Portable Toilet Tissue Dispenser

Abstract

A portable dispenser for a toilet tissue roll having a base sufficiently heavy to maintain the dispenser in place during normal use and an extensible inverted U-shaped framework extending upwardly from the base, the crossbar of the frame being a handle with roll of toilet tissue carried by cylindrical parts immediately under the handle. A guide for the toilet tissue having a horizontal slot is mounted on the legs of the framework immediately in front of the roll of toilet tissue so that for the paper to be parted, it is normally pulled in an upward or downward direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves the field of personal hygiene and more particularly toilet tissue dispensers for use in bathrooms and the like.

Contemporary toilet tissue holders, although relatively economical and simple, have disadvantages and limitations in restrooms which are in great demand. This is exemplified by restrooms in a gasoline station. When a station attendant may be occupied over a period of time, it is highly impractical for him to make periodic checks of the restroom when not in use or to devote the additional time necessary for replacing rolls of toilet tissue. The problem has been recognized and a number of solutions have been proposed. One solution is to provide a dispenser having a plurality of rolls and a mechanism which is adapted to ensure that a roll is always available to the user. With such devices, it is only necessary to provide additional tissue rolls from time to time. However, such devices are somewhat expensive and are not overly dependable. Also, of course, one can always leave several additional rolls at a convenient location in a restroom and the user can make such changes as necessary himself. Such an arrangement, however, may leave a bad impression in the minds of many customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It occurred to the inventor that a solution to the problems indicated above would be a relatively light portable toilet tissue holder which would be inexpensive and which the attendant of the station might prepare during slack periods. More than one of such dispensers might be located together in a restroom where the demand required and, in any event, the dispensers could be changed with great rapidity. However, a problem with such portable dispensers exists in that if the dispenser is light enough to be easily carried about, it may also be dislodgable by ordinary usage in disengaging toilet tissue therefrom. I have solved this problem by making the device so that it is generally compact with a major portion of its weight concentrated in its base and with the handle disposed immediately above the roll of tissue paper to serve the double purpose of both protecting the paper and being conveniently located for carrying the device. A slotted guide means is provided for the tissue whereby in order to disengage tissues from the roll, the paper is normally pulled upwardly or downwardly rather than in a horizontal direction so that dislocation of the dispenser is less likely. The resulting dispenser is not only advantageous in restrooms such as may be found in a busy gasoline station, but also for motels and hotels, hospitals, and even may be well received in private dwellings. The dispenser of the invention can be easily cleaned and presents a major advantage over most contemporary devices for similar functions in that it can be subjected to ultraviolet, gaseous vapor, liquid and heat sterilization means without difficulty or harm to the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, adaptabilities and capabilities will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed view partly in section of a part utilized for holding the roll of toilet tissue.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The portable toilet tissue dispenser designated generally by reference numeral 10 comprises a relatively heavy base 11 which is preferably of solid metal such as cast iron or steel plate. Secured to the base 11 is the lower portion 12 of a framework designated generally 14. Portion 12 consists of four tubular members 13 each having the general configuration of an inverted L which are connected in their upper aspect by a crossbar 15 which includes a pair of vertical tubes 16 to which the members 13 are directly affixed. The tubes 16 receive a pair of legs 17 of the upper portion, designated generally 20, of the framework 14. The upper portion 20 has the shape of an inverted U with the horizontal part 21 constituting a handle for carrying the portable dispenser 10. The legs 17 are adapted to slide into tubes 16 and may be fixed relative thereto by means of bolts 22 which are threadably received in the sides of tubes 16 and adapted to lock against the legs 17 within tubes 16, and therefore to secure the upper portion 20 in a selected vertical position relative to the base 11. The height of the handle 21 can thus be adjusted from say about 17 to about 21 inches as desired.

An assembly as shown in FIG. 3 for holding the tissue holder 19 in place is designated 24 and comprises a cylinder 25 having an inwardly extending flange 26 which is adapted to receive a piston 27 which includes a cylindrical part 30 adapted to receive the core of roll 19 and a peripheral part 31 which is urged against the flange part 26 by means of a compression spring 32. A pair of holding assemblies 24 are mounted on the legs 17 so that the axis of the roll 19 is generally horizontal and parallel with the base 11. It will be understood that such axis is also located generally in the same plane as the handle 21 and the legs 17.

A guide assembly 34 consists of a pair of bars 35 which are affixed to legs 17 and extend horizontally outwardly therefrom so as to carry in front of roll 19 a guide means 36 which includes a hinge 37 and upper and lower parts 40 and 41, respectively. The part 40 is attached to the hinge 37 so that it can be swung open upwardly therefrom. A detent member 42, which is affixed to the part 40 and cooperates with a depression 44 in the end of part 41, detachably holds the parts 40 and 41 in the position shown in FIG. 1 whereby they define between them a slot 45 adapted to receive a strip of toilet tissue designated 46. It will be understood that the part 41 is rigidly affixed to the bars 35 and there is affixed to such parts a curved plate 48.

It will be appreciated that the user, after pulling the required length of paper through the slot 45, normally attempts to tear the part 46 from the roll 19 either by pulling it upward against part 40 or downward against the plate 48. In either case, the forces thus generated on the device 10 are generally vertical and less likely to cause dislocation thereof than would be the case where a more horizontally directed force is utilized.

Preferably, rubber or polished iron support pieces 47 are provided so that the dispenser will not unduly scratch or mar the underlying floor. For most usage, rubber or plastic is preferred for supports 47. However, where the dispenser may be subjected to high sterilization procedures, it is preferable that the supports 47 be integral with the base 11.

If desired, an outside toilet roll shield 50 may be secured by bolts 51 or the like to legs 17 for the purposes of appearance and to protect the rear side of the roll 19.

Also, for certain uses, casters may be advantageously utilized instead of supports 47, in which event stop brakes of the type known and utilized with roll casters would be also employed in order to anchor the base 11 relative to the floor. However, since it is generally intended that the dispenser be readily portable, roller supports do not form part of the invention and are therefore not shown.

A number of known materials may be used for the framework and other parts of the dispenser. Generally, however, all parts should be of corrosive-resistant or noncorrosive type of material.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A portable toilet tissue dispenser which comprises a base (11) which is sufficiently heavy relative to the remainder of the dispenser so as to preclude its dislocation when toilet tissue is removed therefrom, a framework (14) extending upwardly from said base, means (24) mounted on said framework for holding toilet tissue (19), a handle (21) included in said framework disposed above said means for holding said toilet tissue, said framework including an upper portion (17) and a lower portion (12), said upper portion being selectively extensible relative to said lower portion.

2. A portable toilet tissue dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein the height of said handle above the floor on which said base rests can selectively be varied between about 17 and 21 inches.

3. A portable toilet tissue dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said upper portion of said framework has the shape of an inverted "U", said handle comprising the horizontal part thereof.

4. A portable toilet tissue dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for holding said toilet paper comprises a pair of resiliently urged cylindrical parts (30) adapted to receive a roll of toilet tissue, said cylindrical parts being mounted on the legs of said upper portion whereby the axis of a roll of toilet tissue carried by said cylindrical parts is horizontal and in the same vertical plane as said handle.

5. A portable toilet tissue dispenser in accordance with claim 4 wherein said legs are vertically disposed.

6. A portable toilet tissue dispenser in accordance with claim 5 wherein guide means (34) is connected across the legs of said upper portion, a horizontal slot (45) in said guide means, said guide means adapted to receive tissue (46) from a roll of toilet tissue carried by said cylindrical parts whereby to disengage said tissue from said roll, the natural direction for pulling said tissue is generally parallel to said legs.