Shielding Device

Abstract

The present invention is a shielding device and method of use that is designed to protect the edge of an article, such as a paper towel roll with a mating inner boundary, from becoming wet or soiled by a user's fingers. The present invention includes a planar base having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, the first face portion includes a ridge within an outer periphery portion of the base. The second face portion is adjacent to the article, and an extension projects therefrom with a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the planar base. Furthermore, the extension is sized and configured to have an interference fit in relation to being received by the mating inner boundary such that the shielding device and article form a unitary assembly.

1 . A shielding device for helping to protect an article, the article having a mating inner boundary length, wherein said mating inner boundary is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, comprising:
 (a) a base having a generally planar shape, said base including first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said base further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the article; and   (b) an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, where said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said planar shape, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the boundary length, wherein operationally said base and extension form a unitary assembly with the article, with the article further protected from liquid drippings via said base and ridge.   
     
     
         2 . A shielding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lip disposed in said first face portion inward of said ridge forming a depression in said first face portion that is operational to further retain liquid drippings substantially within said depression and away from the article. 
     
     
         3 . A shielding device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a rib adjacent to said outer periphery portion that is oppositely disposed from said ridge, wherein said rib further protects the article from the liquid drippings. 
     
     
         4 . A shielding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough said base being positioned about said longitudinal axis, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user. 
     
     
         5 . A shielding device according to  claim 4  further comprising a shoulder positioned adjacent to a margin of said aperture, wherein a channel is formed from said shoulder, said first face portion, and said ridge, wherein said channel further protects the article from the liquid drippings with the use of said aperture. 
     
     
         6 . A shielding device for helping to protect an edge of a paper product roll, the roll having a hollow inner core with a periphery, wherein said hollow inner core is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, comprising:
 (a) a disk forming a plane, said disk having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said disk further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the paper product roll; and   (b) an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion forming a length therebetween, with a longitudinal axis disposed along said length, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said plane, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to one and eight tenths (1.8) percent (%) of the periphery, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally said disk and said extension communicate rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge.   
     
     
         7 . A shielding device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a lip disposed in said first face portion inward of said ridge forming a concave depression in said first face portion that is operational to further retain liquid drippings substantially within said concave depression away from the paper product roll. 
     
     
         8 . A shielding device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a rib adjacent to said outer periphery portion that is oppositely disposed from said ridge, wherein said rib further protects the paper product roll from the liquid drippings. 
     
     
         9 . A shielding device according to  claim 6 , further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough said disk being positioned about said longitudinal axis, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user. 
     
     
         10 . A shielding device according to  claim 9 , wherein said extension has a void disposed therethrough along said longitudinal axis, wherein said void and said aperture are in communication. 
     
     
         11 . A shielding device according to  claim 10  further comprising a shoulder positioned adjacent to a margin of said aperture, wherein an annular channel is formed from said shoulder, said first face portion, and said ridge, wherein said annular channel further protects the paper product roll from the liquid drippings with the use of said aperture. 
     
     
         12 . A shielding device according to  claim 6  wherein said interference fit range is increased to an interference fit of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to two and seven tenths (2.7) percent (%) of the periphery, requiring that said disk and said extension be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as a chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally to further allow said disk and said extension to communicate additional rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge. 
     
     
         13 . A method of helping to protect a primary edge of a paper towel roll, the paper towel roll having a lengthwise axis and a hollow inner core with a periphery, wherein said hollow inner core is constructed of a spiral helix seamed cardboard, to be able to protect the primary edge of the paper towel roll from becoming wet or soiled during consumption of paper towels by a user, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a shielding device comprising of a disk forming a plane, said disk having a first face portion and an opposing second face portion, said disk further having an outer periphery portion wherein a ridge is disposed in said outer periphery portion being adjacent to said first face portion, wherein said second face portion is adjacent to the paper product roll, said disk further comprising an aperture disposed therethrough, wherein said aperture further allows use as a grasp point for a user, said shielding device also including an extension having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion forming a length therebetween, with a longitudinal axis disposed along said length, said extension proximal end portion projecting from said second face portion, and said distal end portion having a chamfer, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said plane, said extension also having a void disposed therethrough along said longitudinal axis, wherein said void and said aperture are in communication, said extension distal end portion is sized and configured to have an interference fit range of about one and four-tenths (1.4) percent (%) to two and seven tenths (2.7) percent (%) of the periphery, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, requiring that said disk and said extension be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as a chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, wherein operationally to further allow said disk and said extension to communicate additional rotational torque into the core and paper product roll, with the paper product roll further protected from liquid drippings via said disk and ridge;   (b) grasping manually the paper towel roll and positioning the lengthwise axis to be substantially perpendicular to a surface wherein a secondary edge of the paper towel roll is adjacent to the surface;   (c) grasping manually said shielding device and aligning said longitudinal axis to be co-axial with the lengthwise axis, further with said extension positioned adjacent to the hollow inner core of the paper towel roll;   (d) positioning said chamfer to contact and slightly insert into the hollow inner core of the paper towel roll;   (e) inserting and rotating simultaneously said shielding device such that said shielding device be rotated clock wise in an amount defined as said chord length on said outer periphery being at least equal to said extension length as viewed from said first face portion, when said extension is inserted into the hollow inner core, wherein operationally to further allow said shielding device to communicate additional rotational torque into the hollow inner core and paper towel roll;   (e) contacting manually said shielding device with one hand by placing a user's fingers upon said disk;   (f) rotating manually said shielding device such that the paper towel roll unrolls to provide a sheet, wherein the primary edge of a paper towel roll is protected from contact with the users fingers;   (g) holding stationary the paper towel roll, via said placing the user's fingers to be in contact with said disk; and   (h) tearing the required paper towels from the paper towel roll manually.   
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting a primary edge of a paper towel roll from becoming wet or soiled during distribution according to  claim 13  wherein said step of contacting manually said shielding device further includes placing a portion of the users fingers into said aperture and said void to facilitate an improved grasping of said shielding device by the user.