Bushing for a web material roll, web material roll retention assembly and method for installing the same

A web material roll comprising:

• a roll of web material having a hollow core defining a central cavity, the web material being rolled around the hollow core, the central cavity having first and second extremities, the roll of web material being mountable to a roll support of a web material roll dispenser;
• and
• a bushing at least partially inserted in said first extremity of the central cavity and comprising:
• a body having first and second ends, an outer core-superposing surface extending between the first and second ends and an opposed inner surface extending between the first and second ends and at least partially delimiting a cylindrical body cavity, the body being fitted into the first extremity of the central cavity of the hollow core;
• a wall extending transversally from the inner surface of the body across the cylindrical body cavity, an opening being formed in the wall for receiving at least partially the roll support therethrough, said opening being bordered by a roll support contacting surface, the wall being at least partially tiltable about the inner surface of the body upon engagement of the wall with the roll support;
• and
• one or more bearing surfaces for contacting the roll support and supporting the roll of web material, said one or more bearing surfaces comprising at least the roll support contacting surface bordering the opening.

A web material roll retention assembly for a web material roll dispenser, the assembly comprising:

• a roll support for supporting at least partially a web material roll defining a central cavity and having first and second extremities, the roll support including:
• a first portion proximate to a housing of the web material dispenser;
• a free end, opposite the housing of the web material dispenser;
• a second portion extending between the free end and the first portion, the second portion having a smaller cross-section than a cross-section of the first portion;
• and
• a bushing comprising:
• a body having first and second ends and an inner surface extending between the first and second ends and at least partially delimiting a cylindrical body cavity, the body being sized to be fitted into one of the first and second extremities of the central cavity of the web material roll;
• a substantially closed-figure shaped wall extending transversally from the inner surface of the body across the cylindrical body cavity, an opening being formed in the substantially closed-figured shaped wall for receiving at least partially the roll support therethrough when the bushing is in the central cavity of the web material roll, said opening being bordered by a roll support contacting surface, the substantially closed-figure shaped wall being at least partially tiltable about the inner surface of the body upon engagement of the substantially closed-figure shaped wall with the roll support;
• and
• one or more bearing surfaces for contacting the roll support and supporting the web material roll, said one or more bearing surfaces comprising at least the roll support contacting surface bordering the opening.

A method for placing a web material roll in a web material roll dispenser, the web material roll dispenser having a roll support with a free end and first and second portions, the web material roll having a hollow core defining a central cavity having first and second extremities, the web material being rolled around the hollow core, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a bushing comprising:
• a body having first and second ends, an outer core-superposing surface extending between the first and second ends and an opposed inner surface extending between the first and second ends and at least partially delimiting a cylindrical body cavity;
• a wall extending transversally from the inner surface of the body across the cylindrical body cavity with an opening formed therein, said opening being bordered by a roll support contacting surface;
• and
• one or more bearing surfaces comprising at least the roll support contacting surface bordering the opening;
• inserting the bushing in the central cavity of the web material roll, the first end of the body of the bushing being proximate one of said first and second extremities of the web material roll;
• inserting the roll support in the body of the bushing;
• and
• inserting the free end of the roll support within the opening of the wall, thereby at least partially tilting the wall about the inner surface of the body and engaging the one or more bearing surfaces of the bushing with at least one of the first and second portions of the roll support.