GB2210021A

GB2210021A - Sheet dispenser: preventing unauthorised roll removal

Info

Publication number: GB2210021A
Application number: GB8821538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Aiken Aroa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-23
Filing date: 1988-09-14
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: GB8821538D0; AU2144488A; DE3832292A1

Description

1 1 A HOLDER AND DISPENSER FOR ROLLED SHEET MATERIAL 3 dA')- 2 10 This

invention relates to holders and dispensers for.rolled sheet material such as, in particular but not necessarily confined to, rolls of toilet tissue paper.

It is a major problem in such as hotels, motels, large commercial establishments, public toilets and the like, having toilet facilities available to the public or large numbers of people, that the theft or unauthorised taking to toilet rolls is a frequent occurence and costly to the proprietor of the establishment, as well as being of general nuisance.

Accordingly, various means have been provided or employed to prevent such theft or unauthorised taking and removal, and this has generally involved providing a toilet roll holder with a lockable cabinet or cover for which a key is required.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an antitheft toilet roll holder and dispenser which does not require a key for securing the cabinet or housing holding the toilet roll in position.

Other and more particular objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

According to this invention therefor, there is provided a holder and dispenser device comprising a support means for supporting at least one roll of sheet material with its axis substantially horizontal and. whereby the material can be drawn therefrom on rotation of the roll, a cover or housing part arranged IL is to extend over and enclose a major part of the roll leaving access to the sheet end at the lower side, and catch means normally hidden by the cover and arranged to secure the roll against removal, said catch means being non-key operated and not readily releasable until the roll is depleted or substantially depleted.

As indicated, the invention is particularly applicable to such as toilet tissue"rolls, and one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to this application and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, part-broken, of a holder and dispenser accommodating two toilet roils FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view in the direction of arrows II-II of figure 1.

FIGURE 3 is a part front elevational view of the device with part of the cover or housing removed to show the inner workings, FIGURE 3A is a fragmentary plan view of the en circled. portion IIIA of figure 3, and FIGURE 4 is a view in the direction of arrows IV-IV of an end part of the device.

In this form of the invention, the device is shown to be able to accommodate two separate rolls of toilet paper, but it will be appreciated from the following description that the invention is applicable to a single toilet roll holder arrangement as the present arrangement simply involves a duplication of similar parts located in opposite hand.

4 1 is -3 The device comprises a main support including a rear part 1 arranged for securement to such as a wall or other fixture, and a common vertical wall or like support part 2 extending normal to the rear part 1 and medially thereof, and mounting laterally extending horizontal stub axles or shafts 3 arranged to receive the normal hollow core of a roll of paper 4 for rotation thereabout.

The device has an upper and forward cover part 5 extending from the rear upper side and forwardly and downwardly to terminate at or near the lower edge of the support part 2 and thus leave the under side of the device open for access to the rolls of paper 4. End wall parts Sa of the cover 5 can be formed separately and each end wall part Sa incorporates or is secured to a latch receiving part 6 and a short stub axle closure end part 7 which is arranged for slidable engagement in the main stub axle part 3 for its respective side of the device. The main stub axle 3 for each side of the device may house a compression spring 8 against which the stub axle closure end part 7 can bear.when the latching engaging means and associated cover end part Sa are pressed home as hereinafter described. The upper and forward cover part 5 is fixed against movement relative to the support part 2.

The device incorporates a pivotally mounted latch member 9 for each roll of paper 4 having an inner'end portion 9a pivotally mounted on an upper part of the common support wall part 2 so as to extend laterally therefrom and be pivotal about a horizontal pivot axis 9b extending normal to the rear support part 1 so that the latch member 9 is located above the main stub axle part 3 and is pivotally moveable downwardly and upwardly. The latch is member gipaybein the form of an arcuate bar or strip member which is arranged to rest on the upper side of the roll of paper when first located on the respective main stub axle part 3.

The latch receiving part 6 is a hollow part having an inner wall lying in a plane normal to the rear support part 1 and having a vertical slot 10 conjoining upper and lower transverse slots 11 and 12; and the outer free end part 9c of the latch member 9 has a substantially T-shape (when viewed in plan as detailed in the fragmentary view 34) by providing an inset recess 9d at each side of the latch bar 9, to thus provide an arrangement whereby with the latch receiving part 6 and attached cover end part Sa removed the latch bar 9 can be lifted and a roll of paper 4 engaged on the main stub axle part 3. The latch bar 9 may then be allowed to rest on the upper side of the full toilet roll 4 and on locating the closure stub axle portion 7 in the outer end of the main stub axle 3 the T-shaped end part 9c of the latch bar 9 can locate in and through the upper transverse recess 11 of the latch receiving part 6 (as indicated in the upper broken outline of figure 3) on inward pressure against the bias of the axle spring 8 - the upwardly curved form of the latch bar and a bevel lla at the lower side of the upper transverse slot 11 (and with appropriate dimensioning and locating) allowing the latch bar outer end part 9c to ride upwardly and interengagement as aforesaid, and then to drop downwardly with the transverse end 9c' of the 0 T-shape of the latch bar end part 9c held within the latch receiving part 6 behind the inner wall 6a thereof and the conjoining centre portion 9c'I of the T-shape end part 9c locating in the vertical slot 10 of the latch receiving part 6 (in free sliding engagement whilst inward pressure is exerted on the latch receiving part 6 and cover end part 5a) The latch receiving part 6 and attached cover end part 5a is thus secured in the first position against accidental or intentional displacement, and the latch bar 9 is hidden and not readily accessible to a person endeavouring to release the latch receiving member and attached cover end piece so that the full roll of paper 4 cannot be readily taken by an unauthorised person.

The inner side of the wall 6a of the latch receiving part 6 is provided with a lug or stop 13 immediately above the lower transverse slot and on which the transverse end part of the latch bar T-shape can rest when the roll is depleted or near depleted as aforesaid and partial pressure is applied to the cover end part 5a, and the latch receiving member 6 and attached end plate or cover part 5a can then be removed for fitment of a fresh roll of toilet paper by pressing further inwardly against the bias of the compression spring to dis-engage the lower stop 13 from the transverse end 9cl of the latch bar end part 9c and allow the latch bar 9 to drop down further below the lower stop 13 (to the position indicated in the lower broken outline of figure 3) and whereby the latch receiving part 6 and cover end part 5a can beremoved with the latch bar transverse end 9cl passing out through the lower transverse slot 12 of the latch receiving part 6.

In the initial stages and with full rolls of toilet paper 4 engaged in the device, there is little space between the front side of each roll 4 and the front of the cover 5 for an unauthorised person to see or reach the respective latch member 9, but as the size of each roll 4 decreases with use this space will increase. Accordingly, and as a further deterent to unauthorised removal, each latch receiving part 6 may be provided with one or more further stops 14 at positions intermediate the upper and lower transverse slots 11 and 12 and above the first mentioned lower stop 13, and whereby once the latch receiving part 6 and cover end plate or part 5a are engaged as aforesaid, the latch bar 9 is restricted against upward movement by the outer end transverse part 9cl of the bar 9 engaging under any one of the upper stops 14.

In a modification of the invention, the lower front edge of the cover 5 can be serrated or provided with an inturned serrated edge part against which the paper 4 can be pulled and torn off as required.

The invention has been described by way of example and with reference to a toilet roll holder, but it will be apparent that a very similar device may be utilised for larger paper towels in roll form, and/or for such as wrapping paper or any other sheet material available in roll form and which requires to be supported for dispensing.

c 1 0 Particular forms of the invention have been described and illustrated by way of example, but it will be appreciated that still further modifications to and variations of the invention can take place without departing f rom the scope of the appended claims.

4 1.

i

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A holder and dispenser device comprising a support means f or supporting at least one roll of sheet material with its axis substantially horizontal and whereby the material can be drawn theref rom on rotation of the roll, a cover or housing part arranged to extend- over and enclose a major part of the roll leaving access to the sheet end at the lower side, and catch means normally hidden by the cover and arranged to secure the roll against removal, said catch means being non-key operated and not readily releasable until the roll is depleted or substantially depleted.

2. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said catch means includes a latch member having one end portion pivotally mounted on an inner upper part of said support means so as to extend laterally therefrom within the cover or housing part over said at least one roll of sheet material when housed therein to rest on the upper side of said roll; said latch member being pivotally movable about a horizontal axis connection with said support means and having its end part remote from said connection arranged for detachable engagement with a latch receiving part provided on or incorporated in an outer upright end wall part of the cover or housing part opposite said inner upper part of the support means.

3. A holder or dispenser device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said at least one roll of sheet material is of the kind provided with a hollow tubular Z S 4 111 -g- 14 core, and said support means is provided with a part mounting a horizontally disposed stub axle about which said tubular core is locatable for rotation of said roll, said stub axle being provided at its end remote from said support means part with a spring biassed extension arranged to project beyond one end of said roll for concealed engagement with an end wall part of said cover or housing part.

4. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 3 when dependant upon claim 2 wherein said cover or housing end wall part having the latch receiving part is the end wall part with which said stub axle extension is engageable, said end wall part or latch receiving part having an inner recess in which the free end of said stub axleextension is locatable.

5. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said latch member is arranged to extend longitudinally over the upper side of the roll and is of arcuate form curved downwardly from its pivot connection and upwardly towards its opposite free end.

6. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 inclusive wherein said latch member has a keying free end part locatable within a vertically slotted part of said latch receiving part by way of a first upper opening of the vertically slotted part on insertion of a roll of the sheet material and raising of said latch member about its pivot connection, and 1 j.1 1 detachable f rom said slotted part by way of a second lower opening to said slotted part when said latch member is pivotally moved to its lowest position on depletion of the roll of sheet material; said keying free end being otherwise not disengageable from said slotted part at positions intermediate said first and second openings.

7. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said vertically slotted part has a plurality of inner vertically passed by the latch pivoting movement of upward movement of the upper surface of

8. A holder and spaced abutments which can be bymember keying end part on downward the latch member but which restrict said latch member when resting on said roll of sheet material.

dispenser device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 inclusive wherein said cover or housing end wall part is formed separately from and mounted for movable relationship with fixed upper and forward wall parts of said cover or housing.

9. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 8 when dependant upon claim 6, wherein said vertically slotted part has a bottom inner abutment above said lower opening and on which said latch member keying end part will normally rest on depletion of the roll of material, said keying end part being arranged to overide said bottom inner abutment by inward movement of the housing end wall part for disengagement through said lower opening on release of said end wall part.

1 4 t 0

10. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the arrangement j construction and operation of the latch member and latch retaining means is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11 - A holder and dispenser device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when arranged to support and house a single roll of sheet material to be dispensed.

12. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 inclusive and arranged and constructed to support and house two similar rolls of sheet material to be dispensed, said support means having a central support part and the rolls of the sheet material being locatable one each side of said central support part; and there being duplicated catch means for separate oper ation relative to the respective rolls.

13. A holder and dispenser device as claimed in claim 12 when dependant upon claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to10; inclusive when dependant upon claim 3, wherein said support means has a common central wall part from which two of said stub axles extend one each side in axial alignment and having their spring biassed extensions similarly engageable with similar opposite end wall- parts of the cover or housing part.

14. A holder and dispenser device for a single roll or multiple similar rolls of a sheet material to be dispensed, arranged and constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

198B at The Palen. 0:ff'.c-e- State Housc 66 71 HIC'. London WC1R 41-P 7'jnhez'CCP'es InaY be obtained C= The PatentWice Sales Branch. St Maxy Cray, Orpingtcr.. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Ma-"y Crky. Kent. Con. 1957.