Gpcp IP Holdings LLC

Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP

Yum Connect, LLC

Roy J Rozek

Antonio Michael Cittadino

Mark Edwin Peters

Steven B Mattheeussen

Ryan Anthony Goltz

Lenox Gregory Wilson

Erik Lips

Eric Paul Peterson

John Patrick Laitala

Genevieve Taylor

Abby Catherine Case

Timothy Andrew Robertson

John William Grosz, Jr

Veronica A Coleman

Nathan Patrick Roche

Jacob Edward Malesky

Matthew K F Williquette

Matthew K Williquette

Ryan Alexander Kantor

Zachery J VanDenBosch

Eric Peterson

John William Grosz

Abby C Case

Improvements to frictional features in rolled sheet product dispensers are provided herein. An example sheet product dispenser for enabling dispensing from a roll of sheet product is provided. The dispenser includes a moveable support portion for storing and rotating the roll of sheet product relative to a base portion. A loaded roll of sheet product is configured to rotate about a spindle during dispensing of the sheet product therefrom. The dispenser further includes a frictional feature attached to a movable support brake feature at a pivot point radially spaced apart from the spindle. The frictional feature is positioned to pivot about the pivot point toward the movable support brake feature when the roll of sheet product is loaded on the spindle such that the frictional feature applies a decreasing friction force on a side surface of the roll as the sheet product depletes.

Frictional features for rolled sheet product dispensers

An apparatus may include a film support roller supporting a film roll and a housing that may include a sealing portion having an aperture sized to receive a top portion of a container. The housing may define a film path leading from the film roll to the sealing portion. A guide support assembly may have a ramp and at least one guide truss positioned along the film path. The ramp and the guide truss may guide the film across the aperture within the sealing portion, covering the aperture. The motor may advance the film along the film path. The heating element may emanate energy. The controller may cause the motor to advance the film onto the ramp and cause the heating element to emanate energy to cause the film to seal the top portion of the container.

Film securing apparatus and method

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

A resistance mechanism for a sheet product dispenser for dispensing a length of sheet product from a roll of sheet product rotatably supported by the sheet product dispenser is provided. The resistance mechanism includes an arm configured to frictionally engage a surface of the roll of sheet product, and a spring attached to the arm and configured to bias the arm into engagement with the surface of the roll of sheet product, such that the resistance mechanism provides a pull force resistance opposing a pull force applied to a tail portion of the roll of sheet product.

Sheet product dispensers and related methods for reducing sheet product usage

Improvements to sheet product dispensers configured to hold multiple product rolls are provided herein. An example sheet product dispenser comprises a housing defining a dispensing position and a reserve position. The housing is configured to hold a first roll of sheet product in the dispensing position and a second roll of sheet product in the reserve position, where a user can receive a portion of the first roll of sheet product that is in the dispensing position. The sheet product dispenser includes a roll replacement feature that is configured to enable installation of a replacement roll of sheet product into the reserve position. The sheet product dispenser includes a restrictive access feature configured to prevent installation of the replacement roll of sheet product directly into the dispensing position in an instance in which the roll replacement feature enables installation of the replacement roll of sheet product in the reserve position.

Premature replacement prevention or deterrence for multiple roll sheet product dispensers

An assembly for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser is provided including a mandrel configured to be positioned within a housing of the dispenser and a spindle. The spindle includes a spindle body positioned over the mandrel and configured to be received within a central opening of the roll. The spindle includes first and second sets of friction elements extending away from respective ends of the spindle body. Each friction element is configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel. The contact forces applied against the mandrel may be designed to be constant irrespective of whether the roll of sheet product is installed on the spindle and/or if the inner surface of the central opening of the roll of sheet product has any inconsistencies.

Spindle assembly for sheet product dispensers

Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using the same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises at least one utensil in addition to a next utensil and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom. A front pedestal can be disposed inside the housing and can be configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil. A moveable member can be disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position. The moveable member can have at least one extension arm configured with at least one engaging section capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

Dispenser for disposable utensils

A method of dispensing a user-determined length of sheet product from a roll of sheet product via a sheet product dispenser is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the roll of sheet product rotatably supported by the sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product therefrom, wherein the roll of sheet product rotates in response to a pull force applied to a tail portion of the roll of sheet product; and providing, via the sheet product dispenser, a pull force resistance opposing the rotation of the roll of sheet product, wherein the pull force resistance is between 36 grams-force and 96 grams-force throughout a majority of a life of the roll of sheet product.

A core plug for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser is provided. The core plug may include a shell and a support. The shell may be positioned about a longitudinal axis of the core plug and configured to be at least partially inserted into a central opening of the roll of sheet product. The support may be movably attached to the shell and configured to engage a support feature of the sheet product dispenser such that the roll of sheet product is rotatably supported with respect to the sheet product dispenser. The support may be positioned at least partially within the shell, and at least a portion of the support may be configured to translate relative to the shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the core plug.

Core plug for a roll of sheet product

A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product is provided. The sheet product dispenser includes a housing defining an interior space configured to receive the roll of sheet product therein. The housing includes a nozzle configured to allow the sheet product to be dispensed therethrough and out of the interior space of the housing. The nozzle includes a first orifice disposed at or near an outer end of the nozzle, a second orifice disposed at or near an inner end of the nozzle, and a cavity disposed between the first orifice and the second orifice. The first orifice, the second orifice, and the cavity are configured to allow the sheet product to pass therethrough. The first orifice has a first cross-sectional area, the second orifice has a second cross-sectional area, and the cavity has a third cross-sectional area, wherein the third cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross sectional area.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Roy J Rozek