Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Dispenser
There is provided an apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll including first and second side walls. At least one roller is located between the first and second side walls. The apparatus for dispensing is adapted to receive the roll, and the roller is adapted to make contact with the roll so that the roll rotates freely on the roller while the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
This is a U.S. non-provisional application relating to and claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/678,746 filed Aug. 2, 2012.
BACKGROUNDThis invention relates to toilet paper dispensers and paper towel dispensers. Rolled paper dispensers for paper towels and toilet paper normally include a housing or other support mechanism for containing or supporting the rolled paper. The housing or support mechanism often includes a means for attaching the dispenser to a wall. Normally, the paper is rolled on a hollow tube or core which supports the paper. Often the dispenser includes a spindle which may be in the form of a solid or two piece removable rod extending across the dispenser. The spindle receives the core of the rolled paper and the rolled paper rotates about the spindle as it is dispensed. In some cases, the dispenser includes a pair of dowel pins on opposing ends which are received within a portion of the core. The core rotates about these dowels while the paper is dispensed.
With these prior art type dispensers, it is often difficult to load the rolled paper into the dispenser. With a spindle type dispenser, the spindle must be removed and placed through the core of the rolled paper and the combination spindle and rolled paper Is then installed within the dispenser. In the case of a two piece spindle, which often includes a spring, the spring or one piece of the dispenser may be dropped during installation. In situations where the dispenser includes a pair of dowel pins, the dispenser must be flexed outwardly in order to fit the rolled paper within the dispenser and onto the dowel pins. In addition, once the rolled paper has been installed in a dispenser, there can be arguments among users as to whether the paper should come out of the top or bottom of the dispenser. This is particularly a problem in the case of toilet paper. Thus, there is a need for an improved dispenser for paper towels and toilet paper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one form of this invention, there is a provided an apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll. The apparatus includes first and second side walls. At least one roller is located between the first and second side walls. The apparatus for dispensing is adapted to receive the roll. The roller is adapted to make contact with the roll so that the roll may rotate freely on the roller as the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
In accordance with another form of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll. The apparatus includes first and second side walls. A plurality of rollers are located between the first and second side walls. Each of the first and second side walls has an upper portion and a lower portion. At least one of the rollers is located between the upper portion of the first and second side walls and at least cine of the rollers is located between the lower portion of the first and second side walls. The rollers and the side walls form a space for receiving the roll. The rollers are adapted to make contact with the roll whereby the roll may rotate freely on the rollers while the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
In yet another form of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll. The apparatus includes first and second side walls. At least first, second and third rollers are located between the first and second side walls. Each side wall has a front area, a middle area and a rear area. The first roller is located between the front areas of the first and second side walls. The second roller is located between the middle areas of the first and second side walls and the third roller is located between the rear areas of the first and second side walls. The first roller located higher on the first and second side walls than the second and third rollers. The rollers and the side walls form a space for receiving the roll. The rollers are adapted to make contact with the roll whereby the roll may rotate freely on the rollers while the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
Referring now more particularly to
Referring now more particularly to
The free end 33 of roll 26 or 32 may be dispensed over roller 24A or between rollers 24A and 24B. Preferably, the height of the side walls 12 and 14 from the lowest roller to the highest roller are at least one half the height of the paper towel roll 26 or the toilet paper roll 32 so that the rolls are captured in space 28.
Referring again to
From the foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It will be understood that these embodiments of the invention are exemplifications of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto.
Claims
1. An apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll comprising
- first and second side walls;
- at least one roller located between the first and second side walls;
- the apparatus for dispensing adapted to receive the roll;
- the roller is adapted to make contact with the roll whereby the roll rotates freely on the roller as the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including at least one rod connecting the first side wall to the second side wall; the roller being a hollow roller: the roller received over the rod so that the roller is able to rotate about the rod.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further including a plurality of rods configured to form a curved array between the first and second side walls; a plurality of rollers; a roller received over each rod.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of rollers located between the first side wall and the second side wall; the plurality of rollers forming a curved array; a space for receiving a roll formed by the first and second side walls and the curved array.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a first stud extending from the first side wall and projecting towards the second side wall; a second stud extending from the second side wall and projecting towards the first side wall; the roller being a hollow tube having a first opening at one end thereof and a second opening at the other end thereof; the first stud received in the first opening of the hollow tube and the second stud received in the second opening of the hollow tube.
6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a first recess in the first side wall; a second recess in the second side wall; the roller having first and second ends; a first dowel extending from the first end of the roller and a second dowel extending from the second end of the roller; the first dowel received in the first recess of the first side wall and the second dowel received in the second recess in the second side wall.
7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further including a rear wall connecting the first side wall and the second side wall; the space for receiving the roll formed by the first side wall, the second side wall, the rear wall, and the curved array.
8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rear wall includes first and second mounting holes for mounting the dispensing apparatus.
9. An apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll comprising:
- first and second side walls;
- a plurality of rollers located between the first and second side walls;
- the first and second side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- at least one of the rollers located between the upper portions of the first and second side walls and at least one of the rollers located between the lower portions of the first and second side walls; the rollers and the side walls forming a space for receiving the roll;
- the rollers are adapted to make contact with the roll whereby the roll may rotate freely an the rollers while the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further including a plurality of rods connecting the first side wall to the second side wall; the rollers formed as hollow tubes; each hollow tube roller is received over a rod.
11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further including a plurality of first studs extending from the first side wall; a plurality of second studs extending from the second side wall; the rollers formed as hollow tubes each having a first opening at one end and a second opening at the other end; the first studs received in the first openings and the second studs received in the second openings.
12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further including a plurality of first recesses in the first side wall and a plurality of second recesses in the second side wall; the rollers having first and second ends; a first dowel extending from the first end of each roller and a second dowel extending from the second end of each roller; the first dowels received in the first recesses in the first wall and the second dowel received in the second recesses in the second wall.
13. An apparatus for dispensing paper towels or toilet paper from a roll comprising:
- a first side wall and a second side wall;
- at least first, second and third rollers located between the first and second side walls;
- each side wall having a front area, a middle area, and a rear area;
- the first roller located between the front area of each side wall; the second roller located between the middle area of each side wall; and the third roller located between the rear area of each side wall; the first roller being located higher on the first and second side walls than the second and third rollers;
- the rollers and the side walls forming a space for receiving the roll;
- the rollers are adapted to make contact with the roll whereby the roll may rotate freely on the rollers while the paper towels or toilet paper is being dispensed.
14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the third roller is located higher on the first and second side walls than the second roller.
15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further including a plurality of rods connecting the first side wall to the second side wall; the rollers formed as hollow tubes; each hollow tube received over a rod.
16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further including a plurality of first studs extending from the first side wall and a plurality of second studs extending from the second side wall; the rollers formed as hollow tubes each having a first opening at one end and a second opening at the other end; the first studs received in the first openings and the second studs received in the second openings.
17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further including first recesses in the first wall and second recesses in the second wall; the rollers having first and second ends; a first dowel extending from the first end of each roller and a second dowel extending from the second end of each roller; the first dowel received in the first recesses in the first wall and the second dowel received in the second recesses of the second wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 6, 2014
Inventor: Patrick Dane Rote (Green Mountain, NC)
Application Number: 13/913,800
International Classification: A47K 10/38 (20060101);