Bathroom Tissue Spray Caddy

Abstract

A bathroom tissue spray caddy that hangs or otherwise affixes to a bathroom tissue dispenser. The caddy provides easy access to a bottle dispensing a cleansing fluid to bathroom tissue, for enhanced cleanliness and comfort. The caddy includes a retaining receptacle with an open top and closed bottom to hold a bottle. The receptacle contains an inner dimension suitable for accepting and retaining a bottle therein without the bottle falling out yet with sufficient space to permit ease of tilting and lifting the bottle out of the receptacle by the user. The receptacle is provided with a releaseable hanging or fastening element or elements such as a hook to enable the retaining receptacle to be affixed to a fixed position element of a bathroom tissue dispenser, such as a side bar, in such as way that the bathroom tissue spray bottle contained in the receptacle is in an upright position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/139,279 filed Mar. 27, 2015, and is co-pending with U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/527,812 filed May 21, 2015.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to caddies that are useful for holding a spray bottle containing a cleansing fluid that can be applied to bathroom tissue before use. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spray caddy that can be hung from or otherwise affixed to a bathroom tissue dispenser, such as to a side bar of a bathroom tissue dispenser, for convenient reach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal hygiene wipes have grown in popularity but pose the problem of clogging sewer pipes and plumbing networks when flushed down the toilet, leading to costly repairs. Even though many wipes claim to be flushable, the wipes are thicker and more durable than bathroom tissue and thus do not disintegrate readily in the sewer system. The wipes often combine with other materials, such as congealed grease, to create virtually indestructible clogs.

One solution is to use a cleansing spray that can be applied directly to bathroom tissue that functions like a wipe but will readily disintegrate when flushed down the toilet. The spray bottles can contain water or other fluids appropriate for personal hygiene cleansing. Such spray bottles can be stored in the bathroom on or within vicinity of the toilet within arm's reach of the user. For example, the spray bottle could be stored on the back of the toilet. However, such storage location is not ideally convenient, for example requiring the user to turn his upper body around to reach the spray bottle behind him if stored on the back of the toilet. Or the user would need to bend downward to the floor if the spray bottle is stored there, or reach to a nearby shelf or counter.

Therefore, there exists a need for novel devices configured to store the bathroom tissue spray so it is conveniently located directly next to the bathroom tissue roll, within easy reach of the user. While numerous devices exist for holding bottles, wipes, and other personal care products, none contain a receptacle shaped, sized, and angled to retain a spray bottle in an upright position such that it will not easily fall out and can hang from the side bar of a bathroom tissue dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART/DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

The following patents are representative of the field pertaining to the present invention:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,296 B2 to Gerschwiler Steck et al. describes a personal hygiene storage unit that functions both as a hanging storage/dispensing unit and as a personal hygiene travel pack includes: (a) a hollow body with a bottom, upwardly projecting walls and an open top; (b) a back hatch top hingeably connected to the back wall of the bottom and having closing mechanism to fix the back hatch top in a closed position; (c) a front hatch top hingeably connected to the front wall of the bottom; and, (d) a pair of opposing elongated hanging hooks connected to at least one of the main housing, the back hatch top and the front hatch top, for attachment to a toilet paper roll rod and hinges for folding the hooks to create a compact travel pack. However the personal hygiene storage unit disclosed under the Steck et al. patent does not contain a receptacle shaped, sized, or angled to retain a spray bottle in an upright position such that it will not easily fall out, nor does it include the possibility of hanging the unit with just one hanging hook or some other means besides a pair of opposing elongated hanging hooks.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,235 B2 to Haddad et al. describes a dual arm caddy to be attached to the spindle of a wall mounted toilet paper holder for carrying disposable wet wipes. The upper portion of each arm is attached by hooking the spindle, and the lower, utility portion is attached to a container inclined from front to rear. A lid is rear-hinged. The hooking means can be a U-shaped slot open in the rear of the arm's upper portion, and inclined upward and elongated to assure the caddy makes wall contact before engaged spindle reaches slot's upper end. Embodiments include caddies suspendable from crossbars such as towel racks to provide consistently horizontal and stable utility platforms throughout a range of crossbar-to-wall distances. The hooking means of the arms can also be rounded to allow them to freely rest on top of the crossbar and the caddy configured to always occupy the space closest to the wall to which the crossbar is attached. However the dual arm caddy disclosed under the Haddad et al. patent is a dual arm caddy and does not include the possibility of a single arm or hook, and it does not contain a receptacle shaped, sized, or angled to retain a spray bottle in an upright position such that it will not easily fall out.

The following three patents—U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,074 to Marino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,316 to DeLorean, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,159 to Miller et al.—contain limitations similar to the two previously listed patents, namely they do not contain a receptacle shaped, sized, or angled to retain a spray bottle in an upright position such that it will not easily fall out, nor do they include the possibility of hanging the unit with just one hanging hook. They are designed to hold bathroom tissue rather than a spray bottle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,074 to Marino describes a dispenser for moist tissue roll and a slot in the housing for dispensing the tissue from the roll. The dispenser includes arms for hanging the dispenser from a fixed element. The arms also effect a seal between housing sections forming the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,316 to DeLorean describes, an auxiliary bathroom tissue dispenser incorporating structural provisions for a deodorizer and wet tissue dispenser. A pair of support brackets hook over a conventional pre-existing primary bathroom tissue roll trunnion. A container having a plurality of air passable openings connects with the support brackets for holding replaceable deodorant tablets. A platform located at the top of the container is structured for holding a conventional wet tissue dispenser. A pair of resilient dispenser brackets depend below the container for holding an auxiliary bathroom tissue roll via a nib on each dispenser bracket, the nibs mating with the center tube of the auxiliary bathroom tissue roll.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,159 to Miller et al. describes a holder for an extra roll of tissue in a wash room, so to be readily available in case the other roll of tissue is used up, the holder including a wire frame hung from the spindle of the conventional tissue roll holder, a second spindle supported on the frame, and a pivotable cover on the frame for hiding the spare tissue roll from view.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,333 to Boone describes a bathroom fixture of improved construction, function and appearance for making available both conventional toilet-tissue and a supplemental material, for example a moistening material for application to the human body such as premoistened sheets manually withdrawable from a container or housing component. However the fixture disclosed under the Boone patent is mounted directly on the wall and does not hang from a pre-existing dry bathroom tissue dispenser. Rather, the dry bathroom tissue dispenser is included as part of the fixture.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,617 to Boone describes a unitary multipurpose bathroom fixture of improved function and appearance for making available both conventional dry sheets of toilet-tissue from a roll carried by a spindle component and supplemental premoistened sheets from a container component. A first fastening means, exclusively serving an engaging purpose, is integral with portions supporting the spindle component. A second fastening means, also exclusively serving an engaging function, is integral with the container component. The two fastening means are adapted to effect a firm engagement with one another and thus to provide the unitary fixture. Also included are means for determining the direction of withdrawl of the premoistened sheets to insure their individual availability and to prevent dislodgment of the container. Other means relate to convenience and economy in supplying the premoistened sheets. However the fixture disclosed under the Boone patent is mounted directly on the wall. It does not hang from a pre-existing bathroom tissue dispenser. The dry bathroom tissue dispenser is included as part of the fixture, and the hanging container contains two fastening means rather than one.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,616 to Boone describes a device readily attachable to a standard toilet-tissue dispenser of a roll type for positioning adjacent thereto in visual alignment supplemental material such as a container of pre-wetted toilet sheets. The sheets are manually withdrawable from an aperture, which is held firmly at a fixed position to assure their ready withdrawal and consistent location. However the device disclosed under the Boone patent contains a means for preventing pivotal and lateral movement of the arm. Also, the shape, size, and angle of the container are not described so as to retain a spray bottle in an upright position such that it will not easily fall out. Further, the device is designed to hang from the spindle of the bathroom tissue dispenser and does not include the possibility of hanging from the side bar.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,595 to Boone describes a compact auxiliary device providing wetted or self-wetting sheets for releasable proximate mounting in conjunction with a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser of dry sheets; comprises an inexpensive container or magazine component pre-loaded with the supplemental sheets. The magazine can be snapped into functional position rapidly. It serves an improved health care and cleanliness function. However the device disclosed under the Boone patent is designed to provide sheet material, not a spray bottle. It also contains a pair of supporting members for mounting the container, rather than a single supporting member.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,685,365 to Sieven describes, in combination with a wrapped toilet tissue roll, a means for supporting said roll as a replacement from the mandrel of a toilet tissue roll holder bearing a service roll thereon, said means comprising a pair of elongated tabs secured along the end surfaces of said wrapped roll and extending beyond the peripheral surface thereof, each of said extensions being provided with a hook formed at the free end thereof adapted to be engaged around the mandrel of a toilet tissue roll holder whereby said roll may be suspended below said mandrel and the service roll positioned thereon as a replacement therefore. However the means disclosed under the Sieven patent provides a means for supporting a second roll of bathroom tissue and not for holding a spray bottle. Also the means is secured by a pair of elongated tabs rather than a single tab or hook.

Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bathroom tissue spray caddy that enables convenient access to a bathroom tissue spray bottle containing a cleansing fluid that can be applied to bathroom tissue before use, for enhanced cleanliness and comfort is provided. While the preferred method of administering the cleansing fluid to the bathroom tissue is via a spray bottle, it is to be understood that the bathroom tissue spray caddy can accommodate other types of bottles as well, such as bottles that dispense fluid via a pump, dropper, or pouring mechanism.

In some embodiments, a bathroom tissue spray caddy may comprise a receptacle for holding a bathroom tissue spray bottle, with the walls of the receptacle being spaced from the bottle by a sufficient distance for the bottle to be tilted and lifted out of the receptacle by the user. The height of the walls of the receptacle, in conjunction with the degree of spacing of the bottle from the walls of the receptacle, is sized to permit the tilting and lifting removal of the bottle from the receptacle with minimal impedance. In some embodiments, the height of the walls may be configured to allow the bottle to tilt between zero and fifteen degrees from vertical. The height of the receptacle should be at least sufficient to prevent the bottle from too easily toppling out.

In further embodiments, the retaining receptacle may have an open top and an inner dimension suitable for accepting and retaining a bathroom tissue spray bottle therein with minimal effort required to remove it from the receptacle through the open top such as by lifting it. The retaining receptacle has at least one hanging or releasable fastening element configured to enable the retaining receptacle to hang from or otherwise be affixed to a bathroom tissue dispenser so a bathroom tissue spray bottle contained in the receptacle is preferably in an upright position.

In some preferred embodiments, a bathroom tissue spray caddy may be made from a lightweight metal, a durable plastic, or other suitable generally rigid material.

In some preferred embodiments, the retaining receptacle may comprise a curved outer surface without sharp edges to prevent harm to the user upon contact therewith.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of an example of a bathroom tissue spray caddy with a side hook according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a spray bottle in dotted lines as placed initially in the bottle receptacle of an example of a bathroom tissue spray caddy according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a spray bottle in dotted lines and the example of a bathroom tissue spray caddy of FIG. 2 as hanging from the side bar of a bathroom tissue spray dispenser in dotted lines according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an example of a bathroom tissue spray caddy according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an example of a bathroom tissue spray caddy according to various embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

The caddy may be made of a durable material that will not break if the caddy accidentally falls on the floor. The caddy may also be made of a waterproof material that will not become damaged or defaced if it gets wet. In some embodiments, a suitable material for the caddy is a resilient, lightweight metal or plastic, although any other durable material may be used with the receptacle preferably being cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, the caddy may be made from or comprise generally flexible materials such as silicone, rubber, flexible plastics, or other flexible materials. The caddy may be coated with a finishing material such as chrome plated, paint, varnish, or any other coating which may enhance its appearance and/or provide a waterproof coating.

In some embodiments, a releasable hanging or fastening element can be welded or otherwise attached to the side of the receptacle enabling the caddy to hang from or otherwise be affixed to a bathroom tissue dispenser. The caddy may be configured to hang from the bathroom tissue dispenser in such a way that a bathroom tissue spray bottle contained in the receptacle is preferably in an upright position. The hanging or fastening element preferably may not be readily detachable from the receptacle nor comprise detachable small parts. A preferred hanging element is a hook that is welded to the side of the receptacle, although straps, bands, adhesives, or any other suitable hanging element may be used to secure a caddy to a bathroom tissue dispenser.

The caddy may be constructed so that no part poses a choking hazard to small children who may be present. Similarly, the caddy preferably may contain smooth, curved outer surfaces without sharp edges to prevent harm to anyone coming in contact therewith.

The inner height of the receptacle is configured to be sufficient to retain a bottle therein without tipping but not be excessively high whereby it may prevent or hinder the user from removing the bottle contained therein. The diameter of the aperture of the receptacle area may be configured to be greater than the diameter of the bottle itself, and while not providing an overtly snug fit. While some frictional resistance between the aperture and the bottle may prevent the bottle from becoming accidentally removed from the aperture, an overtly snug fit with the bottle receptacle would make it difficult for the user to easily remove and replace the spray bottle.

With specific reference to the drawings, an example of a bathroom tissue spray bottle receptacle 10, with a rounded configuration is shown in FIG. 1 with an open top 10a and closed bottom 10b into which a bottle is insertable. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a hook style hanging element 11 that may be attached, such as by being welded, to the side of receptacle 10.

In FIG. 2 the rounded receptacle 10 is shown as containing bathroom tissue spray bottle 20, with the bottle 20 being spaced from the inner walls of the receptacle 10 with sufficient spacing 21 distance to enable the lifting removal of the bottle from the receptacle with minimal impedance. In some embodiments, the spacing distance may be configured to be one to twenty percent larger than the diameter of the bottle. The height of the walls of receptacle 10 are tall enough to retain the bottle without said bottle tipping over but short enough to enable tilting and easy lifting of the bottle into and out of the receptacle 10. In further embodiments, the height of the walls of receptacle 10 may extend from the closed bottom 10b a distance of approximately fifty to ninety percent of the height of a bottle that may be placed in the receptacle 10, thereby allowing the bottle to tilt between zero and fifteen degrees from vertical while in the receptacle 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bathroom tissue spray caddy 12 contains a bathroom tissue spray bottle 20 and is hanging from a fixed position element 13, in this case a side bar, of a bathroom tissue dispenser 14 which is generally perpendicular to the bathroom tissue roll rod onto which a roll of bathroom tissue 15 is placed. The hook 11 fits snugly against the fixed position element 13 such that the bathroom tissue spray caddy 12 hangs with the enclosed bottle 20 in an upright position. It is, of course, understood that such hook 11 while preferred because of ease and economy, may be replaced by other means to releasably attach or affix the caddy to the bathroom tissue dispenser such as a clasp, clip, or adhesive.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the bathroom tissue spray caddy with an open top 10a, closed bottom 10b, and side hook 11, while FIG. 5 is a bottom view depicting the reverse view.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

REFERENCES (INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE)

Not applicable.

Claims

1. A bathroom tissue spray caddy configured for upright attachment of a bathroom tissue spray bottle to a bathroom tissue dispenser providing convenient access to the spray bottle with cleansing fluid therein, the caddy comprising:

a. A receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom and an inner dimension of the receptacle configured for accepting and retaining the bathroom tissue spray bottle in an upright position, with the walls of the receptacle being spaced from a bathroom tissue spray bottle when placed therein, by a spacing distance wherein the spray bottle can be removed from the receptacle; and

b. a releasable hanging element configured for releasable attachment to a fixed position element of a bathroom tissue dispenser.

2. The bathroom tissue spray caddy of claim 1, wherein the releasable hanging element is configured to releasably attach to a horizontally extending bar element which is perpendicular to the bathroom tissue roll.

3. The bathroom tissue spray caddy of claim 1 wherein the caddy is made from a lightweight metal or a durable plastic.

4. The bathroom tissue spray caddy of claim 1 wherein the height of the walls of the retaining receptacle are configured to prevent the bottle placed within the receptacle from falling out of the receptacle when tilted and the height being less than that of the bottle by an amount sufficient to permit the user to tilt and lift the bottle out of the receptacle.

5. The bathroom tissue spray caddy of claim 1 wherein the retaining receptacle is comprised of a curved outer surface without sharp edges to prevent harm to the user upon contact therewith.