US20040211693A1

US20040211693A1 - Toilet tissue storage container

Info

Publication number: US20040211693A1
Application number: US10/423,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Bobby Dotson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-28
Filing date: 2003-04-28
Publication date: 2004-10-28

Abstract

A toilet tissue storage container sized to hold at least four rolls of tissue. Adapted to be positioned adjacent the commode, the container is free-standing and thus requires no wall-damaging mounting means. Having no movable parts except a manually movable lid, the container is not subjected to parts wear and tear. Configured in a rounded shape, the container is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The container can be fabricated in a variety of colors to match any bathroom décor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to containers. More specifically, the instant invention is drawn to a storage container for toilet tissue.

2. Description of the Related Art

The modern day homeowner is constantly looking for ways to achieve a feeling of “feng shui” in every room of the house. The bathroom is no exception. One problem that the bathroom presents is, where can extra rolls of toilet tissue be conveniently and aesthetically stored? Many attempts have been made to solve this problem. A storage container that is inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing, lacks any moving parts and does not require mounting would surely be a welcome addition to the art.

The prior art is replete with structure for storing or dispensing toilet tissue. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 319,552 issued to Christensen shows a toilet tissue canister. It appears that the canister is only large enough to hold one or two rolls of toilet tissue. It is also noted that the top must be unscrewed to open the canister, thereby making tissue retrieval somewhat inconvenient.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 356,459 issued to Esheverri shows a combination toilet paper dispenser/container. The dispenser/container is of a mundane rectangular box configuration and would contain only two rolls of tissue.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 330,984 issued to Evans is drawn to a design for a tubular combination toilet paper dispenser/container. It appears that the container will hold only two rolls of toilet tissue.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 416,412 issued to Thomas discloses a design for a toilet tissue storage container. The container is configured as a rectangular box having a flat utilitarian top.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,534,290 issued to Moskowitz and U.S. Pat. No. 3,275,133 issued to Wood show container for multiple rolls of toilet tissue. The containers are fabricated with telescoping parts that complicate loading and removing the rolls of tissue.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,800 issued to Tritch is drawn to a roll dispenser constructed with moving, spring-loaded rotating parts, which parts are subject to wear and breakage.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,354 issued to Powaska and U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,078 issued to Rameriz disclose toilet tissue storage containers of rectangular configuration. The containers must be mounted on a wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,651 issued to Gauper and U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,469 issued to McCarthy show combination containers/dispensers that are wall-mounted and require moving parts.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,049 issued to Smay is drawn to a toilet tissue holder/dispenser which must be wall mounted.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,809 issued to Sineni et al. discloses a toilet tissue storage container mounted to the rim of a conventional toilet tank. The container incorporates moving parts.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a toilet tissue storage container as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is a toilet tissue storage container sized to hold at least four rolls of tissue. Adapted to be positioned adjacent the commode, the container is free-standing and thus requires no wall-damaging mounting means. Having no movable parts except a manually movable lid, the container is not subjected to parts wear and tear. Configured in a rounded shape, the container is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The container can be fabricated in a variety of colors to match any bathroom décor.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a storage container for multiple rolls of toilet tissue.

It is another object of the invention to provide a storage container for multiple rolls of toilet tissue, which container is relatively small and unobtrusive.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a storage container for multiple rolls of toilet tissue, which container is free-standing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage container for multiple rolls of toilet tissue, which container is aesthetically pleasing.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a toilet tissue storage container according to the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 2 is a side elevation, cut-away view of a toilet tissue storage container according to the present invention.[0024]
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. [0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein the toilet tissue container of the present invention is generally indicated at [0026] 10. As indicated above, the container is free-standing and, as shown, is contemplated to be located closely adjacent the commode 12. It is obvious, of course, that the container could be located in any desired location. As best seen in FIG. 2, container 10 is comprises a tubular one-piece body member 14 having a closed bottom, an open top and a diameter of approximately nine inches. Body member 14 has a height of approximately nineteen and one-half inches. The above dimensions will permit the container to house four rolls of toilet tissue T stacked in an end-to-end relationship. A nine and one-sixteenth dome shaped lid 16 is attached to the open top of the body member 14 by means of a small hinge 18. A small handle 20 may be positioned diametrically of hinge 18.
The above arrangement allows extra rolls of toilet tissue to be stored in close proximity to the tissue's point of use. When the tissue holder H, needs to be refilled, one simply opens the [0027] lid 16 to remove a replacement roll from the container. As stated above, except for the lid, there are no moving parts that are subject to wear and tear. Since the container is free-standing and does not require wall-mounting, it may be changeably placed in any convenient position in the bathroom. The rounded configuration and selected colors allow the container to aesthetically blend with almost any décor.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. [0028]

Claims

I claim:

1. A toilet tissue storage container, comprising:

an upright, free-standing, tubular body member, said tubular body member having a closed bottom, an open top and having a height of approximately nineteen and one-half inches;

a dome-shaped lid, said dome shaped lid removably disposed on said open top for optionally opening and closing said open top of said tubular member; and

a hinge member, said hinge member attached to said open top and said dome-shaped lid, whereby said dome-shaped lid and said tubular body member are hinged at said open top.

2. The toilet tissue storage container according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member has a diameter and wherein said diameter is approximately nine inches.

3. The toilet tissue storage container according to claim 1, wherein said dome-shaped lid has a diameter and wherein said diameter is approximately nine and one-sixteenth inches.

4. A toilet tissue storage container, comprising:

an upright, free-standing, tubular body member, said tubular body member having a closed bottom, an open top, a height of approximately nineteen and one-half inches and a diameter of approximately nine inches;

a dome-shaped lid, said dome shaped lid having a diameter of approximately nine and one sixteenth inches, and being removably disposed on said open top for optionally opening and closing said open top of said tubular member; and

5. The toilet tissue storage container according to claim 4, including a handle provided on said lid, wherein said handle is disposed diametrically opposite to said hinge.

6. The toilet tissue storage container according to claim 5, wherein said tubular-shaped body member and said dome-shaped lid are fabricated in a variety of colors.