Patent Application
20060261211
Rolled sheet material such as toilet paper and paper towels are often dispensed using a spring within two tubes or the like. Such a construction makes removing or installing a roll on the tube difficult, particularly for those with a disability such as arthritis or neuritis.
Loose parts can be dropped or lost resulting in needless lost time or in improper functioning. For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide an improved dispenser which makes the removal and installation of a roll simpler and easier by limiting the loose or moveable parts.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a paper dispenser may comprise a back plate for attachment to a surface, a first bar, and a second bar. In at least one embodiment of the invention the second bar may extend from the back plate and have a first component and a second component forming an L-shape. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first component may be rotatably attached to the back plate or a mounting bar. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second component may extend from the first component and be constructed and arranged to removably accept a roll of paper thereabout.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the dispenser has an engaged position and an unengaged position. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar engages the first bar in the engaged position. In at least one embodiment of the invention, in the unengaged position the second bar does not engage the first bar.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar is rotatably attached as to provide one degree of rotational freedom.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar is rotatably attached as to provide two degrees of rotational freedom.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar is rotatably attached as to provide three degrees of rotational freedom.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar rotates about the first axis.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the second bar rotates about an axis which is parallel to the back plate.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first bar and the first component may extend substantially perpendicular from the bar plate.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the engaged position includes mechanical or magnetic engagement of the second component to the first bar.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the back plate may pivotally engage the first component.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the back plate may include a mounting bar which pivotally engages the first component.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first component of the second bar is constructed and arranged to pivot from an engaged position to an unengaged position. In at least one embodiment of the invention, in the engaged position the second component of the second bar engaging the first bar and in the unengaged position the first component rotated 60 to 90 degrees from the engaged position.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first component of the second bar may be connected to the back plate or mounting bar to form a ratcheted pivot rotatable about a range of degrees such that the first component and/or the second bar are stable about multiple positions along a range of degrees.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the back plate may rotatably engage the first component having a longitudinal axis and the first component may be substantially rotatable about the longitudinal axis.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first component of the second bar is rotatable from an engaged position to an unengaged position such that when in the engaged position the second component of the second bar engages the first bar and when in the unengaged position the second bar does not engage or contact the first bar. The unengaged position may provide up to 120 degrees rotation from the engaged position.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the unengaged position is stable. A stable position in this disclosure refers to a position in which the position is maintained under the force of gravity. It also refers to positions in which if a force is applied and movement from the stable position occurs the movement will not necessarily result in continued movement to the engaged position, in fact in some instances, the original stable position will be regained.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first bar and the first component are substantially parallel to the back plate. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first bar and the first component are substantially within the same plane as the back plate.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the back plate may be constructed and arranged to have a cut-out portion that may be positioned about a depression in the surface to which the back plate is attached.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first bar includes a slot or notch in which the second component may be disposed.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first component may be constructed and arranged to rotate such that the first component is stable through substantially all degrees to rotation.
In at least one embodiment the mounting bar may have a positioning slot wherein a protrusion on the second bar is constructed and arranged to slide. In at least one embodiment, rotation of the second bar is limited by the ends of the slot.
In at least one embodiment, the dispenser is sized to receive a roll of toilet paper or paper towels.
In at least one embodiment, the second component has at least one positioning bump.
In at least one embodiment, the second bar is not stable in the unengaged position. In at least one embodiment, the user must prevent the second bar from moving from an unengaged position to an engaged postion.
In at least one embodiment, the dispenser does not include a back plate. In at least one embodiment, the first bar and the mount bar are directly mounted to a surface. In at least one embodiment, the first and second bars are directly mounted to a surface.
In at least one embodiment, a rotatable portion exists on the first component itself. In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the second bar may be constructed and arranged to pivot from an engaged position to an unengaged position These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a embodiments of the invention.
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. The rolled sheets in this application may be toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, etc.
Referring to
The second bar 40 may be designed such that when in an engaged position the second component is engaged to first bar 30. In at least one embodiment, first bar 30 may have a notch 50 into which the second component 40b may rest. In at least one embodiment, first bar 30 does not have a notch. In at least one embodiment the first bar and the second component 40b are magnetically engaged.
In an unengaged position the second component 40b is not engaged to the first bar 30 as the second bar 40 moves about connection 55. The connection 55 may be such that the second bar 40 may move or pivot such that it is pivotally attached to back plate 20. Second bar 40 may be moved such that a roll 15 may be removed from or disposed about the second component 40b. As shown in
In addition a set of co-ordinate axes are illustrated. First component 40a in the engaged position lies along the z-axis 42 and perpendicular to the xy-plane having an x-axis 44 and a y-axis 46. In at least one embodiment, second bar 40 pivots about the x-axis 44. In at least one embodiment, second bar 40 pivots/rotates about the z-axis. In at least one embodiment, second bar 40 has two degrees of rotational freedom and pivots about both the x-axis and the z-axis.
In
In
It should be noted that slot 70 may not be a single straight slot as shown. Instead, the slot may have additional cut-out portions into which the protrusion 75 may enter and thus be in a stable position.
In
In
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. The various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
The description above describes several embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
