US2797054A

US2797054A - Paper dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2797054A
Application number: US535632A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruch Egon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-09-23
Filing date: 1955-09-21
Publication date: 1957-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1974-06-25

Description

June 25, 1957 E. RUCH 2,797,054

I PAPER DISPENSER v Filed Sept. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1957 E. RUCH 2,797,054

PAPER DISPENSER Filed Se t. 21 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q *m m Fig.7 1

PAPER DISPENER Egon Rush,HertensteintLnzern), Switzerland Application September 21, 1%5, Serial No. 535,632

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 23, 1954 Claims. (ill. 242-55.3)

The present invention relates to paper dispensers and more particularly to a toilet-paper dispenser having means for mounting a roll of toilet-paper in a rotatable and interchangeable manner. Known devices of this kind have the disadvantage that, after the rotatably supported paper roll has been used up, paper is not available anymore, a fact which is disagreeable, especially, in public lavatories, in hotels etc. The attempt has been made to overcome this disadvantage in that a full spare roll of toilet-paper was stored in immediate proximity. However, this solution proved to be unsatisfactory since practically nobody bothers to insert this roll in place of the used-up one into the appropriate holder. Furthermore, it has been found that these spare rolls are misappropriated very often and then are not available when needed.

It has been proposed to accommodate the paper roll in use, together with a spare roll, in a box-like container, from which the empty tube of the first-mentioned paper roll can be removed after exhaustion, whereby the spare roll is transferred by gravity to the place of the used-up roll. However, in known toilet-paper dispensers of this kind, no means are "provided for preventing removal and misappropriation of the spare roll and of the paper roll in use so that the drawbacks mentioned above are not overcome.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a paper dispenser, and more particularly a toilet-paper dispenser in which a spare roll of paper can be 'kept in readiness in such a way that its removal is effectively prevented.

Another object'of the invention is toprovide a dispenser of the said kind in which replacement of an exhausted roll of paper by a full roll of paper can readily be effected without the aid of tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description now to follow, of two preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only and in which reference will be had to the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet-paper dispenser containing only one spare roll of paper,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line IIlI of Fig. 3, of the same paper dispenser but containing two spare rolls of paper,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2 through a portion of the paper dispenser when empty,

Fig. 4 partially shows, in a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, a portion of the paper dispenser at the moment at which the empty tube of a paper roll is ejected,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the second embodiment of a toilet-paper dispenser'according to the invention, containing two spare rolls,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-s'ectionon'the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawlogs, the toilet-paper dispenser comprises an elongated prismatic container 10, which extends in upright direction and which at its bottom is provided with a refill opening 11 for inserting fresh paper rolls 12. The clear width of the refill opening 1 1 is narrower than the diameter of the rolls 12 so that the latter must be laterally compressed to permit their insertion, whereby their supporting tubes 13 are squeezed to assume an almost flat shape. However, when the rolls 12 are enclosed in the container 10, they resume their original substantially circular cross section. For this reason, the rolls 12 will not drop out again through the refill opening 11. Inside the container 10 and adjoining said aperture 11 there are ribs 14, which extend in the direction of introduction of the rolls 12 and have sharp edges 15 at their ends facing the interior of the container. These edges prevent the rolls 12 from being pulled out again from the container 1'0 without suffering considerable damage.

The container 10 is large enough to hold a total of three full rolls. The uppermost roll 12a is destined for immediate use, while the remaining rolls serve as spares. The roll 12min use is rotatably journalled on two stub axles 20, each of which is secured coaxially with the other to one end of a leaf spring 21 riveted to the adjacent wall of the container so that the stub axles 20 can be moved apart from each other against the pressure of the springs 21. Figs. 1 and 3 show that the container 10 on its lateral walls is provided with outwardly directed projections 22 in which the springs 21 are housed and into which the stub axles 20 can retreat when forced apart. The two axles 2i) engage the tube 13a of the topmost roll from the opposite ends thereof. At their ends confronting each other, the stub axles 20 are provided with inclined surfaces 23 which enable them to be forced apart by moving a full roll 12 into its position of use.

At its top the container 10 isprovided with a discharge opening 25 through which the paper can be pulled off from the rotatably journalled roll 12a. A flap 26 is supported in the container for pivotal movement about an axle 27, This flap rests by gravity on the top surface of the roll 12a, in order toapply some drag to the latter. However, this flap also limits the size of the opening 25 so that a roll not yet used up cannot be removed through this opening. For that purpose, the angular movement of the flap 26 in upward direction is limited. Triangular extensions 28 of the flap hear immediately against the lateral walls of the container 10 and abut against the stub axles 20 when the flap 26 is swung in upward direction (Fig. 4). The same extensions also serve for limiting the angular movement in downward direction, by abutting against the back wall of the container 10. When the flap 26 is swung into its uppermost position (Fig. 4), the passage left by it in the opening 25 has such a width that an emptied roll-tube 13a can be ejected through it.

The refill opening 11 and the discharge opening 25, as above stated, are provided in the opposite end faces of the container 10.

The front wall of the container 10 is provided with a slot 30 which extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the container. This slot permits to see the partly exposed spare rolls 12 and to seize them for moving them into their dispensing position as described later on. The rear wall of the container is provided with a slot 31 in an analogous manner and also comprises any well known means (not shown) for securing the container to a wall 32.

The container 10 is preferably made from synthetic material, but it may also consist of metal.

Use and operation of the described toilet-paper dispenser is as follows:

The toilet-paper may be pulled in conventional manner 3 from the uppermost roll 12a rotatably supported on the stub axles 20. When that roll is exhausted, one grasps through the slot 30 the first spare roll 12 situated below the empty roll and moves this full spare roll upwardly in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 4. In doing so the full roll hits the empty roll-tube 13 1 and also pushes it upwards. As the ends of the bottom portion of the tube 13a and of the top surface of the full roll 12 move along the inclined surfaces 23 of the stub axles 20, the

latter are spread apart. Thereby it is possible to remove the empty tube from its bearing and to insert the full roll 12 into the bearing arrangement. The released empty tube 13a is thus automatically ejected in upward direction through the opening 25 as the roll 12 is pushed along, whereby the flap 26 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 4. As soon as the full roll 12 is moved high enough, the stub axles 20 snap into the end openings of the tube 13 of said roll, whereby the latter becomes rotatably supported on said axles. Then, only the beginning of the wound paper has to be drawn out through the opening 25.

As evident from the above description, the replacement of an exhausted roll by a full spare roll can be effected in a very short time without the aid of tools and without actuating screws and the like. The attendant only must from time to time insert one or two fresh spare rolls into the container 10, through the refill opening 11-.

The rotatably supported roll 12a cannot be pushed upwardly through the opening 25 and out of the container 10, as can the empty tube 13a, since the width of the opening 25 is not wide enough for doing so. Consequently, with the described toilet-paper dispenser it will be impossible to misappropriate full rolls or rolls which are not substantially exhausted.

At the refill opening 11, other retaining means than the indicated ribs 14 could be provided for inhibiting undue removal of full spare rolls 12. The retaining means could be a lockable member, e. g. a trapdoor or sliding door. This member could then be provided with a lock and could only be opened by the attendant by means .of a special key. In another possible form of construction the retaining means could comprise rotatable cylinders arranged on opposite sides of the refill opening and provided with salient points on their circumference, said cylinders cooperating with means (such as a ratchet device) which permit rotation of the cylinders in'one direction only, but which inhibit rotation thereof in the opposite direction, so that the circumferential portions of the cylinders facing each other could be moved only towards the interior of the container in order to introduce the spare rolls, with the said salient points of the cylinders penetrating somewhat into the paper rolls. Removal of the paper rolls is then not possible anymore without damaging said rolls considerably and causing possible injury to the fingers of any person trying to remove them. Alternatively, the locking means could comprise a vane wheel on the housing in such a place, that in certain angular positions of the wheel at least one of its blades entirely or partly blocks the refill opening. The intervals by which the blades are spaced from each other should then be large enough to accommodate a full spare roll so that the latter can be inserted into the container within said interval when the vane wheel is rotated in the ap propriate direction. However rotation in reverse direction should be prevented by associated locking members.

The refill opening must not necessarily be provided at the bottom end wall of the container, but may also be arranged in a side wall of said container.

Moreover, the discharge opening provided for removing the emptied roll-tubes must not absolutely be arranged at the top end wall of the container. However, it is preferable to shape the. container in such a way that the spare'rolls do not rest on the circumference of the rotatably supported roll and therefore are not rotated by the latter when paper is withdrawn from it. For this 4 reason the refill opening must always be located at a lower level than the discharge opening.

The toilet-paper dispenser could also be formed or secured to a wall in such a manner that the spare rolls must be moved in a horizontal direction towards the place where they will be rotatably supported for use. For instance, the container might be mounted with one of its lateral walls comprising the projection 22 facing the wall of the building and the row of rolls being horizontal instead of vertical; the axes of the paper rolls then still would be horizontal. Under certain circumstances, however, the toilet-paper dispenser could also be formed so that the axes of the paper rolls extend longitudinally of the container.

Instead of having a longitudinal slot 30 through which the spart roll can be grasped for moving it to the place where it will be rotatably supported for use, in all the constructions referred to so far, the container may also be provided with a substantially narrower slot in which a slider'operatable from outside the container is guided.

This slider should then be provided with a driver projecting into the container and by means of which the first spare roll can be transferred into the said place for use. The driver may be arranged to collapse into an inelfective position against the influence of a spring when the slider is returned, so that it may return past the roll thus transferred and, if desired also past one or more further spare rolls.

The toilet-paper dispenser shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is generally similar to that previously described. The principal difference between it and the dispenser shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is found in the arrangement of the lowermost spare rolland in the construction of the means preventing its removal from the container.

As indicated in Figs. 5 to 7, the lowermost paper roll 12, after having been pushed through the refill opening '11 into the storing space of the container 12, is rotatably supported on two coaxial stub axles 40 which are parallel to the stub axles 20 and each of which is secured to one surfaces 43 remotest from each other is at least equal to the length of the refill opening 11 and thus issomewhat greater than the axial length of the paper rolls to be used.

For inserting a fresh spare roll into the container, said roll is forced from below through the refill opening 11 and against the paper roll 12 then supported on the stub axles 40. The tube 13 of the last-mentioned roll 12 thus 'exerts some pressure against the inclined surfaces 43 and thereby spreads the stub axles 40 apart so that this latter roll 12 can be pushed past these stub axles and upwardly into the vacant storing space. By means of the freshly inserted paper roll the stub axles 40 are maintained forced .apart from each other until they snap into the end openings of the tube of this fresh roll. The lowermost spare roll mounted on the stub axles 40 in the described manner cannot anymore be pulled downwardly out of the container 10 through the refill opening 11, as will be obvious from Fig. 5.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to7, space is left for a third roll freely floating in the container 10 between the two paper rolls rotatably supported by the

resilient stub axles

20 and 40, respectively. However, it will be understood that the container 10 may also be dimensioned for the reception for two rolls only, in which case both rolls, i e. the roll in use and the only spare roll, will be supported on resilient stub axles.

I claim:

1. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capable of containing at least two rolls of paper each wound on a tubular member, said container having a discharge opening for paper unwound from one of the said rolls, a pair of mutually aligned stub axles resiliently mounted in said container for axial displacement and adapted to cooperate for rotatably supporting said one roll of paper in a first portion of said space adjacent said discharge opening by engagement of said stub axles into the end openings of its said tubular member, each of said stub axles having an inclined surface at its end facing the opposite stub axle, said inclined surfaces diverging towards another portion of said space capable of containing at least one other of said rolls of paper at a level not higher than that at which the said one roll of paper is adapted to be supported by said stub axles, a flap member swingably supported in said container within said discharge opening and adapted to contact said one roll of paper, and abutment means for limiting outward swinging of said flap member so as to prevent the latter from clearing the said discharge opening beyond the ex tent required for discharge therethrough of said tubular member when bare.

2. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capable of containing at least two rolls of paper, said container having a discharge opening for paper unwound from one of the said rolls and a refill opening for inserting said rolls into said container, and means for preventing said inserted rolls from removal through said refill opening, the width of said refill opening being smaller than the diameter of said rolls of paper whereby the latter can be inserted through said refill opening only in diametrally compressed condition and in which said container comprises internal projections adjacent said refill opening, said projections having sharp edges facing away from said refill opening for preventing undamaged withdrawal of the inserted rolls towards said opening.

3. In a paper dispenser, a prismatic container enclosing a space capable of containing at least two rolls of paper each wound on a tubular member, said container having a discharge opening for paper unwound from one of the said rolls and a refill opening for inserting said rolls into said container, at first pair of mutually aligned stub axles resiliently mounted in said container for axial displacement and adapted to cooperate for rotatably supporting said one roll of paper in a first portion of said space adjacent said discharge opening, by their engagement into the end openings of the said tubular member of said first roll; each of said stub axles having an inclined surface at its end facing the opposite stub axle of the pair, said inclined surfaces diverging towards another portion of said space capable of containing at least one other of said rolls of paper at a level not higher than that at which the said one roll of paper is adapted to be supported by the stub axles of said first pair, a second pair of mutually aligned stub axles resiliently mounted in said container for axial displacement and adapted to cooperate for supporting another of said rolls of paper in said other portion of said space adjacent said refill opening, by their engagement into the end openings of the said tubular member of said other roll, each of said stub axles of the second pair having an inclined surface at its end facing the opposite stub axle of the pair, said inclined surfaces diverging towards said refill opening.

4. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said stub axles of the first and second pairs are carried each on one end of a resilient blade fixed at its opposite end to the container, the resilient blades carrying the stub axles of the first pair extending from their fixed end towards the discharge opening and the resilient blades carrying the stub axles of the second pair extending from their fixed end towards the refill opening, in alignment each with one of the resilient blades of the first pair.

5. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which the distance between the extreme points of said diverging inclined surfaces of the stub axles of the second pair is at least equal to the length of said refill opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,419 Pollard Oct. 12, 1937 2,603,427 Holmes July 15, 1952 2,620,991 Defienbaugh Dec. 9, 1952