Abstract:
A spindle includes two end portions, spaced apart from one another, with the two ends being of substantially equal diameters. The two ends are configured to interact with a support structure that is designed to hold a roll of web material. The spindle also includes a widened portion located between the two end portions. At a portion spaced from the widened portion, the spindle is configured to receive a removable member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a spindle for a roll of web material. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Web material such as toilet tissue or paper towels may come in various forms. The invention as described below is intended for use with a roll of web material having a core. 
         [0003]    The type of web material wound about the core is not limited, however, and the mentioned toilet tissue is meant as a non-limiting example. With this in mind, some toilet tissue is manufactured with a plug in one end of a central core. Such toilet tissue with a plug in one end creates a core with openings of different diameters on each end. This type of toilet tissue would then require the removal of the plug (if possible) or it would not work with a conventional symmetrical toilet tissue spindle, because: 1) either the spindle is too large to fit through the smaller diameter opening at the plug end of the core, or 2) the spindle is narrow enough to fit through the smaller diameter opening, but then does not support the core at the end with the larger opening, causing the roll of tissue to tip to one side, or sit askew in its dispenser, and thus it will not properly dispense paper. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a spindle that can be used with various sized openings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This need is met at least in part by a spindle as described herein. One embodiment of a toilet tissue spindle includes two end portions, spaced apart from one another, with the two ends being of substantially equal diameters. The two ends are configured to interact with a support structure that is designed to hold a roll of web material. The spindle also includes a widened portion located between the two end portions. In one embodiment, the widened portion is bilaterally non-symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle. In another embodiment, the widened portion has at least first and second portions having different diameters. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be described below in conjunction with the following drawing figures, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a spindle of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a spindle of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a third embodiment including additional elements that interact with the spindle; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A-4F  are top views of a removable member according to the invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention including a removable member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a spindle  10 . The spindle includes an elongate body  20  having a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  includes a first flange  32  and a second flange  34 . The first and second flanges  32 ,  34  define therebetween an area of reduced cross-section  33  that is intended to rest on and rotate relative to a support structure (not shown) such as a wall mounted bracket, a recessed bracket or a bracket or a pair of support arms within a dispenser housing. The type of support structure is not intended to be limited to those mentioned herein and any support structure known in the art that is capable of rotatably supporting a roll of web material in preferably a horizontal position is contemplated by the present invention. 
         [0013]    The second end  24  also has a first flange  32 ′ and a second flange  34 ′ with an area of reduced cross-section  33 ′ therebetween that is intended to rest on the support structure. The flanges  32 ,  34  and  32 ′,  34 ′ of  FIG. 1  are identical. However, different flange structure on each end, or a flange on one end and a different structure that enables the end of the spindle to rest on and/or rotate with respect to the support structure are contemplated by the invention. 
         [0014]    The spindle  10  also includes a first portion  40  having a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis greater than that of all other portions of the spindle. That is, a maximum radial extent for a non-circular first portion or a maximum diameter for a circular first portion. In one embodiment, as illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 1 , the first portion  40  is nearer to the first end  22 . However, the first portion  40  can be anywhere between the first end  22  and the second end  24 . In a presently preferred embodiment, the first portion  40  is appropriately sized so as to securely fit by, for example, an interference fit within a core of a roll of web material (see  FIG. 3 ). Spaced from the first portion  40  and, in as seen in  FIG. 1 , closer to the second end  24  is a second portion  50  having a cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis smaller than the first portion and configured to receive a removable member  70  thereon (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
         [0015]    In  FIG. 1 , the elongate body  20  gradually decreases from the first portion  40  to the second portion  50 . As also seen in  FIG. 1 , the second portion  50  includes an elongate section  52  having a substantially constant cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. However, such elongate portion  52  is not required and the elongate body may decrease from the first portion  40  to the second portion  50 , wherein the second portion is at or immediately adjacent to the second flange  34 ′ of the second end  24 , similar to the section  54  extending from the first portion  40  to the second flange  34  at the first end  22 . 
         [0016]    Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the elongate body  20 ′ decreases by steps from a first portion  40 ′ to a second portion  50 ′. Similar to  FIG. 1 , the steps may end at an elongate section  52 ′, or the steps may end at or adjacent to the second flange  34 ′ at the second end  24 ′. 
         [0017]    The spindle  10  may be a one-piece construction that is formed as a single piece by injection molding or other molding procedure. Alternatively, the spindle  10  may be formed as a multiple piece assembly that is connected together. The spindle may be made from a rigid material or a compressible material. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the spindle  10  configured to be movable in the axial direction denoted “A” along a rotation axis of the spindle  10  so that an axial length of the spindle  10  is variable. Such axial movement may be effected by the area of reduced cross-section  33 ″ sliding within the elongate portion  52 ″ as indicated in phantom. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a spring as a biasing member  60  near the second end  24 ″. However, any type of biasing member  60  that might be configured to urge or push the spindle or at least part of the spindle in an axial direction is contemplated by the present invention. The biasing member  60  may be within the spindle  10  at the second end  24 ″ or at the first end  22 ″ or both the first and second ends  22 ″,  24 ″ so that the spindle is axially compressible to reduce the length of the spindle  10  for removal of the spindle  10  from the mounting structure (not shown). 
         [0020]    In a presently preferred embodiment, as seen by way of example in  FIG. 3 , discussed above, the material of the spindle is preferably a rigid material. Alternatively, the biasing characteristic may be achieved by the spindle  10  itself being made of a compressible or resilient material that returns to its original shape after compression. 
         [0021]    In a presently preferred embodiment, the spindle  10  is intended to be used with a removable member  70 . The removable member  70  may already be installed in the roll of web material  80  or may be fitted into the second end  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″ of the spindle  10  as part of the procedure for inserting the spindle  10  into the roll of web material  80 . The removable member  70  may have a circular cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. However, the removable member may have any cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis so long as the removable member will fit tightly inside the central core  90 , including a circular cross-section with teeth or other projections that maintain the removable member securely within the central core  90 . A presently preferred example of a removable member is described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/541,666, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0022]    In order for the removable member  70  to fit securely on the spindle  10 , the presently preferred opening  75  in the removable member  70  is non-circular with a mating non-circular elongate section  52  of the spindle  10 . However, a circular opening is not excluded from the present invention so long as such opening makes an interference fit or other type of fit that does not permit slippage of the spindle  10  with respect to the removable member  70 . 
         [0023]    Non-limiting examples of a non-circular opening  75  include an oval opening as seen, by way of example, in  FIG. 4A ; a plus sign or other cross-shaped opening as seen, by way of example in  FIG. 4B ; a square opening as seen, by way of example, in  FIG. 4C ; a rectangular opening as seen, by way of example, in  FIG. 4D ; a triangular opening as seen, by way of example, in  FIG. 4E ; and a polygonal opening with more than four sides as seen, by way of example, in  FIG. 4F . 
         [0024]    A non-limiting example of a non-circular elongate section is seen in  FIG. 5 , wherein the spindle body  20  other than the flanges  32 ,  34  and  32 ′,  34 ′ is formed by two sloped portions  44 ,  46  that intersect at right angles to form a cross-shaped cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. Of course, the elongate section might have a square, rectangular, triangular or other polygonal shaped cross-section that mates with any of the openings of  FIGS. 4A-4F . 
         [0025]    While the above disclosure illustrates embodiments of the invention, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that modifications and changes to the invention should be apparent, and that these modifications and changes are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.