Dispenser for paper sheets

Abstract

A dispenser for containing and holding a stack of absorbent products includes a dispensing opening through which the products are dispensable and a manually graspable member that is graspable by a user from outside the dispenser and manipulatable to move the stack when the stack is in a depleted state from a retracted position relative to the dispensing opening to a position adjacent to the dispensing opening. The dispenser includes a stack moving member having a first configuration conforming to faces of the dispenser that are transverse to one another and a second configuration forming a ramp between those faces and extending towards the dispensing opening. The stack moving member is reconfigurable from the first configuration to the second configuration to move the stack when the stack is in a depleted state from a retracted position relative to the dispensing opening to a position adjacent to the dispensing opening.

1 . A dispenser for containing and holding a stack of absorbent products located inside the dispenser, the dispenser comprising a dispensing opening through which the products are dispensable, and a manually graspable member that is graspable by a user from outside the dispenser and manipulatable by the user to move the stack when the stack is in a depleted state from a retracted position relative to the dispensing opening to a position adjacent to the dispensing opening,
 wherein the manually graspable member is arranged to protrude out of the dispensing opening to allow the manually graspable member to be grasped by the user when the stack is in the retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a stack moving member for engaging the stack, wherein the manually graspable member is manipulatable by the user to reconfigure the stack moving member from a first configuration in which the stack is in the retracted position to a second configuration in which the stack is moved to the position adjacent the dispensing opening when the stack is in the depleted state. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the stack moving member engages a face of the stack opposed to a face of the stack that is positioned adjacent to the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the stack moving member conforms to faces of the dispenser and of the stack that are transverse to one another when the stack moving member is in the first configuration, and forms a ramp connecting faces of the dispenser and extending towards the dispensing opening when the stack moving member is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser for holding and dispensing a stack of absorbent products, the dispenser comprising a dispensing opening through which products in the stack are dispensable, and a stack moving member having a first configuration conforming to faces of the dispenser that are transverse to one another and a second configuration forming a ramp between those faces of the dispenser and extending towards the dispensing opening, wherein the stack moving member is reconfigurable from the first configuration to the second configuration to thereby move the stack when the stack is in a depleted state from a retracted position relative to the dispensing opening to a position adjacent to the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising a manually graspable member that is graspable by a user from outside the dispenser and is manipulatable by the user, wherein the manually graspable member is manipulatable by the user to reconfigure the stack moving member from the first configuration to the second configuration to thereby move the stack from the retracted position to the position adjacent the dispensing opening when the stack is in the depleted state. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is arranged to protrude out of the dispenser when in the first configuration to provide the manually graspable member. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is shaped to cradle the stack when the stack is in the retracted position and the stack moving member is in the first configuration so as to engage a face of the stack opposed to a face of the stack adjacent the dispensing opening and a side of the stack connecting the opposed faces. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is fixed at a point relative to the dispenser so that at least part of the stack moving member rotates about the fixed point in reconfiguring from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is bent at a bend to conform to first and second faces of the dispenser when the stack moving member is in the first configuration, wherein the first and second faces of the dispenser extend substantially transversely to one another, and the bend is straightenable to form a ramp between the first and second faces that extends toward the dispensing opening in the second configuration of the stack moving member. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is sized and shaped to close the dispensing opening when the stack moving member is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the stack moving member is sized and shaped to cover the entire dispensing opening when the stack moving member is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a releasable attachment of the stack moving member to an outside surface of the dispenser that is repeatedly releasable and reattachable. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of at least one of the dispenser, the stack moving member and the manually graspable member is made of cardboard. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1  containing and holding a stack of paper sheets.