AU598478B2

AU598478B2 - Restricted feed locking roll dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU598478B2
Application number: AU63199/86A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert J. Campbell
Original assignee: LEISURECOAST VAN LINES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: LEISURECOAST VAN LINES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-26
Filing date: 1986-09-26
Publication date: 1990-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-09-26
Also published as: AU6319986A

Description

CO!R4NWEALTH OF AUJSTVPY-IA Form Reulation PATENTS ACT, 1952 COMiPLETE~ SPECIFICATION a M (ORIGINAL) 5 0 4 1 8 FOP, OFFICE USE Short Title: 1nt. Cl: Alpplication Number: Lodged: a .2 1 -3 C~ Complete Specifi Acceptoded:, -1Ifl th.I Lapsed- eti 0 n 49 cn sC uce Published: in alld e Priority: <Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICAT I-Name of Applicant: I I Vc~c~ ~es cAddress of Applicant: 14 PARK ROW, ORIENT POINT N.S.W. 2540 Actual Inventor: ROBERT J. CAMPBELL Ct Address for Services ARTHUR S. CAVP CO., Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 1 Al1fred Street, Sydney, New South PWales, Australia, 2000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled 1 "PESTRICTED.FEED LOCKING ROLL DISPENSER" The followinT statement is a full description cf this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me3- -1- ASC-4 9 3131T/AJG RESTRICTED FEED LOCKING ROLL DISPENSER The present invention relates to an improved toilet roll and hand towel dispenser, which has an inbuilt means for restricting the amount of paper or towelling to be dispensed along with a locking mechanism for security.

There is presently in use a great variety of roll dispensers, however, most suffer from the problem that they allow wastage of the dispensed materials.

There are known dispensers in use which have attempted to overcome the problem of wastage due to continuous feed of paper -rrr S by restricting the rotation of the roller shaft to approximately 3/4 of the circumferential rotation of the shaft. On these dispensers there is no built in security to prevent a user from manually unwindly the paper from the roll thereby avoiding the need for dispensation by rotation of the mechanism. In this situation large amounts of a-e ar)can be C, wasted.

Vrc, This is of particular concern where the dispensers are used in public places and are susceptible to vandalism and theft of the paper rolls therein.

A further problem is that when roll dispensers do have 1(C' security means, removal of half finished rolls is not possible, C t CC since the locking means is obstructed by the roll.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate the aforesaid problems by providing a restricted feed paper roll dispenser which can be locked to prevent theft and wastage of the paper rolls.

In its broadest form the present invention comprises an 2

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improved roll dispenser comprising: first and second support means; first and second support means; a longitudinal core having first and second ends rotatably supported about an axis of rotation by said first and second support means respectively, the core adapted to receive at least one roll of webbing; lock means for preventing release of said core from said first or second support means, said lock means engaging a Scircumferential recess on said core; t t the core including a restricting pin which limits t. rotation about said axis of rotation, t and (ii) a weight mounted eccentricly of the axis of rotation, wherein; the unlocking or locking of the lock means and disengagement or engagement of the core from one of said first, ,tt't or second support means is not impeded when a roll of webbing is on said core.

St" In the preferred embodiment the first and second supporting means are adapted for mounting on a planar surface such as a wall or door. Preferably the first and second supporting means are interconnected by a bridging bar which is designed to sit flush onto a wall surface.

The core is secured to the first and second supporting means with a lock located at one or other of the ends of the axis. The core is locked by interengagement between a plunger in the lock and a circumferential recess. At the opposite end to that which is locked the core is adapted with a flange or PL lit pin to prevent release from that end.

U The eccentric weight is preferably located between the 3- 1 ii 0' supporting means. The second support means is comprised of a housing in which the locking means is situated.

In the preferred embodiment the roll dispenser can be equipped with a cover which protects he roll. The cover may also have a serrated edge which enables the user to cut the paper as it is dispensed.

The cover has a back which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface.

Preferably the rotatable core is of circular cross section as its ends and is supported by mounting means comprising substantially cubic members with an orifice exte .ding through each mount.

The locking means is of a known key operated plunger type.

In an alternative embodiment the support means each comprise a housing. At one end of the core a first housing houses the locking means and the eccentric weight. A locking arm which engages the eccentric weight and also engages a cr plunger on the lock prevents release of the core when the lock is in the locked mode. At the opposite end of the core is a S second housing which receives a portion of the core which has a restricting pin attached to it. The restricting pin engages a ~stop also located within the housing.

The core is releasable when the locking arm is allowed to 0rotate away from the eccentric weight when the locking plunger is retracted into the unlocked mode.

The invention will now be described in detail by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein: 4 -I r -ilU$Z Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the roll dispenser according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows an internal side view of the mounting means incorporating the locking means according to one embodiment; Fig. 3 shows another internal side view of the opposite mounting means according to one embodiment; Fig. 4 shows an underside view of the dispenser according to the preferred embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a back view of the dispenser cover showing the mounting slots; Fig. 6 shows a top elevational view of the dispenser according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 shows a rear elevational view of the dispenser t tz S; according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 depicts an isometric view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 shows a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 to Fig. 10 shows an end elevation of the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 to Fig. 1 shows the dispenser 1 according to one embodiment of the invention housed wholly within a cover 2.

The rear of cover 2 is mounted on a surface such as a roll and thereby supports the complete dispenser mechanism.

Fig. 5 shows a rear view of the cover 2 showing the mounting slots 4.

In Fig. 1 a rotatable shaft or axle 5 is shown spanning :/AJG 5 27 a L C~LI_ I1 t I~l I~eT

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Il I t between mounting blocks 6 and 7 which are attached to inner surfaces 12 and 13 of cover 2.

Mounting block 6 is a hollow cube with an orifice 8 located in surface 9. Orifice 8 allows the passage of end of axle 5 into the hollow portion 11 of the mounting block 6.

Once the axle 5 penetrates the orifice 8 support is imparted to end 10 of the axis. The end 10 of the axle is releasably supported by block 6.

The opposite end 14 of the axis 5 has a restricting pin extending substantially normally relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable axle 5. The pin 15 has a role in restricting the rotation of the axis during the dispensing action. End 14 has a recess 16 extending around the full circumference of the axle the recess allows plunger 17 to lock the axle in position.

End 14 penetrates orifice 18 in surface 19 of block 7 thereby imparting support to the end 14 of the axle.

Orifice 18 is formed in a manner which allows exit of the end 14 of the axle despite the presence of the pin The locking plunger 17 is operated by means of the key lock 20 which advances and withdraws the plunger into and from the recess 16 thereby locking and unlocking 'Che axle respectively from axial release.

Preferably, the lock 20 is housed inside the mounting block 7.

Attached to axis 5 is an eccentric weight 21 which creates a restoring moment in the axle when the user has torn off the paper. The weight 21 can be regulated by the amount of )k/AJG 6 1 material attached to the axle. This also effects the restoring moment of the axle. To this extent the restoring moment can be predetermined.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of mounting block 7 as viewed from the inside of cover 2. Key lock 20 is shown partially extending downwardly from the mounting block.

Keyhole shaped orifice 18 is shown as it is adapted to allow the passage of the axle 5 with pin 15 attached into an out of the mounting block 7.

Fig. 3 shows the opposite mounting block 6 affixed to S cover 2 and adapted with orifice 8 located on surface 9 which also allows passage into and out of the block 6.

Fig. 4 shows an underside view of the dispenser according to the preferred embodiment showing mounting blocks 6 and 7 attached to the opposite walls of cover 2. The relative sizes of the mounting blocks are shown with block 7 being enlarged to accommodate the locking means In use the axle 5 can be removed from its mounts so a paper roll can be inserted onto it. In order to release the axle 5, key 22 which is inserted into the locking means 20 is turned to depress the plunger 17. Once plunger 17 is free of recess 16, the axle can be dislodged axially from the mounting block via the keyway 34. With the axle free of the supports, the paper roll can be inserted onto the axle.

The axle is then re-inserted first into block 7 then into block 6. In the unlocked position there is sufficient axial play, in the axle, to enable easy release for loading.

Once the axle is re-inserted the locking means is 7 rF

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activated so that plunger 17 engages recess 16 to lock the axle into position.

When the roll towel is pulled by the user, the axle rotates until the restricting pin 15 engages the surface 23 preventing the axle from rotating a full circle. On pulling, the paper will tear along the perforations, owing to the resistance against rotation created by the restricting pin.

The eccentric counter weight 21 is positioned at a precise angle to obtain the appropriate restoring moment required in the axle.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 6, the rotating axle is exposed to view and there is no cover over the whole mechanism.

Axle 25, which corresponds to axle 5 in Fig. 1, is held at end 26 by an alternative support means to the previous mounting block. The axle 25 penetrates a hole 27 in the first support leg 28 which interconnects with the second lock housing 32 by bridging member 29. The axle 25 is prevented from sliding out of the hole 27 by the flange Bridging member 29 is adapted to be affixed to a mounting surface.

To load, the axle 25 is released from the locking end as axle end 26 is pushed through hole 27 in the direction of arrow 34.

Once end 31 is clear of the lock housing 32, by removal via keyway 36, the axle 25 can be allowed to drop down so the rolls can be inserted thereon. When the end 31 is reinserted into the housing 32, via keyway 36, and the lock placed into

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8 the locked mode, the restricting pin 15 restricts the rotation of axle 25 in a like manner to that described in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows the alternative embodiment of the invention as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 8 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment there are two dispensers 37 and 38 shown in tandem. The following description will refer primarily to dispenser 37.

Dispenser 37 comprises a mounting bar 39, a first housing and a second housing 41, both of which are adapted to support an axle 42. A first end 43 of the axle 42 located in the second housing 41 is adapted with a restricting pin 44 which engages the stop 45 when the axle 42 is rotated. End 43 is anchored within the housing by means of a split pin 46 which penetrates the disc 47. At the opposite end 49 of the axle 42 is an eccentric weight 50 which is located within the first housing 40. Also located within this housing is a lock 52 having a plunger 53. When the lock 52 is in the locked mode the plunger 53 is fully extended and it engages the locking arm 54. This prevents the arm 54 rotating in a downward direction. The end of arm 54 engages a recess 56 in the eccentric weight 50 and prevents any lateral movement of the weight. The axle 42 is thereby restrained against axial movement also.

To load the axle 42 with rolls 57 of paper, or the like, the lock is unlocked, enabling the plunger 53 to retract. This enables the locking arm 54 to rotate away from the eccentric 9 weight, enabling the second end 49 of the axle 42 to be withdrawn from the housing 40. This can only be done by rotation of housing 41 which is hingedly fixed to the mounting bar 39. With the axle 42 free of the housing 40 it can be loaded with rolls 57 ready for use. The restricting pin 44 and the eccentric weight 50 behave in a similar manner to that described in the previous embodiments with the pin restricting rotation and the eccentric weight imparting a restoring force when the axle is rotated.

It will now be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modification may be made to the invention as described such as but no limited to varying the length of the axle to increase the number of rolls that can be held or varying the dimensions of the mechanisms without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention as broadly described.

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Claims

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the said first and second support means are each adapted for mounting on a planar surface.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the said first and second support means are interconnected by a bridging bar, 4 said bar enabling mounting of the dispenser on a planar surface.
4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein the said first support means comprises a plate having a hole adapted to receive said first end of the core, the first end having a flanged portion to prevent withdrawal of said axle from said hole. 11 r A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the said locking means is incorporated in a first housing with said second support means being integral with said first housing thereby allowing lockable engagement between said lock means and the core.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein when said lock ineans is in its locked mode a plunger on said lock means engages with said circumferential recess on said core.
7. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein release of the core from the first housing when said lock means is in the unlocked mode is enabled by a keyway in the first housing wall in axial alignment with the core. r¢
8. A dispenser according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the restricting pin is located at the second end of the core and engages a stop located in the said first housing. S 9. A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the weight is t located between the said first and second support means. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the first support means comprises a second housing adapted to receive the first end of said core, said second housing having a stop therein to engage said restricting pin located on said first end of the core, and the second support means comprises a first housing.
11. A dispenser according to claim 10 wherein the weight and lock means are located inside the said first housing, said weight being attached to said second end of the core.
12. A dispenser according to claim 11 wherein when the lock means is in the locked mode 1 a locking plunger engages one end 12 of a locked arm pivotally attached within said first housing, the other end of said arm engaging a circumferential recess in said eccentric weight thereby preventing release of said axis from said first or second housing.
13. A dispenser according to claim 12 wher appended to claim 3 wherein the said second housing is pivotally connected to said bridging bar.
14. A dispenser according to claim 13 wherein, when the lock means is in the unlocked mode, the said locking plunger retracts allowing rotation of said locking arm away from said recess in said weight thereby allowing release of said axis from the said first housing on rotation of said second housing. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 26th day of February, 1990. ROBERT J CAMPBELL By His Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. 13