Toilet paper roll exchange tool

Abstract

The invention provides a tool for aiding in exchanging toilet paper rolls from a holder.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An assembly for holding toilet paper comprising 
 a spindle having two tube portions, one of the tube portions being partially concentrically received to a variable extent by the other tube portion, a spring member contained within the tube portions urging the tube portions to extend relative to each other, the spindle having first and second reduced diameter end portions,    a base configured for mounting on a fixture, the base having recesses configured for receiving the reduced diameter end portions of the spindle so that a roll of toilet paper can be supported and freely rotated as segments of toilet paper are removed from the roll, and    an elongate tool device having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, wherein the opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least a ½-inch but less than the outer diameter of the tube portions of the spindle, the opening being configured to engage a reduced diameter end portion of a standard spindle for supporting a toilet paper roll, the elongate member having a length that is long enough so that when the elongate member is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of a spindle in a toilet paper holder, the second end portion of the elongate member extends beyond the periphery of a standard fully loaded toilet paper roll.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a circular hole.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing edges of the opening are separated by a distance of at least ⅝-inch.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is planar.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has a thickness of less than about ¼-inch.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, wood and composites.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual gripping.  
     
     
         8 . A tool device for exchanging rolls from a toilet paper holder comprising 
 an elongate member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, wherein the opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least ½-inch but less than ¾-inch, the opening being configured to engage a reduced diameter end portion of a standard spindle for supporting a toilet paper roll, the elongate member having a length that is long enough so that when the elongate member is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of a spindle in a toilet paper holder, the second end portion of the elongate member extends beyond the periphery of a standard fully loaded toilet paper roll.    
     
     
         9 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the standard spindle has an enlarged diameter portion adjacent the reduced diameter end portion, the distance between the opposing edges of the opening being less than the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the spindle.  
     
     
         10 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the opening is a circular hole.  
     
     
         11 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the opening is defined between two or more prongs.  
     
     
         12 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the opposing edges of the opening are separated by approximately ⅝-inch.  
     
     
         13 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member is planar.  
     
     
         14 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member is stamped from a single sheet of material.  
     
     
         15 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has a thickness less than the standard height of a reduced diameter end portion on a standard toilet paper spindle.  
     
     
         16 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has a thickness of less than about ¼-inch.  
     
     
         17 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has thickness of approximately ⅛-inch.  
     
     
         18 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has a length of at least approximately four-inches.  
     
     
         19 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and wood.  
     
     
         20 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual gripping.  
     
     
         21 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the second end portion of the elongate member has a surface treatment configured to improve manual gripping.  
     
     
         22 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured for manual handling.  
     
     
         23 . The tool device of  claim 8 , wherein the second end portion of the elongate member has a higher friction coefficient relative to the first end portion.