Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: Slit Sheet Tensioning Device
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[001] Cross-13eference to related App_ilpations
This application claims the benefit of provisional application 62/641,352,
filed
03/11/2018 and is a continuation-in-part of non-provisional patent application
15/428,144 filed 02-08-2017, and is a continuation-in-part of non-provisional
patent application 15/820,514, filed, 01-02-2018, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference in their entirety, referenced and recited herein as
if in
full as part of the description of the present invention. The disclosures of
patent
applications 14/480,319 filed 09-08-2014 (US 2016-0067938), and 15/001,168
filed 01-19-2016, (US 2018/0222665) are incorporated herein by reference, as
though recited in full.
[002] Field of the Invention
[003] This invention relates to the use of a tensioning device for
resisting the
unwinding of a roll of slit, expandable paper during the dispensing of
expanded
slit sheet material.
[004] Description of the Prior Art
[005] The expanded slit paper prior art is disclosed in U.S. Patents No.
5,538,778, 5,667,871, 5,688,578, and 5,782,735, which patents are incorporated
by reference in their entirety and recited herein as if in full as part of the
description of the present invention. The prior art consists of layering a
slit sheet
wrapping a combination of a tissue interleave sheet for the purpose of
cushioning
fragile items for shipment. The prior art also relates to a method of
expanding
the slit sheet material using an electrically powered apparatus.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] A
main object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of
the prior art as mentioned in a paragraph above, In accordance with a broad
embodiment of the invention, provides a simplified solution to already
existing
hardware that can support a roll of expanded slit sheet material that only
requires
the tensioning device.
[0071 In
accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an expansion device
is provided that includes an unexpanded slit sheet roll that is wound on a
paper
core that is longer than the width of the slit sheet paper roll. The paper
core is
placed onto a rod member. An adjustable downward pressure is exerted on the
paper core and the paper core exerts pressure on the rod member. As the paper
is pulled, the downward pressure creates the friction required to enable the
unexpanded slit sheet to be unwind and fed while simultaneously expanding.
(008) In
accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a device for
dispensing expandable slit sheet paper includes a roll of expandable slit
sheet
paper wound on an interior core member, and mounted on a rod member, said
rod member having a rod member end region, a support member, first means for
securing the rod member end region to the support member, and means for
pressing the core end region against the rod member end region and for
variably
applying a frictional resistance to the rotation of said core member.
[0091 In
accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the interior core
member has an axial length that is greater than the width of the slit sheet
paper
that is wound on said interior core member and has a core member end region
that extends beyond the roll of expandable slit sheet paper. The rod member
can have four right angle corners.
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[0010] In accordance with another further embodiment of the invention, a
tensioning means is provided for variably applying a frictional resistance to
the
rotation of said interior core member. Preferably the tensioning means
includes
an elongated member hingedly coupled to a support member, a spring, a
threaded region in said support member, and a screw member that passes
through the spring and is in threaded engagement with the threaded insert The
screw member is rotatable to vary the frictional resistance applied by said
elongated member to a core member end region.
[00111 In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, a
means is
provided for variably applying a frictional resistance to the rotation of said
interior
core member and a rod member is provided having four right angle corners and
received within an opening in a support member. The opening is rectangular and
dimensioned to receive the rod member, and having a threaded member for
releasably fastening said rod member to said support member.
[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a device for
dispensing expandable slit sheet paper includes a roll of expandable slit
sheet
paper wound on an interior core member and mounted on a rod member. The
rod member has a rod member end region. The end region of said interior core
member extending beyond the width of said roll of slit sheet paper,
advantageously by art amount of at least one inch from said roll of slit sheet
paper and preferably at least about one and one half inches from said roll of
slit
sheet paper. The device further includes a support member and a threaded
member for releasably fastening the rod member to the support member.
[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a device for
dispensing expandable slit sheet paper include a roll of expandable slit sheet
paper wound on an interior core member and mounted on a rod member. The
interior core member has a pair of end regions extending beyond the width of
said roll of slit sheet paper, whereby the roll of expandable slit sheet paper
can
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be mounted on said rod member for either clockwise or counterclockwise
rotation,
[0014] In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, a
method of
dispensing and expanding expandable slit sheet paper from a device that
comprises a roll of expandable slit sheet paper wound on an interior core
member having an axial length that is greater than the width of the slit sheet
paper that is wound on said interior core member and has at least one core
member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet
paper,
comprises the steps of positioning said interior core member on a rod member,
pressing a core end region against the rod member end region and variably
applying a frictional resistance to the rotation of said interior core member.
The
frictional resistance to the rotation of said interior core member on said rod
member to a is set at a level such that drawing an end of said roll of
expandable
slit sheet paper against said frictional resistance causes said slit sheet
paper to
expand. The step of variably setting said frictional resistance to the
rotation of
said interior core member includes rotating a spring loaded screw member and
thereby varying the frictional resistance applied by an elongated member to a
core member end region. The spring is positioned between the head of the
screw and the elongated member, such that rotation the screw varies the amount
of pressure applied by the spring to the elongated member.
[0015] In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, a
method of
dispensing and expanding expandable slit sheet paper from a device that
comprises a roll of expandable slit sheet paper wound on an interior core
member having an axial length that is greater than the width of the slit sheet
paper that is wound on said interior core member and has at least one core
member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet
paper,
and an elongated member which is hingedly coupled to said support member
and a spring, said elongated member having a threaded insert and a screw
member passing through said spring and into said threaded insert thereby
spring
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loading said elongated member, wherein the method comprises the steps of
positioning said interior core member on a rod member, pressing a core end
region against the rod member end region and variably applying a frictional
resistance to the rotation of said interior core member. The frictional
resistance to
the rotation of said interior core member on said rod member to a is set at a
level
such that drawing an end of said roll of expandable slit sheet paper against
said
frictional resistance causes said slit sheet paper to expand. The step of
variably
setting said frictional resistance to the rotation of said interior core
member
includes rotating a spring loaded screw member and thereby varying the
frictional
resistance applied by an elongated member to a core member end region.
[0016] In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, a
method of
dispensing and expanding expandable slit sheet paper from a device that
comprises a rod member having four right angle corners and received within a
correspondingly dimensioned opening in a support member, said first means for
securing said rod member end region to said support member is preferably a
threaded member releasably fastening the rod member to the support member,
comprising the steps of positioning said slit sheet paper wound on an interior
core member on said rod member, rotating said threaded member in a first
direction to rigidly fix said rod member to said support member, dispensing
said
slit sheet paper until the roll of expandable slit sheet paper wound on an
interior
core member is to be replaced, rotating said threaded member in a second
direction to release said rod member from said support member, and removing
said interior core member from said rod member.
Brief Description of Drawino
[0017] The invention will be described with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tensioning device.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tensioning device's inner tensioning
fixture.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the tensioning device's outer fixture plate
with de:
tensioning device not actuated.
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[0021] HG. 4 is a side view of the tensioning device's outer fixture plate
with de
tensioning device actuated.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tensioning as the expanded slit
sheet
roll is being loaded.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate de-tensioning device
not
actuated,
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate de-tensioning device
actuated.
Description of the invention
Definitions
[0025) For the purposes of the present invention the term "cam block" means
a
lobed device that when rotated provides a pushing action due to its elongated
shape.
[0026] For the purposes of the present invention the term "lobed" means a
structure having a rounded or pointed structure that extends from the main
structure.
[0027] For the purposes of the present invention the term "hingedly" means
that
parts or elements are linked together such that an end of one part or element
swings or pivots relative to the part with which it is linked,
[0028] For the purposes of the present invention the term "connected" means
that
two parts are releasably or permanently coupled to each other.
[0029] For the purposes of the present invention the term "releasably"
means that
a component is capable of being separated from another component with which it
is couple.
[0030] Further information relating to the paper which can be used in the
present
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invention, slit patterns, and the expansion process is found in U.S. Patents
No,
6,712,930, 5,538,778, 5,667,871, 5,688,578, 5,782,735, 3,104,197, 3,220,116,
3,266,972, 3,269,393, 3,908,071, 6,024,832, 6,458,447 and 3,908,071, and
applications US14/901,977, W01984002936A1, US2002/0060034, US
2007/0240841, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein,
as
though recited in full.
[0031] The
tensioning device in its preferred embodiment is to be made from
wood and further it is to be made from furniture grade plywood normally found
within the art. The tensioning device and specifically the tension rod, spring
and
thumbscrew are of the same design as found in Non-provisional Patent
Application No. 15/428,144. The difference in the present invention is that a
single yoke is used and the yoke opening is larger than the paper core and
therefore does not contact the paper core, The tension rod presses on the
paper
core and the paper core rests on a support bar. Thus, there is no need for the
yoke to contact the slit sheet roll. In the present invention, the tensioning
device
has incorporated in it a holding fixture that enables it to be attached to a
horizontal support bar. The bar enables the slit shit roll material to be
mounted
by means of the support bar passing through the paper core. The edge of the
paper core then rests against the holding fixture portion of the tensioning
device
which, then positions the paper core precisely in place to enable a tension
rod to
rest in the same fashion as the U.S. Application No. 15/428,144. On the other
side of the paper core a removable stop mechanism is preferably provided for
preventing the slit sheet roll from moving side to side.
[0032] The
horizontal support bar is preferably mounted to the holding fixture by
a thumbscrew located underneath the holding fixture.
Rotation of the
thumbscrew for movement upwards presses the support bar to maintain the
tensioning device in a fixed position within the holding fixture.
Rotating
thumbscrew for movement downwards releases the support bar from its fixed
position.
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[0033] Once the tensioning device is firmly in position and the paper is
mounted it
will function in the exact same fashion as in the nonprovisional application
15/428,144. This feature enables the tension bar to be lifted upward and held
in
position during the time that no tensioning is required to stretch and feed
the slit
sheet material. In the instance of the present invention, the support bar adds
a
degree of friction that reduces and or eliminates the requirement for
tensioning
with the tension rod. When the roll becomes small enough then tension will be
required. This device, called the cam block is preferably made of steel or
hard
plastic and rotated 90 degrees upward lifting a separate lifting block into
position
that lifts the tension rod upward thus eliminating tension on the paper core.
When tension is required the lifting block is lowered by rotating the cam
block
downward 90 degrees which lowers the lifting block allowing the tension rod to
contact the paper core and apply tension. The rod is then released and the
preset tension of the tension rod is then applied to the paper core.
[0034] This method of releasing the tension without the requirement of
using the
thumb screw on the tension bar also allows for easy replacement and removal of
the slit sheet roll. Absent this feature the tension rod should be removed to
change rolls.
Fiqures
[0035] Fig 1 is a perspective view of the entire tensioning system 100 with
loaded
slit sheet roll 101 and paper core 102 loaded onto the horizontally positioned
support bar 103. The paper core 102 as seen in Fig 2 is hollow and receives
the
support bar 103 thus supporting the slit paper roll 101. Tensioning assembly
104
as disclosed in nonprovisional 15/428,144 contains thumbscrew 106 with
attached spring 107 pressing on tension rod 108. The tensioning rod 108 is an
elongated cantilevered structure carried by the tensioning assembly 104. The
tensioning rod is a rigid elongated structural element, such as a beam or a
bar,
hingedly coupled at one end to a support with which it is coupled. Holding
fixture
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105 is attached to tensioning assembly 104 and is attached to the support bar
103 with thumbscrew 112. The lifting block 109 is resting on cam block 110 in
the downward position by pushing cam block handle 111 downward. An end
120 of the support bar 103 is positioned in a receiving opening 124 in the
holding
fixture 105. The opposing end 122 of the support bar 103 can be supported by a
second holding fixture, not shown, which can correspond to the holding fixture
105 or the tensioning assembly 104.
10036] FIG 2 is a side view of the tensioning assembly where the paper core
102
does not contact 104 as shown in open area 205. Support bar 103 contacts
paper core 102 and thumbscrew 107 applies pressure to both 103 and 102
simultaneously. Contact between the paper core 102, as seen in FIG 2, is at
two
edges 203 and 204 of the paper core supporting bar 103. While the bar
receiving opening and the paper core supporting bar 103 are illustrated as
being
squares, other shapes can be used such as a rectangle having four straight
sides
and four right angles, and unequal adjacent sides. Alternatively the shape can
be of an irregular hexagon that makes contact with the paper core at two or
four
points and supports the paper core 102. While the core supporting bar 103 can
have a polygonal cross-section, the points of contact between a core
supporting
bar that the paper core (when viewed in cross-section is advantageously
limited
to four points, and preferably is two points (as seen in FIG 2, see 203, 204
and
102), for most effective application of pressure to the paper core 102 by the
interaction of the tensioning member 108 and the paper a core supporting bar,
such as 103 of FIG 2.
[0037] FIG 3 is a side view of the holding fixture 105 that shows the
screws 104
that attach it to the tensioning assembly. Thumbscrew 112 is screwed upward
and pressed against support bar 103 holding it in position within the opening
303
which is configured to conform to the size and shape of the support bar 103.
Horizontally positioned support bar 103 supports the paper core 102 (as seen
in
Fig 2) and fits into the bar receiving opening 303. The shape of the bar
receiving
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opening 303 conforms to the peripheral configuration of the horizontal, paper
core supporting bar 103. Cam block 110 is in the downward position with
lifting
block 109 resting on it.
[0038] FIG 4 is a side view showing the cam block 110 rotated upward thus
pushing lifting block 109 upward and contacting the tension rod 108 and
lifting it
beyond the paper core as shown in the open area 400.
[0039] FIG 5 is a perspective view of loading paper roll 101 and paper core
102
onto the support bar 103 with arrow 500 showing the direction of the loading.
The edge of the paper core will rest against holding fixture 105 as it passes
through the yoke of tensioning assembly 104 while cam block 110 and 109 is in
the upward position.
[0040] FIG 6 is a perspective view of the swivel block 600 which, is an
alternative
lifting mechanism of the tension bar that shows the swivel block 600 in the
outward and down position. Tension bar or rod 108 is lifted by hand and the
swivel block is rotated in the arrow direction 601 on the axis of the threaded
rod
602 to apply the lifting of the tension rod 108.
[0041] FIG 7 is a perspective view of the alternate swivel block 600 in its
lifting
position.
[00421 The use of individual numerical values is stated as approximations
as
though the values were preceded by the word "about", "substantially", or
"approximately". Similarly, the numerical values in the various ranges
specified
in this application, unless expressly indicated otherwise, are stated as
approximations as though the minimum and maximum values within the stated
ranges were both preceded by the word "about", "substantially", or
"approximately." In this manner, variations above and below stated ranges can
be used to achieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges.
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As used herein, the terms "about", "substantially", and "approximately" when
referring to a numerical value shall have their plain and ordinary meanings to
a
person of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed subject matter is
most
closely related or the art relevant to the range or element at issue. The
amount
of broadening, from the strict numerical boundary depends upon many factors.
For example, some of the factors which may be considered include the
criticality
of the element and/or the effect a given amount of variation will have on the
performance of the claimed subject matter, as well as other considerations
known to those of skill in the art. As used herein, the use of differing
amounts of
significant digits for different numerical values is not meant to limit how
the use of
the words "about", "substantially", or "approximately" will serve to broaden a
particular numerical value or range, Thus, as a general matter, "about",
"substantially", or "approximately" broaden the numerical value. Also, the
disclosure of ranges is intended as a continuous range including every value
between the minimum and maximum values plus the broadening of the range
afforded by the use of the term "about", "substantially", or "approximately".
Thus,
recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand
method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the
range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated
into
the specification as if it were individually recited herein. To the extent
that
determining a given amount of variation of some the factors such as the
criticality
of the slit patterns, paper width differential pre- and post- expansion, paper
weights and type, as well as other considerations known to those of skill in
the art
to which the disclosed subject matter is most closely related or the art
relevant to
the range or element at issue will have on the performance of the claimed
subject
matter, is not considered to be within the ability of one of ordinary skill in
the art,
or is not explicitly stated in the claims, then the terms "about",
"substantially", and
"approximately" as applied to a numerical value should be understood to mean
the numerical value plus or minus 15%.
(00431 It is to be understood that any ranges, ratios and ranges of ratios
that can
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be formed by, or derived from, any of the data disclosed herein represent
further
embodiments of the present disclosure and are included as part of the
disclosure
as though they were explicitly set forth. This includes ranges that can be
formed
that do or do not include a finite upper and/or lower boundary. Accordingly, a
person of ordinary skill in the art most closely related to a particular
range, ratio
or range of ratios will appreciate that such values are unambiguously
derivable
from the data presented herein.
