Inter-folded sheet dispenser with replaceable cartridge

A dispenser for dispensing inter-folded sheet comprising:

• (a) a dispenser housing including a base, two lateral walls, a front wall, a back wall and an upper dispensing wall provided with a dispensing aperture, wherein the lateral sidewalls of the dispenser housing are provided with support channels;
• (b) a dispenser cartridge comprising:
• (i) a generally planar rectangular core defining an upper core edge, a lower core edge and two lateral core edges;
• (ii) a stack of inter-folded sheets wrapped about the upper edge of the generally planar rectangular core in a U-shape, the stack and core being sized such that lateral edges of the core extend outwardly from the U-shaped stack a predetermined distance therefrom;
• (iii) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of inter-folded sheets about the core, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region generally parallel to the upper edge of the core, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the core such that their tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope;
• wherein further the cartridge and dispenser housing are configured such that the lateral edges of the core engage the support channels of the lateral walls of the dispenser housing and the cartridge is configured such that the dispensing line of the shrink wrap envelope is presented to the dispensing aperture of the housing.

An inter-folded sheet dispenser cartridge comprising:

• (a) a generally planar rectangular core defining an upper core edge, a lower core edge and two lateral core edges;
• (b) a stack of inter-folded sheets wrapped about the upper edge of the generally planar rectangular core in a U-shape, the stack and core being sized such that lateral edges of the core extend outwardly from the U-shaped stack a predetermined distance therefrom;
• and
• (c) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of inter-folded sheets about the core, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region generally parallel to the upper edge of the core, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the core such that their tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope.

A dispenser for dispensing inter-folded sheet comprising:

• (a) a dispenser housing configured to receive a replaceable cartridge of inter-folded sheets including a base wall and an upper dispensing wall provided with a dispensing aperture;
• (b) biasing means;
• (c) the replaceable cartridge of inter-folded sheets comprising:
• (i) a stack support member;
• (ii) a stack of inter-folded sheets secured about the support member in a U-shape;
• (iii) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of the inter-folded sheets about the support member, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the support member such that their tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope, and wherein the support member and the dispenser are configured such that the cartridge is supported so that the dispensing region coincides with the dispensing aperture of the dispenser,
• (d) wherein the biasing means is adapted to urge the cartridge upwardly so as to maintain the sheets in proximity with the dispensing aperture as the cartridge is consumed.

A dispenser for dispensing inter-folded sheet comprising:

• (a) a dispenser housing including a base wall, two lateral walls, a front wall, a back wall and an upper dispensing wall provided with a dispensing aperture;
• (b) a replaceable cartridge of inter-folded sheets disposed in the housing comprising:
• (i) a stack support member;
• (ii) a stack of inter-folded sheets secured about the support member in a U-shape;
• (iii) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of the inter-folded sheets about the support member, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the support member such that their tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope, and wherein the support member and the dispenser are configured such that the cartridge is supported so that the dispensing region coincides with the dispensing aperture of the dispenser,
• wherein the front and back wall of the dispenser housing are of a first height of lesser height than a second, central height of the sidewalls of the housing in order to facilitate replacement and loading of the cartridge.

A dispenser for dispensing inter-folded sheet comprising:

• (a) a dispenser housing including an upper dispensing wall provided with a dispensing aperture;
• (b) a replaceable cartridge of inter-folded sheets disposed in the housing comprising:
• (i) a stack support member having a length, L;
• (ii) a stack of inter-folded sheets secured about the support member in a U-shape;
• (iii) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of the inter-folded sheets about the support member, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the support member such that their tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope, and wherein the support member and the dispenser are configured such that the cartridge is supported so that the dispensing region coincides with the dispensing aperture of the dispenser;
• and
• (c) a removable adapter for disposing inside of the housing at a predetermined location configured to provide support for the cartridge stack support member of length, L.

A method of dispensing a stack of inter-folded sheet comprising:

• (a) providing a dispenser cartridge comprising a generally planar rectangular core defining:
• (i) an upper edge, a lower core edge and two lateral core edges;
• (ii) a stack of inter-folded sheets wrapped about the upper edge of the generally planar rectangular core in a U-shape, the stack and core being sized such that lateral edges of the core extend outwardly from the U-shaped stack a predetermined distance therefrom;
• and
• (iii) a shrink wrap envelope about the stack securing the U-shaped stack of inter-folded sheets about the core, the shrink wrap envelope being provided with a dispensing region generally parallel to the upper edge of the core, wherein the inter-folded sheets are secured about the core such that the tail edges are generally parallel with the dispensing region of the envelope;
• (b) securing the cartridge in a dispenser housing provided with sidewalls and a base wherein the sidewalls of the dispenser have support channels configured to receive the lateral edges of the rectangular core extending from the U-shaped stack by way of engaging the lateral edges of the core in the support channels of the dispenser sidewalls and wherein the shrink wrap envelope remains in place between the core and support channels of the dispenser;
• (c) fracturing the shrink wrap envelope of the cartridge along the dispensing region of the envelope;
• and
• (d) withdrawing an inter-folded sheet from the stack.