Patent Application
20080017684
Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10,for dispensing paper towels in a public restroom. The apparatus 10 comprises a container member 2 that is disposed one of inside and beneath a sink counter top for holding paper towels, such container member 2 having a first predetermined shape, a first predetermined size and formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member 4 is removably engageable with the container member 2, such lid member 4 has a second predetermined shape, a second predetermined size and is formed of a second predetermined material. A release port 6 is disposed in the lid member 4 for dispensing such paper towels one at a time.
The first predetermined shape of the container member 2 is one of cylindrical, rectangular, oval, and hexagonal. It is presently preferred that such shape of the container member 2 is substantially cylindrical. The second predetermined shape of the lid member 4 can also be any shape to fit the contour of the design, thus, it could be round (preferable), square, hexagonal, oval or any desired shape.
It is also presently preferred that such first predetermined shape of the container member 2 further includes a lip portion 8 that engages such sink counter top so as to maintain the position of the container member 2 into the counter top. The lip portion 8 also prevents the container member from falling through the sink where the sink is shallow and has only a counter top and there is no part of the sink below the container member 2.
As stated previously the lid member 4 is removably engageable with the container member 4. It is removably engageable by means of being a snap on and screw on. It is presently preferred that such lid member 4 is removably engageable with the container member 2 by a snap on arrangement. The lid member 4 is removed for the addition of replacement paper towels. When new towels are added the first towel is pulled up through the release port 8 in the lid member 4 and then the lid member 4 is snapped on to the container member 2. Further the release port 8 is disposed substantially in a center of the lid member 4.
There is also a rubber seal on the underside of the lid member 2 where it would seal against the lip portion 6 of the container member 4 so as to prevent any water from leaking into the container member 3.
In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus 10 disposed in a sink:counter top for dispensing paper towels. Such sink counter top can be anywhere. The apparatus 10 comprises a container member 2 disposed one of inside or beneath such sink counter top for holding paper towels. The container member 2 has a first predetermined shape, a first predetermined size and is formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member 4 is removably engageable with the container member 2, such lid member 4 has a second predetermined shape, a second predetermined size and is formed of a second predetermined material. A release port 6 is disposed in the lid member 4 for dispensing such paper towels one at a time.
Such first predetermined material can be one of metal, plastic or combinations thereof. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic. Being made of plastic there is no problem with rusting of any of the parts. The second predetermined material can also be metal or plastic. It is preferred that such second material be the same as the first predetermined material.
Thus, the present invention provides a counter top dispenser that is designed for use in commercial or public restroom sink fixtures. The dispenser provides easy access to paper towels with which to dry the hands after washing. Presently in most publis restrooms the towel dispenser or the drying apparatus is disposed on a wall that is generally far removed from the sink. This means that the user has to walk across the floor with wet and possibly dripping hands thereby dripping water on the floor which can be a safety problem since wet floors can be slippery. The dispenser in the present invention is made to hold and offer one towel at a time through a specially designed lid. The dispenser is a built-in or add-on towel dispensing unit.
The preferably round counter top container is mounted inside or beneath the sink counter top in a predetermined manner within reach of the sink itself. The lid with a release port that allows the user to pull a single towel out of the dispenser is placed atop the container. The lid member is flush with the counter top. The towels placed inside the container are fed through the hole in the lid and are torn off one at a time. As stated previously the lid is removable so as to permit the addition of replacement towels which are placed inside. Upon replacement of the lid, the first towel is fed through the jagged release port to begin the release.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/832,869 filed Jul. 24, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60832869 | Jul 2006 | US |
