Abstract:
A sealable container constructed of molded plastic or the like, for the storage and transport of multiple rolls of toilet paper in individual compartments, which maintains the original quality, integrity, and freshness of toilet paper by insulating it from moisture, dirt, germs, and other contaminants.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to the field of toilet paper storage containers and carrying devices. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    Toilet paper has become an indispensible staple of personal hygiene. It is commonly sold in a convenient rolled form. Consumers typically purchase multiple rolls of toilet paper at a time to ensure that they will have access to a constant supply of the product as needed. 
         [0008]    By design, toilet paper deteriorates when it becomes wet so as not to clog drain pipes. It must be stored, therefore, in a manner calculated to keep it dry at all times, or its quality becomes compromised. Moreover, as a cleansing product which is made to come into contact with the most intimate parts of the human body, it is desirable to maintain toilet paper in a reasonably fresh and sanitary condition prior to use. 
         [0009]    Single rolls of toilet paper typically come wrapped in paper packaging, while multiple rolls are often bundled together in plastic wrap. These forms of packaging provide some minimal degree of protection from moisture, dirt, and septic contamination, but they can be prone to tearing and puncturing, potentially compromising the hygienic integrity of the toilet paper. Moreover, to remove a single roll of toilet paper within a bundled package, the plastic wrap must be cut, torn, punctured, or otherwise open, implicitly exposing the remaining unused rolls to possible contamination. 
         [0010]    Numerous loose single rolls of toilet paper can be cumbersome to handle, inconvenient to store, and inefficient in terms of utilization of space. If stored on one end on a closet shelf, for example, they can be knocked over and may be prone to roll off the shelf and onto a dirty floor. Even toilet paper rolls in bundled plastic wrap remain manageable only until the packaging has been opened, after which they can easily become dislodged from the packaging and come in contact with moisture, dirt, and germs. 
         [0011]    Clean, fresh, dry toilet paper becomes especially important in the advent of a hurricane or similar natural disaster, when normal access to stores can be cut off for indeterminately long periods of time and people may be confined to their homes. The need can be particularly acute for families with young children. Moreover, when required to leave their homes in the face of a major storm, evacuees may have to take refuge in a designated public shelter, and in that event must transport with them their own supplies of toilet paper in quantities sufficient to last for several days or weeks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention comprises a sealable container, constructed of molded plastic or the like for the storage and transport of multiple rolls of toilet paper in individual compartments, which maintains the original quality, integrity, and freshness of toilet paper by insulating it from moisture, dirt, germs, and other contaminants. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective of a four-compartment embodiment of the invention, with four latches, showing the lower and upper sections. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  presents a bottom exterior view of a four-compartment embodiment of the invention, with two latches in front and two hinges in the rear, in a closed condition with the latches engaged. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an overhead view of a four-compartment embodiment of the invention, with two latches in front and two hinges in the rear, in a closed condition with the latches engaged. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a view of a four-compartment embodiment of the invention, with two latches in front and two hinges in the rear, in an open condition with the latches unengaged, reflecting the interior surfaces of the lower and upper sections and the placement of a single toilet paper rolls into the compartments of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a twelve-compartment embodiment of the apparatus in a closed condition with the latches engaged. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0018]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 lower planar section 
                 12 
                 upper planar section 
               
               
                 14 
                 curved wall 
                 16 
                 side wall 
               
               
                 18 
                 first hole 
                 20 
                 second hole 
               
               
                 22 
                 hinge 
                 24 
                 seal 
               
               
                 26 
                 toilet paper roll 
                 28 
                 latch 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    An exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This particular embodiment comprises a lower planar section  10  and an upper planar section  12 . To achieve strength and durability, the lower planar section  10  and upper planar section  12  of the apparatus may be injection molded or otherwise made from plastic or other suitable materials. 
         [0020]    The lower and upper planar sections  10 ,  12  may be fastened together by any number of means. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , four latches  28  are used, enabling the ready and complete separation of each section from the other. 
         [0021]    Each of the four latches  28  depicted in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  are located on the lower planar section  10 . Each of the latches  28  shown are engaged by moving the latch  28  about a pivot to wrap around the exterior side of the upper planar section  12 , thereby fastening the lower planar section  10  to the upper planar section  12  by way of compression. 
         [0022]    Each of the two planar sections  10 ,  12  has a plurality of compartments in like number. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , each planar section  10 , 12  has four compartments. Each compartment comprises a recessed, curved wall  14  and two side walls  16 , which together form a half cylinder of a length and radius sufficient to accommodate the insertion of a roll of toilet paper  26  to a depth equal to the radius of the roll. When the planar sections  10 ,  12  are aligned and joined, the compartments of the upper planar section  12  come together with the matching counterpart compartments of the lower planar section  10  to form full cylinder compartments, each of which is capable of enclosing completely a single roll of toilet paper  26 . 
         [0023]    At least one seal  24  surrounding the full cylinder compartments formed by the planar sections  10 ,  12  acts to inhibit the introduction of water, dirt, and other contaminants into the compartments. The seal  24 , as in this embodiment, may be fashioned as a molded gasket protruding from the interior surface of the upper planar section  12 , creating a barrier around the full cylinder compartments formed by the compression of the lower and upper planar sections  10 ,  12  when the apparatus is in a closed position and the latches  28  or other fasteners are engaged. Other forms of seals may be used, however, such as rubber or silicone gaskets affixed to the interior surface of a section. Seals may also be placed around individual compartments. 
         [0024]    A first hole  18  in the lower planar section  10  and a second hole  20  in the upper planar section  12  form a handle for the apparatus when the lower planar section  10  and the upper planar section  12  are joined together. This facilitates the portability of the apparatus, which can be transported like a briefcase. 
         [0025]    As seen in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , one or more hinges  22  can be used to join the lower planar section  10  and upper planar section  12  on one side, with latches  28  on the opposite side.  FIG. 3  presents an overhead perspective of the same hinged embodiment, illustrating how the latches  28  fold over the upper planar section  12  to compress the two planar sections  10 ,  12  together when engaged. The use of hinges as depicted in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  prevents the two planar sections from separating completely but allows the upper planar section  12  to pivot away from the lower planar section  12  to enable the user to insert or remove rolls of toilet paper  26  from the apparatus.  FIG. 4  shows this hinged embodiment of the apparatus in an open condition, with the latches  28  disengaged and pivoted open. The hinged embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrates how the dimensions of the two planar sections  10 ,  12  may be modified to accommodate additional compartments to increase the storage capacity of the apparatus. The minimal profile of the apparatus allows it to be efficiently stored on closet shelves, under beds, and in other narrow spaces.