Single retractable toilet tissue and paper towel roll holder

Abstract

A paper roll holder which functions without the use of a spindle. Two opposed arms with (one slidable) back holders have support plugs or protrusions extending inwardly from ends of the arms, to engage in the ends of a paper roll. The one holder moves laterally in opposition to the other in a slide track. This allows clearance for center loading of a paper roll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a slide activated (retractable) toilet tissue and paper roll holder which functions without the use of a spindle.

Most toilet & paper roll holders have employed a spindle to hold the tissue & towel roll in place. Some spindles are detachable, can come apart and are difficult to use for people with disabilities. The spindles actually are not needed since support plugs engaging in each end of the roll core can be sufficient for holding the roll in place. Further, spindles can be removed and lost which is another disadvantage for the hotel industry.

Several prior art toilet tissue & paper towel roll holders have offered an alternative to the use of a spindle. Some have claimed to be dual retractable, yet require two hands to operate; some have one frame which remains stationary as another frame is pulled out to the side requiring off-center loading followed by shifting the tissue & paper roll to the side.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a toilet tissue & paper roll holder which can be center loaded more quickly and easily than in the prior art, & with ease to manipulate the holder & to be held in the use position by two tiny magnets.

A derivative of this invention is a cloth towel holder using a spindle held in place by magnets between the two frames.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a toilet tissue & paper roll holder is easily operated, has only one moving part, and is inexpensive. The holder device has a slide mechanism (retractable) such that the leg containing the slider device is pulled outwardly to load the roll of toilet tissue or paper. Each arm is connected to a back portion or brackets comprising two L shaped legs with one leg containing the slide device. This bracket is generally parallel to the wall on which the unit is to be mounted. However, in the alternative the bracket can be separated with each bracket holding a leg that can be affixed to the wall (flexibility) either vertically or horizontally or up side down.

The slide device comprises the following features:

• • 1. One leg affixed to a bracket that holds one end of a toilet tissue or paper roll, but has no moving parts.
  • 2. The other L shaped leg and the bracket it is affixed to contains the slide mechanics. This mechanism comprises a small groove in the bracket (approximately ¼^th inch) and a tiny magnet which is screwed into the bottom of the operating leg.
  • 3. The bracket which holds the operating leg contains a tiny magnet at the end of the groove to permit the slide device to engage at the inside end position to hold the toilet tissue or paper roll holder in the proper use position.

The derivative of this invention is a cloth towel holder utilizing a spindle to accommodate the desired width. The spindle is held into the use position by two small magnets at each end of the holder & of the spindle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a vertical view of the paper tissue and paper towel roll holder of the invention. The roll holder includes a pair of legs at opposed position relative to one another, each having an outer end support plug or protrusion as shown. Each leg is secured to, shown integral with, a bracket or a frame, generally at right angles to the leg, forming an L shaped leg-frame member. The two frames or brackets are parallel to one another and parallel to a wall on which the device is to be mounted. A manual knob is attached to the right leg for ease of moving the leg while inserting the tissue or paper roll.

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal view of the tissue and paper towel roll holder. It may attached to one bracket or split into two separate brackets to accommodate wider paper roll uses. The left bracket frame leg is simply a roll holder that is stationary. The right bracket and frame leg contains the slide device. Further, it displays the groove in the bracket in which the right leg slides and where the first magnet is inserted.

FIG. 3 shows a vertical view of the right frame leg prior to installation into the tissue and paper roll holder. It displays the paper holder, the frame leg, and the magnet device (second magnet) that serves to slide in the groove in the bracket and to keep it in place in the bracket and to hold it in proper position for use.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical view of the cloth towel rack, which is a derivative of the paper roll holder. It displays a paper roll holder with a spindle of any desired length with magnets on the end of each roll knob and each end of the spindle to hold it in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view (vertical) showing a toilet tissue and paper roll holder of the invention and indicating the slide device and where it would be contained.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal view of the bracket parts of the invention. This view is to illustrate the groove in the bracket where the moveable leg and holder slide. It also shows where the first magnet is contained.

FIG. 3 is a vertical view of the right or upper (moveable) frame leg and the slide mechanism. It illustrates the slide mechanism which is simply the second magnet and where it is screwed into the frame leg. (Note: This mechanism is inserted into the groove in the bracket before final assembly of the invention. A small plug is glued into the opposite end of the groove after installation of the slide device and leg.)

FIG. 4 shows the derivative of the invention i.e. a spindle for cloth towels. It show that the holders and the spindle would each contain small magnets at each end to hold the spindle in place.

Claims

1. A single retractable paper tissue and paper towel holder that includes one or two brackets (back plates) that permit flexible attachment to the wall for different paper widths.

2. A single slide activated device on the right bracket and holder frame for ease of placing the paper roll in the proper positions for use.

3. A device with only one moving part thereby significantly reducing the potential for malfunction and usage failure.

4. A device with two magnets in the slide mechanism to effect holding (latching) the paper roll in the proper position for use.

5. A towel roll or rack alternative device by attaching (with screws) magnets to the paper roll holders and to each end of the spindle. The advantage to this is to permit toilet roll and towel racks that appear identical for interior decorating design purposes.