Abstract:
A self-securing roll holder for easily exchanging rolls of sheet material. The holder comprises a mounting bracket, a mounting stanchion, a support, and a cap. The cap is pivotally connected to the support with a resilient retaining assembly. The cap has dimensions that allow the cap to act as a retainer in one position and, when moved to a second position, allow rolls of sheet material to be mounted and dismounted from the support. The retaining assembly further comprises a piston, a piston guide, a spring, and a pivot pin all of which are located inside the support. The cap is pivotally connected to the retaining assembly thereby maintaining forcible contact with the support and retaining rolls of sheet material on the support in one position until moved to a second position to exchange rolls.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/068,071 filed May 2, 2011. The patent application identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to roll holders for paper products. More particularly, this disclosure relates to spring-loaded toilet paper holders for use in bathrooms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the prior art, various designs and devices are known which dispense rolls of sheet paper material. However, many suffer from the problems of requiring the use of both hands to operate and placing components on dirty surfaces during reloading which can spread disease. One prior art approach is a casing around the rolls of sheet material to hold and dispense the sheet products. A casing type device usually requires the use of many parts and can be difficult to open so as to necessitate the use of both hands. In another typical prior art approach, a removable cap is employed on the end of the spindle to retain rolls of sheet material. Removable cap type devices are oftentimes inconvenient and cumbersome, requiring the use of both hands. The removable cap is easily lost or broken, reducing effectiveness of the device. Furthermore, in both types of prior art devices, parts of the device or the paper roll must be at least temporarily placed on potentially unsanitized surfaces during reloading. 
         [0004]    Other examples exist in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,742 to Peña discloses a magazine holder and dispenser for storing and dispensing rolls of toilet paper. Rolls are dispensed by rotating the spindle in an arcuate path about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the roll. The spindle is operated by a vertical crankshaft which is turned to release and dispense a roll in the magazine. The crankshaft also operates an upper roller located in the magazine to prevent a second stored roll from dispensing. The spindle also allows the second roll to drop into a ready position to be dispensed at a later time. This device requires the use of a separate lug, which is attached to the magazine, to secure a roll of sheet material on the spindle. There is no self-securing mechanism on the spindle itself. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,423 to Bahnsen, discloses a paper dispenser with a casing, a vertical spindle, and a cam mechanism within the spindle. The cam mechanism includes a pair of cam balls that move between a retracted position and an extended position and a lock to secure the cam balls in the extended position. A pair of part-cylindrical arms surrounds the spindle and is hingedly connected to the casing by a toothed collar that inserts over the spindle for attachment to the upper end of the spindle. When the cam balls are in their extended position, the inner walls of the arms for moving them are in a roll-holding position. The lower end of each arm has a flange for holding rolls of tissue paper. This device requires a special key to release the cam balls in order the squeeze the arms together to release a roll of tissue paper. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,856 to Conlon, Jr. discloses a tape reel drive mechanism that incorporates a cam lever, which is rotatably mounted to the end of a bifurcated shaft of the drive member. A tape reel is locked onto the drive shaft when the cam lever is rotated to force a cam ball, which is supported by a spring, between the two shaft segments, thereby forcing the shaft segments to part and expand two O-rings that surround the shaft segments to forcibly contact the reel hub. This device is not designed for securing rolls of paper sheet material as is the art of this disclosure. Further, this device requires the use of a complicated cam ball and O-ring mechanism to secure a reel on the drive shaft. The mechanism may be prone to jamming. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,682 to Dickson discloses a paper holder with a spindle on a bracket. The spindle requires a resilient material frictionally engaging a central cardboard tube of a paper roll. One embodiment discloses a spindle having a slot therethrough extending axially. The resilient material is press-fit into the slot and projects laterally. Dickson requires a cover to enclose the paper roll, or a resilient material to frictionally engage the paper roll in order to secure it. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,555 to Olson, et at., discloses a support reel with a “quick-release” flange. The flange is secured to a hub with two identical quick-release locking mechanisms. Each locking mechanism has a pair of interlocking cylindrical members. A first cylindrical member, located on the hub, telescopically receives a second cylindrical member, which is mounted on the flange. Each cylindrical member supports a spring-biased plunger. Each hub-mounted member has a pair of multi-sectioned detent-receiving slots that receive a pair of locking pins that extend out from each flange-mounted member. The flange is secured to the hub when a screwdriver depresses and turns each flange-mounted member so that the locking pins are seated in the receiving slots. This device is not used in securing rolls of sheet material and requires interlocking members with locking pins. Also, the device requires an extra tool, i.e., a screwdriver to function. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,179 to Smith, et al., discloses a yarn spool retainer utilizing a yarn spool spindle having a spool retainer consisting of an outer sleeve with an inner plunger. The plunger is resiliently attached to the sleeve whereby the retainer can be placed in the spool and the plunger depressed and rotated to allow studs, which extend radially from the barrel into the bore, to engage with the spindle blade “J”-slots. This device requires two separate pieces, one of which can be lost, and must be used in a vertical position. The slots are prone to misalignment and jamming. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,439 to Bizic discloses a housing for a roll of photographic strip material on a spool. The housing consists of two frontal plates with bearing lugs for the rolls and a jacket that are held together with an axial threaded bolt. Multiple toggle positions of a handle, attached to the threaded bolt function to align the film on the spool. This device requires a housing and a threaded bolt to secure a roll on the spindle. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,749 to White discloses a paper roll holder with a removable cap that has pins to secure the roll. White relies on a removable cap, which can be lost, and protruding studs to secure rolls of sheet material. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,500 to Chen discloses a paper roll holder with a two-part casing that has an opening in the bottom to dispense sheet material. The paper roll is secured inside the casing by a rotary knob. In order to change a roll, a special key is inserted into the top of the casing, and the rotary knob is turned. The spindle is released, allowing the hinged casing to be opened. This device creates a difficult process of changing rolls of sheet material and relies on a casing with a rotary knob to secure rolls of sheet material. 
         [0013]    The prior art fails to disclose or suggest a roll holder with a self-securing retainer that allows for easily mounting or removing rolls of sheet material with a sanitary procedure. Therefore, it is desirable to have a roll holder that secures a paper roll while allowing easy dispensing device that is of and is uncomplicated and allows for single-handed operation. It is also desirable to have a paper holder that is of a unitary construction to avoid multiple parts and lost or unsanitary pieces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0014]    Disclosed is a self-securing roll holder with a unitary construction that can be adjusted to both retain rolls of sheet material and allow for an easy, single-handed exchange of rolls of sheet material. 
         [0015]    One preferred embodiment comprises a mounting bracket, a mounting stanchion, a support, and a cap that is pivotally connected to a retaining assembly inside the support. The retaining assembly provides a first position of the cap to retain a roll of sheet material while allowing it to turn freely. A second position of the cap allows the roll to be exchanged. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the retaining assembly includes a piston, a piston guide, and a spring. A pivot pin connects the piston to the cap. The piston guide is secured inside the support. The piston slides through the piston guide. The piston guide maintains the cap in linear alignment while allowing it to be moved between the first position and the second position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like pieces in different drawings carry the same number. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is detail view showing the cap and retaining assembly of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the cap. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of the holder with the cap in a displaced first position ready to be pivotally rotated to a second position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a detail view of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of the cap in an open position to allow mounting and dismounting of a roll of sheet material. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4B  is a detail view of the cap in an open position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5A  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining assembly. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5B  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining assembly. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5C  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining assembly. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5D  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5E  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining assembly. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6A  is a partial section view a preferred embodiment of the cap and the retainer pin pivotally connected with the pivot pin. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6B  is a partial section view of a preferred embodiment of the cap and the retainer pin pivotally connected with the pivot pin. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A through 1C , mounting bracket  100  supports mounting stanchion  200 , support  300 , and cap  400 . Mounting bracket  100  is generally mounted to a flat wall surface  101  with fasteners  205 . Mounting stanchion  200  has a first end  201  and a second end  202 . First end  201  is rigidly attached to mounting bracket  100 . Second end  202  is removably attached to securing collar  204 . Securing collar  204  includes hole  206 . Support  300  is secured to mounting stanchion  200  in hole  206 . Securing collar  204  is adapted to receive a fastener  203  in hole  207 . Fastener  203  is a conventional fastener such as a set screw. Decorative cap  304  is removably fitted to support  300 . The length of mounting stanchion  200  is sufficient so that support  300  is placed at a distance so that a full roll of sheet material  410  when mounted on support  300  can freely rotate about support  300 . Second end  302  includes slot  303 . Support  300  may be oriented in securing collar  204  in “left-hand” and “right-hand” orientations. In the left-hand orientation, the support extends farther to the left of the securing collar. In the right-hand orientation, the support extends farther to the right of the securing collar. Support  300  can also be positioned in securing collar  202  at variable angles about its axis, thereby establishing a change in the rotation plane of cap  400  as will be further described. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , cap  400  is secured in second end  302  by retaining assembly  399 , which is located inside support  300 . Cap  400  comprises facing  401  and facing support  402 . Facing support  402  extends generally perpendicularly from facing  401  having first width  405 , angled reduction  404 , and second width  406 . First width  405  is provided to strengthen the cap to resist fractures at the interface of facing  401  and facing support  402 . Angled reduction  404  provides sufficient clearance to allow rotation of the cap without interference with support  302 . 
         [0035]    First width  405  includes top surface  405 A and bottom surface  405 B. Axis  900  is positioned distance  407  from top surface  405 A and distance  406  from bottom surface  405 B. In a preferred embodiment, distance  407  is greater than distance  406 . Fixture surfaces of cap  401  extend to distance  903  from the outer surface of support  300 . These dimensions are preferred but not critical. 
         [0036]    The retaining assembly comprises a spring  501 , a piston guide  502 , a piston  503 , and a pivot pin  508 . Piston  503  includes flange  504  integrally formed with piston rod  505 . In a preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the piston rod is rectangular to prevent axial rotation of the piston. In other embodiments, square, hexagonal and oval cross sections are employed. As will be recognized, other cross-section shapes that prevent axial rotation will also suffice. Piston guide  502  is rigidly attached to the inside surface of support  300  with a suitable adhesive. A press fit or crimp may also be employed with success. Piston guide  502  includes hole  510 . In a preferred embodiment, the hole is rectangular to receive the piston rod. However, other shapes will suffice which cooperate with the shape of the piston rod to prevent axial rotation of the piston rod. Piston rod  505  is positioned in hole  510  and is sized to allow a sliding motion of the piston rod along its longitudinal axis. The piston guide is provided of sufficient width to constrain the piston rod to axial motion only. Flange  504  has a diameter greater than hole  510 . Spring  501  surrounds piston rod  505  and urges flange  504  away from piston guide  502 . In one preferred embodiment, spring  501  demonstrates a 3 lb/inch spring constant. Spring constants of between about 0.5 lb/inch and 10 lb/inch are preferred. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , facing  401  has first dimension  404  that is less than the diameter of core  411  of the roll of sheet material. Second dimension  403  is greater than the diameter of core  411 . Facing  401  retains a roll of sheet material by the interference of second dimension  403  with the roll. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , directional force  800  of approximately 3 pounds is applied to cap  400 , thus displacing cap  400  from a first position  600  to an intermediate position thereby compressing spring  501 . Force  800  displaces cap  400  by a distance  601 , which is sufficient to allow cap  400  to be rotated about pivot pin  508 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , cap  400  is shown rotated from its intermediate position at angle  700  to its second position at angle  701 . Angle  700  and angle  701  are separated by an angular displacement α. In a preferred embodiment, angular displacement a is about 80° to 100°. Angle α defines a plane of rotation. The plane of rotation may be varied by repositioning the support in the collar. 
         [0040]    In the second position, facing support  402  rests in slot  303 . While at second position, a roll of sheet material  410  can either be mounted or dismounted by sliding it over cap  400  and onto support  300 . 
         [0041]    To return the cap from its second position to its first position, an opposite rotational force is applied to the cap, dislodging the support from slot  303 . Spring  501  urges piston  503  rearwards, thereby rotating the cap into its intermediate position, through interference between the piston guide and the facing support. Once in the intermediate position, the bias provided by spring  501  automatically returns the cap of the intermediate position to the firs position. 
         [0042]    In a preferred method of use, one hand is used to hold the roll of paper, while using one or more fingers of the same hand to move the cap from its first position to its second position. The roll may then be loaded and the same hand may be used to return the cap from the second position to the first position. 
         [0043]    Neither the roll nor any part of the holder need be temporarily placed on a potentially unsanitary surface. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , spring  501  is secured to retainer base  509  with securing bracket  520 . Spring  501  is further secured to flange  504  with a securing bracket  521 . Piston rod  505  slidingly moves through piston guide  502 . Spring  501  applies a biasing force between retainer base  509  and flange  504 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 5B , flange  590  is integrally formed with piston rod  505  in a central position. Spring  501  is secured to flange  590  with securing bracket  595 , and to piston guide  502  with securing bracket  596 . Spring  501  applies a biasing force between piston guide  502  and flange  590 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 5C , resilient retainer  598  is an annular ring which is formed of an elastomeric material, such as neoprene, and is shown positioned around the piston rod between flange  504  and piston guide  502 . Other resilient materials will suffice. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 5D , damper  530  is secured between piston guide  502  and flange  504 . Damper  530  in a preferred embodiment is a fluid-filled piston/cylinder arrangement which slows the movement of the piston rod as induced by spring  501 . In use, the damper prevents the cap from “snapping” into place against the support when rotated from its second position to its first position. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 5E , magnet  597  is secured to flange  504 . Magnet  598  is secured to retainer base  509 . Magnet  597  is secured to flange  504  through adhesive or other means known in the art. Magnet  598  is secured to retainer base  509  through adhesive or other means known in the art. From left to right, magnet  597  is orientated in a north-south position; magnet  598  is orientated in a south-north position. Opposite orientations will suffice. Piston  505  slidingly moves through piston guide  502 . Magnet  597  and magnet  598  apply a bias force between retainer base  509  and flange  504 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 6A , piston  503  includes two extensions  605  forming a notch  607 . Facing support  402  includes extension  609  which is fitted within notch  607 . Extension  605  includes hole  619 . Extension  607  includes hole  621 . When assembled, pin  508  fits through hole  619  and hole  621  to form a pivotal joint between facing support  402  and piston  503 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 6B , piston  503  includes extension  611  and notch  615 . Facing support  402  includes support  613  and notch  617 . Extension  613  includes hole  623 . Extension  611  includes hole  625 . When assembled, pin  508  fits into hole  623  and hole  625 , thereby pivotally joining piston  503  with facing support  402 . 
         [0051]    Mounting bracket  100 , mounting stanchion  200 , support  300 , cap  400 , piston  503 , and retainer base  509  in the preferred embodiment are formed of a light aluminum magnesium oxide. However, other rigid materials can be used such as polyvinyl chloride plastics or suitable durable materials as known in the art. The pivot pin and the helical spring are formed of spring steel. 
         [0052]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to the embodiments disclosed and remain within the inventive concept. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover changes within the scope and spirit of the claims.