Dispenser for multiple rolls of sheet material

• US 6,959,891 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Westcott, Troy E., Haase, Paul A., Kapiloff, David W., Phelps, Stephen L., Haen, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANGDON, EVAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/190,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 242/597, 242/597.5, 242/597.8, 242/594, 242/594.5, 242/591, 651/2
• US Class Current: 242/597.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3836 with roll spindles which are supported at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/324 Jumbo rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/326 dispensing simultaneously from several rolls or stacks

Abstract

A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds at least one roll of sheet material therein. The housing has a portion of an outer surface which is positioned against a support surface. The housing also has an opening defined by a perimeter configured to provide two hub positions. The dispenser also has a hub configured to receive at least one roll of sheet material. The hub has a first end and a second end. The first end is positioned to extend through at least a portion of one hub position. The hub has a flange which is positioned radially around at least a portion of the hub near the second end. The flange has a perimeter which is larger than the perimeter of the hub positions, and is supported against the outer surface of the housing. The hub is configured to be positioned to hold one of a jumbo roll, a mid-sized roll, and a stub roll.

Claims

1. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, comprising:

a housing having a lower end and an internal compartment configured to hold at least two rolls of sheet material therein and formed to include an exit port, the housing having an outer surface positioned against a support surface, the outer surface having two spaced-apart openings therein, each opening defined by a perimeter; and

a first hub and a second hub, each first and second hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon, each first and second hub having a first end and a second end, the first end of each first and second hub positioned to extend through one of the openings in the housing, each first and second hub including a flange positioned radially around a portion of each first and second hub near the second end thereof, each flange configured to have a perimeter sized larger than the perimeter of each opening, each flange of each first and second hub being supported against the outer surface of the housing, each first and second hub being configured to be removed through one opening in the outer surface and reinserted through one opening in the outer surface into one of two hub positions provided in the perimeter of each opening, each first and second hub having a first end extending into the internal compartment and each flange positioned against the outer surface, each flange cooperating with each opening to position each first and second hub in a horizontal alignment relative to each other in a first hub position to hold two mid-sized rolls in horizontal alignment within the housing, each flange cooperating with each opening to position each first and second hub out of horizontal alignment relative to each other in a second hub position such that the first hub is positioned to hold a jumbo roll and the second hub is positioned to hold a stub roll within the housing.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate.

3. The dispenser at claim 2, wherein each opening and the perimeter thereof is provided in the back plate.

4. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein each flange is configured to be removably coupled to the back plate.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of each opening includes a pair of convex portions.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein each convex portion provides one of two hub positions.

7. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein a retaining rib is provided on the outer surface of the back plate.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein each flange of each first and second hub is positioned in and retained by the retaining rib.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein each flange of each first and second hub has a perimeter larger than the perimeter of each opening but smaller than a perimeter of the retaining rib.

10. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein each first and second hub is configured to be positioned in a perpendicular position relative to the back plate, and wherein each first and second hub is supported by its flange positioned in parallel alignment against the outer surface of the back plate to prevent displacement of each first and second hub.

11. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a lower end and an internal compartment configured to hold at least two rolls of sheet material therein, the housing formed to include an exit port, the housing having an outer surface positioned against a support surface, the outer surface having two spaced-apart openings therein, each opening defined by a perimeter,

a first hub and a second hub, each first and second hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon, each first and second hub having a first end and a second end, the first end of each first and second hub being positioned to extend through one of the openings in the housing, each first and second hub including a flange positioned radially around a portion of each first and second hub near the second end, each flange configured to have a perimeter sized larger than the perimeter of each opening, each flange of each first and second hub being supported against the outer surface of the housing, each first and second hub being configured to be removed through one opening in the outer surface and reinserted through one opening in the outer surface in one of two hub positions provided in the perimeter of each opening, each first and second hub having a first end and extending into the internal compartment, each flange positioned against the outer surface and each flange cooperating with each opening to position each first and second hub in a first hub position in horizontal alignment relative to each other to hold two mid-sized rolls in horizontal alignment within the housing, each flange cooperating with each opening to position each first and second hub in a second hub position out of horizontal alignment relative to each other such that the first hub is positioned to hold a jumbo roll and the second hub is positioned to hold a stub roll, the first hub and the second hub positioned in an oblique alignment relative to the lower end of the housing.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein each opening and each perimeter thereof are provided in the back plate.

14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein each flange is configured to be removably positioned in parallel alignment against the outer surface of the back plate.

15. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the perimeter of each opening includes a pair of convex portions.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein each convex portion provides one of two hub positions.

17. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein a retaining rib is provided on the outer surface of the back plate.

18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein each flange of each first and second hub is positioned in and retained by at least a portion of the retaining rib.

19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein each flange of each first and second hub has a perimeter larger than the perimeter of each opening but smaller than a perimeter of the retaining rib.

20. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein each first and second hub is configured to be positioned in a perpendicular position relative to the back plate, and wherein each first and second hub is supported by its flange positioned in parallel alignment against the outer surface of the back plate to prevent dislodgement of each first and second hub.