Roll Securing Apparatus

Abstract

Present embodiments relate to a paper roll securing apparatus having biased wings, housed with two spaced apart side sections which function to: house and support the set of biased wings, create a space for the displacement of the expired roll, and allow the side sections to be perpendicularly coupled to the base portion. As a new roll begins to be inserted and the force of the new roll is applied, the set of biased wings begin to extend upward from their static position to allow the expired roll to be ejected from the apparatus in a single fluid motion. Once the expired roll has been ejected, and the force applied is removed, the biased wings begin to return to their static position and capture the hollow region of the new roll and return it to the static position.

Description

FIELD

The present embodiment relates to a roll securing apparatus, and in particular, to a roll securing apparatus with a set of biased wings to allow effortless roll replacement.

BACKGROUND

Traditional paper securing holders, and in particular, toilet paper holders are often use a substantially round device, that is placed within the hollow paper tubing of a roll and then mounted to a holder. This device often referred to as “spindle,” can be a plastic tube which further contains a set of compression springs, to secure the spindle into the roll holder. In order to exchange the roll, the user must push the spindle in one direction, which compresses the spring, and then remove the opposite end of the spindle from the roll holder. Conversely, when a new roll has been exchanged, the user must align one end of the spindle into the roll holder, compress the spring, and then align the opposite end of the spindle with the opposite cavity of the roll holder. These spindle devices act to mount the roll on the holder, and allow the user to rotate the roll until a desired quantity is achieved.

The manufacturing industry has employed numerous paper roll securing devices and iterations designed to provide convenience and longevity to their users. However, these current devices, and in particular devices containing spindles, are not user-friendly and often have only short-term longevity. For example, every time a roll expires and requires exchanging, the user must use one hand to push the spring-loaded spindle to one side, while removing the roll with the other hand. Further, many spindles are composed of non-durable plastic which leads to cracking, chipping, and continuous replacement. Since these spindles are spring-loaded and cumbersome, they often fall out of the users hand and land on a bacterial-laden floor or in the toilet. As a result of the current designs, not only is the chance of pathogen exposure increased, but the likelihood that the components will be damaged or require replacement increase as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein include, a roll securing apparatus for rapid and convenient exchange of rolls. According to one aspect, the present embodiment relates to a roll securing apparatus having biased wings, housed with two spaced apart side sections which function to house and support the set of biased wings, create a space for the displacement of the expired roll, and allow the side sections to be perpendicularly coupled and attached to a base portion. As a paper roll is inserted either horizontally or vertically, the biased wings may extend up to substantially 90 degrees from the static position in response the applied force until the expired roll is ejected. As the force is removed, the biased wings further capture the hollow region of the new roll and return to their static position. The biased wings may contain a tension spring, or coil that allow the biased wings to extend in response to the applied force.

It is therefore an object of the present embodiment to provide a roll securing apparatus for effortless exchange of rolls in which the user can exchange a roll in substantially horizontal position in which the biased wings may extend in an inward/outward direction.

It is therefore an object of the present embodiment to provide a roll securing apparatus for fluid exchange of roll in a continuous “popping motion” to avoid components dropping onto/in contaminated surfaces.

Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roll securing apparatus in the static position;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective front view of the roll securing apparatus with a single biased wing removed from its housing element;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the roll securing apparatus wherein the biased wings are extended inward for horizontal loading/unloading; and

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the roll securing apparatus wherein the biased wings are extended upward for vertical loading/unloading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the views, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the apparatus 10 in a first, i.e., static position. The base portion 12 may be either mounted on a wall, or free-standing in a vertical position to allow the user to load a roll in both the horizontal and vertical position. The side sections 14 are perpendicularly affixed to the base portion and create adequate displacement for a roll to be inserted and secured, or removed after expiration. The side sections 14 further include a cavity which contain housing element 16. The side sections 14 and housing element 16 face one another and are evenly spaced to allow a roll to be inserted and removed with ease. The housing element 16 is dimensioned to securely fit a release-ably secured set of biased wings 18. The biased wings 18 may be extended from the static position up to substantially 90 degrees when a load is applied to it. The biased wings 18 once extended from the static position in response to the applied force may capture the hollow region of a roll and return it to the static position. The biased wings 18 may be further released from their housing element 16 for convenient replacement and may be release-ably secured to the housing element with hook and fasteners, Velcro® material, or by magnet.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 10 in the first position wherein one biased wing 18 is detached from housing element 16.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a view of the apparatus 10 wherein the biased wing 18 are extended inward or upward from their static position to substantially 90 degrees to allow for horizontal or vertical loading/unloading of the roll and allow the biased wings to capture and return a new roll to the static position.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.

Claims

1. A roll securing apparatus, comprising:

two spaced apart side sections position-able to be perpendicularly coupled to a base portion to allow a roll to be mounted between the side sections, the two side sections are aligned opposite another; and

a set of biased wings, each biased wing extending, when in a static position, from one of the oppositely facing side sections inward toward the opposite wing, the biased wings being biased to be displaced when a load is applied to the biased wings, and to return to the static position once the load has been removed so that when a paper roll is forced against the biased wings, the biased wings are displaced until the hollow region of the paper roll aligns with the biased wings enabling the biased wings to return to the static position.

2. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing element in each of the oppositely facing side sections, the housing cavity fitted to receive a biased wing.

3. The roll securing apparatus of claim 2, wherein each biased wing is release-ably secured by the housing element.

4. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a biased wing is substantially elongated with a first edge substantially parallel to the base portion and substantially perpendicular to the side sections, and a second edge makes an acute angel with respect to the first edge.

5. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biased wing is extended by one of a tension spring or coil.

6. A roll securing apparatus, comprising;

a base portion comprising a perpendicularly coupled set of side sections, the side sections having a first and second side, the first and second side oppositely facing one another, and further comprising a set of evenly spaced housing elements, each housing element configured to releaseably retain a biased wing; and

a set of biased wings, the biased wings configured to be extended from a static position to substantially 90 degrees to release-ably retain the hollow portion of a roll.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing element on the inward side of the perpendicularly coupled side sections further contains an fastening mechanism to allow the biased wing to be release-ably secured within the housing element;

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the biased wing may be affixed, release-ably secured, or affixed/release-ably secured to the housing element.