IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,740,674
Granted Patent B2
US 12,740,674 · App. 18/851,512 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Outlet assembly for a dispenser for web-shaped absorbent material

Inventors: Johanna Enmalm (Borlänge, SE); Antonio Källgren (Borlänge, SE); Marcus Kullman (Borlänge, SE); Susanne Gungner (Gothenburg, SE); Tomas Gandemo (Gothenburg, SE)
Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
A47K10/3818A47K2010/3233
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,740,674
App. No.
18/851,512
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An outlet assembly for arrangement to an outer wall of a dispenser for web-shaped absorbent material, the outlet assembly comprises a first part defining a first outlet portion and a second part defining a second outlet portion wherein the first part comprises a rim attachment element such that the first part assumes a first part fixed position in relation to the wall opening outer rim, the first part further comprises a first connector element, and the second part comprises a second connector element, the first connector element and the second connector element being such that the second part can be attached to the first part by means of connection between the first connector element and the second connector element such that the second part assumes a second part fixed position in relation to the first part.

Claims (45)

1 . An outlet assembly for arrangement to an outer wall of a dispenser for web-shaped absorbent material, the outer wall defining a wall opening extending along an outlet axis through the wall, the wall opening having a wall opening rim, and the outlet assembly being adapted to form an outlet for dispensing of the web-shaped absorbent material from the dispenser through the wall opening in a direction along the outlet axis,

wherein

the outlet assembly comprises a first part defining a first outlet portion extending along a dispensing axis of the first part;

and a second part defining a second outlet portion extending along a dispensing axis of the second part;

wherein the first part comprises a rim attachment element being such that the first part can be attached to the wall opening rim by means of the rim attachment element such that the first part assumes a first part fixed position in relation to the wall opening outer rim, wherein the dispensing axis of the first outlet portion extends along the outlet axis,

and

the first part further comprises a first connector element, and

the second part comprises a second connector element, the first connector element and the second connector element being such that the second part can be attached to the first part when in the first part fixed position by means of connection between the first connector element and the second connector element, such that the second part assumes a second part fixed position in relation to the first part, wherein the dispensing axis of the second outlet portion extends along the dispensing axis of the first outlet portion,

such that, when the first part is in the first part fixed position in relation to the wall opening rim, and the second part is in the second part fixed position in relation to the first part, the first outlet portion and the second outlet portion form the outlet for dispensing of the web-shaped absorbent material from the dispenser through the wall opening in a direction along the outlet axis,

wherein the first part and the second part are such that the second part is movable by one or more attachment steps from an initial state, where the second part is unattached to the first part, to the second part fixed position,

wherein the second part and the first part are such that the second part is movable in a first attachment step from an initial state where the second part is unattached to the first part to a predetermined intermediate position at or adjacent the first part, and in a second attachment step from the predetermined intermediate position to the second part fixed position,

wherein the first part and the second part are such that the second part is movable from the predetermined intermediate position to the second part fixed position by rotation of the second part about a centre axis of the first part.

2 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser wall has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the rim attachment element is such that the first part can be brought to the first part fixed position from the first side of the dispenser wall, and the first and second connector elements are such that the second part can be brought to the second part fixed position from the second side of the dispenser wall.

3 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part are such that, when the first part is in the first part fixed position in relation to the wall opening rim, and the second part is in the second part fixed position in relation to the first part, at least a portion of the wall opening rim is positioned between the first part and the second part.

4 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a first fastening bore extending in a direction along the dispensing axis of the first part, and the second part comprises a second fastening bore extending in a direction along the dispensing axis of the second part, and, when the second part is in the second part fixed position, the first and second fastening bores are aligned in a direction along the dispensing axes of the first and second parts, allowing insertion of a fastening member though the first and second fastening bores.

5 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first part further comprises a bracket member extending about the second outlet portion in a length direction and in a width direction, the length direction and the width direction being perpendicular to the dispensing axis of the first part.

6 . The outlet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the bracket member is adapted to extend in the length direction and the width direction so as extend over at least a part of the wall opening rim, such as the entire wall opening rim, when the first part is in the first part fixed position.

7 . The outlet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the first part defines one or more protruding portions protruding in a direction along the dispensing axis of the first part from the bracket member, wherein the one or more protruding portions comprises the rim attachment element and/or the first connector element, and/or a first fastening bore.

8 . The outlet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the first part is configured such that the bracket member is adapted to be arranged on the first side of the dispenser wall being an outside of the dispenser wall.

9 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a nozzle portion forming the second outlet portion.

10 . The outlet assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the second part is configured such that the nozzle portion is adapted to be arranged on the second side of the dispenser wall being an inside of the dispenser wall.

11 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is such that the first part is movable by one or more attachment steps from an initial state where the first part is unattached to the wall opening rim to the first part fixed position.

12 . The outlet assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first part is such that the first part is movable in a first attachment step from an initial state where the first part is unattached to the wall opening rim to a predetermined intermediate position at or adjacent the wall opening rim, and in a second attachment step from the predetermined intermediate position to the first part fixed position.

13 . The outlet assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first part is such that, in the first attachment step, the first part is movable along the outlet axis only when the first part assumes an angular position in relation to the outlet axis being in a first range of angular position(s) about the outlet axis.

14 . The outlet assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the rim attachment element is such that, in the second attachment step, the first part is movable from the predetermined intermediate position to the first part fixed position by rotation around the outlet axis.

15 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wall opening rim comprises engagement members and the rim attachment element is adapted for engagement with the engagement members.

16 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second part and the first part are such that, in a first attachment step, the second part is movable in direction at least partly along the dispensing axis of the first part only when the second part is in a first range of angular positions about the dispensing axis of the first part.

17 . The outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector element and the second connector element are adapted to engage by abutment in a direction along the dispensing axis of the first part, when the second part is in the second part fixed position in relation to the first part.

18 . A kit for an outlet assembly comprising at least one first part and at least two second parts, wherein each of said two second parts is attachable to the one first part so as to form an outlet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second outlet portions of the two second parts differ from each other.

19 . The kit according to claim 18 , wherein the second outlet portion of one of the second parts is adapted for one-by-one dispensing of web-shaped absorbent material, and the second outlet portion of another of the second parts is adapted for uninterrupted dispensing of the same web-shaped absorbent material.

20 . A dispenser comprising:

an outlet assembly according to claim 1 ; and

the outer wall, the outer wall defining the wall opening extending along the outlet axis through the outer wall, the wall opening having the wall opening rim.

21 . The dispenser according to claim 20 , further comprising a storage compartment housing a supply of the web-shaped absorbent material, wherein the outlet assembly form the outlet for dispensing of the web-shaped absorbent material from the dispenser through the wall opening in a direction along the outlet axis.

22 . A method for arranging an outlet assembly according to claim 1 to the outer wall of the dispenser for web-shaped absorbent material, the outer wall defining the wall opening extending along the outlet axis through the outer wall, and the wall opening having the wall opening rim, the method comprising:

moving the first part from an initial state unattached to the wall opening rim to the first part fixed position in relation to the wall opening rim by one or more attachments steps; and

moving the second part from an initial state unattached to the first part to the second part fixed position in relation to the first part by one or more attachment steps.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , comprising the step of

fastening the first part and the second part when in the first and second part fixed positions, respectively, using a fastening member.

24 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the step of moving the first part from an initial state unattached to the wall opening rim to the first part fixed position comprises

a first attachment step comprising moving the first part from the initial state to a predetermined intermediate position adjacent or at the wall opening rim; and

a second attachment step comprising moving the first part from the predetermined intermediate position to the first part fixed position.

25 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the step of moving the second part from an initial state unattached to the first part to the first part fixed position comprises

a first attachment step comprising moving the second part from the initial state to a predetermined intermediate position adjacent or at first part by a first movement in at least a first direction; and

a second attachment step comprising moving the second part from the predetermined intermediate position to the first part fixed position by a second movement in at least a second direction, different from the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2024
From: ENMALM, JOHANNA; KÄLLGREN, ANTONIO; KULLMAN, MARCUS; GUNGNER, SUSANNE; GANDEMO, TOMAS
To: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
Reel/Frame 068712/0031 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250213077A1 · Jul 3, 2025
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