Spindle and cover components for sheet product dispensers and dispenser systems including such components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11825993-B2
Application number	US-201916506814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2019
Priority date	Jul 9, 2018
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

Spindles and cover assemblies for dispensing sheet product for use with coreless sheet product rolls. The spindle may include a hollow cylindrical body, which may have an elongated channel in a sidewall; a rod which extends partially out of the body; and a spring disposed within the body in biasing contact with the rod. The rod may include a flexible tab matingly engaged within the channel, permitting the rod to translate within the hollow cylindrical body without falling out. The hollow cylindrical body may have an end with an opening bounded by an inward facing ledge, and the rod may include a radial ledge, such that the rod can translate within the body but cannot fall out due to interference between the inward facing ledge and the radial ledge. The spindle may include a friction hub disposed about and rotatable around the hollow cylindrical body between ends of the body.

First claim

We claim:

1. A spindle for use with a coreless sheet product roll, the spindle comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body comprising a first end which has an opening bounded by an inward facing ledge, the hollow cylindrical body comprising an internal wall which separates a first hollow space open toward the first end from a second hollow space open toward an opposing second end;
a rod which extends partially out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body and which comprises a radial ledge; and
a spring disposed within the hollow cylindrical body and having one end in biasing contact with an end of the rod disposed within the hollow cylindrical body,
wherein the rod is permitted to translate within the hollow cylindrical body but cannot fall out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body due to interference between the inward facing ledge of the hollow cylindrical body and the radial ledge of the rod, and
wherein the spindle is dimensioned to be fit into and engage with a central opening of the coreless sheet product roll, and
wherein the second end comprises an integral disk and opening which is closed off by an end cap secured to the second end of the hollow cylindrical body, the end cap comprising an end piece for mounting to a roller arm.

2. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the end piece has a square cross-sectional shape as viewed in an axial direction of the spindle.

3. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body and the rod are formed of metal.

4. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the second hollow space is configured to receive the end piece for mounting the spindle.

5. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein at least two fins extend outwardly from the hollow cylindrical body and wherein the at least two fins extend axially along a length of the hollow cylindrical body.

6. A cover assembly for a roll of sheet product, the cover assembly comprising:
a mounting member for securing the cover assembly to a surface;
a pair of arms spaced for securing a spindle and a roll of sheet product therebetween;
a cover connected to the mounting member and disposed over a space between the pair of arms,
wherein at least one of the arms comprises (i) a bearing for receiving a mounting end of the spindle and (ii) an adjustable clamp disposed about and in contact with the bearing.

7. The cover assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bearing and the adjustable clamp are concealed in a recess within the at least one arm.

8. The cover assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bearing comprises a non-cylindrical recess configured to receive a non-cylindrical mounting end, such that the mounting end is rotationally fixed with the bearing.

9. A spindle for use with a coreless sheet product roll, the spindle comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body having a first end;
a ring defining an interior surface wherein the interior surface comprises an inward facing ledge;
a rod which extends partially out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body and which comprises a radial ledge; and
a spring disposed within the hollow cylindrical body and having one end in biasing contact with an end of the rod disposed within the hollow cylindrical body,
wherein the ring is attached to the first end of the hollow cylindrical body and wherein the rod is permitted to translate within the hollow cylindrical body but cannot fall out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body due to interference between the inward facing ledge of the ring and the radial ledge of the rod,
wherein the hollow cylindrical body has at least two fins extending directly and outwardly therefrom, the at least two fins extending axially along a length of the hollow cylindrical body, and
wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a second end opposed to the first end and the second end comprises an integral disk and opening which is closed off by an end cap secured to the second end of the hollow cylindrical body, the end cap comprising an end piece for mounting to a roller arm.

10. The spindle of claim 9 , wherein the end piece has a non-cylindrical cross-sectional shape as viewed in an axial direction of the spindle.

11. The spindle of claim 9 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises an internal wall which isolates a first hollow space open toward the first end from a second hollow space open toward the second end, wherein the second hollow space is configured to receive the end piece for mounting the spindle.

12. A spindle for use with a coreless sheet product roll, the spindle comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body having a first end;
a ring defining an interior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises an inward facing ledge;
a rod which extends partially out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body and which comprises a radial ledge; and
a spring disposed within the hollow cylindrical body and having one end in biasing contact with an end of the rod disposed within the hollow cylindrical body,
wherein the rod is permitted to translate within the hollow cylindrical body but cannot fall out of the first end of the hollow cylindrical body due to interference between the inward facing ledge of the ring and the radial ledge of the rod,
wherein the ring has a first end and an opposed second end, the first end of the ring being attached to the first end of the hollow cylindrical body, the ring further comprising an outer surface which tapers toward the second end of the ring in a region between the inward facing ledge and the second end of the ring, and
wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises an internal wall which separates a first hollow space open toward the first end of the hollow cylindrical body from a second hollow space open toward an opposing second end of the hollow cylindrical body.

13. The spindle of claim 12 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has at least two fins extending directly and outwardly therefrom, the at least two fins extending axially along a length of the hollow cylindrical body.

14. The spindle of claim 12 , wherein the rod has a spherical shaped end opposed to the end of the rod in biasing contact with the spring.

Assignees

• Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Robertson Timothy
• Sinclair Aaron
• Mattheeussen Steven
• Schuelke Todd
• Bruenger Samuel
• Grosz John

Classifications

• A47K10/38 Primary

  the web being rolled-up · CPC title

• A47K10/3827

  with a distribution opening which is parallel to the rotation axis · CPC title

• A47K10/40

  with extensible or collapsible roll supports {or roll spindles} · CPC title

• A47K10/405

  the roll support comprising several arm sections · CPC title

• B65H16/02

  Supporting web roll · CPC title