Gravity fed paper towel holder

Abstract

A paper towel holder having a mounting bracket having a first side member and a second side member which are substantially parallel to one another, a front member operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to the first and second side members and fixedly secured to the front ends of each side member, a first mounting arm having a first mounting flange, and a second mounting arm having a second mounting flange, where the first side member comprises a first tripartite track fixedly secured to the first mounting arm, and the second side member comprises a second tripartite track fixedly secured to the second mounting arm, where each of the tripartite tracks slopes downwardly with respect to the first and second mounting flanges; and a tube arranged transversely to the first and second tripartite tracks and arranged to move along the tracks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paper towel holder, comprising:
 a mounting bracket having a first side member and a second side member which are substantially parallel to one another, a front member operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to said first side member and said second side member and fixedly secured to front ends of each said side member, a first mounting arm having a first mounting flange fixedly secured to said first mounting arm, a second mounting arm having a second mounting flange fixedly secured to said second mounting arm, where said first and second mounting flanges are substantially parallel to one another and are arranged in a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said first and second mounting arms;   wherein said first side member comprises a first tripartite track fixedly secured to said first mounting arm, and said second side member comprises a second tripartite track fixedly secured to said second mounting arm, wherein each of said tripartite tracks slopes downwardly with respect to said first and second mounting flanges; and,   a tube arranged transversely to said first and second tripartite tracks and arranged to move along said tracks.   
     
     
         2 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second tripartite tracks each have a first section and a second section, said first section and said second section each slope downwardly with respect to said first and second mounting flanges, and wherein said first section is arranged at an angle θ relative to a perpendicular line to said first and second mounting flanges, and wherein said second section is arranged at an angle σ relative to said perpendicular line to said first and second mounting flanges, wherein θ is greater than σ. 
     
     
         3 . The paper towel holder of  claim 2 , wherein said angle θ is in the range of approximately 30 degrees to 50 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The paper towel holder of  claim 3 , wherein said angle θ is approximately 38 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The paper towel holder of  claim 2 , wherein said angle σ is in the range of approximately 10 degrees to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The paper towel holder of  claim 5 , wherein said angle σ is approximately 22 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said tube is operatively arranged to constantly engage the central tube of a rolled paper product when said tube is inserted into said central tube. 
     
     
         8 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said front member is operatively arranged to constantly engage the sheets of a rolled paper product when said tube is engaged with said tracks. 
     
     
         9 . The paper towel holder of  claim 2 , wherein said front member is operatively arranged to impede the rotation of a rolled paper product when sheets of material are torn free. 
     
     
         10 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be mountable to a planar surface. 
     
     
         11 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via screws. 
     
     
         12 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via repositionable adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via magnets. 
     
     
         14 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said first mounting arm and said second mounting arm are L-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said tube has a first tube end, a second tube end, and a center, and said first tube end and said second tube end are greater in diameter than said center. 
     
     
         16 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said paper towel holder is made of metal. 
     
     
         17 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said paper towel holder is made of plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein said paper towel holder is made of wood.