Patent Application
20210300712
The disclosed technology relates to dispending devices. More specifically, the disclosed technology relates to a sandpaper dispensing device.
Conventional dispensing devices involve many working components for cutting an item dispensed by the device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,671 to Gershen discloses a tape dispenser including a hingedly connected tape severing arm having a cutting-edge that swings over a tape dispensing aperture to sever tape positioned through the aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,657 to Hopkins discloses a box system for supporting and dispensing sandpaper including a rectilinear box having a slot and a serrated cutting-edge positioned exterior to the box for cutting sandpaper pulled through the slot and positioned over the serrated cutting-edge.
While these references disclose dispensing devices for supporting and dispensing items, such as tape and sandpaper, as well as means for cutting said items, improvements are needed in dispensing and cutting means that simultaneously prevent the dispensed item from retracting into the box, provide a means for acquiring the items if retracted, and provide a means for cutting the dispensed item from within the box.
Disclosed herein is a sandpaper dispensing device including a body including an upper portion, a lower portion, an interior cavity, and a curvilinear wall. The interior cavity is configured to receive and sustain a roll of sandpaper therein. The curvilinear wall circumscribes the interior cavity and includes a first end and a second end that are disjointed to form a quasi-circular shaped body. The disjointed first and second ends define a slot in the curvilinear wall. The second end extends passed the first end into the interior cavity defining an interior portion of the curvilinear wall disposed within the interior cavity. The interior portion is spaced apart from the first end defining a channel within the body between the first end and the interior portion. The channel is in communication with the interior cavity and the slot of the curvilinear wall to guide sandpaper of the roll of sandpaper from the interior cavity out of the slot. Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Embodiments of the present disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the figures.
In embodiments, the interior portion defines a curve that is parallel with a curve of the curvilinear wall such that all points of the curve of the interior portion are at a fixed normal distance from the curve of the curvilinear wall.
In some embodiments, the curvilinear wall includes a middle region extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle region is circular in shape, the first end is circular in shape, and the second end is circular in shape.
In other embodiments, the first end of the curvilinear wall is flexible such that the first end is bendable radially inwardly toward the interior portion of the curvilinear wall and the interior portion of the curvilinear wall is rigid.
In certain embodiments, the first end of the curvilinear wall includes an edge adapted to cut the sandpaper when the first end is bent radially inwardly and pressed against the interior portion.
In embodiments, the curvilinear wall includes a first surface, a second surface, the first surface opposite the second surface, an upper edge, and a lower edge, the upper edge opposite the lower edge, wherein the first end includes an opening extending through the curvilinear wall from the first surface to the second surface, the opening circumscribed by the upper edge and the lower edge of the curvilinear wall and in communication with the channel. In one embodiment, the opening is sized to receive a finger therethrough to enable engagement of sandpaper disposed within the channel.
In some embodiments, the upper portion includes a first circular member including a first perimeter edge and the lower portion includes a second circular member including a second perimeter edge. In one embodiment, the first circular member and the second circular member are substantially the same diameter. In another embodiment, the first circular member is coaxial with the second circular member. In yet another embodiment, the first circular member is parallel to the second circular member.
In certain embodiments, the curvilinear wall is fixed to the second circular member and extends orthogonally upwardly between the second perimeter edge and the first perimeter edge.
In other embodiments, the sandpaper dispensing device includes a support column disposed in a center of the body, wherein the support column is adapted to removably receive a roll of sandpaper within the interior cavity of the body. In one embodiment, the support column is fixed to the lower portion and extends orthogonally outwardly relative to the lower portion.
In embodiments, the upper portion is hingedly connected to the curvilinear wall to pivot about the curvilinear wall in an open position to provide access to the interior cavity and a closed position to prevent egress of a roll of sandpaper positioned with the interior cavity.
In some embodiments, the body includes a latch including a flange on the upper portion and a catch on the curvilinear wall, wherein the latch is configured to detachably connect the upper portion to the curvilinear wall to secure the upper portion in the closed position.
In other embodiments, the upper portion includes a front end and a rear end, the front end including the flange, and the curvilinear wall includes a front end and a rear end, the front end including the catch, wherein the flange and the catch removably engage to secure the upper portion in the closed position.
In certain embodiments, the rear end of the upper portion and the curvilinear wall are hingedly connected via a hinge and the latch of the body is opposite the hinge.
In embodiments, the upper portion includes an upper surface, a lower surface, the upper surface opposite the lower surface, and an aperture extending through the upper portion from the upper surface to the lower surface, wherein the aperture provides visibility of the interior cavity from an exterior of the body when the upper portion is in the closed position.
For purposes of this disclosure, the following definitions are used. “Coaxial” is defined as “having a common axis.” “Radial” is defined as of or arranged like the radii of a circle or diverging from a common center.” “Cavity” is defined as “an unfilled space within a mass, such as a hollowed-out space.” “Coterminous” is defined as “having the same boundaries or extent in space as an object, area, region, or point.” “Unitary” is defined as “an undivided unit or whole unit.” “Rigid” is defined as “devoid of flexibility.” “Curvilinear” is defined as “consisting of a curved line or lines.” “Disjointed” is defined as “lacking a connection.” “Channel” is defined as “a tubular passage or groove.” “Slot” is defined as “a narrow aperture or slit in an item for something to be inserted or extracted.” “In communication” is defined as “coupled or connected to enable the passage of an item through and/or between the coupling/connection.” “Flexible” is defined as “capable of bending easily without breaking.” “Resilient” is defined as “able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.”
Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. “Substantially” is defined as at least 95% of the term being described and/or “within a tolerance level known in the art and/or within 5% thereof. Any device or aspect of a device or method described herein can be read as “comprising” or “consisting” thereof.
The present disclosed technology provides a sandpaper dispensing device comprising a body including an upper portion, a lower portion, an interior cavity, and a curvilinear wall. The interior cavity is configured to receive and sustain a roll of sandpaper therein. The curvilinear wall circumscribes the interior cavity and includes a first end and a second end that are disjointed. The disjointed first and second ends define a slot in the curvilinear wall. The second end extends passed the first end into the interior cavity defining an interior portion of the curvilinear wall disposed within the interior cavity. The interior portion is spaced apart from the first end defining a channel within the body between the first end and the interior portion. The channel is in communication with the interior cavity and the slot of the curvilinear wall to guide sandpaper of the roll of sandpaper from the interior cavity out of the slot. Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Embodiments of the present disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the figures.
Referring now to
The sandpaper dispensing device 10 comprises a body 12 including an upper portion 12, a lower portion 14, an interior cavity 16 configured to receive and retain a roll of sandpaper 17 (see
Referring now to
The upper portion 12 also comprises an upper surface 38 (see
The lower portion 14 comprises a support column 44 disposed in a center thereof. The support column 44 is adapted to removably receive the roll of sandpaper 17 within the interior cavity 16 of the body 11. The support column 44 extends orthogonally outwardly relative to the lower portion 14. In one embodiment, the support column 44 includes a height less than or equal to the height of the body 11. In another embodiment, the support column 44 includes a height greater than a height of the curvilinear wall 18. In embodiments, the support column 44 is fixed to and integral with the lower portion 14.
The curvilinear wall 18 includes a middle region 46 extending between the first end 20 and the second end 22. The middle region 46, the first end 20, and the second end 22 are circular in shape in that they are curvilinear in nature, although the curvilinear wall 18 does not form a complete circle. The first end 20 is flexible about the middle region 46 such that the first end 20 is bendable radially inwardly toward the interior cavity 16 and interior portion 26.
The interior portion 26 is rigid and defines a curve 48 that is parallel with a curve 50 of the curvilinear wall 18 such that all points of the curve 48 of the interior portion 26 are at a fixed normal distance from the curve 50 of the curvilinear wall 18. The first end 20 of the curvilinear wall 18 comprises an edge 48 adapted to cut sandpaper from the roll of sandpaper 17 when the first end 20 is bent radially inwardly and pressed against the interior portion 26.
The curvilinear wall 18 also includes a first surface 50, a second surface 52 opposite the first surface 50, an upper edge 54, and a lower edge 56 opposite the upper edge 54. The first end 20 comprises an opening 58 extending entirely through the curvilinear wall 18 from the first surface 50 to the second surface 52. The opening 58 is circumscribed by the upper edge 54 and the lower edge 56 of the curvilinear wall 18. The opening 58 is in communication with the channel 28. The opening 58 is sized to receive a finger therethrough to enable engagement of sandpaper of the roll of sandpaper 17 disposed within the channel 28, as shown in
The curvilinear wall 18 is fixed to the second perimeter edge 36 of second circular member 34. The curvilinear wall 18 extends orthogonally upwardly from the second perimeter edge 36. In embodiments, the curvilinear wall 18 is fixed to an integral with the second circular member 34.
The upper portion 12 is hingedly connected to the curvilinear wall 18 to pivot about the curvilinear wall 18 in an open position to provide access to the interior cavity 16 and a closed position to prevent egress of the roll of sandpaper 17 that is positioned with the interior cavity 16.
The body 11 comprises a latch 60 including a flange 62 on the upper portion 12 and a catch 64 on the lower portion 14. The latch 60 is configured to detachably connect the upper portion 12 to the curvilinear wall 18 to secure the upper portion 12 in the closed position. In embodiments, the upper portion 12 comprises a front end 66 and a rear end 68. The front end 66 of the upper portion 12 includes the flange 62. The curvilinear wall 18 includes a front end 70 and a rear end 72. The front end 70 of the curvilinear wall 18 includes the catch 64. The flange 62 and the catch 64 removably engage to secure the upper portion 12 in the closed position. In embodiments, the front end of 66 the upper portion 12 and the curvilinear wall 18 are hingedly connected via a hinge 74. The latch 60 is opposite the hinge 74.
Referring now to
In one operation of the sandpaper dispensing device 10, to severe sandpaper of the roll of sandpaper 17, an end 76 of the roll of sandpaper is guided from the interior cavity 16 through the channel 28 and out of the slot 24 to an exterior of the body 11, such that a desired length of sandpaper is extending out of the slot 24. Once out of the slot 24, a user engages the sandpaper 78 present in the channel 28 through the opening 58 of the first end 20 of the curvilinear wall 18 and bends the first end 20 toward and against the interior portion 26. When the first end 20 is pressed against the interior portion 26 the pressure of the edge 48 on the first end 20 engages the sandpaper 78 within the channel 28 and severs the sandpaper 78.
The present technology can be carried out with one or more of the embodiments described. The drawings show embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction. The arrangements of the components are set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.
