Patent Application
20180110380
The field of the invention is roll paper product dispensers, more specifically, adapters for recessed paper product dispensers.
Recessed paper product dispensers are well known and generally comprise a cavity within a wall and two opposing recesses within the cavity walls for holding a spindle. A roll of paper product (e.g., toilet paper) is loaded into the cavity by placing the spindle through the center aperture of the roll and allowing the spindle ends to expand into the recesses in the cavity, thus holding the spindle in place for dispensing. Unfortunately, recessed dispensers can only be used with rolls that have an outer diameter that is smaller than the size of the cavity. This is very problematic for existing recessed dispensers since commercial manufactures of roll paper products have moved towards providing larger roll diameters and reduced-core center apertures. It would be advantageous to adapt existing recessed dispensers to allow larger diameter rolls having reduced cores to be loaded therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,369 to Phelps describes an adapter that allows recessed dispensers originally designed for cored rolls of paper product having a small outer diameter to be used with solid-core rolls having a much larger outer diameter. Due to the configuration of the adapter's spindle holders, the adapter is not compatible with cored rolls and reduced core rolls. As used herein, “solid-core” means a roll of product that has substantially no center aperture. As used herein, “cored” means a roll that has a center member around which the paper product has been wound (e.g., the cardboard cylindrical core in household toilet paper rolls) whereas “coreless” means a roll of product having no separate core member. “Coreless” also generally implies that the center aperture of the roll of product is less than that of a similar size roll having a core, although this may not always be the case. As used herein, “reduced-core” means a roll of product that has a core with a diameter that is substantially smaller than a standard or common core diameter (e.g., 1½ inches is currently the standard size diameter for cardboard cores in household toilet paper rolls).
This and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Of particular interest in this application are adapters for recessed dispensers that allow use with reduced-core rolls of paper product. Reduced-core rolls reduce the amount of waste compared to larger cored rolls, while increasing the amount of usable paper product per roll. Reduced-core rolls also provide smoother winding than coreless rolls and solid-core rolls.
Phelps and all other known prior art fail to provide an adapter for recessed dispensers that allows the dispenser to be used with reduced-core rolls of paper product having a larger outer diameter than the dispenser's cavity. It has yet to be appreciated that an adapter for a recessed dispenser can allow the dispenser to be used with larger rolls that have reduced-cores.
Thus, there is still a need for improved adapters for recessed paper product dispensers.
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods in which an adapter assembly for recessed dispensers includes a frame, a fastener, two arms extending from the frame, and a reduced-core spindle. The recessed dispenser has a cavity for accommodating a standard-sized spindle and a standard-size roll of paper product. The adapter's frame is configured to be at least partially disposed in the cavity. The fastener is for fastening the frame to a surface of the recessed dispenser, such as the cavity sidewalls or outer walls of the dispenser. The two arms are coupled to the frame and extend outward from the cavity. The arms are configured to securely retain a reduced-core spindle there between. For example, the arms could include two opposing recesses axially aligned and configured to receive the ends of the reduced-core spindles. In this manner, the adapter assembly disclosed herein allows dispensers originally designed for smaller rolls having standard-size cores to be used with larger rolls having reduced-core sizes.
In one aspect of some preferred embodiments, the adapter assembly includes at least one stop configured to contact the dispenser's outer surface. The stop provides a means for properly aligning and installing the adapter assembly in a cavity of a recessed dispenser.
In another aspect of some preferred embodiments, the recessed dispenser's cavity has two opposing sidewalls with opposing recesses in each wall. The wall recesses are configured to receive a standard-sized spindle. The adapter assembly's frame includes two opposing tabs configured to contact the cavity's two opposing sidewalls. The fastener could comprise a double-sided tape between the tabs and the sidewalls or screws and screw-holes.
In yet other aspects, the frame also includes a traverse cross-member extending from the first tab to the second tab. Preferably, the frame, arms, tabs, and traverse cross-member are integrally formed and comprise a single part.
In one aspect of some preferred embodiments, each of the two arms has a recess that is smaller than recesses in the cavity sidewalls. The two arms are configured to hold a reduced-size spindle whereas the cavity wall is configured to hold a standard-size spindle, which is generally larger than the reduced-size spindle. In addition, the two arms could be removeably coupled to the frame, thus allowing interchangeability of different size arms for different sizes of rolls and role cores.
In another aspect of some preferred embodiments, the adapter assembly includes a dust cover attached to the frame and extending outwardly from the cavity. The dust cover preferably attaches to the frame by a hinge. In addition, the dust cover preferably has a curved surface having a curvature concurrent with a roll of paper product, thus protecting the roll of paper product from dust and debris.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
For illustrative purposes, the present invention will be described and illustrated as it relates to rolls of toilet paper. However, this should not be interpreted as a limitation of the invention. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the present inventive subject matter has uses in any application involving rolls of a wound product, regardless of whether the product is a paper absorbent. Examples of other materials may include, but are not limited to; non-woven fabrics, films, textiles, screens, meshes, and composite or laminates containing one or more of the above. Examples of products include rolls of stamps, rolls of plastic wrap, rolls of aluminum foil, and rolls of tickets. Products of particular interest to the present application include paper towels, wet wipes, dry wipes, sheets, coverings, and the like.
Spindle 2 is preferably a reduced-core spindle, meaning the maximum outer diameter of the spindle is smaller than the spindle originally intended for the recessed dispenser. In this manner, adapter assembly 1 and spindle 2 provide a means for retrofitting recessed dispensers to allow for use with larger rolls of toilet paper that have reduced cores.
Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/288,868, filed on Nov. 3, 2011, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/409,668, filed on Nov. 3, 2010.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61409668 | Nov 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13288868 | Nov 2011 | US |
| Child | 15851057 | US |
