Sanitary paper dispenser

Abstract

A device for storing and dispensing sanitary paper products. The device is configured and sized for installation in a standard toilet paper role holder. The device can be incorporated into a number of shapes and sizes to accommodate sanitary paper products including: paper towels, facial tissue, toilet tissue, sanitary wipes and baby wipes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed toward a novel apparatus for storing and dispensing sanitary paper products. In particular, the present invention provides a mechanism for reversibly storing the apparatus in a standard sized toilet paper roll holder.

2. Background Information

The use of disposable paper sanitation products is an essential part of every American's daily life. From paper towels, facial tissue, and toilet tissue to sanitary towelettes and baby wipes, the amount of disposable paper sanitation products used in this country annually is astronomical. The reasons for this are obvious. These paper products are inexpensive, sanitary, and disposable. Most importantly these products provide readily available, sanitized products for use in any “cleanup” situation.

Herein lies the problem, which until the present invention has gone unsolved, how does one store sanitary paper products such that they stay sanitized and are located for easy accessibility at a second's notice? For instance, both paper towels and toilet tissue may be mounted for easy accessibility, but current systems for providing such mounting leave the “rolls” exposed to the elements for contamination whether by spilling something on them, knocking them off of the mount, or at the curious hands of a toddler pulling the end of the tissue until it is completely unrolled and lying on the floor.

Furthermore, moist sanitary wipes, baby wipes, and facial tissue are typically packaged in a container, which provides protection from the environment for the retention of sanitation and/or moisture content. However, the current products on the market fail to provide for ready accessibility. For instance, sanitary wipes are typically packaged in either a plastic wrap-type package or a plastic container for placement and storage on a flat surface such as the top of a toilet tank; however, this often leads to either inadvertently knocking it off or removal such that the wipes are nowhere to be found when they are most needed, leaving the one in need in a most precarious situation. Likewise, baby wipes are typically packaged in refillable plastic containers, which must be placed on a flat surface. Again, this leads to the problem of someone knocking the wipes off of their location or removing them, leaving the one in need with a crying, diaperless baby and no wipes readily at hand. Finally, facial tissue is so easily and so often moved about that rarely can one find the tissue box when one is most in need.

In view of the limitations of products currently known in the art, a tremendous need exists for a sanitary paper product dispenser that provides protection from the environment while providing for location in a secure, readily accessible space. Applicant's invention, by its novel design provides a solution in view of currently available devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing of sanitary paper products that provides protection from the environment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing of sanitary paper products that provides for locating in a secure location.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing of sanitary paper products that provides for locating in a readily accessible location.

In satisfaction of these and other related objectives, the present invention provides a device for storing and dispensing sanitary paper products. This device provides for securably locating the sanitary paper products at a readily available location.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a canister for storing the sanitary paper products, which can take any of a variety of shapes in order to best accommodate the particular product. The canister itself is reversibly sealable to provide access for refilling, and the canister provides a “flip-top” portion for easily accessing individual “wipes”. Therefore, the base canister provides an enclosure from environmental contamination no matter which type of sanitary paper product it houses.

Additionally, in a novel distinction from prior art, the canister provides spring-loaded extensions on either side of the canister dimensionally spaced for reversible engagement with a standard toilet paper role holder. As such, the canister allows for reversible, yet secure, placement in any standard toilet paper role holder. This not only allows for standard placement of the sanitary wipe holder in any restroom setting, but, of course, in any location one chooses to install any one of the thousands of fashionable standard toilet paper role holders available, whether in the house, office or shop. Thus, in a simple, yet novel way, the device of the present invention provides a secure, sanitary, and readily accessible sanitary paper product dispenser, which can be used in homes and offices throughout the country at little or no additional expense from the inferior products currently available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Applicant's invention may be further understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, wherein unless otherwise specified, like referenced numerals are intended to depict like components in the various views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the securing mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device for storing and dispensing sanitary paper products is shown and is generally designated by numeral 10. Device 10, in the preferred embodiment, contains a cylindrical canister assembly with a canister body 12 and a removable canister top 14. Canister body 12 along with canister top 14 can be composed of a metal (such as would give a chrome finished, high-end look to the canister), a plastic (for everyday economical use), or any other suitable material that would provide a sealable, rigid container as would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, canister 12 and canister top 14 are reversibly engaged with one another in any of a number of ways as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, such as twist screw or slip-on. As such, canister top 14 allows for accessibility to the inside of canister 12 for cleaning or quick replacement of sanitary paper products.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted with a cylindrical canister, any number of canister shapes are envisioned to accommodate different sizes and/or shapes of currently available sanitary paper products. One such alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. This embodiment is considered ideal for standard sanitary wipes or baby wipes. Other embodiments as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are also envisioned.

As best seen in FIG. 1, canister top 14 further contains a hole in substantially the center of canister top 14 that is reversible sealed by flip-top 16. In the preferred embodiment, flip-top 16 is hingedly attached to canister top 14 at the edge and reversibly engageable with canister top 14 at the diametrically opposing edge. As such, flip-top 16 provides for quick and ready accessibility of an individual sanitary paper product.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, device 10 further provides for reversible securement with a standard toilet paper roll holder through the novel use of extensions 18. One such extension 18 is placed on a side of canister 12, and the other extension 18 is placed at the same level on the diametrically opposing side of canister 12. In the preferred embodiment, each extension 18 is so spaced as to reversibly engage with a standard toilet paper roll holder. As best seen in FIG. 3, extension 18 is composed of three parts. Extension housing 20 is of generally cylindrical shape and contains slidable insert 22 and biasing member 24. In the preferred embodiment, extension housing 20 provides a linear slot cut approximately ¾ the length of extension housing 20. Slidable insert 22 is slideably engaged with the interior of extension housing 20 and has a protrusion 26, which extends through extension housing 20 for manually actuating slideable insert 22. As previously mentioned, extension housing 20 further contains biasing member 24. In the preferred embodiment, biasing member 24 is a compression spring but other embodiments are envisioned in which biasing member 24 is another type of resilient mechanism, which would be apparent to one skilled in the art. As seen in FIG. 3, biasing member 24 is configured as to bias slideable insert 22 in the fully extended position, while providing for manual, slideable retraction of slideable insert 22 within extension housing 20.

In operation, one first manually compresses each slideable insert 22 via its respective protrusion 26. Next, the entire device 10 is placed between the end pieces of a standard toilet paper roll holder and secured in place by releasing protrusions 26, which, in effect, allows engagement of extension 18 with the standard toilet paper roll holder. Next, canister top 14 may be removed, and sanitary paper products placed in canister 12. After canister top 14 is replaced, individual sanitary paper products may be removed via flip-top 16. Finally, whenever removal of device 10 is necessary, one merely compresses extensions 18 via protrusions 26 and slips device 10 out from in between the outer ends of the toilet paper roll holder.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and dispensing sanitary paper products, comprising:

a canister member, said canister member configured for storing a variety of sanitary paper products;

a lid member, said lid member configured for reversible engagement with said canister member, said lid member containing an aperture at substantially the center of said lid member for individual dispensing of said sanitary paper products; and

a securing member, said securing member configured for reversible engagement with a standard toilet paper role holder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said canister member and said lid member are substantially cylindrical.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lid member is configured for twistably screwing onto said canister member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said canister member and said lid member are substantially rectangular shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid member includes a flip-top member for reversibly sealing said aperture, said flip-top member being configured with a first and second end, said flip-top member being hingedly attached to said lid member at said first end and being reversibly engageable with said lid member at said second end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said securing member, comprising:

a housing member;

an extension member, said extension member slideably engaged with said housing member; and

a biasing member, said biasing member configured for reversibly biasing said extension member in an extended configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said biasing member is an compression spring.