Portable collapsible apparatus for storing and dispensing paper towels

Abstract

A paper towel roll of approximately 12 inches in length or less is spooled onto a center rod that is coupled to an end terminal in one end panel of a cylindrical portable, soft, collapsible and protective cover. The remaining free end of the center rod is then coupled to another end terminal in the opposite end panel of the soft collapsible cover. The user is can then pull on the paper towel sheets and withdrawn them from the soft collapsible cover in order to dispense sheets from the roll as needed. When not in use, a flap completely encloses the paper towel roll and center rod in order to store the contents inside and protect them from the outside environment.

1 . A portable apparatus capable of storing and dispensing sheets from a roll of sheet material comprising:
 a cylindrically shaped cover that is made of a cover material that is soft, collapsible, the cover capable of having a open and closed configuration;   a pair of end panels that are made out of the same material as the cover flap;   attachment means for securing the cover wrap around the roll;   a center support rod;   a pair of end terminals, one of the pair of end terminals being coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of end panels; and   means for coupling the center rod to each end panel via the end terminal.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a flap defined in the soft, collapsible cover, the flap being rotatable to define the closed and open configuration to allow spooling of the roll onto the center support rod when in the open configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the flap has a free edge and is not secured along at least a portion of its free edge to allow sheets to be dispensed from under the flap. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the soft collapsible cover further comprises a slit defined therein to allow dispensing of the paper towels through the slit when the soft collapsible cover is in the closed configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the soft collapsible material is stiffened or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the soft collapsible material is water resistant. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle coupled to the soft collapsible cover wrap to aid in the portability. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the center rod is comprised of an integral rod that is coupled to one of the pair of end panels via the corresponding one of the pair of end terminals, one end of the rod being adapted for gripping and an opposing end of the rod being adapted for free standing vertical support of the apparatus. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the center rod is coupled to both end terminals located in each of the end panels. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the center rod is comprised of two separate rods, each of which are coupled to a corresponding end panel by the corresponding end terminal. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the center rod is comprised of a telescoping unit that is capable of being contracted and expanded. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the soft collapsible cover is made out of a pleated or folded material to allows the cover to be contracted and to be expanded to a user selected size. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  where the collapsible cover has a longitudinal length and where user selected size is a magnitude of the longitudinal length of the collapsible cover. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  where the collapsible cover has a diameter and where the user selected size is a diameter magnitude of the collapsible cover. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the soft collapsible cover wrap has an interior surface arranged and configured to minimize friction with the roll. 
   
   
       16 . A method of storing, protecting and dispensing sheets from a roll in a portable dispenser comprising:
 storing a roll within a soft, collapsible, protective cover; and   dispensing the sheets from a roll contained within the soft collapsible cover by pulling the sheets through an opening provided in the soft collapsible cover.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  where dispensing the sheets from a roll contained within the soft collapsible cover comprises lifting a flap provided on the soft collapsible cover to expose the roll inside the cover, and manually pulling the sheets off the roll. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  where dispensing the sheets from the roll comprises pulling the sheets through a slit defined in the soft collapsible cover. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising contracting and expanding the soft collapsible cover to a user chosen length to accommodate differently sized rolls. 
   
   
       20 . A portable apparatus capable of storing and dispensing a roll of approximately 12 inches in length or less comprising:
 a cylindrically shaped cover that is made of a material that is water resistant, soft, collapsible, stiffened or semi-rigid, the cover capable of having a open and closed configuration, cover having an interior surface arranged and configured to minimize friction with the roll;   a pair of end panels that are made out of the same material as the soft collapsible cover flap;   attachment means for securing the soft collapsible cover wrap around the roll;   a center support rod, which is an integral rod that is coupled to one of the pair of end panels, two separate rods, each of which are coupled to a corresponding end panel, or a telescoping rod capable of being contracted and expanded;   a pair of end terminals, one of the pair of end terminals being coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of end panels and to the center support rod;   means for coupling the center rod to each end panel via the end terminal; and   a handle coupled to the soft collapsible cover wrap to aid in the portability.