacked sheet materials are dispensed one by one. The discharge port is defined by at least one pair of opposing flexible lugs and is enlarged by the sheet materials. When a sheet is drawn out of the container, one of the flexible lugs is contacted by the sheet and is pushed down so that the discharge port is enlarged to facilitate dispensing. Then the other one of the flexible lugs is contacted by the sheet and pushed down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Sumio Matsui
  • Patent number: 4623074
    Abstract: A dual dispensing mode carton for, for example, a stack of interfolded sheets of facial tissue. The carton has a dispensing opening which is configured and disposed to enable substantially droop-free pop-up dispensing of one sheet at a time with improved sheet to sheet stand-up height uniformity as successive sheets are withdrawn from the carton; and group mode dispensing of a plurality of sheets simultaneously without having to disassociate them from each other. A dispensing package is also provided which comprises such a dispensing carton having a stack of interfolded sheets disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Donald D. Dearwester