TOWEL HOLDER

A towel holder to assist with the dispensing of towels (e.g., reusable or disposable) includes a bottom wall, and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, and includes: a first end supported on the bottom wall, a second end, a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall, and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel such that the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/158,186, filed on May 7, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to towel dispenser assemblies, and more particularly, to a progressive release multiple reusable towel holder for reusable towels to be pulled therefrom preventing undesired towel unraveling.

2. Background of the Disclosure

Paper towels are the number one choice when it comes to cleaning, soaking up spills, dusting, and polishing. The main reason why paper towels are used most is their convenience and bulk in numbers. They are always right there on the counter top ready to be pulled one by one off the roll, used, and then thrown away. Sadly, millions of paper towels are thrown away every year when a reusable cloth towel or micro fiber towel could have been used instead. Typically a single dish towel might be at arm's reach but for some reason seldom is used. Paper towel dispensers can be used to facilitate the release of disposable paper towel rolls and its kind, but towel dispensers are not configured to be used with reusable towels. Additionally, the use of disposable paper towel in general adds waste and it can become expensive for any household. This is a particular burdensome, for example, with respect to an average household, who are looking to save some money or just to use less paper. Therefore, there is a need for a device and method to effectively dispense a plurality of towels.

SUMMARY

Provided in accordance with the present disclosure is a progressive release multiple reusable towel holder (hereinafter “towel holder”) including a bottom wall, and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, and including a first end supported on the bottom wall, a second end, a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall, and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the towel holder geometric shape may be of any kind including but not limited to cylindrical, rectangular, octagonal, or triangular. Additionally, the towel holder may be constructed from any rigid and/or semi rigid material or combinations thereof. Examples can include but are not limited to all types of rigid or semi rigid plastics including 3D printing, all metals, stainless steel or any type of steel, copper, aluminum, etc., glass, plexi-glass, acrylic, all forms of ceramics or pottery, all forms of stone, marble, granite, etc., all wood products, rigid or semi rigid paper products, card board, and wire or metal frame.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, in some embodiments the towel holder may resemble a paper towel roll; these may be desirable when using any paper towel dispenser, transporting, or storing the towel holder. For example, when transporting, the towel holder can be transported implementing a method of any kind used to transport any paper towel roll. When storing, the towel holder may be stored using the same type of shelving used to store any paper towel roll. Furthermore, when sold in a retail stores, the tower holder may be placed in any similar display/shelf used for paper tower rolls.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a section of the release channel adjacent to the second end tapers at rate greater than a section of the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the release channel has a substantially V shape tapering from the second end.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the release channel defines a channel contour having a left transition portion and a right transition portions, where in the left transition portion and right transition portion are rounded.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the channel contour can have sharp edges.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom wall has a circular opening defining a plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the tubular body defines a tubular configuration of rigid construction.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the second end is configured to receive an end cap having an end cap opening.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap releasably attached to the second end is configured to fit between a double paddle towel holder.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap defines an end cap contour being intersected by an end cap cutout at two points therein.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the towel can be removed through an opening at the bottom wall and the end cap opening with the remaining towels unraveled or undisturbed.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap may include a cap cutout. The cap cutout may be of any shape and may assist the user to pull at least one towel away from the cavity when the end cap is covering the towel holder.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap may be fabricated of a similar material and/or have a similar shape as the towel holder.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap may be used in combination with any towel dispense.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the towel holder may include a plurality of towels, and/or a magnetic bracket, and/or a laundry bag.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a towel dispense system is presented including the towel, towel holder including, the bottom wall, a tubular body extending from the bottom wall defines a central vertical axis. The tubular body includes a first end supported on the bottom wall, the second end, the cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall, and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when the towel from a plurality of towels within cavity, is removed through release channel, release channel prevents towels from unraveling or being disturbed.

In another aspect of the present disclosure a method for storing and removing a towel is presented, which includes: providing a towel holder having the bottom wall, and tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining the central vertical axis, and having the first end supported on the bottom wall, the second end, the cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to bottom wall, and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the release channel prevents the towels from unraveling. Next, folding a plurality of stacked towels by their middle line, and storing the plurality of stacked towels within towel holder, and removing a towel away from towel holder and out of cavity through release channel preventing inadvertent towel unraveling. The holder is also designed to be used with standard rolls of disposable paper towels. The release channel is also designed to allow for a single disposable paper towel to be dispensed and cleanly torn or separated from the rest of the roll.

The towel holder may further include any of the aspects and/or features of the other towel holder detailed hereinabove or hereinbelow, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and features of the present disclosure are describe herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a towel holder provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an end cap provided in accordance to the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 8A-15 illustrate methods of use associated to the towel holder of the present disclosure.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. In the following description, well known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. To the extent consistent, any of the aspects and/or features of any of the embodiments detailed herein may be used in conjunction with any of the aspects and/or features of any of the other embodiments detailed herein.

Turning to FIG. 1, a progressive release multiple reusable towel holder (hereinafter “towel holder”) provided in accordance with the present disclosure is generally identified by reference numeral 10. Towel holder 10 is presented including a bottom wall 20, and a tubular body 30 extending from the bottom wall 20, defining a central vertical axis 31. The tubular body 30 includes a first end 32 supported on the bottom wall 20, an open second end 34 (hereinafter “second end”), a cylindrical cavity 33 within the tubular body 30 extending from the second end 34 to the bottom wall 20, and a release channel 40 extending vertically along the tubular body 30 and tapering from the second end 34 towards the bottom wall 20, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity 33, is removed through the release channel 40, the longitudinal extending release channel 40 (hereinafter “release channel”) prevents remaining towels from unraveling or being disturbed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, bottom wall 20 of towel holder 10 may include a circular opening 21 may define a plane 22 perpendicular to the central vertical axis 31. Circular opening 21 is configured to receive any kind of shaft therein and along the central vertical axis 31. Bottom wall 20 may enable towel holder 10 to be used in conjunction with most paper towel dispensers or for standalone use. Additionally, bottom wall 20 can be configured to be used with any kind of towel (paper, microfiber, dishcloth, terrycloth, peshtamal, etc.). For example, in some embodiments circular opening 21 may facilitate fitting of the towel holder 10 into paper towel dispersers having a shaft or rod and/or facilitate rotation of the towel holder 10 with respect to the central axis 31. In embodiments, bottom wall 20 may be used in conjunction with towel holders having paddles at opposite ends.

When placed on a horizontal surface, bottom wall 20 of towel holder 10 may include features to keep towel holder 10 in place. Bottom wall 20 maybe heavier than tubular body 30 to assist with stability of towel holder 10. For example, when placed on a counter top, bottom wall 20 may restrict or reduce displacement of towel holder 10 while a user pulls the towel away from the central axis 31 through release channel 40. Additionally, bottom wall 20 may include any elastomeric device or element to provide suction or increased friction in order to secure towel holder 10 to a counter top or the like. For example, dome shaped suction cups of any kind can be fitted on bottom wall 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 4-6, tubular body 30 defines a tubular configuration of rigid construction having first end 32 supported on and extending from bottom wall 20, wherein the tubular body 30 defines cavity 33, the open second end 34, the longitudinal axis 31, and a cut out or longitudinally extending release channel 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, towel holder 10 may be of any kind of shape including but not limited to: cylindrical, rectangular, octagonal, or triangular. For example, in some embodiments the towel holder 10 may resemble a paper towel roll; these may be a desired configuration when using any paper towel dispenser, transporting, or storing the towel holder 10. For example, when transporting, towel holder 10 can be transported implementing a method of any kind used to transport any paper towel roll. When storing, towel holder 10 may be stored using the same type of shelving used to store any paper towel roll. Furthermore, when sold in a retail stores, the tower holder 10 may be place in any similar display/shelf used for paper tower rolls.

Additionally, towel holder 10 may be constructed from any rigid and/or semi rigid material or combinations thereof. Examples can include but are not limited to: All types of rigid or semi rigid materials including, all metals, stainless steel or any type of steel, copper, aluminum, etc., glass, plexi-glass, acrylic, all forms of ceramics or pottery, all forms of stone, marble, granite, etc., all wood products, rigid or semi rigid paper products, card board, and wire or metal frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, release channel 40 of towel holder 10 may include a first section 42 adjacent to second end 34 tapering at a rate greater than a second section 44 of the release channel 40 adjacent to the bottom wall 20. Release channel 40 may enable the user to isolate and pull therethrough a towel away from a plurality of towels, and the central axis 31.

Release channel 40 may include but is not limited to a tapered, substantially V-shaped profile. In some embodiments the release channel may originate at the open second end 34 tapering from a relative wide opening at the first section into a relative narrow or shallow opening at the second section towards bottom wall 20. Release channel 40 extends longitudinally tapering at the open second end 34 towards first end 32 defining a channel contour 41. It is also contemplated that channel contour 41 may have different shapes, such as wave, zig-zag and actuated.

Further, channel contour 41 of release channel 40 may be configured, in part or absolute, to include sharp and/or round edges or a combination of both.

Channel contour 41 of release channel 40 may be reduced or increase friction forces between the towel and towel holder 10. For example, when pulling a towel away from the plurality of towels, it may be desired to construct release channel 40 with the relative wide opening and the relative shallow or narrow opening as described above, where channel contour 41 at the first portion 42 (FIG. 6) may include rounded edges to reduce friction forces between the towel and the towel holder 10, and the second portion 44 may include sharp edges to increase a friction force between the towel and the towel holder 10. Additionally, channel contour 41 may include a left transition portion 46 and a right transition portion 48 wherein the left transition portion 46 and right transition portion 48 may be rounded.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, cavity 33 of towel holder 10 may be configured to receive the plurality of towels by the open second end 34 along central axis 31. Thereafter, the plurality of towels and bottom wall 32 may be in contact with one another. The plurality of towels can be a plurality of reusable towels or a plurality of disposable towels. While in use, a plurality of towels may be configured to fit in towel holder 10 within cavity 33 (FIGS. 9-10) and the open second end 34 may be configured to a reasonable size wide enough to enable reload of a plurality or stack of towels which are folded along a mid-line thereof.

In use with the plurality of towels within cavity 33, the user may lead the pulling of the towel away from central axis 31 by selecting a towel's edge located near the second open end 34. Next, the user may begin to remove the towel through release channel 40 relative to first section 42 leading towards second section 44 (FIG. 11). Further, the user releases the towel out of cavity 33 with the remaining towels unraveled.

Referring to FIG. 7, an end cap 50 may be presented along for use with towel holder 10. End cap 50 may be fabricated of a similar material and/or have a relatively similar shape as towel holder 10. In some embodiments, the end cap 50 may include a midpoint end cap opening 51 (hereinafter “end cap opening”) and it may be constructed to have a shape relatively similar to bottom opening 21 so a conduit may extend therethrough and along central longitudinal axis 31 to assist with stability and/or rotation of towel holder 10, and/or enable concentric rotation of a towel roll within towel holder 10 with respect to cavity 33.

End cap 50 may include a cap cutout 52 and a cap edge 54. With respect to cutout 52, cutout 52 may be constructed of any geometric shape and enable access to the plurality of towels stored within cavity 33. Cap edge 54 may be intersected by end cap cutout 52 at two points therein. For example, cap cutout 52 may define an arc on cap edge 54 enabling the user to have access to any towel from the plurality of towels within cavity 33.

Additionally, end cap 50 and towel holder 10 may be used along with any towel holder dispenser. For example, end cap 50 may be used in combination with a dual paddle holder style dispenser. When in use, the end cap 50 may be fitted and/or releasably attached to the towel holder 10 at the open second end 34, and may be placed within the dual paddle towel holder. This may be achieved by engaging towel holder 10 to the dual paddle holder using the bottom opening 21 and cap opening 51 while in coaxial alignment with central axis 31. The dual paddle holder may have a pair of paddles located at opposite ends of dual paddle holder. The user may fit bottom opening 21 and cap opening 51 between dual paddle holder. Additionally, end cap 51 opening and/or bottom opening 21 may enable the user to pull the towel away for the plurality of towels and along the central axis 31 therethrough preventing undesired towel unraveling. In aspects, end cap 50 may be pressure fitted into open second or vice versa. Towel holder 10 may be configured to have a locking mechanism to keep the end cap 50 in place and further restrict its movement. Thus, the additional function of being able to alter end cap 50 to use in combination with towel holder 10 is realized.

Furthermore, the plurality of towels, and/or a magnetic bracket, and/or a laundry bag may be used along with towel holder 10. With respect to the plurality of towels, for some retailers/distributors it may be desired to include the plurality of towels along with the towel holder 10 for commercial purposes. With respect to the magnetic bracket, when using towel holder 10 on a metallic surface, towel holder 10 may include the magnetic bracket to enable mounting of the same in any position. With respect to the laundry bag, the user may store one or multiple towels during washing and drying of the plurality of towels, thus making an easy retrieval of clean towels ready for stacking.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-15, a method of using towel holder 10 (FIG. 1) to release a towel “T” away of a plurality or stack of towels “Tx”, preventing unraveling, is detailed. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 11-15 illustrate a scenario where the user may first stack the plurality of towels “Tx” onto one another, next fold the stack of towel “Tx” in half by bringing the plurality of towels “Tx” together along a midline “M” therebetween, bend then apply some radial force to squeeze the stacked and folded towels or a cylinder like configuration may be formed. Further, the user may slide stacked and folded towels “Tx” into the cavity 33 (FIG. 9) of towel holder 10 with the edges of the towels facing towards the back of towel holder 10, and peripherally or radially align the mid-line (or fold line) of the plurality of towels “Tx” along the release channel (FIG. 10). Thereafter, a user may independently pull an outer-most towel “T”, of the stack of folded towels, through release channel 40 (FIG. 11), to remove a towel therefrom. The user may repeat the independent pulling of a following towel “T”, from the remaining stacked and folded towels “Tx”, preventing undesired towel unraveling of the remaining towels “Tx”. After all of the plurality of towels “Tx” are pulled away of the towel holder 10 the user may place a new plurality of reusable towels “Tx” or disposable towels within the cavity 33 of towel holder 10

(FIG. 15) and may follow the above mentioned method with any plurality of towels “Tx”.

It will be understood that various modifications could be made to the embodiments of the above disclosure. Therefore, the present description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A towel holder comprising;

a bottom wall; and
a tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, and including: a first end supported on the bottom wall; a second end; a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall; and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall,
wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

2. The towel holder according to claim 1, wherein a first section of the release channel, adjacent to the second end, tapers at rate greater than a second section of the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.

3. The towel holder according to claim 1, wherein the release channel has a substantially V-shape of tapering from the second end to the first end.

4. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the release channel defines a channel contour having a left transition portion and a right transition portion, wherein each of the left transition portion and right transition portion are rounded.

5. The towel holder of claim 4, wherein the channel contour includes sharp edges.

6. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall has a circular opening formed therein, and wherein the bottom wall defines a plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis.

7. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of towels are a roll of paper towels.

8. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the tubular body defines a tubular configuration.

9. The towel holder of claim 1, further comprising an end cap having an end cap opening formed therein, wherein the second end is configured to receive the end cap.

10. The towel holder of claim 9, wherein the end cap defines an end cap edge being intersected by an end cap cutout at two points therein.

11. The towel holder of claim 9, wherein the towel of the plurality of towels is removed from the towel holder through the release channel and through the end cap opening with the remaining towels unraveled.

12. A towel dispenser system, comprising:

a towel;
a towel holder including: a bottom wall; and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall and defining a central vertical axis, the tubular body including: a first end supported on the bottom wall; a second end; a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall; and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall,
wherein when the towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

13. The towel dispenser system according to claim 12, wherein said release channel includes a first section, adjacent to the second end, tapering at rate greater than a second section of the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.

14. The towel dispenser system according to claim 12 wherein said release channel includes a substantially V-shape tapering from the second end to the first end and defines a channel contour having a left transition portion and a right transition portion, wherein each of the left transition portion and the right transition portion are rounded.

15. The towel dispenser system according to claim 14, wherein said channel contour includes sharp edges.

16. The towel dispenser system according to claim 12, wherein said tubular body is a tubular configuration and is lighter than the bottom wall.

17. The towel dispenser system according of claim 12, further comprising an end cap having an end cap opening and an end cap cutout formed therein, wherein the second end is configured to receive the end cap.

18. The towel dispenser system according to claim 12, wherein the towel of the plurality of towels is removed from the towel holder through the release channel and through the end cap opening with the remaining towels unraveled.

19. A method for storing and pulling a towel from a stack of towels, the method comprising:

(a) providing a towel holder including: a bottom wall; and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, and including: a first end supported on the bottom wall; a second end; a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall; and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall; wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling; (b) folding a plurality of stacked towels by their middle line; (c) storing the plurality of stacked and folded towels within the towel holder; and (d) removing a towel away from towel holder and out of the cavity through the release channel preventing inadvertent towel unraveling.

20. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein a paper towel is pulled thought the release channel and cleanly torn against it and away from the roll of paper towels avoiding towel unraveling.

Patent History
Publication number: 20160324375
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2016
Inventor: Philip R. Martorelli II (Huntington Station, NY)
Application Number: 15/149,271
Classifications
International Classification: A47K 10/32 (20060101); A47K 10/24 (20060101);