U.S. patent application number 11/278227 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for core replacement system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Global Plastics, a British Columbia General Partnership. Invention is credited to Brad Friesen, John Friesen, Matthew Friesen.
Application Number | 20060266873 11/278227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37462157 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060266873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friesen; John ; et
al. |
November 30, 2006 |
Core Replacement System
Abstract
A core replacement system for a dispenser of rolled sheet
material, having a core for supporting said rolled sheet material
and a part insertable in the core, wherein the core is
complementary to and engagable with the part such that it rotates
with the core. The core is preferably made of extruded plastic,
although injection molded plastic, metal or would also work. The
core replacement system enables manufacturers to control which
types or brands of paper are used with specified dispensers.
Inventors: |
Friesen; John; (Vancouver,
CA) ; Friesen; Brad; (Vancouver, CA) ;
Friesen; Matthew; (Surrey, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
600 PEACHTREE STREET , NE
ATLANTA
GA
30308
US
|
Assignee: |
Global Plastics, a British Columbia
General Partnership
Surrey
CA
|
Family ID: |
37462157 |
Appl. No.: |
11/278227 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60594360 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/596.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/3809 20130101;
A47K 10/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/596.7 |
International
Class: |
B65H 16/06 20060101
B65H016/06 |
Claims
1. A core replacement system for a dispenser of rolled sheet
material, comprising: (a) a core having a body around which can be
rolled a sheet material and a keyway extending into the body; and
(b) a core interface mountable to the dispenser and having an
extending key with a cross-section complementary to and engagable
with the keyway.
2. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least
part of the keyway and at least part of the key have
non-cylindrical cross-sections.
3. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the
interface comprises a plate for mounting to the dispenser and a
rotatable part rotatably mounted to the plate and comprising the
key.
4. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the
rotatable part has a rotational axis and the key extends parallel
to and off the rotatable part axis.
5. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the
keyway is located on the body such that the core rotates about the
centreline of the body when the core is mounted to the core
interface.
6. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the key
has a distal end with a pointed portion facing the rotatable part
axis.
7. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least
part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a circular
sector cross section.
8. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least
part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a
semi-circular cross section.
9. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the core
body has four keyways each having a quarter-circular cross
section.
10. A core replacement system as claimed in claim 2 wherein at
least part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a simple
polygonal cross-section.
11. A rolled sheet dispenser comprising: a housing and a core
interface mounted to the housing and having an extending key with a
cross-section complementary to and engagable with a keyway in a
core, the core having a body around which can be rolled a sheet
material and the keyway extending into the body.
12. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein at
least part of the keyway and at least part of the key have
non-cylindrical cross-sections.
13. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein the
interface comprises a rotatable part rotatably mounted to the
housing and comprising the key.
14. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein the
rotatable part has a rotational axis and the key extends parallel
to and off the rotatable part axis.
15. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein the
keyway is located on the body such that the core rotates about the
centreline of the body when the core is mounted to the core
interface.
16. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein the key
has a distal end with a pointed portion facing the rotatable part
axis.
17. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein at
least part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a
circular sector cross section.
18. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 17 wherein at
least part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a
semi-circular cross section.
19. A rolled sheet dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein at
least part of the key and at least part of the keyway have a simple
polygonal cross-section.
20. A method of manufacturing a core replacement system comprising:
(a) manufacturing a core having a body around which can be rolled a
sheet material and a keyway extending into the body by a method
selected from the group consisting of injection molding, extrusion,
and machining; and (b) manufacturing a core interface comprising a
plate mountable to a dispenser and a rotatable portion rotatably
mountable to the plate and having an extending key with a
cross-section complementary to and engagable with the keyway, by a
method selected from the group consisting of injection molding,
extrusion and machining.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional
application No. 60/594,360 filed on Mar. 31, 2005 and which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all
teachings, disclosures and purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to rolls of sheet material, such as
toilet paper and paper towels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many manufacturers and vendors of toilet paper and paper
towels provide, sell or lease dispensers to customers at subsidized
rates in the expectation that those customers will purchase paper
for the dispenser from that manufacturer. In this way, the customer
saves on the initial cost or investment in the dispensers and the
manufacturer is able to recoup money spent on the dispensers in the
form of profit from the sale of toiler paper and/or paper
towel.
[0004] Unfortunately, the temptation for customers is to accept the
subsidized dispenser and then purchase toilet paper and/or paper
towels from whoever offers the lowest price. Customers often buy
"specials" on paper and use it in substitution for the specified
paper, which is often slightly higher in price; this technique is
known as "stuffing".
[0005] Although efforts have been made in the prior art to develop
dispenser systems that address this problem, no satisfactory
solution has yet been found. Furthermore, in developing countries
where the cost of labour is relatively low, it is often more
economical for customers to pay employees to laboriously circumvent
such dispenser systems than to purchase paper from the manufacturer
or vendor that provided the dispenser in the first place.
[0006] Such substitution results in a financial loss to the paper
manufacturer. Furthermore, use of inferior grade paper may cause
degraded performance and result in a request for a greater number
of service calls and a greater rate of deterioration of the
dispenser.
[0007] Accordingly, paper manufacturers have an interest in
exercising control over the type of paper that is used in its
dispensers. Manufacturers have tried to prevent stuffing by
modifying standard cardboard cores, e.g. by using proprietary core
diameters, core widths, notched cores, or a combination thereof.
Unfortunately, these techniques have proven to be ineffective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
core replacement system for a dispenser of rolled sheet material
comprising a core and a core interface. The core has a body around
which can be rolled a sheet material and a keyway extending into
the body. The core interface is mountable to the dispenser and has
an extending key with a cross-section complementary to and
engagable with the keyway. At least part of the keyway and at least
part of the key can have non-cylindrical cross-sections. The core
is preferably made of extruded plastic, although injection molded
plastic, metal or wood would also work. The core replacement system
enables manufacturers to control the types or brands of rolled
sheet material that are used with specified dispensers.
[0009] The interface can comprise a plate for mounting to the
dispenser and a rotatable part rotatably mounted to the plate and
comprising the key. Alternatively, the interface can be molded
directly into the dispenser. The rotatable part has a rotational
axis and the key can extend parallel to and off the rotatable part
axis. The keyway can be located in a position on the body such that
the core rotates about the centreline of the body when the core is
mounted to the core interface. The key can have a distal end with a
pointed portion facing the axis of the rotatable part.
[0010] At least part of the key and at least part of the keyway can
have a circular sector cross section. More particularly, at least
part of the key and at least part of the keyway can have a
semi-circular cross section. Alternatively, the core body can have
four keyways each having a quarter-circular cross section. In
another alternative, at least part of the key and at least part of
the keyway can have a simple polygonal cross-section.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a rolled sheet dispenser comprising a housing and a core
interface mounted to the housing. The core interface has an
extending key with a cross-section complementary to and engagable
with a keyway in a core. The core has a body around which can be
rolled a sheet material and the keyway extends into the body.
[0012] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of manufacturing a core replacement system
comprising: [0013] (a) manufacturing a core having a body around
which can be rolled a sheet material and a keyway extending into
the body by a method selected from the group consisting of
injection molding, extrusion, and machining; and [0014] (b)
manufacturing a core interface comprising a plate mountable to a
dispenser and a rotatable portion rotatably mountable to the plate
and having an extending key with a cross-section complementary to
and engagable with the keyway, by a method selected from the group
consisting of injection molding, extrusion and machining.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention itself both as to organization and method of
operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof,
will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a core according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a transparent perspective view of the core shown
in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roll of paper wound around
the core;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a core interface
comprising a rotating part and a plate according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the core interface wherein
the rotating part and plate are assembled together;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the core interface engaging
the core shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view of the core interface
engaged with the core shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cutaway according to an embodiment view of the
core interface engaged with a prior art core; and
[0024] FIG. 9 show multiple cross-sectional views of a number of
alternative core embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Rather than a standard cardboard core and bung known in the
prior art, a core system 5 as shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 9 is provided
for use in a rolled sheet dispenser (not shown) in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention. The system 5 comprises a core 10
and a rotatable dispenser interface 15. The core 10 is a
cylindrical body over which a paper roll A is wound. The dispenser
interface 15 is mounted to the dispenser and rotatably engages the
core 10 such that the paper roll A can be rotated within the
dispenser. In a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the core
10 has a hollow cylindrical portion divided into four
longitudinally extending segments 40 by a pair of
longitudinally-extending planar portions intersecting inside the
cylindrical portion to form a "X" shaped cross section. Each
segment 40 serves as a keyway that can engage a complementary key
portion of the interface 15. While the core 10 shown FIGS. 1 to 3
has four segments 40 each being a quarter circular sector in
cross-section, it is within the scope of the invention for the core
10 to comprise a different number and/or shapes of segments 40; see
for example, the alternative embodiments of the core shown in FIG.
9.
[0026] The core 10 preferably made of extruded plastic. However,
the core 10 can also be made from injection molded plastic, metal
or wood, and can be manufactured by injection molding, extrusion,
or machining. The core 10 can also be made of cardboard at least
for some of the embodiments of the core shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and
9.
[0027] The present system 5 requires a paper manufacturer to use
the core 10 as the paper is being manufactured into rolls A.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interface 15 is mounted on the
dispenser and comprises an annular plate 20 and a rotating part 30.
The plate 20 is attached to the dispenser, e.g. by snapping into
place, or integrally molded into the dispenser. The rotating part
30 has a circular portion that snaps into the center of the plate
20 in a way that will allow the rotating part 30 to rotate freely
relative to the annular plate 20. The rotating part 30 also
comprises a key that extends longitudinally outwards from the
circular portion. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the key is shaped to
fit into one of the segments 40 of the core 10, and in particular
has a longitudinally-extending and curved surface corresponding to
the curvature of the core segment 40 and a distal end having a
circular sector cross section corresponding to the cross sectional
shape of the core segment 40. The distal end has a sharp point 50
pointing radially inwards towards the rotational axis of the
rotating part 30. The rotating part 30 key and the core 10 keyway
fit such that the roll A is supported properly and can rotate
freely within the dispenser.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 8, a dispenser equipped with the core
system 5 will prevent non-compatible rolls from working properly
with the dispenser, thereby dissuading the owner of the dispenser
from purchasing generic rolls. If a generic roll B having a
conventional hollow cylindrical cardboard core is placed in a
dispenser equipped with the core system 5, the generic roll will
not be supported properly and will tend to fall off. Also, the
sharp point 50 of the key will tend to dig into the cardboard of
the generic paper roll, thereby impeding the paper roll from
rotating properly.
[0029] Some other possible cross-sections that could be used for
the core 10 are shown in FIG. 9. A corresponding number and
configurations of parts 30, having shapes corresponding to the
cross-sectional shapes of the segments 50 shown in FIG. 9 will be
readily apparent to persons skilled in the art.
[0030] Accordingly, while this invention has been described with
reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not
intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications
of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of
the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon
reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that
the appended claims with cover any such modifications or
embodiments as fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *