Dispenser for roll materials

Abstract

The dispenser for roll materials is adapted for permanent mounting to any convenient vertical surface, e.g., a wall, door, or other vertical panel. The dispenser includes a cabinet having one or more compartments, each compartment storing and dispensing material from a roll. An openable front cover is disposed over the front of the cabinet, the front cover having a corresponding number of dispensing openings therethrough and a cutting implement slidably attached adjacent each dispensing opening. The cutting blade of each cutting implement is disposed to the opposite side of the opening from the slotted track to which the cutting implement is attached, thereby providing access to the free end of the roll material after each cut. The dispenser is particularly well suited for installation in the kitchen for dispensing aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper, and may also include an optional paper towel holder depending beneath the cabinet.

1 . A dispenser for roll materials, comprising:
 a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels;   at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels, the shelf extending forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge;   a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf;   a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment;   at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front cover;   a cutter secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and   a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front cover.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 1 , further including at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 1 , further including:
 a bottom panel extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel of the cabinet; and   a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel.   
     
     
         4 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 3 , wherein the paper towel holder comprises spaced apart, first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 1 , further including:
 a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end;   a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover;   resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and   a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.   
     
     
         6 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 1 , further including:
 mutually opposed, left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and   at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.   
     
     
         7 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser for roll materials, comprising:
 a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels;   at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels, the shelf extending forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge;   a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf;   at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge;   a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment; and   at least one cutter movably disposed on the front cover.   
     
     
         9 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 8 , further including:
 at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front panel, the cutter being secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and   a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front cover.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 9 , further including:
 a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end;   a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover;   resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and   a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 8 , further including:
 a bottom panel extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel of the cabinet; and   a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 11 , wherein the paper towel holder comprises spaced apart first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 8 , further including:
 mutually opposed left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and   at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.   
     
     
         14 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 8 , wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser for roll materials, comprising:
 a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels;   at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge;   a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf;   a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment;   at least one cutter movably disposed on the front cover; and   a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel, the paper towel holder having spaced apart first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween.   
     
     
         16 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 15 , further including:
 at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front cover, the cutter being secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and   a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front panel.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 16 , further including:
 a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end;   a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover;   resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and   a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.   
     
     
         18 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 15 , further including at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 15 , further including:
 mutually opposed left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and   at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.   
     
     
         20 . The dispenser for roll materials according to  claim 15 , wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic.