Compact Tissue Dispenser
Packaging of tissues such as facial tissues such that the final package is compact and reduces exposure of stored tissues to contamination by hand contact. The tissues are folded several times to attain a footprint considerably smaller than the original footprint and of conventionally packaged tissues. Folded tissues are interleaved to cause withdrawal of one tissue to expose the next. The package may comprise paper, semirigid plastic, or transparent film packaging. Optionally, a carabiner enables attachment of the package to an environmental object such as apparel of a person.
The present invention relates to paper type cleaning and sanitary webs, and more particularly to packaging of such webs enabling storing and dispensing the webs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPaper type cleaning and sanitary webs such as napkins, facial tissues, and the like (hereinafter called tissues for brevity) are typically stored and sold in and dispensed from paperboard boxes. The paperboard box typically has a removable prescored panel which once removed provides an opening in the box through which the user may insert his or her hand to retrieve a tissue. For many purposes, this presents no complications. However, where sanitary conditions must be maintained, it becomes objectionable to require that the user insert his or her hand into the head space of the box in order to retrieve a tissue, due to potential transfer of contamination into the remaining supply of tissues.
Another issue for packaged tissues is that of compactness. Most tissues are sold at retail in boxes which leave a footprint of about nine inches by five inches. While this is not objectionable in a household, there are situations in which it is desired to carry about a more compact supply of tissues. For example, in automobiles and when traveling on foot, it may be desirable to have a compact supply of tissues for frequently recurring use. Small tissue supplies have been commercially available, but these are usually small tissues rather than the standard size that usually occupies a nine inch by five inch box, and moreover are typically enclosed within a thin, flaccid cellophane film or the like. Once the cellophane film is torn open, it may not properly enclose and protect the remaining tissues.
There exists a need for improved packaging of tissue type webs for individual use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the above stated need by providing novel folding schemes in combination with packaging which is both compact for the size of the individual enclosed tissue, and also does not require insertion of most of the hand to retrieve a tissue. To these ends, tissues which are enclosed are folded more than the typical one time, and are interleaved so that withdrawal of one tissue pulls the next tissue such that it partially projects from the packaging. This overcomes the necessity of inserting the hand into the packaging to withdraw subsequent tissues.
The folding pattern also allows for a packaging footprint which is reduced relative to the footprint of the tissue, compared to conventional practice. The novel folding and packaging scheme thus accomplishes the twin goals of maintaining hygienic condition of tissues, while minimizing packaging size for tissues of a given area.
In a further aspect, a tissue dispensing package may be attached to a person's apparel by a snap hook or carabiner.
It is an object of the invention to improve on hygienic conditions of stored tissues.
Another object of the invention is to provide more compact packaging for stored tissues.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring first to
A plurality of tissues such as the tissue 10 are folded and interleaved to form a stack which may then be packaged for retail distribution. The tissue of
After a suitable number of tissues such as the tissue 10 are Z-folded and interleaved, they may be placed into a receptacle or final retail packaging.
This arrangement causes the stack of tissues to be quite compact, from the standpoint that each tissue when folded and spread flat has an area no greater than one fourth of the area of the same tissue when unfolded and spread flat (as is seen in
It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes with the way the receptacle such as the receptacle 34 is held. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.
In the packaging shown in
Turning now to
The folding scheme of the tissues of the paper box 234 is similar to that of the paper box 34 of
In summary, in
It should be mentioned that any of the folding arrangements may be packaged within any type of receptacle or retail packaging presented herein. In addition to the paper material and film packages of
Turning now to
The cover 639 of the receptacle 634 may have a laterally projecting flange 653 bearing depressions 643 and 645. The deep portion 637 of the receptacle 634 may have a lateral flange 651 bearing depressions 647 and 649. The lateral flanges 651, 653 may overlie one another when the cover 639 is moved to a closed position (as depicted in
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. The dispensing pack of tissues of claim 15, wherein the receptacle comprises a deep portion and a cover which fits closely over and is live hinged to the deep portion.
18. The dispensing pack of tissues of claim 17, wherein the receptacle comprises a first lateral flange bearing at least a first depression and the cover comprises a second lateral flange bearing at least a second depression which said second lateral flange overlies the first lateral flange when the cover is moved to a closed position over the deep portion of the receptacle, and the first depression interfits with the second depression to maintain the cover in the closed position.
19. (canceled)
20. A method of adapting a plurality of planar single ply tissue papers for dispensing from a package, the method comprising:
- preparing the package with a rectangular, planar, interior, base having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction;
- preparing each one of said papers with a first pair of parallel edges aligned with the first direction, and a second pair of parallel edges aligned with the second direction, the first edges having a length equal to an integer multiple of the length of the base of the package, the second edges having a length equal to an integer multiple of the width of the base of the package;
- for each one of said papers, placing a first fold in the paper in the first direction, the first fold forming two first equal portions of the paper, the first portions in face-to-face contact;
- placing a second fold in the paper, the second fold in the first direction, forming two second equal portions of the first equal portions, the second equal portions in face-to-face contact;
- placing a plurality of third folds in the paper, the third folds aligned with the second direction, the third folds dividing the second equal portions into an integer number of rectangular third portions arranged in a Z-fold accordion arrangement.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the length of each of the second edges is twice that of the width of the base of the package.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the length of each of the second edges is quadruple that of the width of the base of the package.
23. The method of claim 20 further comprising inserting a terminal one of the third portions of one of said papers between a penultimate and terminal ones of the third portions of a further one of the papers.
24. The method of claim 20 further comprising forming a chain of said papers, the chain arranged in an ordered sequence by inserting a terminal one of said third portions of each of said papers between a penultimate and terminal ones of said third portions of each available next said paper in the ordered sequence.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising placing the chain of said papers into the package with a terminal one of said papers in said chain of said papers into contact with the base of the package and aligning a further terminal one of said papers in said chain of said papers with an access opening of the package.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 8, 2011
Publication Date: May 9, 2013
Inventors: Seda Gaspari (Los Angeles, CA), Mike H. Ananighian (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 13/291,491
International Classification: B65D 75/52 (20060101);