U.S. patent application number 11/314121 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for stuffed animal tissue dispenser.
Invention is credited to Phylis Nguyen.
Application Number | 20070138196 11/314121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38172272 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070138196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nguyen; Phylis |
June 21, 2007 |
Stuffed animal tissue dispenser
Abstract
An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets
includes a hollow body, a pouch in the hollow body, and a tissue
container having at least one tissue sheet positioned in the pouch.
The hollow body includes an opening so that at least one tissue
sheet can be dispensed to a user.
Inventors: |
Nguyen; Phylis; (Macon,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wilson Daniel Swayze, Jr.
3804 Clearwater Ct.
Plano
TX
75025
US
|
Family ID: |
38172272 |
Appl. No.: |
11/314121 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/033 |
International
Class: |
B65H 1/00 20060101
B65H001/00 |
Claims
1. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets,
comprising: a hollow body; a tissue housing in said hollow body; a
tissue container having at least one tissue sheet positioned in
said tissue housing; wherein said hollow body includes an opening
so that at least one tissue sheet can be dispensed to a user.
2. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said tissue housing is an expandable pouch.
3. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said opening is an expandable opening.
4. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said ornamental dispenser is in the shape of
the dog.
5. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said ornamental dispenser is in the shape of a
teddy bear.
6. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said tissue housing includes a lid that opens
and closes.
7. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 1, wherein said tissue housing includes a tab.
8. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 6, wherein said lid is on a back of said ornamental
dispenser.
9. An ornamental tissue dispenser for dispensing tissues sheets as
in claim 6, wherein said lid is on a front of said ornamental
dispenser.
10. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets, comprising the steps of: forming a
hollow body; forming a tissue housing in said hollow body; forming
a tissue container having at least one tissue sheet positioned in
said tissue housing; wherein the step of forming said hollow body
includes the step of forming an opening so that at least one tissue
sheet can be dispensed to a user.
11. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 10, wherein said step of
forming a tissue housing includes the step of forming an expandable
pouch.
12. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 10, wherein the step of
forming said opening includes the step of forming an expandable
opening.
13. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 10, Wherein said or
ornamental dispenser is in the shape of a dog.
14. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets As in claim 10, wherein said ornamental
dispenser is in the shape of the teddy bear.
15. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 10, wherein said step of
forming said tissue housing includes the step of forming a lid in
said tissue housing for opening and closing.
16. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 15, wherein said lid is
formed on a back of said ornamental dispenser.
17. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 15, wherein said lid is
formed on a front of said ornamental dispenser.
18. A method for forming an ornamental tissue dispenser for
dispensing tissues sheets as in claim 15, wherein said tissue
housing includes a tab for opening and closing said lid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an ornamental dispensing
apparatus in particular a stuffed animal tissue dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There have been many devices to dispense tissues and the
like. However, in today's world of home decorating, there is a need
for a device to dispense tissues from a decorative container. Some
of these decorative containers are nothing more than rectangular
boxes using printed material to provide the decoration on the
container. Although these decorated containers may be preferable
than a plain container, the decorations are limited to two
dimensions, leaving much to be desired in the field of
decoration.
[0003] Other decorated containers are designed having a hollow
housing within opening on the bottom of the hollow housing such
that the opening is sized to fit over a rectangular manufactured
box of tissues. Some of these devices are a mere shell to encompass
the manufactured box of tissues
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,163 discloses a sound emitting dispenser
for emitting sound and also including a pressure activated
dispenser in the form of a sculpture for dispensing a liquid.
However, the sculpture is inflexible.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,335 to Rankin discloses a simulated
animal toilet tissue holder in which a roll of toilet tissue is
held by the front legs of a simulated stuffed animal to be used for
training a child to use the toilet. The roll of toilet tissue is
not hidden but fully visible to the user, reducing the decorative
effect.
[0006] None of the above devices discloses a tissue dispenser which
can easily dispense tissues and is highly decorative.
SUMMARY
[0007] A tissue dispenser is disclosed that may be in the shape of
an animal or other such object that accepts tissues. The tissue
housing is positioned within the interior of the hollow housing and
supported by the stuffing. The tissue housing includes a lid which
rotates along a lid hinge to open and close the tissue housing so
that the tissue container can be placed within the tissue housing
and so that the tissue container can be removed from the tissue
housing. The lid includes an opening so that the tissue sheets can
be removed from the tissue container when positioned within the
tissue housing as required by the user.
[0008] In another embodiment, the tissues may be held in a
container which is accepted by a pouch in the housing of the tissue
dispenser. The tissues may be on a roll or may be laid
face-to-face. The pouch may be expandable to expand and collapse
based on the size and shape of the container holding the tissues.
The pouch includes an opening which extends through the housing of
the tissue dispenser and which is expandable so that the opening
can accept different sized containers that hold the tissues. The
box or container is inserted through the opening and into the
interior of the pouch. The pouch collapses around the box or
container to hold the tissue dispenser in place.
[0009] In all embodiments, the tissues are releaseably interlocked
with each other as long as they are within the container. As the
tissues are pulled out through the opening, the tissues are
released from each other so that they can be individually used. As
one tissue is pulled away from the tissue dispenser, a second
tissue is partially pulled out from the tissue dispenser so that
the user can pull the second tissue completely out of the tissue
dispenser when required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention may be understood by reference to the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements,
and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an ornamental tissue dispenser in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the ornamental tissue dispenser with a
tissue container being inserted into the tissue dispenser;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the ornamental tissue dispenser
dispensing tissues.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the ornamental
tissue dispenser;
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of
the ornamental tissue dispenser;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment
of the ornamental tissue dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of the ornamental tissue
dispenser 100 with a portion of the back removed for illustrating
the features and aspects of the present invention. The ornamental
tissue dispenser 100 includes a hollow housing 110 which is shown
in FIG. 1 in the shape of an animal. The hollow housing 110 may be
filled with stuffing material 102 so that the desired shape of the
hollow housing 110 may be maintained and may be formed from
flexible material so that the hollow housing 110 appears lifelike.
The hollow housing 110 may be covered with material that resembles
animal skin or fur. The hollow housing 100 additionally includes an
expandable pouch 104 which may be made of elastic material to
expand as the tissue container 106 is inserted into the expandable
pouch 104 and which compresses as the tissue container 106 is
removed from the expandable pouch 104. The expandable pouch 104 is
supported and maintained in position by the stuffing material 102.
The hollow housing 100 and the expandable pouch 104 includes an
expandable opening 112 for communication with the interior of the
expandable pouch 104 and which can be expanded to allow the tissue
container 106 to be placed within the expandable pouch 104 and can
be contracted after the tissue container 106 has passed through the
expandable opening 112. The expandable opening 112 may be form with
an elastic band around the opening. FIG. 1 shows that the tissue
container 106 includes tissue sheets 108. The tissues sheets 108
are releaseably interlocked with each other as long as they are
within the container. As the first tissue sheet 108 is a pulled out
through the opening, a second tissue sheet 108 is partially pulled
through the expandable opening 102. The first tissue releases the
second tissue after the second tissue is partially through the
expandable opening 102. The first tissue 108 can be used by the
user, and the second tissue 108 is available for another user. As
one tissue is pulled away from the tissue dispenser, a second
tissue is partially pulled out from the tissue dispenser so that
the user can pull the second tissue completely out of the tissue
dispenser when required.
[0018] As result of the tissue container 106 being held in place by
the stuffing material 102, the ornamental dispenser 100 can be can
be moved by a user and does not have to remain stationary in order
to be used. Children in particular can use the ornamental dispenser
100 as a toy, and when there is a need for a tissue, the ornamental
dispenser 100 can dispense a tissue sheet 108.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates the tissue container 206 being inserted
into the pouch 204.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates tissue sheet 308 being pulled from the
tissue container 306 through the expandable opening 312.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the ornamental
dispenser with the tissue sheet to be dispensed.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the ornamental
tissue dispenser in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention. FIG. 5 shows the tissue housing 524 having substantially
rigid walls to hold the tissue container 106 which contains the
tissues sheets 108. The tissue housing 524 is positioned within the
interior of the hollow housing 510 and supported by the stuffing
502. The tissue housing 524 includes a lid 520 which rotates along
a lid hinge 526 to open and close the tissue housing 524 so that
the tissue container 106 can be placed within the tissue housing
524 and so that the tissue container 106 can be removed from the
tissue housing 524. The lid 520 includes an opening 512 so that the
tissue sheets 108 can be removed from the tissue container 106 when
positioned within the tissue housing 524 as required by the user.
The outside surface of the lid 520 may be covered with the same
material that resembles animal skin or fur that has been chosen to
cover the hollow housing 510. The opening 512 may have excess
material so that the size of the opening 512 can changed to conform
to the size of the tissue sheets 108. The lid 520 may include a
flap 524 at one end of the lid 520 to aid in keeping the lid 520
closed. The flap 524 may be connected to the lid 520 by a flap
hinge 528 so that the flap 524 may rotate with respect to the lid
520. FIG. 5 additionally shows a tab 522 which is connected to one
end of the lid 520 so that the user can hold the tab 522 and can
open and close the lid 520.
[0023] The tissue housing 524 may be of sufficient size to hold any
size tissue package or box including square or rectangular packages
or boxes. The interior of the tissue housing 524 including the
interior surface of the lid 520 may be covered with a lining which
may be a fabric. Excess material may be placed within the tissue
housing 524 to secure smaller tissue packages.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates the ornamental tissue dispenser of FIG. 5
with the lid 620 closed. The material covering the ornamental
tissue dispenser which may be animal fur may cover the peripheral
edges of the lid 620 and the excess material around the opening 612
may cover the opening 612. The user will hold the tab 622 to open
and close the lid 620.
[0025] The lid 620 and tissue housing 524 may be formed on the back
of the ornamental tissue dispenser as shown in FIG. 6 or could be
located on the front of the ornamental tissue dispenser. In other
embodiments, the lid 620 and tissue housing 524 could be formed on
the head of the ornamental tissue dispenser.
[0026] The ornamental dispenser may be in the form of an animal
such as a dog, a teddy bear, a cat, a rooster, a duck, a dolphin, a
cow, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse a sheep a
monkey, a pig, and an insect for example a bee, a fly, a ladybug,
an ant and a butterfly. The dispenser may be in the form of an
inanimate object such as a plant, a tree, a mountain, a flower, a
mountain, an electrical appliance, a locomotive, a train, an
airplane, a jet, a space shuttle, a truck, a car, a volcano, a
building, or a structure.
[0027] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown
by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the description
herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the
invention to the particular forms disclosed.
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