Spring-biased toilet tissue holder

Abstract

A spring-biased toilet tissue holder for conveniently retaining a roll of tissue. The holder includes a roller having a tubular body with end plugs configured to be received within the arms of the holder. The end plugs include radial flanges for decorative purposes and to aid in the removal of the roller with the cardboard tube. One of the end plugs include a depressible spring-biased button to facilitate removal and insertion of the roller into the holder. The button is received within a cavity formed in the end plug and includes a stem extending through an aperture in the cavity. A retainer ring prevents withdrawal of the stem from the aperture. A spring is coaxially mounted to the stem to bias the button outwardly.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/277,603 filed on Mar. 21, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] I. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a holder for retaining a roll of toilet tissue in convenient access and, in particular, to a spring-biased roller for the tissue roll which facilitates replacement of the tissue roll as needed.

[0004] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] It is convenient to have toilet tissue at hand near the toilet for immediate dispensing. Typically, toilet tissue is supplied in continuous rolls of interconnected sheets allowing users to unroll the desired amount before tearing away the dispensed portion. Although the tissue paper could be unwound from the roll, it has become far more convenient to mount the roll to a tissue paper holder which includes an axial roller allowing the paper to be unrolled as necessary The roller is detachably retained by a bracket which is secured to a wall or other surface proximate the toilet.

[0006] In order to facilitate replacement of the tissue roll, the roller is telescopically contractible to allow removal of the roller from the bracket. The bracket may include a pair of arms having apertures for receiving the ends of the roller and retaining the roller in a horizontal position. In order to insert and remove the roller, the roller is longitudinally contractible. Typical prior known rollers include two telescoping sections and an inner spring for biasing the roller sections to the extended position. The roller is inserted through the axial tube of the tissue roll and contracted to pass past the arms of the bracket. The ends of the roller are inserted into the apertures allowing the roller to expand to seat within the aperture. These prior known rollers are fairly utilitarian in structure and design. In some cases, unless carefully handled, the sections of the roller will separate requiring reassembly by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known toilet tissue holders by providing a uniquely designed roller having a spring-biased end button for retention in the holder

[0008] The toilet tissue holder of the present invention includes a fixed bracket capable of being mounted to a flat surface such as a wall proximate the toilet. The bracket will typically include a pair of arms extending from the wall, the arms having apertures in the inwardly disposed surfaces of the arms. The apertures are configured to receive the ends of the roller to support the roller in a horizontal position between the arms.

[0009] The roller has a spring-biased component to facilitate insertion and removal of the roller, and the tissue roll, within the bracket arms. The roller of the preferred embodiment includes a tubular body having internally threaded ends. One end threadably receives an end plug having a fixed hub. The other end threadably receives an end plug with a biasingly contractible button which operates as a hub. The plug of the secured end includes an internal cavity open to the exterior of the roller and an axial aperture at the inner end of the cavity. The button includes a stem which is received in the aperture of the cavity and which operates as an axis for a spring mounted to the button. Upon insertion of the button stem through the aperture, the button is movably seated within the cavity and the spring is biasingly disposed between the end wall of the cavity end of the stem prevents withdrawal of the stem from the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the end plugs include radial flanges which can operate as decorative components to conceal the center tube of the tissue roll

[0010] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the view and in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet tissue roller embodying the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the roller; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] Referring to the drawing, there is shown a toilet tissue roller 10 adapted to retain a roll of continuous tissue paper for dispensing by unwinding the tissue paper. As is well known, the roller 10 is adapted to be received within a bracket (not shown) designed to retain the roller 10 and therefore the tissue roll in a horizontal position. For purposes of description of the present invention, the bracket typically includes a pair of spaced apart arms having apertures formed in the inwardly disposed surfaces thereof The roller 10 is received within the apertures of the arms to maintain the roller 10 in a spaced apart relationship from the bracket wall.

[0016] The roller 10 of the present invention has a generally cylindrical configuration and includes a tubular elongated body 12 having a length substantially corresponding to the length of a typical roll of toilet tissue and a diameter capable of fitting within the tube of the tissue roll. The tubular body 12 has a first end 14 and a second end 16 which receive first end member 18 and second end member 20, respectively. The first and second end members 18, 20 are matingly received within the respective ends 14, 16. In a preferred embodiment, the ends 14, 16 of the body 12 are internally threaded 22 to threadably receive the end members 18, 20. The end members 18, 20 are in the nature of plugs to close off the ends 14, 16 of the body 12. Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the end plugs 18, 20 are formed with radial flanges 24 which provide a decorative accent as will be subsequently described.

[0017] The first end member 18 is an integral plug including the radial flange 24 and a fixed hub 26. Preferably, the hub 26 includes a shoulder 27 between the hub 26 and flange 24 to keep the flange 24 spaced off of the hole face of the bracket holder for the roller 10.

[0018] The second end member 20 includes a depressible button 28 seated within a cavity 30. The cavity 30 includes an interior end wall 32 and a cylindrical side wall 34. An aperture 36 is formed in the end wall 32. The button 28 includes a hub portion 38 and a stem 40 for maintaining the button 28 within the cavity 30. The stem 40 is configured to pass through the aperture 36 of the end wall 32 and the button 28 is configured to be retractably received within the cavity 30. Upon insertion of the stem 40 through the aperture 36 and the button 28 within the cavity 30, a retaining ring 42 is secured to the stem 40 to prevent withdrawal of the stem 40 from the aperture 36. In order to bias the button outwardly, a spring 44 is mounted within the cavity 30 coaxial with the stem 40. The spring 44 extends between the button 28 and the end wall 32 to bias the button 28 outwardly as shown in FIG. 3. However, the button 28 may be depressed into the cavity 30 to shorten the roller 10 and allow it to be inserted into and removed from the retaining bracket.

[0019] With the roller 10 removed from its retaining bracket, the roller 10 is inserted through the axial tube of a tissue paper roll. The roller 10 and tissue paper can then be replaced on the bracket by first inserting one end of the roller into the bracket and then shortening the roller 10 by depressing the button 28 allowing the other end of the roller 10 to pass into the retaining bracket. Upon insertion the spring 44 will bias the roller 10 to approximately mid-stroke. However, because of the connection between the components of the roller 10, removal will not cause the roller to fall apart either under the bias of the spring 44 or simply by mishandling. In addition, the enlarged radial flanges 24 provide a decorative accent capable of concealing the tube of the tissue roll. The enlarged radial flange 24 permits simplified removal of the roller 10 with empty cardboard tube by depressing on the flange 24 on the fixed end 18 with two fingers. Typical prior known rollers require that one reach inside the cardboard tube with their thumb and forefinger and then squeeze and push the roller axially to remove.

[0020] The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a tissue paper dispenser adapted to detachably receive a roll of tissue paper having an axial passageway, the dispenser including a bracket mounted to a fixed surface and having a pair of spaced apart arms with inwardly disposed surfaces, the improvement comprising:

a roller adapted to extend through the passageway of the tissue roll to maintain the tissue roll within the dispenser, said roller removably positioned between the inwardly disposed surfaces of the spaced apart arms, said roller including an elongated body with a fixed hub at a first end of said body and a depressible hub at a second end of said body to alter a length of said roller to facilitate insertion between the arms of the bracket.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said depressible hub includes a fixed housing having an internal cavity mounted to said second end of said body and a button movably seated within said cavity, said button forming said hub of said second hub.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said button is biased axially outwardly by a spring disposed within said cavity.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said button includes an axial stem and said cavity includes an axial aperture formed in an inner end wall of said housing, said axial stem reciprocally received within said aperture.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring is mounted coaxial within said stem and extends between said button and said inner end wall of said housing.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said stem includes means for preventing withdrawal of said stem from said aperture to retain said button seated within said cavity.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said elongated body has a tubular configuration, said first fixed hub received within said first end of said body and said depressible hub received within said second end of said body.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and second hubs include an enlarged radial flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of said elongated body.

9. A removable roller for a tissue paper dispenser adapted to detachably receive a roll of tissue paper having an axial passageway, the dispenser including a bracket mounted to a fixed surface and having a pair of spaced apart arms with inwardly disposed surfaces, said roller removably received between the spaced apart arms and comprising:

an elongated body adapted to extend through the axial passageway of the tissue paper roll, said elongated body having a first and second ends;

a fixed hub mounted to said first end of said elongated body; and

a depressible hub mounted to said second end of said elongated body to alter a length of said roller for selective insertion between the spaced arms of the bracket.

10. The roller as defined in claim 9 wherein said depressible hub includes a housing mounted to said second end of said body, said housing having a cavity for reciprocally receiving a depressible button for altering the length of the roller, said button forming said hub of said second end of said roller.

11. The roller as defined in claim 10 wherein said button is biased axially outwardly by a spring disposed within said cavity.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein said button includes an axial stem and said cavity includes an axial aperture formed in an inner end wall of said housing, said axial stem reciprocally received within said aperture.

13. The improvement as defined in claim 12 wherein said spring is mounted coaxial within said stem and extends between said button and said inner end wall of said housing.

14. The improvement as defined in claim 13 wherein said stem includes means for preventing withdrawal of said stem from said aperture to retain said button seated within said cavity.

15. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein said elongated body has a tubular configuration, said first fixed hub received within said first end of said body and said depressible hub received within said second end of said body.

16. The improvement as defined in claim 15 wherein said first and second hubs include an enlarged radial flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of said elongated body.