Paper towel holder

Abstract

A paper towel holder may include a post, a base assembly that includes diatomaceous earth, and a locking mechanism that secures the post to the base assembly. The locking mechanism may include a plurality of locking stakes with locking notches and a twist lock having slots and locking extensions that selectively engage with the locking stakes and the locking notches. The post may be a hollow post and may include a top cap that is secured to the top end with a friction fit. The base assembly may include a lower base and a top shell, and the top shell may include diatomaceous earth. The lower base may include a metal slab that is overmolded with silicone or another polymer having a Shore A durometer of between about 20 and about 70. The top shell may include a flat upper surface and a downward-extending perimeter sidewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paper towel holder, comprising:
 a post;   a base assembly having a top shell; and   a locking mechanism that secures the post to the base assembly;   wherein the top shell comprises diatomaceous earth and has a flat upper surface and a downward-extending perimeter sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of locking stakes with locking notches and a twist lock having slots and locking extensions that selectively engage with the locking stakes and the locking notches. 
     
     
         3 . The paper towel holder of  claim 2 , wherein the top shell comprises apertures to accommodate the locking stakes. 
     
     
         4 . The paper towel holder of  claim 3 , wherein the top shell further comprises a centering keyway, and the locking mechanism further comprises a centering key that engages with the centering keyway. 
     
     
         5 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , wherein the base assembly further comprises a lower base having a weighted plate that is overmolded with silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The paper towel holder of  claim 5 , further comprising feet disposed on a bottom surface of the lower base to locate the lower base above a horizontal surface on which the lower base is disposed, with an air gap between the horizontal surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The paper towel holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap that is secured to a top end of the post, wherein the cap comprises a wood or simulated wood material, and wherein the post comprises aluminum or another metal or simulated metal material. 
     
     
         8 . A paper towel holder, comprising:
 a post;   a base assembly that comprises diatomaceous earth;   a locking mechanism that secures the post to the base assembly and that comprises a plurality of locking stakes with locking notches and a twist lock having slots and locking extensions that selectively engage with the locking stakes and the locking notches.   
     
     
         9 . The paper towel holder of  claim 8 , wherein the post is a hollow post and includes a top cap that is secured to the top end with a friction fit, wherein the hollow post and the top cap comprise materials that are different from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The paper towel holder of  claim 8 , wherein the base assembly comprises a lower base and a top shell, wherein the top shell comprises diatomaceous earth and the lower base comprises a material that is different than the top shell. 
     
     
         11 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein the lower base comprises a metal slab that is overmolded with silicone or another polymer having a Shore A durometer of between about 20 and about 70. 
     
     
         12 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein the top shell comprises a flat upper surface and a downward-extending perimeter sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein the lower base and the top shell comprise apertures to accommodate the locking stakes. 
     
     
         14 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein the lower base and the top shell further comprise a centering keyway and the locking mechanism further comprises a centering key that engages with the centering keyway. 
     
     
         15 . The paper towel holder of  claim 10 , wherein the lower base comprises a cavity on a bottom surface that is configured to accommodate the twist lock.