Patent Publication Number: US-2007102444-A1

Title: Paper roll storage device

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      Rolled paper (e.g. toilet paper and paper towels) is commonly used by people in the home and in other places. Rolled paper availability is typically desirable close to the location of use.  
      Toilet paper is dispensed, in general, close to the location of use. Toilet paper, however, is often stored some distance away from the dispenser and location of use. For example, toilet paper is commonly stored in cabinets such as cabinets under sinks, storage closets, linen closets, basement storage, etc. Accordingly, when the roll of paper in the dispenser is depleted, a replacement roll may be difficult to retrieve.  
      A number of conventional storage solutions involve axial stacking of toilet paper over a rod on a stand. Another conventional storage solution involves axial stacking of the toilet paper in a cylindrical container. Additional conventional solutions involve adding storage capabilities to paper dispensers. Each one of these conventional solutions, however, suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: the paper is not protected inside a container and the paper is difficult to remove from the storage device.  
      It remains desirable to have a storage paper storage device to hold and protect a number of rolls of paper and from which a roll may be easily removed.  
     SUMMARY  
      The problems of conveniently storing paper rolls such as toilet paper are solved by the present invention of a paper roll storage device.  
      A paper roll storage device includes a columnar container holding rolls of paper stacked such that the axes of the rolls are parallel to each other. The rolls of paper generally have center axial openings typically formed by a cardboard cylinder at the center used to support the paper. The container is generally rectangular in cross-section. One of the sides of the container has an opening near the top. The opening is large enough for a roll of paper to be inserted or removed from the container. A slot extends from the opening vertically downward along the front of the container. The rolls of paper are positioned and located in the cylinder so that the center axial openings face the slot.  
      Embodiments of the present invention include a container having a base, a top, a front, a back, and two sides. The container is shaped and configured to hold a paper roll such that the axis of the paper roll is substantially perpendicular to the front of the container. The storage device further includes an opening in the front of the container. The opening is positioned close to the top of the container, and the opening is sized and configured to enable the paper roll to be inserted and removed from the container. The storage device also includes a slot extending downward from the opening toward the base of the container. The slot exposes an axial hollow in the paper roll stored in the container such that the paper roll is removable from the storage device by inserting a finger through the slot and into the axial hollow of the paper roll and lifting the paper roll up and out of the container through the opening. This embodiment has the benefit that the paper roll is easily removable from the container with only a single finger.  
      In an alternative arrangement, the container is shaped and configured to hold a plurality of paper rolls in a stack in which the axes of the paper rolls are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the front of the container. In this way, a plurality of paper rolls are made readily available from the storage container.  
      In a further alternative arrangement, the container includes a curved base shaped and configured to hold a paper roll. The curved base accommodates the curvature of the paper roll enabling a better fit of a plurality of paper rolls in the storage device.  
      In a further alternative arrangement, the paper roll storage device includes a slot that has arcuate opening edges, and an arcuate end. The curved edges and end ease the process of extracting a roll of paper from the storage device.  
      In an alternative embodiment of the storage device, an upper portion of each side of the container has a concave curvature around the opening. This provides an enlarged access to the container enabling a roll of paper to be more easily inserted or extracted from the storage device.  
      Embodiments of the storage device have a variety of mounting methods. In a first arrangement, wall-mounting fixturing is located on the back of the container. In a second arrangement, wall-mounting fixturing is located on one of the sides of the container. In a third arrangement, the storage device includes a floor stand. In one embodiment of the floor stand, parallel ridges are embedded in the base of the container. In a second embodiment of the floor stand, the storage device is fixed to a rigid rod attached to a base that is configured to rest on a floor. In a first arrangement, the base includes a rigid rod to hold the container. In a second arrangement, the base includes a plurality of feet, e.g. four feet, one at each bottom corner of the container.  
      In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the storage device includes a plurality of apertures in at least one of the sides, front and back of the container. In an alternate arrangement, at least one of the sides, front, back, top and bottom is made of a stiff mesh material. Both the plurality of apertures and the mesh material embodiments provide additional ventilation for the storage device by providing for greater air circulation through the container.  
      Embodiments of the storage device include embodiments made of various materials. Some embodiments of the storage device are made of disposable materials. The storage device may be made of a plastic material, wood, metal, ceramic, glass, paper or a combination of these materials. In one arrangement, the storage device is made of an air freshening paper.  
      Further alternative embodiments of the invention include at least one additional compartment for holding an air freshening substance or for holding moist towellettes.  
      The present invention together with the above and other advantages may best be understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a paper roll storage device including apertures according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of a paper roll storage device including wall-mounting fixturing according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention wherein the front of the device is made of a mesh material;  
       FIG. 6  is a three dimensional view of another alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional view of a still further alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a three-dimensional view of the paper roll storage device of  FIG. 1  including an alternative floor stand;  
       FIG. 9  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention wherein the device further includes a compartment for air freshener;  
       FIG. 10  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention wherein the device further includes a compartment for moist towellettes;  
       FIG. 11  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device according to principles of invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a front view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention showing an alterative front opening;  
       FIG. 13  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention where the container has a removable top;  
       FIG. 14  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device having an alternative embodiment of a removable top; and  
       FIG. 15  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention where the container has a front opening and a back opening.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention is directed toward a device to enable storage of rolled papers, such as toilet paper, conveniently. The paper roll storage device includes a columnar container shaped and configured to hold paper rolls such that the axes of the paper rolls are substantially parallel to each other and also substantially perpendicular to the front of the container. The container further includes an opening at the front of the container where the opening is positioned close to the top of the container. The opening is sized and configured to enable a paper roll to be inserted and removed from the container. The container further includes a slot extending downward from the opening toward the base. The slot enables a paper roll to be removed from the storage device by inserting a finger through the slot and into a centered hollow of the paper roll enabling the paper roll to be lifted up and removed from the container through the opening.  
       FIG. 1  shows a paper roll storage device of the present invention in three-dimensional view. The paper roll storage device  100  includes a container  105 . The container  105  includes a bottom  110 , a top  115 , a front  120 , a back  125 , a first side  130  and a second side  135 . The container  105  is columnar and is also substantially rectangular in cross-section. The container  105  is shaped and configured to hold a plurality of paper rolls  140  such as rolls of toilet paper or in an alternative embodiment, rolls of paper towels. One skilled in the art will understand that other types of rolled paper may be stored in the present inventive device.  
      The paper rolls  140  are stacked inside the container such that the axes  142  of the paper rolls  140  are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the front  102  of the container  105 . Each of the paper rolls  140  has an axial hollow  144  typically formed by a cardboard tube around which the paper is wound.  
      The front  120  of the container  105  includes an opening  145  close to the top  115  of the container  105 . The opening  145  is shaped and configured to allow a paper roll  140  to be inserted or removed from the container  105 . The front  120  of the container  105  further includes a slot  150  extending downwardly from the opening  145  toward the base  110 . At an open end, the slot  150  has a first arcuate, or curved, edge  155  and a second arcuate edge  160 . The bottom  165  of the slot  150  is also arcuate and typically has a radius similar to the radius of the axial hollows  144  of the paper rolls  140 . The slot  150  provides access to the axial hollows  144  of the paper rolls  140 .  
      Each of the sides  130 ,  135  of the container  105  has a top portion  170 ,  175  having a convex curvature around the opening  145 . The base  110  of the container is also curved and configured to hold a paper roll  140  to provide a support for stacking as described above. The base  110  includes a first rib  180  and a substantially parallel second rib  185 . The ribs  180 ,  185  protrude below the below the base  110  to act as a bottom support or a floor stand, or a base, for the container  105 . The container  105  may be made of any one of or a combination of materials such as plastic, wood, metal, ceramic, glass or paper. Any material or composite that provides sufficient support to hold the paper rolls in the configurations described herein are considered to be suitable for use in the present invention.  
      The storage device  100 , as mentioned above, holds a plurality of paper rolls  140  inside the container  105  which provides a generally protective covering to the paper rolls  140 . The opening  145  and the slot  150  along with the manner of stacking the paper rolls  140  inside the container  105  allows a paper roll  140  to be easily removed from the container  105  when a paper roll  140  is needed. Essentially, a user needs to insert only one finger through the slot  150  and into the axial hollow  144  of the topmost paper roll  140  stored in the container  105 . The user then lifts the paper roll  140  up and above the slot  150  and then removes the paper roll  140  from the container  105  through the opening  145 .  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device of  FIG. 1 . The front  120  of the container  105  includes a plurality of apertures  200  positioned in flower-like arrangements  205 . The apertures  200  function as additional openings into the container  105  to provide ventilation for the paper rolls  140  stored inside (not shown in this view). In other arrangements, the apertures  200  are located on the sides  130 ,  135  of the container  105  or on the top  115  or bottom  110  of the container  105 . In alternative embodiments, the apertures may have different shapes and also different arrangements from those shown in  FIG. 2 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the aperture shapes, locations and arrangements shown here.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the paper roll storage device  100  of  FIG. 1 . The back  125  of the container  105  includes wall-mounting fixturing so that the paper roll storage device  100  may be mounted to a support structure such as a wall. In the embodiment shown here, the wall-mounting fixturing includes two slotted openings  250  so that the container may be hung from hooks, or alternatively, screws set into a wall. Other fixturing configurations and other methods of mounting the storage device  100  are possible. The present invention is not limited to the mounting methods described here.  
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device  300  according to principles of the invention. The paper roll storage device  300  includes a container  305 . The container  305  has a bottom  310 , a top  315 , a front  320 , a back  325  and a first side  330  and a second side  335 . The front  320  has an opening  340  near the top  315  of the container  305 . A slot  345  extends downwardly from the opening  340  toward the bottom  310  of the container  305 . In this embodiment, the bottom  310  and sides  330  and  335  have no apparent curvature. That is, the bottom  310  and sides  330  and  335  are substantially planar. The paper roll storage device  300  of  FIG. 4 , like the paper roll storage device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , enables a user to easily remove rolled paper from the container  305  in the same way as described above with regard to  FIG. 1 . The illustration is provided to give an understanding that the general principles described above apply to a simpler device.  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the front  120  is made of a meshed material  350 . The meshed material  350  may be a plastic or a metal or any other material or composite such as plastic-coated fiber that provides a structural mesh to form a portion of the container  105 . The bottom  110 , the top  115  and the sides  130 ,  135  may be made of a meshed material  350  in alternative embodiments of the invention. In still further alternative embodiments of the invention, the container  105  may be formed by attaching a meshed material over an internal frame. The meshed material  350  provides some protection paper rolls stored in the container  105  and also provides ventilation to the container  105 .  
       FIG. 6  is a three dimensional view another alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention. The paper roll storage device  400  includes a container  405 . The container  405  includes a bottom  410 , a top  415 , a front  420 , a back  425 , a first side  430  and a second side  435 . The container  405  is columnar and is also substantially rectangular in cross-section. The container  405  is shaped and configured to hold a plurality of stacked paper rolls  140 .  
      The front  420  of the container  405  includes an opening  445  close to the top  415  of the container  405 . The opening  445  is shaped and configured to allow a paper roll  140  to be inserted or removed from the container  405 . The front  420  of the container  405  further includes a slot  450  extending downwardly from the opening  445  toward the base  410 . The slot  450  provides access to the axial hollows  144  of the paper rolls  140 .  
      The first side  430  of the container  405  has a top portion  470  having a convex curvature at the opening  445 . The second side  435  is substantially planar. The second side  435  includes wall-mounting fixturing so that the paper roll storage device  400  may be mounted to a support structure such as a wall. In the embodiment shown here, the wall-mounting fixturing includes two slotted openings  475  so that the container  405  may be hung from hooks, or alternatively, screws set into a wall. Other methods of mounting the storage device  400  are possible. The present invention is not limited to the mounting methods described here.  
       FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional view of a still further alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention. The paper roll storage device  100  includes a container  505 . The container  505  is similar to the container  105  described above with regard to  FIG. 1 . The container  505  in the present embodiment contains a larger plurality of paper rolls  140  than that described above.  
       FIG. 8  is a three-dimensional view of the paper roll storage device of  FIG. 1  including an alternative floor stand. The paper roll storage device  100  includes a container  105  having a floor support  550 . A rigid pole  555  is secured at one end to the floor support  550  and at the other end to the base  110  of the container  105 . The floor support  550  and rigid pole  555  hold the paper roll storage device  100  at a convenient height from the floor to enable convenient removal of the paper rolls  140  from the container  105 .  
       FIG. 9  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention wherein the device further includes a compartment for air freshener. The paper roll storage device  100  includes a container  105  as described above with regard to  FIG. 1 . The paper roll storage device  100  stores a plurality of paper rolls  140 . In addition, the paper roll storage device  100  includes a compartment  600  to hold an air freshening substance. The compartment  600  in this embodiment is attached at the base  110  of the container  105 , however, other arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention. In a first arrangement, the compartment  600  is refillable with new air freshening material. In a second arrangement, the paper roll storage device is considered disposable and the entire container  105  is replaced with a new container and new air freshener material. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, there is no air freshener compartment  600 . Instead, the container  105  itself is made of an air freshener paper such as the air freshener paper available from EMI Specialty Paper of Redding, Conn. In a further alternative embodiment, the container  105  is made of scented plastic.  
       FIG. 10  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention wherein the device further includes a compartment for moist towellettes. The paper roll storage device  100  includes a container  105  as described above with regard to  FIG. 1 . The paper roll storage device  100  stores a plurality of paper rolls  140 . In addition, the paper roll storage device  100  includes a compartment  650  to hold moist towellettes. The compartment  650  in this embodiment is attached at the base  110  of the container  105 , however, other arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention. In a first arrangement, the compartment  650  is refillable with moist towellettes when the original supply is expended. In a second arrangement, the paper roll storage device  100  is considered disposable and the entire container  105  is replaced with a new container and new supply of fresh towellettes.  
       FIG. 11  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the paper roll storage device of the present invention. The paper roll storage device  700  has four sides  702 ,  704 ,  706 ,  708  wherein each side is substantially without curvature. A first side  702  has an opening and a slot similar to those described above in other embodiments. A curved top  710  is attached to the sides  702 ,  704 ,  706 ,  708 . This embodiment of the paper roll storage device  700  has a base made of a plurality of feet  712 , one at each corner. Only three of the feet are shown in the drawing as the fourth is hidden in this view.  
       FIG. 12  is a front view of a paper roll storage device showing an alterative front opening. The paper roll storage device  750  has a front side  752  that has an opening  754  through which rolled paper may pass so that rolled paper can be inserted and removed from the storage device  750 . A slot  756  extends from the opening  754  where the slot  756  is wide at the interface with the opening  754  and somewhat narrower at the bottom away from the opening  765 .  
       FIG. 13  is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device. The paper roll storage device  800  has four sides  802 ,  804 ,  806 ,  808 . A removable top  810  is attachable and detachable from the four sides  802 ,  804 ,  806 ,  808 . In a first arrangement, the top  810  is sized and configured to rest on the sides  802 ,  804 ,  806 ,  808 . In a second arrangement, the top  810  and sides have attachment fixtures. One skilled in the art will understand that various attachment fixtures are possible.  
       FIG. 14  is a three-dimensional view of a second alternative embodiment of a paper roll storage device having a removable top. The paper roll storage device  850  is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section. Two sides  852 ,  854  are visible in this view of the device  850 . One side  852  includes a slot  856  that extends from a top edge of the side  852  vertically downward ending somewhere before the bottom of the device  850 . A removable top  858  is shaped and configure to rest on top of the sides of the device  850 . The slot  856  enables a user to lift a roll of paper vertically out of the container.  
       FIG. 15  is a three-dimensional view of a paper roll storage device according to principles of the invention where the container has a front opening and a back opening. The paper roll storage device  900  includes a container  105 . The container  105  includes a bottom  110 , a top  115 , a front  120 , a back  125 , a first side  130  and a second side  135 . The container  105  is columnar and is also substantially rectangular in cross-section. The container  105  is shaped and configured to hold a plurality of paper rolls (not shown) such as rolls of toilet paper or in an alternative embodiment, rolls of paper towels.  
      The front  120  of the container  105  includes a first opening  145  close to the top  115  of the container  105 . The opening  145  is shaped and configured to allow a paper roll  140  to be inserted or removed from the container  105 . The front  120  of the container  105  further includes a slot  150  extending downwardly from the opening  145  toward the base  110 . At an open end, the slot  150  has a first arcuate, or curved, edge  155  and a second arcuate edge  160 . The bottom  165  of the slot  150  is also arcuate. The slot  150  provides access to the axial hollows  144  of the paper rolls  140 . The back  125  of the container  105  includes a second opening  902  and a second slot  904  substantially similar to the opening  145  and slot  150  in the front  120  of the container  105 .  
      Each of the sides  130 ,  135  of the container  105  has a top portion  170 ,  175  having a convex curvature around the opening  145 . The base  110  of the container is also curved and configured to hold a paper roll  140  to provide a support for stacking.  
      The storage device  900  is able to hold a plurality of paper rolls inside the container  105  which provides a generally protective covering to the paper rolls  140 . The openings  145 ,  902  and the slots  150 ,  904  along with the manner of stacking the paper rolls  140  inside the container  105  allows a paper roll to be easily removed from the container  105  when a paper roll  140  is needed. Essentially, a user needs to insert only one finger through either of the slot  150 ,  904  and into the axial hollow of a topmost paper roll stored in the container  105 . The user then lifts the paper roll up and above the slot  150 ,  904  and then removes the paper roll from the container  105  through one of the openings  145 ,  902 .  
      As described above, the paper roll storage device of the present invention may be made of a plastic material, wood, metal, paper or a combination of these materials. Some embodiments, for example, those embodiments of the paper roll storage device made of plastic or paper are disposable.  
      It is to be understood that the above-identified embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various and other modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.