Dispensing container

Abstract

A disposable, non-refillable container for holding and gravity-fed dispensing folded articles is disclosed. The container holds multiple stacks or articles. The container is non-permanently affixed to a surface with a mount and the container dispenses an individual stack of articles from an individual dispensing opening when that stack is configured substantially above the dispensing opening. To dispense another stack of articles within the container, the container is reconfigured such that the next stack of articles is substantially above the dispensing opening. The container may also include an area of the container adapted for use as a waste receptacle.

1 . A disposable, non-refillable container for holding and gravity-fed dispensing folded articles comprising, 
 a front panel,    a back panel,    an upper panel,    a lower panel having at least a first dispensing opening,    a second dispensing opening,    a side panel extending between the upper panel and the lower panel, and    a mount which non-permanently affixes the container to a support surface,    where the first dispensing opening is adapted for dispensing a first stack of folded articles in a first dispensing direction and the second dispensing opening is adapted for dispensing a second stack of folded articles in a second dispensing direction, and    where the first stack of articles are dispensed through the first dispensing opening in the first dispensing direction when the container is attached to the support surface in a configuration such that the first stack of articles is substantially above the first dispensing opening, and    where the second stack of articles are dispensed through the second dispensing opening when the container is reconfigured and attached to the support surface in configuration such that the second stack of article is substantially above the second dispensing opening.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , where the lower panel further comprises a removable portion defined by a line of weakness, where the first dispensing opening is formed in the lower panel by removal of the removable portion.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , where the upper panel further comprises a removable portion defined by a line of weakness, where the second dispensing opening is formed in the upper panel by removal of the removable portion.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , where the first stack of folded articles comprises a plurality of folded articles each having an effective dispensing length dimension and the first stack having a pre-dispensing height dimension which is greater than the effective dispensing length dimension of an individual folded article within the first stack  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , where the first stack of articles is horizontally adjacent to the second stack of articles.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , where the first stack of articles is vertically adjacent to the second stack of articles.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , where the container further comprises a weight support structure that supports the weight of the second stack of articles while the first stack of articles is being dispensed.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , where the back panel further comprises at least one end tab and where the weight support structure is formed from at least one end tab of the back panel.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 7 , where the weight support structure is a portion of the back panel.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 7 , where the weight support structure is a portion of at least one side panel.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , where the weight support structure is a portion of two side panels.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , where the mount is an adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1 , where the mount is a hook material that affixes to a loop material affixed to the substantially vertical support surface.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1 , where the mount is a loop material that affixes to a hook material affixed to the substantially vertical support surface.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1 , where the mount is a portion of the back panel that is adapted to attach to a mounting bracket.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1 , where the mount is a portion of the back panel that is adapted to receive a mounting bracket.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 1 , where the folded articles of the first stack are different than the folded articles of the second stack.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one area adapted for use as a waste receptacle.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , where when the first stack is dispensed, the area previously occupied by the first stack is adapted for use as a waste receptacle.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a third dispensing opening for dispensing a third stack of folded articles in a third dispensing direction.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20 , further comprising a fourth dispensing opening for dispensing a fourth stack of folded articles in a fourth dispensing direction.  
   
   
       22 . A system for holding and gravity-fed dispensing a plurality stacks of folded articles comprising, 
 a plurality of stacks of articles,    a container which is adapted to contain the plurality of stacks of articles, and    a mount which non-permanently affixes the container to a support surface,    where each stack within the plurality of stacks of articles has a dispensing direction such that the articles of said stack will only dispense when the dispensing direction of that particular stack is in a downward direction, and    where at least two of the stacks of articles have different dispensing directions such that, at least on one occasion, the container must be detached from the support surface, reconfigured and re-attached to the support surface to dispense all of the stacks of articles.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , where the container comprises a weight support structure that is adapted to support the weight of at least one stack while another stack is being dispensed.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , where the mount is an adhesive.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , where the mount is a hook material that affixes to a loop material affixed to the support surface.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22 , where the mount is a loop material that affixes to a hook material affixed to the support surface.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22 , where the mount is a portion of the container that is adapted to attach to a mounting bracket.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 22 , where the mount is a portion of the container that is adapted to receive a mounting bracket.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 22 , where the articles of at least one of the stacks is different from the articles of at least one other stack.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 22 , where the container comprises at least one area adapted for use as a waste receptacle.