TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER

Abstract

A toilet roll dispensing device having a body with a specified shape and size resembling a toilet tank and adapted to being mounted to a location associated with a vertically extending surface. A lowermost and extending support is associated with the body. A second upper and selectively displaceable support extends in substantially parallel fashion relative to the lowermost support. A widthwise hinge extends between the upper support and the body and permits the upper support to rotate upwardly against the body. The first and second supports each exhibit an opposing face upon which is defined an annular embossment, a core associated with a toilet roll seating with the annular embossments in heightwise extending and rotatable fashion and in order to provide the supports with an appearance resembling a toilet base and lid.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/791,344 filed Apr. 12, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to tissue roll dispenser devices. More specifically, the present invention discloses a unique, hinge loading and decorative device for orienting a toilet roll in vertical rotating fashion.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art is well documented with examples of tissue roll dispensing articles and devices. The objective in each instance is to provide a wall or surface supporting article (or otherwise pedestal supporting device) for a toilet tissue roll.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,565, issued to Cheng, teaches an improved toilet paper dispenser having a vertical spine holding and dispensing rolled toilet paper, having a storage shelf for a spare roll. The dispenser mounts on the horizontal spindle of a conventional dispenser and is stabilized against the base of the conventional dispenser.

Each of U.S. Design Pat. No. 277,622 (Servadio), No. 486,333 (Hoernig), No. 298,290 (Wilkerson), No. 518,985 (Yang et al.), as well as utility No. 3,370,805 (Barbee), disclose a vertically extending spindle mounted toilet paper holder, such as affixable to a wall or other supporting surface. Additional patent references of similar nature include Schneider (Des. 386,340), Youngman (Des. 266,886), Cordray (Des. 260,828), and Belshaw (Des. 137,392).

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,000, issued to Wood, teaches a convertible, vertically disposed dispenser for dispensing toilet tissue from a roll. The dispenser is adapted to be attached to a conventional horizontally disposed toilet tissue dispenser by a fastening mechanism which includes a rotatable, elongated threaded member mounting a movable plate for engagement with the spindle of the horizontally disposed toilet tissue dispenser. Further, the convertible dispenser mounts a vertically oriented spindle for receiving and dispensing a roll of toilet tissue.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a toilet roll dispensing device having a body with a specified shape and size resembling a toilet tank. The body is adapted to being mounted to a location associated with a vertically extending surface, and such as proximate to a toilet.

A lowermost and extending support is associated with the body. A second upper and selectively displaceable support extends in substantially parallel and spaced apart fashion relative to the lowermost support. A widthwise hinge extends between the upper support and the body and permits the upper support to rotate upwardly against the body.

The first and second supports each exhibit an opposing face upon which is defined an annular embossment. A core associated with a toilet roll seats with the annular embossments in heightwise extending and rotatable fashion, upon first rotating the upper support to a retracting position to permit installation of the toilet roll and then reseating the upper support, to provide the supports with an appearance resembling a toilet base and lid while still providing for the functionality of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toilet tissue dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an environmental view illustrating the hingeable and biasing nature of the upper lid portion of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the dispenser, again illustrating the pivoting nature of the upper lid portion;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the dispenser;

FIG. 6 is an upper rear sectional view of dispenser and illustrating one potential mounting arrangement for securing the dispenser to a vertically extending and supporting surface;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the toilet tissue dispenser according to a further modified variant of the present design; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 7, again illustrating the pivoting nature of the upper lid portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to each of FIGS. 1-4, a dispensing device 10 is illustrated according to a first preferred embodiment and in order to support and permit dispensing of individual tissues associated with a toilet paper roll 12 wound about a central core 14 (see FIG. 2). The present invention therefore provides a dispensing device having a body with a specified shape and size resembling a toilet tank. As is known in the art, the body is adapted to being mounted to a location associated with a vertically extending surface (not shown), and such as proximately located to a toilet (also not shown).

The device exhibits an overall specified shape and size and may be constructed from a range of materials, including such as wood, plasticized compositions (e.g. sanitary plastics) or the like having the desired properties of rigidity and durability. In particular, and as referenced throughout the drawings, the body exhibits a decorative configuration resembling a toilet tank and which includes an upper widened portion 16 and a lower narrowed portion 18. The upper portion 16 decoratively exhibits a tank cover 20 and a flush handle 22, both associated with a substantially rectangular and three-dimensional shape associated with the upper portion 16. Any additional decorative patterns may be incorporated into the top or side surfaces of the widened portion 16, and such as referenced without limitation by the multiple circular arrangement shown in FIG. 5.

As best shown in the upper rear sectional view of FIG. 6, an illustration of one potential mounting arrangement for securing the dispenser 10 to a vertically extending and supporting surface is referenced by a fastener head receiving aperture (the fastener head not illustrated but understood as being capable of securing to a wall supported surface) defined within a first location associated with the rear facing (e.g. typically planar) surface of the upper body 16. The receiving aperture is collectively understood to include an enlarged lower portion 24 and a contiguous and upper extending narrow slotted portion 26.

At least one secondary fastener receiving aperture is defined within the lower narrowed body portion 18 and, as best shown in FIGS. 1-3, includes a pair of such vertically spaced apart apertures 28 and 30 for securing against likewise vertically displaced wall surface locations. Additional screws (also not shown) are provided for securing the body to the wall surface.

A fixed lowermost extending support 32 is provided and typically extends from a bottommost continuous location associated with the lower narrowed portion 18. A further upper and selectively displaceable portion 34 (typically intermediately located relative to the overall height of the wall supported widened 18 and narrowed 20 body portions) is provided and extends in substantially parallel spaced apart fashion relative to the lower extending support 32.

Each of the first and second supports exhibit an overall oval or curved profile, each with an opposing face thereof upon which is defined an annular embossment, see at 36 and 38, respectively. The core 14 associated with the toilet roll seats over the annular embossments 36 and 38 in a heightwise extending and rotatable fashion, see as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in order to provide the supports 32 and 34 (in cooperation with the roll 12) with an appearance resembling a toilet base and lid, respectively.

A widthwise extending hinge 40 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is disposed between the upper support 34 and a lowermost location of the upper widened body 16, and permits the upper support 34 to rotate upwardly against the body (see as illustrated in FIG. 2 as well as in phantom at 34′ in FIG. 4). The hinge has a specified shape and size and further includes at least one, and typically a pair of, biasing tangs (see at 42 in FIG. 4) and which influences the upper support in downwardly engaging fashion relative to the toilet roll 12.

Referring finally to FIGS. 7 and 8, respective perspective and side views are shown of the toilet tissue dispenser 44 according to a further modified variant of the present design. The secondary design 44 is virtually identical in assembly and operation to that collectively described throughout FIGS. 1-6, with the exception of certain dimensional variations.

Namely, a body is provided with a more flattened upper (widened) portion 46, this adopting a substantially coplanar configuration when viewed in side profile (FIG. 8) relative to the lower/narrowed body portion 48. Furthermore, lower 50 and upper spaced apart and displaceable 52 supports are similar in construction to those illustrated respectively at 32 and 34 in FIGS. 1-6, with the exception that their collectively oval configurations are further elongated over their counterparts 32/34, such as in order to accommodate larger diameter toilet rolls and/or to compensate for the reduced horizontal displacement of the upper pivotable support 52 given the narrower cross-sectional profile of the upper body portion 46.

Otherwise, the variant 44 of the tissue dispenser is similar in arrangement and operation to that previously described at 10 and includes a pair of opposing and roll supporting annular embossments 54 and 56, respectively, and which are capable of being either integrally formed with the first and second supports or, alternatively, fastener affixed in the manner illustrated. A widthwise extending hinge 58 is also illustrated and which provides for biasing displacement of the upper support 52 (such as to a position 52′ illustrated in phantom in FIG. 8).

Having described our invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet roll dispensing device, comprising:

a body having a specified shape and size and adapted to being mounted to a location associated with a vertically extending surface;

a first lowermost and extending support associated with said body;

a second upper and selectively displaceable support extending in substantially parallel fashion relative to said lowermost support; and

said first and second supports each exhibiting an opposing face upon which is defined an annular embossment, a core associated with a toilet roll seating with said annular embossments in heightwise extending and rotatable fashion.

2. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 1, further comprising a widthwise extending hinge extending between said upper support and said body, said hinge permitting said upper support to rotate upwardly against said body.

3. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 2, said hinge having a specified shape and size and further comprising a biasing tang influencing said upper support in downwardly engaging fashion relative to the toilet roll.

4. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 1, said body and first and second supports having a specified shape and size and further comprising at least one of a wood or a plasticized construction.

5. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 1, further comprising a fastener head receiving aperture defined within a first location associated with a rear facing surface of said body, said aperture including an enlarged lower portion and a contiguous and upper extending narrow slotted portion.

6. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 5, further comprising at least one secondary fastener receiving aperture defined within a second vertically displaced location associated with said body for securing against the vertically extending surface.

7. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 1, further comprising said body exhibiting a decorative shape resembling a toilet tank, said first and second supports and interposed toilet roll further resembling a toilet base and lid.

8. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 7, said body further comprising a substantially planar extending configuration with a first upper and widened portion and a second lower and narrowed portion.

9. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 8, said upper widened body portion further comprising a decorative configuration exhibiting a tank cover, a front face associated with said upper body portion further exhibiting a decorative flush handle.

10. A toilet roll dispensing device, comprising:

a body having a specified shape and size resembling a toilet tank and adapted to being mounted to a location associated with a vertically extending surface;

a first lowermost and extending support associated with said body;

a second upper and selectively displaceable support extending in substantially parallel fashion relative to said lowermost support;

a widthwise hinge extending between said upper support and said body and permitting said upper support to rotate upwardly against said body; and

said first and second supports each exhibiting an opposing face upon which is defined an annular embossment, a core associated with a toilet roll seating with said annular embossments in heightwise extending and rotatable fashion and in order to provide said supports with an appearance resembling a toilet base and lid.

11. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 10, said hinge having a specified shape and size and further comprising a biasing tang influencing said upper support in downwardly engaging fashion relative to the toilet roll.

12. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 10, said body and first and second supports having a specified shape and size and further comprising at least one of a wood or a plasticized construction.

13. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 10, further comprising a fastener head receiving aperture defined within a first location associated with a rear facing surface of said body, said aperture including an enlarged lower portion and a contiguous and upper extending narrow slotted portion.

14. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 13, further comprising at least one secondary fastener receiving aperture defined within a second vertically displaced location associated with said body for securing against the vertically extending surface.

15. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 10, said body further comprising a substantially planar extending configuration with a first upper and widened portion and a second lower and narrowed portion.

16. The toilet roll dispensing device as described in claim 15, said upper widened body portion further comprising a decorative configuration exhibiting a tank cover, a front face associated with said upper body portion further exhibiting a decorative flush handle.