Patent Publication Number: US-6216920-B1

Title: Combined spray bottle and paper towel holder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     Provisional Application Serial No. 60/115,098, filed Jan. 7, 1999, currently pending. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a combined spray bottle and paper towel holder that is useful in all fields where liquid is to be sprayed and then wiped off with a paper towel. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Combined spray bottles and paper towel holders are conventional. The advantages of combining a spray bottle and a paper towel include having two items as a single unit. Whenever the cleaning fluid is sprayed, paper towels are needed to mop up the liquid. An advantage of combining a spray bottle with a paper towel as a single unit is that one hand can be used to hold both the paper towels and the spray bottle, thus freeing the other hand to wipe up the spray with a towel removed or torn from the towel holder. Designs for a combined spray bottle and paper towel holder are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 307,843 and 363,214. The present inventor has also received a design patent for such a device, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 406,976. 
     What is needed is a combined spray bottle and paper towel holder that permits a user to tear paper towels from a paper towel roll, is easy to assemble and repair, and prevents the paper towel roll from becoming frayed and/or wet before the towels are torn from the roll. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel combined spray bottle and paper towel holder including a tensioner that permits paper towels to be torn from the paper towel roll, as well as a flange, situated between the shaft and the base, which prevents the bottom edge of the paper towel roll from contacting the base when the combined device is fully assembled. The tensioner of the novel combined spray bottle and paper towel holder is releasably attached to the elongated shaft of the device, thereby providing for both easy assembly of the device and repair of the tensioner, when necessary. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention comprises a hollow body having an elongated shaft, a threaded screw-top, a grip, a base attached to an end of the elongated shaft, a flange and first and second attachment locations; and a tensioner. 
     Preferably, the elongated shaft is a tube whose outer diameter is smaller than the diameter of a cardboard support tube inside a roll of paper towels, and whose length exceeds that of the support tube of the type used on the inside of a roll of paper towels. The elongated shaft is able to be inserted into the support tube of a roll of paper towels. Further, the elongated shaft is able to act as a reservoir for the liquid to be sprayed. 
     A portion of the spray bottle between the elongated shaft and the end of the spray-bottle farthest from the base includes a grip to assist a user in holding the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder even when it includes a full reservoir of fluid and a complete roll of paper towels. The end of the spray bottle farthest from the base includes a threaded screw-top. 
     The diameter of the base is larger than that of the elongated shaft. Further, the base of the spray bottle is hollow and also acts as a reservoir. The support tube inside the roll of paper towels rests on an annular flange. The paper towel roll rotates relative to the flange as sheets of towel are pulled from the roll. The flange supports the paper towel roll and separates it from the base. The flange prevents the edge of the paper towel roll nearest the base from becoming frayed and/or wet as it rotates. 
     A tensioner is provided to keep the paper towels from unfolding from the roll. The tensioner also presses against the roll of paper towels and creates a shearing effect when a towel is torn from the roll. 
     An elastic band or strap applies pressure against the outer edge of the paper towel roll. The sheath encircling the strap may roll, allowing the paper towel roll to be pulled. When a sheet of towel is pulled hard, the paper towel tears along its perforation at a point between the tensioner and the free end of the paper towel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention with a paper towel roll and sheet shove in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention with the trigger assembly in phantom. 
     FIG. 3 is a grip-side view of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a tensioner-side view of the first preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention, viewed from the side opposite that in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention with a paper towel roll and sheet shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of using heated pliers to heat a metal ring to melt plastic to form opposing hooks. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of using heated pliers to heat the opposing plastic hooks to close the opening between them so as to form a closed loop around the metal ring. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to FIGS. 1,  3  and  9 , first and second preferred embodiments of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder  10  comprise a hollow body having an elongated shaft  11 , a base portion  13  at one end of the body and connected to the elongated shaft  11 , a threaded screw-top portion  14  at the end of the hollow body farthest from the base  13 , and a hand grip portion  12  located on the body between the threaded screw-top portion  14  and an edge of a roll of paper towels  17  farthest from the base  13  after the roll  17  is inserted over the shaft  11 . An annular flange  15  is located between the shaft  11  and the base  13 , and a tensioner  16  runs parallel to the shaft  11  and is attached to spray bottle  10  at a location between the grip portion  12  and the edge of the roll of paper towels  17  farthest from the base  13 , and also at a location between the edge of the roll of paper towels  17  nearest the base  13  and a bottom  20  of the base. 
     In both the first and second preferred embodiments, the tensioner  16  is releasably attached to the spray bottle  10  at a first attachment location, comprising a hook  26  and located on the spray bottle  10  at a location between shaft  11  and hand grip portion  12 . Attachment is effected by placing ring  29 , through which extends an elastic band  28 , in contact with hook  26 , such that ring  29  is held by hook  26 . Hook  26  is configured to be non-protruding relative to the outside of the shaft  11 , thereby preventing an edge of the roll of paper towels  17  farthest from the base  13  from becoming frayed or otherwise damaged. 
     Non-protruding hook  26  extends outwardly from a recess in elongated shaft  11  to a length so that a combined distance of the depth of said recess and a diameter of a portion of elongated shaft  11  situated at the same elevation as recess is at most the same as the outer diameter of elongated shaft  11 . Non-protruding hook  26  located farthest from a vertical axis of shaft  11  is located at a distance from the vertical axis that is at most the same as the distance of the outer edge of shaft  11  from said vertical axis. 
     The elongated shaft  11  is a tube. The diameter of the shaft  11  is smaller than the inside diameter of a cardboard support tube inside a roll of paper towels  17 . The elongated shaft  11  has a height/length greater than the height of a roll of paper towels  17  so that when shaft  11  is inserted through the cardboard support tube, shaft  11  extends beyond the edge of paper towel roll  17  farthest from base  13  when the roll  17  rests on flange  15 . 
     Preferably, grip  12  has three indentations for the fingers. Preferably, the indentations are sized for adult fingers. 
     Located at the end of the hollow body of spray bottle  10  farthest from base  13 , is a screw-top  14  that is threaded to receive a sprayer assembly  18  which screws onto threaded screw-top  14 . The spray assembly  18  includes a trigger  19 . 
     The diameter of flange  15  is greater than that of shaft  11 , and also is greater than the inside diameter of a cardboard support tube inside a roll of paper towels  17 . Paper towel roll  17  is placed over shaft  11  such that, in its assembled position, paper towel roll  17  rests on flange  15  and does not contact base  13 . 
     Base  13  has a diameter that is larger than that of shaft  11 , and has a generally flat bottom  20 . Preferably, base  13  is cylindrical, and its cylindrical walls include a circular indentation  21  which strengthens the side walls of base  13 . The top  23  of base  13  is slanted such that the center portion  22  of the top  23  of base  13  is higher than the outer circumferential edge  24 . Base  13  also includes a pair of opposed support ridges  31  and  32  on the top  23  of base  13 . 
     Turning to FIG.  1 . in a first preferred embodiment spray bottle  10  also includes an eye  25  comprising a second attachment location for the tensioner  16 . The second attachment location is located on spray bottle  10  at a location between the edge of the roll of paper towels  17  nearest the base  13  and the bottom  20  of the base. 
     In the first preferred embodiment, tensioner  16  is comprised of an elastic band  28 , a clasp  30 , a sheath  27 , and a ring  29 . Tensioner  16  provides tension on the paper towel roll  17  to prevent unwanted and/or uncontrolled unrolling of the paper towels and to facilitate tearing of a sheet from the paper towel roll  17 . In this embodiment, tensioner  16  attaches non-releasably to the second attachment location of spray bottle  10  via eye  25 . An end of elastic band  28  runs through eye  25 , inside of sheath  27 , and through a ring  29 . The ends of elastic band  28  are then either tied or are bound with a clasp  30 , with the tied or bound ends of elastic band  28  thereafter located within sheath  27  for aesthetic purposes. Ring  29  is larger in diameter than sheath  27  so that ring  29  does not pull through sheath  27  under the tension of the elastic band  28 . Ring  29  releasably attaches to spray bottle  10  at the first attachment location, via hook  26 , such that a used paper towel roll can be removed and a new one inserted. 
     Turning to FIG. 9, in a second preferred embodiment the second attachment location comprises a second hook  33 , rather than an eye  25 . In this embodiment, tensioner  16  includes a second ring  29 . In this embodiment, elastic band  28  runs through second ring  29 , inside of sheath  27 , and through first ring  29 . The ends of elastic band  28  are then either tied or are bound with a clasp  30 , with the tied or bound ends of elastic band  28  thereafter located within sheath  27  for aesthetic purposes. The clasp prevents the elastic band  28 , when bound via the clasp from losing tension, and also prevents the ends of the elastic band  28  from otherwise becoming separated. The clasp provides the additional advantage that a damaged elastic band can be replaced with relative ease. 
     When assembled, tensioner  16  exhibits a length of band  28  supporting a ring  29  protruding from either end of sheath  27 . In this embodiment, tensioner  16  is releasably attached to spray bottle  10  at both the first and second attachment locations, via hooks  26  and  33  respectively. 
     In both a first and second preferred embodiment, sheath  27  is a tube. The length of sheath  27  is approximately the same as that of paper towel roll  17 . Sheath  27  is preferably cylindrical in shape. Elastic band  28  is lengthed to exert sufficient pressure or tension on the paper towel roll  17  to permit the tearing of individual rolls therefrom. 
     In both embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 9, shaft  11  and base  13  are connected to form a contiguous volume for containing liquids. Also, the hollow body of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder  10  of the present invention, including shaft  11 , hand grip portion  12 , base portion  13 , and threaded screw-top  14  is formed as a single piece of plastic. The flange  15 , eye  25  (or hook  33 ), hook  26  and support ridges  31  and  32  also are part of this single piece of plastic. 
     The hollow body of the combined spray bottle and paper towel holder of the present invention, along with flange  15 , eye  25  (or hook  33 ), hook  26  and support ridges  31  and  32  may be formed from conventional materials, including but not limited to plastics, according to conventional methods. Likewise, the sheath  27  and ring(s)  29  may be formed from conventional materials, according to conventional methods. Elastic band  28  may be any elastic band of sufficient length and tension. 
     Spray assembly  18  may be any conventional threaded spray assembly which is designed for dispensing liquids, either in a mist or spray, such as a squirt pump head. Spray assembly  18  includes, in addition to trigger  19 , a further tube inserted into the tube of shaft  11 , and through which the liquid to be dispensed is drawn from shaft  11  and/or base  13  to spray assembly  18 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 10 and 11, conventional heated pliers  40  are used to heat an eye wall  42  of the eye  25  (FIG. 1) of the flange  15  to form a hairline sever  44 . The opposed faces of the eye wall  42  at sever  44  touch each other. The conventional heated pliers  40  are exemplified by those used by South Florida Plastics of Opa-loca, Fla. in the manufacture of the present invention. 
     Once the sever  44  is formed, the pliers  40  are pulled away from the sever in the direction of the smaller arrow  48  in FIG. 10. A metal ring  46  is then moved in the direction of the larger arrow  50  in FIG.  10  and inserted through the gap  44 . This metal ring  46  is preferably a double looped ring of the type commonly found on key chains. 
     Turning to FIG. 11, one or more elastic bands  28  extend through the sheath  27  so that a respective opposite end of the elastic band(s) protrude(s) out of an associated open end of the sheath  27 . If two bands are used, for instance, a clasp  30  secures them to each other within the sheath. The clasp  30  (FIG. 9) may have an S shape so as to constitute two oppositely facing hooks each grasping one of the elastic bands  28 . 
     An end of the elastic band  28  that protrudes out of the sheath  27  is then easily slipped through the double loop of the metal ring  46  to secure itself under tension to the metal ring  46 . Likewise, the other protruding end of the elastic band(s)  28  is secured to an identical metal ring, which in turn is secured to the hook fastener that is above the shaft  11 . 
     The metal ring  46  is passed through the hairline sever  44  to fit within the eye as shown in FIG.  11 . Once in position, it will not slip out inadvertently through the hairline sever  44  because the opposing faces of the eye wall  42  resiliently return to a position of touching each other after the ring has passed through. Preferably, the metal ring  46  is arranged to project in a manner that does not interfere with the placement of the roll of paper towels  17  about the shaft  11 . If desired, the hook fastener may be replaced by a severed eye structure identical to that in flange  15  that has the eye wall  42  and sever  44 . 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.