Present invention relates to a toilet paper holder, particularly a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder capable of being alternatively used as a door hook hanger for hanging an object.
A toilet paper holder is commonly mounted to a wall in the surrounding area of a toilet. The installation of such a wall-mounted toilet paper holder requires mechanical fasteners and anchoring devices. In some cases, installation may require cutting an opening in the wall. Therefore, there is a need to provide a toilet paper holder that is ready for use without requiring any installation hardware or effort.
A toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder meets this need. It is also advantageous to use a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder in conjunction with a wall-mounted toilet paper holder. As a result, it provides an extra toilet paper roll in the surrounding area of toilet, so that a person can avoid an embarrassing situation of running out toilet paper while using toilet.
A toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder of prior art, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,244,804, 3,799,467, D393,389 or 4,074,872, typically comprises of a U hook for mounting to toilet tank, and a holder section for storing and/or dispensing toilet paper. In prior art, the opening or size of U hook is equivalent to thickness of toilet tank wall. It is commonly acknowledged in the field that an over-sized U hook may shift position or swing if it is hung over a vertical panel having a thickness much smaller than the size of U hook.
However, author of present invention discovers that an over-sized U hook is indeed suitable for use in a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder. This is because, after hanging U hook over top edge of toilet tank wall, a toilet tank cover will be placed on top edge of toilet tank to close toilet tank. The counter weight of toilet tank cover and the peripheral side wall of toilet tank cover restrict movement of U hook. Mounting an over-sized U hook to toilet tank consists of the following steps: (1). removing toilet tank cover from toilet tank, (2). hanging U hook over the top edge of toilet tank wall, (3). pushing U hook inward until the outer leg of U hook being positioned immediately adjacent to the outer surface of toilet tank wall without clearance; (4). placing toilet tank cover back to toilet tank.
Based on the above discovery, objects of present invention are: First, select the size of U hook of toilet paper holder to be equivalent to thickness of a standard interior door, which is much greater than thickness of toilet tank wall. In fact, among various doors or walls including a standard interior door, an office partition modular wall, a cabinet door, a glass door and a shower glass door, standard interior door is the thickest door. Second, configure the holder section of toilet paper holder not only suitable for storing and dispensing a toilet paper roll, but also suitable for hanging object such as garment or bath towel. Third, provides a single apparatus not only for use as a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder, but also for use as a door hook hanger for a standard interior door. Finally, provides a single apparatus not only for use as a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder, but also for use as a universal door hook hanger for various doors or walls as illustrated above.
Final object of present invention is achieved by providing a means of performing a clamping action of U hook. Such a means is provided by installing a thread hole in U hook, engaging a thread bolt to the thread hole, and forcibly tightening thread bolt against door.
Numerous door hook hangers have been disclosed in prior art. Door hook hanger of prior art is typically provided with a loading member such as a J hook for hanging an object. However, loading member of prior art is only capable of hanging an object, but not capable of receiving a toilet paper roll through the central hollow core of toilet paper roll. Therefore, no door hook hanger of prior art can be alternatively used as a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder. Particularly, no door hook hanger of prior art is adjustable to fit various door sizes by performing the clamping action as described above. From another aspect, clamping action as disclosed by present invention not only provides a means for adjusting size of U hook to fit various door sizes, but also provides a positive means for positively securing U hook to door by forcibly tightening thread bolt against door. As a result, U hook can't possibly swing or shift position during opening and closing of door.
One object of present invention is to provide a single apparatus for use as a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder, or a door hook hanger for a standard interior door.
Another object of present invention is to provide a universal door hook hanger that is made of a single apparatus capable of securely mounting to various doors with various thicknesses without a possibility of swinging or shifting position during opening and closing of door.
Another object of present invention is to provide a single apparatus for use as a toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder, or a universal door hook hanger capable of securely mounting to various doors with various thicknesses without a possibility of swinging or shifting position during opening and closing of door.
Another object of present invention is to combine toilet paper holder and door hook hanger as a single economical apparatus that offers a significant commercial marketing advantage.
In
Toilet paper holder 1 of
(1). Top plate 6 is a relatively thin plate, and is placed immediately adjacent to top edge of door without clearance when U hook 2 is hung over top edge of door. As a result, top plate 6 does not hit against a door jamb upon attempted closing of door. (2). Back plate 4 is a relatively thin plate so that door is capable of being fully closed when U hook 2 is hung over the door with back plate 4 facing the closing direction of door. (3). Front plate 5 is a relatively thin plate so that door is capable of being fully closed when U hook 2 is hung over the door with front plate 5 facing the closing direction of door. (4). Toilet paper holder 1 is capable of hanging an object on either closing or opening side of door without preventing door from being fully closed.
By providing thread hole 16 and thread bolt 17 as described above, U hook 15 is capable of performing a clamping action when U hook 15 is hung over a door having thickness smaller than the size or opening 22 of U hook 15. Clamping action is performed by engaging thread bolt 17 to thread hole 16, and turning and forcibly tightening thread bolt 17 against door when door is positioned in internal space 23 of U hook 15 between front plate 24 and back plate 14. By performing such a clamping action, toilet-tank-mounted toilet paper holder 13 of
Clearly, there is no need to engage thread bolt 17 to thread hole 16 for performing the clamping action when U hook 15 is hung over a standard interior door. In another word, holder 13 of
It is important to note that, when U hook 15 is hung over a door having thickness smaller than that of standard interior door, holder 13 of
By providing thread hole 26 and thread bolt 30 as described above, U hook 28 is capable of performing a clamping action by engaging thread bolt 30 to thread hole 26, and turning and forcibly tightening thread bolt 30 against door when U hook 28 is hung over top edge of door.
Clearly, U hook 28 has a size equivalent to thickness of a standard interior door, so that thread bolt 30 does not need to be engaged to thread hole 26 for performing the clamping action when U hook 28 is hung over a standard interior door. In another word, holder 25 of
It is important to note that, when U hook 28 is hung over a door having thickness smaller than that of standard interior door, holder 25 of
By providing thread hole 36, thread hole 37, and thread bolt 40 as described above, U hook 43 is capable of performing a clamping action by engaging thread bolt 40 to one of thread holes 36 and 37, and turning and forcibly tightening thread bolt 40 against door when U hook 43 is hung over top edge of door.
By performing the clamping action, holder 35 of
For example, if it is desirable to use holder 35 for hanging object on the opening side of door, clamping action is performed by engaging thread bolt 40 to thread hole 37 at front plate 39, so that back plate 38 of U hook 43 on the closing side of door can be positioned immediately adjacent to door without clearance after performing the clamping action. Otherwise, back plate 38 may hit against a door transom upon attempted closing of door, and thus prevents door from being fully closed.
For another example, if it is desirable to use holder 35 for hanging object on the closing side of door, clamping action is performed by engaging thread bolt 40 to thread hole 36 at back plate 38, so that front plate 39 of U hook 43 on the closing side of door can be positioned immediately adjacent to door without clearance after performing the clamping action. Otherwise, front plate 39 may hit against a door transom upon attempted closing of door, and thus prevents door from being fully closed.
Clearly, U hook 43 has a size equivalent to thickness of a standard interior door, so that thread bolt 40 does not need to be engaged to any of thread holes 36 and 37 for performing the clamping action when U hook 43 is hung over a standard interior door. In another word, holder 35 of
Under condition that thread holes 36 and 37 are reinforced by bosses 41 and 42 respectively, thread holes 36 and 37 shall be adequately distanced from top edges 44 and 45 of back plate 38 and front plate 39 respectively. As a result, thread holes 36 and 37 are at a height below that of a door transom when U hook 43 is hung over top edge of door, so that boss 41 or 42 on the closing side of door can't possibly hit against the door transom upon attempted closing of door, and thus enables door to be fully closed.
Clearly, toilet paper holder 35 of
It is understood that the above preferred embodiments of present invention are intended for demonstrating the scope of present invention. Therefore, they may be subjected to variations or modifications without exceeding the scope of present invention. For example, referring to