Container and cartridge for dispensing paper products

Abstract

The present invention provides a container for dispensing individual paper products that includes a housing, a cover hingedly or removably attached to the housing wherein the cover defines a dispensing opening, a means for elevating paper products, and a plunger disposed in the interior area of the housing. The plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the means for elevating paper products. The container may be included in a system for dispensing paper products that further includes a cartridge containing paper products. The cartridge defines a dispensing opening and a second opening wherein the means for elevating paper products extends through the second opening into the interior area of the cartridge to contact the paper products and urge the paper products toward the dispensing opening. The cartridge and container may be configured wherein the second opening is formed by separation of an internal platform during the process of inserting the cartridge into the container.

1 . A system for dispensing individual paper products, the system comprising: 
 a container, comprising: 
 a housing including side walls and a bottom wall defining an interior surface and an interior area within the interior surface;  
 a cover hingedly or removably attached to the housing wherein the cover defines a dispensing opening;  
 a spring having coils disposed in the interior area of the housing; and  
 a plunger disposed in the interior area of the housing; and  
 a chain positioned inside of the coils of the spring, the chain configured to provide tension and to maintain the spring and plunger in an aligned dispensing position in the interior area of the container to enhance dispensing of paper products from the container, the chain coupled at one end to the plunger and at an opposite end to the housing, the chain including a covering having a plurality of slits therein extending over the chain, the covering cooperating to cover links in the chain and the slits cooperating to un-cover each inter-linking section, wherein the spring is compressed between the plunger and at least one of the walls, wherein the plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the spring, and wherein the chain having the covering with the plurality of slits therein controls the tension and maintains the alignment of the spring such that the spring's decompression is regulated to assist in providing the dispensing alignment of the spring and plunger within the interior are so that the spring and plunger do not become misaligned such that jamming and dispensing failure occur, the covering with the plurality of slits positioned over the chain and configured to resist the effects of gravity to allow the chain to uncoil without effecting the tensioning of the spring and to prevent the chain from becoming caught between the coils of the spring thereby causing the spring to jam and fail to decompress, the chain with the covering and plurality of slits therein positioned to maintain the spring and plunger in the dispensing direction; and  
   a cartridge containing paper products, the cartridge positioned at least partially within the interior area of the container, the cartridge defining an internal platform, the internal platform being configured to become separated from the cartridge by contact with the plunger when the cartridge is inserted in the container, separation of the internal platform creating a second opening, wherein after the internal platform is separated from the cartridge the plunger extends through the second opening into the cartridge to urge the internal platform to contact the paper products and urge the paper products toward the dispensing opening.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plunger comprises a truncated cone.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the truncated cone comprises a bottom surface having a diameter substantially equivalent to the diameter of the spring.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  further wherein the plunger comprises at least one stabilizing wing.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one stabilizing wing has an outer edge that contacts the inside surface of the housing to prevent the plunger from binding in the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the paper products are urged toward the dispensing opening by the internal platform.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the internal platform applies substantially constant pressure against the paper products.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge comprises cartridge side walls, a first end wall defining a third opening for dispensing the paper products, and a second end wall spaced-apart and positioned opposite the first end wall, wherein the internal platform is defined by the second end wall.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the internal platform is defined by perforations.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the container is oriented in a substantially non-vertical position.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the container is oriented in a horizontal position.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the container is oriented in an oblique position.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plunger includes a post on an upper surface thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the cartridge includes an opening in a bottom end thereof, and wherein the opening is positioned to cooperate with the post on the plunger to hold the plunger in a dispensing position.  
   
   
       15 . A system for dispensing individual paper products, the system comprising: 
 a container, comprising: 
 a housing including side walls and a bottom wall defining an interior surface and an interior area within the interior surface;  
 a cover hingedly or removably attached to the housing wherein the cover defines a dispensing opening;  
 a spring having coils disposed in the interior area of the housing; and  
 a plunger disposed in the interior area of the housing; and  
 a telescoping cylinder assembly coupled at one end to the plunger and at an opposite end to a portion of the housing, the telescoping cylinder positioned inside of the coils of the spring to provide tension to the spring and to maintain the spring and plunger in an aligned dispensing position in the interior area, wherein the spring is compressed between the plunger and at least one of the walls, and further wherein the plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the spring, and wherein the telescoping cylinder assembly is configured to tension and maintain alignment of the spring such that the spring's decompression is regulated so that the spring and plunger do not become misaligned and jammed such that dispensing failure occurs, the telescoping cylinder assembly configured to resist the effects of gravity and to maintain the spring and plunger's movement in the dispensing direction to facilitate the dispensing of paper products; and  
   a cartridge containing paper products, the cartridge positioned at least partially within the interior area of the container, the cartridge defining an internal platform, the internal platform being configured to become separated from the cartridge by contact with the plunger when the cartridge is inserted in the container, separation of the internal platform creating a second opening, wherein after the internal platform is separated from the cartridge the plunger extends through the second opening into the cartridge to urge the internal platform to contact the paper products and urge the paper products toward the dispensing opening.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the plunger comprises a truncated cone.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the truncated cone comprises a bottom surface having a diameter substantially equivalent to the diameter of the spring.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16  further wherein the plunger comprises at least one stabilizing wing.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one stabilizing wing has an outer edge that contacts the inside surface of the housing to prevent the plunger from binding in the housing.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the paper products are urged toward the dispensing opening by the internal platform.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the internal platform applies substantially constant pressure against the paper products.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the cartridge comprises cartridge side walls, a first end wall defining a third opening for dispensing the paper products, and a second end wall spaced-apart and positioned opposite the first end wall, wherein the internal platform is defined by the second end wall.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the internal platform is defined by perforations.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the container is oriented in a substantially non-vertical position.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the container is oriented in a horizontal position.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the container is oriented in an oblique position.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the plunger includes a post on an upper surface thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the cartridge includes an opening in a bottom end thereof, and wherein the opening is positioned to cooperate with the post on the plunger to hold the plunger in a dispensing position.  
   
   
       29 . A system for dispensing individual paper products, the system comprising: 
 a container, the container comprising: 
 a housing including side walls and a bottom wall defining an interior surface and an interior area within the interior surface for receiving a plurality of the paper products;  
 a cover hingedly or removably attached to the housing wherein the cover defines a dispensing opening; and  
 a means for elevating paper products positioned in the interior area of the housing, the means including a spring positioned between a plunger and a wall of the housing; and  
   a cartridge containing paper products, the cartridge positioned at least partially within the interior area of the container, the cartridge defining a removable portion, the removable portion being adapted to become separated from the cartridge by contact with the means for elevating paper products when the cartridge is inserted in the container, removal of the removable portion creating a second opening, wherein after the removable portion is separated from the cartridge the means for elevating paper products extends through the second opening into the cartridge to urge the removable portion to contact the paper products and urge the paper products toward the dispensing opening.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the spring includes coils, and the means includes a telescoping cylinder assembly coupled at one end to the plunger and coupled at an opposite end to a portion of the housing, the telescoping cylinder positioned inside of the coils of the spring and configured to maintain the spring and plunger in an aligned dispensing position in the interior area, wherein the plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the spring, and wherein the telescoping cylinder assembly controls the tension and maintains the alignment of the spring such that the spring's decompression is regulated to assists in providing a dispensing alignment of the spring and the plunger within the interior area so that the spring and plunger do not become misaligned such that jamming and dispensing failure occurs, the telescoping cylinder assembly configured to resist the effects of gravity and to maintain the spring and plunger's movement in the dispensing direction to facilitate dispensing.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the spring includes coils, and the means includes a chain positioned inside of the coils of the spring, the chain configured to provide tension and to maintain the spring and plunger in an aligned dispensing position in the interior area of the container to enhance dispensing of paper products from the container, the chain coupled at one end to the plunger and at an opposite end to the housing, the chain including a covering having a plurality of slits therein extending over the chain, the covering cooperating to cover links in the chain and the slits cooperating to un-cover each inter-linking section, wherein the plunger is urged toward the dispensing opening by the spring, and wherein the chain having the covering with the plurality of slits therein controls the tension and maintains the alignment of the spring such that the spring's decompression is regulated to assist in providing the dispensing alignment of the spring and plunger within the interior are so that the spring and plunger do not become misaligned such that jamming and dispensing failure occur, the covering with the plurality of slits positioned over the chain and configured to resist the effects of gravity to allow the chain to uncoil without effecting the tensioning of the spring and to prevent the chain from becoming caught between the coils of the spring thereby causing the spring to jam and fail to decompress, the chain with the covering and plurality of slits therein positioned to maintain the spring and plunger in the dispensing direction.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30  wherein at least one internal member is anchored the bottom wall.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the at least one internal member comprises at least one tower.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the at least one internal tower comprises four towers.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the towers comprise tops having cross-sectional areas of greater than about 0.5 cm 2 .  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 33  wherein the removable portion comprises an internal platform in contact with the plunger and the at least one tower.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 31  wherein at least one internal member is anchored the bottom wall.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the at least one internal member comprises at least one tower.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the at least one internal tower comprises four towers.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the towers comprise tops having cross-sectional areas of greater than about 0.5 cm 2 .  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the removable portion comprises an internal platform in contact with the plunger and the at least one tower.