Device for supporting a roll of material

Abstract

 Device for supporting a roll (10) of material having a hollow core (11), comprising a base (1), a pair of roll supporting members (2,3) rotatably mounted on the base (1) between a roll supporting position and a roll application/removal position, and blocking means (16,17) for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members (2,3) beyond the roll supporting position. The roll supporting members (2,3) are provided to return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. The device further comprises a pair of counterweights (4,5) on the opposite side of the base (1) with respect to the roll supporting members (2,3) for enhancing their movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for supporting a roll of material according to the preamble of the first claim.

[0002] From US-B-6,328,253 a device for supporting a roll of material is known, which comprises a base and a pair of roll supporting members rotatably mounted on the base between a roll supporting position and a roll application/removal position. In the roll supporting position, ends of the roll supporting members face each other and extend into a hollow core of the roll, thereby supporting the roll. In the roll application/removal position, the ends of the roll supporting members are tilted upwards, thereby creating sufficient space for enabling passage of the roll. The device further comprises blocking means for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members beyond the roll supporting position. The roll supporting members are provided to return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity.

[0003] The device known from US-B-6,328,253 however has the disadvantage that the return of the roll supporting members from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position cannot be ensured. It appears that one or both of the roll supporting members may become stuck in the roll application/removal position.

[0004] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a device for supporting a roll of material with which the risk that the roll supporting members do not return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position can be reduced.

[0005] This aim is achieved according to the invention with a device showing the technical characteristics of the characterising part of the first claim.

[0006] The device according to the invention comprises a base and a pair of roll supporting members rotatably mounted on the base between a roll supporting position and a roll application/removal position. In the roll supporting position, ends of the roll supporting members face each other and can extend into a hollow core of the roll, thereby supporting the roll. In the roll application/removal position, the ends of the roll supporting members are tilted upwards with respect to the roll supporting position. In this upwards tilted position, the distance between the ends is such that passage of the roll between them is enabled. The device further comprises blocking means for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members beyond the roll supporting position. The roll supporting members are provided to return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. This movement is enhanced by a pair of counterweights on the opposite side of the base with respect to the roll supporting members. Each of these counterweights is connected in fixed relationship to one of the roll supporting members and is oriented such with respect to that roll supporting member that its movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity is enhanced.

[0007] An analysis of the problem of the prior art has shown that the weight of the roll supporting members needs to be considerable in order to obtain that they return to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. As a result of this considerable weight, the rotatable connection of the roll supporting members with the base experiences a large force, which puts tension on the rotatable connection. This tension can hamper the rotation, so that there is a high risk that the roll supporting members get stuck in the roll application/removal position. It is no solution to reduce the weight of the roll supporting members, since the weight then becomes insufficient to obtain the return to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity.

[0008] By providing the counterweights in the device of the invention, the weight on opposite sides of the connection between the roll supporting members and the base is more balanced with respect to the prior art and the tension on the rotatable connection is relieved. As a result, the risk that the roll supporting members get stuck can be severely reduced. Furthermore, because the weight is now divided on opposite sides of the connection, the weight of the roll supporting members themselves can be reduced with respect to the prior art, which can further avoid tension on the rotatable connection and hence reduce the risk that the roll supporting members get stuck.

[0009] The provision of the counterweights further has the advantage that the roll supporting members themselves no longer need to be shaped such that they will return to the roll supporting position under the influence of their own weight. As a result, their shape can be varied more freely, which leaves the designer with more options and makes the device of the invention more attractive to interior designers.

[0010] The construction of the device of the invention, with the roll supporting members which can be tilted upwards and return by themselves to their original positions, has the advantage that the application and removal of a roll becomes very simple. In order to apply the roll, the user simply brings the roll in horizontal orientation below the roll supporting members, pushes the roll upwards while moving the roll supporting members upwards to the roll application/removal position, until the top half of the roll has passed in between the roll supporting members and they engage into the hollow core of the roll, and finally drops the roll, which will automatically become supported on the roll supporting members which return to their roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. In order to remove the (empty) roll, the user simply pushes the roll upwards while moving the roll supporting members upwards to the roll application/removal position, until the roll passes in between them.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, the weight of the counterweights is substantially the same as that of the roll supporting members. This has the advantage that the weight on opposite sides of the rotatable connection with the base is optimally balanced and tension on this connection is avoided as much as possible.

[0012] In one embodiment of the device of the invention, the roll supporting members are substantially L-shaped with one leg extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the base and the other extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base and forming the end for supporting the roll. In another embodiment of the device of the invention, the roll supporting members are substantially T-shaped with a base leg extending substantially perpendicular to the base and a cross leg extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base and having one end forming the end for supporting the roll and another end for obtaining a symmetrical appearance, which can be aesthetically pleasing. These embodiments show the freedom in designing the shape of the roll supporting members. The roll supporting members can furthermore have any other shape which is deemed suitable by the skilled person.

[0013] As mentioned above, the counterweights are oriented such with respect to the roll supporting members that they enhance the return of these members from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position. Furthermore, these counterweights are preferably fixed in such a way to the roll supporting members that, in the roll supporting position, their centre of gravity is located below a plane which is perpendicular to the base and contains the ends of the roll supporting members when in the roll supporting position. In the above described embodiments with L-shaped or T-shaped roll supporting members, this means that the counterweights extend downwards (in slanting direction or vertical) with respect to the level of the connection between the roll supporting members and the base. In this way, the orientation of the counterweights can be optimised for enhancing the return of the roll supporting members and the risk of their getting stuck can be further minimised.

[0014] The device according to the invention preferably comprises a casing which encloses the counterweights and the blocking means. The front plate of this casing forms the base of the device. In case the device is to be mounted on a tiled wall, for example in a bathroom or a toilet, the designer has the option of using a wall tile as the front plate of the casing, so that the only visible parts of the device are the roll supporting members.

[0015] The blocking means of the device according to the invention are preferably formed by a pair of supports in a sound-deadening material, such as for example a rubber, a plastic material or any other sound-deadening material known to the person skilled in the art. This has the advantage that the noise which is created by the counterweights falling onto the blocking supports when the roll supporting members return to the roll supporting position can be dampened.

[0016] The device according to the invention is generally adapted for supporting a roll of material having a hollow core and having dimensions within given limits. Different embodiments of the device of the invention can be adapted for supporting either a roll of toilet paper, a roll of kitchen paper, a roll of aluminium foil or plastic foil, etc. Other embodiments of the device of the invention can be adapted for supporting industrial rolls, such as for example rolls of sheet metal, etc.

[0017] The invention will be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures.

[0018] Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a top view and a front view of a first embodiment of the device for supporting a roll of material according to the invention.

[0019] Figures 3 and 4 respectively show a top view and a front view of a second embodiment of the device for supporting a roll of material according to the invention.

[0020] Figures 5 and 6 respectively show a front view and a side view of a third embodiment of the device for supporting a roll of material according to the invention.

[0021] The device of figures 1 and 2 is adapted for supporting a roll of toilet paper 10. It comprises a base 1 and a pair of roll supporting members 2, 3 rotatably mounted in holes 18, 19 on the base 1 between a roll supporting position, shown in full lines in figure 2, and a roll application/removal position, shown in dotted lines in figure 2. In the roll supporting position, ends of the roll supporting members face each other and extend into the hollow core 11 of the roll 10, thereby supporting the roll. In the roll application/removal position, the ends of the roll supporting members are tilted upwards with respect to the roll supporting position. In this upwards tilted position, the distance between the ends is such that passage of the roll 10 between them is enabled. As a result, the roll 10 can be applied by bringing it underneath the roll supporting members 2, 3 and pushing it upwards until the top half of the roll 10 has passed between the roll supporting members 2, 3. Once empty, removal of the roll 10 simply requires pushing the roll 10 upwards until it has passed between the roll supporting members 2, 3.

[0022] The roll supporting members 2, 3 return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. This movement is enhanced by a pair of counterweights 4, 5 on the opposite side of the base 1 with respect to the roll supporting members 2, 3. Each of these counterweights is connected in fixed relationship to one of the roll supporting members and is oriented such with respect to that roll supporting member that its movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity is enhanced. Furthermore, these counterweights 4, 5 are preferably fixed in such a way to the roll supporting members 2, 3 that, in the roll supporting position, their centre of gravity is located below a plane which is perpendicular to the base and contains the ends of the roll supporting members 2, 3 when in the roll supporting position. This optimises the orientation of the counterweights 4, 5 for establishing the return of the roll supporting members 2, 3 to the roll supporting position. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, this is achieved in that the counterweights extend downwards in slanting direction from the holes 18, 19 in which the roll supporting members 2, 3 rotate towards the middle of the device. The counterweights 4, 5 are mounted in a downwards angle of about -45° with respect to the roll supporting members 2, 3, but this angle may vary between 0° or even a slight upwards angle and -90° (vertically depending) for this embodiment. In other embodiments, other shapes of the roll supporting members may be chosen and the shape, size and orientation of the counterweights may be correspondingly different.

[0023] The device of figures 1 and 2 further comprises blocking means 16, 17 for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members 2, 3 beyond the roll supporting position. These blocking means 16, 17 are formed by a pair of supports 16, 17 in a sound-deadening material, such as for example a rubber, a plastic material or any other sound-deadening material known to the person skilled in the art. This has the advantage that the noise which is created by the counterweights falling onto the blocking supports when the roll supporting members return to the roll supporting position can be dampened. The supports 16, 17 may however also be constructed in any other material, if the noise made by the counterweights 4, 5 hitting the supports 16, 17 is not an issue. Furthermore, the counterweights 4, 5 themselves may also be made in a sound-deadening material, or provided with a cover in such a material.

[0024] By providing the counterweights 4, 5 the weight on opposite sides of the holes 18, 19 in the base is more balanced. As a result, there is substantially no risk that the roll supporting members 2, 3 get stuck in the roll application/removal position. Furthermore, because the weight is now divided on opposite sides of the holes 18, 19, the roll supporting members 2, 3 themselves can have a lighter construction, which can further avoid tension on the rotation. In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the weight of the counterweights 4, 5 is substantially the same as that of the roll supporting members 2, 3, which has the advantage that the weight on opposite sides of the holes 18, 19 is optimally balanced. However, the weight of the counterweights 4, 5 may also be below or above that of the roll supporting members 2, 3.

[0025] In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the roll supporting members 2, 3 are substantially L-shaped with one leg 6, 7 extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the base 1 and the other 8, 9 extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base 1 and forming the end for supporting the roll. Because of the counterweights 4, 5, the roll supporting members themselves 2, 3 do not need to be shaped such that they will return to the roll supporting position under the influence of their own weight. As a result, their shape can be varied rather freely. For example, the roll supporting members 2, 3 could be substantially T-shaped, with the legs 8, 9 extending further outwards than shown to obtain a symmetrical appearance, which can be aesthetically pleasing. This shows the freedom in designing the shape of the roll supporting members 2, 3. The roll supporting members can furthermore have any other shape which is deemed suitable by the skilled person. For example, the ends of the roll supporting members 2, 3 could be on a lower or a higher level - in the roll supporting position - than the level of the holes 18,19.

[0026] The device of figures 1 and 2 comprises a casing 12, 13 which encloses the counterweights 4, 5 and the blocking means 16, 17. The front plate of this casing, which forms the base 1 of the device, is part of a front casing element 12, to which a back casing element 13 is fixed by means of screws 14, 15. The blocking supports 16, 17, which halt the roll supporting members 2, 3 in the roll supporting position, are fixed on the bottom of the back element 13 of the casing, but it is evident that their mounting level will vary with the shape and the orientation of the counterweights 4, 5. The casing may also have any other shape or construction deemed suitable to the person skilled in the art. The roll supporting members 2, 3 and the counterweights 4, 5 are preferably in metal, so that they can be welded together, but any other material and any other type of fixing can also be used, such as a plastic material, possibly with a metal reinforcement. The casing can also be in metal or another material.

[0027] The device of figures 3 and 4 is adapted for supporting a roll of kitchen paper 30. It comprises a base 21 and a pair of roll supporting members 22, 23 rotatably mounted in holes 38, 39 on the base 21 between a roll supporting position, shown in full lines in figure 4, and a roll application/removal position (not shown). In the roll supporting position, ends of the roll supporting members face each other and extend into the hollow core 31 of the roll 30, thereby supporting the roll. In the roll application/removal position, the ends of the roll supporting members are tilted upwards with respect to the roll supporting position. In this upwards tilted position, the distance between the ends is such that passage of the roll 30 between them is enabled. As a result, the roll 30 can be applied by bringing it underneath the roll supporting members 22, 23 and pushing it upwards until the top half of the roll 30 has passed between the roll supporting members 22, 23. Once empty, removal of the roll 30 simply requires pushing the roll 30 upwards until it has passed between the roll supporting members 22, 23.

[0028] The roll supporting members 22, 23 return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity. This movement is enhanced by a pair of counterweights 24, 25 on the opposite side of the base 21 with respect to the roll supporting members 22, 23. Each of these counterweights is connected in fixed relationship to one of the roll supporting members and is oriented such with respect to that roll supporting member that its movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity is enhanced. Furthermore, these counterweights 24, 25 are preferably fixed in such a way to the roll supporting members 22, 23 that, in the roll supporting position, their centre of gravity is located below a plane which is perpendicular to the base and contains the ends of the roll supporting members 22, 23 when in the roll supporting position. This optimises the orientation of the counterweights 24, 25 for establishing the return of the roll supporting members 22, 23 to the roll supporting position. In the embodiment shown in figures 3 and 4, this is achieved in that the counterweights extend downwards in slanting direction from the holes 38, 39 in which the roll supporting members 22, 23 rotate towards the middle of the device. The counterweights 24, 25 are mounted in a downwards angle of about -45° with respect to the roll supporting members 22, 23, but this angle may vary between 0° or even a slight upwards angle and -90° (vertically depending) for this embodiment. In other embodiments, other shapes of the roll supporting members may be chosen and the shape, size and orientation of the counterweights may be correspondingly different.

[0029] The device of figures 3 and 4 further comprises blocking means 36, 37 for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members 22, 23 beyond the roll supporting position. These blocking means 36, 37 are formed by a pair of supports 36, 37 in a sound-deadening material, such as for example a rubber, a plastic material or any other sound-deadening material known to the person skilled in the art. This has the advantage that the noise which is created by the counterweights falling onto the blocking supports when the roll supporting members return to the roll supporting position can be dampened. The supports 36, 37 may however also be constructed in any other material, if the noise made by the counterweights 24, 25 hitting the supports 36, 37 is not an issue. Furthermore, the counterweights 24, 25 themselves may also be made in a sound-deadening material, or provided with a cover in such a material.

[0030] By providing the counterweights 24, 25 the weight on opposite sides of the holes 38, 39 in the base is more balanced. As a result, there is substantially no risk that the roll supporting members 22, 23 get stuck in the roll application/removal position. Furthermore, because the weight is now divided on opposite sides of the holes 38, 39, the roll supporting members 22, 23 themselves can have a lighter construction, which can further avoid tension on the rotation. In the embodiment of figures 3 and 4, the weight of the counterweights 24, 25 is substantially the same as that of the roll supporting members 22, 23, which has the advantage that the weight on opposite sides of the holes 38, 39 is optimally balanced. However, the weight of the counterweights 24, 25 may also be below or above that of the roll supporting members 22, 23.

[0031] In the embodiment of figures 3 and 4, the roll supporting members 22, 23 substantially have the shape of a rounded L, with one leg 26, 27 extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the base 21 and the other 28, 29 extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base 21 and forming the end for supporting the roll. Because of the counterweights 24, 25, the roll supporting members themselves 2, 3 do not need to be shaped such that they will return to the roll supporting position under the influence of their own weight. As a result, their shape can be varied rather freely: the roll supporting members can have any other shape which is deemed suitable by the skilled person. For example, the ends of the roll supporting members 22, 23 could be on a lower or a higher level - in the roll supporting position - than the level of the holes 38,39.

[0032] The device of figures 3 and 4 comprises a casing 32, 33 which encloses the counterweights 24, 25 and the blocking means 36, 37. The front plate of this casing, which forms the base 21 of the device, is part of a front casing element 32, to which a back casing element 33 is fixed by means of screws 34, 35. The blocking supports 36, 37, which halt the roll supporting members 22, 23 in the roll supporting position, are fixed on the bottom of the back element 33 of the casing, but it is evident that their mounting level will vary with the shape and the orientation of the counterweights 24, 25. The casing may also have any other shape or construction deemed suitable to the person skilled in the art. The roll supporting members 22, 23 and the counterweights 24, 25 are preferably in metal, so that they can be welded together, but any other material and any other type of fixing can also be used, such as a plastic material, possibly with a metal reinforcement. The casing can also be in metal or another material.

[0033] The device of figures 3 and 4 is again adapted for supporting a roll of toilet paper 10. It comprises the following features in common with the device of figures 1 and 2, which will therefore not be described in detail here: the base 41 with holes 58, 59; the pair of roll supporting members 42, 43 rotatably mounted in holes 58, 59 between a roll supporting position and a roll application/removal position; the pair of counterweights 44, 45 connected in fixed relationship to one of the roll supporting members for enhancing their movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity; and the pair of supports 16, 17 in preferably a sound-deadening material as blocking means for preventing movement of the roll supporting members beyond the roll supporting position.

[0034] The device of figures 3 and 4 comprises a casing 52, 53 which encloses the counterweights 44, 45 and the blocking means 56, 57 and which is built into a wall tile 40 of for example a bathroom or a toilet. The front plate 52 of the casing is mounted against the front side of the wall tile 40 and the back element 53 is mounted in a large hole which is cut in the wall tile 40. Alternatively, the front casing element could be formed by the wall tile 40 itself, with then only two small holes cut into it for the roll supporting members 42, 43. In this way, the only visible parts of the device would be the roll supporting members 42, 43, protruding from the wall tile 40.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in figures 5 and 6, the back casing element 53 protrudes from the back side of the wall tile 40, which implies that a cavity has to be made in the wall on which the tile 40 with built-in device is to be mounted. In other embodiments, in which the tile may for example have a higher thickness, the back casing element 53 can also be flush with the back side of the wall tile 40.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a roll (10; 30) of material having a hollow core (11; 31) and having dimensions within given limits, the device comprising a base (1; 21; 41), a pair of roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) rotatably mounted on the base (1; 21; 41) between a roll supporting position in which ends of the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) face each other and a roll application/removal position in which the ends of the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) are tilted upwards with respect to the roll supporting position, and blocking means (16-17; 36-37; 56-57) for preventing downwards movement of the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) beyond the roll supporting position, the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) being provided to return from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity, characterised in that the device further comprises a pair of counterweights (4-5; 24-25; 44-45) on the opposite side of the base (1; 21; 41) with respect to the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43), each counterweight (4-5; 24-25; 44-45) being connected in fixed relationship to one of the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) and being oriented such with respect to that roll supporting member (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) that its movement from the roll application/removal position to the roll supporting position under the influence of gravity is enhanced.

2. A device for supporting a roll of material according to claim 1, characterised in that each counterweight (4-5; 24-25; 44-45) has a weight which is substantially the same as that of the roll supporting member (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) to which it is connected.

3. A device for supporting a roll of material according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) are substantially L-shaped with one leg (6-7; 26-27) extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the base (1; 21; 41) and the other leg (8-9; 28-29) extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base (1; 21; 41) and forming the end for supporting the roll.

4. A device for supporting a roll of material according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) are substantially T-shaped with a base leg extending substantially perpendicular to the base (1; 21; 41) and a cross leg extending at a predetermined distance substantially parallel to the base (1; 21; 41) and having one end forming the end for supporting the roll and another end for obtaining a symmetrical appearance.

5. A device for supporting a roll of material according to any one of the claims 1-4, characterised in that in the roll supporting position, the ends of the roll supporting members (2-3; 22-23; 42-43) define a perpendicular plane with respect to the base (1; 21; 41), and that the centre of gravity of each counterweight (4-5; 24-25; 44-45) is located below this perpendicular plane in the roll supporting position.

6. A device for supporting a roll of material according to any one of the claims 1-5, characterised in that the base (1; 21; 41) is the front plate of a casing which encloses the counterweights (4-5; 24-25; 44-45) and the blocking means (16-17; 36-37; 56-57).

7. A device for supporting a roll of material according to claim 6, characterised in that the front plate of the casing is formed by a wall tile (40).

8. A device for supporting a roll of material according to any one of the claims 1-7, characterised in that the blocking means (16-17; 36-37; 56-57) comprise a pair of supports in a sound-deadening material.

9. A device for supporting a roll of material according to any one of the claims 1-8, characterised in that the device is adapted for supporting either a roll of toilet paper, a roll of kitchen paper, a roll of aluminium foil or plastic foil.

10. A device for supporting a roll of material according to any one of the claims 1-8, characterised in that the device is adapted for supporting industrial rolls.

Drawing