Supports: cabinet structure – For sheet material – In roll form
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-25
2001-11-20
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
For sheet material
In roll form
C221S226000, C242S559300, C242S559400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318821
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for storing rolls of toilet paper, and, more particularly, to toilet paper roll storage devices which permit a roll of toilet paper to be used while other rolls are retained in storage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Toilet paper is a consumable material, and it may run out at a very inappropriate time. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to retaining additional rolls of toilet paper in the event that a roll that is being used runs out. The following U.S. Pat. Nos. are representative of some of those innovations: 4,058,354, 4,098,469, 4,124,259, 4,192,561, and 5,570,938.
More specifically, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,058,354, 4,192,561, and 5,570,938 discloses a device for storing rolls of toilet paper. However, none of these devices permits one roll of toilet paper to be used while additional rolls are held in storage. As a consequence, a roll of toilet paper that is being used must be retained in a different location from the storage device. However, for purposes of simplicity and economy, it would be desirable if a storage device for rolls of toilet paper permitted one roll of toilet paper to be used while additional rolls of toilet paper are held in storage.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,469 and 4,124,259 discloses a toilet paper storage device that permits one roll of toilet paper to be used while additional rolls are retained in storage. Conventionally, a roll of toilet paper is supported by a tissue roll holder which is supported by a wall structure. It is noted, however, that neither of these storage devices is associated with a conventional tissue roll holder. For purposes of simplicity and convenience, it would be desirable if a device for storing rolls of toilet paper were associated with a conventional tissue roll holder.
Still other features would be desirable in a bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus. For example, when a roll of toilet paper has been used up, it would be desirable if the used up roll can be easily and conveniently replaced. In addition, when a replacement roll is to be placed in the conventional tissue roll holder, it would be desirable if the replacement roll were guided into its replacement position. Furthermore, when a toilet paper roll is in use, it is important that replacement toilet paper rolls are prevented from interfering with the in-use toilet paper roll.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use storage devices for replacement rolls of toilet paper, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides a storage device for rolls of toilet paper that permits one roll of toilet paper to be used while additional rolls of toilet paper are held in storage; (2) is associated with a conventional tissue roll holder; (3) provides that a used up roll can be easily and conveniently replaced; (4) provides that a replacement roll is guided into its replacement position; and (5) prevents replacement toilet paper rolls from interfering with the in-use toilet paper roll. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a tissue roll dispenser apparatus for attachment to a tissue roll holder which includes a first spindle end receiver and a second spindle end receiver. The tissue roll dispenser apparatus includes a plurality of tissue rolls to be used in succession. The tissue roll dispenser apparatus includes a first support plug assembly for engagement with the first spindle end receiver and for receiving a first spindle end of a roll spindle. A second support plug assembly engages with the second spindle end receiver and receives a second spindle end of the roll spindle. A first housing extension is connected to the first support plug assembly, and a second housing extension is connected to the second support plug assembly. A tissue roll retention housing which includes a first housing wall is connected to the first housing extension. A second housing wall is connected to the second housing extension, and a housing floor extends between the first housing wall and the second housing wall. An uplift spring assembly is retained in the tissue roll retention housing. The uplift spring assembly includes an uplift floor and uplift springs located between the uplift floor and the housing floor. Stop members are connected to the first and second housing walls.
Each of the first housing wall and the second housing wall includes a spindle end reception track extending from the uplift spring assembly to one of the first and second support plug assemblies. Each of the first support plug assembly and the second support plug assembly includes a plug member reception groove in a respective housing extension. A plug member is received in a respective plug member reception groove. A plug member bias spring is located between an interior portion of the plug member and a respective housing extension. A spindle end reception well is located in a respective housing extension, opposite to a distal end of the plug member.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus available to the buying public.
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bathroom tissue roll dispenser apparatus which provides a stor
Martin Kenneth D.
Soos Stephen
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J.
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