US2007290094A1PendingUtilityA1

Versatile Core Size Tissue Dispenser

54
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 6, 2006Filed: May 9, 2007Published: Dec 20, 2007
Est. expiryJun 6, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Stephen William Anderson
A47K 10/3836A47K 2010/3233A47K 2010/3253A47K 2010/3246
54
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A tissue dispenser is provided by which a user may access one or more rolls of tissue. The dispenser generally includes a base and a cover. The dispenser includes at least one spindle, and preferably left and right spindles, with each spindle being supported by and extending from the base. The dispenser also has a plurality of sleeves interchangeably disposed on the shafts of the spindles. Each sleeve has an inner diameter dimensioned to receive a corresponding spindle, and an outer diameter. A plurality of fins is radially disposed on the outer diameter of the sleeve to circumferentially support the inner diameter of a core of a tissue roll. Different sleeves having different outer diameters to accommodate tissue rolls having different core sizes are provided. The dispenser may also include a door assembly configured to selectively cover a tissue roll on either the left or the right side of the base. A plurality of snap fittings configured to releasably attach to the door assembly may be provided. Each snap fitting has a different height to prevent the premature movement of the door assembly by the user from one side of the tissue dispenser to the other, depending upon the diameter of the core of the tissue rolls used.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A tissue dispenser by which a user may access a role of tissue, comprising: 
 (A) a base;    (B) at least one spindle, the spindle having an elongated shaft extending from the base and terminating at a tip distally from the base; and    (C) a plurality of sleeves interchangeably disposed on the shaft of the spindle, each sleeve comprising an elongated shaft terminating at an end, the shaft having an inner diameter dimensioned to receive the shaft of the spindle, and an outer diameter, and 
 wherein at least two of the plurality of sleeves are configured to support tissue rolls having cores of different diameters.  
   
     
     
         2 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spindle is configured to receive and support a tissue roll without receiving one of the plurality of sleeves.  
     
     
         3 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one spindle is configured to receive and support a tissue roll having a core diameter of about 2.8 cm.  
     
     
         4 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one spindle rotates relative to the base.  
     
     
         5 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spindle defines a single spindle.  
     
     
         6 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the spindle is configured to rotate relative to the base, and to itself receive and support a tissue roll without a sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the spindle is configured to receive and support a tissue roll having a core diameter of about 2.8 cm.  
     
     
         8 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeves have different outer diameters dimensioned to receive and support tissue rolls having cores of from about 2.5 cm to about 11 cm in diameter.  
     
     
         9 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sleeves comprises: 
 a first pair of sleeves, with each of the sleeves having outer diameters dimensioned to support tissue rolls having a core diameter of about 5.84 cm; and    a second pair of sleeves, with each of the sleeves having outer diameters dimensioned to support tissue rolls having a core diameter of about 8.38 cm.    
     
     
         10 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spindle is supported by the base.  
     
     
         11 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one spindle defines a left and a right spindle, with each spindle capable of receiving one of the plurality of sleeves for supporting a tissue roll.  
     
     
         12 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of sleeves further comprises at least one fin disposed on the outer diameter of the sleeve, the at least one fin having a width dimensioned to circumferentially support the core of a tissue roll.  
     
     
         13 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fin comprises a plurality of fins radially disposed around the outer diameter of the shaft of the corresponding sleeve.  
     
     
         14 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sleeves comprises: 
 a first set of sleeves, each sleeve having fins that form an outer diameter of about 5.84 cm; and    a second set of sleeves, each sleeve having fins that form an outer diameter of about 8.38 cm.    
     
     
         15 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the fins of each sleeve in a first set of sleeves form a diameter of about 2.8 cm to about 7 cm.  
     
     
         16 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the fins of each sleeve in a second set of sleeves form a diameter of about 5 cm to about 11 cm.  
     
     
         17 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the fins frictionally engage the core of the received tissue roll.  
     
     
         18 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the spindle rotates relative to the base.  
     
     
         19 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the shaft of the spindle comprises at least one spline; and    each of the plurality of sleeves further comprises a slot for receiving a corresponding spline.    
     
     
         20 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the slot in each of the sleeves is disposed in the end of each sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the shaft of the spindle comprises at least three splines; and    corresponding slots in each of the plurality of sleeves are placed in the end of each of the sleeves.    
     
     
         22 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 each spindle further comprises an elastically formed catch proximate the tip of the spindle; and    each of the plurality of sleeves further comprises a radial, inwardly formed shoulder for engaging the catch when the inner diameter of the sleeve receives a spindle.    
     
     
         23 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 (D) a cover pivotally connected to the base for selectively covering the left and right spindles and supported tissue rolls.    
     
     
         24 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 23 , wherein the base further comprises: 
 a side wall along the base having opposing ends, with each end of the side wall defining a pivot arm; and    a pin disposed in each of the pivot arms to provide pivoting connections between the side walls and the cover.    
     
     
         25 . The tissue dispenser of any of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (E) a door assembly configured to selectively cover a tissue roll on either the left or the right side of the base.    
     
     
         26 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the door assembly comprises: 
 a horizontal base; and    a handle for engaging the door assembly by a user.    
     
     
         27 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 26 , wherein the door assembly is biased to a first side of the tissue dispenser, and further comprises: 
 a door stop; and    a door catch disposed in the base of the tissue dispenser for releasably receiving the door stop and holding it on an opposing second side of the tissue dispenser.    
     
     
         28 . The tissue dispenser of any of the  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 (F) a plurality of snap fittings configured to releasably attach to the door assembly, with each snap fitting having a different height to prevent the premature movement of the door assembly by the user from a first side of the tissue dispenser to a second side, depending upon the diameter of the core of the tissue rolls used.    
     
     
         29 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 28 , wherein the snap fittings releasably attach to the horizontal base of the door assembly.  
     
     
         30 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one spindle comprises a left spindle and a right spindle; and the tissue dispenser further comprises: 
 (G) an outer left knob and an outer right knob each supported on the cover, with the outer left and right knobs being aligned with the tips of the left and right spindles, respectively, wherein: 
 rotation of the left knob causes the left spindle and supported sleeve to rotate; and  
 rotation of the right knob causes the right spindle and supported sleeve to rotate.  
   
     
     
         31 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 30 , wherein the tips of the left and right spindles each comprises a shaped surface that mates with an inner surface of the left and right knobs, respectively.  
     
     
         32 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 31 , wherein the inner surface of the left and right knobs further comprises a separate washer member.  
     
     
         33 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 31 , wherein the shaped surface of the respective left and right spindles comprises a cross-shaped ridge.  
     
     
         34 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (H) a locking assembly for selectively locking and unlocking the cover to the base.    
     
     
         35 . A tissue dispenser by which a user may access roles of tissue, comprising: 
 (A) a base having a side wall;    (B) a left spindle and a right spindle, each spindle being supported by and extending from the body and being rotatable relative to the body, and each spindle having an elongated shaft terminating at a tip distally from the base with at least one spline extending along the shaft;    (C) a plurality of sleeves interchangeably disposable on the shafts of the spindles, each sleeve comprising: 
 an elongated shaft terminating at an end, the shaft having an inner diameter dimensioned to receive the shaft of the spindle,  
 at least one slot to receive a corresponding spline of the spindle, and  
 a plurality of fins radially disposed on the sleeves to form an outer diameter, the fins having a width dimensioned to circumferentially support the inner diameter of a core of a tissue roll; and  
 wherein the plurality of sleeves comprises: 
 a first pair of sleeves having fins dimensioned to form an outer diameter of each sleeve that is about 5 cm to 7 cm in width; and  
 a second pair of sleeves having fins dimensioned to form an outer diameter of each sleeve that is about 7 cm to about 10 cm in width,  
 so as to support tissue rolls having cores of different inner diameters;  
 
   (D) a cover pivotally connected to the tissue dispenser base for covering the left and right sleeves;    (E) a door assembly configured to selectively cover a tissue roll on either the left or the right side of the base; and    (F) a plurality of snap fittings configured to releasably attach to the door assembly, with each snap fitting having a different height to prevent the premature movement of the door assembly by the user from one side of the tissue dispenser to the other, depending upon the diameter of the core of the tissue rolls used.    
     
     
         36 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 (G) an outer left knob and an outer right knob each supported on the cover, with the outer left and right knobs being aligned with the tips of the left and right spindles, respectively, wherein: 
 rotation of the left knob causes the left spindle and supported sleeve to rotate; and  
 rotation of the right knob causes the right spindle and supported sleeve to rotate.  
   
     
     
         37 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the fins frictionally engage the inner diameter of the core of the received tissue roll.  
     
     
         38 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein: 
 the spindle further comprises an elastically formed catch at the tip of the spindle; and    each of the plurality of sleeves further comprises a radial, inwardly formed shoulder for engaging the catch when the inner diameter of the sleeve receives a spindle.    
     
     
         39 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the base further comprises: 
 a pivot arm disposed at opposing ends of the side wall; and    a pin disposed in each of the pivot arms to provide pivoting connections between the base and the cover.    
     
     
         40 . The tissue dispenser of any  claim 35 , wherein the door assembly is biased to the right side of the tissue dispenser, and comprises: 
 a horizontal base;    a handle for engaging the door assembly by a user;    a door stop; and    a door catch disposed in the body of the base of the tissue dispenser for releasably receiving the door stop and holding it on the left side of the tissue dispenser.    
     
     
         41 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the snap fittings releasably attach to the horizontal base.  
     
     
         42 . The tissue dispenser of any  claim 35 , wherein the tips of the left and right spindles each comprises a shaped surface that mates with an inner surface of the left and right knobs, respectively.  
     
     
         43 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 (H) a locking assembly for selectively locking and unlocking the cover to the base.    
     
     
         44 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein each of the spindles is configured to rotate relative to the base, and to receive and support a tissue roll having a core diameter of about 2.8 cm, without using a sleeve.  
     
     
         45 . The tissue dispenser of  claim 44 , wherein: 
 each of the sleeves in the first pair of sleeves has an outer diameter dimensioned to support tissue rolls having a core diameter of about 5.84 cm; and    each of the sleeves in the second pair of sleeves has an outer diameter dimensioned to support tissue rolls having a core diameter of about 8.38 cm.    
     
     
         46 . A tissue roll support device, comprising: 
 (A) a spindle having: 
 a base rotationally connected to a tissue dispenser,  
 an elongated shaft, and  
 a tip having a shaped surface for engaging an outer knob of the tissue dispenser such that rotation of the knob causes the spindle to rotate; and  
   (B) a sleeve having: 
 an elongated shaft defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter being dimensioned to receive the shaft of the spindle, and  
 at least one fin on the outer diameter of the sleeve having a width dimensioned to frictionally engage a core of a tissue roll.  
   
     
     
         47 . The tissue roll support device of  claim 46 , wherein: 
 the spindle further comprises at least one spline along an outer diameter of the shaft; and    the sleeve further comprises an end having one or more slots to receive a corresponding spline on the spindle

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