U.S. patent application number 10/113162 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for removable receptacle for a tissue box.
Invention is credited to Hajianpour, Zoya.
Application Number | 20020139705 10/113162 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26810753 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020139705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hajianpour, Zoya |
October 3, 2002 |
Removable receptacle for a tissue box
Abstract
A receptacle for a tissue box includes front, back, right, left,
and bottom sides, with an open top. A fastening structure, such as
two sets of hook and loop fasteners, is provided for attaching the
receptacle to an external surface, such as a surface within the
passenger compartment of a vehicle. The tissue box is configured to
accept and hold a small tissue box, with access to tissues within
the box being provided through an opening within the tissue box and
through the open top of the receptacle.
Inventors: |
Hajianpour, Zoya; (Coral
Springs, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RONALD V. DAVIDGE
SUITE 514
3300 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
CORAL SPRINGS
FL
33065
US
|
Family ID: |
26810753 |
Appl. No.: |
10/113162 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60280902 |
Apr 2, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/0453 20130101;
B65D 2313/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/494 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A receptacle comprising: a rear side extending upward to a rear
upper upper edge and including an attachment structure for
attaching said receptacle to a surface external to said receptacle;
a left side extending forward from said rear side and upward to a
left upper edge; a right side extending forward from said rear side
and upward to a right upper edge; a bottom side extending forward
from said rear side and between said left and right sides; a front
side extending upward from said bottom side to a front upper edge
and between said left and right sides; and an open top.
2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said attachment structure
comprises: a first component of a hook and loop fastener adhesively
attached to a surface of said rear side a second component of said
hook and loop fastener engaging said first component thereof; and
an adhesive surface outwardly disposed from said component of said
hook and loop fastener.
3. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein said surface of said rear
side includes a depressed area, and said first component is
attached to said depressed area.
4. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said rear side includes a
pair of spaced apart depressed areas extending parallel to one
another; and said attachment structure comprises a first component
of a hook and loop fastener adhesively attach to each of said
depressed areas, a second component of said hook and loop fastener
engaging each said first component thereof, and an adhesive surface
outwardly disposed from each said second component of said hook and
loop fastener.
5. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said sides define an open
container approximately 12.065 cm (1.5 inches) deep, 12.065 cm (4.5
inches) high, and 3.81 cm (4.5 inches) wide.
6. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said sides define a tapered
open container having said open top larger than said bottom
side.
7. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein a side extending downward
from said open top is curved in a concave shape.
8. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said left and right upper
upper edges extend downward toward said front upper upper edge from
said rear upper upper edge.
9. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said front upper upper edge
is curved to extend downward from said right and left upper edges
to a center of said front upper edge.
10. Apparatus comprising a tissue box within a receptacle, wherein
said receptacle comprises: a rear side extending upward to a rear
upper edge and including an attachment structure for attaching said
receptacle to a surface external to said receptacle; a left side
extending forward from said rear side and upward to a left upper
edge; a right side extending forward from said rear side and upward
to a right upper edge; a bottom side extending forward from said
rear side and between said left and right sides; a front side
extending upward from said bottom side to a front upper edge and
between said left and right sides; and an open top, and wherein a
portion of said tissue box extends upward through said open
top.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said attachment structure
comprises: a first component of a hook and loop fastener adhesively
attached to a surface of said rear side a second component of said
hook and loop fastener engaging said first component thereof; and
an adhesive surface outwardly disposed from said component of said
hook and loop fastener.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said surface of said rear
side includes a depressed area, and said first component is
attached to said depressed area.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said rear side includes a
pair of spaced apart depressed areas extending parallel to one
another; and said attachment structure comprises a first component
of a hook and loop fastener adhesively attach to each of said
depressed areas, a second component of said hook and loop fastener
engaging each said first component thereof, and an adhesive surface
outwardly disposed from each said second component of said hook and
loop fastener.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sides define an open
container approximately (1.5 inches) deep, (4.5 inches) high, and
(4.5 inches) wide.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sides define a tapered
open container, having said open top larger than said bottom side,
and said side surfaces engage said tissue box to hold said tissue
box in place within said tapered open container.
16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a side extending downward
from said open top is curved in a concave shape to engage said
tissue box to hold said tissue box in place within said
receptacle.
17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said left and right upper
edges extend downward toward said front upper edge from said rear
upper edge, and an upper portion of said tissue box extends above
said left and right upper edges.
18. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said tissue box includes an
opening extending downward from a front upper edge for removal of
tissues; said front upper edge is curved to extend downward from
said right and left upper edges to a center of said front upper
edge to provide external access to said opening within said tissue
box.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/280,902, filed Apr. 2, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a receptacle to hold a tissue box,
and, more particularly, to such a receptacle provided with means
for attachment to a surface within the passenger compartment of a
vehicle.
[0004] 2. Summary of the Background Art
[0005] Facial tissues are often needed within an automobile, for
uses such as nose blowing and cleaning up spilled food. Such needs
for tissues often arise with little warning, under conditions in
which tissues are difficult or impossible to locate.
[0006] A box of facial tissues having a configuration particularly
suitable for use within the passenger compartment of an automobile
is sold by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the registered
trademarks KLEENEX TRAVELERS. The size and shape of this box, being
12.07 cm (4.75 inches) wide, 12.07 cm (4.75 inches) high, and 3.81
cm (1.5 inches) deep make it particularly useful within an
automobile because it has been configured to fit into small
compartment locations convenient for a driver's use, such as map
pockets, dash pockets, and console compartments in many vehicles,
and further because it has been configured to allow to be removed
from the front and top of the box as it is held within a suitable
compartment. Various features and advantages of this type of tissue
box are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,000, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0007] When a suitable compartment can be found for holding this
type of tissue box, significant advantages are achieved over other
conventional types of tissue boxes. Full-sized flat or upright
tissue boxes are typically too large to be conveniently stored in a
compartment while remaining in a position convenient for use, and
small tissue packs can be inadequate for many uses and difficult to
use. A loose tissue box may slide around on the seat or floor of
the vehicle, becoming damaged, and even contributing to a hazardous
condition if a driver, needing to use a tissue, becomes distracted
in an attempt locate the box.
[0008] However, some vehicles do not have suitable compartments for
holding a tissue box, even when the tissue box has been configured
particularly for use within a vehicle. Additionally, some drivers
wanting to put such a tissue box in a compartment, will find all
such compartments full of maps, tour guides, glasses, etc.
Therefore, what is needed is a container for holding such a tissue
box in an orientation ready for use, with the container
additionally being removably attachable to various surfaces within
the vehicle.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,000 describes the cardboard tissue box
itself as being provided with a hook and loop type fastener to be
affixed to a convenient surface within the vehicle. However, this
arrangement has the disadvantage of being expensive, since one side
of the hook and loop fastener would eventually be discarded with
the empty box. Thus, what is needed is a method providing for such
attachment while allowing the replacement of tissue boxes without
requiring the simultaneous replacement of fastener hardware.
[0010] Several patents describe articles to be worn by the a user,
with the articles providing for the convenient dispensing of
individual facial tissues. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,626
describes a garment or the like including a dispenser pocket
attached thereon, formed by two overlaid panels, one of which is
partially detachable. An elongate opening is provided through the
outer panel, with a number of sheets being stored within the pocket
to be removable through the elongate opening. U.S. Pat. No.
4,805,242 describes a pocket combination for holding a packet of
disposable tissues and for incorporation in a leather glove or
other like article of clothing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,232 describes a
dispenser, which can be worn on the wrist of the user by means of
an elastic strap, for dispensing one sheet at a time from a
rectangular receptacle, with a resiliently mounted lever having an
adhesive pad being used to engage each individual sheet.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,292 describes a set of hanging nesting
containers, which can be fastened to one another and to a mounting
channel by means of hook and loop fasteners. Each of the containers
comprises a square base having a planar base with top and bottom
surfaces and with four sides extending upward perpendicular to the
top surface. A rectangular fastening lip extends outward from the
base perpendicular to one of the sides. One component of hook and
loop fastening material is disposed on opposed surfaces of the lip,
and a strip of the other component is disposed on the bottom
surface of the base beneath the side adjacent the side from which
the loop extends outward.
[0012] Still, what is needed is a receptacle removably mountable on
a vehicle surface for removably holding a box of tissues, with the
box of tissues being outwardly exposed in a manner allowing the
removal of individual tissues held within the box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a
receptacle is provided. The receptacle includes rear, left, right,
bottom, and front sides and an open top. The side extends upward to
a rear upper edge and includes an attachment structure for
attaching said receptacle to a surface external to said receptacle.
The left side extends forward from said rear side and upward to a
left upper edge. The right side extends forward from said rear side
and upward to a right upper edge. The bottom side extends forward
from said rear side and between said left and right sides. The
front side extends upward from said bottom side to a front upper
edge and between said left and right sides.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention apparatus
is provided including the receptacle and a tissue box fitting
within the receptacle. The sides of the receptacle preferably form
a tapered container, larger at the top opening than at the bottom
to hold the tissue box in place after it is downwardly inserted
into the receptacle. Additionally, one or more of the sides of the
receptacle may have a concave shape to engage the tissue box.
Preferably, the tissue box includes an opening extending downward
and rearward from an upper front edge, and the upper front edge of
the receptacle extends centrally downward to expose this opening in
the tissue box. When the tissue box is held in this way, a tissue
can easily be removed with one hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle built in
accordance with the invention, as viewed from in front and
above;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the receptacle of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a left elevation of the receptacle of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the receptacle of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1
holding a tissue box; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a receptacle built in accordance
with an alternate version of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIGS. 1-5 are views of a receptacle 10 configured to hold a
small tissue box including, for rapid installation on various
surfaces and for subsequent removal therefrom, a pair of hook and
loop fasteners 11, which are, for example, of a type sold under the
trademark VELCRO. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle
10; FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof; FIG. 3 is a plan view
thereof; FIG. 4 is a left elevation thereof, and FIG. 5 is a rear
elevation thereof. The right elevation of the receptacle 10 is the
is a mirror image of the left elevation shown in FIG. 4.
[0023] The receptacle 10 includes an open top 12, a left and right
sides 14, a bottom 16, a front 18, and a back 20. Preferably, the
body of the receptacle is molded from a thermoplastic resin, with
upper edges being rounded, and the various surfaces being tapered
to provided for extraction of an internally extending die piece and
further to facilitate the insertion of a tissue box into the
receptacle.
[0024] For ease of installation upon, and removal from, a vertical
environmental surface, two sets of hook and loop fasteners 11 are
included, being applied within depressed surfaces 24 of the back
20. Each of the fasteners 11 includes a first type of fastener 26,
adhesively attached to the back 20, a second type of fastener 28,
engaging the first type of fastener 26, and a protective strip 30
extending over an adhesive layer of the second type of fastener 28.
For example, the first type of fastener is a hook type, while the
second type of fastener is a loop type.
[0025] The receptacle 10 is applied to an environmental surface by
first removing the protective strips 30 and by then pressing the
receptacle 10 in place so that the adhesive layers of the fasteners
28 attach to the surface. Then, the receptacle 10 may be removed.
and reapplied by using the removable attachment mechanism of the
fasteners 11. For use of the receptacle 10 within a vehicle, the
environmental surface is, for example, an interior side of a door,
a side of a central console, or the back of a front seat to provide
for tissue usage by persons in the back seat.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the receptacle 10 holding a
suitable tissue box 32 which is, for example, a tissue box sold by
the Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademarks KLEENEX
TRAVELERS. The tissue box 32, having been opened, includes an
opening 34 extending downward along a front surface 36 of the
tissue box 32 and rearward along a top surface 38 thereof.
Preferably, the left and right side upper edges 40 of the opening
12 in the top of the receptacle 10 extend downward toward the front
18, along the left and right sides 14 of the receptacle, so that
the upper front upper edge 39 of the tissue box 32 is exposed to
facilitate the installation and removal of the tissue box 32 from
the receptacle 10, while the front upper edge 42 of the opening 12
also extends further downward in the center of the front 18 to
provide access to the opening 34 in the tissue box for the removal
of tissues 44.
[0027] It is desirable that the receptacle 10 engages a suitable
tissue box 32 snugly enough so that the box does not rattle or
otherwise move around within the box as a result of the motion of a
vehicle in which the receptacle 10 is being used, or as a result of
an upward pull asserted on the box as a tissue 44 is removed by
pulling upward . This kind of engagement between the tissue box 32
and the receptacle 10, with the receptacle 10 also being attached
by means of the hook and loop fasteners 11, particularly
facilitates an ability to remove a tissue with one hand, i.e.
without a need to hold the tissue box 32 in place with the other
hand. To this end, the receptacle 10 is preferably tapered, being
larger at the top opening 12.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a receptacle 46, formed in
accordance with an alternative version of the invention to have one
or more sides with a concave curvature. In the example of FIG. 7,
the front side 48 has a convex curvature, so that a central portion
of this side 48 contacts a tissue box 32 as it is inserted within
the receptacle 46, and remains in resilient contact with the tissue
box, preventing movement of the tissue box 32 due to vehicle
movement and due to removal of a tissue with one hand.
[0029] While the invention has been shown in its preferred versions
or embodiments with some degree of particularity, it is understood
that this description has been given only by way of example, and
that numerous variations in the configuration may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *