U.S. patent application number 14/664833 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for paper towel holder.
The applicant listed for this patent is CORE PACIFIC, LLC. Invention is credited to Qing Hai ZENG.
Application Number | 20160270607 14/664833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56923397 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160270607 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZENG; Qing Hai |
September 22, 2016 |
PAPER TOWEL HOLDER
Abstract
The apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll includes a
base member, an offset flange member and a rod member. The base
member can have an actuatable suction cup on a bottom surface. The
flange member has a base portion and a mounting portion made
integral at a bend, such that the portions are angled to each
other. Attaching the base portion to the base member forms an
angled surface by the mounting portion such that a downward pulling
action dispenses paper towels from the roll. The rod member extends
orthogonally from the angled surface and over the base member so
that the roll is stably supported at the angle set by the angled
surface and the base member. There can be a holding device to
maintain position of the roll relative to the rod member and a
shield on the top end of the angled surface.
Inventors: |
ZENG; Qing Hai; (Houston,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CORE PACIFIC, LLC |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56923397 |
Appl. No.: |
14/664833 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/22 20130101;
A47K 10/3836 20130101; A47K 2010/3233 20130101; A47K 2010/3863
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/38 20060101
A47K010/38; A47K 10/22 20060101 A47K010/22 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll, said
apparatus comprising: a base member having a top surface; a flange
member having a base portion and a mounting portion, said base
portion being angled from said mounting end and made integral with
said mounting portion at a bend, said base portion being attached
to said top surface of said base member, said mounting end forming
an angled surface so as to dispense paper towels from the roll in a
downward pulling action; and a rod member, extending orthogonal
from said angled surface so as to support said roll at an angle set
by said angled surface.
2. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, wherein said
angled surface has a range of 5 to 60 degrees from vertical.
3. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, wherein said
flange member attaches to a periphery of said base member, said rod
member extending over a center of said base member.
4. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 3, wherein said
rod member aligns with said base member so that downward force at a
top of said rod member maintains stability of said base member.
5. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, wherein said
mounting portion of said flange member has a center point a
distance apart from said bend, said distance being sufficient to
fit the roll of paper towels.
6. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, wherein said
base portion is placed adjacent an edge of said base member.
7. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, said base
member having a bottom surface, said bottom surface being grounded
for placement on a level surface.
8. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, further
comprising: a suction means on a bottom surface of said base
member.
9. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 8, said suction
means being centered on said base member.
10. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 8, wherein
said suction means is comprised of a suction cup and a stem.
11. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 8, wherein
said stem extends through a hole in said base member from said
bottom surface to said top surface.
12. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 11, wherein
said stem having a lever on an end of said stem above said top
surface, said lever actuating said suction cup.
13. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 11, said stem
being centered on said base member.
14. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, further
comprising: holding means mounted on said rod member so at to
maintain said roll relative to said rod member during a downward
pulling action.
15. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 14, wherein
said holding means is comprised of a flexible and resilient
spring.
16. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 14, wherein
said holding means is comprised of a plurality of flexible and
resilient ribs.
17. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 1, further
comprising: a shielding means affixed to said angled surface of
said mounting portion, said shielding means being placed on a top
end of said angled surface.
18. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 17, said
shielding means being parallel to said rod member and spaced apart
from said rod member so as to fit said roll and paper towels
between said shielding means and said rod member.
19. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 17, wherein
said shielding means is comprised of a post member parallel to said
rod member.
20. The apparatus for dispensing, according to claim 17, wherein
said shielding means is comprised of a panel with an elongated
shape and width so as to partially cover said roll and paper towels
when mounted on said rod member.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to a holder for paper towels.
More particularly, the present invention relates to paper towel
holder for more efficient and precise release of an individual
towel from a roll of paper towels.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
[0007] A paper towel is a type of cleaning device. The paper towel
is a textile of paper, not cloth, with absorbent properties. The
paper towel is disposable and intended for one time use. Water and
other liquids and substance soak into the paper for removal and
cleaning of a surface. The woven fibers of the paper hold the
liquid. Paper towels have been packaged individually, similar to
napkins, but the most common storage is wrapping connected paper
towels around a tube to form a roll of paper towels. The paper
towels are connected end to end to adjacent towels. Perforations
separate individual towels, such that a pulling force can separate
adjacent towels by tearing the paper material between the
perforations. The perforations are arranged in a string line from
one edge to the other edge of the paper towel.
[0008] Paper towels are dispensed for use by separating an
individual towel from the roll. The separation must be easy and
quick for efficient access because the towels are disposable and
only used once. Dispensing must be available for users of all
strengths and coordination.
[0009] The prior art systems of paper towel holders are either
horizontal or vertical. The horizontal holders are mounted
underneath cabinets and shelves so that the holder is suspended in
the air. The roll of paper towels is supported by two end supports,
which allow the roll to rotate as paper towels are pulled off the
roll. A user pulls downward on the end towel, and the perforations
tear in the horizontal direction. Not all perforations receive the
same amount of force, so uneven tearing is a common problem. The
vertical holders are posted that insert into the roll of paper
towels. The roll is supported in an upright position so that the
roll can rotate as the paper towels are dispensed laterally. A
lateral force pulls the perforation apart to release the end towel
from the roll. In prior art systems, the force may not only be
lateral, so uneven downward force is applied to perforated areas at
the top edge of the towel. These forces may compress the towel at
the perforations for uneven tearing and bunching of the towel.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll
with efficiency.
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus with an angled surface to insure clean
tearing of paper towels.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus with an angled surface to dispense paper
towels without partial remnants of previously dispensed towels.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus with an angled surface to prevent
bunching and compression of the towels being dispensed.
[0014] It is still an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll,
wherein a downward pulling action of the user is properly
controlled without uneven force and without excess compression.
[0015] It is still an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll
to avoid the problems of strictly horizontal orientation of the
roll.
[0016] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll
to avoid the problems of strictly vertical orientation of the
roll.
[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels at a stable
and consistent angle.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus with attachments to prevent shifting of
the roll on the rod member.
[0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus with attachments to prevent unraveling
of the towels from the roll.
[0020] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll,
being maintained for at a stable angle for the focused and
dispersed downward pulling action on the towels to be
dispensed.
[0021] These and other objectives and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached
specifications and appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Embodiments of the apparatus for dispensing paper towels
from a roll, according to the present invention, include a base
member, a flange member, and a rod member. The base member has a
top surface and a bottom surface. The flange member has a base
portion and a mounting portion, wherein the portions are made
integral at a bend, forming an angle relative to each other. The
base portion attaches flush to the top surface of the base member,
so that the mounting portion forms an angled surface. The angled
surface allows dispensing paper towels from the roll in a downward
pulling action. The downward pulling action is the most efficient
method of cleanly tearing each paper towel from the roll of paper
towels. There are fewer partial tears and decreased bunching of
towels on the roll after one towel is removed.
[0023] The flange member can attach to a periphery of the base
member so that the rod member extends over a center of the base
member for stability when a downward force is exerted on the roll
of paper towels. Generally, the flange member aligns the rod member
over the base member for the stability. The angled surface of the
mounting portion has a range of 5 to 60 degrees from vertical. The
rod member extends orthogonally from the angled surface at a
distance from the bend so that the roll fits on the rod member The
roll is supported on the rod member so that the roll is angled at
the same angle as the angled top surface. The rod member is an
extension of the angled surface of the mounting portion so that
paper towels are dispensed at an angle, unlike prior art strictly
horizontal or strictly vertical devices.
[0024] Some embodiments of the present invention include an
apparatus with a holding means. The holding means maintains the
roll relative to the rod member during a downward pulling action.
The holding means is mounted on the rod member, so the holding
means is supported at the same angle as the rod member. In some
embodiments, the holding means can be a flexible and resilient
spring or flexible and resilient ribs. The holding means can extend
along a length of the rod member for stable support of the roll on
the rod member. The spring or ribs engage an interior of the roll,
which prevents the roll from moving unevenly during a downward
pulling action. The set angle is used instead of a distorted angle
caused by shifting of the roll on the rod member.
[0025] Other embodiments of the present invention include an
apparatus with a shielding means. The shielding means at least
partially covers the paper towels on the roll, when the roll is
placed on the rod member. The shielding means affixes to the angled
top surface at a top end of the angled top surface so that the
shielding means is positioned above the roll on the rod member. The
shielding means is parallel to the rod member and spaced apart from
the rod member so as to fit the roll and paper towels between the
shielding means and the rod member. In some embodiments, the
shielding means is a post member parallel to the rod member or a
panel with an elongated shape and width so as to partially cover
the roll and paper towels when mounted on the rod member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the apparatus
for dispensing paper towels from a roll according to the present
invention, showing the angled surface of the mounting portion.
[0027] FIG. 2 is another schematic view of an embodiment of the
apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll according to the
present invention with a shielding means and rod member at a
different angle.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the apparatus
for dispensing paper towels from a roll according to the present
invention with another shielding means and rod member at a
different angle.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of
the apparatus for dispensing paper towels from a roll with a
holding means attachment.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing paper towels, showing a
suction cup in the base member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, embodiments of the present invention
include an apparatus 10 for dispensing paper towels 12 from a roll
14. The paper towels 12 are connected to each other through
perforations, which are torn for separation from an adjacent towel
12 at the time of use. The paper towels 12 are stored on a roll 14,
wherein the towels 12 are wrapped around the roll 14, usually
comprised of a cardboard tube. The interior of the roll 14 or tube
is mounted to set the position of the towels 12 for dispensing.
Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus 10 with a
base member 16, flange member 18, and a rod member 20. The base
member 16 has a top surface 22 and a bottom surface 24 for
placement on a level surface. The bottom surface 24 on the base
member 16 creates a stable grounding of the apparatus 10 for when
the downward pulling action is applied to the towels 12 on the roll
14. Various anti-skid attachments and various shapes of the base
member 16 can be used in the present invention.
[0032] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
flange member 18 is comprised of a base portion 40 and a mounting
portion 42. The base portion 40 is made integral with the mounting
portion 42 at a bend 48, so that the base portion 40 is angled from
the mounting portion 42. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the base portion 40
is attached to a top surface 22. The mounting portion 42 forms an
angled surface 44. Paper towels 12 are dispensed from the roll 14
in a downward pulling action.
[0033] Embodiments of the apparatus 10 also include a rod member
20, extending orthogonal from the angled surface 44, such that the
angle 46 set by the angled surface 44 is the same for the rod
member 20 and the roll 14. In some embodiments, the range of the
angled surface 44 is 5 to 60 degrees from vertical. The rod member
20 can be a shaft made of various materials, such as wood or
plastic. The shaft can have a circular cross-section or any
polygonal shape.
[0034] The rod member 20 supports the roll 14 with sufficient
strength to withstand the downward pulling action on the towels 12.
In some embodiments, the flange member 18 attaches to a periphery
of the base member 16 so that the rod member 20 extends over the
center of the base member 16 for stability. The rod member 20 is
aligned over the base member 16 for even balance without a pulling
force on the paper towels 12. The rod member 20 may be a post or
shaft fixedly attached at a proximal end to the angled top surface
18. The mounting portion 44 has a center point 50 at a distance
apart from the bend 48, and the rod member 20 attaches to the
mounting portion 44 at the center point 50. The center point 50 is
aligned with an axis of the rod member 20 so that the rod member 20
extends across a center of the base member 16. The distance between
the center point 50 and the bend 48 are sufficient to fit the roll
14 of paper towels 12. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5, the base
portion 40 is placed adjacent an edge of the base member 16, while
the rod member 20 can extend over the center of the base member 16,
while on the center point of angled surface 44 of the mounting
portion 42.
[0035] Embodiments show the rod member 20 extending outward from
the angled surface 44 at a right angle so that the angle 46 of the
angled surface 44 corresponds to the rod member 20. Consequently,
the roll 14 is also positioned at the angle 46. Towels 12 are torn
from the roll 14 at that angle 46 using the downward pulling
action. The angle 46 creates the most efficient tearing of the
towel 12 because the downward pulling action in combination with
the angle 46 prevents partial tears, and bunching of the towel 12.
The combination insures that the tearing starts at a top end of the
towel 12 perforation so that the downward pulling action is focused
at an angled top edge of the perforation of the towel.
[0036] When there is no angle, the downward pulling action is
dispersed across all perforations in a horizontal mounting. The
tears are uneven because the horizontal perforations are resisting
the downward pulling action depending upon how the towel 12 is
gripped. The horizontal mounting will result in partial tears.
Alternatively, when there is no angle, the downward pulling action
is solely focused on the perforation at the top end of the towel
12. A strong pulling action focused on one perforation is too much,
and the towel 12 is too quickly ripped. A partial tear from the top
of the towel 12 is possible. Additionally, there is a risk of
bunching, when the downward pulling action compresses the towel 12
vertically so that towel 12 is more resistant to tearing. The
perforations are stacked so that multiple perforations resist
tearing together, resulting in uneven tearing when the downward
pulling action is insufficient to overcome multiple
perforations.
[0037] In the present invention, the angled top edge of the towel
12 is created by the angled surface 44 and rod member 20 of the
apparatus 10. The angled top edge controls the downward pulling
force to start at the top perforation, but not only on the top
perforation. The downward pulling action is dispersed across the
perforations at the top edge of the towel 12, so that the present
invention avoids the uneven pulling force of the horizontal
mounting across all perforations all at once and the compression of
the towel 12 of the vertical mounting on one perforation at a
time.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention with a
base member 16 with the top surface 22 and the bottom surface 24.
The base member 16 sits so that the bottom surface 24 is grounded
on a level surface, such as a kitchen counter. FIG. 5 shows an
embodiment with a suction means 52 on the bottom surface 24. The
suction means 52 is centered on the base member 24 for the most
stability. Embodiments show the suction means 52 comprised of a
suction cup 54 and a stem 56. The stem 56 extends through a hole 58
in the base member 16 from the bottom surface 24 to the top surface
22. The stem 56 can also have a lever 58 or push button or switch
on an end of the stem 56 above the top surface 22. The lever
actuates the suction cup 54. Center mount location of the suction
means 52, including the stem 56, is enabled by the particular
structures of the present invention. Other prior art devices have
the rod member on the center of the base member, so that center
mounts on the bottom surface of the base member is not possible.
The present invention with the offset flange member 18 is able to
have a suction means 52 in the most stable center position and
actuation.
[0039] Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus 10
with a holding means 26 mounted on the rod member 20, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. The holding means 26 is an attachment to maintain
the roll 14 relative to the rod member 20 during a downward pulling
action. These embodiments further reduce the uneven pulling force
and the compression of the towel 12. The roll 14 does not shift
during the downward pulling action to change the angle of the roll
14 formed by the rod member 20 and the angled top surface 18. The
angle 46 is maintained stable, instead of changing dependent upon
the size of the interior of the tube of the roll 14 and the amount
of towel 12 torn. The holding means 26 makes the dispensing of the
towel more regular and even. In some embodiments, the holding means
26 can be a flexible and resilient spring 28 (FIG. 4) or a
plurality of flexible and resilient ribs 30 (FIG. 3). The holding
means 26, either the spring 28 or the ribs 30, extends along a
length of the rod member 20. The spring 28 or the ribs 30 engage an
interior of the roll 14, such as the inside of the tube of a roll
14. The roll 14 is held in place relative to the rod member 20 by
the structures of the holding means 26.
[0040] Other embodiments of the present invention include an
apparatus 10 with a shielding means 32 affixed to the angled
surface 44 of the mounting portion 42, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
The shielding means 32 is placed on a top end 34 of the mounting
portion 42 of the flange member 18 and above the rod member 20. The
shielding means 32 protects the towels 12 on the outside of the
roll 14 from splatters and stains. The shielding means 32 can also
prevent the towels 12 from unraveling from the roll 14, holding the
towel 12 to be dispensed in a convenient position. In some
embodiments, the shielding means 32 is parallel to the rod member
20 and spaced apart from the rod member 20 so as to fit the roll 14
and paper towels 12 between the shielding means 26 and the rod
member 20. Versions of the shielding means 32 of the present
invention include a post member (FIG. 2) parallel to the rod member
20 and a panel (FIG. 3) with an elongated shape and width so as to
partially cover the roll 14 and paper towels 12 when mounted on the
rod member 20.
[0041] The present invention provides embodiments of an apparatus
for dispensing paper towels from a roll with efficiency. The
apparatus with the angled surface insures clean tears of the towels
without partial remnants of previously dispensed towels. The
bunching of compressed edges of the towels is also avoided by the
angling of the roll on the rod member. The downward pulling action
is properly controlled without uneven force and without excess
compression. The problems of strictly horizontal and strictly
vertical positioning of the paper towels are avoided with the
stable and consistent angle of the apparatus of the present
invention. Additionally, the attachments prevent shifting of the
roll on the rod member and unraveling of the towels from the roll.
The angle created by the apparatus of the present invention is
maintained for the beneficial stable angle for the focused and
dispersed downward pulling action on the towels to be
dispensed.
[0042] The present invention also provides a stable base member
with actuation of a center mounted suction means. The center
position of the suction means and the stem at the center provides
more stability that prior art systems with the rod member in the
center position. There is also the extension of the rod member over
the center of the base member, while in the angled position from
the mounting portion. This stability for an angled rod member is
not known in the prior art.
[0043] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is
illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the
details of the illustrated structures, construction and method can
be made without departing from the true spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *