Dispenser for disposable paper changing pads on a rolls

Abstract

A dispenser for paper products formed on a paper roll is provided having a base and a spindle terminating at superior and inferior ends. The inferior end is affixed to a base and houses a paper roll. A head affixed to the superior end of the spindle, and an inwardly biased arm depending from said head such that the arm bears against the paper product.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/528,752 filed on Dec. 12, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a dispenser for paper products discharged or retrieved from a housing and, more particularly, to a dispenser for disposable children's changing pads discharged or retrieved from a housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Disposable bibs are commonly known in the art, and are provided in a variety of configurations, including on a cylindrical paper roll (similar in appearance to a paper towel or toilet tissue roll). As such, a dispenser for holding a disposable paper product roll is desirable, including a dispenser for disposable bibs. The dispenser provides means for neatly maintaining a well-ordered area about the dispenser, wherein an arm depending from a head of the dispenser is inwardly biased against the paper product of the paper roll, thereby preventing excessive sheets of the product from chaotically littering the area and further providing leverage against the roll for separating a desired sheet(s) from the roll.

Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a dispenser for disposable children's changing pads discharged or retrieved from a housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser for paper products.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser for disposable children's changing pads discharged or retrieved from a housing.

Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for paper products formed on a paper roll is provide having a base and a spindle terminating at superior and inferior ends of the base. The spindle houses said paper roll, and a is head affixed to the superior end of the spindle. An inwardly biased arm depends from the head, and bears against said paper product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of a dispenser for disposable paper product rolls;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser for disposable paper product rolls; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser for disposable paper product rolls, wherein a paper product roll is slidably affixed thereon and the inwardly biased arm gently bears or presses against the paper product roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.

Referring now to the FIGS. 1-3, a dispenser for disposable paper product rolls (hereinafter “dispenser”) 10 is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 10 comprises a base 12, a spindle 14 and a head 16 and an inwardly biased arm 18. A cylindrically tubular paper roll 22 (and disposable paper product 24) is slidably affixed onto the spindle 14, permitting the roll 22 to freely rotate thereabout and dispense the paper product.

The base 12 is defined by a body of sufficient diameter to secure the spindle 14 in a vertically upstanding or projecting configuration. In the embodiment depicted by the FIGS. 1-3, the base 12 is shown as a disc of a sufficient diameter and thickness to permit the roll 22 to freely rotated about spindle 14 without displacing the dispenser 10 from an initial orientation. However, it is envisioned that the base 12 may have a variety of geometrical bodies, provided that the particular body is of a sufficient diameter and thickness to permit the roll 22 to freely rotate about the spindle 14, and preferably of a sufficient diameter so that an anterior end of the roll 22 rests on the base 12 while not in use.

The spindle 14 is a linearly elongated cylinder terminating at a superior end and an inferior end, the inferior end permanently or semi-permanently affixed or coupled to the base 12. The spindle 14 is of a sufficient linear length to permit the roll 22 to reciprocate in a longitudinal or vertical direction during use, and is of a sufficient diameter to permit the free rotation of the roll 22 in a horizontal orbit about spindle 14. For greater control of the roll 22 and paper product 24, it is envisioned that the roll 22 is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the spindle 14, although increased control is not sole advantage provided by the dispenser 10.

The head 16 is affixed to the superior end of the spindle 14 by threaded or interference fit, or other similar means, so long as the head 16 is securely seated to the superior end of spindle 14. An arm 18 depends from the head 16. The arm 18 includes a restraint or anchor 20 at a terminal end opposite an end affixed to the head 16. The arm 18 is inwardly biased toward the spindle 14 so that when a roll 22 and paper product 24 combination are affixed on the spindle 14, the arm 18 gently bears or presses the restraint or anchor 20 against the paper product 24, thereby preventing the paper product 24 from unintentionally rotating off of the roll 22. Therefore, the arm 18 and restraint or anchor 20 provides the advantage of maintaining a well-ordered and clean area about the dispenser 10, and discourages unnecessary excessive usage of the paper product 24. Furthermore, the arm 18 and restraint or anchor 20 may operate to provide leverage against the roll 22 and paper product 24 to facilitate separation of a desired sheet of the paper product 24 from the remaining paper product 24 quantity of roll 22. The restraint or anchor 20 is envisioned as having a variety of geometric configurations and comprising a variety of materials, including plastic, rubber and other similar materials. In the embodiment depicted in the FIGS. 1-3, the arm 18 is curvilinear in form (although other forms are envisioned) with a plastic or rubber surface comprising at least a portion of the restraint or anchor 20. By providing a plastic, rubber or otherwise textured surface, the restraint or anchor 20 further facilitates the leverage provided by arm 18 against roll 22 and paper product 24. The plastic, rubber or textured surface must be sufficiently deformable or minimally obstructive to the rotation of the roll 22 and paper product 24 so that the dispenser 10 operates to dispense the paper product 24 with minimal effort while maintaining the well-ordered area desired.

It is further envisioned that the base 12, spindle 14 and head 16 may be fabricated from a durable material, such as plastic, wood, metal or rubber. The arm 18 may be fabricated from a deformable, yet returnably resilient material, such as plastic, rubber or metal.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A dispenser for paper products formed on a paper roll comprising:

a base;

a spindle terminating at superior and inferior ends, said inferior end affixed to said base, said spindle housing said paper roll; and

a head affixed to said superior end of said spindle, and an inwardly biased arm depending from said head, said arm bearing against said paper product.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said head is affixed to the superior end of the spindle so as said head is securely seated to the superior end of spindle.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said arm depends from said head and further includes a restraint or anchor at a terminal end opposite an end affixed to said head.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said arm is inwardly biased toward said spindle so that when a roll and paper product combination are affixed on said spindle, said arm gently bears or presses the restraint or anchor against the paper product, thereby preventing the paper product from unintentionally rotating off of the roll.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein said restraint or anchor is made of a material selected from the group comprising plastic, rubber and other similar materials.