Patent Publication Number: US-10308474-B2

Title: Film dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/141,050, filed Mar. 31, 2015 and entitled “FILM DISPENSER,” which is incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a film dispenser for unwinding film from a film roll and more specifically to a reusable film dispenser for repeatable use with coreless film rolls. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Film from film rolls is often used in packaging applications. For example, the contents of a pallet can be bundled together with a stretch wrap film (e.g., a pre-stretched film or a post-stretched film) made from a polyethylene resin or other material. Conventionally, stretch wrap film is wrapped around a tubular core defining an axially extending roll axis passage of the film roll of substantially fixed dimensions. The film is subsequently unwound from the core in use in a packaging application. Dispensers can be installed in the core to aid in unwinding the film from the roll. Conventional dispensers have a hub that extends into a roll axis passage of the film roll and engages the core. A handle member is mounted on the hub for rotation with respect to the hub. The handle member can be held in the hand of a user who manually unwinds the film from the roll or attached to an automated wrapping apparatus such as a palletizer. As film is unwound from the roll, the hub and film roll rotate mutually and in a controlled fashion with respect to the handle member. 
     The use of cores in film rolls increases the overall cost of the film to the end user. Coreless film rolls are known to those skilled in the art and provide cost advantages over traditional film rolls. A coreless film roll has a roll axis passage, but no core inside the passage to keep its dimensions uniform. Because of the tendency of the film, and particularly pre-stretch film, to change dimensions after it is wound into the roll, the dimensions of roll axis passages in coreless film rolls are highly variable. Moreover, the roll axis passage may have significantly different dimensions at different locations along its length. Thus, traditional film dispensers that are only operable with roll axis passages adhering to strict dimensional requirements are not operable for use with coreless film rolls of varying internal dimensions. The roll axis passage may be too small to receive the dispenser hub or may cause damage to the film when the hub is inserted. If the roll axis passage is too much larger than the dispenser hub, the roll may rotate or “skip” relative to the hub in use, which is not desirable. Coreless film rolls also lack the structural rigidity of a rigid core. As a result, handling of coreless film rolls can cause bowing or other deformation of the roll, particularly as the roll is nearly used up. Moreover, it is essential that changeover from one film roll to the next be done quickly and accurately. A dispenser hub that cannot be rapidly and precisely applied will not be used by consumers of plastic film because of economic inefficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a film dispenser can be used to unwind film from coreless film rolls, each having a roll axis passage including first and second openings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll. The film dispenser comprises a first dispenser member having an outer axial end portion and an inner axial end portion opposite the outer axial end portion. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member is shaped and arranged to be inserted into the first opening at one end of the coreless film roll. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member is radially expandable to engage the coreless film roll in the roll axis passage. A second dispenser member has an outer axial end portion and an inner axial end portion opposite the outer axial end portion. The inner axial end portion of the second dispenser member is shaped and arranged to be inserted into the second opening at another end of the coreless film roll. The second dispenser member is configured to engage the first dispenser member. The first and second dispenser members are selectively positionable relative to one another when interengaged in at least a first angular position and a second angular position. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member has a first radial position upon engagement of the first and second dispenser members in the first angular position. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member is expanded to a second radial position upon engagement of the first and second dispenser members in the second angular position. The second radial position is radially outward of the first radial position. 
     In another aspect, a film dispenser can be used to unwind film from coreless film rolls, each having a roll axis passage including first and second openings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll. The film dispenser comprises a first dispenser member having a longitudinal axis, an outer axial end portion, and an inner axial end portion spaced apart from the outer axial end portion along the longitudinal axis. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member is shaped and arranged to be inserted into a first opening of a roll axis passage of the film roll. The first dispenser member further comprises an axially inward facing support wall including a first interlocking formation. A second dispenser member has a longitudinal axis, an outer axial end portion, and an inner axial end portion spaced apart from the outer axial end portion along the longitudinal axis. The inner axial end portion of the second dispenser member is shaped and arranged to be inserted into the second opening of the roll axis passage. The second dispenser member is shaped and arranged to engage the first dispenser member. The second dispenser member further comprises an axially inward facing support wall including a second interlocking formation configured for interlocking engagement with the first interlocking formation when the second dispenser member engages the first dispenser member within the roll axis passage for supporting an axial mid-portion of the coreless film roll. 
     Other aspects, objects, and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective a film dispenser installed in a film roll; 
         FIG. 1A  is the perspective of  FIG. 1  with the film dispenser exploded from the film roll; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section of the film dispenser installed in the film roll; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective of a female dispenser member of the film dispenser; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section of the female dispenser member; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of a handle member; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary section of the handle member mounted on the female dispenser member; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective of a male dispenser member of the film dispenser; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective of the film dispenser with the male and female dispenser members positioned in a first angular position; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective of the film dispenser with the male and female dispenser members positioned in a second angular position. 
         FIG. 10A  is a section taken in the plane of line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10B  is a section taken in the plane of line  10 B- 10 B of  FIG. 9 ; 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a film dispenser for unwinding film from a film roll R is generally indicated at reference numeral  110 . The film dispenser  110  includes a female dispenser member, generally indicated at reference numeral  112 , and a male dispenser member, generally indicated at reference numeral  114 , that are configured to be inserted through respective first and second openings O into a roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R. For purposes of this application the female dispenser member  112  may be considered one of first and second dispenser members and the male dispenser member  114  can be considered the other of the first and second dispenser members. The male and female dispenser members  112 ,  114  are mated together within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R to form a dispenser hub, generally indicated at reference numeral  116 , which engages a radially inward facing surface of the film roll to inhibit rotation of the film roll with respect to the dispenser members. The male and female dispenser members  112 ,  114  are mounted on handle members  118 ,  120 , respectively, for rotation with respect to the handle members. The handle members  118  are adapted to be grasped by the hands of a user or a fixture of an unwinding apparatus in use. When a free end F of the film is fixed to an item to be wrapped (not shown) and the handle members  118 ,  120  are supported, the film roll R and dispenser hub  116  rotate conjointly relative to the handle members to unwind film from the roll as the dispenser  110  is moved around the item. As will be apparent, the male and female dispenser members  112 ,  114  include features that enable the dispenser  110  to be repeatably used with a plurality of coreless film rolls R having roll axis passages P of varying dimensions. Moreover, the dispenser  110  provides structural support for a coreless film roll R when the male and female dispenser members  112 ,  114  are received therein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the illustrated female dispenser member  112  comprises a single one-piece, unitary structure of, for example, polyethylene, formed, for example, in an injection molding process. It will be understood that other materials and/or other manufacturing processes may be employed to make the female dispenser member  112  within the scope of the present invention. The female dispenser member  112  has an outer axial end portion  130  and an inner axial end portion  132  opposite the outer axial end portion. The female dispenser member  112  includes a longitudinal center axis L 1 . A generally cylindrical body  134  includes the outer and inner axial end portions  130 ,  132 . As will be discussed in further detail below, the inner axial end portion  132  of the cylindrical body  134  is configured to be inserted into the first opening O of the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R and an outer axial end portion  130  of the cylindrical body is configured to secure the dispenser member to the handle member  118  for rotation. 
     The inner axial end portion  132  of the female dispenser member  112  includes four fingers  138 . The fingers  138  can be resiliently deflected in a radially inward direction to be received in the roll axis passage P of the coreless roll R, and expandable radially outward to engage the radially inward facing surfaces of the film rolls R having roll axis passages of different radial dimensions. Four slots  140  in the inner axial end portion  132  of the female dispenser member  112  separate adjacent pairs of the fingers  138 . As will be discussed in further detail below, the slots  140  act as indexing formations adapted to engage complementary indexing formations of the male dispenser member  114  to inhibit angular displacement of the female dispenser member  112  relative to the male dispenser member. Although the illustrated embodiment uses four fingers  138  and four slots  140 , it will be understood that other embodiments could use other numbers of fingers and slots without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The inner end portion of the cylindrical body  134  is shaped to define a mating socket  142  configured to receive a portion of the male dispenser member  114 . Each of the fingers  138  has a radially inward facing surface  144  and a radially outward facing surface  146  opposite the radially inward facing surface thereof. The radially inward facing surfaces  144  bound a portion of the mating socket  142 . When the male dispenser member  114  is received in the mating socket, it engages the radially inward facing surfaces  144  of the fingers  138  and deflects the fingers radially outwardly to engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R in the roll axis passage P. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an axially inward facing interior support wall  150  extending transverse (e.g., perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis L 1  bounds an outer axial end of the mating socket  142 . 
     The interior support wall  150  includes a projection  152  (broadly, a “first interlocking formation”) extending axially inward into the mating socket  142 . As will be discussed in further detail below, the projection  152  is configured to engage a complementary interlocking formation of the male dispenser member  114  to provide a rigid connection between the dispenser members  112 ,  114  when they are joined together to form the core hub  116  within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R. Although the illustrated female dispenser member  112  uses the axially extending projection  150  to form a rigid connection with the male dispenser member  114 , it will be understood that other embodiments can use other interlocking formations to connect the female dispenser member to the male dispenser member without departing from the scope of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection  152  is radially centered within the mating socket  136  on the longitudinal center axis L 1  so that the projection is likewise radially centered within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R when the female dispenser member  112  is received therein. In other embodiments, the projection can be offset from the longitudinal center axis L 1  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , eight radially outwardly extending ribs  160  angularly spaced apart from one another around the circumference of the cylindrical body  134  extend along the length of the cylindrical body between the outer and inner axial end portions  130 ,  132 . Although the illustrated embodiment includes eight outwardly extending ribs  160 , it will be understood that other numbers of ribs or no ribs can also be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, the ribs can extend axially along different lengths of the female dispenser member  112  without departing from the scope of the invention. The radially outward facing surfaces of the ribs  160  are configured and arranged to engage and grip the film roll R within the roll axis passage P and thereby inhibit rotation of the film roll relative to the female dispenser member  112 . Outer axial end portions of each of the ribs  160  flare radially outward beyond inner axial end portions thereof. The outer axial end portions of the ribs  160  slope inwardly from adjacent the outer axial end of the annular body  134 . When the female dispenser member  112  is inserted into the first opening O of the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R, the outer axial end portions of the ribs  160  firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R to provide radial support for the respective axial end of the film roll. The sloped configuration of the outer axial end portions enables the ribs  160  to firmly engage the outer ends of film rolls R with differing internal dimensions. 
     An inner end portion of each of the ribs  160  extends along the radially deflectable fingers  138 . In the illustrated embodiment, one rib  160  is positioned adjacent each longitudinal side of each of the fingers  138 . The inner end portions of the ribs  160  are configured to resiliently deflect radially outward along with the fingers  138 . Thus, the radially outward facing surfaces of inner end portions of the ribs  160  are radially deflectable to engage the radially inward facing surfaces of film rolls R of different inner diameters within their respective roll axis passages P. 
     The outer axial end portion  130  of the cylindrical body  134  is configured to secure the female dispenser member to the handle member  118  for rotation relative to handle member. A collar  166  extends radially inward from the cylindrical body  134  at an axially outermost end of an annular recess  168  sized and shaped to receive a portion of the handle member  118  therein. When the female dispenser member  112  is mounted on the handle member  118 , a radially inward facing rotational bearing surface  170  engages the handle member as the dispenser member rotates around the handle member. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the handle member  118  comprises a cup-shaped body  180  having an open outer axial end  182  and a closed inner axial end  184 . Four mounting tabs  186  extend axially from the inner axial end  184  of the cup-shaped body  180 . Each of the four mounting tabs  186  comprises a radially outwardly extending flange portion  188  partially defining a collar-receiving recess  190 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tabs  186  of the handle member  118  are configured to be inserted into the open outer axial end portion  130  of the female dispenser member  112  so that the mounting tabs  186  extend axially inwardly beyond the retaining collar  166 . The collar  166  is received in the collar-receiving recess  190 , and the radially outwardly extending flange portions  188  are received in the annular recess  168 . Preferably the mounting tabs  186  are resiliently deflectable to permit the radially outwardly extending flange portions  188  to snap over the collar  166  when the handle member  118  is inserted into the open outer axial end portion  130  of the female dispenser member  112 . The flange portions  188  engage the collar  166  to inhibit the female dispenser member  112  from becoming unintentionally disconnected from the handle member  118 . The annular collar  166  is substantially free to slide along the collar-receiving recesses  190  relative to the female dispenser member  112 . In use, the female dispenser member  112  is substantially free to rotate conjointly with film roll R about the handle member  118  to unwind film from the film roll. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the illustrated male dispenser member  114  comprises a single one-piece, unitary structure of, for example, polyethylene material formed, for example, in an injection molding process. It will be understood that other materials and/or other manufacturing processes may be employed to make the male dispenser member  114  within the scope of the present invention. The male dispenser member  114  has an outer axial end portion  200  and an inner axial end portion  202  opposite the outer axial end portion. The outer and inner axial end portions  200 ,  202  are located along a longitudinal center axis L 2  of the male dispenser member  114 . The inner and outer axial end portions  202 ,  204  are defined substantially by a substantially cylindrical body  204 . The inner axial end portion  202  of the cylindrical body  204  is configured to be inserted into the second opening O of the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R, and the outer axial end portion  200  of the cylindrical body  204  is configured to be mounted on the handle member  120  for rotation. The outer axial end portion  200  is constructed substantially identically to the outer axial end portion  130  of the female dispenser member  112 . Likewise, the handle member  120  is constructed substantially identically to the handle member  118 . It will be understood that the male dispenser member  114  is configured to be mounted on the handle member  120  for rotation with respect to the handle member just as the female dispenser member  112  rotates on the handle member  118 . In other embodiments, either of the dispenser members could be mounted on the handle members in other ways without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     When the inner end portion of the male dispenser member  114  is received within the roll axis passage P of the film roll R along with the female dispenser member  112 , the male dispenser member is configured to be joined in mated engagement with the female dispenser member, thereby forming the dispenser hub  116  within the roll axis passage P. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114 , are selectively positionable relative to one another in a first angular position ( FIG. 8 ) and a second angular position ( FIG. 9 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the inner axial end portion  202  is shaped to define a mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114 . The mating portion  206  is configured to be received within the mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member  112  in each of the first and second angular positions. In each of the first and second angular positions, the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114  engages the radially inward facing surfaces  144  of the axially extending fingers  138  and thereby deflects the fingers radially outwardly. The radially outward facing surfaces  146  of the fingers  138  deflect radially outwardly to a first radial position when the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the first angular position ( FIG. 8 ) and to a second radial position radially outward of the first radial position when the dispenser members are joined together in the second angular position ( FIG. 9 ). The difference in radial deflection of the fingers  138  in the first and second angular positions enables dispenser hub  116  to engage the radially inward facing surfaces of a plurality of film rolls R (e.g., coreless film rolls) that have roll axis passages O of different radial dimensions so that the dispenser  110  can be used to dispense film from each of the plurality of film rolls. 
     The mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114  is shaped to substantially inhibit angular displacement of the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114  relative to one another when joined together in either of the first and second angular positions. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the cylindrical body  204  of the male dispenser member  114  has a substantially annular, radially outward facing surface  208 . The radially outward facing surface  208  tapers radially inwardly toward the inner axial end of the male dispenser member  114 . Four indexing splines  210  (each, broadly, an “indexing formation”) extend radially outwardly from the radially outward facing surface  208  and extend axially from adjacent the inner axial end to adjacent the outer axial end. In each of the first and second angular positions, the indexing splines  210  engage different portions of the female dispenser member  112  to inhibit angular displacement of the dispenser members  112 ,  114  relative to one another, thereby indexing the male and female dispenser members in the respective position. The splines  210  are also capable of gripping the coreless film roll R in the roll axis passage P to inhibit relative rotation between the coreless film roll and the dispenser  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the first angular position, the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114  is received in mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member and the indexing splines  210  are received in the axially extending slots  140 . Each indexing spline  210  engages the opposed angularly outward facing side surfaces of a respective adjacent pair of the fingers  138 . The engagement between the splines  210  and the fingers  138  inhibits angular displacement of the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114  relative to one another. The substantially annular, radially outward facing surface  208  of the mating portion  206  engages the radially inward facing surface of the fingers  138  and deflects the fingers radially outwardly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the first angular position, the radially outward facing surfaces  146  of the fingers  138  are deflected to a first radial position at which the radially outward facing surfaces of opposite ones of the fingers are spaced apart from one another a first distance D 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the radially outwardly extending ribs  160  extend beyond the first radial position of the radially outward facing surfaces  146  to engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R within the roll axis passage P in use. However, it will be understood that the ribs  160  could be omitted from the fingers  138  without departing from the scope of the invention. Because the mating portion  206  is tapered, by moving the male dispenser member  112  axially inwardly or outwardly through the mating socket  142 , the radial position of the outward facing surfaces  146  can be finely adjusted, increasing or decreasing the length of the first distance D 1 . Preferably, when the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the first angular position within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R, the axial position of the dispenser members relative to one another is adjusted so that the ribs  160  firmly engage (e.g., such as by causing radial deformation of) the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R and thereby inhibit rotation of the film roll with respect to the dispenser hub  116 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the second angular position, the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member is received in the mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member and the indexing splines  210  are angularly aligned with the axially extending fingers  138 . The radially outward facing surfaces of the indexing splines  210  engage the radially inward facing surfaces  144  of the fingers  138 . The engagement between the indexing splines  210  and the fingers  138  inhibits angular displacement of the male dispenser member  114  relative to the female dispenser member  112 . In addition, the engagement between the indexing splines  210  and the fingers  138  deflects the fingers radially outwardly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10B , when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the second angular position, the radially outward facing surfaces  146  of the fingers  138  are deflected to a second radial position radially outward of the first radial position shown in  FIG. 10A . When the fingers  138  are deflected to the second radial position shown in  FIG. 10B , the radially outward facing surfaces  146  of opposite ones of the fingers are spaced apart from one another a second distance D 2 . Like the radially outward facing surface  208 , the radially outward facing surfaces of the indexing splines  210  taper radially inwardly adjacent their respective inner axial ends. Accordingly, by moving the male dispenser member  114  axially inwardly or outwardly relative to the female dispenser member  112  when the dispenser members are joined together in the second angular position, the position of the outward facing surfaces  146  can be finely adjusted. Preferably, when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together in the second angular position within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R, the axial position of the dispenser members relative to one another is adjusted so that the ribs  160  firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R and thereby inhibit rotation of the film roll with respect to the dispenser hub  116 . 
     The fingers  138  of the female dispenser member  112  deflect to firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of coreless film rolls R that contract after manufacturing. After a manufacturer produces coreless film rolls R with an initial internal diameter, the film contracts over time, resulting in roll axis passages P that have reduced internal diameters that are less than the initial internal diameter. The combined adjustability of the dispenser  110  in the first and second angular positions may permit the dispenser to operatively engage any film roll R manufactured to have an initial internal diameter that has contracted to a reduced internal diameter within a certain range of the initial internal diameter. For example, in one or more embodiments, the fingers  138  of the female dispenser member  112  deflect radially outwardly to firmly engage film rolls R that have a reduced internal diameter of from about 85% to about 97%, from about 86% to about 95%, or from about 87% to about 93% of an initial manufactured internal diameter. In other embodiments, the distances D 1 , D 2  at which the fingers  138  are spaced apart from one another in the first and second angular positions are each from about 85% to about 97%, from about 86% to about 95%, or from about 87% to about 93% of an initial internal diameter of a film roll R as it is manufactured. 
     It will be understood that, in the illustrated embodiment, the radially outward facing surfaces of the ribs  160  function as an expandable outward facing surface of the female dispenser member  112 . Moreover, by selecting between the first and second angular positions, a user can adjust the radial position of the expandable outward facing surface of the female dispenser member  112  to engage the radially inward facing surfaces of any of a plurality of film rolls R having roll axis passages P of different radial dimensions. The splines  210  of the male dispenser member  114  fix the dispenser members  112 ,  114  in a selected one of the first and second angular positions so that the deflectable outward facing surface of the female dispenser member  112  remains firmly engaged with the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R in use. 
     Although the illustrated embodiment uses the indexing splines  210  and indexing slots  140  as indexing formations to fix the dispenser members  112 ,  114  in either of the first and second angular positions, it will be understood that other embodiments can use other types of indexing formations to inhibit angular displacement of one of the dispenser members relative to the other from selected angular positions. Moreover, though the illustrated embodiment includes indexing formations  140 ,  210  that index the dispenser members  112 ,  114  in two angular positions, other embodiments can index dispenser members in other numbers of angular positions without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the dispenser members will include one or more indexing formations that fix the dispenser members in a plurality of angular positions, each of which causing expansion of an outer radial surface of one of the dispenser members to firmly engage a radially inward facing surface of a film roll with a roll axis passage of a different radial dimension. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 7 , the mating portion  210  of the male dispenser member  114  comprises an axially inward facing support wall  212  extending transverse (e.g., perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis L 2 . The inward facing support wall  212  is located in the inner axial end portion  202  of the cylindrical body  204 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together to form the dispenser hub  116 , the inward facing support wall  212  can engage the opposed inward facing support wall  150  of the female dispenser member  112 . Within the roll axis passage P, the engaged support walls  212  provide radial support for an axially central portion of the film roll R to inhibit the film roll from deforming radially inwardly in use. 
     The support wall  212  is configured for interlocking engagement with the support wall  150  of the female dispenser member  112 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the support wall  212  of the male dispenser member  114  includes a cup  214  (broadly, an interlocking formation). As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the mating portion  210  of the male dispenser member  114  is received in the mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member  112 , the axially extending projection  152  of the female dispenser member is received in the cup  214 . The cup can, in certain embodiments, be sized to form an interference or friction fit with the projection  152  received therein. 
     The cup  214  and the projection  152  are positioned relative the respective dispenser member  112 ,  114  to be radially aligned when the dispenser members are received in a roll axis passage P. In that regard, the male dispenser member  114  includes a funnel surface  216  surrounding the cup  214  that can engage and guide the projection  152  into the cup. In the illustrated embodiment, the cup  214  is centered on the longitudinal center axis L 2  of the male dispenser member  114 , and the projection  152  is centered around the longitudinal center axis L 1  of the female dispenser member  112 . When the female and male dispenser members  112 ,  114  are received in the roll axis passage P, their interengagement also makes the longitudinal axes L 1 , L 2  of the dispenser members generally co-axial, thereby allowing the tapered end of the mating portion  206  to enter the mating socket  142 . Although the interlocking projection  152  and cup  214  are radially centered in the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that the interlocking formations could be radially aligned at other non-centered positions without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The support walls  150 ,  212  are shaped and arranged so that the projection  152  is automatically received in the cup  214  as the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together within a roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R. The female dispenser member  112  is configured to be inserted into a first opening O of the roll axis passage P by moving the dispenser member through the first opening along the longitudinal axis L 1 . Likewise, the male dispenser member  114  is configured to be inserted into the opposite second opening O of the roll axis passage P by moving the dispenser member through the roll axis passage along the longitudinal axis L 2 . Reception of the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114  in the mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member  112  begins to bring the female and male dispenser members into alignment. The tapered inner axial end of the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member  114  facilitates entry of the mating portion to the mating socket  142 . More precise alignment is achieved when the projection  152  engages the funnel surface  216  and is guided into the cup  214 . No additional positional adjustment (e.g., radial or angular adjustment) beyond inserting the dispenser members  112 ,  114  axially into opposite ends of the roll axis passage P is required to insert the projection  152  into the cup  214  and thereby create a rigid connection between the support walls  150 ,  212 . 
     The interlocking engagement between the cup  214  and the projection  152  provides a rigid connection between the support walls  150 ,  212 . When the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together within the roll axis passage P, the support walls  150 ,  212  span generally the entire radial extent of the roll axis passage. Each wall  150 ,  212  functions, individually, as a support structure that supports the film roll R against bowing or otherwise deforming radially inwardly near the axially central region of the film roll. With the projection  152  engaging the cup  214 , the support walls  150 ,  212  form a rigid connection between the dispenser members  112 ,  114  within the film roll R. Together, the rigidly connected support walls  150 ,  212  provide radial support for the central region of film roll R and inhibit significant deformation of the film roll adjacent the central region of the film roll. 
     It will be understood that other types of interlocking formations other than the projection  152  and cup-shaped surface  212  could be used to create a rigid connection between the dispenser members without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the male dispenser member could include a support wall defining an axially inwardly extending projection configured to be received in a cup formed in a support wall of the female dispenser member. Still other interlocking formations and configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Like the female dispenser member  112 , the male dispenser member  114  includes eight ribs  220  that slope inwardly from adjacent the outer axial end of the cylindrical body  204 . When the male dispenser member  114  is inserted into the second opening O of the roll axis passage P, the ribs  120  firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R to provide radial support for the respective axial end of the film roll. 
     In use, a user inserts the female dispenser member  112  into the first opening O of a roll axis passage P and inserts the male dispenser member  114  into the second opening O of the roll axis passage. For the female dispenser member  112 , the user may compress the fingers  138  radially inwardly to facilitate insertion into the roll axis passage P. If the roll axis passage has a relatively small radial dimension, the dispenser members  112 ,  114  should be angularly aligned so that the indexing slots  140  receive the indexing splines  210  as the mating portion  206  of the male dispenser member is received in the mating socket  142  of the female dispenser member. If the roll axis passage P has a relatively large radial dimension, the dispenser members  112 ,  114  should be angularly aligned so that the indexing splines  210  are angularly aligned with the fingers  138  as the mating portion  206  is received in the mating socket  142 . Suitable markings (not shown) may be provided on the dispenser members  112 ,  114  to facilitate the proper rotational alignment. In either case, the user inserts the dispenser members  112 ,  114  into the first and second openings O of the roll axis passage P until the radially outward facing surfaces of the ribs  160  firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R. As the fingers  138  are being deflected radially outwardly, the projection  152  is simultaneously being received in the cup  214 , without any radial or angular positional adjustment of the dispenser members  112 ,  114  on the part of the user. When the fingers  138  firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R, the dispenser members  112 ,  114  are joined together and form the dispenser hub  116 . Additionally, inner and outer axial end portions of the ribs  160  of the female dispenser member  112  and the ribs  220  of the male dispenser member engage the inward facing surface of the film roll to inhibit rotation of the film roll with respect to the dispenser hub in use. 
     A user grasps the handle members  118 ,  120  and secures the free end F of the film to the item to be wrapped. While holding the handle members  118 ,  120 , the user passes the film dispenser  110  and film roll R around the item in a wrapping direction. The movement of the dispenser  110  in the wrapping direction creates tension in the film that causes the film to unwind from the roll R. The film roll R and core hub  116  freely rotate together on the handle members  118 ,  120  to let out film from the roll R. The support walls  150 ,  212  provide radial support for the central portion of the film roll R in use to prevent the film roll from bowing or otherwise deforming radially inward into the roll axis passage P. When the item is fully wrapped, the film can be cut to detach the dispenser  110  from the wrapped object. As film is wound off from the film roll R, the support walls  150 ,  212  continue to provide radial support for central region of the film roll, even though the film roll itself reduces in diameter and becomes more deformable. When all the film from a first film roll R has been used or a new film roll is desired, the dispenser  110  can be quickly and easily inserted into the roll axis passage of another film roll, even if the roll axis passage of the other film roll is sized differently than the first film roll. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     As various changes could be made in the above apparatuses, systems, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.