NZ229319A - Toilet roller holder: engageable stops restrict rotation - Google Patents

Description

22 9 3 1 9 Patents Form # 5 Priority Data<s>: Complete Specification Filed: —. I Class: (5).^.\.Vu..l^l ) ^ubtlcaHon Oilt: . lf.MS.JlU P.O. JOUffcyrf Mr I ^ \S ^ v, J<... • - NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TITLE : TOILET ROLL HOLDER I, : MARK JAMES BRUNTON, a New Zealand citizen of Monument Road, R.D.3, Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention, for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PF05.JWP FEE CODE - 1050 229319 This invention relates to the general field of holders for rolls of sheet material such as paper, with particular application to holders for rolls of toilet paper or paper towels.

It is an object of the present invention to go at least partway towards providing a novel and improved holder for rolls of sheet material, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

In one aspect the invention provides a holder for rolls of sheet material having an axle mounted non-rotatably on a support structure, and a spindle mounted rotatably on said axle, said spindle being shaped and arranged to hold a roll of said sheet material in use, with said roll being retained on said spindle so as to rotate therewith, wherein a return spring is provided, connecting said spindle to said axle, such that said spindle is biased towards a first orientation relative to said axle, and a pair of engagable stops, one attached to said spindle and the other attached to said axle, which engage when said spindle is rotated to a second orientation relative to said axle, and thereby prevent continued rotation.

Preferably said sheet material has a breaking strain, and said spring provides progressively increasing resistance to rotation of the spindle as said spindle is rotated, and wherein the minimum force required to overcome said resistance increases to a level greater than said breaking strain, before the spindle reaches said second orientation when rotated from said first orientation.

Preferably the spring is housed within said spindle.

Preferably the spindle, axle and spring are demoutable as a unit from the support structure.

These and other aspects of the present invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will be made apparent in the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of example only.

In its preferred form the invention comprises a holder for toilet rolls, or rolls of paper towels, having a spindle mounted on an axle and including a spring mecliaittsmjjetween 3609CS.589/iv 4* 22 93 1 the spindle and the axle, which puts increasing tension on the paper as it is drawn off the roll, causing it to tear after a particular amount of paper has been drawn off.

The following descriptions of preferred forms of the invention are given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 - shows apparatus of the present invention in front view and in section.

Figure 2 - shows a second embodiment of the present invention in plan view and in partial section.

The preferred apparatus of the present invention is intended primarily for use in dispensing toilet paper from a roll, in such a way as to avoid excessive waste.

A hollow cylindrical spindle 10 is rotatably mounted on an axle 11, and is preferably held in place by a pair of stops 12. The axle 11 is connected to a support arm 13, which in turn is connected to a bracket 14 by which the apparatus may be fixed to a wall or the like.

The spindle 10 has an outer circumference substantially equal to the inside circumference of a standard toilet roll 15. It is preferable that the toilet roll 15 does not move or slip on the spindle 10 in use, and the spindle 10 may be provided with a roughened surface and/or other means, such as clamping apparatus, by which the roll is substantially fixed in place on the spindle in normal use.

A spring 16 is provided inside the spindle 10, fixed to the spindle and also to the axle 11. This is represented in Figure 1 as a helical spring, but it will be appreciated that a variety of other springs, such as coil or leaf springs or an elastomeric element, could be used.

Rotation of the spindle 10 on the axle 11 stretches or compresses the spring, thereby creating increasing resistance to rotation as the spindle is turned.

Preferably the spring is arranged in such a way that rotation in either direction (clockwise or anticlockwise) from a resting position increases this resistance. Stops 17 and 18 may be provided to prevent excessive rotation of the spindle 10 and overwinding of the spring as a consequence. 22 9 3 1 9 In normal use, as paper is drawn off the roll 15, the spindle 10 is rotated on the axle 11. As the spindle 10 rotates, the resistance put up by the spring increases, and the force required to draw the paper off the roll becomes greater. This increases the strain on the paper being drawn off, until finally the paper tears (generally along a perforated line). The roll then rewinds and the spring returns to the original relaxed state, in readiness for more paper to be drawn off.

The amount of paper that will unroll before tearing is determined by the breaking strain of the paper and the resistance of the spring, and could be varied to suit different types of sheet material, such as paper towels or tissue, or to suit different applications, by using springs of different strength. The breaking strain of the material is generally constant throughout a roll, and while it may vary slightly in different grades and brands, the amount which can be drawn off before tearing will in general be relatively constant. The stops 17 and 18 should in any case prevent excessive amounts of the material from being drawn off at one time, by preventing continued rotation of the spindle and roll beyond a given point.

It will be appreciated that a variety of modifications might be made in the above example within the general scope of the invention.

The dimensions of the various parts may be altered to suit different types of sheet material or different applications - for example, the spindle and axle might be made considerably longer to suit rolls of paper towels.

An example of such a holder is shown in figure 2. Preferably such a holder is provided with two support arms 13', one supporting each end of the axle 11', connected to a bracket or mount 14'. In the illustrated embodiment the stops 12' at each end of the axle 11' are detachably but non-rotatably mounted in apertures in the support arms 13'. This allows the axle 11' and spindle 10' to be removed from the support arms 13', to facilitate sliding a roll of paper on or off. The spring 16' is illustrated as a coil spring, but it will be appreciated that any of a range of spring types could equally be used.

The spring 16' could be relatively weak, such that the tension it provides is in normal use insufficient to cause tearing of the paper, and instead the stops 17' and 18' may be used to provide the necessary resistance to rotation. In such a case the spring only needs 22 9 3 1 9 to be strong enough to rewind the spindle 10' back to its original orientation, to prepare it for reuse, but the stops 17' and 18' should be more strong than is necessary in the embodiment of Figure 1, so as to avoid breakage under stress from repeated impacts.

Holders for use in public toilets or the like might be provided with fastening means to not only prevent a roll from slipping around on the spindle but also to prevent the roll from being removed from the spindle until the paper has been completely used up, and the inner cardboard sleeve can be cut or torn off.

The shape and form of the support arm 13 and bracket 14 may vary considerably. Similarly a variety of other changes might be made within the general scope of the invention, which may be characterised by the following claims:

Claims (5)

-6- WHATI CLAIM IS:

1. A holder for rolls of sheet material, having an axle mounted non-rotatably on a support structure, and a spindle mounted rotatably on said axle, said spindle being shaped and arranged to hold a roll of said sheet material in use, with said roll being retained on said spindle so as to rotate therewith, wherein a return spring is provided, connecting said spindle to said axle, such that said spindle is biased towards a first orientation relative to said axle, and a pair of engSgj&k: s*tops, one attached to said spindle and the other attached to said axle, which engage when said spindle is rotated to a second orientation relative to said axle, and thereby prevent continued rotation.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a roll of sheet material, wherein said sheet material has a breaking strain, and said spring provides progressively increasing resistance to rotation of the spindle as said spindle is rotated, and wherein the minimum force required to overcome said resistance increases to a level greater than said breaking strain, before the spindle reaches said second orientation when rotated from said first orientation.

3. A holder as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein said spring is housed within said spindle.

4. A holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said spindle, axle and spring are demountable as a unit from said support structure.

5. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to either one of the accompanying drawings. . /: - £ . c.-. . JAMES W PIPER & CO. Attorneys for the Applicant MARK JAMES BRUNTON ' ^ / 15 JAN 1992^( . /