US 12,390,057 B2
Motor driven spindle assembly for a dispenser
Paul F. Tramontina, Harleysville, PA (US); and Charles A. Osborne, Jr., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 18/263,354
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 10, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/021711
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 28, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/191835, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0298850 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. A47K 10/36 (2006.01)
CPC A47K 10/3612 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A motor driven spindle assembly for a dispenser, comprising:
a spindle rotatable about an axis, the spindle extending longitudinally between a first end portion of the spindle and a second end portion of the spindle, the spindle defining an interior volume within the spindle at the first end portion of the spindle;
a motor disposed within the interior volume of the spindle, the motor operable to rotate the spindle about the axis;
a bracket for supporting the motor within the spindle, the bracket comprising a plate, a first leg, and a second leg, the plate of the bracket positioned within the interior volume of the spindle proximate a first end portion of the motor, each of the first and second legs having a respective proximal end portion and a respective distal end portion, the proximal end portion of the first and second legs positioned at the plate, each of the first and second legs extending away from the plate to the distal end portion of the first and second legs; and
a bushing positioned proximate a second end portion of the motor, the bushing defining a first opening and a second opening, the distal end portion of the first leg positioned within the first opening of the bushing such that the distal end portion of the first leg is slidable within the first opening along a lateral direction, the distal end portion of the second leg positioned within the second opening of the bushing such that the distal end portion of the second leg is slidable within the second opening along the lateral direction, the lateral direction being parallel to the axis.