Abstract:
A toilet paper dispenser adapted for use on bathroom walls, that entails a hollow box like configuration, sized to house a vertical column of a plurality of horizontal regular to large sized toilet rolls. A spring bias lever, shaped liked the number 3, will incorporate itself in storage chamber and on exterior front plate. Interior chamber appendage arms will store rolls. Exterior section of lever will pivot off its center point facilitating a shift of position of interior appendage arms, blocking stored rolls, while releasing loaded roll; then will inverse its function to release stored roll into blocked loaded position, which returns lever back to a checking of the two most bottom rolls. Rolls are delivered one at a time to a base designed to rotate toilet roll. A set of three rollers, confined by units side and back plates, will contain and facilitate rotation of toilet roll.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Provisional Patent Application No. 60/191,595 was filed by above named Inventor Perry A Seltzer on Mar. 27, 2000 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Federally sponsored research and development was not used in this invention.  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    The present invention relates generally to an improved device for dispensing and storing rolled materials particularly rolled toilet paper.  
           [0006]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0007]    As most users of the familiar one-roll toilet paper holder installed in homes have encountered at one point or another, the primary problem with this device is that it does not provide for the storage or easy replacement of additional rolls of toilet paper. Upon depletion of the installed roll, a new roll must be located and installed. A previous user of the toilet may have left only a small amount of paper remaining on the roll. Unless an extra roll is stored nearby, a subsequent user may be left without a sufficient supply of toilet paper. In many cases, the storage of an extra roll of paper near the toilet is aesthetically unappealing. Moreover, many visually or physically challenged individuals lack the requisite dexterity and other motor or visual skills required to remove and install a roll of toilet paper on the familiar holder.  
           [0008]    Several inventors have recognized the first problem with toilet paper dispensers and have provided a toilet paper dispenser that stores extra rolls of toilet paper. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,534,290 (Moskowitz) and U.S Pat. No. 4,177,958 (Poole). The patents to Moskowitz and Poole disclose inventions stacking multiple rolls of toilet paper vertically within a housing. However, these devices offer no simple or easy to use mechanism for installing rolls of toilet paper or for moving a stored roll into an optimal position for being used following the exhaustion of paper from a previous roll. Neither of these devices are particularly useful or helpful, especially for physically or visually challenged individuals.  
           [0009]    Some inventors have attempted to provide an aesthetically desirable multi-rolled residential toilet paper that also offers a relatively simple mechanism for installing the rolls of paper and for moving a stored roll into an optimal position for being used following the exhaustion of paper from a previous roll. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,951 (Carroll) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,809 (Sineni et al). However, these devices are not particularly easy to fill with toilet paper or use, especially for physically and visually challenged individuals.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,951 (Carroll) discloses a columnar toilet paper dispenser and container secured to a wall. The toilet paper is secured on a dowel which extends longitudinally within the dispenser with gravity urging the paper downward. An open area at the lower end of the dispenser permits the roll of paper positioned at the bottom of the container to be used. An opening at the top of the container permits additional rolls to be added to the dowel. A pivotally adjusted U-shaped bail extends across the opening at the lower end of the dispenser such that it may block the stored rolls of toilet paper from falling into the open area at the bottom of the container until they are needed for use. Upon completion of the roll of paper at the bottom of the dispenser, the user must tear the cardboard roll off the dowel and swing the bail outward to permit another roll to fall into place. The user must then lift the rolls of paper remaining on the dowel above the area occupied by the bail, and return the new roll of paper positioned to be used. As with traditional one-roll toilet paper holders, such activities are particularly difficult for physically or visually challenged individuals.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,809 (Sineni) discloses a cylinder made deformable material. The cylinder can hold multiple rolls of toilet paper which can be elevated to the top of the cylinder by means of a rod running across the interior of the cylinder. The rod is locked into place by twisting it, the height of the rod as viewed in cross section is greater than the width of the groove provided in the cylinder, such that twisting the rod deforms the cylinder and wedges the rod in place. Indicator marks positioned on the exterior surface of the cylinder provide a visual reference as to when the rod is properly positioned to permit the top roll to be accessed easily. All the rolls are concealed from view by a cover. Apparently, Sineni offers only a means for storing toilet paper when not in use, it does not describe any means for dispensing individual sheets of toilet paper from the rolls themselves. Moreover the wedging of the rod within the deformable slot may be particularly difficult for individuals who are physically or visually challenged to perform easily or consistently.  
           [0012]    Accordingly, despite these attempts, there remains a need for an aesthetically pleasing toilet paper holder that is capable of storing multiple rolls of toilet paper while still permitting easy and unrestricted dispensing of individual tissues from a roll of toilet paper, easy removal of the cardboard cylindrical spool upon exhaustion of that roll, easy placement of the exhausted roll with one that is stored in the holder, and easy filling of the holder with rolls of toilet paper  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The subject invention overcomes the above described shortcomings in known conventional toilet roll dispensers by providing an integrally molded storage and dispensing unit this is simple to use and economical to manufacture. Provides easy installation by way of mounting it to bathroom wall. This device has a trigger mechanism that delivers stored rolls one at a time from storage chamber into receiving tray located at bottom of machine. This tray negates the need for a conventional type spool, and problems associated with a spool.  
           [0014]    By confinement and compartmentalizing of tray sidewalls, backplate and three rolling pin set, this tray acts as a substitute for a spool. This in turn provides for quick and easy access for adjustment of full or depleted roll. Also this solves the problem associated with the need to install roll from storage onto spool, as the tray accepts roll immediately for use. The tray side walls will be spaced apart to receive a toilet roll there-between. This space kept to a minimum will keep roll from twisting out of tray. Back of tray will from a line that follows the side and bottom ⅓ profile of a full size toilet roll, this will connect to backplate forming a space that will keep roll forward in place, in lower set of rollers. The arrangement of tray rollers will be broken up into thirds. The apex of front facing rolling pin/brake bar will be ⅓ of the height of a resting horizontal toilet paper roll. This bar will sit out in front of roll so as not to impede it. Bottom front rolling pin will sit down and away from facing rolling pin/brake bar, no more than the diameter or radius of a inner core of toilet paper. Back rolling pin will also sit behind front rolling pin, less than the width of a inner core. The standard industrial average diameter of toilet paper roll, from the outside edge of the inner core to its opposed outermost layer of tissue, is generally no larger than 1 ⅜ of an inch. The average width of a inner core of toilet paper is 1 ¾ of an inch. By keeping the distance between each rolling pin less than the width a cardboard spool apart, the depleted roll can not get stuck between components. Because the width in-between each rolling pin is not more than the width of a cardboard spool, the combination of these distances allows the front facing rolling pin/brake bar to sit directly in front of large size toilet paper roll without adjustment of components. A shield can be placed above this bar to further contain roll into tray, one that can move in and out of positions. The performance of roll as it gets smaller and moves in size away from bar/brake does not diminish. As roll can only go so far in its forward movement before having to return back into tray. Also forward movement is diminished somewhat as roll takes on a lower profile and spins more easier. Forward movement should only occur when user employs the brake to tear off tissue from roll. This action returns roll back into tray. Roll will stop performing and come out of tray when roll is depleted. A roll that falls with its leading edge of tissue over the top FIG. 7 will utilize the front facing rolling pin/brake bar and front bottom rolling pin to rotate on. The roll rocks back into tray when released. A roll that has its leading edge of tissue coming out from underneath will rotate on bottom two rolling pins FIG. 8. The roll rocks forward only when employing front upper brake/bar to tear off individual tissue. This action returns roll back into tray, tissue paper is threaded for use between brake bar and front lower rolling pin. On the vertical center line of storage face plate, an exterior lever with two arms, enters interior chamber of storage unit and will be used to check the two most bottom rolls in the storage unit chamber. The lower interior arm of lever wedges loaded roll against back plate through a springs bias between lower arms end point and the interior back of front plate. Upper arm of lever enters unit above loaded roll and below storage roll. This upper interior arm impedes upper stored roll from entering loading position until needed. Upper arm exterior housing point will contain a spring for compression forces only. A depressing of upper lever trigger point will further trap storage roll against interior back plate. This will recede lower interior arm through a pivot or shifting action formed off its exterior lever center point. This action pulls lower arm of lever into the back of interior front plate, releasing loaded roll. The basis for unit to accept different diameters in toilet rolls will be allowed by the ability of upper arm of lever to exit chamber of storage unit in increments. Depending on the diameter of roll, this feature, by a lifting action off of exterior center point, will cause upper arm to kick back out of chamber enough to allow stored roll passage thru to a loading position. Stored roll will only be released into loading position when pressure from previously loaded roll is released. This snaps mechanism back into its preloading stage which causes upper arm of lever to release stored roll. Weight of stored roll will assist the exit of upper arm out of chamber. Roll will push its way thru to its final loaded position. The rate of drop of roll combined with its weight will wedge loaded roll between back plate and arm lower end point. This will shift lever back into a blocking position of stored rolls, resetting mechanism for new release. This blocking and resetting of roll is important because the full weight of stored roll should not sit on triggers lower mechanism. The trigger works in a symbolic relationship with the back plate. The end point of lower interior arm lever holds some flexibility for different sizes in the diameter of the roll it can hold. A sizing mechanism, that can be moved in and out of position to accommodate a regular or large roll, can be placed on back plate below and behind lower loaded roll.  
           [0015]    An industrial size model made of stainless steel that could hold up to 8 rolls would have different interior dimension requirements than a more compact unitary model made of plastic that could hold three rolls. And that should in no way take away from the spirit or intent and scope of this invention. Since the trigger mechanism works with the inner dimension of the storage unit. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0016]    FIGS.  1 A- 4  Trigger main points, front and side view of complete unit, and front plate measurements.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows lever in its storing mode and side measurements.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 shows lever blocking stored rolls and releasing loaded roll and side measurements.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 shows lever releasing stored roll into a loaded position, which then resets lever back into a checking of the two most bottom rolls in storage chamber.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 shows toilet roll utilizing front upper roller and lower front roller to rotate a roll with it leading edge of tissue coming out from over the top.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 shows toilet roll utilizing its two lower set of rollers to rotate a roll with its leading edge of tissue coming out from underneath.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 shows roll being stepped down thru storage chamber.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 shows flexible prongs that will substitute for receiving tray.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 shows lever depressed and lever in its quiescent state along with measurements. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Description of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0026]    Referring initially to FIG. 1 the subject dispenser  11  should be made of conventional plastic in an unitarily molded plastic body. Formed by conventional molding techniques such as injection molding. This unit could also be made in the form of metal such as stainless steel.  
         [0027]    To facilitate the trigger mechanism  25 , sizing mechanism  28 , and tray rolling pin set  12  a metal/plastic combination should be used and formed so as to allow components to be fixed or snap into place.  
         [0028]    The dispenser  11  requires some assembly, but parts are few and simple to install. Thus making unit economical to manufacture and sale at a relatively low price.  
         [0029]    The toilet paper roll dispenser and storage device  11  includes a hollow box like chamber. Defined by four walls: front plate  13 , two sides plate  14 ,  15 , and back plate  30 . A top plate  31  will form lid for receiving toilet roll for storage. Bottom plate  12  will form receiving rolling pin tray for individually dispensing of tissue from roll.  
         [0030]    A lever with two arms shaped like a number 3, will form the base for the trigger. Length of lower interior arm  21  will enter machine at a 10 to 15 degree angle. In its quiescent state FIG. 4 this length will be enough to check loaded roll against back plate. A depression of upper arm outer radius  25  trigger point, forward into interior chamber, will shift lower interior arm away from loaded roll enough to drop roll into receiving tray. A further trapping of already checked upper stored rolls will occur when trigger is depressed. Upper arm  22  enters unit above loaded roll and follows a line that forms the curve of the stored roll bottom  113  profile. The length of interior upper arm  20  depth will depend upon the stage of mode arm is in. Pressure from loaded roll on lower interior arm will shift lever upper interior arm into a blocking of upper store roll. Two vertically opposed open housing points  22 ,  23  will house and contain lower  21  and upper  20  arms of lever frame work. The length of exterior lever will invert itself from its opposed outside radius or angles on center, to form a line or angle that creates a pivot or shifting action between its two opposed end points. The length of interior lower arm  21  on lever will house a spring  24  along its axis. This spring  24  will be bias between end point of lower arm  21  and interior back of front plate  13 . The spring will assist free movement of arms  20 ,  21  thru its open housing points  22 ,  23  on front plate  13 . This spring will also return lever arms into a checking of storage units two bottom most rolls, when trigger is in its storing mode.  
         [0031]    The profile of the lever is incorporated vertically centered on front plate  13 . Lever arms enter front plate at two points  22 ,  23 . Arms end inside chamber at two points  20 ,  21 . End point of arms are used to check the two most bottom roll. Trigger point  25  of upper lever is pressed forward releasing and blocking rolls at same time. This is accomplished by a bias of lower interior arm  24  and a pivot action off of center exterior lever  26 .  
         [0032]    The upper arm quiescent state will leave enough space between its end point and interior backplate to let a regular size toilet roll pass thru. Entry way  22  for upper arm of lever will contain a small spring for compression forces only. This spring will only contain forces applied forward, while still freely allowing upper arm  20  to exit exterior of unit front plate  13 . Exterior lever center will have enclosed tract on face plate that will allow upper arm to lift off and out of exterior face plate enough to accommodate different sizes in rolls. Housing entrance points for lever arms will be an open circular elongated enclosure that will accommodate a bilateral direction of lower exterior arm. Upper entrance point will be spaced so as to be able to allow proper exiting of arm. A sizing mechanism  28  place on back plate  30  located behind and below loaded roll will have two levels. One level will be for regular rolls and a second level will be for larger rolls. This sizing mechanism  28  will be moved in and out of position according to its needs. The basis that lower interior arm  21  can accept different sizes in the diameter of the roll it holds will accommodate the function of sizing mechanism. This sizing button  28  will also act as a bumper to slow the rolls rate of fall against back plate  13  as it comes to rest against lower interior arm  21 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 shows roll pattern in a blocking position. Pressure from loaded roll exerts itself on lever lower arm causing lower arm  21  to shift forward, this moves upper arm  20  into a blocking position. When releasing loaded roll FIG. 5, stored roll is further trapped against back plate  30 . Release of trigger  25  FIG. 6 assisted by snapping back of lower interior arm  21  combined with weight of stored roll pushing upper interior arm  20  back and out of exterior of front plate  13 , will assist passage of stored roll into loading position  21 . The newly loaded roll weight and rate of drop will cause lever to again return to a shifting of upper interior arm back into a blocking position FIG. 4, settling mechanism for new release. FIG. 9 rolls should be stepped down thru upper chamber so as to allow proper timing as they enter trigger mechanism. These steps will also redirect some of the weight or pressure from rolls to storage front and back plate.  
         [0034]    The storage unit  11  may be built to any desired height. But as a practical matter a height of 11 inches or so above lowest position of trigger mechanism  25  is enough to store three rolls in the chamber. The two side walls  14 , 15  of storage unit and tray will be spaced apart to receive a toilet roll in its horizontal position there between. The space kept to a minimum will keep roll from twisting out of tray. Front plate  13  and back plate  30  opposed surfaces will be spaced apart enough to accommodate lever interior arms  20 ,  21  and the width of a horizontal toilet roll. This would essentially make the storage unit a square chamber. Lower receiving tray, three pin rolling set  12  will sit down at least 5 inches away from bottom of storage unit  11 . This keeps roll in use away from stored rolls and allows for adjustment of roll in use. The receiving tray apparatus will house its three pin rolling set between its two opposed side plates  14 ,  15  at the lowest most point of storage unit. The distances between each rolling pin will be equally spaced. Exempt from this is the middle spacing between lower set of roller, which will retain the spacing of the width of an inner core of toilet paper. The diameter of each roller will be approximately ⅜ to ½ of a inch, depending on the need or size of unit to be used. Lower back plate  30  will form a line that follows the ⅓ profile of the back of lower loaded toilet roll. This curving back plate  30  will come to rest close to the rear most lower rolling pin  19 . This feature keeps roll forward in its tray. Lower forward rolling pin  18  will take on a oval shape. It will also contain a spike or point  16  in its center. The oval shape of this roller will create a lopsided movement of roll as it spins. This keeps roll from getting stuck between its upper facing rolling pin  17  and lower forward rolling pin  18 . The center tracking spike  16  will pull paper along and act like a grip. In essence this feature brings roll out of its forward movement every half rotation. This is especially needed for a roll that falls with its leading edge of tissue over the top FIG. 7. The softer the roll is, the more inclined it is when being pulled forward, for it to get stuck between its upper facing rolling pin  17 , and lower front rolling pin  18 . Center spike  16  on lower front rolling pin  18  keeps softer rolls tracking properly. Facing upper rolling pin/brake  17  will sit up and away from lower front rolling pin not more than the radius of a inner cardboard spool of toilet paper. This will contain roll when it is at its smallest from coming out of tray.  
         [0035]    In relationship to trigger mechanism being bias on its lower arm. A bias between either upper arm, or central point of exterior lever would impart a same blocking and release function. Although this would complicate mechanism and severely limit the units ability to accept different sizes in a toilet paper roll. Sometime rolls just out of the package are not completely round. The trigger mechanism and back plate shapes the roll into its necessary form needed for release. Also trigger mechanism has ability to accept different sizes of toilet roll. To stabilize the toilet roll as it transits thru trigger mechanism, a flatten or flange type approach to the end points of lever arms  20 ,  21  will be incorporated. To what extent upper arm  20  of lever should exit its length of its arm from within the chamber, to a point preestablished on exterior front plate, this configuration would determine the basis of units ability to accept a different set of diameter in rolls. At the same time the lower bias arm would return this different by its ability to release and block different sizes in a toilet roll. The weight and size of toilet roll will effect and cause lever to react in relationship that accepts the nature of different sizes in a toilet roll. Shifting its mechanism into a position, comparable in its needs to perform its function. Finding its proper setting which is conducive to roll that is being blocked or released.  
         [0036]    A base plate to connect unit to proper wall site could be established by ridges that correspond to inlet in either base plate or unit. Preinstalling base plate to wall site unit will then slide over top edge of base plate ridges or inlets, pinning unit to base plate.  
         [0037]    A viewing screen located on front or side plate would assist gauging of storage capacity. A decreasing of space between tray and storage chamber would trap roll and assist in theft prevention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 a flexible prong or device that penned toilet paper roll between its two opposed side plates, so as to allow rotation of toilet paper roll for its individual dispensing of its tissues. Could be used as an alternative for the rolling pin set.  
         [0039]    In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the invention can be applied, it should be apparent that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the claimed invention includes all such modifications as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereto.  
         [0040]    While the above describes the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the invention is not intended to be so limited. Other embodiment, that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and which utilize the teachings herein set forth, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention.