Dispenser systems
A moulded fibrous end plug ( 3 ) and dispenser system comprising the same, the end plug for use in mounting a roll of sheet material to a dispenser and having a roll facing side comprising formations configured to be insertable into an opening in an end of a roll of sheet material and for securing the end plug to the roll of sheet material, the end plug further comprising an opposite dispenser facing side comprising formations configured to cooperate with formations of a roll holder portion of a dispenser in use for mounting the end plug to the dispenser. The formations of the roll facing side configured to be insertable into the opening in the end of the roll of sheet material include a plurality of domes ( 7 ). The formations of the roll facing side for securing the end plug to the roll of sheet material include protuberances ( 26 ) configured to provide an interference fit securing the end plug to the roll.
1 . A moulded fibrous end plug for use in mounting a roll of sheet material to a dispenser, wherein the end plug has
a roll facing side comprising formations configured to be insertable into an opening in an end of a roll of sheet material in use, the formations of the roll facing side including formations for securing the end plug to the roll of sheet material, wherein the formations of the roll facing side configured to be insertable into the opening in the end of the roll of sheet material include a plurality of domes, wherein the domes are spaced from one another by connecting portions, each connecting portion extending between the central portion of the roll facing side of the end plug and a base of the roll facing side of the end plug, wherein each connecting portion comprises one or more sloping portion, optionally wherein the connecting portion comprises an opening; and
an opposite dispenser facing side comprising formations configured to cooperate with formations of a roll holder portion of a dispenser in use for mounting the end plug to the dispenser.
2 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are cellulosic fibers.
3 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the end plug comprises from 10-40% fibers based on total solids content and/or wherein the end plug comprise at least 50% binder based on total solids content.
4 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser facing side of the end plug further comprises one or more sloping surfaces configured to cooperate with a ramp structure of the roll holder portion, wherein the sloping surfaces are provided by a reverse side of formations on the roll facing side of the end plug.
5 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser facing side of the end plug comprises a plurality of sloping surfaces configured to cooperate with a surface of a ramp structure of the roll holder portion of the dispenser to enable the end plug to be mounted to the roll holder portion, wherein the sloping surfaces of the dispenser facing side are provided by the dispenser facing sides of sloping portions of the connecting portions.
6 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein each dome comprises a base portion and an upper portion, wherein an outer wall of the dome comprises a first portion in the base portion of the dome upstanding from a base of the roll facing side of the end plug and a second, sloping portion in the upper portion of the dome, the second, sloping portion being inclined relative to the first portion.
7 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein each dome is upstanding from a base of the roll facing side of the end plug, wherein the end plug comprises a flange around the periphery thereof, the base of the roll facing side of the end plug comprising a roll facing surface of the peripheral flange.
8 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the domes surround a central portion of the roll facing side of the end plug.
9 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 8 , wherein the central portion defines a planar roll facing surface.
10 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 8 , wherein the central portion is located at a level between the base of the roll facing side of the end plug and the tops of the domes.
11 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 8 , wherein each dome extends between the central portion of the roll facing side and the roll facing surface of a peripheral flange of the end plug.
12 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 8 , wherein the dispenser facing side of the end plug comprises an annular structure defining a central bore for receiving a projection defined by a roll holder portion of the dispenser, wherein the central bore is a closed ended bore, wherein the closed end of the bore is provided by a roll facing surface of a portion of the end plug whose opposite surface provides the central portion of the roll facing side of the end plug.
13 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 12 , wherein the dispenser facing side of the end plug comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending between the annular structure and a peripheral region of the end plug on the dispenser facing side, optionally wherein each rib extends across a recess in the dispenser facing side of the end plug corresponding to a dispenser facing side of a dome.
14 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the formations of the roll facing side for securing the end plug to the roll of sheet material include formations configured to provide an interference fit securing the end plug to the roll, wherein the formations for providing the interference fit comprise protuberances, and wherein each protuberance projects outwardly from a respective one of the domes.
15 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 14 , wherein a protuberance is associated with each dome.
16 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 14 , wherein each dome comprises a base portion and an upper portion, wherein an outer wall of the dome comprises a first portion in the base portion of the dome upstanding from a base of the roll facing side of the end plug and a second, sloping portion in the upper portion of the dome, the second, sloping portion being inclined relative to the first portion, wherein the protuberance has a height at least as great as a height of the base portion of the dome.
17 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 1 , wherein the end plug is formed from a material comprising a mixture of fibres and binder, and wherein the binder provides a matrix holding the fibres of the moulded fibrous end plug in place.
18 . The moulded fibrous end plug of claim 17 , wherein the binder comprises one or more biodegradable biopolymer or starch.