DECORATIVE HOLE COVER

Abstract

A device for obscuring or disguising the hole of the core or tube upon which a roll of paper is wound, including an insertion component to be inserted into the hole, and a surface component to partially or completely obscure a hole. The surface component provides a surface for the addition of a decoration. The insertion component has at least one leg to be inserted into a hole, and may include a plurality of legs. In an alternative embodiment, the means of fastening is an adhesive applied directly to the decorative surface underside for securing the surface to the roll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention is generally related to decorative components for exposed spool ends and is specifically directed to a decorative cover for the open ends of paper rolls such as toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and the like.

Discussion of the Prior Art

Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and the like are generally shipped and stored as exposed rolls wrapped around a central tube, usually made of cardboard. The central tube is generally exposed. In many applications, it is desirable to store one or more of the rolls in plain view in order to make replacement rolls readily accessible. In the past baskets or other containers have been used to store the replacement rolls and the central tube or core is exposed.

As an example, in common practice the paper or tissue which is commonly wound upon a core in order to form a roll which may be placed onto or into a holder for dispensing the paper as needed by the user. It is a further common practice to make available extra rolls proximate to the point-of-use. This is accomplished by placing such extra roll(s), by way of example, in a cabinet near the point of use, on top of the toilet tank, on a nearby shelf, or in some other easily accessible location.

For situations where the extra roll(s) of toilet paper are openly stored, many means are available to decoratively hide or disguise the roll(s). Usually such means cover an entire roll with some sort of plastic, paper, metal, or cloth device.

Other means of openly storing extra or standby rolls without decoratively disguising them include vertical stands, special shelves, or open baskets. Though these storage means have utilitarian value, the open display of the toilet paper rolls is often not in keeping with the decor of the bath or toilet room and can be considered unsightly.

It would be desirable to make this display less utilitarian in appearance and more decorative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a device for covering or disguising a core or tube-end in a decorative manner. The subject invention proposes a means to simply, inexpensively and decoratively disguise an end or both ends of a toilet paper roll so that such roll or rolls can be openly displayed in a manner that complements the decor of a bath or toilet room, or is in keeping with the taste of the person who is responsible for placing the extra roll(s) of toilet paper.

Specifically, the invention is directed to a device for obscuring or disguising the hole of the core or tube upon which a roll of paper is wound. In the preferred embodiment such device includes an insertion component to be inserted into the hole, and a surface component to partially or completely obscure the hole and the exposed edge of the paper or other material wound upon the core. The surface component may be removably attached to the insertion component. The surface component provides a surface for the addition of a decoration. Typically, the insertion component has at least one leg to be inserted into a hole or open of the tube, and may include a plurality of legs. In an alternative embodiment, the means of fastening is an adhesive applied directly to the decorative surface underside for securing the surface to the roll. Other means such as, by way of example, small pins which could be inserted in the rolled paper or material, may also be used to secure the surface component to the roll.

In one embodiment the legs are flexible compression springs by which the device is frictionally held in the tube. In the preferred embodiment the legs, when in a relaxed condition, are spaced outwardly from each other so that they must be flexed inwardly toward each other in order to be inserted into a hole.

The legs may be of any suitable material including, but not limited to metal or plastic.

Generally, the diameter of the holes or open tube end of the cores upon which toilet paper is wound is universally similar to accommodate the many toilet paper roll holders or dispensers currently on the market. It is the objective of this invention to provide a device that can fit into such holes in a manner that it self-adjusts to the hole diameter, and frictionally yet removably holds itself in-place.

It is a further objective of this invention that such device has a surface that is approximately at ninety degrees to the insertion component of the device and with a decorative surface cover of a sufficient size so as to nearly or totally cover the hole and at least a portion of the exposed ends of the paper or other material wound upon the core.

It is a further objective of this invention that such decorative surface can be fabricated in such a manner that it is decorative and pleasing to the eye.

It is a further objective of this invention that such decorative surface provides a means to which a decoration can be removably or permanently attached.

In another embodiment of this invention, a device is provided that can be attached to the end of a roll of toilet paper without an insertion means engaging the hole of the core upon which the paper is wound. Such a device is mechanically or adhesively attached to the paper itself. Similar to the previous embodiment such a device would provide a surface to cover the hole of the core as well as provide for the surface to be decorated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 are plan views showing the device with integral surface and two legs adapted to be placed in and frictionally held in the tube. Specifically, “A” is a view of the decorative surface, the legs prior to assembly and the legs after assembly.

FIG. 2 shows the top view “A” and side view “B” of the dual leg assembly.

FIG. 3 shows the decorative surface component joined with the dual leg assembly.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the alternate embodiments of the device mounted m the tube of a typical paper roll.

FIG. 6 shows a decorative device attached to a roll of paper by means of an adhesive on the underside of the decorative device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates plan views showing the device with an integral surface component and dual-leg component adapted to be placed in and frictionally held in a tube. Specifically, “A” is a view of the surface component; “B” shows the dual-leg component prior to being joined with “A”; “C” shows the dual-leg component the surface component mechanically joined together, “D” shows the dual-leg component with a magnet for attaching it to a surface component or other decorative device. With reference to FIG. 1A, the decorative device includes a generally flat surface 10 having a plurality of integral fasteners 12 for securing legs 14 (FIGS. 1B and 1C) to the underside of the surface 10. It should be understood that the legs 14 could be an integral feature of the flat surface. The surface 10 does not need to be entirely flat, but may also be a decorative feature such as a flower or the like, see FIG. 5. Also, a mounting hole 16 may be provided so that a decorative feature may be mounted on the surface 10. Generally, the diameter of the surface 10 is large enough to completely cover the tube hole or opening. It should be understood that the surface 10 does not need to be circular, as long as the perimeter 16 covers the desired area. In an alternative means of attaching a surface component or decorative item to the leg component a magnet 28 is made a part of the leg component, 20 and 22. It should be understood that in order to accomplish magnetic attachment of the surface component to the magnet 28, a ferrous material or a magnet of opposing polarity would be added to the mating side of the surface component or decorative device.

A typical leg configuration is show in FIG. 2. A top view is shown in FIG. 2A and a side view is shown in FIG. 2B. As there shown, the leg component includes a central mounting surface 18 and a pair of depending legs 20, 22. In this embodiment the legs are made of a flexible material and are angled outward and distanced apart from each other a greater distance than the diameter of a hole or tube into which the leg component is inserted. This allows the leg component along with the surface component to be frictionally attached to the tube as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The surface component may include a mounting hole 14 whereby the surface component or a decorative device 26 may be joined with the leg component having a corresponding hole and using a fastener. and a decorative element such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5.

In the preferred embodiment, the leg component is removably secured to the surface component by using the integral snap fastener fingers 12 (FIGS. 1B and 1C).

As shown in FIG. 4, the surface component 10 is suitable for mounting a decorative element on the surface 10. Such decorative element can be a decal, photograph, printed design or a three-dimensional element such as the flower 26 (FIG. 5). Also, the decorative element may be an integral component of the surface 10, where desired. Other decorative components may be used as well, such as, by way of example, an LED night-light mounted on surface 10. There may be a decal or a three-dimensional element such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5. Also, the decorative element may be an integral component of the surface I 0, where desired. Other decorative components may be used as well, such as, by way of example, an LED night light mounted on surface N.

With the surface 10 of one device being coupled to the surface 10 of a second device so that the resulting opposing legs can be inserted into opposing cores, multiple rolls may be mounted end-to-end in a column.

A perspective view of the final assembly is shown in FIG. 6. This illustrates how the decorative device of the subject invention completely obscures the open end of the mounting tube of the paper roll 32.

While certain features and embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention encompasses all enhancements and improvements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

1. decorative device to obscure the hole defined by the open end of a tube upon which paper or other material is wound, such device comprising: a) a surface component placed over an exposed edge of the wound paper or material for at least partially obscuring the open end and the wound paper or material; andb) securing means for securing the surface component to the hole.

2. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is an insertion component to be inserted in the tube open end.

3. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is an insertion component to be inserted in the exposed edge of the wound paper or material.

4. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is a pressure sensitive adhesive on the underside of the surface component.

5. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the surface component covers at least a portion the exposed edge of the paper or material wound about the tube.

6. The decorative device of claim 3, the insertion component including at least one leg to be inserted in the hole defined by the open end the tube.

7. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component including a plurality of legs to be inserted into the hole defined by the tube.

8. The decorative device of claim 7, the legs comprising a flexible material.

9. The decorative device of claim 8, the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spaced outwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of the hole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in and frictionally held in the hole.

10. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component comprising metal.

11. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component comprising plastic.

12. The decorative device of claim 9, the legs comprising a flexible material with a spring like return action so that the legs can be compressed toward the central axis of the tube and toward each other for insertion in the hole and when then released, expand outwardly from the central axis to engage the inner wall of the tube.

13. The decorative device of claim 12, the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spaced outwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of the hole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in and frictionally held in the hole.

14. The decorative device of claim 3, wherein the insertion component comprises one or more pins which may be inserted into the exposed edge of the wound paper or material.

15. The decorative device of claim 1, including a coupler for mounting a plurality of rolls end-to-end in a column with the decorative device being mounted on the ultimate exposed end.