SERVIETTE HOLDER

Abstract

 Serviette holder comprising a container (10) of box-like shape, open above and closed by a lid (20) with an opening (21), a pack of serviettes (40) being arranged in said container (10), pushed against said lid (20) by an elastic element (30), a flap (41) of the first serviette of the pack projecting from an opening (21) formed in said lid (20).

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a dispenser of serviettes, handkerchiefs, wipes and the like for use in bars, restaurants of various types and the like.

[0002] Here below in this description, for the sake of simplicity, the dispenser according to the invention will be called serviette holder, without prejudice to the fact that it can be used to dispense any sheet material, not only serviettes.

[0003] Serviette holders are widely known and in the most diffused forms, with front or upper access of the product.

[0004] The serviettes, normally in paper material, or also in nonwoven fabric, are placed in a stack, so that at least one flap of one thereof projects from an opening formed in a wall of a box-like container, towards which the stack of serviettes is pushed by a spring. The taking of the first serviette of the stack means that the second is placed in the opening, ready to be used.

[0005] Serviette holders currently available on the market, above all those with access to the product from above, whereto the present invention refers, are of complicated construction, and require laborious operations for the loading of the pack of serviettes.

[0006] The object of the invention is that of eliminating the disadvantages of known serviette holders.
More particularly an object of the invention is that of providing a serviette holder which is simple and economical to produce and which allows rapid and easy loading of the pack of serviettes.

[0007] Another object of the invention is that of providing such a serviette holder provided with an accessory which increases the functionality thereof.
These and other objects are achieved by the serviette holder according to the invention which has the features of the appended independent claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are stated in the dependent claims.

[0009] Substantially the serviette holder according to the invention comprises a container of box-like shape, open above and closed by a lid with an opening, a pack of serviettes being arranged in said container, pushed against said lid by an elastic element, a flap of the first serviette of the pack projecting from an opening formed in said lid.

[0010] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referred to one of its embodiments purely by way of a non-limiting example, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic axonometric view of the serviette holder according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan view from above;
• Figure 3 is a front view;
• Figure 4 is a cross section taken along plane IV-IV of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a cross section taken along plane V-V of Figure 2;
• Figure 6 is an enlargement of the detail denoted by the letter A in Figure 5;
• Figures 7 and 8 are schematic cross sections like Figure 4, showing the loading of a pack of serviettes.

[0011] Referring to these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes, as a whole, the serviette holder according to the invention, which comprises a base or container 10 of box-like shape, in this case of parallelepiped shape, open above and closed by a sliding lid 20.

[0012] Naturally the container 10 can have a form different from that illustrated and the lid 20 could also be of a type different from that illustrated, for example fall front.

[0013] In the embodiment illustrated the lid 20 slides along guides 11 (see Figure 6) provided externally to two opposite side walls 12, 13 of the container 10 (see in particular Figure 5). It is however evident that the lid 20 can slide on guides formed inside the walls 12 and 13.

[0014] In the accompanying drawings 14 denotes the base wall of the container 10 and 15 and 16 respectively the fore or front wall and the rear wall.

[0015] Parallel to the front wall 15, and at a short distance therefrom, a tab 17 is placed, bearing below a leg 18 bent at 90° and slot-inserted in the base wall 14.

[0016] In the gap 19 which is formed between the tab 17 and front wall 15 an illustrative leaflet can be inserted, for example a menu, the tab 17 acting in this case as menu holder.

[0017] Inside the container 10 a helicoidal spring 30 is placed (but could be any other type of elastic element), whose lower pin 31 is restrained to the base 14 of the container, while whose upper pin 32 is attached to a flat plate 33, on which a pack of serviettes 40 is rested, which is housed inside the container 10 following the compression of the spring 30.

[0018] Figure 7 shows the pack of serviettes 40 in the phase of loading in the container 10, with the spring 30 completely distended.

[0019] By exerting a pressure downwards on the pack of serviettes 40, the compression of the spring 30 and the housing of the pack of serviettes 40 inside the container 10 are produced, as shown in Figure 8.

[0020] The lid 20 is then applied, making it slide along the guides 11, so as to keep the pack of serviettes 40 pressed against the action of the spring 30.

[0021] The lid 20 has an opening 21 wherefrom a flap 41 of a serviette projects, as shown schematically in Figure 1.
The serviettes are stacked in the pack 40 in a manner in itself known, interlayered in a V shape, such that by taking the first serviette of the stack, from the opening 21 a flap of the second serviette projects and so on.

[0022] In the accompanying drawings the opening 21 of the lid 20 is shown in elliptical or ovoidal shape, but it is clear that any other shape would be possible.

[0023] The serviette holder according to the invention is conveniently made in plastic material but can likewise be made in metal material or in mixed material.
From what has been disclosed the advantages of the serviette holder according to the invention appear clear, which allows a rapid and easy loading of the pack of serviettes and an equally easy taking of the single serviettes.

[0024] Moreover the providing of the menu holder tab 17 increases the utility and the practicality of the serviette holder.

[0025] Naturally the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described previously and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detail changes may be made thereto, within the reach of the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the same invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Serviette holder comprising a container (10) of box-like shape, open above and closed by a lid (20) with an opening (21), a pack of serviettes (40) being arranged in said container (10), pushed against said lid (20) by an elastic element (30), a flap (41) of the first serviette of the pack projecting from the opening (21) formed in said lid (20).

2. Serviette holder according to claim 1, characterised in that said lid (20) is applied slidably on said container (10).

3. Serviette holder according to claim 2, characterised in that said lid (20) is sliding in guides (11) formed externally or internally to a pair of opposite side walls (12, 13) of the container (10).

4. Serviette holder according to any one of the preceding clams, characterised in that said elastic element (30) is a helicoidal spring restrained below at the base (14) of the container (10) and carrying above a flat plate (30) of resting for the pack of serviettes (40).

5. Serviette holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening (31) in the lid (20) has an elliptical or ovoidal shape.

6. Serviette holder according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a tab (17) developing parallel to the front wall (15) of the container (10), such as to form a gap (19) for the insertion of a leaflet or menu.

7. Serviette holder according to claim 6, wherein said tab (17) has a lower leg bent at 90° and slot-inserted in said lower wall (14) of the container (10).

Drawing