Sheet dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser package for durable index tabs includes a housing attached to a base, in which the housing consists of interconnected side walls and end walls and a cover. The housing and base define a chamber for holding a stack of durable index tabs. The cover comprises a pair of flanges, each of which has one end that is attached to one of the end walls. The flanges have a pair of opposing edges that are spaced from the side walls of the housing. The opposite end of the flanges define a relatively wide opening of the cover for dispensing index tabs made of a relatively inflexible material. The flange incorporates an elliptical relief adjacent to the opening by forming an arched step in the flange wall that extends from the end of the flange that defines the cover opening toward the end wall of the housing.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing sheets of a material from a stack, the dispenser comprising: 
 a base;    a housing attached to the base, the housing comprising a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending from and generally transverse to the base, and a cover, the housing defining a chamber for the stack of sheets, the chamber having a length greater than that of the stack of sheets, wherein the cover comprises an opening defined by first and second flanges, the first flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the first flange being connected to a first one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the first flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, the second flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the second flange being connected to a second one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the second flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, wherein the second ends of the first and second flange define a width of the opening of at least about  0 . 33  inches; and    wherein the stack of sheets in the chamber of the housing comprises a plurality of sheets, each sheet having a stiffness greater than or equal to 1.967×10 −3  pounds-inch −2 .    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein each flange comprises an arched step extending from the second end of the respective flange so as to define a stepped upper surface between the first end and the second end of each respective flange.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the arched step comprises an arcuate wall extending generally transverse from the upper surface.  
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the arcuate wall has a height of about 0.06 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein each sheet in the stack is formed from PET having a sheet thickness of about 0.0036 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a flat base and wherein the first and second flanges are generally parallel to the base.  
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second flanges includes an end portion adjacent to the second end of the respective first and second flanges, the end portion of one of the first and second flanges overlaping the stack by at least about 0.24 inches when the stack is in contact with one of the end walls.  
     
     
         8 . A sheet dispenser comprising: 
 a base; and    a housing attached to the base, the housing comprising a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending from and generally transverse to the base, and a cover having an opening defined by first and second flanges, the first flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the first flange being connected to a first one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the first flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, the second flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the second flange being connected to a second one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the second flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, the second ends of the first and second flanges defining the opening of the cover, wherein each flange comprises a stepped upper surface between the first end and the second end of each respective flange.    
     
     
         9 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 8  wherein each flange comprises an arched step extending from the second end of the respective flange.  
     
     
         10 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the arched step comprises an arcuate wall extending generally transverse from the upper surface.  
     
     
         11 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the arcuate wall has a height of about 0.06 inches.  
     
     
         12 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the second end of the first flange is spaced at least about 0.33 inches from the second end of the second flange.  
     
     
         13 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 8  and further comprising a stack of sheets contained within the housing, the stack having a length less than that of the housing, wherein each sheet has a stiffness equal to or greater than 1.967×10 −3  pounds-inch 2 .  
     
     
         14 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the stack of sheets comprises a plurality of sheets of PET having a sheet thickness of about 0.0036 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The sheet dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the base comprises a flat base and wherein the first and second flanges are generally parallel to the base.  
     
     
         16 . A shuttling dispenser for dispensing sheets of a material from a stack, the dispenser comprising: 
 a flat base;    a housing attached to the base, the housing comprising a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending from and generally transverse to the base, and a cover, the housing defining a chamber for the stack of sheets, the chamber having a length greater than that of the stack of sheets and a height closely approximating that of a full stack of sheets, wherein the cover comprises an opening defined by first and second flanges, the first and second flanges being generally parallel to the base, the first flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the first flange being connected to a first one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the first flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, the second flange having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a pair of opposing edges extending therebetween, the first end of the second flange being connected to a second one of the end walls, the pair of opposing edges of the second flange being adjacent to and spaced from the respective adjacent side walls, wherein the second ends of the first and second flange define a width of the opening of at least about 0.33 inches; and    wherein the stack of sheets in the chamber of the housing comprises a plurality of sheets, each sheet having a stiffness greater than or equal to 1.967×10 −3  pounds-inch 2 .    
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein each flange comprises an arched step extending from the second end of the respective flange so as to define a stepped upper surface between the first end and the second end of each respective flange.  
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the arched step comprises an arcuate wall extending generally transverse from the upper surface.  
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18  wherein the arcuate wall has a height of about 0.06 inches.  
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein each of the first and second flanges includes an an end portion adjacent to the second end of the respective first and second flanges, the end portion of one of the first and second flanges overlaping the stack by at least about 0.24 inches when the stack is in contact with one of the end walls.