Abstract:
A dispenser for selectively dispensing first and second rolls of sheet material respectively wrapped around first and second cores is provided. The dispenser includes a housing defining a storage compartment for the first and second rolls and an opening, a first and second core support structures disposed in the housing for respectively supporting differently sized first and second cores and a divider slidably carried by the housing and covering a portion of the opening. The divider is movable between a first dispensing position, wherein a first portion of the opening is uncovered to allow access to the first roll and a second portion of the opening is covered to prevent access to the second roll, and a second position, wherein the first portion of the opening is covered and the second portion the opening is uncovered to allow access to the second roll. The divider includes an adjustable blocking plate for preventing movement of the divider from the first dispensing position to the second dispensing portion until substantially all the sheet material has been exhausted from the first roll. The plate is positionable on the divider in a plurality of positions relative to the first core support structure to compensate for different diameter cores.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to dispensers for rolls of sheet material, and more particularly, to toilet roll dispensers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the past, dispensers have been provided for dispensing rolls of sheet material, such as, toilet paper. These dispensers normally had a housing which could house at least two rolls of toilet tissue. These dispensers however, suffered from the fact that they could only dispense toilet tissue rolls of a single given size diameter core. This thus, required a plurality of different dispensers to be used, one for each different diameter size core. 
     Additionally, there have been toilet roll dispensers housing two rolls of toilet paper which included blocking structure to prevent the dispensing of the second roll of toilet tissue prior to the exhaustion of the first roll of toilet tissue of the first roll. These blocking devices, however, were often very complicated and costly to make. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the general object of the invention to provide an improved tissue roll dispenser to overcome the disadvantages of prior tissue roll dispensers while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
     An important feature of the invention is provision of a dispenser which is a relatively simple and economical construction. 
     Another feature of the invention is provision of a dispenser of a type set forth which has the ability to dispense sheets of tissue, from rolls having cores of various diameters. 
     A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a dispenser of the type set forth which prevents access to the second roll of toilet tissue until the first roll has been substantially exhausted. 
     Certain ones of these and other features of the invention may be obtained by providing a dispenser for selectively dispensing first and second rolls of sheet material respectively wrapped around first and second cores. The dispenser includes a housing defining a storage compartment for the first and second rolls and an opening, first and second core support structures disposed in the housing for respectively supporting differently sized first and second cores and a divider slidably carried by the housing and covering a portion of the opening. The divider is movable between a first dispensing position, wherein a first portion of the opening is uncovered to allow access to the first roll and a second portion of the opening is covered to prevent access to the second roll, and a second position, wherein the first portion of the opening is covered and the second portion opening is uncovered to allow access to the second roll. The divider includes an adjustable blocking plate for preventing movement of the divider from the first dispensing position to the second dispensing portion until substantially all the sheet material has been exhausted from the first roll. The plate is positionable on the divider in a plurality of positions relative to the first core support structure to compensate for different diameter cores. 
     The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view a toilet roll dispenser in occurrence with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of FIG.1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line of  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, with a portion of the bottom wall of the cover partially broken away; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the body of the housing of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the divider of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 9 where the blocking plate of the divider has been positioned in the upper position of the adapter of the divider; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 8 with the upper walls of blocking plate shown in dashed line for clarity; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 taken generally along the line  12 — 12  of FIG. 9, without the upper walls of the blocking plate; 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic views illustrating how the divider prevents access to one of the first or second rolls; 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 are views similar to FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrating how the divider is used for rolls having smaller diameter cores; 
     FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the teeth of the body; and 
     FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the teeth of FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-roll toilet tissue dispenser  30  is illustrated. Referring to FIG. 2 the toilet roll dispenser  30  includes a body  34 , a cover  36  and a divider  38 . The body  34  and cover  36  form a housing  32  defining a storage compartment for the toilet tissue rolls and an opening  39  (FIG.  6 ). The body  34  includes a back wall  40  having four apertures  41  (FIGS. 3 and 7) and a core support structure  42  coupled to the back wall  40  in use. The core support structure  42  is adaptable to be used with at least two different diameter cores of toilet roll tissue. In that respect, the core support structure  42  includes two generally cylindrical, smaller diameter, core supports  44  which project from and are integral with the back wall  40 . Each of the smaller diameter core supports  44  is disposed between an associated pair of apertures  41 . The core support structure  42  can be used to support cores of tissue paper having a diameter such as 2.25 inches. The core support structure  42  also includes two generally cylindrical larger diameter core supports  45 . Each of the larger diameter core supports  45  include two diametrically opposed tabs  46 . The tabs  46  respectively include a triangular end  47  and a shoulder  48 . The larger diameter core supports  45  are formed preferably of a resilient material and the tabs  46  are resiliently biased radially outward. When the core support structure  42  is used to support larger diameter cores of tissue paper (such as those with 3 inch diameters), the larger diameter core supports  45  are each coupled to the back wall  40  of the body  34  to support the core of tissue paper by inserting its tabs  46  through associated apertures  41  in the back wall  40 , (FIGS. 3 and 7) in a known manner. 
     The body  34  also includes a part oval peripheral wall  49  coupled to the back wall  40 . The oval wall  49  defines two side plates  50 ,  52  at its terminal ends. The side plates  50 ,  52  are disposed at opposite longitudinal ends of the housing  32  and are generally parallel to one another and respectively include sets of teeth  54 ,  56 . The side plates  50 ,  52  also respectively include an aperture  58 ,  60 . 
     The back wall  40  also defines a first slot  62  communicating with an upper notch  64  disposed at the center of the first slot  62  and a second slot  66  aligned with the first slot  62 . The body  34  also includes a divider support  68  projecting from the back wall  40  and disposed between the first and second slots  62 ,  66 . The divider support  68  has a terminal end  70  defining a slot  72  formed by a bottom wall  74 , a front flange  76 , and a triangular top flange  78 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the divider  38  includes a roll plate  79  and a blocking plate  80  coupleable to the roll plate  79  in a plurality of positions. The roll plate  79 , as seen in FIG. 2, includes a base wall  81  and, as best seen in FIG. 4, a flange  82  depending at a right angle from the base wall  81  and a second flange  84  perpendicularly projecting from the flange  82  and disposed generally parallel to the base wall  81 . The base wall  81  defines a slot  86  disposed in front of the flange  82 . The roll plate  79  also includes a grip  88  depending from the base wall  81  and a truncated rear wall  90  coupled to the base wall  81  and having two tabs  92  projecting rearwardly therefrom. Referring to FIG. 8, the roll plate  79  also includes generally parallel side walls  94 ,  96  depending from the base wall  81  and respectively having teeth  98 ,  100  running along its entire length. The roll plate  79  also includes a front wall  102  defining a slot  104  and a ramp  106  projecting from the front wall  102  adjacent the slot  104 . The roll plate  79  also includes an adapter  108  having, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 9, a lower receptacle  110  defined by four top wall portions  112 , and a base wall  114 . The top wall portions  112  and the base wall  114  form a slot  116  (FIG.  11 ). The lower receptacle  110  also includes a side wall  118 . The adapter also includes, as seen in FIG. 8, an upper receptacle  120  spaced above the lower receptacle  110 . The upper receptacle  120  is formed by four top wall portions  122  and a base wall  124 . Together the top wall portions  122  and the base wall  124  form a slot  126  (FIG.  12 ). The upper receptacle  120  also includes a side wall  128 . 
     Referring to FIG. 16, the blocking plate  80  includes an insertion flange  130  having a terminal end  132  having a triangular tab  133  which forms a cam surface  134  and a shoulder  136 . As seen in FIG. 2, the blocking plate  80  also includes a wall  138  coupled to and generally bisecting the insertion flange  130 . The wall  138  includes an arcuate edge  140 . The wall  138  and insertion flange  130  form a small slot  141  (FIG. 11) therebetween. The blocking plate  80  also includes a blocking wall  142  coupled to the wall  138 . The blocking wall  142  includes a larger area portion  144  and a smaller area portion  146  on respective sides of the wall  138 . The smaller area portion is smaller in both length and width. The blocking plate  80  is inserted into either the upper or lower receptacle  110  or  120  depending upon the diameter of the tissue paper core being supported by the core support structure  42 . When a larger diameter core is supported on the core support structure  42 , the insertion flange  130  (as seen in FIGS.  8  and  11 ), is disposed in the slot  116  of the lower receptacle  110  such that the terminal end  132  is disposed outside the slot  116  such that the shoulder  136  of the tab  133  abuts and is trapped by wall  118 . In this position, the smaller area portion  146  is disposed above the upper receptacle  120  without any interference therewith, due to its smaller dimensions. 
     Similarly, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 12, when a smaller diameter core is supported on the core support structure  42 , the insertion flange  130  is disposed in slot  126  of the upper receptacle  120  such that the shoulder  136  of the tab  133  abuts the wall  128  of the upper receptacle  120 . 
     The divider  38  is coupled to and slidably supported on the body  34  as follows. One of the tabs  92  is aligned with the upper notch  64  of the first slot  62 . The tabs  92  of the divider  80  are then respectively inserted into the first and second slots  62 ,  66  of the back wall  40  of the body  34 . The flange  84  has a narrower inclined central portion  147  (FIG. 10) which is then snapped into the slot  72  of the divider support  68 . Under certain conditions, the divider  38 , as discussed further below, is slidable in the slots  62 ,  66  and  72  between first and second dispensing positions by a user gripping and moving the grip  88 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  5  and  6 , the cover  36  includes two arcuate tabs  148  respectively having a projection  150  projecting inwardly (FIG.  5 ). The tabs  150  are respectively disposed in apertures  58  and  60  of plates  50  and  52  of the body  34  to pivotally couple the cover  36  to the body  34 . The cover  36  also includes a front wall  152  having a locking tab  154  projecting inwardly at the center of the front wall  152  (FIGS.  4  and  6 ). The cover  36  and the body  34  each include mating locking structure  156  (FIG. 2) for keeping the cover  36  locked to the body  34 , in a known manner. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the housing  32  has a length, l, as measured along a line passing through the centers of both core supports ( 44  or  45 ) of core support structure  42  and a height ,h, transverse to the length. The slots  62  and  66  run along the length of the housing  32  and the height is perpendicular thereto. As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the dispenser  30  is supporting first and second rolls of toilet tissue paper  160 ,  162  disposed about larger diameter cores  164 ,  166 . In this mode, the larger diameter core supports  45  are coupled to the back wall  40  of the body  36  and the blocking plate  80  is disposed in the lower receptacle  110  of the adapter  108  of the roll plate  79 , as seen in FIG.  8 . 
     As seen in FIG. 13, the divider  38  is in a first dispensing position covering a portion  39   b  of the opening  39  directly under the second roll  162  and the associated core support structure  42  and leaving a portion  39   a  of the opening  39  uncovered. In the first dispensing position, access by a user to the second roll  162  is prevented while access to the first roll  160  to dispense toilet tissue out of portion  39   a  is allowed. The blocking plate  80  has an upper portion  80   a  which is disposed along the height of the dispenser such that when toilet tissue remains on the first core  164 , the upper portion  80   a  of the blocking plate  80  will contact the remaining tissue and the divider  38  cannot be slid along the length of the dispenser to a second dispensing position, as seen in FIG. 14, where the divider  38  is located directly under the core  164  and the associated core support structure  42  and covers portion  39   a  of the opening  39 . In this position, access is allowed the second roll  162 , as portion  139   b  of the opening  139  remains uncovered. In this regard, the upper portion  80   a  of the blocking plate  80  is disposed at substantially the same position along the height of the housing  32  as the lowermost portion of the larger diameter core support  45  which together prevent the divider from being slid under the core support  45  to the second dispensing position until substantially all the sheet material from the first roll  160  is exhausted. When the divider  38  is in the second dispensing position, as seen best in FIG. 6, the locking tab  154  is disposed in the slot  96  of the divider  38  which maintains the divider  38  in the second dispensing position until enough force is exerted by a user to move the divider  38  from its second dispensing position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the dispenser  30  is disposed in a mode for supporting first and second rolls of toilet tissue paper  260 ,  262  disposed about smaller diameter cores  264 ,  266 . In this mode, the larger diameter core supports  45  are removed from the back wall  40  of the body  34  and the first and second rolls  260 ,  262  are supported on the smaller diameter core supports  44 . Also in this mode, the blocking plate  80  is disposed in the upper receptacle  120  of the adapter  108  of the role plate  79 , as seen in FIG.  9 . This places the upper portion  80   a  of the blocking plate  80  at a higher height so that it is disposed at substantially the same position along the height of the housing  32  as the lowermost portion of the smaller diameter core support  44  to prevent movement of the divider  38  from the first dispensing position to the second dispensing position in the same manner as discussed with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14 above. 
     As seen in FIG. 6, the cover has a bottom wall  170  having first and second sets of teeth  172 ,  174  perpendicularly disposed to the teeth  54 ,  56 ,  98 ,  100 . This allows the first and second opening portions  39   a  and  39   b  to be substantially surrounded by teeth on three sides. Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, each of the teeth  56  has two sides  56   a ,  56   b  and a maximum width, d 1 , as defined by the maximum distance between the sides  56   a ,  56   b . Each of the teeth  56  is spaced from adjacent teeth  56  by a distance, d 2 . Preferably d 2  is substantially equal to d 1 . Additionally, each tooth  56  has a rounded peak  56   c . This shaping and spacing allows the toilet roll tissue being cut to be properly snagged on a teeth  56  and prevents a user from cutting or poking his hand (as often occurs with the prior saw tooth configurations). Preferably all the teeth  56 ,  58 ,  98 ,  100 ,  172  and  174  are identically spaced and shaped. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modification may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.