MXPA01000726A - Coreless adapter for dispensers of cored rolls of material - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter for a dispenser is disclosed herein, the adapter including at least one carriage unit (52) which is slidably mounted within a dispenser. In selected embodiments, the adapter of the present invention includes a frame (14) which is mountable within a dispenser, the carriage unit (52) slidably mounted within the frame (14). Each carriage unit (52) includes a pair of spaced apart arms (58, 60), each arm (58, 60) having an outboard surface (66, 68) and an inboard surface (62, 64). An outboard pin (98, 100) is disposed on the outboard surface (66, 68), the outboard pin (98, 100) configured to slidably engage a channel of a dispenser. An inboard pin (104, 106) may be rotatably attached to the inboard surface (62, 64), the inboard pin (104, 106) configured to engage a coreless roll of material.

Description

ADAPTER WITHOUT NUCLEUS FOR ROLLS SUPPLIES MATERIAL WITH NUCLEUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to adapters for spouts of rolled material, and more particularly to adapters for spouts of rolled material which allow a dispenser of rolls with a core of material to supply rolls of coreless material.

BACKGROUND Consumer and commercial absorbent paper products such as paper towels and toilet tis are typically distributed and dispensed in the form of a roll, and almost always include a hollow cylindrical core around which the product is wrapped. Although the core can be formed of many different materials, the core is often formed of some type of cardboard and which can be bonded together and to the product so that the core remains intact and the product is not separated from the core. The product is then stocked by mounting the roll on a spindle, such as can be found in a common toilet roll or toilet spout, which passes through or otherwise penetrates the interior space of the core. Some jets include pegs that penetrate the hollow space within the core for only a limited extent, as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 390,084 and 2,905,404 to Lane and Simmons, respectively.

The dispensers for rolls of multi-core paper material such as the bathroom tissue rolls are also well known in the art. With typical conventional dispensers of this type, two tissue rolls are oriented vertically within the dispenser so that the upper roll falls into a dispensing position when the lower roll is shaken. Generally, these spouts are configured for conventional core rolls incorporating a hollow core or spindle which extends through the roll spindle ends engage in slots or paths which are defined on the interior surfaces of the spouts.

A recent development in the roll paper industry is that of rolls of solid or "coreless" material, such as, for example, paper for bathroom tis. These coreless or solid rolls contain a hollow spindle or a hollow core of any type. In many cases, these solid or coreless rolls are formed of a material which is wound through the roll diameter. In such rolls, a tepe, a recess, a retainer may be formed on each side of the paper roll which defines a rotational axis d for the roll.

As used herein, the term "coreless roll further includes those rolls which are formed of material which is essentially wound, but not completely through the diameter of the roll, a roll if core which is essentially wound through the roll. The diameter will lack a conventional plastic or cardboard core but will still incorporate a central opening through the roll in the center of the roll along the length of the winding axis. Coreless rolls of this type are described in, for example , U.S. Patent Nos. 5,669,576, 5,467,936, 5,387,284, 5,281,386 5,271,575, and 5,271,137.

The coreless rolls described by these patents are formed by winding the material around the mandrel and then removing the roll from the mandrel so that the roll includes a central opening which extends completely through the width of the roll along the length of the roll. coiled d axis. The central opening can generally serve as a mounting, recess or retainer even when its depth will be l of the full length of the central opening along the winding ej. Therefore, the depth of such a mounting hole will be equal to the full width of the coreless roll.

As used herein, the "width" of the roll refers to the distance between a first flat end of the coreless roll that defines a mounting hole and a second flat end of coreless roll that defines a mounting hole Desirably, each flat end of the coreless roll defines a mounting hole in essentially the center of the rolled d axis of the roll and at least one, and desirably each mounting hole has a depth and has a side generally perpendicular to the end of the roll, the side being separated by a distance that is less than the depth of the hole.

There are advantages and disadvantages associated with coreless rolls. Coreless rolls are ecologically superior to core rolls because no adhesives or materials are available to make the product. In addition, more product can be provided in the space that would otherwise be occupied by the core. Rolls with cores are more expensive to manufacture than rolls without cores due to the cost of making the cores and joining the cores to the product. In addition, coreless rolls have the advantage of being less prone to looting in commercial locations due to the incompatibility inherent with conventional jets.

A disadvantage of coreless rolls is that conventional pumps are unable to supply coreless rolls or multiple solids because they do not retain the coreless rolls within the jets and keep the rolls in proper alignment. Therefore, when a user wishes to change from conventional rolls incorporating a core or a hollow spindle to coreless rolls, a new dispenser must be purchased and installed. To avoid this additional cost and work an adapter is required which allows the user to easily and cheaply adapt a conventional roll dispenser to supply rolls of coreless material.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to one adapted for a vertically stacked dual roll dispenser. The adapter includes, in selected incorporations, a framework which fits within a spout of rolls of conventional co-core material. In the selected embodiments, the frame may include a base and a pair of side rails spaced apart, each side rail extending up from the base. In such an embodiment, a back support can also be provided which extends upwards from the base and can be positioned with respect to the side rails to form a channel. In some embodiments, a rail or upper rail may provide which extends between and is attached to an upper part of each of the spaced side rails and the rear support.

At least one carriage unit is provided in the present invention, each carriage unit having a pair d spaced apart arms. In certain embodiments, a transverse bar may be provided which may extend between the spaced apart arms. Each arm can include an exterior surface and an interior surface. U outer bolt can be placed on the outer surface of each arm, the outer bolt is configured to slidably engage the spout. In certain embodiments, the outer pin may engage a channel inside the spout. Or inner bolt can be provided, the inner bolt being rotatably attached to the inner surface of each arm. The inner bolt is also adapted to engage a roll of coreless material.

A fixation mechanism can also be provided which releasably fixes the carriage to frame unit. In the particular embodiments of the present invention, the attachment mechanism may include a flexible attachment finger placed on each arm. In the embodiment, the carriage unit can be inserted into the frame until the crossbar is placed near the rear support and the fixing finger on each arm engages one of the side rails of the frame, releasably securing the carriage unit to the carriage unit. frame.' Therefore, the carriage unit is slidably retained within the channel of the frame.

The carriage unit may further include supports, each support slidably attached to one of the arms of the carriage unit so that the movement of each support along the arm of the carriage unit is essentially perpendicular to the movement of the unit. of car along frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention Figure 2 is a front view of a adapted according to the present invention, the adapter uses car units.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the adapter including a frame and a carriage unit.

Figure 4 is a top view of an adapted according to the present invention illustrating the carr unit by hooking the frame.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser including an adapter according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of a fitting according to the present invention, the adapter uses car units.

Figure 7 is a rear view of an embodiment of the adapter.

Figure 8 is a view of a dispenser which can be used with the adapters of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The adapter of the present invention allows multiple rolls of coreless or solid material to be dispensed from jets originally configured for conventional material carriers, each such roll having a core or hollow tube through which an insert can be inserted. spindle. It is contemplated that the configurations of the adapters can work well with both the hollow core rolls and the coreless or solid rolls.

Reference will now be made in detail to various 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, the features illustrated or described as part of an embodiment may be used in another embodiment to give even an additional incorporation. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit scope of the invention.

The present invention is illustrated and described in relation to a bathroom tissue dispenser for illustrative purposes only, and this should not be construed as limiting the invention. It should be understood and appreciated that the present invention has uses in any application where rolls without a core of material and not necessarily of paper material, will be supplied from a dispensing device. Some other materials include, for example, non-woven fabric, films, textiles, screens, meshes and composite or laminates including one or more of the above-mentioned.

As used herein, the term "coreless" refers to rolls which do not include a hollow tube or a hollow core through which a spindle device can be inserted. Therefore, a roll of material having a solid non-hollow core is referred to herein as a roll of coreless material.

Additionally, a roll of material which is wound essentially through its diameter and having a central aperture which extends along the winding axis is also considered to be a roll of coreless material.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the appended Figures. An adapter for a vertically stacked roll dua is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10. The selected adapter incorporations include a frame 14. Although the frame 14 may have many configurations, the frame 14 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is approximately C-shaped. The frame 14 may be a single-piece unit construction. it may be composed of a plurality of interconnected members.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the frame 14 includes an upper part 16 and a lower part 18. A base 20 is provided, the base 20 includes a side edge pair 22 and 24, a front edge 26 and a trailing edge 28. A pair of spaced side rails 30 and 32 extends upwardly from the base 20 near the side edges 22 24, respectively. A back support 40 may be provided which extends upwardly from the base 2 near the trailing edge 28. The back support 40 may include an interior surface 42. As illustrated in Fig. 2, side rails 30 and 32 may include interior surfaces 34 and 36, respectively. An upper rail 44 can also be included in the frame 14. The upper rail 4 can be attached to and extend between the upper surface 4 of the side rail 30, the upper part 48 of the side rail 3 and the upper part 50 of the rear support 40. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the frame 14 forms a channel 38 which extends along at least a portion of the frame extension 14.

The frame 14 can be formed as a unitary construction or multiple sections of interconnected material. In some embodiments, the frame 14 can be essentially solid. In such embodiments, a plurality of grooves, openings and surfaces may be formed in the frame to allow the frame to properly engage the carriage units and to supply the rolls of coreless material.

The frame and carriage units of the present invention may be formed from a variety of materials, such as, for example, metals, ceramics, plastics, combinations of such similar materials.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 1, a single carriage unit 52 is shown. In the carriage unit 5 shown here it is adapted to carry a single roll of material which is shown at point 13 in Figure 5. As shown better in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the multiple cart units can be used within the frame 14 so that multiple rolls of material 13 can be dispensed therefrom. Additionally, a single carriage unit 52 may be configured to carry a plurality of rolls of material. The selected embodiments of the carriage unit 52 can be configured to fit directly into a dispenser, eliminating the need for a frame.

The incorporation of the carriage unit 52 shown in Figure 3 includes a cross bar 54 having an outer surface 56. The carriage unit 52 may further include a pair of arms 58 and 60, each arm extending from joins the crossbar 54. Arms 58 and 60 are separated from each other and, in selected embodiments, are parallel to each other. In other embodiments, the arms 58 60 may be at various angles with respect to each other. Cad arm 58 and 60 includes an inner surface 62 and 64 respectively as well as outer surface 66 and 6 respectively.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the carriage unit 52 can be inserted into the channel 38 formed by the frame 14. The carriage unit 52 can be releasably fixed to the frame 14 so that the carriage unit is slidable along the channel 38 of the frame 14 but does not slip out of the channel 38 and disengages from the frame 14. In such embodiments, a fixing mechanism can be provided which releasably fixes the carriage unit 5 to the frame 14. Numerous Fixation mechanisms can be used in the present invention to releasably fix the carriage unit 52 to the frame 14.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the attachment mechanisms 71 and 73, respectively, are placed on the arms 58 and 60, respectively, of the carriage unit 52. As best shown in Figures 1 and 6, the mechanisms fastening 71 and 73 include openings 74 and 76 which are formed in arms 58 and 60, respectively. Positioned within each of the openings 74 and 76 are the flexible fixing fingers 78 and 80 respectively. As best illustrated in Figure 3, each fixing finger includes a fixation shoulder 82 and a ramp 84. As the carriage unit 5 slides into engagement with the frame 14, the ramp 84 of each fixation finger contacts the bracket 84. the side rail 30 or 32. When the carriage unit 52 is further inserted into the channel 38, the locking fingers 78 and 80 are flexed inwardly and away from the respective side rail of the frame 14. After the carriage unit 52 has been sufficiently seated in the channel 3 so that the outer surface 56 of the transverse bar 54 is as close as desired to the inner rear support surface 42, best shown in Figure 1, the end of each ramp 84 is reached. The locking fingers 78 and 80 are then able to flex outwards to their n-pressed positions. The shoulder 82 of each locking finger 78 and 80 prevents the carriage unit 52 from being withdrawn from the channel 38, by engaging the shoulder 82 the rear surface of the respective side rail. Thus, the locking fingers 78 and 80 maintain the unit d carriage in contact with the frame 14 while allowing the carriage unit 52 to slide freely within the channel 3 of the frame 14.

In certain embodiments and as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6, each arm 58 and 60 may include a support 86 and 88, respectively. Each support 86 and 88 may be slidably or fixedly attached to the arms 58 and 60, respectively, of each carriage unit 52. The supports 86 and 88 each include an exterior surface 90 and 92, respectively, and an interior surface 94 and 96, respectively. In the embodiments which do not include a support 86 or 88, the interior surfaces 94 and 96 and the exterior surfaces 90 92 are formed on arms 58 and 60, respectively. The inner bolts 104 and 106 are positioned on the inner surfaces 94 and 96 respectively. Each inner bolt 104 106 is adapted to engage the solid or non-core rolls which have recesses or sods defined on the vertical side thereof which may also define a rotating shaft for rolls without core or solids. Specifically, the inner bolts 104 and 106 engage the recesses, tepes seals or opening of the roll of material. The alternate embodiments of the inner bolts 104 and 106 may be configured to engage the rolls of materials having solid or hollow cores. In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, each inner bolt 104 and 106 is rotatable co with respect to the inner surfaces 94 and 96, respectively so that when the inner bolt 104 or 106 engages the coreless roll, the roll rotates and The material can be removed from it. Several internal bolt configurations can achieve this.

In some embodiments, the inner bolts 104 and 106 and the outer bolts 98 and 100 can be removably fastened to their respective surfaces so that the user can install interior bolts configured for a particular type of rolled material and the outer bolts configured for a dispenser. particular. In such additions, the user can remove the bolts and install bolts configured in a different way which can be adapted for a different purpose. Additionally, the bolts which are removably attached allow a user to easily replace worn or broken bolts. As shown in Figure 7, the outer bolts may be configured such that the outermost part of the bolt is separated from the arms 58 and 60. The distance by which the outermost part of the bolt is separated from the arms may be varied. to meet the requirements of a particular assortment.

In selected embodiments, the supports 8 and 86 are slidably fastened to the arms 58 and 60. In some embodiments, this will allow a roll of material 1 to be loaded onto the supports 88 and 86 without needing to remove the carriage unit 52 from the frame 14. In the selected embodiments, the direction of movement of the supports 86 and 8 along the arms 58 and 60, respectively, of the carriage unit 52 is essentially normal to the direction of movement of the carriage unit 52. inside channel 38 of frame 14.

The adapter 10 of the present invention is useful with a variety of dispensers for storing and dispensing multiple rolls of rolled material without core or solid. Many such dispensers include a dispensing frame having the side wall members, a front cover, and a dispensing aperture on the front side thereof. The side wall members may have grooves or paths facing opposite and oriented generally vertically defined on the interior surfaces thereof.

One of such spout 110 is shown in Figur 8 which is formed of a spout frame 112 having side walls 114. Side walls 114 includes an interior surface 116. Spout 110 may also include a front cover member 118. which pivots out of the spout frame 112 in the pivot pins 120. The cover 118 may also include an opening that defines the dispensing position of the lowermost roll and may further include vertical frames 122 which are attached to the spout frame 11 at the point of pivot 120. Alternatively, a lower part of the dispenser may contain an opening that defines the dispenser position for the lowermost roll. A rotating arm 12 is illustrated as being housed within the structure 126 which defines a slot 128. The operation of the rotating arm 12 is also understood by those skilled in the art and generally serves to hold a top roll of material up from the dispensing position of a lower roll until the lowermost roll has run out. When such spout is used with the adapter 10 of the present invention, the outer bolts 9 and 100, shown in Figure 1, engage the slots 128. Once the bottom roll has been exhausted, a carriage unit 5 carrying the roll bottom slides down to a lowermost position in slot 128, which allows pivoting arm 120 to pivot and allows the upper roll of material to fall into the dispensing position.

A more detailed explanation of the assembled frame and the components is not necessary for the purposes of the present description. Such conventional pumps have typically been used to supply multiple vertical paper tissue rolls having hollow cores.

In the selected embodiments, the inner bolts 104 and 106 of the carriage unit 52 can extend at least partially into the tepe or recess defined in the roll swim and may also include a rolled surface d against which the tire can rest. Roll vertically additionally and roll inside the spout once the first roll of solid core held by the adapters has been used. In other words, once a first roll of material is exhausted, desirably the second vertically oriented roll will fall into a dispensing position within the spout, and the carriage unit will fall to the bottom of the spout slots and be retained there until the supplier is open pair the replacement of the rolls. When the second roll falls into its sourcing position, the circumference of the second roll will rest on and roll against the inner pins 10 and 106, particularly on the rolling surface defined by the inner pins. In an embodiment, the rolling surface may be generally horizontal. In an alternate embodiment, the rolling surface may be conical in shape. Any number of various shapes and configurations may be used to define such rolling surfaces.

The adapter can be secured to the dispenser in a variety of ways, including the use of mechanical fasteners, adhesive or the like. In selected embodiments, it may be desirable to releasably secure and adapter the spout, as this allows the adapter to be easily removed so that the spout can be quickly converted to supply rolls of core material or rolls of coreless material.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular dimensions of the adapters of the present invention will vary depending on the type of assortment used. It is well within the reach of an expert in the art to determine the optimum dimensions for these adapters depending on the type of dispenser with which the adapters try to be used. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention. The present inventive adapters are described and illustrated as used in dispensers. It is within the scope and spirit of the invention that the adapters are used with any type of dispenser where multiple rolls of solid coreless material are housed and moved there to a dispensing position. The adapters are not limited to using co-suppliers. 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 (18)

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

1. An adapter for a dispenser comprising a arm; At least one carriage unit slidably mounted within the frame, each carriage unit having a pair of arms spaced apart, each arm having: an outer surface, an interior surface, an outer bolt placed on the outer surface, the outer bolt is configured to slidably engage a channel of a spout; An inner bolt rotatably attached to the inner surface, the inner bolt is configured to engage a roll of coreless material.

2. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the frame further comprises a base.

3. The adapter as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the frame further comprises a pair of side rails essentially parallel and spaced apart each side rail extends upwardly from the base.

4. The adapter as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the frame further comprises a rear support extending upwards from the base.

5. The adapter as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that the frame further comprises a rear support extending upwards from the base, and the rear support is positioned with respect to the side rails so as to form a frame of essentially equal shape. C.

6. The adapter as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the frame further comprises an upper rail that extends along and joins an upper part of each of the spaced apart lateral and rear support rails.

7. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two carriage units.

8. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that each carriage unit includes a closing mechanism adapted to releasably fix the carriage unit to the frame so that the carriage unit slides within the frame.

9. The adapter as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that the fixing mechanism is placed on at least one arm of the carriage unit.

10. The adapter as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that the fixing mechanism comprises a flexible fixing finger placed on each arm of the carriage unit so that, when the carriage unit is inserted in the frame, the fingers of fixation releasably fix each arm of the carriage unit to the frame.

11. The adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the carriage unit also comprises two supports, each support is slidably connected to one end of each arm of the carriage unit so that the movement of each support along The arm of the carriage unit is essentially perpendicular to the movement of the carriage unit within the frame.

12. The adapter as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that the outer inner surfaces of each arm are placed on the supports.

13. An adapter for a dispenser which supplies two rolls of vertically stacked core material, and the adapter comprises: a frame adapted to be secured inside a spout, the frame comprises: one base, a pair of side rails spaced apart, each side rail extends upward from the base, and At least one carriage unit slidably mounted within the frame, each carriage unit comprising a fixing mechanism adapted to fix the carriage to the frame so that the carriage unit is slidable within the frame, and a pair of arms spaced apart, each arm comprises an outer surface, an interior surface, an outer bolt placed on the outer surface, the outer bolt is configured to slidably engage a channel of a spout, and An inner bolt rotatably attached to the inner surface, the inner bolt is configured to engage a roll of coreless material.

14. The adapter as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the frame further includes a rear support extending between the side rails, each carriage unit also includes a transverse bar which has an outer surface, the transverse bar extends between the Arms spaced apart from the carriage unit, the carriage unit is mounted within the frame such that the outer surface of the cross bar is positioned near the rear support of the frame.

15. The adapter as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the fixing mechanism also includes a fixing finger placed on each arm of the carriage unit, each fixing finger is adapted to releasably fix an arm of the carriage unit to one of the side rails so that the carriage unit slides along the frame.

16. The adapter as claimed in clause 13, further characterized in that it includes at least supports, each support is slidably attached to one of the arms of the carriage unit so that the support slides along the arm of the carriage unit. the car unit.

17. A carriage unit adapted to be slidably placed inside a spout which at least supplies a roll of core material, the carriage unit comprising: a pair of arms spaced apart, each arm has an outer surface, an inner surface, or outer bolt placed on the outer surface, the outer pern is configured to slidably engage a spout channel, and an inner bolt is rotatably attached to the surface Inside, the inner bolt is configured to engage a roll of coreless material; whereby the carriage unit is adapted to releasably engage the dispenser so that the carriage unit can slide within the dispenser.

18. The carriage unit as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that each arm also includes a support, each support is slidably attached to one end of one of the arms of the carriage unit so that the support can slide as far as possible. length of the arm of the car unit. SUMMARY An adapter for a dispenser is described herein the adapter includes at least one carriage unit which is slidably mounted within a dispenser. In the selected embodiments, the adapter of the present invention includes a frame which can be mounted within a dispenser, the carriage unit being slidably mounted within the frame. Each carriage unit includes a pair of arm spaced apart, each arm having an outer surface and an inner surface. An outer bolt is placed on the outer surface, the outer bolt is configured to engage slidably a channel of the spout. An inner pin may be rotatably attached to the inner surface, the inner pin is configured to engage a roll of coreless material. In selected embodiments the arm may include a base and a pair of side rails spaced apart, each side rail extending up from the base. A back support can also be provided, the back support extending upwards from the base. At least one carriage unit is provided which is slidably mounted within the frame, each carriage unit includes, in selected embodiments, a fixing mechanism adapted to fix the carriage to the frame so that the carriage unit can slide within the frame. frame.