Paper towel holder

Abstract

A paper towel holder apparatus includes a base, a first guide piece disposed on the base, and a second guide piece disposed radially inward from the first guide piece on the base. The first and second guide pieces extend substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the base. With this configuration, a paper towel sheet from a paper towel roll is receivable between the first and second guide pieces. The spacing of the inner and outer guide pieces on the top surface of the base allows for the ready position for the next paper towel to be more consistently achieved.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A paper towel holder apparatus, comprising: 
 a base;    a first guide piece disposed on the base, said first guide piece extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface of the base; and    a second guide piece disposed radially inward from the first guide piece on the surface of the base, said second guide piece extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface, wherein a paper towel sheet from a paper towel roll is receivable between the first and second guide pieces.    
     
     
         2 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a post extending substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the base, wherein a paper towel roll is receivable on the post.  
     
     
         3 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a cap piece mountable on the post.  
     
     
         4 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a length of the post is about 7 inches to about 14 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The paper towel holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the second guide piece has a greater length than the first guide piece.  
     
     
         6 . The paper towel holder according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first guide piece is about 3 inches to about 10 inches, and wherein a length of the second guide piece is about 3 inches to about 10½ inches.  
     
     
         7 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide piece has a width of from about 2 inches to about 7 inches at the first surface, wherein the second guide piece has a width of from about 1 inch to about 5 inches at the first surface, and wherein a distance between the first and second guide pieces at the first surface of the base is from about {fraction (1/16)} inches to about 1 inch.  
     
     
         8 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the distance between the first and second guide pieces at the first surface of the base is from about ⅛ inches to about ½ inches.  
     
     
         9 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the second guide piece is from about 10% to about 80% of the surface area of the first guide piece.  
     
     
         10 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface area of the second guide piece is from about 30% to about 50% of the surface area of the first guide piece.  
     
     
         11 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the first guide piece is disposed along an outer edge of the surface of the base.  
     
     
         12 . The paper towel holder according to  claim 11 , wherein the first guide piece and the second guide piece are curved in a lateral direction to correspond to the curvature of the base.  
     
     
         13 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide piece has a cut out portion.  
     
     
         14 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a mounting structure connected to the base to support the base and mountable to a non-horizontal surface.    
     
     
         15 . The paper towel holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide piece includes a rigid edge surface to provide a tear point for a paper towel guided between the first and second guide pieces.  
     
     
         16 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the base further includes a second surface adapted to rest on a horizontal surface, wherein the paper towel roll is held upright.  
     
     
         17 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a support piece; and    a post mounted to the support piece, wherein the base further includes a receiving portion to receive the post.    
     
     
         18 . The paper towel holder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first guide piece changes along a length of the first guide piece.  
     
     
         19 . The paper towel holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the second guide piece bends toward the first guide piece.