Tissue Roll Holder

Abstract

A tissue roll holder includes a support member adapted for fixed mounting to a wall, and a sleeve rotatably and permanently mounted thereon, the sleeve being provided with a plurality of sharp prongs for penetration of and locking engagement with the tubular core of a roll of tissue placed thereon to prevent removal of the roll until all of the tissue has been unwound therefrom.

Description

The present invention relates in general to fixtures for holding rolls of tissue, and it relates in particular to such a fixture designed to discourage the theft of rolls of toilet tissue and the like from public rest rooms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to deter the unauthorized removal of rolls of tissue from public places, various fixtures have been designed and manufactured, but the use thereof has been limited for three principal reasons. One, they have been expensive to manufacture and maintain; two, they have been difficult to load; and three, they have not alway functioned properly.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The principal objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide a new and improved fixture which can be manufactured and sold competitively; which is strong and durable; which is easy to load; and which prevents removal of a roll of tissue therefrom until all of the tissue has been removed from the tubular core.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the above and further objects may be realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a tissue holding fixture including a main support spindle adapted to be affixed to a wall, and a tubular sleeve rotatably and permanently mounted on the spindle and having a plurality of prongs extending outwardly therefrom for penetrating the core portion of a roll of tissue placed thereover to prevent removal of the roll except by actually destroying the tubular core in order to remove it from the sleeve .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages and a better understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tissue holding fixture embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the fixture of FIG. 1 mounted on a wall and having a roll of tissue positioned thereon; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multiple roll fixture embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a fixture 10 consists of a mounting or base plate 11 having a central hole for receiving one end portion of a tubular spindle 12 on which a paper carrying sleeve 13 is rotatably and fixedly mounted. The sleeve 13 is provided with a plurality of sharply pointed, struck-out tongues 14 which penetrate the inner tube 15 of a roll of toilet tissue 16 disposed on the sleeve 13. Accordingly, the roll 16 cannot be removed from the fixture until the tissue has been unrolled therefrom and the tube 15 torn away from the sleeve 13.

Considered in greater detail, the inner end of the spindle 12 is flared outwardly as indicated at 17 to fixedly secure the spindle to the mounting plate 11. The sleeve 13 is shorter than the spindle 12 and the outer, distal end of the spindle is flared out as indicated at 18 over the outer end of the sleeve to secure the sleeve to the fixture. The inner diameter of the sleeve 13 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spindle 12 so that the sleeve may freely rotate thereon. The base plate 11 is provided with a plurality of countersunk holes 19 for receiving mounting screws 20. Preferably, the screws 20 have break-away type screwdriver slots to prevent unauthorized removal of the entire fixture from the wall.

Referring to FIG. 3, a wall fixture 22 consists of a base plate 23 having a plurality of countersunk mounting holes 24, and to which a pair of tubular spindles 25 and 26 are fixedly mounted. A pair of paper carrying sleeves 27 and 28 are rotatably mounted on the spindles whose distal ends 29 and 30 are flared outwardly over the outer ends of the respective sleeves to hold the sleeves thereon. The sleeves 27 and 28 each have a plurality of sharp prongs extending toward the base plate 23 for securing a roll of tissue on the fixture.

OPERATION

The paper carrier sleeve 13 is preferably formed of a steel tubing of one and three-eighths inches O.D. having a wall thickness of 0.040 inch. The prongs extend outwardly about five-sixteenths of an inch and are somewhat flexible to facilitate loading of a tissue roll onto the fixture. As the roll is pushed onto the sleeve 13 over the free outer end, the inner roll tube 15 thereof forces the prongs inwardly to permit the roll to cover the entire sleeve. Once in place, the prongs are self-biased outwardly into the tube 15. Any attempt to withdraw the loaded roll 16 causes the prongs 14 to bite more deeply into the tube 15 and thereby discourage removal of the roll 16 from the fixture. However, once the tissue has been used up, the tube 15 is easily removable by simply tearing it off the sleeve 13 so that a fresh roll may be loaded thereon.

While the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make many changes and modifications without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture for holding a roll of paper, comprising

an elongated tubular spindle,

mounting means at one end for attachment to a supporting surface and including a centrally apertured mounting plate having a counterbore surrounding said aperture,

said spindle being disposed in said aperture and flared out into said counterbore, and

a sleeve rotatably and fixedly mounted on said spindle,

said sleeve being shorter than said spindle and having a plurality of outwardly protruding sharp prongs extending toward said one end for penetration into the tubular core of a roll of paper placed thereon,

said spindle being flared out at its other end over the corresponding end of said sleeve

whereby said roll of paper cannot be removed from said fixture without first unwinding substantially all of the paper from said roll.

2. A fixture according to claim 1, wherein said prongs are integral with said sleeve.

3. A fixture according to claim 1, comprising

a base member adapted to be attached to a wall and to which said spindle is fixedly attached,

a second spindle fixedly attached to said base member,

a second sleeve rotatably and fixedly mounted on said second spindle,

said second sleeve being shorter than said second spindle and having a plurality of outwardly protruding sharp prongs extending toward said base member for penetration into the tubular core of a roll of paper placed thereon,

whereby said fixture is adapted to support two rolls of paper.