Paper roll holder with pivoting arm

Abstract

A device is presented for holding and dispensing material stored on a hollow, cylindrical roll. The device includes a spindle for holding a roll of material that is pivotally attached to a support arm. The spindle can be manually positioned between an open position for loading and unloading rolls of material, and a closed position that securely holds the roll in place for dispensing. The device advantageously permits single-handed operation, has no removable parts, and can be configured to work with a number of different types of rolls and materials.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus attachable to a supporting surface for holding and dispensing material wound on a hollow cylindrical roll, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first and second support arm, each support arm having a first end and a second end, said first ends being attachable to a supporting surface;    said support arms supporting a spindle therebetween toward said support arm second ends;    said spindle having a first end and a second end, wherein said spindle comprises an elongate body;    said first end of said spindle being pivotally attached to said first support arm such that said spindle pivots about said first support arm; and    said second end of said second support arm having means for receiving said second end of said spindle.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second support arms are securely attached to a supporting surface a fixed distance apart.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said supporting surface comprises a fixed planar surface such as a cabinet or wall.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support arms extend outwardly from said supporting surface and are substantially parallel to one another.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means on said first support arm for allowing said spindle to pivot about said first support arm.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for allowing said spindle to rotate about said first support arm is a hinge.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for allowing said spindle to rotate about said first support arm comprises coaxial cylinders.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for allowing said spindle to rotate about said first support arm comprises a boss received into a bore.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for allowing said spindle to rotate about said first support arm securely attaches said spindle to said first support arm.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for allowing said spindle to rotate about said first support arm allows said spindle to rotate up from horizontal to just past a substantially vertical orientation and then disallows further rotation in the same direction.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second support arm contains means toward its second end for receiving said second end of said spindle, said means securely holding said spindle once said spindle is received.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser for holding and dispensing a roll of material comprising: a first support arm and a second opposing support arm spaced apart by an integral base plate; 
 said first support arm having means for attaching a first end of a spindle and allowing said spindle to pivot about said first support arm;    said second support arm having means for receiving a second end of said spindle;    
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein said base plate contains a plurality of mounting holes for receiving screws.  
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein said spindle is moveable between a first, substantially horizontal position, and a second, substantially vertical position.  
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein said spindle is securely held only at its first end when in said second position.  
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second spindle ends are securely held when in said first position.