Napkin Dispenser

Abstract

A cover, carriage, or faceplate for a napkin dispenser is provided. The cover, faceplate or carriage defines one or more pick zones that facilitate manual extraction of different numbers of multiple napkins from the dispenser during each dispensing event. Preferably, the cover, carriage or faceplate cooperates with a container configured to receive a stack of napkins and is maintained adjacent an end or edge of the stack. More preferably, the cover, faceplate or carriage is configured to cooperate with containers having various shapes and/or configured for countertop, hanging, or in-counter implementation of the container to allow retrofitting of currently available single quantity dispensing napkin dispensers.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A carriage of a napkin dispenser, the carriage comprising:
 a body constructed to overlay a cavity shaped to contain a plurality of napkins, the body defining at least a first pick zone that allows access to a first amount of the plurality of napkins and a second pick zone that allows access to a second amount of the plurality of napkins.   
     
     
         2 . The carriage of  claim 1  further comprising a support that extends in a longitudinal direction aligned with the first and second pick zones. 
     
     
         3 . The carriage of  claim 2  wherein the body adjustably cooperates the support to define a size of the first and second pick zones. 
     
     
         4 . The carriage of  claim 2  wherein the support is shaped to slideably cooperate with an opening defined by a countertop and the body has a footprint that is greater than a size of the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The carriage of  claim 2  further comprising a base that cooperates with the support at a location proximate the first and second pick zones defined by the body. 
     
     
         6 . The carriage of  claim 5  further comprising another base that cooperates with the support such that the base and the another base interchangeably cooperate with the support. 
     
     
         7 . The carriage of  claim 5  wherein the base further comprises at least one deflectable support that is biased toward the plurality of napkins and movable in a direction away from the plurality of napkins. 
     
     
         8 . The carriage of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pick zones are aligned along a common longitudinal side of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The carriage of  claim 8  wherein each pick zone is further defined as at least one of a curvilinear and a linear cutout formed in an edge of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The carriage of  claim 8  further comprising a third pick zone aligned along the common longitudinal side of the body with the first and second pick zones. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser for paper napkins comprising:
 a container that defines a cavity shaped to receive a stack of paper napkins and a discharge opening fluidly connected to the cavity; and   a carriage shaped to cooperate with the container proximate the discharge opening, the carriage defining at least two pick zones wherein each respective pick zone is shaped to allow removal of a different number of paper napkins from the cavity than other respective pick zones.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser for paper napkins of  claim 11  wherein the carriage further comprises at least one pick zone that is oriented on a side of the carriage opposite the at least two pick zones. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser for paper napkins of  claim 11  wherein the carriage movably cooperates with the container. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser for paper napkins of  claim 11  wherein each of the at least two pick zones are associated with an end of the stack of paper napkins. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of paper napkins of  claim 11  further comprising a first base and a second base that interchangeably cooperate with the container at a location proximate the at least two pick zones. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of paper napkins of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first base and the second base includes at least one movable napkin support. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of paper napkins of  claim 16  wherein the at least one movable support is biased into engagement with the stack of paper napkins and movable in a direction away from the stack of paper napkins. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the carriage includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining the at least two pick zones and movably connected to the first portion to adjust a size associated with at least one of the at least two pick zones. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18  wherein a position of second portion relative to first portion defines the size of each of the at least two pick zones. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 11  further comprising a third pick zone defined by the carriage and that is aligned with the at least two pick zones. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a paper napkin dispenser, the method including:
 providing a carriage constructed to be positioned adjacent a stack of napkins;   forming a first pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the first pick zone; and   forming a second pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a different number of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the second pick zone rather than the first pick zone.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising forming the first and second pick zones in a common side of the carriage. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising forming at least one additional pick zone in a side of the carriage that is one of the common side or opposite the common side. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising forming in third pick zone in the carriage that allows manual removal of a different number of a plurality of napkins from the paper napkin dispenser associated with use of the third pick zone than either of the first or second pick zones. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising biasing the carriage into engagement with an end of the stack of napkins. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising forming the carriage as a first portion and a second portion that movably cooperates with the first portion such that movement of the first portion relative to the second portion adjusts a size associated with at least one of the first pick zone and the second pick zone. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a base that cooperates with the carriage proximate the first and second pick zones. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising providing the base with at least one movable support that is biased toward the stack of napkins and movable in a direction away from the stack of napkins. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising providing another base that cooperates with the carriage and is interchangeable with the base to define different sizes associated with the first pick zone and the second pick zone as a function of which base is utilized. 
     
     
         30 . A sheet material dispenser comprising:
 a housing for containing a stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed;   an opening, defined in said housing, through which the leading edges of a portion of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material are accessible;   a base for supporting the stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed, wherein the base is configured to permit the leading edges of a portion of the stack of a plurality of sheets of material accessible through the opening to be deflected downwardly to facilitate the removal of all or a subset of the accessible portion of the stack of a plurality of sheets of material from the dispenser.   
     
     
         31 . A dispenser according to  claim 30 , wherein the base is interchangeable. 
     
     
         32 . A dispenser according to  claim 30 , wherein the base includes a retractable portion biased to support the stack of a plurality of sheets of material to be dispensed. 
     
     
         33 . A dispenser according to  claim 30 , further comprising a selectively removable insert to alter the interior dimensions of the housing. 
     
     
         34 . A dispenser according to  claim 30 , wherein the base is selectively movable between at least a first and second position to alter the dimensions of the opening.