Rotary sheet roll dispenser

Abstract

A rotary dispenser for dispensing a plurality of sheet rolls has a housing that is longitudinally elongated along a center axis, a plurality of receiving cavities disposed around the center axis, each of the receiving cavities being sized and shaped to receive and dispense one of the sheet rolls, and at least one support member connected to the elongate housing at a point on the center axis to allow rotation of the elongate housing relative to the support member. A lid closure covers each of the receiving cavities, wherein the lid closure can be opened and closed to access the receiving cavity. The dispenser further has a dispensing slot through each of the lid closures, the dispensing slot having a safety cutter for cutting the sheet material once a desired length from the sheet roll has been dispensed through the dispensing slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotary dispenser for dispensing a plurality of sheet rolls, the rotary dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser housing that is longitudinally elongated along a center axis;   a plurality of receiving cavities disposed around the center axis, each of the receiving cavities being sized and shaped to receive and dispense one of the sheet rolls;   at least one support member connected to the elongate housing at a point on the center axis to allow rotation of the elongate housing relative to the support member;   a lid closure that covers each of the receiving cavities, wherein the lid closure can be opened and closed to access the receiving cavity; and   a dispensing slot through each of the lid closures, the dispensing slot having a safety cutter for cutting the sheet material once a desired length from the sheet roll has been dispensed through the dispensing slot.   
     
     
         2 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that stops rotation of the elongate housing relative to the at least one support member. 
     
     
         3 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is in the form of a press-release button mounted on the center axis. 
     
     
         4 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism on each of the lid closures for locking the lid closure in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting rod mounted within each of the receiving cavities for mounting one of the sheet rolls. 
     
     
         6 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing slot extends the entire longitudinal length of the lid closure. 
     
     
         7 . The rotary dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lid closure is hingeable.