Alwin Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Springs Window Fashions, LLC

William G Haen

Alan P Paal

Alan J Pierquet

Daniel C Kananen

Stephen Lawrence Phelps

David W Kapiloff

Patrick Gerald McCutcheon

Thomas Michael Leiterman

Troy E Westcott

Paul A Haase

Larry Allen Schotz

Abtin Spantman

Lawrence R Hansen

A window covering fastener useful for securing the edge of window covering material, such as an arched shade. The fastener includes a clip that slides over the edge of the material and is secured by a pin inserted into the clip to pass through the material. A bracket of the fastener is installed on the structure of or surrounding a window. The bracket and clip engage one another.

Window covering fastener particularly suitable for arched coverings

A dispenser for dispensing flexible web material from a center pull roll capable of accommodating different types of web material in the form of sheets separated by lines of perforation. The dispenser includes dispenser apparatus permitting the device to self-adjust to the different thicknesses, sizes and physical characteristics of different types of web material. In certain preferred embodiments, the dispenser comprises a housing, a web support within the housing and structure permitting the dispenser to self-adjust to the effective cross-sectional area of the web. The preferred dispenser structure includes elements positioned to receive the web between them. At least one of the elements is movable and is biased for displacement toward the other. Frictional force applied against the web by the elements resists pull force applied to the web by a user so that a single web sheet separates from the web along the perforation between the elements and the lead end when a user pulls on the web outside the housing.

Center pull dispenser with self-adjusting dispenser mechanism

The invention is directed to improved automatic dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheet material and the like without contact between a user and the dispenser. Proximity detection apparatus is provided to detect the presence of a user in a detection zone generated outside the dispenser. Control apparatus controls actuation of the dispenser in response to the detected user. Preferred forms of the proximity detector include a sensor and a signal detection circuit operatively connected to the sensor. The sensor includes conductors configured to have a capacitance and positioned such that the capacitance is changed by the presence of a user within the detection zone. The signal detection circuit detects the change in capacitance and is provided with an oscillator having a frequency which is affected by the sensor capacitance and a differential frequency discriminator which detects changes in the oscillator frequency. The control circuit receives the detected frequency change and generates a signal provided to actuate the dispenser to dispense the material.

Automatic dispenser apparatus

A dispenser for storing and dispensing rolled sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds at least one roll of sheet material therein. The housing has a portion of an outer surface which is positioned against a support surface. The housing also has an opening defined by a perimeter configured to provide two hub positions. The dispenser also has a hub configured to receive at least one roll of sheet material. The hub has a first end and a second end. The first end is positioned to extend through at least a portion of one hub position. The hub has a flange which is positioned radially around at least a portion of the hub near the second end. The flange has a perimeter which is larger than the perimeter of the hub positions, and is supported against the outer surface of the housing. The hub is configured to be positioned to hold one of a jumbo roll, a mid-sized roll, and a stub roll.

Dispenser for multiple rolls of sheet material

The invention is directed to improved automatic dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheet material and the like without contact between a user and the dispenser. Proximity detection apparatus is provided to detect the presence of a user in a detection zone generated outside the dispenser. Control apparatus controls actuation of the dispenser in response to the detected user. Preferred forms of the proximity detector include a sensor and a signal detection circuit operatively connected to the sensor. The sensor includes conductors configured to have a capacitance and positioned such that the capacitance is changed by the presence of a user within the detection zone. The signal detection circuit detects the change in capacitance and is provided with an oscillator having a frequency which is affected by the sensor capacitance and a differential frequency discriminator which detects changes in the oscillator frequency. The control apparatus receives the detected frequency change and generates a signal provided to actuate the dispenser to dispense the material. The dispenser control apparatus controls dispenser operation responsive to decreases in battery voltage which occur during the life cycle of the batteries and controls dispenser operation when the batteries near the end of such life cycle. Such control apparatus may be used with any type of battery powered dispenser, including hands-free dispensers and dispensers actuated by direct physical contact with the user.

A dispenser for dispensing rolls of sheet material is provided. The dispenser has a housing which holds one or more rolls of sheet material. The housing has an opening which is defined by a perimeter. A hub which is configured to hold a roll of sheet material is positioned to extend at least partially through the opening, and is moveably retained within the perimeter. An arm supports the hub for pivotable movement on a first end thereof. A portion of the arm is pivotably coupled to a portion of the housing. A second end of the arm is also pivotably movable and configured to be releasably locked into one of a plurality of selected positions.

The invention is directed to improved apparatus for dispensing flexible web material from plural rolls including improved transfer apparatus for reliably and simply dispensing material from a secondary roll once a primary roll has been depleted. The improved transfer apparatus comprises a one-piece transfer arm, first and second transfer rollers rotatably secured with respect to the transfer arm and a sensing member secured with respect to the transfer arm in position to contact the primary roll web surface. The sensing member permits movement of the transfer arm and transfer rollers to a transfer position once the primary roll diameter diminishes to a predetermined extent causing the secondary roll material to be dispensed.

Dispenser apparatus with transfer mechanism

The invention is directed to improved apparatus for dispensing flexible web material from one or more rolls including stop apparatus for reliably and simply controlling the amount of web material dispensed. The improved dispenser stop for controlling the amount of web material dispensed includes a positive stop mechanism movable between ready and stop positions as the drive roller rotates. Dispensing is stopped when the stop moves to contact an engagement surface at the end of a dispensing cycle.

Growing community of inventors

DePere, WI, United States of America

William G Haen