Apparatus and method for mounting a paper roll product with core on a coreless paper roll spindle

Abstract: An apparatus (20) and method for rotatably mounting a paper roll product having a central core (26) defining a passageway on a coreless paper roll spindle (10). The apparatus (20) includes a doubled-ended, elongated adapter spindle (30) of readily deformable material defining a cavity (40) for receiving the coreless paper roll spindle (10). A projection (34) is affixed to the adapter spindle (30) to restrict axial movement of a paper roll product mounted on the apparatus (20).

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for mounting a paper roll product. More particularly, it relates to the mounting of a product comprising a paper web wrapped about a central core on a coreless paper roll spindle having a spindle body and an enlargement on the spindle body. BACKGROUND ART Our U.S. Patent Specification 5.370.339A (published 6 December 1994) discloses apparatus for dispensing web material from a coreless roll of such material. Whilst not prior art against the present application, we mention it here to place the present invention in its correct context. Most conventional rolls of consumer paper products, such as toilet tissue, are not coreless in nature, instead comprising a paper web wrapped about a central core of paperboard or the like. The coreless paper roll dispenser apparatus disclosed in the above-identified application is not suitable for use with the more conventional paper roll product utilizing a core. The paper roll product with a core will not be mounted on a stable fashion on the apparatus. A search directed to the invention of the present application located the following United States patents, which are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art in this field: U.S. Patent No. 4,248,391, issued February 3, 1981, U.S. Patent No. 3,923,265, issued December 2, 1975, U.S. Patent No. 3,672,591, issued June 27, 1972, U.S. Patent No. 3,593,936, issued July 20, 1971, U.S. Patent No. 2,707,594, issued May 3, 1955, and U.S. Patent No. Des. 324,618, issued March 17, 1992. The above, identified patents do not address the problem discussed above and which is solved by the present invention. EP-A-0,425,334 which forms the basis for the 2-part form of claims describes an anti-theft dispenser of material wound on a core-free roll. The dispenser includes a tubular member fitted with anti-extraction means comprising flexible jaws linked to a stop. In operation, the jaws are compressed so that they fit inside the core. The roll is then fitted over the tubular member affixed to a support so that the jaws engage the hooks of the tubular member to lock the dispenser. DE 3,613,988 describes a vertical holder for a roll of kitchen paper in which a spindle is inserted into a stand disposed on the bore of the paper roll to secure the roll to the stand. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for rotatably mounting a paper roll product having a central bore upon a spindle having a maximum cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the internal diameter of the bore, comprising an adapter having an outer contour for insertion in the roll product bore, the adapter being at least partially of readily deformable material which defines at one end of the adapter a cavity adapted to receive and retain the spindle, the adapter including means axially spaced from the said one end and projecting radially beyond the outer contour so as to retain the roll product on the adapter characterised in that said cavity has a configuration generally corresponding to but smaller than the outer configuration of the body of the spindle whereby a friction fit is formed between said adapter and a coreless paper roll spindle in said cavity, and in that said adapter has an outer cylindrically-shaped surface with a uniform circular cross-sectional configuration along the length thereof smaller than the uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of said paper roll product central bore. Preferably, the product comprises a paper web wrapped about said central bore defining a passageway of uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined magnitude along the length thereof on a said spindle, said spindle comprising a coreless paper roll spindle having a spindle body with an enlarged portion, said coreless paper roll spindle having a maximum cross-sectional configuration substantially smaller in magnitude than said predetermined magnitude, said adapter comprising a double-ended, elongated, adapter, the coreless paper roll spindle being frictionally engaged by said adapter to retain the apparatus on said coreless paper roll spindle, said means comprising a projection affixed to the adapter at a location spaced from the said one end of the adapter and projecting outwardly from the adapter to extend beyond the core of a paper roll product mounted on the adapter and engageable by an end of the paper roll product to limit axial movement of the paper roll product relative to said apparatus and relative to a coreless paper roll spindle within the cavity of said adapter. The present invention encompasses a method of mounting a paper roll product having a central bore diameter upon a spindle having a maximum cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the internal diameter of the bore comprising disposing within the bore an adapter formed at least partially of readily deformable material which defines at one end of the adaptor an axially-extending cavity, characterised in that said cavity has a configuration generally corresponding to but smaller than the outer configuration of the body of the spindle whereby a friction fit is formed between said adapter and a coreless paper roll spindle in said cavity, and in that said adapter has an outer cylindrically-shaped surface with a uniform circular cross-sectional configuration along the length thereof smaller than the uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of said paper roll product central bore, and by the steps of receiving the spindle with the cavity and retaining it therein, and retaining the roll on the adaptor by a part thereof axially spaced from the said one end and projecting radially beyond the central bore of the roll. Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, which are by way of example only. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrated in cross-section just prior to installation of the apparatus and a paper roll product with central core onto a coreless paper roll spindle; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the apparatus and paper roll product, both in cross-section, installed on the coreless paper roll spindle. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates a coreless paper roll spindle or mounting apparatus of the type disclosed in our aforementioned U.S. Patent Specification No. 5.370.339A. In the interest of simplicity, spindle 10 will not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that coreless paper roll spindle 10 has a spindle body 12 and an enlargement 14 located at an end of the spindle body 12. The apparatus of the present invention is designated by reference numeral 20 and such apparatus is for the purpose for rotatably mounting a paper roll product having a core on the coreless paper roll spindle 10. The disclosed paper roll product is a conventional roll of toilet tissue 22 comprising a tissue web wrapped about a central core 26 of paperboard or the like. It is to be noted that the central aperture or passageway defined by core 26 is significantly larger than the outer peripheral surface of the coreless paper roll spindle 10. Therefore, the coreless paper roll spindle would be completely inappropriate for rotatably mounting the conventional roll with a core. The passageway defined by the central core 26 is, as is conventional, of uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined magnitude along the length thereof. The coreless paper roll spindle 10 has a maximum cross-sectional configuration transverse to the primary axis thereof substantially smaller in magnitude than the predetermined magnitude. Apparatus 20 comprises or includes a doubled-ended, elongated adapter spindle member 30 formed of readily deformable material. Preferably the material is soft and resilient, examples being foam rubber, soft rubber, sponge rubber or other suitable natural or synthetic materials. A material such as styrofoam or other synthetic foam type product of comparable nature could also be employed. The illustrated apparatus is of integral, unitary molded construction. Apparatus 20 also includes a projection having a flange-like configuration affixed to the elongated adapter spindle member. In the arrangement illustrated, projection 34 is integral with the elongated adapter spindle member 20 and is disposed at one end of the elongated adapter spindle member. It is to be noted that projection 34 radiates outwardly from the spindle member 30 a distance which makes the projection larger than the ends of core 26. Thus, a paper roll product mounted on the adapter spindle member 30 (as shown in Fig. 2) will abut the projection and have the axial movement of the paper roll product restricted. In the arrangement illustrated, the adapter spindle member has an outer cylindrically-shaped surface with a uniform circular cross-sectional configuration along the length thereof smaller than the uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of the paper roll product central core. A cavity 40 extends from an open end of the elongated adapter spindle member for receiving and accommodating therein coreless paper roll spindle 10 with the coreless paper roll spindle being frictionally engaged by the elongated adapter spindle member to retain the apparatus on the coreless paper roll spindle. Cavity 40 has a configuration generally corresponding to but smaller than the outer configuration of the spindle body 12 and enlargement 14 of the coreless paper roll spindle 10 whereby a relatively tight friction fit is formed between the adapter spindle member and the coreless paper roll spindle 10 received in cavity 40. When installing the toilet tissue roll 22 in position on the coreless paper roll spindle, the operator first places the adapter spindle member within the central core passageway of the roll paper product. The elongated adapter spindle member is inserted completely through the central core passageway so that the open first end leading to cavity 40 is on one side of the paper roll product and the projection or flange 34 is on the other side thereof. The elongated adapter spindle member is axially aligned with the coreless paper roll spindle with the open end of the elongated adapter spindle member directed toward the coreless paper roll spindle. The distal end of the coreless paper roll spindle is inserted within the open end of the elongated adapter spindle member and slid into cavity 40 while deforming the material of the adapter spindle member. A friction fit is thus established between the readily deformable material and the coreless paper roll spindle to retain the elongated adapter spindle member and paper roll product on the coreless paper roll spindle. The projection 34 restricts axial movement of the paper roll product relative to the elongated adapter spindle member and the coreless paper roll spindle while allowing rotation of the paper roll product.

Claims: Apparatus for rotatably mounting a paper roll product having a central bore (26) upon a spindle (10) having a maximum cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the internal diameter of the bore, comprising an adapter (30) having an outer contour for insertion in the roll product bore, the adapter being at least partially of readily deformable material which defines at one end of the adapter a cavity (40) adapted to receive and retain the spindle (10), the adapter including means (34) axially spaced from the said one end and projecting radially beyond the outer contour so as to retain the roll product on the adapter; characterised in that said cavity (40) has a configuration generally corresponding to but smaller than the outer configuration of the body (12) of the spindle (10) whereby a friction fit is formed between said adapter (30) and a spindle in said cavity, and in that said adapter (30) has an outer cylindrically-shaped surface with a uniform circular cross-sectional configuration along the length thereof smaller than the uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of said paper roll product central bore. Apparatus according to Claim 1, said product comprising a paper web (22) wrapped about said central bore (26) defining a passageway of uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined magnitude along the length thereof on said spindle (10), said spindle comprising a coreless paper roll spindle (10) having a spindle body (12) with an enlarged portion (14), said coreless paper roll spindle having a maximum cross-sectional configuration substantially smaller in magnitude than said predetermined magnitude, said adapter (30) comprising a double-ended, elongated, adapter (30), the coreless paper roll spindle (10) being frictionally engaged by said adapter to retain the apparatus on said coreless paper roll spindle, said means (34) comprising a projection (34) affixed to the adapter at a location spaced from the said one end of the adapter and projecting outwardly from the adapter to extend beyond the core (26) of a paper roll product mounted on the adapter (20) and engageable by an end of the paper roll product to limit axial movement of the paper roll product relative to said apparatus and relative to a coreless paper roll spindle (10) within the cavity (40) of said adapter (30). Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said adapter (30) and said projection (34) are of integral, unitary, molded construction. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said adapter (30) is wholly comprised of readily deformable material. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said readily deformable material is soft, synthetic material. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said readily deformable material is a plastic foam material. A method of mounting a paper roll product having a central bore (26) diameter upon a spindle (10) having a maximum cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the internal diameter of the bore (26) comprising disposing within the bore (26) an adapter (30) formed at least partially of readily deformable material which defines at one end of the adaptor an axially-extending cavity (40), characterised in that said cavity has a configuration generally corresponding to but smaller than the outer configuration of the body of the spindle whereby a friction fit is formed between said adapter and a coreless paper roll spindle in said cavity, and in that said adapter has an outer cylindrically-shaped surface with a uniform circular cross-sectional configuration along the length thereof smaller than the uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of said paper roll product central bore, and by the steps of receiving the spindle with the cavity and retaining it therein, and retaining the roll on the adaptor by a part (34) thereof axially spaced from the said one end and projecting radially beyond the central bore of the roll. A method according to Claim 7, said product comprising a paper web (22) wrapped about said central bore (26) defining a passageway of uniform circular cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined magnitude along the length thereof on said spindle, said spindle comprising a coreless paper roll spindle (10) having a distal end, said coreless paper roll spindle (10) having a maximum cross-sectional configuration transverse to the primary axis of the coreless paper roll spindle substantially smaller in magnitude than said predetermined magnitude, said adapter comprising a double-ended elongated adapter (30), said method comprising the steps of: placing said double-ended, elongated adapter (30) within the central core passageway of a paper roll product, said cavity (40) extending from an open first end of the adapter; inserting the adapter completely through the central core passageway so that said open first end is on one side of the paper roll product and a second end of the elongated adapter spindle member projects from the other side of the paper roll product, said part (34) comprising a projection (34) affixed thereto at a location spaced from said open first end which projects outwardly from the adapter (30) to extend beyond the central core (26); axially aligning said adapter with said coreless paper roll spindle (10) with the open first end of said adapter directed toward the coreless paper roll spindle; inserting the distal end of the coreless paper roll spindle (10) within the open first end of the elongated adapter spindle member; sliding said coreless paper roll spindle (10) into said cavity while deforming said readily deformable material with said coreless paper roll spindle; establishing a friction fit between said readily deformable material and said coreless paper roll spindle to retain said adapter and paper roll product on said coreless paper roll spindle; and employing said projection to restrict axial movement of said paper roll product relative to said adapter and said coreless paper roll spindle while allowing rotation of said paper roll product.

Inventors: SCHUTZ RUDOLPH W, SCHUTZ, RUDOLPH W.
Applicants: FORT JAMES OPERATING COMPANY
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A47K10
IPC codes: A47K10