EP0986986A2

EP0986986A2 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP0986986A2
Application number: EP99307293A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philip Justin Butterworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-16
Filing date: 1999-09-14
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-14
Also published as: ES2304261T3; GB9820202D0; DE69938409D1; EP0986986A3; DE69938409T2; EP0986986B1; ATE390073T1

Abstract

A dispensing device for a roll of material (31) coiled on a hollow core, the device having means (15) for supporting generally in the roll (31), wherein

in a first axial position of the roll (31) relative to the device, the roll (31) is free so as to dispense the material still in the roll (31) and

in a second axial position, the roll (31) is restrained against rotation

the roll (31) being used in the first and second axial positions by axial motion relative to the rotational axis of the roll (31).

Description

This invention relates to a dispensing device for a roll of a consumable sheet product, which is coiled on a tubular core. Specific examples of such products are paper towels, kitchen wipes and toilet paper. All of these are customarily provided with perforations at intervals to allow one sheet to be torn off from the remainder of the length which is coiled on the core. However, the present invention is not limited to use with such perforated products and may be used with consumable continuous products.
A holder for such a roll generally provides a shaft or a roller on which the roll is fitted. As sheets are drawn off from the roll, the core rotates around the roller or shaft. Sheets can be torn off by tearing at the perforations. However, this requires two hands, one to pull on the sheet which is to be separated and another to hold the remainder of the roll and possibly also secure the holder if it is not fixed. A similar problem occurs with continuous material which is torn off against a cutting edge.
This invention recognizes that it would be desirable to allow sheets or material to be torn off with one hand only. It seeks to provide a device suitable for this purpose.
Broadly, in one aspect of this invention there is provided a dispensing device for a roll of material coiled on a hollow core, the device having means for supporting and journalling the roll, wherein in a first axial position of the roll relative to the device, the roll is free to rotate so as to dispense the material stored on the roll, and in a second axial position, the roll is restrained against rotation, the roll being movable between the first and second axial positions by axial motion relative to the rotational axis of the roll.
For use, as the user pulls the free end of the material from the roll, the user also pulls slightly in an axial direction so as to move the roll slightly towards the said first axial position at which the roll is free to rotate. When a sufficient length has been pulled from the roll, the user pulls in the other axial direction bringing the roll into the second axial position at which it is restrained against rotation. Alternatively, the roll may be allowed to move to the second axial position by the action of a biasing means, or due to its own weight e.g. when the axial direction is substantially vertical. The user gives a sharp tug and the end sheet tears off along the line of perforation which separates that sheet from the remainder. If the material is not perforated then the device may be provided with a cutting edge against which the material can be torn to separate the required material from the remainder. Such materials include plastic food wrap, and aluminum foil. In general, the invention is intended for dispensing products used in the home.
In certain forms, the invention provides a dispensing device for a roll of laminar material coiled on a tubular core, said device defining an axis to extend through said core, and having at least one bearing member rotatable around said axis and a fixed part adjacent one of said at least one bearing members, said one bearing member being axially movable on said axis between a first position in which it is rotatable around said axis and a second position in which it engages said fixed part and is constrained against rotation, the bearing member(s) being non-rotationally engageable, preferably frictionally engageable, with the core of said roll. In this arrangement the bearing member(s) and a roll of material are axially movable on the axis between a first position, in which said roll and bearing member(s) are rotatable around the axis to dispense the material, and a second position, in which a bearing member engages an adjacent fixed part and the bearing member(s) and roll are constrained against rotation. When the user pulls on the free end of the material when the roll and bearing member(s) are in the second position, the material can tear at a line of perforations or against a cutting edge.
The device may include a shaft or roller which passes through the core of the roll of laminar material.
In another aspect, the invention provides a set of parts for fitting to an existing roll holder to convert it to a dispensing device as set forth above. Such parts will typically be at least one bearing member which is non-rotationally engageable with the core of a roll of material and rotatable about a roller or shaft of the holder, and a fixed part shaped to be axially engageable with a said bearing member, with means for attaching the fixed part to the existing roll holder.
In one form of this invention the device has two bearing members, each with an axially projecting portion for inserting within the roll core to provide frictional engagement and having a surrounding flange to remain exposed at the end of the core. One bearing member and the fixed part have projections which extend axially, and are preferably arranged radially around the center of the part, to interfere and block rotation of the bearing member when they come into proximity.
The axially projecting insert may comprise a plurality of resilient fingers spaced apart from one another which project axially. The resilience allows them to be displaced radially inwards, and spring back. This allows the bearing members to be fitted to roll cores with a range of sizes, the resilient fingers frictionally engaging the roll core so that the bearing members are non-rotationally engaged with the roll core.
Alternatively, the axially projecting insert may be a boss which is dimensioned to be a friction fit within the roll core.
Other arrangements are possible. The bearing member could be tubular in form and surrounding a fixed part, the bearing member being arranged to extend through the core and having radially inwardly projecting elements to interfere with radially outwardly projecting elements on the fixed member when in the said second axial position where rotation is blocked.
A further form of the invention may additionally provide means for securing the dispensing device to a fixed surface, preferably releasably, if the dispensing device is not already fixed. Suitable fixing means include suction cups which may be secured to the dispensing device by conventional means, e.g. adhesive, and then allow the dispensing device to be securely, but releasably, fixed onto a surface.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a device according to the present invention in an exploded view;
Figure 2 shows the fixed part of the device of figure 1;
Figures 3 to 5 show an enlarged view of a bearing member suitable for the device of Figure 1; and
Figure 6 shows a further device according to the present invention in an exploded view.

Example 1

A toilet roll holder, as shown in Figure 1, consists of two end brackets 11, 13 and roller 15. The roller 15 has two pins 16 which help the roller engage the seats 12, 14 in the end brackets 11, 13. The roller 15 may be inserted into the end brackets 11, 13, by conventional means, e.g. though slots in the end brackets leading to the seats, or by the roller being resiliently axially contractible.
The holder holds a toilet roll 31, which has perforated sheets of toilet paper wrapped around a core, by the roller 15 passing through its core. The roll has a bearing member 23 inserted in one end of the core. The bearing member has a boss 25 which engages the core of the roll 31 by a frictional fit, and a disk 24. The disk 24 has axial fins 26 arranged radially around the edge of a bore 27 passing through the disk 24 of the bearing member 23, which is large enough for the roller 15 to easily pass through.
The device also has a fixed part 21, which is in the form of a disk, which is attached to the end bracket 11 with adhesive 22. This fixed disk 21 also has axial projections 20 which engage the axial projections 26 on the disk 24 of the bearing member 23 when the bearing member and the fixed disk 21 are in close proximity.
In operation, the user pulls the free end of the perforated material (not shown) from the roll 31 using a single hand, the direction of pull being such to move the roll 31 and its associated bearing member 23 away from the fixed disk 21. This allows the material stored on the roll to be dispensed.
Once the required length of material has been pulled off the roll 31, the user exerts an axial force on the roller 15 from the free end of the material, thus moving the roller 15 towards the fixed disk 21, so that the fins 26, 20 on the bearing member 23 and the fixed disk 21 engage one another restraining the roller 15 from rotating further. A sharp tug by the user frees the dispensed material from the remainder of the material on the roll 31.
If the material stored on the roll is not perforated, the device may also include a cutting edge against which the material can be torn, whilst the roll 31 is prevented from rotating by the interaction of the fins 26 and 20.
In one embodiment of the device, a further bearing member is provided at the opposite end of the roll 31 to the bearing member 23. This additional bearing member has a boss and a disk, the disk preferably not having any fins, the bearing member having a bore of a similar size to that of the other bearing member 23. The additional bearing member is provided to keep the roll 31 parallel with the roller 15.
In another embodiment of the device, two fixed disks 21 may be provided, one on each end bracket 11, 13. Furthermore, the roll 31 may be fitted with two bearing members 23, whose disks have fins, so that axial movement in either direction allows for the braking of the roll 31.
The fixed part 21 may not be a complete disk, dependent on the nature of the end bracket 11. In particular, if the seat 12 for the roller 15 is close to the front of the bracket 11, the fixed part 21 may only be semi-circular, to avoid any of the fixed part 21 projecting from the front of the end bracket 11.
An alternative configuration of the boss 25' of a bearing member 23' is illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The bearing member 23' has a disk 24' which bears slightly curved axial fins 26' which are arranged radially at 30° spacings around the edge of a bore 27' passing through the disk 24' of the bearing member 23'. The boss 25' comprises a number of fingers 28' which are joined to the disk 24' at the edge of the bore 27'. The fingers 28' are resiliently deflectable from their equilibrium position, and enable the bearing member 23' to be inserted into rolls with different core sizes.
The configuration of the boss described may be applied to either or both the bearing members. The arrangement of fins shown in Figure 5 may be applied to the fixed part 21.

Example 2

A kitchen roll holder, as shown in Figure 6, consists of a base 41 and shaft 42 which is attached to the center of base 41. The holder holds a kitchen roll 61, which has perforated sheets of kitchen paper wrapped round a core, by the shaft 42 passing through it core. The roll has a bearing member 53 inserted into the case. The bearing member has a boss 55 which engages the core of the roll 61 by a fractional fit, and a disk 54. The disk 54 has axial fins 65 arranged radially around the edge of bore 57 passing through a disk 54 and bearing member 53, which is large enough for the shaft 42 to easily pass through.
The device also has a fixed part 51, which is in the form of a disk, which is attached to the base 41 with adhesive. This fixed disk 41 also has axial projections 50 which engage the axial projections 56 on the disk 54 of the bearing member 53 when the bearing member fix disk 51' are in close proximity.
In operation, the user pulls the free end of the perforated material (not shown) from the roll 61 using a single hand, whilst also slightly lifting the roll 61 with associated bearing member 53 away from the fixed disk 51 attached to the base 41. This allows the material stored on the roll to be dispensed.
Once the required length of material has been pulled off the roll 61, the user allows the roll 61 and associated bearing member 53 to drop onto the base, thus the axial fins 56 on the bearing member 53 engage the axial fins 50 on the fixed disk 51, restraining the roll from further rotation. A sharp tug by the user frees the dispensed material from the remainder of the material on the roll 61. As in the embodiments described in Example 1, a further bearing member may be provided at the opposite end of the roll 61 to the bearing member 53. Furthermore, the alternative configuration of boss described in Example 1 may also be employed in this embodiment.
The base 41 can be secured to a fixed surface, such as a kitchen work surface, by means of suitable devices, such as suction pads which will attach to the bottom of base 41.

Claims

A dispensing device for a roll of material coiled on a hollow core, the device having means for supporting and journalling the roll, characterised in that

in a first axial position of the roll relative to the device, the roll is free to rotate so as to dispense the material stored on the roll, and

in a second axial position, the roll is restrained against rotation,

the roll being movable between the first and second axial positions by axial motion relative to the rotational axis of the roll.
A device according to claim 1 where said device defines an axis to extend through said core of the roll, said device also having at least one bearing member rotatable around said axis and a fixed part adjacent one of said bearing member(s), said one bearing member being movable axially between a first position in which it is rotatable around said axis and a second position in which it engages said fixed part and is constrained against rotation, the bearing member(s) being engageable with the core of said roll so as to rotate with said core.
A device according to claim 2 wherein the device has a pair of bearing members each with an axially projecting portion for inserting within said roll core to provide frictional engagement, each bearing member also having a surrounding radial flange to remain exposed at the end of the core.
A device according to claim 3, wherein the axially projecting portion comprises a plurality of axial fingers displacable radially inwardly against resilience.
A device according to claim 3, wherein the axially projecting portion is a boss which is dimensioned so as to frictionally engage the inside of the roll core.
A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said one bearing member and said fixed part both have projections which extend axially so as to interfere and thereby block rotation of the bearing member when they come into proximity, in the said second position.
A device according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of projections on the said bearing member are distributed radially around the axis of the bearing member.
A device according to claim 2 wherein the bearing member is tubular and is arranged to extend through the core of the roll, the tubular bearing member surrounding a fixed part and having radially inwardly projecting elements to interfere with radially outwardly projecting elements on the fixed member when in the said second axial position.
A kit of parts for fitting to an existing dispensing device for a roll of material coiled on a hollow core, having means for supporting and journalling the roll, to convert it to a dispensing device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9.
A kit of parts according to claim 9, wherein the parts are a pair of bearing members each with an axially projecting portion for inserting within said roll core to provide frictional engagement, each bearing member also having a surrounding radial flange to remain exposed at the end of the core, and a part to be fixed adjacent a said flange, and block rotation of said flange when in contact therewith.