Tissue box holder

Abstract

A device for mounting a box to a vertically oriented column is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member, the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the box. The device also includes a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face. The first face of the support member is adapted and configured to bear against the column. The longitudinal portion of the support member is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom and has a first portion which forms a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member. The passage extends substantially parallel to the first face of the support member. The device also includes at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to mounting devices for mounting tissue boxes to structural objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tissue dispensers are common place in both homes and offices. Tissue dispenser boxes generally consists of a paper box having a top, a bottom and side walls which together enclose a plurality of individual paper tissues. These tissues are generally accessible through an elongated opening in the top of the box. The elongated opening is generally configured such that the tissues may be removed one at a time. Tissue boxes are generally found in medical facilities such as dental offices. Often times after receiving treatment, a patient will rinse out his/her mouth at a sink. The patient then uses one or more tissues in order to wipe his/her mouth. Unfortunately, many dental offices are fairly small and may not be equipped with sufficient furniture to place a tissue box in a convenient location near the sink. Also, if the tissue box is placed on a table or some other flat surface, the patient must grasp the tissue box with one hand and remove the tissue with another to ensure that the tissue box does not fall into the sink. A device for conveniently mounting a tissue box would be of benefit to both medical practitioners and patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In accordance with the present invention, a device for mounting a box to a vertically oriented column is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member, the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the box. The device also includes a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face. The first face of the support member is adapted and configured to bear against the column. The longitudinal portion of the support member is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom and has a first portion which forms a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member. The passage extends substantially parallel to the first face of the support member. The device also includes at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column.

[0004] With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted on a vertical column.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a tissue box being mounted to the vertical column.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the present invention mounted to a wall.

[0008] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the present invention is a mounting device for mounting a box such as a tissue dispenser box (not shown) to a vertically oriented column 12. The device, shown generally as item 10, comprises a housing 14 having side portion 16 and bottom portion 18. Side portion 16 define opening 20 which is dimensioned to receive and retain the box (not shown). Housing 14 is mounted to support column 12 by support member 22. Support member 22 has a longitudinal portion 24 having a longitudinal axis 26 and a first face 28. First face 28 is configured to press against column 12 when device 10 is mounted to the column. Support member 22 has a first portion 30 which forms an elongated first passage 32. Support member 22 is mounted to column 12 by band clamp 34. Band clamp 34 has an elongated flexible band 36 which is dimensioned to pass through first passage 32. Band 36 is also dimensioned to be sufficiently long to completely encircle column 12. There are several plastic and metal band clamps or ties available on the market which would suitable for use with the present invention. Support member 22 also has a second portion 38 which has a second elongated passage 40. Passages 32 and 40 are preferably elongated passages which are positioned perpendicularly relative to axis 26. Second passage 40 is dimensioned to receive band 44 of second band clamp 42. Support member 22 is also provided with a third portion 46 positioned between first portion 30 and second portion 38. Third portion 46 is provided with an aperture 48 which passes perpendicularly through axis 26. Aperture 48 is diminished to permit a mounting element such as a screw, a nail or a bolt to pass through. If the user wishes to mount unit 10 to column 12 without the aid of band clamps 36 and 42, the user may simply pass a mounting element (not shown) through aperture 48 and thereby mount support member 22 to column 12 or to any other suitable surface, such as a wall.

[0010] Longitudinal portion 24 of support member 22 has a second face 50 opposite first face 28. Preferably first face 28 is substantially flat such that it can be mounted flush against support column 12 or against a flat wall (not shown). Passages 32 and 40 extend through longitudinal portion 24 between faces 28 and 50. As a result, when support member 22 is mounted to column 12 by band clamps 36 and 42, bands 34 and 44 are enclosed within portions 30 and 38 of support member 22. With the bands enclosed within portions 30 and 38, it is less likely that the bands will be damaged as objects are removed or inserted into opening 20. Portions 30 and 38 act as guards protecting the band portions.

[0011] Support member 22 also has a transverse portion 52 extending perpendicularly outward relative to longitudinal portion 24. Transverse portion 52 is preferably dimensioned and configured to support the box or item which is to be stored within housing 14. In essence, transverse portion 52 can form part of the bottom 18. Elongated first spar 54 is rigidly mounted to transverse portion 52 such that the first spar extends perpendicularly relative to the transverse portion. First spar 54 has opposite ends 56 and 58 which are oriented vertically upward. First spar 54 is rigidly mounted to transverse portion 52 at point 60 on the first spar which is approximately mid way between ends 56 and 58.

[0012] Second spar 62 is rigidly mounted to first spar 54 at point 68 approximately mid way between point 60 and 56. Second spar 64 is U-shaped and has arms 70 which are positioned vertically upward relative to first spar 54. Second spar 62 is likewise rigidly mounted to first spar 54 at point 66 approximately mid way between first point 60 and 58. Second spar 62 is likewise a U-shaped member having opposite arms 70 which extend vertically upwards relative to spar 54. Arms 70 and opposite ends 56 and 58 effectively form the side portions 16 of housing 14. Referring now to FIG. 2, device 10 is preferably used to mount a tissue box 72 to a vertical column 12. Tissue box 72 has a top portion 73 a bottom portion 75 and side portions 77. Tissue box 72 also has a length shown by dotted line 74, a width shown by dotted line 76, and a height shown by dotted line 78. Top portion 73 of tissue box 72 is provided with opening 80 which permits the user to access tissues 82 contained within the tissue box. Housing 14 is configured to position tissue box 72 such that opening 80 is positioned opposite column 12. It has been discovered that positioning box 72 with opening 80 pointed away from column 12, allows a user easy access to tissues 82 by simply pulling out tissues 82. Arms 70 of spars 62 and 64 resist movement of tissue box 72 preventing the tissue box from falling out of housing 14 when tissues 82 are pulled out of the box. If tissue box 72 were positioned in housing 14 with top portion 73 oriented upwards, the user may inadvertently remove the tissue box from housing 14 by pulling on tissues 82. It will be appreciated that tissues 82 are packed into box 72 with sufficient density such that it takes a considerable amount of pulling force to remove a tissue from a box. By orienting tissue box 72 with top 73 and opening 80 facing away from column 12, housing 14 permits the user to apply a significant pulling force to tissues 82 without fear of accidently dislodging the tissue box.

[0013] To ensure tissue box 72 fits into housing 14 in the appropriate orientation, the distance separating arms 70 of spars 62 and 64 are selected to be slightly larger than the height of tissue box 72. Furthermore, the distance separating opposite ends 56 and 58 of spar 54 are selected such that the opposite ends are separated by a distance only slightly greater than the length of tissue box 72. Since most tissue boxes are of standard size, this specific orientation of arms 70 and opposite ends 56 and 58 ensure that tissue box 72 can only be inserted into housing 14 with top portion 73 facing away from column 12.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 3, device 10 may also be mounted to a flat wall 84 having a flat surface 86. Preferably first face 28 of longitudinal portion 24 of support member 22 is substantially flat such that it can bare flush against wall surface 86. As mentioned previously, aperture 48 is dimensioned to receive mounting element 88 (such as a screw) to permit the mounting element to securely and rigidly mount longitudinal portion 24 to wall 84. By including passages 32 and 40 as well as aperture 48, longitudinal portion 24 may be mounted either by means of a mounting element 88 or by band clamps. Therefore, device 10 can be mounted to a variety of different objects. When longitudinal portion 24 of support member 22 is mounted to wall 84, transverse portion 52 extends perpendicularly away from the wall. This permits the tissue box or other items which is to be mounted within device 10 to be positioned away from wall 84.

[0015] A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a box to a vertically oriented column, said device comprising:

a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member, the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box;

a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column, the longitudinal portion of the support member positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom, a first portion of the longitudinal portion of the support member forming a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said passage extending substantially parallel to the first face, and

at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column.

2. A box holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second portion defining a second passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said second passage extending parallel to the first face, the second passage being separated from the first passage by a distance, the second passage dimensioned to permit the band of a second band clamp to pass there through.

3. A box holder device as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a third portion positioned between the first and second passages, the third portion having an aperture, said aperture extending through the first face, said aperture further oriented perpendicularly relative to the first and second passages, the aperture dimensioned and configured to permit a mounting element to pass there through.

4. A box holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first passageway positioned between the first and second faces.

5. A box holder device as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces.

6. A box holder device as defined in claim 3 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces, the aperture passing through the first and second faces.

7. A box holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.

8. A box holder device as defined in claim 7 further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.

9. A box holder device as defined in claim 8 wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.

10. A box holder device as defined in claim 9 further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.

11. A device for mounting a tissue box to a vertically oriented column, said tissue box having a length, a width and a height, the tissue box storing a plurality of tissues which are accessible through an opening in the tissue box, the device comprising:

a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member;

a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column, the longitudinal portion of the support member positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom, a first portion of the longitudinal portion of the support member forming a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said passage extending substantially parallel to the first face;

at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column, and

the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box, the opening being further configured to position the opening of the tissue box opposite the column.

12. A box holder device as defined in claim 10 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second portion defining a second passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said second passage extending parallel to the first face, the second passage being separated from the first passage by a distance, the second passage dimensioned to permit the band of a second band clamp to pass there through.

13. A box holder device as defined in claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a third portion positioned between the first and second passages, the third portion having an aperture, said aperture extending through the first face, said aperture further oriented perpendicularly relative to the first and second passages, the aperture dimensioned and configured to permit a mounting element to pass there through.

14. A box holder device as defined in claim 11 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first passageway positioned between the first and second faces.

15. A box holder device as defined in claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces.

16. A box holder device as defined in claim 13 wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces, the aperture passing through the first and second faces.

17. A box holder device as defined in claim 11 wherein support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.

18. A box holder device as defined in claim 17 further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.

19. A box holder device as defined in claim 18 wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.

20. A box holder device as defined in claim 19 further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.

21. A box holder device as defined in claim 18 wherein the central portion of the first spar is slightly longer than the length of the tissue box.

22. A box holder device as defined in claim 21 further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.

23. A box holder device as defined in claim 20 wherein the arms of the second and third spars are dimensioned to be slightly greater than the height of the tissue box.

24. A box holder device as defined in claim 22 wherein the arms of the second and third spars are dimensioned to be slightly greater than the height of the tissue box.

25. A device for mounting a tissue box to a vertically oriented column, said tissue box having a length, a width and a height, the tissue box storing a plurality of tissues which are accessible through an opening in the tissue box, the device comprising:

a housing having at least one side member;

a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column;

a band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band extending from the support member, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column, and

the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box, the opening being further configured to position the opening of the tissue box opposite the column.

26. A box holder device as defined in claim 25 wherein the support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.

27. A box holder device as defined in claim 26 further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.

28. A box holder device as defined in claim 27 wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.

29. A box holder as defined in claim 25 wherein the support member has a substantially flat portion, said flat portion having an aperture dimensioned to permit a mounting element to pass there through.

30. A box holder as defined in claim 25 wherein the band is positioned substantially perpendicularly relative to the support member.