Abstract:
A toilet paper dispenser which stores several rolls in a vertical column. The rolls are individually dispensed via a swinging carriage located near the column&#39;s top. A spring-loaded follower urges the stack of rolls upward, so that as each roll is dispensed, the one immediately below takes its place. The dispensing mechanism is designed so that one and only one roll is dispensed for each cycle of the swinging carriage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application claiming the benefit of an application previously filed under 37 C.F.R. §1.53 (c). The previous application had identity of inventorship, was filed on Mar. 26, 2003, and was assigned application Ser. No. 60/457,624.  
     
    
     
       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 storage. More specifically, the invention comprises a vertical toilet paper roll dispenser which feeds a single roll off the top of a vertical stack of rolls.  
           [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0007]    Toilet paper is customarily dispensed from a single roll, with additional rolls being stored in separate locations. This fact causes problems when the roll in use is exhausted. Some prior art devices have addressed this concern by storing multiple rolls near the point of use. However, these devices have generally been impractical and inconvenient to use.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention comprises a toilet paper dispenser which stores several rolls in a vertical column. The rolls are individually dispensed via a swinging carriage located near the column&#39;s top. A spring-loaded follower urges the stack of rolls upward, so that as each roll is dispensed, the one immediately below takes its place. The dispensing mechanism is designed so that one and only one roll is dispensed for each cycle of the swinging carriage.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the roll dispenser.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view with a cutaway, showing the internal details of the roll dispenser.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view with a cutaway, showing the internal details of the roll dispenser.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing the loading of the roll dispenser.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing the carriage.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing the upper portion of the dispenser with the carriage removed.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the operation of the carriage.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing the operation of the carriage.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing the dispensing of a roll.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a perspective view, showing the completion of a dispensing cycle.  
       REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]                                                               10   roll dispenser   12   column           14   lid   16   grip           18   slot   20   tab           22   carriage   24   spindle           26   follower   28   spring           30   loading port   32   roll           34   stop collar   36   pivot pin           38   center tube   40   pin receiver           42   ejector finger   44   finger relief           46   ejector finger relief   48   ejection port                        
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows roll dispenser  10  as it would ordinarily rest on the floor (in a vertical orientation). The device is placed on the floor, typically in a corner or next to a wall of a bathroom. A larger base can be added for extra stability if desired.  
         [0021]    The primary structural element of roll dispenser  10  is column  12 , which is essentially a hollow cylinder. Its lower end is closed, whereas its upper end is open. Lid  14  selectively closes this open end. It can be attached to column  12  by any convenient means, such as threads, snaps, etc. The particular embodiment shown is threaded into place. Grip  16  allows the user to easily grasp and rotate lid  14 .  
         [0022]    The upper portion of column  12  opens into ejection port  48 . This port is selectively opened and closed by carriage  22 , which is pivotally attached to column  12 . Carriage  22  is shown partially open in view.  
         [0023]    Column  12  also has two vertical slots  18 . Only one is visible in FIG. 1. Its counterpart is found in the portion of the column facing away from the viewer. Two tabs  20  ride up and down within the two slots  18 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows the same assembly with a cutaway (the carriage has been rotated into the closed position. Lid  14  has been removed to expose the open upper end of column  12 —designated as loading port  30 . Spindle  24  is located in the center of column  12 &#39;s hollow interior. Follower  26  is urged upward on spindle  24  by the action of spring  28 . When rolls  32  are placed on spindle  24 , follower  26  urges them upward. The reader will observe that tab  20  is actually connected to follower  26  so that it moves with follower  26 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the same assembly with the rolls removed. Both slots  18  are visible, as are both tabs  20 . The top of spindle  24  has stop collar  34 , which arrests the upward travel of follower  26  once it reaches this point. The reader will observe that the aforementioned pivotal connection between carriage  22  and column  12  is made by pivot pin  36 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows the loading of the device. A plurality of rolls  32  is inserted through the open loading port  30  (the lid is removed). Center tube  38  of each roll  32  is slipped over spindle  24 . If the uppermost role is denoted as the “first” roll, and the one immediately below the “second” roll, then the operation of the device can be generally described as follows: Once the lid is replaced, spring  28  will urge the rolls upward, so that the first roll lies at the top of column  12 , under lid  14 . It therefore lies inside carriage  22 . When carriage  22  is rotated outward, this first roll is dispensed. The second roll is then urged upward to take the place of the first roll, whereupon the cycle repeats.  
         [0027]    Additional features are desirable to facilitate a smooth dispensing cycle. These will now be described in detail. FIG. 5 shows carriage  22  in more detail. Pin receiver  40  is provided to receive pivot pin  36 . Two ejector fingers  42  are provided adjacent to pin receiver  40 . Finger relief  44  is provided on the opposite side of carriage  22 . This feature allows the user to more easily grip and open carriage  22 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows the corresponding features defining ejection port  48  (Carriage  22  is shown removed in the view). Pivot pin  36  defines the pivoting joint. Two ejector finger reliefs  46  are provided to receive the two ejector fingers  42  on carriage  22 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows the upper part of the dispenser with carriage  22  rotated partially open. The reader will observe that the lower ejector finger  42  rotates over the top of the “second” roll  32  as carriage  22  swings open. This feature prevents the second roll from rising upward under the influence of spring  28 . The reader will also observe that a finger relief  44  is provided in column  12  to correspond to the finger relief  44  found in carriage  22 . These two reliefs allow the user to easily grasp carriage  22  when it is in the closed position, so that it may be rotated toward the open position.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 shows the actual dispensing cycle (including a cutaway to aid visualization). When the device is loaded, the upper or “first” roll always lies within carriage  22 . When carriage  22  is rotated open, the two ejector fingers  42  push against the back side of the first roll and urge it outward as shown. The user then grasps the first roll and pulls it free for use.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 shows this configuration once the first roll has been pulled free. The reader will observe the position of the lower ejector finger  42 , which now rests over the “second” roll  32  and holds it in place. This fact allows the easy removal of the first roll, since the second roll is not being urged upward against its lower surface, thereby jamming it.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 shows the cycle once carriage  22  is closed. The closing of the carriage places the lower ejector finger  42  back within ejector finger relief  46 , removing the impediment to the upward travel of the second roll. Follower  26  then moves upward and the “second” roll becomes the “first “roll.” The cycle may then be repeated.  
         [0033]    Those skilled in the art will realize that the embodiment shown can store up to six rolls. Those skilled in the art will also realize that taller and shorter versions can be made to store different quantities. Tab  20 —moving in slot  18 —provides a convenient visual indication regarding the number of rolls remaining in the dispenser. As it moves upward, the user knows the number of rolls is diminishing. Text or graphical symbols can be placed on the outside of column  12  near slot  18  to assist the indication function. Column  18  could also be molded from transparent material so that the user could actually see the rolls inside.  
         [0034]    The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example—the dispenser need not be mounted vertically. It could also be mounted horizontally along the wall of a bathroom stall. Follower  26  would then urge the rolls from one side to the other rather than upwards. The device would otherwise function in the same fashion. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.