VARIABLE TENSION FILM DISPENSER WITH LOCKING FEATURE

Abstract

A variable tension control film dispenser with a locking mechanism that is manually activated by squeezing pressure on the outside of the skin against a mandrel or extended core.

Claims

1. A device for stopping the release of a wrapping material film from a stretch wrap dispenser comprising: a flexible skin; a mandrel or extended core that is placed within said flexible skin; a locking mechanism that stops said release of said wrapping material film from said stretch wrap film dispenser.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein one side of said mandrel is configured to be wedged inside a core of said stretch wrap film; a second side of said mandrel comprising ridges on outside along length of said mandrel; said flexible skin comprising ridges on inside of said skin that is configured to lock behind said ridges on said mandrel when said skin is squeezed creating said locking mechanism.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein one side of said mandrel is configured to be wedged inside a core of a stretch wrap film; a second side of said mandrel comprising ridges on outside along length of said mandrel; said flexible skin comprising slots on inside of said skin that is configured to lock into said ridges on said mandrel when said skin is squeezed creating said locking mechanism

4. The device of claim 1 wherein one side of said mandrel is configured to be wedged inside a core of a stretch wrap film; a second side of said mandrel comprising slots on outside along length of said mandrel; said flexible skin comprising ridges on inside of said skin that is configured to lock into said slots on said mandrel when said skin is squeezed to create a locking mechanism.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said ridges are protrusions.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said ridges are protrusions.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said ridges are protrusions.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein said ridges cover only part of length of said mandrel and said skin.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein said slots and ridges cover only part of said mandrel and said skin.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said slots and ridges cover only part of said mandrel and said skin.

11. The device of claim 2 further comprising an idler placed on outside of mandrel not containing ridges.

12. The device of claim 3 further comprising an idler placed on outside of mandrel not containing ridges.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said idler is made of low friction plastic to facilitate unwinding when said skin is not being squeezed.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said idler is made of low friction plastic to facilitate unwinding when said skin is not being squeezed.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible skin, said mandrel and said extended core all are comprised of a plastic material.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible skin is textured.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said mandrel comprises a flange that extends radially from said mandrel.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said flange is locked into an undercut on inside of said flexible skin.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible skin comprises a flange that flares out radially, located on top side of said flexible skin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1a shows a large diameter stretch wrap film roll.

[0047] FIG. 1b shows a small diameter stretch wrap film roll.

[0048] FIG. 2a shows a stretch wrap film roll in an unlocked position

[0049] FIG. 2b shows a stretch wrap film roll in a locked position.

[0050] FIG. 3a shows a stretch wrap roll film in an unlocked position.

[0051] FIG. 3b shows a stretch wrap roll film in a locked position.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a mandrel design with an idler of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a flexible skin design of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a stretch wrap film roll with an extended core having slots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1a shows a large diameter stretch wrap film roll 5 having film layers 10, a film core 20 and a core extension 30.

[0056] FIG. 1b shows a small diameter stretch wrap film roll 6 having film layers 10, a film core 20 and a core extension 30.

[0057] FIG. 2a shows the device of the present invention in an unlocked position. The device has a mandrel 40 with ridges 41. The flexible outer skin 50 has ridges 51.

[0058] FIG. 2b shows the device of the present invention in a locked position caused by a user squeezing the flexible outer skin 50 against the mandrel 40. As shown in the figure, by squeezing the flexible outer skin 50, the ridges 51 on the flexible outer skin 50 make contact with the ridges 41 on the mandrel 40 causing the device to lock and prevent further movement.

[0059] FIG. 3a shows the device of the present invention in an unlocked position. The device has a mandrel 55 with slots 56. The flexible outer skin 57 has ridges 58.

[0060] FIG. 3b shows the device of the present invention in the locked position caused by squeezing the flexible outer skin 57 against the mandrel 55. As shown in the figure, by squeezing the flexible outer skin 57, the ridges 58 on the flexible outer skin 57 make contact with the slots 56 on the mandrel 55 causing the device to lock and prevent further movement.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows the mandrel 60 having ridges 61. The ridges 61 along the length on the outside of the mandrel 60 may be partial or can extend all the way to the end of the mandrel 60. The mandrel 60 has a mandrel extension 70 which when in use is wedged inside the core. A flange 80 extends radially from the mandrel 60 and is located between the mandrel 60 and the mandrel extension 70. The flange 80 locks into the undercut 120 on the inside of the skin 100 shown in FIG. 5, to lock the skin 100 in place on the mandrel 60. An idler 90, which can be cylindrically shaped, is placed over the mandrel extension 70, which is not covered in ridges. The idler 90 may be made of a low friction material to improve the ease of unwinding when the skin is not being squeezed.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows the flexible skin 100 having a textured surface 102 to improve the grip. The flexible skin 100 has ridges 101 located on the inside 105 of the flexible skin 100. The flexible skin 100 has a flange 110, flaring out radially to protect the hand, located on the top side of the flexible skin 100. There is an undercut 120 located on the inside of the flexible skin 100 below the flange 110. The undercut 120 receives the flange 80 of the mandrel 40.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows an film core having film layers 124 wrapped around it. An extended core 126 extends beyond the film layers 124. Slots 130 are formed longitudinally in the extended core 126. The slots 130 are placed in the ridges 101 located on the inside 105 of the flexible skin 100 shown in FIG. 5.

[0064] With regards to the operation of the device, normally the skin will rotate freely around the mandrel. However, when the skin is being squeezed, the shape will become oval, thus starting to engage the ridges on the inside of the skin behind the ridges on the outside of the mandrel, and ultimately locking the skin on the mandrel which stops the film from unwinding any further.

[0065] The present invention teaches further methods of operating the device where the skin is locked onto the mandrel that includes slots on the inside of the skin engaging with ridges on the outside of the mandrel, or ridges located on the inside of the skin engaging with slots located on the outside of the mandrel. The invention further teaches any other type of protrusion on the inside of the skin engaging with matching slots in the outside of the mandrel, or protrusions on the outside of the mandrel engaging with matching slots on the inside of the skin.