US2021417A

US2021417A - Toilet paper roll holder

Info

Publication number: US2021417A
Application number: US739527A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laurence N Hoffman
Original assignee: SHELBY METAL PRODUCTS Co
Current assignee: SHELBY METAL PRODUCTS Co
Priority date: 1934-08-13
Filing date: 1934-08-13
Publication date: 1935-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1952-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1935.

L. N. HOFFMAN TOILET PAPER ROLL HOLDER Filed Aug. 15, 1934 INVENTOR. Zara/ ame /Z fioff/wa/z ATTORNE ported at their inner ends Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,021,417 TOILET PAPER ROLL HOLDER Laurence N. Hoffman, Shelby,

The Shelby Metal Products Company,

Ohio, assignor to Shelby,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,527

Claims.

. b1e of a long period of usage, and finally will be susceptible of a substantial economy of manufacture. v

More detailed objects of the invention are,

first, to fabricate the holder from sheet metal parts; second, to assemble such parts in such a manner that no permanent or semi-permanent fasteners such as bols, rivets or welds will be nec essary; and, thirdly, to provide rigid bracket members or holder arms which are pivotally supand hence will not be subject to deformation by reason of repeated or excessive flexing.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for enclosing the spring element of the holder whereby the user of the device will not be liable to have his fingers cut or pinched therein.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of the holder embodyirig the principle of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken upon a plane normal to Fig. 1 and substantially along the line 2-2 thereof; Fig. 3 is a view taken on a plane normal to that of Fig. 2 and substantially upon the line 3-3 thereof; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view I of the inner end of one of the bracket members.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a base member I which is channel-shaped in cross section. As shown in Fig. 3, the outer or web portion of the channel of the base member I is preferably of an arcuate form in order to present a smooth rounded outer surface and also to conform to the contour of the spring element, which structure will be later explained in further detail. The base member I is adapted to be attached to a supporting surface (not shown) such as a wall, a door or'even a table top, by reason of the provision of the laterally extending lugs 2 with their apertures 3 on the edge of the flanges of the channel. Suitable screws, nails or bolts are of course inserted through the apertures 3 and engage with the supporting surface.

A pair of bracket members or arms 4 project outwardly from the base member I. Flanges 5 are provided on the sides of the arms 4 and serve 5 the purpose of imparting adequate rigidity thereto. The outer ends of the arms 4 are in the form of the circular portion 6 in which inwardly ex.-' tending cylindrical or cup portions 1 have been formed. As shown in Fig. 1, it is the purpose of the cup portions 1 to project a slight distance Within the hollow center or mandrel 8 of the toilet paper roll. The inner ends of the arms 4 have a pair of slots or apertures 9 which are adapted to receive the hook-like projections I0 on each end of the base member I. The connection formed by the reception of the projections III in the slots 9 constitutes a pivotal point of support for the holder arms 4. A pair of link members ll having an enlarged outer end portion l2 are then adapted to be inserted through the apertures IS in the sides of the arms 4. The end or head portions l2 of the links II are wider than the slots or apertures I3, as shown in Fig. 2, and hence the links II will in this manner be prevented from being drawn all the way through the slots I3 and thereby attached and connected to the holder arms 4. Apertures I4 are provided in the inner and adjacent ends of the links II for the reception of a coil spring I5.

It will thus be seen that the coil spring due to the holder arms 4 serves the double function not only of imparting a tensional force against the outward or spreading movement of the holder arms 4, but also serves the function of retaining all of the separate component parts of the device in assembled position.

It should also be noted that for the purposes of economy in conserving material, that the links 40 l I may be stamped out of the sides of the holder arms 4 as indicated by the reference numeral IS in Fig. 3.

The operation of the holder is clearly illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 wherein the holder arms 4 are shown moved to an outward or spread position to celar the sides of the toilet paper roll and to thereby enable the convenient insertion and removal of the latter.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

2. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a channel-shaped base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members having their inner ends pivotally attached to the ends of said base member, and spring means positioned within the channel of said base member and connected to said bracket members at a point out- Wardly from their pivotal point of attachment for urging said bracket members toward each other.

3. In a toilet paper roll holder or the like, the combination of a channel-shaped base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, hook-like projections on the ends of said base member, a pair of bracket members having apertures in their inner ends for the reception of said hook-like projections, and spring means positioned within the channel of said base member and connected to said bracket members for urging the latter toward each other.

4. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a channel-shaped base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members having their inner ends abutting the ends of said base member, said bracket members having openings in their sides, a pair of link'members adapted to be inserted in said openings, enlarged end portions on said link members being wider than said openings for connecting said link member to said bracket members, and spring means positioned Within the channel of said base member and attached to said link members for urging said bracket members toward each other.

5. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a channel-shaped base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, hook-like projections on the ends of said base member, a pair of bracket members having apertures in their inner ends for the reception of said hook-like projections, said bracket members also having openings in their sides, a pair of link members adapted to be inserted in said openings, enlarged end portions on said link members being wider than said openings for connecting said link members to said bracket members, and spring means position-ed within the channel of said base member and attached to said link members for urging said bracket members toward each other.

6. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members pivotally mounted at their inner ends to said base member, said inner ends extending beyond the front face of said base member and toward the supporting surface, and resilient means connected to said bracket members at a point outwardly removed from said. inner ends and adapted to urge the former toward each other.

'7. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members pivotally mounted at their inner ends to said base member, said inner ends extending beyond the front face of said base member and toward the supporting surface, resilient means connected to said bracket members at a point outwardly removed from said inner ends and adapted to urge the former toward each other, and stop means on said base member limiting the movement of said bracket members toward each other.

8. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members pivotally mounted at their inner ends to said base member, said inner ends extending beyond the front face of said base member and toward the supporting surface, resilient means connected to said bracket members at a point outwardly removed from said inner ends and adapted to urge the former toward each other, said base member completely concealing said resilient means when in attached position.

9. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a base member adapted 4 to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of bracket members pivotally mounted at their inner ends to said base member, and resilient means connected to said bracket members at a point outwardly from the inner ends thereof and inwardly from the front face of said base member, said resilient means being adapted to urge said bracket members toward each other.

10. In a holder for a toilet paper roll and the like, the combination of a base member adapted to be attached to a supporting surface, a pair of rigid bracket members pivotally mounted at their inner ends to said base member, and resilient means connected to said bracket members and adapted to urge the latter toward each other,

the side faces of said bracket members abutting against the ends of said base member when in normal position.

LAURENCE N. HOFFMAN.