Brake accessory for rolls of toilet paper and the like

[57] ABSTRACT

An accessory for rolls of paper and the like, wherein the accessory includes a means for preventing the paper or other material from being unwound from the roll too quickly, especially after a.portion of the material has been removed from the roll.

Claims, 11 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED NOV 61973

3,770,221

SHEET 1 OF 2

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PATENTED^ 61973 3.770.221

SHEEI 2 OF 2

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3,770,221

BRAKE ACCESSORY FOR ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER AND THE LIKE

The present invention relates to rolls of material, such as rolls of toilet paper, paper towels, tissue paper and the like, and more particularly to a braking mechanism or restraining means for preventing the paper from being unwound too fast from the roll.

An object of the present invention is to provide an accessory that can be readily used with the existing holders for rolls of toilet paper or other material, and wherein, in one form of the invention there is provided spring members that are interposed or positioned between the usual mandrel and the core that supports the roll of paper, so that sufficient pressure is exerted on the parts to assure that the paper is dispensed or unwound in the desired manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an accessory for rolls of paper or the like that includes members that can be readily installed or removed from paper holders, and wherein the accessories can be made in an attractive manner so that they will not detract from the decor of bathrom fixtures and the like.

A still further object is to provide such an accessory that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation, and is rugged in structure and fool-proof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the paper roll braking device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3—3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a form of the braking device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a form of adapter.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical view of a brake adapter illustrated assembled in a roll of paper hand towels.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of still another form of brake adapter.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9—9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another modification.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11—11 of FIG. 10.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 - 4 of the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates the braking accessory of the present invention, and wherein the numeral 21 indicates a holder of conventional construction that includes end pieces or support members 22 as well as a mandrel or roller 23 that has a spring member 24 thereon. The numeral 25 indicates a cylindrical core that has a roll of material such as toilet paper 26 thereon. The numeral 27 indicates a space between the mandrel 23 and core 25.

As shown in the drawings, a plurality of spring fingers 28 are positioned in the space 27 between the mandrel and core 25, and the spring fingers 28 include undulating or offset portions that engage the outer surface of the mandrel 23 or inner surface of the core 25 for a purpose to be later described.

The first and second disks 29 and 30 are positioned adjacent the ends of the roll of material 26, FIG. 1, and at least one of the disks such as the disk 30 may have its outer periphery knurled or roughened as at 31 so as to facilitate the manual gripping or rotation thereof. The numeral 32 indicates teeth on the outer surface of the disk 30, and teeth 32 may be diamond-shaped and serve to provide a restraining means between the disk 30 and adjacent end pieces 32 of the paper holder 31. The numeral 33 indicates a plate or retainer which may have its outer periphery knurled or roughened for facilitating the manual gripping thereof. The numeral 34 indicates a flexible bellows as interposed between the plate 33 and the disk 29, and the bellows 34 may have a spring member 35 therein. Recesses 36 are adapted to be provided in the end pieces 22 for receiving therein the ends of pins 37 that may engage the roller 38 of conventional construction.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified form of adapter or braking accessory that is indicated generally by the numeral 39 for use with the roll of paper or other material 26 having a cylindrical core 25 therein. The device of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a pair of tapered cones 40 which have a plurality of spaced parallel ribs 41 on the outer surface thereof for snugly engaging the inner surface of the core 25. A disk or flange portion 42 on the cones 40 have teeth 43 on the outer surface for engaging the end piece 22 serve the same purpose as the previously described teeth 32. As shown in FIG. 5 for example, the inner end portion of the cones 40 may be recessed or cut away as at 44 for the cones, and the cones are adapted to fit over inner roller 45 of conventional construction. The numeral 46 indicates the usual pins or shafts which are adapted to be received in recesses 47 of the end piece 42.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified braking accessory 50 for use with a roll of material such as an elongated roll of paper towels mounted on a cylindrical core 49. In FIG. 7 a pair of cones 40 project into the ends of the core 49, and the disks 42 on the outer end portions of the cone 40 are adapted to be received in recessed portions 51 of end pieces 52 of a paper holder 53.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, wherein the numeral 54 indicates another form of brake adapter or accessory that is shown being used with a roll of material 55 and a cylindrical cone 56. The accessory 54 includes a pair of knurled or roughened disks 57 that are arranged adjacent to end pieces 58 of a paper roller 59.

The numerals 60 and 61 indicate telescopically mounted sleeves of different diameters, and the larger sleeve 60 has spaced apart ribs 62 thereon for engaging the inner surface of the core 56. The numeral 63 indicates an inner roller assembly that includes adjustably connected or telescopic members 64 and 65 that have a coil spring 66 associated therewith.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings, the numeral 67 indicates a further modified braking accessory for use with a paper holder 69 that has end pieces or arms 68, and in FIGS. 10 and 11 the numeral 70 indicates a roll of paper or other material that is

3,770,221 mounted on an inner roller assembly 73. The numeral 72 indicates a plurality of radially disposed flange portions or slat portions that provide a restraining means for preventing the material from unwinding too fast, especially when the roll 70 has been partially used.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a braking accessory for rolls of toilet paper and the like, and in use with the parts shown in FIGS. 1 - 4 of the drawings, the device 20 of the present invention may be used with a roll 26 of toilet paper, and with the parts in that position the spring fingers 28 are positioned between the mandril 23 and the core 25 in such a manner that a slight pressure is exerted on these parts. Thus this will have the effect of preventing the paper from unwinding too fast, especially when the roll of paper is partially used up. In addition, the members such as the disk 30 and the plate 33 have the outer knurled or roughened peripheries which may be readily manually grasped in order to rotate to adjust the parts. The disks such as the disk 30 have projections or teeth 32 on the outer surfaces for engaging the adjacent surfaces of the members 22 so that increased resistance will be provided to help prevent undesired shift or rotating relative to the end pieces and the like. The outer ends of the spring fingers 28 are formed integral with or secured to the members 29 and 30. Also, in FIG. 1 the bellows-like or telescopic member 34 is provided for helping to maintain the parts in their proper position.

In the modified device 39 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a pair of cone-shaped members 40 are provided. The cones 40 have a tapered formation so that they will snugly engage the inner surface of the core 25. As shown in the drawings, the disks 42 have teeth 43 for engaging the end piece 22 to help maintain the parts in proper position. The cut-away portions 44 provide the desired amount of the roller 45 to be properly received within the cones 40.

In the modified form 50 shown in FIG. 7, instead of a roll of toilet paper being supported, an elongated roll of paper towels or the like 48 can be accommodated, and in this arrangement a pair of cones 40 engage the ends of the roller as shown in the drawings. The disk 42 on the ends of the cone 40 may be snugly received in recessed portions 51 of portions 52.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 a telescopic arrangement of the brake accessory is shown, and wherein sleeves 60 and 61 project into the core 56 of the roll 55, and the ribs 62 engage the inner surface of the core 56.

In the modification of FIGS. 10 and 11, the flange portions 71 help provide a restraining means for preventing the roll of paper 70 from unwinding too fast, especially when the roll is partially used.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes, as desired or required.

It will therefore be seen that the present invention provides a slight braking effect for a roll of paper, such as a roll of toilet paper, so as to slow down the momentum of the roll when sheets or portions are being torn off. While the present invention has been described in connection with a roll of toilet paper, it is to be understood that it is applicable to rolls of any other material besides toilet paper, such as tissue paper, rolls of materials used in kitchens or the like. Thus, the present invention prevents the material or paper from coming off too fast.

The device can be made of a suitable material such as plastic of different colors, and the device can also be made of any other material such as metal and the like. The accessory may consist of one set of units, one to be attached to the fixed end of the adjustable roller now in standard use, and one for the adjustable end so that the toilet paper can be easily installed on existing equipment or fixtures.

When installing the device, the metal or wood roller or mandril is adapted to be compressed at one end and slipped into the holes of the ceramic or metal toilet paper roll holder. The accordian like or bellows member 34 shown in FIG. 1 may be reinforced with an inside spring member 35, if necessary, and will serve to create the required pressure to hold the toilet paper roll firmly in its present metal or ceramic support. The knurled peripheral surfaces of the disks permit the disks to be readily manually rotated or revolved when a new toilet paper roll is placed in the container. The surfaces of the disks against the holders may be provided with diamond-shaped spiral configurations or teeth to provide a resistance to prevent the roll from turning too easily, and this is especially advantageous as the toilet paper roll reaches the one-half or threefourths mark and starts to move easily. The fingers 28 may be made of a suitable material such as plastic and hold the roll of paper to the inside roller or mandril firmly in the desired manner, or a pair of similar accessories can be used on opposite ends of the roll of paper. Because the roll may be slightly difficult to turn when the roll is full, the knurled outer surface of the disks facilitates the manual rotation of the parts at this time.

The prongs or fingers 28 have an offset construction so as to permit the device to accommodate different sizes or diameters of mandrils and rolls of paper.

The present invention will thus hold back the free flow of toilet tissues especially when the roll is nearing the end. The device provides sufficient friction against the sides of the holders, as previously stated.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.