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(11) | EP 0 599 493 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Kitchen roll dispenser |
| (57) Kitchen-roll dispenser comprising a body formed by two sides (1), between which a
recess (4) is formed into which a roll (6) of kitchen sheet material can be rotatably
located. The body is divided into three sections (4,8,9), the lowermost section (4)
defining said recess, and the top two sections (8,9) forming two compartments, one
directly on top of the other. Each compartment (8,9) houses a slidable drawer (10,11),
and is adapted to retain rolls (16,17) of kitchen sheet material of any desired type. |
[0002] More particularly the present invention relates to a kitchen-roll dispenser for aluminium foil, cling film and kitchen paper, which provides a series of advantages in terms of practicality and efficiency, over prior art dispensers.
[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a kitchen-roll dispenser comprising a body formed by two sides, between which a recess if formed into which a roll of kitchen sheet material can be rotatably located characterised in that the body is divided into three sections, the lowermost section defining said recess and the top two sections forming two compartments, one directly on top of the other, each compartment housing a slidable drawer and being adapted to retain rolls of kitchen sheet material of any desired tyre.
[0004] The aforementioned kitchen-roll dispenser is advantageous for use in the pantry and kitchen besides being aesthetically pleasing.
[0005] The construction of the present invention has the advantage that compartments for sheet material such as aluminium foil and cling film rolls, are defined by drawers which can be pulled out from the front, thus greatly assisting in the insertion and replacement of the respective kitchen-rolls.
[0006] The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is an exploded side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, with one of the drawers opened.
[0007] The kitchen-roll dispenser constructed according to the present invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a body having two sides (1), a lower back edge of end side (1) being slanted so as to taper down to a region (2) which defines a U-shaped protuberance (3) with an internal recess (4) designed for housing a roller (5) for supporting a kitchen-paper roll (6).
[0008] The aforementioned body is subdivided for practicality into three sections, the bottom section being completely open as to provide a space (7) for accommodating the aforementioned kitchen-paper roll (6) and the two upper sections forming two compartments (8) and (9), one directly atop the other, with front openings for two sliding drawers (10) and (11) drawer each having an L-shaped cross-sectional structure as viewed from the side, with a vertical front and a generally longitudinal base extending rearwardly therefrom. Two flexible tabs are provided, one at each side of the front of each drawer, projecting rearwardly of and perpendicular to the front of the drawer, these tabs (12) having external surfaces with a rectangular section which has a high relief and a series of grooves (13), these rectangular sections being insertable under pressure in corresponding openings (14) made in the sides of the body when the drawers are closed, thus ensuring that said drawers close firmly, the aforementioned high relief and grooved rectangular sections constituting side decorative elements (cf Fig. 3) for the dispenser.
[0009] The base of each of the drawers (10) and (11) is fitted with a wedge-shaped rear support (15) for improved insertion and handling of aluminium foil (16) and cling film rolls. The front part is fitted with housings for the free insertion of a roller (18) which will facilitate dispensing of aluminium foil and cling film.
[0010] The front of each of the drawers (10) and (11) has on its front face at the top, an L-shaped track (19) running lengthwise, and at the bottom, a slot (20) running lengthwise. Directly above the horizontal slot (20) and running the length thereof, is a window (21).
[0011] The L-shaped tracks (19) are designed for the sliding of cutting elements for use in cutting aluminium-foil and cling-film. Said cutting elements are each composed of a part (22) recessed at the back, the top rear portion of each said part (22) having a notch (23) via which said part (22) can be coupled to one of the tracks (19), along which it can then slide. The top section (24) of the front surface of each part (22) is bevelled and the sides of said parts (22) have grooves (25) which facilitate gripping for handling. Below the recessed track and in the bottom section of each said part (22), are supports (26) for the horizontal mounting of a circular blade (27) which is positioned so as to coincide with slots (20) when the notch (23) is engaged on a track (19), the cutting blade then extending through a slot (20) so that its cutting edge can cut the aluminium foil or cling film as the cutting element is slid along track (19), the cutting blade thus sliding along the said slot (20).
[0012] In use the aluminium foil and cling film are dispensed through the windows (21) in the front part of the respective drawers (10) and (11): the foil/film extending over the horizontal slots (20) so that it can be cut by the circular blades (27) as said parts (22) are moved along tracks (19) from one end region of a drawer to the other.
[0013] The kitchen-roll dispenser of the present invention thus carries out in a practical, functional and efficient manner the intended functions, and provides a series of practical advantages and unique and innovative features, which together provide considerable advantage over the prior art constructions in this field.
1. A kitchen-roll dispenser comprising a body formed by two sides (1), between which
a recess (4) is formed into which a roll (6) of kitchen sheet material can be rotatably
located characterised in that the body is divided into three sections (4, 8, 9), the
lowermost section (4) defining said recess and the top two sections (8, 9) forming
two compartments, one directly on top of the other, each compartment (8, 9) housing
a slidable drawer (10, 11) and being adapted to retain rolls (16, 17) of kitchen sheet
material of any desired type.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each drawer (10, 11) has an L-shaped configuration
as viewed from the side, said configuration comprising a base and an upstanding drawer
front.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein a flexible tab (12) extends rearwardly
of each drawer (10, 11) from each side of the upstanding drawer front.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein each flexible tab (12) has a high relief
section (13) which engages in an aperture (14) in a side (1) of the body when the
drawer (10, 11) is pushed into one of the compartments (8, 9) to a drawer closed position.
5. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the base of each drawer
(10, 11) is provided with a wedge shaped support (15) for retaining a roll of kitchen
sheet material on said base.
6. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upstanding drawer
front has a window opening (21) through which kitchen sheet material can be dispensed.
7. A dispenser as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upstanding drawer front
has an L-shaped track (19) running along its front face in the upper region of the
front face, and a slot (20) running along the front face in the lower region of the
front face, with a window opening (21) being provided between the track (19) and slot
(20).
8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein a cutting element (24, 25) is mounted on
the L-shaped track (19) so as to be slidable therealong with a cutting blade (27)
extending through said slot (20), to thereby in use, cut dispensed material from a
roll of said material housed in a compartment (8, 9) by movement of the cutting element
(24, 25).