US3088686A

US3088686A - Paper-towel rack

Info

Publication number: US3088686A
Application number: US129606A
Authority: US
Inventors: Percy S Curry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-07
Filing date: 1961-08-07
Publication date: 1963-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-07

Description

May 7, 1963 P. s. cuRRY 3,088,686

PAPERTOWEL RACK Filed Aug. '7, 1961 x 99 27/9 L26 13 "0 f5 P520/ Sugg/gg? 2Mo/4 W ATTONE Y United States Patent O 3,088,686 PAPER-TOWEL RACK Percy S. Curry, Bland, Bland County, Va. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,606 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-55.2)

This invention relates to a rack or holder for supporting a roll of paper towels, or the like, so that the latter is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide such a rack which is extremely sturdy, easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The rack comprises in general a pair of posts adapted to rotatably support a paper-towel roll between them. The posts are mounted on a base, one of them being fixed to the base and the other movable with respect ito the base in a direction toward a-nd away from the fixed post. The movable post is spring biased toward the xed post. When it is desired to insert a paper-towel roll between the posits, the movable post is pulled away from the fixed post in order to enlarge the distance between them, the roll is aligned with the posts, and the movable post is released in order to permit it to return to its normal position under the influence of the spring whereby the roll will be supported between the posts.

An important feature of this invention is the means provided for guiding the relative movement of the posts. The movable post is provided with a tongue slidable within the base of the rack. The tongue is slotted and during the assembly of the rack parts, the tongue is positioned so that a pin xed Ito the base projects through the slot. A headed bushing is then inserted into the slot around the pin to prevent the separation of the tongue and movable post from the base. The dimensions of the bushing are so chosen that it fits rather closely against the tongue to insure straight line movement -of the tongue and movable post with respect to the base in order to avoid jamming of the parts. On the other hand, the iit of Lthe bushing is loose enough to permit free and easy movement of the movable post. Furthermore, use of the headed bushing as an expedient for guiding the movement of the parts makes the cost of manufacture low since the part itself is inexpensive to fabricate and its assembly with the remainder of the rack may be effected easily and quickly.

A further feature of the invention, and one which greatly reduces its cost of manufacture, is the fact that it may be fabricated of just three ymolded plastic parts, exclusive of the spring and a unit for retaining the bushing on the pin. The three parts are the integrally formed base and fixed post, the integrally formed tongue and movable post, and the bushing. All of these parts may be made by an inexpensive molding operation and are adapted to be assembled speedily and with ease.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a Itop plan view of a paper-towel rack made in accordance with the present invention;

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

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rack;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the rack; and

FIG. 5 is fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

The rack chosen for illustration comprises generally a base 10, and two

upstanding posts

11 and 12 located on the front face of the base at either end thereof. Each of the posts carries a tapered support member 16 adapted to `fit into the ends of the cardboard tube upon which a roll of paper towels 17 is generally wound. The roll 17 is thereby rotatably supported between the posts. If de- 3,088,686 Patented May 7, 1963 Frice sired, each of the

posts

11 and 12 may be provided with a strengthening rib 20.

The post 11 is fixed to the base 10 and may, if desired, be made integral therewith. Thus, if the parts are made out of plastic, the post 11 and base 10 may be molded as a unit in a single operation. The post 112, on the other hand, is independent of the base 10i.

The rear face of the base 10 is formed with a hollowedout region 13 having a top wall 14. At the end opposite the post 11, the base is provided with a channel 15 communicating with the hollowed-out region 13. In insert 18 is located in the channel 15 and presents a tongue 19 extending into the region 13 adjacent to the top wall 14. The post 12 is xed to the insert 18, and, if desired, these 'two elements together with the tongue 19 may advantageously be formed as a unit of plastic in a single molding operation.

The width of .the tongue '19, at least in the region closest to the insert 1,8, is preferably made about equal to the width of the channel 15 for a reason which will be mentioned hereinafter. The tongue 19 is provided with a central slot 23, extending longitudinally with respect to the tongue, which accommodates a pin 24 projecting rearwardly from the top wall 14. Also located within the slot 23 is a bushing 25, -surrounding the pin 24, having an enlarged head 26 (see FIG. 5). The internal diameter of the bushing is about equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the pin 24 so that the bushing may be slipped over the pin easily while leaving a minimum of play between the pin and bushing. The external diameter of the bushing is about equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the slot 23 in the ltongue 19 so that the tongue will be able to slide freely past the bushing while at the same time leaving a minimum of lateral play between the tongue and bushing. It will be seen, therefore, that if the tongue is moved in a direction away from the xed post 11, it will be guided at two points along its length, i.e. within the channel 15 and by .the bushing 25, and will thereby be constrained to move along a straight line path. The fact that the tongue is conti-ned at two points also adds to the sturdiness and stability of the device, and eliminates the possibility of jamming of the tongue during its movements.

The head 26 of the bushing has a diameter larger than fthe width of the slot 23, and the head is spaced from the opposite end of the bushing a distance about equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the tongue 19. As a result, when the end of the bushing 25 is in contact with the top wall 14, the head 26 will maintain .the tongue 19 parallel to the top wall 14 and yet permit free movement of the tongue. A spring steel nut or clamp 27 is lfixed to the pin 24 behind the bushing 25 in order to prevent the bushing from sliding off the pin.

A tension spring 28 mounted between a stud 29 projecting from the top wall 14 and a stud 30 projecting from the tongue 19 tends to urge the tongue, insert 18, and post 12 into their normal positions shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and in solid lines in FIG. 2. When it is desired to insert a roll of paper towels into the rack, the post 12 is pulled in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, into the position shown in dot-dash lines, against the force of the spring 28. Sutlicient spacing is .thus created between the members |16 to permit the roll to be conveniently placed in a position of axial alignment with the members 16. The post 12 is then released and the spring 28 draws it back toward the post `11 whereby the members 16 enter the hollow ends of the roll 17 and rotatably support it.

It should be pointed out that the elements within the hollowed-out region 13` do not project past the rear face of the base 10'. Consequently, this face can be placed -ush against a mounting surface and Ithe rack secured to the surface by fastening means which pass through the holes 31 in the base.

It will benoted rthat-the present rack comprises just fittings. One plastic part includes the base 10, post 11 (with its member 16 and rib 20), pin 24, and stud 29. The second .part includes the post .12 (with its member 16 and rib 20), insert 18, tongue 19, and stud 30. The third plastic pant is the bushing 25. The two ittings are the -nut 27y and sp1-ing 28. All Athese parts are inexpensive to fabricate and assemble thus making the rack extremely inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only and by way of example and many variations may be made therein which will still be comprised within the spirit of the invention. It is understood, ytherefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are eX- pressed in 4the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rack for supporting a roll of paper towels comprising an elongated base, a pair of posts mounted on the front face of said base and adapted to hold a paper-towel roll between them, one of said posts being fixed to the base and the other movable with respect thereto in a direction `toward and away from said iixed post, the rear face of said base formed with a hollowed-out region having a top wall, said base having a channel at one end communicating with said hollowed-out region, a tongue secured to `said movable post extending through said channel into said hollowed-out portion, said tongue having an elongated slot disposed longitudinally with respect to the Vdirection of movement of said movable post, a pin projecting from said top wall through said slot, Vmeans lsecured to said pin for guiding the movement of said tongue, and a tension spring mounted between said top wall and said tongue for constantly urging said movable post toward said lixed post, saidguide means comprising a bushing sur- `rounding said pin, the internal diameter of said bushing being about equal to Y.the diameter of said pin and the external diameter of Isaid bushing being about equal to :the width :of said slot, and including means fixed to the pin near its free pend for preventing axial-.movement of said bushing withrespect to said pin.

2. A rack according to claim l wherein said bushing has an enlarged head spaced from the opposite end of the bushing a distance about equal to the thickness of said tongue.

3. A rack according to claim 2 wherein the width of said tongue is about equal to the width of said channel.

4. A rack according to claim 3 wherein said tongue, pin, bushing, and tension spring are all disposed entirely within said hollowed-out region whereby the rear face of said base may be mounted flush with respect to a at supporting surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A RACK FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE, A PAIR OF POSTS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT FACE OF SAID BASE AND ADAPTED TO HOLD A PAPER-TOWEL ROLL BETWEEN THEM, ONE OF SAID POSTS BEING FIXED TO THE BASE AND THE OTHER MOVABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO IN A DIRECTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIXED POST, THE REAR FACE OF SAID BASE FORMED WITH HOLLOWED-OUT REGION HAVING A TOP WALL, SAID BASE HAVING A CHANNEL AT ONE END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOWED-OUT REGION, A TONGUE SECURED TO SAID MOVABLE POST EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CHANNEL INTO SAID HOLLOWED-OUT PORTION, SAID TONGUE HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE POST, A PIN PROJECTING FROM SAID TOP WALL THROUGH SAID SLOT, MEANS SECURED TO SAID PIN FOR GUIDING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TONGUE, AND A TENSION SPRING MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID TOP WALL AND SAID TONGUE FOR CONSTANTLY URGING SAID MOVABLE POST TOWARD SAID FIXED POST, SAID GUIDE MEANS COMPRISING A BUSHING SURROUNDING SAID PIN, THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID BUSHING BEING ABOUT EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID PIN AND THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID BUSHING BEING ABOUT EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID SLOT, AND INCLUDING MEANS FIXED TO THE PIN NEAR ITS FREE END FOR PREVENTING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHING WITH RESPECT TO SAID PIN.