Rolled product dispenser

Abstract

A rolled product dispenser for dispensing a web of rolled product. The rolled product dispenser includes a dispensing assembly, a return mechanism, and a blocking mechanism. The dispensing assembly includes a rotating drum assembly having a peripheral wall configured to be contoured at least partially by the web of rolled product. The rotating drum assembly is rotatable in a dispensing rotation direction and a counter dispensing rotation direction along at least 90 degrees. The return mechanism biases the rotating drum towards a stationary configuration by rotating same in the counter dispensing rotation direction. The blocking mechanism is engageable with the rotating drum assembly to prevent rotation thereof in the counter dispensing rotation direction beyond at least one predetermined angular position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rolled product dispenser for dispensing a web of rolled product, the rolled product dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a dispensing assembly at least partially housed in the housing and interacting with the web of rolled product, the dispensing assembly including a rotating drum assembly rotatable in a dispensing rotation direction and a counter dispensing rotation direction, the rotating drum assembly comprises at least two spaced-apart sets of at least one tooth and toothless circular arc segments extending between each one of the at least two spaced-apart sets at a periphery of the section of the rotating drum assembly with at least two of the toothless circular arc segments extending along at least 60 degrees;   a return mechanism biasing the rotating drum assembly towards a stationary configuration by rotating same in the counter dispensing rotation direction; and   a blocking mechanism allowing rotation of the rotating drum assembly in the dispensing rotation direction and preventing rotation of the rotating drum assembly in the counter dispensing rotation direction beyond at least one predetermined angular position, the blocking mechanism including a stopper engageable with one of the teeth to prevent rotation of the rotating drum assembly in the counter dispensing rotation beyond the at least one predetermined angular position.   
     
     
         2 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is pivotally mounted to one of a dispensing assembly frame and the housing through a pivoting assembly biasing an engagement end of the stopper towards the rotating drum assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the pivoting assembly biases an engagement end of the stopper towards the rotating drum assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the toothless circular arc segments extends along at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the toothless circular arc segments extends along at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the at least two spaced-apart sets of at least one tooth comprises five or less teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the at least two spaced-apart sets of at least one tooth comprises two sets of one tooth with the teeth being diametrically opposed to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the toothless circular arc segments cover at least 300 degrees of the periphery of the section of the rotating drum assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two spaced-apart sets comprise two spaced-apart sets diametrically opposed to one another. 
     
     
         10 . A rolled product dispenser for dispensing a web of rolled product, the rolled product dispenser comprising:
 a dispensing assembly including a rotating drum assembly having a peripheral wall configured to be contoured at least partially by the web of rolled product and being rotatable in a dispensing rotation direction and a counter dispensing rotation direction along at least 60 degrees, the rotating drum assembly comprises at least two spaced-apart sets of at least one tooth and toothless circular arc segments extending between each one of the at least two spaced-apart sets at a periphery of the section of the rotating drum assembly, wherein each one of the at least two spaced-apart sets comprises five or less teeth;   a return mechanism biasing the rotating drum assembly towards a stationary configuration by rotating same in the counter dispensing rotation direction; and   a blocking mechanism engageable with the rotating drum assembly to prevent rotation thereof in the counter dispensing rotation direction beyond at least one predetermined angular position, the blocking mechanism including a stopper engageable with one of the teeth to prevent rotation of the rotating drum assembly in the counter dispensing rotation beyond the at least one predetermined angular position.   
     
     
         11 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the stopper is pivotally mounted to one of a dispensing assembly frame and a housing of the rolled product dispenser through a pivoting assembly and the teeth protrude from the peripheral wall of the section of the rotating drum assembly and the pivoting assembly biases an engagement end of the stopper towards the peripheral wall of the section of the rotating drum assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein each one of the toothless circular arc segments extends along at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the toothless circular arc segments extends along at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein each one of the toothless circular arc segments extends along at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the toothless circular arc segments cover at least 300 degrees of the periphery of the section of the rotating drum assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two spaced-apart sets comprise two spaced-apart sets with each one comprising one tooth, with the two teeth being diametrically opposed. 
     
     
         17 . The rolled product dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two spaced-apart sets comprise two spaced-apart sets diametrically opposed to one another.