Abstract:
Tools, devices and methods of modifying existing toilet paper and paper towels that do not have inner cardboard tubes with insert adapters to modify the nondefined openings in the rolls. The adapter tools can slide onto the ends of the spindles and have narrow tip exteriors, and/or have threaded exterior surfaces, and the like. Inserts can have spiral cut grooves or spiral raised ribs, with a chamfered tip end and an enlarged base end.

Description:
This invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/677,659 filed Jul. 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls, in particular to adapter tools, devices and methods for enlarging the central opening in toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes, using inserts with spiral cut grooves or spiral raised ribs on outer surfaces of the inserts, and chamfered tip ends and enlarged base ends on the inserts. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Toilet paper rolls generally include rolling sheets of paper about a central cardboard tube. The paper usually is glued or adhered to the inner tube. The inner tubes are usually mounted over spindles or telescoping cylinders in toilet paper dispensers. Once the toilet paper has been used, up, changing toilet roll dispensers has usually required the consumer to pull off the spindle or telescoping cylinders and then mount a new spare toilet paper roll by inserting the spindle into the center opening of the central cardboard tube and mounting the spindle with mounted toilet paper roll back to the toilet paper dispenser. 
     In recent years, there has been a push to start removing the central cardboard tube in order to save paper costs and manufacturing costs by eliminating the central cardboard tube entirely, and selling toilet paper rolls without any central cardboard tubes. 
     Furthermore, cardboard tubes have created wasted paper. The portion of the toilet paper glued to the cardboard tube is generally unusable when the roll is nearly empty. 
     Still furthermore, the cardboard tubes are also an extra wasted expense and by-product since the cardboard tubes are often thrown away when the roll is used up. Even if the tubes are recycled, there is a lost cost involved. 
     Thus, manufacturers are now starting to increasingly manufacturer toilet paper rolls without the central cardboard tube. 
     The problem with no longer having the central tube creates a problem where the center opening in the roll is no longer easily defined. 
     With the tubeless toilet paper rolls, consumers can have a difficult time trying to push and jam the spindle or telescoping cylinders of the toilet paper dispenser through the undefined hole in the new paper rolls that do not have cardboard center tubes. 
     This problem is increasing further in view of the fact that paper towels are now starting to be made also without the center cardboard tube for similar reasons. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the problems identified above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide adapter tools, devices and methods for enlarging the central opening in toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes with an insert tool having a spiral groove cut on the exterior surface. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide adapter tools, devices and methods for enlarging the central opening in toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes with an insert tool having a spiral raised rib on the exterior surface. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide for adapter tools, devices and methods that modify existing spindles on toilet paper and paper towel dispensers with inserts to hold paper rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide for reusable adapter tools, devices and methods that can be used with or without toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes. 
     Adapter tools and devices having spiral grooves or spiral raised ribs that facilitate easier insertion of toilet roll holders (spindle) and/or paper towel holders (spindle), thereby reducing damage to inner sheets of paper and improving the dispensing of the product. The adapters tools and devices can be integrated with the spindle or could be a standalone device used as a tool to expand the center of the roll and/or create a smooth interior surface and/or guide the spindle into place. The adapter tools and devices can also be reusable. 
     An adapter tool for paper rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes, can include a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a generally uniform diameter opening therebetween, and a spiral on the exterior surface of the hollow cylinder between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be pushed into a central opening of a paper roll that does not have an inner cardboard tube, and the insert is able to be rotated by the second end until substantially all of the insert is located inside the central opening of the paper roll. 
     The hollow cylinder can have a length of at least approximately 4 inches between the first end and the second end, and the paper roll is a toilet paper roll without an inner cardboard tube. 
     The first end can have a chamfered edge, and the second end can have an enlarged base having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder. The chamfered edge can be an angle of approximately 30 degrees. 
     The spiral can include a spiral cut groove. The cut groove can be approximately 0.063 inches deep. The spiral cut groove can have a width of approximately 0.125 inches. The spiral cut groove can have an approximately 1 inch spiral pitch. 
     The spiral can include a spiral raised rib. The spiral raised rib can have a height of approximately 0.3 inches. The spiral raised rib can have a thickness of approximately 0.125 inches. The spiral rib can have an approximately 1 inch spiral pitch. 
     The hollow cylinder can have a length of at least approximately 6 inches between the first end and the second end, and the paper roll is a paper towel roll without an inner cardboard tube. 
     A method of mounting paper towel rolls that do not have inner cardboard tubes, on paper dispensers, can include the steps of providing a paper roll with a central opening that does not have an inner cardboard tube, the roll being selected from a toilet paper roll and a paper towel roll, providing a rigid hollow cylinder having a tip end with a chamfered edge and an opposite end with an enlarged base, providing a spiral on an exterior surface of the cylinder between the tip end and the base, and pushing and rotating the tip end of the base into the central opening of the paper roll with the enlarged base until the cylinder is substantially inside the paper roll, and the enlarged base abuts against a side surface of the paper roll. 
     The method can include the steps of providing a spiral groove or spiral raised rib, and providing the spiral with an approximately 1.00 inch spiral pitch. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a toilet paper roll insert separated from toilet paper roll having no center cardboard core tube, telescoping cylinder and dispenser. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the insert starting to be inserted into the toilet paper roll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the insert of fully installed within the toilet paper roll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the insert installed toilet paper roll of  FIG. 3  installed on the dispenser. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the installed toilet paper roll on the dispenser of  FIG. 5  along arrow  5 X. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a paper towel roll insert ready to be installed on a paper towel roll having no center cardboard core tube. 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the insert fully installed within the paper towel roll of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the paper towel with installed insert about to mounted to a dispenser. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the paper towel with insert mounted on the dispenser of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel with insert mounted on the dispenser of  FIG. 9  along arrow  10 X. 
         FIG. 11  is a front side view of the toilet paper insert with spiral grooves cut into the outer wall of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of the insert of  FIG. 11  along arrows  11 A. 
         FIG. 12  is a left side view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a back side view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a right side view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top end view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom end view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 17  is a front side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 18  is a left side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 19  is a back side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 20  is a right side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 21  is a front side view of a toilet paper roll tube insert with raised spiral ribs that can be used with the toilet paper roll dispenser of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         FIG. 22  is a left side view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a back side view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 24  is a right side view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 25  is a top end view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom end view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 27  is a front side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 28  is a left side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 29  is a back side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 30  is a right side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll with raised spirals of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 31  is a front side view of a paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves used in  FIGS. 6-10 . 
         FIG. 32  is a right side view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 33  is a back side view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 34  is a left side view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 35  is a top end view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 36  is a bottom end view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 37  is a front side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 38  is a left side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 39  is back side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 40  is a right side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert with spiral cut grooves of  FIG. 31 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     The component labels will now be described.
       10  Toilet paper roll plastic tube insert with spiral groove.     12  tip end of insert     20  Toilet paper roll mounting bracket/dispenser or stand.     30  Toilet paper roll mounting post/rod/telescoping cylinder.     40  Toilet paper roll without cardboard tube insert.     50  Hole in toilet paper roll.     60  Spiral motion required to insert plastic tube insert into the hole in a paper product roll.     70  Linear push motion required to insert plastic tube insert into the hole in a paper product roll.     80  Spiral groove cut into outside surface of plastic tube insert.     90  Flange on end of plastic tube insert stops the insert when it contacts the end of the paper product roll.     100  Hole through the center of the plastic tube insert allows insertion of paper product mounting rod or post.     110  Holes in toilet paper roll mounting bracket accept tenons on mounting rod.     120  Tenons on toilet paper mounting rod.     130  Paper towel roll plastic tube insert with spiral groove.     132 . Tip end of insert     140  Paper towel roll without cardboard tube insert.     150  Hole in paper towel roll.     160  Paper towel holder, such as a stand, dispenser, bracket.     170  Base of towel holder.     180  Post of towel holder.     190  Toilet paper roll plastic tube insert with spiral raised rib on the outside.     200  Raised spiral rib on outside of tube insert.
 
Toilet Paper Insert with Spiral Groove Cuts
   

       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a toilet paper roll insert  10  separated from toilet paper roll  40  having no center cardboard core tube, post/rod/telescoping cylinder  30  and dispenser  20 .  FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the insert  10  starting to be inserted into the toilet paper roll  40  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the insert  10  of fully installed within the toilet paper roll  40  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the insert  10  installed toilet paper roll  40  of  FIG. 3  installed on the dispenser  29  where the tenons  120  on the post/rod/telescoping cylinder  30  are inserted into mating holes  110  in the toilet paper roll mounting bracket/dispenser.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the installed toilet paper roll  40  on the dispenser  20  of  FIG. 5  along arrow  5 X. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the novel insert  10  can be a hollow plastic tube having a flange  90  on one end and a tip end  12  having a chamfered tip edges about the perimeter of the tip end  12 . The insert can have a spiral groove  80  cut onto the outside surface of the plastic tube insert  10 . The toilet paper roll  40  can be one without an axial cardboard tube, where the central opening  50  can be small and not clearly defined. The installer can take the insert  10  by base flange  90  and position the tip end  12  at the front of the hole  50 . The installer can push in the direction of arrow  70  and rotate the insert clockwise in the direction of arrow  60  so that that chamfered tip edges drive into the hole  50  until the insert  10  is fully inserted where the flange  90  abuts against one side of the roll  40 . In the installed position, the central hole  50  of the roll can be generally made uniform in diameter and have inner walls that abut against the outer surface of the insert  10 . 
     Next the toilet roll mounting rod/telescoping cylinder can be inserted into the central hole  100  through the center of the insert  10 . The opposite facing tenons  120  on the post/rod/telescoping cylinders  30  can be placed into mounting holes  110  on the paper roll dispenser  20 . The insert is more fully described in relation to  FIGS. 11-20   
       FIG. 11  is a front side view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral grooves  80  cut into the outer wall of the insert  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-5 .  FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of the insert  10  of  FIG. 11  along arrows  11 A.  FIG. 12  is a left side view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 13  is a back side view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 14  is a right side view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 15  is a top end view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 16  is a bottom end view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 17  is a front side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 18  is a left side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 19  is a back side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 20  is a right side top perspective view of the toilet paper insert  10  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-20 , the toilet paper insert  10  can be formed from injection molded plastic material, such as but not limited to ABS, Polycarbonate, Nylon, PC-ABS, Polypropylene, PVC, fiberglass, and the like, as well as from recycled plastic. Alternatively, the insert can be formed from other materials, such as but not limited to wood, metal, combinations, thereof, and the like. 
     Insert  10  can have a length of approximately 4 inches long. The outer diameter of the insert  10  can have a cylindrical diameter of approximately 1.250 inches, and the inner diameter of the central hole  100  can have a diameter of approximately 1.00 inches. 
     The spiral cut groove  80  can run from the base flange  90  to the tip end  12 , and have a spiral pitch spacing between winds of approximately 1.00 inches. With these dimensions, the insert  10  can take approximately 4 turns to be fully inserted into the toilet paper roll. The spiral groove cut  80  can be approximately 0.063 inches deep and have a width of approximately 0.125 inches. 
     At the tip end  12 , there can be chamfered perimeter edge having an angle of approximately 20 degrees with a height of approximately 0.09 inches. The base flange  90 , can have a thickness of approximately 0.10 inches, and have an outer diameter of approximately 1.50 inches. The outer surface edges of the base flange  90  can be knurled, and the like, for an enhanced gripping surface. 
     Toilet Paper Insert with Raised Spiral Ribs 
       FIG. 21  is a front side view of a toilet paper roll tube insert  190  with raised spiral ribs  200  that can be used with the toilet paper roll dispenser  20  of  FIGS. 1-5 .  FIG. 22  is a left side view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 23  is a back side view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 24  is a right side view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 25  is a top end view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 26  is a bottom end view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 27  is a front side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 28  is a left side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 29  is a back side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 30  is a right side top perspective view of the toilet paper roll  190  with raised spirals  200  of  FIG. 21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21-30 , the insert  190  can have similar dimensions and formed from similar material to the insert  10  of the previous embodiment, with the exception of having raised spiral raised ribs  200  molded thereon. The raised spiral ribs  200  can have a height of approximately 0.3 inches, and a thickness of approximately 0.125 inches. 
     Paper Towel Insert with Spiral Groove Cuts 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a paper towel roll insert  130  ready to be installed on a paper towel roll  140  having no center cardboard core tube.  FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the insert  130  fully installed within the paper towel roll  140  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the paper towel  140  with installed insert  130  about to mounted to a paper towel holder  160 , such as a stand, or dispenser, and the like.  FIG. 9  is a side view of the paper towel  140  with insert  130  mounted on the holder  160  of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel  140  with insert  130  mounted on the holder  160  of  FIG. 9  along arrow  10 X. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-10 , the novel insert  130  can be a hollow plastic tube having a flange  90  on one end and a tip end  12  having a chamfered tip edges about the perimeter of the tip end  12 . The insert can have a spiral groove  80  cut onto the outside surface of the plastic tube insert  130 . The paper towel roll  140  can be one without an axial cardboard tube, where the central opening  150  can be small and not clearly defined. The installer can take the insert  130  by base flange  90  and position the tip end  132  at the front of the hole  150 . The installer can push in the direction of arrow  70  and rotate the insert clockwise in the direction of arrow  60  so that that chamfered tip edges drive into the hole  150  until the insert  130  is fully inserted where the flange  90  abuts against one side of the roll  140 . In the installed position, the central hole  150  of the roll can be generally made uniform in diameter and have inner walls that abut against the outer surface of the insert  130 . 
     Next the paper towel  140  with installed insert  130  can be positioned so that the center hole  100  of the insert can be slid over the post  180  until the base flange  90  rests on the base  170  of the towel holder  160 . While a stand type holder is shown, the paper towel insert  130  can also be mounted on posts/rods/telescoping cylinders similar to those shown and described in the previous embodiment. The insert will be more fully described in relation to  FIGS. 31-40 . 
       FIG. 31  is a front side view of a paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  used in  FIGS. 6-10 .  FIG. 32  is a right side view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 33  is a back side view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 34  is a left side view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 35  is a top end view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 36  is a bottom end view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 37  is a front side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 38  is a left side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 39  is back side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 40  is a right side top perspective view of the paper towel tube insert  130  with spiral cut grooves  80  of  FIG. 31 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 31-40 , the paper towel insert  130  can be formed from similar materials as the previously described embodiments, and have similar dimensions for the chamfered tip edges  132 , and width and depth of the spiral grooves  80 , but with the following differences. 
     Here, the length of the paper towel insert  130  can be approximately 6 inches for ease in installation. In the figures, a 6 inch long insert can have approximately 6 winds each being approximately 1 inch apart from one another, so that the insert  130  can be inserted into the opening  150  of the paper towel roll  140  within approximately 6 turns. The insert  130  can also have a length of up to approximately 11 inches or substantially the same length as that of a paper towel roll  140 . The outer diameter of the insert  130  can be approximately 1.50 inches and the inner diameter can be approximately 1.25 inches. The outer diameter of the flange base can be approximately 1.75 inches and have a thickness of approximately 0.13 inches. 
     Paper Towel Insert with Raised Spiral Ribs 
     The paper towel insert can also have spiral ribs similar to those shown and described for the toilet paper roll. The paper towel insert with raised spiral ribs can have similar dimensions to the paper towel insert with spiral grooves. The spiral ribs can be located in the same locations, where each of the ribs can have a height of approximately 0.03 inches and a thickness of approximately 0.11 inches thick. 
     Although the embodiments describe inserting the inserts into the holes of the paper rolls, the inserts can be removed by rotating counter-clockwise while pulling out at the base flanges of the inserts. 
     The dimensions shown in all the figures can be preferred values. The term approximately used in the description for various dimensions, can allow for plus or minus 10 (ten) percent of the listed number. 
     Although the drawings and description show the spiral grooves/ribs oriented so that the inserts can be rotated clockwise, the grooves/ribs can be oriented so that the inserts can be rotated into their respective paper rolls in clockwise directions. 
     Although paper towels and toilet paper rolls are described, the invention can be used for other rolls such as but not limited to rolls of silk, wool, and other types of rollable sheet material, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.