US3217998A

US3217998A - Rolled toilet tissue dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3217998A
Application number: US418497A
Authority: US
Inventors: Evan L Schwartz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-12-15
Filing date: 1964-12-15
Publication date: 1965-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-16

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 1.. SCHWARTZ ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 INVENTOR. .S'C'HW/IQ 7-2 FIG.|

TIIF j 1965 E. L. SCHWARTZ ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 FIG] FIG.6

FIG.8

INVENTOR. EVAN L, Sewn V4272 United States Patent Ofilice 3,2l7,8 Patented Nov. 16, I955 3,217,998 ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER Evan L. Schwartz, 5426 N. Spahn Ave., Lakewood, Calif. Filed Dec. 15, 1%4, Ser. No. 418,497 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-5542) The present invention relates generally to rolled toilet tissue dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser that provides protective storage for at least one extra roll of tissue, with the extra roll being so arranged that it can be moved into position for use when the supply of tissue on a first roll has been depleted, all to the end that a readily available supply of tissue is assured at all times. The present invention is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application entitled Dispenser for Rolled Toilet Tissue, filed in the United States Patent Office on October 5, 1962, under Serial No. 228,582, now Patent No. 3,168,258.

Various dispensers of the type in which a number of rolls of toilet tissue can be stored and sequentially moved into a dispensing position as required have been devised and marketed in the past, wherein the stored rolls occupy either vertical or horizontal positions. However, these dispensers, except for the one disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 228,582, have, in the main, been designed to accommodate rolls of non-standard size (less than the four and one-half inch standard), which requires that the tissue supply be obtained from but a limited number of manufacturers, and at greater cost than that of standard size rolls.

In the case of prior vertical-feed dispensers of the type described, certain operational disadvantages have been encountered in that the supply tube thereof is supported at the top of the device only, which requires the use of a complicated locking mechanism that operates in conjunction with a special metal ring inserted in the paper cor of each roll of tissue to prevent pilfering thereof. Also, a spring-pressed finger must be employed which at all times engages that roll of tissue in the dispensing position to act as a brake and prevent useless unwinding of the roll and waste of tissue. It will be obvious that such accessories found in previously available dispensers greatly increase the cost thereof.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a rolled toilet tissue dispenser which overcomes the disadvantages found in prior devices of this type, and one which will accommodate rolls of tissue from any manufacturing source, whether of standard or non-standard size, is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, simple to operate and service, and which reduces to a minimum, the effort required in placing the reserve roll in a dispensing position after the starting roll has been exhausted.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first form of the dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dispenser, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, showing a first roll of tissue in a dispensing position, with a second roll stored thereabove;

FIGURE 4 is the same longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 3, after the first roll of tissue has been removed therefrom and the second roll is in a position just before it moves downwardly by force of gravity into a dispensing position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a modification of the first form of dispenser;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the first form of the device, taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a support for a roll of tissue used with a second form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the second form of the dispenser and the support shown in F1- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second form of the invention, taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a part of the cross-sectional view of the second form of the device shown in FIGURE 9, after the dispenser has been moved to a second position to permit removal of the support shown in FIGURE 7.

With continuing reference to the drawings for the general arrangement of the first form of the invention, it will be seen in FIGURES l and 4 to include a back plate A which is adapted to be aflixed to a wall B by conventional means, such as screws 8, or the like. Back plate A supports a forwardly extending housing C on the upper portion thereof, and a base assembly D projects forwardly fro-m the lower portion of the back plate.

The base assembly D rigidly supports an upright tubular member E, which is of such length and is so disposed relative to housing C that a first roll of toilet tissue F of a standard size can be rotatably supported on the lower portion of the member in a dispensing position. During the time the roll F is so supported in a dispensing position, a second roll of toilet tissue G of the same size as roll F may be mounted on the upper portion of the tubular member E in a concealed position Within the confines of the housing C.

The second roll G is maintained on the upper portion of the tubular member E by a manually operable release assembly H that is best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. The release assembly H cannot be actuated until the cylindrical cardboard shell 10 of the roll of toilet tissue F has been manually torn longitudinally to remove the shell from the dispenser.

After the shell 10 has been so removed, the release assembly H can be operated by the user to permit th second roll G of toilet tissue to move downwardly on tubular member E by force of gravity into a dispensing position. It should be understood that all reference herein to a standard size roll of toilet tissue means the 4 /2" size roll currently retailed throughout the United States markets, in contrast to rolls of toilet tissue of special size as are used with such dispensers disclosed and claimed in the Wooster Patent No. 3,019,997 and Birr Patent No. 2,726,824.

In the first form of the dispenser, the roll F of toilet tissue is restrained from spinning when in a dispensing position, due to the fact that the lower outer circumferential edge 12 only, of the roll is in pressure contact with the outwardly inclined upper surface 14 of the base assembly D, as will be explained hereinafter. The friction between the edge 12 and the surface It serves as a brake against spinning of the roll F during dispensing thereof.

With regard to the detailed construction of the first form of dispenser, the housing C thereof is defined by a front wall 16, and two side walls 18 that are afiixed to the back plate A. Walls 18 can either be formed as an integral part of the back plate A or affixed thereto by conventional means. In FIGURE 6 it will be seen that the side walls 18 comprise two interlocking sections and are rigidly connected by spot Welding, or the like.

To reinforce the positioning of the housing C relative to the back plate A, it is preferable to provide two extensions 18a which taper downwardly and rea-i'wardly from the side Walls 18 (FIGURE 1) to join the back plate A. The transverse cross section of housing C is unimportant, so

long as it is of sufficient area to house the second roll G within the confines thereof. To lighten the weight of the first form of dispenser, which is desirable from the standpoint of shipping, a central, longitudinally extending portion of back plate A is cut out to define an opening 20 therein, as also shown in FIGURE 1. A number of openings 22 are also formed in back plate A through which the screws 8 extend to atfix the first form of dispenser to the wall B.

A cover I is provided that has a continuous flange 24 depending from the sides and forward portion thereof. Openings are formed in the rear portions of flange 24. Pins 26 extend outwardly from the side walls 18 to pivotally engage these openings and support the cover I from the side walls. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, a keyoperated lock 28 is supported on the forward interior portion of cover I, and this lock engages a strike 30 afiixed to the upper interior portion of the front wall 16. The lock 28 is operated by inserting a key (not shown) through an opening 32 formed in the cover I, as shown in FIGURE 1. A centrally disposed, downwardly extending dimple 34 is formed in cover I which engages the upper portion of the tubular member E when the cover is in the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The lower portion of back plate A, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, develops into a rectangular section 36 that is substantially narrower in width than the balance thereof. Section 36 (FIGURES l, 3 and 4) is bent outwardly relative to the balance of the back plate A in a direction substantially normal thereto. The section 36 also forms a part of the base assembly D. The balance of the base assembly D, as shown in FIGURE 1, includes an inverted cup-shaped member 37 that is partially defined by a vertically extending tab 38, which by Welding or other conventional means, is rigidly affixed to the lower forward surface of back plate A.

The lower edge of tab 33 develops into a forward and slightly downwardly extending sheet 40, which is at an angle of approximately 2 relative to the horizontal. Sheet 40 defines the surface 14 on which the circumferential edge 12 of roll F rests. Three flanges 42 depend from the sides and forward end of sheet 40, and the lower edges of these flanges develop into outwardly extending lips 44 that are in abutting contact with the upper surface of section 36.

By means of welding beads 46 and 48 (FIGURE 3) the tubular member E is rigidly affixed to the section 36 and sheet 40 to support the member in an upwardly extending position. The elongate tubular member E is further held in this upright position by engagement of the upper open end thereof with the dimple 34 of the cover I, as may best be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The manually operable release H includes an elongate rigid strip 50 that is longitudinally disposed within the confines of the member E (FIGURES 3 and 4). The upper end of strip 50 is affixed to the upper interior portion of member E by conventional fastening means 52. A doubled-over, forwardly extending section 54 of strip 50 serves as a support for the second roll G, as best shown in FIGURE 3. When strip Stl is in a first position as shown in FIGURE 3, the support 54 projects forwardly through an opening 56 formed in the member E. The lower end of strip 50 is bent to define a rearwardly extending finger 58 that can be manually moved through an opening 60 in member B after the cardboard shell of this roll has been torn therefrom. To facilitate removal of shell 10 from member E, the lower forward portion of the tubular member E is formed with a recess 62 (FIG- URE 3) to permit a finger (not shown) of a user to be inserted therein. Exertion of a forward force by the finger causes shell 10 to tear whereby it can be easily removed.

A transversely disposed compressed helical spring 64, best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, extends between the lower rear surfaces of the strip 50 and the adjacent interior surface of member E. The forward end of spring 64 (FIGURE 3) is seated in a recess 66 formed in strip 50, and the rear end of this spring engages a forwardly extending protuberance 69 formed on the member E.

A portion 70 of strip 50 opposite recess 66 projects forwardly. To permit the strip 50 to lie close to the interior of the tubular member E as shown in FIGURE 3, an opening 72 is formed in the tubular member in which the portion '79 is disposed. The opening 72 is provided to permit insertion of a finger (not shown) of a user into the tubular member E to exert a rearwardly directed force on the strip 50 to move the strip from a first position shown in FIGURE 3 to a second position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

It will be apparent that prior to insertion of a finger by a user into opening 72, that the shell 10 of roll F must be manually torn from the tubular member E. It will also be apparent that due to the action of finger 58, the strip 50 cannot be moved from the first to the second position until shell 10 of roll F has been torn from the tubular member E. The inability of the strip 50 to move from the first to the second position until shell 10 has been torn from tubular member E assures that substantially all of the tissue on roll F will be used before roll G is allowed to drop into a dispensing position.

The use and operation of the first form of the invention are relatively simple. The cover I is placed in the open position and the first roll of tissure F is caused to engage the tubular member E. The first roll F is then supported in the housing C by the support 54. Thereafter, strip 50 is manually moved from the first position shown in FIG- URE 3 to the second position illustrated in FIGURE 4. Next, support 50 is disengaged from the lower edge of shell 10 of roll F whereby the roll moves downwardly by force of gravity on tubular member E. Then upon release of the rearward force on strip 50, the spring 64 moves the strip into the first position shown in FIGURE 3 and roll F assumes the position also shown in this figure, with the edge 12 of the roll resting on the forwardly inclined surface 14. Thereafter, the second roll G is slipped onto the tubular member E to be held inside the housing C by the shell 10 thereof which rests on the support 54, and cover I is closed and locked.

First roll P will not spin if the tissure thereon is jerked suddenly, due to the frictional contact that is maintained at all times between the edge 12 thereof and the surface 14. When the first roll F has been depleted, the shell 10 thereof is torn from the roll in the manner previously described.

Strip 50 is then manually moved from the first position shown in FIGURE 3 to the second position illustrated in FIGURE 4 as described. The shell 10 of second roll G is disengaged from support 54 whereby it starts to move downwardly on tubular member E in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. Then upon release of the rearward force on strip 50, the spring 64 moves the strip into the first position illustrated in FIGURE 3, which permits the roll G to drop downwardly due to force of gravity to rest on surface 14 to occupy the same position as that of roll F shown in FIGURE 3. Roll G may then be dispensed in the same manner described in connection with the first roll F. Before depletion of roll G, another roll (not shown) is mounted on the tubular member E within housing C where it rests on support 54.

A modification of the first form of the dispenser is shown in FIGURE 5 in which a strip 50' is provided having a finger asa part thereof which is defined by a doubledover section of the strip which serves the same functions as the finger 58 described above. An extension '78 of the strip 50 projects downwardly through an opening 74 formed in section 36. The extension 78 serves as a trigger to manually move strip 50' from a first to a second position after the shell 10 of roll F has been torn from the tubular member E. This modified form of the dispenser operates in the same manner as the first form thereof, and accordingly, need not be repeated.

A second form K of the dispenser is shown in FIG- URES 7-10 inclusive of the drawings. Dispenser K includes a housing L that has a closed upper end M and an open lower end. A tubular member N depends from the upper end M, and extends downwardly through the housing L, below the lower edge 80 of the housing, a distance slightly greater than the height of one of the rolls of tissue F or G. The housing L is aflixed to a wall B by conventional means.

Two diametrically opposed, tapered openings 82 are formed in the lower portion of tubular member N. Two balls 84 are provided that are of such diameter as to project outwardly from tubular member N a substantial distance when seated in the openings 82 as shown in FIG- URE 9. A bar 86 extends transversely across member N.

The bar 86 is slidably engaged by two longitudinally extending slots 88 formed in a cage 90 that is capable of limited movement within tubular member N. The cage 90 includes two laterally spaced side pieces 92 in which the slots 90 are formed, and a tubular spacer 94 extends between these side pieces. Bar 86 extends through the spacer 94, as shown in FIGURE 9.

Cage 90 also includes an upper hollow portion 96. The upper end of a tensioned spring 98 is connected by conventional means to the hollow portion 96, and by means of a loop 100 formed as a part thereof, the lower portion of spring 98 is connected to the spacer 94. Spring 98 at all times tends to move the cage 90 downwardly.

The lower portion of cage 90 supports a key-operated lock 102 having a transversely movable latch 104, which latch when in a first position shown in FIGURE 9, rests on a strike 106 formed on the interior of tubular member N. When in the first position the latch 104 holds the cage 90 in its first position shown in FIGURE 9.

A first portion 108 of cage 90, when the cage is in the first position, contacts balls 84 and causes them to project outwardly through openings 82. The cage 90 has a second portion 110 above the first portion 100 and narrower in width, and this second portion allows the balls 84 to move inwardly relative to the openings 82 (FIGURE when the cage is moved to a second position.

The lock 102 has a downwardly and outwardly tapered shell 112 afiixed to the lower end thereof, in which a key (not shown) can be extended upwardly to engage the look. When the lock 102 is opened, the latch 104 is disengaged from stroke 106, whereby the spring 90 moves the cage 90 downwardly to the extent that portion 110 thereof is in transverse alignment with openings 82 and the balls 84 can move into the position shown in FIG- URE 10.

A support 0 for rolls of tissue used in the second form K of the dispenser is shown in FIGURE 7. The support 0 includes a tube 114 that snugly and slidably engages the lower end of tubular member N in the manner shown in FIGURE 8. Two diametrically opposed openings 116 are formed in tube 114, into which openings outer portions of the balls 84 can project to removably hold the support 0 on the tubular member N.

Two tabs 118 extend outwardly in opposite directions from the lower portion of tube 114. Two oppositely disposed, upwardly extending slots 120 are formed in the lower portion of tube 114 to facilitate insertion of a key (not shown) in the tapered shell 112 to operate the lock 102. The tube 114 is of such external diameter as to rotatably engage the interior surfaces of the shells 10 of the first and second rolls F and G respectively, when these rolls are mounted on the tubular member E.

The use and operation of the second form K of the dispenser are most simple. The lock 102 is opened to disengage latch 104 from strike 106, and the spring pulls the cage 90 downwardly to bring it into the second position shown in FIGURE 10.

Two rolls of tissue are slid upwardly on the tubular member N to occupy positions similar to those occupied by the rolls F and G on tubular member E. Support O is slid upwardly on tubular member N and through the shell 10 of the lowermost roll of tissue to bring openings 116 into alignment with openings 82.

Cage is then forced upwardly in tubular member N to a position where the spring-loaded latch 104 moves outwardly to seat on the strike 106. As cage 90 is so moved upwardly, the second portion thereof forces the balls 84 outwardly to engage openings 116 and hold the support 0 in place on the tubular member N. The lowermost roll of tissue on tubular member N rests on the tabs 113, and the friction between the roll and the upper surface of the tabs keeps the roll from spinning as tissue is dispensed therefrom. When the tissue on the lowermost roll has been depleted, the shell 10 thereof is torn from the tubular member N and the roll thereabove moved downwardly from the housing L into the dispensing position.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for use in storing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue wrapped on severable cylindrical shells, which dispenser permits the removal of tissue from each of said rolls when moved sequentially to a predetermined first position therein, comprising:

(a) a housing in which at least one of said rolls can be stored, which housing has a lower open end;

(b) a back plate removably attachable to a wall, which back plate supports said housing;

(0) a tubular member substantially parallel to said back plate and spaced forwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to permit movable support of a plurality of said rolls thereon;

(d) a base assembly that projects outwardly from said back plate and supports said tubular member;

(e) first means on said base assembly for frictionally engaging an edge portion of a first one of said rolls when disposed in a first position below said housing wherein tissue is dispensed therefrom, with said frictional engagement preventing useless spinning of said roll in said first position in the event the tissue being dispensed therefrom is subjected to sudden jerks;

(f) second means which are manually operable and hold at least one second roll on said tubular member in a second position within said housing above said first roll; and

(g) third means for preventing manual operation of said second means to permit said second roll to move downwardly by force of gravity towards said first position until such time as said shell on said first roll has been manually removed from said tubular member.

2. A disperser as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface defined on said base assembly.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means includes:

(h) a longitudinally extending strip in said tubular member;

(i) means for rigidly connecting the upper end of said strip to the upper portion of said tubular member; and

(j) a support afiixed to said strip that extends through an opening in said tubular member when said strip is in a first position substantially parallel to the interior surface of said tubular member, with that portion of said support exteriorly of said tubular member having the shell of said second roll resting thereon, which strip when the lower portion thereof is manually moved to a second position disengages said support from said shell of said second roll to permit said second roll to start moving by force of gravity towards said first position.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said third means includes:

(h) a finger disposed in a direction normal to said strip and disposed at the lower end thereof, with the length of said finger being substantially that of the interior diameter of said tubular member, which finger is adapted to move through an opening in said tubular member after a shell of a first roll of tissue has been removed from the exterior thereof.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 2' which further includes:

(k) an extension of said strip situated below said third means, which extension is accessible through an opening formed in said base assembly, with said extension serving as a trigger to move said strip from said first to said second position.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 3 which further includes:

(k) spring means that at all times tends to maintain said strip in said first position.

7. A dispenser for use in storing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue wrapped on severable cylindrical shells, which dispenser permits the removal of tissue from each of said rolls when moved sequentially to a predetermined first position therein, comprising:

(a) a housing wherein at least one of said rolls can be stored, which housing has a closed upper end and an open lower end;

(b) a tubular member depending from said closed upper end which terminates below the lower extremity of said housing a distance greater than the height of one of said rolls, which tubular member has two diametrically opposed first openings formed in the lower portion thereof;

(c) two balls of greater diameter than that of said openings and disposed in said tubular member in transverse alignment with said openings;

(d) a support for a first roll of said tissue that is rotatably mounted on said tubular member and disposed below said housing, which support includes a tube that slidably engages the lower portion of said tubular member, two tabs which project outwardly from the lower end of said tube and on which said first roll is rotatably supported, and two second openings formed in said tube that can be brought into transverse alignment with said first openings; and

(e) longitudinally movable means in said tubular member which, when in a first position places said balls in first position wherein portions of said balls extend through said first and second openings to hold said support in fixed relationship on said tubular member where said rolls can be moved sequentially below said housing and from which tissue thereon can be dispensed, which movable means when moved into a second position disposes said balls in positions where they do not engage said first and second openings to permit removal of said support from said tubular member and positioning of additional rolls thereon for dispensing purposes.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein said movable means includes:

(f) a spring-loaded cage in said tubular member that all times tends to move from said first to said second positions; and (g) a manually operable lock that prevents movement of said cage from said first to said second position until said lock is placed in an unlocked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,224,106 4/1917 Good 242-55.54 2,726,824 12/1955 Birr 24255.42

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DISPENSER FOR USE IN STORING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF TOILET TISSUE WRAPPED ON SEVERABLE CYLINDRICAL SHELLS, WHICH DISPENSER PERMITS THE REMOVAL OF TISSUE FROM EACH OF SAID ROLLS WHEN MOVED SEQUENTIALLY TO A PREDETERMINED FIRST POSITION THEREIN, COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING IN WHICH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS CAN BE STORED, WHICH HOUSING HAS A LOWER OPEN END; (B) A BACK PLATE REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO A WALL, WHICH BACK PLATE SUPPORTS SAID HOUSING; (C) A TUBULAR MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID BACK PLATE AND SPACED FORWARDLY THEREFROM A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO PERMIT MOVABLE SUPPORT OF A PLURALITY OF SAID ROLLS THEREON; (D) A BASE ASSEMBLY THAT PROJECTS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BACK PLATE AND SUPPORTS SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; (E) FIRST MEANS ON SAID BASE ASSEMBLY FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING AN EDGE PORTION OF A FIRST ONE OF SAID ROLLS WHEN DISPOSED IN A FIRST POSITION BELOW SAID HOUSING WHEREIN TISSUE IS DISPENSED THEREFROM, WITH SAID FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT PREVENTING USELESS SPINNING OF SAID ROLL IN SAID FIRST POSITION IN THE EVENT THE TISSUE BEING DISPENSED THEREFROM IS SUBJECTED TO SUDDEN JERKS; (F) SECOND MEANS WHICH ARE MANUALLY OPERABLE AND HOLD AT LEAST ONE SECOND ROLL ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER IN A SECOND POSITION WITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID FIRST ROLL; AND (G) THIRD MEANS FOR PREVENTING MANUAL OPERATION OF SAID SECOND MEANS TO PERMIT SAID SECOND ROLL TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY BY FORCE OF GRAVITY TOWARDS SAID FIRST POSITION UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SAID SHELL ON SAID FIRST ROLL HAS BEEN MANUALLY REMOVED FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.