DECORATIVE HOLE COVER

Abstract

A device for obscuring or disguising the hole of the core or tube upon which a roll of paper is wound, including an insertion component to be inserted into the hole, and a surface component to partially or completely obscure a hole. The surface component provides a surface for the addition of a decoration. The insertion component has at least one leg to be inserted into a hole, and may include a plurality of legs. In an alternative embodiment, the means of fastening is an adhesive applied directly to the decorative surface underside for securing the surface to the roll.

Claims

1. decorative device to obscure the hole defined by the open end of a tube upon which paper or other material is wound, such device comprising: a) a surface component placed over an exposed edge of the wound paper or material for at least partially obscuring the open end and the wound paper or material; and b) securing means for securing the surface component to the hole.

2. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is an insertion component to be inserted in the tube open end.

3. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is an insertion component to be inserted in the exposed edge of the wound paper or material.

4. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securing means is a pressure sensitive adhesive on the underside of the surface component.

5. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the surface component covers at least a portion the exposed edge of the paper or material wound about the tube.

6. The decorative device of claim 3, the insertion component including at least one leg to be inserted in the hole defined by the open end the tube.

7. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component including a plurality of legs to be inserted into the hole defined by the tube.

8. The decorative device of claim 7, the legs comprising a flexible material.

9. The decorative device of claim 8, the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spaced outwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of the hole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in and frictionally held in the hole.

10. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component comprising metal.

11. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion component comprising plastic.

12. The decorative device of claim 9, the legs comprising a flexible material with a spring like return action so that the legs can be compressed toward the central axis of the tube and toward each other for insertion in the hole and when then released, expand outwardly from the central axis to engage the inner wall of the tube.

13. The decorative device of claim 12, the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spaced outwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of the hole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in and frictionally held in the hole.

14. The decorative device of claim 3, wherein the insertion component comprises one or more pins which may be inserted into the exposed edge of the wound paper or material.

15. The decorative device of claim 1, including a coupler for mounting a plurality of rolls end-to-end in a column with the decorative device being mounted on the ultimate exposed end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 are plan views showing the device with integral surface and two legs adapted to be placed in and frictionally held in the tube. Specifically, A is a view of the decorative surface, the legs prior to assembly and the legs after assembly.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the top view A and side view B of the dual leg assembly.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the decorative surface component joined with the dual leg assembly.

[0020] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the alternate embodiments of the device mounted m the tube of a typical paper roll.

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a decorative device attached to a roll of paper by means of an adhesive on the underside of the decorative device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates plan views showing the device with an integral surface component and dual-leg component adapted to be placed in and frictionally held in a tube. Specifically, A is a view of the surface component; B shows the dual-leg component prior to being joined with A; C shows the dual-leg component the surface component mechanically joined together, D shows the dual-leg component with a magnet for attaching it to a surface component or other decorative device. With reference to FIG. 1A, the decorative device includes a generally flat surface 10 having a plurality of integral fasteners 12 for securing legs 14 (FIGS. 1B and 1C) to the underside of the surface 10. It should be understood that the legs 14 could be an integral feature of the flat surface. The surface 10 does not need to be entirely flat, but may also be a decorative feature such as a flower or the like, see FIG. 5. Also, a mounting hole 16 may be provided so that a decorative feature may be mounted on the surface 10. Generally, the diameter of the surface 10 is large enough to completely cover the tube hole or opening. It should be understood that the surface 10 does not need to be circular, as long as the perimeter 16 covers the desired area. In an alternative means of attaching a surface component or decorative item to the leg component a magnet 28 is made a part of the leg component, 20 and 22. It should be understood that in order to accomplish magnetic attachment of the surface component to the magnet 28, a ferrous material or a magnet of opposing polarity would be added to the mating side of the surface component or decorative device.

[0023] A typical leg configuration is show in FIG. 2. A top view is shown in FIG. 2A and a side view is shown in FIG. 2B. As there shown, the leg component includes a central mounting surface 18 and a pair of depending legs 20, 22. In this embodiment the legs are made of a flexible material and are angled outward and distanced apart from each other a greater distance than the diameter of a hole or tube into which the leg component is inserted. This allows the leg component along with the surface component to be frictionally attached to the tube as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The surface component may include a mounting hole 14 whereby the surface component or a decorative device 26 may be joined with the leg component having a corresponding hole and using a fastener. and a decorative element such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment, the leg component is removably secured to the surface component by using the integral snap fastener fingers 12 (FIGS. 1B and 1C).

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the surface component 10 is suitable for mounting a decorative element on the surface 10. Such decorative element can be a decal, photograph, printed design or a three-dimensional element such as the flower 26 (FIG. 5). Also, the decorative element may be an integral component of the surface 10, where desired. Other decorative components may be used as well, such as, by way of example, an LED night-light mounted on surface 10. There may be a decal or a three-dimensional element such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5. Also, the decorative element may be an integral component of the surface I 0, where desired. Other decorative components may be used as well, such as, by way of example, an LED night light mounted on surface N.

[0026] With the surface 10 of one device being coupled to the surface 10 of a second device so that the resulting opposing legs can be inserted into opposing cores, multiple rolls may be mounted end-to-end in a column.

[0027] A perspective view of the final assembly is shown in FIG. 6. This illustrates how the decorative device of the subject invention completely obscures the open end of the mounting tube of the paper roll 32.

[0028] While certain features and embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention encompasses all enhancements and improvements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.