Dispensing Apparatus

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus for holding and dispensing sheets containing a benefit composition. The dispensing apparatus includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, a base component having a dispensing slot, and a lid component coupled to the base component to define a storage cavity. A stack of sheets is positioned in the storage cavity and oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A dispensing member is configured to dispense a lowermost sheet from the stack. The lid component is alterable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position by applying a downward axial force onto the lid component relative to the base component during which the lid component engages the dispensing member and the dispensing member engages the lowermost sheet from the stack of sheets to dispense the lowermost sheet through the dispensing slot.

1 . A dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal axis: 
 a base component comprising a dispensing slot; and 
 a lid component coupled to the base component to define a storage cavity; 
   a stack of sheets comprising a benefit composition positioned in the storage cavity, each of the sheets in the stack being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing assembly; and   a dispensing member;   wherein the lid component is alterable from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position by applying a downward axial force onto the lid component relative to the base component during which the lid component moves the dispensing member from a first position to a second position, the dispensing member forcing a lowermost sheet of the stack of sheets through the dispensing slot as the dispensing member moves from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a spring member operably coupled to the dispensing member, and wherein upon releasing the lid component after the lid component has been altered into the dispensing position the spring member biases the dispensing member from the second position back to the first position during which the lid component is altered from the dispensing position back to the non-dispensing position. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member moves between the first and second positions along a dispensing path that is oblique relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the sheets in the stack of sheets comprises a rear edge which is located furthest from the dispensing slot, and wherein the dispensing member directly engages the rear edge of the lowermost sheet to force the lowermost sheet through the dispensing slot as the dispensing member moves from the first position to the second position 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the dispensing member comprises a main body portion having a top surface and at least one tab protruding from the top surface, the at least one tab directly engaging the rear edge of the lowermost sheet as the dispensing member moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the lid component comprises a lower edge that is oblique relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the dispensing member comprises a main body portion having a sloped engagement surface, and wherein altering the lid component from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position causes the lower edge of the lid component to contact the sloped engagement surface of the dispensing member to move the dispensing member from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the housing assembly further comprises a cartridge located within the storage cavity, the cartridge defining a storage compartment within which the stack of sheets is positioned, the cartridge comprising a floor portion that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing assembly, and wherein the lowermost sheet of the stack of sheets rests atop of the floor portion of the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge slot through which the lowermost sheet is dispensed from the cartridge prior to being dispensed through the dispensing slot of the base component as the lid component is altered from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, wherein the cartridge slot is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis and the dispensing slot of the base component is oriented at a perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a follower member that rests atop of an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets, wherein the follower member moves downwardly within the storage cavity to maintain contact with the uppermost sheet as the sheets are dispensed through the dispensing slot. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the housing assembly comprises a first mating feature and the follower member comprises a second mating feature that mates with the first mating feature as the follower member moves downwardly within the storage cavity to substantially prevent movement of the follower member in a non-axial direction, wherein the first mating feature of the cartridge is a post or a wall comprising ratchet teeth that allow the follower member to move downwardly within the storage cavity as the sheets are dispensed while substantially preventing the follower member from moving upwardly within the storage cavity. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the lid component comprises a first side wall that terminates in a first distal edge and a second side wall that terminates in a second distal edge, the first and second distal edges angled downwardly relative to the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction relative to the stack of sheets so that the first and second distal edges of the lid component drive the dispensing member from the first position to the second position as the lid component is altered from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the base component comprises a front surface along which the dispensing slot is located and an annular protuberance protruding from the front surface, the annular protuberance surrounding the dispensing slot to prevent liquid and debris from passing into the dispensing slot from an exterior of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing assembly comprising:
 a base component comprising a dispensing slot; and 
 a lid component coupled to the base component to define a storage cavity, the lid component comprising an engagement feature; 
   a stack of sheets comprising a benefit composition positioned in the storage cavity; and   a dispensing member;   wherein the lid component is alterable from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position during which the engagement feature of the lid component engages the dispensing member and causes the dispensing member to dispense a lowermost sheet of the stack of sheets through the dispensing slot.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a follower member resting atop of an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets, wherein the follower member moves downwardly within the storage cavity and remains in contact with the uppermost sheet as the sheets are dispensed through the dispensing slot. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the housing assembly comprises a longitudinal axis, and further comprising a cartridge located within the storage cavity, the cartridge defining a storage compartment within which the stack of sheets is positioned, the cartridge comprising a first mating feature and the follower member comprising a second mating feature that mates with the first mating feature as the follower member moves downwardly within the storage cavity to substantially prevent movement of the follower member in a non-axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the first mating feature comprises a post or a wall and the second mating feature comprises a hole or a notch, wherein the post or the wall of the cartridge comprises ratchet teeth that allow the follower member to move downwardly within the storage cavity as the sheets are dispensed while substantially preventing the follower member from moving upwardly within the storage cavity. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a cartridge located within the storage cavity, the cartridge defining a storage compartment having a floor, wherein the stack of sheets are located within the storage compartment of the cartridge so that the lowermost sheet of the stack of sheets rests atop of the floor of the storage compartment of the cartridge, and wherein the dispensing member comprises a main body portion that is located between a floor of the base component and the floor of the cartridge and at least one tab protruding from the main body portion and extending through the floor of the cartridge so that the at least one tab engages the lowermost sheet during the dispensing of the lowermost sheet through the dispensing slot. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the housing assembly comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the sheets of the stack of sheets is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the lid is altered from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position by movement in a downward axial direction, and wherein altering the lid from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position causes the dispensing member to move within the storage cavity from a first position wherein the dispensing member is adjacent to a rear wall of the housing assembly to a second position wherein the dispensing member is adjacent to a front wall of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 21  further comprising a spring member positioned in the storage cavity and operably coupled to the dispensing member, and wherein upon releasing the lid component after the lid component has been altered into the dispensing position, the spring member biases the dispensing member from the second position back to the first position during which the lid component is altered from the dispensing position back to the non-dispensing position.