US3061217A - Toilet paper holder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 J. J. GRANT 3,061,217

TOILET PAPER HOLDER Filed Nov. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JIM ./T 6mm- Iii W Irraavi/ Oct. 30, 1962 J. J. GRANT TOILET PAPER HOLDER 2 Shee s-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 INVENTOR JZWH ../I 624,1 BY W fiz,

ITTOP/VEX United States Patent 3,061,217 TOILET PAPER HOLDER James J. Grant, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,358 Claims. (Cl. 242 -552) This invention relates to dispensing holders for rolls of toilet paper.

Conventional holders for ordinary rolls of toilet paper commonly include a roller which must be removed and replaced whenever a new roll of paper is to be placed in the holder, and some type of spring mechanism is usually provided which must be operated for removing and replacing the roller. With such prior-art holders, not only is the mechanism unduly complicated in relation to the simple function that it performs, but also the replacement of rolls is unduly tedious and difficult. Furthermore, the roll is not usually concealed from view, and in use it may tend to spin and dispense excessive amounts of paper from the rolls, which is not only wasteful but also unsightly.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved dispensing holder for rolls of toilet paper or the like, which is simpler and better than holders heretofore available, which has no rollers, springs or the like, which permits placement or removal of a roll of paper thereon freely and easily, with one hand only, without the removal and reinsertion of any roller or the like, which provides for positive retention of the roll thereon when it is rotated in either direction, and which retards spinning of the roll and thus prevents dispensing excess quantities of paper. Furthermore, in one of its forms the improved holder in accordance with thi invention can be mounted substantially flush in a wall recess, thus providing a substantially fully recessed holder wherein the roll of paper is concealed from view, while retaining the utmost convenience of use and other advantages.

The invention can best be understood from the following description of illustrative embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a plan view of a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of said first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an end view of said first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of said second embodiment with the parts thereof assembled; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of said second embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the improved toilet paper holder there shown is constructed from a single piee of sheet or cast metal, or of molded plastic or other material conformed to the shape illustrated. It consists of a base portion 1, a second portion 2, a third portion 3, and an end portion 4. The base portion 1 is a substantially flat rectangle containing holes for re ceiving screws or nails 5 by means of which it is mounted in a vertical plane upon wall 6, for example. Portion 2 extends outward from one end of base portion 1 in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the planes of base 1 and wall 6, as shown. Portion 3 extends from the outer end of portion 2 in a vertical plane parallel to the planes of base portionl and wall 6 and which is spaced from the plane of the base portion a distance slightly greater than the maximum diameter of a standard roll of toilet paper. End portion 4 extends from the free end of portion 3 diagonally upward and toward the plane of base portion 1, in a sloping plane, as illustrated. Portion 3 is slightly longer than said standard roll of toilet papere.g., is about five inches long. The projected length measured in end view of end portion 4 is just under the inside diameter of the hollow card- 3,951,217 Patented Oct. 30, 1 962 "ice board tube at the center of a standard roll. It will be noted that the vertical width of portions 3 and 4 is tapered from a greater width adjacent to portion 2 to a lesser width at the tip of end portion 4. Portion 2 may also be tapered, either in width, as shown, or in thickness, for greater rigidity. The vertical width at the junction of portions 2 and 3 is just under the inside diameter of the cardboard tube in the roll. The upper edges of portions 1 and 2 lie in the same horizontal plane, while the upper edge of portion 3 slopes gently upward from an intersection with the upper edge of portion 2 toward the end portion 4. There is a notch in the upper edge between portions 3 and 4.

A roll or toilet paper in place on the improved holder is represented in FIG. 1 by broken lines 7. It will be noted that portion 3 extends through the hollow, cylindrical tube at the center of the roll, and is slightly longer than the length of the roll. Thus, the hollow tube of the roll rests upon the relatively thin top edge of portion 3. This permits the roll to turn freely in either direction, but presents sufiicient friction to prevent unwanted spinning of the roll and the undesirable dispensing of excess paper. The manner in which end portion 4 is bent obliquely upward and back toward the plane of base portion 1, and furthermore is twisted into a slanting plane, holds the roll of paper securely on the holder under all normal conditions of use. Despite this secure holding action, placement and replacement of the roll on the holder is exceedingly simple and easy. The hollow tube of a spent roll can be quickly removed by a single one-hand motion, by simply raising while guiding inward and upward upon the end of the tube so that end portion 4 passes through the hollow center of the used tube. A new roll is placed on the holder simply by inserting end portion 4 into the hollow tube of the new roll and guiding the roll into place. It will be evident that the taper in vertical width of portion 3 facilitates these operations, while the oblique and sloping disposition of end portion 4 is essential to the effectiveness of the holder.

As hereinabove described, the upper edge of portion 3 preferably slopes gently upward from portion 2 toward end portion 4, and additionally portion 3 is somewhat longer than the length of the roll which it supports. The purpose of this construction, together with the notch between portions 3 and 4, is to permit end portion 4 to serve an additional function as a coat hanger. The slight slope to the top edge of portion 3 causes the roll to ride down toward portion 2, and thus avoid drag against a coat hanging on end portion 4. Of course, if the coathanger function is not desired, portion 3 may be made somewhat shorter, its top edge may be perfectly horizontal, and the notch in the top edge between portions 3 and 4 may be omitted.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the second embodiment illustrated is a holder adapted to be mounted over a Wall recess 8 which, for example, may be about 5 /2 inches wide by 7 /2 inches high by 4% inches deep. The recess 8 may be formed in any desired manner within a conventional building wall. For example, it may comprise a metal box 8 inserted into the wall, and having an open front, or it may be formed of tile. Two brackets 9 and 10 are mounted on opposite sides of recess 8, as shown. Each of these brackets is a flat, metal strip mounted vertically on the wall and having its lower end folded outward and upward as shown. It a metal box is used in the recess, it is evident that brackets 9 and 10 may be made part of the box.

A unitary sheet or cast metal member consists essentially of a base portion 11, a second portion 12, a third portion 13 and a fourth portion 14, which hold a roll of toilet paper or the like in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment hereinabove described. This member may be made from a single piece of sheet or cast metal, or from molded plastic, or from two or more pieces, as shown, fastened together in any manner, e.g., by welding. The base portion 11 in the second embodiment takes the form of a substantially flat, rectangular plate adapted for mounting vertically over and covering the upper portion of the wall recess 8. For example, plate 11 may be about 7 /2 inches wide by 5 inches high. Each side of this plate is folded backwardly and inwardly, forming two vertical folds 15 and 16 having open bottoms which engage the upwardly folded ends of the brackets 9 and 10 for supporting plate 11 in position over and covering the upper portion of recess 8. Advantageously, the two brackets are mounted with their lower ends slightly further apart than their upper ends, for holding plate 11 securely in place by wedging action. The roll of toilet paper is held within the recess and out of sight, but may be reached through the lower portion of the recess 8 below the bottom edge of plate 11. This bottom edge also can act as a cutting edge for tearing off a length of the paper. It is noteworthy that the construction illustrated and described provides about 4 /8 inches between plate 11 and the back of recess 8, adequate for a 4 /2 inch diameter standard roll of toilet paper, even through the recess itself is only 4 /4 inches deep, the maximum available with 4-inch nominal, wood stud walls.

Portion 12 extends from base portion adjacent to the inner edge of fold into the recess 8 and lies in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of plate 11. Portion 13 extends from the rear end of portion 12 in a plane parallel to plate 1.1. Portion 14 extends diagonally upward and toward plate 1.1, in a slanting plane. Preferably, portions 12, 13 and 14 are made of material of greater thickness than portions 11, 15 and 16, and the parts are fastened together in any suitable manner, such a crimping or spotwelding or are cast or molded as a single piece to form a unitary structure. The upper edge of portions 13 and 14 may advantageously be somewhat rounded.

A roll of paper is illustrated in place by the broken lines 17 of FIG. 5. The holder can be removed from the brackets 9 and 10 simply by grasping the lower edge of plate 11 and raising it upward. Placement and removal of the roll of paper on the holder is easily accomplished in the manner described with the first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The holder of the second embodiment is quite easily replaced on brackets 9 and 10, with the new roll hidden within the wall recess 8, simply by inserting the roll into the recess and causing the folds 15 and 16 to engage brackets 9 and 10. A lock 18 attached to the top portion of plate 11 may be provided for locking the parts together for preventing unauthorized opening. This is desirable for installations in public places. Also, a night light 19 may advantageously be mounted within recess 8. Where the metal box 8' is used, it may be mounted on a flat surface without being recessed, if such is desired.

It will be understood that the examples described are illustrative only, and that the scope of the invention is limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing holder for a roll of paper or the like having a center tube comprising in a unitary member,

a base portion adapted for mounting in a first vertical plane,

a second portion extending from said base portion in a vertical plane perpendicular to said first plane,

a third portion extending from said second portion in a vertical plane parallel to said first plane and spaced therefrom a distance slightly in excess of the maximum diameter of the roll of paper, and

an end portion extending from said third portion obliquely upward and toward said first plane in a slanting plane,

the said third portion having rectangular cross section throughout and length slightly greater than that of said roll of paper and maximum vertical width adjacent its junction with the second portion substantially equaling the internal diameter of the center tube of said roll of paper and furthermore having a relatively thin top edge,

the top edge of said end portion being substantially a lineal continuation of the top edge of said third portion,

said end and third portions being arranged to be contained Within the envelope of the cylinder having a diameter equal to the maximum vertical width of said third portion.

2. The dispensing holder defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom edges of said third and end portions are in continuous upwardly inclined taper from said second portion.

3. A dispensing holder for a roll of paper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper edge of said third portion slopes gently upwardly from said second portion to said end portion and said upper edge is vertically notched between said third and end portions.

4. A dispenser holder for a roll of paper in accordance with claim 3 wherein the angle between the horizontal component of the longitudinal axis of said end portion and the plane of said third portion is at least 45 and the distance between the end of said end portion and the plane of said third portion is greater than one half of the maximum vertical depth of said third portion.

5. A dispensing holder for a roll of toilet paper, adapted for substantially flush mounting in a wall recess, comprising two brackets adapted for mounting on opposite sides of the recess, each bracket being a vertically mountable strip having an upwardly folded lower end, and a unitary member consisting essentially of a base portion in the form of a substantially flat, rectangular plate adapted for mounting vertically ove and covering the upper portion of the wall recess, each side of said plate being folded backwardly and inwardly to form two vertical folds with open bottoms that engage the upwardly folded ends of said brackets for supporting said plate, a second portion extending backwardly into said recess from the base portion adjacent to the inner edge of one of said folds and in a vertical plane perpendicular to said plate, a third portion extending from the rear end of said second portion in a vertical plane parallel to said plate, and an end portion extending from the free end of said third portion obliquely upward and toward said plate in a slanting plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,849 Vaudreuil Feb. 19, 1918 1,684,190 Moser Sept. 11, 1928 2,392,996 Poirier Jan. 15, 1946 2,513,699 Williams July 4, 1950

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