Patent Publication Number: US-2016227971-A1

Title: Apparatus dispensing strips of pre-cut material wound onto a horizontally or vertically positioned spool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 and claims the benefit of priority of international application no. PCT/FR2014/052324, filed Sep. 18, 2014, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of French patent application no. 1359027, filed Sep. 19, 2013, and the entire contents of each is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure pertains to the technical domain of appliances for dispensing wiping material of paper, cotton wadding, nonwoven, so as to form strips of pre-determined length constituting towels, wipe-all paper, toilet paper and wiping paper in general, in various possible applications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The Applicant has very wide experience extending over more than forty years in the designing of dispensing appliances of this type employing automatic or semi-automatic cutting from spool of wound material, as well as machines for the dispensing of pre-cut materials. The Applicant is the holder of several hundred patents pertaining to this technology, of which a large number are in use worldwide. 
     Among these types of dispensing appliances, there is a category of dispensers of strips of material referred to as the centrally-unreeling category. In practices, in these cases, the spool of material is presented in a case, in a vertical position pressing against the lower face of the case opposite, with it presenting a central opening to allow the passage and unwinding of the strip of material pulled by the user. This unwinding takes place from the interior of the strip of material, so that the exterior diameter of the spool remains the same, but the unwinding in loops of the material under the effect of pulling by the user progressively reduces the thickness of the spool at its useful part corresponding to the presence of the material. Evidently, a cover protects the case and spool, and it has an opening positioned in direct extension of the opening formed on the lower bearing face of the case. In practice, the spool of material is presented in a configuration that is pre-cut or otherwise. Therefore, it is subsequent to the user&#39;s pulling that the strip unreels and exits from the appliance. The problem lies in a considerable wastage of the strip of material, because the user manually cuts lengths of strips that do not necessarily correspond to his or her needs. This type of appliance is in wide use in public locations such as service stations, where it is common for users to take lengths of strips of material for needs other than those intended at the location of installation of the appliance. 
     Apart from the wastage, there is a problem of inspection and maintenance, because the presence of such appliances necessitates that they be continually refilled. 
     To attempt to remedy these big disadvantages, the Applicant has itself incorporated automatic cutting mechanisms into these types of appliance, to successively obtain formats of strips of material for the user. This has notably been described in patent FR 2 667 854. This solution has not been successful due to the complexity of construction of the dispensing appliance in relation to the conditions in which it is used. 
     Patent US 2003/122031 addresses an appliance for dispensing pre-cut strips of rolled material from a spool, incorporating a case to accommodate the spool and a hinged cover, which are designed with a central opening in their interior to allow the passage and dispensing of the strip of material. 
     SUMMARY 
     The Applicant&#39;s approach has once more been to employ this type of dispenser of strips of material from a spool with central guidance, but in a configuration and state of the strip of material that differ in that they are rolled with a cut previously made during the production of the strip. Thought was then given to designing an appliance for dispensing strips of pre-cut material rolled into a spool, that is simple and contains as few components as possible, and that is therefore of very low cost. 
     As part of this research, the Applicant, which has a perfect knowledge of the characteristics of the materials dispensed by this type of appliance, took account of the fact that they can have variable thicknesses, depending on the application and market, as well as variable hardnesses. 
     As part of this research, the Applicant thus devised and designed an appliance for dispensing strips of pre-cut material rolled into a spool, that has the additional advantage of being able to allow dispensing of the spool of material in different positions, namely either vertically as part of a central unreeling, or horizontally as per a conventional manner. In other words, the use can have a possible choice in the positioning of the spool of material, while conserving the structural characteristics of the appliance. 
     In other words, the appliance designed by the Applicant and covered by the claims herein caters to all these requirements and parameters. 
     The distributing appliance according to the present description can thus be designed using a basic concept with different complementary arrangements fulfilling all or part of the above-cited functions. 
     According to a first described embodiment, the appliance dispensing strips of pre-cut material rolled into a spool incorporating a case to receive the said spool, with a bottom face, a horizontal lower part and lateral faces, and a hinged closing cover, with the said case and the said cover being provided at their lower part with a central opening allowing the passage and dispensing of the strip of material, wherein the case has a horizontal lower part with, in its thickness, a central opening and, on its lower face, a profiled ring positioned in a plane that is eccentric in relation to the said central opening, providing therebetween a passageway for the pulled strip of material, wherein the case has, on the said lower face, a hinged flap designed to accommodate a circular profiled dome form that integrates opposite the interior opening formed by the said ring, while leaving continuity of passage for the pulled strip of material and its exit from the appliance, and wherein the said flap has a profiled design that is positioned opposite the cover, so as to be solicited by the cover when it is raised in view of its closure, so as to ensure the positioning of the said dome form around the opening in the ring, depending on the characteristics of the pulled strip of material, the said strip of material reeled into a roll passing through the opening formed in the case and passing into the space formed between the said ring and the said dome form positioned opposite each other. 
     According to a second described embodiment, the circularly-profiled dome form is mounted so as to rotate freely in a limited and controlled manner. 
     According to another described embodiment, the circular profile dome form is fixed onto the flap by being molded with the latter or joined onto it. 
     According to another described embodiment, the spool of material is positioned in a plane that is vertical in relation to the case, with its central opening being opposite the opening formed in the horizontal lower part of the case, with the spool being pressed against the said lower part. 
     According to another described embodiment, the spool of material is positioned in a plane horizontal to the case, the lateral faces of the case have articulated arms of which the extremities are fitted with end pieces that accommodate the spool of material, and the said arms are articulated in a position vertical to a horizontal position, to correspond with the mode of positioning of the spool of material, and the said arms are locked either in the vertical raised position or in a horizontal lowered position by means positioned on the case. 
     These characteristics and others besides will be clearly understood by further reading of the description below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To clarify the purpose of the disclosed embodiments, non-limitative illustrations are provided, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing the various components of the appliance for dispensing pre-cut material rolled into a spool, with the positioning of the spool of material in the central unreeling situation, in a first variant of implementation. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the appliance according to  FIG. 1 , without the representation of the spool of material. 
         FIG. 3  is a view in accordance with  FIG. 2 , with the dispensing appliance in the closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross section view with the appliance being opened with tipping of the cover in relation to the case and positioning of the spool of material in a central unreeling situation. 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross section view in accordance with  FIG. 4 , with closure of the appliance and dispensing of the strip of material. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the interior bearing face of the case, with illustration of the hinged flap. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial view of the ring positioned on the bottom face of the lower bearing part of the cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial view illustrating a cross section of the ring in accordance with  FIG. 7 , and the end piece mounted on the flap. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross section showing the dome form positioned on the flap. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial view illustrating the capability for limited movement of the dome form on the flap, so as to adjust itself around the ring positioned on the bottom face of the horizontal lower part of the case. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial view illustrating, as a variant, the means of adjustment of the positioning of the flap and, therefore, the dome form around the ring positioned on the bottom face of the horizontal lower part of the case. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial view illustrating the adjustment of the various means in accordance with  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a view of the case of the appliance, with representation of the spool of material in the vertical position for central unreeling, with the underlying flap not being illustrated. 
         FIG. 14  is a view of the case of the appliance, with representation of the spool of material in the horizontal position, with the underlying flap not being illustrated. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the dispensing appliance, in a second implementation variant, with the cover being removed. 
         FIG. 16  is a partial side cross section view according to the variant in  FIG. 15 , illustrating the positioning of the flap in the raised situation, with the cover not being illustrated. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the flap alone, such as designed for the second variant. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the dispensing appliance, in a third implementation variant, with the cover being removed. 
         FIG. 19  is a bottom view of just the horizontal lower part of the case, showing a special arrangement of the ring. 
         FIG. 20  is a partial side cross section view according to the variant in  FIG. 19 , illustrating the positioning of the flap in the raised situation, with the cover not being illustrated. 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of the flap alone, such as designed for the third variant. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In order to better clarify the contemplated embodiments, various embodiments will now be described in a non-limitative manner, illustrated by the Figures. 
     The appliance for dispensing strips of material rolled into a spool is referenced, as an ensemble, as (A), and the spool of pre-cut material is referenced as (B). The appliance incorporates a case ( 1 ) to receive the said spool (B), with a bottom face ( 1   a ), a horizontal lower part ( 1   b ) and lateral faces ( 1   c ), and a closing cover ( 2 ). The cover is designed to nest, through articulation via its bottom part and via raising with the casing and being locked by a known means. The front face of the said cover can have any profile, such as represented as an example, schematically, in  FIGS. 2, 3, 15 and 18 . In a known manner, the said case and the said cover are designed at their lower part with a central opening allowing passage and dispensing of the strip of material. 
     According to the embodiments, the spool of material is pre-cut. 
     According to embodiments, the case ( 1 ) has a horizontal lower part ( 1   b ) with, in its thickness, a central opening ( 1   d ) and, in its bottom face ( 1   b   1 ), a profiled ring ( 3 ) positioned in a plane that is eccentric in relation to the said central opening ( 1   d ), defining a passage (P) between them for the pulled strip of material. The said ring can be either joined on, or can be molded directly on during the molding of the case. The said ring has a conical form with, internally, a curvature profile ( 3 - 1 ) that facilitates the passage and the sliding of the strip of material, such as will be explained subsequently. The interior opening of the ring ( 3 ) can be circular or oblong. 
     Under the said horizontal lower face ( 1   b ) of the case, there is a hinged flap ( 4 ) designed to accommodate a circular profile dome form ( 5 ) to integrate opposite the interior opening formed in the said ring ( 3 ), while leaving continuity of passage (P) of the pulled strip of material, and its exit from the appliance. The flap ( 4 ) is fixed on axes ( 6 ) transversing the lateral faces ( 1   c ), in their lower part, while allowing a limited articulation of the said flap. The latter has embossings ( 4 - 1 ) able to come into contact with the bottom face ( 1   b ) of the case during the raising of the lid resulting from the closure of the cover. In addition, the said flap has a profiled design that is positioned opposite the cover so as to be raised in order to ensure the positioning of the said dome form ( 5 ) around the opening of the ring ( 3 ), in accordance with the characteristics of the pulled strip of material, with the said strip of material rolled into a spool transversing the opening formed in the case and passing into the space formed between the said ring and the said dome form positioned opposite each other, for the complete passage (P). 
     According to a first implementation, the circularly-profiled dome form ( 5 ) is mounted so as to rotate freely in a limited and continuous manner. 
     As illustrated notably in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 , the dome form ( 5 ) positioned on the flap has the purpose of facilitating the sliding of the pulled strip of material. In the illustration in  FIG. 8  and in one implementation, the lower part of the dome form also has a ring-shaped lip ( 5 - 1 ) that enhances this sliding and the separation of the formats. This dome form is mounted on a shaft ( 8 ) positioned on the flap. Internally, it has a circular central void ( 5 - 2 ) of a volume greater than the cross section of the previously-mentioned shaft, so as to allow a slight 360° deflection of the dome form around the shaft, so as to facilitate the centering of this dome form around the ring. This dome form is mounted so as to rotate freely on its axis ( 8 ), while being held by a means of socking of known type. The design of the dome can be circular or oblong, to fit the corresponding profile of the interior opening of the ring ( 3 ). One therefore understands that, because of this particular arrangement, the dome form is automatically centered around the opposing central opening of the ring ( 3 ) regardless of the strip of material and its characteristics and, also, so as to adapt to the stresses resulting from the pulling of the strip of material by the user. 
     In order to take account of the variable characteristics of the strip of material, according to its hardness, density and thickness characteristics, the appliance incorporates means that allow adjustment of the space of passage between the said ring ( 3 ) positioned on the horizontal lower face of the case and the dome form ( 5 ) positioned on the flap ( 4 ). 
     The flap has a profiled design that is positioned opposite the cover so as to press in contact against the cover when the said cover is raised for its closure, and enables the adjustment and positioning of the said dome form ( 5 ) around the opening of the ring ( 3 ). This profiled design can be produced, for example, in the form of profiled tongues ( 4 . 2 ) on the flap, with these tongues being solicited by means ( 2 . 1 ) positioned in the lower part of the cover, for the raising of the said flap. 
     In the implementation illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the cover ( 2 ) has profiled lugs ( 2 - 1 ) in its lower part, forming an excess thickness on which the extremity of the tongues ( 4 - 2 ) formed by the flap ( 4 ) bears. These said lugs have an essentially-raised profile. During the closure of the cover, the extremity of the said tongues ( 4 - 2 ) bears on the said lugs ( 2 - 1 ) and, through elasticity, the entire flap ( 4 ) is raised. The lower part of the flap also comes into contact with the bottom face of the said lugs ( 2 - 1 ), facilitating the raising. 
     In the design illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the front face of the cover ( 2 ) has a horizontally-turned wing ( 2 - 2 ) that is provided with two oblong openings ( 2 - 3 ) designed to accommodate means of acting on the associated tongues ( 4 - 2 ) on the aforementioned flap. More specifically, these means include a cursor ( 9 ) with a sloped profile ( 9 - 1 ) of cam form, associated with an adjustment and locking button ( 9 - 2 ). The extremity of the tongues has a bezel shape ( 4 - 2 - 1 ) that comes into contact with the sloped profile of the aforementioned cam. According to the positioning of the cursors across the oblong guide openings, the said tongues will be subjected to a variable degree of raising through elasticity, thereby causing the pivoting of the flap and its movement nearer or further away, under pressure, in relation to the horizontal lower face of the case, and therefore causing the space between the ring and the dome form to vary. This adjustment is easy for the user to perform. 
     In a first variant of use of the described embodiments, the spool of material is positioned in a plane in the case, with its central opening being opposite the opening formed on the horizontal lower part of the case, with the spool being pressed on the said lower part  FIG. 13 , notably, illustrates this arrangement. 
     In a second variant of the described embodiments, the spool of material is positioned in a horizontal plane in the case, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
     For this purpose, the lateral faces of the case has hinged arms ( 10 ) of which the extremities are fitted with accommodating end pieces ( 10   a ) for the spool of material. These arms are articulated from a vertical position to a horizontal position, to correspond with the mode of positioning of the spool of material. The arms are locked either in the vertical raised position or in the horizontal lowered position by means positioned on the case. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the lateral faces of the case have a hollow ( 11 ) inside for accommodating an embossing ( 12 ) formed on the exterior part of the articulated arms. In the vertical position, the arms are raised and the aforementioned embossings enter the aforesaid hollows. In the horizontal position, the lateral faces of the case have limiters ( 13 ) that restrict the tipping of the said arms to the horizontal position. 
       FIGS. 15 to 17  illustrate a second variant of implementation of the dispensing appliance according to the described embodiments, employing the means of the described embodiments. The components and parts that are identical have the same references. The horizontal lower part ( 1   b ) of the case is also provided with a central opening ( 1   a ) and, on its lower face ( 1   b   1 ), with a profiled ring ( 3 ) positioned in a plane that is eccentric in relation to the said central opening ( 1   a ). The articulated flap ( 4 ) is designed to accommodate a circular profiled dome form ( 5 ) that is mounted with the latter or joined onto it. 
     On the front part of the dome form ( 5 ), at the free end of the flap, there is a crescent-shaped cut-out ( 4 . 3 ) in the thickness of the flap. This cut-out has the role of facilitating the passage and the pulling to withdraw the strip of pre-cut material in the pre-established format. The angular amplitude of this cut-out is approximately from 90° to 160°. 
     In this implementation, the flap ( 4 ) has a design that is profiled at the extremity, with an angularly-raised part ( 4 . 4 ) that presses against the bottom face of the part ( 1   b ) of the case. 
       FIGS. 18 to 21  illustrate a third variant of implementation of the dispensing appliance. 
     The components and parts that are identical have the same references. 
     The horizontal lower part ( 1   b ) of the case is still provided with a central opening ( 1   d ) and, on its lower face ( 1   b   1 ), with a profiled ring ( 3 ) positioned in a plane that is eccentric in relation to the said central opening ( 1   d ). As can be seen in  FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 , on part of the periphery of the ring ( 3 ), there is a lip ( 1   b   2 ) molded directly with the part ( 1   b ), that is curved and designed with an angular amplitude of around 30 to 90°. It has the function of vertically directing the pulled strip of material, in a format established at its exit, for convenient holding. Additionally, as can be seen in  FIG. 19 , the lower neck ( 3 . 2 ) of the ring has teeth ( 3 . 3 ) on part of its interior periphery. 
     The flap  4  is designed to accommodate the dome form ( 5 ) molded onto the bottom face of the latter, with the said area having—as illustrated in  FIG. 21 —two concentric toothed areas ( 5 . 3 ,  5 . 4 ) on part of its periphery, to facilitate the separation of a format of strip of material during its twisting by the user. 
     The flap is illustrated here with tongues ( 4 . 2 ) of which the extremity ( 4 . 4 ) is folded upwards. 
     The lugs ( 2 . 1 ) formed on the cover allow the raising of the flap in the different variants. In the two variants in  FIGS. 15 to 21 , we have illustrated a disc ( 11 ) fitted with an opening ( 11   a ) to be positioned and embedded within an accommodating opening formed for the purpose in the horizontal lower part ( 1   b ) of the case. Where necessary, this enables one to vary the diameter of the opening ( 11   a ), according to the nature of the materials dispensed, which is equivalent in function to the opening ( 1   b ). 
     Thus the appliance for dispensing pre-cut wiping material according to the described embodiments has very great advantages due to its design and its varied modes of use. We also underline its quick adaptability according to the characteristics of the strip of pre-cut material to be dispensed. 
     It enables the dispensing of all materials, notably for wiping, made of paper, cotton wad and unweaved material. 
     The number of its components is very low, being reduced to three in variants  2  and  3 , and to  5  in variant  1 , to enable the raising through rotation of the dome ( 5 ).