Toilet roll dispenser

Abstract: This invention relates to a toilet roll dispenser consisting of a carousel provided with two or more storage means on each of which a toilet roll is stored, the carousel is rotatably mounted on a base plate so that the toilet rolls are moved to a position in the dispenser where toilet paper from the associated roll is dispensed therefrom. The storage means and the associated toilet roll are provided with interengaging male and female means for restricting free rotation of the toilet roll in the dispensing position and also facilitate loading of the toilet rolls onto the carousel.

Description: This invention relates to a toilet roll dispenser and more particularly to a toilet roll dispenser adapted to have two or more toilet rolls mounted therein on location means whereby the toilet rolls are moved to a position in the dispenser where toilet paper from the associated roll is dispensed therefrom. One known type of toilet roll dispenser comprises a casing having a base plate with a carousel rotatably mounted thereon. The carousel has two or more cylindrical projections extending at right angles to the plane of the carousel on each of which a conventional toilet roll having a cylindrical core is mounted so as to be freely rotatable thereon. The carousel is adapted to be rotated relatively to the base plate to bring one toilet roll into a dispensing position whereby a user can remove one or more sheets of toilet paper from said one toilet roll and once said one toilet roll is empty, the carousel is rotated to bring a further toilet roll into the dispensing position. Such known types of toilet roll dispenser are exemplified in U.S. Patent No. 5,451,013 which relates to a single roll dispenser, with means for holding the toilet roll axially in position, which is also the subject matter of U.S. Patent No. 5,370,339 and U.S. Patent No. 2,171,648. U.S. Patent No. 5,310,129 and U.K. Patent No. 2,245,882 both relate to carousel types of toilet roll dispensers but are not concerned with any restriction on the rotation of the toilet rolls and all suffer from the disadvantage that the loading of a conventional toilet roll with a cylindrical cardboard core onto the associated cylindrical projection of the carousel is a difficult and time consuming operation unless there is adequate clearance between the core and the projection. A further disadvantage is that the necessary clearance between the toilet roll core and the projection results in a loose fit therebetween so that the toilet roll is easily displaced from its position on the carousel, particularly during the loading operation, which causes further difficulties in carrying out said operation. In addition, the loose fit between the core of the toilet roll and the associated projection on the carousel results in the toilet roll in the dispensing position being freely rotatable on the projection allowing inordinate lengths of toilet paper to be readily withdrawn by a user resulting in wastage of toilet paper. The object of this invention is to provide a toilet roll dispenser in which at least one of the above disadvantages is alleviated. According to the invention, a dispenser comprises toilet rolls, a casing having storage means therein for two or more toilet rolls, the storage means being adapted to bring each one of the toilet rolls in turn to a dispensing position, wherein the storage means and the associated toilet roll have interengaging male and female members characterised in that the inter-engaging male and female members restrict free rotation of the toilet roll in the dispensing position. Preferably, one of said male and female members is provided at one storage station on the storage means and the other one of said male and female members is provided in or as the core of a toilet roll associated with said storage station. Preferably, also, the said male and female members form guide means for facilitating mounting of the associated toilet roll onto the storage means at the associated storage station. The external surface of male member, preferably, has a frusto-conical portion and the internal surface of the female member has a complementary frusto-conical portion forming the guide means. Preferably, the male and female members have a positive inter-engaging connection therebetween to positively locate the associated toilet roll on the storage means at the associated storage station. Preferably, also, the positive inter-engaging connection between the male and female members is a snap-fit connection. The male member, preferably, has a recessed portion adjacent to the upper end thereof and the female member has a resilient deformable portion at the inner end thereof which is displaced during insertion of the male member and engages in the recessed portion of the male member to form the snap-fit connection therebetween. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a carousel of a toilet roll dispenser; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a toilet roll having an insert therein; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of a toilet roll mounted in position on the carousel of the dispenser. Referring now to the drawings, a toilet roll dispenser comprises a carousel 10 which is mounted in an openable housing (not shown) having a base (not shown). The carousel 10 is rotatable in conventional manner about the centre thereof relative to the base and has four storage stations or pegs 12 on each of which a toilet roll 14 can be stored. The base of the housing (not shown) is provided with conventional detent means engageable in recesses 16 in the periphery of the carousel 10 to enable the carousel 10 to be rotated about its central axis relatively to the base of the housing so that a user can bring a new toilet roll 14 into a dispensing position at the bottom of the housing to replace an empty toilet roll 14. A blocking means in the form of a projection on the housing (not shown) is provided to prevent rotation of the carousel until the toilet roll 14 at the dispensing position is empty. Each storage peg 12 which constitutes a male member is formed of a plastics material and comprises a lower frusto-conical portion 18, a central cylindrical portion 20 and an upper frusto-conical portion 22 with a recess 24 between the upper portion 22 and the central portion 20. Each of the toilet rolls 14 has an insert 26 mounted in the cylindrical core 28 thereof which constitutes a female member. The insert 26 is formed of plastics material and comprises a lower cylindrical portion 30 for engaging the core 28, and a central portion 32 having a frusto-conically shaped internal surface which is a complementary shape to the portion 18 and 22 of the peg 12 to form a guide for guiding the toilet roll 14 into position on the peg 12. The insert 26 has an inner end portion 34 with an inwardly sloping upper end 36 which is adapted to be resiliently deformable so that on insertion of the peg 12, said end 36 is deformed outwardly and subsequently engages in the recess 24 of the peg 12. The deformability of said end 36 is enhanced by the provision of one or more diametrically orientated axially extending slots (not shown) therein. The deformability of said end 36 of the insert 26 and the engagement thereof in the recess 24 of the peg 12 provides a positive snap-fit connection therebetween. In addition, it also provides a restriction to the free rotation of the toilet roll 14 on the associated peg 12 which inhibits the withdrawal of inordinate lengths of toilet paper from the roll 14 and wastage of said toilet paper. In a modification the peg 12 is formed as a female member and the insert 26 as a male member. It will also be appreciated that although the invention is particularly suitable for use on a toilet roll dispenser having a carousel, it could also be used on other types of toilet roll dispenser and indeed on dispensers for other rolls of sheet materials without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims: A dispenser comprising toilet rolls and a casing having storage means (12) therein for two or more of said toilet rolls, the storage means (12) being adapted to bring each one of the toilet rolls in turn to a dispensing position, wherein the storage means (12) and the associated toilet roll have inter-engaging male (12) and female members (26) characterised in that the inter-engaging male and female members (12, 26) restrict free rotation of the toilet roll in the dispensing position. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein one of said male (12) and female members (26) is provided at one storage station on the storage means and the other one of said male (12) and female members (26) is provided in or as the core of a toilet roll associated with said storage station. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said male and female members (12,26) form guide means for facilitating mounting of the associated toilet roll onto the storage means (12) at the associated storage station. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the external surface of the male member (12) comprises a frusto-conical portion (18, 22) and the internal surface of the female member (26) has a complementary frusto-conical portion (32) forming the guide means. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male (12) and female members (26) have a positive inter-engaging connection therebetween to positively locate the associated toilet roll on the storage means (12) at the associated storage station. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the positive inter-engaging connection between the male (12) and female members (26) is a snap-fit connection. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the male member (12) has a recessed portion (24) adjacent to the upper end thereof and the female member (26) has a resilient deformable portion (36) at the inner end (34) thereof which is displaced during insertion of the male member (12) and engages in the recessed portion (24) of the male member (12) to form the snap-fit connection therebetween.

Inventors: BOTTOMORE DAVID, STORER TREVOR WILLIAM, BOTTOMORE, DAVID, STORER, TREVOR WILLIAM
Applicants: DISPOSABLES U K LTD, DISPOSABLES U.K. LTD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47K10
IPC codes: A47K10