Dispensing canister with indexing means

The present invention provides for a canister and an indexing apparatus that provides for automatic positioning of items in predetermined indexed positions when items are added or removed therefrom, without need of an external tab or positioning member to be adjusted by a user's hand. Merely by adding or removing the items to or from the canister, the items are automatically positioned. A pole having a track with positioning members receives a finger of a platform that rides in the track and automatically adjusts the platform's position when items are placed on or removed from the platform.

The present invention pertains to a canister for dispensing items, such as toilet paper rolls, having a track with a positioning member in order to orient the items within the canister in predetermined positions.

Canisters are well known in the art for holding and dispensing items such as paper towels and toilet paper rolls. Such dispensers allow for the storage of the rolls in a neat and fashionable way, but also allow for the items to be easily removed for usage. Canisters for storing toilet paper rolls are known that have a central rod and a cylindrical housing surrounding the rod. Multiple rolls of toilet paper are mounted over the rod and may be stored within the housing. Such canisters are known that have a platform that is mounted over the rod which is spring loaded in order to push the toilet paper rolls upward toward the top of the canister in order to dispense the toilet paper rolls. Some known canisters allow for adjustment of the platform, but require manual adjustment by a user's hand operating a tab extending out of the canister housing. However, it has not been known to have a simple means of automatically indexing the canister so that the canister may actuate the positioning of an item, such as toilet paper rolls, based on the number of rolls within the canister. Such an indexing means would be desired so that upon removal of one toilet paper roll the canister automatically repositions the remaining rolls so that they may be easily accessed and dispensed for later usage. It is also desirable to provide a canister that is quickly and easily assembled and has positioning means for quickly and easily positioning items within the canister.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides for a canister that comprises a vertical pole having a track with a positioning member, a platform including a collar having a bore for mounting over the pole, a finger protruding from the collar and received in the track, a spring disposed on the pole for biasing the platform and the finger engaging the positioning member in order to counteract the force of the spring and hold the platform in a predetermined position. In an embodiment, the canister may provide a housing having a base and a lid and the lid is attached at a top of the housing. In an embodiment, the vertical pole may extend between the lid and the base and the positioning member may include a notch and a detent. In an embodiment, the spring may be disposed on the pole at the base.

In an embodiment, the platform may include a rim that receives rolls of toilet paper that have been placed over the pole and onto the platform and the positioning members are separated a distance approximately equal to a height of the rolls, so that each roll may be located adjacent a top of the canister and dispensed therefrom. In an embodiment, the track may extend along the length of the pole between a lid and a base and may include at least two positioning stations where the track is bifurcated and each station may have a positioning member. In an embodiment, the canister may comprise a swing arm pivotally attached to the collar and the swing arm may have the finger protruding transverse to the arm at its terminal end for riding in the track.

In an embodiment, the finger may be interaction shaped in order to engage a corresponding shaped portion of the track. In an embodiment, the finger is diamond shaped and is locked by a first positioning member and may hold the platform in a first position on the pole within the canister. In an embodiment, the canister may comprise a plurality of toilet paper rolls mounted on the platform and wherein upon removal of the upper most roll of toilet paper and pushing down slightly on the platform, the diamond shaped finger may be pushed downward away from the first positioning member in order to allow the platform to move upward.

In an embodiment, the canister may comprise at least two positioning stations and each positioning station may include a positioning member, an upward track and a bifurcated downward track. In an embodiment, the canister may comprise a main vertical track extending between positioning stations and the upward track and downward track of the first station may meet at an apex that forms a slanted area which engages the finger that pushes the finger toward the downward track so that the platform may ride downward toward the next positioning station. In an embodiment, the positioning station may include an inclined surface that will force the finger to the upward track toward a positioning member for receiving the finger in order to lock the platform in position. In an embodiment, the platform may be released from the positioning station by pushing down slightly on the platform so that the finger of the swing arm is released by the positioning member and gravity acts on the swing arm to move the arm to a vertical position so that the finger locates in the main track and the platform may ride upward along the main track.

In an embodiment, upon pushing down on the platform to move it downward along the track, the swing arm's finger may engage the inclined surface so that the finger may ride in the downward track until the swing arm reaches the next station. In an embodiment, the finger may locate the platform at a first station so that all three toilet paper rolls may be suspended in position inside the canister.

In an embodiment, a method of dispensing an item from a canister may be provided comprising the steps of providing a vertical pole having a track with a plurality of positioning members, mounting a platform on the pole, the platform having a collar with a finger protruding therefrom and received in the track and disposed in a first positioning member in order to lock the platform in a first position, pushing down on the platform in order to remove the finger from the first member, biasing the platform upward by a spring causing the finger to rider upward in the track and latching the finger by a second positioning member in order to lock the platform in a second position. The method may further comprise the steps of engaging the finger at an incline surface of the track and providing a bifurcated section of the track forming a first position station and guiding the finger into an upward track or downward track.

The method may further comprise the steps of guiding the finger into a downward track while pushing the platform down and guiding the finger into the upward track via the bias force of the spring pushing the platform upward. The method may further comprise the steps of loading at least two toilet paper rolls on the platform and the weight of the rolls counteracting the upward force of the spring and pushing the platform downward and latching the finger by a first positioning member so that the top roll that is stacked on a lower roll is located adjacent a top the canister and the platform is locked in a first position, removing the top roll by pushing down slightly in order to release the finger from the first positioning member, reorienting the finger that is attached to a swing arm via the force of gravity pulling the swing arm to a vertical position and locating the finger along the main track, riding the main track via the finger to move the platform and the lower roll upward along the pole in order to reposition the lower roll at the top of the canister and latching the finger in a second positioning member in order to lock the platform in a second position.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-7depict an embodiment of a canister10of the present invention. The canister10includes a housing15having a base17and lid18. In an embodiment, the lid18is attached to the housing15by a hinge19. A latch20is provided which may provide a snap-fit with the top edge21of the housing15in order to latch the lid18in a closed position. Upon downward pressure, the latch20may be released from the top edge21so that the lid18may be pivoted upward. In an embodiment, the hinge19includes a spring which biases the lid18to automatically open when the latch20is released.

The components of the inner assembly of the canister10are depicted in an exploded view inFIG. 2. Mounted to the base17is an internal base23. The internal base23may include snap-fit tabs to engage the inner wall of the housing15in order to attach the base17and internal base23to the housing15. Attached to the internal base23is support22to which a vertical pole or rod25is attached. Mounted on the pole is a coil spring27or bias member, which slides down to the bottom of the pole25and is maintained on the pole by the support22. Formed vertically along the pole is a guide slot29(FIG. 7), which will be discussed in more detail below.

A platform30is provided having a collar32and a circular rim33. In an embodiment, the collar32is cylindrical and forms a bore33(FIG. 7) that has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pole25, so that the collar32may ride freely up and down the pole25. In an embodiment, the outer diameter of the collar32is slightly smaller than the diameter of the core of a toilet paper roll, so that a roll may be placed onto the collar32and supported by the rim28. Thus, as shown inFIG. 3, the platform30may act to hold and position toilet paper rolls71,72,73along the pole25within the canister10.

The inner diameter of the collar32has a swing arm40mounted therein. The swing arm40includes a finger41, which will be described in greater detail below. A cap42is provided for mounting to the top of the pole25and prohibits the platform30from sliding off the top of the pole25. A button43is mounted to the lid18and a bezel44mounts to the top of the housing15via snap-fit tabs. The bezel44surrounds the lid18.

In an embodiment, the canister will be assembled by mounting the internal base23to the base17and then fastening the pole25to the internal base23. As shown inFIG. 5-7, the pole25includes annular rings47or other interference fit features that allow the pole25to be snap-fit into a bore in the support22(FIG. 2). The coil spring27is then placed onto the pole25. The housing15is then assembled onto the base23by snap-fit of the tabs therein. The platform30is then assembled by attaching the swing arm40thereto. The swing arm40includes an axle49that is inserted into a hole49of the collar32(seeFIG. 7) so that the arm40may swing freely on the collar32. A pin45is mounted on the collar32on a side opposite the hole49a(about 180°). The pin45is attached to the collar32by inserting the pin45through an aperture46(FIG. 7) in the collar32. The platform30is then placed over the pole29so that the pin45rides in slot29and the finger41rides in track50. In an embodiment, the track50and slot29extend to the top edge21of the pole25so that the finger41and pin45may be slid into position, respectively. The cap42is attached to the top of the pole29to maintain the collar32and platform30in position on the pole29. The bezel44is attached to the top edge21of the housing15, the button43is attached to the lid18and the hinge19of the lid is attached to the bezel44and housing15.

The operation of the canister10of an embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with respect toFIGS. 3-7. The guide track50is generally arranged vertically along one side of the pole extending between the base17and lid18, when the pole is assembled within the canister10. The guide track50includes a main vertical track51. In an embodiment, three positioning stations61,62and63are provided along the track50. The track50at each positioning station61,62,63is bifurcated and includes an upward track65a, b, cand a downward track66a, b, c. In the embodiment shown, each positioning station61,62,63is separated by a distance equal to the height of a toilet paper roll. In alternate embodiments, the positioning stations may be separated by varying distances, include more or less than three stations and be operative for other types of items. Each positioning station61,62,63also includes a positioning member, such as a gate or notch68a, b, cand detent69a, b, c. The collar32has the swing arm40mounted thereon which includes the finger41at its terminal end which rides in the track50.

FIGS. 3 and 4depict the platform30locked in a first position with the finger41latched by first positioning member69a. The multiple positions of the swing arm40and finger41are also depicted by the diamonds41a, d, eshown inFIGS. 6 and 7and the swing arms40a, b, ddepicted inFIG. 5. It is to be understood that these Figs. depict multiple arms40a, b, dand fingers41a, d, e, only to help illustrate how they may be positioned along the track50during operation of the canister. However, in an embodiment, there is only a single swing arm40having a single finger41, as depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3. It is also to be understood that while only the first positioning station61is depicted in detail and described forFIG. 6, the second and third positioning stations62,63may have the same construction and operate in a similar manner.

With the finger41areceived in the generally triangular shaped notch68aand latched by positioning member69a, the platform is prevented from moving upward along the pole25. The finger41areceived by the positioning member69acounteracts the bias force of the coil spring27. Thus, it may be understood that when three toilet paper rolls71,72,73are placed on the pole25, they are suspended by the platform30and locked in a first position with the uppermost roll73adjacent to the top of the canister10(as shown inFIG. 3). In an embodiment, the spring27is calibrated to provide a specific bias force in relation to the weight of the items to be placed on the platform30. For example, if the dispenser10is designed to dispense three rolls of toilet paper71,72,73, the standard weight of three rolls will be known and a calibrated spring used that will completely compress upon application of such a weight. Further, in an alternate embodiment, the calibrated spring will be designed to decompress by ⅓ upon removal of a first roll71, by ⅔ upon removal of a second roll72and completely decompress upon removal of the final third roll73. In other words, the calibrated spring may provide for the automatic indexing and positioning of items within the canister10. In an embodiment, where the calibrated spring27cannot be fine tuned in order to precisely locate items in (three) predetermined positions, or the toilet paper rolls are not of a universal weight other indexing means, such as the finger41and positioning member69, are provided in combination with such spring27.

In order to move the platform30from the first position, a toilet paper roll73is removed from the upper most position by lifting the lid18and removing the roll73. Just prior to removing the roll73, a slight downward pressure is applied in order to push against the other rolls71,72, which in turn pushes the platform30slightly downward (in direction of Arrow D inFIG. 3). Such downward movement allows for the finger41ato be moved downward away from the first positioning member69aand out of the notch. As shown inFIG. 3, when the finger41ais latched by the first positioning member69a, the swing arm40is rotated (about 5° to the left). As the finger is freed from the member69a, the swing arm40is allowed to freely move and the force of gravity will move the finger41into the main track51and the swing arm40is positioned in a vertical position. Upon removal of the upper most toilet paper roll73, the platform30is then free to move upward due to the bias force of the spring27. The platform30will move along the pole25and simultaneously the finger41(for example, finger41dshown inFIG. 5) will ride in the main track51upward (as shown by Arrow U inFIG. 3) until the finger41reaches the second positioning station62.

At the second positioning station62the finger41(for example, finger41einFIG. 6) will reach a lower apex point75(seeFIG. 6). (It is to be understood that whileFIG. 6depicts the first positioning station61, its features, such as apex75, etc., are present in the second and third positioning stations62,63and will be described with respect toFIG. 6). The lower apex75acts to bifurcate the track51and forms the upward track65a, b, cand the downward track66a, b, c. An upper apex85includes a slanted surface80which also forms the downward track66a, b, cin part. An island81is formed between the upward and downward tracks65,66and includes upper and lower apex85,75, the inclined surface77and slanted surface80.

The apex75is offset to the (right) side of the longitudinal axis of the main track51, so that when the finger41continues riding upward along the main track, it will abut against the apex75and an inclined surface77that will cause the finger to travel into the upward track65b. At the top of the upward track65bis a positioning member69b. In an embodiment, the finger41bmay have a diamond shape cross-section and a notch68bformed by positioning member69balso has a corresponding triangle shape to the finger41in order to make a secure engagement (seeFIG. 5). Thus, it is to be understood that it is also a feature of the present invention that the finger41have a predetermined interaction shape so that it interacts with the features and surfaces of the track50in order to control the path that the finger41follows along the track50. For example, the diamond interaction shape of the finger41eallows for it to abut the inclined surface77so that the upper edge of the diamond shape will slide easily along the inclined surface77and move the swing arm40to the left and into the upward track65a(as shown inFIG. 6). Other interaction shapes may be provided that can control the path of the finger41in differently configured tracks50for canisters having other functions. It may also be understood that other shaped fingers41and positioning members69may be provided which will cause the finger to securely latch at the positioning member area69. The bias force of the spring will push the finger41upward against the positioning member69and cause it to latch in place in the second position at the second positioning station62.

When the second roll of toilet paper72has been used up, the platform30may be released from its second position62by pushing down slightly on the top roll72so that the finger41of the swing arm40is removed from the notch69b, as discussed for the first positioning station61above. The swing arm40and the platform30ride upward along the main track51to the third positioning station63due to biasing by the spring27. The finger41will ride the upward track65cand be locked by positioning member69c.

After the third roll of toilet paper73is used, the roll is removed and three new rolls may be placed in the canister10. The weight of the three rolls71,72,73and/or pushing down by a user's hand causes the platform30to move downward along the track50. At each station61,62,63, the swing arm follows each of the downward tracks66a, b, cdue to the slanted track surface80(seeFIG. 6) engaging the diamond shaped finger41to push the finger41b(to the right as shown inFIG. 5). The upper apex point85(FIG. 6) is offset (to the left) away from the longitudinal axis of the main track51, so that the finger41dbypasses the upward track65aand the positioning member69aand is received by the downward track66a(as shown inFIG. 6). Each station61,62,63guides the finger41downward until the swing arm40reaches the first (lowermost) station61. In an embodiment, removal of the downward force against the platform30and spring27allows the finger41to be reset at notch69a.

As shown inFIG. 7, the platform30and collar32are maintained in position, in order to prevent rotation so that the finger41can operate smoothly within the track50, by an engagement member45riding in slot29. In an embodiment, the engagement member45includes a friction bearing member that slows the travel of the platform30. The member45may for example include a gear45and the slot is a toothed track29. The gear45may have damping grease in order to provide friction and slow the rotation of the gear45which in turn will slow the travel of the platform30up and down the pole25. Such a friction bearing member45may prevent any potential rebound action of the spring27when the platform30is at the top or bottom of the pole25, in order to impede self actuation of the finger41in the track50. The friction bearing member45also provides a means to slow the platform30in order to reduce wear on the finger41. In an alternate embodiment, the engagement member45may include a pin that is inserted through an aperture in the collar of the platform and the pin rides in the guide slot in order to maintain the platform and collar in a single axial position.

Thus, it is to be understood that the present invention provides for a canister and an indexing apparatus that provides for automatic positioning of items in predetermined indexed positions when items are added or removed therefrom, without need of an external tab or positioning member to be adjusted by a user's hand. Merely by adding or removing the items to or from the canister, the items are automatically positioned.