[0001] The present utility model covers to a support structure for rolls of tissue paper,
film paper, and the like, in particular for household use.
[0002] Usually, the rolls of absorbent paper used in the kitchen, or the rolls of tissue-type
toilet paper, are mounted for use on support structure that are designed to make it
more convenient for the roll to be unrolled. The rolls of film used for packing food
are usually available on the market suitably packed in box-like containers provided
with a serrated edge to assist in cutting the film. Anyway, structures are also available
for use, which enable such rolls of film even without said containers.
[0003] In all cases, the roll support structures, which must of course comply also with
definite aesthetical, i.e. decorative requirements, may be movable or attached to
the wall with the help of appropriate brackets.
[0004] For example, the rolls of toilet paper are usually unrolled by making use, i.e. with
the assistance of arms that are designed to be inserted in the cardboard core of the
roll.
[0005] It is largely known that a commonly and constantly felt need on the part of the users
consists in being able to readily have a spare roll close at hand to replace a roll
that has run out of paper. Usually, in fact, a roll that is running out of paper is
first replaced when it actually is entirely depleted, i.e. when there is no paper
at all left on the roll for delivery. This fact is quite obviously associated with
clear drawbacks in terms of convenience, since the spare rolls are often stored in
some cabinet, or a walk-in cupboard, which may be situated even relatively far from
the place in which the roll support structure is positioned.
[0006] Actually, the above-cited drawbacks are done away with by the arrangement described
in the British patent application no. GB-A-2 355 251. This arrangement is comprised
of a main cylindrical body which is hung vertically, with the aid of a rotating ring,
to a bracket that is firmly joined to a wall. A disk having a greater diameter engages
in a removable manner the lower end portion of the cylinder, so that rolls of toilet
paper can be stacked vertically upon each other on said cylinder, said stacked roll
resting against said disk, which in fact has a diameter that is larger than the diameter
of the cardboard core of the rolls. Thanks to the pivoting ring, the arrangement is
free to revolve, thereby enabling a user to unroll the lowest roll in the stack which,
upon being fully used up, is simply slipped off the cylinder, by momentarily disengaging
the disk with a greater diameter, in such a manner that a new roll of the stack is
ready for use.
[0007] Arrangements of this kind, however, have a drawback in that loading new rolls in
the cylinder each time implies that the cylinder itself must be released, i.e. unhooked
from the bracket, in order to be able to place it on a worktop or a surface where
the rolls can be loaded on it, and, upon having duly loaded with rolls, it must of
course be hung again to the support bracket to regain its normal suspended position.
[0008] Another drawback lies in the fact that, to slip off, i.e. remove the used-up roll
from the cylinder that need arises for a rather complicated and demanding operation
to be carried out, i.e. the need arises to disengage the disk, remove the lowest roll
of the stack, support the other rolls in the stack so as to prevent them from slipping
off themselves, and re-establish the coupling of the disk with the cylinder.
[0009] A further drawback is encountered when unrolling the rolls, since unrolling is in
this particular case quite awkward and poorly effective.
[0010] It therefore is a main object of the present invention to provide a support structure
for paper, film and tissue rolls, in particular for use in the home, which is effective
in doing away with the above-cited drawbacks.
[0011] Within the above general object, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide
a support structure for rolls of paper and the like, which is more convenient and
practical as compared with prior-art apparatuses of this kind.
[0012] Another, equally important purpose of the present invention is to provide a support
structure for rolls of paper and the like, which is simple to manufacture at competitive
costs.
[0013] According to the present invention, these aims, along with further ones that will
be apparent in the following description, are reached in a support structure for paper,
film, tissue and similar rolls, in particular for use in the home, incorporating the
characteristics as recited in the appended Claim 1.
[0014] Anyway, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood
from the description of the structure of the invention that is given below by way
of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a support structure for rolls according to
the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a perspective rear view of the support structure for rolls according to
the present invention;
- Figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the unrolling body of the support structure
for rolls according to the present invention.
[0015] With reference to the above-mentioned Figures, the reference numeral 1 is used there
to generally indicate a support structure for paper, film, tissue and similar rolls
according to the present invention, which can be noticed to comprise a body 3 serving
as a housing, to which there is capable of being removably associated an unrolling
body 3 by means of support upright members 4.
[0016] The housing body 2 is adapted to accommodate at least an extra roll in addition to
the one being used (four extra rolls in the example being illustrated).
[0017] The unrolling body 3 comprises a U-shaped member 5, which is adapted to receive a
roll 6 to be unrolled, as this is best illustrated in Figure 1. Such a U-shaped member
5 has one of its end portions that is rotatably and slidably associated into a cylindrical
cavity 7 provided in a connection body 8, so as to define a roll loading position
and an operational roll unrolling position, so as this is best illustrated in Figure
3.
[0018] The unrolling body 3 further comprises an appropriately contoured member 9, which
is adapted to be applied to said connection body 8 so as to partially cover from sight
the roll 6 when it is inserted in the U-shaped member 5.
[0019] The connection body 8 defines a locating slot 10 in which the U-shaped member 5 is
intended to rest when it is in its operational position.
[0020] Changing from the operational position to the roll loading position is done by rotating
and slightly slipping off the U-shaped member 5 from the cavity 7, in such a manner
as to cause the U-shaped member 5 to disengage from said locating slot 10 and move
into a substantially vertical position, thereby facilitating the loading of the roll
6 without any hindrance being caused by the contoured member 9, so as illustrated
in Figure 1.
[0021] The U-shaped member 5 is then moved back into its operational position in that it
is brought again into engaging the locating slot 10 with a movement of partial rotation
and translation to be performed in the opposite direction with respect to the afore
described one.
[0022] The connection body 8 of the unrolling body 3 defines two cylindrical receptacles
11 into which the upper end portions of the support upright members 4 are capable
of being inserted. On the bottom side thereof, these upright members 4 are firmly
joined to a base member 12 that supports the whole structure 1 and makes it vertically
stable.
[0023] The housing body 2 substantially comprises a box-shaped body with a rounded-off contour,
which is open on one side so as to enable the rolls to be loaded thereinto. In this
body the rolls are stacked upon each other resting on a base, as this is best illustrated
in Figure 2. On the bottom side, the housing body 2 rests in correspondence of a lower-profiled,
i.e. sunken seat (not shown in the Figures) which is provided in the base member 12
so as to be complementary to the peripheral edge of the base section of the housing
body 2, in such a manner as to cooperate with said housing body to form a fit-in joint
by the matching of shapes.
[0024] The housing body 2 is delimited on top by a substantially planar surface, in which
there are provided two through-holes, through which the two support upright members
4 of the structure are caused to pass, thereby ensuring the required standing stability
of the housing body 2 itself.
[0025] The above-mentioned sunken seat provides a surface for the lower roll of the stack
contained inside the housing body 2 to rest upon. The base member 12 has on the rear
side a raised edge 13, in which there are fixed the lower end portions of the support
upright members 4; it further defines a kind of side shoulder to retain the lower
roll, thereby contributing to its keeping its vertical position upon being inserted
in the housing body 2. In an advantageous manner, the two support upright members
4 are spaced from each other by such an extent as to allow the rolls to be loaded
in the housing body and taken out therefrom by simply exerting a light pressure, whereby
advantage is taken of the elastic deformability of the rolls. This practically enables
the stack of rolls to keep its stability inside the housing body 2 even in the case
that the entire support structure 1 is being displaced or, anyway, tilted. On the
front side thereof, the housing body 2 is further provided with apertures 14 that
enable the number of rolls available or remaining in the same housing body to be conveniently
and readily identified, so as to timely add new ones whenever this is needed.
[0026] Fully apparent from the above description is therefore the ability of the invention
to effectively reach the afore-cited aims and advantages: in fact, it provides a support
structure for rolls which effectively ensures that at least a spare roll is readily
available to the user at that very moment in which the paper or film on an existing
roll runs out, without having to complete any complicated or awkward operation to
replace the roll, actually.
[0027] Another advantage of the support structure for rolls of the invention derives from
the fact that loading the rolls into the housing body thereof is extremely simple.
[0028] A further advantage of the support structure for rolls according to the present invention
derives from the fact that it is particularly simple from a construction point of
view, as well as very convenient in use.
[0029] A further advantage yet of the support structure for rolls according to the present
invention derives from the fact that it is sectional, i.e. modular in its construction,
which practically enables the unrolling body thereof to be separated for wall-mounting,
if desired.
[0030] It will be appreciated that the materials used to manufacture the structure of the
present invention, as well as the shapes and the sizing of the individual component
parts thereof, may each time be selected so as to more appropriately meet the particular
requirements or suit the particular application.
1. Support structure (1) for paper, film, tissue and similar rolls, in particular for
use in the home, comprising a housing body (2) adapted to accommodate one or more
stacked rolls, characterized in that an unrolling body (3) is removably associated to said housing body (2).
2. Support structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said unrolling body (3) comprises a member (5), which is adapted to receive a roll
(6) to be unrolled, said member (5) being rotatably and slidably associated in a cylindrical
cavity (7) provided in a connection body (8), so as to define a loading position and
an operational unrolling position of the roll (6), said unrolling body (3) further
comprising an appropriately contoured member (9) which is adapted to be applied on
to said connection body (8) so as to partially cover from sight the roll (6) when
it is inserted in said member (5).
3. Support structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connection body (8) of said unrolling body (3) defines two cylindrical receptacles
(11) into which the upper end portions of two support upright members (4) are capable
of being inserted, said support upright members (4) being firmly joined on their lower
side to a base member (12) that supports the whole structure (1).
4. Support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing body (2) comprises a box-shaped body, which is open on one side so as
to enable the rolls to be loaded thereinto, said housing body (2) resting in correspondence
of a lower-profiled, i.e. sunken seat which is provided in said base member (12) cooperating
with said housing body (2) to form a fit-in joint by the matching of shapes, said
housing body (2) defining on top two through-holes for said two support upright members
(4) of the structure to engage therethrough.
5. Support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sunken seat of said base member (12) defines a surface for the lower roll of
the stack contained inside said housing body (2) to rest upon, said base member (12)
defining a shoulder to retain said lower roll and keep it in its vertical position
when it is inserted in said housing body (2).
6. Support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two support upright members (4) are spaced from each other by such an extent
as to allow the rolls to be loaded in the housing body and taken out therefrom by
simply exerting a light pressure, whereby advantage is taken of the elastic deformability
of the rolls.
7. Support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing body (2) is provided on the front side with apertures (14) that enable
the number of rolls available or remaining in the same housing body (2) to be conveniently
and readily identified, so as to timely add new ones whenever this is needed.
8. Support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unrolling body (3) is removably associated in correspondence of the upper portion
of said housing body (2).
9. Support structure, substantially as described and/or illustrated with reference to
the accompanying drawings.