Dispenser for rolled sheet material
First Claim
1. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing for containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including a first wall having a closed guide track, and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough, said guide track having opposed vertical surfaces, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
a guide mandrel, said guide mandrel having a first portion slidably retained between said opposed vertical surfaces, said upper surface and said lower surface of said guide track, and a second portion positionable within the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material; and
a support member, said support member being mounted for rotation about a first axis located below the axis of rotation of the roll, said support member positioned adjacent said opening in contact with the periphery surface of the roll, and supporting the roll during the dispensing of the flexible sheet material from the roll.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material from jumbo-sized rolls. The dispenser includes a housing containing a roll to be dispensed, and protecting the roll from the environment and from vandalism. The housing includes an opening at the bottom thereof to permit a user to withdraw the flexible sheet material. The dispenser includes at least one support roller adjacent the opening. Each support roller supports the roll by its lower periphery, facilitates the rotation of the roll, and maintains a portion of the periphery of the roll adjacent the opening. The housing further includes a wall, with a guide track, which is mounted to a restroom stall wall or another supporting surface. The dispenser also includes a guide mandrel which is slidably retained within the guide track, and is located inside the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material. The guide mandrel and guide slot direct the roll along a predetermined path during the entire dispensing of sheet material, and also assure that the roll is maintained in its proper position adjacent the dispenser opening. In addition, the support rollers, the guide slot, and the guide mandrel facilitate the withdrawal of sheet material from the dispenser and reduce the amount of force required to rotate the roll. This permits the sheet material on the roll to be perforated into sections along its length, which in turn, eliminates the need for any sharp or serrated edges normally used for tearing the sheet material.
48 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing for containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including a first wall having a closed guide track, and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough, said guide track having opposed vertical surfaces, an upper surface, and a lower surface; a guide mandrel, said guide mandrel having a first portion slidably retained between said opposed vertical surfaces, said upper surface and said lower surface of said guide track, and a second portion positionable within the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material; and a support member, said support member being mounted for rotation about a first axis located below the axis of rotation of the roll, said support member positioned adjacent said opening in contact with the periphery surface of the roll, and supporting the roll during the dispensing of the flexible sheet material from the roll. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing for containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including a first wall having a guide track, and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough; a guide mandrel, said guide mandrel having a first portion slidably retained within said guide track, and a second portion positionable within the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material; and a support member, said support member being mounted for rotation about a first axis located below the axis of rotation of the roll, said support member positioned adjacent said opening in contact with the periphery surface of the roll, and supporting the roll during the dispensing of the flexible sheet material from the roll; wherein mid housing includes a bottom, said opening located at the bottom of the housing for dispensing the flexible sheet material out through the bottom of the housing, said first wall having mounting means for mounting the dispenser to a supporting surface; and wherein said housing further includes a second wall generally opposed from said first wall, said guide mandrel having an end on the second portion distal from said first portion, said distal end located between said first and second walls and spaced a predetermined distance from said second wall.
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17. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing for containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including a first wall having a guide track, and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough; a guide mandrel, said guide mandrel having a first portion slidably retained within said guide track, and a second portion positionable within the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material; and a support member, said support member being mounted for rotation about a first axis located below the axis of rotation of the roll, said support member positioned adjacent said opening in contact with the periphery surface of the roll, and supporting the roll during the dispensing of the flexible sheet material from the roll; wherein said dispenser includes surfaces for permanently retaining said guide mandrel within said guide track. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser adapted to be mounted to a planar supporting surface, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including first and second opposing walls and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough, said first wall being adapted for attachment to the planar supporting surface; a guide track on said first wall defining a path of travel for the roll as it is being dispensed; a guide mandrel positioned within the hollow core of the roll, said guide mandrel having opposing first and second end portions, said first end portion retained within said guide track for slidable movement with respect thereto, and said second end portion located within the housing between said first and second walls; a first support member contacting the periphery surface of the roll and supporting the roll during the dispensing of flexible sheet material; and a second support member spaced from said first support member, said second support member contacting the periphery surface of the roll and supporting the roll during the dispensing of flexible sheet material. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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- 22. The dispenser of claim further comprising spacing means on said first wall for spacing the guide track a predetermined distance away from the planar supporting surface permitting the guide mandrel to travel within the guide track without hinderance.
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24. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser adapted to be mounted to a planar supporting surface, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including first and second opposing walls and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough, said first wall being adapted for attachment to the planar supporting surface; a guide track on said first wall defining a path of travel for the roll as it is being dispensed; a guide mandrel positioned within the hollow core of the roll, said guide mandrel having opposing first and second end portions, said first end portion retained within said guide track for slidable movement with respect thereto, and said second end portion located within the housing between said first and second walls; and a support member contacting the periphery surface of the roll and supporting the roll during the dispensing of flexible sheet material; wherein the planar supporting surface defines a first plane, said support member supporting said roll such that the axis of rotation of the roll is perpendicular to the first plane; further comprising spacing means on said first wall for spacing the guide track a predetermined distance away from the planar supporting surface permitting the guide mandrel to travel within the guide track without hindrance; wherein said spacing means includes a plurality of raised spacer members on said first wall, said plurality of raised spacer members spacing the first wall a predetermined distance away from the planar supporting surface.
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25. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an initial diameter of at least eight inches, an axis of rotation, a periphery surface, and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing, said housing sized for containing the roll of flexible sheet material, said housing includes an opening for withdrawal of sheet material therethrough; and roll supporting and guiding means for supporting the roll by its periphery during the entire dispensing of sheet material and for guiding the roll along a predetermined path during the entire dispensing of sheet material, whereby a portion of the periphery of the roll is maintained adjacent the opening during the entire dispensing of sheet material from the roll; said roll supporting and guiding means includes;
a first support member located below the axis of rotation of the roll and adjacent the opening for contacting and supporting the periphery of the roll during the dispensing of flexible sheet material from the roll, a second support member spaced from said first support member and located below the axis of rotation of the roll and adjacent the opening for contacting and supporting the periphery of the roll during the dispensing of flexible sheet material from the roll, a guide track, and a guide mandrel slidably retained within mid guide track, the guide mandrel positioned within the hollow core of the roll, said first and said second support members rotatably mounted to said housing.
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26. A dispenser for storing and dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll having an axis of rotation, a periphery surface and a hollow core, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing for containing the roll of flexible sheet material to be dispensed, said housing including a plurality of walls including a first wall having a guide track for guiding the movement of the roll as it is dispensed, and an opening for dispensing the flexible sheet material from the roll therethrough, said housing containing only one guide track for guiding the movement of the roll as it is dispensed; a guide mandrel, said guide mandrel having a first portion slidably retained within said guide track, and a second portion positionable within the hollow core of the roll of flexible sheet material; and a support member, said support member being mounted for rotation about a first axis located below the axis of rotation of the roll, said support member positioned adjacent said opening in contact with the periphery surface of the roll, and supporting the roll during the dispensing of the flexible sheet material from the roll. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification