PAPER TOWEL PROTECTIVE DISK

Abstract

A protective paper towel device includes a disk having a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of a roll of paper towel. The disk includes a central slot configured for receiving a paper towel holding rod. The radial end of the upper part of a roll of paper towels is protected from hand contamination.

Claims

1. A protective paper towel device, comprising: a disk having a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of a roll of paper towels; and the disk having a central slot configured for receiving a paper towel holding rod.

2. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the central slot of the disk is substantially circular or elliptical.

3. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the central slot of the disk is substantially rectangular.

4. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk is coated with an anti-microbial material.

5. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk is constructed of an anti-microbial plastic.

6. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk is coated with an anti-microbial material.

7. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk includes a cylindrical extension from a lower surface configured to fit in a spool of a paper towel roll.

8. The protective paper owe device according to claim 1, wherein the disk includes a handle arranged on an upper surface.

9. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the disk has a diameter of about 5 inches to 6.5 inches.

10. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the central slot in the disk is substantially circular and has a diameter of about ⅞ inch.

11. The protective paper towel device according to claim 1, wherein the central slot in disk is about 0.5 inches wide and 1.sup.5/8 inches long.

12. A protective paper towel holder, comprising: a base; a holding rod extending from the base; and a disk having a diameter sized to cover at least a portion of a radial end of a roll of paper towels; and the disk having a central slot configured for receiving a paper towel holding rod.

13. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, further comprising a nub arranged near an end of the paper towel holding rod that receives the disk, and a guide attached at an edge of the base to prevent the roll of paper towels from shifting while being unrolled

14. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the paper towel holding rod received by the disk comprises dual bars that extend from the base.

15. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the disk is constructed of an anti-microbial polymer.

16. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the disk includes a cylindrical extension configured to fit in a spool of a paper towel roll.

17. The protective paper towel holder of claim 16, wherein the cylindrical extension is tapered for arrangement in the spool of a paper towel roll.

18. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the central slot in the disk is substantially circular and has a diameter of about ⅞ inch.

19. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the disk has a diameter of about 5 inches to 6.5 inches.

20. The protective paper towel holder of claim 12, wherein the central slot in the disk is about 0.5 inches wide and 1.sup.5/8 inches long.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all the components or operations that are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or operations.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unprotected paper towel roll on a holder;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a protective disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a protective disk according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder s configured for use with the protective disk shown in FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll, paper towel roll holder, and a protective disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the protective disk of FIG. 2, shown in a use position;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll holder s configured for use with the protective disk shown in FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a paper towel roll, paper towel roll holder, and a protective disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the protective disk and paper towel roll holder of FIG. 9, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

[0034] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present teachings have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0035] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0036] As used herein, directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top, left, right and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, such that the upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of the corresponding figures and the downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figures.

[0037] Broadly, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a disk-shaped device placed on top of the paper towel roll positioned on a standalone paper towel holder. The disk generally has a hole in the center. The hole allows the stem of the paper towel holder to pass through the device, causing the device to rest directly on top of the paper towel.

[0038] The stem end of a paper towel holder may be passed through a center hole of the device, allowing the device to rest directly on top of the paper towel roll. Once the device is in place, the paper towel is ready to be used while cooking, cleaning, drying hands, etc. While one hand removes the desired number of paper towel sheets, the user's other hand may be placed on top of the device. The top of towel roll is generally protected from a user's touch and user touch of the body is minimized, increasing sanitation.

[0039] The material of manufacture is not particularly limited. The device may be, for example, a plastic material, such as polyvinyl acetate or another polyvinyl material. Preferably, the material is flexible. The material is generally non-adhesive.

[0040] The inventive device may have a range of sizes. For example, the disk may have a diameter of about 5 inches to about 6¼ inches and a central slot having a diameter of about ⅞ inch or having dimensions of about ½ inch by about 1⅝ inch. The disk may be soft and flexible, hard and rigid, or a range therebetween.

[0041] The method of manufacture is not particularly limited. The device may be made by cutting or punching a sheet of polymer material or using a three-dimensional (3D) printer.

[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 12, FIG. 1 shows an unprotected paper towel roll 10, with a dirty top 12. FIGS. 2-9 show various embodiments of the inventive disk 20. example, FIG. 2 shows a substantially rectangular slot arranged in the disk 20. FIG. 3 shows the disk 20 having a hole 23 in the center.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a paper towel holder 30 for use with the inventive device. There are two rods extending from the base that will serve as a paper towel holder. The disk is arranged on the holder via the slot (see FIG. 5 disk 20, slot 24).

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the paper holder 30, paper towel 10, a disk 20 having the slot 24, and alternatively, the disk 20 have a hole 23 and a cylindrical extension 25 to facilitate placement in the spool of the paper towel roll 10. The radial end 12 of the paper towel roll is exposed. FIG. 6 shows an assembled paper towel protective device of FIG. 5. The leading sheet 14 of the paper towel 10 is shown. The disk 20 is arranged on the radial end of the paper towel roll 10 via the slot 24.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present disclosure in which a paper towel holder has a base 32. a holding rod 30, and a guide 35. The guide serves to keep the paper towel from excessive movement when being unrolled. A nub 33 is shown at the upper portion of the holding rod. 30 The nub can prevent the disk from sliding down the holding rod 30 when no paper towel is installed.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows the paper towel holder of FIG. 7, m and includes the disk 20 with a hole 23, and a roll of paper towel 10. FIG. 9 shows the paper towel 10 arrange on the holder and the disk 20 arranged on a radial end to prevent the paper towels from being contaminated.

[0047] In use, one may push down, or simply touch the disk with one hand while pulling a leading sheet of the paper towel with another hand.

[0048] The components, operations, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages that have been discussed herein are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection. While various advantages have been discussed herein, it will be understood that not all embodiments necessarily include all advantages. Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

[0049] Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated. These include embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. These also include embodiments in which the components and/or steps are arranged and/or ordered differently.

[0050] It will be understood that the tennis and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any such actual relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.