Folded sheet dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for sheet material, particularly a stack of individual sheets of material that have been folded together, such as a stack of folded tissue sheets. The stack of individual sheets is folded along its transverse axis and inserted into the dispenser for storage and dispensing. Generally, the length of the dispenser is less than the length of the individual sheets such that the when the stack is folded along its transverse axis and inserted into the dispenser it forms an arch-shape. When disposed in the dispenser the arch-shaped stack forms a least three void spaces, one in each bottom corner of the dispenser and one between the legs of the arch-shaped stack. These void spaces prevent excessive compression of the stack or friction between the stack and the sidewalls of the dispenser and improve dispensing of sheets from the stack.

1 . A folded sheet dispenser comprising:
 a. a parallelepiped shape dispenser having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, a maximum length of the dispenser (L c ) along the longitudinal axis, a maximum width of the dispenser (W c ) along the transverse axis, a maximum height of the dispenser (H c ) normal to the longitudinal and transverse axis, wherein L c  is greater than H c  and W c  and wherein the ratio of H c  to W c  is from about 0.75 to about 1.0; and   b. a substantially arch-shaped stack of individually folded sheets disposed within the dispenser, the stack folded about a transverse fold axis forming a pair of spaced apart legs defining a first void therebetween, the first void having a maximum width dimension from about 2 to about 8 cm.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein L c  is at least about 150% of H c . 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of H c  to W c  is about 1.0. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the number of individually folded sheets in the arch-shaped stack ranges from about 150 to about 240. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein each of the individually folded sheets has an unfolded sheet area of at least about 400 cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the height of the stack of sheets prior to folding along the transverse fold axis (H s ) ranges from about 8 to about 12 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the arch-shaped folded stack is disposed within the parallelepiped shape dispenser with the transverse fold axis parallel to the dispenser's transverse axis. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the length of the stack of sheets prior to folding along the transverse fold axis (L s ) is at least about 120% of the maximum length of the dispenser (L c ). 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein L s  is from about 19.5 to about 21.5 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser comprises a top wall having a dispensing opening disposed thereon, a bottom wall opposite the top wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls, wherein the top and bottom walls are substantially rectangular and have an area ranging from about 170 to about 200 cm 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the upper most sheet in the arch-shaped folded stack is located adjacent to the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the arch-shaped folded stack comprises a plurality of discrete sheets that are z-folded and interleaved for pop-up dispensing. 
     
     
         13 . A parallelepiped shape dispenser having an interior space for receiving a folded stack of tissue sheets, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, the dispenser comprising:
 a. a rectangular bottom panel having a length dimension (L c ) along the longitudinal axis and a maximum width dimension (W c ) along the transverse axis,   b. a rectangular side panel in folded connection to the rectangular bottom panel, the rectangular side panel having a height dimension (H c ) normal to the longitudinal and transverse axis, wherein L c  is greater than H c  and W c  and wherein the ratio of H c  to W c  is from about 0.75 to about 1.0; and   c. a substantially arch-shaped stack of individually folded sheets disposed within the interior space, the stack folded about a transverse fold axis and disposed within the interior space such that the transverse fold axis parallel to the dispenser's transverse axis, the folded stack forming a pair of spaced apart legs defining a first void therebetween, the first void having a maximum width dimension from about 2 to about 8 cm.   
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein L c  is at least about 150% of H c . 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the ratio of H c  to W c  is about 1.0. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the number of individually folded sheets in the arch-shaped stack ranges from about 150 to about 240. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein each of the individually folded sheets has an unfolded sheet area of at least about 400 cm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the height of the stack of sheets prior to folding along the transverse fold axis (H s ) ranges from about 8 to about 12 cm. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the length of the stack of sheets prior to folding along the transverse fold axis (L s ) is at least about 120% of the maximum length of the dispenser (L c ). 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein L s  is from about 19.5 to about 21.5 cm.