Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding – With supply coil replenishment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-03-20
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding
With supply coil replenishment
C242S597600, C242S597800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202956
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a tissue dispenser apparatus. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a dispenser for dispensing toilet tissue from two rolls on an alternate basis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to employ dispensers holding two or more rolls of toilet tissue or similar sheet material which maintain at least one of the rolls as a reserve roll while the toilet tissue is being dispensed from the other roll. Such devices are usually, but not exclusively, employed in institutional environments such as public rest rooms.
The following United States patents disclose various dispensers of this type: U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,670, issued Nov. 28, 1961, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,816, issued Nov. 30, 1993, U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,699, issued Apr. 18, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,504, issued Oct. 12, 1965, U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,329, issued Dec. 27, 1966, U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,681, issued Mar. 12, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,874, issued Mar. 8, 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,276, issued Jan. 25, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,909, issued May 7, 1968, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,487,763, issued Nov. 8, 1949.
The present invention is characterized by its relative simplicity, reliability, and low manufacturing cost as compared to other dispensers which, for example, can employ relatively complicated structures, including springs, to control access to two or more rolls from which sheet material is to be dispensed. Furthermore, many prior dispensers cannot be utilized to dispense from rolls without cores, i.e. coreless rolls. The apparatus disclosed and claimed herein, on the other hand, is suitable for such purpose. The subject invention also incorporates structure which facilitates roll replenishment, as compared to some dispensing systems which may require considerable time, effort, and experience to accomplish such end.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a dispenser for dispensing tissue paper includes a housing having first and second housing members, with the second housing member being movable relative to the first housing member between an open position for accessing the housing interior and a closed position, and a roll support mechanism including first and second roll support spindles for supporting first and second rolls of toilet tissue in a coaxial relationship, with the first roll of toilet tissue located adjacent to one of the ends of the housing, the second roll of toilet tissue located adjacent to the other end of the housing, and adjacent ends of the rolls of toilet tissue defining a space therebetween. Each roll support spindle includes a support shaft and a sleeve rotatably disposed about the support shaft for insertion into a toilet tissue roll. The dispenser also includes a cover slidably positioned on the second housing member and selectively slidably movable relative to the housing between a first cover location wherein the first roll of toilet tissue is exposed for manual access and the second roll of toilet tissue is not exposed for manual access and a second cover location wherein the second roll of toilet tissue is exposed for manual access and the first roll of toilet tissue is not exposed for manual access. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the cover against slidable movement relative to the housing between the first and second cover locations until substantial depletion of one of the rolls of toilet tissue which is exposed for being dispensed. The locking mechanism includes a toilet tissue roll end engagement member pivotally mounted on the roll support mechanism at a location between the first and second roll support spindles, dependent from the roll support mechanism, and positioned in the space defined by the adjacent ends of toilet tissue rolls supported by the roll support mechanism, and detents on the cover which are engageable with the toilet tissue roll end engagement member.
Another aspect of the invention involves a dispenser for dispensing tissue paper includes a housing having first and second housing members, with the second housing member being movable relative to the first housing member between an open position for accessing the housing interior and a closed position, a support frame mounted within the housing interior, and first and second roll support spindles mounted on the support frame and extending in opposite directions from the support frame for supporting respective rolls of toilet tissue so that a space exists between facing ends of the rolls of toilet tissue. A cover is slidably mounted in the opening in the second housing member and is selectively slidably movable relative to the second housing member between a first cover location in which the roll of toilet tissue supported on the first roll support spindle is exposed for manual access and the roll of toilet tissue supported on the second roll support spindle is covered to prevent manual access, and a second cover location in which the roll of toilet tissue supported on the second roll support spindle is exposed for manual access and the roll of toilet tissue supported on the first roll support spindle is covered to prevent manual access. The cover has at least one detent, and a toilet tissue roll end engagement member is pivotally mounted on and extends from the support frame to be positioned in the space between the facing ends of the toilet tissue rolls. The toilet tissue roll end engagement member includes a first leg and a second leg, with the second leg extending transversely from the first leg and with the toilet tissue roll end engagement member being engaged by the detent on the cover when the cover is urged from the first cover location towards the second cover location. The second leg is adapted to engage the facing end of the tissue roll supported on the second roll support spindle when the cover is urged from the first cover location towards the second cover location prior to substantial depletion of the roll of toilet tissue supported on the second roll support spindle to thereby prevent the cover from being moved to the second cover location.
According to another aspect of the invention, a dispenser for dispensing tissue paper includes a housing having first and second housing members, with the second housing member being movable relative to the first housing member between an open position for accessing the housing interior and a closed position. The second housing member is provided with an opening bounded by an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, and possesses an inner side facing towards the housing interior when the second housing member is in the closed position. The second housing member includes a rib located at the inner side of the second housing member, with the rib being positioned above the upper edge of the opening and extending between opposite ends of the second housing member. A support frame is mounted within the housing interior, and first and second roll support spindles are mounted on the support frame and extend in opposite directions from the support frame for supporting respective rolls of toilet tissue. A cover is slidably mounted within the opening in the second housing member and is selectively slidably movable relative to the second housing member between a first cover location in which the roll of toilet tissue supported on the first roll support spindle is exposed for manual access and the roll of toilet tissue supported on the second roll support spindle is covered to prevent manual access, and a second cover location in which the roll of toilet tissue supported on the second roll support spindle is exposed for manual access and the roll of toilet tissue supported on the first roll support spindle is covered to prevent manual access. The cover has an upper side and opposite ends, and includes one or more housing engaging members located at the upper side of the cover and at the opposite ends of the cover. Each housing engaging member is provided with a slot that receives the rib on the inner side of the second housing member.
A further aspect of the invention
Grasso Kamala J.
Johnson Douglas W.
Johnson Peter D.
Mervar Robert
Moody John R.
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Fort James Corporation
Nguyen John Q.
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