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US 5,979,284 AGranted
Automatic dispensing apparatus for paper towels and toilet paper
OwnerMaurice Grangerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automatic dispensing apparatus for paper rolls, including a molded housing containing a take-off reel, a cutting blade and a tensioning device in the upper section. A mechanism controls the tensioning and cutting of strips from the roll. A protective cover is hinged to the housing which snaps into place to cover the cutting and dispensing components.
Claims22
An automatic dispensing apparatus for paper towels comprising:
- a molded plastic housing;
- first and second flanges respectively formed on opposing lateral sides of said housing, said flanges being spaced apart and arranged generally parallel to one another, said first flange having an opening for receiving a drum first shaft end, and said second flange having a bottom recess opposite said opening for receiving a drum second shaft end;
- first and second tongues formed respectively on said first and second flanges, said first tongue partially defined by a slit cutout cutaway from said first flange, said second tongue partially defined by a T-shaped slanting slit cutout cutaway from said second flange having a downstroke and a crossbar, said downstroke extending upwardly in relation to a bottom of said dispensing apparatus and rearwardly in relation to a front of said dispensing apparatus, said crossbar having an upper part defining a second tongue recess and a lower part defining said bottom recess, each slit being formed so that said first and second tongues bend elastomerically with respect to a remaining portion of said first and second flanges;
- a drum having a drum shaft including said first shaft end and said second shaft end, wherein said first shaft end is received in said opening and said second shaft end is received in said bottom recess;
- drum holding means for accommodating and supporting said first drum shaft end and for guiding said first drum shaft end to said opening in said first flange, said drum holding means being fixedly positioned to said first flange between said first flange and said second flange;
- a tensioning device having a first shaft end received in a first tongue recess and a second shaft end received in said second tongue recess,
- wherein the elastomeric bending of said first and second tongues is such that when said tensioning device is urged between said first and second tongues, and said drum first shaft end is received by said first flange opening and said drum second shaft end is received by said bottom recess, said first and second tongues are caused to bend away from remaining portions of said first and second flanges to allow reception of said tensioning device in said first and second tongue recesses, and to urge said tensioning device toward said drum when said tensioning device is received in said tongue recesses.
4 more elements
An automatic dispensing apparatus for toilet paper comprising:
- a molded plastic housing having a rear wall, said rear wall including a formed opening for receiving a drum first shaft end;
- a flange formed on said housing parallel with said rear wall, said flange having a bottom recess formed opposite said opening for receiving a drum second shaft end;
- a first tongue formed on said rear wall and a second tongue formed on said flange, said first tongue defined by a U-shaped cutout cutaway from said rear wall, said second tongue partially defined by a slit formed on said flange, said U-shaped cutout formed so that said first tongue bends elastomerically with respect to a remaining portion of said rear wall, said slit being formed so that said second tongue bends elastomerically with respect to a remaining portion of said flange;
- a drum having said first shaft end and said second shaft end, wherein said first shaft end is received in said opening and said second shaft end is received in said bottom recess;
- drum holding means for accommodating and supporting said first drum shaft end and for guiding said first drum shaft end to said opening in said rear wall, said drum holding means being fixedly positioned to said rear wall between said rear wall and said flange;
- first and second tongue recesses defined respectively by said first and second tongues;
- a tensioning device having a first shaft end received in said first tongue recess and a second shaft end received in said second tongue recess, said tensioning device including a shaft having a plurality of discs disposed over a length of said shaft;
- a gooseneck-shaped bow having an end defined by a fork shaped joint adapted to surround at least one disc of said tensioning device shaft for guiding paper received in said apparatus;
- the elastomeric bending of said first and second tongues is such that when said tensioning device is urged between said first and second tongues, said first and second tongues bend away from remaining portions of said rear wall and said flange respectively to allow reception of said tensioning device in said first and second tongue recesses, and bias said tensioning device against said drum when said tensioning device is received in said tongue recesses.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.