Improvements in or relating to toilet tissue roll dispensers

Abstract

 The invention relates to dispensing holders for toilet tissue rolls(8) to reduce the ageless pilfering problem associated with public and private communal toilets.The problem is particularly acute where a replacement roll is available.The dispenser comprises a housing(10) having a lockable base(38) and a cover(18) to securely store a current roll(8) and at least one replacement roll(8).An end wall(24) includes an aperture(44) disposed adjacent to the end(9b) of axial means(9),for supporting the rolls(8),providing restricted access to remove a core of a spent roll.A replacement roll(8) can then be displaced along the axial means(9) in readiness for use.The rolls(8) and their axial support(9) are within the confines of the dispenser rendering both pilfering and vandalism difficult.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to dispensing holders for toilet tissue rolls having an hollow center.In particular the invention relates to toilet tissue roll dispensers adapted to captivity store a current toilet tissue roll and one or more replacement toilet tissue rolls accessible only upon the current roll becoming spent.Most toilet tissue rolls include an hollow core element upon which the roll is wound and the invention enables removal of a core of a spent roll when replacement is required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0002] It is often customary to provide a conveniently positioned replacement toilet tissue roll in lavatories or toilets in readiness for use upon the current roll becoming spent.Unauthorised removal of toilet tissue rolls particular such replacement rolls from public or private communal lavatories is an ageless problem causing a financial loss for the owner or operator of a lavatory.

[0003] Numerous devices have been proposed in attempts to overcome the problem.The success and/or the extent of the effectiveness or otherwise of these is difficult to quantify.My investigations have revealed many Letters Patent relating to such devices and I list here those I consider having some similarity to my device.U.S.A. Patents 3,584,802; 3,586,252; 2,908,252; 2,908,450; 3,010,670; 4,205,802 and 1,917,641.These,both individually and collectively,do not disclose a device such as mine.Further,the fact that there have been so many proposals support my view that despite this apparent wide choice there remains a need to be meet.Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a toilet tissue roll dispenser which will go someway considerable way toward overcoming the aforesaid pilfering problem and meet some of the apparent short comings with known devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet tissue roll dispenser comprising a housing having a base adpated for mounting to an in situ fixture and a cover displaceable relative to the base and operable between a closed mode defining,with the base,an interior void,the cover and base being lockable together in this closed mode to restrict,save as hereinafter defined,access thereto,and an open mode enabling unrestricted access to the interior void,the cover having a facia wall extending,in the closed mode, between end walls provided either both on the cover or the base or alternately one end wall on each of the cover and the base,axial means to rotatable support a plurality of toilet tissue rolls in axial alignment thereon,the axial support means being mounted at one end to either the cover or the base to extend in spaced apart relationship across an inner face of the base toward an end thereof and terminating with a distal section having a free end disposed inwardly clear of the associated end of the base,the axial support means being contained within the confines of the interior void of the dispenser when in the closed mode and the cover including a tissue dispensing opening in the facia wall thereof laterally opposite the distal section of the axial support means.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet tissue roll dispenser as defined in the preceding aspect of the invention wherein the axially support means is in the nature of a spear with a base of the spear being attached to an end wall of the cover,the other end wall being formed on the base to extend,in the closed mode,across the line of the longitudinal axis of the spear,and incorporating aperture centred substantially on that line and being dimensioned to enable a core element of a toilet tissue roll to be removed axially from the spear past the retention element,the distal section of the spear being spring loaded whereby with closing of the dispenser the end of spear can be retractable to pass within the confines of the end wall.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet tissue roll dispenser comprising a housing having a base adapted for mounting to an in situ fixture,a cover,having a facia wall extending between and integrally cojoining with end walls,articulately attached to the base and operable between a closed mode defining,with the base,an interior void,the cover and base being lockable together in this closed mode to restrict,save as hereinafter defined,access thereto,and an open mode enabling unrestricted access to the interior void,axial means to rotatable support a plurality of toilet tissue rolls in axial alignment thereon,the axial support means being attached at one end to a base mounted upstand to extend in spaced apart relationship across an inner face of the base toward an end thereof and terminating with a distal section having a free end set in from that associated end of the base with the axial support means and the upstand therefor being contained within the confines of the interior of the dispenser when in the closed mode and the cover including a tissue dispensing opening in the facia wall thereof laterally opposite the distal section of the axial support means.

[0007] According to a fourth aspect of this invention there is provided a toilet tissue roll dispenser as defined in the preceding aspect of the invention wherein an aperture is formed in the end wall adjacent to the free end of the axial support means, the aperture being centred,in the closed mode,substantially axially common with the axial support means thereby acting as a toilet tissue roll retention element extending across the axial line of the support means,the aperture being dimensioned to enable a core element of a toilet tissue roll to be removed axially therethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

[0008] In further describing this invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig.1 is a perspective view,in the open mode,of a first embodiment,and

FIg.2 is a perspective view,in the closed mode, of the dispenser of Fig.1,and

Fig.3 is a perspective view,in the open mode,of a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

[0009] Throughout the description of the two forms of the invention the same identifying numerals are used relative to the same elements.A toilet tissue roll dispenser 10 is preferably formed from a suitable rigid material such as a strong plastics material or metal with preferably stainless steel being utilised.

[0010] Referring to Fig 1 and Fig 2 a toilet roll holder comprises a housing 10 of two principal components being a base 38 and a cover 18.The base 38 and cover 18 together form,in a closed mode as depicted in Fig 2,an interior void or chamber indicated generally by arrow 3.on Fig 1 and Fig 3.The base 38 and cover 18 are displaceable relative to one another from this closed mode to an open mode as depicted in Fig 1 and Fig 3 with preferably to enable the base 38 and cover 18 being articulately attached such as by a hinge pins 5 formed on the lower end sections of base 38 rotatably but securely seated in an associated apertures 6 in an end wall 7 of cover 18.Locking means such as a suitable conventional latch and key device 26 are provided to secure the base 38 and cover 18 *together to restrict,save as hereinafter described,access to the interior void 3.

[0011] Base 38 is adapted for in situ mounting such as to a wall and to that end apertures 42 are formed therethrough,the apertures being formed in a section of the base 38 that is hidden when the dispenser is closed to prevent unauthorised acces thereto.In the form of the invention depicted in Fig 1 and Fig 2 base 38 incorporates a pedestal 6 preferably adjacent one end but as still to be within the interior void 3 or in other words within the confines of the cover 18 when closed.Pedestal 6 carries axial means 9 to rotatable support a plurality of toilet tissue rolls (depicted partly in phantom on Fig 2) in axial alignment thereon.In a plastics moulded form as depicted in Fig 1 the pedestal 6 includes a spear 12 on which is affixed,such as by an adhesive,a tubular (or part tubular;a longitudinal section,the rear section as viewed in the drawings,being omitted to facilitate moulding) element 9a axial means 9.Axial means 9 extends in spaced apart relationship across the inner face of the base 38 toward the end of base 38 opposite pedestal 6.Axial means 9 terminates with a distal section having a free end 9b set in from that end of the base 38.Preferably a shoulder 13 is incorporated partway along axial means 9 to locate a roll on the distal section thereof opposite an opening 15 in cover 18 as described hereinafter.The aperture 10 in base 38 enables moulding of base 38 including pedestal 6 with spear 12 as a unitary element.A strengthening upstand 11 is also preferably formed on base 38.

[0012] Cover 18 preferably has a facia wall 20 of a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape extending the length of the dispenser between and integrally conjoining with end walls 24.A tissue dispensing opening 15 is incorporated in facia wall 20 as to be laterally opposite the distal section of the axial support means 9. Preferably a viewing and finger access slot 37 is also incorporated in wall 20 for citing and displacing a replacement roll at the base end of the axial means 9.

[0013] Preferably an aperture 44 is provided in wall 24a,aperture 44 being centered,in the closed mode,substantially axially common with the axial support means 9 and being of a diameter marginally more than the diameter of a core element of a toilet tissue roll 8 on the axial means 9.Thus, in the closed mode while the housing prevents access to the interior void and the removal of any unspent or but partly spent rolls 8 the aperture 44 enables a core element of a spent toilet tissue roll to be removed axially therethrough.As aforesaid, a replacement roll can then be displaced along the axial means 9 in readiness for use.

[0014] Referring in particular to Fig. 3 base 38 incorporates an upstanding peripheral rim 40.and an end wall 7.Wall 7 incorporates an aperture 44 centred substantially on the line of the longitudinal axis of axial means 9 when the dispenser is closed.

[0015] Cover 18 has one end wall 24 only with a facia wall 20 extending therefrom.The facia wall 20 terminates well short of the opposing end of the dispenser to form opening 15.It is envisaged that an upper,when closed,section of cover 18 could be longitudinally extended to partially cover a toilet tissue roll 8 on the distal section of axial means 9.

[0016] Axial means 9 is formed by a full length spear 12 attached to end wall 24 of the cover 18.Spear 12 is attached by its base to the wall 24 of cover substantially centrally thereof.Spear 12 is preferably provided with an annular flange 30 at its base to strengthen the attachment with wall 24.At the distal end 9b spear 12 incorporates a spring 17 loaded retractable head 32 whereby with closing of the dispenser the length of spear 12 can be decreased to pass within the confines of wall 7. In the closed mode the spring loading extends the head into the aperture 44 in wall 7. It is envisaged that by so partly captivating this otherwise free end 9b vandalism caused by pulling on the distal end of the spear 12 will be less likely than would be the case with lack of such captivation.

[0017] Locking means 26 is preferably incorporated at or adjacent the longitudinal edge of facia wall 20 intermediate the ends thereof.Locking means includes a latch which locates under wall 40a on base 38 to lock the dispenser.Wall 20 incorporates a shoulder 36 disposed on an inner side thereof in adjacent parallel relationship to the longitudinal edge thereof.Shoulder 36 preferably extends along the length of wall 20 and acts as a stop against wall 40a of mounting base 38.

Claims

1. A toilet tissue roll dispenser comprising a housing having a base adapted for mounting to an in situ fixture and a cover displaceable relative to the base and operable between a closed mode defining,with the base,an interior void,the cover and base being lockable together in this closed mode to restrict,save as hereinafter defined,access thereto,and an open mode enabling unrestricted access to the interior void,the cover having a facia wall extending,in the closed mode,between end walls provided either both on the cover or the base or alternately one end wall on each of the cover and the base,axial means to rotatable support a plurality of toilet tissue rolls in axial alignment thereon,the axial support means being mounted at one end to either the cover or the base to extend in spaced apart relationship across an inner face of the base toward an end thereof and terminating with a distal section having a free end disposed inwardly clear of the associated end of the base,the axial support means being contained within the confines of the interior void of the dispenser when in the closed mode and the cover including a tissue dispensing opening in the facia wall thereof laterally opposite the distal section of the axial support means.

2. A toilet tissue roll dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axially support means is in the nature of a spear with a base of the spear being attached to an end wall of the cover,the other end wall being formed on the base to extend,in the closed mode,across the line of the longitudinal axis of the spear,and incorporating aperture centred substantially on that line and being dimensioned to enable a core element of a toilet tissue roll to be removed axially from the spear past the retention element,the distal section of the spear being spring loaded whereby with closing of the dispenser the end of spear can be retractable to pass within the confines of the end wall.

3. A toilet tissue roll dispenser comprising a housing having a base adapted for mounting to an in situ fixture,a cover,having a facia wall extending between and integrally conjoining with end walls,articulately attached to the base and operable between a closed mode defining,with the base,an interior void,the cover and base being lockable together in this closed mode to restrict,save as hereinafter defined,access thereto,and an open mode enabling unrestricted access to the interior void,axial means to rotatable support a plurality of toilet tissue rolls in axial alignment thereon,the axial support means being attached at one end to a base mounted upstand to extend in spaced apart relationship across an inner face of the base toward an end thereof and terminating with a distal section having a free end set in from that associated end of the base with the axial support means and the upstand therefor being contained within the confines of the interior of the dispenser when in the closed mode and the cover including a tissue dispensing opening in the facia wall thereof laterally opposite the distal section of the axial support means.

4. A toilet tissue roll dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein an aperture is formed in the end wall adjacent to the free end of the axial support means, the aperture being centred,in the closed mode,substantially axially common with the axial support means thereby acting as a toilet tissue roll retention element extending across the axial line of the support means,the aperture being dimensioned to enable a core element of a toilet tissue roll to be removed axially therethrough.

5. A toilet tissue roll dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the axial means incorporates a shoulder part way therealong to locate a roll on the distal section thereof.

6. A toilet tissue roll dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base mounting mounting means are disposed within the confines of the dispenser when closed.

Drawing