Patent Publication Number: US-7213783-B1

Title: Toilet paper holder removal system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to toilet paper holder removal devices and more particularly pertains to a new toilet paper holder removal device for assisting someone in removing a cylinder from a pair of brackets so that the leverage may more easily be exerted on the cylinder. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of toilet paper holder removal devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,718 describes a device for assisting a person in removing a toilet paper holder from its mounting. Another type of toilet paper holder removal device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,726 having a means for inserting and removing a roll of toilet paper from a toilet paper housing. Still another such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,259,313. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that may be easily retrofitted to existing toilet paper holders to add a person in mounting or removing a toilet paper roll from mounting brackets. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a toilet paper holder configured for holding a toilet paper roll and dispensing toilet paper from the toilet paper roll. The toilet paper holder includes a pair of brackets spaced from each other. The brackets each have a well extending therein. The wells face each other and are axially aligned with each other. A cylinder has a first end and a second end and includes a first portion slidably extendable into a second portion. A distance between the first and second ends may be selectively altered. The first end is biased away from the second end. Each of a pair of nubs is attached to and extends outwardly away from one of the first and second ends. Each of the nubs is removably extended into one of the wells and mounts the cylinder to the brackets. A pair of grips is provided and each is configured to be removably positioned on one of the nubs. The grips may be used to provide leverage when the first end of the cylinder is urged toward the second end of the cylinder. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toilet paper holder removal system and method according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new toilet paper holder removal device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the toilet paper holder removal system and method  10  generally includes a toilet paper holder  12  configured for holding a toilet paper roll  14  and dispensing toilet paper from the toilet paper roll  14 . The toilet paper holder  12  includes a pair of brackets  16 . The brackets  16  are spaced from each other. The brackets  16  each have a well  18  extending therein. The wells  18  face each other and are axially aligned with each other. A cylinder  20  has a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The cylinder  20  includes a first portion  26  slidably extendable into a second portion  28 . A distance between the first  22  and second  24  ends may be selectively altered. The first end  22  is biased away from the second end  24  by a spring  30 . A pair of nubs  32  is provided and each is attached to and extends outwardly away from one of the first  22  and second  24  ends. Each of the nubs  32  is removably extended into one of the wells  18  to mount the cylinder  20  to the brackets  16 . In general, the toilet paper holder  12  is conventional in structure and function. 
   A pair of grips is provided  34 . Each of the grips  34  is configured to be removably positioned on one of the nubs  32  and configured to provide leverage when the first end  22  of the cylinder  20  is urged toward the second end  24  of the cylinder  20 . Each of the grips  34  includes a panel  36  having a first end  38  and a second end  40 . Each of a pair of loops  42  is attached to one of the first ends  38  of the pair grips  34 . The loops  42  each lie in plane of an associated one of the panels  36 . Each of the nubs  32  is extended through one of the loops  42  so that each of the grips  34  is mounted on the cylinder  20 . The panels  36  may be used to urge the first  22  and second  24  ends of the cylinder  20  toward each other when the nubs  32  are is positioned in or removed from the wells  18 . Each of the panels  36  has a length generally between 1 inch and 2 inches. Each of the second ends  40  of the panels  36  flares outwardly and includes a plurality of fingers  44 . 
   In use, the grips  34  are positioned on the cylinder  20  after a roll of toilet paper  14  is placed on the cylinder  20 . The grips  34  allow a person to push the ends of the cylinder  20  inwardly without interference from the brackets so that the nubs  32  may be removed from the brackets  16 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.