Patent Publication Number: US-2006006089-A1

Title: Toilet paper roll scenting method

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a method for diffusing a scent into a toilet paper roll using liquid scent applied to an absorbent roll.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Past methods of scenting toilet paper have always required the addition of a special apparatus to the toilet paper dispensing means. Examples include three of the cage-type toilet paper rollers that have been patented, but are not admitted to being prior art by their mention in this Background section. The three examples are U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,117 that issued to Klingler; U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,51 that issued to Singer; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,551 that issued to He et al. In each of these three examples, a roller is provided separately from the toilet paper. A user replaces an original roller with the special cage-type roller. The user must load the roller with a scent source, and must periodically replace or reload the scent source. The scent is emitted through the gaps in the cage, or through holes in the roller body. Because of the gap between the outside diameter of the roller and the inside diameter of a toilet paper roll, the release of scent is likely to be constant over time. There is no greater gap through which to release the scent when the roller is in use versus when the roller is not in use. Therefore, scent is released whether it is needed or not.  
      Another solution that has been tried is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,383 that issued to Dobler et al., and is also not admitted to being prior art by its mention in this Background section. Dobler discloses disposing a pre-scented folded card insert that is designed to fit within an existing toilet paper holder. In use, the card is outside the roller, but inside the roll. Since the card is folded instead of rolled, it is unlikely that the toilet paper will unwind smoothly off the roll. Another embodiment of this invention is to place the card inside the roller. However, it would not be effective unless it is a cage-type roller discussed above. In either embodiment, scenting the toilet paper still requires adding a separate apparatus to the system, in this case the card. Like with the above references, there is no greater gap through which to release the scent when the roller is in use versus when the roller is not in use. Therefore, scent is released whether it is needed or not.  
      Furthermore, in each of the references, getting the toilet paper scented requires much more effort and expense than using unscented toilet paper. What is needed, therefore, is a method for scenting toilet paper that does not require adding special apparatuses to the toilet paper dispensing means, and does not require any greater effort than non-scented toilet paper to use.  
     SUMMARY  
      A method for scenting toilet paper that does not require adding special apparatuses to the toilet paper dispensing means, and does not require any greater effort than non-scented toilet paper to use, comprises the steps of providing a tubular toilet paper roll made of an absorbent material, applying a liquid scent to the toilet paper roll, disposing toilet paper onto the roll to form a toilet paper roll, and wrapping the toilet paper roll substantially air tight with a material impervious to the scent, thereby scenting the toilet paper roll. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wrapped toilet paper roll scented according to the method of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross section view of the wrapped toilet paper roll scented according to the method of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart describing the preferred method of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
      A method for scenting toilet paper that does not require adding special apparatuses to the toilet paper dispensing means, and does not require any greater effort than non-scented toilet paper to use, comprises the steps of providing a tubular toilet paper roll made of an absorbent material, applying a liquid scent to the toilet paper roll, disposing toilet paper onto the roll to form a toilet paper roll, and wrapping the toilet paper roll substantially air tight with a material impervious to the scent, thereby scenting the toilet paper roll.  
      Turning to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , the method is preferably started at the toilet paper manufacturing process. First, a tubular toilet paper roll  12  is provided  20 . The roll  12  must be made of some material that is capable of absorbing a liquid scent. An example is cardboard, but it is not limited to this material.  
      Then, a liquid scent is applied  22  to the roll  12 . The application can be by spraying, rolling, dripping, dipping, diffusing, or other method known to those having skill in the art.  
      Then, toilet paper  10  can be disposed  24  onto the roll  12  form a toilet paper roll. The typical disposing step is done by applying an adhesive to the roll or to the paper, and then rolling the paper onto the roll. Other methods can be used. It can also be appreciated that the steps of applying the scent  22  and disposing the paper onto the roll  24  can be reversed.  
      Finally, the toilet paper roll is wrapped  26  with a material impervious to the scent. The roll is wrapped substantially air tight to keep the scent inside. After this step, and before the paper is used by the consumer, the scent diffuses naturally through the toilet paper until it is uniformly scented.  
      In use, the user unwraps the scented toilet paper roll, and places it in an ordinary toilet paper dispenser in a bathroom. The outside layers of the toilet paper are exposed to the air, where those layers give up its scent to freshen the bathroom air. After they give up their scent, little further scent can be released by the outside layers.  
      Then, when one is using the bathroom, the user unrolls at least a portion of the toilet paper, thereby exposing fresh scented toilet paper to the bathroom air. In this manner, the scent is released precisely when it is needed. The toilet paper roll does not have to be supplied with a separate scent holder, or any other apparatus, to operate. This saves a great deal of money and reduces waste.  
      While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.