SECONDARY DISPENSER METHOD AND APPARATUS

Abstract

A supplemental wipe dispenser apparatus is removably attachable to a spool mounted paper roll. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior that contains a plurality of separately usable wipes or sheets (dry or pre-moistened). A dispensing opening on the housing enables a user to remove wipes or sheets from the housing. Left and right support arms on the housing each include a lower end portion attached to the housing and an upper end portion having a specially configured hanger that at least partially surrounds an opening. The hanger includes a first circumferentially extending portion having an inner edge, an outer edge, and a first free end portion. The hanger includes a second circumferentially extending portion having an inner edge, an outer edge, and a second free end. A gap is located in between the first and second free end portions.

Claims

1. A supplemental wipe dispenser apparatus that is removably attachable to a spool mounted paper roll, comprising: a) a housing having an interior that contains a plurality of separately usable wipes or sheets; b) a dispensing opening on the housing that enables a user to remove wipes or sheets from the housing; c) left and right support arms on the housing that each include a lower end portion attached to the housing and an upper end portion having a hanger that surrounds a central hanger opening; d) the hanger including a first circumferentially extending portion having an inner edge, an outer edge and a first free end; e) the hanger including a second circumferentially extending portion having an inner edge, an outer edge and a second free end; f) wherein there is a gap in between the end portions; and g) wherein the first circumferentially extending portion is movable and can be moved to enlarge the gap.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first circumferentially extending portion extends around said central hanger opening more than one hundred eighty degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first circumferentially extending portion extends around said central hanger opening more than two hundred seventy degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second circumferentially extending portion extends around said central hanger opening less than ninety degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second circumferentially extending portion extends around said central hanger opening less than forty-five degrees.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central hanger opening has two sections having differing radii of curvature.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hanger first circumferentially extending portion is bendable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hanger first circumferentially extending portion is flexible.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the larger arcuate portion has a memory so that it returns to an initial starting position after being bent.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the larger arcuate portion has a memory so that it returns to an initial starting position after being flexible.

11. A supplemental wipe dispenser apparatus that is removably attachable to a spool mounted paper roll, comprising: a) a housing having an interior that contains a plurality of separately usable wipes or sheets; b) a dispensing opening on the housing that enables a user to remove wipes or sheets from the housing; c) left and right support arms on the housing that each include a lower end portion attached to the housing and an upper end portion having a hanger that surrounds a central hanger opening; d) the hanger including a longer arcuate portion having an inner edge, an outer edge and a first free end portion; e) the hanger including a shorter portion having an inner edge, an outer edge and a second free end portion; f) wherein there is a gap in between the said free end portions; and g) wherein said gap can be enlarged by manually moving said arcuate portions apart.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the larger arcuate portion extends around said hanger opening more than one hundred eighty degrees.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the larger arcuate portion extends around said hanger opening more than two hundred seventy degrees.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shorter portion extends around said opening less than ninety degrees.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shorter portion extends around said opening less than forty-five degrees.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hanger opening has two sections having differing radii of curvature.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hanger larger arcuate portion is bendable.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hanger larger arcuate portion is flexible.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the larger arcuate portion has a memory so that it returns to an initial starting position after being bent.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the larger arcuate portion has a memory so that it returns to an initial starting position after being flexed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

[0065] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0068] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0072] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0073] FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0074] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0076] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and

[0079] FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriate system, structure or manner.

[0081] FIGS. 1-15 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. An alternate arrangement can be seen, designated by the numeral 40 in FIGS. 8-11.

[0082] Paper dispensing apparatus 10 can be used for attachment to a structure (e.g., such as a pole 11 or a wall 12). A pair of spaced apparatus horizontally extending supports 13 can attach to the structure 11 or 12 and can be used to support a horizontal spool, spindle or shaft 14. A roll of tissue 15 is mounted to the spindle or shaft 14.

[0083] The apparatus 10 of the present invention provides a box or housing or container 16 having a bottom section 17 and a top section 18. The hinge 19 or other connector can be used to attach the bottom section 17 to the top section 18.

[0084] Top section 18 can provide a lid or door which can be attached to the top section 18 using a connector such as a hinge 21. A dispensing opening 22 enables the user 25 access to multiple tissues or wipes 23 that are contained within the interior of the box, housing or container 16. In FIG. 7, there can be seen a user 24 removing a single tissue or wipe 23 from box, housing or container 16 via opening 22. Wipes 23 can be wet, pre-moistened or other wipes that are stacked inside container 16.

[0085] A pair of spaced apart arms or hangers 25, 26 are provided, each pivotally attached to the box, housing or container 16. Arm or hanger 25 is pivotally connected to box, housing or container 16 with pivotal connection 27. Similarly, arm or hanger 26 is pivotally attached at pivotal connection 28 to box or housing or container 16.

[0086] Each arm or hanger 25 has an upper end portion 30 and a lower end portion 29. The hangers or arms 25, 26 can be similarly constructed, each providing an opening that is receptive of the horizontal spool, support, spindle or shaft 14.

[0087] Notice that the upper end portion 30 of each arm or hanger 25, 26 includes a curved member 31 having outer edge 32 and inner edge or surface 33. An inner edge or surface 34 is also provided that has a greater radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of edge 33 as seen in FIG. 1. Free end 35 is provided closest to arm 25 central axis 49 as seen in FIG. 2. A second free end 36 is provided. There is a gap or space 37 in between the free end portions or free ends 35, 36. Rib 38 can be used to reinforce curve member 31 as seen in FIGS. 2-3.

[0088] Central hanger opening 39 thus includes the area surrounded by rib 38 and curved member 31. The free end or free end portion 36 can be moved away from the free end or free end portion 35 as seen in FIG. 4 thus increasing the size of gap 37 (see arrow 50, FIG. 4). Curved member 31 can be flexed or moved or bent in between free end portion 36 and inner surface or edge 34 as seen in FIG. 4. Central hanger opening 39 thus includes a portion with a greater radius of curvature next to surface or edge 33 and a lesser radius of curvature next to surface or edge 34. A strut or peg 41 can be used to space housing or container 16 from a support 11 or 12. The strut or peg 41 can be attached to the container 16 using a threaded connection 42.

[0089] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7, the rear surface 43 of container 16 can be provided with multiple suction cups 44. The suction cups 44 can be attached to a suitable wall 12 (e.g., tile) as indicated by arrows 45 in FIG. 5.

[0090] An alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention can be seen in FIGS. 8-12 wherein a lamp bulb or light 46 is provided on the housing or container 16. In FIG. 10, an illuminated bulb 47 is shown. In FIG. 8, the housing 16 can be a glow in the dark housing 48. As shown in FIG. 12, the bulb 46 is illuminated (i.e., bulb 47) or activated when a user 24 enters a bathroom such as could be detected with a commercially available motion detector.

[0091] The following is a list of reference numerals:

TABLE-US-00001 LIST FOR REFERENCE NUMERALS (Part No.) (Description) 10 wipe/paper dispensing apparatus 11 structure/pole 12 structure/wall 13 support 14 horizontal spool/spindle/shaft 15 roll of tissue 16 box/housing/container 17 bottom section 18 top section 19 hinge 20 lid/door 21 hinge 22 dispensing opening 23 tissue/wipe 24 user 25 arm/hanger 26 arm/hanger 27 pivotal connection 28 pivotal connection 29 lower end portion 30 upper end portion 31 curved member 32 outer edge 33 inner surface/edge 34 inner surface/edge 35 free end 36 free end 37 gap/space 38 rib 39 opening/central hanger opening 40 wipe/paper dispensing apparatus 41 strut/peg 42 threaded connection 43 rear surface 44 suction cup 45 arrow 46 bulb/lamp/light 47 bulb/lamp/light 48 glow in dark housing 49 central axis 50 arrow

[0092] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

[0093] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.