Device for dispensing pre-cut wiping materials
OwnerMaurice Grangerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This machine includes a flap and a cover having a plurality of opposite-facing pairs of matching shapes comprising grooves and ribs capable of interlocking with each other after the cover has been closed. A strip of material is unwound between the flap and the internal wall of the cover without lateral deformation and projects from the matching shapes. The shapes are directly designed or have an additional element for reducing the space between certain portions of ribs and grooves in order to allow and encourage the separation of a piece of strip of material when it is pulled by the user.
Claims12
1- Wipe material dispensing machine comprising a housing forming a receptacle with a back plate, a horizontal lower wall and side walls, a cover articulated on the housing and a flap articulated relative to the walls of a lower part of the housing, lower parts of said flap and said cover having a substantially semicircular central cut-out to allow delivery of pre-cut wipe material wound on a reel or in pre-folded accordion pleated form, wherein the flap and the cover have a plurality of opposite-facing pairs of matching shapes comprising grooves and ribs interlocking with each other after the cover has been closed, and strip of the material is unwound between the flap and an inner wall of the cover without lateral deformation and projects from the matching, and said shapes include or have additional means for reducing a gap between certain portions of the ribs and grooves in order to allow and encourage separation of a piece of the strip of material when the piece is pulled by the user.
2- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pairs of matching shapes comprising grooves and ribs has a rainbow-shaped configuration.
3- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein, close to a lower end of the flap or the cover are tooth-shaped protrusions that constrict space between the grooves and the ribs when the grooves and the ribs interlock, and wherein the various pairs of grooves and ribs are concentric relative to each other.
4- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for pushing capable of elastic deformation located on the housing and allowing relative displacement of the flap relative to the cover thereby enabling ribs formed on the cover and grooves formed on the flap to move closer together, and the various pairs of grooves and ribs are concentric relative to each other.
5- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein sets of grooves and ribs formed on the cover are not concentric with sets of grooves and ribs provided on the flap, and space formed between the grooves and ribs is variable and, in an extreme, internal lower position, in a middle part, a space between a rib formed on the middle part on the cover and adjacent ribs formed on the flap is regular.
6- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in the middle part, a space between a rib formed on the cover and the adjacent ribs formed on the flap is regular and approximately 5 mm, and, in a lower part, the ribs formed on the cover are closer to the ribs formed on the flap with a reduced space of approximately 0.5 to 1 mm.
7- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein slits are provided in end parts of the grooves provided on the flap, and the slits provided in a central part of the grooves define tabs that allow a certain degree of elastic deformation.
8- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein angular amplitude over which the slits are formed is 60° on either side of the flap in an area where the groove-rib parts have a concentric configuration.
9- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matching shapes comprising grooves and ribs are arranged obliquely either side of central openings provided on the flap and the cover and produce a taper effect, and, close to a lower end of the flap or cover are tooth-shaped protrusions which constrict space between the grooves and the ribs.
10- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ribs and grooves extend as far as transverse edges of the cover and the flap.
11- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flap and the cover have, either side of their central openings, a slanting cut-out that affects at least two pairs of ribs and grooves and also have tooth-shaped protrusions that are set higher in order to enable gradual cutting of the strip of material.
12- Dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one flexible tab having one end located and attached to a wall of the flap and an other end having a fork shape that firs around one of the ribs provided on the cover, and said tab is located in a space defined by a groove, an end of the groove being cut to allow movement of the fork.