Patent Publication Number: US-5253818-A

Title: Dispenser for sheet material

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to dispensers for holding material arranged in a roll, and more particularly to such a device which is easily loadable with one hand. 
     Devices for holding roll material such as rolled toilet tissue are well known. A number of such devices have been patented in the past which have attempted to facilitate installation of each new tissue roll and the removal of the remaining tubular center when the roll is emptied of tissue. 
     The simplest of such devices is in the form of a cylindrical shaft over which the roll fits which is compressable against a spring bias from a fixed length for allowing this member to be removable and installable within a generally U-shaped rigid frame having cavities on the inner surface of each leg of the U-shaped structure. However, the installation and removal of this compressible member is normally a two-handed operation and frustrating at best. 
     The following U.S. patents have been invented to, in some way, overcome this limitation: 
     
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  515,849   1,229,430  1,229,431  1,187,705                               
1,523,491   1,625,190  2,555,885  3,138,340                               
3,428,267   3,467,330  3,584,817  3,841,576                               
3,847,365   3,878,998  3,986,677  4,179,077                               
4,304,367   4,381,083  4,416,425  4,452,403                               
4,634,067                                                                 
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     However, various limitations with respect to both function and/or manufacturing costs persist with respect to such devices. 
     The present invention provides an improved dispenser for holding rolled sheet material such as bathroom tissue which truly facilitates one-handed installation of each tissue roll, rendering its inadvertent removal during use extremely difficult, if not impossible, and for the easy one-handed removal of the remaining tubular center member after all tissue has been removed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a dispenser for holding sheet material in a roll such as toilet tissue having a tubular hollow center. The dispenser may be incorporated into or attachable to a support surface or provided as an insert connectably supportable within an existing conventional roll holder. The invention includes a U-shaped support member having spaced apart generally parallel legs within which the roll will fit. End pieces are pivotally connected to the inner surface of each leg and are pivotally spring biased transversely toward one another in a roll engaging position from which only inward pivotal movement is structurally permitted. By this arrangement, each tissue roll may be one-handedly supportively engaged between the end pieces by pressing the roll equally against each end piece thus pivotally deflecting each end piece inwardly until they snap back into engagement with the tubular center. Removal of the empty tubular center is effected with a similar motion. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for holding sheet material in roll form which is fully functional with one-handed operation. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for holding sheet material in roll form which resists inadvertent removal of the roll during normal use. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for holding sheet material in roll form which easily facilitates one-handed removal of the tubular center of the roll when empty or at a point of predetermined reduced diameter. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a dispenser insert for accomplishing the above objects which may be readily installable into existing roll toilet tissue fixtures. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan partial section view of the invention with a roll of tissue paper installed therein. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of region A in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrows 3--3 in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a right end elevation view of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown generally at numeral 10 and includes a U-shaped molded frame 12 having generally parallel legs 16 and 17 spaced apart so as to receive a roll of sheet tissue R positioned therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. Each roll R is cylindrical and having a plurality of connected sheet tissues in a well-known fashion wrapped about a plastic or cardboard tubular center T. 
     Pivotally connected at each end of each leg 16 and 17 about upright pin 22 is a generally rectangular end piece 20 which is sized in width to slide within and position tube T. Each end piece 20 is cooperatively structured having molded cavities 26, 28, and 30 so as to receive wire spring 24 also pivotally connected about pin 22 as shown. Cavity 30 is provided so that each end piece 20 may be pivoted in the direction of arrow B to a position flat against and in alignment with each leg 16 or 17 and so that the inner surfaces thereof are generally coplaner. 
     End pieces 20 are also cooperatively structured with the distal ends of each leg 16 and 17 so as to prevent outward pivotal movement beyond an orthogonal position with respect to each leg 16 and 17 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. This pivotal limitation is provided so that the roll R may not be pulled from disengagement around legs 20. 
     The preferred embodiment 10 includes cylindrical extensions 18 and 19 which are securable within cavity D formed into a conventional roll tissue holder having molded members C extending from a cabinet or wall member into which a cavity E has been formed. In conventional use, a compressible rod is fitted within and between cavities D to hold the tissue roll R. 
     The preferred embodiment 10 takes advantage of this existing structure by allowing the installation thereof by simply squeezing legs 16 and 17 elastically toward one another until extensions 18 and 19 are fitted within cavities D. 
     The existing bracket C may also include a cavity F and the preferred embodiment 10 correspondingly includes tabs 14 and 15 which are molded onto the outer surface of each leg 16 and 17, respectively. If no such cavity F is provided, these tabs 14 and 15 will contact against the upper or lower edge of each bracket C. These tabs 14 and 15 prevent rotation of support member 12 when engaged within cavities F or against the edge of brackets C. 
     An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in phantom in FIG. 1 wherein the entire device is connectable within opposing cavities D formed into a cabinet or wall structure W having cavity E formed therewithin to receive the device 10 as previously described. As yet another alternative, the entire device may be permanently built into a suitably prepared cavity E within a wall or cabinet which includes cavities D and F as previously described. 
     When the tissue roll R has been sufficiently depleted in diameter or completely emptied, leaving only the tubular center member T, removal is again a simple one-handed operation by pressing inwardly in the direction of arrow H. This movement of tube T causes each end piece 20 to be inwardly pivoted in the direction of arrow B against each leg 16 as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 so that the tube T may be easily removed thereafter. 
     Note that the depth of U-shaped support member 12 is such that a full or partially full roll R may not be moved an inward distance sufficiently by pressing in the direction of arrow H so as to cause this disengagement. By this arrangement, inadvertent removal of the tissue roll R during use is less likely with the present invention. 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.