US3642336A

US3642336A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US3642336A
Application number: US766459A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilfred G Harvey Sr
Original assignee: Globe Rubber Products Corp
Current assignee: Globe Rubber Products Corp
Priority date: 1968-10-10
Filing date: 1968-10-10
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15

Abstract

A cabinetlike dispensing device is provided, for containing rolls of wrapping products, such as metal foil, plastic wrap, waxed paper and the like. The cabinet also has provisions for carrying an additional roll, for example of paper towels suspended therebeneath.

Description

United States Patent Harvey, Sr.

[ 5] Feb. 15,1972

1541 DISPENSING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Wilfred G. Harvey, Sr., Green Brook, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Globe Rubber Products Corp., Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1968 [21] Appl. No.: 766,459

[52] US. Cl ..3l2/37, 312/40 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 19/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..312/37, 39, 348, 40, 41, 300,

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Curry ..242/55.2

2,905,404 9/ l 959 Simmons ..242/55.2 2,647,577 8/1953 White ....312/39 X 2,386,408 10/1945 Schiff ..242/55.3

- 2,246,342 6/1941 Brown .312/311 X 118,968 9/1871 Newton ..312/40 221,307 11/1879 Hirsch ..312/348 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Att0rney-Paul & Paul [57] ABSTRACT A cabinetlike dispensing device is provided, for containing rolls of wrapping products, such as metal foil, plastic wrap, waxed paper and the like. The cabinet also has provisions for carrying an additional roll, for example of paper towels suspended therebeneath.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 3. 642.336

SHEET 1 BF 3 I INVENTOR. Wilfred 6. Harvey, Sr.

Y fwz m ATTORNEYS.

PAIENIEDFEB 15 m2 SHEET 2 [1F 3 III/II/I/IIIII l [I I l I I l I I I I I I I III I/// R3] INVENTOR.

Wilfred G. Harvey, Sr- WWA M ATTORNEYS.

DISPENSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, it has become commonplace that kitchens of today's households generally contain various assortments of wrapping material for various purposes, such as the wrapping of food products against spoilage for refrigeration, the wrapping of sandwiches, and similar functions, generally directed toward the prevention of food spoilage and the maintenance of kitchen cleanliness. .Examples of such wraps are metal foils, such as aluminum foil, plastic wraps such as that type known by the trademark Saran-wrap, and waxed paper, all of which are generally purchased in sheets which are wrapped about cylindrical rolls and stored in rectangular cardboard boxes, such boxes generally having a metal or cardboard toothed edge for severing a strip of sheet material to desired length upon grasping a free end of the material and unrolling'the same within the box. Generally the storage of a plurality of individual such rolls presents a problem, in that, for example, ones hands could be wet .or greasy, for example holding a freshly cut piece of meat, head of lettuce, or the like, and one then desires to wrap the same in .a suitable sheet of paper. Often, it is inconvenient to open cabinet doors to look for the appropriate wrapping material, which, when found, often requires two hands to remove a sheet of desired length therefrom. Accordingly, there is present a need for freely dispensing kitchen wrapping material, the solution to which the present invention is particularly directed.

Also, it has become commonplace in kitchens to utilize rolls of paper towels and the like, which must be freely accessible, generally for positioning above a sink or the like.

THE PRIOR ART Permanent containers for rolled wrapping materialshave been developed by the prior art, wherein such materials maybe readily dispensed therefrom, and the rolls replaced as necessary, but such containers have been relatively cumbersome and difficult to operate. Such containers are equally cumbersome with respect to replacing rolls upon their completion. Furthermore, prior art devices have required separate dispensers for each individual type of wrapping material, which generally becomes unsatisfactory, in requiring an inordinate amount of room in the kitchen, if several types of wrapping material are desired. Also, some of the prior art types of dispensing containers have had a facility for containing more than one roll of product, but have had facility for dispensing only a single such roll at a given time. Accordingly, the utility of such devices is extremely limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION device of virtually all customarily rolled kitchen products, at a singular location, and in a singular cabinet arrangement.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel dispensing device in the form of a cabinet or container, wherein a plurality of rolls of rolled product may be retained within a single dispensing zone or cell within the cabinet with each roll being mounted preferably at its ends for rotation thereof during dispensing of sheet material from the roll, and with each roll being positioned for ready removal of material therefrom, even concurrently if desired.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the cell or containing zone is a drawer, forwardly slidable into and out of a 'cabinetlike member.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein the device carries means externally thereof for rotatably dispensing an additional product, such as paper towels, therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein the drawer has a pivotaltray disposed for carrying an unrolled portion of a roll of wrapping material carried therein, the tray being provided with a slot for threading the material therethrough, to overlie the tray.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish all of the above objects, wherein novel mounting means are provided for the rolls, for spring-loading the same, wherein at least one mounting means in each pair has a telescopically movable portion.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following brief description of the drawing figures, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, and the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the dispensing device of this invention, wherein there is illustrated a cabinet having depending sidewalls attached thereto, for carrying a roll of sheet material therebeneath, wherein there is received a drawer, in-

closed position.

, FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the cabinetlike device of FIG. 1, with the drawer removed therefrom, wherein a pair of wrapping rolls are illustrated contained within the drawer, with a tray carried by the drawer being illustrated in an upwardly tilted position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the cabinetlike dispensing device of this invention, taken generally along the line Ill-III of FIG. 1, wherein the assembly details of the various components of the device of this invention, and their relationships to the several wrapping rolls carried thereby, are clearly illustrated.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the cabinet of this invention, wherein there is illustrated the roll-containing drawer of this invention and its pivotal tray, taken generally along the" I line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the cabinet of this invention, wherein there are particularly illustrated the stops carried by the drawer which limit the forward movement of the drawer relative to the cabinet, this view being taken generally along the line VV of FIG. 3.

ponents of the roll-mounting means illustrated in FIG. 6,

wherein the structural details thereof are readily apparent.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated the dispensing device of this invention, generally designated by the numeral 10.

The device 10 includes a cabinet 11 and a drawer 12.

The cabinet 11 includes a top wall 13,

end walls

14 and 15, a'rear wall portion 16, a front wall portion 17 and depending

sidewall portions

18 and 20, which respectively depend from sidewalls l4 and 15. A rear wall connecting portion 21 is provided, connecting opposite

sidewall depending portions

18 and 20. Y

The two

rear wall portions

16 and 21 are provided for attachment of the dispensing device 10 to a kitchen wall, or the like. An adhesive-type fastening tape may be provided, in the form of strips, extending alongthe rear

wall fastening portion

16 and 21, between the opposite cabinet sides, the tape normally being provided with a protecting strip (not shown) which may be removed for installation of the device 10 by exerting firm pressure inside of the

wall portions

16 and 21, to

secure the cabinet 11 to a wall. In the alternative, screw-type fastening devices (not shown) may be used for hanging the cabinet 11 on a wall, if desired. 7

The top wall 13 of the cabinet 11 is configured to define a recess or hollow portion 22 therein, which has been designed to carry other articles, for example, a kitchen radio or the like.

Mounting devices

23 and 24 are carried respectively by associated

transverse supports

25 and 26, each of which extends between the front wall 17 and a lower portion 21 of the rear wall, inwardly of respectively associated depending

sidewall portions

18 and 20. The

mounting devices

23 and 24 carry a roll R of paper towels therebetween for rotation and removal of towels as desired, with a free end of the I roll extending downwardly beneath wall 17 of the cabinet, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A pair of drawer supports 27 and 28 are provided, attached inwardly of respective sidewalls l4 and 15, for slideably carrying the drawer 12 thereon, at opposite ends of the cabinet 11.

The drawer 12 includes a front wall 30, a rear wall 31,

opposite end walls

32 and 33, and a bottom wall portion 34.

The front wall has a knob or pull 35 attached thereto, for opening and closing the drawer 12, as desired. A pair of

opposed cutting edges

36 and 37, comprising metal or plastic teeth or the like, define the upper and lower edges of the drawer front portion 30, respectively, for facilitating the severing of rolled products to be dispensed from the drawer 12, to desired length.

The bottom portion 34 of the drawer 12 includes an elongated strip 38 connecting

drawer sidewalls

32 and 33, with transverse strip 40 connecting the drawer rear wall 31 with the strip 38. A pair of

stop members

41 and 42 are provided extending forwardly of the strip 38, toward the front wall 30 of the drawer 12, with the

stops

41 and 42 having respectively associated depending

portions

43 and 44 carried thereby, but spaced from the drawer front wall 30 a desirable amount such as that illustrated in FIG. 3, for limiting the forward movement of the drawer 12 between that position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3, and the phantom line'position illustrated in FIG. 3. Such forward movement of the drawer 12 is limited by engagement of depending

portions

43 and 44 of respectively associated stops 41 and 42 with the upper inside edge of the cabinet front wall 17, as illustrated in phantom and FIG. 3. When it becomes desirable to tear off a sheet of material from one of the rolls R and R carried inside the drawer 12, the knob 35 may be grasped for opening the drawer 12 a slight amount until an edge of the desired sheet of rolled material may be grasped. The drawer 12 may then be shut to the fullline position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Should it be desired to change or replace one of the rollsR, or R such that it becomes necessary to entirely remove the drawer 12 from the cabinet 1 1, the person effecting such a roll replacement may open the drawer 12 to the amount illustrated by the phantom line position of FIG. 3, in which the

stops

41 and 42 engage the upper inside edge of the cabinet front wall 17, such a person then inserting a finger or the like upwardly between the roll R, and the cabinet front wall 17, to engage each of the

stops

41 and 42, which are sufficiently resilient to be urged slightly upwardly an amount that will permit their respective depending

portions

41 and 42 to clear the uppermost edge of the cabinet front wall 17, whereupon the entire drawer 12 may be removed from the cabinet 11. A tray 45 is provided, pivotally carried by the drawer 12, by engagement of pivot pins 46 and 47, carried by the tray 45, within adjacent drawer sidewalls 32 and 33. Thus, the tray 45 is free to pivot on its

pins

46 and 47, between the vertically upwardly disposed position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the horizontal disposed position illustrated in FIG. 3. The tray 45 comprises a flat member 48, having forward and rearward depending

portions

50 and 51, extending throughout the tray length, between the drawer sidewalls 32 and 33.

A pair of tray stops 52 and 53 are provided, at opposite ends of the tray 45, protruding outwardly from a forwardmost edge of the tray 45, near the forwardly disposed depending portion 50 thereof. The stops 52 and 53 are adapted to engage within associated

respective recesses

54 and 55, upon pivoting of the tray 45 from the position illustrated in FIG. 2, to that illustrated in FIG. 3, whereby the tray 45 may be secured in a horizontal position, after loading of the drawer 12 with rolls R, and R An elongated slot 56 is provided, extending between opposite ends of the tray 45, adjacent the rearwardly depending portion 51, the slots 56 being provided in the flat or generally horizontal portion 48 of the tray 45. A centrally disposed arcuate portion 57 comprises a part of the slot 56,

the arcuately cutout portion 57 being provided to facilitate a user in threading a sheet S of wrapping material from an associated roll R The sheet S is threaded, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to be removed from the roll R when rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 3, with .the sheet S, traversing beneath the rearwardly depending portion 51 of the tray 45, through the slots 56, into overlying relation to the flat portion 48 of the tray 45, and outwardly of the cabinet 11, between a forward portion of the cabinet top wall 13 and the uppermost edge of the drawer front wall 30, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The roll R is mounted for rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, with portions of its sheet S normally engaged between the lower edge of the drawer front wall 30 and the upper edge of the cabinet front wall 17, with the drawer l2 and its closed position. I

In order to remove a portion of the sheet S of the roll R the drawer may be opened slightly for grasping of the outermost edge of the sheet S by the user, with the drawer 12 then being preferably closed, and the sheet S being withdrawn leftward, as viewed in F IG 3, to a desired length. The free end of the sheet S is then drawn downwardly, for severing of the sheet S along the cutting edge 36. Similarly, when the sheet 5;, is to be cut off from the roll R to a desired length, the drawer is opened slightly for grasping of the free end of the sheet 8 and drawing the same outwardly away from the front wall 17. With the drawer then closed, the sheet 8;, is drawn upwardly, for severing of a portion of the sheet S along the cutting edge 37.

The rolls R and R are rotatably carried within the drawer 12 by suitable roll-mounting

means

60, 61, 62, and 63, carried by associated adjacent drawer sidewalls 32 and 33. Each of the mounting means 60, 61, 62, and 63, is adapted to engage within a cylindrical recessed portion at the end of the roll to be carried thereby, in wedging engagement with the end of an associated roll R or R Such roll engagement by its mounting means is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the mounting means 63 is in engagement within a recess 64 of the roll R Each of the mounting means 60, 61, 62, and 63, is substantially identical in construction to each of the mounting means 23 and 24. Each such mounting means comprises a first hollow, generally cylindrical boss 65, protruding from the drawer sidewall 33, toward the opposite drawer sidewall 32. The boss 65 has an annular radially outwardly protruding ring 66 at its free end thereof, and has a bore 67 therein which receives a compression spring 68. A ringlike member 70 is provided comprising a cylindrical sidewall 71, having

slits

72 and 73 therein, extending inwardly from opposite ends thereof to provide a desired amount of resiliency to the member 70, with opposite ends of the member 70 having radially inwardly protruding portions 74, and radially outwardly protruding portions 75. The member 70 is adapted to be telescopically slidable from the outer surface of the boss 65, with the inwardly bent end portions 74 thereof adapted to engage the radially outwardly extending portion 66 of the boss 65, for limiting the axial movement of the members 70 away from the drawer sidewall 33.

A roll-engaging member 76 is provided, comprising a disk 77 which has a bore 78 thereof for receiving the member 70 therein, in axially slidable relation, with the member 77 being limited in axial movement along the number. 70 by engagement of radial innermost bore portion 78 thereof with the radially outwardly protruding portions of the member 70.

The member 77 also includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged tapered surface portions 80, extending inwardly of the ring 77, for wedging engagement within a hollow end portion of an associated roll, R R or R with each wedge portion 80 terminating inwardly in a tapered portion 81, and connecting end wall 82. The radially innermost portion of the end wall 82 has an axially recessed portion 83, about which one end of the spring 68 is seated. Thus, each of the roll-mounting means 63 has a double telescoping arrangement, for axial movement of the components outwardly away from an associated one of the rolls, against the actionof a spring 68, for removal and replacement of the rolls.

It will be noted that the parts illustrated, for example in FIG. 6 and 7, are of plastic construction, for economy of manufacture, with the exception of the spring 68, but that such components may be of any other suitable construction as desired. Also, while the mounting means means 63 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 has been described as pertaining to mounting means for each of the rolls R and R at opposite ends thereof, it will be noted that such mounting means are virtually identical to the mounting means 23 and 24 at opposite ends of the roll R with the singular difference that bosses 65 thereof would be carried by supporting

members

25 or 26 when such mounting means are used to support a roll R Also, while, with respect to a given one of the rolls R R and R the mounting means at each end has been described so as to be identical, it is to be understood that it is conceivable, within the realm of this invention, that one of such mounting means at one end of a roll could be fixed, and only one such mounting means at the opposite end of the roll could be telescopically axially movable, for replacement of a roll, as desired.

The various elements of the cabinet 11 and drawer 12 have been described without particular reference to the material of construction. However, it will be understood that suitable plastic and metal materials, as well as others may be used, as desired, but that plastic construction is believed to be the most economically feasible.

In the particular arrangement of the dispensing device illustrated, the roll R has been illustrated as being a roll of for example, paper towels, with the rolls R and R being illustrated as being wrapping materials. It is also to be understood that in addition to the two rolls R and R illustrated, it is conceivable that a third roll could be provided, similarly mounted within the drawer 12, with the drawer l2 constructed to be sufficiently deep to house such a third roll, if the same were desired.

It has also been found to be desirable, when inserting rolls into the drawer 12 of this invention, that the rearwardmost roll R be of sheet plastic film, if any such roll is to be of plastic film. The forwardmost roll R would then be of aluminum foil, or waxed paper, as desired. It is to be understood however,

that various rearrangements may be made in the rolls, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

While the above has been described as a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of this invention, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the structural details, details of assembly, and manner of use of the device of this invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing device for rolled household products of different diametral sizes constructed for wall-mounting, comprising a cabinet having a drawer slidably mounted therein and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, with two pair of internal rotary mounting means carried by sidewalls of said drawer, with one said pair being located forwardly in said drawer and the other being located rearwardly in said drawer to provide means for end-mounting two rolls of individually dispensable product each of substantially the length of the drawer and of substantially the same diameter, with external rotary mounting means being provided, fixedly carried beneath said cabinet, with said external mountin means bein located generally between and beneath said orwardly an rearwardly positioned internal mounting means in the closed position of said drawer, to provide means for carrying, in hanging relation, a roll of dispensable product of the same general length as the products to becarried in said drawer, but of substantially greater diameter.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, including attachment means on said cabinet for securing said device to a wall.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1, including a generally horizontally pivotal tray mounted across a frontal portion of said drawer between sidewalls, and including a longitudinal slot means therein extending substantially the length of said drawer for threading dispensable product therethrough.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said cabinet is provided with a horizontal upper shelf disposed above said drawer in the closed position thereof.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein each said vertical mounting means comprises two telescopically movable spring-biased members.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said drawer is provided with a front panel having upper and lower edges, including serrations on said upper and lower edges of the front drawer panel.

7. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said drawer is provided with a front panel and including stop means at the bottom of the drawer front panel for engagement with said cabinet for limiting forward movement of the drawer out of the cabinet.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFECE CERTIFEQAEE GE i- 0 Patent No. 3, 642, 336 a d February 15, 1972 Inventor(s) Wilfred G. Harvey, Sr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby Corrected as shown below:

Col. 5, line 4, change "R, R or R" to ---R R Or R Col. 5, line 17, change "mounting means means 63" to '--mounting means 63--.

Col. 5, line 19, change "R and R' to -R and R Col. 5, line 21, change "R" to --R Col. line 24, change "R" to --R Col. line 25, change "R, R and R" to --R R and R Col.

Col. 5, line 39, change "R" to ---R 5, line 40, change "R and R" to ---R and- R Col. line 42, change "R and R" to ---R and R3---,

Col. 5, line 49, change "R" to ---R Col 5, line 50, change "R" to ---R Signed and sealed this 29th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJ LE'ICHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK th stinfl Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1OSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 a u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING DFFICE: I969 0-365-334

Claims

1. A dispensing device for rolled household products of different diametral sizes constructed for wall-mounting, comprising a cabinet having a drawer slidably mounted therein and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, with two pair of internal rotary mounting means carried by sidewalls of said drawer, with one said pair being located forwardly in said drawer and the other being located rearwardly in said drawer to provide means for end-mounting two rolls of individually dispensable product each of substantially the length of the drawer and of substantially the same diameter, with external rotary mounting means being provided, fixedly carried beneath said cabinet, with said external mounting means being located generally between and beneath said forwardly and rearwardly positioned internal mounting means in the closed position of said drawer, to provide means for carrying, in hanging relation, a roll of dispensable product of the same general length as the products to be carried in said drawer, but of substantially greater diameter.