Rolled material dispenser with energy harvesting
US8408487B2 · kind B2 · utility
8Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47K2010/3668
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An automatic dispenser for a rolled material has a sensor that detects the presence of a user in front of the dispenser. When that occurs, a motor is driven by energy stored in a battery or a capacitor and a short length of the material is dispensed from the roll. The user then grasps that short length and pulls more of the material off the roll, thereby causing the roll to rotate. Rotation of the roll drives the motor as a generator producing electrical energy that recharges the battery or capacitor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.