U.S. patent application number 14/613207 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-06 for roll securing apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Roxane Okazaki. Invention is credited to Roxane Okazaki.
Application Number | 20150216375 14/613207 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53753782 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150216375 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okazaki; Roxane |
August 6, 2015 |
Roll Securing Apparatus
Abstract
Present embodiments relate to a paper roll securing apparatus
having biased wings, housed with two spaced apart side sections
which function to: house and support the set of biased wings,
create a space for the displacement of the expired roll, and allow
the side sections to be perpendicularly coupled to the base
portion. As a new roll begins to be inserted and the force of the
new roll is applied, the set of biased wings begin to extend upward
from their static position to allow the expired roll to be ejected
from the apparatus in a single fluid motion. Once the expired roll
has been ejected, and the force applied is removed, the biased
wings begin to return to their static position and capture the
hollow region of the new roll and return it to the static
position.
Inventors: |
Okazaki; Roxane; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Okazaki; Roxane |
Los Angeles |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53753782 |
Appl. No.: |
14/613207 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61936186 |
Feb 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/596.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/40 20130101;
A47K 10/38 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/32 20060101
A47K010/32; A47K 10/40 20060101 A47K010/40 |
Claims
1. A roll securing apparatus, comprising: two spaced apart side
sections position-able to be perpendicularly coupled to a base
portion to allow a roll to be mounted between the side sections,
the two side sections are aligned opposite another; and a set of
biased wings, each biased wing extending, when in a static
position, from one of the oppositely facing side sections inward
toward the opposite wing, the biased wings being biased to be
displaced when a load is applied to the biased wings, and to return
to the static position once the load has been removed so that when
a paper roll is forced against the biased wings, the biased wings
are displaced until the hollow region of the paper roll aligns with
the biased wings enabling the biased wings to return to the static
position.
2. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a
housing element in each of the oppositely facing side sections, the
housing cavity fitted to receive a biased wing.
3. The roll securing apparatus of claim 2, wherein each biased wing
is release-ably secured by the housing element.
4. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a biased wing is
substantially elongated with a first edge substantially parallel to
the base portion and substantially perpendicular to the side
sections, and a second edge makes an acute angel with respect to
the first edge.
5. The roll securing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biased wing
is extended by one of a tension spring or coil.
6. A roll securing apparatus, comprising; a base portion comprising
a perpendicularly coupled set of side sections, the side sections
having a first and second side, the first and second side
oppositely facing one another, and further comprising a set of
evenly spaced housing elements, each housing element configured to
releaseably retain a biased wing; and a set of biased wings, the
biased wings configured to be extended from a static position to
substantially 90 degrees to release-ably retain the hollow portion
of a roll.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing element on the
inward side of the perpendicularly coupled side sections further
contains an fastening mechanism to allow the biased wing to be
release-ably secured within the housing element;
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the biased wing may be
affixed, release-ably secured, or affixed/release-ably secured to
the housing element.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present embodiment relates to a roll securing apparatus,
and in particular, to a roll securing apparatus with a set of
biased wings to allow effortless roll replacement.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Traditional paper securing holders, and in particular,
toilet paper holders are often use a substantially round device,
that is placed within the hollow paper tubing of a roll and then
mounted to a holder. This device often referred to as "spindle,"
can be a plastic tube which further contains a set of compression
springs, to secure the spindle into the roll holder. In order to
exchange the roll, the user must push the spindle in one direction,
which compresses the spring, and then remove the opposite end of
the spindle from the roll holder. Conversely, when a new roll has
been exchanged, the user must align one end of the spindle into the
roll holder, compress the spring, and then align the opposite end
of the spindle with the opposite cavity of the roll holder. These
spindle devices act to mount the roll on the holder, and allow the
user to rotate the roll until a desired quantity is achieved.
[0003] The manufacturing industry has employed numerous paper roll
securing devices and iterations designed to provide convenience and
longevity to their users. However, these current devices, and in
particular devices containing spindles, are not user-friendly and
often have only short-term longevity. For example, every time a
roll expires and requires exchanging, the user must use one hand to
push the spring-loaded spindle to one side, while removing the roll
with the other hand. Further, many spindles are composed of
non-durable plastic which leads to cracking, chipping, and
continuous replacement. Since these spindles are spring-loaded and
cumbersome, they often fall out of the users hand and land on a
bacterial-laden floor or in the toilet. As a result of the current
designs, not only is the chance of pathogen exposure increased, but
the likelihood that the components will be damaged or require
replacement increase as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Embodiments described herein include, a roll securing
apparatus for rapid and convenient exchange of rolls. According to
one aspect, the present embodiment relates to a roll securing
apparatus having biased wings, housed with two spaced apart side
sections which function to house and support the set of biased
wings, create a space for the displacement of the expired roll, and
allow the side sections to be perpendicularly coupled and attached
to a base portion. As a paper roll is inserted either horizontally
or vertically, the biased wings may extend up to substantially 90
degrees from the static position in response the applied force
until the expired roll is ejected. As the force is removed, the
biased wings further capture the hollow region of the new roll and
return to their static position. The biased wings may contain a
tension spring, or coil that allow the biased wings to extend in
response to the applied force.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present embodiment to
provide a roll securing apparatus for effortless exchange of rolls
in which the user can exchange a roll in substantially horizontal
position in which the biased wings may extend in an inward/outward
direction.
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present embodiment to
provide a roll securing apparatus for fluid exchange of roll in a
continuous "popping motion" to avoid components dropping onto/in
contaminated surfaces.
[0007] Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and
the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roll securing apparatus
in the static position;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a further perspective front view of the roll
securing apparatus with a single biased wing removed from its
housing element;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the roll securing
apparatus wherein the biased wings are extended inward for
horizontal loading/unloading; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the roll securing
apparatus wherein the biased wings are extended upward for vertical
loading/unloading.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] As used herein, relational terms, such as "first" and
"second," "top" and "bottom," and the like, may be used solely to
distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element
without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical
relationship or order between such entities or elements.
[0014] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
views, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the apparatus 10
in a first, i.e., static position. The base portion 12 may be
either mounted on a wall, or free-standing in a vertical position
to allow the user to load a roll in both the horizontal and
vertical position. The side sections 14 are perpendicularly affixed
to the base portion and create adequate displacement for a roll to
be inserted and secured, or removed after expiration. The side
sections 14 further include a cavity which contain housing element
16. The side sections 14 and housing element 16 face one another
and are evenly spaced to allow a roll to be inserted and removed
with ease. The housing element 16 is dimensioned to securely fit a
release-ably secured set of biased wings 18. The biased wings 18
may be extended from the static position up to substantially 90
degrees when a load is applied to it. The biased wings 18 once
extended from the static position in response to the applied force
may capture the hollow region of a roll and return it to the static
position. The biased wings 18 may be further released from their
housing element 16 for convenient replacement and may be
release-ably secured to the housing element with hook and
fasteners, Velcro.RTM. material, or by magnet.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 10 in the first position wherein
one biased wing 18 is detached from housing element 16.
[0016] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a view of the apparatus 10 wherein
the biased wing 18 are extended inward or upward from their static
position to substantially 90 degrees to allow for horizontal or
vertical loading/unloading of the roll and allow the biased wings
to capture and return a new roll to the static position.
[0017] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was
made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without
departing from the following claims.
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