Hand-held dispenser for wrapping material

Abstract

A hand-held dispenser for holding a roll 5 of a wrapping material has a parallel pair of handles 1, 2 each having an arm 1a, 2a, 1b, 2b extending from at least one end connected to a mount 3a, 3b, which may have cups 14 and 15, for receiving the roll 5. Each handle may have two mutually moveable parts 6, 7 whereby the spacing between them may be altered using a telescopic adjuster having a sliding extension tube 23 and screw adjustment mechanism, including screw nuts 19, 20 and studding 21, which may be rotated with a twist grip 22.

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a hand-held dispenser for wrapping material for use in wrapping bulk products for transport purposes. Background to the Invention It is usual to wrap pallet loads of products, for example, using flexible and stretchable plastics film to hold the products, typically in individual cartons, together during shipping. This wrapping operation is often carried out manually, using a roll of the plastics film carried on a hand-held dispenser. Known handheld dispensers, for example as disclosed in EP3100960A1, EP2135807A1, US2021 / 0171232A1, and GB GB2115783A, comprise a vertical mount for the roll of film, carried by a handle extending generally parallel to the axis of the roll. In some examples, an additional handle extends along the axis of the roll at one end thereof. In use, the dispenser is held with the axis of the roll vertical and the film is wound on to the stack of products (boxes) on the pallet as the user moves around the stack. This manoeuvre typically involves the user pulling the carrier behind them as they walk around the stack. Most users find this uncomfortable for prolonged use. Alternatively, the user will walk backwards around the pallet whilst unwinding and stretching the material on to the load. Both methods involve the predominant use of one hand / arm whilst securing the load. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a hand-held dispenser for holding a roll of a wrapping material, the dispenser comprising a parallel pair of handles each having an arm extending from at least one end thereof connected to a mount for receiving the roll extending parallel to the handles in use. Other preferred features of the invention are set out in the claims. The dispenser of the invention is suitable for use in front of the user as they walk around the stack of items to be wrapped, rather than pulled behind the user, greatly increasing the comfort and convenience of the wrapping procedure. Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dispenser with a roll of wrapping material installed; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the dispenser shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded view from the front of a modified form of the dispenser, without the roll installed. Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the hand-held dispenser consists of a pair of handles 1 and 2 arranged parallel to each other and each having an arm 1 a, 1 b, 2a, 2b extending generally normally thereto at each end. The arms at each end of the handles 1 a and 2a, 1 b and 2b, are respectively joined together with an angle of 90° between them and with a roll support 3a and 3b mounted on the point at which the arms join. The roll supports 3a and 3b receive the opposed ends of the core 4 on which the roll 5 of wrapping film is held, enabling the roll to rotate as the film is wound on to the articles being wrapped. The handles and arms 1 and 2 are configured as two telescopically adjustable units 6 and 7, which can be moved away from and towards each other to permit removal and fixing of the core 4 of the roll 5. The movement also permits variations in the length of the core 4 to be accommodated. One handle 2 is configured vary in length telescopically, with a slidable tubular sleeve or grip 18 extending over the two parts thereof. The other handle 1 is extendible by twisting a grip member 8 extending over the two parts of the handle to screw the parts towards or away from each other, as explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figure 3. In use, the person carrying out the wrapping operation grasps the two handles to hold the roll 5 in the upright or generally vertical position and walks around the stack of objects to be wrapped with the dispenser in front of them and the film unwinding to the side of the person on to the stack. This makes the wrapping operation easier to control and more comfortable for the user. Referring now to Figure 3, the two telescopically adjustable units 6 and 7 are each formed from a single piece of metal tubing bent to form the two arms 1a, 2a, 1b, 2b with a curved section 8, 9 between them on which is welded a support base 10, 11 in the form of a disc having a screw-threaded aperture 12, 13 at the centre. A recessed disc 14, 15 is rotatably mounted on the support base 10, 11 by means of a screw-threaded spindle 16, 17 screwed into the screw-threaded aperture 12, 13. The lower unit 6 has an extension tube 23 secured in the end of the lower part of the handle 2, while the lower part of the handle 1 has a screw-threaded nut 19 secured in its open end. The extension tube 23 is slidingly received in the corresponding open end of the upper part of the handle 2 in the upper unit 7, which is provided with a screw-threaded nut 20 in the open end of the upper part of the handle 1, the nuts 19 and 20 being of opposite hand thread. An adjustment element 21 comprises a hexagonal nut 21a from which extend on opposed sides threaded studs 21b and 21c of opposite hand threads. The adjustment element is held within a grip member 22 and the threaded studs 21b and 21c are screwed into the corresponding nuts 19 and 20 so that, as the grip member 22 is twisted relative to the handle 1 the units 6 and 7 are drawn towards each other or urged away from each other depending on the direction of twisting. In use, the roll is installed by twisting the grip member 22 to move the two units 6 and 7 apart, permitting the ends of the tubular core of the roll to be received in the recessed discs 14, 15. The grip member 22 is then twisted in the opposite direction to hold the core ends in the recesses in the discs, while still permitting rotation of the roll. The free end of the film from the roll is secured to the stack of objects to be wrapped and then the user walks around the stack, holding the dispenser in front of them, the film unreeling from the roll and winding on to the stack. Additionally, the twisting of the grip member 22 may serve to increase or increase the resistance to rotation of the roll and thus the tension of the wrapping material as it is applied.

Claims

1. A hand-held dispenser for holding a roll of a wrapping material, the dispenser comprising a parallel pair of handles each having an arm extending from at least one end thereof connected to a mount for receiving the roll ex-5 tending parallel to the handles in use, wherein an arm extends from both ends of each handle, the opposed connected ends of the arms being configured to mount the roll between them.

2. A hand-held dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein each handle comprises two mutually movable parts whereby the spacing between the op-10 posed free ends may be increased or decreased.

3. A hand-held dispenser according to Claim 2, wherein one handle is telescopically extensible and the other comprises a screw adjuster to move the two parts relative to each other.

4. A hand-held dispenser according to Claim 3, wherein the screw 15 adjuster comprises a screw-threaded socket in the respective end of each part, the threads being of opposite hand to one another, and an adjustment knob having a screw-threaded member projecting from opposite sides thereof engageable with a respective one of the sockets.

5. A hand-held dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein 20 each arm extends substantially normally to the respective handle.

6. A hand-held dispenser according to Claim 5, wherein the included angle between the arms at the or each end of the dispenser is 90°.

7. A hand-held dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each mount comprises a cup for receiving an end of a core of a roll.

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