Toilet tissue alert system

• US 4,882,568 A
• Filed: 05/25/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David D. Mears, Jerry L. Kyser
• Original Assignee: David D. Mears, Jerry L. Kyser
• Inventors: Mears, David D., Kyser, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/198,505
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/675, 312/37-38, 200/61.16.61.19, 242/57
• US Class Current: 340/675
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/32 Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention teaches a sensing device arrangement for a tissue paper roll to give advance warning when the material forming the roll approaches the end. The present invention uses a sensing arrangement which comprises a bracket, a tissue paper roll retaining member, a means for detecting the end of the tissue roll and a signalling means for indicating the end of the tissue roll. The signalling means is operably connected to and activated by the detecting means, when there is a small amount of paper left on the roll, indicating to an attendant that it is necessary to change the paper roll.

Claims

1. A paper roll holding device and alert system comprising:

a bracket having a back member and two side members, each side member having a notch formed therein;

an elongated tissue paper roll retaining member being retained between the notches in each side member of the bracket;

means for detecting the end of a tissue roll, said means connected to one bracket side member and extending the width of a tissue roll to contact the opposite bracket side member when the tissue roll is depleted; and

a signalling means indicating the end of the tissue roll, the signalling means being operably connected to the detecting means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the detecting means comprises a detecting bar, connected to one side member of the bracket and extending over a tissue roll and above the opposite side member of the tissue paper bracket.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising an electrical power source which is operably connected to the detecting bar and each side member such that when the detecting bar comes into contact with said opposite side member, the signalling means is activated.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a switch located on the bracket, the switch being operably connected to the power source and activated by the detecting bar.

5. A material roll holding device and alert system comprising:

a bracket having a back member and two side members, each side member having a notch formed therein;

an elongated roll retaining member being retained between the notches in each side member of the bracket;

a means for detecting the end of a material roll, said means connected to one bracket side member and extending the width of a material roll to contact the opposite bracket side member when the roll is depleted; and

a signalling means for indicating the end of the material roll, the signalling means being operably connected to the detecting means.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the detecting means comprises a detecting bar, connected to one side member of the bracket and extending over a material roll and above the opposite side member of the bracket.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising an electrical power source, which is operably connected to the detecting bar and to each side member, such that when the detecting bar contacts said opposite side member, the signalling means is activated.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a switch located on the bracket and operably connected to the power source and activated by the detecting bar.