Dispenser assembly

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for dispensing backing materials, and more particularly, for dispensing a paper product provided in the form of a roll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] US 6,202,956 BI discloses a paper product dispenser assembly comprising a hub cap provided with a hub coupling member and a rear shield member that together form a single housing. The rear shell element is divided into a first rear shell element and a second rear shell element. The dispenser assembly further includes two dispensing elements, respectively positioned, in association with the first shell element and the second shell element, inside the rear shell. Manufacturers of undercoat dispensing devices, such as paper roll products, often face logistical challenges in trying to meet the needs of different types of customers. For example, manufacturers are required to manufacture, administer, distribute and maintain dispensers that require the user to manually pull out the end of the paper web, as well as hand-operated dispensers that automatically dispense paper by waving their hand in front of the sensor in the dispenser. Similarly, manufacturers must often take into account the needs of customers who prefer a dispenser designed for wall or counter top mounting, as well as the needs of those who prefer a dispenser designed for at least partial recesses into the wall. The resulting large range of dispensers that manufacturers must offer results, in turn, that manufacturers must produce a very large range of components for each type of dispenser, both for the initial production of each dispenser, and offer spare parts for maintenance purposes. The complexity of administering large sets of components and a large range of dispensers is often a serious obstacle.

[0003] In addition to the above, customers often change their dispenser preferences and require dispenser manufacturers or distributors

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-2ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI attempting to replace one type of dispenser with another type. For example, and without limitation, the customer may need to replace the manual type dispenser with a hands-free dispenser. This task is often complicated and therefore expensive. Another example is a customer who wishes to install a manual or non-manual dispenser as a recessed dispenser using the recessed frame of an existing recessed dispenser for folded towels.

[0004] To protect against such a scenario, manufacturers are required to manufacture and store various types of additional dispenser components that will be used when installing a new dispenser depending on the dimensions and shape of an existing recessed folding towel dispenser. The resulting installation is usually a complicated, expensive process and results in the newly installed dispenser being aesthetically undesirable. For example, a newly installed dispenser may be offset rather than centered relative to the recessed frame behind it.

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to have dispenser systems that eliminate these and other disadvantages of conventional paper product dispensers.

SUMMARY [0006] The invention includes at least the features of claim 1, wherein a paper product dispenser assembly is provided. This assembly has a hubcap that includes a hubcap engaging element as well as a first rear shielding member that is configured to selectively engage with the hubcap. The first rear sheath element has a first engaging element that cooperates with a hub engaging element to removably engage the hub and the first rear sheath element. The first rear casing element and hubcap together define a first housing which is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The second rear shield member of the assembly is configured to selectively engage the hub cap instead of the first rear shield member.

[0007] The second rear sheath element has a second engaging element which

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-3ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI cooperates with the hub coupling member to removably couple the hub and the second rear shield member. The second back cover element and hubcap together define a second housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The assembly also includes a dispensing element that is at least partially disposed in the first housing or the second housing and which is adapted to selectively dispense the paper product from the first housing or the second housing, respectively.

[0008] The first rear casing element has a first pair of opposed side walls, a first rear wall extending between the first pair of side walls, and at least one resilient side tab which extends outwardly from one of the first pair of side walls and is configured to engaging with one or both of the outer side walls of the cavity to mount the first rear shield member within the cavity. The first rear cover element further includes a front opening, as well as a front panel that surrounds this front opening. The second rear shielding element has a second pair of opposed side walls, as well as a second rear wall that extends between the second pair of side walls, and a mounting element on the second rear wall for mounting the second rear shielding element on the outer wall.

[0009] In specific embodiments, there are no fasteners on the selectively detachable coupling between the hubcap and the first rear shielding element, as well as between the cap and the second rear shielding element. Additionally or alternatively, the hub coupling member may include a male coupling member, and each of the first and second coupling members may include a respective female coupling member that is adapted to engage the male member for selective, detachable coupling between the hub and the first rear shield member, and between the hubcap and the second rear cover element. The male coupling element may further comprise a spring member for snap engagement between the male coupling member and the female coupling member.

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[0010] In specific embodiments, the latch engagement comprises a hub cap that is locked in place relative to the first rear cover element or to the second rear cover element. The assembly may further include a pair of roller support arms, each configured to support the end of a paper product roll, the first and second rear sheath members having a respective pair of roller support connectors, and each of the roller support connectors is configured to selectively detachably engage with one of roller support arms. One or more of the roller support connectors may include a female element and one or more of the roller support arms may include a female element that is configured to enter the interior of the female element.

[0011] The coupling between the roller support connectors and the roller support arms may be free of fasteners. Additionally or alternatively, each of the roller support arms may include an arm spring member that is configured to bend after the coupling of one of the roller support arms with a respective one of the roller support connectors. The arm spring member may be configured to lock the roller support arm that includes the spring member relative to the roller support arm with which the roller support arm is coupled. In specific embodiments, one or more of the roller support arms has a guide member that is configured to limit the number of possible orientations of the roller support arm for engagement with one of the roller support connectors.

[0012] The dispensing member may include a paper feed rod, and each of the first rear sheath element and the second rear sheath element may include a top wall and an opposing bottom wall both extending respectively between a pair of side walls of the first rear curtain element and between the second a pair of side walls of the second rear cover element, the bottom wall having a cut-out that defines an opening in the bottom wall, which is adapted to allow the paper feed rod to pass through and out of the first or second housing.

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[0013] In addition, the assembly may include a bottom console that is configured to selectively detachably engage the bottom wall, the bottom console comprising a protruding portion that is configured to engage the notch so as to close the hole in the bottom wall. In specific embodiments, the at least one resilient side tab includes a fastener hole that is adapted to pass through the fastener to mount the first rear shield member on one or both of the outer side walls of the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the first pair of sidewalls may include an installation guide slot that is adapted to allow viewing, from inside the first rear cover element, an installation mark on an adjacent one of the outer side walls.

[0014] The first rear casing element may comprise a bottom wall extending between the first pair of side walls, and a bottom plate adjacent and spaced from the bottom wall, the bottom plate having a first and second bottom plate elements that are movable with respect to each other, to allow the depth of the bottom plate to be adjusted. Additionally or alternatively, each of the first and second rear walls, respectively of the first and second rear sheath members, may include a hole for a conduit that is adapted to pass through the conduit therethrough to supply energy to the dispensing member.

[0015] The dispensing member may include a sensor and a processor, the sensor being configured to detect the presence of the human body adjacent to the sensor, and the processor being configured to cause the paper product to dispense by the dispensing member in response to detection by the sensor. The dispensing member may include a paper feed rod, which can be manually actuated to cause the paper product to be dispensed after the paper feed rod has been selectively actuated. In specific embodiments, the hubcap has a metal outer surface. The first rear cover element includes a front opening and may include a metal front panel that surrounds this front opening. Additionally or alternatively, also the second rear cover element may have a metal outer surface.

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[0016] In another non-claimed embodiment, the paper product dispenser assembly includes a hubcap that has a metal outer surface and a male coupling member. The first rear sheath element of this assembly is configured to selectively engage with the hubcap, the first rear sheath element having a first female coupling member that cooperates with a plug coupling element for a detachable coupling-free coupling between the hubcap and the first rear shielding member. . The first rear casing element and hubcap together define a first housing which is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein.

[0017] The assembly also includes a second rear sheath element that has a metal outer surface and which is configured to selectively engage with the hub cap instead of the first rear sheath element. The second rear shielding element has a second female coupling element which cooperates with a male coupling element for releasable coupling between the hubcap and the second rear shielding element. The second back cover element and hubcap together define a second housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The dispensing element of the assembly is at least partially housed in a first housing or in a second housing and is adapted to selectively dispense a paper product from a first housing or a second housing, respectively.

[0018] The first rear casing element has a first pair of opposed side walls, a first rear wall extending between the first pair of side walls, and at least one resilient side tab which extends outwardly from each first pair of side walls. The resilient side tongues are configured to engage the outer side walls of the cavity for mounting the first rear shield member in the cavity. The first rear cover element further includes a front opening and a metal front panel that surrounds the front opening. The second rear shielding element has a second pair of opposing side walls, a second rear wall that extends between the second pair of side walls, and at least one opening for a fastener that passes through the second rear wall to mount the second rear shielding wall external.

[0019] In yet another non-claimed embodiment, a paper product dispenser assembly is provided that includes a hubcap having hubcap engagement means and a first rear casing member that is configured to selectively engage with the hubcap. The first rear sheath element has first coupling means that cooperate with the hub engaging means to removably engage the hub and the first rear sheath element, the first rear sheath element and the hub jointly defining a first housing that is adapted to hold the roller therein. paper product. The second rear shield member of the assembly is configured to selectively engage with the hub cap instead of the first rear shield member.

[0020] The second rear sheath element has second engaging means that cooperate with the hub engaging element to removably engage the hub and the second rear sheath element. The second back cover element and hubcap together define a second housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The assembly also includes means at least partially housed in the first housing or in the second housing for selectively dispensing the paper product from the first housing or from the second housing, respectively. The first rear shielding element has a first pair of opposed side walls, a first rear wall that extends between the first pair of side walls, and elastic means protruding outwardly from at least one of the first pair of side walls and configured to engage with one or both the outer side walls of the cavity for mounting the first rear cover member within the cavity.

[0021] The first rear cover element further includes a front opening as well as a front panel that surrounds this front opening. The second rear shielding element has a second pair of opposed side walls, a second rear wall that extends between the second pair of side walls, and mounting means on the second rear wall for mounting the second rear shielding element on the outer wall. The hub coupling means and the first coupling means in specific non-claimed embodiments define free from the fastener

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-8ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI coupling between hubcap and first rear shielding element. Additionally or alternatively the hub coupling means and the second coupling means may define a coupling-free coupling between the hub and the second rear sheath element.

[0022] In another non-claimed embodiment, a paper product dispenser is provided that includes a hub cap having a hub coupling member. The rear casing element of the dispenser is configured to engage with the hubcap, wherein the rear casing element has a rear coupling element of the casing element, which cooperates with a coupling element of the cowl for releasably coupling the cap and rear casing element. The back cover element and the hub together define a housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The rear casing element has a pair of opposed side walls, a rear wall that extends between a pair of side walls, and at least one pair of resilient side tongues protruding outwardly from a pair of side walls.

[0023] The resilient side tabs are configured to engage the outer side walls of the cavity to mount the rear shield member in the cavity. A lower plate extends between the first pair of side walls. The dispenser also includes a dispensing element that is at least partially disposed in the housing and which is adapted to selectively dispense a paper product from inside the housing. The bottom plate has first and second bottom plate elements that are movable relative to each other so as to allow the depth of the bottom plate to be adjusted.

[0024] In specific non-claimed embodiments, the rear casing element includes a front opening and a front panel that surrounds the front opening. The front panel, if present, may be metal. Additionally or alternatively, each of the resilient side tabs may include a fastener hole that is adapted to pass through the fastener to mount the rear shield member to the outer side walls. In some non-claimed embodiments, at least one of the pair of side walls includes an installation guide slot that is adapted

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-9ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI to allow viewing from the inside of the rear shielding element of the installation mark adjacent to one of the outer side walls.

[0025] The rear wall in specific non-claimed embodiments includes a conduit opening that is adapted to pass through the conduit therethrough. The dispenser may further include a bottom wall that extends between the pair of side walls and which is disposed within the rear skirt. The bottom wall includes a cut-out that defines an opening in the bottom wall that is configured to allow part of the dispensing member to pass through it. The dispenser may also include a bottom console that is configured to removably engage the bottom wall, the bottom console comprising a protruding portion that is configured to engage the notch and thereby close the hole in the bottom wall.

[0026] The bottom console may be configured to be free to engage the bottom wall. In some non-claimed embodiments, the releasable coupling between the hubcap and the rear sheath is free of the fastener. In these or other non-claimed embodiments, the hub cap coupling or rear cover coupling member comprises a plug element, and the second hub coupling member or rear cover coupling member comprises a female element, the female element configured to receive the male element. The plug element may comprise a resilient element for latching engagement between the plug element and the female element. The latch engagement between the plug element and the female element may further comprise a hubcap locked in place relative to the rear shielding element.

[0027] The dispenser may further include a pair of roll support arms, each of which is configured to support the end of a roll of paper product. The rear sheath element may include a pair of roller support connectors, each of which is configured to selectively, detachably engage one of the roller support arms. Each of the pair of roller support couplings may include a female member, and each of a pair of support arms

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- 10ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI of the roller may include a plug element that is configured to enter the female element.

[0028] The coupling between each of the pair of support rollers and one of the pair of support rollers may be free of fasteners. Furthermore, in specific non-claimed embodiments, each of the pair of roller support arms includes an arm spring member that is configured to flex when engaged between one of the roller support arms and the respective one of the roller support connectors. The arm spring member may be configured to lock the roller support arm that includes the spring member relative to the roller support arm with which the roller support arm is coupled. Additionally or alternatively, each of the pair of roller support arms may have a guide member that is configured to limit the number of possible orientations of this roller support arm to engage with one of the roller support connectors.

[0029] In another non-claimed embodiment, a paper product dispenser is provided that includes a hub cap having hub coupling means. The dispenser also includes a rear sheath element that is configured to engage the hubcap, said rear sheath element having rear coupling means of the sheath element that cooperate with the hub coupling means to removably engage the hub and rear sheath element. The back cover element and the hub together define a housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein.

[0030] The rear sheath element has a pair of opposing side walls, a rear wall that extends between the pair of side walls, and elastic means that protrude outward from at least one of the side walls and are configured to engage with one or both the outer side walls of the recess for mounting the rear cover element in the recess. The bottom plate extends between the pair of side walls, and the dispensing element is at least partially located inside the housing and is adapted to selectively dispense a paper product from inside the housing. The bottom plate has first and second bottom plate elements that are slidable relative to each other

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- allow the depth of the bottom plate to be adjusted.

[0031] In yet another non-claimed embodiment, the paper product dispenser comprises a cap having a hub coupling member and a rear casing member that is configured to engage with the hub cap. The rear casing element has a rear casing element coupling that cooperates with a hubcapping element to removably engage the hubcap and the rear casing element. The back cover element and the hub together define a housing that is adapted to hold a roll of paper product therein. The rear casing element has a pair of opposed side walls, a rear wall that extends between a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall that extends between a pair of side walls.

[0032] The dispensing element of the dispenser is at least partially housed in a housing and is adapted to selectively dispense a paper product from inside the housing. The dispenser also includes a bottom console that is configured to selectively detachably engage the bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a notch that defines an opening in the bottom wall that is adapted to allow part of the dispensing member to pass through it and out of the housing. The bottom console includes a protruding portion that is configured to engage the notch so as to close the hole in the bottom wall.

[0033] The rear casing element may include a front panel that surrounds the front opening of the rear casing element. The front panel may be metal. In specific non-proprietary embodiments, each of the pair of side walls includes a resilient side tab having a fastener opening that is adapted to pass through the fastener to mount the rear shield member to the outer side walls of the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the pair of side walls includes an installation guide slot that is adapted to allow viewing from the inside of the rear shield element of the installation mark on an adjacent one of the outer side walls of the cavity.

[0034] In specific non-claimed embodiments, the rear wall comprises a conduit opening that is adapted to pass through.

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- 12ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI through it. The bottom console can be configured to engage the bottom wall free of the fastener. In specific non-claimed embodiments, the releasable coupling between the hubcap and the rear shielding element is free of the fastener. In specific non-proprietary embodiments, the hub cap engaging element or rear shroud member coupling comprises a plug element and the second hub enclosure coupling element or rear shield member engaging element includes a female element, the female element configured to receive the male element.

[0035] The male element may comprise a resilient member for latching engagement between the male element and the female element. The latch engagement between the plug element and the female element in some non-claimed embodiments includes a hubcap locked in place relative to the rear shielding element. The dispenser may also include a pair of roll support arms, each configured to support the end of a paper product roll, the rear shield member comprising a pair of roll support connectors, each configured to selectively detachably engage one of a pair of roll support arms.

[0036] In some embodiments, each of the pair of roller support connectors includes a female member and each of the pair of roller support arms includes a male component that is configured to enter the female component. Coupling between each of the pair of support rollers and one of the pair of support rollers may be free of fasteners. Each of the pair of roller support arms may include an arm spring member that is configured to flex when engaged between one of the roller support arms and the respective one of the pair of roller support connectors.

[0037] Additionally or alternatively, the arm spring member may be configured to lock the roller support arm, which includes the spring member, relative to the roller support arm with which the roller support arm is coupled. In specific embodiments, each of the pair of arms

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- the roller support roller has a guide element that is configured to limit the number of possible orientations of each roller support arm relative to one of the roller support connectors to engage with this roller support connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0038] These objects and features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper product dispensing system or assembly provided in the form of a roll, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing or cover of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the housing of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another housing or housing of the system with

FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partially schematic perspective view of the dispensing member of the system of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispensing member of the system of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the partially dismantled housing of FIG. 2, 2Ai 3.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rear casing member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the partially dismantled housing of FIG. 4, 5 and 8.

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FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the coupling between the hub cap and the rear cover element of the system of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 12A-12A in FIG. 12, illustrating the coupling between the plug and socket elements of the hubcap and the rear shielding element.

FIG. 12B is a view similar to FIG. 12A, further illustrating the coupling between the plug and socket elements of the hubcap and the rear shielding element.

FIG. 12C is a view similar to FIG. 12Ai 12B, illustrating the hubcap and rear shield member in the coupled condition.

FIG. 13 A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cap and rear cover element of FIG. 12A-12C in the coupled state.

FIG. 13B is a view similar to FIG. 13A, illustrating the rotational displacement of the cap of FIG. 13 A.

FIG. 14A is another perspective view of the rear cover element of FIG. 10, seen from its rear side.

FIG. 14B is a view similar to FIG. 14A, illustrating the bottom plate of the rear protective element in the extended condition.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rear cover element of FIG. 10, illustrating the coupling of the lower console to the rear shroud.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the rear cover element of FIG. 4, 5 and 8 illustrating the coupling of the bottom console of FIG. 15 with rear cover.

FIG. 16B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 16A, showing the lower console already coupled to the rear shroud.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of the support arm of the roller of the system of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17B is another perspective view of the roller support arm with

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FIG. 17As from the back.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the support arm of the system roller of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19A is a plan view showing the inside of the housing of the system of FIG. 1 dispensing paper product from a roll in the first orientation.

FIG. 19B is a view similar to FIG. 19A showing the dispensing of the paper product from a roll in a second orientation.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the housing of the system of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21 is an elevational view of the housing of FIG. twenty.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the housing of FIG. 20 and 21.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 20, 21 and 22.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 20, 21, 22 and 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0039] To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of a term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this written document is decisive. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology used in this document are for the purpose of description and should not be construed as limiting. The use of terms such as embracing, containing or possessing and their variations in this document should be understood to include the following elements and their equivalents, as well as additional elements. Unless otherwise specified or otherwise, the terms "mounted", "connected", "supported" and "coupled" and variations thereof are widely used and include both direct and indirect fixings, connections, supports and couplings. Furthermore, 'connected' and 'coupled' are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0040] With reference to the figures, and in particular to FIGs 1-8, an illustrative arrangement or

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- the dispensing assembly 10 shown in these figures is configured to dispense the paper product, which is provided in the form of a roll. As used herein, the term "paper product" and associated terms refer to a thin backing made of cellulose fiber paper, and also refers to other dry or wet backing made, for example, of nonwoven material. The system 10 comprises a hubcap or cover 12 that is selectively coupled to one of two different rear shielding elements 20, 24, which also form part of the system 10. The selective coupling between the hubcap 12 and one of the other two rear protective elements 20, 24 effectively determines together a cover or housing in which the paper product roll 26 can be supported.

[0041] In one embodiment, particularly shown in FIG. 2, 2A and 3, the rear sheath element 20 and the cap 12 together define, upon engagement with the housing 30. The interior 31 of the housing 30 is configured to support, at least in part, the dispensing member DS, which is schematically shown in FIG. 3. In another embodiment, particularly shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the second rear cover element 24 and the cap 12 jointly define, upon engagement with each other, a housing 34, the interior of which 35 is also configured to support - at least in part - a dispensing element DS, which is also schematically shown in FIG. 5. The DS dispensing member which is supported in one of interiors 31 and 35 may be of the manual type, i.e. such that manual operation is necessary to cause the paper to be dispensed from roll 26, or alternatively it may be of the automatic type.

[0042] In particular with reference to FIG. 6, an exemplary automatic type dispensing element 39 is shown in this figure, which is of the "hands-free" type. The dispensing member 39 includes a sensor 40 that is configured to detect the presence of a part of the human body, such as a hand. After detecting a part of the human body, the sensor 40 is configured to generate a signal to the processor 42, located inside 31, 35 or outside the housing 30, 34, which in turn dispenses paper from the roll 26 through the dispensing element 39 outside the housing 30, 34.

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[0043] Referring now to FIG. 7 and 8, an exemplary manual type dispensing member 46 is shown in these figures, different from the dispensing member 39 of FIG. 6. In FIG. 8 schematically shows a dispensing member 46 supported within an exemplary housing 34. It should be taken into account, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, that the dispensing member 46 can also be supported within an exemplary housing 30. The dispensing member 46 comprises a manually actuated mechanism 48 that is actuated by a user exerting a force on the paper feed holder or rod 52 whose movement results in effective dispensing of a predetermined length of the paper product through the dispensing opening 54 of the housing 34. The paper feeding rod 52 projects out of bottom part 56 of housing 34, adjacent to dispensing opening 54.

[0044] An exemplary dispensing member 46 is in the form of a cassette that has a front wall 62, rear wall 64 and two side walls 66. The dispensing member 46 includes a pressure roller 70, a rotary drum and a rotary knife (not shown). The paper product web 26a is disposed to be fed from the paper product roll 26 and into the dispensing member 46 for subsequent dispensing from the dispensing opening 54 (FIG. 8). The dispensing member 46 further includes an access window 72 which in the open state is configured to provide access to the internal components of the dispensing member 46. The dosing element 46 is attached to the rear wall of the housing 34 by means of fasteners (not shown) or by means of a through-fastener free from fasteners similar to those described below in connection with a detachable fastener free of other components of the system 1. During by rotating opening of the cap 12 to allow loading of the paper product roll 26, it is also possible to access the dispensing element 46. Other features of exemplary dispensing member 46 can be found in US Patent No. 8,955,790, entitled DISPENSER, the content of which is directly incorporated herein by reference solely for the purpose of disclosing the cassette-related features that form part of the dispensing apparatus described herein.

[0045] As stated above, the hubcap 12 is selectively coupled to one of the two other rear skirt members 20, 24. Coupling the hubcap 12 to one

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- 18ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI of the two rear cover elements 20, 24 is of the detachable type and not of the permanent type. As used herein, the term "detachable coupling" and associated terms refer to a type of coupling in which the coupled structures can be easily disconnected, detached or otherwise separated from each other simply and without causing destruction or damage to any of these structures. By way of further explanation, the durable - and not "releasable" - type of coupling may refer, for example, to two structures that are integrally formed with each other or which are attached by means of glue so that their separation would necessarily result in at least some degree of damage to one or more separated parts.

[0046] In the example shown in FIG. 1-8, the detachable coupling between the hubcap 12 and the rear cover elements 20, 24 does not contain fasteners, which facilitates easy coupling with one hand of the hubcap 12 and the rear cover elements 20, 24. Therefore, the detachable coupling between the cap 12 and the rear the cover elements 20, 24 do not contain, for example, screws, bolts or rivets. It should be taken into account that, alternatively, the coupling between hubcap 12 and rear shield members 20, 24 may include one or more types of fasteners and may still be considered a detachable coupling rather than permanent.

[0047] Referring still to FIG. 1, 2, 2A and 3-8 and further referring to FIG. 9 - 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13A and 13B in the illustrative embodiments shown in these figures, the detachable coupling-free coupling between hubcap 12 and rear shielding elements 20, 24 is provided by plug-in coupling elements in the form of fingers 80, positioned along the edge 81 of the hood 12, which are embedded in the female coupling elements in the form of channels 84, disposed at appropriate locations within each of the rear skirt elements 20, 24. With particular reference to FIG. 12, 12A, 12B and 12C, each finger 80 enters into the respective one of the channels 84 (FIG. 12A) for latching engagement between the finger 80 and the channel 84. During insertion, the spring member 86 of the finger 80 is pressed as shown in FIG. 12B. After reaching a predetermined position within the channel 84, the raised stop 89 of the elastic member 86 snaps into place, passing through the locking hole 90 in the channel 84.

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- The coupling of the raised stop 89 to the surfaces defining the locking hole 90 effectively prevents the finger 80 from moving along the channel 84 in the direction along the longitudinal axis 84a of the channel 84 as well as in two directions that are perpendicular to this longitudinal axis 84a. . The coupling of the raised stop 89 to the surfaces defining the locking hole 90 locks the finger 80 in place and, more specifically, effectively prevents the inadvertent separation of the hubcap 12 from the rear cover element 20, 24 with which the hubcap 12 is coupled. The coupling of the raised stop 89 to the surfaces defining the locking opening 90 also effectively prevents the hood 12 from moving about relative to the rear skirt 20, 24 along the height, depth and width dimensions of the resulting housing 30, 34. Type of detachable coupling-free coupling between the hub 12 and the rear elements covers 20, 24 in the embodiment of FIG. 9-12, 12A, 12B and 12C is also advantageous in that the exact position of the hood 12 relative to the rear cover element 20, 24 with which the hood 12 is coupled is predetermined, which increases the ease of assembly as well as the positioning alignment between the hood 12 and the rear cover element 20, 24. More specifically, the exact position and orientation of the hood 12 relative to the rear skirt 20, 24 are determined by the respective positions of the raised stop 89 and the locking hole 90 that engage each other at a certain location along the channel 84.

[0049] Referring now specifically to FIG. 13A and 13B, these figures show a hinge engagement between the fingers 80 and the main cover part 12a of the cap 12. More specifically, each of the fingers 80 (one shown in the figures) includes a hinge 92 that allows the main cover part 12a of the cap 12a to rotate relative to the respective of the finger 80, and thus relative to the rear skirt 20, 24, to which the cap 12 is connected, substantially around the respective axis of the hinge 92. The rotary movement of the main cover part 12a allows the main cover part 12a to act as the door of the resulting housing 30, 34, effectively providing access to the interior 31, 35 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The latch member 94, located along the edge 96 of the hood 12 (FIG. 8), opposite the edge 81 (FIG. 9) of the hood 12, cooperates with a latch (not shown) of the rear cover element 20, 24 to further provide coupling between

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-20ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI with cap 12 and rear shielding elements 20, 24. The coupling of the latching element 94 with the catch effectively prevents undesirable rotation of the main cover part 12a of the cap 12.

[0050] While in the embodiments shown in the figures cited above, the hubcap 12 has two fingers 80 that mate with two respective channels 84 in the rear skirt 20, 24, variants must be considered. For example, the hubcap 12 and rear shielding elements 20, 24 may have respective fingers 80 and channels 84 in quantities other than these two embodiments in these figures. Similarly, the possibility of placing one or more fingers 80 inside or even outside the rear sheathing elements 20, 24 should be considered, while one or more cooperating channels 84 may form part of the cap 12. An additional alternative includes the cap 12 having both finger 80 and channel 84, which cooperate with channel 84 and the cap-forming part of the rear cover element 20, 24 respectively. In addition, the detachable, fastener-free coupling of hubcap 12 and rear shielding elements 20, 24 can be provided by non-illustrative construction elements, not limited to fingers 80 and channels 84 in the illustrated embodiments.

[0051] Referring in particular to FIG. 1, 2, 2A, 3, 9 and 10, exemplary rear skirt 20, shown in these figures, is configured to be inserted into the cavity and secured to a pair of outer side walls SW defining the cavity (FIG. 2A). To this end, the rear cover element 20 includes a pair of side walls 20a, each of which includes one or more resilient side tabs 100, which bend to a degree depending on the width of the cavity, i.e. distance D between the outer side walls SW (FIG. 2A). During assembly and in the depressed state by engagement with the outer side walls SW, the tabs 100 exert an opposite, outward force on the outer side walls SW, effectively holding the rear cover element 20 in place due to friction. While the rear housing 20 is supported by friction on the outer side walls SW, thus remaining in the desired location, the installer may be able to secure the rear housing 20 in place with one or more fasteners, such as screws (not shown). Fasteners are inserted, in this specific non-limiting example, through the holes

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-21 EP 3 310 231 BI

104 fastener elements that are positioned in tabs 100 and for engaging with external side walls SW. It should be taken into account that alternatively the holes 104 of the fastener may be located elsewhere on the side walls 20a of the rear skirt 20.

[0052] The number of tabs 100, as well as the material, shape and structure of which tabs 100 are composed, are selected so that they are sufficiently elastic so that they can be pressed upon engagement with the outer side walls of the SW during insertion of the rear cover element 20 into the alcove. In addition, the number of tabs 100, as well as the material, shape and structure forming these tabs 100 are selected so that when depressed, tabs 100 can exert enough force on the outer side walls SW, effectively supporting the weight of the rear shielding element 20 by frictional engagement with the outer walls side sw. In this regard, the rear cover element 20 may, for example, have a total of four tabs 100, two tabs 100 on each of the side walls 20a, the tabs 100 being made of metal, and more particularly of sheet steel about 1/16 inch thick. (about 1.6 mm), and each protrudes about 5/8 inches (about 16 mm) from the surface of the respective side wall 20a. In addition, each of the tabs 100 may be formed integrally with the adjacent side wall 20a. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each tab 100 is formed integrally with the side of the adjacent side wall 20a, has one connected end 100a and one free end 100b (i.e., cantilever supported) and has a height "h" of about 15/16 inches (about 24 mm) and a depth "d" (ie, a dimension parallel to the depth of the rear skirt 20) is about 70 mm. Other combinations of the number of tabs 100 as well as materials, shapes and construction configurations are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the specific details discussed above with respect to the illustrative tabs 100 are described rather by way of example , not in a restrictive sense. In addition, the dimensions of each tab 100 can be appropriately selected to include a range of widths, i.e. range of distance D between the outer side walls SW, which may vary in the range from about 5 mm to about 20 mm. For example, the tabs 100 may be configured to frictively support the rear weight

76P45072PL00

Cover element 20 on outer side walls SW having a distance D of about 380 mm between them as well as on outer side walls SW having a distance D of about 400 mm between them.

[0053] Still referring in particular to FIG. 1, 2, 2A, 3, 9 and 10, and further with reference to FIG. 14A and 14B, the rear shell element 20 further includes a bottom plate 110 that is adjustable in terms of the depth dimension DD of the rear shell element 20 to accommodate the installation of this rear shell element 20 in recesses of different depths. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the bottom plate 110 is made of two bottom plate elements 112, 114 that are slidable relative to each other so as to allow the bottom plate 110 to obtain continuous (rather than stepped) many available depths. An adjustable bottom plate 110 may be desirable to allow it to enter cavities of various depths and increase the stability of the dispenser installed in the cavity. More specifically, the bottom plate element 112 may be extended to contact the outer rear wall BW (FIG. 2A) of the cavity, this contact effectively helping to prevent inward movement (i.e. towards the rear wall BW) or even in pivoting the rear skirt 20 when installing and moving inwardly of the resulting housing 30 in use.

[0054] The rear cover element 20 in the illustrated embodiment also includes an installation guide slot 116 on one of the side walls 20a that allows viewing from the inside of the rear cover element 20 of a mark (not shown) on one of the outer side walls SW. This mark may, for example, correspond to the required height of the resulting dispenser to be installed, which is necessary to meet specific regulations. Alternatively, each of the two side walls 20a may include a respective guide slot 116. For example, before or during installation, the installer may measure and mark on one or both outer side walls SW, a regulatory based height of the dispenser relative to the ground. When inserting the rear cover 20 into the recess, the installer can raise or lower the rear cover 20 until the installation mark is seen through the installation guide slot 116. Tongues 100 would support the rear cover 20 thorns in place relative to the outer side walls SW, and the installer can then screw in or other

76P45072PL00

-23ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI fastener through each fastener hole 104 and through the SW side walls. A screw or other fastener could in turn secure the rear shield member 20 in place in the recess. In addition, the cable opening M is located on the rear wall 20b, extending between the side walls 20a, and is configured to allow passage of the power cord and / or other wiring to provide power and / or communication with various components inside the housing 30. For example, a feed line configured to supply energy to the dispensing member, such as exemplary dispensing members 39 and 46, respectively, in FIG. 6 and 7.

[0055] The various features described above allow relatively easy, quick and in some cases one-handed installation of the rear cover element 20 in the cavity and a settling installation in the cavities, for example having depths in the range of about 97 mm to about 267 mm and / or width (i.e., the distance between the outer side walls of the SW in the cavity) in the range of about 380 mm to about 400 mm, and in some embodiments from about 384 mm to about 389 mm.

[0056] The rear cover element 20 further includes a front panel 120 that surrounds the front opening 122 of the rear cover element 20 and which is aesthetically advantageous to the extent that it provides the final installed dispenser with a finished appearance. All or at least a significant portion of the front panel 120 may be made of metal, and more specifically, in some embodiments, of 304 type stainless steel (according to ASTM A240) fingerprint, such as material sold commercially under the trade name Uginox ® Cleantouch, commercially available from the French company Aperam Stainless Europe, and which contains a fingerprint-resistant coating of 4 pm thickness. The rear cover element 20 further includes upper and lower walls 20c, 20d, positioned opposite each other, which extend between the side walls 20a of the rear cover element 20 and which are connected to the wall 20b. The bottom wall 20d adjoins and is spaced from the bottom plate 110 (FIGS. 14A and 14B), and is positioned inside the rear cover element 20 (FIG. 10).

[0057] Referring still to FIG. 1, 2, 2A, 3-13, 14A and 14B, and in addition

76P45072PL00

-24ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI with reference to FIG. 15, the bottom wall 20d of the rear skirt 20 includes a cutout 125. The cutout 125 defines an opening in the bottom wall 20d that allows the pusher or paper feed rod 52 in the manual type dispensing member (FIGS. 7 and 8), if they are part of the system 10, exit outside the housing 30. In the case of using a dispensing member that does not include a paper feed rod 52, such as the exemplary dispensing member 39 of FIG. 6, the notch 125 may be coupled to a centrally located protruding portion 128 of the lower console 130 that is detachably coupled to the bottom wall 20d of the rear sheath element 20. The engagement of the protruding portion 128 with the notch 125 effectively closes the opening, otherwise accessible to pass the feed rod 52 paper.

[0058] The detachable coupling of bottom wall 20d and bottom console 130 in the illustrated embodiment is also free of fasteners (e.g. screws, bolts), which improves ease of coupling and uncoupling between bottom wall 20d and bottom console 130, and is provided by the elements plug and socket as well as elastic elements similar to those described above with respect to the coupling between the cap 12 and each of the two rear skirt elements 20, 24. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the lower console 130 includes plug-in elements in the form of a pair of outer fingers 132 and a centrally positioned finger 134 that enter into the respective socket elements in the form of a pair of outer channels 20f and a centrally located channel 20g. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that a detachable coupling-free coupling between bottom wall 20d and bottom console 130 can be obtained by other means. For example, and without limitation, bottom wall 20d may have a combination of plug and socket elements (e.g., fingers and channels, respectively) that cooperate with a corresponding combination of socket and plug elements of bottom console 130. Similarly, it should be taken into account that the bottom wall 20d may only have plug-in components (e.g. fingers) that are configured to enter into cooperating socket components (e.g. channels) of the lower console 130.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 15, the outer fingers 132 comprise respective spring members 133 having raised stops 133a, similar to spring members 86, and corresponding raised stops 89,

76P45072PL00

-25ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI described above in connection with the detachable coupling of the hood 12 with the rear cover elements 20, 24. During insertion (arrow A), the elastic elements 133 bend until the raised stops 133a come into contact with the surfaces defining the respective blocking holes of the 137 external channels 20f. The coupling of the raised stops 133a to the surfaces defining the locking holes 137 effectively secures the bottom console 130 in place relative to the bottom wall 20d. A detachable, fastener-free coupling of the bottom wall 20d and the bottom console 130 together may be desirable to allow quick, one-hand assembly and disassembly of the dispenser being installed.

[0060] In FIG. 16A and 16B, a lower console 130 removably coupled to an exemplary rear skirt 24, also forming part of the system or assembly 10, is shown. For ease of understanding, similar reference numbers in FIG. 16A and 16B refer to similar items in FIG. 15. Lower console 130 in FIG. 16Ai 16B is releasably coupled to the bottom wall 24d of the rear sheath 24 in a manner similar to the manner in which the exemplary recessed-type rear sheath 20 can also be detachably coupled to the bottom console 130. In particular, the pair of outer channels 24f and the centrally positioned channel 24g of the rear skirt 24 include respectively the outer and middle fingers 133, 134 of console 30 so as to allow selective, detachable, free of fastener coupling the two structures together. The centrally located protruding portion 128 of the lower console 130 engages with the notch 125 when the lower console 130 and the bottom wall 24d are coupled together and effectively, in this respect, closes the opening in the bottom wall 24d of the rear skirt 24, which is otherwise available for passing the paper feed rod 52 through it.

[0061] With reference still to FIG. 16A and 16B, these figures show other features of the exemplary second casing element 24 of the system or assembly 10. As discussed above, the rear casing element 24 is selectively coupled to the hubcap 12, instead of the rear casing element 20, to jointly define the casing or housing 34. The coupling between hubcap 12 and rear shielding element 24 is similar, in terms of components, functionality and contemplated variants thereof, to that described above in

76P45072PL00

-26ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI in connection with the coupling between hub cap 12 and the rear shielding element

twenty. The second rear cover element 24 is configured to mount the resulting housing 34 on a surface, such as a wall, and not in a recess. To this end, the rear wall 24b of the rear skirt 24 includes one or more mounting elements 138, such as holes and / or slots, which allow a through insertion of a fastener, such as a screw, to effectively secure the rear skirt 24 and the resulting housing 34 to Wall. The rear wall 24b also includes a cable opening M, similar in construction and functionality to the cable opening M on the rear wall 20b of the rear skirt 20 (FIGS. 14A and 14B).

[0062] Referring still to FIG. 1, 2, 2A, 3-13, 14A, 14B, 15, 16A, 16B, and furthermore referring to FIG. 17A, 17B, 18, 19A and 19B, each of the rear shielding elements 20, 24 includes support rollers 150, which in the embodiments shown are in the form of socket elements configured to engage the respective plug elements 154 of each pair of support arms 156, 158 rollers. The coupling between the roller support arms 156, 158 and the roller support connectors 150 in the illustrated embodiment is of the detachable type, and is also of the type free of fasteners, which may be desirable to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of the support arms 156, 158 of the roller with the support connectors 150 rollers. The roller support arms 156, 158 in the embodiment of the figures comprise respective spring members 166, 168 of the arm which bend when inserting the plug elements 154 into the roller support connectors 150 and which lock the roller support arms 156, 158 in place by engaging the respective raised stops 170, 172, similar to raised stops 89 of spring 86, when coupling hub cap 12 to rear skirt 20. The roller support arms 156, 158 in the figures further include respective guide members in the form of ramps 174. The ramps 174 prevent the support arm 156, 158 from entering the roller with the wrong orientation and thereby effectively limit the insertion of the support arm 156, 158 with one orientation into one of the connectors support rollers 150.

[0063] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiments and as shown in FIG. 19A

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-27ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI and 19B, support rollers 150 roll and support arms 156, 158 rollers are constructed in such a way that the support arms 156, 158 roll can swap positions, i.e. between left and right handed roller support 150 . This flexibility allows the resulting dispenser to place rolls 26 of the paper product in one of the two available orientations of roll 26, i.e. so that the paper web can be dispensed clockwise or counterclockwise (i.e., the web is released from the front as shown in FIG. 19A, or from the back of the roll 26 as shown in FIG. 19B) .

[0064] Also in the illustrated embodiment, the system 10 includes one or more flexible roller support arms 156 and one or more stationary roller support arms 158. The support arm 156 of the flexible roller is designed to bend in the width direction to accommodate rollers 26 of different widths, such as for example rollers with a width in the range of about 195 mm to about 210 mm. On the other hand, the support arm 158 of the stationary type roller is designed to have a substantially fixed position in the width dimension of the dispenser (and paper product rollers 26). To this end, the flexible roller support arm 156 has an integrated hinge element 156c that allows the roller hub 178 of this roller support arm to bend in width relative to the plug elements 154 of this roller support arm 156 as shown in FIG. 18.

[0065] It should be considered that the detachable coupling between the roller support arms 156, 158 and the roller support connectors 150 can alternatively be inverted, i.e. the plug and socket elements are inverted relative to those in the embodiment shown in the figures. Similarly, alternative embodiments include each of the roller support arms 156, 158 having a combination of plug and socket elements cooperating with the socket and plug elements of the roller support connectors 150, respectively.

[0066] In FIG. 20-24 illustrate various other features of the mortise type dispenser, such as the forming part of the system 10 (FIG. 1), and the description of which can be referred to in

76P45072PL00

-28ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI to also understand the properties of the dispenser of FIG. 20-24.

Referring essentially to the various embodiments of the figures described above, the outer surface of the hood 12 as well as the outer surface of the rear skirt 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5) can be made of a material that improves the aesthetic value of these components, which are exposed to the end user. Accordingly, these outer surfaces may be made of the same stainless steel material described above and which forms the outer surface of the front panel 120 (FIG. 2), or alternatively they may be made of a different material. The use of a fingerprint-resistant coating on the outer surfaces of the cap 12 and rear cover element 24 may, for example, also be desirable to prevent otherwise the unsightly appearance of the resulting dispensers during continuous contact with the hands of many users. However, it should be considered that the outer surfaces of the hood 12, rear cover 24, and / or front panel 120 may be made of other metal or non-metallic materials, which may be desirable, for example, to minimize the cost of production of these components.

[0068] Based on the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

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-29ΕΡ 3 310 231 BI