Patent Publication Number: US-10772476-B2

Title: Multiple roll toilet paper dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/613,743, filed Jan. 4, 2017 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of toilet paper dispenser devices and more specifically relates to a multiple toilet paper dispenser and holder providing easy storage and accessibility for a user. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Toilet paper is a sanitary tissue paper product commonly used by males and females after using a restroom. Toilet paper is produced from one-ply to six-ply, having a single sheet or multiple sheets placed back-to-back which is useful for making it stronger and more absorbent. Toilet paper rolls are often stored in various places throughout a person&#39;s bathroom, leaving a guest to search for a new roll when in need. As such, an improved means to store and dispense multiple toilet paper rolls in a convenient manner is needed. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in toilet paper dispenser device art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,209 to Claude Demers; U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0205317 to Richard Miller; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,128 to Hendrix et al. This prior art is representative of multiple toilet paper dispenser devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known art, the present invention provides a novel toilet paper roll dispenser. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a toilet paper roll dispenser having a compartment for back up rolls. 
     The dispenser may be easily reloaded by a user and may provide a readily accessible new roll of toilet paper when a previous roll has run out of toilet paper. The housing of the present invention therefore comprises a storage portion and a dispensing portion which houses a plurality of toilet paper rolls. 
     At least four or five toilet paper rolls resides within the storage portion and one toilet paper roll resides within the dispensing portion, however more rolls are stored. The present invention is useful for conventional sized toilet paper rolls as well as a jumbo toilet paper roll. The present invention is useful for both public and private bathrooms. 
     The toilet roll bump disposed on the back wall of the housing supports at least 4-5 toilet paper rolls in a vertical row. The toilet roll bump is designed with enough clearance between it and a sliding panel to allow the user to pull a spare toilet paper roll down with medium to light force when the current toilet paper roll on the roller runs out. 
     The present invention is designed to be inserted and mounted into a pre-cut hole in a wall with a trim panel visibly located adjacent to the exterior of the wall. Adhesive attachment strips attach to a portion of a wall in order to keep the product mounted to a wall. The hole that is cut into a wall is to be cut as a 1-inch offset from the dimensions of the trim panel as to allow the adhesive attachment strips to make full contact with the wall 
     The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser attached to a wall according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear and side view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear and side view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , a multiple roll toilet paper dispenser  1 . The multiple roll toilet paper dispenser  1  comprises a housing  2  having a sliding panel  25 , toilet paper roll holder  33  (as seen in  FIG. 8 ) and adhesive attachment strips  39  (as seen in  FIG. 6 ) for securing the multiple roll toilet paper dispenser  1  to a pre-cut hole in a wall. The housing  2  is formed from Acrylic or Plexiglass having dimensions including eight inches in width, thirty inches in height, and seven inches in depth. 
     The housing  2  is comprised of a back wall  3  which has an exterior surface  4 , interior surface  5  and a toilet roll bump  6 . The back wall  3  is substantially rectangular. The toilet roll bump  6  extends outwardly from the interior surface  5 . The bump  6  serves to hold up a plurality of vertically stacked toilet paper rolls  43 . The housing  2  further includes two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B each having a length  8 A and  8 B respectively, exterior surface  9 A and  9 B respectively, elongated channels  10 A and  10 B (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) respectively and roll holder guides  11 A and  11 B (best seen in  FIG. 9 ) respectively. 
     Each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B also has an interior surface which is parallel and opposite to each exterior surface  9 A and  9 B. Also, each roll holder guide  11 A and  11 B includes a curved ridge  40  (as best seen in  FIG. 1 ) located upon the interior surface of each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B. The curved ridge  40  is unitarily formed with each roll holder guide  11 A and  11 B and is connected between respective end portions of the pair of parallel elongated ridges  12 A and  12 B (best seen in  FIG. 8 ) thereby forming a U-shape. 
     Each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B also includes a roll holder guide  11 A and  11 B respectively which further includes a pair of parallel elongated ridges  12 A and  12 B respectively located upon the interior surface in proximity to a bottom portion  13 A and  13 B respectively. The parallel elongated ridges  12 A and  12 B extend perpendicular to the back wall  3  and are adapted to guide an end portion of a toilet paper roll holder  33  from the front edge portion toward the back wall  3  (as best seen in  FIG. 8 ). 
     The toilet roll bump  6  disposed on the back wall  3  of the housing  2  supports at least 4-5 toilet paper rolls in a row. The toilet roll bump  6  is designed with enough clearance between it and a sliding panel  25  to allow the user to pull a spare toilet paper roll  43  down with medium to light force when the current toilet paper roll  43  runs out. This is easily accomplished since toilet paper rolls  43  naturally compress to some extent. 
     The housing  2  further includes a top wall  15  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) having an exterior surface  16  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ) and an interior surface  17  wherein the top wall  15  is connected to and extends from a top edge portion of the back wall  3  and is connected between top edge portions of the two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B. 
     Each elongated channel  10 A and  10 B is located upon and extends along a substantial length of the interior surface of each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B, extends parallel to the back wall  3  and is in proximity to a front edge portion of each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B. 
     The housing  2  also includes a bottom wall  18  which has an exterior surface  19  and an interior surface  20  wherein the bottom wall  18  is connected to and extends from a bottom edge portion of the back wall  3  and is connected between bottom edge portions of the two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B. 
     Each elongated sidewall  7 A and  7 B also includes a circular depression  14 A and  14 B respectively located between the pair of parallel elongated ridges  12 A and  12 B and are adapted to releasably hold the end portion of the toilet paper roll holder  33  therein. 
     The two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B are connected to and extend from opposite side edge portions of the back wall  3  wherein the lengths of  7 A and  7 B are substantially equal and wherein the roll holder guides  11 A and  11 B are located below the toilet roll bump  6  where the toilet paper roll holder  33  holds the toilet paper roll  43  that is currently in use. 
     The back wall  3 , the two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B, the top wall  15  and the bottom wall  18  form an interior volume having a substantially rectangular volume. The two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B, the top wall  15 , and the bottom wall  18  form a substantially rectangular front opening  23 . 
     A trim panel  24  is attached to and extends perpendicularly from the front edge portions of the exterior surfaces  9 A and  9 B respectively of the two elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B, the top wall  15 , and the bottom wall  18  and is adapted to be securely attached to a wall for mounting the multiple roll toilet paper dispenser  1  to the wall and into an aperture within the wall. Adhesive attachment strips  39  are located upon surfaces of the trim panel  24  and are adapted to secure the multiple roll toilet paper dispenser  1  to the wall. 
     The housing  2  further includes a sliding panel  25  having a top edge  26  which has a releasable attachment member  27  and a bottom edge  28 . The releasable attachment member  27  is adapted to releasably attach to the top wall  15  of the housing  2  and to hold the sliding panel  25  securely against the top wall  15 . The sliding panel  25  further has two spaced side edges  29 A and  29 B. The two spaced side edges  29 A and  29 B are located between the top edge  26  and bottom edge  28  and are adapted to slidably reside within respective elongated channels  10 A and  10 B of the housing  2 . The top wall  15  further includes a magnet  42 B. The releasable attachment member of the sliding panel  25  is a complementary magnet  42 A which releasably engages the magnet  42 B. The sliding panel is formed from a translucent material, either glass or plastic. 
     The sliding panel  25  further has a handle portion  30  located in proximity to the top edge  26  and is adapted to slide the sliding panel  25  within the elongated channels  10 A and  10 B. The handle portion  30  is formed as a circular aperture. The sliding panel  25  has a length less than the lengths of the elongated sidewalls  7 A and  7 B and is adapted such that when the sliding panel  25  is attached to the top wall  15 , a space is formed between the bottom edge  28  of the sliding panel  25  and the bottom wall  18  of the housing  2 . The space is adapted to allow a toilet paper roll holder  33  and a reduced roll of toilet paper  43  to pass outwardly from the interior volume  21  of the housing  2 . 
     When the sliding panel  25  is slid downwardly and adjacent to the bottom wall  18 , a space is formed between the top edge  26  of the sliding panel  25  and the top wall  15  adapted to allow a full roll of toilet paper  43  to pass therethrough and into the interior volume  21  of the housing  2 . 
     The toilet paper roll holder  33  has an adjustable length and includes two telescoping tubular portions  35 A and  35 B which include a knob  36  on each exterior end thereof adapted to engage with a respective circular depression  14 A and  14 B of a respective sidewall  7 A and  7 B and wherein the toilet paper roll holder  33  further includes a spring member therein which is connected between the two telescoping tubular portions  35 A and  35 B such that its length is adjustable such that it can engage and disengage from the circular depressions  14 A and  14 B. 
     When in use, the siding panel  25  is releasably attached to the top wall of the housing wherein a first roll of toilet paper  43  can then be slid upon the toilet paper roll holder  1  and it can be attached to the circular depressions  14 A and  14 B. The sliding panel  25  can then be slid downwardly towards the bottom wall  18  of the housing  2  such that a plurality of toilet paper rolls  43  can be passed through the space between the top edge  26  of the sliding panel  25  and the top wall  15  of the housing  2  and stacked within the interior volume  21  above the toilet roll bump  6 . Then the sliding panel  25  is slid upwards and releasably attached by the magnets  42 A and  42 B to the top wall  15  of the housing  2 . 
     When an in-use roll of toilet paper  43  is reduced and it is desired to replace it with another roll of toilet paper  43 , the toilet paper roll holder  33  is disconnected from the circular depressions  14 A and  14 B, the reduced roll of toilet paper  43  is removed and the bottom most toilet paper roll  43  above the bump  6  is removed and placed on the toilet paper roll holder  33  and reconnected with the circular depressions  14 A and  14 B where the fresh roll of toilet paper  43  can be accessed and used. The remaining toilet paper rolls  43  move downwardly and rest upon the bump  6 . 
     The present invention is designed to be inserted and mounted into a pre-cut hole in a wall with the trim panel  24  visibly located adjacent to the exterior of the wall. The adhesive attachment strips  39  attach to a portion of a wall in order to keep the product mounted to a wall. The hole that is cut into a wall is to be cut as a 1-inch offset from the dimensions of the trim panel  24  as to allow the adhesive attachment strips  39  to make full contact with the wall. 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.