Patent Application
20230122762
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to dispensing devices and more particularly pertains to a new dispensing device for on demand dispensing of sections of foil of a selectable length. The present invention discloses a dispensing device capable of selectively dispensing a section of foil having a prescribed length and having width that is determined by a width of a roll of foil that is loaded into the dispensing device. Actuation of the device is achieved by motion of a hand of a user proximate to a motion sensor.
The prior art relates to dispensing devices, which generally comprise devices capable of dispensing a sheet of material but do not allow control over a length or width of the sheet. What is lacking in the prior art is a dispensing device comprising a motion actuated motorized dispensing device for dispensing sections of foil wherein the length of the section to be dispensed can be selected and dispensing is activated when a hand is waved in front of a motion sensor.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing, which in turn comprises a lid that is hingedly engaged to a box so that the lid is positioned to selectively close an open top of the box to define an interior space. A motor is engaged to the box and is positioned in the interior space. A spindle is selectively positionable in the interior space so that the spindle is operationally engaged to the motor and is rotationally engaged to the housing. A slot is positioned in the housing and extends in parallel to the spindle. A roll of foil is positioned around and is engaged to the spindle so that a free end of the roll of extends into the slot. A motion sensor is engaged to the housing and is operationally engaged to the motor. The motion sensor is configured to be actuated by motion of a hand of a user to signal the motor to selectively rotate the spindle to dispense a section of the foil from the roll through the slot. A cutter is engaged to the housing proximate to the slot and is positioned to selectively engage the foil positioned in the slot to separate the section from the roll.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A motor 24 is engaged to the box 16 and is positioned in the interior space 20. A spindle 26 is selectively positionable in the interior space 20 so that the spindle 26 is operationally engaged to the motor 24 and is rotationally engaged to the housing 12. A slot 28 is positioned in the housing 12 and extends in parallel to the spindle 26.
A roll 30 of foil 32 is positioned around and is engaged to the spindle 26 so that a free end 34 of the roll 30 of extends into the slot 28. The roll 30 of foil 32 is one of a plurality of rolls 30 of foil 32. Each roll 30 of foil 32 is selectively engageable to the spindle 26. Each roll 30 of foil 32 has a respective width 36 so that the plurality of rolls 30 of foil 32 comprises rolls 30 of foil 32 having a variety of widths 36. The plurality of rolls 30 of foil 32 may comprise a first roll 38 and a second roll 40, which have widths 36 of approximately 11.4 cm and 14.0 cm, respectively. The present invention also anticipates rolls 30 having other widths 36.
A motion sensor 42 is engaged to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the motor 24. The motion sensor 42 is configured to be actuated by motion of a hand of a user to signal the motor 24 to selectively rotate the spindle 26 to dispense a section 44 of the foil 32 from the roll 30 through the slot 28.
A cutter 46 is engaged to the housing 12 proximate to the slot 28 and is positioned to selectively engage the foil 32 positioned in the slot 28 to separate the section 44 from the roll 30. The cutter 46 comprises a blade 48, which is engaged to a respective opposed edge 50 of the slot 28 and extends between opposing ends 52 of the slot 28. The blade 48 is serrated. The user is positioned to grasp the section 44 of foil 32 protruding from the slot 28 and to lift the section 44 so that it engages the cutter 46 and is separated from the roll 30. The present invention also anticipates the cutter 46 comprising automated cutting means, such as sliding blades, pinching blades, and the like.
The present invention is anticipated to be useful to hair stylists when performing hair coloring operations using sections 44 of foil 32 to wrap locks of hair. The foil dispensing device 10 provides for on-demand dispensing of sections 44 of foil 32 and requires use of only one hand of the user to separate the foil 32 from the roll 30 using the cutter 46.
A battery 54 and a microprocessor 56 are engaged to the housing 12 and are positioned in the interior space 20. The microprocessor 56 is operationally engaged to the battery 54, the motor 24, and the motion sensor 42, positioning the microprocessor 56 to actuate the motor 24 upon receipt of a motion signal from the motion sensor 42. The present invention also anticipates the foil dispensing device 10 being powered by means of a power cord (not shown) that is configured to operationally engage the microprocessor 56 to a source of electrical current.
A size selector 58 is engaged to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 56. The size selector 58 is configured to be manipulated to signal the microprocessor 56 to actuate the motor 24 to dispense a section 44 of the foil 32 having a respective length 60. The size selector 58 enables the hair stylist to select a section 44 having a length 60 appropriate for a particular coloring operation. As a roll 30 of foil 32 having a width 36 appropriate the coloring operation can be installed in the housing 12, the hair stylist has control over both the length 60 and width 36 of the section 44 of foil 32.
The size selector 58 may comprise a size slide switch 62, which is engaged to the lid 14 as shown in
A mode selector 64 is engaged to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 56. The mode selector 64 is configured to be selectively switched to signal the microprocessor 56 to actuate the motor 24 intermittently, to actuate the motor 24 upon receipt of a motion signal from the motion sensor 42, and to turn the motor 24 off. The mode selector 64 may comprise a mode slide switch 66, which is engaged to the lid 14, as shown in
In use, a roll 30 of foil 32 having a desired width 36 is engaged to the spindle 26 and inserted into the housing 12 to engage it to the motor 24. The free end 34 of the roll 30 is inserted into the slot 28 and the lid 14 is closed. The size slide switch 62 is used to select a length 60 of the sections 44 to be dispensed. The mode slide switch 66 then is positioned to signal the microprocessor 56 to actuate the motor 24 either to dispense the sections 44 at intervals or only upon detection of motion by the motion sensor 42.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
