Pillow napkin dispensing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9877603-B2
Application number	US-201715589282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2017
Priority date	Oct 24, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A dispenser for pillow napkins is provided that includes a carton having a bottom panel, opposite left and right panels extending vertically from the bottom panel, opposite front and back panels positioned between the left and right panels and extending vertically from the bottom panel, and a top panel extending parallel to the bottom panel. Left and right supports are positioned within a cavity of the carton. A plurality of pillow napkins are wound about a spool. The spool is positioned in the cavity such that the spool rotatably engages the left and right supports and the pillow napkins are spaced apart from the top and bottom panels. Methods of use are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of marketing bedding, the method comprising:
providing a carton comprising a plurality of pillow napkins therein;
providing a plurality of pillows;
dispensing one of the pillow napkins from the carton;
positioning the dispensed pillow napkin on one of the pillows; and
positioning a head of a consumer on the dispensed pillow napkin to assess the suitability of the pillow underneath the dispensed pillow napkin,
wherein the carton comprises a bottom panel, opposite left and right panels extending vertically from the bottom panel, opposite front and back panels positioned between the left and right panels and extending vertically from the bottom panel, and a top panel extending parallel to the bottom panel and engaging top surfaces of the left, right, front and back panels, wherein inner surfaces of the bottom, left, right, front, back and top panels define a cavity having a spool disposed therein, the pillow napkins being wound about the spool,
wherein the carton comprises:
a left support positioned within the cavity such that the left support engages the inner surfaces of the top, bottom and left panels; and
a right support positioned within the cavity such that the right support engages the inner surfaces of the top, bottom and right panels and is spaced apart from the left support, and
wherein the spool rotatably engages the left and right supports.

2. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
dispensing a second one of the pillow napkins from the carton;
positioning the second one of the pillow napkins on another one the pillows; and
positioning the head of the consumer on the second one of the pillow napkins to assess the suitability of the pillow underneath the second one of the pillow napkins.

3. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , wherein the carton has a spool positioned therein, the spool having the pillow napkins wound about the spool, the spool being positioned within the carton such that the pillow napkins are dispensed from the spool as the spool unwinds.

4. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pillow napkins are formed from materials selected from a group consisting of textile, paper, cellulosic-based materials, and combinations thereof.

5. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pillow napkins are formed from non-woven polyester fibers.

6. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pillow napkins are joined by perforated lines of weakness for easy detachment between each pillow napkin.

7. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , further comprising providing a cart comprising a rack having a plurality of vertical support members and at least one tray positioned between the vertical support members, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments that are separated from one another by a divider, wherein the pillows are each positioned in one of the compartments and the carton is positioned atop the cart.

8. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the number of pillows sold; and
determining the number of pillow napkins used.

9. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 8 , further comprising comparing the number of pillows sold and the number of pillow napkins used.

10. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 8 , further comprising determining the number of pillow napkins remaining in the carton based on the number of pillow napkins used.

11. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pillows comprises a first panel, a second panel and a first gusset joining the first and second panels, the first gusset extending entirely about perimeters of the first and second panels such that the first gusset spaces the first panel apart from the second panel.

12. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 11 , wherein, the first panel comprises a second gusset that extends in two dimensions in a contour of a surface of the first panel.

13. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 11 , wherein the pillow napkins each consist of a planar single-layer sheet configured to removably rest upon the first panel without covering the second panel or the first gusset so as to act as a cleanliness barrier for a person's head resting on the pillow.

14. A method of marketing bedding, the method comprising:
providing a carton comprising a spool rotatably positioned therein, the spool having a plurality of pillow napkins wound about the spool, the pillow napkins being joined by perforated lines of weakness;
providing a plurality of pillows;
rotating the spool within the carton such that one of the pillow napkins extends outside of the carton;
removing the pillow napkin that extends outside of the carton from the other pillow napkins on the spool;
positioning the removed pillow napkin on one the pillows;
positioning a head of a consumer on the removed pillow napkin to assess the suitability of the pillow underneath the dispensed pillow napkin; and
providing a cart comprising a rack having a plurality of vertical support members and at least one tray positioned between the vertical support members, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments that are separated from one another by a divider, wherein the pillows are each positioned in one of the compartments and the carton is positioned atop the cart.

15. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 14 , wherein at least one of the pillows comprises a first panel, a second panel and a first gusset joining the first and second panels, the first gusset extending entirely about perimeters of the first and second panels such that the first gusset spaces the first panel apart from the second panel.

16. A method of marketing bedding as recited in claim 15 , wherein, the first panel comprises a second gusset that extends in two dimensions in a contour of a surface of the first panel.

17. A method of marketing bedding, the method comprising:
providing a carton comprising a spool rotatably positioned therein, the spool having a plurality of pillow napkins wound about the spool, the pillow napkins being joined by perforated lines of weakness;
providing a plurality of pillows, at least one of the pillows comprises a first panel, a second panel and a first gusset joining the first and second panels, the first gusset extending entirely about perimeters of the first and second panels such that the first gusset spaces the first panel apart from the second panel, the first panel comprising a second gusset that extends in two dimensions in a contour of a surface of the first panel;
providing a cart comprising a rack having a plurality of vertical support members and at least one tray positioned between the vertical support members, the tray comprising a plurality of compartments that are separated from one another by a divider, wherein the pillows are each positioned in one of the compartments and the carton is positioned atop the cart;
rotating the spool within the carton such that one of the pillow napkins extends outside of the carton;
removing the pillow napkin that extends outside of the carton from the other pillow napkins on the spool;
positioning the removed pillow napkin on one the pillows; and
positioning a head of a consumer on the removed pillow napkin to assess the suitability of the pillow underneath the dispensed pillow napkin.

Assignees

• Bedgear Llc

Inventors

• Alletto Jr Eugene

Classifications

• A47F10/02 Primary

  for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) · CPC title

• A47K10/38 Primary

  the web being rolled-up · CPC title

• A47G9/0253

  Pillow slips · CPC title

• A47C9/10

  Camp, travelling, or sports stools · CPC title

• B65H23/00

  Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs (registering articles B65H9/00; in connection with splicing B65H21/00) · CPC title