Compact sheet dispenser

Abstract

A compact, substantially non-shuttling sheet dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes (a) an upper member having a slot; (b) a lower member at least temporarily attached to the upper member thereby forming a housing; and (c) a stack of polymeric sheets assembled in a fan-fold configuration and disposed in the housing. Each sheet includes a tab end portion, an adhesive end portion, and opposing first and second surfaces, and a coating of repositionable adhesive disposed on the adhesive end portion of the second surface of each sheet, the adhesive covering from about 45% to 55% of the second surface. The stack of sheets is not attached to the lower member of the housing.

1 . A sheet dispenser having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 an upper member having a centrally located slot disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the slot having a width dimension as measured parallel to the longitudinal axis,   a lower member at least temporarily attached to the upper member forming a housing; and   a stack of sheets, the stack having a length dimension along its major axis, each sheet in the stack being releasably adhered to one another in a fan-fold configuration and disposed in the housing, each sheet comprising
 a tab end portion, an adhesive end portion, and opposing first and second surfaces, and 
 a coating of repositionable adhesive disposed on the adhesive end portion of the second surface of each sheet, the adhesive covering from about 45% to 55% of the second surface, 
   wherein a bottom most sheet in the stack and is not attached to the lower member of the housing, and   wherein the slot width is from about 1% to 10% of the length of the stack.   
   
   
       2 . A sheet dispenser having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 an upper member having a centrally located slot disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis and first and second upper walls attached respectively to opposing first and second end walls, wherein the slot has a width dimension as measured parallel to the longitudinal axis;   a lower member at least temporarily attached to the upper member forming a housing; and   a stack of sheets, the stack having a length dimension along its major axis, each sheet in the stack being releasably adhered to one another in a fan-fold configuration and disposed in the housing, each sheet in the stack comprising
 a tab end portion, an adhesive end portion, and opposing first and second surfaces, and 
 a coating of repositionable adhesive disposed on the adhesive end portion of the second surface of each sheet, the adhesive covering from about 45% to 55% of the second surface; 
   wherein the dispenser has a length, as measured from a first lateral end wall to a second lateral end wall, that is at most 110% of the length of the stack, and   wherein a bottom most sheet in the stack and is not attached to the lower member of the housing.   
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the upper member is transparent. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the repositionable adhesive is a polyacrylate, microsphere-based adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the sheet in the stack of sheets is selected from the group consisting of paper, synthetic paper, cellulose acetate, and polypropylene. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the adhesive end portion of each sheet is transparent. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the upper member is made from a polymeric material and the lower member is made from paper. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the repositionable adhesive covers about 50% of the surface area of the second surface of each sheet. 
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein, for each sheet, the tab end portion and the adhesive end portion meet at an interface that is aligned generally underneath the slot of the upper member. 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein upon removal of a first most sheet from the stack, a next immediately adjacent sheet begins the dispensing process by folding in the slot. 
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the adhesive end portion of each sheet is brightly colored and is of a different color than the first portion of the sheet. 
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the slot has a width is from about 1% to 5% of the length of the stack of sheets. 
   
   
       13 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the slot width is from about 1% to 10% of the length of the stack.