Transformable Dispenser

Abstract

A transformable towel dispenser is presented that can be quickly transformed from a low profile shipping form into full, ready to dispense form in a substantially tool free manner. The transformability of the dispenser allows the dispenser to be shipped and stored in much smaller space than that for ready to dispense units. Alternatively, more dispensers can be shipped in the same volume container.

1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a set of panels that, when assembled together, form a dispenser housing into which paper goods to be dispensed may be loaded; and   wherein the set of panels are configured to be arranged in a substantially flat orientation when not in assembled form.   
     
     
         2 . The towel dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the set of panels includes a base panel, a pair of side panels, a cover panel, and a bottom panel, and wherein the set of panels are designed to be assembled together in a substantially tool-free manner. 
     
     
         3 . The towel dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the panels are designed to be assembled together using a number of snap fit connections. 
     
     
         4 . The towel dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the side panels define a depth of the dispenser, and wherein the side panels snap fit into engagement with the base panel. 
     
     
         5 . The towel dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the side panels are further configured to snap into engagement with the cover panel. 
     
     
         6 . The towel dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the base panel includes a top panel and a rear wall. 
     
     
         7 . The towel dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the top panel is integrally formed with the rear wall. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser for dispensing sheet paper products comprising:
 a base for mounting the dispenser to a substantially flat surface;   a pair of opposing side panels defining a depth of the dispenser and configured to snap-fit into engagement with the base;   a bottom panel having an opening therein and configured to snap into engagement with said base; and   a cover panel removably connectable to said bottom panel; and   wherein the dispenser is selectively transformable from a first shipping form to a second dispensing form.   
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the bottom panel includes a pair of mounting points and the cover panel has a pair of openings configured to receive the pair of mounting points to allow the cover panel to rotate relative to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the base has a top panel and a back panel. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the top panel is substantially perpendicular to the back panel, and defines a width of the dispenser when in the first shipping form. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the dispenser is transformable from the first shipping form to the second dispensing form in a tool-free manner. 
     
     
         13 . A method for placing a towel dispenser into use, comprising:
 unloading an at least partially disassembled towel dispenser from a storage container; and   connecting, without the use of tools, the disassembled components of the towel dispenser so that the towel dispenser is in a ready-for-dispensing form, wherein the towel dispenser, when assembled, occupies a volume that is at least twenty-five percent greater than the volume occupied by the at least partially disassembled towel dispenser.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the towel dispenser is comprised of a base, a pair of side panels, a bottom panel having a mouth, and a front cover, and wherein connecting free components of the towel dispenser includes snap-fitting the side panels to opposite edges of the base, engaging the bottom panel with the side panels, and mounting the front cover to the bottom panel in a manner that allows the front cover to pivot relative to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the towel dispenser when in the storage container has a vertical profile that is less than the vertical profile of the towel dispenser when in the ready-for-dispensing form. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the base includes a back panel and a top panel integrally formed with the back panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising mounting the towel dispenser to a supporting structure. 
     
     
         18 . A method of dispensing a power towel, comprising:
 unloading an at least partially disassembled towel dispenser from a storage container;   connecting, without the use of tools, the disassembled components of the towel dispenser so that the towel dispenser forms a housing for containing a stack of paper towels to be dispensed;   at least partially filling the housing with paper towels;   attaching a faceplate to the housing corresponding to the type of paper towels contained within the housing, the faceplate having an opening therethrough; and   withdrawing a paper towel from the housing through the opening formed in the faceplate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising attaching a front cover to the housing after attaching the faceplate to the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the disassembled components are connected to form the housing by snap-fitting.