ELECTRONIC ROLL TOWEL DISPENSER
This disclosure relates to a dispenser which in one form is a motorized electric dispenser, designed to be a low-cost device having a reduced footprint. The dispenser electromechanically dispenses a pre-determined length sheet of material to the user, without the requirement of a touchless sensor, or the user needing to directly touch any part of the dispenser while the hygienic portion is functioning properly. In the event that the hygienic portion is not functioning properly, a manual advance assembly may also be utilized. One objective of the device in one form is to provide a variably determined sheet of material to the user in accordance with industry standards, without the use of the standard “touchless” sensors. In another form, the entire roll of material remains sanitary and enclosed within the dispenser until it is dispensed. In one form, there is no “tail” projecting from the dispenser that may be a source of cross-contamination.
This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/073,630, filed Jun. 18, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE a) Field of the DisclosureThis invention relates generally to towel dispensers and particularly to a hygienic, away-from-home type paper towel dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll is disclosed herein. The dispenser comprises a dispenser housing; a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing; a dispensing slot; and a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening. In one form, the product path is defined as the path product will take from the product roll to the dispensing slot. In one form, the product path passes between the engagement opening and the button mechanism.
The hygienic dispenser may also include a pressure roller adjacent to the drive roller. In one form, the pressure roller is operatively configured to provide frictional engagement between the product being dispensed and the drive roller.
The hygienic dispenser may also comprise: a front casing; a rear casing, wherein the front casing is rotatably coupled to the rear casing; and a pressure roller which is coupled to the front casing.
In one form, the hygienic dispenser further comprises a manual advance assembly for use when the hygienic dispensing system is not functioning properly. The hygienic dispenser may also comprise a one-way-rotational device operatively configured to allow a user to manually operate the manual advance mechanism in only one direction. In this way, a user will not be able to “draw up” the product in the paper path as it will not be engaged with the drive roller.
The hygienic dispenser may be operatively configured to dispense a length of product at each operation of the button mechanism, greater than the distance along the paper path from the engagement opening to the dispensing slot. The hygienic dispenser may also comprise a cutting edge coupled to the dispenser housing, wherein the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the engagement opening and the cutting edge. In one form, the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the upper edge of the engagement opening and the cutting edge. In this way, the portion of product that was contacted by the user is dispersed to the user and a clean/hygienic touch surface is preserved.
The hygienic dispenser may also comprise a drive motor coupled to a drive roller wherein the drive roller is operatively configured to engage the product being dispensed. In one form, circuitry may be coupled between the drive motor and the button mechanism wherein the button mechanism is operatively configured to activate the drive motor when the button mechanism is engaged.
The hygienic dispenser may also comprise a product roll support within the dispenser housing. Such roll supports may be extensions, axles, planar supports, or equivalents.
The hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll may also be described as comprising: a dispenser housing; a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing; a dispensing slot; and a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening. Wherein a portion of the product is positioned between the engagement opening and the button mechanism prior to exiting the dispenser to provide a renewable, hygienic surface for the engagement button or activator. In one form, the dispensing slot is positioned adjacent the bottommost surface of the dispenser. In one form, the surface defining an engagement opening is positioned at the front surface of the dispenser to make the contact portion more visible and convenient for a user.
A towel dispenser configured to dispense a towel therefrom is disclosed herein. The towel dispenser may also be described as comprising a casing comprising an interior chamber portion, wherein the interior chamber portion is configured to house a towel roll. In one form, the casing comprises a rearward portion and a forward portion, the forward portion comprising a perimeter surface defining an engagement opening. In one form, the casing comprises a towel dispensing portion (slot) configured to dispense a portion of the towel therefrom. Additionally, an activator member (button) may be included wherein the activator member is positioned in proximity to the engagement opening of the casing such that a portion of the towel is interposed between the activator and the engagement opening of the casing to be visible therethrough. In this embodiment, the engagement opening comprises a distance from a towel dispensing slot which is less than the length of the towel that is disbursed when the activator is activated ejecting a portion of the towel therefrom. In one form, the towel dispenser is configured such that when a user depresses a portion of the towel through the opening to activate the activator member, the portion of the towel depressed by the user is dispensed through the towel dispensing portion. The towel in one form is a cloth based towel. In one form, the towel is a cloth towel configured for a cloth recirculation towels system. In another form, the towel is disbursed on a roll and is a paper-based towel configured to be torn off once a portion of the towel is disbursed from the dispensing slot.
Prior art dispensers, such as paper towel dispensers, toilet paper dispensers, and other dispensers for paper products distributed on rolls, generally fell into two categories. The first category is that of the touchless sensor-type dispenser, which is often found in public restrooms today, and a second category of pushbutton or manual advance dispensers wherein the user must contact a surface of the dispenser, either to push a button or to advance a manual assembly to receive a portion of the desired product. The products in these categories have faced substantial difficulties. For example, with the common “touchless” dispensers, the sensor has proven to be relatively problematic in its responsiveness to different individuals. Furthermore, as the sensor is usually positioned on or behind the casing of the dispenser, often users will still come in contact with the portion of the casing or the sensor space. Thus germs and diseases can be transmitted from person to person. For the pushbutton or manual dispensers, it will always be necessary for the user to come in contact with the dispenser to activate or utilize the dispenser, and thus germs are even more likely to be transmitted from person to person.
This disclosure relates to a dispenser which in one form is a motorized electric dispenser, designed to be a low-cost device having a reduced footprint. The dispenser electromechanically dispenses a pre-determined length sheet of material to the user, without the requirement of a touchless sensor, or the user needing to directly touch any part of the dispenser while the hygienic portion is functioning properly. In the event that the hygienic portion is not functioning properly, a manual advance assembly may also be utilized. One objective of the device in one form is to provide a variably determined sheet of material to the user in accordance with industry standards, without the use of the standard “touchless” sensors. In another form, the entire roll of material remains sanitary and enclosed within the dispenser until it is dispensed. There is no “tail” projecting from the dispenser in one form that may be a source of cross-contamination.
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Before beginning a detailed description, an axes system 10 is shown in
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Looking specifically at the lowermost front portion of the dispenser 20, as shown in
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Thus, the exposed portion 30 of the product 22 provides a sanitary, constantly replaceable barrier between the user 28 and the button mechanism 68. In one form of operation, a cutting edge 70 is provided as shown in
In one form, seen in
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A manual advance assembly 90 may also be incorporated as shown in
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While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general concept.
Claims
1. A hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll, the dispenser comprising:
- a. a dispenser housing;
- b. a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing;
- c. a dispensing slot;
- d. a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening
- e. a product path defined as the path product will take from the product roll to the dispensing slot; and
- f. wherein the product path passes between the engagement opening and the button mechanism.
2. The hygienic dispenser of claim 1 further comprising:
- a. a pressure roller adjacent the drive roller; and
- b. the pressure roller is operatively configured to provide frictional engagement between the product being dispensed and the drive roller.
3. The hygienic dispenser of claim 2 further comprising;
- a. a front casing;
- b. a rear casing;
- c. wherein the front casing is rotatably coupled to the rear casing; and
- d. wherein the pressure roller is coupled to the front casing.
4. The hygienic dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a manual advance assembly.
5. The hygienic dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a one-way-rotational device operatively configured to allow a user to manually operate the manual advance mechanism in only one direction.
6. The hygienic dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is operatively configured to dispense a length of product at each operation of the button mechanism greater than the distance along the paper path from the engagement opening to the dispensing slot.
7. The hygienic dispenser of claim 6 further comprising:
- a. a cutting edge coupled to the dispenser housing; and
- b. wherein the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the engagement opening and the cutting edge.
8. The hygienic dispenser of claim 7 wherein the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the upper edge of the engagement opening and the cutting edge.
9. The hygienic dispenser of claim 1 further comprising:
- a. a drive motor coupled to a drive roller;
- b. wherein the drive roller is operatively configured to engage the product being dispensed;
- c. circuitry coupled between the drive motor and the button mechanism; and
- d. wherein the button mechanism is operatively configured to activate the drive motor when the button mechanism is engaged.
10. The hygienic dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a product roll support within the dispenser housing.
11. A hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll, the dispenser comprising:
- a. a dispenser housing;
- b. a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing;
- c. a dispensing slot;
- d. a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening;
- e. wherein a portion of the product is positioned between the engagement opening and the button mechanism prior to exiting the dispenser.
12. The hygienic dispenser of claim 11 wherein the dispensing slot is positioned adjacent the bottommost surface of the dispenser.
13. The hygienic dispenser of claim 11 wherein the surface defining an engagement opening is positioned at the front surface of the dispenser.
14. A towel dispenser configured to dispense a towel therefrom, the towel dispenser comprising:
- a. a casing comprising an interior chamber portion, the interior chamber portion configured to house a towel roll;
- b. the casing comprising a rearward portion and a forward portion, the forward portion comprising a perimeter surface defining an engagement opening;
- c. a towel dispensing portion configured to dispense a portion of the towel therefrom;
- d. an activator member;
- e. the activator member positioned in proximity to the engagement opening of the casing;
- f. the towel configured to be interposed between the activator member and the engagement opening of the casing to be visible therethrough;
- g. the engagement opening comprising a distance from a towel dispensing slot which is less than the length of the towel that is disbursed when the activator member is activated, ejecting a portion of the towel therefrom.
15. The towel dispenser as recited in claim 14 configured such that when a user depresses a portion of the towel through the opening to activate the activator member, the portion of the towel depressed by the user is dispensed through the towel dispensing portion.
16. The towel dispenser as recited in claim 15 where the towel is a cloth based towel.
17. The towel dispenser as recited in claim 16 where the towel is a cloth towel configured for a cloth recirculation towels system.
18. The towel dispenser as recited in claim 15 where the towel is disbursed on a roll and is a paper-based towel configured to be torn once a portion of the towel is disbursed from the dispensing slot.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 30, 2010
Inventors: Matthew Friesen (Surrey), Andy Jackman (Langley), Michael Severyn (Surrey), Alex Trampolski (Richmond), Lockland Corley (Coquitlam), Brad Friesen (Vancouver), John Friesen (Vancouver), Richard Lalau (North Vancouver), Andrew Ng (Vancouver)
Application Number: 12/487,541
International Classification: A47K 10/38 (20060101); A47K 10/22 (20060101); A47K 10/28 (20060101); A47K 10/34 (20060101); A47K 10/36 (20060101);