US 12,064,063 B2
Automated toilet seat cover dispenser
Daniel Joseph Bartman, Combined Locks, WI (US); John Patrick Laitala, Greenville, WI (US); John William Grosz, Jr., Ripon, WI (US); Timothy Andrew Robertson, Appleton, WI (US); Ted Allen Casper, Kaukauna, WI (US); and Jacob Charles Dahl, Menasha, WI (US)
Assigned to GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
Filed by GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/028,003.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/992,200, filed on Mar. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/904,161, filed on Sep. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085136 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A47K 13/22 (2006.01); A47K 10/34 (2006.01); A47K 10/36 (2006.01); A47K 13/16 (2006.01); A47K 17/00 (2006.01); B65H 35/00 (2006.01); A47K 10/38 (2006.01)
CPC A47K 13/22 (2013.01) [A47K 10/34 (2013.01); A47K 10/36 (2013.01); A47K 10/3612 (2013.01); A47K 10/3625 (2013.01); A47K 13/165 (2013.01); A47K 17/003 (2013.01); B65H 35/0006 (2013.01); B65H 35/006 (2013.01); A47K 2010/3668 (2013.01); A47K 2010/3881 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, wherein the sheet product defines a plurality of sheets with consecutive sheets separated by a line of perforations, the sheet product dispenser comprising:
a roll holder configured to support the roll of sheet product;
a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense the sheet product from the roll, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a drive roller;
a dispensing chute extending from the dispensing mechanism to an end of the dispensing chute;
a dispensing pathway extending through the sheet product dispenser for dispensing of the sheet product therealong, wherein a portion of the dispensing pathway extending within the dispensing chute from the dispensing mechanism to the end of the dispensing chute defines a length that is at least half of a length of a sheet of the sheet product;
a motor operable to cause the driver roller to rotate to cause the sheet product to move along the dispensing pathway;
a sensor configured to detect detachment of a leading sheet from the sheet product roll; and
a controller configured to:
receive an indication of detachment of the leading sheet from the sensor; and
cause, in response to receiving the indication of detachment of the leading sheet, the motor to operate the dispensing mechanism to move a next leading sheet of the sheet product from the roll of sheet product into a staged position such that the next leading sheet of the sheet product is positioned along the dispensing pathway with a leading edge inside the dispensing chute,
wherein, when the next leading sheet is in the staged position, the leading edge of the next leading sheet is positioned less than 6 inches from the end of the dispensing chute.