TOILET PAPER ROLL HOLDER

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a product roll including a mount, a bar, a fixed arm, and a hinged arm. The mount is for fixing the apparatus to an object. The bar is for receiving the product roll allowing the product roll to rotate around the axis of the bar to dispense the product. The fixed arm connects a first end of the mount to a first end of the bar. The hinged arm connects a second end of the mount to a second end of the bar. The hinged arm includes a plurality of segments configured to move in response to a lateral force so as not to impede the movement of the product roll being installed onto the bar or being removed from the bar. The plurality of segments form a single element in an absence of the lateral force on the hinged arm.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to holders for product rolls, and in particular to holder for a toilet paper roll in which the toilet paper roll can be easily inserted and removed from the holder.

BACKGROUND

Holders for product rolls, such as toilet paper, paper towels, plastic wrap, etc., may be found in most households. Holders may be mounted on the wall or may be part of a stand and will typically be constructed so that the product roll is in a horizontal orientation. Product rolls consist of a thin paper or plastic film wound around a hollow roll which may be manufactured from paper, plastic, or the product itself. When installed on the holder, the product roll is received on a bar which may have a circular, elliptical, rectangular, or square cross section.

In some holders, the bar is spring loaded to be secured at either end. Unfortunately, the spring loaded bar is often difficult to install as it must be held under tension to install or remove the product roll and may slid during use. Other holders include a bar that is attached to the holder at one end. The open ended bar has the drawback that the product roll may be inadvertently knocked off the holder.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved apparatus for a product roll holder that obviates or mitigates one or more limitations of the prior art.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiment of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows for the insertion and replacement of product rolls on a holder and dispenser. The apparatus may be used for toilet paper, paper towels, plastic wrap, wax paper, parchment paper, or any other type of product where the product is wrapped on a tube and rotates around an axis in order to dispense the product.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for holding a product roll including a mount, a bar, a fixed arm, and a hinged arm. The mount is for fixing the apparatus to an object. The bar is for receiving the product roll allowing the product roll to rotate around the axis of the bar to dispense the product. The fixed arm connects a first end of the mount to a first end of the bar. The hinged arm connects a second end of the mount to a second end of the bar. The hinged arm includes one or more segments configured to move in response to a lateral force so as not to impede the movement of the product roll being installed onto the bar or being removed from the bar. The one or more segments form a single element between the mount and the bar in an absence of the lateral force on the hinged arm.

In further embodiments, the one or more segments includes a first movable segment joined to a first fixed segment through a first movable joint.

In further embodiments, the one or more segments includes a second movable segment joint to the first movable segment through second movable joint.

Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects of the present invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they are described but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodiments are mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with a single joint on the mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with a single joint on the non-mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with a single joint on both the mount side and on the non-mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus in the closed position, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 provides an illustration of a top view of a product roll holder apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus when a product roll is removed from the apparatus, according to an embodiment.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Various terms used throughout the present description may be read and understood as follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: “or” as used throughout is inclusive, as though written “and/or”; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout include their plural forms, and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart pronouns so that pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein to use, implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; “exemplary” should be understood as “illustrative” or “exemplifying” and not necessarily as “preferred” over other embodiments. Further definitions for terms may be set out herein; these may apply to prior and subsequent instances of those terms, as will be understood from a reading of the present description.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a product roll holder, such as a toilet paper roll holder, attached by any means or able to be attached by any means to a wall or mount with one side of the holder openable and closable by pushing the toilet paper either off the holder or onto the holder through a hinged door attached at one end of the side of the toilet paper holder. The openable side or “door” may swing both ways for pushing a toilet paper roll off or onto the toilet paper holder and would be attached to the toilet paper holder on one end by a hinge or any other method which could make it swing open using the force of the toilet paper being pushed off or onto the holder manually or automatically. In embodiments, the holder may be mounted horizontally, and the door may be placed on either the left or right side.

The “door” on the side of the toilet paper holder can return to position by a spring function to bring it back to its original, closed position or without a spring to be set manually back into the original, closed position. The spring function may be implemented using springs, elastics, flexible materials, or similar devices and is tensioned to return to the closed position from an inward or outwards position. The door could be stopped or prevented from returning to its original position by a piece of the toilet paper holder sticking out to stop it or any other way to prevent the door going back to its original or closed position including two oppositely charged magnets which meet as the door goes back to its original and closed position. When pushed, the “door” would allow a large, full sized toilet paper roll with its paper to go past it as the toilet paper roll slides onto the holder. At least a paperless toilet paper roll or bigger would be able to pass when taking a toilet paper roll off the holder.

In embodiments, the door on the side of the toilet paper holder may be attached to the toilet paper holder on either the right or left hand side with a hinge and have a hinge or hinges somewhere along its length which would cause the door to bend inwards at the hinge or hinges when pressure is put on it from a toilet paper roll being put onto the toilet paper holder and outwards when pressure is applied from a toilet paper roll being pushed or pulled off of the toilet paper holder. There may be tensioning means, such as a spring or multiple springs, at the hinge or hinges of the door allowing the door to be sprung back to its original position once the toilet paper roll has passed the door going on or off the toilet paper holder. This also allows the overall size of the device not have to be larger than necessary just to accommodate an unhinged door being able to close once a toilet paper roll has cleared well past it when being put onto the holder.

In embodiments, a tensioning means, a spring or springs (depending how many hinged connections chosen for the “door”), elastic, or flexible material, would act in a counter force to the direction that the toilet paper roll was being pushed against the door causing the door to naturally go back to its original position once the toilet paper roll has been pushed onto the toilet paper holder or removed, pulled or pushed, from it.

In embodiments, having more than one hinge in the door allows the door to bend at more points thus making it curl closer to the mount or bar of the toilet paper holder it is hinged on thereby causing the springs to make the door go back to its original position with less of the toilet paper roll having cleared past the door.

Embodiments increase the ease and comfort of easily taking off an existing roll of toilet paper and also makes putting a new one on equally as easy and reduces the need to manipulate the toilet paper holder in doing so. Embodiments are able to keep a closed aesthetic look to the toilet paper holder which makes it look like the door section is all one piece. Another great advantage is not needing to make the toilet paper holder bigger than a standard size holder because of the hinged arm allowing the toilet paper holder to close itself in a compact position.

In embodiments, this same mechanism and device can be used with other roll products, such as a paper towel roll and paper towel holder, to make a paper towel holder with a spring door.

FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a product roll holder apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment. The holder is secured to an object though mount 102. The object may be a wall, shelf, door, stand or any other object typically used to mount product roll holders. Mount 102 may be a single piece spanning the width of the holder. A bar 106 is used to receive a product roll 200, such as a toilet paper roll and is of an appropriate length and cross sectional size and shape to receive the product roll 200. The mount 102 and bar 106 are connected by a fixed arm 104. Fixed arm 104 is of sufficient length to provide adequate clearance between the mount 102 and the bar 106 for the product roll 200. Fixed arm 104 is also sufficiently strong to support the bar 106 and product roll 200 under normal use. Fixed arm 104 may be positioned on either the right hand side or left hand side of the holder. Hinged arm 107 includes one or more segments. A first fixed segment 108 connects hinged arm 107 to the mount 102. A second fixed 110 connects hinged arm 107 to the bar 106. In embodiments, either the first fixed segment 108, the second fixed segment 110, or both the first fixed segment 108 and the second fixed segment may be omitted. Hinged segments 112 and 114 are coupled to the first fixed segment 108 (or may be coupled directly to the mount 102 if the first fixed segment 108 is omitted). Hinged segments 112 and 114 are connected through a tensioning means 116a and 116b such as a spring or elastic that cause the hinged segments 112 and 114 to form a single element with fixed segments 108 and 110 in the absence of a force being applied to the hinged arm 107. In embodiments, the hinged arm 107 may be formed from a single, continuous flexible segment or may include a continuous flexible segment. The continuous flexible segment may include a coil or spring that may be bare or covered by a flexible material such as a mesh or plastic. The continuous flexible segment may also any other flexible material. The flexible segment may be tensioned to allow it to be pushed inwards or outwards in response to a product roll being installed or removed, but may spring back into a straight position when the lateral force is removed. When the plurality of segments of the hinged arm 107 form a single element between mount 102 and bar 106, a stopping mechanism, such as magnets 118 and 120 may be used to secure the hinged arm 107 in place between the mount 102 and the bar 106. In embodiments, only one of magnets 118 or 120 may be used. For example, if the holder includes a magnetic or steel material, a single magnet may suffice to secure the hinged segment 114 to the second fixed element 110. The movable hinged segments 112 and 114 of the hinged arm 107 may be referred to as a “door” that may open both inwards and outwards in response to a lateral force being applied to the hinged arm 107.

When a lateral force is applied to the hinged arm from either side (left of right side in the figures), the door (hinged segments 112 and 114) is pushed into an open position. When a product roll 200 is installed onto the holder the lateral force pushes the door inwards until the product roll 200 clears the door, at which point, the tensioning means 116a and 116b, pull the door back into the closed position. When a product roll 200 is removed from the holder the lateral force pushes the door outwards until the product roll 200 clears the door, at which point, the tensioning means 116a and 116b, pull the door back into the closed position.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the placement of the fixed arm 104 and the hinged arm 107 may be reversed. Furthermore, the number of hinged segments of the hinged arm 107 may be varied as long as there is sufficient space for the product roll 200 to be placed around the bar 106 while allowing the hinged arm to spring back to form a single element between the mount 102 and the bar 106. The hinged arm may also open from either the mount 102 side or the bar 106 side of the holder.

FIG. 2 provides an illustration of a dispenser apparatus with a single joint on the mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment. The single mount 102 has been replaced by two mounts 202a and 202a that together, perform the same function as single mount 102. Furthermore, hinged segments 112 and 114 have been replaced with a single hinged segment 212.

FIG. 3 provides an illustration of a dispenser apparatus with a single joint on the non-mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, hinged arm 107 is positioned so that the door, including hinged segment 212, opens from the bar 106 side rather than from the mount side as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Note that hinged segment 212 may be replaced by two hinged segments, such as hinged segments 112 and 114 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 provides an illustration of a dispenser apparatus with a single joint on both the mount side and on the non-mount side of the apparatus, according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the hinged door or hinged arm 107 opens from both the arm 106 side and the mount 202a side. Fixed segment 110 must be sufficiently short or may be omitted to allow for product roll 200 to have sufficient clearance to be installed and removed from the holder.

FIG. 5 provides an illustration of a dispenser apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus in the closed position, according to an embodiment. When no lateral force is applied to the plurality of segments of the hinged arm 107, tensioning elements 116, 116a, or 116b cause the elements 108, 112, 114, and 110 to form a single element connecting mount 102 and bar 106. Stopping mechanisms 118 and 120 secure the open end of the door between hinged segment 114 and fixed segment 110. In embodiments stopping mechanisms 118 and 120 may be magnets of opposing polarity.

FIG. 6 provides an illustration of a dispenser apparatus with two joints on the mount side of the apparatus when a product roll is removed from the apparatus, according to an embodiment. Removing the product roll 200 from the bar 106 of the holder involves applying an outwards lateral force to the door of the hinged arm 107 causing the hinged elements 112 and 114 to move outwards allowing the product roll 200 to be removed. When the outwards lateral force is removed, hinged elements 112 and 114 are pulled back into place by tensioning elements 116 and 116b and may be secured by stopping mechanisms 118 and 120.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a product roll, the apparatus comprising: a mount for fixing the apparatus to an object;a bar for receiving the product roll allowing the product roll to rotate around the axis of the bar to dispense the product;a fixed arm connecting a first end of the mount to a first end of the bar; anda hinged arm connecting a second end of the mount to a second end of the bar, the hinged arm including one or more of segments configured to move in response to a lateral force so as not to impede the movement of the product roll being installed onto the bar or being removed from the bar, the one or more segments being under tension and forming a single element between the mount and the bar in an absence of the lateral force on the hinged arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more segments comprises a first movable segment joined to a first fixed segment through a first movable joint.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the one or more segments further comprises a second movable segment joint to the first movable segment through second movable joint.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more segments comprises a continuous flexible segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the continuous flexible segment comprises a spring.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hinged arm is hinged from an end of the hinged arm coupled to the mount.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hinged arm is hinged from an end of the hinged arm coupled to the bar.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hinged arm is hinged from both the end of the hinged arm coupled to the bar and from the end of the hinged arm coupled to the bar.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an open end of the hinged arm includes a stopping mechanism to secure the open end to form the single element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the stopping mechanism includes a magnet.