Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Coil holder or support – Radially expansible or contractile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-06-05
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Coil holder or support
Radially expansible or contractile
C242S598500, C242S599300, C242S599400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241180
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of rolled sheet materials, primarily those having individual sheets separated by perforation. More particularly, it concerns an apparatus for holding and dispensing paper towels or toilet paper.
2. Description of Related Art
It is desirable to have a holder and dispenser for rolled sheet materials such as paper towels, toilet paper and the like, in which a roll of sheet material may be pulled down easily to expose a sheet of material, and yet, a single sheet can be torn from the roll with the use of just one hand. Further, it is desirable to tear a single sheet of material without causing unwanted unrolling or free-spooling of additional sheets.
Previous holders and dispensers have largely been unsuccessful in this regard because they often lead to only partial separation of a sheet, or at the other extreme, excessive free spooling of additional sheets. Traditional holder and dispensers often rely upon frictional forces only to control tearing parameters. With traditional devices, a frictional force is applied at a fixed radius, generating a fixed frictional torque that resists a tearing force. On the other hand, tearing forces occur at an outer radius of a paper roll, generating a tearing torque that varies directly with the diameter of the roll of paper at the tear point.
Also retarding the unrolling of paper is the moment of inertia of the rolled sheet material itself. As the roll becomes thinner, this moment of inertia decreases. Traditional holder and dispensers often suffer from the familiar problem of unwanted spooling of extra sheets of paper when the roll is almost empty, particularly when the amount of paper remaining approaches a third to a half of a full roll. Traditional holder and dispensers also suffer from the familiar problem of tearing only a small portion of a sheet, rather than an entire perforated sheet, when a roll of paper is almost full.
Problems pointed out in the foregoing are not intended to be exhaustive but rather are among many that tend to impair the effectiveness of previously known holders and dispensers of rolled sheet material. Other noteworthy problems may also exist; however, those presented above should be sufficient to demonstrate that previous techniques appearing the art have not been altogether satisfactory, particularly in providing for tearing of complete sheets from a roll without unwanted spooling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one respect, the invention is an apparatus for holding and dispensing sheet material from a roll. The apparatus includes a core element and a frame. The core element is configured to support the roll. The core element includes a rod and a plurality of spring members. The spring members are coupled to the rod and extend in arcuate conformation along at least a portion of the rod. The frame is configured to support the core element. The frame includes a pair of opposing side members and opposing grooves. Each of the side members has a front edge and a facing side. The opposing grooves are defined within the facing sides and are contiguous with the front edges. The opposing grooves are configured to cooperatively receive the rod. The grooves define a wedge configured to pinchingly engage the rod to increase a friction force between the rod and the grooves upon rotation of the rod. The core element has a moment of inertia complementing the friction force to retard rotation of the roll and to facilitate tearing of the sheet material from the roll.
In other aspects, the sheet material may include paper towels. The sheet material may include toilet paper. The apparatus may also include a pair of end bells coupled to the rod and arranged in spaced relation. The end bells may include one or more segments. The plurality of spring members may be secured between the segments. At least a portion of an outer surface of the rod may include a material having a gripping coefficient of friction greater than that of a material comprising the bulk of the rod. The rod may include metal. The rod may include plastic. The rod may include wood. The rod may be hollow.
In another respect, the invention is an apparatus for holding and dispensing sheet material from a roll. The apparatus includes a core element and a frame. The core element is configured to support the roll. The core element includes a rod, a pair of end bells, and a plurality of spring members. The pair of end bells are coupled to the rod and arranged in spaced relation. The plurality of spring members are coupled to the pair of end bells and extend in arcuate conformation along at least a portion of the rod. The frame is configured to support the core element. The frame includes a base; a pair of opposing, generally parallel side members; and opposing grooves. The pair of opposing, generally parallel side members are coupled to the base, and each of the side members has a front edge and a facing side. The opposing grooves are defined within the facing sides and are contiguous with the front edges. The opposing grooves are configured to cooperatively receive the rod. The grooves define a wedge having a first acute angle, and the wedge is configured to pinchingly engage the rod to increase a friction force between the rod and the grooves upon rotation of the rod. The grooves define a second acute angle with respect to the front edges. The core element has a moment of inertia complementing the friction force to retard rotation of the roll and to facilitate tearing of the sheet material from the roll.
In other aspects, the rod may be heavier than the end bells. The weight of the rod may be concentrated at an outer radius of the rod. At least a portion of an outer surface of the rod may include a material having a gripping coefficient of friction greater than that of a material comprising the bulk of the rod. The first acute angle may be about 30 degrees. The second acute angle may be about 45 degrees.
In another respect, the invention is an apparatus for holding and dispensing sheet material from a roll. The apparatus includes a core element and a frame. The core element is configured to support the roll and includes a rod, a pair of end bells, and a plurality of spring members. The pair of end bells is coupled to the rod and arranged in spaced relation. The plurality of spring members are coupled to the pair of end bells and extend in arcuate conformation along at least a portion of the rod. The frame is configured to support the core element and includes a base; a pair of opposing, generally parallel side members; and opposing grooves. The pair of opposing, generally parallel side members are coupled to the base, and each of the side members has a front edge and a facing side. The opposing grooves are defined within the facing sides and are contiguous with the front edges. The opposing grooves are configured to cooperatively receive the rod. The grooves define a wedge having an angle of about 30 degrees, and the wedge is configured to pinchingly engage the rod to increase a friction force between the rod and the grooves upon rotation of the rod. The grooves define an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the front edges. The core element has a moment of inertia complementing the friction force to retard rotation of the roll and to facilitate tearing of the sheet material from the roll.
Other features and advantages of the disclosed method and apparatus will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been applied to like elements, in which:
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patent: 805011 (1905-11-01), Gomber
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patent: 1973354 (1934-09-01), Nedberg
patent: 2248716 (1941-07-01), Markle, Jr.
patent: 2650773 (1953-09-01), Fanning
patent: 3165772 (1965-01-01), McGinley
patent:
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Nguyen John Q.
LandOfFree
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