Abstract:
A sanitary dispensing apparatus for completely enclosing a paper roll, allowing for the paper roll to be easily dispensed, and allowing for the cover to he personalized. The cover also allows for the paper roll to be easily replaced. The cover can be used in any bathroom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/072,675, entitled “Sanitary Dispensing Apparatus,” filed on Oct. 30, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated here in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a sanitary paper-dispensing apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that can be personalized, that dispenses paper, and that fully encloses a roll of paper, such as toilet paper. The present invention can also be used to cover paper towels. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0005]    A typical bathroom is exposed to all kinds of germs and bacteria, resulting in an unsanitary and potentially unhealthy environment. When the toilet is flushed, germs and bacteria may be spread throughout the room contacting any objects in proximity to the toilet. Although most people periodically clean their bathroom, they do not clean rolls of paper in their bathrooms, such as toilet paper or paper towels, which are usually exposed to a continual cornucopia of germs and bacteria. Because the paper is exposed to these germs and bacteria, a person using the bathroom may also become exposed through contact with the exposed paper. 
         [0006]    Devices are known in the art that provide covers for toilet paper. These devices, however, typically are not fully covered, or lack a dispenser slot, and may be difficult to use or personalize. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is presently a need in the art for a fully-covered paper-dispenser apparatus that provides sanitary storage for paper in a bathroom environment, and which is easy to reload and customize. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the sanitary dispensing of as roll of toilet paper. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a dispensable cover to a roll of toilet paper. In one embodiment, the cover is configured to fully enclose the toilet paper. The cover includes a front section and a back section, which are affixed via a hinge in one embodiment such that in one configuration the front section and back section are configured to fully enclose a roll of toilet paper. hi another configuration, the front section can be pivoted such that the cover is open allowing one to replace a roll of paper. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus also includes a flap in the front section. The flap may be opened by pushing the flap inwards. When open, the flap reveals a slot through which the toilet paper is dispensed. In one embodiment, the slot contains jagged teeth along one or more edges for easy dispensing of the toilet paper. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the toilet paper is supported by a shaft that is attached to the inside surface of the back section. The shaft extends out and goes parallel to the inside surface of at least a portion of the back section. The shaft also includes a piece which extends perpendicular relative to the parallel section of the shaft in order to stabilize the roll of toilet paper. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, the cover contains a pivot whereby the front section can be lowered for easy replacement of the roll of toilet paper, in another embodiment, the front section may he raised or pivoted to the side for easy replacement of toilet paper. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the cover is adapted to dispense a roll of paper towels. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, the cover is plastic. In other embodiments, the cover is metal or a composite of materials. In a preferred embodiment, the cover is a material with antimicrobial properties. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the invention, there is additionally a cover enclosure which is configured to be placed over the cover, allowing for a custom, personalized appearance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover while in the closed state. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the dispensing unit including a flap in the open state. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover while in a reloading state allowing for reloading of the paper roll. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the paper roll holder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the personalized second enclosure. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6-12  are photographs of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Reference is made to the figures to illustrate selected embodiments and preferred modes of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not hereby limited to those aspects depicted in the figures. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover  100  in its closed state, 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the cover  100  resembles a U-shape, having a top side  101 , a bottom side  105 , a back side  104 , and left  106  and right  103  sides. The front  102  side, which corresponds to the curved portion of the U-shape, includes a flap  110 . In one embodiment, top side  101 , bottom side  105 , and left  106  and right  103  sides comprise a front section  107 . Back side  104  may comprise a back section  108 . The back side  104  may be configured to be mounted on a wall in one embodiment, The cover  100  may be made of plastic, metal or other composite materials. In one embodiment, the material of the cover  100  has antimicrobial properties. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the front section  107  and back section  108  may be pivotally connected such that in one configuration the cover may be opened for the easy reloading of paper, and in another configuration the cover may be closed, fully enclosing the paper and forming a barrier to germs and bacteria that may be spread, for example, by the flushing of an adjacent toilet. In another embodiment, the front section  107  and back section  108  may comprise other sides. For example, in one embodiment, front section  107  comprises top side  101 , front side  102 . right side  103 , bottom side  105 , and left side  106 , while the back section  108  comprises the the back side  104  of cover  100 . In yet another embodiment, top side  101 , front side  102  and bottom side  105  are one continuous U-shape or curved surface. In a similar embodiment, the U-shape or curved surface and optionally the right side  103  and/or left side  106  comprise the front section  107 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the pivotal connection between the front section  107  and back section  108  allows the front section to pivot sideways. In another embodiment, the pivotal. connection allows the front section to pivot upwards. In still another embodiment, the pivotal connection allows the front section to pivot downwards. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the front side  102  includes a flap  110 . Flap  110  can be opened by a variety of methods including pressing the top flap cover  201  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) inward. The flap  110  then opens by means of a hinge  210 , revealing the dispensing section  202 . Flap  110  can also include a tab that may be pulled to open the flap. When flap  110  is in the open state, it reveals dispensing section  202 . In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing section  202  comprises a dispensing slot  220  with jagged or toothed edges, through which the toilet paper passes and can easily be torn. In other embodiments, dispensing slot  220  has smooth edges. In another embodiment, dispensing slot  220  has jagged or toothed edges on only one side of the slot. In other preferred embodiments, the flap  110  and dispensing section  202  may be located on the bottom side  105 , the right side  1 . 03 , the left side  106 , or top side  101 , or on the above-referenced U-shape or curved surface. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the sanitary dispensing cover  100  in its reloading state allowing for reloading of the paper roll. In one embodiment, when the cover  100  is in its closed state, a user can pull the front section  107  down, along a pivot joint  310 , revealing the paper roll and holder  301 . Alternatively, in another embodiment a user can lift the front section  107  of the cover  100  up, along pivot joint  310 . In another embodiment, the front section  108  may be pivoted to the side allowing for the easy replacement of the paper roll. Pivot joint  310  can be one or more hinges, or deformable material, allowing one to open and close the cover  100 . This allows the user to easily replace the toilet paper roll. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the toilet paper holder  301 . The holder  301  is a shaft, attached to the inside surface of back side  104  of the cover  100  by holder section  401 , which extends outward by holder section  402 , and then runs parallel to the inside surface of back side  104  of the cover  100  by holder section  403 . 
         [0030]    The holder  301  also, in a preferred embodiment, comprises holder section  404  that is perpendicular to the parallel section of the shaft, which stabilizes the paper roll. Holder  301  may be attached to different sides of the cover  100  in other embodiments of the present invention. Holder  301  may also be formed as an integral piece of one of the sides of the cover  100 , or may be manufactured separately and affixed to one of the sides of cover  100 . Holder  301  may be formed of plastic, metal or other suitable materials. In one embodiment, the material of the holder  301  has antimicrobial properties. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a custom cover enclosure  500 . In one embodiment, the cover enclosure  500  slides over the cover  100 , permitting the user to easily personalize the cover  100  to match any particular bathroom design desired. In another embodiment, the cover enclosure  500  can be affixed to the cover  100  through another means, such as adhesive. Velcro, buttons, etc. In one embodiment, the personalized appearance can match the design (e.g. wallpaper) in a bathroom. In another embodiment, the personalized appearance can be a pleasing pattern (e.g. a children&#39;s cartoon character in assorted positions). The cover enclosure  500  may be made of plastic, metal or other composite materials. In one embodiment, the material of the cover enclosure  500  has antimicrobial properties. Cover enclosure  500  includes an opening  501  allowing access to flap  110  for dispensing the toilet paper. 
         [0032]    During regular use, the sanitary dispensing cover  100  will normally be in its closed position, as indicated in  FIG. 1 . In this position the paper roll is completely enclosed, and consequently protected from the germs and bacteria found in a normal bathroom. In a preferred embodiment, when a user desires a piece of the paper roll, all that is required is to press the flap  110  inwards, which results in the top flap cover  201  opening by means of the flap hinge  210 . The user can then tear a piece of the paper roll, which is protruding from the dispensing slot  220 . The optional jagged or teethed edges of the dispensing slot  220  may facilitate the user in tearing a piece of the paper roll in a preferred embodiment. When the paper roll is empty or near empty, the user may want to reload a new roll. A user can do this by pulling down on the top  101  of the cover  100  (in one embodiment), or lifting up on the bottom  105  of the cover  100  (in another embodiment). This will cause the front section  107  of cover  100  to pivot along the pivot joint  310 , revealing the toilet paper holder  301  and the toilet paper roll, When done reloading the toilet paper roll, the user can return the front section  107  of cover  100  to its closed position, 
         [0033]    Additionally, the user may choose to customize the sanitary dispensing cover  100 . This can be accomplished by sliding a custom cover enclosure  500  over the dispensing cover  100 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6-12  are photographs of exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
         [0035]    While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.