Paper roll control device

A sheet material roll control device that comprises a series of protrusions that periodically intersect with each other while the sheet material roll rotates. One set of protrusions are located on a base while another set of protrusions are located on a roll plate. The roll plate is designed to fit on the end of a spindle that sits inside the roll core. In addition, attached to the roll plate and surrounding the spindle is an insert that rests flush inside the roll core. This insert fills the gap between the roll core and the outer shell of the spindle. With this insert, when the roll rotates, the spindle rotates with the roll, causing the roll plate to turn and periodically intersect protrusions located on the base, causing the rolling rate of the roll to slow down.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to improvements in a roll control device that 
contains a series of protrusions designed to control the flow of paper off 
a roll. The protrusions contact each other as the roll is spinning causing 
the role to periodically pause in its spinning motion. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Roll control devices are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,487,376 to Compton discloses a support for a conventional roll of 
perforated paper that contains an operable breaking device for impeding 
the rolling of towels when one towel is being torn off the roll. 
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,163 to Christian discloses a tissue holder 
that includes a brake member that is insertable to fit snugly into an open 
end of a cardboard tube on which a roll of tissue is wound before the roll 
of tissue is mounted on the roll holder. A spring loaded support spindle 
urges a base plate of the brake member against an arm of the roll holder, 
producing a frictional force which prevents free rotation of the tissue 
roll. 
The present invention is an improvement over the prior art because it 
contains a series of protrusions designed to frictionally engage each 
other as a sheet material roll rotates about an axis. When these 
protrusions engage each other, there is a corresponding break or drop in 
the spinning rate of the roll. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the invention is to provide a sheet material roll control 
device that controls the rolling rate for a roll of toilet paper-or paper 
towels. Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet material 
roll control device that informs visually impaired individuals how many 
sheets they roll off a roll. Another object of the invention is to provide 
a sheet material roll control device that prevents the backward rolling of 
the roll of toilet paper or paper towels. Another object of the invention 
is to provide roll control device for a material roll holder that is 
inexpensive to manufacture and ergonomically easy to install using only 
one hand. 
To achieve these and other objects of the invention, there is provided a 
material roll control device comprising a stationary base having an inside 
face with a plurality of protrusions positioned thereon. In addition, the 
roll control device also contains a spindle for frictionally engaging the 
sheet material roll and rotating about an axis within the stationary base. 
Attached to the spindle is a material roll insert that contains a foam 
core designed to insert over the spindle. Covering the foam core is a 
hardened cylindrical shell. Attached to the outside of the cylindrical 
shell is a series of spacers that are in the form of elongated bars. These 
spacers allow the insert to fit snugly inside of a sheet material roll. 
There is at least one plate attached to the insert for rotation therewith. 
This plate can have a roughened edge that is 3/8" to 1/2" thick. The plate 
also has a plurality of protrusions arranged on a face of the plate. Thus, 
when the material roll control device rotates, a plurality of protrusions 
on the plate frictionally engage the plurality of protrusions on the base. 
In this case, when these protrusions frictionally engage each other, they 
move the plate laterally along an axis to cause the sheet material roll to 
slow its rotational speed. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the roll control device has a 
closed end for receiving a spindle. The roll plate has a closed end with a 
recessed region on its inside face designed to receive the rod portion of 
the spindle. In addition, the outside face of this roll plate contains a 
rod that inserts into the stationary base. 
The protrusions can come in different forms and combinations. In a first 
embodiment of the invention, the protrusions on the base and on the plate 
have a triangular shaped cross-section. The triangular shaped 
cross-section is specifically designed to prevent the sheet material roll 
control device from rolling backward. If the device starts to roll 
backward, it runs flush against the flat back face of the triangular 
protrusions which thereby stop the backward roll of the device. 
In addition, in a second embodiment of the invention the protrusions on 
both the base and the plate are hemispherical and have a circular 
cross-section. These hemispherical protrusions allow the device to roll 
both forward or backward. In a third embodiment of the invention, the 
protrusions on the base have a triangular cross-section while the 
protrusions on the plate have a circular cross-section. Finally, in a 
fourth embodiment of the invention, the protrusions on the base have a 
circular cross-section and the protrusions on the plate have a triangular 
cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 shows a sheet material roll control device 10 that has 
a roll 14, roughened end piece or roll plate 16 and a rod 18. Rod 18 can 
extend from a spindle (see FIG. 5). Rod 18 fits into hole 20 on base plate 
22. Base plate 22 is attached to an inside face on arm 26. Arm 26 extends 
from a stationary base (not shown). Disposed between roll plate 16 and 
base plate 22 are protrusions 24 and 28. Roll plate protrusions 28 are 
molded with roll plate 16 and engage base plate protrusions 24 attached to 
base plate 22. 
FIG. 2 shows roll plate 16 having protrusions 28 and opening 30. 
Protrusions 28 have a triangular cross-section and are ramp-shaped (See 
FIG. 4). These protrusions 28 are spaced apart equidistant on roll plate 
16. Opening 30 is designed to allow rod 18 to fit through. 
FIG. 3 shows base plate 22 having protrusions 24 that have a triangular 
cross-section and are ramp-shaped (as shown in FIG. 4). Protrusions 24 are 
oriented so that a sheet material roll control device can rotate 
counterclockwise to dispense sheets. However, these protrusions can also 
be oriented in the opposite direction to allow the sheet material roll 
control device to rotate in the opposite direction. Base plate 22 has a 
hole 20 that acts as a recessed region on plate 22. 
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of roll plate 16 showing the triangular 
cross-sectional shape of protrusions 28. 
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of sheet roll 14 having a core 32. 
Inside core 32 is insert 31 having spacers 36 fitting around shell 38. 
Spacers 36 are designed so that insert 31 fits snug inside roll core 32. 
In this way, when roll 14 rotates, insert 31 also turns with roll 14. 
Spacers 36 attach to insert shell 38. Insert shell 38 is 
cylindrically-shaped and contains foam core 40. Foam core 40 is designed 
to fit snug around spindle piece 44 as shown in FIG. 6. In this way, when 
insert 31 rotates, it also rotates with spindle piece 44. Spindle piece 44 
is spring loaded within spindle piece 46 so that spindle piece 44 can move 
inside spindle piece 46 to adjust the overall length of spindle 45. In 
addition, foam core 40 is designed to fit only around either spindle piece 
44 or spindle piece 46 so that spindle piece 44 can adjust in length. 
Sheet material roll control device 10 is designed so that roll plate 16 
rotates around axis 15 wherein protrusions 28 periodically intersect 
protrusions 24 on base plate 22. In this case, when protrusions 28 
intersect protrusions 24, insert 31 shifts laterally along axis 15. To 
allow this shift, spring loaded spindle piece 44 collapses into spindle 
piece 46. 
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of roll control device 10 wherein spindle 
piece 44 fits inside roll plate 50. Roll plate 50 contains a cylindrically 
shaped insert hole 51 designed to receive rod 18 on spindle piece 44. In 
addition, extending out from the opposite end of roll plate 50 is 
cylindrical insert 52 and protrusions 28. Insert 52 fits into hole 20 on 
base plate 22. This second embodiment of roll control device 10 has a 
closed end that is designed to receive spindle 44. This design may be 
beneficial because rod 18 may not have sufficient length to extend into 
base plate 22. 
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of base plate 22 having protrusions 24 and 
a two-sided adhesive 60. Two sided-adhesive 60 is designed to allow back 
face 22' of base plate 22 to fit onto stationary base 26. 
FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of stationary base 26 wherein protrusions 
24 are molded onto arm 66. In this case hole 20 is also cut into arm 66 
and designed to receive rod 18 from spindle 44 or insert 52 from roll 
plate 50. 
FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment for roll plate 16. In this case, roll 
plate 16 contains hemispherical protrusions 70 that have a semicircular 
cross-section. These protrusions allow the sheet material roll control 
device 10 to roll in either direction while still slowing the rolling 
rate. In addition, roll plate 16 contains hole 30 which is adapted to 
allow rod 18 or insert 52 to fit through. 
FIG. 11 is a second embodiment of end base plate 22 having hemispherical 
protrusions 80 having a semicircular cross-section. Because protrusions 80 
are hemispherical, they allow roll control device to rotate in either a 
clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 
FIG. 12 shows one embodiment of the invention of the roll control device 10 
wherein roll plate 16 contains protrusions 28 having a triangular shaped 
cross section while base plate 22 has hemispherical protrusions 80 having 
a semi-circular shaped cross section. 
FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of roll control device 10 wherein roll 
plate 16 contains protrusions 70 that have a semi-circular cross section. 
In addition, base plate 22 has protrusions 24 having a triangular cross 
section. 
In these embodiments, the sheet material roll control device controls the 
rolling rate of sheets from a roll. In addition, the protrusions can be 
spaced so that they intersect each other corresponding to perforations on 
each dispensed sheet. Furthermore, when these protrusions intersect each 
other, they can give off an audible click, giving a signal to the user 
that another sheet has been rolled off the roll. In this way, a person who 
is visually impaired would know how many sheets they pulled off the roll 
based upon the periodic resistance to rolling rate on the roll, or the 
number of clicks that they hear. 
Accordingly, while only a single embodiment of the present invention has 
been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and 
modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.