Paper Roll Dispenser with Anti-Theft and Anti-Waste Features

Abstract

A paper roll dispenser features a pair of parallel channel members defining respective channels having open sides facing toward one another, and each being closed on three remaining sides around the channel. One of the channel members features an opening in a central wall of the channel for insertion of an elongated support member through the opening into a position seating opposite ends of the support member respectively within the two channels with a paper roll rotatably disposed on the support member between the two channel members. The support member and channels are dimensioned so as to prevent tilting of the support member in a manner allowing withdrawal thereof from the channels until the paper roll is entirely, or at least substantially, consumed, thus preventing theft of the paper roll.

1 . A paper roll dispenser for supporting a roll of paper product for dispensing of pieces of said product from off said roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a first and second channel members extending parallel to one another in a first direction and being spaced apart from one another in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, each channel member defining a respective channel that has a length running in the first direction and is bordered by channel walls running in the first direction on three respective sides of the channel, the channel walls of each channel member comprising a central channel wall disposed at an outer side of the channel member opposite the other channel member and two side channels walls projecting from said central channel toward the other channel member at spaced apart positions leaving a fourth side of the channel open at an inner side of the channel member opposite the central channel wall, the inner sides of the two channel members being spaced apart by a first distance that only slightly exceeds an axial length of the roll of paper product, and access to each channel at longitudinal ends thereof being closed off;   an insertion feature opening into the channel of the first channel member through the central channel wall thereof;   an elongated support member having axial length that is greater than the first distance between the inner sides of the two channel members and less than a second distance between the central channel walls of the channel members, and a cross-section sized and shaped for axial passage of at least one end of the elongated supported member through the opening in the first channel member with only a slight clearance, and also through an axial hole of the roll of paper product;   whereby the roll of paper product is supportable on the dispenser by using the insertion feature to place the elongated support member in an installed position placing the opposite ends of the elongated support member respectively in the channels of the channel members with the roll rotatably disposed around the support member for support between the channel members.   
     
     
         2 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the elongate support member is slidable back and forth in the channels in first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the channel members are horizontally spaced apart and obliquely positioned to slope upwardly away from a connecting feature that joins together lower ends of the two channel members. 
     
     
         4 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the connecting feature is part of a mounting bracket for attaching the paper roll dispenser to an upright surface of a support structure, the channel members projecting to one side of said mounting bracket to extend outwardly away from said support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the central channel wall of the lacks a sufficiently sized opening for insertion of the elongate support member therein. 
     
     
         6 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the channel of the second channel member is fully closed at the outer side of said second channel member. 
     
     
         7 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein a width of each channel between the side walls thereof is no greater than a diameter of the axial hole of the roll of paper product. 
     
     
         8 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the insertion feature in the central channel wall of the first channel member is spaced above a bottom one of the side walls of the channel of said first channel member to prevent alignment of the elongated support member with said insertion feature when said elongated support member lies on said bottom one of the side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The taper roll dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the elongate support member is a cylindrical member having a diameter less than a length and width of each channel. 
     
     
         10 . A paper roll dispenser for supporting a roll of paper product for dispensing of pieces of said product from off said roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a first and second channel members extending parallel to one another in a first direction and being spaced apart from one another in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, each channel member defining a respective channel that has a length running in the first direction and is bordered by channel walls running in the first direction on three respective sides of the channel, the channel walls of each channel member comprising a central channel wall disposed at an outer side of the channel member opposite the other channel member and two side channels walls projecting from said central channel toward the other channel member at spaced apart positions leaving a fourth side of the channel open at an inner side of the channel member opposite the central channel wall, the inner sides of the two channel members being spaced apart by a first distance that only slightly exceeds an axial length of the roll of paper product, and access to each channel at longitudinal ends thereof being closed off;   an opening extending into the channel of the first channel member through the central channel wall thereof;   an elongated support member having an axial length that is greater than the first distance between the inner sides of the two channel members and less than a second distance between the central channel walls of the channel members, and a cross-section sized for axial passage of the elongated supported member through the opening in the first channel member with only a slight clearance, and also through an axial hole of the roll of paper product;   whereby the roll of paper product is supportable on the dispenser by receipt of the roll between the channel members with the axial hole of the roll aligned with the opening in the first channel member and passage of the elongated support member through the aligned opening and axial hole to place opposite ends of the elongated support member respectively in the channels of the channel members to rotatably support the roll between the channel members on the elongate support member.   
     
     
         11 . A paper roll dispenser for supporting a roll of paper product for dispensing of pieces of said product from off said roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a first and second channel members extending parallel to one another in a first direction and being spaced apart from one another in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, each channel member defining a respective channel that has a length running in the first direction and is open at an inner side of the channel member facing toward the other channel member, the inner sides of the two channel members being spaced apart by a first distance that exceeds an axial length of the roll of paper product;   an elongated support member having an axial length that is greater than the first distance between the inner sides of the two channel members and less than a second distance between the central channel walls of the channel members, and a cross-sectional size less than the axial length and sufficiently small for axial passage of the elongated supported member through an axial hole of the roll of paper product, opposite ends of the elongated support member being respectively receivable in the channels in a condition slidable back and forth in the channels in the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The paper roll dispenser of claim  13  mounted in an installed position on an upright support structure, wherein the channels of the channel members are positioned to slope upwardly away from the upright support structure, whereby downward pulling of a free end of the roll will act to force the roll downwardly toward the support structure to abut the roll against a connecting feature spanning between lower ends of the channel members. 
     
     
         15 . The paper roll dispenser of claim  13  wherein the channel members are arranged for mounting on an upright support structure in an installed position in which the channels slope upwardly away from the upright support structure, whereby downward pulling of a free end of the roll will act to force the roll downwardly toward the support structure to abut the roll against a connecting feature spanning between lower ends of the channel members. 
     
     
         16 . The paper roll dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the connecting feature is part of a mounting bracket for attaching the paper roll dispenser to the upright support structure, the channel members projecting to one side of said mounting bracket to extend outwardly away from said support structure.