Towel dispenser tail guard

Abstract

A shield for a rolled web material dispenser and that is defined by a body that extends continuously between a first end and a second end, as well as between a pair of respective sidewalls. The first end of body is contoured to secure the body proximate a discharge opening of an enclosure, while second end of body is offset from the first end at a distance that allows body to overlie an exposed tail of web material extending through discharge opening. The pair of respective sidewalls extend in a rearward direction such that the shield flanks the forward facing and opposing edges of the exposed tail of the rolled web material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shield for a rolled web material dispenser, the shield comprising:
 a body that extends continuously between a first end and a second end and a pair of respective sidewalls;
 the first end of the body being contoured to secure the body proximate a discharge opening of an enclosure; 
 the second end of the body being offset from the first end at a distance that allows the body to overlie an exposed tail of web material extending through the discharge opening; and 
 the respective sidewalls extending in a rearward direction at locations between the first end and the second end of the body and oriented to flank opposing edges of the exposed tail such that the exposed tail of the web material is accessible from locations below the body of the shield. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the body is at least one of transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         3 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot constructed to allow the shield to rotate relative to the enclosure when secured thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the pair of respective sidewalls are shorter than a width of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The shield of  claim 1  when the body removably cooperates with the rolled web material dispenser. 
     
     
         6 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the body extends in a rearward direction between the respective sidewalls. 
     
     
         7 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive tape disposed proximate the first end of the body and having a first side adhered to the body and a second side configured to engage the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . A method of limiting exposure to an exposed tail end of a roll of web material that depends from a rolled web material dispenser, the method comprising:
 providing a guard constructed to be secured to a rolled web material dispenser such that the guard depends over an exposed portion of a rolled web material that depends from the dispenser during use thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising shaping an upper portion of the guard to have a shape that is similar to a shape of a lower portion of the rolled web material dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising forming the guard of at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising forming a pair of sidewalls at respective opposing lateral ends of the guard and that extend in a rearward direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising forming the pair of sidewalls to extend in the rearward direction a shorter distance than a width of guard. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising forming a pivot between the guard and the rolled web material dispenser that allows the guard to rotate relative to a cover of the rolled material dispenser when the guard is attached thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising forming the guard to removeably cooperate with the rolled web material dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . A rolled web material dispenser comprising:
 an enclosure defined by a cover that is pivotably connected to a base and shaped to define a cavity shaped to receive a bulk roll of web material;   a dispense opening formed through the enclosure;   a feed mechanism disposed in the enclosure and configured to present a tail of the bulk roll of web material during each dispense event; and   a shield attached to the enclosure proximate the dispense opening and oriented to overlie the tail of the bulk roll of web material that extends beyond the enclosure through the dispense opening.   
     
     
         16 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the shield is at least one of pivotably attached to enclosure, adhered to the enclosure with two sided tape, and removeably connected to the enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the shield includes a pair of opposing sidewalls and a front facing portion that extends between the pair of opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the front facing portion extends continuously between the pair of opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         19 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 17  wherein each of the pair of opposing sidewalls extend in a rearward direction a distance that is shorter than a width of the shield. 
     
     
         20 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the rearward extending distance of each of the pair of opposing sidewalls is sufficient to allow the shield to overlie the tail of the bulk roll of web material relative to opposing side facing directions. 
     
     
         21 . The rolled web material dispenser of  claim 15  wherein body is at least one of transparent and translucent.