TISSUE DISPENSER AND DISPOSAL UNIT
A dispenser and disposal unit for a package of tissues includes a rectangular container with an open top and an elevated section projecting above the rear wall of the container including means for retaining a plurality of tissues and means for securing the rear of the elevated section against a vertical support so the tissues may be removed from the container and disposed of in the open top container.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/826,561, filed May 23, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a box or a group of sanitary paper tissues, such as Kleenex™ tissues, in such a manner that a single tissue may be removed, which includes a disposal unit which will accept the soiled tissues. The entire unit is adapted to be supported on a wall to allow easy removal and disposal of the tissues.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPaper facial tissues, such as Kleenex™ and the like, are often sold in boxes or flexible plastic packages, such as cellophane, having slits on their forward edges. The tissues are interleafed in these packages so that the topmost tissues may be removed through the slit, and may be withdrawn, the leading edge of the next tissue becomes extended. After the tissues are used, the soiled tissues must be disposed in a sanitary manner.
It has been previously proposed to provide a unitary support for a package of tissues combined with a waste receptacle adapted to allow disposal of the soiled tissues in a sanitary manner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,157 discloses a rigid container having a pivotably supported top that is adapted to retain a package of tissues so that they may be removed in single or sequential order, through an opening in the top of the container lid. When the lid is lifted, the balance of the container acts as a receptacle for the soiled tissues.
In another arrangement, illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,062, a paperboard section, scored so as to provide a number of foldable sections, is adapted to retain a tissue box and also a flexible bag which may be used as a receptacle for the soiled tissues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention consists of a unitary, low-cost unit which may be formed of sheet material such as cardboard, sheet plastic or the like, so as to be low in cost and easy to fold when not in use. The unit is adapted to be supported, preferably on a vertical wall, by means of an adhesive tab or a hole which can fit over a nail or the like inserted into the wall. The unit, when unfolded, constitutes a rectangular container with an open top. The back of the unit, above the container, consists of a pair of planar sections, which normally lie in contacting relationship, but may be separated to accept a box of tissues. A vertical slit in the front of this section allows a single tissue to be withdrawn at a time. The bottom container is adapted to accept soiled tissues.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the tissues are not supported in a separate package, but rather the unit of the present invention has a package of tissues supported therein and is adapted to be disposed of, in its entirety, along with the soiled tissues, when the tissues in the package are exhausted. This forms a container in which a group of tissues may be sold, may be supported while in use to allow the removal of a single tissue, and includes a waste receptacle section so that the entire unit may be disposed of when the tissues in the package are exhausted.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will be described in the following detailed description of the invention. The invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
In use, after a tissue container 32 is inserted in the unit and the front wall 16 of the disposal section is pulled away from the rear wall 24 at the fold lines 14, the unit is ready for use and a single tissue may be withdrawn from the box and after being used disposed of through the top 22 of the lower section.
A second embodiment, generally indicated at 50, is illustrated in
A third embodiment of the invention, generally indicated at 70, is illustrated in
A fourth embodiment of the invention, generally indicated at 80, and illustrated in
This unit may be attached to the wall by means of a grommet 100 surrounding a central hole at the top of the wall 84.
The rear of the unit 110, illustrated in
The closed package is illustrated in
Claims
1. A container and disposal device for tissues, comprising:
- a section of sheet material formed to have a rectangular container with an open top and an elevated section projecting above the rear wall of the container including means for retaining a plurality of interleaved tissues and means for securing the rear of the elevated section against a vertical surface so the tissues may be removed from the container and disposed of in the open top container.
2. The container and disposal device of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is flexible.
3. The container and disposal device of claim 1 wherein the sheet material comprises flexible plastic.
4. The container and disposal device of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining toilet tissue constitutes a double-walled opening adapted to receive a box of toilet tissues.
5. The container and disposal device of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining a plurality of tissues constitutes an interleaved group of tissues supported within an enclosure of the sheet material.
6. A container and disposal device for tissues comprising:
- a lower sheet section comprising a rear wall, a forward wall, a closed bottom, and a pair of closed side walls and an open top; and
- an upper section projecting above the open top from the rear wall and comprising a forward section and a rear section, joined at their top and bottom, and open on at least one side, so as to be capable of accepting a box of sanitary tissues, and a slit in the forward wall adapted to allow the tissues to be removed, the lower section constituting a waste disposal unit for the tissues after use.
7. The container and disposal device of claim 6 further including a pressure-sensitive adhesive section formed across the rear of the upper extending section to allow the unit to be adhesively supported against the vertical support.
8. The container and disposal device of claim 6 wherein the side walls and the bottom walls of the lower section may be folded into a flat configuration.
9. A container and disposal device for tissues comprising a container formed with a relatively rigid back and flexible side walls and bottom so as to form a disposal container, the side walls, bottom and front wall of the disposal container being folded against the rear wall for storage and shipping purposes, and an elevated planar section extending above the top of the rear wall and having a pressure-sensitive adhesive pad with a removable cover strip formed on its forward section for adhesively retaining the package of tissues, whereby the tissues may be removed and after use disposed of in the lower container.
10. The container and disposal device for tissues of claim 9 further including a central hole formed at the top of the upper section for retaining the open unit to a fastener secured to a vertical wall.
Type: Application
Filed: May 21, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2014
Inventor: Nellie Moncrief (Ferndale, MI)
Application Number: 14/283,908
International Classification: A47K 10/18 (20060101); B65D 83/08 (20060101);