Sheet product dispensers and related methods for protecting a roll of sheet product and reducing waste

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016135652-A1
Application number	US-201514940915-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product is provided. The sheet product dispenser includes a housing defining an interior space configured to receive the roll of sheet product therein, and a roll support positioned within the interior space and configured to rotatably support the roll of sheet product. The housing includes a dispensing gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a tail portion of the roll of sheet product to extend therethrough and out of the interior space, and a drainage gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a liquid to drain therethrough and out of the interior space. The drainage gap is spaced apart from the dispensing gap and positioned below the dispensing gap. A related method of protecting a roll of sheet product within a sheet product dispenser also is provided.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, the dispenser comprising:
a housing defining an interior space configured to receive the roll of sheet product therein, the housing comprising:
a dispensing gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a tail portion of the roll of sheet product to extend therethrough and out of the interior space; and
a drainage gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a liquid to drain therethrough and out of the interior space, wherein the drainage gap is spaced apart from the dispensing gap and positioned below the dispensing gap; and
a roll support positioned within the interior space and configured to rotatably support the roll of sheet product.

2 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a base configured to attach to a wall or other support surface for mounting the dispenser thereto, and a cover connected to the base and configured to move relative to the base from an open position to a closed position.

3 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a first angled plate and a second angled plate positioned about a bottom of the housing, and wherein the first angled plate and the second angled plate are spaced apart to define the drainage gap therebetween.

4 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the first angled plate and the second angled plate are angled downward toward the drainage gap to facilitate draining of the liquid therethrough.

5 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a first shield positioned at least partially within the drainage gap.

6 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the first shield is positioned at least partially below the drainage gap.

7 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the first angled plate, the second angled plate, and the first shield are configured to inhibit a flow of liquid from entering the interior space through the drainage gap.

8 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 3 , wherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the second angled plate and the cover are spaced apart to define the dispensing gap therebetween.

9 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a front wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, and wherein the front wall, the first side wall and the second side wall each comprise a tear edge extending along a bottom edge thereof.

10 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the tear edges each comprise a plurality of rounded teeth.

12 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the roll support comprises a first spring arm and a second spring arm configured to deflect away from one another upon insertion of the roll of sheet product therebetween, wherein the first spring arm and the second spring arm each comprise a protrusion configured for insertion into a central opening of the roll of sheet product, and wherein the protrusions each comprise an angled surface configured to facilitate insertion of the roll of sheet product between the first spring arm and the second spring arm.

13 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a resistance mechanism positioned within the interior space and configured to engage an outer surface of the roll of sheet product and resist rotation of the roll of sheet product about the roll support, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises an engagement member configured to frictionally engage the outer surface of the roll of sheet product, and a biasing member configured to bias the engagement member into engagement with the outer surface of the roll of sheet product.

14 . A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, the dispenser comprising:
a housing defining an interior space configured to receive the roll of sheet product therein, the housing comprising:
a dispensing gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a tail portion of the roll of sheet product to extend therethrough and out of the interior space;
a drainage gap in communication with the interior space and configured to allow a liquid to drain therethrough and out of the interior space, wherein the drainage gap is spaced apart from the dispensing gap; and
a first shield positioned at least partially within the drainage gap; and
a roll support positioned within the interior space and configured to rotatably support the roll of sheet product.

15 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the housing further comprises a first angled plate and a second angled plate positioned about a bottom of the housing, and wherein the first angled plate and the second angled plate are spaced apart to define the drainage gap therebetween.

16 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the first angled plate and the second angled plate are angled downward toward the drainage gap to facilitate draining of the liquid therethrough.

17 . The sheet product dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a base configured to attach to a wall or other support surface for mounting the dispenser thereto, and a cover connected to the base and configured to move relative to the base from an open position to a closed position, and wherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the second angled plate and the cover are spaced apart to define the dispensing gap therebetween.

18 . A method of protecting a roll of sheet product within a sheet product dispenser, the method comprising:
providing the roll of sheet product rotatably supported by a roll support within an interior space of a housing of the sheet product dispenser; allowing a tail portion of the roll of sheet product to extend through a dispensing gap of the housing and out of the interior space; and allowing a liquid to drain through a drainage gap of the housing and out of the interior space, wherein the drainage gap is spaced apart from the dispensing gap and positioned below the dispensing gap.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising directing the liquid downward and toward the drainage gap via a first angled plate and a second angled plate of the housing, wherein the first angled plate and the second angled plate are positioned about a bottom of the housing and spaced apart to define the drainage gap therebetween.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising inhibiting a flow of liquid from entering the interior space through the drainage gap via a first shield positioned at least partially within the drainage gap.

Assignees

• Georgia Pacific Consumer Prod

Inventors

• Cittadino Antonio Michael
• Watkinson Chevis James
• Robertson Timothy Andrew
• Madsen Nickolas Everett
• Mullens Stuart Elizabeth

Classifications

• B65H2701/1924

  Napkins or tissues, e.g. dressings, toweling, serviettes, kitchen paper and compresses · CPC title

• B65H2701/18484

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

• B65H23/06

  by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle · CPC title

• B65H16/005

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

• A47K10/38 Primary

  the web being rolled-up · CPC title