NZ236858A

NZ236858A - Toilet roll dispenser - reserve roll release includes a pivotable actuation arm

Info

Publication number: NZ236858A
Application number: NZ236858A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Alan Adams
Original assignee: Carter Holt Harvey Wood Produc
Priority date: 1990-04-06
Filing date: 1991-01-22
Publication date: 1996-03-26
Also published as: AU600648B3

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> t t 236 8 5 8 Priority Date(s): Complete Specification Filed: 3l3i.*.V.3.\. Class: ;Publication Date: 2.6..JMAR...1996- ;P.O. Journal No: ;Patents Form No. 5 ;CHANGE OF NAME OF APPUCANT ;\Hood 9f i , rtHiUrifrVia Urd • ;NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;DISPENSER FOR SHEET MATERIAL ;JANi99i / ;WE, ;& ;*vt> q>\ BOWATER TISSUE LIMITED of Aisla Street, Box Hill, Victoria 3128, AUSTRALIA ^ ^Iraie. ©f Vic-hsrla, £>T K Al— I A.. hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - 236 8 5 8 10 - 2 - DISPENSER FOR SHEET MATERIAL This invention relates to a dispenser for sheet material in the form of cylindrical rolls. In particular this invention relates to a dispenser for toilet paper or paper towelling but is not so restricted. Problems with providing toilet paper in public buildings and the like have included toilet rolls being stolen or alternatively unwound and used to make a mess of the premises. Toilet roll dispensers have been provided to overcome these difficulties. It has been convenient to have more than one roll present in the dispenser at a time so that when the roll in current use runs out, use of the second roll can begin. This clearly makes the janitor's job easier by not having to constantly replace rolls. However, one or more reserve rolls sitting on top of the roll in current use impedes its ability to unroll and causes it to stick making it difficult for the person to obtain sufficient toilet paper. In addition, the unrolling of the roll in current use tends to cause the reserve rolls to unwind, leading to a clogged dispenser and subsequent wastage of paper. Previously the problem of vandalism of dispensers and theft of toilet paper has been addressed by the provision of lockable dispensers. In addition, the problem of providing reserve rolls in a dispenser whilst enabling easy unrolling of the roll in current use has been attacked in two ways. One solution to the problem has been to provide spindles which are placed through the roll core. The rolls are then placed in the dispenser which has means for holding reserve rolls via their spindles away from the roll in current use and the means for releasing reserve roll when it is required. Although this system provides a solution it creates additional problems because the spindles are fiddly to insert and they can be lost or stolen. The other approach'to the problem has been to hold the reserve roll by engaging the outer cylindrical surface 20 30 35 10 15 20 25 30 35 - 3 - of the roll and providing a means for release of the reserve roll when the roll is required. Such an approach is taken in Australian Patents Nos. 528053 and 533590. These dispensers hold the reserve roll in position by providing a downwardly directed resilient flange located on an inner wall. On the side wall an aperture is provided so that a person can insert their finger and push the reserve roll down which bends the flange and allows the roll to fall into position for use. Because of the nature of the resilient flange these dispensers are difficult to mould in plastic. The dispensers are made of spring steel and have not been found user-friendly; because of the sharpness of the aperture people are reluctant to insert their fingers. The object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser capable of holding multiple rolls wherein reserve rolls can be easily released. Another object of the invention is that a reserve roll cannot be released by the person using the system until all the sheet material is exhausted from the roll in the dispensing position. The present invention provides a dispenser comprising a body of sufficient height to contain at least one reserve roll above the roll in current use having an aperture through which the sheet material can be withdrawn and a reserve roll release means comprising an actuation arm pivoted for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the roll and a laterally extending stop means on the arm. Preferably said dispenser comprises an opening to load dispenser with rolls, a front wall, two side walls and a bottom wall containing the aperture for withdrawal of sheet material wherein said dispenser is, in use, attached to a wall of a building wherein said reserve roll release means is adjacent to said building wall and wherein said actuation arm extends beyond body of dispenser. More preferably the invention relates to a dispenser which comprises at rear wall and wherein the actuation arm is located adjacent to the rear wall/ said 236 8 5 8 10 - 4 - actuation arm being pivoted intermediate its ends and bearing at an end a laterally extending roll stop means at a distance at least one roll diameter above said bottom wall. Still more preferably the invention relates to a dispenser with an actuation arm comprising a plate member and roll stop means, a second plate member extending parallel to said side walls and bearing its end a flange extending into said body to support reserve roll, wherein flange, when in use, supports outer circumference of the roll or -fits into core of roll and wherein a resilient means associated with reserve roll release means returns reserve roll release means to that position wherein it supports reserve roll once the roll has been released. More preferably the invention relates to a dispenser which has a member attached to said actuation arm such that when a roll is present in the dispensing position movement of said actuation arm parallel to axis of roll is prevented. This ensures that the roll in dispensing position is removed before further rolls can be released via reserve roll release means. More preferably the invention relates to a dispenser which has a member attached to said actuation arm such that when a roll is present in the dispensing position, movement of said actuation arm parallel to axis of roll is prevented, and said dispenser has an aperture through which sheet material is withdrawn which is of a size which prevents withdrawal of roll in dispensing position until all the sheet material has been exhausted from the roll. More preferably still the invention relates to a dispenser with two reserve roll release means which engage either side of the reserve roll. The above gives a broad description of the present invention, a preferred form will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser. Figure 2 is a rear" view of the body portion showing two actuation arms. 20 25 30 35 Figure 3 is a front view of the body portion. Figure 4 is a perspective view of reserve roll release means. The preferred dispenser comprises an approximately rectangular prism (1) comprising a hinged cover (2) which can be swung open to allow rolls to be placed in dispenser and a body portion (3), an aperture for withdrawal of the sheet material (5) and a bottom aperture (19) to facilitate removal of cardboard roll core once the sheet material has been unwound. The preferred embodiment has two reserve roll release means (6) as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, rear and front views respectively, of the body portion. Reserve roll release means enters into the body portion recess (4) via body portion aperture (13). Rolls sit in body portion recess (4). The reserve roll release means can be actuated by moving together the two actuating arm levers (18) causing the actuation arm (7) to pivot at pivot means (8) in the same plane as body portion rear wall (11) causing lateral movement of roll stop means plate member (9) and associated flange (10) allowing reserve roll to drop into dispensing position. Reserve roll release means (6) has a dispensing roll plate member (20). When a roll is in dispensing position, movement of actuation arm (7) is prevented because dispensing roll plate member comes into contact with dispensing roll. This stops reserve rolls being dispensed when there is a roll already in the dispensing position. The actuating lever arms (18) extend beyond the bottom of the dispenser. When the dispenser is placed on a wall in a building it can be seen that the roll release means (6) sits between the wall of the building and the rear wall of the body portion (11). This presents a tidy appearance. Reserve roll release means (6) are held in their resting positions via resilient means "(12) in the form of a leaf spring which sits in channel (14), Channel (14) allows for lateral movement of reserve roll release means (6). The two reserve roll release means (6) are held together via a location ring (15) and a location pin (16). The dispenser 236 8 5 8 - 6 - can be attached to a wall via apertures for fixture support means (17). Figure 4 shows reserve roll release means (6) comprising actuating arm lever (18), actuation arm (7), roll stop means plate member (9) and flange (10). It will be understood that although two reserve roll support means (6) are illustrated in the preferred embodiment the use of one reserve roll stop means is also possible provided the dimensions of the dispenser are suitable to keep the axis of the reserve roll substantially parallel to the bottom of the dispenser so that the reserve roll does not jam in the dispenser. Alternatively, a single roll retention means providing a greater area of support via roll stop means plate member and/or flange (10) could be used provided sufficient dimensions for lateral movement of the reserve roll release means (6) were given. It will be appreciated that the invention provides a dispenser which is easy and pleasant to use and the person operating the dispenser can do so without injury. The fact that the present dispenser can be readily moulded in plastic provides another advantage over the prior art. 25 30 35 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 236858 - 7 - WHAT #WE CLAIM IS;

1. A dispenser for a cylindrical roll of sheet material, which dispenser comprises a body, of sufficient height to contain at least one reserve roll above a roll in dispensing position, said dispenser having an inlet for inserting rolls into the body, an aperture in the body of the dispenser through which sheet material can be withdrawn, reserve roll release means in the body of the dispenser comprising an actuation arm pivoted for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the cvxis of said reserve roll and reserve roll stop means on said arm to retain said reserve roll until actuation of said release means.

2. A dispenser for a cylindrical roll of sheet material, as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described.

3. A dispenser for a cylindrical roll of sheet material, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 1-4. r 18 MAR 1994 (> . </div>