Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11~1'716
Rolled web dispenser with reserve roll escapement means
Technical Field
This invention relates to a holder and dispenser for
rolls of webbed material as used for toilet paper or
towels.
Background Art
Toilets and particularly public toilets are generally
supplied with toilet paper in the form of single rolls
attached to a device for preventing the removal of the
roll while permitting paper to be removed for use. Such
devices come in various forms but generally suffer from
the disadvantage of either the paper being difficult to
remove from the roll or that it is very easy for a person
to spin the roll and use more paper than is necessary.
Maintenance has also been a problem in that once the
single roll of paper has been used, the roll must be
replaced to allow continued normal use of the toilet.
Additionally, the pilfering of rolls in public buildings
constitutes a costly problem and disrupts maintenance
schedules.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention consists of a roll holder and
dispenser comprising a container having two ends with an
aperture through which a roll of webbed material can be
inserted into the container, and at or adjacent one end
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a second, smaller aperture through which a web of material
can be withdrawn from the roll. The container having near
the one end an impeding means for impeding the passage of
a roll within the container towards the one end; and a re-
leasing means whereby a roll can be pushed towards the oneend against the urging of the impeding means. The inven-
tion allows a user to easily remove the webbed paper from
the roll and in quantities that are not excessive. Pro-
visions are also included to allow spare rolls to be safely
B
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stored within the container so that when a roll is emptied the used
roll is discarded and a stored roll can be easily placed in position
for use. The invention provides a container with a relatively long
maintenance period, reduces pilfering, is convenient to use and thus,
is cost effective.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the roll holder and dispenser. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the
preferred roll holder and dispenser. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of
the roll holder and dispenser with a hinged lid on the top end of
container. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the roll holder and dis--
penser with a cover on thE top end of container and a hinge on one of
side walls.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The best ~ode or preferred embodiment for carrying out the in-
vention is depicted in Figures 1 and 2. The figures shows a container
10 comprising a top end 12, a bottom end 14, a front wall 16, a rear
wall 18, a left side wall 20, and a right side wall 22. The container
10 is open at the top endl2 providing a first aperture 24 through
which rolls can be inserted and stored within the container 10.
Slightly below the top end 12 is a first flange 26 angled inwardly at
one side so that a roll can be inserted into the aperture 24 by push-
ing it in past the flange 26, but the angle of the flange 26 being
such that the roll cannot be withdrawn. In other words, the aperture
26 provides a one-way passage into the container 10, preventing un-
authorized withdrawal of a roll from the container 10.
Near the bottom end 14 of the container 10 is a smaller second
aperture 28 extending across the bottom end 14 of the front wall 16
and continuing part way along each side wall 20 and 22. The aperture
28 is just large enough that an empty core or roll can be withdrawn
through the aperture 28. A short distance above the aperture 28 is
situated a second flange 30 for impeding the progress of a roll.
Thus, when a roll is inserted through the first aperture 24, it falls
down until it reaches the flange 30 where the roll is held up between
the flange 30 and the front wall 16. Any further rolls inserted
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through the first aperture 24 will rest on top of this standby roll.
Alternatively, rather than a flange 30, the front wall 16 or
rear wall 18 may be kinked slightly inwardly, substantially all the
way across its width, so that when a roll is inserted through the
first aperture 24, it falls down until it reaches the kink where the
standby roll is held up between the kink and the opposite wall.
A side aperture 32 is situated in a side wall 20 or 22 at the
same level as the kink or flange 30. The side aperture 32 is typi-
cally elongate, being parallel to the edges of the side wall5 and
centrally located in the side wall so that it is aligned with the
core of the standby roll held between the kink or flange 30 and the
opposite wall.
When it is desired to pull the standby roll down to be accessible
through the second aperture 28, it is only necessary to insert a
finger or thumb through the aperture 28 to engage the center core of
the roll and push it downwardly past the kink or flange 30. Once the
roll has passed the kink or flange 30 it will fall to the bottom of
the container 10 where the web of the roll will be accessible to be
withdrawn through the second aperture 28.
As much web as is required can then be withdrawn from the roll
through the aperture 28, but it will be impossible to flick the roll
to set the roll rotating to dispense an inordinately large amount of
web. The roll will simply be resting on the bottom of the container
10 and not on any freely rotatable spindle, and so friction prevents
any free spinning of the roll. The required length of 'he web can be
torn off either at perforations in the web or against either the top
or bottom horizontal edge of the aperture 28.
The container 10 is attached to a wall typically by means of
screws through upper screw holes 34 and lower screw holes 35 where
both sets of screw holes are located in the rear wall 18. Small
apertures can be located in the front wall 16 opposite the screw
holes through which a long screwdriver can be inserted to provide
access to the screws. In the preferred embodiment, however, the
screw holes are near the top 12 and bottom 14 of the rear wall 18,
and since the container is open at the top 12 and at second aperture
28 there is reasonable access provided to the screws without the
necessity of having small apertures in the front wall 16.
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The width of each side wall 20 and 22 of the container 10 is
slightly greater than the width of the roll for which the container
10 is intended to be made. The width of the front wall 16 is
slightly greater than the length of the intended roll.
The present invention is thus ideally suited for use as a toilet
roll dispenser in public toilets. A large stack of toilet rolls can
be stored within the container 10 so that as one roll is used up, the
next in the standby stack can be brought down for use. The toilet
paper is readily accessible but does not lend itself to being with-
drawn in excessive quantities. It is also difficult for any person
to remove the rolls of paper which are in storage and not yet in use.
A full roll cannot be withdrawn through the second aperture 28 since
that aperture is only large enough to permit an empty core or roll,
not a whole roll, to pass through.
The invention can also be used in other applications, such as
for paper towels in an office or a public wash room.
Many modifications to the above are possible within the scope of
the present invention as broadly defined. Some of the other embodi-
ments related to the preferred embodiment follow:
At the top end 12 of one of the side walls 20 or 22 there may be
a circular aperture through which a roll can be inserted into the
container 10. When the container 10 is attached to the wall, the
aperture is preferably on the left hand side of a person facing the
container 10 so that it is relatively difficult for a right handed
person to insert his hand into the aperture and down into the interior
of the container to remove a roll. Also, the fact that the aperture
is only slightly larger than the roll for which the container 10 is
intended, would make it difficult for any person to grab a roll with
his hand and then withdraw it through the aperture. An alternative
form of top opening is an aperture situated near the top on front
wall 16. The front wall 16 opening being particularly pertinent when
the container 10 is recessed into a wall.
The roll obstruction at the lower end of the container 10 could,
instead of being a kink or flange 30 in the front or rear wall, be a
ledge or other protrusion extending inwardly from either wall. Alter-
natively the obstruction may be in a side wall of the container 10
with the "side aperture 32" being in the front wall 16, and the
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second aperture 28 also extending right across a side wall (so that
the rolls are held sideways in the container 10).
Alternatively the obstruction may comprise a flap extending into
the interior of the container 10 but movable to one side against the
urging of a spring or other biasing means, or upon operation of a
handle on the outside of the container 10.
The container 10 may be of any desired length so that any number
of rolls can be stored in the container 10, and any suitable gap can
be left between the top roll and the first aperture 24 to inhibit
re~oval of stored rolls.
One embodiment of the present invention can be provided with a
lid 36 as shown in Figure 3, rather than a theft-proof first aperture
24. The lid would be held by simple hinge pins 38 and could have a
knob 40 to facilitate opening the lid 36. The knob 40 could also in-
clude a locking device if desired. The lid 36 may also be flat asshown in Figure 3 or may be sloping to prevent cigarette butts from
being placed on top of the lid 36. Alternatively, an ashtray may
be built into the top of the lid 36.
The container 10 may be provided near the top end 12,bottom end
20 14,or on one side, or at any position, with an additional compartment
into which smelling salts or deodorant can be placed. This may be
particularly useful for example where the container 10 is used as a
toilet roll holder in a toilet.
At the bottom end 14 the-container 10 ~ay comprise a base, the
25 inner surface of which is textured or roughened to create friction
with the web material of the roll to impede withdrawal of the web so
that it cannot be pulled out too quickly, resulting in possible wast-
age of the web material. The rough surface may be provided by the
material of the container 10 itself being roughened, or by a rough
30 veneer being placed onto the surface of the base.
The second aperture 28 may be provided with a serrated edge to
facilitate the cutting of the roll web. This may be particularly use-
ful for applications where the container 10 holds rolls of paper towe1
material which is not perforated at regular intervals. Either the
35 upper or the lower edge, or both edges, of the aperture 28, may be
serrated.
At the inner rear wall 18 of the container 10 there may be
11~1'7116
situated a curved plate, the curve comprising substantially a quarter
turn having substantially the radius of a full roll of the material
for which the container 10 is proposed to be used. The purpose of
the curv~d plate is to prevent a roll from coming to rest at the rear
of the container 10 once a piece of web has been withdrawn from it,
thus rendering it difficult to reach to withdraw a further length of
web. If the roll has any tendency to move back and forth along the
base of the container the curved plate will cause it to come to rest
nearer the front where it is more easily reached.
The container 10 can also have one or more inspection holes at
its front or side to enable it to be determined readily at a glance
how many rolls remain in the container 10.
If the container 10 lacks a rear wall 18, or if the rear wall 18
does not extend for the full length of the container 10, the wall
against which the container 10 is positioned serves as the back.
The container 10 in this configura~ion, as shown in Figure 4,
incorporates a hinge 42 situated on side wall 20 or 22 or alternative-
ly at the back side of bottom end 14. The container 10 being re-
tained at the other side or end by a lockable device 46 so that the
container 10 can swing away from the wall to reveal the open back
which includes a retaining flange 50 to hold the rolls in place. The
container 10 can then be loaded in the open position and then swung
back against the wall and locked in position to prevent the removal
of any rolls except by withdrawing web through the secondc~o~r ~re28.
B 25 In this case the container 10 need not have a loading first ap4-q~7ic
24 at its top end 12 but can be completely closed by a cover 48 when
locked shut.
Alternatively the container 10 may have a lockable door which
opens at the front wall 16 or either side walls 20 or 22 to enable
the container 10 to be loaded. The door may extend along the full
length of the container 10 or alternatively may be only large enough
to insert one roll at a time. The door can be anywhere between these
two extremes in size.
The bottom end 14 itself may be able to be swung open or locked
closed. When the bottom is open the rolls can be fed into the con-
tainer 10 through the open bottom 14.
In one embodiment the aperture at the bottom end 14 through
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which the web material can be withdrawn may be vertical, the container
10 being arranged so that the rolls are held vertically within it so
that when web material is withdrawn from a roll the roll rotates about
a vertical axis.
Alternatively, the container 10 may be arranged to hold rolls
side by side, rather than one on top of another. In this case, there
is preferably a slot extending the entire length of the container 10
for propelling the rolls sideways towards the end which is provided
with the withdrawal aperture. The slot is preferably, although not
necessarily, along the underside of the container 10. Other means,
such as compression springs, may be used, however, for urging the
rolls towards the appropriate end.
In an alternative arrangement, the container 10 may be provided
with an inner sleeve which is spring loaded within the outer housing.
The inner sleeve may be lockably retained within the housing or re-
leased, the arrangement being such that when the sleeve is released,
it can be withdrawn against the spring bias far enough to enable rolls
to be loaded into the container 10.
In another form of the invention an aperture may be near the top
end of the container 10, the rolls being stored in the lower position
of the container 10 but being able to be pushed up one at a time past
a hinged flap upon which the top roll rests to be accessible through
the aperture. The hinged flap is able to be swung upwardly but not
- downwardly from its normal, horizontal position. A slot may be pro-
vided at the side of the container 10, running substantially the full
length of the container 10, to enable the topmost roll in the stack
to be pushed up past the hinged flap.
Where the container 10 is designed to be used in facilities
comprising several cubicles having thin partitions between them, the
container 10 may be constructed in pairs, each comprising two units
positioned back-to-back so that in use one unit extends out to each
side of the thin partition.
Alternatively, the container 10 may be arranged to be totally
recessed within a wall so that the first aperture 24 is situated in
the front wall and the front wall of the container 10 is substantially
flush with the wall.
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Many other modifications and additional features to the container
10 are also possible without departing from the scope of the present
invention as claimed.
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