The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing sheets.

WO 2005/120986 A1 discloses a box for dispensing tissues. The box comprises a top part and a bottom part, each having sidewalls. The top part comprises and opening for dispensing tissues. The bottom part is moved inside the top part. While tissues are removed from the box, the top part moves further over the bottom part as the size of a stack of tissues decreases. Separating of both is prevented by means of projections at the outside of sidewalls of the bottom part and at the inside of the sidewalls of the top part, thus providing a staggered mechanism for preventing separation. This staggered mechanism carries the disadvantage that the projections still enable a significant movement of the top with respect to the bottom.

UK 1,085,519 discloses a dispenser of sheets for making notes. The sheets are placed on a holder in a stack, which holder is mounted to a vertical rail. A casing is slidingly mounted on the rail. The casing bears on the upper sheet of the stack and lowers itself by its own weight as sheets are removed, thus reducing the volume bound by the casing and the holder. The casing can be easily removed from the stack of paper. In addition, the casing required to be fully removed from the rail and the holder for inserting a new stack of sheets.

GB 2 141 406 discloses a dispenser for stacks of sheets. The dispenser disclosed bear great similarity with the dispenser disclosed by D2 and carries therefore the same disadvantages.

FR 2 568 231 discloses a dispenser for bags. The dispenser comprises a standard on which a cover can be placed, which cover can be filled with bags. The cover comprises an opening for dispensing the bags.

CN 201 200 367 Y discloses a dispenser for tissues. The inner wall of the dispenser is provided with teeth. A bottom part of the dispenser is provided. The bottom part comprises two bottom halves, connected and pushed apart by a spring. The bottom can be inserted in the box by compressing the spring, making the bottom part narrower. When the compressive force is released, the outer edges of the bottom part are place in indentations between the teeth. By pushing the bottom part up, the spring is compressed and the bottom part is made narrower by forces exerted on the bottom by the teeth until the bottom part falls into a higher indentation between teeth,

It is an object of the invention to provide dispenser for dispensing cigarette paper where the cigarette paper can be inserted in the dispenser in an easier way.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a box for holding a stack of cigarette paper that is enabled to be used in conjunction with the dispenser according to the invention.

The invention provides in a first aspect a dispenser for dispensing cigarette paper. The dispenser comprises a housing for housing a box comprising a stack of cigarette paper and a support member for supporting the stack of cigarette paper comprised by the box. The support member is slidably mounted in the housing through a first opening at a first sidewall of the housing; the housing comprising: a second opening at a second sidewall opposite from the first opening for removing sheets from the stack. The dispenser is characterised: in that the support member is arranged to be slidably inserted in the box for supporting the stack of cigarette paper by means of a support plateau (204) provided at an end of the support member located in the housing. The dispenser is further characterised in that the housing is arranged for holding the box holding the stack of sheets. The box comprises: a first opening at a first sidewall of the box, the first opening having a length substantially the same as the length of the first sidewall for removing sheets from the stack; and a second sidewall being located opposite to the first sidewall. In the box at least a substantial part of the second sidewall of the box is freely movable from the rest of the box; when the box is holding the stack of cigarette paper, the second sidewall comprises at least two flange portions, each flange portion connected to at least two sidewalls adjacent to the second sidewall; the freely movable substantial part of the second sidewall is kept inside the box by the flange portions. The dispenser is further characterised in that in that the housing comprises a third opening at a third sidewall through which the stack of sheets can be inserted in the housing; and in that the support plateau has substantially the same size as the space between the two flange portions or a smaller size.

By providing a third opening in a third sidewall through which the stack of sheets can be inserted in the housing, the stack of sheets can be inserted in the dispenser without requiring the housing to be fully removed from the support member. A particular further advantage is that by removing the need to take apart the housing and the support member, no tedious alignment is required between the support member and in particular the stack of paper on one hand and the housing on the other hand.

In an embodiment of the dispenser for dispensing sheets in accordance with the invention, the third opening is enable to receive a box comprising the stack of sheets. By being able to inserted the stack of sheets comprised in a box, the convenience of use of the dispenser is further increased, as no particular alignment efforts need to be made while inserting the stack of sheets in the housing. This is because the sheets are already aligned in the box.

In a further embodiment of the dispenser for dispensing sheets in accordance with the invention, the support member and the housing are connected by a spring exerting a compressive force, forcing the support member inside the housing.

In vertical use of the dispenser, the housing lowers automatically onto the support member. This is because the housing rests on the support member via the stack of sheets. As sheets are removed from the stack, the stack decreases in size, resulting in a lower position of the housing with respect to the support member. By providing a spring exerting a compressive force, forcing the support member inside the housing, the dispenser can also be used in a diagonal or even horizontal position.

The invention provides in a second aspect a box for holding a stack of cigarette paper. The box comprises a first opening at a first sidewall of the box, the first opening having a length substantially the same as the length of the first sidewall for removing sheets from the stack; and a second sidewall being located opposite to the first sidewall. The box is characterised in that: at least a substantial part of the second sidewall of the box is freely movable from the rest of the box; when the box is holding the stack of cigarette paper, the second sidewall comprises at least two flange portions, each flange portion connected to at least two sidewalls adjacent to the second sidewall; the freely movable substantial part of the second sidewall is not connected to any sidewall of the box and is kept inside the box by the flange portions; and in that the space between the two flange portions be substantially the same size or larger than the support plateau of the dispenser of claim 1.

As already indicated, an additional advantage is provided if the stack of sheets can be inserted in the housing by means of a box. However, as a box usually has rigid sidewalls, including the bottom, the housing cannot easily lower as it might be blocked by the bottom of the box. By providing a bottom that is freely movable or removable without undue burden, the box can be inserted either after having easily removed the bottom or directly in the housing, allowing easy operation of the dispenser with the box inside.

In a first embodiment of the box according to the invention, when the box is holding the stack of sheets, the second sidewall comprises at least two flange portions, each flange portion connected to at least two sidewalls adjacent to the second sidewall and further comprises a bottom portion not connected to any sidewall of the box and kept inside the box by the flange portions.

Such a box can be directly inserted in the third opening of the housing. The main part of the box will be positioned in the housing in a more or less fixed way and lower with the housing over the support member - in vertical operation of the dispenser, that is. The bottom part will remain on top of the support member, at the bottom of the stack of sheets. Naturally, a part of the support member supporting the stack of papers should be sized such that it does not interfere with the flanges and sidewalls of the box adjacent to the second sidewall.

In a further embodiment of the box according to the invention, the removable part of the second wall is smaller than the second wall.

In this way, when the removable part of the second wall has been removed, the stack of sheets is not risked to fall out as still parts of the second wall remain to keep the stack of sheets inside the box.

In another embodiment of the box according to the invention, the removable part of the second wall comprises the full second wall. In this way, the stack of sheets can be supported by the support member of the dispenser according to the invention over the full size of the bottom of the stack of sheets.

The invention and embodiments thereof will now be further elucidated by means of Figures, wherein:

• Figure 1 shows a cigarette paper dispenser as an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 2 A shows a first cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 2 B shows a second cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 2 A shows a third cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 3 shows a fourth cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 4 A shows a cross-section of a box with cigarette paper;
• Figure 4 B shows a bottom view of a box with cigarette paper;
• Figure 4 C shows a bottom view of another box with cigarette paper;
• Figure 5 shows another cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;
• Figure 6 A shows yet another cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention; and
• Figure 6 B shows a further cross-section of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention.

Figure 1 discloses a cigarette paper dispenser 100 as an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention. The cigarette paper dispenser 100 comprises a support member 102 comprising a first pillar 106, a second pillar 108 and a recess 110. The support member 102 is at the bottom connected to a foot portion 104. A housing is mounted to the support member 102.

The housing 120 comprises a first sidewall 124 at the top of the housing 120. The first sidewall 124 comprises a first opening 126. The top of the support member is inserted in a second opening (not shown) in a second sidewall 122 opposite of the first sidewall 124 at the bottom of the housing 120. In the way, the housing 120 is slidably mounted on the support member 102.

The housing 120 also comprises a third sidewall having a third opening 128 through which a box 150 can be inserted. In the embodiment disclosed by Figure 1, the third opening 128 takes up the whole third sidewall, though a small side of the third opening 128 can be envisaged. By providing the third opening 128, the housing 120 does not need to be removed from the support member 120 to insert the box 150 in the cigarette paper dispenser 100.

The box 150 comprises a stack of cigarette paper, of which a cigarette paper 180 on top of the stack can be removed through the first opening 126. Preferably, the cigarette papers are stacked in a folded way, as is known from conventional packages with cigarette paper.

The housing 120 further comprises a fourth sidewall 130 comprising a fourth opening 132. If the box 150 is inserted in the housing 120, a logo on the box 150 is visible through the fourth opening 132.

By inserting the box 150 with a stack of cigarette paper in the housing 120, a significant amount of cigarette paper can be inserted in the cigarette paper dispenser 100 without undue burden, like the risk of the stack falling apart. Considering the nature of cigarette paper, this is a considerable risk as cigarette paper, either conventional or rice paper, is smooth and very light. Compressing a stack of cigarette paper even slightly to insert the stack in the housing 120 via the third opening 128 could result in papers in the stack to slide, causing in turn the stack to fall apart. As the cigarette paper dispenser 100 is envisaged to carry about 1000 cigarette papers, putting such stack together again after breaking apart would be an enormous burden.

Figure 2A discloses a first cross-section of the cigarette paper dispenser 100, which in addition to Figure 1 shows the first opening 202 in the first sidewall 122 (Figure 1), a support plateau 204, a cavity 220, a cavity sidewall 222 and a cylinder 224 made from silicon rubber - though another elastic material can be envisaged as well. In this view, the cavity 220 is bound by the housing 120 and in particular by the first sidewall 122 at the top, the support member 102 at the left side and the cavity sidewall 222 at the right side.

The cavity sidewall 222 is tilted, by virtue of which the sidewall is at a first end of the cavity sidewall 222 which is connected to the housing 120 is spaced away further from the support member 102 than at a second end of the cavity sidewall 222 which is in Figure 2A the lower end of the cavity sidewall 222. At the sides of the cavity not shown on this cross-section, the cavity 220 is bound by the first pillar 106 and the second pillar 108.

Figure 2B discloses a second cross-section of the cigarette paper dispenser 100, in which the box 150 is inserted. The box 150 comprises a stack 210 of cigarette paper, with the cigarette paper 180 on top. The box 150 has the bottom removed, resulting in the stack 210 to be supported by the support plateau 204. In turn, the housing 120 is supported by the stack 210.

While more and more cigarette papers are being removed from the stack 210, the stack decreases in size, resulting in lowering of the housing 120 in relation to the support member 102 because the housing 120 is supported by the stack 210. This is disclosed in Figure 2 C; Figure 2C discloses the stack 210 having a smaller size than in Figure 2B and having another cigarette paper 190 on top of the stack 210.

In use, it is important that the housing 120 of the cigarette paper dispenser 100 only moves down in relation to the support member 102 while cigarette papers are being removed from the stack 210. Moving the housing 120 up would create an empty space between the top of the stack 210 and the second sidewall 124. While supporting the housing 120, the stack of cigarette papers is slightly compressed by the weight of the housing 120. This compressive force is evenly distributed over the length of the cigarette papers and improves the stability of the whole of the stack 150. Removing this compressive force could result in instability of the stack 150, which could in turn result in the stack being messed up.

Therefore, the cylinder 224 is provided in the cavity 224. By moving the housing up as disclosed in Figure 3, cylinder 224 is squeezed between the lower part of the cavity sidewall 222 and the support member 102 by virtue of a friction force between the cylinder 224 on one hand and the cavity sidewall 222 and the support member 102 on the other hand. As the opening between the second end of the cavity sidewall 222 and the support member 102 is too small for the cylinder 224 to pass through, even in the deformed state shown, further upward movement of the housing 120 in relation to the support member 102 is prevented. By releasing the housing 120, the housing 120 moves back downward and the cylinder 224 moves back to its original position as disclosed by Figure 2C.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that when a new stack of cigarette paper is to be inserted in the housing 120, the housing 120 will be required to be moved up in its highest position. To enable this action despite the braking force of the cylinder 224 in the cavity 220, a slit 230 is provided in the cavity sidewall 222. The slit 230 is provided at the second side of the cavity sidewall 222 and extends perpendicular to the second side of the cavity sidewall 222. When the housing 120 needs to be moved up to insert a new stack of cigarette paper through the third opening 128, a thin item like a key, a credit card or a similar item is to be inserted in the slit, holding the cylinder 224 in the position as shown by Figure 2C. In this way, the cylinder 224 is prevented to move to the position as shown by Figure 3 thus preventing the cylinder to exercise its braking force.

Thus having discussed the functionality of the cigarette paper dispenser 100 as an embodiment of the dispenser for dispensing sheets, various further embodiments will be discussed.

First, the box 150 can be embodied in various ways. As discussed before, the bottom of the box 150 can be removed. This can be facilitated by providing perforations in the box 150 where the bottom of the box can be removed in its entirety or for at least a substantial part. The portion of the bottom to be removed should have at least the same dimensions as the dimensions of the support plateau 204, or larger dimensions. In this way, the support plateau 204 is able to support the stack 210 of cigarette paper only and is not hampered in doing so by a remaining portion of the bottom of the box 150. Figure 4A discloses a cigarette paper box 400 as another embodiment of the box according to the invention. The cigarette paper box 400 comprises at the bottom a first flange 404, a second flange 406 and a bottom portion 402. While the box 400 is not placed in the cigarette paper dispenser 100, the bottom portion 402 is supported by the first flange 404 and the second flange 406, i.e. the bottom portion 402 is kept inside the box by the first flange 404 and the second flange 406, the bottom portion 402 thus actually forming a sidewall of the box 400. In use, the bottom portion 402 is supported by the support plateau 204 (Figure 2 A) rather than the first flange 404 and the second flange 402.

Figure 4B shows a bottom view of the box 400 with the bottom portion 402, the first flange 404 and the second flange 406. The first flange 404 and the second flange 406 are connected over the full length of the small sides of the bottom of the box 400 and for a small part to the long sides of the bottom of the box 400. The space between the first flange 404 and the second flange 406 should have substantially the same size as the size of the top of the support plateau 204 (Figure 2 A) or a larger size to enable the bottom portion 402 to be properly supported by the support plateau 204, without being hindered by the flanges.

Figure 4C discloses a bottom view of a further cigarette paper box 450 as an embodiment of the box according to the invention, comprising a further first flange 454, a further second flange 456 and a further bottom portion 452. With the box disclosed by

Figure 4C, the flanges are mainly connected to the large side of the bottom of the box 450. As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a combination of the embodiments of Figure 4B and Figure 4C will yield a box with flanges all around the bottom of the box, while leaving enough room for the support plateau 204 (Figure 2 A) to support the bottom portion only without interfering with the flanges. In addition, also triangular flange portions may be used, wherein said triangular flange portions are connected to at least two other sidewalls of the box, said two other sidewalls being adjacent to the sidewall of which the flanges form a portion.

Though it is preferred to put a stack of cigarette papers in the cigarette paper dispenser while the stack is comprised by a box, a stack of cigarette papers may also be put in the cigarette paper dispenser without a box. Despite the disadvantages discussed earlier, this still provides an advantage over prior art solutions, where the housing has to be removed from the support member to load the dispenser with sheets.

Figure 5 discloses a further cigarette paper dispenser 500 as an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention. The cigarette paper dispenser 500 comprises a support member 502 which is at the bottom connected to a foot portion 504. At the top of the support member 502, a support plateau 508 is provided for supporting a stack of cigarette paper. A housing 520 is slidably mounted on the support member 502 such that the housing 520 is slidable over the support member 502. In the lowest position of the housing 520, the support plateau reaches a first sidewall 510 of the housing 520 or is at least very close to the first sidewall 510 to enable a user of the cigarette paper dispenser 500 to also remove a last cigarette paper from the cigarette paper dispenser.

Below the housing 520, a cavity 524 is provided, the cavity comprising a cylinder 550 of silicon rubber material. The cavity 524 comprising the cylinder 550 is envisaged to act as a braking system, functioning in a similar way as disclosed by and in connection with Figure 3.

Figure 6A discloses a detail of yet a further cigarette paper dispenser 600 as yet a further embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention. The cigarette paper dispenser 600 comprises a housing 620 that is slidably mounted on a support member 602. A support plateau 608 is mounted on top of the support member 602. Below the housing 620 a rectangular cavity 650 is provided, the cavity comprising a braking member of elastic material. The braking member has a triangular cross-section. The braking mechanism of this embodiment operates in a similar way as previous embodiments discussed. However, by virtue of the triangular shape of the braking member no tilted cavity sidewall is required.

Figure 6B discloses the cigarette dispenser 600 with the braking member 624 in operation. When moving the housing 620 upwards, a cavity sidewall 652 at the bottom of the cavity is pushed towards the braking member 624. By virtue of the triangular cross-section of the braking member 624, the braking member is deformed and pushed against a sidewall of the support member 608. This increases the friction between the braking member and the sidewall of the support member 602, preventing or at least seriously hampering further upward movement of the housing 620 with respect to the support member 602.

A person skilled in the art will now appreciate that also other forms of a cavity of a braking system can be envisaged.

The cigarette paper dispensers disclosed so far operate vertically, that is to say that the stack is vertical, cigarette papers are removed from the top of the stack and the housing moves downwardly over the support. The vertical set up is required for proper functionality as the force of gravity is required for the housing moving down. However, one can envisage that the housing and the support are connected by means of a spring exerting a compressive force between the housing and the support. In that way, the dispenser according to the invention can also be embodied in a horizontal way or a diagonal way.

So far, cigarette paper dispensers have been disclosed. However, a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention can also be embodied as dispensers for other kinds of paper or sheets of other materials like plastic or metal.

Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate", "contain", "is" and "have" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa. When data is being referred to as audiovisual data, it can represent audio only, video only or still pictures only or a combination thereof, unless specifically indicated otherwise in the description of the embodiments.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "onto" another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in Figure 1, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.

This patent application claims priority of Dutch patent applications NL2003451 and N2003452.