Rag dispenser

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for dispensing a rag are disclosed. The dispenser includes a housing within which a plurality of rags are disposed. The plurality of rags are arranged in a stack. In some embodiments, the stack of rags is disposed in a bag, and then placed in the housing. In other embodiments, the stack of rags is placed on a dispensing plate in the housing. The dispensing plate is moveable between one or more vertical positions in the housing. The rags may be hemless or edgeless and formed via ultrasonic cutting. The housing may include more than one opening and dispense more than one type of rag

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of rags, the dispenser comprising:
 a housing have an opening; and   a plurality of rags disposed in the housing, below the opening;   wherein the plurality of rags are biased in a direction towards the opening of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rags includes a first stack of rags. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed in a top panel of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a rag shield attached to an interior surface of the top panel of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the rag shield extends across the opening and includes a slit for dispensing one of the plurality of rags. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of rags are disposed in the bag, the bag arranged to apply a compressive force to bias the rags towards the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the bag includes an slit positioned adjacent to the opening in the housing for dispensing a rag. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of rags are disposed on the dispensing plate, the dispensing plate being moveable between one or more vertical positions in the. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing plate includes first and second openings, the first opening being spaced from the second opening. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second openings extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom panel of the housing includes first and second tabs arranged to engage with the first and second openings on the dispensing plate, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein, when the dispensing plate is moved to a first vertical position in the housing, the first and second tabs are engaged with the first and second openings, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the dispensing plate includes third and fourth openings, wherein the first tab is arranged to engage with the third opening and the second tab is arranged to engage with the fourth opening. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein, when the dispensing plate is moved to a second vertical position in the housing, the first and second tabs are engaged with the third and fourth openings. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second tabs extend inwardly into the housing when the first and second tabs are engaged with the first and second openings. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second tabs are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , further comprising a second opening formed in the housing and a second stack of rags disposed in the housing, wherein the second stack of rags is positioned below the second opening. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the first stack of rags is disposed in a first bag in the housing, the first bag arranged to apply a compressive force to bias the first stack of rags towards the opening, wherein the second stack of rags is disposed in a second bag in the housing, the second bag arranged to apply a compressive force to bias the second stack of rags towards the second opening. 
     
     
         19 . The dispense of  claim 17 , wherein the first stack of rags is disposed on a first dispensing plate and the second stack of rags is disposed on a second dispensing plate. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the first stack of rags includes a first type of rags and the second stack of rags includes a second type of rags. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein the first type of rags is different from the second type of rags. 
     
     
         22 . A method of assembling a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of rags;
 ultrasonically cutting a plurality of rags;   forming a stack of rags;   inserting the stack of rags into a dispenser having a housing with an opening, the stack of rags being positioned below the opening.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising, before inserting the stack of rags into the housing, placing a bag around the stack of rags. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bag includes a slit for dispensing a rag. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stack of rags is disposed on a dispensing plate in the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 forming a second stack of rags;   inserting the second stack of rags into the dispenser, the second stack of rags being positioned below a second opening in the housing.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein, before inserting the second stack of rags into the housing, placing the second stack of rags in a second bag, the second bag having a slit for dispensing a rag. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second stack of rags is disposed on a second dispensing plate in the housing. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein ultrasonically cutting a plurality of rags includes ultrasonically sealing edges of the plurality of rags. 
     
     
         30 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rags are biased in a direction towards the opening of the housing via at least one of a bag and a dispensing plate.