Abstract
A paper holding device includes a dispenser that dispenses attached paper sheets from a roll of dry paper product while being moistened by a liquid.
Claims
1. A paper holding device comprising: a dispenser that dispenses attached paper sheets from a roll of dry paper product while selectively being moistened by a liquid.
2. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser moistens the paper product synchronously when the paper product is being dispensed.
3. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser drives the paper product by an electrically powered mechanical drive device.
4. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser has driving rollers that drive the entire paper product and/or an edge of the paper product.
5. The paper holding device of claim 4, wherein the driving rollers and a spraying device are synchronous.
6. The paper holding device of claim 4, wherein the housing has an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein the driving rollers have driven rollers or non-driven rollers that are both in a fixed part of a housing and a cover allows, when in an open position, insertion of the paper product, and wherein the paper product is trapped between the upper housing and the lower housing and the driving rollers when the cover is then closed.
7. The paper holding device of claim 3, wherein the electrically powered mechanical drive device is one or more electrically driven motors that are engaged by a switch, sensor, or timing circuit.
8. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening source that is powered by an electric source.
9. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening source that has an amount of liquid spray that is able to be controlled by a consumer adjustable device to modify a level of moisture on the paper product.
10. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening source that has a moistening amount can be controlled by electrical change in a pump motor input.
11. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product can have a rate of movement of the paper product can be modified to change the level of moisture on the paper product.
12. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a piezo vibration device that creates a mist.
13. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening device that is located downstream of the paper towel drive means.
14. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening device that has a check valve to prevent dripping after liquid dispensing.
15. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is moistened by a moistening device that has liquid dispensing that does not spray left and right edges of the paper product being dispensed.
16. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the liquid is in a holding tank that is above a liquid dispensing device.
17. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser has multiple tanks for holding a first liquid and a second liquid, respectively, which can be selectively chosen by the user.
18. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product is commonly available bathroom tissues.
19. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser has a timed delay before spraying the liquid on the dispensed paper product so a leading edge of the paper product is dry.
20. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein dispenser has a timed end of liquid dispensing so that a distal end of the dispensed paper product remains dry.
21. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper product has a portion that is dispensed after spray of the liquid is stopped.
22. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser can have a device for selecting to dispense either a dry paper product or a moistened paper product.
23. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser has moistening dispensing that is powered by manually pulling or winding the paper product that then drives the dispensing of the liquid.
24. The paper holding device of claim 1, wherein the paper is a specially sized bathroom tissue by length, width, pitch, or cardboard core size.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present disclosure will be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a bathroom tissue moistening dispenser of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the bathroom tissue moistening dispenser of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the bathroom tissue moistening dispenser of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the bathroom tissue moistening dispenser of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bathroom tissue moistening dispenser of FIG. 1 modified to include a piezo mist generating assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a bathroom tissue moistening dispenser generally represented by reference numeral 100 (dispenser 100). Advantageously, dispenser 100 provides a device to add a moisture or water feature synchronously with the dispensing of dry rolled bathroom tissue to create a moist tissue from commonly used dry bathroom tissue.
[0017] Dispenser 100 has a housing 102. Housing 102 has a cover 104 and a base 106. Cover 104 is rotatably connected to base 106 by a hinge 108. Cover 104 has a window 105 so that a user can determine an amount of bathroom tissue 202 that remains on a roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202. Base 106 can be mounted to a wall W via mounting screws that pass through slots in housing 102 to attach to wall W. Housing 102 can cover left and right sides of roll 200 or can have open left and right sides. Housing 102 is sized to receive a paper product, for example, roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202 by a hub 203 of roll 200. The paper product can be commonly available bathroom tissues. Alternatively, the paper product can be a non-standard bathroom tissue. For example, a bathroom tissue manufacturer that desires use of dispenser 100 only with their bathroom tissue and/or liquid, then the bathroom tissue manufacturer can make a special sized tissue that is bespoke to a dispenser that is the same as dispenser 100 but modified to only be used with the special sized tissue made by the bathroom tissue manufacturer. Dispenser 100 has a dispensing device 109. Dispensing device 109 has a cover roller 110 and a base roller 112 in housing 102. Cover roller 110 is connected to cover 104 and base roller 112 is connected to base 106. Bathroom tissue 202 can be trapped between cover 104 and base 106 and the cover roller 110 and base roller 112 when cover 104 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 1. Cover roller 110 is an undriven roller and base roller 112 is a driven roller. Base roller 112 can be rotated by an electrically powered mechanical drive device, for example, one or more motors that receive electric current from a battery 114, as shown in FIG. 2, in battery holder 115a. The electrically driven motor(s) can be engaged by a switch, sensor, or timing circuit. Battery 114 can be 2 C. batteries, a rechargeable battery, or any other power source. Alternatively, both cover roller 110 and base roller 112 are undriven rollers and movement of bathroom tissue 200 between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 creates movement of both cover roller 110 and base roller 112. Another alternative is that dispenser 100 has a different dispensing device 109 that can move bathroom tissue 202.
[0018] Dispenser 100 has a moistening device 115. Moistening device 115 has reservoir and pump 116 in housing 102. Reservoir and pump 116 have a reservoir for holding liquid and a pump for moving the liquid from the reservoir. Reservoir and pump 116 are show in FIG. 1 having the reservoir and pump in one location, however, in another embodiment, the pump can be remote from the reservoir. Alternatively, the liquid is powered to move by an electric source other than a pump. Reservoir and pump 116 are connected to a check valve 118 for dispensing the liquid in the reservoir through a spray nozzle or spray manifold 120. Reservoir and pump 116 are connected to check valve 118 by tubing 122. Check valve 118 can prevent dripping after liquid dispensing. The liquid dispensing can be controlled by a consumer actionable control such as a pushbutton. The pump of reservoir and pump 116 receives electric current for operation from battery 114. Housing 102 can have a slot 119 to allow a user to view an amount of liquid left in the reservoir of reservoir and pump 116. Alternatively, dispenser 100 can have two tanks for holding a first liquid and a second liquid, respectively, so that either the first liquid or the second liquid can be selectively chosen by the user to be dispensed onto bathroom tissue 202. Still a further alternative is that moistening device 115 can be located downstream of dispensing device 109. Dispenser 100 has an on/off button 117 to activate and deactivate dispenser 100 to selectively provide electric current to the electrically powered mechanical drive device to rotate base roller 112 and the pump of reservoir and pump 116.
[0019] Another alternative is shown in FIG. 5 that modifies dispenser 100 to use reservoir and pump 116, tubing 122, and check valve 118, to provide water to piezo assembly or vibration device 520. Piezo vibration device 520 creates a mist to moisten bathroom tissue 202 as it is dispensed. Alternatively, in the use of piezo vibration device 520, liquid from a reservoir 516 that does not include a pump can feed piezo vibration device 520 by gravity to the lower placed vibrating piezo wafer. In addition, a check valve/one-way flap, e.g., check valve 118, can be used that can be located upstream of piezo vibration device 520. For example, piezo vibration device 520 can have a piezoelectric transducer that is used that applies high-frequency sound waves to a surface of the water to apply the surface of the water with mechanical energy that introduces standing waves breaking apart the water into a fine mist on a surface of a piezo disk. Piezo vibration device 520 is adjacent bathroom tissue 202 to spray bathroom tissue 202 with the mist when bathroom tissue 202 exits dispenser 100 to moisten bathroom tissue 202 as it is dispensed.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of dispenser 100 is shown and is referred to dispenser 300. Dispenser 300 includes the same features as dispenser 100 except housing 102 of dispenser 100 that includes cover 104 and base 106 are different shapes than cover 304 and base 306 of housing 302 of dispenser 300 and dispenser 300 also includes some additional features. Accordingly, the same reference numerals will be used for the same features of dispenser 300 as dispenser 100. Dispenser 300 additionally includes a battery access door 324 that is removeable to replace and/or maintain battery 114. Dispenser has an indicator 326 that indicates when battery 114 is low or has diminished power. Dispenser 300 has a window 305 that can be a different shape than window 105 so that a user can determine an amount of bathroom tissue 202 remains on roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202. Alternatively, dispenser 300 can have an inspection slot of smaller size than window 305 on the front or side of dispenser 300. Dispenser 300 also has a user engageable member 330 that can activate a power switch to dispense bathroom tissue 202. Dispenser 300 has a switch 332 that can switch between a first mode of operation for dispense of dry bathroom tissue 202 and a second mode of operation for dispense of moistened bathroom tissue 202. Dispenser 300 can have a controller 333, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a microcontroller unit and printed circuit board that receives input and/or controls operation of the pump of reservoir and pump 116, on/off button 117, electrically powered mechanical drive device to rotate base roller 112, consumer adjustable device that can be included in switch 332 to modify a level of moisture, a moistening amount that can be controlled by electrical change in a pump motor input, timed at beginning or end of liquid dispensing, speed of paper dispensing, indicator 326, user engageable member 330, and/or switch 332.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, dispenser 300 has mounting slots 334, 336. Mounting slots 334, 336 can instead be moved to a top portion of dispenser 300.
[0022] Operation of dispenser 300 is described herein, however dispenser 100 and dispenser 300 operate the same. In operation, a user opens housing 302 from a closed position as shown in FIGS. 1-4 by rotating cover 304 about hinge 108 away from base 306 to an opened position. In the opened position, a roll of bathroom tissue 200 can be inserted in housing 102 and/or a depleted roll of bathroom tissue can be removed. Once roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202 is inserted, a portion of bathroom tissue 202 can be unrolled from roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202 and cover 104 can be rotated about hinge 108 toward base 106 back to the closed position so that bathroom tissue 202 is between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 as shown in FIG. 1 and extends outside of housing 102. As shown in FIG. 5, when roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202 is full, then bathroom tissue 202 extends between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 as shown by bathroom tissue 204. When roll 200 of bathroom tissue 202 is almost depleted, then bathroom tissue 202 extends between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 as shown by bathroom tissue 206. Cover roller 110 and base roller 112 can drive the entire bathroom tissue 202 and/or an edge of bathroom tissue 202.
[0023] If a user wishes to dispense bathroom tissue 202 that is dry, then the user moves or maintains switch 332 in the first mode of operation. The user can then apply a force to move user engageable member 330 to the dispense position to activate the motor to rotate base roller 112 moving bathroom tissue 202 between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 to dispense bathroom tissue 202. When the user removes the force from user engageable member 330 of FIGS. 3 and 4, then the motor to rotate base roller 112 is deactivated and dispense of bathroom tissue 202 is stopped. The user can then tear a portion of bathroom tissue 202 outside of dispenser 300 for use aided by the typically provided perforations in the tissue. Alternatively, if a user wishes to dispense bathroom tissue 202 that is dry, then the user pulls on a portion of bathroom tissue 202 outside of dispenser 300 to unroll more bathroom tissue 202 from roll 200 and tears bathroom tissue 202 once a desired amount of bathroom tissue 202 is outside of dispenser 300 for use.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, if the user wishes to dispense bathroom tissue 202 that is moistened, then the user moves or maintains switch 332 in the second mode of operation. The user can then move user engageable member 330 to the dispense position to activate the motor to rotate base roller 112 moving bathroom tissue 202 between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 to dispense bathroom tissue 202. When the user moves user engageable member 330 to the dispense position, reservoir and pump 116 are also activated to move the liquid from the reservoir through check valve 118 to dispense the liquid through spray manifold 120 to spray the liquid onto bathroom tissue 202 as it is dispensed by cover roller 110 and base roller 112 to dispense bathroom tissue 202 that has a moist section 208 that is moistened by the liquid from the reservoir of reservoir and pump 116 and dry sections 210, 212 on opposite sides of section 204 as shown in FIG. 2, however, other spray patterns can be used. It is preferable that the entire tissue surface not be moistened as totally moistened tissue may be difficult to handle and be transported by the driving mechanism. When the user removes the force from user engageable member 330 to move user engageable member 330 from the dispense position to the non-dispense position, then the motor that rotates base roller 112 is deactivated stopping dispense of bathroom tissue 202 and the pump is deactivated so that the spray of liquid also stops. The user can then tear a portion of bathroom tissue 202 outside of dispenser 300 that is moistened for use. A rate of movement of bathroom tissue 202 between cover roller 110 and base roller 112 can be modified to change the level of moisture on the bathroom tissue 202. In addition, a timed delay can be included before spraying the liquid on the dispensed bathroom tissue 202 so that a portion 214 of bathroom tissue 202 is dispensed and then the liquid is sprayed so that a leading edge of bathroom tissue 202 is dry. Further, dispenser 300 can have a timed end of liquid dispensing so that a distal end, or end of bathroom tissue 202 that will be formed when it is separated from roll 200 for use, of bathroom tissue 202 product also remains dry. Dispenser 300 can also dispense another portion of bathroom tissue 202 after spray of the liquid is stopped. An alternative construction without batteries could also use a reservoir and pump 116 to be mechanically activated by the motion of bathroom tissue 202 when bathroom tissue 202 is pulled by the user out of dispenser 300.
[0025] The reservoir of reservoir and pump 116 can be refillable or replaceable. The liquid in reservoir of reservoir and pump 116 can be water. The user can also choose to use or add an antibacterial modifier or scent to the liquid in the reservoir of reservoir and pump 116 to further enhance the cleaning process.
[0026] In view of the above, dispenser 100, 300 adds a moisture or water feature synchronously with the dispensing of dry rolled bathroom tissue, bathroom tissue 202, to create a moist tissue from commonly used dry bathroom tissue, namely, bathroom tissue 202 that has moist section 208.
[0027] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that various changes can be made, and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure will not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that the disclosure will include all aspects falling within the scope of a fair reading of appended claims.
