Paper moistener device and moist toilet paper dispenser

• US 5,443,084 A
• Filed: 01/05/1994
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remy Saleur
• Original Assignee: Remy Saleur
• Inventors: Saleur, Remy
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/146,024
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 134/198, 134/201, 134/57 R, 134/56 R, 134/58 R, 134/201, 134/69 R, 134/122 R, 134/197, 15/104.94, 118/325, 118/234
• US Class Current: 134/58.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/32 Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/328 by spraying

Abstract

The invention relates to a humidifying device for hygienic articles such as toilet paper, sanitary towels, etc. and a dispenser of humidified hygienic articles. The aim of the invention is to provide a humidifying device which is usable alone or in a housing or integrated in a distributor of hygienic articles (40). This is achieved by the disclosed humidifying device which is comprised of a refill (2) consisting of a reservoir (3) which has been previously fitted with a vaporization pump (4), and a means for actuating said pump, characterized in that said actuation means is of the electric type and forms with the refill (2) an interchangeable electric assembly (6). The invention applies more particularly to humidified toilet paper dispensers.

Claims

1. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, delivering either a wet or dry paper of the type comprising a casing having means through which paper can pass from inside to outside thereof, a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted be forehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system, the spray pump engaged with the dispenser to effect a spray outside the casing.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that the interchangeable system (6) comprises a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device.

3. Dispenser according to claim 2 characterized in that the trigger means comprise a photo-electric cell disposed near the spray holes of the pump (4) to sense the hand of the user or the toilet paper or sanitary towel that the user is holding in front of the cell.

4. Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that the spray pump (4) is screwed onto the reservoir (3) to enable replacement of the refill (2) of the moistener device.

5. Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that the spray pump (4) is crimped to the reservoir (3) so that the reservoir (3) can be refilled.

6. Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that the moistener device is housed in a support frame (21) having a mobile wall (22).

7. Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a casing (42) with a lid (45) at the front closing all or part of the casing (42) which includes a compartment adapted to receive a supply of toilet paper or other hygiene items.

8. Dispenser according to claim 7 characterized in that it comprises a central compartment (B) in which is disposed a moistener device (1) and two other compartments (A, C) one on each side of the central compartment and in that it has a lid (45) at the front closing off at least two adjoining compartments.

9. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, trigger means comprising a switch (30) disposed on a wall of the support frame (7) so that it is accessible to the user.

10. Dispenser according to claim 9 characterized in that the paper sensor (60) comprises a photo-electric cell connected to the paper guide and cutting system (61) in such a way as to command the feeding of the toilet paper on the guide plate (80).

11. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, the electric pump actuator member being a solenoid (12) operating the lever (15).

12. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, the electric pump actuator member being a motor-gear box (26) for operating the lever (15) by means of a cam (22) rotating on a shaft (24).

13. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, the movement of the lever (15) being damped by a damper system (20).

14. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, a wall of the support frame (7) of the moistener device being mobile to enable replacement of the refill (2).

15. Paper dispenser, more particularly toilet paper or sanitary towel dispenser, of the type comprising a paper moistener device comprising a refill (2) comprising a reservoir (3) fitted beforehand with a spray pump (4) and pump actuator means, characterized in that the actuator means is electrical and with the refill (2) constitute an interchangeable system (6) comprising a support frame (7) provided with a set of units connected to an electrical power supply and comprising a refill (2), an electric pump actuator member which operates on a lever (15) pivoting about an axis (16) and the arm (17) of which actuates the pump (4), and control means for the actuator device, the dispenser further comprising a lid (45) at the front of the casing (42) closing all or part of the casing (42) which includes a compartment adapted to receive a supply of toilet paper or other hygiene items, the casing (42) further comprising means for unwinding a roll of toilet paper automatically.

16. Dispenser according to claim 15 characterized in that the means for unwinding the toilet paper automatically comprises a paper guide and cutting system (61) disposed in a housing (62) under the compartment containing the supply of paper and a paper sensor (60) disposed opposite the paper guide and cutting system (61) at a distance substantially equal to the required length of toilet paper which is supported by a guide plate (80) disposed under the moistener device (1) between the paper guide and cutting system (61) and the paper sensor (60) and substantially perpendicular to the spray plane.

17. Dispenser according to claim 16 characterized in that the paper guide and cutting system (61) comprises adjacent upper and lower drums (66, 70) rotatable on respective shafts (68, 72) which are substantially parallel and mounted on a support (65) and between which the toilet paper is adapted to pass, a motor-gearbox (63) adapted to drive the upper drum (66) through a chain (64) when the paper sensor (60) senses the absence of paper in order to feed the toilet paper on the guide plate (80) and a paper cutter (75) for cutting the toilet paper, this set of units being disposed in the housing (62) to reduce the overall size and being connected to an electrical power supply.