Dispenser for rolled sheet material

• US 6,964,395 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Richard Paul, Tramontina, Paul Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US10/881,172
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 242/593, 242/597.5, 242/597.6, 242/597.8, 242/597, 206/409
• US Class Current: 242/593
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3818 with a distribution opening which is perpendicular to the rotation axis

Abstract

A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material therefrom is provided and includes a housing having an exit port configured to support a centerflow roll of sheet material therein. The dispenser also includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member, and the sheet of material flows over at least a portion of both the first and second tubular members on a circuitous path to the exit port.

Claims

1. A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing including a base configured to support sheet material thereon, a cover, and an exit port, the base including a first tubular member having an opening therein, the cover including a second tubular member positioned in a confronting relationship with the first tubular member, at least a portion of the second tubular member configured to be positioned within an opening formed in the first tubular member,

wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser flows over a portion of the first tubular member and a portion of the second tubular member on a circuitous path to the exit port.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is adjustable.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is axially adjustable.

4. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is transversely adjustable.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially aligned.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sheet material flows from the housing through the exit port in a circuitous path.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the path is a serpentine path.

8. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the circuitous path includes at least one angle.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the circuitous path includes a first angle and a second angle.

10. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, greater tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.

11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, less tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.

12. A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing including a base configured to support sheet material thereon, a cover, and an exit port, the base including a first tubular member having an opening therein, the cover including a second tubular member positioned in a confronting relationship with the first member, at least a portion of the second tubular member configured to have a smaller diameter than at least a portion of the first tubular member,

wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser flows over a portion of the first tubular member and a portion of the second tubular member on a circuitous path to the exit port.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is adjustable.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is axially adjustable.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is transversely adjustable.

16. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially aligned.

17. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the sheet material flows from the housing through the exit port in a circuitous path.

18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the path is a serpentine path.

19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the circuitous path includes at least one angle.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the circuitous path includes a first angle and a second angle.

21. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, greater tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.

22. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, less tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.

23. A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:

a housing configured to support sheet material therein, the housing including a roll base having a first tubular member and a cover having a second tubular member positioned in a confronting relationship relative to the first tubular member, the housing formed to include an exit port,

wherein sheet material disposed in the dispenser flows on a circuitous path from the housing, across a portion of the first tubular member and a portion of the second tubular member and through the exit port.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is adjustable.

25. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is axially adjustable.

26. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member is transversely adjustable.

27. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially aligned.

28. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the sheet material flows from the housing through the exit port in a circuitous path.

29. The dispenser of claim 28, wherein the circuitous path includes at least one angle.

30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein the circuitous path includes a first angle and a second angle.

31. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, greater tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.

32. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein when the at least one angle is adjusted to include fewer degrees therein, less tension and frictional resistance is created in the flow of sheet material on the path.