Dispenser for rolled paper

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing rolled sheet material, the apparatus including a housing defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet material to be dispensed therefrom. The apparatus further includes a nip within the housing such as, for example, may be formed by first and second rollers. In addition, the apparatus includes a sheet material dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet material dispensing surface comprising at least one protrusion.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing rolled sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet material to be dispensed therefrom;    a nip within the housing; and    a sheet material dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet material dispensing surface comprising at least one protrusion.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises a fixed member located between the nip and the dispensing opening.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the fixed member is positioned between the nip and the dispensing opening to allow sheet material to travel along a circuitous path.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface is at least partially concave in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface is at least partially convex in shape.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one concave portion.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one flat portion.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one convex portion.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the nip comprises at least one roller.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the nip is pressurized.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the nip is pressurized by at least one spring.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface at least partially defines the dispensing opening.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface at least partially extends into the path between the nip and the dispensing opening.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising first and second sheet material dispensing surfaces proximate the dispensing opening, the first sheet material dispensing surface at least partially extending into the path between the nip and the dispensing opening from below, and the second sheet material dispensing surface at least partially extending into the path between the nip and the dispensing opening from above.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for dispensing rolled sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet material to be dispensed therefrom;    a roll of sheet material having a plurality of zones of weakness that substantially extend across the width of the sheet material;    a nip within the housing; and    a sheet material dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet material dispensing surface comprising at least one protrusion;    wherein said sheet material is dispensed along a path that extends from the roll of sheet material, through the nip, across the sheet material dispensing surface, and through the dispensing opening.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said protrusion concentrates force on the portion of the sheet material that contacts the protrusion when the sheet material is pulled across the sheet material dispensing surface and through the dispensing opening.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the rolled sheet material comprises inner and outer layers of sheet material, the layers of sheet material comprising a plurality of offset zones of weakness that substantially extend across the width of the sheet material.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one concave portion.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one flat portion.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the sheet material dispensing surface comprises at least one convex portion.