US3837595A

US3837595A - Supplemental sheet-dispensing device for a toilet-tissue dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3837595A
Application number: US00428225A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Boone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Hygiene Systems Inc
Priority date: 1973-05-01
Filing date: 1973-12-26
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24

Abstract

A compact auxiliary device providing wetted or self-wetting sheets for releasable proximate mounting in conjunction with a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser of dry sheets; comprises an inexpensive container or magazine component pre-loaded with the supplemental sheets. The magazine can be snapped into functional position rapidly. It serves an improved health care and cleanliness function.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Boone Sept. 24, 1974 SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET-DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A TOILET-TISSUE DISPENSER [76] Inventor: Philip Boone, 15 Fenwick Rd.,

Winchester, Mass. 01890 22 Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 428,225

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 356,143, May 1, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 238,578, March 27, 1972, Pat. No. 3,744,448, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. Nos. 678,600, Oct. 27, 1972, abandoned, and Ser. No. 715,768, March 25, 1968, Pat. No. 3,652,174, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 257,745, May 30, 1972, abandoned, and Ser. No. 334,309, Feb. 21, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 48,916, June 6, 1970, Pat. No. 3,707,945.

[52] 11.5. CI. 242/5513, 242/5553 [51] Int. Cl B65h 19/06 [58] Field of Search 118/505, 40-43;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,924 6/1914 Hamilton 242/5553 2,565,994 8/1954 Sevenich 242/5553 2,685,365 8/1954 Sieven 242/5553 UX 2,726,825 12/1955 Ziskin et al. 242/553 2,790,608 4/1957 Sieven 3,049,310 8/1962 Wolfe 242/553 Primary ExaminerMorris Kaplan [5 7 ABSTRACT A compact auxiliary device providing wetted or selfwetting sheets for releasable proximate mounting in conjunction with a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser of dry sheets; comprises an inexpensive container or magazine component pre-loaded with the supplemental sheets. The magazine can be snapped into functional position rapidly. It serves an improved health care and cleanliness function.

26 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB SEP24-1914 FIG.9

SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET-DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A TOILET-TISSUE DISPENSER This application is a division of application Ser. No. 356,143, filed May 1, 1973 which is a continuation-inpart of application Ser. No. 238,578, filed Mar. 27, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,448 which in turn was a continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 678,600, filed Oct. 27, 1967, now abandoned and Ser. No. 715,768, filed Mar. 25, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,174, and is a continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 257,745, filed May 30, 1972, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 334,309, filed Feb. 21, 1973 which was in turn a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 48,916, filed June 6, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,945.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject invention is broadly concerned with the problem of improving a toilet-tissue cleansing operation by means of wetted or otherwise treated sheet material for supplementing the conventional method. The literature generally has shown complicated, cumbersome devices for the purpose embodying impractical or unsanitary liquid-applying means, etc. While the need is undoubted, none of these devices appears to have been accorded any measurable public acceptance, apparently because of deficiencies such as those above mentioned. Other drawbacks include excessive expense of suggested structures and the need to do away with present installations.

The present invention seeks to overcome all of these liabilities by presenting a device which is compatible with present dispenser installations; which is of simple inexpensive construction; which may be readily attached to a conventional dispenser; and, by the provision of a preloaded container or magazine component, which meets present-day standards of simplicity, convenience and moderate cost. Relative to the last-named characteristics, the magazine may most advantageously be considered as loaded and sealed by the manufacturer and unsealed and snapped into position by the consumer.

The invention broadly comprehends the dispensal of sheet materials which may be prewetted and supplied in hermetically-sealed openable container components; sheet material hermetically-sealed in individual liquidcontaining frangible sheaths; or sheet materials embodying rupturable liquid-containing capsules which release their liquid content to sheet surfaces under an applied compression. Container components of the invention and releasable attachment means therefor are adapted to supply sheet materials of these or any generally related types. It is also conceivable that the sheet material could be supplied in a dry condition and wetted by a liquid added to the container component by the user or consumer.

A basic liquid employed as above described may, for example, be largely a distilled sterile water, water and alcohol, or water, alcohol and an emollient such as lanolin. Where serving as a so-called refreshant a fragrance may be included. Other possible ingredients comprise a humectant, e.g., glycerine or propylene glycol, an appropriate antiseptic or germicidal substance, or a bacteriostat, a mineral oil, an emulsifying agent and a stabilizing agent. While a liquid as, for example, a liquid having a cleansing and sterilizing property may be considered as having a principal application relative to the subject invention, the substance may be in the form of a treating agent such as a powder, a salve, a cream or the like.

It is to be understood that sheet materials subject to wetting have an adequate tear strength to withstand withdrawal from the container components and that they may be of a multilayer structure. Container or magazine components are composed preferably of a plastic composition, e.g., a thermoplastic such as polystyrene, polypropylene, a polycarbonate, ABS, etc., and are formed, for example, by an injection molding method. Where frangible capsules containing an aqueous liquid are involved, they may be composed, for instance, of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyvinyl butyral or some other suitable substance. Frangible areas of a capsule may be provided during manufacture by differential applications of heat and pressure.

In accordance with the foregoing considerations, objects of the invention are to provide a supplemental device for releasable mounting proximate to a dispenser of toilet tissue, the device including a container component adapted to accept or pre-loaded with wetted, selfwetting or wettable sheet material; to provide a device of the character described in which are included means for releasable attachment of the container component to mounting means integral with the toilet-tissue dispenser; to provide a device as set forth in which are included engaging arm means for attachment of the container component to means of the toilet-tissue dispenser which support a supply of conventional toilet tissue; to provide an attachment device of the type stated in which are included a pair of shafts or detents insertable through bores formed in a pair of posts or bracket members of the dispenser or in the engaging arm means and into a pair of indentations or sockets formed in end walls of the container component; to provide the aforesaid detents and sockets with the detents biased for entrance into the sockets; to provide a device as characterized wherein the engaging arm means include means for releasably engaging a toilettissue supporting spindle of the dispenser; to provide a device as described wherein the engaging arm means include means for engaging the bracket members of the dispenser; to provide a device of the type outlined wherein the attachment means includes a yoke-like frame releasably attachable to support means identified with the dispenser and with the container component, respectively; to provide a device of the type set forth wherein the attachment means includes a pair of inserts adapted to placement in bores of the dispenser bracket members to support both said yoke-like frame and toilet-tissue spindle; to provide a device as characterized wherein a pair of inserts for similar placement is included and adapted to directly support stud or lug means of the container component; to provide a device as described wherein the releasable attachment means includes lug and socket means and resilient means such as a flat spring-like member for biasing one toward the other; and to provide a device of the character described wherein the container component includes hermetic seal means, an aperture providing access to the sheet material and wherein the releasable attachment means includes components providing a given rotational position of the container component about an axis passing through the ends thereof to provide a correct mounting of the sheet material therein and a proper position of the aperture for withdrawal of the sheet material.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers have been employed in the different figures to denote the same parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of the device of the invention showing a container component adapted to dispense prewetted sheet material;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of an arm member of FIG. 1 showing means for releasably attaching it to a portion of a toilet tissue supporting spindle;

FIG. 2a is a front view of the means of FIG. 2 showing additional releasable attachment means;

FIG. 2b is a fragmentary perspective view of alternate means for releasably attaching the arm member to a bracket member of the toilet-tissue dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of an element for releasably attaching one end of a container component of the invention to an arm member of FIG. 1 or a bracket member of FIG. and for predeterminedly fixing the rotational position of the container component;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of an element for releasably attaching the other end of the container component to the other arm or bracket member;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of the invention showing a modification of the container component adapted to dispense prewetted sheets;

FIG. Sais a plan view of exit aperture means adapted to incorporation with the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5b is a plan view of another exit aperture means;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing releasable attachment of the device to a cabinet type of toilet-tissue dispenser;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a container component of the invention adapted, with suitable modification of its exit aperture, to dispense the sheet materials of FIGS. 8 and 9 and further showing a releasable attaching and positioning means for association with that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a self-wetting type of sheet material;

FIG. 9 is a side view, principally in section, of another type of self-wetting sheet material;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic front view of a modification of the yoke-like element of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of means for releasably attaching the container component to a bracket member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the attachment device 10 of the invention adapted to provide a plurality of wetted sheets 12 supplied from a presoaked roll. In combination with the toilet-tissue dispenser 14 composed, for example, of a ceramic material, on which the device 10 is mounted, either dry sheets 16 or wetted sheets 12 are available. The dispenser 14 may include a semi-recessed body 18 from which a pair of posts or bracket members 20 (one shown) extend forwardly. A roll 22 of the sheets 16 is rotatably mounted on a conventional, telescoping, spring-biased spindle 24 which, in turn, is mounted within a recess or bore 26 (FIG. 2a) of each post.

The attachment device 10 comprises a yoke-like frame 28 preferably composed of a metal such as stainless steel although a plastic of the type of ABS or polypropylene might be utilized. The element 28 includes a pair of arms 30, a horizontal cross-bar 32, a pair of positioning appendages or legs 34 extending inwardly from the arms and resting against the wall of a bathroom or the like on which the dispenser 14 is mounted. The upper extremities of arms 30 include the recessed portions 30a which, as shown in FIG. 2, are adapted to engage the unitary stub-shaft extremities 24a of the spindle or, where no stub shafts are present, the spindle directly. Inasmuch as the core of the toilet-tissue roll conventionally rotates on the spindle, no rotation of the spindle per se is required although in the instance of adapter means, described below, such rotation would readily be possible.

The recessed portions 30a of the arms may be in the form ofcomplete circles or rings in which case the spindle 24 would be telescoped inwardly to attach the arms 30 thereto. The upper extremities of the arms 30 thus are mounted on the spindle 24 or stub-shaft portions 24a thereof as the case may be. To prevent outward pivotal movement of frame 28 about the spindle portions means for the purpose may be included as, for example, at the extremities of legs 34. Such means, indicated at 38, may, for instance, be metallic strips fastened to wall 36 and small magnets attached to legs 34 or vice-versa, a pair of suction cups, mutually engaging adhesive strips, etc.

Instead of attaching the arms 30 directly to portions of the spindle 24, a pair of inserts 40 (one shown) may be force fitted or cemented into the bores 26. The inserts (FIG. 2a) may, appropriately, be formed of a plastic such as mentioned herein or a malleable metal and are adapted to firmly grip the bore walls. Each insert 40 includes a central bore or socket 40a adapted to receive the extremities 24a of the spindle. The outer surface of the insert may include the flange 40b to enable an inner bore diameter sufficient to accept a standard spindle or, where the recess 26 of the post or bracket member 20 is of adequate diameter, the flange may not be required to provide the needed bore diameter of the insert. A distinct advantage accruing to the inserts 40 is that when a roll of toilet tissue 22 is replaced there is no need to release the attachment device 10. If the outer surface of the insert is shaped with flattened portions as indicated at 400, the inserts may serve to firmly hold, that is to determine the rotational position of the frame about the axis of the spindle thus obviating to a degree the need for the positioning arms 34. The arms 30 are shown depending at a slight angle to the vertical. This is not essential but may be of advantage to position the container component 42 forwardly of the roll of toilet tissue for ready access to the wetted sheets.

Another example of means for releasable attachment of the arms to the toilet-tissue support means is shown in FIG. 2b. In this instance an extension of the arm 3011 is angularly disposed around the bracket member 20 to constitute a simple clamp frictionally engaging member 20. Forward movement of the clamp is prevented by contact thereof with the spindle 24. As will be apparent, further engaging means may be added to this structure but are not essential to an operative structure. A partially cutout section of the arm at 30e allows an additional forward position of arm 30d unimpeded by the spindle 24.

The container component 42, preferably formed of a plastic material previously mentioned, is releasably attached to the arms 30 adjacent to their extremities remote from those in which the recesses 30a are formed. A diversity of releasable attaching means may be employed for the purpose, examples thereof being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and additionally in FIGS. 7, and 11. Laterally central areas of the container component ends 42a and 42b are indented to constitute

sockets

44 and 46, respectively. The releasable attaching means 48 (FIG. 3) at one end of the container component includes the detent member 50 slidably mounted in a bore 30b of arm 30; the integral post 52 slidably mounted in the bore 54a of the housing 54, the latter being attached to or integral with the arm 30; the compression spring 56 biasing detent member 50 toward the socket 44; the cap-like knob 58 attached to the end of post 52 for withdrawing the detent member 50 from the socket to release the engagement of arm and container component; the pin 60 projecting from housing 54, and the slot 62 permitting limited longitudinal movement of the knob, attached post and detent but prohibiting their rotational movement. When the knob is released, the detent member 50 biased by the spring 56 enters the socket 44. The releasable attaching means 64 (FIG. 4) at the other end of the container component includes the detent member 66 slidably mounted in the housing 68 which is attached to or unitary with the other of the arms 30 and the compression spring 70 biasing the detent member 66 toward socket 46 formed in the container component end 42b. The compression spring 70 may be attached at its extremities to the housing and detent member, respectively, to hold the detent member in the housing when the arm and container component are disengaged.

The attaching means 48 of FIG. 3 could be supplanted by a second of the attaching means 64 of FIG. 4 for a slightly simpler engaging operation but the more positive holding ability of the means 48 is preferred at at least one end of the container component. In either case a simple snap-in type of attaching means is provided permitting ready mounting or removal of the container component 42. Again referring to the structure of FIG. 3, the detent member 50 and the socket 44 include mating flat surfaces at their respective sides which, when taken with the pin 60 and slot 62 or a similar flat surfaced bore 30b of the arm establish a given fixed rotational position of the container component about an axis intersecting the ends 42a and 42b thereof. This insures a correct disposition of stacked or rolled sheet material within the container component and an exit aperture thereof, to be discribed. One form of the mating flattened surfaces is shown in FIG. 7. At least one of the releasable engaging means would include the flattened surfaces and they could be included at both ends of the container component.

An alternate and simplified modification of the showings of FIGS. 3 and 4 eliminates the housing and spring biasing structure. In this instance the detent members would be moved in and out manually, their length being increased for the purpose. They would frictionally engage the bores 30b, the bores being lengthened as necessary, so as to be held at either an in or an out position.

In a preferred embodiment it may be assumed that the container component is purchasable with wetted sheets 12 wound in the form of a roll 72. The roll may be free floating and will tend to rest at the lower part of the curved under surface of the container component. The roll could be mounted on a spindle or endpins however. A leading area 12a of the sheet material extends through an aperture or slot 74 which may be a mere incision extending lengthwise. The container component preferably is formed of a plastic material such as outlined hereinbefore and is of a thinness such as to provide a resilience of the wall portion in which the exit aperture or incision 74 is formed. Thus the aperture tends to assume a closed state or bear firmly against the sheet material. A strip of adhesive tape 76 to which the leading sheet area 12a is attached initially provides a hermetic seal across the aperture. A flap member 78 biased toward the wall of the container component provides a seal when the tape has been removed. A simple, compact dispenser of wetted sheet material is thus provided immediately adjacent to the conventional dispenser of toilet tissue. The wetted sheets, hermetically sealed will remain in a wetted condition during any normal period of usage. The sheet material may be provided with semiperforations at intervals defining individual sheets or a cutting edge (not shown) may be provided for tear-off purposes. The container end 42a is in the form of a tight fitting cover having the sealing rim 80. The cover can be removed and replaced easily as required. Assuming an inexpensive construction of the container as described, which is one of the objects of the present invention, it can be discarded when exhausted and a new unit snapped into place. I

A modification of the container component and mounting means therefor are illustrated in FIG. 5. A second pair of posts or bracket members 20a (one shown) composed, for example, of a ceramic material to blend with the other member 20 is integral with the dispenser 14a. Each bracket member 20a has a central bore 30c comparable dimensionally to the bores 30b formed in the arms 30. Releasable attaching means similar to

means

48 and 64, above described relative to FIGS. 3 and 4 are mounted in the bores of the bracket members 20a so as to engage socket means of the type above set forth formed in the container component 82. Although not so shown, the bracket members 20a may be longer than the members 20 to position the container component 82 somewhat forwardly of the toilettissue roll 22 for more convenient usage. The component 82 is composed, to advantage, of a plastic'material of a type previously mentioned. One or more rolls 84 of wetted sheet material are positioned substantially vertically in the hermetically sealed container component, as by the circular base flanges 85. The container component 82 includes a tightly-fitting removable cover 82a, a raised channel or track member 86 unitary with the cover, an incised, substantially self-sealing exit aperture 88 for each roll (one shown) formed in the cover at a mid-section thereof and a closure element 90 slidably mounted in the track member for additionally sealing the exit aperture 88.

The sheet material is withdrawn manually from the innermost portions thereof, a leader 84a being shown as having been withdrawn upwardly through the aperture 88. The container component 82 preferably is supplied pre-loaded with the wetted sheet material. After sliding the closure element 90 to open position, a small strip of adhesive tape 91, further sealing the aperture and to which a leader of the type of 84a is initially attached, is removed.

One form of excised aperture 88a is shown in FIG. a. Other forms of excised apertures may be utilized. Another type of self-sealing aperture means 92 is illustrated in FIG. 5b. It is composed of a highly-resilient, smooth-surfaced rubber, neoprene or the like whereby a central perforation 94 thereof may be stretched to an open position and the leader 84a of the sheet material inserted therethrough. The aperture means 92 may be bonded to the cover 82a so as to be superimposed with a larger aperture formed therein. It is to be understood that the

container components

42 and 82 of FIGS. 1 and 5 can be interchanged and that either could be suspended from the cabinet 96 of FIG. 6. The portion of the toilet tissue dispenser 14a mounting the bracket member a may be in the form of a separate unit as indicated by the dotted separation line 14b. Bracket members 20a may be somewhat longer than member 20 to provide adequate clearance for removal of the sheet material.

FIG. 6 is illustrative of a dispenser which provides at 97 conventional sheets of toilet tissue from a cabinet 96 instead of from a roll and means for releasably attaching the yoke-like frame 28 of FIG. 1 thereto. Any to the container components shown herein may be utilized with frame 28. As shown, the arm members of the yoke are releasably attached to studs 98 (one shown) of the cabinet and are held against lateral displacement by the pins 100. The container component, attached to the lower extremities, is thus established at a given position relative to the cabinet.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a container component 102 for supplying a plurality of so-called self-wetting sheets 104 (one only shown) which may, for example, be in stacked interleaved form. A typical multilayer sheet of this category is shown in FIG. 8 and includes a plurality of frangible capsules 105 releasably containing a substance such as an aqueous liquid. The capsules are formed of a plastic material hereinbefore described, e.g., polyethylene, are distributed throughout a base layer 106, and are subject to rupture under an applied compression and release of the liquid to the base layer 106 and cover layer 107, permeation of the layers being predeterminedly controlled by the absorptive characteristics of the layers. The frangible capsules 105 may be fractured by compressive means forming the exit aperture 108 of the container component 102. On the other hand, the exit aperture 108 may be of a width to permit the sheets 104 to be withdrawn freely and compressed, as by manually pressing them against a firm surface such as the back of the hand, after removal.

The container component 102 is adapted to releasable attachment to a dispenser of a type adapted to supply a plurality of sheets of toilet tissue, as exemplified in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. It includes a removable cover 110 enabling access to its interior and releasable attachment means 44a, a and 64 of types previously described with respect to the attachment of

containers

42 and 82. Also, the attachment means could be of the category to be described relative to FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified type of self-wetting sheet components 112 which may be stacked in the container component 102, assuming compressive means at exit aperture 108 thereof. Each component is of a multilayer form and includes a frangible capsule 113 of a type above described containing a substance such as an aqueous liquid. When withdrawn through the exit aperture 108a, the width of which is determined by the spacing between the

container wall members

114 and 116, the capsule is compressed and opens, discharging its liquid content between the sheets or layers 118 and 120. At least one of the layers is permeated by the liquid and a surface is wetted for cleansing usage. The leaders 112a of successive units 112 are lightly tacked to the units preceding them in order of withdrawal at 122. Each leader is thus drawn through the exit aperture 108a automatically. A weakened transverse linear area 124 permits the exhausted capsule 113 of each unit to be torn off and discarded, the remaining portions being readily decomposable.

In FIG. 10 there is shown a yoke-like element 126 which is adapted to a use similar to that of the yoke-like frame 28 of FIG. 1. The arms 128 are composed of a resilient or springy metal or plastic of a type previously mentioned and are connected by a rigid corss-bar 130. At given extremities of the arms 128, are the dual attachment means 132. The means 132 are similar to the inserts 40 shown in FIG. 20 but in this instance are unitary with the arms 128. Means 132 at portions 1320 are adapted to receive the extremities of the telescoping spindle 134 (shown slightly telescoped) and at protruding stud portions 13222 to be inserted in the apertures or sockets 26 (FIG. 2a) of the bracket members 20 of a toilet-tissue dispenser, the spindle being intended to carry a roll of the tissue. At the other extremities of arms 128 means cooperating with means of the container component for enabling releasable attachment of the latter are provided in the form of perforations 136 or studs 137, depending upon whether the complementary means of the container component are studs or sockets, respectively. The resilience of the arms 128 is such as to permit them to be bent inwardly at upper extremities for insertion of the studs 132b in the sockets of the bracket members and to be flexed outwardly at lower extremities for engaging the attachment means of the container component. Another example of a resilient engaging means comprises a resilient member 138 attached to the container component 139 the stud 137a being adapted to enter the bore 136 or the bore of a bracket member such as the bracket member 20a of FIG. 5. Alternatively, the member 138 could be mounted on the bracket member and engage a socket in the container component or the stud 137a could be a perforation similarly adapted to engage a stud of the complementary means. If the means 138 is attached to the container componeent it could be releasably thus attached, for example in a slot of the latter to insure its simplicity and minimum expensiveness.

A device for releasably attaching the container component 140 directly to a bracket member 142 having a bore 144 is illustraed in FIG. 11. A rectangular protruding lug or stud is unitary with an end-wall of the container component. An adapter element 148 includes a stud portion 150 for firm mounting, as by cementing, in the bore 144 and a rectangular socket portion 152 for downward insertion therein of the container stud 146. The other end-wall of container component 140 (not shown) may include similar attachment means or may include any of the other attachment means shown herein for engagement with the other bracket member (not shown). Where the bore of the bracket member is rectangular, a standard shape in certain bracket members, the stud 146 will be similarly shaped. In the construction where wetted sheets are pulled upwardly out of the container component or magazine, as shown in FIG. 5, a plate element 154 is adapted to be slidably inserted in a slot 156 formed in component 148 to lock in the stud 150. In connection with the means of FIG. 11 it will be apparent that the stud, bore and socket components shown may be otherwise shaped for a similar purpose.

Where the container component is in the form of a pre-loaded magazine and, for example, of a throw-away category, there may be no need for a removable cover to provide access to the interior. In general, the cover is considered to be advantageous, however. It is also contemplated that the sheet material could be supplied in a package or separate magazine and placed in the container component by the user.

Either the arms 30 or the bracket members 20a may be taken broadly as constituting supporting members between which the container component is releasably mounted. The arms 128 and bracket members 142 serve similarly.

Although the container component is illustrated as being positioned below the dispenser of conventional toilet tissue, the supporting members could be positioned so as to locate the contain above this dispenser. In the instance of the frame 28, this would be achieved by pivoting it to the upward position and rotating the container component as necessary, the legs 34 being removed.

As will be apparent, the protuberant stud or detent means or the recessed socket means can be incorporated either with the container component or the supporting members as long as one is adapted to engage the other. The locations shown and described are preferred, however, it being particularly desirable to keep the container component structure as simple as possible for expense considerations.

Exit aperture means of FIGS. a and 5b or of a related type may be incorporated with the container component 42 of FIG. 1. Thus, for example, the aperture means 92 of FIG. 5b could be elongated and have a linear perforation formed therein.

With reference to the male and female engaging means releasably attaching the container component to the supporting members, other shapes thereof are possible, e.g., hexagonal, octagonal, toothed, etc., or merely round with a positioning pin unitary with either the container component or supporting member and a mating socket or perforation formed in the other, as indicated by the pin 57 and indentation 59 of FIG. 4. A pin and complementary perforation of this type which are laterally spaced from the releasable engaging means also serve to define the rotational position of the container component at but one position. Accordingly, they could serve this purpose additionally in conjunction with engagement means of the type abovedescribed which prevent rotational movement of the container component and could be taken as keying means. In FIG. 3, it will be noted that the pin 60 and slot 62 constitute a limit stop for controlling the retrac' tion of knob 58 and withdrawal of the stud or detent element 50.

In my copending U.S. application Ser. No. 236,072 a mounting means or bracket for positioning a pressurized container component dispensing a liquid to a supply of toilet tissue is shown. The bracket is attached by a yoke member thereof to portions of a spindle carrying a roll of toilet tissue or to supporting members between which the spindle is mounted. Obviously, the engaging means of the arms of the yoke being similar to those of the present invention, they could be attached to inserts such as the inserts 40 (FIG. 2a) of the present invention instead of to the spindle per se or to the aforesaid supporting members.

As particularly indicated in FIGS. 5 and 11, the points of suspension of the container component are so located that the weight distribution or center of gravity is principally below these points.

In my copending U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 238,578, 257,745, and 334,309, above referenced, container or magazine components are shown for supplying sheet materials adapted to use in a wetted condition for supplementing conventional sheets obtained from a toilettissue dispenser. Releasable attachment means and entrance aperture means with removable covers therefor of the present invention are suitable for and could be combined therewith. Also, in application Ser. No. 334,309, a self-wetting sheet material in roll form is shown which could be attached by the yoke-like supporting member therefor to either the inserts 40 of FIG. 2a or the studs 98 of FIG. 6 of the present application.

It will be understood that the subject invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways without departing from the character or spirit thereof. The preferred embodiment described herein is to be regarded, therefore, as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope thereof being indicated by the appended claims and all variations which come within the meanings of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: 1. A compact auxiliary device attached to toilettissue mounting means for providing supplemental sheet material adapted to use in wetted condition and comprising:

an elongated container component for containing and supplying said supplemental sheet material, said sheet material being thus contained in a wetted condition;

means forming at least one aperture of given characteristics in wall portions of said container component for enabling access to said supplemental sheet material;

a pair of supporting members mounting said container component therebetween;

means providing releasable attachment of said container component at opposite end-wall portions thereof to given portions of said supporting members;

means for providing a given fixed position of said container component rotationally about an axis intersecting said opposite endwall portions to maintain said supplemental sheet material disposed correctly within said container component and to position said aperture thereof correctly for access to said sheet material; and

openable closure means identified with said aperture means to permit withdrawal of said wetted sheet material when opened and a substantial hermetic seal thereat when closed.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for releasable attachment of said container component and supporting members comprises protuberant means identified with one of said container component and said supporting members and recessed means identified with the other, said means being of a mating conformation.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a roll of said wetted sheet material is disposed generally horizontally in said container component and is peeled from the outside of the roll through said aperture means which extends longitudinally of the container component.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a roll of said wetted sheet material is disposed generally vertically in said container component and is peeled from the inside of the roll and withdrawn through said aperture means.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure means is of a substantially self-sealing type and includes at least a resilient, stretchable, rubber-like element having a central opening of appreciable dimensions when stretched.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a strip of adhesive tape providing a heremetic seal is initially positioned across said aperture means, a leading portion of said sheet material being attached to said adhesive tape whereby, when the latter is stripped away, said leading portion of sheet material is adapted to be grasped manually for withdrawal of following portions of said sheet material.

7. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein a pair of said protuberant and recessed means identified with one of said container component and supporting members are mounted on resilient members manually actuatable for engagement with and disengagement from a pair of complementary means identified with the other of said container component and supporting members.

8. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said protuberant means is in the form of slidable detent means manually actuatable and identified with said supporting members and wherein said recessed means is in the form of a socket identified with said container component.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said detent means are biased for movement toward said socket by spring means.

10. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein is included a pair of insert elements which include unitary socket portions and protuberant stud portions for introduction between and interengagement of said container component and said supporting members.

11. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said mating conformation means comprises flat surfaces.

12. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting members are in the form of a pair of bracket members projecting forwardly from and unitary with the body member of a toilet-tissue dispenser, each of the bracket members having a bore formed therein.

13. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting members are in the form of a pair of interconnected arm members constituting a yoke-like frame, the container component being attached thereto, releasably, adjacent to given extremities of the arm members, the other extremities thereof being formed for a given releasable attachment to support means of said toilet-tissue mounting means whereby the yoke-like frame is fixedly disposed in a given direction.

14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said yoke-like frame depends from said support means.

15. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein are included means for establishing the depending direction of said yoke-like frame.

16. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said other extremities of said arm members are formed for releasable attachment to given portions of a spindle carrying a roll of toilet tissue.

17. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said other extremities of said arm members are formed angularly into clamping means for releasable attachment to said support means of the toilet-tissue mounting means.

18. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein said support means of the toilet-tissue mounting means include a pair of bracket members each having a bore formed therein.

19. A device as defined in claim 18 wherein is included a pair of inserts each having a stud portion in said bore and a socket portion for reception of a portion of said spindle, and wherein said other extremities of said arm members are formed for releasably engaging the exterior surfaces of said inserts which form said sockets therewithin.

20. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for providing a fixed position of said container component about said axis comprises engaging mating surfaces of said protuberant and recessed means identified with said releasable attachment means.

21. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said container component includes means forming an aperture for entrance to the interior thereof and a releasable tight-fitting cover providing a hermetic seal for said aperture means.

22. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said container component is composed of a relatively inexpensive plastic material, is adapted to formation by an injection molding method of manufacture to render it relatively inexpensive, and is adapted to be discarded after exhaustion of its contents.

23. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said container component is supplied pre-loaded with said sheet material and is adapted to releasable snap-in attachment to said supporting members.

24. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein is included a supplemental positioning pin integral with one of said container component and a supporting member and a mating perforation formed in the other.

25. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said wetted sheet material is in the form of a roll and is mounted for rotation in said container component.

26. For use with toilet-tissue mounting means for providing supplemental wetted sheet material comprismg:

an elongated container component;

container component rotationally about an axis intersecting said opposite end-wall portions to maintain said supplemental sheet material disposed correctly within said container component for storage and supply purposes and to position said aperture means thereof correctly for access to and removal of said sheet material; and

Claims

1. A compact auxiliary device attached to toilet-tissue mounting means for providing supplemental sheet material adapted to use in wetted condition and comprising: an elongated container component for containing and supplying said supplemental sheet material, said sheet material being thus contained in a wetted condition; means forming at least one aperture of given characteristics in wall portions of said container component for enabling access to said supplemental sheet material; a pair of supporting members mounting said container component therebetween; means providing releasable attachment of said container component at opposite end-wall portions thereof to given portions of said supporting members; means for providing a given fixed position of said container component rotationally about an axis intersecting said opposite endwall portions to maintain said supplemental sheet material disposed correctly within said container component and to position said aperture thereof correctly for access to said sheet material; and openable closure means identified with said aperture means to permit withdrawal of said wetted sheet material when opened and a substantial hermetic seal thereat when closed.

26. For use with toilet-tissue mounting means for providing supplemental wetted sheet material comprising: an elongated container component; a supply of supplemental wetted sheet material predeterminedly positioned in said container component; means forming at least one aperture of given characteristics in wall portions of said container component for enabling access to said supplemental sheet material; means for providing releasable attachment of said container component at predetermined opposite end-wall portions thereof to a pair of supporting members attached to said toilet-tissue mounting means; means for providing a given fixed position of said container component rotationally about an axis intersecting said opposite end-wall portions to maintain said supplemental sheet material disposed correctly within said container component for storage and supply purposes and to position said aperture means thereof correctly for access to and removal of said sheet material; and openable closure means identified with said aperture means to permit withdrawal of said wetted sheet material when opened and a substantial hermetic seal thereat when closed.