Abstract:
A newspaper holder for delivering a newspaper includes a frustoconical sleeve for retaining the upper end of a coiled newspaper and a projecting hook for looping over the doorknob for looping over an exterior doorknob.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention relates to a device for delivering printed publications and in particular to a device for hanging a rolled newspaper from a door handle.  
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   Many lodging facilities, such as hotels and motels, provide complimentary copies of newspapers to their guests. The newspapers are delivered in varying ways. Some are merely left outside the door requiring the guest to fully open the door for retrieval. Others are encased in a plastic casing provided with holes for hanging on the outside doorknob. While more convenient for retrieval, the plastic casing is not readily recycled and ultimately ends up in a landfill.  
   It would accordingly be desirable to newspaper delivery vehicle that provides convenience of retrieval in an environmentally friendly format.  
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention provides a newspaper hanger formed of recycled paper stock that includes a tapered sleeve for retaining a rolled newspaper and a hook for looping the hanger and paper over the outer doorknob. The sleeve is formed from die cut planar stock in the form of an elongate band. The distal ends are interconnect to form a frustoconical sleeve having an open top and a slightly smaller open bottom. The newspaper may be conveniently mounted in the sleeve by rolling the newspaper into a coiled configuration smaller than the open bottom. The coiled newspaper is inserted into the sleeve with the top below the hook.  Upon release, the upper end of the newspaper uncoils into conformity with the sleeve to secure the newspaper. The hanger hook may be conveniently hung on the exterior doorknob for retrieval. After removal the hanger may be compacted for recyclable disposal with other paper products.  
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a newspaper holder made of recyclable materials.  
   Another object of the invention is to provide a recyclable newspaper holder formed from planar stock and assembled to handle newspapers of varying sizes.  
   A further object of the invention is to provide a newspaper holder that may be hung on an exterior doorknob and compactly holds a rolled newspaper.  

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective elevational view of a newspaper hanger carrying a rolled newspaper and hung on a doorknob in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the newspaper hanger of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the newspaper hanger of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the newspaper hanger of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the sleeve of the newspaper hanger prior to assembly;   
       FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating a rolled newspaper prior to insertion into the sleeve;  
       FIG. 7  is a front view illustrating the rolled newspaper after initial insertion into the sleeve;  
       FIG. 8  is a front view illustrating the roller newspaper in storage position in the sleeve; and  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the newspaper hanger.  
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
   Referring to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and not for limiting same,  FIG. 1  shows a newspaper hanger  10  carrying a rolled newspaper  12  and hanging from the doorknob  14  of a door  16 . In one preferred usage, the newspaper hanger  10  carries a complimentary copy of a news publication oftentimes provided at lodgings such as hotels and motels.  
   As additionally shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the hanger  10  includes a selectively expandable frustoconical sleeve  20  terminating with an upwardly extending hook  22  that is placed over the stem of the doorknob. The hanger  10 , as explained in greater detail below, is formed from flat paper stock preferably having recycled fiber content.  
   The sleeve  20  is formed from a single length of stock as shown in  FIG. 5 . The sleeve  20  in assembly comprises an elongate band  24  having a generally circular upper rim  26  and a generally circular lower rim  28  of lesser diameter, with the band circumscribing, in assembly, a shallow downwardly converging conical angle of about 50 to 15°. The axial width of  the band  24  is around 2 to 4 inches with an upper diameter varying between about 2½ to 4 inches. The edges defining the rims  26 ,  28  may be straight, curvilinear or decoratively sculpted depending on aesthetic preferences. The front of the sleeve  20  may be imprinted with indicia  30  denoting goods, services or other types of written information.  
   One distal end  32  of the band  24  is provided with transversely downwardly extending, longitudinally circumferentially spaced slits  34  extending from the upper rim  26  and defining tabs  36 . The other distal end  42  of the band  24  is provided with transversely upwardly extending, longitudinally circumferentially spaced slits  44  extending from the lower rim  28  and defining tabs  46 . In assembly, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the ends are overlapped and the tabs  36 ,  46  interlocked at the slits  34 ,  44  to establish the frustoconical sleeve  20  of appropriate size for holding the current newspaper. Different tabs and slits may be interlocked for providing varying sized openings selected for a range of publication sizes.  
   The hook  22  may be integral with the band  24  or assembled as a separate piece as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and described below. There, the hook  22  includes a vertical stem  48  attached integrally with the band  24  terminating with an inverted semicircular loop  49 . The inner edge of the loop has a radius substantially greater than the stem of the doorknob thereby facilitating simple insertion thereover for supporting the hanger and associated newspaper.  
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the hook  22  may be formed as a separate item with an elongated stem  50  that is attached to the sleeve  20  by suitable means such as the illustrated staples  52  or other suitable mechanical or adhesive  attachment. It will also be appreciated that the distal ends may be overlapped and joined, mechanically or adhesively, for a desired size configuration. Further, the assembly may be folded to a flat configuration for compacting shipping and storage.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the sleeve is initially adjusted to present an opening for the size newspaper  12  being delivered through interlocking at the slits  36 ,  46 . Thereafter, the newspaper  12  is rolled to a diameter smaller than the bottom opening in the sleeve  20  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The rolled newspaper  50  is inserted upwardly or downwardly into the sleeve  20  with the upper end thereof spaced slightly above the upper rim but not interfering with the opening on the hook  22  as shown in  FIG. 7 . When released, the upper end of the newspaper uncoils and conforms with the inner surface of the band, tightly holding the newspaper in place. The hanger is then placed on the doorknob at delivery site for convenient retrieval by the guest.  
   Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.