US20020171003A1

US20020171003A1 - Paper towel and toilet tissue dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20020171003A1
Application number: US10/134,123
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald Johnson; Roland Marti; Paula Marti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-01
Filing date: 2002-04-27
Publication date: 2002-11-21

Abstract

All functions of this perforated paper towel and toilet tissue dispenser can be performed single handedly, making this invention ideally suited for the disabled, the elderly and children, allowing the user to remove the desired amount of sheets, while having the other hand encumbered. This is accomplished through unrolling and tearing the desired number of sheets, with a cross handed motion, while leaving the leading edge of the next sheet of paper exposed. The tearing action activates the gripper bar, which in turn stops the paper roll, which eliminates unraveling and is designed to function throughout the entire length of any size paper roll. The gripper bar design functions when tearing the paper in a horizontal direction, a straight downward direction, or anywhere in between. The dispenser's support spindle fits into the keyways with opposing locators, and incorporates opposing handles, allowing single handed exchange of any empty to a new roll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The prior art of perforated Paper Towel and Toilet Tissue Holders and Dispensers are well known and varied. Paper Towels and Toilet Tissues are used in most households and are supplied to the consumer wound and perforated on a cardboard roll. Refer to USPTO Classification 242, winding.

The perforations allow one or more sheets to be torn at any time if the roll is supported to prevent unwanted sheets from unraveling. This extra support is usually done with one hand while severing by tearing the desired amount of sheets with the other hand. Refer to USPTO Classification 225, severing by tearing.

Perforated Paper Towels and Toilet Tissue Holders and Dispensers are usually supported on the sides of the Rolls by arms to guide the Rolls to unwind in a straight manner. Refer to USPTO Classification 242, guiding.

In the case of Toilet Tissue these guides are usually two individual guides that are attached to a wall, supplied with a spring-loaded spindle, which supports the toiled tissue roll. Refer to USPTO Classification 211, supports.

For Paper Towels this guiding and supporting is accomplished in several ways: The flat upright Dispensers, in most cases, do not have supporting guiding arms but rather have a spindle attached to a pedestal or base and sit in an upright position on a counter or table. In this case the article dispensing is accomplished by holding the Paper Towel Roll with one hand and tearing the desired number of sheets with the other, to prevent unraveling. Refer to USPTO Classification 221 dispensing and USPTO Classification 225, severing by tearing.

Another more popular type of Paper Towel Dispenser has a back plate with two mounting holes, which are usually attached by two screws to a wall or under a counter. The back plate has two guiding arms at each end at right angles to the back plate. The supports for the Paper Towel Roll are two small round molded plastic protrusions, one at each end of the guiding arms. They extend approximately {fraction (1/2)} into the cardboard roll center on both sides. This type of design frequently causes the entire Paper Towel Roll to be pulled out of the dispenser, often onto the floor. Refer to USPTO Classification 221 dispensing, USPTO Classification 211, supports.

Similar types of Paper Towel and Toilet Tissue Holders and Dispensers are made of wood or plastic and have back plates and side arms with spring loaded, or notch supported spindles. These and most other types of Paper Towel and Tissue Holders and Dispensers require two hands to prevent the roll from unraveling or falling off the Dispenser and becoming contaminated in the process and are a cause of excessive waste. If a person has wet or dirty hands the problem is compounded and re-rolling either product is difficult and time consuming at best.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Dispenser

All functions of this perforated paper towel and toilet tissue holder and dispenser can be performed single handedly, making this invention ideally suited for the disabled, the elderly and children. It allows the user to remove the desired amount of sheets, while having the other hand encumbered. For example, holding a child or performing another function. This is accomplished through unrolling and tearing the desired sheet off with a cross handed motion, leaving the leading edge of the next sheet of paper exposed. The tearing action activates the

gripper bar

4 which stops the paper roll. The tearing action applies downward pressure on the gripper bar 4, which in turn engages the raised gripper bar ribs 5, against the paper towel roll or toilet tissue roll. This stops further unraveling. The gripper bar 4 does not cut. It provides a stopping action only. The paper towel holder and dispenser has four raised differentially angled, longitudinal ribs 5, running the length of the gripper bar 4. The design of the gripper bar 4, for the toilet tissue holder and dispenser has two raised serpentine, differently angled ribs 13. These also run the length of the gripper bar 4. Both of the gripper bars 4 function regardless of the initial size of the paper roll or the remaining amount of sheets. The gripper bar 4 is also designed to function when tearing the paper in a horizontal direction or a straight downward direction, or anywhere in between. This is accomplished through the pivoting action of the top frame 3, and keeps the angle of the gripper bar 4 at a constant aspect ratio with the center of the spindle 2, from full to empty paper towel and toilet paper tissue rolls. The paper towel or toilet tissue support spindle or roller 2 fits into two keyway slots 6 and has left and right locators 10, allowing single handed removal of an empty roll or the insertion of a new supply roll. The handles 11 on either side of the spindle or roller 2 allow simplified, handicap-friendly installation and removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 THE FRONT PAGE VIEW is substantially a perspective overview of the entire handicap helpful dispenser with [0009] case 1, both the removable spindle or roll holder 2, as well as the top frame 3 and the gripper bar 4, which incorporates four raised, differentially angled longitudinal ribs 5. A dashed line paper towel or toilet tissue roll has been added for clarification.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the [0010] case 1, showing the spindle or roller holder 2 keyways or slots 6 which allows for single handed handicap friendly loading or unloading, and the swivel point holes with lead-in edge 7.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the [0011] gripper bar 4, showing the four raised, differently angled longitudinal ribs 5, the swivel pin 8 and the semi-circular registration tabs 9.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the round spindle or [0012] roller holder 2 showing the spindle locators 10 and handles 11, which allow easy single handed installation or removal of an empty or full paper roll.
FIG. 5 is the front view of the [0013] case 1, showing the two mounting holes 12.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the [0014] case 1, showing the two countersunk mounting holes 12.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the [0015] paper towel frame 3, showing the location of the gripper bar 4. The top frame 3 is an integral part of the gripper bar 4 with four raised longitudinal, differently angled, gripper bar ribs 5. Said ribs 5 apply to the paper towel holder and dispenser only.
FIG. 8 is a partial view of the underside of the two raised, differentially angled, serpentine [0016] gripper bar ribs 13, used only on the toilet tissue dispenser. The case 1, the spindle or roll holder 2 and the trop frame 3 are identical to the paper towel holder and dispenser. With the exception of their physical size to accommodate toilet tissue rather then paper towels, and the toilet tissue holder and dispenser gripper bar 4, comprising two raised serpentine ribs 13, rather than four raised longitudinal ribs 5.

DETAILED DISCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Paper Towel and Toilet Tissue Dispenser

The perforated paper towel and toilet tissue dispenser shown in the drawings has been Designed for use attached to a vertical wall to provide support for the dispenser. This version of the dispenser is not for use under a cabinet or shelf, although a dispenser using the same principle is currently in the design process for mounting on a vertical surface as well as a cabinet or any horizontal surface. [0017]
The entire purpose of this invention was to design a paper towel and toilet tissue dispenser that is handicap friendly and suitable for use by the elderly and children. This is accomplished by allowing all functions, from the tearing of a single sheet to multiple sheets, to being able to remove a spent roll and installing a new supply roll, single handedly. This invention is also environmentally friendly, by reducing the paper consumption in excess of 10%. [0018]
The design of this paper towel and toilet tissue holder and dispenser with a [0019] top frame 3, equipped with a gripper bar 4, consisting of four raised, differentially angled longitudinal ribs 5, which allows for the dispensing of single or multiple sheets as desired. This is accomplished through the pivoting action of the frame 3, and keeps the angle of the gripper bar 4 at a constant aspect ratio with the center of the spindle 2, from full to empty paper towel and toilet paper tissue rolls. The frame 3 is permanently press-fit into the case 1. This is accomplished by pushing the bilateral swivel pins 8 into the case's lead-in edge swivel point mounting holes 7. The paper towel or toilet tissue support spindle or roller 2 fits into two keyway slots 6 and has left and right locators 10, allowing single handed removal of an empty roll or the insertion of a new supply roll. The handles 11 on either side of the spindle or roller 2 allow simplified, handicap-friendly installation and removal. The gripper bar ribs 5, ride along the entire length of the supply paper roll. The gripper bar ribs 5 are also angled in relation to each other, to allow its functionality to work from the beginning to the end of any size supply roll. The gripper bar 4 and its ribs 5 are an integral part of the frame 3. The end of the paper towel or toilet tissue sheet is pulled over the top of the gripper bar 4 and its ribs 5,13. The physical weight of the gripper bar 4 onto the paper roll acts as an anti-backlash feature. For functionality reasons, the toilet tissue holder and dispenser, is equipped with double serpentine ribs 13, which also run the full length of the top frame 3. The top frame 3 also has bilateral registration tabs 9, used as a means of guiding and centering the supply roll.
Tearing either paper towels or toilet tissue requires a single-handed action, which is activated by the cross-handed motion of pulling in either direction, this only tears the desired number of sheets at a given time and at its perforation. The tearing action provides the desired amount of sheets when torn in a horizontal direction up to and including a straight downward direction or anywhere in between. [0020]
The different [0021] gripper bar rib 4,13 design, function with equal ease through the entire supply of any size roll. This includes a full supply roll of paper towels and toilet tissue down to and including all the remaining sheets on an essentially empty roll. The paper roll registration tabs 9, on each side of the top frame 3, guide the supply roll into the desired position to maintain the center location. The top frame 3 is not removable but can be raised vertically, thus resting against the back of the dispenser case 1, for easy roll installation and removal.
The halting of the dispensing or unraveling of the paper towel or toilet tissue roll is accomplished during the tearing action, which applies a downward force to the [0022] gripper bar 4, thus engaging the gripper bar ribs 5,13 onto the paper towel and toilet tissue rolls. The toilet tissue gripper bar 4 accomplishes this with two differentially angled serpentine gripper bar ribs 13. The gripper bar ribs 5,13 do not cut during the tearing action allowing the paper sheet or sheets to be severed at their perforations. This innovation eliminates the all to common unwinding and having to rewind a roll of paper towels or toilet tissue.
The [0023] dispenser 1 case back plate incorporates two counter sunk mounting holes 12. The sides of the case 1, have two keyways or slots 6 that the spindle or roller 2 fits into. The support spindle or roller 2, has bilateral locators 10 and handles 11. This allows a person to either remove an empty roll or install a full supply roll single handedly. The purpose of the bilateral locators 10 and the positive action keyways or slots 6, in combination with the top frame 3, eliminate a paper towel or tissue roll from falling off the dispenser. This present invention fills a need and provides a simplified method of dispensing only the desired amount of sheets in a fast and easy manner and is designed for low-cost manufacturing.
The devices can be made of various materials, such as metal, wood, or various plastics. Plateable ABS injection molded plastic will provide a flexible, durable and inexpensive superior product. The dimensional tolerances of the entire assembly will be held to {fraction (1/10,000)} inch. [0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 THE FRONT PAGE VIEW is substantially a perspective overview of the entire handicap helpful dispenser with [0025] case 1, both the removable spindle or roll holder 2, as well as the top frame 3 with a quantity of four longitudinal gripper bars 4. A dashed line paper towel or toilet tissue roll has been added for clarification.
FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the [0026] cases 1, showing the spindle or roller holder keyways or slots 6, which shows single handed handicap friendly loading or unloading. The sides and the back of the case 1 are a single unit. The two keyway slots 6, are positioned at an optimum distance from the back of the case 1. This keyway slot 6 spacing allows for any size paper towel or toilet tissue roll to be loaded or unloaded single handedly. The spindle or roller holder 2 fits into the keyway slots 6, for a fast and easy method of insertion or removal of the supply spool. The swivel point holes equipped with a lead-in edge 7 are shown.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the [0027] frame 3 showing the gripper bar 4 with the integral four each longitudinal ribs 5, which run the entire length of the bar 4. The frame 3, the gripper bar 4 and the four raised differentially angled longitudinal ribs 5, are designed to halt the dispensing or unraveling of the paper towel or toilet tissue roll during the tearing action. This applies a downward force, thus engaging the gripper bar ribs 5,13 onto the paper towel and toilet tissue rolls. In both cases the halting action, while tearing, remains constant, whether the paper towel or toilet tissue supply roll is full or empty. The two each semicircular registration tabs 9 align the paper roll and maintain that position during use. The registration tabs 9 extend below the gripper bar 4.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the round spindle or [0028] roller holder 2 showing the locators 10 and handles 11, which allow easy single handed installation or removal of an empty or full paper roll or spindle 2. The round spindle or roller 2 is of a size to fit easily into the keyway slots 6 in each of the sides of the case 1. The locators 10 on the left and right side of the spindle or roll holder 2 are circular in shape and are a larger diameter than the spindle or roll holder 2. To the left and to the right of the locators 10 are the handicap helpful handles 11. The handles 11 are user-friendly due to the single-handed insertion or removal of the spindle or roll holder 2. These handles 11 are used to top mount the supply roll and are not spring-loaded. Most home products are spring loaded and are difficult and awkward to install. These single handed spindles or rollers 2 would be ideal for any setting where speed of installation is required, as well as for use by the disabled, the elderly or children.
FIG. 5 is the front view of the [0029] case 1 showing the two each countersunk mounting holes 12 for fast and easy installation to a vertical support surface. The spindle or roller holder 2 keyways or slots 6 are also shown. Both back and sides of the case 1, form an integral part. The sides of the case 1 are sloped down to the keyway or indexing slots 6 and are identical.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the [0030] case 1 with two each countersunk mounting holes 12 and integral case side plates 1 with keyway slots 6.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the [0031] top frame 3 showing the location of the gripper bar 4. The top frame 3, for the paper towel holder and dispenser, is an integral part of the gripper bar 4, with four each differently angled longitudinal raised ribs 5, for the paper towel holder and dispenser. The top frame 3 is not removable but can be lifted to a vertical stationary position, to facilitate the loading or unloading of the supply spindle or roller 2. When lifted the top frame 3 rests in a vertical position against case 1. The bilateral swivel pins 8 are also shown and are press-fit into the swivel pin holes 7.
FIG. 8 is a partial bottom view of the [0032] gripper bar 4 and the serpentine gripper bar ribs 13, which applies only to the toilet tissue holder and dispenser. The gripper bar 4 is located in the same place as the gripper bar 4 on the paper towel top frame 3. The two serpentine ribs 13 are used on the toilet tissue dispenser's frame 3, due to the lighter weight of the toilet tissue vs. the paper towel frame 3 and replace the gripper bar ribs 5 of the paper towel holder and dispenser. The sides and back of the case 1 as well as the spindle or roll holder 2 are identical to the paper towel design. One difference is the substitution of the two raised, differentially angled, serpentine gripper bar ribs 13 in place of the longitudinal gripper ribs 5. The only other difference is the physical size to accommodate a paper towel roll versus a toilet tissue roll.

Claims

What we claim as our invention:

1. A paper towel and toilet tissue holder and dispenser assembly for perforated paper roll material, which allows all functions, including the tearing of a single or multiple sheets and the replacement of a spent roll to be accomplished single-handedly and is environmentally friendly by reducing paper consumption in excess of 10% over conventional paper towel and toilet tissue dispensers, is comprised of:

A. A case with a back plate and integral side plates, incorporating bilateral spindle locator slots, which allow for the positive mounting of a spindle bar.

B. Said case further incorporates a top lip, which allows for the frame/gripper bar to be locked in its upward most position, also for single handed paper roll exchange.

C. A spindle bar with fist length bilateral handles and keyways, which in combination with the cases' spindle locator slots allow for easy, single-handed paper roll replacement for both right and left handed individuals.

D. A swiveling top frame which incorporates bilateral, semi-circular registration tabs, which center and guide the paper towel and toilet tissue rolls and can single-handedly be lifted to its top resting position while replacing a spent paper towel or toilet tissue roll with a new one.

E. Said frame also incorporates bilateral swivel pins, which are press-fit into the cases' swivel point mounting holes, for permanent installation, thus indexing the frames' pivoting action to coincide with the spindle center, enabling equal ease of functionality through the entire supply of any size paper towel or toilet tissue roll.

F. Said frame also incorporates a gripper bar with four raised, differentially angled longitudinal ribs, for the paper towel dispenser, whereas the design for the toilet tissue holder gripper ribs consist of two raised, serpentine differently angled ribs.

G. The leading edge of the paper towel or toilet tissue is pulled over said gripper bar, thus halting the dispensing or unraveling of the paper towel or toilet tissue roll during the tearing action, which applies a downward force to the gripper bar, thus engaging the gripper bar ribs onto the paper towel or toilet tissue roll, allowing the single handed tearing of single or multiple sheets of paper at their perforation.