Shielding Device

Info

Publication number: 20110297781
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2011
Inventor: Martin Jay Peters (Denver, CO)
Application Number: 12/794,769

Abstract

The present invention is a shielding device and method of use that is designed to protect the edge of an article, such as a paper towel roll with a mating inner boundary, from becoming wet or soiled by a user's fingers. The present invention includes a planar base having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, the first face portion includes a ridge within an outer periphery portion of the base. The second face portion is adjacent to the article, and an extension projects therefrom with a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the planar base. Furthermore, the extension is sized and configured to have an interference fit in relation to being received by the mating inner boundary such that the shielding device and article form a unitary assembly.

Description

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a new and improved accessory to be placed at the end of a roll of paper material to prevent dirtying or wetting the unused portion of the paper roll when removing another portion for use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device having a ridge on both the inner and outer circumferences placed at the end portion of a paper towel roll wherein, operationally, a person can use a hand that is wet or soiled to turn the roll to dispense paper towels and then hold it steady while one or more paper towels are removed or torn off from the roll without wetting or soiling the towels that remain on the roll.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND

Rolls of paper material are ubiquitous in American society, finding uses in the printing industry as well as, and perhaps most commonly, for cleaning purposes. The paper towel has become a staple in the American household as it is useful for cleaning and wiping up spills and other messes in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, and virtually every other room in the house. A paper towel roll typically consists of several hundred towels separated by perforations loosely wrapped around a hollow cylindrical cardboard core. These rolls are commonly placed on a vertical or horizontal dispenser that may be mounted on another surface, however such a dispenser is not required and the roll can be used as it is.

There are several problems with using a paper towel roll without any sort of dispenser. First, the person must pick up the roll either by gripping the roll and directly touching the exposed paper towels, or by inserting their fingers or another object into the hollow cylindrical core. If the person's hands are wet or soiled, the top layer of exposed paper towels or alternatively, the ends of the entire paper towel roll will also become wet or soiled due to their high level of absorbency by design. Second, because of this absorbent nature of paper towels, any moisture will necessarily soak through to additional layers and is not confined merely to the paper towel first touched. Additionally, because the paper towels are loosely wound around the hollow cylinder, moisture and dirt may drip down between the sheets as well if the roll is placed in a vertical standing position.

Paper towel roll dispensers typically are either mounted on a wall or underneath a cabinet and hold the roll horizontally, or they hold the roll vertically via a pole extending from a base on a table top for instance. The vertical placement of paper towel rolls is gaining popularity because the dispenser is portable and takes up less room on a countertop. One problem with current designs of paper towel roll dispensers is that in order to steady a roll so that some towels may be removed, as with using the paper towel roll without the dispenser, the person generally must touch some of the remaining towels. Some dispensers feature an end cap which may partially protect the unused towels, however, without some sort of lip or groove on the edge, when the paper towel roll is in a vertical position liquids may still drip over the sides onto the unused towels, wetting or soiling them. Continuously wetting and soiling the unused paper towels while tearing off others for use can lead to many problems. Of primary concern is the simple waste of paper towels that could otherwise be used had they not become wet or soiled from a prior use. A mechanic working in a garage may find himself unnecessarily throwing away an entire roll of unprotected paper towels because of one ill-placed oily hand.

Of further concern is the dirt and bacteria that may be transferred back to the person using the paper towel roll, or on to another person who uses the roll later. Kitchen workers and backyard barbeques alike work with raw meat, and using a paper towel is a convenient, disposable way to keep their hands clean. The e. coli or salmonella bacteria can transfer onto the unused paper towels either by absorbing through the towels, or from the edges the person touched, and then when the next person touches the roll to clean their hands, they are instead dirtying them with deadly bacteria that could then be unknowingly introduced into their system. Additionally, many restaurants serving barbeque, ribs, or wings have begun placing a roll of paper towels on each table instead of napkins, either vertically directly on the table or in a bucket, or on a vertical dispenser. Because this style of food is generally meant to be eaten with the person's hands, dirt and germs that may transfer from the ends of the roll to the next person to touch it is particularly concerning because they will likely then touch their food and put it directly in their mouth.

The prior art of paper towel roll dispensers has attempted to address these concerns, however the cap portions of the prior art are often too small to protect the entire end portion of the paper towel roll from liquids or dirt, and because they are often attached to a larger apparatus or device, the cap portion itself cannot be used to assist the user in unwinding the roll. Furthermore, none have ridges on the inner or outer circumferences to contain liquids and prevent them from dripping over the edges and wetting or soiling the unused paper towels.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,141 to Kanbar discloses a vertical or horizontal holder for a paper towel roll in which the element is formed by a cap and a plug projecting therefrom, the plug being received in one end of the tubular core whereby the cap then abuts an end of the roll. However, as shown by FIGS. 2 and 6 in Kanbar, the cap at the top is a dome shape having no ridge at the edge to prevent liquids from dripping over the sides and contaminating the remaining paper towels. Additionally, as Kanbar explains in the abstract, the purpose of this invention is to allow a user to tear off a portion of paper towels with one hand while using the other to press the cap down to prevent the roll from unwinding any further. In looking at FIG. 6, element 17P, in Kanbar, the cross shaped insert is taught to be “jammed” into the core, wherein this not any teaching at all for an interference fit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,053 to Vance discloses a device for holding a roll of paper towels in an upright position. Vance shows in figures one and two a cap that screws onto an upstanding pole attached to the base. This cap, however cannot assist the person in turning the paper towel roll without wetting or soiling the unused paper towels because it is attached to the device, and not the paper towel roll itself. Additionally, like the cap in Kanbar, Vance does not have a ridge around the inner and outer circumferences so liquids may drip off of the person's hands, onto the cap, and over the sides, soiling the remaining paper towels.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,304 to Ahern Jr. discloses a unitarily molded vertical towel dispenser comprising an arcuate arm member, a cap member connected to the top end of the arm member, and a platform connected to the bottom end. Additionally, Ahern Jr. teaches that the arm member may be used as a carry handle once the roll is inserted between the cap member and the platform. Like Vance, because the cap member in Ahern Jr. is attached to the arm member, it cannot be used to assist the person in turning the paper towel roll without wetting or soiling the unused paper towels. Furthermore, as shown in Ahern Jr. FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the cap member is not large enough to cover the entire end of the paper towel roll, so any liquids that may drip off of the person's hand while they steady the roll to remove a sheet may drip onto the end and down in between the sheets, soiling several paper towels at once, instead of simply the one the person pulled off for use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,781 to Tramontina discloses a method and apparatus for more efficiently and easily dispensing paper products disposed horizontally from commercial wall mounted dispensers. While Tramontina teaches an apparatus that fully encases the paper product to prevent it from becoming unnecessarily wet or soiled, the end cap again, like Vance and Ahern Jr., cannot be used to assist the user in turning the paper product, and if the paper becomes caught inside the dispenser the user must stick their hand inside to attempt to free the paper.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,869 to Zies discloses a vertical sheet product dispensing device including a base, a shaft connected thereto and extending upwardly, and a top removably connected to the upper portion of the shaft. Column 1, lines 61-67 explains that the object of Zies is to provide a device allowing a user to selectively stop the rotation of the roll without having to touch the exposed sheets. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, however, like Ahern Jr. the top portion of Zies is not large enough to cover the entire end of the sheet roll, nor is there a ridge on either the inner or outer circumference to prevent liquids from dripping over the side of the top portion.

What is needed in the present invention is a device capable of being placed on the end of a roll of paper towels with an inner portion to slip fit frictionally inside of the hollow tube core at the center of the roll so that the roll may be easily manipulated and unwound rotationally without needing to touch either the end portion of the paper towel roll or the main body of the roll, thus protecting the unused paper towels from becoming unnecessarily wet or soiled and preventing waste and transfer of dirt or bacteria to the next person who uses the paper towels. Furthermore, what is needed is a ridge on the inner circumference and outer circumference so as to prevent liquids that may have dripped off of the person's hands from dripping over the edges of the device when the paper towel roll is in a vertical position, wetting or soiling the remaining paper towels. This device can be used alone or in conjunction with a dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the shielding device with the first face portion showing, the ridge located in the outer periphery portion, and the shoulder located inward of the ridge, and the longitudinal axis of the extension creating an annular channel in the first face portion, further shown is the rib is adjacent to the outer periphery portion and located opposite of the ridge;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the shielding device with the second face portion showing, the extension protruding therefrom, and the insertion chamfer;

FIG. 3 shows a flat plan view of the shielding device with the first face portion showing without an aperture, and the ridge located in the outer periphery portion;

FIG. 4 shows a flat plan view of the shielding device with the second face portion showing and the extension located in the center of the second face portion with the chamfer;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the shielding device, the second face portion located opposite of the first face portion, the ridge located in the outer periphery portion, and the extension protruding from the second face portion with the longitudinal axis, further the aperture margin and shoulder are shown;

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the distal end of the extension, showing in particular the chamfer;

FIG. 7 shows the same flat plan view from FIG. 3 with the addition of the aperture, plus an aperture margin and shoulder disposed in the first face portion, in addition a lip is located inward of the ridge and outward of the aperture therefore creating an annular channel in the first face portion;

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the article or the paper towel assembly, plus in particular the core, the core diameter, and core wall thickness;

FIG. 9 shows the cross sectional view of the distal end of the extension, showing in particular the process of the chamfer being inserted into the core inside diameter, wherein the chamfer allows for the extension distal end to ease into the core inside diameter, effectuating tensile stretching of the core wall thickness;

FIG. 10 shows the details of the interference fit interface, with the radii of the inside and outside of the extension, and outside of the core, along with core periphery and extension axial length;

FIG. 11 shows the details of the outside of the core with the spiral seam and the spiral fracture failure that occurred during testing;

FIG. 12 shows a use view of the shielding device adjacent to the primary edge of a paper towel roll that is resting on its secondary edge on a surface;

FIG. 13 shows a use view of the shielding device with the user placing their fingers upon the disk, and the notations for clock wise and counter clock wise rotation of the shielding device and paper towel assembly from the user's fingers movement, also with a portion of the user's fingers disposed within the aperture, and the paper towel assembly inner core volume, note particularly, the chord length of rotation that is used for the insertion process, also the paper towel primary end that is protected from dirt and liquids from the user's fingers; and

FIG. 14 shows a use view of the shielding device with the user placing their fingers upon the disk, and the notations for clock wise and counter clock wise rotation of the shielding device and paper towel assembly from the user's fingers movement, also with a portion of the user's fingers not disposed within the aperture, and the paper towel assembly inner core volume, also the paper towel primary end that is protected from dirt and liquids from the user's fingers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a shielding device and method of use that is designed to protect the edge of an article, such as a paper towel roll with a mating inner boundary, from becoming wet or soiled by a user's fingers. The present invention includes a planar base having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, the first face portion includes a ridge within an outer periphery portion of the base. The second face portion is adjacent to the article, and an extension projects therefrom with a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the planar base. Furthermore, the extension is sized and configured to have an interference fit in relation to being received by the mating inner boundary such that the shielding device and article form a unitary assembly.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

30 Shielding device
31 User
32 Fingers of user 31
33 Grasping by fingers 32 upon disk 181
34 Portion of fingers 32 placed into aperture 145 and void 84
35 Article
40 Mating inner boundary length of the article 35
45 Base
46 Generally planar shape of the base 45
48 Surface
50 First face portion of base 45 or disk 181
55 Second face portion of base 45 or disk 181
65 Outer periphery portion of the base 45 of disk 181
70 Ridge
81 Extension
82 Proximal end portion of the extension 81
83 Distal end portion of the extension 81
84 Void of the extension 81
86 Axial length dimension of the extension 81
88 Chamfer
89 Chamfer angle of the chamfer 88
90 Axial length of the chamfer 88
91 Longitudinal axis of extension 81
93 Lengthwise axis of paper towel assembly 200
100 Longitudinal axis 90 substantially perpendicular to the planar shape 46 or plane 186
115 Lip
120 Depression
121 Concave depression
125 Channel in said first face portion 50
126 Annular channel
130 Rib
145 Aperture
146 Margin at aperture 145
147 Shoulder at aperture 145
181 Disk
186 Plane formed by disk 181
200 Paper towel roll assembly or paper product roll that includes the core 210 and the paper towel sheets 205
202 A primary edge of the paper towel roll 200
203 A secondary edge of the paper towel roll 200
205 Paper towel sheets roll up
206 Outside diameter of the paper towel sheets roll up
207 Rotation movement of the paper towel assembly 200 relative to surface 225
208 Force movement point to cause rotation of the paper towel assembly upon the surface 225
210 Core of paper towel assembly
211 Spiral seam of the core 210
212 Periphery of the core 210
213 Hollow inner volume of the core 210
215 Inside diameter of the core 210
220 Wall thickness of the core 210
221 Spiral failure of the wall thickness 220
225 Surface that the paper towel assembly 200 rests upon
226 Surface friction area to resist rotation 255 or 256
230 Inserting extension 81 into the mating inner boundary 40 or the core 210 diameter 215
250 Grasping manually the shielding device 30 by placing the fingers 32 upon the disk 181
255 Rotating manually the shielding device 30 in a clock wise direction from the first face portion 50
256 Rotating manually the shielding device 30 in a counter clock wise direction from the first face portion 50
257 Chord length equal to extension 81 length 86
265 Solid
270 Liquid
300 Inner radius dimension of the extension 81
305 Outer radius dimension of the extension 81
310 Outer radius dimension of the core 210
315 Contact pressure area as between the outer radius 305 and the core 210 inside diameter
215 of as termed the “interference fit”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1 shown is a perspective view of the shielding device 30 with the first face portion 50 showing, the ridge 70 located in the outer periphery portion 65, and the shoulder 147 located inward of the ridge 70, and the longitudinal axis 91 of the extension 81 creating an annular channel 126 in the first face portion 50, further shown is the rib 130 that is adjacent to the outer periphery portion 65 and located opposite of the ridge 70. Next, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the shielding device 30 with the second face portion 55 showing, the extension 81 protruding therefrom and the insertion chamfer 88, and FIG. 3 shows a flat plan view of the shielding device 30 with the first face portion 50 showing without an aperture 145, and the ridge 70 located in the outer periphery portion 65. Continuing, FIG. 4 shows a flat plan view of the shielding device 30 with the second face portion 55 showing, the extension 81 located in the center of the second face portion 55, with the chamfer 88 showing on the distal end portion 83 of extension 81. Further, FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the shielding device 30, the second face portion 55 located opposite of the first face portion 50, the ridge 70 located in the outer periphery portion 65, and the extension 81 protruding from the second face portion 55, with the longitudinal axis 91, further the aperture 145 margin 146 and shoulder 147 are shown.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the distal end 83 of the extension 81, showing in particular the chamfer 88 and FIG. 7 shows the same flat plan view from FIG. 3 with the addition of the aperture 145, plus aperture margin 146 and shoulder 147 through the first face portion 50, further the lip 115 located inward of the ridge 70 and outward of the aperture 145 thus creating an annular channel 126 in the first face portion 50. Next, FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the article 35 or the paper towel assembly 200, plus in particular the core 210, the core diameter 215, and core wall thickness 220. Further, FIG. 9 shows the cross sectional view of the distal end 83 of the extension 81, showing in particular the process of the chamfer 88 being inserted 230 into the core 210 inside diameter 215, wherein the chamfer 88 allows for the extension distal end 83 to ease into the core 210 inside diameter 215, effectuating tensile stretching of the core 210 wall thickness 220.

Moving ahead, FIG. 10 shows the details of the interference fit interface 315, with the radii of the inside 300 and outside 305 of the extension 81, and outside 310 of the core 210, along with core 210 periphery 212 and extension 81 axial length 86, and FIG. 11 shows the details of the outside of the core 210 with the spiral seam 211 and the spiral fracture failure 221 that occurred during testing. Further, FIG. 12 shows a use view of the shielding device 30 adjacent to the primary edge 202 of a paper towel roll 205 that is resting on its secondary edge 203 on a surface 225.

Continuing, FIG. 13 shows a use view of the shielding device 30 with the user 31 placing 33 their fingers 32 upon the disk 181, and the notations for clock wise 255 and counter clock wise 256 rotation of the shielding device 30 and paper towel assembly 200 from user 31 finger 32 movement, also with a portion of the user's 31 fingers 32 disposed 34 within the aperture 145, and the paper towel assembly 200 inner core 210 volume 213, note particularly, the chord length 257 of rotation 255 that is used for the insertion 230 process, also the paper towel primary edge end 202 that is protected from dirt 265 and liquids 270 from the user's 31 fingers 32. Next, FIG. 14 shows a use view of the shielding device 30 with the user 31 placing their fingers 32 upon the disk 181, and the notations for clock wise 255 and counter clock wise 256 rotation of the shielding device 30 and paper towel assembly 200 from user's 31 fingers 32 movement, also with a portion of the user's 31 fingers 32 not disposed within the aperture 145, and the paper towel assembly 200 inner core 210 volume 213, also the paper towel primary edge end 202 that is protected from dirt 265 and liquids 270 from the user's 31 fingers 32.

Broadly the present invention of the shielding device 30 for helping to protect an article 35, with the article 35 having a mating inner boundary length 40, the shielding device 30 includes a base 45 having a generally planar shape 46, the base 40 including first face portion 50 and an opposing second face portion 55, the base 40 further having an outer periphery portion 65 wherein a ridge 70 is disposed in the outer periphery portion 65 being adjacent to the first face portion 50, wherein the second face portion 55 is adjacent to the article 35, see FIGS. 1 to 5, and 12-14. The preferred materials of construction for the base 45 is a molded waterproof plastic, or suitable equivalent. Also included in the shielding device 30, is an extension 81 having a proximal end portion 82 and a distal end portion 83 with a longitudinal axis 91 disposed therebetween, with the extension 81 proximal end portion 82 projecting from the second face portion 55, where the longitudinal axis 91 is substantially perpendicular 100 to the planar shape 46, the extension distal end portion 83 is sized and configured to have an interference fit 315 of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the boundary length 40, see in particular FIGS. 9 and 10, further following is a detailed discussion on the interference fit 315. The materials of construction for the extension 81 are preferably Polyvinyl Chloride PVC, or other suitable equivalent that is waterproof. Further, the base 45 and extension 81 can be a single homogenous piece or separable pieces. Wherein operationally, the base 45 and extension 81 form a unitary assembly with the article 35, with the article 35 further protected from solid 265 and liquid 270 drippings via the base 45 and ridge 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, and 12-14, as an option for the shielding device 30, a lip 115 can be added that is disposed in the first face portion 50 inward of the ridge 70 forming a depression 120 in the first face portion 50 that is operational to further retain liquid 270 drippings substantially within the depression 120 and away from the article 35, see FIGS. 13 and 14. As another option to help retain the paper towel sheets 205 from unrolling for instance in wind (i.e. outside at a BBQ) the shielding device 30 can further include a rib 130 adjacent to the outer periphery portion 65 that is oppositely disposed from the ridge 70, wherein the rib can also further protect the article from the liquid drippings 270, see FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 12-14.

Also as an option of the shielding device 30, an aperture 145 is added that is disposed therethrough the base 45 being positioned about the longitudinal axis 91, wherein the aperture 145 further allows use as a grasp point 34 for a user 31, as best show in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 12-14. Further, on the aperture 145, a shoulder 147 can be added that is positioned adjacent to a margin 146 of the aperture 145, wherein a channel 125 is formed from the shoulder 47, the first face portion 50, and the ridge 70, wherein the channel 125 further protects the article 35 from the liquid drippings 270 with the use of the aperture 145, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 12-14.

As a more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30 can be used for helping to protect an edge 202 of a paper product roll or more specifically a roll of paper towels 200, the roll 205 having a hollow inner 213 core 210 with a periphery 212. The more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30 includes a disk 181 forming a plane 186, with the disk 181 having a first face portion 50 and an opposing second face portion 55, with the disk 181 further having an outer periphery portion 65 wherein a ridge 70 is disposed in the outer periphery portion 65 being adjacent to the first face portion 50, wherein the second face portion 55 is adjacent to the paper product roll 200, see FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 12-14. The preferred materials of construction for the disk 181 is a molded waterproof plastic, or suitable equivalent. The more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30 also includes an extension 81 having a proximal end portion 82 and a distal end portion 83 forming a length 86 therebetween, with a longitudinal axis 91 disposed along the length 86, see FIGS. 1, 2, and 5.

The extension proximal end portion 82 projecting from the second face portion 55, wherein the longitudinal axis 91 is substantially perpendicular 100 to the plane 186, the extension distal end portion 83 is sized and configured to have an interference fit 315 of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the periphery 212, see FIGS. 9 and 10, when the extension is inserted 230 into the hollow inner 213 of the core 210, see FIG. 9, note that a detailed discussion follows on the interference fit 315. The materials of construction for the extension 81 are preferably Polyvinyl Chloride PVC, or other suitable equivalent that is waterproof. Further, the disk 181 and extension 81 can be a single homogenous piece or separable pieces. Wherein operationally the disk 181 and the extension 81 communicate rotational torque 255 or 256 into the core 210 and paper product roll 205, being paper towel assembly 200, with the paper product roll 205 further protected from liquid drippings 270 via the disk 181 and ridge 70.

As an option the more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30, can further comprise a lip 115 disposed in the first face portion 50 inward of the ridge 70 forming a concave depression 121 in the first face portion 50 that is operational to further retain liquid drippings 270 substantially within the concave depression 121 away from the paper product roll 205, see FIGS. 1, 5, and 12-14. As another option to help retain the paper towel sheets 205 from unrolling for instance in wind (i.e. outside at a BBQ) the more specific embodiment shielding device 30 can further include a rib 130 adjacent to the outer periphery portion 65 that is oppositely disposed from the ridge 70, wherein the rib can also further protect the paper towel assembly 200 from the liquid drippings 270, see FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 12-14. Also as an option of the more specific embodiment shielding device 30, an aperture 145 is added that is disposed therethrough the disk 181 being positioned about the longitudinal axis 91, wherein the aperture 145 further allows use as a grasp point 34 for a user 31, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 12-14. Further, on the aperture 145, a shoulder 147 can be added that is positioned adjacent to a margin 146 of the aperture 145, wherein an annular channel 126 is formed from the shoulder 47, the first face portion 50, and the ridge 70, wherein the annular channel 126 further protects the paper roll 205 from the liquid drippings 270 with the use of the aperture 145, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 12-14. Also, to make better use of the aperture 145 for easier grasping 33 on the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30, the extension 81 has a void 84 disposed therethrough along the longitudinal axis 91, wherein the void 84 and the aperture 145 are in communication, see FIG. 5.

As a refinement of the interference fit 315 for the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 the interference fit 315 is increased to an interference fit 315 of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to two and seven tenths (2.7) percent (%) of the periphery 212, requiring that the disk 181 and the extension 81 be rotated clock wise 255 in an amount defined as a chord length 257 on the outer periphery 65 being at least equal to the extension length 86 as viewed from the first face portion 50. When the extension 81 is inserted 230 into the hollow inner 213 core 210, see FIGS. 9, 10, 13, and 14. Wherein operationally, this increased interference fit 315 is to further allow the disk 181 and the extension 81 to communicate additional rotational torque 255 or 256 into the core 210 and paper product roll 205, with the paper product roll 205 further protected from liquid drippings 270 via the disk 181 and ridge 70, see FIGS. 12-14.

Interference Fit

In calculating the interference fit as between extension 81 and the core 210 a number of parameters need to be set forth, please reference FIGS. 8-11. Firstly, the goals of the interference fit must be identified, then the assumptions for the interference calculations, and then the practical analysis for the interference fit considering the use of non-conventional materials in the present invention, i.e. polyvinylchloride (PVC) for the inner cylinder for extension 81 and essentially paper cardboard for the construction of the core 210 being an outer cylinder. As with ordinary skill in the art for this area, typically an interference fit is used for like or dissimilar metals that comprise the inner and outer cylinders, wherein the contact pressures are higher in the 1000's of Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) for the purpose of transmitting a torque, restraining an axial force, containing an internal pressure, corrosion resistance, providing strength with corrosion resistance, or any combination of the previously mentioned items.

Noting that an interference fit is typically where an inner cylindrical part is manufactured to a larger outside diameter that the inside diameter of the cylinder that it is inserted into, hence the term interference, as the two parts will strain or deform each other at their interface, thus forming a permanently stressed condition, wherein consistent contact pressure exists as between the outside diameter of the inner assembled cylinder and the inside diameter of the outer assembled cylinder. The benefits of the interference fit are many, however, being primarily to effectuate two cylinders to be affixed to one another without the need for welding, screws, bolts, adhesives, threads, and the like. Of course the question would be; how do you get the parts together, other than with a hydraulic ram to axially push the cylinders together with brute force (being generally unacceptable due to potential damage to the cylinders), and the answer is typically in the ordinary skill in the art, wherein the cylinders are made of various metals and through the use of thermal expansion and contraction, wherein the outer cylinder is heated to grow and the inner cylinder is cooled to shrink, thus with the combination of the heat expansion and cooling shrinkage, the manufactured interference between outside diameter of the inner cylinder and the inside diameter of the outer cylinder is not only overcome but exceeded by some small amount, say in the thousandth's of an inch to facilitate easy assembly of the two cylinders, and as they both eventually come to an equalized room temperature, the heated cylinder shrinks and the cooled cylinder grows resulting in the desired permanent stress condition at the interference fit interface having contact pressure between the outside diameter of the inner cylinder and the inside diameter of the outer cylinder.

The present invention presents a number of challenges to seeking the benefits of an interference fit as between the extension 81 outer radius 305 and the core 210 inside diameter 215 primarily being due to the materials used for the interference fit being PVC for the extension 81 and the cardboard roll for the core 210, as opposed to the conventional use of two like or dislike metal pieces that make-up the interference fit, wherein the principal characteristics of the modulus of elasticity “E” and poissons ration “u” are known along with the thermal coefficients of expansion “α” for metals. Thus, in the present invention with the materials being PVC and cardboard being so dissimilar required some trial and error testing not only ascertain the values of E, u, and α, but also the parameters of desired contact pressure 315 that are derived from the coefficient of friction “μ” as between the PVC at radius 305 and the cardboard 215, as basically designing an interference fit as between PVC and cardboard is not generally known in the art.

To start, the coefficient of friction “μ” as between the PVC radius 305 and the cardboard 215 had to be determined from experimentation, as generally available information on coefficients of friction between various materials do not include cardboard to PVC, however, many metals, rubber, glass, concrete, and wood are generally known for standard coefficients of friction, however, one must be careful to qualify the coefficient of friction as there are big differences between dynamic and static, wet and dry, and surface finish, so for accuracy, empirical testing may also be done for more commonly mated materials of construction. Thus, an experiment was set up using a flat piece of PVC with the same surface finish as the surface at 305 has and a piece of the core 210 cut and flattened out to form a flat pattern from its normal cylindrical shape. Next a weight was added to the flat PVC piece that equaled 1 pound and 15.75 ounces or 1.981 pounds for the combination of the PVC flat piece and the weight which would equal the normal force or “N”. Thus also assuming that we wanted the static coefficient of friction is a dry-dry condition, the PVC and cardboard were dry and the lateral force “F” would be measure when the PVC just broke free in going from static to dynamic as the force F is applied to the PVC flat piece. The results were that the force F was determined from testing to be 7 ounces or 0.44 pounds. Using the equation that the coefficient of friction “μ” is determined from F divided by N, we end up with a coefficient of friction “μ” as between the PVC radius 305 and the cardboard 215 equaling 0.22 which is considerably less than a typical table value of dry steel on dry steel (static) of 0.8, meaning that more contact pressure will be needed to effectuate this unique interference fit as between PVC radius 305 and cardboard 210.

The next step was to determine the torque required to rotate 207 via force causing torque about longitudinal axis 93 at the paper towel assembly 200 outside diameter 206 as against the friction 226 of the paper towel assembly 200 on the surface 225, i.e. desirably going from static to dynamic, see FIG. 8, wherein inertia effects are ignored as being minimal due to the relative light weight and low rotational speed of the paper towel assembly 200, again see FIG. 8 in particular. As it is this torque about longitudinal axis 93 translating into rotational motion 207 is what the goal is of the user grasping 250 the shielding device 30 to effectuate rotation 255 that the interference fit as between the PVC radius 305 and the cardboard 215 has a goal to accomplish, see FIGS. 13 and 14. Therefore to run an experimental test to determine the torque required refer to FIG. 8 wherein the paper towel assembly 200 was placed upon a surface 225 as shown, wherein the surface 225 is a typical wood grained tabletop, thus the friction 226 as between the surface 225 and the paper towel assembly 200 would best represent the torque required at the interference fit 315, assuming in going from a static state of the paper towel assembly 200 relative to the surface 225 also in a dry condition to a dynamic state, wherein the paper towel assembly 200 would have rotational movement 207 from force 208, thus maximizing the torque required.

Based upon the experimental testing, force 208 was determined to be 0.062 pounds force to move the paper towel assembly 200 from the previously described static state to the dynamic state. Next, the force 208 needs to be proportioned to the force required at radius 305 or at the inside diameter 215, by taking outside paper towel sheets 205 outside diameter 206 divided by inside diameter 215 which equals 5 inches divided by 1.63 inches which equals 3.067 then multiplying this by 0.062 pounds which equals 0.19 pounds force that is at radius 305 or converted into torque by multiplying the 0.19 pounds force by the moment arm 0.0675 feet (being one-half of inside diameter 215) equals 0.013 foot-pounds of torque. Thus to effectuate the required torque to manually rotate 255 the paper towel assembly 200 via manually grasping 250 the shielding device 30, we have to transmit at least 0.19 pounds force at the interference interface to overcome the friction 226 between the paper towel sheets 205 and the surface 225 to rotate 255 the paper towel assembly 200 and shield device 30.

Next, to convert the torque of 0.013 foot-pounds of torque or 0.19 pounds force into a contact pressure at the interference fit 315 wherein we will use the previously determined coefficient of friction being 0.22, thus we will calculate the normal force N given the coefficient of friction μ and the lateral force F, thus we divide the lateral force F which is 0.19 pounds by the coefficient of friction μ being 0.22 which equals 0.86 pounds, thus this is the compressive force that the core 210 must at least exert about the extension 81 radius 305. Now we convert this to a contact pressure we need to calculate the area at the interference fit 315, which is two times the radius 305 times Pi “π” times the axial length 86 of the interference fit 315 along the longitudinal axis 91, note not including the chamfer 88. So the calculation is respectively two times radius 305 being 1.63 inches times 3.14 for π times axial length of 0.5 inches which equals 2.56 square inches being the contact area for the interference fit 315. To convert this into a contact pressure at 315 would equal the total force of 0.86 pounds divided by the contact area of 2.56 square inches which equals 0.34 pounds per square inch minimum contact pressure required at the interference fit 315 to be able to transmit enough torque to rotate 255 the paper towel assembly 200 via manually grasping 230 the shield device 30, while the paper towel assembly 200 is resting upon the surface 225, see in particular FIGS. 13 and 14.

Now that we have the minimum required contact pressure of 0.34 pounds per square inch (PSI) we can determine the minimum interference fit 315 required if we have the modulus of elasticity E and the poissons ratio u for both materials, i.e. the PVC extension 81 and the cardboard core 210. These properties for the PVC are available, however, these properties for the cardboard are a challenge as cardboard as previously discussed is not a typical material that is used in constructing interference fits, further for the assembly issue as previously discussed that requires the thermal coefficients of expansion of both the materials to create the temperature dependent clearance for assembly of the larger outside diameter or radius 305 into the smaller inside diameter 215. Again for PVC thermal coefficients of expansion are available in the art, however, also again these properties for cardboard are not easily available, as also again cardboard is typically not used where thermal considerations are important. Also the construction of cardboard is so variable, as box type cardboard material which is corrugated, does have some strength information as it is a commonly used material, however, is a completely different material for its physical properties of E, u, α, and so on, due to corrugated box cardboard material having a completely different cross sectional inertia (being of a type of monocoque-separated stressed skin construction-like an airplane wing) as compared to a solid sheet type cardboard material, as the present invention core 210 is a cylinder of material that probably most matches a paper note pad backing material wherein the cardboard is about one-thirty second of an inch thick, however, the core 210 cardboard material appears to have a more coarse grain structure than note pad backing which could alter the material structural properties of E, u, and α, being the modulus of elasticity, poissons ratio, and the thermal coefficient of expansion respectively.

Note, there is a giant sized core 210 type material termed a Sonotube being typically one to three feet in diameter with a wall thickness of about one-quarter inch constructed of cardboard in the form of a cylinder used as a concrete pier form, i.e. concrete is poured into the Sonotube and when the concrete is set the Sonotube is removed, however, it appears after some research that the direct material structural properties of the Sonotube cardboard are kept as trade secrets, as Sonotube has a single loading with the concrete and the firms that sell it typically just give application tables of Sonotube overall diameter and axial length, wherein no details are disclosed as to wall thickness determination, exact material construction, bonding, deflection, and the like.

So, as far as the cardboard material goes for the core 210, the aforementioned materials structural properties would only be approximations, wherein experimental testing would have to be done to finalize the interference fit 315, as the calculations for the interference fit 315 are only as accurate as the material structural properties that go into the equation. Thus to start the material structural properties for the PVC i.e. for the extension 81 are for the modulus of elasticity E equal to 420,000 pounds per square inch (PSI), the poissons ratio u is equal to 0.41, and the thermal coefficient of expansion α of 0.000028 inches per inch per degree Fahrenheit. For the cardboard core 210 the only remotely applicable material structural properties are from the cardboard model bridge building projects, that typically load a bridge to failure as an exercise to learn bridge equations and assumptions that go into the equations, although the cardboard that is used for model bridges is a high density type, being probably stronger that the core 210 cardboard. Although in the present invention we are not interested in failing the cardboard into rupture, so additional experimentation will have to be done. The material structural properties from the model bridge building arts are for the modulus of elasticity E for cardboard equals 388,000 pounds per square inch in tension as in the case of the present invention, note that the modulus of elasticity for cardboard in compression is vastly different at being 12,000 pounds per square inch, this is completely different than for a typical metal wherein the modulus of elasticity is equal in tension and compression as long as there is no permanent deformation or yielding which is typically assumed in the interference fit calculation as the outer part is in hoop stress tension and the inner part is in hoop stress compression.

The poissons ratio u for cardboard comes from the paper embossing arts, wherein the poissons ratio is equal to 0.3 assuming that the paper is not strained or has deflection of more than 1 percent % in tension. The thermal coefficient of expansion α comes from assuming that a low density more open fiber wood is close like pine wherein the thermal coefficient of expansion α is equal to 0.000002 inches per inch per degree Fahrenheit being about one fourteenth of the thermal expansion of PVC. Thus, for the material structural properties of cardboard for the core 210 being of E, u, and α, being the modulus of elasticity, poissons ratio, and the thermal coefficient of expansion respectively are only loosely approximating the actual core material structural properties, however, this is what is only available in the art, so the calculation for the interference fit 315 will be done, with experimental testing to determine the actual interference fit 315.

The interference equation is basically the summation of deflections of the inner and outer pieces being the extension 81 and the core 210 wherein the deflections are set to be equal to one another and then using the contact pressure at the interference fit 315 the actual deflection is calculated that maintains the contact pressure used in the equation. Basic assumptions that go into the interference equation are that there is no axial loading on either the extension 81 or the core 210 along the longitudinal axis 90, there are no internal or external pressure effects on either the extension 81 or the core 210, there are no temperature effects after the extension 81 and the core 210 are fit together at the interference fit 315, no centrifugal effects from rotation about the longitudinal axis 91 again after the extension 81 and the core 210 are fit together at the interference fit 315, and finally no strength is assumed from the paper towel sheets 205 on the core 210. The deflection of the outer piece being the core 210 is the inverse of the modulus of elasticity E being 1/388,000 multiplied by the quantity ((the radius 305 being 0.81 squared plus the radius 310 being 0.84 squared) divided by the quantity (the radius 310 being 0.84 squared minus the radius 305 being 0.81 squared) plus the poisson ratio being 0.3) which equals 0.000072 inches squared per pound. The deflection of the inner piece being the radius 305 of the extension 81 is the inverse of the modulus of elasticity E being 1/420,000 multiplied by the quantity ((the radius 300 being 0.75 squared plus the radius 305 being 0.81 squared) divided by the quantity (the radius 305 being 0.81 squared minus the radius 300 being 0.75 squared) minus the poisson ratio being 0.41) which equals 0.00003 inches squared per pound. The 0.000072 inches squared per pound is added to the 0.00003 inches squared per pound equaling 0.000102 inches squared per pound which is then multiplied by the radius 305 being 0.81 inches and then being multiplied by the contact pressure at the interference fit 315 being 0.34 pounds per square inch that comes out to equaling 0.000028 inches of interference fit required according to the calculation and the problematic assumptions for the cardboard material structural properties.

Thus now that we have the minimum interference fit as between the radius 305 and the diameter 215 of 0.000028 inches, see FIGS. 8-10, now we have to account for the manufacturing tolerances of these associated parts, i.e. the radius 305 and the diameter 215, such that at the worst case of the tolerances minimizing the interference fit at 315, that we have left at least the minimum interference fit of 0.000028 inches, also admittedly, this is a very small interference fit due to the low amount of torque of 0.013 foot pounds, thus experimental testing is required to have a more practical real world interference fit 315. Continuing, with the tolerances, as the PVC radius 305 is either extruded or molded, its manufacturing tolerances will be about in the range of 0.008 inches per inch of linear dimension, which in the case of two times the radius 305 equaling 1.62 inches, thus the tolerance is 1.62 multiplied by 0.008 inches which equals about 0.013 inches, thus this amount will have to be added to the interference fit 315, resulting in 0.000028 inches plus 0.013 inches equaling 0.013028 inches interference fit 315 to account for the radius 305 being undersize from our design specification so that we end up with at least the original interference fit of 0.000028 inches.

Next to the core 210 diameter 215, as this is fabricated from adhesive and rolled cardboard stock on a steel cylinder, the core 210 is typically called a spiral paper tube, with a standard paper towel 200 having the core 210 at having the diameter 215 at 1.62 inches and the wall thickness 220 at about 0.030 inches that has a tolerance of about 0.010 inches on the diameter, thus we now need to add this tolerance of 0.010 inches to 0.013028 inches which equals 0.023028 inches, which equates to about a one and four-tenths (1.4) percent strain or stretch of the circumference of the core 210. Note that a higher interference fit 315 is acceptable up to the point of causing excessive stress in the inner or outer pieces, being the extension 81 or the core 210 respectively, wherein in the present invention the failure from over stress will be in the core 210, in addition having a higher interference fit 315 would allow a higher torque to be transmitted from the shield device 30 to the core 210 of the paper towel assembly 200, which would be acceptable. In practicality, an interference fit 315 of about 0.025 inches would cover the required minimum interference fit accounting for the manufacturing tolerances of both the extension 81 radius and the core 210 diameter 215 with a safety margin of 0.002 for the actual minimum case interference fit 315.

Experimental testing showed that an interference fit of over 0.030 inches started to produce a spiral failure 221 in the wall of the core 210 as shown in FIG. 11, unexpectedly the spiral failure occurred not at the glued spiral seam of the core 210 but at a point diametrically opposed to the glued spiral seam 211, potentially explained by the glue adding strength to the seam 211 portion on the core 210. The failure 221 at about 0.030 interference fit 315 equates to about a one and eight-tenths (1.8) percent strain or stretch of the circumference of the core 210 keeping somewhat within the poissons ratio range of about a one (1) percent which equates to about an interference fit 315 of about 0.016 inches as the upper limit of the validity of the cardboard core 215 poissons value, such that at between one (1) and one and eight-tenths (1.8) percent of the circumference of the core 210 permanent yielding is starting to occur. Further an unexpected observation was made wherein the torque that the shielding device 30 could transmit to the core 210 was significantly dependent on the direction of rotation of the shielding device 30 in relation to the spiral seam 211 orientation, wherein all of the cores 210 have the spiral seam 211 going from the lower left to the upper right, in other words as the core 210 is manufactured the flat strip of paper cardboard is wound on the roller from left to right with the roller rotating away from viewing from above. Thus as the shielding device 30 is rotated 255 clock wise (in looking at the first face portion 50), see FIGS. 13 and 14 the torque required to break free or rotate the extension 81 within the core 210, i.e. going from static to dynamic at the interference fit 315 was in the range of about forty five (45) to sixty (60) percent of the torque required to do the same thing in the opposite rotational 256 direction for the range of interference fits 315 previously described, i.e. 0.023 inches to 0.030 inches.

It is suspected that this is because of the spiral construction reduces the diameter 215 when rotational 256 torsion in the core 210 tends to tighten or slightly reduce the diameter 215 somewhat like a helically wound spring that is rotated on one end and static on the other end, wherein in one rotational direction the spring will reduce in diameter and in the opposite rotational direction the spring will increase in diameter, thus on the present invention rotational 255 torsion in the core 210 tends to loosen or slightly increase the diameter 215. The practical benefit of this is that while inserting the extension 81 into diameter 215 if the shielding device 30 is rotated 255 a higher interference fit can be accommodated, see FIGS. 9 and 11, in fact recalling the prior maximum interference 315 limit of about 0.030 until a spiral wall failure 221 when there was no rotation during insertion of the extension 81 into diameter 215 in FIG. 11, however, if the extension 81 during insertion into diameter 215 is rotated 255 continuously the core can take up to a 0.045 interference 315 fit, (equating to about a two and seven-tenths (2.7) percent strain or stretch of the circumference or periphery of the core 210, meaning that we are well beyond the previously discussed poissons ratio range, thus we may be yielding the core 210 wall by one and seven-tenths (1.7) percent), however, without a spiral wall failure 221 of the core 210, this drives the amount of torque transmitted from the shielding device 30 to the core 210 above what the core 210 itself will take in torque to a twisting collapsing failure, akin to a cellophane candy wrapper end, with this torque being about 0.44 foot-pounds. Note that the amount of rotating 255 should be at least the length 86 of the extension 81, with the rotating amount defined as a chord length 257 along the outer periphery, a longer chord length 257 is acceptable, however, testing found that a shorter chord length 257 didn't product the core 210 diameter 215 opening effects to allow higher interference fits 315. Thus, rotating 255 the extension 81 at insertion allows for higher interference fits 315 (for the beneficial effect of more torque transmitted from the shielding device 30 to the core 210) and lower risk of core 210 wall failure 221.

In so far as the use of heat and cooling to take advantage of the thermal expansion contraction respectively to facilitate ease of assembly of the extension 81 into the core 210 diameter 215, the use of a chamfer 88 is employed, see FIGS. 6 and 9, with FIG. 6 showing the detail of the chamfer 88, having an angle 89 of about thirty (30) degrees and a length 90 of about 0.10 inches and FIG. 9 showing the assembly of the extension 81 into the core 210 diameter 215. This way the need for heating of the core 210 and cooling of the extension 81 can be dispensed with for simplicity, with the assembly as shown FIG. 9 being accommodated by the stretchability of the core 210 wall 220, which would normally not be possible in a conventional metal to metal interference fit. However, as previously discussed this stretchability is limited to about one and eight-tenths (1.8) percent % of the periphery 212 of the core 210 in a non rotating case of the extension 81 during insertion 230, however, stretchability going up to two and seven-tenths (2.7) percent % of the periphery 212 of the core 210 when the extension 81 is rotated 255 during insertion 230 as previously described.

Method of Use

Referring on particular to FIGS. 8, 9, and 12-14, a method is disclosed of helping to protect a primary edge 202 of a paper towel roll 205, the paper towel roll assembly 200 having a lengthwise axis 93 and a hollow inner 213 core 210 with a periphery 212, to be able to protect the primary edge 202 of the paper towel roll 205 from becoming wet 270 or soiled 265 during consumption of paper towels 205 by a user 31, that includes the steps of firstly providing of the more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30 as previously disclosed. Secondly, grasping manually the paper towel roll assembly 200 and positioning the lengthwise axis 93 to be substantially perpendicular to a surface 48 or 225 wherein a secondary edge 203 of the paper towel roll 205 is adjacent to the surface 48 or 225. Thirdly, grasping manually the more specific embodiment for the shielding device 30 and aligning the longitudinal axis 91 of the extension 81 to be co-axial with the lengthwise axis 93 of the paper towel assembly 200, further with the extension 81 positioned adjacent to the hollow inner 213 core 210 of the paper towel roll assembly 200, see in particular FIG. 9.

Continuing to reference FIG. 9, fourthly, positioning the chamfer 88 of the distal end portion 83 to contact and slightly insert into the hollow inner 213 core 210 of the paper towel roll assembly 200. Fifth, inserting 230 and rotating simultaneously 255 the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 such that the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 be rotated clock wise 255 in an amount defined as the chord length 257 on the outer periphery 65 being at least equal to the extension 81 length 86 as viewed from the first face portion 50 of the disk 181, see FIGS. 9 and 13, when the extension 81 is inserted into the hollow inner 213 core 210, wherein operationally to further allow the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 to communicate additional rotational torque 255 or 256 into the hollow inner 213 core 210 and paper towel roll 205. As a sixth step, contacting manually the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 with one hand by placing the user's 31 fingers 32 upon the disk 181, see FIGS. 12-14. Moving into the seventh step, by rotating 255 or 256 manually the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 such that the paper towel roll 205 unrolls to provide a sheet, wherein the primary edge 202 of the paper towel roll 205 is protected from contact with the user's 31 fingers 32, which results in the primary edge 202 of the paper towel roll 205 being shielded from water, grease drippings, sauces, cooking oil, butter, dirt, and the like 270 and 265 respectively.

Continuing to the eighth step, with the user 31 holding stationary the paper towel roll assembly 200, via the placing of the user's 31 fingers 32 to be in contact with the disk 181, see again FIGS. 12-14, and as a ninth step of tearing the required paper towels 205 from the paper towel roll assembly 200 manually. As an alternative, on the method of protecting a primary edge 202 of a paper towel roll 205 from becoming wet 270 or soiled 265 during wherein the sixth step of contacting manually the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 further includes placing a portion of the user's 31 fingers 32 into the aperture 145 and the void 84 to facilitate an improved grasping 33 of the more specific embodiment of the shielding device 30 by the user 31, see FIG. 13 in particular.

Claims

1. A shielding device for helping to protect an article, the article having a mating inner boundary length, wherein said mating inner boundary is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, comprising:

(a) a base having a generally planar shape, said base including first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said base further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the article; and

(b) an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, where said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said planar shape, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the boundary length, wherein operationally said base and extension form a unitary assembly with the article, with the article further protected from liquid drippings via said base and ridge.

2. A shielding device according to claim 1, further comprising a lip disposed in said first face portion inward of said ridge forming a depression in said first face portion that is operational to further retain liquid drippings substantially within said depression and away from the article.

3. A shielding device according to claim 2, further comprising a rib adjacent to said outer periphery portion that is oppositely disposed from said ridge, wherein said rib further protects the article from the liquid drippings.

4. A shielding device according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough said base being positioned about said longitudinal axis, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user.

5. A shielding device according to claim 4 further comprising a shoulder positioned adjacent to a margin of said aperture, wherein a channel is formed from said shoulder, said first face portion, and said ridge, wherein said channel further protects the article from the liquid drippings with the use of said aperture.

6. A shielding device for helping to protect an edge of a paper product roll, the roll having a hollow inner core with a periphery, wherein said hollow inner core is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, comprising:

(a) a disk forming a plane, said disk having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said disk further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the paper product roll; and

(b) an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion forming a length therebetween, with a longitudinal axis disposed along said length, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said plane, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the periphery, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally said disk and said extension communicate rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge.

7. A shielding device according to claim 6, further comprising a lip disposed in said first face portion inward of said ridge forming a concave depression in said first face portion that is operational to further retain liquid drippings substantially within said concave depression away from the paper product roll.

8. A shielding device according to claim 7, further comprising a rib adjacent to said outer periphery portion that is oppositely disposed from said ridge, wherein said rib further protects the paper product roll from the liquid drippings.

9. A shielding device according to claim 6, further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough said disk being positioned about said longitudinal axis, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user.

10. A shielding device according to claim 9, wherein said extension has a void disposed therethrough along said longitudinal axis, wherein said void and said aperture are in communication.

11. A shielding device according to claim 10 further comprising a shoulder positioned adjacent to a margin of said aperture, wherein an annular channel is formed from said shoulder, said first face portion, and said ridge, wherein said annular channel further protects the paper product roll from the liquid drippings with the use of said aperture.

12. A shielding device according to claim 6 wherein said interference fit range is increased to an interference fit of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to two and seven tenths (2.7) percent (%) of the periphery, requiring that said disk and said extension be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as a chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally to further allow said disk and said extension to communicate additional rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge.

13. A method of helping to protect a primary edge of a paper towel roll, the paper towel roll having a lengthwise axis and a hollow inner core with a periphery, wherein said hollow inner core is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, to be able to protect the primary edge of the paper towel roll from becoming wet or soiled during consumption of paper towels by a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a shielding device comprising of a disk forming a plane, said disk having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said disk further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the paper product roll, said disk further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user, said shielding device also including an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion forming a length therebetween, with a longitudinal axis disposed along said length, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, and said distal end portion having a chamfer, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said plane, said extension also having a void disposed therethrough along said longitudinal axis, wherein said void and said aperture are in communication, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to two and seven tenths (2.7) percent (%) of the periphery, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, requiring that said disk and said extension be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as a chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, wherein operationally to further allow said disk and said extension to communicate additional rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge;

(b) grasping manually the paper towel roll and positioning the lengthwise axis to be substantially perpendicular to a surface wherein a secondary edge of the paper towel roll is adjacent to the surface;

(c) grasping manually said shielding device and aligning said longitudinal axis to be co-axial with the lengthwise axis, further with said extension positioned adjacent to the hollow inner core of the paper towel roll;

(d) positioning said chamfer to contact and slightly insert into the hollow inner core of the paper towel roll;

(e) inserting and rotating simultaneously said shielding device such that said shielding device be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as said chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally to further allow said shielding device to communicate additional rotational torque into the hollow inner core and paper towel roll;

(e) contacting manually said shielding device with one hand by placing a user's fingers upon said disk;

(f) rotating manually said shielding device such that the paper towel roll unrolls to provide a sheet, wherein the primary edge of a paper towel roll is protected from contact with the users fingers;

(g) holding stationary the paper towel roll, via said placing the user's fingers to be in contact with said disk; and

(h) tearing the required paper towels from the paper towel roll manually.

14. A method of protecting a primary edge of a paper towel roll from becoming wet or soiled during distribution according to claim 13 wherein said step of contacting manually said shielding device further includes placing a portion of the users fingers into said aperture and said void to facilitate an improved grasping of said shielding device by the user.