U.S. patent number 3,554,456 [Application Number 04/754,294] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-12 for portable toilet tissue dispenser.
Invention is credited to Martha E. Moore.
United States Patent |
3,554,456 |
Moore |
January 12, 1971 |
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.
Inventors: |
Moore; Martha E. (Elyria,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
25034178 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/754,294 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/592;
242/596.4; 242/596.8; 211/6; 242/129.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
10/40 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47K
10/00 (20060101); A47K 10/22 (20060101); B65h
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;242/55.2,55.3,129.6,54
;211/6,170 ;225/46 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Christian; Leonard D.
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.
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.
* * * * *