FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to bathroom hardware. More specifically, the present invention is a toilet paper holder that can hold and dispense toilet paper conveniently.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In today's market we see a variety of toilet paper rolls. These toilet paper rolls differ in terms of packaging, thickness, and the design printed on each of the sheets of the roll. Regardless of the appearance, all toilet paper rolls have a similar structure. More specifically, all toilet paper rolls have a structure in which the toilet paper is rolled around a center roll. The center roll is generally made of cardboard or a similar lightweight material.
Toilet paper holders are widely used when utilizing toilet paper rolls. The main intention of the toilet paper holder is to aid the process of removing sheets from the toilet paper roll. However, the existing toilet paper roll holders come with a series of disadvantages. In general, these toilet paper roll holders contain an axle that is inserted into the center roll mentioned earlier. The axle serves as a rotational axis for the toilet paper roll. As a result, the user can roll the toilet paper roll about the axle while removing a preferred number of sheets.
As experienced by many individuals, toilet paper rolls are not always replaced as necessary. The tedious maneuver involved in replacing the toilet paper roll is one of the reasons individuals are hesitant to replace the roll as required. Even though the process is straightforward, certain individuals may not be willing to go through the process, especially in public restrooms.
The waste of toilet paper is another disadvantage related to the existing toilet paper roll holders. As an example, toilet paper holders with a vertical axle have more friction when compared to other toilet paper holders with a horizontal axle. To overcome resistance, the user applies more force on the toilet paper roll which often results in a waste of toilet paper sheets.
As described earlier, the center roll is made of cardboard. Even though it is a minimal cost when considering a single toilet paper roll, the cost of the cardboard center roll adds up when producing toilet paper rolls in large quantities. However, the cardboard center roll is essential for the toilet paper rolls in order to be used with the existing roll holders.
The objective of the present invention is to address the aforementioned issues. The present invention is a toilet paper roll holder and dispenser that can be used with a variety of toilet paper rolls. In particular, the effective design allows toilet paper rolls with a center roll and without a center roll to be used with the present invention. As a result of promoting toilet paper rolls without a center roll, the expense in manufacturing a roll can be reduced considerably. A cutting section of the present invention allows toilet paper to be dispensed with minimum effort. In particular, the cutting section reduces the waste of toilet paper sheets which is inevitable with the existing toilet paper roll holders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the canopy is in the closed configuration.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the canopy is in the open configuration.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention, wherein the canopy is in the open configuration.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slat used in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the slat used in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket used in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the mounting bracket used in the present invention, wherein the mounting bracket is fixed to the mounting surface with the at least one fastener.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the connection between the at least one fastener and the mounting bracket.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the present invention, wherein the mounting bracket is at a first position.
FIG. 10 is a back view of the present invention, wherein the mounting bracket is at the first position.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the present invention, wherein the mounting bracket is at a second position.
FIG. 12 is a back view of the present invention, wherein the mounting bracket is at the second position.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the tray used in the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a right side view of the present invention, wherein the slat is in the dispensing configuration.
FIG. 16 is a right side view of the present invention, wherein the slat is in the clamping and cutting configuration.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is an apparatus that helps a user store a toilet paper roll and dispense sheets from the toilet paper roll conveniently. The effective design of the present invention allows the user to store toilet paper rolls with a center reel and also spool-less toilet paper rolls. Furthermore, the cutting mechanism utilized in the present invention eliminates the waste of toilet paper.
As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention comprises a roll-receiving seat 1, a canopy 8, and a clamp and cut mechanism 14. When the present invention is utilized with a toilet paper roll, the toilet paper roll is stored within the roll-receiving seat 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the roll-receiving seat 1 is designed to correspond to a standard toilet paper roll. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the roll-receiving seat 1 can vary in size and shape. The toilet paper roll is inserted into the roll-receiving seat 1 and is secured in place with the canopy 8. According to the position of the canopy 8, the present invention has a closed configuration as shown in FIG. 1 and an open configuration as shown in FIG. 2. The open configuration and the closed configuration are used when replacing the toilet paper roll within the roll-receiving seat 1. The clamp and cut mechanism 14 is utilized to remove a plurality of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper roll conveniently.
In reference to FIGS. 1-3, the roll-receiving seat 1 comprises an opening 2, a first side panel 3, a second side panel 4, a backing 5, and a base 6. The user accesses the toilet paper roll placed within the roll-receiving seat 1 through the opening 2 which is created by the first side panel 3, the second side panel 4, the backing 5, and the base 6. More specifically, the opening 2 is delineated by a distal edge 7 of the first side panel 3, a distal edge 7 of the second side panel 4, a distal edge 7 of the backing 5, and a distal edge 7 of the base 6. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening 2 is sufficiently sized in order to secure a standard toilet paper roll. In order to access the opening 2, the user controls the canopy 8 which is positioned across the opening 2. Since the canopy 8 is pivotally mounted between the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4, adjacent to the backing 5, the user pivots the canopy 8 in order to access the opening 2.
As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4 are parallel to each other. The parallel positioning of the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4 supports the toilet paper roll within the roll-receiving seat 1. Additionally, the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4 ensure that the toilet paper roll has minimum askew movement when the user dispenses the plurality of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper roll placed within the roll-receiving seat 1. The first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4 are offset from each other across the backing 5 such that the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4 are positioned parallel to each other. On the other hand, the backing 5 is adjacently and perpendicularly connected to the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4. As a result, the first side panel 3, the second side panel 4, and the backing 5 functions together to keep the toilet paper roll stationary within the roll-receiving seat 1. The final section that creates the opening 2 of the roll-receiving seat 1 is the base 6. The base 6 is adjacently and perpendicularly connected to the backing, the first side panel 3, and the second side panel 4, such that the toilet paper roll sits on the base 6 when inserted into the roll-receiving seat 1.
As discussed earlier, the canopy 8 is positioned across the opening 2. The canopy 8 comprises a fixed edge 9, a first side edge 10, a second side edge 11, a free edge 12, and an upper set of gripping teeth 13. Since the canopy 8 is pivotally mounted, the fixed edge 9 is along the pivotal points of the canopy 8 as illustrated in FIG. 14. More specifically, the fixed edge 9 is pivotally connected between the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4. The free edge 12 is positioned opposite the fixed edge 9 across the canopy 8. In the closed configuration, the free edge 12 is positioned adjacent to the distal edge 7 of the base 6. In contrast, the free edge 12 is positioned away from the distal edge 7 of the base 6 in the open configuration. The upper set of gripping teeth 13 is utilized in the process of holding the plurality of toilet paper sheets. In order to do so, the upper set of gripping teeth 13 is externally integrated into the canopy 8 along the free edge 12. Since the canopy 8 is positioned in between the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4, the first side edge 10 is positioned adjacent to the distal edge 7 of the first side panel 3 Likewise, the second side edge 11 is positioned adjacent to the distal edge 7 of the second side panel 4. As a result, the canopy 8 completely conceals the opening 2 in the closed configuration.
The clamp and cut mechanism 14 utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. As illustrated the clamp and cut mechanism 14 comprises a slat 15, a lower set of gripping teeth 18, and a set of cutting teeth 19. The slat 15, which comprises a first lengthwise edge 16 and a second lengthwise edge 17, holds the lower set of gripping teeth 18 and the set of cutting teeth 19. More specifically, the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is connected along the first lengthwise edge 16. The lower set of gripping teeth 18 is utilized to correspond to the upper set of gripping teeth 13 of the canopy 8. In order to function in conjunction with the upper set of gripping teeth 13, the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is oriented towards the canopy 8. In contrast to the positioning of the lower set of gripping teeth 18, the set of cutting teeth 19 is connected along the second lengthwise edge 17. Since the second lengthwise edge 17 is positioned opposite the first lengthwise edge 16 across the slat 15, the lower set of gripping teeth 18 and the set of cutting teeth 19 are also positioned opposite to each other across the slat 15. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slat 15 is pivotally mounted between the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4. The position of the slat 15 is beneficial when clamping and cutting the plurality of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper roll placed within the roll-receiving seat 1. Moreover, the first lengthwise edge 16 is positioned in between the distal edge 7 of the base 6, and the free edge 12 of the canopy 8. The orientation of the slat 15 is important to allow the lower set of gripping teeth 18 to engage with the upper set of gripping teeth 13.
When the slat 15 is pivotally mounted in between the first side panel 3 and the second side panel 4, the slat 15 has a dispensing configuration and a clamping and cutting configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 15, when the slat 15 is in the dispensing configuration, the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is offset from the upper set of gripping teeth 13. Since the upper set of gripping teeth 13 is positioned along the free edge 12 of the canopy 8, the user can proceed to dispense the plurality of toilet paper sheets through the gap created in between the free edge 12 and the lower set of gripping teeth 18 in the dispensing configuration.
The clamping and cutting configuration is illustrated in FIG. 16. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is being pressed against the upper set of gripping teeth 13 which is positioned along the free edge 12 of the canopy 8. The dispensing process is halted when the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is pressed against the upper set of gripping teeth 13. More specifically, the plurality of toilet paper sheets is clamped in between the lower set of gripping teeth 18 and the upper set of gripping teeth 13. In order to detach the plurality of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper roll, the user utilizes the set of cutting teeth 19.
The present invention further comprises a first stop 20 and a second stop 21 which are illustrated in FIG. 3. The first stop 20 is internally and adjacently connected to the first side panel 3. Likewise, the second stop 21 is internally and adjacently connected to the second side panel 4. When the canopy 8 is in the closed configuration, the free edge 12 is pressed against the first stop 20 and the second stop 21 such that the canopy 8 remains stationary in the closed configuration. The canopy 8 needs to remain stationary in the dispensing configuration such that the plurality of toilet paper sheets can be dispensed through the gap created in between the free edge 12 and the first lengthwise edge 16 of the slat 15. Similarly, the canopy 8 needs to remain stationary in the clamping and cutting configuration such that the lower set of gripping teeth 18 is allowed to be pressed against the upper set of gripping teeth 13.
A mounting bracket 22 is utilized to attach the backing 5 to a mounting surface 100 such as a wall. The mounting bracket 22 utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the mounting bracket 22 is attached to the wall with an at least one fastener 23. The at least one fastener 23 traverses through the mounting bracket 22 such that the mounting bracket 22 is fixed to the mounting surface 100. The present invention comprises an at least one protrusion 24 which is connected normal to the mounting bracket 22 as shown in FIG. 7.
The at least one protrusion 24 is utilized to connect the mounting bracket 22 to the backing. In order to receive the at least one protrusion 24, the present invention comprises an at least one track 25. The at least one track 25 is integrated into the backing 5. Therefore, the mounting bracket 22 is positioned in parallel to the backing 5 when the at least one protrusion 24 is slidably engaged to the at least one track 25. Since the at least one protrusion 24 extends from the mounting bracket 22, the mounting bracket 22 is also slidably attached to the backing 5. The different positions available through the slidable engagement between the backing 5 and the mounting bracket 22 are illustrated in FIGS. 9-12.
A tray 26 utilized in the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 13. The tray 26 is detachably attached in between the distal edge 7 of the first side panel 3 and the distal edge 7 of the second side panel 4. Furthermore, the tray 26 is positioned in between the distal edge 7 of the backing 5 and the fixed edge 9 of the canopy 8 as seen in FIG. 14. The tray 26 is utilized to hold small items including, but not limited to, keys and a mobile phone.
In utilizing the present invention, the following process flow is followed. Initially, the user mounts the mounting bracket 22 to the mounting surface 100. In doing so, the at least one fastener 23 is utilized. In particular, the at least one fastener 23 traverses through the mounting bracket 22 such that the mounting bracket 22 is pressed against the mounting surface 100. Next, the user positions the roll-receiving seat 1 such that the at least one track 25 is allowed to receive the at least one protrusion 24 connected to the mounting bracket 22. When the at least one track 25 receives the at least one protrusion 24, the mounting bracket 22 is positioned in parallel to the backing 5. The user is allowed to set the present invention at a preferred height since the mounting bracket 22 and the at least one protrusion 24 is slidably engaged to the at least one track 25.
When installing the present invention is complete, the user proceeds by inserting the toilet paper roll. In doing so, the canopy 8 is positioned into the open configuration and the toilet paper roll is inserted through the opening 2. Next, the canopy 8 is positioned in the closed configuration such that the toilet paper roll is secured within the roll-receiving seat 1. When removing the plurality of toilet paper sheets, the plurality of toilet paper sheets are initially dispensed when the slat 15 is in the dispensing configuration. Upon dispensing the plurality of toilet paper sheets, the user tears the plurality of toilet paper sheets from the toilet paper roll by positioning the slat 15 in the clamping and cutting configuration. If the user intends on storing an item such as a key or a mobile phone, the tray 26 can be utilized.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20160367087
