Rolled product dispenser and holder for use therewith

Abstract

A holder appliance suitable for axially supporting a rolled product is disclosed having a holder and a rigid or semi-rigid root section. The holder includes a body having first and second ends and an engagement surface disposed therebetween contactable with a planar end surface of the rolled product, and a protrusion extending from the engagement surface toward the rolled product, the protrusion being engageable within an opening in the planar end surface. The root section is disposed at the first end and a tab disposed at the second end of the body. The tab extends radially away from the axis of the rolled product and axially away from the engagement surface. The tab has a greatest radial portion displaced from a plane defined by the engagement surface in a direction opposite to a direction in which the protrusion is extended. The tab has a contour that mirrors a user's thumb.

1 . A holder appliance suitable for axially supporting a rolled product, the rolled product having a planar end surface defined by a plurality of juxtaposed edges of the rolled product and an opening centrally disposed in the planar end surface, the rolled product defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the holder appliance comprising:
 a holder comprising:   a body having first and second ends and an engagement surface disposed therebetween contactable with the planar end surface of the rolled product; and   a protrusion extending from the engagement surface of the body toward the rolled product, the protrusion being engageable within the opening in the planar end surface; and   a rigid or semi-rigid root section disposed at the first end and a tab disposed at the second end of the body, the tab extending radially away from the axis of the rolled product and axially away from the engagement surface of the body, the tab having a greatest radial portion displaced from a plane defined by the engagement surface of the body in a direction opposite to a direction in which the protrusion is extended, the tab having a contour that mirrors a user's thumb.   
   
   
       2 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the body is rigidly flexible relative to the rigid or semi-rigid root section being rigidly or semi-rigidly disposed to permit disengagement of the protrusion from within the opening in the planar end surface of the rolled product in response to the tab being moved in a direction away from the planar end surface. 
   
   
       3 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a polymer. 
   
   
       4 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a metal. 
   
   
       5 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the greatest radial portion of the tab is displaced from the plane of the engagement surface an amount sufficient to allow a user's thumb to be positioned between the greatest radial portion and the planar end surface of the rolled product. 
   
   
       6 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tab further includes a textured surface thereon on a side facing the planar end surface of the rolled product. 
   
   
       7 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tab further includes a planar portion that is substantially parallel to the plane of the engagement surface when the engagement surface is positioned substantially parallel with the planar end surface of the rolled product. 
   
   
       8 . The holder appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the planar portion is the greatest radial portion. 
   
   
       9 . The roll holder appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the planar portion is displaced from the plane of the engagement surface by a dimension equal to or greater than 0.25 inches and equal to or less than 1.0 inches. 
   
   
       10 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a raised boss on the engagement surface. 
   
   
       11 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid root section comprises a mounting foot. 
   
   
       12 . The holder appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the holder defines a first holder, and further comprising a second of the holder, wherein the first and second holders are joined at their respective first ends by a control arm, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid root section is defined by a central region of a control arm. 
   
   
       13 . A dispenser suitable for dispensing a rolled product that defines an axial direction and a radial direction, comprising:
 a housing;   a pair of holders positioned at the housing for axially supporting the rolled product, each of the holders having an engagement surface positionable against opposing planar ends of the rolled product, each planar end being defined by a plurality of juxtaposed edges of the rolled product, each of the holders having a protrusion extending from the respective engagement surface in a direction toward the other holder, the protrusions being engageable within axial openings in the planar ends of the rolled product, at least one of the holders having a tab extending radially away from an axis of the rolled product and axially away from the planar end of the rolled product, the tab having a contour that mirrors a user's thumb, the tab having a greatest radial portion displaced from a plane defined by the engagement surface in a direction opposite to the direction in which the associated protrusion extends, the at least one holder having the tab configured to permit disengagement of the associated protrusion from within the associated opening in the planar end of the rolled product in response to the tab being moved in a direction that displaces the tab away from the planar end of the rolled product.   
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the greatest radial portion of the tab is axially displaced from the plane of the engagement surface by a dimension sufficient to accommodate a user's finger or thumb therebetween. 
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is equal to or greater than 0.25 inches and equal to or less than 1.0 inches. 
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the pair of holders have an end that is fixedly attached to the housing. 
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the holders has a tab elastically deformable such that the protrusion of the at least one roll holder is disengageable from the opening in the planar end of the rolled product in response to elastic deformation of the at least one roll holder. 
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein a surface of the tab is textured. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the tab further includes a planar portion that is substantially parallel with the engagement surface when the pair of holders are holding the rolled product.