US3474977A - Multiple tissue roll dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1969 R. B. MO'II'T, SR, ETAL. 3,474,977

MULTIPLE TISSUE ROLL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 12, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TORJ' Ma da wlel Willow 9 Malilewl ATTORNE s Oct. 1969 R. a. MOTT. sa ETAL MUL'IIFLE TISSUE ROLL DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1 2, 1968 m 6%.. (C 00 4 98 55 7 6 0 ERR INVENTORJ' Hagclu name! willow 6' MQHLM ATTORNEYS Oct; 28, 1969 R. B. MOTT, SR.

, ETAL MULTIPLE TISSUE ROLL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 12, 1968 1 1 5 '11 #3 l I I /7 //3 l 7 j; L /a 619a I f? i /4 a! i" /5 T 1 I s 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fio/p/l Bear/2 Ala/f, Jr. F0406 Bear/7 Mo/tf, c/r. fi/cfiara C. (an fed/0 Rode/f L W000:

INVENTORI Ma da awl who & Mnfllmul ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1969 R. B. MOTT, sR.. ETAL 3,474,977

MULTIPLE TISSUE ROLL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 12, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fd/p/i Beacfi Mo/f, Jr. Ra4a/9 fieacfi Moff, U7. H/cfia'ro l. (awfeV/a Robe/f L W00 00 INVENTOR:

agda name! willow & Mcfllmyl Y ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1969 R. B. MOTT, sR.. ETAL 3,474,977

MULTIPLE TISSUE ROLL DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Robe/'1 L W000:

INVENTOR5 agile! Willow & Mink:

IIT TORNEYS US. Cl. 242--55.3

United States Patent nership composed of Ralph Beach Mott, Sr., and Ralph Beach Mott, Jr.

Filed Aug. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 752,040 In. Cl. B65h 19/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE position storage tissue rolls thereabove for use when the 11 Claims.

ltl

lowermost tissue roll is depleted. Actuation of a spring loadedbar member releases the lowermost spindle and positions the next adjacent uppermost spindle and tissue roll in the opening for use thereof as desired.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is an improvement over our copending United States application Ser. No. 561,995 for Tissue Roll Dispenser. 1

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Description of the prior art Prior multiple roll tissue dispensers had curved channel means and the like for guiding tissue roll sp'indles relative to an openingin the dispensers and'formoving the tissue roll in the dispenser housing. The tissue roll spindles were positioned to slide inthe channels but if one end of the spindles was positioned unevenly or at an angle relative to the horizontal in the channels then the spindles became stuck in the dispenser housing which prevented proper operation of the dispenser.

a tissue roll dispenser housing wherein the guide means receive positive gripping head members mounted with each 7 end of a tissue spindle roll and sequentially move and guide the tissue spindles downwardly relative to the hous- I ing for use of the tissue roll thereon and for the disposal of the spindle as the tissue roll becomes adequately exhausted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive guide means including fluted or serrated edges which are adapted to fit similar fluted or serrated edges on the heads of tissue roll spindle for enabling the tissue roll spindles to move downwardly in the housing by rotation of the fluted spindle heads down the path of the similiarly fluted guide means for .positioning of the spindles and-tissue rolls thereon, as desired.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved multiple tissue roll dispenser of the present invention including an upper and lower pivotal Stop means mountedwith one side of a tissue roll dispenser housing and spaced relative to a positive guide means mounted with such housing for enabling the positive guide means and upper and lower stop means to position tissue roll spindles in the space between said stop means and said guide means wherein actuation of aguide bar positioned adjacent the side of the dispenser housing moves said stop means away from said guide means to g enable said spindles to move downwardly in the dispenser housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an elevation view of the multiple tissue roll dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the multiple tissue roll dispenser of the present invention illustrating an'opening in the front of the dispenser housing for receiving and positioning a tissue roll therein;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the multiple tissue roll dispenser of the present invention illustrating a trip member for Other prior multiple roll tissue dispensers did not have means to prevent removal of the lowermost tissue roll from the dispenser even though the lowermost tissue roll had adequate tissue sheets remaining thereon for further use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention relates to a new and .im

4 of the tissue roll spindles and their respective tissue rolls in the dispenser housing is accomplished by enabling the gripping head members to move sequentially down said positive guide means to position the spindles in the dispenser housing as desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple tissue roll dispenser.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tissue roll dispenser including a means to prevent removal of a tissueroll presently in use until such roll has been adequately exhausted.

-Still yet another'objeet of the present invention is to provide a positive guide means mounted with eachside of.

removing used tissue rolls from an opening inthe front of the dispenser housing and for positioning an uppermost tissue roll in the opening; 5

FIG. 4 is a side view. partly in section, taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating the relationship of a positive guide means. positive gripping head member of tissue roll spindle and an upper and lower stop means and guide bar position relative to a side of the tissue roll dispenser housing;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional viewtaken along line 4A-4A of FIG. 4 illustrating the relationship of a tissue roll spindle relative to a lower stop means and a pair of spaced positive guide means;

. .FIG. 4B is across-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4 illustrating the relationship of a pair of trip means relative to a pair of spaced guide bar means mounted adjacent each of the respective sides of the respective housing;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating actuation of a guide bar means and the relative movement of an upper and lower stop means and positive gripping head members mounted with each end of the tissue roll spindle;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional partial view taken along line 5A--5A of FIG. 5 and similar to FIG. 4B illustrating depression of a trip means relative to a slidable guide bar means mounted adjacent a side of the dispenser housing for realignment and positioning of tissue roll spindles positioned in a dispenser housing;

' pression of a trip means forenabling movement of the spindles in the housing;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 taken along line 77 of FIG. 4A illustrating the relationship of an upper opening member of the dispenser housing and a guide bar adjacent said housing for release of tissue roll spindles from the dispenser house;

FIG. 8 is a exploded view illustrating one side of the tissue housing in the relationship of an upper and lower stop means, a guide bar means, and a positive guide means for the heads of tissue roll spindles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is directed to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 wherein the multiple tissue roll dispenser of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated as including a dispenser housing designated generally at 11. The dispenser housing 11 includes a front portion 12 having an opening 13 therein for receiving a lowermost tissue roll T in such opening. A pair of spaced sides 14 and 15 are mounted with and extend rearwardly from the front portion 12 and a back portion 16 is connected with each of the sides 14 and 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 the side 15, which is similar in shape to side 14 includes an upper section 15a which is greater in width than a lower section 15b to enable the lowermost tissue roll T to be exposed for use as will be brought out hereinbelow. Also, a trip means generally designated at 17 extends outwardly through a longitudinal slot 18 of the side member 15. The operation of the trip means generally designated at 17 will be set forth hereinbelow; however, it should be noted that each of the sides 14 and 15 are provided with longitudinal slots 18 with the longitudinal slot 15 only being illustrated and that one of each of the trip means 17 extends outwardly through one of each of the sides 14 and 15, respectively.

An upper section 20 is integrally connected to the front section 12 for opening of the tissue roll dispenser housing 11 as will be brought out hereinbelow.

The front section 12 also includes side ribs 12a and 12b and a lower section 12c secured therewith in a manner to be brought out hereinbelow. However, it should be noted that the lower section 120 and the side ribs 12a and 12b along with the upper portion 12 define the framework for the opening 13 in the front portion of the housing 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B and 8, a positive guide means generally designated at is mounted by suitable screws 26 to the side 15 of the dispenser housing 11. The positive guide means 25 extends from adjacent the upper surface 20 of the housing 11 to the lower end of the housing 15 adjacent the intersection of the rib 12a with the lower front portion 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the side 15, which is similar to side 14 includes a rib member 27 which extends down the rear portion 150 of the side 15. Adjacent the front portion 15a of the side 15 is a rib member 28 which extends from adjacent the upper portion 20 of the hous ing 11 downwardly to adjacent the intersection of the lower front portion 120 and the side rib 12a as illustrated. A notched opening 29 and an opening or hole 30 receives outwardly extending tab 31 having openings 32 which are adapted to be aligned with the opening 30 for securing the lower front portion 120 with each of the side walls 14 and 15. As 'further illustrated in FIG. 8, the positive guide means 25 extends downwardly relative to the rib 28 adjacent the intersection between the front portion 120 and the side wall 15. It is of course to be understood that the side wall 14 has a corresponding positive guide means 25 but for brevity such positive guide means and sidewall have not been illustrated.

The positive guide means 25 includes a plurality of semiarcuate curved concave surfaces, serrated surfaces or fluted surfaces 35 extending outwardly from a body member 36. The serrations, flutes or semi-arcuate surfaces 35 extend rearwardly from the front portion 12 of the dispenser housing 11 and are aligned such that an edge 36a of a body portion 36 is in a substantially vertical straight line and parallel to the rear section 11 of the housing 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the sidewall 15 also includes a means for receiving a sliding guide bar generally designated at 40. The means 40 includes inwardly extending circular tab members 41 and 42 for receiving upper and lower pivotal stop means 43 and 44 with openings 45 and 46 in the upper and lower stop means 43 and 44, respectively, fitting'or being received by the outwardly extending tabs 41 and 42. An intermittent rib is broken into sections 47a and 47b and a correspondingly spaced parallel rib is broken into sections 48a, 48b and 48c. The longitudinal slot 18 is formed between the ribs 47 and 48 and its function will be brought out in more detail hereinbelow.

A slidable guide bar generally designated at 50 is adapted to be positioned in the space between the ribs 47 and 48. The guide bar 50 includes corresponding rib surfaces 51a, 51b and 510 for fitting the rib sections 48a. 48b and 480, respectively. The rib portion of the guide bar means 50 also includes a rib member 52 to correspond with rib sections 47a and 47b.

The sliding guide bar means 50 includes an indentation or machined out portion designated at defined by a section 52a of the rib 52 and an indented machine section 61, the rib section 5112 and an indented machined section designated at 62 which includes indented section 62a and indented 62b with section 62b being adjacent the rib section 51a and separated from the section 62a by an edge 63. The section 60 also includes a body section 64 which is generally off set from the upstanding ribs 51 and 52.

Extending outwardly into the body section 64 is an upper pivotal tab member 65 positioned adjacent the indented section 61 and a lower pivotal tab member 66 positioned adjacent the indented section 62b. A pair of upper and lower locking or tab members 67 and 68 also extend outwardly from the machined body section 64 for a purpose to be brought out hereinafter. An upstanding block member 69 also extends upwardly from the body section 64 adjacent the indented section 62a and includes a lower edge 69a. An opening 70 defined by a circular edge 71 is machined in the body section 64 adjacent the rib section 51b and the rib 52 for a purpose to be brought out hereinafter. An outwardly extending tab member 75 extends outwardly from the sliding guide bar means 50 and is positioned between the rib sections 47a and 47b to extend therebetween. A spring means 76 is secured at one end 76a to the tab member 75 and is secured at another end 76b to a retainer pin 78 for a purpose to be brought out hereinafter.

The lower end of the sliding guide bar means 50 is generally designated at 80 and includes a lower surface 81 and a slanted surface 82 between such lower surface 81 and the rib section 51a. An outwardly extending tab member 83 is machined with such slanted surface 82 extends outwardly transverse to the surface 82.

The machined indented section 62a is parallel to a longitudinal slot 84 defined by an edge 85 of the body section 64 and is illustrated as being positioned between the rib 52 and the member 69.

A pair of spaced saddle members designated at 86 extend outwardly from adjacent the rib 47b and 48b, respectively, and each includes upper and lower outwardly extending spaced members 86a and 86b with a slot 87 therebetween. A pivotal member generally designated at 88 (FIG. 8) includes a depending arm 89 which is offset forwardly from a body member 90 integrally secured with the arm 89. Machined on the body member 90 on each end thereof is a pair of outwardly extending tabs 91 and 92 which fit into the slots 87 between the tab members 86a and 86b. It should be noted that the outstanding arm or tab members 86a and 86b extend outwardly through the slot 84 and upwardly through the machined indented section 62a adjacent the block member 69 such that the body section 90 is positioned adjacent the lower surface 69a of the block member or rectangular member 69. Also it should be noted that the rear surface 89a (FIG. 8) of the depending arm 89 extends over the lower pivotal tab member 66 (FIG. 4).

A pair of outwardly extending pins 100 (only one of which is shown) are mounted with each of the respective side walls 14 and 15. A synchronizing member generally designated at 101 includes a plate 102 secured at one end with an enveloping tube 103 for receiving the outwardly extending pins 100 on one of each of the respective ends of the tube 103. The other end 104 of the plate 102 includes a pair of spaced outwardly extending arms 105 and 106 which are received in a slot 108 machined or milled in the lower portion of the sliding guide bar means 50 along the rib 52 of the guide bar means such that movement imparted to one sliding guide bar means 50 will impart movement to the other corresponding sliding guide bar means.

The trip means designated at 17 includes a surface 110 (FIG. 3) defined by the upstanding circular rib 111 for receiving an individuals finger F (FIG. 5A). An elliptical or circular body section 112 extends through the longitudinal slot 18 in side and through the opening 70 of the sliding guide bar means 50. An enlarged head 113 secures the trip bar 17 with the sliding guide bar 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B a tissue roll T is positioned for use in the opening (13) of the housing 11 and an uppermost tissue roll 115 is positioned above and in substantial vertical alignment with said lowermost tissue roll T. Each of the tissue rolls T is carried by a spindle generally designated at 116 which includes a spindle shaft 117, a body section 116a for carrying the tissue rolls and positive gripping head members designated at 118 mounted adjacent each end of each of the spindle shafts 117. The positive gripping head members 118 include semiarcuate concave, fluted or serrated surfaces 119 with projection tips 120 between each of said fluted or serrated surfaces 119. The fluted or serrated surfaces 119 of the positive gripping head members 118 are corresponding similar to and fit, as will be brought out hereinbelow, the fluted or serrated convex surfaces 35 of the positive guide means 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the upper and lower pivotal stop members 43 and 44 are positioned over the machined body section 64 of the guide bar means 50. With the guide bar means 50 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, the spring means 76 urges such guide bar means 50 continuously upwardly to enable the upper end 50a of the guide bar means 50 to contact the upper surface of the dispenser housing 11. In this position the upper and lower pivotal stop means 43 and 44 are positioned to enable arcuate stop surfaces 120 to extend outwardly in the space between the rib section 48 and the fluted surfaces 35 with each of the curved stop surfaces 120' extending outwardly between the rib sections 51b and 510 and 51a and 51b, respectively.

In this position an indented section defined by the walls 121 of the upper pivotal stop means 43 is positioned at an angle and below the tab member 65 and a slotted surface 122 extends downwardly and is received by the outwardly extending tab or stop member 67. The slanted surface edge 123 of the upper pivotal stop means 43 is positioned below the curved stop surface 120.

A similar machine slotted surface 126 on the lower stop member 44 is positioned at an angle and below the lower tab member 66 ad the partially indented surface 126 is positioned such that the surface 126 contacts the outwardly extending tab member 68. Also with the stop surface 120 of the lower pivotal stop means 44 extending outwardly into the space between the positive guide means and the ribs 48, a straight surface edge 128 is positioned at an angle relative to the rib sections 4812 and 48c.

As the tissue sheets on the lower tissue roll are used and become depleated, it then becomes necessary to remove the lower tissue spindle 116 from the area of the dispenser housing 11 adjacent the opening 13 in the front portion 12 of the housing 11. To perform this function the individual uses the finger F or other suitable means (FIG. 5A) to depress the trip means 17 or move the trip means 17 downwardly relative to the slot 18. Such depressing action overcomes the force of the spring means 75 to move the slidable guide bar 50 downwardly until an outwardly extending tip 131 (FIG. 8) on the guide bar means contacts the stop rib 130 between the ribs 47 and 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, as the guide bar means 50 is moved downwardly away from the upper surface 20' of the dispenser housing 11, the upper and lower tap members 65 and 66 also move downwardly into the slots 121 and 126, respectively of the pivotal stop means 43 and 44. As the tab member 65 and 66 move downwardly into the slots 121 and 126, respectively the pivotal stop means 43 and 44 are rotated in a clockwise direction to remove the curved stop surfaces 120 from the space between the fluted surfaces 35 and the rib sections 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper and lower tissue rolls and T and their respective spindles 116 are positioned in the dispenser housing 11 by enabling the spindle shaft 117 to. contact the curved stop surfaces and by enabling one of the diagonally positioned fluted surfaces 119 of the positive gripping head members 118 to correspondingly fit on the outwardly extended fluted surfaces 35 which thereby suspends the spindles 116 in the space between the flute 35 and rib 48. It should be noted that the fluted surfaces 35 are convex in shape and that the fluted surfaces 119 of the positive gripping head members 118 are concave in shape to enable the corresponding surfaces to grip and contact each other. As illustrated in FIG. 5 and 5A when the pair of surfaces 120 of the upper and lower pivotal stop means have been rotated away from the space between the fluted surfaces 35 and the ribs 48 the straight surface 128 and the lower pivotal stop means is vertically aligned with the rib section 48 such that there is no obstruction or surface extending into the space between the fluted surface 35 and the rib section 48. When such rotation of the lower pivotal stop means 44 occurs the positive gripping head members 118 of the spindles 116 rotate in a clockwise direction and sequentially move downwardly with one of each of the successive concave fluted surfaces 119 contacting the next adjacent fluted convex surfaces 35 until the spindle means 116 contacts a lower rib section in the lower portions of the housing which is formed with the section 128 of the side 15. With the lowermost spindle 116 in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 the spindle 116 cannot drop out the opening 151 in the bottom of the housing because the spindle shaft 117 is contacting the rib 150' and the edge or rib 51a of the movable guide means 50.

It should be noted that in the position of FIG. 5 that the synchronizing means 101 including the plate 102 has been pivoted about the ends 100 and moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow 154 such that the corresponding slidable guide bar means 50 with the other side 14 has also been moved downwardly.

It should also be noted in FIG. 4 that with the movable guide means 50 in the up position that the outwardly extending tab members 67 and 68 prevent rotation of the pivotal stop members 43 and 44 until the movable guide means 50 has been moved downwardly to remove the tab members 67 and 68 from the slotted surfaces 122 and 127, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper pivotal stop means 43 has been pivoted in the clockwise direction such that the slanted surface 123 extends outwardly in the space between the fluted surfaces 35 and the rib section 48. With the slanted surface 123 extended outwardly into such space, the spindle shaft 117 of the reserve tissue 115 is contacted by such surface and the same concave fluted surface 119 that contacted the outwardly extending convex fluted surface 35 in FIG. 4 has moved and been lowered a distance 155 (FIG. 5A) relative to such convex surface but still contacts and fits the same convex surface 35. However, it should be noted that the tip members 120 of the positive gripping head members 118 are positioned nearer the intersection 156 of the fluted surfaces 35. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the trip means 17 has been released to enable the spring means 75 (not shown) to move the slidable guide bar means upwardly to its original position. As such movable guide bar means 50 moves upwardly, the tab members and 66 also move upwardly to rotate the upper and lower pivotal stop means 43 and 44, respectively, in a counterclockwise direction to their original position such that the curved stop surfaces 120 with each of the upper and lower pivotal stop members 43 and 44 extend outwardly into the space between the convex fluted members 35 and the rib section 48. As the movable guide bar 50 is returned to its original position, the spindle means 116 with the upper reserve tissue roll sequentially rotates down the flutes or serrations 35 in a clockwise direction with the lower flute or serration 119a contacting the flute or serration 35a (FIG. 5) to begin the sequential overturning and rotation of the positive gripping head 118 with the positive guide means 25. The spindle shaft 117 on the upper reserve tissue roll 115 contacts the curved stop surface 120 on lower stop means 44 and the fluted concave surface 119 of the head 118 contacts and fits the correspondingly concave shaped flute or serrated surface 35 to position the tissue roll 115 for use adjacent the opening 13 in the housing 11.

Upward movement of the slidable guide bar 50 to return said guide bar 50 to its original position also moves the lower surface 81 of such guide bar means 50 upwardly to enable a portion of the spindle shaft 117 of the lowermost spindle to be suspended in the opening 151 by contacting the rib surface and the tip 83 which thereby retains the spindle means 116 in the housing 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the front portion 12 and the upper portion 20 of the dispenser housing 11 form an integral unit which is pivotal at one section thereof. A pivot pin 161 is received through openings 162 on each of the sides 14 and 15 and is circumferentially enveloped by the circular portion 163 of the lower section 160. A strengthening member 164 extends across the section 160 and is provided with a pair of openings 165 (only one of which is shown) adjacent each of the sides 14 and 15, respectively. Each of the sides 14 and 15 includes a strengthening section 168 adjacent the section 160 which includes an outwardly extending circular projection 169 for receiving the opening 165 mounted with the member 164. A lock member 170 extends through an opening 171 in the upper portion 20 and includes a rotatable portion 172 having an outwardly extending arm 173 (FIG. 6) for fitting under an outwardly extending arm 175 of a base member 176 secured with the back surface 16 of the dispenser housing 11. Thus when a key K is inserted in the usual opening of the lock 170 the outwardly extending arm 173 of the rotatable section 172 of the lock is rotated away from the outwardly extending arm 175 and the upper section 20 and the front portion 12 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 178 about the rotatable pin 161 (FIG. 7).

When the dispenser housing 11 is opened, the spring means 76 urges the movable guide bar means 50 upwardly such that the upper surface 50a of the guide bar means 50 extends above the end of the upper surface 20 which has been removed from the adjacent area. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, a stop edge 180 is moved upwardly to contact a corresponding stop surface 181 of the section 40 of sidewall 15 to prevent further upward movement of the movable guide bar 50.

After the tissue roll 115 illustrated in FIG. 6 has been used, the trip bar 17 is actuated to move the spindle 116 downwardly adjacent the opening 151 in the lower portion of the housing 11. Such spindle 116 is positioned on top of the spindle 116 that is held in place by a rib portion 150 and tip member 83. When the housing 11 is opened as brought out hereinabove, the guide bar means 50 moves upwardly as brought out hereinabove to move the tip member 83 upwardly which enables the spindles designated at 116 to fall out of the housing 11 in the direction of the arrow 190. With the housing 11 open as illustrated in FIG. 7 another tissue roll 191 with a spindle illustrated at 116a is positioned such that the fluted surfaces 119 on the positive gripping heads 119 fit the concave surfaces 35 until the spindle 116a with its tissue roll 191 is positioned in a reserve position and such that the spindle shaft 117 contacts the stop surface 120 of the upper pivotal stop means 43. Of course, it is to be understood that the reserve tissue roll 191 is to be moved downwardly to be positioned in the opening 13 in the housing 11 by positioning such spindle means 116a relative to the lower pivotal stop means 44 and the adjacent fluted or serrated surfaces 35. Thereafter another reserve tissue roll (not shown) is positioned in the housing 11 in a manner similar to the positioning of the tissue roll 191 relative to the upper pivotal stop means 43 in the adjacent fluted surfaces 35 of the positive guide means 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B with the lower-most tissue roll T in position for use, if a user or operator desired to remove the lowermost tissue roll T from the opening 13 of the housing 11 when such tissue roll T had adequate sheets remaining thereon for further use, then such user is prevented from doing so by the operation of the depending arm 89. When the trip means 17 is depressed downwardly, the movable guide bar 50 is also moved downwardly with the trip means 17 moving downwardly relative to the longitudinal slot 18 in the side 15. As a movable guide bar 50 moves downwardly the lower surface 69a of the block member 69 contacts the body portion 90 of the member 88 to enable the depending arm 89 to pivot outwardly in the direction of the arrow 200 (FIG. 5A) with the body portion 90, depending arm 89 and pins 91 and 92 pivoting about the slots 87 in the saddles 86 (FIG. 8). As the arm 89 moves outwardly in the direction of the arrow 200, the outer surface 89a contacts the tissue roll T to prevent further downward movement of the movable guide bars 50 thereby preventing disposal of the tissue roll T from the opening 13 until the tissue roll T has been substantially depleted.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A with the lowermost tissue roll T depleated, the trip bar 17 is actuated by the individual finger F to move such bar downwardly as brought out hereinabove. As the bar moves downwardly, the rectangular member 69 contacts the body portion 90 to pivot the arm 89 again outwardly in the direction of the arrow 200. Since the tissue roll T has been depleted, the arm is allowed to pivot outwardly without contacting any portion of the tissue roll T and the uppermost reserve tissue roll 115 is thus enabled to be moved downwardly in the opening 13 in the housing 11 as brought out hereinabove.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it should be understood that while only one pivotal stop means 43 and 44 have been disclosed as positioned on one side15, that, if desired, pivotal stop means can also be positioned on the other side wall 14. Also it is to be understood that while only one reserve tissue roll has been disclosed as being positioned in the dispenser housing 11 that multiple tissue rolls may be positioned in such housing.

We claim:

1. A multiple tissue roll dispenser comprising:

(a) a dispenser housing including:

(1) a front having an opening for receiving a lowermost tisue roll for use thereof;

(2) a pair of parallel spaced sides mounted with and extending rearwardly from said housing;

(b) positive guide means mounted with each of said sides, said guide means extending longitudinally relative to each of said sides;

(c) an upper pivotal stop means mounted with one of said sides;

(d) a lower pivotal stop means mounted with said same side as said upper pivotal stop means, said lower pivotal stop means being mounted on said side adjacent said opening in said housing;

(e) a pair of sliding guide bar means, one of each of said guide bar means extending longitudinally relative to one of each of said sides and being spaced from one of each of said positive guide means;

(f) said guide bar means mounted with said same side as said upper and lower stop means including means for pivoting said upper and lower stop means;

(g) spring means mounted with said guide bar means on said same side as said upper and lower stop means for urging said guide bar means continuously upwardly;

(h) a pair of trip means, one of each of said trip means mounted with one of each of said guide bar means;

(i) each of said trip means extending outwardly through longitudinal openings in each of said respective sides;

(3') a plurality of tissue roll spindles having tissue rolls thereon, said plurality of tisue rolls including a lowermost spindle and tissue roll being positioned adjacent said opening and retained by said lower stop means and said positive guide means for use of the lowermost tissue roll and an uppermost reserve tissue roll spindle and reserve tissue roll being retained in position by said upper pivotal stop means and said positive guide means;

(k) each of said tissue spindles including a pair of positive gripping head members, one of each of said head members mounted at one of each of the ends of said spindles wherein each of said positive gripping head members of each of said spindles is guided by one of each of said positive guide means mounted with each of said sides and wherein depression of either of said trip means moves each of said guide bar means downwardly to overcome said spring means and said means for pivoting said upper and lower stop means pivots each of said stop means out of said space between said guide bar means and said positive guide means to enable said lowermost tissue roll spindle to move positively downwardly and transversely relative to said opening and to enable said uppermost tissue roll spindle to move positively downwardly to position the reserve tissue roll in said opening for use.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including synchronizing means for simultaneously moving each of said guide bar means on each of said sides when one of said trip means is depressed.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said synchronizing means includes:

(a) pivotal means mounted with each of said sides;

(b) each of said guide bar means having transverse slots positioned therein;

(c) a pivotal member mounted with said pivotal means and being received in each of said slots wherein depression of said trip means moves said adjacent guide bar means to thereby move said pivotal member downwardly which thereby moves said other guide bar means downwardly.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper reserve spindle and said lowermost spindle are vertically aligned relative to each other.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said positive guide means includes:

(a) a body portion;

(b) a plurality of convex rearwardly extending serrations along the back edge of said body portion wherein said positive gripping head members of each of said tissue roll spindles moves sequentially down adjacent serrations when said tissue rolls are moved in said housing.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said gripping head members includes a plurality of concave surfaces for gripping said positive guide members as said spindles move downwardly in said housing.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said positive guide means mounted with each of said sides includes:

(a) a body portion; and

(b) a plurality of convex serrations extending rearwardly toward said upper and lower pivotal stop means from the rear edge of said body portion wherein said serrated concave surfaces of said gripping head members are complimentary shaped to receive said convex serrations of said guide means to enable said head members to grip said guide means and wherein said spindles move downwardly in said housing by rotating in a clockwise direction to enable successive adjacent serrated concave surfaces on said heads to grip next sequentially adjacent convex serrated surfaces of said gripping means.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 including:

(a) lower rib means mounted with each of said spaced sides adjacent an Opening in the bottom of said dispenser housing;

(b) means for each of said guide bar means for re taining said lowermost spindle in said housing by enabling said spindles to be suspended in said opening in the bottom of said housing between said rib means and said means with said guide bar means for retaining said lowermost spindle.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 8 including pivotal means for opening said front portion of said housing for replacing of tissue rolls in said housing wherein opening of said front portion because of said guide bar means to move upwardly which removes said means for retaining said lowermost spindle from adjacent said opening in the bottom of said housing to en able said lowermost spindle and other spindles stacked on top of said lowermost spindle to fall out of said housing.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) lower rib means mounted with each of said spaced sides adjacent an opening in the bottom of said dispenser housing;

(b) means for each of said guide bar means for retaining said lowermost spindle in said housing by enabling said spindles to be suspended in said opening in the bottom of said housing between said rib means and said means with said guide bar means for retaining said lowermost spindle.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein opening of said front portion causes of said guide bar means to move upwardlywhich thereby removes said means for retaining said lowermost spindle from adjacent said opening in the bottom of said housing to enable said lowermost spindle and other spindles stacked on top of said lowermost spindle to fall out of said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,993,658 7/ 1961 Sweeney 24255.3 3,039,709 6/1962 Bolger 242-553 3,382,021 5/1968 De Woskin 3l239 3,416,744 12/1968 Mott et a1. 242-55.3

LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner

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