Patent Publication Number: US-2005116082-A1

Title: Toilet roll holders

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the invention  
      This invention relates to toilet roll holders. In particular, it relates to a toilet roll holder that resists the tendency for paper to run from the roll in a free and uncontrolled manner.  
      Toilet rolls, when mounted in a roll holder, depend on friction between a bar of the roll holder and the core within the roll itself to prevent the weight of any unrolled, hanging, section of the roll from destabilising the roll, allowing it to unroll and deposit its contents on the floor. This friction force varies with the weight of the roll, so the friction force reduces as the roll becomes lighter as it is used. There tends to be a point at which the weight of the hanging section (which are dependent only on its length) may exceed the resistance of the friction force, particularly when combined with movement in the air around it. The friction force may then be overcome, causing the paper to unroll.  
      2. Summary of the Prior Art  
      Toilet roll holders have previously been proposed that do not suffer from this problem. An example can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,606. However, these proposals have typically been considerably more complex than a conventional toilet roll holder, and they cannot be applied to roll holders that are already installed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An aim of this invention is to provide apparatus for use with a toilet roll holder that resists unrolling of paper carried on the holder, yet which is simple and that, in some embodiments at least, can be fitted to existing toilet roll holders.  
      From a first aspect, this invention provides a stabilising bar assembly, to prevent inadvertent unwinding of a toilet roll mounted in a roll holder, the bar assembly being for insertion into the core of the toilet roll, the bar assembly including an elongate bar portion, there being finials at each of the opposite ends of the bar portion, the finials being articulate with respect to the bar portion, to allow the stabilising bar to be inserted into the core of the roll and resist the bar from rotating or slipping from the roll.  
      For use, the stabilising bar assembly is passed into the centre of the roll, such that it lies on the roll core. Its presence increases the friction force already present (due to its weight) and it also adds a second braking force that acts between the core or the roll and the stabilising bar itself. This second force is constant, irrespective to the weight of the roll.  
      The bar portion is preferably of such a length as to be slightly greater than the length of the roll core. In such embodiments, the finials hang down to opposite sides of the core when the apparatus is in use. This resists movement the bar out of the core and also prevents or resists it from rotating or slipping from the roll. This also eases access for insertion of the bar into the core of the roll. Since the ends of the stabilising bar will emerge from the roll, it is possible to add decoration, such as decorative motifs to the finials.  
      The finials are preferably articulated about parallel axes such that the both hang downwardly under gravity when the apparatus is in use.  
      Components of the apparatus may be formed of metal (preferably corrosion-resistant metal), plastic, wood or other material.  
      From another aspect, this invention provides toilet roll holder apparatus comprising a toilet roll holder and a stabilising bar according to the first aspect of the invention.  
      The toilet roll holder may be of a type that has an arm that projects in a cantilever manner from a wall-mounted plate, or it may have a bar that is carried between projecting arms, the core being carried for rotation on the bar.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a part-sectional perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention in use with a toilet roll on a roll holder;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section on the line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 3  shows apparatus embodying the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      With reference to the drawings, a stabilising bar assembly comprises a bar portion  10  and a pair of finials  12 ,  14   
      The bar potion  10  is formed as an elongate rod. This may be of metal, since it is advantageous that it has weight, but the metal selected is advantageously one that is resistant to corrosion. It may alternatively be formed of plastic or wood. Each finial  12 ,  14  is formed as a metal loop in this embodiment. In other embodiments, the finials might be formed from materials such as plastic or wood. Since the finials  12 ,  14  are visible, they can also be decorated to provide the apparatus with a favourable appearance.  
      Each of the finials  12 ,  14  is carried at a respective opposite end of the bar portion  10 . The finials  12 ,  14  are free to articulate with respect to the bar portion  10 , the axes of articulation being parallel to one another. The spacing between the axes of articulation is chosen to be slightly longer that the length of the core of a roll  20  with which the apparatus is to be used. Thus, the weight of the finials  12 ,  14  causes them to hang down next to the end surfaces of the roll  20 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
      Apparatus embodying the invention is shown in use in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The toilet roll holder comprises an arm  22  mounted to project from a wall plate  24 . A flange  26  is carried at the outer end of the arm  22  such that the roll can rotate upon the arm  22 , the flange preventing it from dropping off the arm  22 . This is just one common example of a toilet roll holder with which the invention can be used.  
      For use, the apparatus is first passed through the core of the roll  20  such that the finials  12 ,  14  are disposed to opposite sides of the roll  20 . The roll  20  can then be installed on the roll holder as is normal for a holder of that type. Gravity will pull the bar portion  10  to the bottom of the core, and will cause the finials  12 ,  14  to hang downward. Friction between the bar portion  10  and the core acts to resist rotation of the roll, and hence acts to resist uncontrolled unrolling of the paper on the roll.