Toilet Tissue Holder And Shelf Combination

Abstract

A toilet tissue holder and utility shelf device has a flat body portion removably attached by supporting means in a vertical position on the side wall of a flush tank or on another vertical support adjacent the bowl of a toilet with a holding means for a roll of tissue and a utility shelf provided on the outer face of the body portion and suitably projecting therefrom.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of earlier application Ser. No. 128,956, filed Mar. 29, 1971, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention generally appertains to new and novel improvements in holders for dispensing rolled sheet material and is particularly directed to a new and novel holder and dispenser for toilet tissue.

2. State Of The Prior Art

Various types of holders and dispensers for toilet tissue are known in the prior art, with most of such devices being of a construction and nature that necessitates their more or less permanent securement to the wall of a bathroom or to a similar vertical supporting surface adjacent to the toilet bowl of a toilet unit. In the main, the known holders are integrally associated with a bathroom wall and are usually recessed in the wall so as to support a roll of tissue in an unobtrusive manner and so that the roll does not project unduly beyond the wall surface. Not only are the known tissue holders securely anchored or attached to a vertical wall or similar vertical supporting surface that is a part of the room or compartment structure enclosing the toilet unit but also they are devoid of any other structural details that could render them usable for other purposes, such as holding or supporting toilet articles like bottles or jars of toiletries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toilet tissue holder and dispenser that can be removably supported in a secure and unobtrusive manner on the vertical wall of a flush tank or a vertical supporting surface, such as the side of a bath tub, adjacent to a toilet bowl.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combined and substantially one-piece tissue holder and utility shelf unit that is formed with supporting means so that it may be detachably disposed alongside the side wall of the flush tank of a toilet unit, either in direct contact therewith or in adjacent proximity thereto.

Generally considered, the present invention provides a combined holder for a roll of toilet tissue and a toiletry shelf. The holder is of simple but sturdy construction and is formed so as to be fabricated by molding from plastic materials or constructed in any other fashion from similar sturdy and inexpensive materials. It includes a flat body portion that is adapted to be vertically oriented with respect to the side wall of a flush tank, either by being directly carried by the tank or carried by some supporting structure normally disposed adjacent to the tank. The body portion is provided with a supporting means of a clamping nature, such as a rearwardly projecting or upwardly projecting hook integrally formed on its upper end portion and adapted to engage over the upper edge of the tank wall or over the edge of the tank lid and dispose the body portion vertically alongside the side wall of the flush tank, with the body portion having an outwardly facing front face that is formed with a horizontally extending shelf and with a projecting holder for a roll of tissue with the shelf and the holder being in vertically spaced apart relation. Other supporting means can include side flanges on the body portion to frictionally grip the front and back walls of the tank and clamping means to engage a pole unit vertically upstanding along the side wall of the flush tank.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a toilet tissue holder and shelf combination which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to install and use and efficient in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the present invention, with a conventional roll of toilet tissue shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of another form of the present invention, with the same being shown attached to a side wall of a flush tank, that is shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a further form of the present invention, showing the same attached to the flush tank wall.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of the present invention, showing the same attached to the flush tank wall that is shown in fragmentary section.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of the present invention, showing the body portion attached by side clamping means to the side wall of the flush tank.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a further form of the present invention wherein the body portion has an upper end hook means that is attached to the lid of the flush tank.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a further form, which is similar to the form of FIG. 4, but wherein the body portion is attached to the side of a conventional bath tub in near proximity to the toilet bowl, which is not shown.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a further form of the present invention wherein the body portion is attached to a conventional pole rack assembly disposed alongside the flush tank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a toilet tissue holder and shelf combination 10 is shown and includes a flat body portion 11 made of plastic or other suitable material. Extending from the front or outer face of the body portion 11, that is vertically oriented in use of the holder, is a horizontal shelf 12 for the supportive placement of various articles. A hollow and arcuate portion 13 also extends forwardly from the front face of the body portion 11 and provides a supporting means for a roll of tissue 14 which is kept from moving laterally out of the cradle-like support portion 13 by side walls 15 provided on the arcuate portion 13. At the upper extremity of the body portion 11 is a rearwardly extending hook portion 16. The hook portion is integral with the upper end of the body portion and is flat in configuration and substantially L-shaped in cross-section and provides supporting means for engaging the upper edge or rim of the side wall (not shown) of a toilet flush tank to anchor the holder thereon in order to have the roll of tissue 14 readily available.

In use, the body portion 11 is suspended by the hook portion 16 from the upper end edge or rim of the flush tank wall with the rear face of the body portion lying against the tank wall and with the front face facing outwardly from the tank wall so that the tissue holder 13 and the shelf 12 outstand from the tank wall. The roll of tissue 14 is placed into the cradle-like holder 13 between the side walls 15 thereof and the tissue is fed from the holder by pulling upon the forwardly hanging end of the tissue. While so doing the roll of tissue 14 will rotate in place in the cradle holder or portion 13 with the free forward lip portion 15' formed thereon serving to prevent the roll of tissue 14 from leaving the holder by falling out forwardly therefrom.

With attention now to FIG. 2, a modified form of holder 19 is shown which includes a flat vertically positioned body portion 20 having a lower shelf portion 21 horizontally projecting from the lower end thereof. Extending vertically upwardly from the upper face of the shelf portion 21 and fixed securely thereto is a dowel or spindle 22 which receives the roll of tissue 14'. Tissue is removed from the roll of tissue 14' in a well known manner and the dowel rotatably supports the tissue roll and prevents dislodging the roll of tissue 14' from the holder 19. A second shelf member 21' extends from the outer or front face of the vertical body portion 20 above and parallel to the shelf portion 21. The shelf 21' is spaced vertically far enough apart from the shelf 21 so that a roll of tissue 14' may be easily placed on the dowel 22 of the holder 19. The shelf 21' serves as a support means for a spare or replacement roll of tissue 14' or for toilet articles or the like.

A flat hook portion 23, which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, extends rearwardly of the upper end of the body portion 20 of the holder 19 and is adapted to fit over the upper end edge portion 23a of the toilet tank wall, as shown in FIG. 2, and in a manner similar to that of the hook 16 of the holder 10 of FIG. 1. The hook portion 23 serves as a supporting means for the holder 19 and suspends the holder from the upper edge portion of the tank wall so that the rear face of the body portion lies against the tank wall and the front face outstands therefrom with the shelves 21 and 21' projecting horizontally outwardly from the front face.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, another form of holder 24 is shown and has a vertically oriented body portion 25. Such body portion 25 has an outer or front face from the lower end portion of which a lower shelf portion 26 horizontally extends. Above the shelf portion 26 and formed on the front face of the body portion is a forwardly extending, hollow, arcuate cradle-like portion 27 having web-like vertical side walls 28. The side walls 28 are provided with aligned U-shaped openings 29 in which a dowel 30 is adapted to be rotatably seated. The dowel 30 is adapted to be disposed within the core of the roll of tissue 31 and thus support the roll of tissue in a rotatable manner. At the upper end portion of the body portion is a rearwardly extending flat, substantially L-shaped hook portion 32 for engagement with the upper end portion 32a of the flush tank wall so as to suspend the holder 24 from the tank.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, another form of holder 33 is shown and such comprises a flat vertical body portion 34 having an outer or front face provided with a forwardly extending, horizontal shelf portion 35 which is vertically spaced above a forwardly projecting dowel 36 which is secured to the front face of the body portion at its inner end. The dowel is horizontally disposed and has an outer end portion which frictionally receives a cap member 37 that is flanged to retain a roll of tissue 38 upon the dowel. The cap member serves to prevent the tissue roll from coming off the dowel accidentally when tissue is dispensed therefrom and holds the tissue roll rotatably on the dowel. The cap member can be removed for removal and placement of a tissue roll on the dowel. The holder 33 also includes a L-shaped hook portion 39 formed on the upper end of the body portion and rearwardly projecting therefrom so as to hook over the upper edge portion 39a of the flush tank wall in a manner similar to that of the holders of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the holder 40 comprises a flat body portion 41 having side edges 42 from which parallel wings 43 project rearwardly of the front or outer face 44 with the body portion being of a width substantially equal to the width of the side wall 45 of the flush tank 46. Thus, as shown, the wings embrace the front and rear walls of the tank in a clamping manner so as to frictionally secure the body portion 41 on the tank wall. The body portion is vertically disposed on the tank side wall and the front face 44 thereof has a horizontal shelf 47 provided thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom. Beneath the shelf 47 a dowel 48 is provided on the front face and projects outwardly therefrom in parallel relation with the shelf. The dowel is adapted to rotatably support a roll of tissue 49 and may carry a cap member on its outer end, as in the case of the dowel 36 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the holder 50 comprises a substantially flat portion 51 having a rear face 52 and a front or outer face 53 from which a horizontal shelf 54 and a horizontally disposed dowel 55 project. The shelf 54 spacedly overlies the dowel on which a roll of tissue 56 can be rotatably disposed. The upper end portion 57 of the body portion is provided with a generally U-shaped vertically oriented hook portion 58 that has a lower horizontal leg 59 which extends outwardly from the front face below the upper end and complements an upper horizontal leg 60 that lies above the upper end. The horizontal legs are connected by a vertical bight portion 61 that is positioned parallel with and outwardly of the front face 53. The hook portion 58 fits around the depending vertical edge flange 62 on the lid 63 for the flush tank 64 so as to vertically suspend the body portion therefrom with the body portion lying against the side wall 65 of the tank. The leg 60 lies on top of the top wall of the tank lid.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the holder 66 is similar in construction to the holder 33 of FIG. 4 and has a body portion 67 provided on its upper end with a generally L-shaped hook portion 68 that is somewhat wider than the hook portion 39 of the holder 33. The hook portion 68 is adapted to fit over the upper edge of the side or end wall 69 of a bath tub 70 so as to dispose the holder 66 vertically alongside the wall of the tub in vertical proximity to the side wall of the flush tank (not shown). The front face 71 of the holder is provided with an outstanding horizontal shelf 72 and therebelow with an outwardly projecting dowel 73 adapted to support a roll of tissue 74. The outer end of the dowel has a cap member 75.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, the holder 76 includes a flat body portion 77 having an outer face 78 from which a shelf 79 and a dowel 80 project. The horizontal shelf 79 is vertically spaced above the dowel on which a roll of tissue 81 is rotatably disposed. The body portion has a rear face that is complemented by a clamping plate 82 with the body portion and the plate having registerable openings for the reception of the shanks of thumb screws 83 or similar fasteners. The clamping plate 82 and the body portion 77 are clampingly attached by the fasteners 83 to the poles 84 of a conventional pole rack assembly 85 that is adapted to dispose shelves 86 over the flush tank 87. The body portion is vertically disposed alongside the one side set of poles 84 so as to position the holder 76 alongside the side wall of the tank 87 with the shelf 79 and the roll of tissue 81 laterally extending from the tank side wall in the same way as if the body portion were in direct contact with the tank wall.

It can be appreciated that in each of the forms of the invention the body portion has means for supporting a roll of toilet tissue and a shelf for supporting articles, such as a replacement roll of tissue or articles of a toiletry nature, and that the body portion is provided with supporting means that is directly or indirectly attached to the side wall of the flush tank or to the side wall of the bath tub whereby the tissue is readily available. While various shelf and tissue supporting arrangements have been shown and various supporting means have been illustrated, it can be appreciated that such are merely exemplary of the inventive concept which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece toilet tissue holder and shelf combination comprising a substantially flat body portion adapted to be vertically oriented in relation to a side wall of a flush tank or the like, said body portion having an upper end portion and a lower end portion and having an outer and inner face, a hook integrally formed on the upper end portion and having a horizontal leg portion projecting rearwardly from the body portion and a vertical leg portion formed on the horizontal leg portion and disposed in spaced parallel relation with the inner face of the body portion, a shelf projecting outwardly from the front face of the body portion and arranged normal thereto and disposed adjacent the lower end portion of the body portion, means integrally formed on the outer face for supporting a roll of toilet tissue for rotation of said roll in dispensing sheets of tissue therefrom, said means comprising a hollow arcuate portion which receives the roll of tissue, said hollow arcuate portion having a pair of side walls for retaining said roll of tissue against axial movement relative to the arcuate portion when the roll of tissue is rotated, said arcuate portion having a forward rim portion at the lower extremity which extends partly upwardly so as to serve as a stop means against pulling said roll of tissue from within said arcuate portion when tension is placed upon the tissue being dispensed from said roll and said shelf being spaced downwardly from the lowermost portion of the arcuate tissue holding portion so as to permit a spare roll of tissue to be vertically placed on end thereon without encroaching upon the outer peripheral portion of said arcuate portion.