Web material dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208281-B2
Application number	US-201916659247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2019
Priority date	Oct 22, 2018
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A web material dispenser for housing two or more rolls is provided. The web material dispenser includes a housing having a fixed housing portion provided with a first roll support assembly coupled thereto for supporting a first roll of web material. The housing further has a movable housing portion, movable between a closed position and an open position, provided with a second roll support assembly coupled thereto for supporting a second roll of web material. The fixed and movable housing portions defining a housing chamber therebetween when the movable portion is in the closed position, for at least partially enclosing the two or more rolls of web material within the housing chamber. The movable portion is moved to the open position for providing access to the two or more rolls and allowing replacement of at least one of the first and second rolls.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A web material dispenser for housing two or more rolls, comprising:
a housing comprising:
a fixed housing portion having a first roll support assembly coupled thereto for supporting a first roll of web material; and
1. a movable housing portion, movable between a closed position and an open position, and having a second roll support assembly coupled thereto for supporting a second roll of web material; and
a dampening system operatively connected to the housing adapted to reduce the speed at which the movable housing portion moves from the closed position to the open position,

the fixed and movable housing portions defining a housing chamber therebetween when the movable housing portion is in the closed position, for at least partially enclosing the two or more rolls of web material within the housing chamber, wherein moving the movable housing portion in the open position provides access to the two or more rolls within the housing chamber and allows replacement of at least one of the first and second rolls.

2. The web material dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the movable housing portion is pivotally connected to the fixed housing portion and pivots about a pivoting axis.

3. The web material dispenser according to claim 2 , wherein the movable housing portion comprises a front cover, and the fixed housing portion comprises a back wall, and wherein a bottom edge of the front cover is hingedly connected to a bottom edge of the back wall.

4. The web material dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the first roll support assembly comprises a first support member extending from the back wall, and a first mandrel extending from a surface of the first support member for supporting the first roll of web material.

5. The web material dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the first mandrel is substantially parallel to the back wall.

6. The web material dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the first support member extends from a central portion of the back wall.

7. The web material dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the second roll support assembly comprises a second support member extending from the front cover, and a second mandrel extending from the second support member for supporting the second roll of web material.

8. The web material dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the front cover comprises right and left sides, and wherein the second support member is coupled to the front cover proximate one of said sides.

9. The web material dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second mandrels are substantially parallel to one another.

10. The web material dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second mandrels are axially aligned along a common longitudinal axis when the movable housing portion is in the closed position.

11. The web material dispenser according to claim 10 , wherein the common longitudinal axis and the pivoting axis are substantially parallel to one another.

12. The web material dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the front cover is configured to rotate downwardly away front the back wall, thus positioning the second mandrel lower than the first mandrel when in the open position.

13. The web material dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises right and left sides and the first and second mandrels are each provided with a free outer end by which one of the rolls can be inserted and removed and wherein the free outer ends of the first and second mandrels respectively extend toward a same side of the housing.

14. The web dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the front cover is provided with an opening, and wherein at least one of the first and second roll of web material is accessible through the opening while the movable housing portion is in the closed position.

15. The web material dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the dampening system comprises a resilient element coupled between the movable housing portion and fixed housing portion.

16. The web material dispenser according to claim 15 , wherein the resilient element is a torsional spring.

17. A method of replacing a roll in a dispenser provided with two or more rolls, the method comprising the steps of:
providing access to a housing chamber of the dispenser by disengaging a movable housing portion relative to a fixed housing portion and causing the movable housing portion to rotate downwardly about a hinge or pivot connection, which pivotally connects the fixed and movable portions, the fixed housing portion being provided with a first roll support assembly, and the movable housing portion being provided with a second roll support assembly;
dampening motion of the movable housing portion during rotational movement of the movable housing portion from a closed position to a open position;
replacing at least one of the rolls by sliding said one roll out of a mandrel part of the first or second roll support assembly and by sliding a new roll onto the mandrel; and
reengaging the movable housing portion to the fixed housing portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the movable housing portion is disengaged from the fixed housing portion by pressing a button or turning a key.

Assignees

• Cascades Canada Ulc

Inventors

• Paré Richard
• Dallaire Antoine
• Myette Mélody Sue

Classifications

• A47K2010/3233

  Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall · CPC title

• B65H2701/18484

  Diameter substantially equal to width, e.g. toilet paper roll · CPC title

• B65H2402/441

  movable for facilitating access to area inside the housing, e.g. pivoting or sliding · CPC title

• B65H19/123

  with cantilever supporting arrangements · CPC title

• B65H16/005

  Dispensers, i.e. machines for unwinding only parts of web roll · CPC title