Apparatus for dispensing a controlled length of sheet material from a roll

A roll of sheet material is wound on a cylindrical hollow core, and the core and roll are together placed within a dispenser body made up of pivotally connected upper and lower covers, preferably made of a resilient plastic material and sized and shaped to provide a containment space for a full roll of sheet material. The core and roll wound thereon can be placed into the lower cover in only one direction, so that rotation of the rolled-up sheet material must occur only in a corresponding one rotational direction for unwinding of the sheet material from the roll. The upper and lower covers are formed so that there is a built-in resilient force exercised by one or the other so as to keep them pivotally separated apart. A detent mechanism is provided to limit the amount by which the two covers can thus pivotally separate during use. By their pivotal separation, the covers define a small forward gap through which the sheet material may be withdrawn. When a user has extracted a sufficient length of sheet material, he or she may press the covers to each other to thereby stop further rotation of the roll. A conventional, preferably serrated, cutting edge is provided at a forward edge portion of the lower cover, and withdrawn sheet material may be torn off by being forced thereon.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a length of a sheet 
material from a roll thereof wound on a hollow core, and more particularly 
to apparatus by which a user can conveniently unroll a sheet material from 
a roll thereof and precisely stop the unrolling to conveniently tear off a 
selected length of the sheet and be able to easily access the cut end of 
the rolled sheet material to unroll and obtain another length thereof. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Various materials of elongate sheet form are frequently stored on hollow 
core members as tightly wound rolls, and the rolls are rotatably contained 
within light and easy-to-handle containers from which the user may extract 
a suitable length and tear it off the roll as needed. Well-known examples 
of such sheet material include thin, clear plastic wrap to cover stored 
food such as fruit, vegetables and sandwiches, or thin aluminum foil for 
wrapping food for storage or during cooking. The dispenser is usually 
sized to be only somewhat larger than a full roll, i.e., one on which a 
maximum predetermined length of the sheet material is wound tightly prior 
to use of any unwound material. 
The dispenser may be mounted at a convenient location, so that one or more 
users may obtain as much of the sheet material as they each need. More 
often, however, it is desired that the dispenser with the roll contained 
within be small, light, and shaped for being easily held in one hand with 
easy access to a distal end of the sheet afforded to the user's other 
hand, with the dispenser being formed to allow easy control over the 
length of sheet material being withdrawn therefrom. 
The roll of sheet material often is simply placed into a cubical box formed 
by making various folds in a generally two-dimensional sheet of cardboard. 
An elongate slit or gap between adjacent or overlapping end portions of 
the container material provides an outlet for the sheet material being 
unrolled from the roll. An example of this is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 
2,825,451, to Henry, titled "Dispensing Carton for Rolled Sheet Material." 
A cutting edge, preferably one which has a serrated edge or roughened 
surface, is generally provided close to the slit or gap through which the 
sheet material is being extracted so as to enable the user to cause 
forcible contact between the sheet material and the cutting edge. An 
example of such a device is the one taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,590, to 
Ho, titled "Safety Food Wrap Film Tearing Device". 
When the roll is simply placed inside a container, with no provision for 
positively stopping the roll, due to rotational inertia of the rotating 
roll itself there is often surplus material withdrawn and the user may end 
up wasting it. It is therefore desirable to provide a way to stop 
unnecessary unrolling of the material from the roll. Examples of known 
devices to accomplish this include U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,168, to Moore. 
It is also desirable to prevent rotational recoil of the roll and 
consequential unintentional rewinding of the distal end of the material 
back on the roll. Examples of prior art addressing this problem include 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,046, to Klein, titled "Dispensing Containers for Sheet 
Wrapping Material" and U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,575, to Kallman et al., also 
titled "Dispensing Container for Sheet Wrapping Material". 
There are also known structures in which the dispenser includes a pivotable 
cover which is generally biased so as to form an opening at a front edge 
of the cover, with the shape of the container being such as to enable a 
user to overcome the bias to narrow the opening to facilitate convenient 
application of the withdrawn length of sheet to a cutting edge provided 
along and adjacent to the opening. The cutting edge preferably has an 
elongate sequence of serrations. Typically, these can be contacted by the 
user and, in careless use, may scratch or cut the user's skin. U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,893,616, to Stell, titled "Web Dispenser", is an example of such 
prior art. Also known are dispensers, typically formed of folded thin 
cardboard material, which are provided with means cooperating with the 
open ends of a hollow cardboard roll on which the sheet material is wound, 
to rotatably support the roll substantially centrally of the dispenser 
body. Examples of prior art relating to such dispensers are described in 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,451, to Henry, titled "Dispensing Carton for Rolled 
Sheet Material"; U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,110, to Stine, titled "Cutter-Type 
Box for Dispensing Packaging Film With Protective Mounting for the 
Cutter"; U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,964, also to Stine, titled "Cutter-Type Box 
for Dispensing Packaging Film"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,878, to Serio, Jr. 
et al., titled "Roll End Support and Dispensing Carton". 
There is, however, a still unmet need for apparatus or a mechanism by which 
a user may very quickly and easily place a roll of sheet material wound on 
a hollow core into a relatively light, inexpensive, easy-to-grasp, and 
non-slip dispenser body with the assurance that the entire dispenser 
containing the roll can be conveniently held in one hand while the other 
hand has ready access to a distal end of the rolled sheet to allow: 
extraction of a desired length of the material, easy stoppage of the roll 
when the desired length has been withdrawn, ready limitation of an opening 
of the dispenser to ensure against ingress of ambient dirt and dust into 
the dispenser and to facilitate location of the sheet in relation to a 
cutting edge to facilitate tearing off of the desired length, protection 
against cuts and abrasions of the user's fingers due to contact with sharp 
cutting edge serrations during handling of the dispenser, and prevention 
of unintended roll-back of the roll so that future access to the distal 
end for further extraction of material is rendered easy. For reasons of 
cost, convenience of manufacture, aesthetic appeal and convenience of use, 
moldable plastics materials are the preferred choice both for forming the 
dispenser body and for other elements which must cooperate therewith to 
achieve the desired objectives. 
The present invention provides various embodiments of such an invention, 
all of which meet this long-felt need, as will be understood from the 
following description with reference to the drawing. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object according to one aspect of this invention is to provide 
means by which a roll of sheet material wound on a hollow core may be 
readily disposed inside an inexpensive, light, and easy-to-grasp dispenser 
to allow a user to unroll and withdraw from the container selected lengths 
of the sheet material with easy and assured subsequent access to a distal 
end of the remaining material on the roll. 
A related object of this aspect of the invention is to provide an 
inexpensive plastic element, which can be readily fitted to a conventional 
hollow elongate core on which a length of sheet material is wound to form 
a compact roll, to enable disposition of the roll inside a dispenser body 
in such a manner that a user can readily control the repeated extraction 
of lengths of sheet material out of the dispenser from the roll. 
In another aspect of this invention, it is a principal object to provide a 
dispenser apparatus having a light, inexpensive, easy-to-grasp and 
non-slip body within which may be placed a readily replaceable roll of 
sheet material wound on a hollow elongate core, the dispenser body being 
operable to facilitate controlled extraction of selected lengths of the 
sheet material. 
It is another related object of this aspect of the invention to provide an 
inexpensive and readily held dispenser body which a user can conveniently 
hold in one hand, in cooperation with the other hand pull on a distal end 
of the sheet material to control the length of sheet material being 
withdrawn, and locate the sheet material to facilitate tearing thereof at 
a cutting edge on the dispenser body with protection provided against cuts 
and abrasions of the user's hand due to contact with the cutting edge. 
These and other related objects of this invention are realized by 
providing, in the first aspect of this invention, apparatus permanently 
affixed to one end of a hollow core on which a length of sheet material is 
compactly wound, to allow a user to readily place the roll in a singular 
manner inside a readily opened reclosable dispenser body so that the roll 
is rotatably supported within the dispenser, such that the distal end of 
the sheet material on the roll is readily accessed and withdrawn from an 
elongate opening of the dispenser with rotation of the roll controlled to 
limit the length of sheet material that is withdrawn. 
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispenser body for 
containing a replaceable roll of a sheet material and for enabling 
controlled removal of selected lengths of the sheet material from a roll 
thereof wound on a hollow core having respective first and second ends. 
The dispenser body includes an upper cover which is pivotally connected to 
a lower cover, the two covers each comprising an elongate wall having 
front and rear edges, and transverse first and second end walls. The upper 
and lower covers are each shaped and sized to cooperate to define a 
containment space within which the roll wound on the core can be 
contained. A free end of the sheet material unwound from the roll is 
extractable through an elongate material delivery gap of adjustable width 
formed between the front edges of the upper and lower covers. First and 
second means located inside the containment space within the dispenser 
body are provided respectively adjacent to both the first and second end 
walls of the two covers to support corresponding first and second ends of 
the core. A biasing means is provided to resiliently bias the upper and 
lower covers pivotally apart, and a separation limiting means is included 
for limiting an extent of such pivotal separation. In addition, a rotation 
controlling means is provided to selectively stop rotation of the core to 
thereby limit the length of sheet material unrolled from the roll via the 
delivery gap. 
Other aspects and objects of this invention, in its different embodiments, 
will be better understood from the following detailed description which 
should be read with reference to the attached drawing figures.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the present invention relates to a 
hand-held dispenser having a body 100 from which a user may draw a 
selected length from a roll of a sheet material 102. Elongate body 100 is 
formed of an upper cover 104 pivotally connected to a lower cover 106, 
both covers preferably being made of a suitable thermoplastic material 
molded or otherwise formed by any known manufacturing technique. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, upper and lower covers 104,106 may be 
pivotally separated about a rear hinge mechanism 108 of any known type. 
Preferably, each cover has a cooperating hinge-pin holding portion formed 
to accept one or more longitudinal metal hinge pins (not shown). Another 
alternative would be to form portions of the upper and lower covers 104, 
106 so that they snap-fit or clip to each other elastically during 
assembly, to thereafter function like a conventional hinge, e.g., as in 
known covers for magnetic-tape cassettes and the like. 
Upper and lower covers 104, 106 are preferably provided in popular colors 
and have generally smooth attractive outer surfaces. In addition, to 
facilitate non-slip gripping of the dispenser body, both covers 104, 106 
are preferably provided with uneven surface portions 110, 112, 
respectively, which may be integrally formed in the process of molding the 
covers themselves. Whether the uneven surfaces are defined by a plurality 
of ridges, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, or in any other 
suitable manner, e.g., by adhering a rough material, is considered a 
matter of design choice. 
Upper cover 104 has a front edge 114, a rear edge 116, a first end wall 
118, and a second end wall 120. Similarly, lower cover 106 has an elongate 
front edge 122, an elongate rear edge 124, a first end wall 126, and a 
second end wall 128. Front edge 114 of upper cover 104 is located inwardly 
of front edge 122 of lower cover 106 for reasons explained below. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in one preferred form of the invention 
the first end wall 118 of upper cover 104 is formed to have a downwardly 
depending extension 130 ending in a hooked distal end portion 132 to serve 
as a first detent element. In a matching location, as part of the first 
end wall 126 of lower cover 106, is provided an aperture 134 which is 
shaped, sized, and located to serve as a second detent element which 
receives the hooked end portion 132. This hooked end portion 132 is 
preferably formed to have a slanting face 136 which is angled so that when 
the upper and lower covers 104, 106 are pressed to each other there is a 
small inward deflection of extension 130 due to sliding interaction 
between slanting face 136 and an inside upper edge (not numbered) of first 
end wall 126 of lower cover 106. Once hooked end portion 132 is thus 
forcibly brought into an overlapping relationship with aperture 134, 
extension 130 being resilient will snap back to its undeformed position. 
The length of extension 130 and the vertical dimension of aperture 134 are 
selected so that once such an engagement is made the pivotal separation 
between upper and lower covers 104, 106 is limited unless and until a 
user, e.g., by pushing with a thumb nail on hooked end portion 132 to 
deflect extension 130 inwardly, causes disengagement of the detent 
arrangement defined by cooperative action between elements 130, 132, and 
134. In this manner, once upper and lower covers 104, 106 are hinged at 
their rear edges and the detent mechanism is engaged, a limited gap 138 is 
defined at the front edge portions of dispenser body 100. 
The detent mechanism comprising extension 130, hooked end portion 132 
thereof, and aperture 134 in the lower cover 106, is preferably replicated 
at the opposite end of dispenser body 100, as generally indicated in FIGS. 
1A and 1B. A user might drop the dispenser body 100 with a full roll of 
sheet material 102 contained therein, in a manner likely to subject the 
two covers to relatively strong impact forces. Provision of the detent 
engagements at both ends would very likely prevent springing apart of 
upper and lower covers 104 and 106 relative to each other and would 
prevent fall out of the roll and unwinding and dirtying of the sheet 
material 102 therefrom. 
Depending on the nature and rolled-up width W of the sheet material, as 
shown in FIG. 6, one or the other of these embodiments may be preferred by 
likely users. The rolled-up sheet material 102 need not necessarily be in 
a single thickness of the material itself, but may be in flattened tubular 
form, with or without transverse perforations (not shown but of a type 
well understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art), or may involve 
multiple longitudinal folds of the material with the multiple folds wound 
together in rolled form. 
The material 102 itself may be a single plastics material, a metal foil, a 
multi-material combination such as metallized plastic material or a metal 
or plastic coated paper, or the like. 
As best seen in FIG. 6, the sheet material 102 is tightly wound on a hollow 
cylindrical core 600, having a first end 602 and a second end 604 
separated by a distance L longer than the width W of the rolled-up sheet 
material 102, i.e, L&gt;W. 
The above-described aspects and features of dispenser body 100, with minor 
modifications as explained below, are common to all five embodiments of 
the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 6-45. The various 
embodiments have individual structural differences of form and function in 
certain elements. Some of these features can be incorporated from one 
embodiment into another, or left out, in obvious modifications of the 
disclosed invention. 
In the first embodiment, into the first end 602 of core 600 is inserted a 
first core end support element 606 which comprises a first generally 
cylindrical portion 608 having a first diameter selected to permit a tight 
fit thereof into first end 602. Immediately adjacent to cylindrical 
portion 608 is provided a peripherally toothed second portion 610 which 
has a second diameter somewhat larger than that of cylindrical portion 608 
and the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of core 600. On the 
opposite side of portion 610 relative to cylindrical portion 608 is 
provided a third portion 612 which also has a toothed outer periphery and 
an outer diameter which is smaller than the diameter of second portion 
610. Element 606 is coaxially symmetrical and, when inserted into core 
600, shares a common elongate central axis X--X therewith. On opposite 
sides of the width W of the roll of sheet material 102 are exposed core 
lengths 1.sub.1 and 1.sub.2, respectively adjacent the first and second 
ends 602, 604 of core 600. 
The first core end support element 606 is preferably adhered in place with 
any suitable adhesive, so that it is permanently affixed into the inside 
of first end 602 of core 600. The purpose in making the outer diameter of 
peripherally toothed portion 610 of element 606 larger than the outer 
diameter of core 600 is to ensure that if the roll of sheet material 102 
is not wound tightly enough on core 600, and has a tendency to slide 
axially thereof, the left-hand end of the roll of sheet material 102 will 
be stopped by the material of peripherally toothed portion 610 which 
extends radially beyond the outer surface of core 600. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be appreciated that an inside length 
between the respective opposed inner surfaces of the first and second end 
walls 118 and 120 of upper cover 104, as well as walls 126 and 128 of 
lower cover 106, are separated by a distance which exceeds the total of 
the axial length L of core 600 plus the axial lengths of portions 610 and 
612 of first core end support element 606, with the entire length of 
portion 608 fully inserted into the first end of core 600. Also, as 
readily seen in FIG. 7, curved wall portions of upper and lower covers 104 
and 106 each provide virtually one half of a substantially cylindrical 
containment space which is sized to comfortably accommodate therein the 
full roll of sheet material 102 tightly wound on core 604. 
As best seen in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 11, in the first embodiment, upper cover 
104 is provided with a first inner transverse wall 700 which is provided 
with a central cutout having a semi-circular edge 702 of a diameter 
slightly larger than the outer diameter of portion 612. Wall 700 is spaced 
axially inward of first end wall 118 by a distance sufficient to 
non-bindingly accommodate the axial length of portion 612. There is a 
similar second inner transverse wall 704 provided adjacent and inwardly of 
second end wall 120 of upper cover 104. Wall 704 is formed to have a 
cutout portion 706 having a semi-circular edge of a diameter slightly 
larger than the diameter of the outer surface of core 600 to non-bindingly 
accommodate the same even when upper and lower covers 104, 106 are pressed 
to each other. 
Lower cover 106 is provided with its own first inner transverse wall 708 at 
an axial location matching that of the first inner transverse wall 700 of 
upper cover 104. Also, lower cover 106 is provided with a second inner 
transverse wall 712 located axially at a position matching that of second 
transverse inner wall 704 of upper cover 104. Wall 712 is provided with a 
cutout portion having a semi-circular edge 714 of a diameter to match that 
of curved edge 706 in the second transverse inner wall 704 of upper cover 
104. It should be appreciated that because the curved edges 702 and 710 
have diameters slightly larger than the diameter of portion 612 and 
because curved edges 706 and 714 similarly have diameters slightly larger 
than the outside diameter of core 600, even when the upper and lower 
covers are pressed to each other there is no binding force generated 
thereby to stop rotation of the core if a distal end of the material 102 
is pulled through gap 138, as best seen in FIG. 8. 
Accordingly, to ensure that there is a positive stopping of further 
rotation of core 600 when a sufficient length of material 102 has been 
unwound, there is provided in the first embodiment a radially inwardly 
depending rotation stoppage element 716 preferably formed integral with 
upper cover 104. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, when upper covers 104 and 
106 are pivotally separated so that gap 138 is at its maximum dimension, 
as determined by suitable sizing of detent elements 130, 132, and 134 as 
previously described, the distal end of rotation stoppage element 716 
totally clears the toothed outer periphery of portion 610 of the first 
core end support element 606. However, as best seen with reference to 
FIGS. 10 and 11, when covers 104 and 106 are pivotally pressed to each 
other the distal end of rotation stoppage element 716 is moved to engage 
the toothed outer periphery of portion 610 so that it will prevent further 
rotation thereof. The distal end of rotation stoppage element 716 and the 
teeth at the outer periphery of portion 610 can be of any conventional 
form such that the desired engagement therebetween, by pressing together 
of upper and lower covers 104 and 106 to each other, is assured. 
As best seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, lower cover 106 preferably has 
integrally formed therewith two extensions 718, 718 which are shaped so 
that they constantly press against the inner curved surface of upper cover 
104 above pivotal hinge 108 with a force sufficient to pivotally keep 
apart covers 104 and 106. This serves to keep gap 138 is at its maximum 
size. This is made possible by suitable selection of the plastics material 
of which lower cover 106 is formed, i.e., the material must be efficiently 
elastic and resilient to enable elements 718, 718 to function like leaf 
springs. 
Covers 104, 106 will thus stay pivotally separated relative to each other 
under the bias force provided by elements 718, 718, but when the user 
presses the covers to each other, as generally indicated in FIGS. 1A, 1B 
and 4, the resilient bias force provided by elements 718, 718 is 
temporarily overcome, the gap 138 is reduced, and rotation stoppage 
extension 716 of upper cover 104 engages portion 610 to prevent further 
rotation of core 600, to thereby limit the amount of material 102 that is 
drawn out through gap 138. Upon the user releasing the force pressing 
covers 104 and 106 to each other, elements 718, 718 will again provide 
sufficient bias force to pivotally separate the covers relative to each 
other. 
It is highly desirable that core 600 and the roll of material 102 wound 
thereon not rotate in a direction such as to inadvertently rewind the 
distal end of sheet material 102 back entirely into the containment space 
between covers 104 and 106. In other words, when a user presses together 
covers 104 and 106 after having drawn out a suitable length of material, 
and tears off the material, it is desirable that a small portion of the 
distal end of the remaining material 102 in container 100 remain visible 
and readily accessible to the user for further withdrawal of more sheet 
material. If core 600 and the roll of sheet material 102 wound thereon 
were to rotate in a winding-up rotational direction, and the distal end of 
sheet material 102 were thereby retracted entirely into the containment 
space, the user would have to disengage the detent means at opposite ends 
of the covers to reaccess the distal end of sheet material 102. To prevent 
such an occurrence, there is provided in lower cover 106 a flexible 
rotation-limiting cantilevered extension 720 preferably formed integrally 
with the first transverse inner wall 708 of lower cover 106. 
As best understood with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8-11, the distal end of 
rotation-limiting element 720 cooperates with the toothed outer periphery 
of portion 612 in a pawl-and-ratchet arrangement made possible by suitable 
shaping of teeth 722 at the outer periphery of portion 612. This will be 
best understood with particular reference to FIGS. 8 and 10, wherein it is 
seen that when material 102 is pulled out by rotation of core 600 in a 
counter clockwise direction, there is a ramping contact between lead 
surfaces of gear teeth 722 and the distal end of rotation-limiting element 
720. The user would hear soft clicks as he or she pulls out the sheet 
material 102 as a succession of teeth 722 ramp past the distal end of 
flexing rotation-limiting element 720. However, if there is any 
inclination of core 600 and the roll of sheet material 102 to rotate in 
the opposite direction, the trailing surfaces of gear teeth 722, being 
suitably angled as shown, will be stopped by head-on contact with the 
distal end of rotation-limiting element 720. 
As is best seen in FIG. 7, a portion of lower cover 106 immediately inward 
of front edge 122 is formed like a shelf 724 over which material 102 may 
be drawn out. Furthermore, at the very forward portion of shelf 724, i.e., 
at front edge 122 of lower cover 106, there is provided a cutting edge 726 
which preferably has a plurality of serrations to facilitate initiation of 
a tear of sheet material 102 pressed forcibly thereto. Even if the 
plastics material of which lower cover 106 is formed is generally 
resilient and elastic, i.e., to provide the desired spring effect to 
elements 718 and 720 as described above, it should be possible to select 
the material to have a sufficient hardness and toughness to allow integral 
formation of serrated cutting edge 726 as part of lower cover 106. In the 
alternative, a serrated metal strip may be provided. With such a 
structure, when the user has extracted a sufficient length of sheet 
material 102, he or she may readily press together upper and lower covers 
104, 106 to each other to thereby obtain rotation stoppage by coaction of 
rotation stoppage element 716 and the teeth of portion 610, and may 
thereafter forcibly press the lower surface of sheet material 102 to the 
serrations of cutting edge 726 to obtain the desired cutting action. This 
would leave a small distal length of sheet material 102 lying on shelf 724 
for subsequent ready access. This is best understood with reference to 
FIG. 1A. 
Upon exhaustion of the sheet material 102 from a roll that has been in use 
for some time, the user must temporarily push in resilient detent 
extensions 130, 130 at the ends of lower cover 106 so that the hooked 
portion 132 of each disengages with the corresponding aperture 134 to 
enable a relatively large pivotal separation between upper and lower 
covers 104 and 106. The core 600 on which there is no more sheet material 
102 left may then be removed and thrown away and a fresh roll on its own 
core put in place and the covers 104 and 106 again engaged by being 
pressed to each other. A user must be careful to ensure that a small 
length at the distal end of sheet material 102 on the new roll is 
accessible over shelf 724 at this time. 
In the second embodiment, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 12-18, 
the core 600 has first and second ends 602, 604, and has tightly wound 
thereon a roll of sheet material 102, exactly as in the first embodiment 
as described above. 
Similarly, as in the first embodiment, the dispenser body comprises upper 
cover 104 and lower cover 106 which are pivotally hinged to each other at 
their respective rear edges 116 and 124. The front edges 114, 122; 
extensions 718, 718 of the lower cover 106; and the detent mechanisms at 
opposite ends, comprising coacting elements 130, 132,134 and 136; are all 
preferably formed and operate as in the first embodiment. The following 
paragraphs will therefore focus on structural and functional aspects of 
the second embodiment which differ from those of the first embodiment. 
As best seen in FIG. 12, into the first end 602 of core 600 is inserted, 
for permanent affixation thereto preferably by adhesion, an axially 
symmetric first core end support element 1200 which comprises a first 
cylindrical portion 1202 having a first outer diameter sized to ensure a 
tight fit thereof into core 600; followed by a second coaxial cylindrical 
portion 1204 which has a second outer diameter larger than the first 
diameter of first portion 1202 and preferably somewhat larger than the 
diameter of the outer surface of core 600; followed by a third 
peripherally toothed coaxial cylindrical portion 1206 having a diameter 
smaller than the diameter of the second portion 1204. The second 
cylindrical portion 1204 has an annular circular face 1208, immediately 
adjacent the third cylindrical portion 1206, and a circular array of 
radially-oriented teeth 1210 is provided on annular surface 1208. 
As best seen in FIGS. 13, 14 and 16, cover 106 has a first end wall 1302 
which is provided with central cutout defined by a semicircular edge 1304 
of a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of third cylindrical 
portion 1206 of first core end support means 1200 to non-bindingly support 
the same even when a user presses upper and lower covers 104, 106 to each 
other. Aperture 134, to serve as part of a detent means permitting limited 
pivotal separation between upper and lower covers 104 and 106, is provided 
in first end wall 1302 just as in the first embodiment described above. 
Second end wall 1306 of lower cover 106 is provided with an inwardly 
extending cylindrical portion 1308 of a first internal diameter, which has 
a base containing a central aperture of a smaller second diameter. These 
diameters are not individually identified but the necessary relationship 
is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17. The purpose of the cylindrical 
extension 1308 is to provide rotational support at the second end 604 of 
core 600 and the roll of sheet material 102 wound thereon, as more fully 
described below. 
Adjacent to first end wall 1302, lower cover 106 is provided with a 
transverse inner wall 1310 which has a central outward extension 1312 in 
which is formed a circular aperture 1314 having a center on a line passing 
through the center of cylindrical extension 1308 and the middle point of 
the diameter of semicircular edge 1304. Aperture 1314 has a diameter 
slightly larger than the outer diameter of third cylindrical portion 1206 
of first core end support 1200 and is intended to provide rotational 
support thereto. On an inside surface of upward extension 1312, i.e., on 
that surface which faces the second end wall 1306, are provided one or 
more protuberances 1316 which are shaped, sized and located to be in a 
position to press to the teeth 1210 of first core end support 1200 when 
the dispenser apparatus is in use with sheet material 102 contained 
therein. FIG. 13 shows one of these protuberances 1316, and FIG. 14 shows 
two of them. 
At the second end of core 600 is applied a cup-like second core end support 
1318, a portion of which is sized to fit closely into second end 604 of 
core 600. This element 1318 has a circular rim 1320 of a diameter 
preferably somewhat larger than the diameter of the outer surface of core 
600, and a central outward cylindrical extension 1322 which is sized to 
non-bindingly fit into the aperture provided in the base of inward 
cylindrical extension 1308 of the second end wall 1306. This extension 
1322 has a tapered enlarged end 1324 and preferably one or more axial 
slits (not shown), and element 1318 is preferably made of a firm but 
elastic plastics material. With such a structure, tapered end 1324 can be 
forcibly inserted into the aperture (not numbered) provided in the base of 
inward cylindrical extension 1308 of second end wall 1306 of the lower 
cover 106. The enlarged end 1324, once so located, essentially holds 
element 1318 loosely coupled to the inward cylindrical extension 1308 of 
the second end wall of lower cover 106. 
A small compressive helical spring is provided between second core end 
support element 1318 and the base of cylindrical extension 1308 so as to 
bias them apart. It is retained in place, along with second core support 
element 1318, to inward cylindrical extension 1308. This is best 
understood with reference to FIG. 15, wherein the core 600 is shown biased 
to the left toward the first end walls of covers 104, 106. 
In the structure described in the immediately preceding paragraphs, as will 
be understood by reference to FIG. 13, in the second embodiment the core 
600 with first core end support means 1200 permanently affixed into first 
end 602 carries a tightly wound roll of sheet material 102 and may be 
dropped into lower cover 106 so that the third cylindrical portion 1206 of 
first core end support 1200 is first pushed through aperture 1314 of the 
transverse wall 1310. The second core end support element 1318 is pressed 
against the bias of spring 1326 sufficiently to allow second end 604 of 
core 600 to fit onto element 1318. The bias force of spring 1326 
thereafter presses the core 600 and first core end support 1200, and 
especially the radially-oriented teeth 1210 thereof, against protuberances 
1316 of transverse wall 1310. This is best understood with reference to 
the left-hand side of FIG. 15, where two short arrows pointing leftward 
are intended to indicate this bias and disposition. With this structure, 
as will be readily appreciated, protuberances 1316 and radially oriented 
teeth 1210 serve as a pawl-and-ratchet arrangement. Thus, when a user 
pulls on a distal end of sheet material 102 the pulling force exerted on 
the sheet material will be sufficient to overcome the ratcheting effect 
thus provided and will permit extraction of a selected length of sheet 
material 102. However, because of the bias force provided by spring 1326, 
and the ratcheting arrangement, inadvertent rewinding of core 600 and a 
roll-back of sheet material 102 thereon will be prevented. 
As best seen in FIGS. 13 and 16, first end wall 1328 of upper cover 104 is 
formed with a cutout having an arcuate edge 1332 with one or more teeth 
1334 which are shaped and sized to correspond to the teeth provided in the 
toothed outer periphery of third portion 1206 of first core end support 
element 1200. As in the first embodiment, extensions 718, 718 of lower 
cover 106 are shaped, sized and disposed to provide an elastic biasing 
force on an inside surface of upper cover 104 tending to pivotally move it 
away from lower cover 106. This separation is limited, as in the first 
embodiment, by providing a downward extension 130 to first end wall 1328 
of upper cover 104, and a hook portion 132 with an angled surface 136, to 
cooperate with aperture 134 in lower cover 106. This ensures, as in the 
first embodiment, that upper and lower covers 104 and 106 normally are 
pivotally biased apart by a small amount corresponding to a frontal gap 
138, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 14 and 16. With this 
arrangement, when a user presses covers 104 and 106 to each other, teeth 
1334 of first end wall 1328 of upper cover 104 will positively engage with 
the corresponding teeth of toothed third portion 1206, as indicated by the 
broad arrow in FIG. 16. This will result in stoppage of further rotation 
of core 600 and roll of sheet material 102 and will permit the user to 
controllably limit the amount of sheet material 102 drawn out of the 
apparatus. 
Referring now to FIGS. 15, 17 and 18, it will be seen how the third 
cylindrical portion 1206 is made long enough to project axially and 
outwardly between the first end walls 1328 and 1302 of the upper and lower 
covers 104 and 106. In this arrangement, when a user holds the apparatus 
in one hand, but is not pressing upper and lower covers 104 and 106 to 
each other against the biasing force provided by extensions 718, 718, the 
exposed length of third cylindrical portion 1206 may be grasped to rotate 
the same in a direction which enables rewinding of any excess sheet 
material 102 which may have been drawn out earlier. This is indicated by 
the three short arrows in FIG. 18, and the rotation of third cylindrical 
portion 1206 is indicated by a curved short arrow. 
As in the first embodiment, inwardly and adjacent to the lower front edge 
122 of lower cover 106, is provided a shelf-like portion on which a short 
length of sheet material 102 may rest to be grasped by a user. 
When the sheet material 102 is exhausted from a previously inserted roll, 
just as in the first embodiment, to disengage the detent arrangement 
comprised of elements 130, 132, 134 and 136 the user must press inwardly 
on hooked portions 132 through apertures 134 on both sides of the lower 
cover 106 to temporarily deform downward extensions 130. This will cause 
separation of the detent arrangement limiting the pivotal movement between 
upper and lower covers 104 and 106. Once the covers are thus separated, 
the apparatus may be opened, the second core end support 1318 pressed 
against the bias force of spring 1326, and the exhausted core 600 
separated from the second core end support element 1318 and removed by 
pulling out the cylindrical portion 1206 from aperture 1314. A full 
replacement roll on its own core may then be inserted in a reversal of 
this procedure. 
As with the first embodiment, the first core end support element 1200, the 
second core end support element 1318, and upper and lower covers 104 and 
106, may all be made of a readily moldable plastics material in an 
attractive color and with a smooth finish. As in the first embodiment, to 
prevent slippage, one or both of the upper and lower covers 104 and 106 
may be provided with a non-slip textured surface where the user would find 
it most convenient to grasp the apparatus. 
In the third embodiment, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 19-24, 
core 600 and the roll of sheet material 102 wound thereon are similar to 
those discussed above in relation to the first and second embodiments. 
The first core end support element 1900, however, has a cap-like form with 
a recessed central portion 1902 (best seen in sectional view in FIG. 22) 
which has a depth d preferably in the range 1/8- 3/8 inches, and an 
internal diameter selected to closely fit to an outer surface portion of 
core 600 ending at first end 602 thereof. Affixation between first core 
end support 1900 and core 600 is obtained preferably by adhesion between 
the contacting surfaces of the outer end portion of core 602 and the 
rim-like annular portion which surrounds and covers the outer surface of 
core 600. On the outer periphery of this rim-like portion is formed a 
first peripherally toothed annular portion 1904 of a first diameter. 
Immediately adjacent thereto is formed a second peripherally toothed 
annular portion 1906 of a second and smaller diameter. 
First core end support element 1900 also has a flat circular central 
portion 1908 on which is provided an outwardly extending central spindle 
1910 having a tapered distal end 1912. 
Core 600 has a length sufficient to allow for affixed insertion of its 
first end into first core end support 1900 and to also provide a short 
exposed length 12 immediately adjacent its second end 604 and extending 
beyond the roll of sheet material 102. 
In the third embodiment the core and roll of material 102 wound thereon are 
to be rotatably supported to the lower cover 106 at spindle 1910 and an 
inside surface 606 of the core 600 immediately adjacent its second end 
604. 
As with the first and second embodiments, provision is made for limiting a 
direction of rotation of the core and roll and also for deliberate 
stoppage of such rotation to stop further unwinding of the sheet material 
102 at the user's convenience. These objectives are realized by 
appropriate features provided to upper and lower covers 104 and 106 of the 
third embodiment 2000, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 20-24. 
Upper cover 104 and lower cover 106 are pivotally connected to each other 
at their respective rear edges 116 and 124 by a hinge mechanism 108, as in 
the first and second embodiments. Likewise, lower cover 106 is provided 
with upward extensions 718, 718 formed, shaped, and disposed as in the 
first and second embodiments to exert a biasing force tending to pivotally 
separate covers 104 and 106 apart. Similarly, upper cover 104 is provided 
with one or two extensions 130 having hooked end portions 132 with 
slanting faces 136 to flexibly engage with corresponding apertures 134 
formed in lower cover 106 and provide a detent engagement mechanism 
exactly as in the first and second embodiments. 
Inwardly of first end wall 2002 of lower cover 106 is provided a transverse 
inner wall 2003 which has an upward central extension 2004 provided with 
an aperture 2006 of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of 
spindle 1910 of the first core end support element 1900. The distal end 
portion 2008 of upward extension 2004 is inclined toward the first end 
wall 2002 of lower cover 106. This is seen in FIGS. 22 and 24. 
Consequently, this inclined distal end portion 2008 has a correspondingly 
inclined surface 2010 facing the inside of the containment space. 
The second end wall 2012 of lower cover 106 is formed somewhat larger than 
in the first and second embodiments, and has an inwardly extending 
cylindrical recessed portion 2014 having an annular cylindrical wall 2016 
of a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of core 600, as 
best understood with reference to FIG. 22. 
As best understood with reference to FIG. 20, core 600 with first core end 
support element 1900 affixed thereto at its first end is lowered into 
lower cover 106 until second end 604 receives therein the recessed annular 
surface 2016 of second end wall 2004, which thereafter cooperates with 
inside end surface 606 of core 600 to support it rotatably. Forcible 
pressing of the tapered end surface 1912 of spindle 1910, as best 
understood with reference to FIG. 22, will cause flexible moving away of 
upward extension 2014 because of pressure put on surface 2010 of inclined 
distal end portion 2008 thereof. This is indicated by a short arrow 
pointed to the left in FIG. 22, wherein an elastically deflected position 
of upward extension 2004 is shown in chain line form and is identified as 
2004a. This elastic deflection of upward extension 2004 continues until 
the tapered distal end of spindle 1912 enters aperture 2006 and is, 
thereafter, rotatably supported thereby. Upward extension 2004 then 
elastically returns to its upward position, as best seen in FIG. 24. Core 
600 and roll of sheet material 102 tightly wound thereon are then together 
rotatably supported by coaction between spindle 1912 in aperture 2006 at 
the first end and by coaction between the inner end surface 606 of core 
600 and the annular surface 2016 at the second end of lower cover 106, as 
best understood with reference to FIG. 22. 
Lower cover 106 has a small inwardly lanced-in portion 2100, a distal end 
of which contacts the toothed outer periphery of portion 1906 of the first 
core end support element 1900, as best seen in FIGS. 21-24. Because of the 
inclination of lanced-in portion 2100 and the respective inclinations of 
the leading and trailing faces of the teeth on portion 1906, a 
pawl-and-ratchet arrangement is created which enables a rotation of the 
first core end support element 1900 (and the core 600 affixed thereto with 
its wound-on material 102) only in one direction, indicated by the curved 
arrow in FIG. 21. This permits withdrawal of the sheet material as 
generally indicated by the two short arrows to the right in FIG. 21. Thus, 
lanced-in portion 2100 of lower cover 106 and the peripheral teeth of 
portion 1906 of the first core end support element 1900 coact together to 
provide a simple but highly effective rotation-limiting means in the third 
embodiment. 
At an inside surface of upper cover 104, preferably integrally formed 
therewith, is an inwardly depending portion 2102 provided with one or more 
teeth 2104 at the distal end surface. Teeth 2104 are formed to match in 
shape, size and disposition the teeth provided in the outer periphery of 
portion 1904 of first core end support element 1900. The dimension of 
inward extension 2102 of upper cover 104 is selected such that when the 
biasing force provided by extensions 718, 718 biases the covers 104, 106 
apart there is no contact between teeth 2104 and the teeth on the outer 
periphery of cylindrical portion 1904. This is best understood by 
reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. However, when a user presses covers 104 and 
106 toward each other, it is intended that teeth 2104 of inward extension 
2102 of upper cover 104 should make contact with and engage to immediately 
adjacent teeth of cylindrical portion 1904 as best understood with 
reference to FIGS. 23 and 24. By this arrangement, as in the first and 
second embodiments, pressing together of covers 104 and 106 causes 
rotation stoppage and prohibits further drawing out of sheet material 102 
until and unless the user releases external pressure and extensions 718, 
718 pivotally bias apart covers 104 and 106. 
Other features of the third embodiment, e.g., the shape, size, non-slip 
textured portions of the outer surface of covers 104, 106, etc., are 
substantially similar to those of the first and second embodiments, hence 
no detailed description thereof is believed necessary. 
In the fourth embodiment, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 25-31, 
core 600 has first and second ends 602, 604 and a roll of sheet material 
102 tightly wound on an outer surface between these ends. Similarly, as in 
the previously described embodiments, the dispenser body comprises upper 
cover 104 and lower cover 106 which are pivotally hinged at hinge 108 to 
each other at their respective rear edges 116 and 124. The front edges 
114, 122 of covers 104, 106, respectively; extensions 718, 718 of lower 
cover 106; and the detent mechanisms at opposite ends, comprising coacting 
elements 130, 132, 134 and 136; are all preferably formed and operate as 
in the first through third embodiments. The following paragraphs will 
therefore focus on structural and functional aspects of the fourth 
embodiment which differ from those of the other embodiments. 
As best seen in FIGS. 25 and 29, to the first end 602 of core 600 is 
fitted, for permanent affixation thereto preferably by adhesion, a first 
core end support element 2500 formed as a circular cap having an 
annular-grooved rim 2502. The inside of rim 2500 is formed as a flat 
circular base 2504 which is sized to closely fit into core 600. Rim 2502 
is provided with a circular grooved-like recess 2506 shaped and sized to 
receive therein and tightly fit to end 602 and a short length of 
immediately adjacent portion of core 600, and an adhesive may be provided 
to cause affixation thereat between core 600 and first core end support 
element 2500. 
Rim 2502 has an outer toothed periphery 2508 of a first diameter and an 
inner toothed periphery 2510 of a second and smaller diameter. 
It will be appreciated from FIG. 29 that when first core end support 
element 2500 is thus fitted to the first end 602 of core 600, a sufficient 
length of the outer surface of core 600 must be provided to ensure 
accommodation of the wound-up sheet material 102 at the second end 604 of 
the core as in the third embodiment. 
As best seen in FIGS. 28-31, upward extensions 718, 718 provided to lower 
cover 106 provide a continuous bias tending to pivotally separate upper 
and lower covers 104, 106 relative to each other within the bounds imposed 
by the detent elements, preferably provided at both ends of the dispenser 
body, which comprise elements 130, 132, 134 and 136 as in the previously 
described embodiments. To an inside surface of upper cover 104, as in the 
first embodiment, there is provided an inward, preferably integral, 
extension 2800 at the distal end of which is provided at least one tooth 
2802 having a form matching that of the teeth on the outer periphery 2508. 
When covers 104 and 106 are biased apart to define a gap 138, as best seen 
in FIGS. 28 and 29, the one or more teeth 2802 remain entirely clear of 
the teeth of periphery 2508. However, when covers 104 and 106 are pressed 
to each other, as generally indicated by the short arrows in FIGS. 30 and 
31, the one or more teeth 2802 are moved toward and engage with adjacent 
teeth of outer periphery 2508 of first core end support element 2500 to 
stop further rotation thereof. In this respect, therefore, a user of the 
fourth embodiment would obtain stoppage of rotation of the core end 
support element and sheet material 102 wound thereon as in the previous 
embodiments, i.e., by pressing together the covers 104 and 106 when a 
sufficient length of the sheet material has been withdrawn through gap 
138. 
As best seen in FIGS. 26, 28, and 30, first end wall 2602 of lower cover 
106 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 2604 which has a 
non-circular, preferably square, cross-section. Extension 2604 has a small 
radially-extending barb 2606 at its distal end. A compressive helical 
spring 2608 or a functional equivalent thereof is fitted around extension 
2604 between an inner surface of first end wall 2602 and barb 2606. 
As best seen in FIG. 27, a circular retracting hub 2700 is provided, which 
has a central open cylindrical section 2702 with a square inside bore 
sized to slidably fit past barb 2606 onto inward extension 2604. As best 
seen in FIG. 29, there is a small radially inward lip 2704 at the distal 
end of cylindrical section 2702, to ensure that once hub 2700 is pressed 
onto inward extension 2604 subsequent coaction between inward lip 2704 and 
barb 2606 will prevent inadvertent sliding-off of retractable hub 2700 
from inward extension 2604. 
Retractable hub 2700 has a circular base 2706 ending in a cylindrical rim 
2708 sized to slidably fit into the inner toothed periphery 2510 of first 
core end support element 2500, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 
29 and 31. Rim 2708 ends in a distal flange 2710 having an outer diameter 
sized to be between the respective diameters of peripherally toothed 
portions 2508 and 2510 of first core end support element 2500. Rim 2708 is 
provided with a pair of cuts 2712 and 2714, defining therebetween a pawl 
section 2716 which extends sufficiently to contact the inner teeth of 
first core end support element 2500 in a pawl-and-ratchet arrangement. 
This is best understood with reference to FIGS. 28 and 30, wherein it will 
be seen that the inner teeth of the first core end support element 2500 
are ramped so that the pawl-and-ratchet arrangement just described will 
permit rotation of first core end support element 2500 (and core 600 
affixed thereto) in a direction which will allow withdrawal of sheet 
material 102 from the dispenser body but will prevent counter-rotation of 
the core. This will ensure against inadvertent rewinding of material 102 
remaining on core 600 back into the containment space. 
As will be readily understood from FIGS. 26 and 29, when a new core 600 
with first core end support element 2500 affixed at the first end thereof 
is to be placed into lower cover 106, the user will contact first core end 
support element 2500 to an inside surface of flange 2710 and push against 
the bias force of compressive helical spring 2608 to fit the inside of 
first core end support element 2500 around rim 2708 and generate a 
sufficient longitudinal space to drop second end 604 of core 600 into 
position within lower cover 106. Then, due to the bias force of helical 
spring 2608, retractable flange 2700 will continue to push on first core 
end support element 2500 to ensure that an inside surface 606 immediately 
adjacent second end 604 of core 600 non-bindingly fits around an outer 
cylindrical surface 3102 of a cylindrical recess 3100 formed into second 
end wall 2610 of lower cover 106. This is best seen in FIG. 29. In effect, 
therefore, as in the third embodiment, the second core end support means 
is the inner surface 606 of core 600 immediately adjacent its second end 
604. The second core support provided by the dispenser body is, therefore, 
the outer surface 3102 of recess 3100 on the lower cover 106. 
To summarize the above, a user would obtain the roll of wound-up sheet 
material 102 wound onto the outer surface of the core 600 which has first 
core end support element 2500 affixed to the first end thereof. This fresh 
roll 102 is fitted into the lower cover 106 as described, and the user 
must then pivotally rotate the upper cover 104 to the lower cover 106 
until the detent arrangements provided at both ends of the covers are 
about to engage. Before finally pressing the covers 104 and 106 to each 
other to engage the detents, the user should extract a short length at the 
distal end of sheet material 102 so that it extends between the front 
edges of the upper and lower covers via gap 138 therebetween. 
Upper and lower covers 104, 106, retractable hub 2700, and first core end 
support element 2500 are all preferably made of a suitable, moldable, 
thermo-plastic material. The outer surfaces of upper and lower covers 104, 
106 may be provided with non-slip surface portions as in the previously 
described embodiments. The pivotal connection between upper and lower 
covers 104, 106 may be obtained, as in the previously described 
embodiments, by any conventional hinging mechanism at 108. 
It should be appreciated that even if there is a tendency of the wound-up 
material 102 to slide on the outer surface of core 600 when the core and 
wound-up material are placed into the dispenser body, as described 
earlier, a portion of first core end support element 2500 will prevent 
sliding-off of the wound-up material 102 from the outer surface of core 
600 during insertion into the dispenser body. Subsequently, with 
appropriate sizing, the wound-up material 102 will remain in place for its 
intended use until enough of it has been withdrawn so as to require 
removal of exhausted core 600. The covers 104 and 106 can then be 
disengaged at the end detents therebetween and a replacement core and roll 
placed in. 
In the fifth embodiment, as best understood with reference to FIGS. 32-45, 
in dispenser body 3300 upper and lower covers 104, 106 are pivotally 
connected at their respective rear edges 116, 124, at a hinge 108. They 
cooperatively define an elongate, generally cylindrical, containment space 
to rotatably support and contain roll of sheet material 102 wound on the 
outside of a cylindrical hollow elongate core 600. As in the first through 
fourth embodiments, covers 104 and 106 are latched to each other by detent 
mechanisms provided preferably at both ends. Covers 104, 106 are normally 
pivotally biased apart to a predetermined extent sufficient to define a 
small gap 138 at the front. 
As best seen in FIG. 35, into a first end 602 of core 600 is inserted a 
first core end support element 3500 which has a first axially symmetric 
generally cylindrical portion 3502 having an outer diameter selected to 
ensure a close fit into core 600. Permanent affixation of element 3500 to 
core 600 is obtained by an adhesive. Immediately adjacent to the inserted 
first portion 3502 is a coaxial second cylindrical portion 3504 which has 
a diameter preferably equal to or slightly smaller than the outside 
diameter of the core 600. There is also provided a third coaxial portion 
in the form of a spindle 3506 which is to be rotatably supported to lower 
cover 106 as described below. 
Rotational support is also to be provided at the second end 604 of core 
600. In the fifth embodiment, as in the third and fourth embodiments, such 
rotational support is provided by a portion of the lower cover 106 
non-bindingly received into end 604 of core 600 to make contact with an 
internal surface 606 immediately adjacent thereto. This is best understood 
with reference to FIGS. 33 and 36. 
As best seen in FIGS. 32 and 33, a first end wall 3302 of lower cover 106 
is provided an internal support bracket 3304 in which is formed a cut-out 
3306 having a circular edge of a diameter slightly larger than the outside 
diameter of spindle 3506 so as to receive the same in a non-binding 
manner. 
Inside the containment space and spaced inwardly of first end wall 3302 is 
a first inner transverse wall 3308 which is provided with a cutout defined 
by a partially circular edge 3310. At a lower portion of wall 3308 is 
provided a cantilevered inclined extension 3312, a distal end 3314 of 
which is intended to make contact with the teeth of the outer periphery of 
second cylindrical portion 3504 of first core end support element 3500 
when a full roll of material is placed into the containment space for use. 
This is best understood with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38. The teeth on 
the outer periphery of cylindrical portion 3504 are shaped so that in 
cooperation with the distal end 3314 of cantilevered element 3312 there is 
formed a pawl-and-ratchet arrangement to serve as a rotation-direction 
limiting means to prevent inadvertent roll-back of the sheet material into 
the containment space. 
At a front portion of first end wall 3302 are provided two slits 3316, 3316 
which thereby define a short cantilevered portion 3318 from which is 
provided a small, round, bulging portion 3320. As will be readily 
understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, extension 3318 and the 
small bulging portion 3320 thereof are intended to perform the same 
functional purpose as downward extension 130 and the hooked portion 132 
thereof in the first embodiment. Providing the bulging portion 3320 with 
an inclined or curved outer surface is intended to provide the same 
ramping function as was provided by inclined surface 136 in the detent 
mechanisms provided in the first through fourth embodiments. 
Adjacent to and inwardly of second end wall 3322 of lower cover 106, as 
best understood with reference to FIG. 33, is provided a similar 
structure, i.e., upward extension 3318 defined between a pair of slits 
3316, 3316, and a small bulging portion 3320 to provide part of a detent 
mechanism at the second end of the lower cover to match the one provided 
at the first end. 
Inside the containment space and spaced inwardly of second end wall 3322 is 
a second inner transverse wall 3324 formed to have an inward generally 
cylindrical extension 3326 with a tapered end. Cylindrical extension 3326 
has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of core 
600 so as to non-bindingly and rotatably support the core during use, as 
best understood with reference to FIG. 33. 
As will now be appreciated from reference to FIG. 36, when a new core with 
its full roll of sheet material 102 is to be placed to lower cover 106, 
the user must first slip second end 604 of core 600 over inward 
cylindrical extension 3326 of second transverse inner wall 3324 and, 
thereafter, lower spindle 3506 until it rests within curved cutout 3306 of 
the first inner transverse wall 3308. At this time, the user should pull 
out the distal end of sheet material 102 so that it lies over the front 
edge 122 of lower cover 106. 
As best seen in FIG. 33, upper cover 104 has first and second end walls 
3340 and 3342, respectively. Inwardly of these end walls are provided 
first and second inner transverse walls 3344 and 3346, respectively. First 
inner transverse wall 3344 is formed to have an arcuate cutout 3348 having 
at least one and preferably a plurality of inward teeth 3350 formed to 
match the teeth on the outer periphery of cylindrical portion 3504 of the 
first core end support element 3500. 
First end wall 3340 is also formed to have an aperture 3352 sized, shaped 
and located to engage in a detent arrangement with the bulging portion 
3320 of lower cover 106 in such a manner as to permit a limited pivotal 
separation of covers 104 and 106 relative to each other to define a front 
gap 138 therebetween. In similar manner, second end wall 3342 is also 
provided with a matching aperture (not shown) to cooperate with a 
corresponding disposed portion of lower cover 106 to provide a second 
detent mechanism for the same purpose. 
Unlike the first through fourth embodiments, as described earlier, there 
are no upward extensions 718, 718 provided in lower cover 106 to press to 
and pivotally bias away upper cover 104 relative thereto. A different 
mechanism, as described below, accomplishes exactly the same purpose, 
i.e., to keep covers 104 and 106 pivotally separated apart by a small 
amount, as permitted by appropriate selection of the dimensions of 
apertures 3352 and the engaging bulging portions 3320 of the detent 
mechanisms. The purpose, as in the earlier-described embodiments, is to 
ensure that teeth 3350 are maintained totally clear of the gear teeth on 
the outer periphery of cylindrical portion 3504 while a user extracts a 
selected length of sheet material 102 via gap 138. Then, when the user has 
extracted a sufficient length of the sheet material, he or she may press 
together covers 104 and 106, overcoming a bias force to be provided as 
described below, until teeth 3350 of upper cover 106 press to and engage 
with the teeth of second cylindrical portion 3504 to stop further rotation 
of the core and wound-up sheet material 102 remaining thereon. 
In the fifth embodiment, as best seen in FIGS. 39 and 40, there is provided 
an elongate cutting blade 3900 preferably provided with a serrated cutting 
edge 726. Cutting blade 3900 may be mounted in any convenient form, e.g., 
by a force-fit, adhesion, or the like, immediately adjacent to and along 
front edge 122 of lower cover 106. 
In the fifth embodiment, unlike the first through fourth embodiments, there 
is also provided a blade guard 4000, best seen in cross-section in FIGS. 
39 and 40, which is pivotally supported about an axis Y--Y, as best seen 
in FIG. 33. Blade guard 4000 has an elongate shape with a smooth, flat 
upper surface over which the sheet material 102 is to be drawn and on 
which a small distal end portion of the sheet material should normally 
rest to permit a user convenient access thereto. At opposite ends of blade 
guard 4000 are provided short spindles 4002, 4002, which fit into suitably 
sized and located small apertures 3380, 3380 provided in the first and 
second transverse inner walls 3308, 3324, respectively, of lower cover 
106. By this means, cutter guard 4000 is free to rotatably pivot about 
axis Y--Y while being supported to lower cover 106. 
Lower cover 106 is also provided with two inwardly lanced-in cantilevered 
extensions 3390, 3390, as best seen in FIGS. 33 and 37-40. These inwardly 
lanced-in extensions are formed and located to press against a lower 
surface of cutter guard 4000 so as to keep the forwardmost edge of the 
upper surface of cutter guard 4000 at a level above the serrated cutting 
edge 726 of cutter blade 3900. This is best seen in FIG. 39. 
As also best seen in FIG. 39, upper cover 104 is formed to have two short 
inward extensions 3396, 3396, respectively, extending inwardly of 
corresponding inner surfaces of first and second transverse inner walls 
3344 and 3346. As best seen with reference to FIG. 33, the location of 
these inward extensions 3396 relative to the position of axis Y--Y, when 
covers 104 and 106 are pivotally moved toward each other, is such as to 
cause the extensions 3396, 3396 to contact the outermost upper surface 
portions of cutter guard 4000. Therefore, as best seen with reference to 
FIGS. 39 and 40, when covers 104 and 106 are engaged by their cooperating 
detent mechanisms but are not being pressed to each other by a user, 
lanced-in elements 3390 exert an upward bias force tending to rotate 
cutter guard 4000 upward relative to the front edge 122 of lower cover 
106. By contact between the upper surface of blade guard 4000 and the 
inward extensions 3396, 3396, this also lifts upper cover 104 to the 
extent permitted by the detent mechanisms formed of cooperating elements 
3320 and 3352. This is illustrated in FIG. 39. In this disposition of the 
dispenser mechanism, the user may access the reachable distal end portion 
of sheet material 102 lying over the upper surface of cutter guard 4000 
without risking direct and possibly hazardous contact with sharp cutting 
serrations at the edge 726 of cutter blade 3900. The user may then draw a 
selected length of sheet material 102 via gap 138, which requires rotation 
of core 600 as rotatably supported by lower cover 106. 
Upon withdrawal of the selected length of sheet material 102, the user must 
press together covers 104 and 106, to thereby obtain engagement of teeth 
3350 of upper cover 104 with the teeth at the outer periphery of 
cylindrical portion 3504 to stop further rotation of the core and roll of 
sheet material 102 still remaining thereon. Such a pressing together of 
upper cover 104 and 106, via inward extensions 3396, 3396, will force 
cutter guard 4000 against the bias force of lanced-in elements 3390, 3390 
of lower cover 106 to permit contact between a lower surface of the sheet 
material 102 and the serrated upper edge of cutter blade 3900. This is 
best understood with reference to FIG. 40. The user may then force this 
contact between the lower surface of sheet material 102 and serrations 726 
to obtain a tear 4500, as best seen with reference to FIG. 45 which is a 
front view of the dispenser body of the fifth embodiment when the covers 
are pressed to each other (as indicated by the short central arrows). 
Note that because cutter blade 3900 is very close to the front edge 122 of 
lower cover 106, there will be a short length of material 102 that will 
thereafter remain on the upper surface of cutter guard 4000 subsequent 
access. As best seen in the plan view per FIG. 43, and because of the 
rotation-limiting action of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism provided by 
cooperation between cantilevered element 3312 and the gear teeth on the 
outer periphery of portion 3504, even if the dispenser body is moved 
around, this distal end portion of sheet material 102 will remain loosely 
accessible over the top surface of cutter guard 4000. 
As best seen in the frontal view per FIG. 44, when covers 104 and 206 are 
not pressed to each other, the user should be able to see forwardmost edge 
portion of cutter guard 4000 slightly above the serrations 726 of cutter 
blade 3900. However, as best seen in FIG. 45, once a selected length of 
sheet material 102 has been withdrawn and the user has pressed cover 104 
to cover 106, the previously visible edge portion of cutter guard 4000 is 
depressed and the drawn sheet material 102 can be forcibly contacted to 
the serrated edge 726 of cutter blade 3900 to initiate tear 4500 to cut 
off the selected length of sheet material. Forward corner portions 3370, 
3370 of upper cover 104 preferably overlap corresponding corner portions 
of lower cover 106, as best seen in FIGS. 41 and 42 and, because they 
bracket cutting blade 3900, provide additional protection to the user 
against harm by inadvertent contact with sharp corners of the blade. 
As in the first through fourth embodiments, upper and lower covers 104, 106 
and first core end support element 3500 may all be made of an attractively 
colored, molded, resilient plastics material. Non-slip surface portions 
110, 112 may either be directly molded in or provided in any other 
convenient manner, as best seen in FIGS. 43-45. Selected plastics 
material, and the transverse and thickness dimensions of the integral 
biasing elements 3390, etc. can be readily determined by persons of 
ordinary skill in the mechanical arts. 
It should be appreciated that in the cores according to each of the five 
embodiments described above, the provision of the first core end support 
element determines how and where the corresponding first end of core 600 
will be disposed during use of the dispenser apparatus. Therefore, if the 
winding of sheet material 102 on core 600 is selected appropriately, there 
can be only one way in which each core and roll can be placed between the 
upper and lower covers 104 and 106. This should simplify matters 
significantly for users. 
Typically, a user would obtain an individual roll of wound-up sheet 
material 102 on its own core 600 with a first core end support element of 
a type to match a particular dispenser body comprised of corresponding 
upper and lower covers 104 and 106. The core can be placed within the 
dispenser body in only one way, and the sheet material can be drawn out of 
the dispenser body by a rotation of the core in only one selected 
direction. The core rotation-direction limiting means will ensure that 
there will be no inadvertent roll-back of the sheet material within the 
containment space. 
All five embodiments operate in virtually the same way from a user's point 
of view: a new roll of sheet material is placed into the lower cover, the 
upper and lower covers are moved to engage each other by their detent 
mechanisms, selected lengths of sheet material are withdrawn and torn off 
by pressing to the front tearing serrations, and the rolled-up material 
cannot inadvertently roll back. 
Persons of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts will readily appreciate 
that with obvious minor modifications it should be possible to provide 
lower covers of the first through fourth embodiments with blade guards 
very similar to the blade guard 4000 described in detail with respect to 
the fifth embodiment. Minor modifications to lower cover 106, to provide 
resilient, upwardly biasing lanced-out portions comparable to 3390 (best 
seen in FIG. 33) can be readily provided in an obvious modification to the 
lower covers of the other embodiments. This would ensure that the front 
edge of the guard covers so placed would normally be raised sufficiently 
above the tearing serrations of the cutting edge as to protect a user from 
accidental abrasions. 
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in 
detail, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of 
illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, 
the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the 
terms of the appended claims.