DE102011054077B4 - Device for storing reserve rolls - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for storing reserve rolls (2) with a piece of furniture and with a storage container (12) for reserve rolls (2), which can be stacked on top of one another, with a power source (16), the power source (16) at least a battery (17) or at least one accumulator and with a signal device (18), which is a light-emitting diode and with a contact switch (15) for activating the signal device (18), which comprises a contact unit (20) and a contact spring (22) , wherein the contact spring (22) has an upwardly directed spring force (F) and can be brought into contact with the contact unit (20) from below, the contact switch (15) being arranged in the bottom region of the storage container (12) such that the Contact spring (22) has a first open working position (AP0) when at least one reserve roller (2) is arranged at least partially on the contact spring (22), in which open working position (AP0) there is an open circuit (S0) t and that the contact spring (22) has a second closed working position (AP1) when no reserve roller (2) is at least partially arranged on the contact spring (22), in which second closed working position (AP1) the circuit (S1) is closed is, wherein the signal device (18) is attached to a visible outer surface (A) of the piece of furniture or is integrated into an outer surface (A) of the piece of furniture.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for storing reserve rolls according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Households generally store extra rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom or extra rolls of kitchen paper, etc., in the kitchen as a supply. The toilet paper rolls are usually hidden in a bathroom cabinet, for example, under the sink, or other toilet furniture. The problem here is that from the outside i. d. R. is not easy to see whether the stock is still filled or empty again. Especially in multi-person households, it often happens that the stock is emptied by a person who then does not care about the corresponding replenishment. This can easily lead to displeasure when suddenly no supply of toilet paper is available.

For example, extra storage containers for toilet paper are known, which can provide a display device, for example a viewing window, so that the fill level can be readily determined.

For example, describes DE 1971766 U - see. 1A - a tubular toilet paper container 1 for reserve rolls 2 with a lower take-off flap 3a , The roles 2 are each through this lower sampling flap 3a taken. On the rollers 2 is a lid 4 hung up. When removing a roll 2 the lid lowers 4 accordingly. One on the lid 4 attached measuring cord 5 , which is arranged hanging over the upper edge of the container to the outside, is pulled along accordingly, so that the outside overhanging end 6 shortened. This makes it possible to see at a glance whether there are still any roles 2 in the container 1 in stock. The container 1 Can be placed either standing in the bathroom or attached to the wall. For this purpose, a fastening device 7 intended.

DE 20 2009 014 123 U1 - see. 1B - shows a toilet paper box with electronic refill indicator 8th , The toilet paper box consists of a tubular body 1 with a lower removal opening 3b , Becomes a role 2 taken, the next falls immediately in the removal position. After removal of the penultimate role 2 a signal is triggered by a switch and an LED indicates refill demand. The toilet paper box can be attached to the wall as well as standing up.

Next is from the DE 9315604 U1 a device known with a probe, which is brought into surface contact with a roller. If the roller reaches a defined residual diameter, a circuit can be closed via the button and a signal can be output.

Also is from the US 4882568 A a system for signal output before reaching a final state of a holder arranged on a roll of paper known. If necessary, the signal should inform a user as soon as the respective paper roll has only a residual quantity.

In addition, the knows US Pat. No. 2,819,139 A a container for toilet paper. The paper rolls are in the device shown in the US-font in the container on a lever. The adjusting lever is acted upon by a spring force. If there is no roll of paper in the reservoir, the spring force is sufficient to move the lever upwards. The lever has a cover at one free end, which exposes a symbol after movement of the control lever. As a result, a user may recognize that there is no roll of paper in the container.

A disadvantage of such additional devices is that they take up additional space in the bathroom. Especially with small bathrooms attaching such additional devices on the wall o. Ä. Therefore, rather undesirable.

The object of the invention is to construct a space-saving device for providing spare rolls, which offers the user an easy way of checking the filling level.

The above object is achieved by an apparatus comprising the features in claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the subclaims.

description

The invention relates to a device for storing reserve roles in a piece of furniture. In particular, the invention relates to a device for storing spare toilet paper rolls in a bathroom furniture. But it can also be provided to integrate such a device in kitchen cabinets for storing kitchen rolls paper, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, baking paper o. Ä.

The device comprises a storage container for at least one reserve roll. Furthermore, the device comprises a signaling device, the one Sends signal when the reservoir is empty, ie when the last reserve roll has been removed.

For this purpose, an electrical circuit is provided which comprises a power source, a signaling device and a contact switch for activating the signaling device. The contact switch comprises a contact unit and a contact spring which is arranged below the contact unit and has an upwardly directed spring force, so that the contact spring can be brought into contact with the contact unit by an upward movement from below. In particular, the contact switch is arranged in the bottom region of the reservoir such that the at least one reserve roller rests at least partially on the contact switch and thereby presses down the contact spring.

So there is at least one reserve role in the reservoir, the contact spring is pressed down by the weight of the roller in a first open working position. As a result, there is no contact between the contact unit and the contact spring, whereby the circuit is interrupted and no signal is output by the signaling device.

The storage container has an upper removal opening for the removal of the reserve rolls. Now, if the last reserve role removed, then the corresponding weight is missing, which presses down the contact spring in the open working position. The contact spring is now due to the upward spring force in their preferred closed working position back. In this closed working position, the contact spring is located directly on the contact unit. The circuit is closed and the signaling device outputs a signal that the user recognizes that there are no spare rolls left.

The signaling device may in particular be a light-emitting diode or the like which, in the case of a closed circuit, ie. H. in the case of an empty storage container, emits a corresponding light signal. It can be provided that it is a continuous light signal. According to a further embodiment, the signaling device generates a pulsating signal, for example a flashing signal. The invention may also provide other suitable signaling devices. It can also be used, for example, a suitable acoustic signal, etc. The signaling device is preferably mounted on a visible outside of the bathroom furniture or integrated into a visible outside of the bathroom furniture.

Power is supplied, for example, via batteries, rechargeable batteries or other suitable voltage sources. According to a preferred embodiment, two mignon batteries are used. These are usually subject to self-discharge and thus rarely need to be replaced.

According to a preferred embodiment, such a device is used in a bathroom furniture to stock toilet paper rolls. The device is integrated, for example, in a push or attached to the inside of a cabinet door. The storage container preferably has a cylindrical shape with a circular base surface, wherein the diameter of the circular base surface in a range of about 12 cm to 15 cm. The height of the storage container can be varied according to the height of the bathroom furniture, but should have a recommended height of at least 7 cm in order to hold at least one roll of toilet paper safely. Depending on the height of the storage container, the number of maximum stored rolls also varies. The base of the cylindrical reservoir may also have a different shape, but it must be ensured that the at least one roller can be filled easily. In particular, it is provided that a plurality of rollers can only be arranged one above the other. A light-emitting diode is placed on the outside of the push or the door so that it is clearly visible. Depending on the user's request, a white or a colored LED can be used, which emits a continuous or flashing signal.

If such a device, for example, in kitchen cabinets for storing kitchen rolls of paper, etc. are used, the shape of the reservoir is chosen accordingly different. For example, for a reserve of kitchen roll paper, it may be advantageous to use a cuboid reservoir with dimensions of about 10 cm × about 27 cm × about at least 7 cm. The height - here indicated with at least 7 cm - determines in turn the number of rolls to be stocked. With appropriately adapted storage containers, reserve packages of aluminum foil, plastic wrap and / or baking paper can also be stored.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the upper removal opening is provided with a lid to protect the stored roles from contamination.

The invention is technically easy to implement and thus cost feasible. The height of the reservoir can be easily adapted to the particular piece of furniture. Thus, depending on the height of the cabinet door, the thrust o. Ä. One or more reserve rolls can be stacked and stored. The Device operates regardless of what kind of toilet roll paper rolls or other rolls are used, ie the device also works reliably in case of product-related fluctuations in the diameter and / or weight of the reserve rolls.

The device is flexibly installable. New pieces of furniture can already be equipped with such a device in the production, with an advantageous optical integration of the signal or display device in the overall picture is possible directly. But it is also readily possible to retrofit old furniture with such a device by integrating it into a push or attached to the inside of a cabinet door and attaches the signaling device at a convenient location.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

1A / B respectively show schematic views of a storage container for toilet paper rolls according to the known prior art.

2 shows a schematic view of a storage device with reserve rolls according to the invention.

3 shows a schematic view of a storage device without reserve rolls according to the invention.

4 shows schematically the integration of a storage device according to the invention in a piece of furniture.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the device according to the invention can be designed and do not represent a final limitation.

2 shows a schematic view of a storage device 10 for toilet paper rolls 2 with signaling device 18 according to the present invention, which is integrated for example in a bathroom furniture. The device 10 generated when removing the last roll 2 a clear warning signal, this is preferably a clearly visible optical signal on an outside of the bathroom furniture.

The device 10 consists of a storage container 12 for the toilet paper rolls 2 in which depending on the dimensions of the container 12 one or more roles 2 can be arranged one above the other. The container 12 has in particular a cylindrical shape with a circular base. The inner diameter d _{I of} the container 12 is chosen so that also roles 2 can easily be filled with slightly different diameter, which can only be stacked on top of each other. Preferably, the inner diameter d _{I is} between about 12 cm to 15 cm. The container 12 can also have another, non-circular base, for example, a cuboid shape with a square base o. Ä., Where the base is selected so that the rollers 2 always on top of each other - and never several side by side - must be arranged.

The bottom area of the container 12 is a detection device 14 for detecting at least one role 2 assigned. The detection device 14 is with a display or signaling device 18 coupled. In the detection device 14 it is a contact switch 15 , In particular a spring switch o. Ä. With a contact unit 20 and a contact flag 22 , The contact flag 22 has an upward spring force F on. There is at least one role 2 in the storage container 12 , becomes the contact flag 22 of the contact switch 15 is depressed to an open operating position P ₀ , so that an open circuit S ₀ is present.

3 shows the situation when removing the last roll 2 , The top of the storage tank 12 forms a removal opening 13 , Will be the last role 2 over the removal opening 13 taken from the top, missing the contact lug 22 depressing weight. The contact flag 22 due to the upwardly directed spring force F automatically returns to a closed working position P ₁ or signal position. The circuit S ₁ is closed and the signaling device 18a gives a signal that the stock is empty. For example, it is the signaling device 18 to an LED or other suitable signaling device that generates a clearly visible or an audible warning signal. The power supply of the display device 18 via a power supply unit 16 , for example, two mignon batteries 17 which are normally subject to self-discharge and thus rarely need to be replaced.

4 shows the arrangement of such a device 10 in a bathroom furniture, especially in a drawer 30 with handle 32 , The device 10 saves space within the push 30 arranged while one with the device 10 electronically coupled LED indicator light 18 is fixed so that the output signal on the visible outer surface A of the thrust 30 , which is also the handle 32 is located, is clearly visible. The LED indicator light 18 can be placed as desired, especially in a place that is clearly visible, but affects the overall picture of the bathroom furniture as little as possible.

Alternatively, the reservoir 12 such a device 10 also be attached to the inside of a door of a bathroom cabinet o. Ä.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tubular container

2

Reserve role

3a

removal flap

3b

removal opening

4

cover

5

Meßkordel

6

overhanging end

7

fastening device

8th

refill

10

stock device

12

reservoir

13

removal opening

14

detection device

15

contact switch

16

Power supply unit

17

Battery / battery

18

signaling device

18A

activated signaling device

20

Contact unit

22

contact tag

30

thrust

32

Handle

A

visible outer surface

d _i

inner diameter

F

spring force

P ₀ / P ₁

open / closed working position

S ₀ / S ₁

open / closed circuit

Claims (5)

Contraption ( 10 ) for storing reserve rolls ( 2 ) with a piece of furniture and with a reservoir ( 12 ) for reserve roles ( 2 ), which are stackable on top of each other, with a power source ( 16 ), where the power source ( 16 ) at least one battery ( 17 ) or at least one battery and with a signaling device ( 18 ), which is a light-emitting diode and with a contact switch ( 15 ) for activating the signaling device ( 18 ), which is a contact unit ( 20 ) and a contact spring ( 22 ), wherein the contact spring ( 22 ) has an upward spring force (F) and from below with the contact unit ( 20 ) is brought into contact, wherein the contact switch ( 15 ) in the bottom region of the storage container ( 12 ) is arranged, that the contact spring ( 22 ) has a first open working position (AP ₀ ) if at least one reserve roll ( 2 ) at least partially on the contact spring ( 22 ) is arranged at which open working position (AP ₀ ) an open circuit (S ₀ ) is present and that the contact spring ( 22 ) has a second closed working position (AP ₁ ), if no reserve roll ( 2 ) at least partially on the contact spring ( 22 ) is arranged at which second closed working position (AP ₁ ) of the circuit (S ₁ ) is closed, wherein the signaling device ( 18 ) is attached to a visible outer surface (A) of the piece of furniture or integrated into an outer surface (A) of the piece of furniture. Contraption ( 10 ) according to claim 1, wherein the storage container ( 12 ) at the top of a removal opening ( 13 ) for the at least one reserve role ( 2 ) having. Contraption ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the signaling device ( 18 ) outputs a continuous signal or a pulsating signal. Contraption ( 10 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir ( 12 ) has a cylindrical shape with a circular base. Contraption ( 10 ) according to claim 4, wherein the inner diameter (d _I ) of the circular base is between 12 to 15 cm.

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