Dispenser for a center feed roll

Abstract

A dispenser for a roll of web material, such as a center feed roll includes: a body having a first end wall provided with a dispensing opening for dispensing a leading end of the web material at the center of the roll, a second end wall opposite to the first end wall, and a sidewall connecting to the first and second end wall. The dispenser also includes a stabilizing device that is insertable into the roll to prevent the roll from collapsing towards its center. The stabilizing device includes a plurality of protrusions protruding from at least one of the first or second end wall towards the other of the first or second end wall, and the protrusions are disposed closer to the sidewall than to a center axis of the body.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a roll of web material, the dispenser comprising: a body having a first end wall provided with a dispensing opening for dispensing a leading end of the web material at a center of the roll, a second end wall opposite to the first end wall, and a sidewall connecting to the first end wall and the second end wall; and a stabilizing device insertable into the roll to prevent the roll from collapsing towards the center of the roll, wherein the stabilizing device comprises a plurality of protrusions protruding from at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall towards the other of the first end wall and the second end wall, the protrusions being disposed closer to the sidewall than to a center axis of the body and configured to be inserted between adjacent layers of the web material, wherein at least two of the protrusions are separated from each other and positioned on a surface of one of the first end wall or the second end wall in a common circle, the center of the circle being coextensive with the center axis of the body.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions protrudes from the second end wall towards the first end wall.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the body and a width in a direction substantially parallel to the center axis of the body, the protrusions being substantially flat with the thickness being less than the width.

4. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the width of the protrusions decreases from one of the first end wall and the second end wall towards the other of the first end wall and the second end wall.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the protrusions are positioned at a different distance to the center axis of the body.

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first end wall and the second end wall is configured so that the protrusions are insertable between the web material at an end face of the roll.

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are integrally formed with at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein one of the first end wall and the second end wall is part of a lid that is detachable from a remainder of the body.

9. The dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the first end wall is part of the lid.

10. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions protrudes from each of at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall.

11. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is spaced at an interval in a direction around the circle from an adjacent one of the plurality of protrusions.

12. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a first group of two or more of the plurality of protrusions is positioned on the common circle and a second group of two or more of the plurality of protrusions is positioned on a second common circle.

13. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions includes a first group comprising four protrusions and a second group comprising four protrusions.

14. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions includes at least three separate protrusions.

15. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential distance between each of the separated protrusions is larger than a length of each of the separated protrusions.

16. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions has an inner-facing side facing toward the center axis of the body and an opposite outer-facing side facing away from the center axis of the body, wherein the inner-facing side comprises a first wall having a first angle relative to the first end wall or the second end wall, the outer-facing side comprises a second wall having a second angle relative to the first end wall of the second end wall, the second angle being different than the first angle, and a third wall having a third angle relative to the first end wall or the second end wall, the third angle being different than the first angle and the second angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following description of a working example makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the center axis of the body of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 with lid being removed; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a portion A of FIG. 2 with an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF A WORKING EXAMPLE

(5) The dispenser of the particular working example is made of transparent plastic having two parts, a lower part 10 and an upper part 11. The upper part 11 is formed as a lid that may be detached from the lower part 10 by rotation as indicated by the double arrow 12. For this purpose, the lower part 10 and the lid 11 may be engageable by a means of a bayonet coupling one part 13 being visible in FIG. 2. However, other coupling mechanisms are conceivable as well.

(6) Further, the lower part comprises a handle 14 enabling transportation of the dispenser from one location to another. Preferably, the lower part 10 and the upper part 11 are each made of one piece in an injection molding process. In order to enable removal of the lower part 10 from the mold, the handle has a hollow interior 15 which is accessible at opposite ends in a vertical direction.

(7) The lid (upper part) 11 has a first end wall 16, which in a plan view is in the particular embodiment configured circular. In use the first end wall 16 will in most cases be directed downwards so that the first end wall 16 may also be referred to as the bottom wall. Nevertheless, the dispenser may as well be used in the orientation shown in FIG. 1 or with its center axis C (see FIG. 2) directed horizontally.

(8) The lower part 10 has a second end wall 17 opposite to the first end wall 16. In use, the second end wall 17 will in most cases be directed upward and may therefore also be referred to as the top wall.

(9) The first end wall 16 and the second end wall 17 are disposed opposite to each other and connected to a sidewall being defined by a lower sidewall 18 being part of the lower part 10 and an upper sidewall 19 being part of the lid 11. That side of the first end wall 16 that faces away from the second sidewall 17 is provided at its center with a dome-shaped portion 20. A dispensing opening 21 is provided in the center of the dome-shaped portion 20 or in the center of the first end wall 16. That side of the first end wall 16 facing towards the second end wall 17 forms a support face supporting one end of the roll 40 in use. The support face may be formed by a planar face of the first end wall 16, but may as well be formed by a plurality of radially extending ribs provided on the side of the first end wall 16 facing the second end wall 17, wherein the end 41 of the roll 40 rests on the edge of the rib facing away from the first end wall 16, when the dispenser is oriented as shown in FIG. 1.

(10) As will be best visible from FIG. 2, the lower part 10 has a substantially cylindrical form with the sidewall 18 being slightly curved and tapering towards the second end wall 17. Thus, the lower part 10 is cup-shaped. This, however, is to be understood to be encompassed by the wording substantially cylindrical shape.

(11) The dispenser may be provided with a device for enabling to releasably hang the dispenser on a vertical or horizontal support surface. For this purpose, a schematically shown docking station 22 may be provided with one part being attached to the dispenser and the other part being configured for attachment to a mounting surface, e.g. a vertical wall.

(12) Further, a stabilizing device is provided at the side of the second end wall 17 facing the first end wall 16. The stabilizing device comprises a plurality of protrusions 23. In the particular example, eight such protrusions are provided.

(13) Each of the protrusions 23 is formed as a rib with a width W parallel to the center axis C and a thickness T perpendicular to the center axis C. The width W is larger than the thickness T so that the protrusions 23 are flat and extend in a circumferential direction. The width is measured in the circumferential direction, whereas the thickness is measured in the radial direction.

(14) The protrusions 23 are not bent along the circumferential direction, but extend linearly so that the width only substantially extends in the circumferential direction, i.e. tangential to a circle coinciding with the center axis C. Yet, the protrusions 23 may as well be bet in the circumferential direction.

(15) As is best visible from FIG. 2, the protrusions are in a view in the radial direction formed triangularly with a rounded tip. Thus, the width W decreases from the connection of the protrusions 23 to the second end wall 17 in a direction towards the first end wall 16.

(16) Referring to FIG. 3, the protrusions 23 may be formed integrally with the lower part 10 of the dispenser. Thus, the manufacturing costs of the dispenser are not increased and no assembly time is required. Furthermore, the protrusions 23 are supported by an integral rib 24 stiffening the protrusions 23. The rib is preferably provided at a radially outer side of the protrusions 23 and best visible from FIG. 3.

(17) In the particular embodiment, two groups of protrusions 23 are provided, a first group comprising four protrusions 25 and a second group comprising four protrusions 26. The protrusions 25 and 26 of the two groups are positioned diametrically opposite to each other. The distance D between the inner face 27 of the protrusions 25 to the center axis is larger than the distance D from the inner face 27 of the protrusions 26 to the center axis C. The distance is measured from the inner face 27 of the protrusions in a radial direction. Thus, the protrusions 25 are positioned on a first common circle, whereas the protrusions 26 are positioned on a second common circle. The first and second circle are positioned coaxial to each other and to the center axis C.

(18) The roll 40 is made of a web material, preferably non-woven or tissue paper and may consist of a plurality of interconnected sheets. The web material is rolled and ends 41 and 42 are formed by the edges of the web material. An opening 43 extends through the entire roll at the center of the roll 40. A plurality of adjacent layers 44 of web material are formed when forming the roll.

(19) The distance between the support face (not shown) of the first end wall 16 and the face of the second end wall 17 facing the support face is selected to be less than the height H.sub.R of the roll 40. Thus, even in use, the roll 40 is not compressed between the support face of the first end wall 16 and the second end wall 17.

(20) In addition, the height H.sub.p of the protrusions 23 is selected so that the protrusions 23 are insertable at an end face 42 of the roll 40 between the layers 44 of the web material. In other words, the distance between the support faces of the first and second end wall 16, 17 minus the height H.sub.p of the protrusions is less than the height H.sub.R of the roll 40.

(21) In the following, use of the dispenser described above will be explained.

(22) In order to insert a roll 40 into the dispenser, the lid 11 has to be detached. Subsequently, a roll 40 is inserted into the lower part 10 in the direction of the arrow 28 in FIG. 2. By pushing the roll 40 in this direction, the end face 42 engages with the tips of the protrusions 23, whereby the protrusions 23 enter inbetween adjacent layers 44 of web material as best visible from FIG. 3. Subsequently, the lid 11 is again attached to the lower part 10. While attaching the lid 11, the leading end of the web material of the roll 40 at the center, i.e. in the opening (void) 43, is to be gripped and to be threaded through the dispensing opening 21 so that the leading end protrudes from the dispensing opening 21 and may be gripped. Subsequently, a user may separate a portion of the web material either at a perforation or if no perforations are present by means of the teeth 29 of the dispensing opening 21.

(23) Once a considerable amount of web material has been dispensed, the opening 43 in the center of the roll 40 more or less coinciding with the center axis C of the body of the dispenser becomes larger in diameter. Nevertheless, the protrusions 23 maintain the layer 44 of web material disposed on the radially outer side of the protrusions in its position so as to prevent these layers from collapsing towards the center axis C. At the beginning, both, the protrusions 26 of the first group and the protrusions 25 of the second group are active in the supporting corresponding layers of web material 44. Once the diameter of the opening 43 however reaches the outer side 30 of the protrusions 26, the protrusions become less active. Yet, if the radially inner protrusions 26 become less effective, sufficient support is still provided by the radially outer protrusions 25.

(24) Thus, the protrusions effectively prevent collapsing of the roll 40 even if a large amount of web material is already dispensed.

(25) Further, the protrusions do not require any treatment or reconfiguration of the roll 40, but common rolls as presently on the market may be used in combination with the present dispenser. Thus, the dispenser does not only improve the stabilizing device for preventing collapsing of the roll once a considerable amount of web material has already been depleted but also provides a very cost-effective and simple solution.

(26) Nevertheless, as will be clear from the above, the present disclosure is not to be limited to the particular working example but several modifications and variations are conceivable within the scope of the following claims.