Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 Spindle for a Rolled Material Dispenser
BACKGROUND
The present invention generally relates to rolled
material dispensers and particularly to an improved
5 spindle for existing dispensers for rolled material such
as toilet paper.
Unauthorized removal of toilet paper from dispensers
is a major problem in commercial and public restrooms.
Specifically, increased costs result from theft of toilet
10 paper from such restrooms. Further, the toilet paper is
often used in vandalism in the restrooms or in adjacent
areas, resulting in additional cost for cleaning or
213024
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1 repair. various approaches exist to prevent or reduce
unauthorized removal of toilet paper from dispensers.
Many of these approaches involve specially designed
dispensers including locking systems having keys. Such
5 approaches were generally disadvantageous because they
may not be utilized in existing dispensers and generally
required the use of keys or the like by restroom
maintenance personnel to place toilet paper in the
dispensers.
10 Another problem faced in commercial and public
restrooms is the premature replacement of partial toilet
paper rolls with new rolls. Thus, the casts of toilet
paper for the restroom are increased because of the
inefficient use of less than the entire roll.
15 Thus, a need has arisen for dispensers which prevent
the unauthorized removal of toilet paper and like rolled
material which does not require keys or the like and
which is of a simple construction. Further, a need has
arisen for a method for preventing unauthorized removal
20 of toilet paper which may be utilized in existing
dispensers without replacement. Additionally, a need has
arisen for a dispenser which prevents premature
replacement of partial rolls of rolled material with new
rolls.
25 SUMMARY
The present invention solves these needs and problems
in the dispensing of rolled material such as toilet paper
by providing, in its most preferred form, an improved
spindle extending between and held by recesses formed in
30 the side members of a rolled material dispenser. The
spindle includes a sleeve telescopically received in the
second end of a core having a length generally equal to
the spacing between the side members. The sleeve is
biased to telescope from the core such that the first
35 end of the core and the sleeve are held by the recesses
of the side members of the dispenser. Access to the
2130524
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1 sleeve is provided only at a location intermediate the
core and which is overlain by the rolled material while
access to the sleeve is effectively prevented adjacent
the second end of the core and the second side member.
Therefore, in order to remove the spindle from the
dispenser, it is necessary to remove the rolled material
to obtain access to the sleeve to allow its removal from
the recess of the side member.
It is thus an object of the present invention to
provide a novel spindle for use in a dispenser for
dispensing rolled material.
It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle which effectively prevents the
unauthorized removal of the rolled material.
15 It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle which effectively prevents
premature replacement of partial rolls of rolled
material.
It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle not requiring keys or the
like.
It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle which is of simple
construction.
25 It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle which may be utilized in
existing dispensers without modification thereto.
It is further an object of the present invention to
provide such a novel spindle which is adjustable to fit
30 different dispensers.
These and further objects and advantages of the
present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of an illustrative
embodiment of this invention described in connection with
35 the drawings.
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1 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrative embodiment may best be described by
reference to the accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a toilet paper
dispenser utilizing a spindle according to the preferred
teachings of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the
spindle of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the
10 dispenser and spindle of Figure 1 according to section
line 3-3 of Figure 1.
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the
basic teachings of the present invention only; the
extensions of the Figures with respect to number,
15 position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to
form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will
be within the skill of the art after the following
teachings of the present invention have been read and
understood. Further, the exact dimensions and
20 dimensional proportions to conform to specific force,
weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise
be within the skill of the art after the following
teachings of the present invention have been read and
understood.
25 where used in the various figures of the drawings,
the same numerals designate the same or similar parts.
Furthermore, when the terms "first", "second"
end ,
"free", "side", "surface", "longitudinally" "
inside ,
and similar terms are used herein, it should be
30 understood that these terms have reference only to the
structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a
person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to
facilitate describing the invention.
DESCRIPTION
35 An improved spindle for a dispenser for dispensing
rolled material such as toilet paper is shown in the
2130524
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1 drawings and generally designated 10. Dispenser 12 can
be of a variety of conventional forms, an example of
which is shown in Figure 1. Dispenser 12 generally
includes a base 14 adapted to be secured by any desired
5 means such as screws 16 shown to a wall or other support.
Side members shown in the preferred form of parallel arms
18 and 20 project from base 14 to form sides of dispenser
12. The inside surfaces 22 and 24 adjacent the free ends
of arms 18 and 20 facing each other include cylindrical
10 recesses 26 and 28 having a shape, size, and depth. The
rolled material is rotatably supported on and by
spindle 10 which extends into and is supported by
recesses 26 and 28 of arms 18 and 20. It can be realized
that dispenser 12 can have other forms according to the
15 teachings of the present invention in addition to the
form as shown and described.
Spindle 10 according to the preferred teachings of
the present invention includes a cylindrical or tubular
core 30 having a circular cross section which is
20 complementary to but slightly larger than recesses 26 and
28 and having a length generally equal to but slightly
less than the spacing between surfaces 22 and 24 of arms
18 and 20. The first open end 32 of core 30 is held in
first recess 26 of arm 18 and is closed by a plug 34.
25 Plug 34 is formed on core 30 in the preferred form by
adjustably mounting it to core 30 and in the most
preferred form by threadably receiving plug 34 in end 32
of core 30. Plug 34 is cylindrical, has a shape and size
complementary to and for slideable receipt in recess 26
30 of arm 18, and has a length sufficient to extend from end
32 of core 30 into recess 26. In its most preferred
form, the free end of plug 34 includes a diagonal slot 36
for receiving a coin to allow rotation of plug 34 into or
out of end 32 of core 30.
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1 Telescopically received within the second open end
38 of core 30 is sleeve 40. Sleeve 40 is cylindrical,
has a cross-section having a shape and size complementary
to but smaller than core 30, and has a shape and size
5 complementary to and for slideable receipt in recess 28
of arm 20. Sleeve 40 generally includes cylindrical
sidewall 42 having a first open end 44 which is located
intermediate ends 32 and 38 of core 30 when sleeve 40 is
telescopically received within core 30 and having a
10 second closed end 46 for receipt in recess 28 of arm 20.
Sleeve 40 further includes first and second
longitudinally extending tabs 48 having free ends
opposite to closed end 46 and including detents 50. In
the most preferred form, tabs 48 are formed by cutting
15 sidewall 42 along two parallel cuts 52 extending
longitudinally from open end 44 to a location spaced from
closed end 46. Detent 50 is formed in the~most preferred
form by bending the free end of tab 48 outwardly.
Detents 50 are slideably received in longitudinally
20 elongated slots 54 formed in core 30 intermediate ends 32
and 38. It can then be appreciated that end 44 of sleeve
40 is accessible at slots 54 intermediate ends 32 and 38
of core 30.
For biasing sleeve 40 to telescope from open end 38
25 of core 30, a compression spring 56 is provided in the
most preferred form extending between plug 34 and closed
end 46 inside of core 30 and sleeve 40.
Now that the construction and components of spindle
according to the preferred teachings of the present
30 invention have been set forth, the use and subtle features
of spindle 10 can be explained and appreciated. For
purposes of explanation, it will be assumed that spindle
10 is removed from dispenser 12. It can be appreciated
that although spring 56 biases sleeve 40 out of core 30,
35 detents 50 of sleeve 40 abut the ends of slots 54
adjacent end 38 of core 30 to prevent sleeve 40 from
2L3a524.
1 sliding out of core 30. Thus, spindle 10 is a single
piece which is not normally separated in the preferred
form of the present invention.
After a roll of toilet paper has been placed upon
5 spindle 10, spindle 10 can be angled in dispenser 12 such
that plug 34 is aligned with and inserted into recess 26
of arm 18 and the toilet paper is located intermediate
arms 18 and 20. Sleeve 40 may then be telescoped within
core 30 by pressing on end 46 until end 46 of sleeve 40
10 is located generally within or coplanar with end 38 of
core 30. At that time, spindle 10 can be pivoted within
dispenser 12 about plug 34 in recess 26 until end 46 of
sleeve 40 inside of core 30 extends partially over inside
surface 24 of arm 20. Pressure may then be removed from
15 sleeve 40 as arm 20 will hold sleeve 40 within core 30.
Spindle 10 can then be continued to be pivoted within
dispenser 12 until open end 38 and sleeve 40 are aligned
with recess 28 of arm 20. Due to the biasing of sleeve
40 within core 30 by spring 56, sleeve 40 will telescope
20 from open end 38 of core 30 into recess 28 of arm 20.
It can then be appreciated that with the toilet paper
roll in place on spindle 10, spindle 10 according to the
teachings of the present invention can not be removed
from dispenser 12 to thus prevent removal of the toilet
25 paper roll therefrom. Specifically, the toilet paper
roll overlies slots 54 of core 30 and detents 50 of
sleeve 40 located therein to prevent sleeve 40 from being
telescoped in core 30 by pushing against detents 50. It
can then be appreciated that slots 54 and detents 50 are
30 designed to be intermediate ends 32 and 38 at a location
to prevent finger access through the space between the
core of the toilet paper roll and core 30. It can be
further appreciated that in many dispensers, arms 18 and
20 or other members in which recesses 26 and 28 are
35 located generally abut with the toilet paper roll and
thus block the space between the core of the toilet paper
213052
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1 roll and core 30 to thus prevent or otherwise restrict
access thereto.
Due to the length of core 30 being generally equal to
the spacing between surfaces 22 and 24 of arms 18 and 20,
5 limited or restricted access effectively prevents access
to sleeve 40 between end 38 of core 30 and surface 24 of
arm 20. Thus, due to this limited or restricted access,
it is not possible to telescope sleeve 40 into core 30
with a finger or other object such as a screwdriver or
10 knife. As long as sleeve 40 extends out of core 30 into
recess 28 and is not telescoped therein, spindle 10 and
the toilet paper roll thereon can not be removed from
dispenser 12.
Spindle 10 according to the teachings of the present
15 invention is further advantageous due to the
adjustability provided by plug 34. Specifically, limited
or restricted access to sleeve 40 is the result of the
close proximity of open end 38 to inside surface 24 of
arm 20 due to the preferred length of core 30. By
20 turning plug 34 into or out of open end 32 of core 30,
the effective length of core 30 or in other words the
spacing of open end 38 from inside surface 24 can be
adjusted to compensate for differences in spacing between
surfaces 22 and 24 of arms 18 and 20 of the particular
25 dispenser 12 in which it is desired to utilize spindle 10
according to the teachings of the present invention. It
can be appreciated that even if plug 34 is turned out of
end 32 a sufficient distance to space end 32 from inside
surface 22 of arm 18 to allow access therebetween to plug
30 34 with an object such as a screwdriver, such access will
not in any way facilitate telescoping sleeve 40 within
core 30 which is required to remove spindle 10 from
dispenser 12 according to the teachings of the present
invention. Further, due to the generally cylindrical
35 shape of recesses 26 and 28, core 30, plug 34, and sleeve
40, rotation of plug 34 relative to core 30 in order to
2130524
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1 shorten the effective length of core 30 while spindle 10
is located in dispenser 12 especially with a roll of
toilet paper located thereon is effectively prevented.
After the toilet paper has been utilized from the
roll, typically a paper core will remain on spindle 10
located in dispenser 12. This paper core may be torn by
the maintenance personnel to expose detents 50. Access
to sleeve 40 may then be obtained by pushing on detents
50 such that sleeve 40 may be telescoped into core 30 and
out of recess 28 of arm 20 according to the teachings of
the present invention. While sleeve 40 is within core
30, spindle 10 may be removed from between arms 18 and
20. At that time, any remaining portions of the paper
core of the toilet paper roll can be removed from spindle
10 and a new roll of toilet paper placed on spindle 10
for placement in dispenser 12 according to the teachings
of the present invention.
It can then be appreciated that unauthorized removal
of a roll of toilet paper from dispenser 12 is prevented
utilizing spindle 10 according to the teachings of the
present invention. Specifically, as it is unlikely a
potential thief will unroll the toilet paper from the
roll, prevention of removal of the toilet paper roll with
the paper core and/or toilet paper roll intact will
effectively prevent theft of toilet paper. Further,
maintenance personnel will be less likely to prematurely
replace partial rolls of toilet paper with new rolls also
due to the requirement that the paper core and any
remaining toilet paper rolled thereon to be at least
partially torn to obtain access to detents 50 to allow
removal of spindle 10 according to the preferred
teachings of the present invention.
Spindle 10 according to the teachings of the present
invention will replace the telescoping style spindles
currently utilized in various forms of existing
dispensers 12. Thus, manufacturers of dispensers 12 can
213Q524
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change over to utilize spindle 10 according to the
teachings of the present invention with only minor
capital costs. More importantly, spindles 10 according
to the teachings of the present invention may be utilized
in existing dispensers 12 which have been previously
installed without modification thereto. Thus, it is
not
necessary to replace existing dispensers 12 to obtain
the
advantages of preventing unauthorized removal of toilet
paper rolls.
Similarly, spindle 10 according to the teachings of
the present invention is of a simple design which can
be
economically manufactured and assembled. Specifically,
spindle 10 in its most preferred form may be formed
in a
similar manner as telescoping style spindles currently
utilized. Further, it can be appreciated that the locks,
keys, hinged portions, and other structures utilized
in
prior theft prevention dispensers are not required or
utilized in the most preferred form of the present
invention.
As it is necessary to at least partially tear the
paper core of the toilet paper roll, it would be
beneficial to utilize toilet paper rolls having easily
tearable cores such as of the type shown in U.S. Patents
972,667 and 3,214,014 or in Canadian Patent No.
1,332,830, to utilize coreless toilet paper tolls such
as of the type shown in U.S. Patent 4,487,387 or the
like to reduce the time and effort of maintenance
personnel to obtain access to detents 50 after the toilet
paper has been spent from the roll.
Now that the basic teachings of the present invention
have been explained, many extensions and variations
will
be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art.
For
example, although spindle 10 has been shown and described
in connection with dispensing toilet paper in the most
preferred form, the teachings of the present invention
may have application in the dispensing of other rolled
material such as but not limited to paper towels.
A
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1 Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from
the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of
which forms have been indicated, the embodiments
5 described herein are to be considered in all respects
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the
invention is to be indicated by the appended claims,
rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes
which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
what is claimed is:
