Holder/dispenser for paper in roll form

This invention contemplates an improved dispenser of paper in roll form by reason of novel friction brake device which provides user control and economy.

The present invention relates to the art of hardware/houseware's device for 
holding paper in roll form, and more specifically to convenience devices 
for storing and dispensing lengths of paper from a supply roll thereof 
held in such suitable convenience device located proximate the area of 
use. 
Even more specifically the present invention relates to an improvement in a 
storage/dispenser of paper tissue and to the dispensing thereof in the 
bathroom, kitchen, washroom, workplace, office or the like. 
Supply rolls of such paper formed of a significant length wound on a 
cylindrical core are most generally carried on a spool or spindle mounted 
rotatably between a pair of parallel arms carried by a bracket secureable 
to a vertical wall in the bathroom or kitchen or washroom area. These 
devices are a convenience in providing a supply of paper which is readily 
accessable and available to the user where needed. Usually the user 
simply, with one hand, grasps the free end of the roll of paper containing 
spaced lines or zones of weakness, pulls a desired length then moves the 
withdrawn length laterally to separate a desired length on one of the 
lines or zones of weakness, at or near the roll itself. 
Unfortunately the pulling of a length of the paper roll frequently results 
in unreeling more than needed or desired. The undesired length is rerolled 
onto the supply roll only with difficulty and thus usually this practice 
is not followed; with the result that the unnecessary length is discarded 
leading to wasted paper and to housecleaning headaches when the unused 
lengths are discarded on the floor. 
Equally and sometimes more important, the effort taken to rip/separate the 
desired length is just not successful, in that the tear separation is not 
accomplished and the user/consumer must take further action such as use of 
the other hand in order to effect the separation at all. 
Frequently the rolls are carried on the spool or spindle so loosely that 
removal of a length is accomplished only with further additional effort 
and manipulation and withdrawal of an unnecessary amount is more the rule 
rather than the exception. Additionally the spools and/or spindles are 
frequently rotatable in the arms which accentuates the problems of failure 
and as well wasted paper and accumulated discarded lengths on the floor of 
the public washroom or similar area. 
The waste resulting from withdrawing excess paper, and, as well, the usual 
resulting unsightlessness due to users discarding the same on the floor of 
the washroom or the like, adds to the cost of maintenance of public, 
institutional, corporate or government washrooms and is therefore very 
undesireable. 
Several patents have issued on paper roll holders of various constructions. 
One such patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,606, discloses a stop lug for the 
inner end of a paper roll and is said to prevent undue rotation of the 
roll. 
Another U.S. Pat. No. 2,392,996, discloses a combination of webs for 
frictional engagement with the core of a paper roll to allegedly resist 
rotation. 
Another U.S. Pat. No. 1,109,929, discloses a cone-shaped, spring-loaded 
shaft precluding withdrawing more than a single sheet. 
Still another U.S. Pat. No. 840,651 (1907) discloses a brake ring and wing 
nuts/screw construction to adjust pressure and effect unwinding. 
Additionally U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,438,589 and 4,179,077 disclose holder 
structures for paper rolls. 
The structures disclosed in the various patents are, however, not seen in 
the market place, probably because of the complicated nature of the 
internal mechanism which are necessarily expensive, cumbersome and 
ill-suited for true convenience, changeability, ease of use, and speed of 
roll replacement, as to lend themselves to practical adoption and usage. 
None of the structures disclosed in the above patents in any way compare 
with the utility, simplicity, economy, and trouble free character implicit 
in the construction, in accordance with the present invention, as will be 
evident and manifest from the detailed description of the present 
invention, the explanation, and including drawings, to follow. 
It is, accordingly, a principal object of the present invention to provide 
a simple and novel improvement in roll holder devices which effectively 
addresses the problem of lack of control and excessive withdrawal of paper 
from a roll, and at the same time effectively eliminates the problems 
normally attendant withdrawal of unnecessary amounts of paper from the 
typical roll holder. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such an improvement 
which enables sure, effective, simple and reliable control of the removal 
of a length of paper of desired length quickly and without necessity of 
additional effort and manipulation. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modified 
structure in which said modification is totally independant of parts and 
sub elements of any of a variety of holders for roll paper presently on 
the market. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a 
modification which is so simple and inexpensive/economical as to strain 
credulity. 
It is still further object of the present invention to provide a 
modification which may be utilized by manufactures or suppliers of paper 
roll holders or the makers and suppliers of paper in roll form. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a kit consisting 
of an element and instructions for attaching said element of particular 
construction, arrangement and/or composition as will adapt it for 
securement to a paper roll holder in such a manner as will impart to said 
paper roll holder, the appropriate braking function opposing uninhibited 
withdrawal of paper from the roll carried rotatably in the holder, and 
thus allow positive user control of the amount of paper corresponding to 
that actually desired and with a degree of specificity beyond that 
possible heretofore. 
It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide a 
plurality of combinations of the element, as set forth in the previous 
paragraph, with a roll holder or with packages of rolls of the paper, and 
which thereby enhances the desireability and saleability of either the 
holder device or the package of a roll or rolls of paper by reason of the 
function, character and attribute which the element lends to the 
utilization of the holder or the roll or the package of a roll or rolls of 
paper, beyond that of the one or the other alone and without the element. 
The foregoing, and as well other objects of the present invention, will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more 
detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheet of 
drawings, on which are presented illustrations of several embodiments of 
the present invention.

In its simplest embodiment, the present invention comprises a modification 
of one or both of the facing surfaces of the arms or legs of a typical 
holder for a roll of paper and consequently positioned for physical 
contact with the edges of the paper wound upon itself, and, due to its 
surface characteristic, serving to brace free rotation sufficient to 
resist the tearing force or torque imparted to a length of paper 
transverse to the axis of withdrawal, urging thereby movement of the 
entire roll laterally on the spool to bring the edges, in overlapped 
array, against the facing surface of one arm or the other to initiate 
frictional abutment, sufficient that the lateral tearing force will cause 
a severing of the paper on one or the other of several spaced parallel 
lines of weakness inherent in the paper carried on the roll in wound 
fashion. 
Thus the present invention provides a positive control means for unfailing 
separation removal of a length of paper rather than random success 
associated with the roll holders not modified in accordance with the 
present invention. 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings; there is disclosed, in 
FIG. 1, a holder device 11 for holding a roll of paper 30, formed of a 
length of paper wound upon a cylindrical cardboard core 33, in repeated 
overlapping courses or winds 32 terminating in a final free end 31 hanging 
vertically downwardly as shown and available to be grasped by thumb and 
finger of user, thence pulled downwardly to unreel desired length, then 
moved left of right to tear separate desired length on line of weakness. 
The holder 11 includes a generally rectangular, elongate base 12, provided 
with a pair of wood screws 15, 16 serving for threaded engagement with a 
vertical wall not shown and fastening the base 12 thereto in secure 
fashion and in the desired position accessible for use. A pair of arms 17 
and 18 integrally connected to the ends of the base 12 extend 
perpendicularly outwardly from the base. Arm 18 includes a bearing recess 
19 as does the arm 17 (although not shown) which are in opposed 
registration to receive terminal end pinions 20 and 21 extending from 
opposite ends of a spool 23. Although not fully shown, it will be 
appreciated that the spool is axially segmented and spring loaded 
internally to allow the spool assembly to be compressed and shortened 
axially in order that the spindle may be removed from the bearing, at one 
end or the other so that the cardboard core 33 may be removed when all of 
the paper is depleted, and, of course, to allow mounting/positioning of a 
new fresh roll of the paper. 
The reference numeral 30 identifies a roll of paper composed of a 
significant length of said paper wound upon a cylindrical cardboard core 
33 and upon itself terminating in a free end 31 and otherwise divided into 
panels 34 defined between spaced lines of weakness 34a impressed during or 
after the manufacture of the paper, by a line of perforations or suitable 
treatment to create said lines of weakness, the latter to serve as a 
convenience in separating any given length from the total length of paper 
wound to form the roll 30. 
While the supply length of paper is secured at its inner end to the outer 
surface of the cardboard cylinder 33; the latter (cardboard cylinder) is 
of sufficient and ample inside diameter as to clearly exceed that of the 
outside diameter of the spool 23 and thus is freely moveable and 
rotatable, as, for example, upon a pulling force exerted on the free end 
of the length of paper for the purpose of unreeling a particular length. 
Additionally the pinion ends of the spool are loosely supported in the 
bearing recesses in the arms, so that the spool itself as freely rotatable 
with no inhibition of the free unreeling of a length of paper responsive 
to a hand or hand/finger pull which is away from and normal or 
perpendicular to the axis of the spool and the axis of the roll of paper. 
It will be understood that free rotation is desired so that the unreeling 
occurs very freely and without hindrance, as might otherwise sufficiently 
oppose the pull of the user and create a force of opposition sufficient to 
cause an undersired premature severing/separation on one of the spaced 
lines of weakness disposed transversely across the length of paper in 
repeating spaced relationship for convenience in allowing separation of a 
desired length. Unfortunately, as indicated earlier herein, the free 
rotation, both of the cardboard cylinder on the spool and the spool in the 
arm member bearing recesses, frequently results in the users applying a 
given pull which unreels more than the length desired, resulting in a loop 
extending from the mounted roll to the floor or to a sufficient distance 
below the roll that single handed transverse force is useless due to 
failure to be translated to the line of weakness and cause a severing of 
any length. 
Frequently the user attempts to hand turn the roll in a rewinding movement 
in order that a proper tearing separation can occur. This effort however 
is usually unsuccessful and in any event results in a bulky appearing roll 
which is undesired and suspicious leading to user dissatisfaction. 
Even if, an unnecessary length is not unreeled, due to pulling force; 
attempts to sever and remove a given length by a sudden lateral motion to 
initiate fracture along one lateral edge, or the other, approximate the 
line of weakness, is unsuccessful and due to its suddenness and magnitude 
usually results in failure to separate and the subsequent sudden 
withdrawal of an undetermined, uncontrolled length of paper leading to the 
scenario described just previously. 
In either case, the resulting unwanted amount of paper is found to be not 
only wasteful, but creates a disposal problem which is aggravating and 
frequently ends in unsightly excess lengths of paper on the floor and the 
surrounding area, creating not only a housecleaning problem but a fire 
safety hazard, or personal safety due to the possibility of slipping on 
the paper interfacing with a waxed floor, etc., etc. 
In keeping with the objects of the present invention as set forth 
hereinabove, and to address the problems, the dissatisfaction and other 
manifestations and results in inherent with paper roll holder/dispenser 
devices known heretofore in the art; the modifications, in accordance with 
the present invention, offers a solution and improvement which is unique, 
yet simple, in providing a brake control by the expedient of modifying the 
facing surfaces of the arm portions of the conventional paper roll holder. 
In its simplest form, the present invention provides for attachment to the 
inner facing surfaces, 17a and 18a, , of legs 17 and 18; a length of 
material having a composition and/or surface characteristic which 
frictionally (as opposed to smoothly) contacts the annular surface of the 
roll of paper, (which in turn is composed of the wound-upon-itself 
spiral-defining edge of the endless length of paper) responsive to 
appropriate manipulation by the consumer/user. 
It has been found most desireable that the length of the element 40 should 
approximately correspond to the radius of the full roll of paper, and as 
well the radius of the essentially depleted roll. This length is 
illustrated diagramatically in the drawings relative to the other 
components. Generally the thickness of the element 40 may vary but should 
be at least sufficiently thick that the element will exhibit some degree 
of resilience or ability to deflect when contacted by the annular side of 
the roll. At the same the thickness, but should leave a space between the 
surface of the element and the roll as will provide a clearance on either 
side permitting free withdrawal (or removal) which is not hindered by 
frictional contact between the element and the roll as would prematurely 
cause the braking by frictional contact of the roll and element 40. 
It has been found that a relatively resilient material composed of a 
plurality or multiplicity of sub or mini elements, of which two examples, 
include the surface created by cutting a cellular foam and discrete 
fingers. 
The cut surface of a piece of cellular foam, upon inspection, reveals a 
large plurality of cut edges of random directional orientation. The size 
of the cell will be determinative of the number of edges in a given 
section of the element. The number of edges (dependent upon the size of 
the cell) and the resilient, flexible nature of the material cooperate to 
exert frictional and braking resistance to the annular surface of the 
roll, as it otherwise rotates on the spool and also on the pinions in the 
arm-bearing recesses. 
The fingers referred to above are probably best represented by bristles of 
a brush. A workable example comprises bristles like those of a tooth 
brush. Close examination thereof reveals a multiplicity of elements 
(rather than a multiplicity of edges) and at the same time a resilient 
nature due to the deflection of the individual bristles, (or the bristles 
in aggregate) as they come into surface, frictional contact with the 
annular surface of the roll, composed of itself of multiple spiral of 
winds with a continuous length of paper as aforesaid. 
At this juncture reference is directed to FIG. 4 which illustrates the 
operative feature of the present invention. Generally FIG. 4 is like FIG. 
2, in its illustration of the same elements identified by the same 
reference numerals. It will be seen however, that opposed fingers 50 and 
51 grasp or pinch the free end 34a of the length of paper and urge that 
free end positively to the right. By reason of the freedom of rotation and 
movement of the roll of paper on the spool 23; this action has moved the 
entire roll over to the right, so that the annular surface of the roll has 
come into contact with the surface of the length of resilient cellular 
foam 40 whereby the coefficient of friction between the element 40 and 
said surface serves to brake rotation of the roll and simultaneous 
initiation and propagation of a severing/tearing of the lengths of paper 
on the line of weakness 34a. This effectively separates the desired length 
of paper from the remainder of the roll. The braking action and the 
initiation, propagation and completion of the tear on the line of weakness 
is assured, is positive and is under the control of the individual user 
who accomplishes the purpose simply and predictably. 
The operation as above described is achieved by an individual using only 
one hand (or pair of fingers) and does not require a second hand to 
manually brake and/or hold the roll in order to achieve the separation. 
Furthermore with the length of resilient cellular foam, or suitable 
equivalent, located on each of the inside facing surfaces of the arms 17 
and 18; it makes no difference whether the initiating grasp and movement 
laterally proceeds to the right or the left. It can thus be seen that the 
preferred embodiment of the present invention possesses a universality 
which is most desirable considering the variety of mounting positions for 
the roll holder that may be encountered for particular installations, room 
size, room or stall configurations, wall placement; all with respect to 
the bodily position of the consumer/user. 
Reference to FIG. 3 illustrates a variant embodiment of the present 
invention. FIG. 3 is a portion of FIG. 2 in order to show, somewhat 
enlarged, the arm 17 having a surface 50.sup.a which is integral with the 
arm but which has been formed (or in the forming thereof such surface has 
been modified) to include a structure which exhibits significant 
frictional engagement with the roll of paper responsive to a slight 
pulling withdrawal exerted on the free end coupled with a tearing motion 
to the left (looking at FIG. 3) which causes the roll to slide to the left 
on the spindle by reason of the free unhindered movement of the roll/core 
on the spool or spindle 23. The frictional engagement will, coupled with 
the pulling force, overcome the integrity of the line of weakness 
initiating a severing which is thereafter propagated along its entire 
length to sever the desired length of paper from the remainder of the 
spirally wound length of paper. The surface 50.sup.a may exhibit the 
character of a resilient cellular foam by including a suitable blowing 
agent in the portion of the arm during the molding of the holder 11, 
formed of a plastic or polymeric material. Alternatively the mold surface 
may be so configurated that there are formed a plurality of bristle like 
elements serving as the surface 50, in the manner described earlier 
herein. 
Reference to FIG. 5 finds an illustration of a variant embodiment, wherein 
the length of resilient material has adhesively secured to one surface a 
peel strip 42 which can be manually removed to reveal an adhesive surface 
on the underside of the element 40 as illustrated. This adhesive surface 
can serve as the means for attachment for the element 40 to the inner 
facing surfaces of the arms 17 and 18. Alternatively, in place of the peel 
strip 42, the underside of the element 40, as shown, may be coated with an 
adhesive which dries to a nonadhesive character under ambient conditions 
but may be reactivated to an adhesive character by the application of 
moisture, much as in the case of postage stamps. 
From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present 
invention provides an extremely simple and economical solution to the 
problems enumerated above, respecting the usually troublesome and 
uncontrolled withdrawal of paper from a roll supply thereof. 
It is additionally contemplated that the use of a length of resilient, 
cellular foam or, a suitable equivalent, is easily and readily 
incorporated into presently existing holders serving as a 
reservoir/dispenser of the paper, whether it be in the field of 
housewares, or in office or industrial applications, wherein the storage 
and dispensing of paper from rolls is found extensively. 
Furthermore the simplicity and economy of the present invention ideally 
lends itself to marketing and sales enhancement of either the 
holder/dispenser of the paper roll, or of the paper roll material itself, 
in the form of a package containing one or a plurality of such rolls. 
In either case, lengths, of the resilient cellular foam, or suitable 
equivalent, can be included in the package of the holder or the package 
containing rolls of paper itself, together with printed instructions for 
use of the length of the resilient cellular foam on the facing surfaces of 
the holder arms. The inclusion of the several lengths in a package can, of 
course, be publicized by suitable language or symbols visible to the 
likely purchasers and thereby elicit the interest of the purchaser in 
obtaining a premium for the purchase of either the holder of the roll or 
the rolls of paper. The premium, of course, resides in the inclusion of 
the several lengths of resilient cellular foam, or suitable equivilent, 
together with instructions extolling the economy and control that may be 
achieved by the buyers/consumers purchase of a particular product of a 
particular manufacturer which includes the premium and the instructions 
for securement and use leading to the control provided and the savings to 
be enjoyed by use of the invention. 
It is accordingly clear that the present invention envisions the 
combination of the braking member such as a one or several lengths of 
resilient cellular foam, or suitable equivalent, one or more holders 
(spool type), as a package plus printed instructions for adapting the 
brake member to the holder, and/or the combination of the braking member 
and one or more rolls of paper as a package including printed instructions 
for adapting the brake member to the holder in which the rolls are to b 
carried. 
From all of the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention 
contemplates a number of substitutes, modifications and obvious changes, 
which are all intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the 
appended claims, unless such would o violence to the language of the 
appended claims.