TISSUE CONTAINER

Abstract

A tissue container may include a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls between the top and bottom walls; a first opening through which fresh tissue can be dispensed; a second opening through which used tissue can be inserted; and a repository disposed inside the housing and having an opening circumscribed by the second opening to allow used tissue to be inserted into the repository. The repository is operably connected to the bottom wall and is flexible between a first state at which the repository is folded and a second state at which the repository is expanded towards the top wall.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/465,998 filed Sep. 3, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/260,469 filed Aug. 20, 2021. All the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a tissue container, and more particularly to a tissue container equipped with separate compartments for dispensing of tissue and receiving used tissue.

BACKGROUND

Heretofore, the primary focus in improving tissue containers has been directed to how the tissue container can keep the tissue product contained and how the container can be opened to gain access to the tissue product. When a tissue is used and the user seeks to discard the used tissue, a problem arises if the user is not nearby a trash container. In some instances, the user then sets aside the used tissue on the user's desk, table, floor, etc. until such time a trash container is sufficiently accessible or nearby.

Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The tissue container of the present invention is designed with a disposal mechanism built on the container itself. The tissue container is designed such that the disposal mechanism works without varying from industry standard sizes and shapes for tissue containers. This way, the tissue container of the present invention may be manufactured using the same instruments including dies, cutters, folding machines, wrappers, etc. currently set up to construct standard sized tissue boxes. Also, the tissue container of the present invention may also be designed to contain the standard amount or number of tissues as regular tissue boxes. As a result of the inventive design disclosed herein, the same shelf space in supermarkets and other retail venues where standard tissue boxes of standardized sizes are sold may be used for the tissue container of the present disclosure. The prior art may have included tissue boxes that diverged from the standard shapes and sizes, rendering those prior art boxes at best inconvenient for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and might make the product commercially infeasible.

Additionally, many consumers install decorative covers over tissue boxes for aesthetic reasons. Any change to the shape of the tissue box—whether as manufactured or through expansion or change as a disposal containment volume increases in size through the insertion of used tissues or other matter, would render the decorative cover unusable. The tissue container of the present invention may accommodate standard covers.

The tissue container of the present invention may include a disposal containment volume with an opening at the bottom of the container. The bottom opening may combine a slitted film and a hinged door. This provides at least two distinct advantages. First, it maintains a hygienic barrier between the open bottom of the tissue container and whatever surface upon which it rests. This is important because used tissues are frequently germ-laden and contact with a surface could create cross contamination. Second, without a barrier of some kind, lifting the tissue container could result in soiled tissues escaping from the bottom. The bottom opening used for disposing of used tissues may be of the same or different length and width of the top opening used to dispense fresh tissues. In the case the top and bottom openings are similar, the bottom opening may have a different circumference or shape or may be marked differently to easily distinguish between the two openings.

The tissue container of the present disclosure may include a membrane to divide a top volume where fresh tissue resides from a bottom volume where used tissue resides. The membrane may be made of biodegradable plastic or bioplastic. By utilizing bioplastic films—typically made from renewable raw materials—after use the entire container and its contents would decompose into water, carbon dioxide and biomass through the action of living organisms. If produced in this fashion, the container would be environmentally friendly, fully biodegradable, and consistent with consumer interest in sustainable products.

According to one aspect of the invention, a tissue container includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls between the top and bottom walls; a top opening in the top wall through which tissue can be dispensed; a bottom opening in the bottom wall through which tissue can be inserted; and, a membrane disposed inside the housing between the top wall and the bottom wall to divide the housing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, wherein the upper compartment is above the membrane and the lower compartment is below the membrane; wherein the membrane has a center portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the center portion, wherein the perimeter portion is connected to one or more of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the four side walls, and the center portion is flexibly movable between a first position at which the center portion is closer to the bottom wall than to the top wall and a second position at which the center portion is closer to the top wall than to the bottom wall.

The membrane may be configured such that in the first position the upper compartment has a larger volume than the lower compartment and in the second position the lower compartment has a larger volume than the upper compartment.

The center portion may have an inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration.

The center portion may be configured in the first position to crumple together to have a relatively shorter inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration and in the second position to have a relatively taller inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration.

The membrane may correspond to a relatively large bag that can take the shape of the void left behind by removal of fresh tissue. The perimeter opening of the bag may be secured (e.g., using adhesive) to the inside of the container.

The membrane may be connected at its perimeter to the perimeter of the bottom wall inside the housing.

The membrane may be connected to the housing to create an airtight seal and moisture resistant seal between the membrane and the housing.

The membrane may be made of a thin flexible sheet of plastic.

The membrane may be made of a polyethylene resin.

The housing may include a window to enable view of the membrane in the housing when the upper compartment is empty of tissue.

The window may be in the top wall of the housing.

The window may include a transparent or translucent plastic film.

The top opening may be in the window.

The tissue container may further include a reclosable door attached to the bottom wall of the housing and configured for movement between a closed position in which the door covers the bottom opening and an open position in which the door exposes the bottom opening such that a tissue can be inserted through the bottom opening.

The reclosable door may include a flap portion and a hinge portion that hinges the flap portion to the bottom wall of the housing, wherein the flap portion has an edge that frictionally engages a portion of the housing to maintain the reclosable door in the closed position.

The bottom wall may include a plastic film and the bottom opening may be in the plastic film.

The plastic film may be configured such that the bottom opening is expandable to enable receipt of a used tissue therethrough into the lower compartment and retractable to narrow the bottom opening to prevent the used tissue from exiting the lower compartment.

The bottom opening may include a slit in the plastic film.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tissue container according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the FIG. 1 tissue container as viewed from the plane 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing a center portion of a membrane and a perimeter portion of the membrane.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the FIG. 1 tissue container, showing a reclosable door in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 except showing the reclosable door in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the FIG. 1 tissue container as viewed from the plane 5-5 in FIG. 1, wherein fresh tissue is in the upper compartment and no used tissue is in the lower compartment.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except wherein fresh tissue has been removed from the upper compartment and used tissue has been inserted in the lower compartment.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except wherein more fresh tissue has been removed from the upper compartment and more used tissue has been inserted in the lower compartment.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except wherein the upper compartment is empty of fresh tissue and still more used tissue has been inserted in the lower compartment.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a tissue container according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the FIG. 9 tissue container, showing a reclosable door in a closed position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 except showing the reclosable door in an open position.

FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the FIG. 9 tissue container as viewed from the plane 3-3 in FIG. 1, showing a first portion of a repository and a second portion of a repository.

FIG. 13 is a cross section view of the FIG. 9 tissue container as viewed from the plane 6-6 in FIG. 1, wherein fresh tissue is in a housing and no used tissue is in the repository.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 except wherein fresh tissue has been removed from the housing and used tissue has been inserted in the repository.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 except wherein more fresh tissue has been removed from the housing and more used tissue has been inserted in the repository.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 except wherein the housing is empty of fresh tissue and still more used tissue has been inserted in the repository.

FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of an exemplary repository with foldable ends wherein the foldable ends are in an unfolded state.

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 except wherein the repository has two foldable ends folded over.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 except wherein the folded ends of the repository are fully folded over.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 except wherein multiple folded repositories are stacked on top of each other for manufacturing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

FIGS. 1-8 show an exemplary tissue container 10 of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tissue container 10 includes a housing 14 having a top wall 20, a bottom wall 22, and four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 between the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 22. A top opening 40 is provided in the top wall 20 and, as shown in FIG. 4, a bottom opening 42 is provided in the bottom wall 22. As shown in FIGS. 5-8, a membrane 60 is disposed inside the housing 14 between the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 22 to divide the housing 14 into an upper compartment 70 and a containment volume or lower compartment 72, wherein the upper compartment 70 is above the membrane 60 and the lower compartment 72 is below the membrane 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the membrane 60 has a center portion 84 and a perimeter portion 86 surrounding the center portion 84. The perimeter portion 86 is shown connected to the bottom wall 22 although it is contemplated that in other embodiments the perimeter portion 86 may be connected to one or more of any of the top wall 20, the bottom wall 22, and the four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36, so long as the membrane 60 divides the housing into upper and lower compartments 70, 72. The center portion 84 is flexibly movable between a first position, for example as shown in FIG. 5, at which the center portion 84 is closer to the bottom wall 22 than to the top wall 20, and a second position, for example as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, at which the center portion 84 is closer to the top wall 20 than to the bottom wall 22. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, fresh tissue, indicated by reference character FT, inside the housing 14 can be dispensed through the top opening 40 of the housing 14 for example by pulling the fresh tissue FT by the human hand, as shown by arrow PFT. As shown in FIGS. 6-8 and described in greater detail below, once a user has used the tissue, the used tissue, indicated by reference character UT, can be discarded by inserting the used tissue UT through the bottom opening 42 and into the housing 14 for example by pushing the tissue by the human hand, as shown by arrow PUT.

The membrane 60 can be made of any suitable flexible material such as a thin flexible sheet of plastic similar in characteristics as a grocery shopping bag. In one form, the membrane 60 is made of a polyethylene resin. The center portion 84 of the membrane 60 is configured to flex from a crumpled state, for example as shown in FIG. 5, to multiple progressively increasingly less crumpled states, for example as shown in FIGS. 6-8. In a crumpled state, the center portion 84 folds or collapses upon itself bunched up with wrinkles and creases. In an uncrumpled state, the center portion 84 unfolds and exhibits fewer or no wrinkles or creases. In one form, the center portion 84 of the membrane 60 is configured to flex between a relatively low profile as shown in FIG. 5, and to uncrumple, or expand, into a relatively higher profile. For example, FIG. 6 shows the center portion 84 expanded to a relatively higher profile than that shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 shows the center portion 84 expanded to a relatively higher profile than that shown in FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 shows the center portion 84 expanded to a relatively higher profile than that shown in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, the membrane 60 may be made of other materials or have other flexibility characteristics. For example, in some embodiments, the membrane 60 may be made of a stretchable material so as to flex by stretching.

In one embodiment, the membrane 60 may be spirally pleated similar to stove top popcorn makers. The membrane 60 may expand into the upper compartment 70 as explained herein by counter-spiraling as it is pressed towards top wall 20 by the used tissue UT being inserted in the lower compartment 72. This is expansion is similar to that of popcorn kernels turning into popcorn in spiral-type stove top popcorn makers.

Turning to FIG. 2, the membrane 60 is connected at its perimeter portion 86 to the perimeter of the bottom wall 22 inside the housing 14. As previously noted, the perimeter portion 86 need not be limited to connection to the bottom wall 22 and other embodiments are contemplated, such as connection to any one or more of the top wall 20, the bottom wall 22, and the four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36. The perimeter portion 86 can be connected to the housing 14 by any suitable means, for example, by an adhesive or glue between the perimeter portion 86 and the housing 14, by double sided tape adhesive between the perimeter portion 86 and the housing 14, by stitching the perimeter portion 86 to the housing 14, or by pinching the perimeter portion 86 between one or more of the housing walls 20, 22, 30, 32, 34, 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection between the perimeter portion 86 of the membrane 60 and the perimeter of the bottom wall 22 inside the housing 14 is by means of an adhesive that creates an airtight seal and moisture resistant seal between the perimeter portion 86 and the housing 14. It will be appreciated that the perimeter portion 86 can be connected to the housing 14 by a combination of the foregoing connection or sealing mechanisms.

The perimeter portion 86 of the membrane 60 surrounds the center portion 84 of the membrane 60. The center portion 84 is the flexible or expandable portion of the membrane 60 that enables the tissue container 10 to serve as a receptacle for receiving used tissue UT, or tissue that is otherwise desired to be disposed of. The center portion 84 is best shown in FIG. 2 where the center portion 84 extends from the perimeter portion 86 inward toward the geometric center of the housing 14 and more particularly the geometric center of the four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36. The center portion 84 also is shown in side cross section view in FIG. 5 in a crumpled state, in FIGS. 6 and 7 in partially crumpled partially expanded states, and in FIG. 8 in an uncrumpled or fully expanded state. In the illustrated embodiment, the center portion 84 has an inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration, where the height of this inverted cup-shape or dome shape is most shallow in FIG. 5 and deepest in FIG. 8. Thus, the center portion 84 is flexibly movable such that it can take the FIG. 5 position where the center portion 84 is crumpled together to have a relatively shorter inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration and also take the FIGS. 6-8 positions where the center portion 84 has a relatively taller inverted cup-shaped or dome-shaped configuration.

In some embodiments, the membrane 60 is simply a relatively large bag that can conform fully to the shape of the void left behind by the removed fresh tissues FT. The perimeter portion 86 of the bag may be secured (e.g., using adhesive) to the inside of the housing 14. This loose and flexible design of the membrane 60 allows for the entire vacated space to become part of the lower compartment 72 to be filled with disposed materials UT.

The membrane 60 enables the upper compartment 70 that holds the fresh tissues FT for dispensing to contract and the lower compartment 72 that receives used tissues UT to expand. Thus, the membrane 60 is configured such that in the FIGS. 5 and 6 positions the upper compartment 70 has a larger volume than the lower compartment 72, and such that in the FIGS. 7 and 8 positions the lower compartment 72 has a larger volume than the upper compartment 70. Advantageously, this allows the tissue container 10 to serve two purposes, both a dispensing container purpose and a sanitary waste container purpose, while occupying only a volume for one purpose, that of a dispensing container. There may have been tissue containers in the prior art that allow used tissue disposal. However, none of those prior art solutions allowed for the sanitary disposal of used tissues UT as does the membrane 60 of the present invention that truly shields the fresh, unused tissues FT from the used ones UT. The tissue container 10 keeps potentially germ-filled, used tissues UT separated in a sanitary way from fresh, clean ones FT. This is useful because more than one person likely uses tissues from the tissue container 10.

In the present invention, the size or form factor of the container 10 does not change from the point the container 10 only has therein fresh tissue FT to the point where the container 10 only has therein used tissue UT. Some prior art tissue containers had to grow in volume to accommodate used tissue disposal. Not the container 10. This is not only an advantage for manufacturing, shipping, and shelf placement, but also many people put a decorative cover on tissue boxes and changed sizes would render them unusable.

The present invention is also advantageous from a quantity of materials perspective since most of the materials that enable the tissue container 10 to function as a dispensing container also enable the tissue container 10 to function as a waste container. For example, the top wall 20, the bottom wall 22, and the four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 of the tissue container 10 serve to contain both fresh tissue FT and used tissue UT. Moreover, the container 10, unlike some prior art solutions, allow for components of the container 10, including the membrane 60 attached to the side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 or other portions of the housing 14 to remain as one assembly, easy to toss out in one step and not multiple independent pieces of paper, cardboard, etc. In one embodiment, the membrane 60 may be made of biodegradable plastic so the whole container 10 may biodegrade when disposed of.

The walls 20, 22, 30, 32, 34, 36 of the housing 14 are made of cardboard except to accommodate various features noted herein. Referring to FIG. 1, the top wall 20 includes a window 90 to enable view of the membrane 60 in the housing 14 when the upper compartment 70 is empty of fresh tissue FT. The window 90 can include a plastic film 90, as illustrated, connected to the remainder of the top wall 20, i.e., the cardboard portion of the top wall 20, or the window 90 can merely be an opening in the top wall 20. In one form, the window 90 includes a transparent or translucent plastic film. The plastic film may have a color for example green. The window 90 can take any size or shape and be located at any portion of the top wall 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 90 is circular in shape, centered in the top wall 20, and occupies approximately 80-90% of the width of the top wall 20. In other embodiments, the window 90 may be other than circular in shape, for example oblong or rectangular, and/or may be located in one of the side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 or in a combination of the top wall 20 and one or more of the side walls 30, 32, 34, 36.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top opening 40 is built into the window 90. Thus, the window 90 acts both as a window and support structure for the top opening 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the top opening 40 includes a four slit configuration. As will be appreciated, the window 90 may be separate from the top opening 40. For example, the window 90, whether a plastic film or merely an opening, may be in a side wall 30, 32, 34, 36 while the top opening 40 is in the top wall 20. Also, the top opening 40 need not be in a plastic film or have a four slit configuration. Other embodiments are contemplated, for example, the top opening 40 may simply be an opening in the cardboard structure of the top wall 20 and may have for example an elongated curved configuration sized to enable a fresh tissue FT to be pulled therethrough.

Turning to FIG. 4, the bottom wall 22 includes a window 92 to enable view of the membrane 60 in the housing 14 when the lower compartment 72 does not contain any used tissue UT, that is, before inserting the first used tissue UT in the lower compartment 72. The window 92 can include a plastic film 92, as illustrated, connected to the remainder of the bottom wall 22, i.e., the cardboard portion of the bottom wall 22, or the window 92 can merely be an opening in the bottom wall 22. In one form, the window 92 includes a transparent or translucent plastic film. The plastic film may have a color for example red. The window 92 can take any size or shape and be located at any portion of the bottom wall 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 92 is rectangular in shape, centered in the bottom wall 22, and occupies approximately 50-90% of the width of the bottom wall 22. In other embodiments, the window 92 may be other than rectangular in shape, for example oblong or circular, and/or may be located in one of the side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 or in a combination of the bottom wall 22 and one or more of the side walls 30, 32, 34, 36. The window 92 may also be made of an elastic material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom opening 42 is built into the window 92. Thus, the window 92 acts both as a window and support structure for the bottom opening 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom opening 42 includes a slit configuration. In one form, the plastic film 92 may be configured such that the bottom opening 42 is expandable to enable receipt of a used tissue UT therethrough into the lower compartment 72 and retractable to narrow the bottom opening 42 to prevent the used tissue UT from exiting the lower compartment 72. As will be appreciated, the window 92 may be separate from the bottom opening 42. For example, the window 92, whether a plastic film or merely an opening, may be in a side wall 30, 32, 34, 36 while the bottom opening 42 is in the bottom wall 22. Also, the bottom opening 42 need not be in a plastic film or have a slit configuration. Other embodiments are contemplated, for example, the bottom opening 42 may simply be a round opening in the cardboard structure of the bottom wall 22 sized to enable a used tissue UT to be inserted therethrough.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the top window 90 and the bottom window 92 have one or more of a different size, a different shape, and/or a different color. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the top window 90 is larger than the bottom window 92; the top window 90 is circular in shape and the bottom window 92 is rectangular in shape; and the top window 90 has a green color and the bottom window 92 has a red color. These differences aid in alerting the user as to which end, i.e., top or bottom, of the tissue container 10 is upright.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the top opening 40 and the bottom opening 42 have one or more of a different size, a different shape, and/or a different configuration. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the top opening 40 spans a greater percentage of the width of the top wall 20 than does the bottom opening 42 span the width of the bottom wall 22; the top opening 40 is sized to enable a fresh tissue FT to pass therethrough and/or to enable the fingers of the hand to fit into the housing 14 to grasp a fresh tissue FT whereas the bottom opening 42 is sized to receive a used tissue UT therethrough; and the top opening 40 has a four slit configuration and the bottom opening 42 has a single slit configuration. These differences likewise aid in alerting the user as to which end, i.e., top or bottom, of the tissue container 10 is upright.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tissue container 10 may also include a reclosable door 102 attached to the bottom wall 22 of the housing 14 and configured for movement between a closed position (FIG. 3) in which the door 102 covers the bottom opening 42 and an open position (FIG. 4) in which the door 102 exposes the bottom opening 42 such that a tissue can be inserted through the bottom opening 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the reclosable door 102 includes a flap portion 106 and a hinge portion 108 that hinges the flap portion 106 to the bottom wall 22 of the housing 14. The hinge portion 108 may be a pre-folded crease on the bottom wall 22 so as to facilitate the creation of a clean “hinge” without the user having to carefully bend the flap. The flap portion 106 edges 116 that frictionally engage conforming edges 118 of the housing 14 to maintain the reclosable door 102 in the closed position. A finger cutout 124 may be provided in the flap portion 106 to facilitate easy opening and closing of the flap portion 106 by a finger of the hand. In one form, the reclosable door 102 may be labeled “used tissue”, “waste”, or with an icon of a wastepaper basket or the like, to denote the bottom of the tissue container 10 as a receptacle for used tissue UT. In another embodiment, the door 102, although have an area similar to the top window 90, may simply be shaped (e.g., rectangular, tabbed, etc.) differently from the top window 90 to indicate to user which side is for disposing of used tissue. The container 10, therefore, doubly prevents used tissue UT (or matter attached thereto) from escaping the container 10: the window 92 and the door 102.

In one embodiment, the housing 14 may include a see-through strip forming a window on one or more of the four side walls 30, 32, 34, 36 such that the user may see “progress” of how many fresh tissues FT remain or how many used tissues UT there are in the container 10. In one embodiment, the membrane 60 is opaque or translucent so that the membrane 60 may be seen through the window.

FIGS. 9-16 show a tissue container 200 in accordance with other embodiments of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tissue container 200 includes a housing 204 having a top wall 220, a bottom wall 222, and four side walls 230, 232, 234, 236 between the top wall 220 and the bottom wall 222. A top opening 240 is provided in the top wall 220. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a bottom opening 242 is provided in the bottom wall 222. The bottom opening 242 may be covered and uncovered by reclosable door 246. The reclosable door 246 provides access to a repository 250 which is disposed inside the housing 204 between the top wall 220 and bottom wall 222.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a repository 250 has a first portion 252 and a second portion 254 such that the first portion 252 and second portion 254 are connected to form a receptacle. The repository 250 has an opening 256 along the surface of the second portion 254 such that the interior 258 of the repository may be accessed through the opening 256 in the second portion 254. In this embodiment, the repository 250 resembles a foldable bag with at least two sides (the first portion 252 and the second portion 254) and an opening 256 formed on the second portion 254.

The second portion 254 may be affixed to the bottom wall 222 around a perimeter of the bottom opening 242 such that opening 256 in the second portion 254 may be accessed through the bottom opening in the bottom wall. The second portion 254 is shown connected to the bottom wall 222 although it is contemplated that in other embodiments the second portion 254 may be connected to one or more of any of the top wall 220, the bottom wall 222, and the four side walls 230, 232, 234, 236. The first portion 252 is configured to be flexibly expandable between a first flat position shown in FIG. 13 and expanded positions as shown in FIGS. 14-16.

FIGS. 13-16 depict how the first portion 252 is configured to expand as used tissue, indicated by reference character UT, is inserted into the repository 250. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, at which the first portion 252 is closer to the bottom wall 222 than to the top wall 220, and second positions, for example as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, at which the first portion 252 is progressively expanding closer towards the top wall 220 and away from the bottom wall 222. As shown in FIGS. 13-15, fresh tissue, indicated by reference character FT, inside the housing 204 can be dispensed through the top opening 240 of the housing 204 for example by pulling the fresh tissue FT by the human hand, as shown by arrow PFT. As shown in FIGS. 14-16 and described in greater detail below, once a user has used the tissue, the used tissue, indicated by reference character UT, can be discarded by inserting the used tissue UT through the opening 256 in the second portion 254 and into the repository 250 which is disposed within the housing 204 for example by pushing the tissue by the human hand, as shown by arrow PUT.

In some embodiments, the opening 256 in the second portion 254 may be a slit, as shown in FIG. 11. In further embodiments it is appreciated that the opening 256 may be more than one slit, a hole, or any other suitable means for a used tissue UT to pass through the opening 256 and into the interior of the repository 250. The second portion opening 256 is configured such that it may expand (i.e., open) to allow for the used tissue UT to easily pass through the opening 256 into the interior of the repository 250 and then retract (i.e., close) to prevent the used tissue from exiting the repository 250.

The repository 250 can be configured as a bag, a tube, or any suitable receptacle that has an interior volume that can be compressed and expanded easily. The repository can be made of any suitable flexible material such as a thin flexible sheet of plastic similar in characteristics as a grocery shopping bag. In one form, the repository 250 is made of a polyethylene resin. The first portion 252 is configured to allow for the repository 250 to be stored in a folded, compressed, or flat state when the housing 204 is full of fresh tissue FT, as shown in FIG. 13. When in the compressed state, the first portion 252 folds or collapses upon itself such that it may be bunched or folded.

In some embodiments a removable adhesive 264 may be disposed along the outer surface 268 of the first portion 252. The removable adhesive 264 may be comprised of tape, adhesive putty, adhesive gel, glue, a combination thereof, or any other suitable means of releasably affixing the first portion 252. The removable adhesive 264 is configured to retain the first portion 252 in the folded state. As the repository 250 is filled with used tissue UT the first portion 252 expands towards the top wall. The removable adhesive 264 is configured to detach when enough used tissue UT is inserted into the repository 250 to allow for expansion.

The first portion 252 of the repository 250 is configured to progressively expand from the most crumpled first position, as shown in FIG. 13, to more a more expanded second position as shown in FIGS. 14-16 until the repository 250 fills the majority of the housing 204. In other embodiments, the repository 250 may be made of other materials or have other flexibility characteristics. For example, in some embodiments, the repository 250 may be made of a stretchable material so as to flex by stretching.

Turning to FIGS. 11-12, the second portion 254 of the repository 250 is connected to the bottom wall 222 of the housing 204. The second portion 254 is affixed to the bottom wall 222 along the perimeter of the bottom opening 242. The second portion 254 can be connected to the housing 204 by any suitable means, for example, by an adhesive or glue between the second portion 254 and the housing 204, by double sided tape adhesive between the second portion 254 and the housing 204, or by stitching the second portion 254 to the housing 204. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection between the second portion 254 of the repository 250 and the bottom wall 222 inside the housing 204 creates an airtight seal and moisture resistant seal. In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the second portion 254 to be connected to the housing 204 by a combination of the foregoing connections or sealing mechanisms.

Turning now to FIGS. 17-20, which depict an exemplary repository 250 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The repository 250 may be a fully sealed receptacle except for the opening 256. As discussed above, the opening 256 may be a slit, hole, and/or aperture in the repository 250 such that the used tissue UT may be inserted into the interior 258 of the repository 250. The opening 256 is depicted as a vertical slit centered on the second portion 254, but the opening 256 may be horizontal or diagonal or may be off centered along the second portion 254.

The repository 250 may be shaped as depicted in FIG. 17, a rectangle (e.g., square) having foldable ends 253. The illustrated configuration allows for the ends 253 of the repository 250 to be folded inwardly along fold lines 255, turning the repository from the unfolded shape into a rectangular (e.g., square) shape, as depicted in FIGS. 18-20. The folding is considerably advantageous in the manufacturing process because repositories 250 may be created en masse and stacked for quick assembly and affixed (e.g., adhered using an adhesive circumscribing the opening 256 and the opening 242) to the housing 204 of a tissue box by machine or by hand.

As the repository 250 is being filled with used tissue UT, the folded sides 253 unfold and conform to the structure of the interior of the housing 204. The repository 250 as illustrated offers another advantage in that, when all the fresh tissue FT has been used and then inserted into the repository 250 as used tissue UT, the filled repository 250 may be easily removed from the housing 204 (e.g., by pulling). The separated housing 204 and filled repository 250 may be disposed of separately as needed for waste removal or recycling purposes.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the tissue container 200 may also include a reclosable door 246 which is attached to the bottom wall 222 of the housing 204 and is configured for movement between a closed position (FIG. 10) in which the door 246 covers the bottom opening 242 and an open position (FIG. 11) in which the door 246 exposes the bottom opening 242 such that a tissue can be inserted through the bottom opening 242 and the second portion opening 256. In the illustrated embodiment, the reclosable door 246 includes a flap portion 270 and a hinge portion 272 that hinges the flap portion 270 to the bottom wall 222 of the housing 204. The hinge portion 272 may be a pre-folded crease on the bottom wall 222 so as to facilitate the creation of a clean “hinge” without the user having to carefully bend the flap. The flap portion 270 includes edges 276 that frictionally engage conforming edges 278 of the housing 204 to maintain the reclosable door 246 in the closed position. A finger cutout 286 may be provided in the flap portion 270 to facilitate easy opening and closing of the flap portion 270 by a finger of the hand.

It is to be appreciated that although the depicted embodiments show the second portion 254 connected to the bottom wall 222, it is to be appreciated that the repository 250 and its second portion 254 may be connected to any one of the top wall 220, a bottom wall 222, and four side walls 230, 232, 234, 236 so long as whichever surface is the connected surface has an access opening. The second portion 254 is connected around the perimeter of the access opening 242 such that the second portion opening 256 is easily accessible. As used tissue UT are inserted into the repository 250 through the second portion opening 256, the first portion 252 of the repository 250 expands towards the opposite surface from the connected surface. For example, if the connected surface is the top wall 220, then the first portion 252 will expand towards the bottom wall. If the connected surface is one of the four side walls 230, 232, 234, 236, then the first portion 252 will expand both towards the connected surface's opposing wall and towards the bottom wall due to gravity.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. A tissue container, comprising:

a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls between the top and bottom walls;

a top opening in the top wall through which fresh tissue can be dispensed;

a bottom opening in the bottom wall;

a repository disposed inside the housing between the top wall and the bottom wall for receiving and containing the used tissue in a separate volume from the fresh tissue; and

wherein the repository has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is connected to the bottom wall and the second portion has an opening through which used tissue can be inserted, and the first portion is movable from a compressed position to an expanded position as used tissues are inserted into the repository.

2. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is folded in the compressed position such that the first portion is adjacent the second portion.

3. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is configured such that in the compressed position the first portion is retained in a flat configuration.

4. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is configured such that in the compressed position the first portion is retained in a flat configuration by a removably attached adhesive.

5. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is configured such that in the compressed position the first portion is retained in a flat configuration by a removably attached adhesive, wherein the removably attached adhesive is comprised of tape, adhesive putty, adhesive gel, glue, or a combination thereof.

6. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is configured such that in the compressed position the first portion is retained in a flat configuration by a removably attached adhesive, wherein the removable adhesive releases the expandable first portion as the first portion progressively expands in volume as used tissue is inserted into the repository.

7. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is a bag having the opening at one end.

8. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is a bag that expands in volume as used tissue is inserted into the repository through the opening.

9. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the repository is connected to the bottom wall around a perimeter of the bottom opening.

10. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the repository is connected to the bottom wall around a perimeter of the bottom opening, wherein the repository is connected to the housing to create a moisture resistant seal between the repository and the housing.

11. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is a tube or another suitable expandable receptacle.

12. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is made of thin flexible plastic.

13. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the second portion of the repository is a slit.

14. The tissue container according to claim 1, wherein the repository is configured such that the second portion opening is expandable to enable receipt of a used tissue therethrough into the repository and retractable to narrow the bottom opening to prevent the used tissue from exiting the repository.

15. The tissue container according to claim 1, comprising a reclosable door attached to the bottom wall of the housing and configured for movement between a closed position in which the door covers the second portion opening and an open position in which the door exposes the second portion opening,

wherein the reclosable door includes a flap portion and a hinge portion that hinges the flap portion to the bottom wall of the housing, wherein the flap portion has an edge that frictionally engages a portion of the housing to maintain the reclosable door in the closed position.

16. A tissue container, comprising:

a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls between the top and bottom walls;

a first opening through which fresh tissue can be dispensed;

a second opening through which used tissue can be inserted; and,

a repository disposed inside the housing and having an opening circumscribed by the second opening to allow used tissue to be inserted into the repository;

wherein the repository is operably connected to the bottom wall and is flexible between a first state at which the repository is folded and a second state at which the repository is expanded towards the top wall.

17. The tissue container according to claim 16, wherein the opening is a slit openable to enable receipt of a used tissue therethrough into the repository and closable to narrow the slit to prevent the used tissue from exiting the repository.

18. The tissue container according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the repository adjacent the opening is operably adhered to the bottom wall such that the opening is circumscribed by the second opening.

19. The tissue container according to claim 16, wherein the bottom wall has a reclosable door configured for movement between a closed position in which the door covers the opening in the repository and an open position in which the door exposes the opening in the repository.

20. The tissue container according to claim 16, wherein the bottom wall has a reclosable door configured for movement between a closed position in which the door covers the opening in the repository and an open position in which the door exposes the opening in the repository, wherein the reclosable door includes a flap portion and a hinge portion that hinges the flap portion to the bottom wall of the housing, wherein the flap portion has an edge that frictionally engages a portion of the housing to maintain the reclosable door in the closed position.