Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6758434
-
Patent Number
6,758,434
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, July 3, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 6, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Matecki; Kathy
- Langdon; Evan
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 242 5975
- 242 5978
- 242 594
- 242 5945
- 242 591
- 242 597
- D06 512
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing rolls of sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds one or more rolls of sheet material. The housing has an opening which is defined by a perimeter. A hub which is configured to hold a roll of sheet material is positioned to extend at least partially through the opening, and is moveably retained within the perimeter. An arm supports the hub for pivotable movement on a first end thereof. A portion of the arm is pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing. A second end of the arm is also pivotably movable and configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to dispensers, and more specifically, to dispensers for rolled sheet material. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispenser for multiple rolls of sheet material.
BACKGROUND
Dispensers for bath tissue used in institutional and public restrooms are often configured to provide a “jumbo” roll of sheet material or bath tissue therein. In addition, some of these dispensers are configured to accommodate a second much smaller roll, or stub roll, which is disposed alongside the jumbo roll. In other dispensers, two or more rolls of equal diameter are disposed therein. Either type of dispenser commonly includes one or more mandrels or hubs which hold the roll(s). Dispensers have therefore been required to be configured to utilize either the jumbo sized roll and the stub roll combination, or the combination of two rolls of equal diameter. Dispensers have not had the flexibility in configuration to permit a choice of diameters of rolls to be positioned therein.
Since various manufacturers offer rolls of sheet material having different diameters, and since prices for such rolls vary, it would be advantageous to have a dispenser that would accommodate several different diameters of rolls, and several different roll combinations. Such a dispenser provides movable mandrels or hubs which permit the use of various diameters of rolls of sheet material, such as bath or toilet tissue, in the dispenser.
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the term “exit port” or “dispensing opening” is the opening in a housing of a dispenser for the passage of sheet material out of the dispenser.
As used herein, the term “fasteners” means devices that fasten, join, connect, secure, hold, or clamp components together. Fasteners include, but are not limited to, screws, nuts and bolts, rivets, snap-fits, tacks, nails, loop fasteners, and interlocking male/female connectors, such as fishhook connectors, a fish hook connector includes a male portion with a protrusion on its circumference. Inserting the male portion into the female portion substantially permanently locks the two portions together.
As used herein, the term “hinge” refers to a jointed or flexible device that connects and permits pivoting or turning of a part to a stationary component. Hinges include, but are not limited to, metal pivotable connectors, such as those used to fasten a door to frame, spring-loaded hinges, living hinges, and so forth. Living hinges may be constructed from plastic and other materials and formed integrally between two members. A living hinge permits movement, such as, but not by way of limitation, pivotable movement, of one member in relation to another connected member.
As used herein, the term “sheet material” means a material that is thin in comparison to its length and breadth. Generally speaking, sheet materials should exhibit a relatively flat planar configuration and be flexible to permit folding, rolling, stacking, and the like. Exemplary sheet materials include, but are not limited to, paper tissue, bath/toilet tissue, paper towels, wipes, label rolls, or other fibrous, film, polymers, or filamentary products.
As used herein, the term “couple” includes, but is not limited to, joining, connecting, fastening, linking, or associating two things integrally or interstitially together.
As used herein, the term “arcuate” includes, but is not limited to, having the form generally of a curve or an arch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, a dispenser for dispensing rolls of sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds one or more rolls of sheet material. The housing has an opening formed therein, which is defined by a perimeter. A hub which is configured to hold a roll of sheet material is positioned to extend at least partially through the opening, and is moveably retained within the perimeter. An arm supports the hub for pivotable movement on a first end thereof. A portion of the arm is pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing. A second end of the arm is also pivotably movable and it is configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
In another aspect of the invention, a dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds at least two rolls of sheet material. The housing has a pair of spaced-apart openings, and each opening is defined by a perimeter. A pair of hubs, which are each configured to hold a roll of sheet material, are moveably retained within the perimeters of the openings. A pair of arms provide support to the hubs; a hub is positioned on a first end of each arm. The hubs are pivotably moved by the arms within the respective perimeters. A portion of each arm is pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing. A second end of each arm is pivotably movable and it is configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention, in a closed dispensing position;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present invention, in an opened, loading position, illustrating a back plate, a cover, two movable hubs, and two mid-sized rolls;
FIG. 3
is a front view of the back plate of the dispenser of
FIG. 2
, showing the position of the hubs for two rolls of equal diameter (the rolls illustrated in phantom lines);
FIG. 4
is a front view of the back plate of the dispenser of
FIG. 2
, but showing the position of the hubs for a jumbo roll and stub roll combination (the rolls illustrated in phantom lines);
FIG. 5
is a front view of the back plate of the dispenser of
FIG. 2
, but showing the position of the hubs for a stub roll and jumbo roll combination (the rolls illustrated in phantom lines);
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of one of the hubs illustrated in
FIGS. 2-5
; and
FIG. 7
is sectional view of
FIG. 3
taken along line
7
—
7
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated and described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the dispenser
10
includes a housing
12
, which has a back plate
14
and a cover
16
. The back plate
14
and the cover
16
cooperate when positioned together in a closed position to provide an internal compartment
18
configured to hold one or more rolls
20
of sheet material
22
. The back plate
14
and cover
16
also cooperate to form, in a closed position, a dispensing opening or exit port
24
which provides a user access to the sheet material
22
, as shown generally in
FIGS. 3-5
. In the present embodiment, but not by way of limitation, the exit port
24
is provided in a lower end
26
of the housing
12
.
The back plate
14
has a top wall
28
which is positioned generally perpendicularly about a portion of its perimeter, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. The top wall
28
is contiguous with a pair of spaced-apart opposing side walls
30
which also adjoin the back plate
14
. The back plate
14
is configured to be mounted on a surface or wall, such as, by way of non-limiting example, the wall of a toilet stall (not shown). The back plate
14
includes a plurality of openings
32
to permit such mounting via fasteners, brackets, hinges, adhesives, and so forth. Each side wall
30
and the top wall
28
at a common edge
33
thereof includes an inner lip portion
34
which is slightly recessed relative to an outer surface
36
of the back plate
14
.
The back plate
14
also includes a pair of spaced-apart and confronting flange and bar assemblies
38
(FIG.
2
). Each flange
40
is coupled to or integrally formed with an inner surface
42
near a lower end
44
of each of the side walls
30
of the back plate
14
, and has a bar
46
integrally formed therewith or coupled thereto, as shown in
FIGS. 2-5
. Each bar
46
of the flange and bar assemblies
38
includes a serrated portion
48
along a lower edge and front edge of the bar
46
, to permit sections of sheet material
22
to be removed from one or more rolls
20
of sheet material
22
disposed in the internal compartment
18
of the housing
12
.
The cover
16
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, is pivotably coupled to the housing
12
via a spaced-apart pair of cover bars
52
which, at a first end
54
, are fixedly coupled to or formed integrally with an inner surface
56
of the cover
16
. At a second end
58
, the cover bars
52
are pivotably coupled via a pivot pin
60
, and so forth, to each bar
46
of each of the bar and flange assemblies
38
. It will be understood that hinges, fasteners, and so forth may be used to releasably couple the cover
16
to the back plate
14
. A lower end
59
of the cover may include a serrated portion as well (not shown).
The cover
16
includes a front plate
62
having a window opening
64
provided therein. A window plate
66
(
FIG. 1
) is mounted on an inner surface
56
of the front plate
62
over the window opening
64
. The window plate
66
is usually, for example, but not by way of limitation, clear, transparent, tinted, and so forth, to provide a view of the size and amount of the remaining roll(s)
20
of sheet material
22
in the dispenser
10
to a user or a maintenance technician. It will be appreciated, however, that any portion(s) of the housing
12
may be clear, transparent, tinted, opaque, and so forth. The front plate
62
includes a contiguous top wall
68
and a pair of spaced-apart opposing side walls
70
which are each formed with and positioned generally perpendicularly to a portion of the perimeter of the front plate
62
. The side walls
70
and top wall
68
each include, near a common edge
71
, an outer lip portion
72
which is slightly recessed relative to an inner surface
56
of the cover
16
.
The top wall
28
of the back plate
14
also includes a convex portion
74
having a latch mechanism coupled thereto, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. The latch mechanism includes a latch
78
and a button
80
which are coupled to the inner surface
42
of the back plate
16
. The button
80
extends through an opening in the convex portion
74
. The top wall
68
of the cover
16
also includes a concave portion
82
configured to receive the convex portion
74
of the top wall
28
of the back plate
16
therein. In addition, the inner surface
56
of the cover
16
includes a reciprocal latch coupler (not shown), which permits the latch
78
to be releasably coupled to the cover
16
, thereby permitting the cover
16
to be positioned and maintained in a closed dispensing position relative to the back plate
14
. The button
80
may be positioned in a coplanar position relative to the outer surface
36
of the top wall
28
, and may include a key hole to permit the latch mechanism to be locked (not shown). Any latch and/or lock mechanism may be used to close/lock the housing
12
to prevent tampering and/or vandalism; many are known in the art.
When the cover
16
is closed against the back plate
14
in the closed dispensing position, the outer lip portion
72
of the cover
16
is cooperatively positioned adjacent the inner lip portion
34
of the back plate
14
. Neither the back plate
14
nor the cover
16
includes a bottom wall; therefore, when the housing
12
is in the closed dispensing position, the exit port
24
is provided by the lower end
26
of the housing
12
. It will be appreciated that in the present embodiment, the configuration of the housing
12
is not intended as a limitation; other configurations may be used to accommodate aesthetic and/or functional considerations.
As shown in
FIGS. 2-7
, mounted on the back plate
16
and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom are a pair of mandrels/hubs
85
,
86
. The hubs
85
,
86
each hold a roll
20
of sheet material
22
. Such sheet material is often flexible, such as toilet or bath tissue and so forth. Each roll
20
is wound throughout its diameter about a longitudinal open core
88
to form, generally, a cylinder having opposing flat ends
90
. The sheet material
22
forming the roll
20
is desirably perforated into sheet sections of predetermined length, although non-perforated sheet material may also be used.
The dispenser
10
and housing
12
are desirably configured to hold at least two rolls
20
of sheet material
22
. The rolls
20
are positioned on the hubs
85
,
86
such that the core
88
of each roll
20
is mounted on a hub
85
,
86
and each roll
20
is mounted with its outer perimeter
92
adjacent the other. One flat end
90
of each roll
20
is positioned adjacent the back plate
14
while the opposite flat end
90
of each roll
20
is positioned adjacent the front plate
62
of the cover
16
.
The dispenser
10
of the present embodiment is designed to hold a combination of large, medium, and small rolls, in non-limiting combinations. That is, in a non-limiting example, the dispenser desirably holds within its internal compartment
18
a combination of either: a) a jumbo roll
94
, generally, but not by way of limitation, having a diameter greater than about 9.5 inches, and a stub roll
96
, generally, but not by way of limitation, having a diameter of less than about 7 inches; or b) two medium-sized rolls
98
,
98
′ (hereinafter termed “mid-sized” roll(s)) generally, but not by way of limitation, having a diameter of greater than about 7 inches to about 9.5 inches. It will be appreciated that the dispenser
10
and the housing
12
may be sized to include additional hubs to hold additional rolls of one or more roll sizes in additional combinations.
Each hub
85
,
86
is supported on movement/locking means which includes an arm
100
,
101
, which is pivotally movable. In addition, the hubs
85
,
86
are supported for movement in separate tracks
104
,
105
, respectively. One of each of the tracks
104
,
105
is provided as a portion of a perimeter
106
of each of a pair of openings
107
,
108
formed in the back plate
14
, which are generally, but not by way of limitation, kidney-shaped. Each opening
107
,
108
and therefore each track
104
,
105
is positioned, generally, in a spaced-apart mirror image position relative to the other on the back plate
14
. In the present embodiment, each track
104
,
105
is generally, but not by way of limitation, of a non-linear shape, such as an arcuate shape. Each track
104
,
105
is positioned along an upper portion
109
of each perimeter
106
of each opening
107
,
108
. Each track
104
,
105
includes, on the outer surface
36
of the back plate
14
, a recessed edge portion
110
which extends across the upper portion
109
of each perimeter
106
, defining each track
104
,
105
. Each opening
107
,
108
is sized to receive one of each hub
85
,
86
, and to accommodate movement of one of each hub
85
,
86
within the perimeter
106
of each opening
107
,
108
. Such movement generally follows, in the present embodiment, but not by way of limitation, an arcuate path. It will be appreciated that other linear and/or non-linear paths are possible as well.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 2-7
, each hub
85
,
86
includes a generally cylindrically-shaped base
111
having a closed end
112
, and an opposite open end
114
. Each closed end
112
includes a circular flange
116
which is positioned on a portion
118
of the closed end
112
, and it extends radially outward a distance from the closed end
112
. The circular flange
116
is positioned in a portion of each core
88
of each roll
20
and assists in positioning each roll
20
in alignment within the internal compartment
18
, to prevent “dragging” of any portion of the roll
20
against the housing, thereby assisting each hub
85
,
86
in holding its respective roll
20
in a dispensing position thereon. Hubs
85
,
86
are each mounted on arms
100
,
101
, respectively, near each open end
114
of each hub
85
,
86
.
As shown best in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, each arm
100
,
101
supports a hub
85
,
86
at a first end
119
thereof, and provides a flange or rail
120
which extends radially about a substantial portion of the base
111
of each hub
85
,
86
, near the open end
114
thereof. A gap
122
exists in the rail
120
, and a small rib rail
123
is positioned on the base
111
of each hub
85
,
86
a distance above the gap
122
and the rail
120
, to support and stabilize for movement each hub
85
,
86
on each track
104
,
105
, respectively. That is, a groove
124
is formed between the rail
120
and the rib rail
123
which is configured to receive one of each track
104
,
105
therein. The rib rail
123
is also configured to be positioned above and against the recessed edge portion
110
of each track
104
,
105
. The rib rail
123
is configured to slide along the limits of the recessed edge portion
110
, while one of the tracks
104
,
105
, is slidably positioned in the groove
124
between the rail
120
and the rib rail
123
.
Each arm
100
,
101
is pivotably coupled to the back plate
14
, and each arm
100
,
101
pivotably moves about an axis
125
,
126
, respectively (FIG.
2
). Each arm
100
,
101
includes an aperture
127
therein, and each arm
100
,
101
is positioned against a back side
128
of the back plate
14
and is pivotably coupled to the back plate
14
via a pivot pin or tab
129
which is positioned in the aperture
127
(FIGS.
6
and
7
). At a second end
130
of each arm
100
,
101
, a tab
131
is provided on an upper surface
132
thereof, which permits each arm
100
,
101
to be releasably interlocked to a selected aperture in the back plate
14
, thereby securing each arm
100
,
101
and therefore each hub
85
,
86
, respectively, in one of, but not by way of limitation, three positions selected by a maintenance technician. Each arm
100
,
101
and the tab
131
thereon are formed from a flexible, resilient material, and cooperate to act as a living hinge, to permit each hub
85
,
86
to be positioned in a selected position in each track
104
,
105
, respectvely.
The pivotal movement of arms
100
,
101
moves the hubs
85
,
86
within the confines of the openings
106
,
107
and the tracks
104
,
105
, respectively. In the present embodiment, each non-linear, arcuate track
104
,
105
provides a minor arc, and each hub
85
,
86
is movable along the minor arc of each track
104
,
105
desirably within a range of 0 to less than about 175 degrees, and more desirably in a range of 0 to less than about 160 degrees, and yet more desirably in a range of 0 to less than about 150 degrees.
Each arm
100
,
101
may be locked into a selected one of the three selectable positions via positioning the tab
131
of each arm
100
,
101
in one of three apertures
138
,
140
,
142
which are positioned adjacent each opening
107
,
108
. Each of the three apertures
138
,
140
,
142
are positioned and labeled so that a maintenance technician may easily select a position for a roll, based on the size of the roll, and the size of any adjacent roll. Aperture
138
is desirably marked “
9
” to indicate the position for the mid-sized roll
98
, aperture
140
is desirably marked either “
12
L” or “
12
R” to indicate the position for the jumbo roll
94
, and aperture
142
is desirably marked “Stub L” or Stub R” to indicate the position for the stub roll
96
. The number and location of selectable positions may vary as desired.
For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 3
, the tab
131
of each arm
100
,
101
is positioned in aperture
138
, which positions the hubs
85
,
86
within the perimeter
106
of the openings
107
,
108
, respectively, in an intermediate position with respect to the tracks
104
,
105
. Each hub
85
,
86
is manually moveable when unlocked, and is easily re-positioned and locked into the newly selected position receive and dispense a mid-sized roll
98
,
98
′, respectively.
In another example, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
, the tab
131
of arm
100
is unlocked and hub
85
is manually re-positioned to one end
144
of the perimeter
106
of the opening
107
so that the tab
131
is moved over and positioned in aperture
140
(“
12
L”), which positions and locks hub
85
into a position to receive and dispense a jumbo roll
94
. Adjacent hub
86
is similarly unlocked and the hub
85
is manually re-positioned to an end
146
of the perimeter
106
of the opening
108
, so that the tab
131
of arm
101
is moved over and positioned in aperture
142
(“Stub R”), which positions and locks hub
86
into a position to receive and dispense a stub roll
96
, thereby cooperating with the hub
85
to permit both the jumbo roll
94
and the stub roll
96
to be positioned in the housing
12
for dispensing to a user.
In yet another example, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the tab
131
of arm
100
is unlocked and hub
85
is manually re-positioned to an end
148
of the perimeter
106
of the oening
107
so that the tab
131
is moved over and positioned in aperture
142
(“Stub L”), which positions and locks hub
85
into a position to receive and dispense a stub roll
96
. Adjacent hub
86
is likewise unlocked and the hub
85
is manually re-positioned to an end
150
of the perimeter
106
of the opening
108
, so that the tab
131
of arm
101
is moved over and positioned in aperture
140
(“
12
R”), which positions and locks hub
86
into a position to receive and dispense a jumbo roll
94
, thereby cooperating with hub
85
to permit both the stub roll
96
and the jumbo roll
94
to be positioned in the housing
12
of the dispenser for dispensing. Other roll size combinations may be used, the foregoing examples are meant to be illustrative of three combinations which are desirable.
In a method of use, generally shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, the cover
16
is moved away from the back plate
14
, as illustrated in
FIGS. 2
, thereby positioning the housing
12
in an opened loading position. Each hub
85
,
86
may be released from its locked position relative to the back plate
14
by a maintenance technician, who manually pushes the tab
131
of each hub
85
,
86
, out of the aperture, namely,
138
,
140
, or
142
in which it was previously inserted by using, for example, the pointed end of a small screw driver, or other device (not shown). By unlocking each tab
131
on each arm
100
,
101
, each hub
85
,
86
, respectively, is unlocked from its previously-selected position and is movably along the length of the track
104
,
105
, respectively. This allows each hub
85
,
86
, to be pivotably moved by the maintenance technician to a newly selected position, and locked via the tab
131
as described previously into another selected position. Each hub
85
,
86
, may be moved to a preselected position as described above, to desirably, but not by way of limitation, hold a combination of either a jumbo roll
94
and a stub roll
96
, or two mid-sized rolls
98
,
98
′.
The selected rolls are mounted on the hubs
85
,
86
, and the housing
12
is closed as described previously herein. The sheet material
22
from each roll
20
is ready to be dispensed to a user through the exit port
24
.
It will be appreciated that the present movable hubs
85
,
86
are moved within the confines of the internal compartment
18
of the housing
12
to allow different sizes of rolls to be contained therein, in various combinations. The hubs
85
,
86
do not move to position a roll closer to the exit port
24
; rolls of all sizes shown and described herein are already positioned adjacent the exit port
24
for a user to access one or both rolls, as desired. Further, it will be understood that each hub
85
,
86
is configured to be positioned within the internal compartment
18
of the housing
12
to rotatably support one of a jumbo roll
94
, a mid-sized roll
96
, and a stub roll
98
without an outer perimeter
92
of the roll
20
substantially contacting an inner surface
152
(
FIGS. 2-5
) of the housing
12
or another, adjacent roll
20
.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, comprising:a housing configured to hold at least one roll of sheet material therein and formed to include an exit port, the housing having a backside and an opening in the backside defined by a perimeter; a hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon, the hub positioned to extend at least partially through the opening in the housing and being moveably retained within the perimeter; and an arm supporting the hub on a first end thereof for movement of the hub within the perimeter, the arm positioned against the backside of the housing, a portion of the arm pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing and a second end of the arm pivotably movable against the backside of the housing and configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
- 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate, and the back plate includes the backside.
- 3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the opening is formed in the backplate, and the perimeter includes a track formed on a portion thereof.
- 4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the track is further defined as having a substantially arcuate configuration.
- 5. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the hub is movably positioned against the track and the hub is moveable only within the confines of the track.
- 6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the hub has a pair of spaced-apart rails, and each track is positioned between the rails.
- 7. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the arm is positioned against the backside of the back plate and coupled to the backside of the back plate via a pivot pin.
- 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the second end of the arm includes a hinge having a tab thereon which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures provided in the backplate to releaseably lock the arm to the back plate.
- 9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the second end of the arm is unlocked from the back plate when the tab is moved out of the one aperture.
- 10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to be positioned relative to an inner surface of the housing to rotatably support one of a jumbo roll, a mid-sized roll, and a stub roll without an outer perimeter of the roll substantially contacting the inner surface of the housing.
- 11. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, the dispenser comprising:a housing configured to hold at least two rolls of sheet material therein and formed to include an exit port, the housing having a pair of spaced-apart openings, each opening defining by a perimeter, the housing having a backside; a pair of hubs, each hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon and one of each of the hubs being moveably retained within the perimeter of one of the openings; and a pair of arms, each arm configured to support on a first end thereof one hub for movement of the hub within the perimeter, each arm positioned against the backside of the housing, a portion of each arm being pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing and a second end of each arm pivotably movable against the backside of the housing and configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
- 12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate, and the back plate includes the backside.
- 13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein each opening is formed in the back plate, and the perimeter of each opening includes a track formed on a portion thereof.
- 14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein each track is further defined as having a substantially arcuate configuration.
- 15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein each track is positioned on the back plate in a mirror image position relative to the other.
- 16. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein each hub has a pair of spaced-apart rails, and each track is positioned between the rails.
- 17. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein each arm is positioned against the backside of the back plate and coupled to the backside of the back plate via a pivot pin.
- 18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the second end of each arm includes a hinge having a tab thereon which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures provided in the back plate to releasably lock each arm to the back plate.
- 19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the second end of each arm is unlocked from the back plate when the tab is moved out of the one aperture.
- 20. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein each hub is movable to hold one of a jumbo roll, a stub roll, and a mid-sized roll.
- 21. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the hubs together are selectively positioned to cooperate to hold one of rolls of substantially different diameters and rolls of substantially similar diameters.
- 22. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the hubs together cooperate to hold a combination of one of a jumbo roll and a stub roll, and two mid-sized rolls.
- 23. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, comprising:a housing configured to hold at least one roll of sheet material therein and formed to include an exit port, the housing having a backside and an opening defined by a perimeter; at least one hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon, the hub positioned to extend at least partially through the opening in the housing and being moveably retained within the perimeter; and movement/locking means supporting the hub on one end for pivotable movement while simultaneously on an opposite end releasably locking the hub into one of a plurality of selected positions, the movement/locking means is positioned against the backside of the housing.
- 24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate, and the back plate includes a backside.
- 25. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the movement/locking means includes an arm supporting a hub at a first end thereof which is pivotably coupled to the backside of the back plate.
- 26. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein the arm includes a second end configured to be releaseably locked to the back plate.
- 27. The dispenser of claim 26, wherein the second end includes a hinge having a tab thereon which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures provided in the back plate to releasabley lock the arm to the back plate.
- 28. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the second end of the arm is unlocked from the back plate when the tab is moved out of the one aperture.
- 29. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the hub is configured to hold one of a jumbo roll, a stub roll, and a mid-sized roll.
- 30. A method of positioning hubs in a dispenser adapted to hold at least two rolls of sheet material, the method comprising:providing the dispenser of claim 2; selecting a position for each hub such that the hubs are positioned to cooperate to hold one of rolls of substantially different diameters and rolls of substantially identical diameters without a substantial portion of an outer perimeter of a roll contacting an inner surface of the housing; unlocking each arm and moving the hub thereon to the selected position; locking each arm into the selected position thereby retaining each hub in the selected position; and disposing a roll of sheet material of a selected diameter on the hub.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein in the step of selecting a position for each hub, the step further includes selecting a position for a combination of one of a jumbo roll and a stub roll, and two mid-sized rolls.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein in the step of unlocking each arm and moving the hub thereon to the selected position, the step further includes moving a tab provided on the arm out of one aperture and pivotably moving the arm such that the tab is in alignment with and positioned in another aperture.
- 33. A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material, comprising:a housing configured to hold at least one roll of sheet material therein and formed to include an exit port, the housing having a backside and an opening in the backside defined by a perimeter; a hub configured to hold a roll of sheet material thereon, the hub positioned to extend at least partially through the opening in the backside and being moveably retained within the perimeter; and an arm supporting the hub on a first end thereof for movement of the hub within the perimeter, a portion of the arm pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing and a second end of the arm pivotably movable and configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.
- 34. The dispenser of claim 33, wherein the housing includes a cover and a back plate, and the back plate includes the backside.
- 35. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein the opening is formed in the backplate, and the perimeter includes a track formed on a portion thereof.
- 36. The dispenser of claim 35, wherein the track is further defined as having a substantially arcuate configuration.
- 37. The dispenser of claim 35, wherein the hub is movably positioned against the track and the hub is moveable only within the confines of the track.
- 38. The dispenser of claim 37, wherein the hub has a pair of spaced-apart rails, and each track is positioned between the rails.
- 39. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein the arm is positioned against the backside of the back plate and coupled to the backside of the back plate via a pivot pin.
- 40. The dispenser of claim 39, wherein the second end of the arm includes a hinge having a tab thereon which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures provided in the backplate to releaseably lock the arm to the back plate.
- 41. The dispenser of claim 40, wherein the second end of the arm is unlocked from the back plate when the tab is moved out of the one aperture.
- 42. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein the hub is configured to be positioned relative to an inner surface of the housing to rotatably support one of a jumbo roll, a mid-sized roll, and a stub roll without an outer perimeter of the roll substantially contacting the inner surface of the housing.
- 43. The dispenser of claim 33, wherein the second end of the arm is configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions outside the perimeter.
US Referenced Citations (31)