Dispenser for Sheet Materials with Pullout Feature

Abstract

A dispenser for sheet materials is disclosed that has a unique opening feature. The dispenser includes a housing that encloses a tray for containing one or more sheet materials. The dispenser further includes a tab member that is attached to an internal conveyor system. When the conveyor system is pulled out, the tray member exits the housing for enabling a user to have access to the sheet materials for dispensing.

1 . A dispenser for sheet materials comprising:
 a housing defining an interior enclosure, the housing comprising a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, the housing further including a first open end opposite a second open end;   a stationary member having a fixed position within the interior enclosure of the housing;   a tray member positioned on one side of the stationary member within the interior enclosure of the housing, the tray member being laterally movable between a closed position within the housing and a dispensing position, the tray member containing at least one sheet material, wherein the tray member is configured to dispense the at least one sheet material comprising a stack of tissue products;   a tab member positioned on a side of the stationary member opposite the tray member, the tab member being laterally movable; and   a conveyor in operative association with the stationary member, the tray member and the tab member being attached to the conveyor such that, when the tab member is laterally moved, the tray member moves from the closed position to the dispensing position for dispensing sheet materials from the tray member.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a film. 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor forms an endless loop around the stationary member. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the stack of sheet materials are not interfolded. 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein, when the tab member is pulled out from the first open end of the housing, the tray member moves out of the second open end of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 7 , wherein, when the tab member is pushed into the first open end of the housing, the tray member moves into the second open end of the housing into the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the tray member can hold from about 5 to about 50 individual sheet materials in a stack. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tray member has a first end and a second end, and wherein the tray member is attached to the conveyor at the first end, and wherein the tab member has a first end and a second end, and wherein the tab member is attached to the conveyor at the second end. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein, when the tray member is in the closed position, the tab member is also positioned within the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tray member is adjacent to a top surface of the stationary member and wherein the tab member is adjacent to a bottom surface of the stationary member. 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tray member is adjacent to a bottom surface of the stationary member and the tab member is adjacent to a top surface of the stationary member. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing and the tray member are formed from a paperboard. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior enclosure of the housing has a length and the stationary member extends over at least about 75% of the length of the interior enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tray member has a length and wherein the tray member is attached to the conveyor such that when the tray member is in the dispensing position, from about 60% to about 98% of the length of the tray member extends out from the interior enclosure of the housing, the conveyor preventing any further lateral movement. 
     
     
         17 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the stationary member has a plate-like shape. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tab member has a plate-like shape. 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a width and the tab member has a width and wherein the width of the tab member is about the same width as the housing. 
     
     
         20 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a width and the tab member has a width and wherein the width of the tab member is less than about 50% of the width of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser further comprises at least one track member attached to the bottom of the housing and positioned over the tab member. 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser further comprises an anti-friction agent applied to a surface of the conveyor.