Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus and method of use are disclosed. In one form, a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus includes a base including a base length and a base width and operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues. The apparatus further includes a tissue cover including a slot along an upper portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues and a tissue cover length greater than the base length and a tissue cover width greater than the base width. The tissue cover is positional along a vertical axis of the plurality of stacked tissues in response to removing one or more of the stacked tissues. The apparatus further includes a removable seal coupled along a perimeter of the base and the tissue cover to maintain the base along the vertical axis until removed.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention generally relates to distribution of paper products, and more particularly, to a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus and method of use.

BACKGROUND

Conventional tissues are sold in variety of shapes, colors, sizes and types. For example, a consumer may purchase tissues with lotions, various vitamins, ointments and the like. Additionally, depending on the type and size of tissue being sold, various containers or boxes are provided for housing and distribution of tissues when needed. For example, some conventional tissue distribution boxes include square or rectangular cardboard or paper based boxes that house a specific number of tissues. As a user removes a tissue from the box, another tissue usually is pulled from the box and remains extended from the box until removed or used. This process continues until all of the tissues in the box are used or until an error occurs in the distribution of the tissue. For example, if a second tissue is not presented to a user, a user will have to attempt to place their hand in the box to obtain a tissue. This condition is not desired as a user typically would grasp multiple tissues in an effort to obtain a single tissue causing a user to replace the unneeded tissues or wastefully discarding the unused excess tissues. As such, what is needed is a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus that reduces waste while enabling efficient use and access to tissues as needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a housing and dispensing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view A-A of housing and dispensing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 according to one aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus and method of use are disclosed. According to one aspect, a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus includes a base having a base length and a base width, the base operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues and a tissue cover including a slot along a top portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues. The tissue cover includes a tissue cover length greater than the base length and a tissue cover width greater than the base width. The tissue cover is positional along a vertical axis of the plurality of stacked tissues in response to removing one or more of the stacked tissues.

According to another aspect of the invention, a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus includes a base including a base length and a base width and operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues. The apparatus further includes a tissue cover including a slot along an upper portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues and a tissue cover length greater than the base length and a tissue cover width greater than the base width. The tissue cover is positional along a vertical axis of the plurality of stacked tissues in response to removing one or more of the stacked tissues. The apparatus further includes a removable seal coupled along a perimeter of the base and the tissue cover to maintain the base along the vertical axis until removed.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a tissue housing and dispensing apparatus includes a base operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues and having a base length of at least five (5) inches and no more than ten (10) inches, a base width of at least two (2) inches and no more than six (6) inches, and a base height of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches. The apparatus further includes a tissue cover including a slot along an upper portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues. The tissue cover includes a tissue cover length of at least five and one sixty-fourth (5 1/64) inches and no more than ten and one sixty-fourth (10 1/64) inches, a tissue cover width of at least two and one sixty-fourth (2 1/64) inches and no more than six and one sixty-fourth (6 1/64) inches, and a tissue cover height of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches.

FIG. 1 illustrates a housing and dispensing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention. A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus, illustrated generally at 100, includes a tissue cover portion 101 covering a base 102 operable to support a stack of tissues (not expressly shown). Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 further includes an opening or slot 104 operable to provide access to tissues stored within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100. Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus further includes a removable seal 103 operable to fix tissue cover portion 101 to base 102 until tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 is used. For example, a removable tape, plastic material, heat shrink material, etc. may be used to fix tissue cover 101 to base 102 until use is desired allowing for sale and distribution of tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100.

During use, a user removes removable seal 103 and places their hand in slot 104 to remove a tissue. In one embodiment, a plastic sealant may be placed over slot 104 to limit access to tissues stored within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 until use is desired. Additionally, depending on the tissue type stored within, moisture may be maintained within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100. For example, some tissues may include moisturizers or other type of lotions such as aloe, etc. that may reduce the overall roughness of a tissue. As such tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 may include a protective sealant reduces any drying out of the tissues that may occur.

Upon a user removing the removable seal 103, tissue cover 101 may slidingly engage base 102 in a vertical direction allowing tissue cover 101 to be placed directly on top of tissues stored within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100. For example, as a user removes a tissue, tissue cover 101 slides along base 102 in a vertical direction and maintains contact with tissues stored within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 ensuring that a tissue is always presented at slot 104. In this manner, a user need not reach into a tissue box or dispenser to obtain a tissue if a tissue is not being presented for subsequent use or acquisition.

In one embodiment, tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 may be a reusable apparatus. For example, upon all of the tissues being removed from tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100, a user may remove tissue cover 101 and refill or place additional tissues or a stack of tissues on base 102. A user may then place tissue cover 101 over base 102 having the stack of tissues and withdraw a tissue as desired. As such, a user need only to purchase refills instead of purchasing a new tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100.

Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 may be formed from a variety of types and combinations of materials including, but not limited to paper, cardboard, plastic, metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, alloys, etc. For example, tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100 may include a tissue cover 101 and base 102 made of cardboard material having the same stock or thickness and may be disposable. In another embodiment, a tissue cover 101 may include a card stock that is heavier than a card stock used to provide base 102. In this manner, tissue cover 101 may have an overall weight that is heavier than base 102 allowing tissue cover 101 to maintain contact with tissues stored within. In another embodiment, a metal or plastic material may be used to provide tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 100. For example, tissue cover 101 may be formed from metal or an alloy allowing for tissue cover 101 to provide an overall increased weight to maintain contact with tissues stored within. Various gauges of plastic materials may also be employed as needed.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view A-A of tissue housing and dispensing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 according to one aspect of the invention. Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus illustrated generally at 200 includes a tissue cover 201 and a base 202 operable to hold or maintain a stack of tissues 207. Base 202 includes a base width 205 and a base height 204. Tissue cover 201 includes a tissue cover width 206 that is slightly wider than base width 205. Additionally, tissue cover 201 further includes a tissue cover height 203 that is higher than base height 204. Though not expressly shown in FIG. 2, tissue cover 201 includes a length that is longer than the length of base 202. During use, as a user removes a tissue from the stack of tissues 207, tissue cover 201 is lowered due to the decreased overall height of the stack of tissues 207. This process continues until tissue cover 203 is lowered or covers base height 204. In one embodiment, as the number of tissues is removed from stack 207 sufficient to provide a stack height substantially equal to base height 204, tissue cover 201 remains at base height 204 until all tissues have been used.

Tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 200 may be provided in various dimensions sufficient to maintain tissue cover 201 on tissue stack 207 to allow for easy access to tissues stored within tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 200. For example, in one embodiment, tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 200 may include a base operable to support stacked tissues 207 and having a base length (not expressly shown) of at least five (5) inches and no more than ten (10) inches, a base width 205 of at least two (2) inches and no more than six (6) inches, and a base height 204 of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches. Additionally, tissue housing and dispensing apparatus 200 may also includes tissue cover 201 having a tissue cover length (not expressly shown) of at least five and one sixty-fourth (5 1/64) inches and no more than ten and one sixty-fourth (10 1/64) inches, a tissue cover width 206 of at least two and one sixty-fourth (2 1/64) inches and no more than six and one sixty-fourth (6 1/64) inches, and a tissue cover height 203 of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches. Various other embodiments or dimensions may also be employed as needed.

Note that although an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a base including a base length and a base width, the base operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues; and

a tissue cover including a slot along a top portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues, the tissue cover including a tissue cover length greater than the base length and a tissue cover width greater than the base width, the tissue cover positional along a vertical axis of the plurality of stacked tissues in response to removing one or more of the stacked tissues.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable tape material coupled to the base and the tissue cover to fix the tissue cover to the base until use.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base and tissue cover comprise a cardboard material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a plastic material and the tissue cover comprises a cardboard material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base and tissue cover comprise a plastic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tissue cover includes a weighting sufficient to maintain the tissue cover at a top of the plurality of stacked tissues.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes a base height and the tissue cover includes a tissue cover height greater than the base height.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base height includes a height defined by the plurality of stacked tissues.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tissue cover includes an elongated slot including a slot width greater than one half the tissue cover width and less than the tissue cover width and substantially center along an upper surface of the tissue cover.

10. A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a base including a base length and a base width and operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues;

a tissue cover including a slot along an upper portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues, the tissue cover including a tissue cover length greater than the base length and a tissue cover width greater than the base width, the tissue cover positional along a vertical axis of the plurality of stacked tissues in response to removing one or more of the stacked tissues; and

a removable seal coupled along a perimeter of the base and a perimeter of the tissue cover to maintain the base and the tissue cover at a position along the vertical axis until removed.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the removable seal operable to releasably engage the base and the tissue cover to allow the tissue cover to be displaced along the vertical axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the base length approximately equal to the base width.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising the tissue cover width approximately equal to the tissue cover width.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the base including a base height and the tissue cover including a tissue cover height greater than the base height.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the slot includes an elongated slot including a slot width greater than one half the tissue cover width.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the slot includes a plastic insert along a portion of the elongated slot to provide visual access to the plurality of tissues.

17. A tissue housing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a base operable to support a plurality of stacked tissues, the base including: a base length of at least five (5) inches and no more than ten (10) inches; a base width of at least two (2) inches and no more than six (6) inches; and a base height of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches; and

a tissue cover including a slot along an upper portion to provide access to the plurality of stacked tissues, the tissue cover including: a tissue cover length of at least five and one sixty-fourth (5 1/64) inches and no more than ten and one sixty-fourth (10 1/64) inches; a tissue cover width of at least two and one sixty-fourth (2 1/64) inches and no more than six and one sixty-fourth (6 1/64) inches; and a tissue cover height of at least three (3) inches and no more than six (6) inches.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the base and tissue cover are reusable.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

coupling means for maintaining the base and the tissue cover as a unit prior to use; and

releasing means for removing the coupling means and enabling the tissue cover to be displaced along a vertical axis of the plurality of tissues during use.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the base and tissue cover comprises a cardboard material.