Two-roll tissue dispenser

Claim 2

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, each of said support arms being sequentially pivotal from a storage position holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening to a dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and then to an exhaust position with no tissue thereon and then back to the storage position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll, and latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other sUpport arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 3

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a support engaging the surface of the tissue roll in the dispensing position to maintain that tissue roll adjacent to the dispensing opening.

Claim 4

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a roller mounted on said housing adjacent to said dispensing opening for contacting the surface of a tissue roll in the dispensing position to accommodate withdrawal of tissue through said dispensing opening.

Claim 5

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has a plurality of mounting holes therein for mounting said housing on a support wall so that the axes of the tissue rolls are disposed normal to the support wall.

Claim 6

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has a plurality of mounting holes therein arranged symmetrically about a vertical mounting line whereby two of the tissue dispensers can be mounted on the opposite sides of a support wall using common fasteners disposed through aligned mounting holes in the housings of said tissue dispensers.

Claim 7

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrying means on each support arm for holding a roll of tissue is a post rotatably mounted on the support arm.

Claim 8

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrying means on each support arm for holding a roll of tissue is a post fixedly mounted on the support arm.

Claim 9

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrying means on each support arm for holding a roll of tissue includes an anti-bootleg device for cooperation with a complementarily constructed tissue roll.

Claim 10

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrying means on each support arm for holding a roll of tissue is a post mounted on the support arm and having a portion immediately adjacent to the support arm of larger diameter for cooperation with a countersunk portion in the adjacent end of a tissue roll.

Claim 11

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing on a common pivot axis and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, each of said support arms being pivotal about said pivot axis in the same direction from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, and latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereto to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage positiOn thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 12

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing on a common pivot axis and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, each of said support arms being pivotal about said pivot axis in the same direction from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, and latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereto to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage positiOn thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 13

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing on a common pivot axis and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, each of said support arms being pivotal about said pivot axis in the same direction from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, a latching pawl shiftably mounted in said housing adjacent to said pivot axis and shiftable between a first position and a second position, said latching pawl having thereon a holding surface and a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface and a trailing end, each of said support arms having a pawl engaging pin thereon sequentially engageable with the several surfaces on said latching pawl, said latching pawl in the first position thereof having the holding surface thereon in position to engage the pin on a support arm for holding that support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second position thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof causing the pin thereon to engage said second abutment surface to hold said latching pawl in the first position thereof and to place said holding surface in a position to engage the pin on the other of said support arms to retain the same in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof moving the pin thereon from said second abutment surface past said trailing end thereby to permit the pin on the other of said support arms to shift said latching pawl to the second position thereof and thus to pass that pin along said first abutment surface onto said second abutment surface thus to return said latching pawl to the first position thereof and to place said other support arm in the dispensing position thereof, movement of said latching pawl to the first position thereof returning said holding surface to a position so as to engage the pin on said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon continued pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 14

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing on a common pivot axis and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, each of said support arms being pivotal about said pivot axis in the same direction from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, a latching pawl shiftably mounted in said housing adjacent to said pivot axis and shiftable between a first position and a second position, said latching pawl having thereon a holding surface and a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface and a trailing end, each of said support arms having a pawl engaging pin thereon sequentially engageable with the several surfaces on said latching pawl, said latching pawl in the first position thereof having the holding surface thereon in position to engage the pin on a support arm for holding that support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second position thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof causing the pin thereon to engage said second abutment surface to hold said latching pawl in the first position thereof and to place said holding surface in a position to engage the pin on the other of said support arms to retain the same in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof moving the pin thereon from said second abutment surface past said trailing end thereby to permit the pin on the other of said support arms to shift said latching pawl to the second position thereof and thus to pass that pin along said first abutment surface onto said second abutment surface thus to return said latching pawl to the first position thereof and to place said other support arm in the dispensing position thereof, movement of said latching pawl to the first position thereof returning said holding surface to a position so as to engage the pin on said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon continued pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 15

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 11, wherein said latching pawl is pivotally mounted in said housing.

Claim 16

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 11, wherein said first abutment surface is an arc of a circle with the center at said pivot axis when said latching pawl is in the second position thereof, and said second abutment surface is an arc of a circle with the center at said pivot axis when said latching pawl is in the first position thereof.

Claim 17

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 11, and further comprising a first stop mounted in said housing to define the first position for said latching pawl, and a second stop mounted in said housing for defining the second position for said latching pawl.

Claim 18

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a door pivotally mounted thereon and having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, a support mounted on sAid door adjacent to said dispensing opening for engaging the surface of a tissue roll, each of said support arms being pivotal from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll against said support adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, and latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 19

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a door pivotally mounted thereon and having a tissue dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing and each carrying thereon means for holding a roll of tissue, a support mounted on sAid door adjacent to said dispensing opening for engaging the surface of a tissue roll, each of said support arms being pivotal from a storage position to a dispensing position and then to an exhaust position and then back to the storage position, each support arm in the storage position being in position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll and for holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening and in the dispensing position holding the tissue roll against said support adjacent to said dispensing opening and in the exhaust position having no tissue thereon, and latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 20

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 15, wherein said support is in the form of a roller rotatably mounted on said door.

Claim 21

The tissue dispenser set forth in claim 15, and further comprising a lock mechanism mounted on said housing and engaging said door to hold said door in the closed position thereof.

Claim 22

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing including a rear wall and a top wall and a side wall and a tissue dispensing opening in the lower portion thereof, tissue dispensing mechanism mounted in said housing for dispensing tissue from a roll thereof through said dispensing opening, a door including a front panel and a side panel and cooperating with said housing to enclose said tissue dispensing mechanism except for the dispensing opening in said housing, a hinge hingedly mounting said door on said housing and interconnecting one edge of said rear wall and the adjacent edge of said side panel so that opening movement of the front panel of said door to gain access to said dispensing mechanism has a component of motion substantially parallel to said rear wall, a tubular lock post mounted on said rear wall and having the open end thereof disposed toward and spaced a short distance from said front panel in the closed position thereof, a lock latch mounted on said door and having a locking end engaged within said lock post and having a manual actuator accessible from the exterior of said door, means normally urging said locking end into locking engagement with said lock post thereby to prevent opening movement of said door until actuation of said manual actuator to remove said locking end from said lock post, and lock mechanism mounted on said door and engageable with said lock latch to hold said locking end in the locking position thereof.

Claim 23

A tissue dispenser comprising a housing including a rear wall and a top wall and a side wall and a tissue dispensing opening in the lower portion thereof, tissue dispensing mechanism mounted in said housing for dispensing tissue from a roll thereof through said dispensing opening, a door including a front panel and a side panel and cooperating with said housing to enclose said tissue dispensing mechanism except for the dispensing opening in said housing, a hinge hingedly mounting said door on said housing and interconnecting one edge of said rear wall and the adjacent edge of said side panel so that opening movement of the front panel of said door to gain access to said dispensing mechanism has a component of motion substantially parallel to said rear wall, a tubular lock post mounted on said rear wall and having the open end thereof disposed toward and spaced a short distance from said front panel in the closed position thereof, a lock latch mounted on said door and having a locking end engaged within said lock post and having a manual actuator accessible from the exterior of said door, means normally urging said locking end into locking engagement with said lock post thereby to prevent opening movement of said door until actuation of said manual actuator to remove said locking end from said lock post, and lock mechanism mounted on said door and engageable with said lock latch to hold said locking end in the locking position thereof.

Claim 24

The combination comprising a core post having a cylindrical outer surface, an annular flange disposed a predetermined distance from one end of said cylindrical outer surface and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a roll of sheet material including an open-ended tubular core and a web of sheet material wound thereon, said core having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface of said core post and less than the outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll having counterbores respectively in the opposite ends thereof extending from the inner surface of said core outwardly to provide annular grooves, each of said grooves having an axial depth substantially equal to said predetermined distance and having a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll being coaxially received over said core post with said annular flange being received in the adjacent one of said annular grooves to accommodate proper seating of said roll on said core post, whereby said roll may be properly seated on said core post by placing either end of said roll over said core post.

Claim 25

The combination comprising a core post having a cylindrical outer surface, an annular flange disposed a predetermined distance from one end of said cylindrical outer surface and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a roll of sheet material including an open-ended tubular core and a web of sheet material wound thereon, said core having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface of said core post and less than the outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll having counterbores respectively in the opposite ends thereof extending from the inner surface of said core outwardly to provide annular grooves, each of said grooves having an axial depth substantially equal to said predetermined distance and having a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll being coaxially received over said core post with said annular flange being received in the adjacent one of said annular grooves to accommodate proper seating of said roll on said core post, whereby said roll may be properly seated on said core post by placing either end of said roll over said core post.

Claim 26

A combination tissue roll and tissue dispenser, said tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing and each carrying thereon a core post for holding said tissue roll, each of said core posts having a cylindrical outer surface and an annular flange extending outwardly from the cylindrical outer surface a predetermined distance from one end thereof, each of said support arms being sequentially pivotal from a storage position holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening to a dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and then to an exhaust position with no tissue thereon and then back to the storage position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll, latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, said tissue roll comprising an open-ended tubular core, and a web of tissue wound on said core to form said tissue roll, said core having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface of said core post and less than said outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll having counterbores respectively in the opposite ends thereof extending from the inner surface of said core outwardly to provide annular grooves, each of said grooves having an axial depth substantially equal to the predetermined distance and having a diameter slightly greater than said outer diameter of said annular flange, whereby either end of said roll may be axially received over said core post with said annular flange being received in the adjacent one of said annular grooves to accommodate proper seating of said roll on said core post carried by said support arm, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.

Claim 27

A combination tissue roll and tissue dispenser, said tissue dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, two support arms pivotally mounted in said housing and each carrying thereon a core post for holding said tissue roll, each of said core posts having a cylindrical outer surface and an annular flange extending outwardly from the cylindrical outer surface a predetermined distance from one end thereof, each of said support arms being sequentially pivotal from a storage position holding the tissue roll away from said dispensing opening to a dispensing position holding the tissue roll adjacent to said dispensing opening and then to an exhaust position with no tissue thereon and then back to the storage position for receiving thereon a fresh tissue roll, latch mechanism mounted in said housing and shiftable between a first condition and a second condition, said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof holding a support arm in the storage position thereof and in the second condition thereof accommodating movement of a support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, the presence of one of said support arms in the dispensing position thereof holding said latch mechanism in the first condition thereof to retain the other of said support arms in the storage position thereof, said tissue roll comprising an open-ended tubular core, and a web of tissue wound on said core to form said tissue roll, said core having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface of said core post and less than said outer diameter of said annular flange, said roll having counterbores respectively in the opposite ends thereof extending from the inner surface of said core outwardly to provide annular grooves, each of said grooves having an axial depth substantially equal to the predetermined distance and having a diameter slightly greater than said outer diameter of said annular flange, whereby either end of said roll may be axially received over said core post with said annular flange being received in the adjacent one of said annular grooves to accommodate proper seating of said roll on said core post carried by said support arm, movement of said one support arm from the dispensing position thereof to the exhaust position thereof permitting movement of the latching mechanism to the second condition thereof thereby to accommodate movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof, movement of said other support arm from the storage position thereof to the dispensing position thereof returning said latch mechanism from the second condition thereof to the first condition thereof thereby to hold said one support arm in the storage position thereof upon pivotal movement thereof from the exhaust position thereof to the storage position thereof for receiving a fresh tissue roll thereon.