GB2448541A

GB2448541A - A Toilet roll holder and dispenser for single handed use

Info

Publication number: GB2448541A
Application number: GB0707653A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ailwyn Edward Churchman; Paul John Mower
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-20
Filing date: 2007-04-20
Publication date: 2008-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-20
Also published as: GB2448541B; GB0707653D0

Abstract

A toilet roil holder and dispenser comprises a mount for a toilet roll having a non-horizontal axis arranged so that the toilet roll may be dispensed with one hand. The roll holder and dispenser restricts the rotational movement of the toilet roll through at least one friction generating surface. A gentle pulling action on the end of the paper from the roll will allow it to be unwound whereas a swift pull in a downwards direction will cause the paper to separate at the perforations. The toilet roll holder is suitable for use by both the able bodied and those who are less able bodied.

Description

I

Title: The improved toilet roll holder and dispenser.

Background: This invention relates to an improved holder and dispenser for toilet roll and other similar continuous paper rolls (Paper Rolls') supphed with perforations between the individual sheets.

Many different designs exist for dispensing sheets from Paper Rolls but very few allow for the gaining of such sheets with the use of only one hand. The few that do allow for single handed operation rely on one or more cutting or damping devices to separate the sheets such as a knife, blade, bar, weighted plate or some other similar physical object (The Cutter). The Cutter usually relies on gravitational or sprung loaded forces to hold The Cutter in place as the diameter of the Paper Roll reduces when separating the sheets from the roll. The disadvantages of these are mainly based on the following; 1. The presence of a cutting device which could prove dangerous if misused or abused 2. The products tend to be made from a plurality of parts which will result in increased production and selling costs.

3. The mechanical parts will be prone to wear arid eventual malfunction.

Statement of To overcome these limitations, the present invention proposes a Invention: holder designed to store the Paper Roll in a non-honzontal axis (preferably a vertical axis). A combination of the weight of the roll, and/or a base plate with a friction generating surface, and a central spindle or post allows friction to be induced between the Paper ROIl and the holder. A gentle pulling action on the end of the paper from the roll wiP allow the paper to be unwound whereas a swift pull in a downwards direction will cause the paper to separate at the perforations.

Advantages: The advantages of the design are twofold. Firstly, due to the design's simplicity, production costs are low and secondly, that all of the operational actions are possible by both able-bodied and less able-bodied people including those with only one hand andlor some levels of physical handicap and/or movement restnctions to the arms, hands, or other bodily parts. Further more, the design allows for the easy reloading of the Paper Roll when required.

Again, this action is possible by the same able and less able bodied people described above.

Introduction The invention will now be described solely by way of an example to Drawings: and with reference to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows an example of the invention to be used for dispensing Paper Rolls.

* Figure 2 shows an example of the same design with a Paper Roll in place In fIgure 1, this example is designed to be mounted in a vertical orientation, attached to a wall or similar rigid or semi-rigid structure (The Wall'). The backing plate has one or more screw holes to attach the invention to The Wall but it would also be possible to fix the invention in place via the side plates, base plate, or a combination of any or all of the above.

This example also features a spindle to go inside the inner tube of the Paper Roll.

The base plate is manufactured with extruded grooves, patina, or other non-smooth surface (whether forming part of the original manufacturing process or applied later) to induce friction over the area of contact between the end of the roll and the base plate. The purpose of said friction being to restrict the rotational movement of the Paper Roll.

Detailed i. The invention allows for the simple and rehable dispensing description: Of perforated paper sheets from a Paper Roll.

2. Furthermore, it restricts the rotational movement of said Paper Roll by means of friction between the Paper Roll and Spindle and/or the Base Plate.

3. The Spindle is ideally in the vertical plane although the invention would also work with the spindle mounted in any non-horizontal axis.

4. The invention woutd typically be made from plastic although it oould be made from metal, wood or any other suitable material.

5. The invention would typically be supplied in a single piece fully assembled from however it could also be supplied in any number of pieces either unassembled or fully, partly assembled.

Claims

Claims: i. An improved toilet roll holder and dispenser WinCh mounts

the toilet roll in a non-hoajzontag aus (preferably a vertical a,ds), which, by nature of its design, allows paper sheets to be dispensed by the operator using only one hand or by both hands.
2. An improved toilet roll holder and dispenser according to claim 1 in which the contact area between the end of the toilet roll and the base plate of the dispenser induces friction to resbict the rotational movement of the toilet roll.
3. An improved toilet roil holder and dispenser according to claim I in which the contact area between inner tube of the toilet roll and the spindle induces friction to restiict the rotational movement of the toilet roll.
4. An improved toilet roil holder and dispenser according to claim I In which the exhausted toilet roil can be ehanged for a new toilet roil with the use of only one hand
5. An unproved toilet roll holder and dispenser according to claim I in whith the toilet roll' can be substituted by any other similar rolls of paper sheets with perforations between the sheets.
6. An unproved toilet roll holder arid dispenser ardlng to claim 5 in which the dimensions and shape of the toilet roll holder are amended to suit such a roll.
7. An improved toilet roll holder and dispenser according to all or any combination of the proceeding claims.