A refillable dispenser for use with a stack of sheet material

Abstract

A refillable dispenser for use with a stack of sheet material. The stack being switchable at least from a compressed state at which said stack is held compressed to a first volume by a compression arrangement, to an expanded state at which said stack has a second volume greater than said first volume. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a first space having a volume corresponding to the first volume for accommodating the stack at the compressed state and a second space including said first space and an expansion space, the second space having a volume corresponding to the second volume for accommodating the stack at the expanded state. The dispenser further comprises a releasing mechanism configured to engage with the compression arrangement to induce switching of the stack from said compressed state to said expanded state at the second space.

1 . A refillable dispenser for use with a stack of sheet material, said stack being switchable at least from a compressed state at which said stack is held compressed to a first volume by a compression arrangement, to an expanded state at which said stack has a second volume greater than said first volume; said dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining a first space having a volume corresponding to said first volume for accommodating said stack at said compressed state and a second space including said first space and an expansion space, said second space having a volume corresponding to said second volume for accommodating said stack at said expanded state; and   a releasing mechanism configured to engage with said compression arrangement to induce switching of said stack from said compressed state to said expanded state at said second space.   
     
     
         2 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet disposed adjacent said expansion space configured to facilitate dispensing of the sheet material out from the housing therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stack inlet formed in said housing configured to facilitate introduction of said stack to said second space. 
     
     
         4 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein said housing further comprises a guiding arrangement configured to guide said stack as the latter travels from said inlet into said first space. 
     
     
         5 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein said guiding arrangement comprises a track fixed to said housing, extending from an area of said inlet to an area of said first space. 
     
     
         6 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein said guiding arrangement further comprises a movable carrier configured to carry said stack along the track into the housing; 
     
     
         7 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein said movable carrier is engageable with said track so as to travel therealong. 
     
     
         8 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein said releasing mechanism is configured to be positioned with respect to the housing such that movement of the stack from said stack inlet to said second space, under guidance of the guiding arrangement, induces engagement of said releasing mechanism with said compression arrangement, which in turn induces switching of said stack from said compressed state to said expanded state at said second space. 
     
     
         9 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein said releasing mechanism is disposed along said track. 
     
     
         10 . A kit comprising the refillable dispenser according to  claim 1 , and said stack at its compressed state. 
     
     
         11 . The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein said compression arrangement comprises two or more portions configured to be separated, at least at one side thereof, to facilitate releasing of said compression arrangement from said stack. 
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 11 , wherein said compression arrangement further comprises a bridging area connected to each of said two or more portions so as to hold them together prior to said separation thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 12 , wherein said bridging area has a structure corresponding to a structure of said releasing mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A pack of sheet material for use with refillable dispenser according to  claim 2 , said pack comprising:
 at least one stack of sheet material switchable at least from a compressed state at which said stack has a first volume to an expanded state at which said stack has a second volume greater than said first volume; and   a compression arrangement configured to hold said stack at said compressed state, and be released to facilitate expansion of said stack to said expanded state, wherein at said expanded state, said stack reaches said outlet.   
     
     
         15 . A refillable dispenser for use with a stack of sheet material, said stack being switchable at least from a compressed state at which said stack is held compressed to a first volume by a compression arrangement, to an expanded state at which said stack has a second volume greater than said first volume; said dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to accommodate said stack at least at said expanded state, said housing having a stack inlet configured to facilitate introduction of said stack thereinto; and   a guiding arrangement configured to guide said stack from said stack inlet into said housing.   
     
     
         16 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 15 , further comprising a releasing mechanism configured to engage with said compression arrangement to induce switching of said stack from said compressed state to said expanded state at said housing, said releasing mechanism being mounted to said housing such that during said guiding of said stack from said stack inlet into said housing, said compression arrangement is brought to engagement with said releasing mechanism to induce switching of said stack from said compressed state to said expanded state. 
     
     
         17 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein said guiding arrangement is configured to guide said stack from said stack inlet into said housing in a non-linear path. 
     
     
         18 . The refillable dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein said non-linear path is defined such that during said guiding, at a first stage a first wall of said stack is brought towards said releasing mechanism, and in a second stage, an opposite wall of said stack is brought away from said releasing mechanism.