MXPA00004421A - Coreless roll product and adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

Adapters (10) may be provided for solid or coreless rolls (13, 14) of material dispensed in a roll dispenser (52), which may have slots (62) defined on the side walls (56) thereof. The adapters may have a base body (22) with a first side (24) disposable adjacent to the roll and a second side (26) disposable adjacent to the side walls (56) of the dispenser. A protrusion (28) may extend substantially transverse from the first side (24) and may have a shape and length so as to extend at least partially into a recess (18) or divot formed in the vertical sides of the rolls (13, 14). An engaging member (30) may extend substantially transverse from the second side (26) of the body member and may have a shape and a length so as to be insertable into and slidable along slots (62) disposed in the dispenser. A pair of the adapters (10) may engage and hold the roll therebetween within the dispenser (52) and may allow for the roll to move along the slots (62) defined in the dispenser to a dispensing position.

Description

ROLL PRODUCT WITHOUT NUCLEUS AND ADAPTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A recent development in the rolled paper products industry is that of rolls of solid or "coreless" material such as tissue paper for the bathroom. Generally speaking, these solid or non-core rolls are completely rolled up from the paper material and do not contain a core or hollow spindle of any type. A recess or tepe can be formed on each side of the paper roll which defines a rotational axis for the roll.

Distributors for multiple rolls of paper material, such as tissue rolls for the bathroom, are also well known in the art. With typical conventional dispensers of this type, two rolls of tissue are oriented vertically within the dispenser so that the upper roll falls into a dispensing position when the lower roll is finished. Generally, these conventional dispensers are configured for conventional rolls that incorporate a spindle or hollow core which extends through the rolls and into the slots or paths defined on the sides of the distributors.

These conventional dispensers suffer from the disadvantage of failing to distribute multiple rolls of the solid or coreless rolls because they do not hold the coreless rolls within the distributors nor keep the rolls in proper alignment. Therefore, a distributor who refers to the problem of distributing rolls without core or multiple solids from a single distributor will constitute an improvement over conventional roll distributors.

OBJECTS AND SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part of the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through the practice of the invention.

The problems and needs described above are examined by the present invention, which provides adapters for solid or non-core rolls of paper material, such as bathroom tissue, which can be distributed in a roll dispenser of the type having grooves and trajectories defined on the side wall members thereof. Solid or non-core rolls may have recesses or shells defined on the vertical sides thereof which may also define a rotation axis for the solid or coreless rolls. Desirably, each adapter includes a base body having a first disposable side adjacent to the roll and a second disposable side adjacent to the side wall member of the distributor. A protuberance can extend essentially transversely from the first side. Desirably, the protrusion has a shape and a length such as to extend at least partially into the recess formed in the roll side. A hook member can extend essentially transversely from the second side of the body and has a shape and length such as to be inserted in and slide into the slots defined in the side walls of the spout. Desirably, a pair of the adapters engage and retain the coreless roll within the roll dispenser and allow the coreless rolls to move along the slots defined in the roll dispenser to a dispensing position. An advantage of the present invention is that the adapters allow the coreless rolls or multiple solids of material to be supplied by the distributors originally configured for conventional hollow core roll products. It is contemplated that the configurations of the adapters can work with both the hollow core rolls and the solid or coreless rolls.

The adapters can take various configurations and shapes. For example, in one embodiment, the base body, the protrusion and the engaging member are formed as a single unitary component, for example, a molded component.

In a desired embodiment the base body may include the first and second halves with a spring device placed in a recess defined between the halves. Desirably, the second half defines a bearing surface which slides along the structure in the distributor defining the slots while the engaging member is positioned within the adjacent slot on the opposite side of the structure. Therefore, the structure can be placed in the form of a sandwich between the engaging member and the spring-loaded bearing surface of the second half of the body member. In this embodiment, the engaging member may include an axle section that can be connected to the first half with the second half being concentric about and moving along the axle section. The engaging member may also include a flange member that may be configured to slide within the roll dispensing slot. The flange member can be oblong in shape and include radiated ends.

Desirably, the protrusion that can extend at least partially into the tepe or recess defined on the side of the roll also includes a rolling surface against which an additional vertically placed roll can rest and the rolls inside the dispenser once it has been used the first solid core roll held by the adapters. In other words, once a first roll of material is finished, desirably the second vertically oriented roll will fall into a distributing position within the distributor and the adapters will fall to the bottom of the distributor slots and will be retained there until the distributor cover open for the replacement of the rolls. When the second roll falls into its distributing position, the circumference of the roll will rest on the adapters and roll against them, particularly on the rolling surface defined by the adapters. In one embodiment, the rolling surface can be generally horizontal and defines the protrusion member. In an alternate embodiment, the rolling surface may be conical in shape. Any number of various shapes and configurations can be used to define rolling surfaces.

In a preferred embodiment, the protrusion may be centrally located on the body member and be coaxial to a longitudinal axis of the body member. In an alternate embodiment, the protrusion may be offset from the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

The present invention may also include a dispenser for storing and distributing multiple rolls of a coreless or solid wound material. Desirably, this dispenser includes a frame having the side wall members, a front cover, and a dispenser opening on a front side thereof. The side wall members may have opposing and generally vertically oriented paths or grooves defined on the interior surfaces thereof. Desirably, the adapters are provided and are removably insertable into the slots to hold the solid or coreless rolls between them in an orientation aligned vertically within the frame. The adapters are as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an operational perspective view of an example multiple roll dispenser.

Figure 2 is a view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1 in its open state and further illustrates the example adapters.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the side wall of an example distributor particularly illustrating the contact of the example adapters within the distributor slot.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines indicated in Figure 3 and particularly illustrates the components of an incorporation of the adapters.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the second roll once it has fallen into the dispensing position where it also rests and rolls against the adapters from the first roll.

Figures 6a-6f illustrate example adapters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and is not intended to be a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of an embodiment may be used in another embodiment to give even a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

The present invention will be described and illustrated by referring to solid or non-core rolls of tissue for bathroom. However, it should be understood and appreciated that the present invention has uses in any application where the solid or non-core rolls of material, and not necessarily of paper material, are to be supplied from a distributor device. Some other materials include, for example, non-woven fabrics, films, textiles, screens, meshes and composites or laminates including one or more of the foregoing. The term "coreless" refers to rolls that do not have a core or hollow tube with a spindle device inserted therethrough. However, a non-hollow solid core member is within the scope and spirit of the invention. The present invention is illustrated and described in relation to a bathroom tissue distributor for illustrative purposes only, and this should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Figure 1 conceptually illustrates the present invention. An example dispenser 52 is shown which is formed of a frame 54 having the side walls 56. The side walls 56 can have an outer surface 60 and an inner surface 58 (Figure 2). The dispenser 52 includes a front cover member 66 that pivots outwardly of the frame 54 at the pivot points 68. Desirably, the cover member is a front cover. The cover 66 may include an opening that defines the distributing position of the lowermost roll and may further include the vertical arms 70 that are fastened to the frame 54 at the pivot point 68. Alternatively, a lower part of the distributor may contain an opening that defines the distributing position for the lowermost roll. Desirably, the distributor 52 includes the opposingly facing and vertically oriented slots 62 positioned within the distributor on the inner wall surfaces 58 (Figure 2). The solid or non-core rolls of material 13 and 14 are held within the distributor by contacting the adapters 10 (Figure 2) within the slots 62 as will be described in greater detail below.

A detailed explanation of the frame of the dispenser and the components is not necessary for the purposes of the present description. Such conventional dispensers have typically been used to distribute multiple vertical rolls of tissue paper having hollow cores. A spindle device is inserted through the hollow cores and engages in each of the slots 62, as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. One of the objects of the present invention is to configure the inventive adapters with such conventional dispensers. Examples of conventional dispensers that are useful in the present invention are manufactured by ASI of Yonkers, New York; Bobrick of Los Angeles, California, Bradley of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin; and McKinney Essex of Scranton, Pennsylvania. the distributors of these companies and others are all similar in operation in the sense that they define grooves or paths on the interior surfaces of the side walls in order to load, store and distribute the tissue rolls for the bathroom.

Referring to Figure 2, the example distributor 52 is illustrated in greater detail. A groove or path 62 is illustrated on the inner wall 58. The groove 62 can be formed by the structure 64, such as the sheet metal components. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the groove 62 is essentially vertical and straight. However, in several conventional distributor models, the slots can take various orientations and include inclined or angled sections. Generally speaking, the slots allow the loading of the rolls of material at the upper end and guide the rolls of material loaded along the slots to a distribution position at the lower end, as understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring again to Figure 2, an oscillating arm 72 is illustrated as being housed within the structure 64 defining the slot 62. The operation of the swing arm 72 is also understood by those skilled in the art and generally serves to retain the roll of upper material 14 above the distributing position of the lower roll, as shown in figure 1, until the lower roll is finished. Once the bottom roll is finished, the adapters 10 slide down to a lower position in the grooves, as illustrated in Figure 5, which allows the swing arm 72 to pivot and allow the upper roll material 14 fall to the distributing position.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the adapters 10 according to the invention can include a base body, generally designated with the number 22, desirably, the base body 22 has a first side or face 24 which lies on one side of the body. roll 13, a second side or face 26 which can lie on one side of the inner surface of the side walls of the distributor or structure 64 defining the groove 62. A protrusion 28 can extend transversely from the body member 22 and has a length and such as to extend at least partially into a recess or tef 18 defined on the vertical side of the rolls of material, as particularly shown in Figure 4. The protrusion 28 may have any desired shape or configuration, as will be discussed in FIG. more detail below.

The adapter 10 may include a latching member, generally designated 30, generally extending transversely from the second side 26 of the body member 22. The engaging member 30 desirably includes a flange member 34 that is shaped to be insertable within the groove 62. A desirable shape of the flange member 34 is oblong with radiated ends 35. With this shape, the adapters 10 can be inserted into the grooves 62 by placing the smaller or pointed radiated end 35 into the groove. Initial opening of the groove 62. The larger radiated end ensures that the adapter 10 is held within the groove 62. It should be appreciated, however, that the flange member 34 can take any desired shape that facilitates the loading of the adapters 10. while ensuring that the adapters 10 are securely held within the grooves 62.

The engaging members 30 may also include an axle portion or section 32 connecting the flange member 34 to the body member 22. The axle section 32 may have a length and a diameter to extend through the slot 62 and allow that the adapter 10 slides inside the slot 62.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular dimensions of the adapter 10 will vary depending on the type of dispenser used. For example, the dimensions of the groove 62 determined the diameter of the shaft section 32. Similarly, the depth of the groove and the thickness of the structure 64 forming the groove 62 will determine at least in part the length of the groove. shaft section 32. The width of the groove 62 will determine the shape and dimensions of the flange member 34. It is well within the scope of one skilled in the art to determine the optimum dimensions for the adapters 10 depending on the type of distributor with the that you try to use the adapters.

Figure 4 illustrates a desired embodiment of the adapter 10. In this embodiment, the base body 22 can include a first body half 38 and a second body half 42 that can be spring loaded against a first body half by means of a spring 48 placed in a recess defined between the two components. In this embodiment, the engaging member 30 can be fixed non-movably to the first half of the body 38. In this illustrated embodiment an appendix 44 can be defined on the first leather half 34 and a shaft section 32 of the engaging member 30 is pressed on the appendix 44. Alternatively, the axle section 32 can be screwed, otherwise adhered to the first body half 38. The axle section 32 extends through a hole 40 defined in the second half of body 42. Thus, the second body half 42 can be spring loaded outwardly from the first body half 32 against the flange member 34. In this manner, when the adapter 10 can be engaged within the groove 62, as particularly illustrated in Figure 4, the structure 64 defining the groove 62 may be sandwich-shaped between the flange member 34 and the second body half 42. Therefore, when the 10 moves downwardly within the slot 62, the face of the second body member 42 can act as a sliding support surface against the structure 64. Similarly, the flange member 34 can also be supported or slid. against the structure 64. In this aspect, the spring tension should not prevent the easy sliding of the adapter 10 against the structure 64.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is particularly useful in that it ensures that the adapters 10 are held against the structure 64 so as to extend essentially transversely or horizontally of the groove 62. This is particularly important when the first roll 13 is finished and the second roll 14 falls to its distributing position, as illustrated in Figure 5. Once this happens. The roll 14 will rest and roll against a rolling surface 29 of lower set of adapters 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the rolling surface 29 can include the circumference of the body member 22 or the first body half 38, since this surface it will move inward under the force of spring 43 once roll 13 is exhausted. The embodiment of Figure 4 prevents the adapters 10 in this situation from tilting down which if allowed to happen, will tilt the upper roll 14 and prevent said upper roll 14 from rolling freely within the dispenser. It should be appreciated that the same effect can be achieved if the length of the axle section 32 were minimized. However, the length of the shaft section 32 will vary depending on the particular distributor used. In this aspect, the embodiment of Figure 4 provides a more versatile adapter in the sense that it can be used over several manifolds and, indeed, the shaft section 32 varies.

As described above, Figure 5 illustrates the condition in which the first roll 13 has been completed and the second roll 14 has fallen to the distributing position. In this embodiment, the first set of adapters 10 has fallen to the lowermost position within the slot 62. The flange member 34 should be of a shape and length to ensure that the adapter 10 remains retained within the slot 62 and not is pushed out of the slot 62 by the rolling action of the upper roller 14. It is desired that the adapters 10 be maintained in the grooves 62 until the front cover 66 of the distributor 52 is opened, as illustrated in Figure 2, in which At this time the adapters 10 can be easily removed from the groove 62 for reuse.

Figures 6a to 6f illustrate several embodiments of the adapters 10 according to the invention. The configuration illustrated in Figure 6a is essentially the same as that of the device illustrated and described with respect to Figure 4. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 6b is similar to the embodiment of Figure 6a with the exception that a shoulder can be formed 37 on the axle section 32 to extend to the length of the axle section 32. In this embodiment, the second body half 42 can be spring loaded against the shoulder 37 instead of the rim member 34. Applicants have found that this embodiment is particularly useful over the distributors manufactured by Brobrick.

Figure 6c illustrates an embodiment wherein the adapter 10 is formed as a single molded component. In this embodiment, the shaft section 32 can have a defined length. The protrusion 28 may have a rounded front end that allows for easy rotation of the rollers relative to the adapters 10. The rolling surface 29 may be defined as the circumferential length of the protrusion 28.

Figure 6d illustrates an alternative embodiment of a unitary molded adapter 10. In this embodiment, the rolling surface can be defined as a conical surface 31 and the flange member 34 of the engaging member 30 can have an oblong shape.

Figure 6e illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein the protrusion 28 and the rolling surface 29 may be offset from a longitudinal axis of the adapter 10. The longitudinal axis is generally defined as coinciding with the rotational axis of the rolls and is generally identified as the element 20 in Figure 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6e, when this adapter 10 has fallen to the position illustrated in Figure 5, the upper roll 14 will rest on the rolling surface 29 and against the relatively elongated section of the face 24, thereby minimizing the condition of convergence.

An alternate incorporation of a spring loaded adapter 10 is illustrated in Figure 6f. In this embodiment, an engaging member 30 may include an elongated flange member 34 with radiated ends 35. The engaging member 30 may include a shaft 27 that may extend through a member 22 and a protrusion 28. A spring (not shown) may be housed within the protrusion 28 and desirably load and spring the flange 34 against the body member 22. The flange 34 may be pulled out of the body member 22 in the direction of the arrows where the structure 64 which defines the groove 26 may be sandwich-shaped between the flange 34 and the body member 22 in a manner similar to the embodiment of Figure 4. Depending on the degree of movement of the engaging member 30 outwardly of the body member 22, the The shaft 27 will act as an extension of the protrusion 28 and may extend into the tepe or recess 18 in the roll.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention, particularly the configuration of the adapters. For example, any of the various figures illustrated on the adapters may be interchanged to give a multitude of differently configured adapters. Additionally, the present inventive adapters are described and illustrated as used in the distributors. It is within the scope and spirit of the invention that the adapters can be used with any type of manifold where multiple holes of solid or coreless material are housed and moved there to a distributing position. The adapters are not limited to use with distributors. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (29)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An adapter for rolls of solid or non-core paper material that are distributed in a roll dispenser having defined slots on the wall members thereof to receive said adapter, the solid or coreless rolls have defined recesses on the sides thereof defining a rotating shaft for said solids or without a core, said adapter comprises: a base body having a first side that can be placed on one side of the roll and a second side that can be placed on the side of the side wall member; a protrusion extending essentially transversely from said first side, said protrusion having a shape and length such as to extend at least partially into one of the recesses formed in said rolls; a hook member extending essentially transversely from the second side and having a shape and length such as to be insertable and slid along the roll dispenser slots; and wherein a pair of said adapters engage and hold said roll therebetween within the roll dispenser while allowing the roll to move along said grooves defined in said roll dispenser to a distributing position.

2. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said base body, said protrusion and said engaging member are formed as a single unitary component.

3. The adapter as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that said unitary component is molded.

4. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said base body comprises the first and second halves with a spring device placed between them, said second half defines a bearing surface which slides along the length of the structure defining said roll distributor slots, said engaging member can be placed within said slot on one side of an opposite side of said structure.

5. The adapter as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said engaging member is non-movable in relation to said first half, said second half being spring loaded against the engaging member.

6. The adapter as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that said engaging member comprises an axle section connected to said first half, said second half is concentric about the axle section and can be moved along said axle section said engaging member further comprises a flange member configured to slide into the roll dispensing slot.

7. The adapter as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that said flange member comprises an oblong member with radiated ends.

8. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said protuberance further comprises a rolling surface against which said roll of additional vertically placed paper material rests and rolls within said roll dispenser once said first roll sustained by said adapters has been used.

9. The adapter as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that said rolling surface is generally horizontal.

10. The adapter as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that said rolling surface is generally conical.

11. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said protuberance is essentially coaxial with a longitudinal axis through said adapter.

12. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said protrusion is offset from a longitudinal axis through said adapter.

13. A distributor for storing and distributing multiple rolls of a solid or coreless rolling material, comprising: a frame having the side wall members, a cover, and a distributor aperture, said wall members having generally vertically oriented and oppositely facing slots defined on the interior surfaces thereof; adapters removably insertable into said grooves to hold said rolls therebetween in a vertically aligned orientation within said frame, each of said adapters further comprises a base body having a first laddable bar on one side of the roll and a second side disposable on the side of said side wall member; a protrusion extending essentially transverse from said first side, said protrusion has a shape and a length such as to extend at least partially inside the recess formed in the sides of said rolls; a hook member extending essentially transversely from said second side and having a shape and length to be insertable into and slide along the slots; Y wherein said adapters engage and hold said rolls therebetween so that when a first roll is finished, a second roll moves downwardly within an aligned position in said dispensing aperture by engaging said engaging members within said slots and rolls against said adapters for said first roll which are retained within said grooves.

14. The dispenser as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that said base body, said protrusion and said engaging member of said adapters are formed as a single unitary component.

15. The dispenser as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that said unitary component is molded.

16. The dispenser as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that said grooves are defined by the structure on said inner surfaces of said wall members, said adapter base body comprises the first and second halves with a spring device placed between said second half defines a bearing surface which slides along said structure defining the grooves, said engaging member being positioned within said groove on one side of the opposite side of said structure.

17. The dispenser as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said engaging member is not movable in relation to said first half, said second half being spring-loaded against 1 engaging member.

18. The dispenser as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said enganchant member comprises an axle section connected to said first half said second half is concentric about and moves along the length of the axle section, said engaging member further comprises a flange member configured to slide within said grooves.

19. The dispenser as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that said brid member comprises an oblong member with radiated ends. 'twenty.

The dispenser as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that said protrusion further comprises a rolling surface against which it rolls the second roll once the first roll is finished.

21. The dispenser as claimed in clause 20, characterized in that said rolling surface is generally horizontal.

22. The dispenser as claimed in clause 20, characterized in that said rolling surface is generally conical.

23. The dispenser as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that said protuberance is essentially coaxial with a longitudinal axis through said adapter.

24. The dispenser as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that said protrusion is offset from a longitudinal axis through said adapter.

25. An adapter for a coreless roll product, comprising a body configured to operably engage and retain a coreless roll product in a hollow roll product distributor.

26. The adapter as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that said body comprises a base member and a protrusion extending essentially transverse from said base member to engage in a recess formed in the coreless roll product.

27. The adapter as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that said body comprises a base member and a hook member extending essentially transverse from said base member to engage in a slot in a roll product dispenser.

28. The adapter as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that said body comprises the first and second halves with a spring device placed between them.

29. The adapter as claimed in clause 28, characterized in that one of said halves further comprises a protrusion extending transversely therefrom to engage in a recess formed in a roll product without a core, and the other half further comprises a engaging member extending essentially transversely therefrom to engage in a slot in a roll product dispenser. SUMMARY Adapters can be provided for solid or non-core rolls of material distributed in a roll dispenser, which can have defined grooves on the sidewalls thereof. The adapters may have a base body with a first side that can be placed on one side of the roll and a second side that can be placed on one side of the side walls of the distributor. A protrusion may extend essentially transversely from the first side and may have a shape and length such as to extend at least partially into a recess formed in the vertical sides of the rolls. A engaging member may extend essentially transversely from the second side of the body member and may have a shape and length such as to be insertable and slide along the slots placed in the dispenser. A pair of the adapters can engage and retain the roll therebetween within the dispenser and can allow the roll to move along the slots defined in the dispenser to a dispensing position.