Abstract:
A paper roller having at least two pleated portions separated by a cylindrical portion. Each pleated portion comprises an accordion-shaped structure to facilitate installation of the roller in a bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to supports for carrying rolls of sheet material, and more particularly, a paper roll support for carrying rolls of toilet paper or the like. 
     2. Related Art 
     Typically, a paper roller, or support, includes two tubular halves, wherein one half telescopically slides inside the other half. A compression spring within the two halves permits the support to be compressed when being removed or inserted into a toilet paper holder. Thus, conventional paper rollers typically have a minimum of three separate parts including the two telescoping tubular end pieces and the spring in the middle biasing the end pieces apart. 
     Other paper rollers are constructed to be part of the toilet paper holder itself and cannot be removed. Therefore, these paper rollers are generally not compatible with conventional paper roll holders in widespread use today. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an improved paper roller, which obviates for practical purposes, the above mentioned limitations of traditional paper rollers. 
     A paper roller according to a preferred embodiment includes, generally, a single, flexible tubular member independent of the paper roll holder. Since the paper roller is manufactured as a single part, no assembly of parts is required. Furthermore, the paper roller of the invention is compatible with existing conventional paper roll holders. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wall of the tubular member has at least one pleated portion adjacent an end of the tubular member. The pleated portion comprises an accordion-shaped structure which acts as a spring to facilitate insertion of the roller into and removal of the roller from the paper roll holder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the various features of embodiments of the invention and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a paper roller in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 1 shown with a portion broken away; 
     FIG. 3(a) and 3(b) are close-up views of the support of FIG. 1, interacting with a toilet paper bracket of a toilet paper holder; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a pair of associated toilet paper brackets of a toilet paper holder; and 
     FIG. 5 is an end interior view of a toilet paper bracket of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a toilet paper roller or support. However, it should be recognized that roller of the invention can be used to support other rolls of continuous sheet material such as paper towels. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a toilet paper roller 30 employed for supporting a conventional roll of toilet paper 20. The toilet paper roller 30, is a tubular structure and, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall of the roller 30 has two accordion-like pleated portions 11 comprised of a series of conically-shaped structures or individual pleats 15 that serve as spring coils. Furthermore, the toilet paper roller 30 has, at each end, a projection 14 shaped to conform to and adapted to be received by an associated bracket cavity 22 of a toilet paper holder or dispenser. The flexibility of pleated portion 11 allows the end supports 14 to be inserted or removed from the associated bracket cavity 22. FIG. 3(b) best illustrates the flexibility of pleated portion 11. Additionally, once the toilet paper roller is inserted into the conventional toilet paper brackets 21 as shown in FIG. 3(a), the pleated portion 11 biases the end projections 14 toward the bracket cavity 22 of the conventional toilet paper bracket 21, to keep the toilet paper roller 30 in place. 
     Furthermore, a non-pleated connector segment 13 connects each pleated portion 11 with one of the end projections 14, and a central, non-pleated connector segment 12 connects both pleated portions 11. The length of the connector segments 13 should be long enough for the roll of toilet paper 20 to rest partially on the connector segment 13 at each side of the paper roller 30. The length of connector segment 12 is determined by the distance between a pair of the toilet paper brackets 21 and the number of pleats 15 in the pleated portion 11. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each pleated portion has four pleats but a range of two (2) to six (6) pleats is also useful. 
     One advantage of the toilet paper roller 30 is that the toilet paper roll 30 can be manufactured as a single piece. No assembly is required. Unlike conventional toilet paper rollers, the toilet paper roll 30 does not require assembly of three components which can become separated. Additionally, fewer parts can reduce manufacturing costs. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the toilet paper roller 30 is molded from a relatively thin, flexible, sheet material of polyethylene or polypropylene which is abrasion resistant, water resistant, and chemically stable. The thickness of the walls of the roller may vary depending upon the application, but a thickness range of 1-30 mm is preferred. Thus, the toilet paper roller 30 is preferably hollow making it lightweight, floatable and easy to compress. The roller 30 may be molded in two halves which are then joined to form a single integral piece. The end projection 14 may be closed or alternatively may define an aperture if access to the interior of the roller is desired. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.