Roll Sleeve

Abstract

A roll sleeve inserts into a cardboard spool of a paper roll and has a generally cylindrical main body having an inside end and an outside end; a shoulder extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end; and a cylindrical cavity disposed along the central axis of the generally cylindrical main body. The cylindrical cavity has a smooth internal wall. A plurality of raised fins begin from the inside end of the generally cylindrical main body, and extend toward the outside end of the generally cylindrical main body. The paper roll can be a toilet paper roll, or a towel roll that has a cardboard spool.

Description

[0001] This application claims provisional priority from same inventor Ben Molstad's provisional application entitled Roll Sleeve, serial number 61/280,128 having a filing date of Oct. 31, 2009.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Paper rolls have been used for a variety toilet paper and paper towel products. A paper roll holder such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,223 patented Dec. 1959 to Kilm describes a holder for a toilet paper roll, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Kilm teaches a toilet paper roll holder under a sink.

[0003] Adapters for toilet paper roll holders have also been used for improving functionality. Montgomery U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,903 patented Jan. 18, 1955 describes an adapter for toilet paper roll holders, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Montgomery shows a set of protrusions located on a roll plate with another set of protrusions located on a base. The cooperation of the sets of protrusions improves the functionality of the toilet paper roll holder adapter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A roll sleeve inserts into a cardboard spool of a paper roll and has a generally cylindrical main body having an inside end and an outside end; a shoulder extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end; and a cylindrical cavity disposed along the central axis of the generally cylindrical main body. The cylindrical cavity has a smooth internal wall. A plurality of raised fins begin from the inside end of the generally cylindrical main body, and extend toward the outside end of the generally cylindrical main body. The paper roll can be a toilet paper roll, or a towel roll that has a cardboard spool.

[0005] A generally cylindrical main body may have an inside end and an outside end. A shoulder can extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end. A cylindrical cavity can be disposed along the central axis of the generally cylindrical main body, and the cylindrical cavity has a smooth internal wall. A plurality of raised fins begin from the inside end of the generally cylindrical main body, and extend toward the outside end of the generally cylindrical main body. The stopper base includes a stopper rim protruding from the stopper base. The stopper base may be formed of an elastomeric material or formed of an different material than the generally cylindrical main body. The main body can be made of a PVC material.

[0006] The roll sleeve may have a fin having a fin tip and the fin tip may have a rectangular profile with a fin tip side face and a fin tip outside face. The roll sleeve may also have a fin having a fin tip, so that the fin tip outside face has an arc shaped profile and is opposed by a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve opening interior. A fin tip inside face can be facing toward the roll sleeve, and the fin tip inside face can also have an arc shaped profile. The fin tip side face preferably extends radially from the central axis of the roll sleeve and the fin tip side face has a radial orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The following call out list of elements is a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings. [0012] 20 Roll Sleeve [0013] 21 Stopper Base [0014] 22 Stopper Rim [0015] 23 Stopper Flange [0016] 24 Roll Sleeve Body [0017] 25 Roll Sleeve Insertion End [0018] 28 Roll Sleeve Opening [0019] 31 Fin Tip [0020] 32 Fin Tip Outside Face [0021] 33 Fin Tip Side Face [0022] 34 Fin Joining [0023] 35 Fin Opening [0024] 40 Paper Roll [0025] 21 Paper Roll Sheet [0026] 42 Paper Roll Opening [0027] 142 Paper Roll Holder [0028] 143 Paper Roll Holder Mount

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The invention is generally a roll sleeve 20 for inserting into a cardboard spool of a paper roll and includes a generally cylindrical main body having an inside end and an outside end; a shoulder extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end; and a cylindrical cavity disposed along the central axis of the main body. The cylindrical cavity has a smooth internal wall.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a typical toilet paper roll for fitting onto a toilet paper holder. The toilet paper holder has a thin extending arm extending into the toilet paper roll. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve fits into the toilet paper roll with a size that allows easy insertion and removal, but does not allow rotation of the sleeve relative to the toilet paper roll. The sleeve further has a shoulder for limiting insertion of the sleeve into the toilet paper roll.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a toilet paper holder with the toilet paper roll inserted into the toilet paper holder. The cardboard spool of the toilet paper roll is shown in transparency to show the insertion of the sleeve into the spool.

[0032] The sleeve has an inside orientation and an outside orientation. The sleeve outside end is the end with the shoulder. The sleeve inside end is the end that is inserted into the cardboard spool.

[0033] The sleeve is substantially rigid and is preferably made of PVC, plastic or metal, but can also be made of wood such as bamboo or elastomer or a combination thereof. The preferred material is plastic. The sleeve preferably includes a slightly rounded profile so that it has a bulge in the middle. The sleeve is preferably not perfectly cylindrical. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the external surface of the sleeve is smooth and it does not include any ridges, fins or protrusions.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention which includes raised fins extending from the sleeve. The fins are flexible and are preferably approximately a quarter inch to a half-inch wide. The raised fins are preferably approximately 2 1/4 inches to 2 1/2 inches long. The raised fins rise above the generally cylindrical surface of the sleeve about an eighth of inch to three quarters of an inch. The sleeve is preferably approximately 4 1/2 inches long. The inner diameter of the sleeve is preferably approximately 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches. The outer diameter is preferably 1 1/2 inches to 1 5/8 inch. The fins preferably begin from an inside end of the sleeve and extend toward the outside of the sleeve.

[0035] The external surface of the fins grip to the internal surface of the cardboard spool in a deployed position when the sleeve is inserted into the spool.

[0036] The tube can be made of an extrusion of tube having sections. The tube can be multi-layered with multiple layers of plastic or metal bonded together. The fins can be made by a punch in a single punch process. During construction, a tool can extend into the roll sleeve opening 28 and punch out the fins using heated punch process.

[0037] The roll sleeve 20 is substantially cylindrical and has a stopper base 21. The stopper base is preferably of a softer material than the roll sleeve 20. The stopper base 21 preferably includes a stopper rim 22 which protrudes from a stopper base 21. A stopper flange 23 extends over the roll sleeve body 24. The roll sleeve body 24 has a roll sleeve insertion end 25 opposite the stopper base 21. The stopper base 21 can be glued onto the end of the roll sleeve and can be made of an elastomeric press on stopper or can be made as a hard plastic member. The roll sleeve opening 28 is defined by the opening of the annular stopper base 21, when the stopper base is installed to the roll sleeve opening 28.

[0038] A fin or multiple fins such as shown in the figures can be formed with a tip 31 and be of rectangular profile with a fin tip side face 33 and a fin tip outside face 32. The fin tip outside face 32 has an arc shaped profile and is opposed by a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve opening interior 28. The fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve can also have an arc shaped profile. The fin tip side face extends radially from the central axis of the roll sleeve 20 and it is preferred that the fin tip side face has a radial orientation.

[0039] The fin joining 34 joints between the roll sleeve body 24 and the roll sleeve insertion end 25. Four rectangular fin openings 35 can be disposed at right angles from each other around the circumferential periphery of the roll sleeve body 24. The fin openings 35 are slightly larger than the fins to allow expansion of the fin tip outside faces 32 against an inside of a paper roll spool. The total length of the body is preferably slightly longer than the paper roll spool to allow easy insertion and removal. Optionally, a pair of fin joining 34 areas can act as opposing joints so that the fin tip is omitted and replaced by a pair of areas of fin joining 34 such that the fin extends outward at a middle rather than at a tip. The fin tip inside face is also preferably smooth on the inside to allow a generally smooth internal wall of the cylindrical cavity where the fin tip inside face forms a part of the generally smooth interior wall.

[0040] Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the system has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A roll sleeve for inserting into a cardboard spool of a paper roll comprising: a. a generally cylindrical main body having an inside end and an outside end; b. a shoulder extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end; c. a cylindrical cavity disposed along the central axis of the generally cylindrical main body, wherein the cylindrical cavity has a smooth internal wall.

2. The roll sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of raised fins beginning from the inside end of the generally cylindrical main body, and extending toward the outside end of the generally cylindrical main body.

3. The roll sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a stopper base, wherein the stopper base includes a stopper rim protruding from the stopper base.

4. The roll sleeve of claim 1, wherein the stopper base is formed of an elastomeric material.

5. The roll sleeve of claim 1, wherein the stopper base is formed of an different material than the generally cylindrical main body.

6. The roll sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a fin having a fin tip and wherein the fin tip has a rectangular profile with a fin tip side face and a fin tip outside face.

7. The roll sleeve of claim 6, further comprising a fin having a fin tip, wherein the fin tip outside face has an arc shaped profile and is opposed by a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve opening interior.

8. The roll sleeve of claim 7, further comprising a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve, wherein the fin tip inside face also has an arc shaped profile.

9. The roll sleeve of claim 8, wherein the fin tip side face extends radially from the central axis of the roll sleeve and wherein the fin tip side face has a radial orientation.

10. A roll sleeve for inserting into a cardboard spool of a paper roll comprising: a. a generally cylindrical main body having an inside end and an outside end; b. a shoulder extending from a circumferential periphery of the outside end; c. a cylindrical cavity disposed along the central axis of the generally cylindrical main body; and d. a total length of the body, wherein the total length of the body is slightly longer than the paper roll spool; and e. at least four fins oriented at right angles to each other.

11. The roll sleeve of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of raised fins beginning from the inside end of the generally cylindrical main body, and extending toward the outside end of the generally cylindrical main body.

12. The roll sleeve of claim 10, further comprising a stopper base, wherein the stopper base includes a stopper rim protruding from the stopper base.

13. The roll sleeve of claim 10, wherein the stopper base is formed of an elastomeric material.

14. The roll sleeve of claim 10, wherein the stopper base is formed of an different material than the generally cylindrical main body.

15. The roll sleeve of claim 10, further comprising a fin having a fin tip and wherein the fin tip has a rectangular profile with a fin tip side face and a fin tip outside face.

16. The roll sleeve of claim 15, further comprising a fin having a fin tip, wherein the fin tip outside face has an arc shaped profile and is opposed by a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve opening interior.

17. The roll sleeve of claim 16, further comprising a fin tip inside face facing toward the roll sleeve, wherein the fin tip inside face also has an arc shaped profile.

18. The roll sleeve of claim 17, wherein the fin tip side face extends radially from the central axis of the roll sleeve and wherein the fin tip side face has a radial orientation.

19. The roll sleeve of claim 10, wherein the main body is made of a PVC material.