US3282519A

US3282519A - Paper towel holder

Info

Publication number: US3282519A
Application number: US357466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack A Rheinstrom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-06
Filing date: 1964-04-06
Publication date: 1966-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-01

Description

Nov. 1, 1966 J. A. RHEINSTROM PAPER TOWEL HOLDER Filed April 6, 1964 INVENTOR- United States Patent 3,282,519 PAPER TOWEL HOLDER Jack A. Rheinstrom, 249 E. 48th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,466 8 Claims. (Cl. 24255.2)

This invention relates to holders or dispensers for roll materials such as paper towels and the like. The invention especially relates to such holders having opposing support members for engaging the ends of a roll for mounting the roll to a wall while permitting rotation of the roll during withdrawal of towels therefrom.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and useful roll holder of the character described.

It is also the object of this invention to provide a new and useful roll holder which is lightweight, compact, and not susceptible to undue damage, so that the holder can be commercially shipped in a disassembled form but can be assembled to a locked, strong structure for use.

It is another object to provide a new and useful assembled roll holder in which holding of a roll tends to retain the holder against disassembling.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and useful connecting and/or locking system for a roll holder to lock roll supporting or engaging members to a mounting structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful roll holder in accordance with any of the foregoing objects which is pleasing in appearance.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description' and the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder including a wall mounting portion and a roll supporting portion in the form of a pair of facing roll end supports, and embodying a form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a portion of the holder of FIGURE 1 from the rear thereof with a roll supporting arm exploded from the wall mounting member or portion;

FIGURE 3 is a view of a portion of the front surface of the mounting member shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section along line 44 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a section along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a'specific embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Turning now to the figures, in FIGURE 1 there is shown a device for wall mounting a roll 13 of paper towel material or the like of the type having a hollow central core by which the roll can be supported at each end thereof. The device includes a mounting portion or member, shown in the form of mounting plate 14. Mounted on and supported from the mounting member is a roll supporting means shown in the form of a pair of opposing roll supporting arms 15.

The mounting plate 14 and supporting arms 15 may be of plastic or other suitable material. Preferably arms 15 are resilient to an extent permitting their flexure while inserting the roll of paper towel material into the paper holding device 12, the resiliency of the arms returning the arms to a position supporting the roll 13 therebetween.

Referring to FIGURES 1-3, mounting plate 14 includes a front surface 16 and a back surface 17. A peripheral flange 18 upstands or projects outward from back surface 17 defining a chamber within the limits of flange 18. The chamber is bordered along one side by back sur- 3,282,519 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 face 17 and, when holding device 12 is mounted on a wall, the chamber is bordered along the other side by the wall. A pair of bores 19 are provided through the plate 14 from the front surface 16 thereof. A cylindrical cup 22 extends outwardly from the back surface 17 at each bore 19 and surrounds the back of the bore 19. The bottom 23 of cup 22 is generally coplanar with the free edge of the peripheral flange 18. In bottom 23 there is provided a generally central circular opening 24 for receiving a screw or other mounting implement from said front surface with the screw threaded end of the screw projecting through opening 24 and the screw head recessed within the cup 22 below the surface 16. The screw head engages the cup bottom 23 around opening 22 for securing the mounting plate 14 to a wall or the like.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 5, a lock receiver, in the form of a keyhole slot 27, is provided in the mounting plate 14 for locking each arm 15 to mounting plate 14. The key-way portions of the keyhole slots 27 extend in directions away from each other.

Each supporting arm 15 is an arm of an angle member 28 which also includes a leg 29 generally normal to arm 15. A lock member in the form of a key 32 is provided on the outer surface of each leg 29, integral with member 28. The key 32 is configurated to be received in keyhole slot 27 in the normal manner for joining a key with a keyhole slot. Each key 32 includes a pair of guide surfaces 33 along opposing sides thereof for guiding or aligning the key within the key-way portion of the keyhole slot 27.

Projecting rearwardly from mounting plate 14, on the back surface 17 thereof, there is provided a guide means at each keyhole slot in the form of spaced guide walls 34 along either side of the key-way portion of the keyhole slot 27. A second guide member or guide block 35 is provided intermediate the guide walls 34 at each keyhole slot 27 and generally defines the limits of the key-way portion. Guide walls 34 and block 35 are integral with mounting member 14. The guide block 35 is provided with a surface adjacent the entry portion of keyhole slot 27 for receiving the key 32 and tightly receiving the undersurface of the key 32 in a locking position raised above the back surface 17 of mounting plate 14 and between walls 34. In its locking position, key 32 locks arms 15 in their roll supporting position on mounting member 14. After insertion of key 32 through the entry portion and during sliding of key 32 along the key-way portion of slot 27, the guide walls 34 facially engage the guide surfaces 33 of the key 32, blocking or retaining the key 32 and supporting arm member 15 against rotation or pivotal movement relative to mounting plate 14.

The front surface 16 of plate 14 is tapered away from a central ridge 36 to each side of ridge 36. Ridge 36 traverses each of the bores 19 and keyho-le slots 27 in a direction along the length of the keyhole slots. On each leg 29 .of angle member 28 there is provided an outer surface 37 surrounding key 32 for engaging and tightly receiving the front surface 16 of mounting member 14 when the key 32 is in its locking position.

There is provided on each of arms 15 on the inwardly disposed surface thereof, a roll and engaging flange 38 (FIGURE 1) of generally cylindrical configuration. The flange 38 is of a size for insertion into the end of a hollow core normally included in paper towel rolls, for supporting the paper towel roll from the ends thereof in the usual supported disposition.

In mounting and assembling the device, the mounting plate 14 is secured against a wall by screws or the like inserted through openings 24. Keys 32 are then engaged with keyhole slots 27 and moved to locked position. With the holder device 12 wall mounted, keys 32 are not in contact with the wall while in the keyhole slots 27 and are still movable into and through keyhole slots 27 by virtue of the spacing of surface 17 from the wall provided by flange 18. It will be noted that the trailing portion of leg 29 comes to rest as a cover over bore 19, thereby hiding the head of a screw or the like used in aflixing plate 14 to the wall, presenting a more pleasing appearance. Also, certain design features as indicated at 42 may be provided on the front surface 16 and may extend as a continuation of the design. onto the visible surfaces of

legs

28 or 29 to further enhance the appearance.

It will be apparent that the structure described hereinabove is capable of being shipped in a disassembled form, conserving shipping space. In the preferred form, where the mounting and roll supporting members are formed of a resilient lightweight plastic material, the device can be more economically shipped where weight is a consideration. The device can be easily mounted and assembled as described hereinabove to provide a tightly locked structure of pleasing appearance capable of supporting a roll of paper towel material or the like. In normal use, with the roll of paper towel material mounted between arms 15, the arms are blocked against movement toward each other, thereby blocking withdrawal or unlocking movement of keys 32 from the keyhole slots so long as the device is in use.

I claim:

1. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towel material having a hollow central core, which device com prises a mounting member having front and back surfaces, a plurality of bores through the mounting member from the front surface, recess means at each bore, lock receiver means in said mounting member, roll supporting means, roll engaging means on the roll supporting means, lock means on the roll supporting means and adapted to engage said lock receiver means and movable in engagement therewith to a locked position, means for guiding said lock means, said front surface facially engaging the roll supporting means with said lock means in locked position, means blocking said supporting means against substantial pivotal movement relative said mounting means with said lock means in locked position and means covering said recess means at said front surface with said lock means in locked position and said lock receiving means being disposed to receive said lock means in locked position in the direction of normal urging of said roll supporting members by a roll of paper towels or the like supported therebetween.

2. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towel material having a hollow central core, which device comprises a mounting member, keyhole slot means in said mounting member for receiving a key, a pair of roll supporting members of angle configuration, each including first and sec ond legs generally normal to each other, roll engaging means on the first leg of each roll supporting member, key means on the second leg of each roll supporting member and adapted to engage said keyhole slot means and movable in engagement therewith to a locked position, guiding means on said key means, guide means along said keyhole slot means for engaging said guiding means for guiding the keys means to locked position, and means blocking said key means against rotation relative to said keyhole slot means.

3. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towel material having a hollow central core, which device comprises a plastic wall mounting plate having front and back surfaces, 2. pair of bores through the plate from the front surface, a peripheral flange extending from the plate at the back surface thereof defining a recess within the limits of the peripheral flange and the back surface of the plate, a cylindrical flange surrounding each bore on said back surface and extending generally the thickness of said recess as defined by said peripheral flange, a ring flange generally concentric with each cylindrical flange and extending inward from the free end of the cylindrical flange defining a circular opening for receiving a screw from said first surface with the screw head recessed in said cylindrical flange and engaging said ring flange, a keyhole slot adjacent each bore for receiving a key from said front surface, a pair of roll supporting plastic members of angle configuration each including a first resilient leg and a second leg generally normal to each other, a roll engaging and supporting cylindrical flange projecting inward from the first leg of each roll mounting member, a key projecting outward from the second leg of each roll supporting member and adapted to engage one of said keyhole slots from the front surface of said plate and movable in said key-way to a locked position in a direction away from the other keyhole slot, a guiding surface on each key, and guide means contained in said recess along each keyhole slot for reinforcing the keyhole slot and engaging the guiding surface ofthe key during movement of the key to locked position, said guiding surface engaging said guide means with said key in locked position to block said key against rotation relative to said keyhole slot, said front surface of said plate tapering to a raised central ridge traversing said bores and keyhole slots in a direction along said keyhole slots, the outer surface of the second leg of each of said roll mounting members being of a configuration for generally facially engaging and tightly receiving said tapered first surface with said key in locked position, said second leg being of sufiicient extent to cover said pair of bores at said first surface with said key in locked position, and said keyhole slots being properly spaced from each other with said keys in locked position for holding said roll supporting members with said roll engaging flanges facing each other and spaced from each other the correct distance for holding a roll of paper towels therebetween whereby a roll supported leg between said roll supporting flanges blocks return of said keys through said keyhole slots in a direction away from locking position.

4. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towels or the like, which device comprises a mounting member, a pair of separate roll supporting arms, lock and receiver means on said mounting member and roll supporting arms, means for guiding said lock means in said receiver means, said lock means being adapted to engage said lock receiver means and being movable relative thereto in engagement therewith to locked position in the direction of normal urging against said roll supporting arms by a roll of paper towels or the like supported therebetween, said lock and receiver means including blocking means for blocking movement of the arms away from each other in said locked position.

5. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towels or the like, which device comprises a mounting member, a pair of roll supporting members of angle configuration, each including first and second legs generally normal to each other, roll engaging means on the first leg of each roll supporting member, receiver means in said mounting member for receiving and locking said supporting members in a locked position, the second leg of each roll supporting member including means for engaging said receiver means and movable into engagement therewith to said locked position, guiding means for guiding said engaging means to the locked position, and means blocking said engaging means against rotation relative to said receiver means.

6. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towels or the like comprising a mounting member and a pair of supporting arms, each of said supporting arms including a base portion and a roll supporting portion integral with and projecting outwardly from said base portion, recessed bore means in said mounting member for attaching said mounting member to a wall, means removably attaching said arms by their base portions to said mounting member for supporting the roll between their roll supporting portions, said base portion including an extension compriss QQ Q means for covering said recessed bore means with said .arms attached to said mounting member by said attaching means.

7. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towels or the like comprising mounting means, a pair of roll supporting arms, each including an arm portion rigidly connected to and integral with a leg portion and projecting in a generally perpendicular direction relative thereto, each arm portion including a surface for receiving an end of the roll of paper towels or the like, and means for slidably receiving and removably locking said leg portions to said mounting means against pivotal movement relative thereto with said roll engaging surfaces facing each other and said arm portions properly spaced to receive the roll of paper towels or the like, said arm portions being sufiiciently flexible for insertion of a roll of paper towels or the like into an inserted position between said receiving surfaces, said receiving and locking means including means blocking removal of the roll supporting arms with the roll in inserted position.

8. A device for wall mounting a roll of paper towels or the like comp-rising a mounting member having two ends, roll supporting means comprising two separate supporting members each having an interconnected arm and leg generally normal to each other, lock receiver means adjacent the ends of said mounting member for slideably receiving the legs of the supporting members in a direc- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,098,861 6/1914 Wheeler 24255.2 1,263,725 4/1918 Allmand 211123 2,052,950 9/1936 Stirrup 24255.2 2,621,357 12/ 1952 Stuman 248225 X 3,038,676 6/1962 Mayer 24255.2 3,088,686 5/1963 Curry 242-552 3,159,368 12/1964 Ahlbin et al. 248225 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

25 MERVIN STEIN, STANLEY N. GILREATH, G. F.

MAUTZ, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

4. A DEVICE FOR WALL MOUNTING A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING MOUNTING MEANS, A PAIR OF ROLL SUPPORTING ARMS, EACH INCLUDING AN ARM PORTION RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO AND INTEGRAL WITH A LEG PORTION AND PROJECTING IN A GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION RELATIVE THERETO, EACH ARM PORTION INCLUDING A SURFACE FOR RECEIVING AN END OF THE ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS OR THE LIKE, AND MEANS FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING AND REMOVBALY LOCKING SAID LEG PORTIONS TO SAID MOUNTING MEANS AGAINST PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO WITH SAID ROLL ENGAGING SURFACES FACING EACH OTHER AND SAID ARM PORTIONS PROPERLY SPACES TO RECEIVE THE ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS OR TTHE LIKE, SAID ARM PORTIONS BEING SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE FOR INSERTION OF A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS OR THE LIKE INTO AN INSERTED POSITION BETWEEN END OF THE ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS OR THE LIKE, AND MEANS INCLUDING MEANS BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE ROLL SUPPORTING ARMS WITH THE ROLL IN INSERTED POSITION.