Method and system for storing and dispensing rolled paper products

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a collapsible, manually-extracted paper-towel-roll storage and dispensing container. Paper towel rolls are manually loaded horizontally in one or more vertical stacks inside the storage and dispensing container. A dispensing aperture is included at the bottom of the front face for manual removal of the paper-towel rolls from within the container. A viewing aperture is also contained on the front face of the container for viewing the contents of the storage and dispensing container. A removable door-mounting bracket attaches to the back side of the storage container and dispenser for hanging the container from the top of a door. Either the top or bottom face of the container may be opened for loading and both faces may be opened for folding the container flat for efficient storage when not in use.

1 . A rolled-paper-product dispenser having an openable top and a bottom proximal to a dispensing aperture comprising: 
 a vertical back piece;    two vertical side pieces connected to the vertical back piece;    a vertical front piece, including the dispensing aperture, connected to the two vertical side pieces;    a top flap connected to one of the vertical pieces that fastens to another of the vertical pieces to enclose the top of the rolled-paper-product dispenser; and    a bottom flap that fastens to one of the vertical pieces to enclose the bottom of the rolled-paper-product dispenser in order to support a number of rolled-paper products stacked within the rolled-paper-product dispenser for storage and for subsequent manual removal through the dispensing aperture, unfastening of the top flap and bottom flap allowing the rolled-paper-product dispenser to fold flat for storage, shipping and retail distribution.    
   
   
       2 . The rolled-paper-product dispenser of  claim 1   wherein the rolled-paper product is a roll of paper towels having a diameter and height;    wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a depth equal to at least twice the diameter of the rolled-paper product;    wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a width equal to at least the height of the rolled-paper product; and    wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a height approximately equal to six times the diameter of the rolled-paper product.    
   
   
       3 . The rolled-paper-product dispenser of  claim 1  further including a vertical viewing aperture in the vertical front piece to allow for visual inspection of rolled-paper products stored within the rolled-paper-product dispenser.  
   
   
       4 . The rolled-paper-product dispenser of  claim 1  further including a mounting member for mounting the rolled-paper-product dispenser to a vertical surface.  
   
   
       5 . The rolled-paper-product dispenser of  claim 1  further including one or more stiffening flaps connected to at least one of the vertical pieces and contacting at least one additional vertical piece for providing increased rigidity of the rolled-paper-product dispenser.  
   
   
       6 . The rolled-paper-product dispenser of  claim 1  further including one or more pivoting tabs connected to one or more vertical pieces to fasten the top flap and the bottom flap.  
   
   
       7 . A method for storing and dispensing rolled-paper products, the method comprising: 
 providing a rolled paper product dispenser containing an openable top and a dispensing aperture;    loading horizontally-positioned rolls of paper products in one or more vertical stacks inside a rolled-paper-product dispenser; and    manually extracting rolls of paper products from the rolled-paper-product dispenser through the dispensing aperture.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further including a mounting member for mounting the paper-product dispenser to a door.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the rolled-paper products are rolls of paper towels having a diameter and height.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 10   wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a depth equal to at least twice the diameter of the rolled-paper product;    wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a width equal to at least the height of the rolled-paper product; and    wherein the rolled-paper-product dispenser has a height approximately equal to six times the diameter of the rolled-paper product.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  further including a viewing aperture to allow for visual inspection of the rolled-paper products stored within the rolled-paper-product dispenser.