Patent Publication Number: US-2003230666-A1

Title: Easy-change jumbo roll holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates generally to toilet paper roll holders whether standalone or as an adaptor kit for modifying a conventional toilet or paper towel holder to accept a larger diameter paper roll, make it easier to change rolls from above, add more friction to make tearing easier without rapid unroll, allow decorative additions and reduce parts and materials for easier manufacturability and reliability.  
       [0002] Various devices have been proposed to avoid the use of a spindle. Representative examples of such devices are shown in Reilly U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,828 and Paul U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,253. In those devices, a stub axle or peg is automatically received within the core of the tissue paper when the paper is inserted into the holder from below. The axle can be pivoted out of the core when the roll is to be removed or inserted. Various devices have been proposed to accommodate larger diameter rolls in a standard holder. A representative example of such is Greer U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,404. This device adds extender brackets which support a standard spindle. The invention described herein avoids the use of a spindle and allows insertion of a jumbo roll from above by employing hinged brackets which incorporate actuating legs for the engagement arms.  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a roll holder which can be used to hold any material stored on or dispensed from a roll, including but not limited to toilet paper, tape, hand towels, plastic wrap, string, rope, cables and chain.  
       [0004] While the present invention is directed towards a roll holder which can be used to hold any material stored on or dispensed from a roll, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is for use for holding toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. Such discussion, however, should not be interpreted as limiting the use of this invention to toilet paper and paper towels rolls.  
       [0005] The current trend in the production of domestic household toilet paper rolls is to double the number of sheets per roll making such rolls substantially larger in diameter. Manufacturers of household toilet paper have recognized that increasing the diameter of the rolls reduces the cost of packaging materials and warehousing space and reduces the end cost to the consumer. Unfortunately, the larger rolls do not fit well into the standard mountings which were intended to  
       [0006] suit the standard diameter rolls. Thus, the consumer is faced with the problem unanticipated by the manufacturer. The larger sized rolls, which are more economical, will not fit the standard sized holder. The problem is particularly acute with recessed type of in-wall mounting of which there are many millions already in existence. The result is that the consumer is discouraged from purchasing the more economical larger roll or does purchase it and has no practical holder for it. The larger roll must simply be balanced on a towel rack or placed on the toilet tank top, cabinet top, or on the edge of the tub or even on the floor until the toilet paper consumption has sufficiently reduced the size to permit it to fit the standard holder. The inconvenience and unsanitary nature of this solution is obvious.  
       [0007] What is needed is a simple adaptor which permits the larger sized rolls to be used on the standard sized holder.  
       [0008] The second major problem this toilet roll holder addresses is the difficulty encountered by most people in manipulating the spring loaded spindle when changing rolls. People who lack dexterity due to arthritis or other infirmities find it difficult to replace rolls on such conventional toilet paper roll holders. It takes two hands, it&#39;s difficult to find the insertion holes in the standard holder because it must be done blindly, sometimes the spindle pops apart or gets lost, not to mention how unsanitary it is to handle the spindle. As a result, many toilet rolls are left around the bathroom un-mounted.  
       [0009] What is needed is a toilet roll holder which allows easy one-handed, top-loaded insertion and removal with no loose parts, no blind mating and no contact with anything but the sanitary paper in order to encourage people to mount the roll properly.  
       [0010] Another disadvantage to the prior art roll holders described above is that they are made for only one length of roll. If such a roll holder is made of one longitudinal size for use with toilet paper, it cannot also be used for holding paper towels of a different longitudinal size.  
       [0011] Another disadvantage to the prior art roll holders described above is that the spindle does not provide sufficient friction between itself and the roll in order to prevent too much material from being unrolled too rapidly.  
       [0012] Another disadvantage to the prior art roll holders described above is that the spindle requires a relatively large amount of material, parts and assemblage.  
       [0013] Another disadvantage to the prior art roll holders described above is that the spindle is relatively hidden inside the roll so that its ability to provide a decorative function is limited.  
       [0014] The present adaptor solves the problems discussed above in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0015] This invention relates generally to toilet paper roll holders whether standalone or as an adaptor kit for converting standard toilet paper roll holders intended for standard size toilet paper rolls to accept larger toilet paper rolls while making it easier to change said rolls.  
       [0016] The kit provides a means of overcoming the objections to using larger than standard toilet paper rolls without having to replace the standard toilet paper roll holders which are already installed in the majority of households in the United States and elsewhere.  
       [0017] The invention encourages manufacturers to promote and consumers to take advantage of the economy and conservation advantages inherent in larger size toilet paper rolls.  
       [0018] This invention makes it easier to change rolls by replacing the standard spring loaded spindle with hinged brackets which guide the roll easily into position. Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a roll holder on which the roll can be easily changed from above using one hand. Another object is to provide a roll holder which requires no fine or delicate motions to maneuver the old roll off of the roll holder and to maneuver the new roll onto the roll holder.  
       [0019] By avoiding the use of springs, this invention will make the toilet roll holder more durable. The minimal amount of material required to make the adaptor kit embodiment will make it relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, store and ship. In fact, the bracket, base and hinge can be stamped out of a single piece of material using a flexible hinge. Certain embodiments of this invention may require the use of springs to pivot the hinged brackets upward and hence spring use is not excluded.  
       [0020] The brackets provide more friction than a standard roll spindle which aids in preventing too much material from being unrolled too rapidly.  
       [0021] The engagement arms are designed to properly center the toilet roll in relation to the rear cavity so that the aesthetics of the roll are improved over mounting on the standard roll spindle which neither centers the roll horizontally or vertically.  
       [0022] By avoiding the use of a fixed size spindle, this invention can accommodate any roll width by mounting the the bases appropriately apart e.g. this device can be mounted on a paper towel holder in order to accommodate paper towels.  
       [0023] The invention can also add a decorative touch to standard toilet roll holders by having ornamental brackets. Since the brackets are visible, they can be made very diverse and decorative for bathroom ornamentation. The bases can be printed with advertisement. The decorative aspect is essential to the invention being accepted into the consumer&#39;s bathroom where aesthetics are crucial.  
       [0024] This toilet paper roll holder adaptor kit is inexpensive, simple to manufacturer, easy to install, decorative and performs its intended function with particular efficiency. The adaptor kit avoids the option of replacing existing toilet roll holders in order to accommodate larger diameter rolls.  
       [0025] In accordance with the objectives of the present invention, the invention comprises of two cooperating oppositely mounted assemblies each comprising of a hinged bracket, consisting of  
       [0026] an engagement arm, actuator leg and hinge mount secured to a supporting base whereby upon roll insertion, the edge of the roll contacts the actuator legs (second position) which in turn pivot the engagement arms into the central core of the toilet roll (first position) and said engagement arms provide a means of mating, retaining, centering and unwinding of the roll and facilitate removal of the spent core. Further, the mounting base includes one or more stops to limit the rotation of the bracket and can either be directly mounted to a wall or cabinet in one embodiment, become integral to the shell in another or, in the adaptor kit embodiment, attach to the opposed side mounting portions of a conventional toilet paper roll holder.  
       [0027] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein I have shown and described the preferred embodiment by way of illustration of the best mode of the invention. However, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0028] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an empty adaptor kit toilet paper holder in accordance with the invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 showing the position of the hinged brackets as the tissue roll is being supported;  
     [0031]FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing the position of the hinged brackets as the tissue core is being removed;  
     [0032]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivot shaft and a front view of the pivot mounting between the hinged bracket and base.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0033] As shown in FIG. 1, a standard toilet roll shell ( 10 ) can be recessed into a wall where it is adapted to retain a roll of toilet tissue, part of which will be within the recessed cavity ( 11 ). The support structure for the roll of toilet tissue comprises two mirrored assemblies attached to opposed side mounting portions ( 12 ) of a concave shell ( 10 ). Each includes a support base ( 14 ) to which a pivot shaft ( 15 ) is secured as described below. A hinged bracket&#39;s ( 16 ) hub ( 22 ) is secured around the pivot ( 15 ), for example by a flange on the outer edge of the pivot, so that the brackets ( 16 ) can pivot downwardly from their positions illustrated in FIG. 1. As the roll ( 21 ) is inserted from above, it first makes contact with the actuator legs ( 24 ) which pivot the engagement arms ( 23 ) into the core of the roll ( 21 ).  
     [0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the brackets ( 16 ) support a roll of tissue paper ( 21 ) by engagement with the conventional core on which the tissue paper is wound.  
     [0035] The bases ( 14 ) of the mounting assembly are preferably mounted at the mid-point of the horizontal portions of the sides ( 12 ) so that substantially the entire cavity ( 11 ) of the shell ( 10 ) can be filled with the roll of paper. Other embodiments of the base may include a hole or pimple to align with existing spindle mounting holes in the sides ( 12 ). The shape of the hinged brackets&#39; arms ( 23 ) makes a “V” which centers the roll ( 21 ) in the cavity ( 11 ) both vertically and horizontally. Any skew in the roll can be corrected by shaving the lower stop ( 17 ) on the base ( 14 ) of the higher hinged bracket ( 16 ).  
     [0036]FIG. 3 shows the position of the brackets ( 16 ) after the roll of paper has been depleted and the core ( 21 ) is being removed. As the core ( 21 ) is lifted upwards, it forces each of the brackets ( 16 ) to rotate upwardly so that the ends of the engagement arms ( 23 ) will separate a distance sufficient to enable the core ( 21 ) to pass between them so that it can be removed from the shell ( 10 ). The brackets ( 16 ) remain in this position either by friction or by mating dimples ( 19 , 20 ) on the pivot and a flat on the hinged bracket&#39;s hub ( 22 ). The dimples and flat can occur anywhere on the pivot or hub. The horizontal dimple ( 20 ) is designed to push the engagement arms ( 23 ) farther apart than would be possible by a friction mount alone. This dimple ( 20 ) also renders the stop ( 18 ) on the base ( 14 ) redundant. The vertical dimple ( 19 ) is there to relieve needless stress on the hub ( 22 ) when the roll ( 21 ) is engaged. The lower stop ( 17 ) on the base ( 14 ) takes precedence over the dimple ( 19 ) in positioning the bracket ( 16 ) when it is engaged. The pivot structure of dimples and flats can also be replaced by springs to force the brackets ( 16 ) open in other embodiments if necessary.  
     [0037] There are many different constructions which can be used to achieve the desired objective as described above, namely, the hinged brackets ( 16 ) and bases ( 14 ) have a distinctive and ornamental shape. Obviously, the ornamental aspects of the structural components of the invention form no part of the invention.  
     [0038] The base ( 14 ) is generally flat and may be secured to the sides ( 12 ) by adhesive or two-sided adhesive tape ( 13 ) which is generally not visible when the device is installed on a conventional toilet roll holder. For the standalone embodiment, the inner part of the base is not needed and only the small outer part with stops ( 17 , 18 ) becomes integral with the sides ( 12 ). For either embodiment, the base and bracket can be stamped from a single piece of material if a flexible hinge is used.  
     [0039] The pivot ( 15 ) is inserted through a hole in the outer part of the base ( 14 ) and is basically held fast to the point of being integral with the base. The hinged bracket&#39;s ( 16 ) hub ( 22 ) wraps around the pivot and is held in place by an outer flange on the pivot. The horizontal dimple ( 20 ) on the pivot ( 15 ) and a flat on the hub ( 22 ) are designed to extend the motion of the brackets while the stops ( 17 , 18 ) are designed to limit it.  
     [0040] In view of the above, it will be seen that various aspects and features of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.