Toilet paper roll exchange tool

Abstract

The invention provides a tool for aiding in exchanging toilet paper rolls from a holder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to toilet paper holders. In particular, the invention involves a tool that aids in installing or removing a toilet paper roll to or from a holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Toilet paper rolls come in standard sizes and are typically positioned for use near a toilet in a holder that permits free rotation of the roll as segments of paper are removed from the roll. A standard holder includes a spindle or cylinder with a variable spring biased length. Each of opposite ends of the spindle has a reduced diameter portion that fits in a recess in the holder. The core of the spindle defines a rotational axis for a toilet paper roll supported by the spindle.

[0003] When all of the paper has been removed from the cardboard roll, a person must remove the used roll and replace it with a new toilet paper roll. To accomplish this, the person must compress the spindle, i.e., reduce the length, sufficiently so that at least one of the reduced diameter portions can be removed from the respective recess. The spindle is then removed from the holder. The old roll is removed from the spindle. A new toilet paper roll is mounted on the spindle. The spindle is replaced in the holder, again by compressing the length of the spindle sufficiently so that the reduced diameter portions may engage their respective recesses in the holder.

[0004] A long recognized problem with conventional toilet paper holders is that it is sometimes quite difficult to manipulate the spindle for purposes of removing or installing the spindle in the holder. The toilet paper roll itself may interfere with access to the end portion of the spindle. Even if a person can reach the spindle, it is often hard to grip the spindle sufficiently to compress its length. The problem is exacerbated for people whose dexterity is compromised such as elderly people or people who suffer from arthritis or other debilitating physical problems.

[0005] Others have attempted to design tools for addressing the problem. However, prior tool designs have not been successfully implemented for general use. Apparently, prior tools either have not been easy enough to use, or have been impractical, too expensive or complicated to manufacture. Accordingly, there is a need for a superior tool that aids in replacement of toilet paper rolls in a standard holder, and that is easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides assemblies and tool devices for aiding in exchange of a toilet paper roll from a holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disassembled toilet paper holding assembly.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, assembled.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of a tool used to aid in exchanging toilet paper rolls from a holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a disassembled toilet paper holder 12. Base 14 is configured for mounting on a fixture such as a wall or cabinet. Base 14 may be attached to the fixture by any variety of mechanisms. For example, base 14 may have holes 16 for receiving screws so base 14 can be securely mounted on a wall. Arms 18a and 118b project from base 14. Each of arms 18a and 18b have recesses 20a, 20b for receiving ends of spindle 22. Spindle 22 may also be referred to as a roller or cylinder. Spindle 22 is formed from tube portions 24 and 26. Tube portion 26 is partially concentrically received to a variable extent by tube portion 24. A spring (not shown) is contained in spindle 22, thus urging tube portion 24 and tube portion 26 to extend, i.e., separate to the extent permitted. Reduced diameter end portions 28 and 30 are provided on opposite ends of spindle 22. Reduced diameter end portions 28 and 30 have diameters that are just small enough to be received smoothly in recesses 20a, 20b in arms 18a, 18b. Generally, the dimensions of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30 are standardly set at about ⅝-inch.

[0011] Toilet paper roll 36 is a standard item typically including a cylindrical cardboard core 37. Core 37 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of spindle 22 so that roll 36 can be mounted on spindle 22 and freely rotated when removing segments of toilet paper 38.

[0012] Tool device 39, as shown in FIG. 1, is a substantially rigid planar sheet. Tool device 39 has a hole 40 which is dimensioned to receive one of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30, on spindle 22. The thickness of tool device 39 should be less than the height or extension distance of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30 so that reduced end portion 30 may extend through hole 40 of the tool device 39 and into recess 20a. It is also important that hole 40 in tool device 39 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of reduced end portion 30 but smaller than the outer diameter of tube portion 26 so that when tool device 39 is installed on toilet paper holder 12, tool device 39 is sandwiched between an inner wall of arm 18a and tube portion 26. With this design, a person can easily grip tool device 39, urge tool device 39 toward toilet paper roll 36, i.e., in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the spindle, thus causing longitudinal compression of the spindle 22 until reduced end portion 30 is completely disengaged from recess 20a allowing easy removal of spindle 22 and replacement of the toilet paper roll.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows toilet paper holder 12 including tool device 39 fully assembled. Tool device 39 extends beyond the outer circumference or periphery of toilet paper roll 36. The distal end portion of tool device 39 may extend in any radial direction from the rotational axis of spindle 22. Regardless of its orientation, some portion of tool device 39 is accessible for easy gripping and manipulation in order to accomplish toilet paper roll replacement.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows tool device 39 in a preferred embodiment. Opening 40 is provided for engaging reduced diameter end portion 30, as discussed above. As shown in FIG. 3, opening 40 is a circular hole. However, it will be appreciated that tool device 39 may have openings of different dimensions and geometries while still being useful for the same purpose. For example, hole 40 could be square, rectangular, triangular or could be shaped according to a number of other different geometries. The opening in the tool device may also be open at one end. For example, the opening may be formed by two or more prongs. However, the preferred design uses a circular hole that conforms closely to the standard dimension of reduced diameter end portions on spindles where the paper spindles are currently used and are commercially available. Hole 40 in tool device 39 in FIG. 3, has a diameter of ⅝-inch so it is large enough to easily slip over reduced diameter end portion 30 while being smaller than the outer diameter of tube portion 26. Length 46 of tool device 39 is preferably four inches, but at least long enough to extend radially beyond the periphery of a new, fully-loaded toilet paper roll.

[0015] Tool device 39, as shown in FIG. 3 is generally rectangular and flat. However, the overall shape of tool device 39 may take on any number of different forms. The thickness of tool device 39 is preferably ⅛-inch which is thick enough to provide sufficient rigidity, while being thin enough to permit insertion of reduced diameter end portion 30 and subsequent extension into recess 28. Tool device 39 may be thinner than ⅛-inch if the material used has the rigidity and strength to negotiate the tension of the spring-loaded spindle without comprising the integrity of the elongate member. Distal end portion 50 of tool device 39 may also be adapted to enhance gripping. For example, indentations may be formed in distal end portion 50 corresponding to a person's fingers. Additionally, a second material such as a rubber or elastomeric polymer may be applied to distal end portion 50 to increase the friction co-efficient and improve grippability. The distal end portion may also be molded or adapted into any number of different geometries and shapes that may enhance handling, gripping, or manipulating the tool.

[0016] Tool device 39 may be made of any number of different materials including but not limited to plastic, metal, wood or composites. Tool device 39 may also display a trademark or logo of a company such as a hotel or a toilet paper or bathroom fixture manufacturer.

[0017] Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. Applicant regards the subject matter of his invention to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. For example, the toilet paper holder illustrated in FIG. 1 is just one of many different holders designed to support a spring-biased spindle, any one of which may be used advantageously with the tool device described above.

Claims

1. An assembly for holding toilet paper comprising

a spindle having two tube portions, one of the tube portions being partially concentrically received to a variable extent by the other tube portion, a spring member contained within the tube portions urging the tube portions to extend relative to each other, the spindle having first and second reduced diameter end portions,

a base configured for mounting on a fixture, the base having recesses configured for receiving the reduced diameter end portions of the spindle so that a roll of toilet paper can be supported and freely rotated as segments of toilet paper are removed from the roll, and

an elongate tool device having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, wherein the opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least a ½-inch but less than the outer diameter of the tube portions of the spindle, the opening being configured to engage a reduced diameter end portion of a standard spindle for supporting a toilet paper roll, the elongate member having a length that is long enough so that when the elongate member is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of a spindle in a toilet paper holder, the second end portion of the elongate member extends beyond the periphery of a standard fully loaded toilet paper roll.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening is a circular hole.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the opposing edges of the opening are separated by a distance of at least ⅝-inch.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is planar.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member has a thickness of less than about ¼-inch.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, wood and composites.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual gripping.

8. A tool device for exchanging rolls from a toilet paper holder comprising

an elongate member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, wherein the opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least ½-inch but less than ¾-inch, the opening being configured to engage a reduced diameter end portion of a standard spindle for supporting a toilet paper roll, the elongate member having a length that is long enough so that when the elongate member is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of a spindle in a toilet paper holder, the second end portion of the elongate member extends beyond the periphery of a standard fully loaded toilet paper roll.

9. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the standard spindle has an enlarged diameter portion adjacent the reduced diameter end portion, the distance between the opposing edges of the opening being less than the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the spindle.

10. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the opening is a circular hole.

11. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the opening is defined between two or more prongs.

12. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the opposing edges of the opening are separated by approximately ⅝-inch.

13. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member is planar.

14. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member is stamped from a single sheet of material.

15. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member has a thickness less than the standard height of a reduced diameter end portion on a standard toilet paper spindle.

16. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member has a thickness of less than about ¼-inch.

17. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member has thickness of approximately ⅛-inch.

18. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member has a length of at least approximately four-inches.

19. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and wood.

20. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual gripping.

21. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member has a surface treatment configured to improve manual gripping.

22. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual handling.

23. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member has a higher friction coefficient relative to the first end portion.