GB2325214A

GB2325214A - A sheet material dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2325214A
Application number: GB9809992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-05-12
Filing date: 1998-05-08
Publication date: 1998-11-18
Also published as: GB9809992D0; GB9709620D0

Abstract

A sheet material dispenser comprises a storage means 23 for a roll 46 or folded sheet, gripping means 34, support member 22 and cutting means 50. The gripping means 34 comprises two parallel members 36, 38 which hold the free end 49 of the roll 46 against the support member 22 in a storage position. When the roll 46 is dispensed the gripping means 34 is detached from the support member 22 and drawn away from the roll 46 until the required length is showing. The gripping means 34 is released from the free end 49 and replaced on the support member 22. The required length of sheet material is then cut using the cutting means 50. The cutting means may comprise a blade 50 and guide 26, a concealed blade (56, figure 11) or a slidably mounted blade (70, figure 16) which may be housed in a housing when not in use. The gripping means 34 may comprise a spring mounted hinge to resiliently hold parallel members 36, 38 together. The parallel members may also be provided with a high friction material 42, 44. The roll may be mounted on brackets and the dispenser may be provided with a spare roll storage facility 24.

Description

A SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSER The present invention relates to a dispenser for sheet material, more particularly, it relates to a dispenser for cling film from a roll thereof.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular definition, for the purposes of this application the term "cling film" as used herein is understood to mean a filmed plastics material of the kind that is used widely in many fields. For example, it is usedXextensively to wrap food and seal food containers, either in the home or in the catering industry. It also has industrial applications. Cling film has many useful properties including the ability to releasably adhere to itself but is not readily releasable. This allows a seal to be formed which may serve as an effective barrier to the outside environment, thereby reducing the possibility of the wrapped article becoming contaminated.

Many different kinds of sheet materials are available for use in a variety of tasks.

For example, foodstuffs are commonly wrapped in, for example cling film, foil such as aluminium foil or grease-proof paper in order to preserve their freshness.

Similarly, spillages can be cleaned up using absorbent materials that are conveniently sold in sheet form. Sheet materials also find applications in industry for a variety of tasks. Such materials include plastics materials which shrink when they come into contact with heat. These are more commonly known as shrink-wrapping materials and are used extensively to secure boxed articles on palettes.

A convenient way of providing such materials is in folded form or roll form. The roll may be formed by wrapping the material around a tube or around itself.

However the material is provided, there will be an edge of material which will enable the user to draw out a length of the material from the dispenser.

However, when the material is in continuous sheet form, it may be difficult or inconvenient to obtain a short length of the material for use when required. A dispenser for sheet material would therefore provide means for obtaining a desired length of the sheet material.

Due to the nature of some of the environments in which such sheet material dispensers are employed, it is particularly desirable to be able to use the dispenser with one hand, with dirty hands or, where the sheet material to be dispensed is cling film, without the material adhering to itself.

In an attempt to meet these and other criteria, manufacturers have provided means by which a length of the sheet material can be readily obtained. Such means have included the use of lines of perforations. These can be spaced regularly along the length of the material, thus allowing the detachment of sheets of said material, each sheet being of the same size. However, one disadvantage associated with the provision of perforations in this way, is that the user is limited to a certain length of material which has been selected by the manufacturer and which may not be adequate for the intended use. Clearly, it would be advantageous if the user were able to select the length of material detached.

Means by which a user-selected length of sheet material may be detached from the material have been developed. One example of a dispenser of this type is that described in GB 2082544. This dispenser comprises means by which a roll of material may be supported so as to allow free rotation along the longitudinal axis of the roll and means for cutting the material that is integral to the one-piece construction of the dispenser. The dispenser, which is preferably positioned horizontally in relation to the user, comprises an elongated aperture that runs along the full length of the front of the dispenser. The aperture includes means for severing the material such as a blade. In use, the free end of the material is grasped by the user, who then draws out the required length of material from the dispenser before cutting off the desired length.

An alternative example of a sheet material dispenser that incorporates means for obtaining a desired length of material is disclosed in GB 2190897. This dispenser comprises not only means for cutting the desired length of material but also for gripping the material in such a way that tension may be applied to the material manually prior to severance.

Where the sheet material being dispensed is cling film, particular difficulties are encountered. When cling film is drawn from a roll, a static charge is generated on the surface of the cling film which may cause the film to adhere to itself. Surfaces of the sheet of cling film therefore have a tendency to be attracted to themselves thereby causing entanglement of the sheet.

In addition, this build-up of static charge may cause both airborne particles and particles from the hand of the user to be attracted to the surface of the cling film, thus not only increasing the possibility that the cling film may become contaminated, which is undesirable during food preparation, but can also reduce the effectiveness of the cling film to adhere to itself when required.

Commonly, the dispensers found in the prior art, for example those described above, do not provide solutions for these problems.

Although both dispensers described above prevent the free edge of the sheet material from wrapping around the bulk of the material, thus minimising the difficulty with which the edge may be found, the user still has to be in direct contact with the sheet material in order to draw out the required length of material. Thus, the problems associated with previous dispensers of sheet material are not overcome.

It has now been discovered that these and other problems associated with prior art devices may be overcome if the dispenser is arranged such that the user is in direct contact with the material for a minimum length of time, thus allowing the properties of the sheet material to be retained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sheet material dispenser comprising means for storing a quantity of sheet material; means for supporting a free end of the sheet material; gripping means which in a storage position grips the sheet material to the support means and which in a position of deployment grips the sheet material and allows said material to be drawn out from the dispenser; and means for cutting the material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dispensing sheet material comprising the steps of: locating the sheet material in the storage means of the dispenser; positioning the free edge of the material over the support means of the above-first aspect; positioning the gripping means over the support means thereby holding the sheet material between the gripping means and the suppert means; detaching the gripping means from the support means whilst retaining the sheet material in contact with the gripping means such that the sheet material is drawn over an article to be wrapped; releasing the sheet material from the gripping means and replacing the gripping means on the support means; and employing the cutting means to sever the selected length of sheet material.

By way of a brief description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage means comprises an elongate compartment defined as having two end wall members, two side wall members and a base, said compartment being designed to hold the bulk of the quantity of sheet material. In the case where the bulk of the material is present as a roll, the storage means is designed to allow rotation of the roll along the longitudinal axis of the roll. However, it is to be understood that the bulk of sheet material may be stored in any suitable arrangement such as in a folded manner.

In one simple arrangement, the roll of sheet material simply rests upon the base of the elongate compartment and is prevented from longitudinal or transverse motion by wall members. However, in an alternative arrangement, the roll may be placed in storage means which prevent any unwanted motion of the roll but which include supporting means, such as brackets, to support the roll of sheet material. The brackets are preferably U-shaped and are positioned on end walls of the storage means such that they support the ends of the roll of the sheet material. In one further alternative arrangement of the present invention, the storage means may include a removable axle rotatably attached to a wall of the storage means.

The storage means may be fabricated from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include wood, metal, ceramics and plastics with plastics being particularly preferred.

The means for both preventing the loss of the free end of the sheet material and for drawing out a selected length of material from the bulk of said material without the user being in direct contact with the material, comprises the combination of the support means and the gripping means.

The role of the support means is twofold. Firstly, it provides a convenient position on which the gripping means may rest in the storage position of the dispenser.

Secondly, in one arrangement of the present embodiment, the support means can act as one of the side wall members that defines the elongate compartment that contains the roll of sheet material.

The support means may be of any suitable configuration provided that it is suitable for cooperatively gripping the sheet material with the gripping means. In one arrangement in which the sheet material to be dispensed is conventional cling film, the support means may comprises a simple flange that is positioned vertically along the length of the dispenser. However, where the sheet material to be dispensed is a type of cling film that not only adheres reversibly to itself but can adhere reversibly to other surfaces as well, it may be beneficial for the support means to comprise either a number of large perforations in the flange or alternatively, the support means may. comprise a number of smaller flanges positioned linearly along the length of the dispenser. In both of these cases, the reduced surface area of the support means may prevent this type of sheet material from remaining on the support means once the gripping means has been removed.

The support means may be fabricated from any suitable material such as wood, metal, ceramics and plastics with plastics being particularly preferred.

Similarly, the gripping means may be of any suitable configuration provided that it is suitable for gripping the sheet material, in a storage position, cooperatively with the support means, and in a position of deployment, simply within the gripping means itself. In a preferred arrangement of the present embodiment, the gripping means comprises two parallel members, each defined as having an inside and an outside surface. The outside surface of one parallel member may be hinged to the outside surface of the other thereby allowing the releasable attachment of the sheet material.

The means for hinging the parallel members preferably comprises at least one sprung device.

In one alternative arrangement of the present embodiment, the gripping means comprises two non-identical parallel members that include the hinging means as an integral part of their design. In this arrangement, the parallel members are nonidentical because the gripping means must allow the unhindered passage of a cutting means through a cutting guide means whilst maintaining the ability to releasably grip the sheet material. The parallel members may thus comprise any configuration suitable for achieving these requirements.

The gripping means of this arrangement of the present embodiment may also be used in conjunction with a conventional box dispenser of sheet material. The box may be opened and a sleeve positioned against the front wall of the box. The purpose of this sleeve is to provide reinforcement for the flimsy material with which conventional box dispensers are generally fabricated. This sleeve may be fabricated from any suitable material such as plastics or metal and acts as the support means for the gripping means of the present invention.

The gripping means may be fabricated from any suitable material, most preferably a plastics material.

A layer of non-slip material may be located on the inside surface of the parallel members to help prevent the sheet material from accidentally being released from the gripping means. The non-slip material may be any material with a high friction coefficient and preferred examples include rubber, foam or plastics.

In one arrangement of the present invention, the means for cutting the sheet material may comprise a cutting guide means and a blade that work cooperatively to sever the sheet material. In one alternative of the present arrangement, the cutting guide means may be attached to the support means. In another alternative of the present arrangement, the cutting guide means may be attached to the gripping means. In either of these alternatives of the present arrangement, the cutting guide means guides the blade during its passage through the sheet of material, thus providing a neat edge to the free end of the sheet material and may comprise any form suitable for guiding a blade.

In these arrangements, the cutting guide means may be fabricated from any suitable material, but as it will come into contact repeatedly with the blade in the preferred arrangement, it is preferably fabricated from a material which has a resistance to cutting, for example, metal.

In a further alternative arrangement, in order to sever the sheet material, said material may be forced down into the cutting guide means where a blade is located along the length of the guide means. It will be located such that the users fingers cannot come into contact with it. The means for forcing the sheet material onto the concealed blade may comprise any suitable configuration. In a preferred arrangement, this means comprises a flat member that is positioned perpendicular to the gripping means and which incorporates a slot, defined as having two side edges and two end edges, that runs almost the full length of the flat member. On the underside of the flat member are positioned two flanges, one on either side edge of the slot and perpendicular to the flat member. These flanges force the sheet material down on to the blade in the cutting guide means in such a way that when an implement is drawn along the length of the cutting guide means, the sheet material is severed. The flanges also protect the sheet material positioned inside the cutting guide means. The implement may comprise any suitable form but most preferred is a handle incorporating a wheel that is rotatably attached to one end of the handle. The wheel may be fabricated from any suitable material such as rubber, plastics or metal but most preferably, it is fabricated from rubber.

It is to be understood that suitable alternative cutting means, integral to the structure of the invention, may be used instead of the combination of the blade and cutting guide means, or indeed the combination of the concealed blade and the implement.

One such alternative cutting means may be slidably mounted on a runner positioned on the gripping means. Such cutting means will generally comprise a fixed or rotatably mounted blade. The blade would then be moveable along the longitudinal axis of the gripping means. The cutting means of this embodiment may further comprise a resilient member and sleeve arrangement which allows the blade to be moveable from an exposed, cutting position to a retracted storage position in the sleeve. An arrangement of this type would ensure that the blade is shielded from the outside environment when not in use. In the arrangement in which a fixed blade is used, the blade will be configured such that a cutting edge is exposed to the sheet material in either cutting direction. Suitable configurations include a single blade having two opposite cutting edges, generally arranged in a "V" shape, a single blade having a curved configuration, a single disc-shaped blade, rotatably mounted and a pair of blades, each with a single cutting edge, orientated so that these cutting edges face away from each other. In a preferred arrangement, the cutting means comprises a single blade have two opposite cutting edges, generally arranged in a "V" shape, moveable along a runner disposed on the gripping means.

The gripping means may further comprise a flange positioned at the base, along the length of the gripping means. This flange, together with a similar flange positioned along the length of the support means, would sandwich the sheet material thereby supporting the material during cutting. Guide means such as a slot or groove, may be positioned along the length of the flange of the gripping means or along the length of the flanges on both the gripping means and the support means to provide a channel along which the blade of the cutting means may travel.

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one arrangement of the sheet material dispenser Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through the line AA of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of the sheet material dispenser Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through the line BB of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a plan view of another alternative arrangement of the sheet material dispenser Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through the line CC of Figure 5 Figure 7 is a plan view of a further alternative arrangement of the sheet material dispenser Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through the line DD of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further alternative arrangement of the sheet material dispenser without the gripping means Figure 10 is a plan view of the gripping means to be used in conjunction with the arrangement depicted in Figure 9 Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through lines EE of Figures 9 and 10 when the gripping means of Figure 10 is located above the sheet material dispenser of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram depicting -- the gripping means described in Figures 7 and 8 during use with a conventional box dispenser of sheet material Figure 13 is a front view of the dispenser comprising one arrangement of the support means Figure 14 is a front view of the dispenser comprising an alternative arrangement of the support means.

Figure 15 is a front view of the dispenser comprising a cutting means slidably mounted on a runner positioned on the gripping means.

Figure 16 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram through lines FF of Figure 15.

Figure 17A is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the cutting means shown in Figure 15, with the blade retracted into the sleeve.

Figure 17B is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the cutting means shown in Figure 15, with the blade extended into the cutting position.

Figure 1 8A is a partial schematic cross-section diagram of one possible arrangement of the interface between the gripping means and the support means.

Figure 1 8B is a partial schematic cross-section diagram of a alternative arrangement of the interface between the gripping means and the support means.

Referring to Figure 1, the dispenser 10 comprises two side wall members 12 and 14, of equal length positioned parallel to each other, separated by a distance defined by two end wall members 16 and 18, positioned perpendicularly at either end of the side wall members 12 and 14, thus forming a rectangular frame. A base 20, is positioned on the underside of the frame, the resultant construction being box-like in nature.

A support member 22, is positioned parallel to the side wall members 12 and 14 preferably along the centre of the dispenser 10, thus dividing the central cavity of the dispenser 10 into two elongate compartments 23 and 24. The front compartment may be used to store a spare roll.

Attached to the inside edge of the side wall member 14 is a cutting guide 26. The cutting guide 26, comprises a narrow channel defined by two side walls 28 and 30 and a base 32.

In one preferred arrangement of the present embodiment, the gripping means 34 comprises two identical parallel members 36 and 38, hinged along their respective upper edges through at least one sprung device 40, the gripping means 34 thus being operable through a releasable mechanism. Along the inside edges of the gripping means 34 are positioned layers of high friction material 42 and 44 which render the gripping means 34 non-slip.

In order to prepare the dispenser 10 for use, a roll 46 of sheet material 48 is positioned in the elongated compartment 23. The free end of the sheet material 49 is positioned over the support member 22 where it is retained in place by the gripping means 34.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the roll 46 of sheet material 48 rests in the elongate compartment 23 and the sheet material 48 is positioned over both the support member 22 and the cutting guide 26. When the dispenser 10 is not in use, the gripping means 34 keeps the sheet material 48 in position on the support member 22. When a length of sheet material 48 is required, the gripping means 34 is detached from the support member 22, ensuring that the gripping means 34 is not accidentally opened, and drawn away from the roll 46 until the required length of sheet material 48 is selected.

The free end 49 of the sheet material 48 is then released from the gripping means 34 which is then replaced on the support member 22, thus trapping the sheet material 48 and resetting the dispenser 10. In a preferred arrangement, the selected length of the sheet material 48 may be severed from the bulk of the sheet material by positioning the blade 50 at one end of the cutting guide 26 and drawing said blade from this position along the full length of the cutting guide 26. The dispenser 10 is now ready to be re-used.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the gripping means 34 may comprise two non-identical parallel members 36 and 38 which are hinged together through at least one sprung device 40 and work cooperatively to reversibly grip the sheet material. Member 38 is flat in conformation to allow the unhindered passage of the cutting means through the cutting guide means whereas member 36 is shaped so as to allow hinging.

Referring to Figure 5, the dispenser 10 comprises two side wall members 12 and 14, of equal length and positioned parallel to each other, separated by a distance defined by two end wall members 16 and 18, positioned perpendicularly at either end of the side wall members 12 and 14, thus forming a rectangular frame. A base 20, is positioned on the underside of the frame, the resultant construction being box-like in nature.

A support member 22 is positioned linearly along the upper surface of side wall member 14. A cutting guide means 26 is connected to the support member and extends forwarding therefrom and perpendicular thereto.

In a preferred arrangement of the present embodiment, the gripping means 34 comprises two non-identical parallel members 36 and 38, hinged through at least one sprung device 40, the gripping means thus being operable through a releasable mechanism. Along the inside edges of the gripping means 34 are positioned layers of high friction material 42 and 44 which render the gripping means 34 non-slip.

This alternative arrangement of the dispenser 10 is prepared for use in the same way as that for the dispenser depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the dispenser 10 through the section defined by line CC shown in Figure 5. Member 38 is configured such that it does not hinder the passage of the cutting means 50 along the cutting guide means 26 whereas member 36 is shaped to allow hinging. In this arrangement of the present embodiment, the cutting guide means 26 may be positioned perpendicularly to the support means 22.

Figure 7 depicts an alternative arrangement of the dispenser 10 shown in Figure 5.

In this figure, the cutting guide means 26 is attached to the gripping means 34. This is illustrated in more detail in Figure 8.

Figure 9 and Figure 10 depict the top view of a further alternative arrangement of the dispenser 10 and gripping means 34 respectively. In this arrangement a shallow trough 58 is positioned along the upper outside edge of the side wall member 14 and thus parallel to the support means 22. A concealed blade 56 is positioned linearly along the length of the trough 58. The blade is located such that the user's fingers are protected from its sharp edge.

The cutting guide means 26 is attached to the member 38 of the gripping means 34.

A slot 59 is positioned along the length of the cutting guide means 26 to allow the passage of the cutting means.

Figure 11 shows a cross-section of the dispenser 10 through the section defined by the line EE shown in Figures 9 and 10. The shallow trough 58 is located along the upper outside edge of side wall member 14. In this arrangement the blade 56 is positioned linearly along the centre of the trough 58. The cutting guide means 26 is located adjacent to and parallel to the gripping means 34 and comprises a slot 59 defined as having two side edges, two end edges and two vertical flanges 62 attached to either side edge of the slot 59. As the gripping means 34 is placed over the support means 22, the flanges 62 force the sheet material 48 into the shallow trough 58 and over the concealed blade 56. An implement 60 may then be drawn along the shallow trough 58 thus severing the desired length of sheet material from the bulk of the material.

Figure 12 shows a cross-section of the gripping means 34 shown in Figures 7 and 8 in use in conjunction with a conventional box dispenser 52. A sleeve 54 is positioned along the inside of the front wall of the box 52 in order to strengthen the dispenser and to provide a suitable support means for the gripping means 34.

Figures 13 and 14 show the front views of two dispensers, each comprising a different arrangement of the support means 22. In Figure 13, the support means 22 comprises a vertical member incorporating a plurality of large perforations 64. In Figure 14, the support means 22 comprises a number of flanges 66 positioned in line along the top surface of the side wall member 14. Both of these arrangements are designed to provide a support means with a reduced surface area.

Figure 15 depicts the front view of the dispenser 10 with a preferred arrangement for the cutting means. A runner 69 is mounted on the gripping means 34, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping means. The slidably mounted cutting means 68 is attached to the runner 69 and therefore is moveable in both directions of the longitudinal axis of the gripping means.

Figure 16 shows a cross-section of the dispenser 10 shown in Figure 15. This figure depicts one possible arrangement for the attachment of the slidably mounted cutting means 68 to the runner 69. Runner 69 has a T-shaped cross-section. The base of the "T" is attached to the gripping means 34, providing two flange portions, 69A and 69B, positioned in a substantially vertical plane. The cutting means 68 has a connection means 76 which is slidably secured over both flange portions 69A and 69B.

The cutting means 68 comprises a sleeve 73 in which is disposed the blade 70, a resilient member 72 and engagement means 74. When the engagement means 74 is depressed, compressing the resilient member 72, the blade 70 is forced from a storage position (shown in Figure 17A) to a cutting position (shown in Figure 17B). When the pressure on the engagement means 74 is released, the compressed resilient member 72 expands, forcing the retraction of the blade 70 from the cutting position (shown in Figure 17B) to the storage position (shown in Figure 17A).

Figure 17A shows the relative positions of the components of the cutting means 68 when the blade is retracted in a storage position.

Figure 17B shows the relative positions of the components of the cutting means 68 when the blade 70 is exposed in a cutting position.

Figure 18A depicts one arrangement of the interface between the flange 22A of the support means 22 with the flange 36A of the gripping means 34. Sheet material 48 is sandwiched between the two flanges to provide support during cutting with blade 70. In this arrangement, flange 36A has a slot 36B running substantially the length of the flange.

Figure 1 8B depicts an alternative arrangement of the interface between the flange 22A of the support means 22 with the flange 36A of the gripping means 34. Sheet material 48 is sandwiched between the two flanges to provide support during cutting with blade 70. In this arrangement, both flange 36A and flange 22A have slots 36B and 22B running substantially the length of the flanges.

Each feature of the dispenser 10 disclosed in the specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sheet material dispenser comprising means for storing a quantity of sheet material; means for supporting a free end of the sheet material; gripping means which in a storage position grips the sheet material to the support means and which in a position of deployment grips the sheet material and allows said material to be drawn out from the dispenser; and means for cutting the material.

2. - A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sheet material is cling film, aluminium foil, grease-proof paper, an absorbent material or a shrinkwrapping material.

3. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for storing a quantity of sheet material comprises an elongate compartment.

4. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet material is folded when stored in the dispenser.

5. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any on of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet material is rolled when stored in the dispenser.

6. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the storage means includes brackets located such that they can support the roll of sheet material.

7. A sheet material dispenser a claimed in Claim 6 wherein the brackets are Ushaped and are located such that they support the ends of the roll of sheet material.

8. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the storage means includes a removable axle rotatably attached to a wall of the storage means.

9. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the support means is fabricated from wood, metal, ceramics or plastics material.

10. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the gripping means comprises two hinged parallel members whereby an inner surface of the parallel members may be releasably attached to the sheet material.

11. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the means for hinging the parallel members together comprises at least one spring-loaded device.

12. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in either Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein a layer of non-slip material is applied to the inner surface of each of the parallel members.

13. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the layer of nonslip material may be fabricated from rubber, foam or plastics.

14. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the cutting means comprises a cutting guide means and a blade.

15. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the cutting means comprises a concealed blade, positioned inside the cutting guide means, and a means for forcing the sheet material into contact with the concealed blade.

16. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the cutting means is slidably mounted on a runner, the runner being positioned on the gripping means, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping means.

17. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the cutting means comprises a double edged blade, a curved blade or a rotatably mounted circular blade.

18. A sheet material dispenser as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the cutting means further comprises a sleeve to provide a housing for the blade when not in use, an engagement means and a resilient member,the blade thereby having a cutting position when the engagement is depressed against the resilient means and a storage position when the pressure on the engagement means is released.

19. A method of dispensing sheet material comprising the steps of: locating the sheet material in the storage means of the dispenser of any one of Claims 1 to 16; positioning the free end of the material over the support means; positioning the gripping means over the support means thereby holding the sheet material between the gripping means and the support means; detaching the gripping means from the support means whilst retaining the sheet material in contact with the gripping means such that the sheet material is drawn over an article to be wrapped; releasing the sheet material from the gripping means and replacing the gripping means on the support means; and employing the cutting means to sever the selected length of sheet material. 18. A sheet material dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description.

20. - A sheet material dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of dispensing sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description.

22. A method of dispensing sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.