U.S. patent application number 11/401594 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for paper tissue dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to Potlatch Forest Products Corporation. Invention is credited to Donald G. Heitmann.
Application Number | 20070235467 11/401594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38574090 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070235467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heitmann; Donald G. |
October 11, 2007 |
Paper tissue dispenser
Abstract
A paper tissue dispenser is disclosed and which includes a
container which encloses a plurality of paper tissues for
individual dispensing, and wherein the container substantially
prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a
time.
Inventors: |
Heitmann; Donald G.;
(Clarkston, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELLS ST. JOHN P.S.
601 W. FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 1300
SPOKANE
WA
99201
US
|
Assignee: |
Potlatch Forest Products
Corporation
|
Family ID: |
38574090 |
Appl. No.: |
11/401594 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/421
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/038 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/00 20060101
B65H003/00 |
Claims
1. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a container which encloses
a plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein
the container substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than
one paper tissue at a time.
2. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the
plurality of paper tissues have a leading and a trailing edge, and
wherein the trailing edge of a first paper tissue is intermittently
joined to the leading edge of a second paper tissue by a plurality
of connection points, and wherein the container defines an opening
through which the first and second paper tissues pass, and wherein
force imparted to the first paper tissue causes the first paper
tissue to pass through the opening and pull at least a portion of
the second paper tissue therethrough, and wherein the container
imparts an amount of frictional force on the second paper tissue as
it continues to pass through the opening under the influence of the
force applied to the first paper tissue so as to facilitate the
separation of the first and second paper tissues at the plurality
of connections.
3. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the
container has a top surface, and further defines a cavity which
encloses the plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing,
and wherein the top surface is formed, at least in part, of a rigid
substrate defining an opening, and which has a length and width
dimension, and the respective paper tissues have a length dimension
which is greater than about twice the length dimension of the
opening formed in the top surface.
4. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and further
comprising: a flexible membrane which occludes, at least in part,
the opening defined in the top surface, and wherein the flexible
membrane defines a dispensing opening having a substantially
restrained length dimension which is as long as the length
dimension of the first opening, and a substantially unrestrained
width dimension which is less than the width dimension of the
opening defined by the top surface, and which can be forcibly
increased, and wherein the movement of the first and second paper
tissues through the dispensing opening increases the width
dimension of the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible
membrane exerts a frictional force to the first and second paper
tissues as they pass through the dispensing opening.
5. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and further
comprising: a flexible membrane which occludes, at least in part,
the opening defined in the top surface, and wherein the flexible
membrane defines a dispensing opening having a length dimension
which is at least about 85% of the length dimension of the opening
defined by the top surface, and a substantially unrestrained width
dimension which is less than the width dimension of the opening,
and which can be forcibly increased, and wherein the movement of
the first and second paper tissues through the dispensing opening
increases the width dimension of the dispensing opening, and
wherein the flexible membrane exerts a frictional force to the
first and second paper tissues as they pass through the dispensing
opening.
6. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the
width dimension of the dispensing opening can be forcibly increased
to a width dimension which is equal to the width dimension of the
opening as defined by the top surface.
7. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 6, and wherein a
plurality of paper tissues are formed into discreet first and
second courses, and wherein each of the first and second courses
are defined by a plurality of individual paper tissues each having
a leading edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge
of one paper tissue is releasably connected to the leading edge of
the next adjacent paper tissue in each of the first and second
courses, and wherein the first and second courses are folded
together in a fashion whereby force applied to the first paper
tissue, in the first course, has the effect of moving the first
paper tissue, and a portion of the second paper tissue, in the
first course, through the dispensing opening while simultaneously
carrying a portion of a first paper tissue of the second course
through the dispensing opening.
8. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 7, and wherein individual
paper tissues are alternatively dispensed from the respective first
and second courses.
9. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the length
dimension of the opening defined by the top surface is about 4
inches; and the length dimension of the respective tissues is
greater than about 8 inches.
10. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 7, and wherein each of
the paper tissues has a surface area, and wherein the movement of
the first paper tissue, and a portion of the second paper tissue,
of the first course, through the dispensing opening has the effect
of carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of the first
paper tissue, of the second course, through the dispensing opening
before the first and second paper tissues of the first course
forcibly separate as a result of the friction imparted by the
flexible membrane.
11. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a container having a top
surface, and which further defines a cavity which encloses a
plurality of individual paper tissues which are releasably joined
together, and wherein the top surface defines an opening which has
a substantially restrained length and width dimension, and through
which the individual paper tissues are dispensed, and wherein the
top surface defining the opening imparts an amount of frictional
resistance to a paper tissue passing through the opening so as
cause a separation of another paper tissue which is joined thereto
to substantially prevent a dispensing of two paper tissues.
12. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 11, and wherein
the container has a length dimension of about 9.25 inches, and a
width dimension of about 4.6 inches, and wherein the opening
defined in the top surface has a length dimension which is less
than about 50% of the length dimension of the container, and a
width dimension which is less than about 55% of the width dimension
of the container.
13. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 12, and wherein a
flexible membrane defining a reduced dimension dispensing opening
through which the individual paper tissues pass, is mounted in
partially occluding relation relative to the opening which is
defined by the top surface, and wherein the dispensing opening has
a length dimension which is at least about 85% of the length
dimension of the opening as defined by the top surface of the
container.
14. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 12, and wherein
the individual paper tissues which are dispensed by the container
each have a length dimension of less than about 9 inches, and
wherein a flexible membrane defining a reduced dimensioned
dispensing opening through which the individual paper tissues pass
is mounted in partially occluding relation relative to opening
which is defined by the top surface, and wherein the length
dimension of the dispensing opening as defined by the flexible
membrane is less than about 45% of the length dimension of the
individual paper tissues.
15. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 13, and wherein
the flexible membrane exerts a frictional force of an amount on the
individual paper tissues so as to cause only one paper tissue to be
dispensed at a time while simultaneous substantially prohibiting
the tearing of the paper tissue being dispensed.
16. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a paperboard container
having a length and width dimension and which defines an internal
cavity which encloses a first and a second course of individual
paper tissues which are folded together, and which are to be
individually selectively dispensed, and wherein the respective
paper tissues of the first and second courses each have a length
and width dimension, a surface area, a leading edge, and a trailing
edge, and wherein the trailing edge of a first paper tissue in one
of the two courses is coupled by a plurality of connections to the
leading edge of a next adjacent paper tissue in the same course,
and wherein the first paper tissue in a course may be forcibly
separated from the next subsequent paper tissue in the same course
by breaking the plurality of connections, and wherein the
paperboard container further has a top surface which defines an
opening through which the individual paper tissues pass, and
wherein the opening has a length dimension which is less than about
45% of the length dimension of the individual tissues; and a
flexible membrane mounted on the top surface of the paperboard
container, and which partially occludes the opening defined by the
top surface, and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing
opening having a length dimension which is at least about 85% of
the length dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and
wherein force applied to the leading edge of a first paper tissue
in the first course, is effective in drawing substantially the
entire surface area of the first paper tissue in the first course
through the dispensing opening, as defined by the flexible
membrane, while simultaneously carrying at least about 30% of the
surface area of a first paper tissue in the second course through
the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts an
amount of frictional resistance on the respective first paper
tissues of each of the first and second courses which are being
drawn through the dispensing opening such that the first paper
tissue in the first course separates from the next subsequent paper
tissue in first course by breaking the plurality of connections
therebetween.
17. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 16, and wherein
the first paper tissue in the first course separates from the next
subsequent tissue in the first course when the first paper tissue
in the first course is located entirely outside of the paperboard
container.
18. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 16, and wherein
the first paper tissue of the first course separates from the next
subsequent paper tissue in the first course when the leading edge
of the next subsequent paper tissue in the first course has passed
through the dispensing opening and is positioned outside of the
paperboard container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a paper tissue dispenser,
and more specifically to a paper tissue dispenser which
substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper
tissue at a time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Facial tissue has been dispensed in paperboard cartons for
decades. Consumers of facial tissue have, from time-to-time,
experienced difficulty and frustration in opening these sealed
containers and thereafter locating and grasping the first tissue
which is positioned within the cavity of the container. Individuals
with large fingers, or people with reduced fine motor skills, such
as the elderly, and patients with various neurological disorders
have often found it difficult to find and grasp the first tissue
from such dispensers.
[0003] In addition to the foregoing, consumers have often been
frustrated that the prior art tissue dispensers often dispense more
than one tissue at a time. In particular, while the consumer will
grasp one tissue, often that tissue will pull or otherwise draw one
or more other tissues along with it as it is being dispensed. These
additional tissues are often not necessary, and are usually
discarded by the consumer.
[0004] A paper tissue dispenser which avoids the shortcomings
attendant with the prior art dispensers utilized heretofore is the
subject matter of the present application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a paper
tissue dispenser, and which includes a container which encloses a
plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein
the container substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than
one paper tissue at a time.
[0006] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a paper
tissue dispenser which includes a container having a top surface,
and which defines a cavity which encloses a plurality of individual
paper tissues which are releasably joined together, and wherein the
top surface defines an opening which has a substantially restrained
length, and width dimension, and through which the individual
tissues are dispensed, and wherein the top surface defining the
opening imparts an amount of frictional resistance to a tissue
passing through the opening so as cause a separation of another
tissue which is joined thereto to substantially prevent the
dispensing of two tissues.
[0007] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a
paper tissue dispenser which includes a paperboard container having
a length and width dimension and which defines an internal cavity
which encloses a first and a second course of individual tissues
which are folded together and which are to be individually
dispensed, and wherein the respective tissues of each of the first
and second courses have a length dimension, a surface area, a
leading edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge of
a first tissue in one of the two courses is coupled by a plurality
of connections to the leading edge of next adjacent tissue in the
same course, and wherein the first tissue in a course may be
forcibly separated from the next subsequent tissue in the same
course by breaking the plurality of connections, and wherein the
paperboard container further has a top surface which defines an
opening through which the individual tissues pass, and wherein the
opening has a length dimension which is less than about 45% of the
length dimension of the individual tissues; and a flexible membrane
is mounted on the top surface of the paperboard container, and
which partially occludes the opening defined by the top surface,
and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing opening
having a length dimension which is at least 85% of the length
dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and wherein
force applied to the leading edge of a first tissue in the first
course, is effective in drawing substantially the entire surface
area of the first tissue in the first course through the dispensing
opening as defined by the flexible membrane while simultaneously
carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of a first tissue
in the second course through the dispensing opening, and wherein
the flexible membrane exerts an amount of frictional resistance on
the respective first tissues of each of the first and second
courses which are being drawn through the dispensing opening such
that the first tissue in the first course separates from the next
subsequent tissue in first course by breaking the plurality of
connections therebetween.
[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention will be
discussed in greater detail hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below
with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0010] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective, side elevation view
of a prior art paper tissue dispenser.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective, side elevation view
of a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the paper
tissue dispenser of the present invention in the process of
dispensing a tissue.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the paper
tissue dispenser of the present invention dispensing a tissue at a
point in time after that seen in FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a plurality of
paper tissues which are folded in an appropriate manner for
insertion within a paper tissue dispenser of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of two adjacent paper tissues
in the same course showing the interconnections made
therebetween.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical,
sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the
present invention and showing the paper tissues dispensed from same
in a first position.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical,
sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the
present invention and showing the paper tissues dispensed from same
in a second position.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical,
sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the
present invention and showing the separation of one tissue from the
plurality of tissues received within the paper tissue
dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance
of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws "to promote
the progress of science and useful arts" (Article 1, Section
8).
[0020] The paper tissue dispenser of the present invention is
generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 2 and following.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art paper tissue dispenser 11. This prior art
container includes a paperboard container generally defined by a
top surface 12, a bottom surface 13, which is spaced therefrom, and
sidewalls 14 which connect the top and bottom surfaces together to
define an internal cavity which encloses a plurality of paper
tissues to be dispensed. Still further, an aperture 15 is formed in
the top surface 12, and a flexible membrane 20 is provided and
which occludes the aperture 15, and which further defines a narrow
longitudinally disposed opening 21 through which the respective
tissues are dispensed. As seen in FIG. 1, the opening 21 has a
length dimension which is generally indicated by the numeral 22,
and which is greater than about 60% of the overall length dimension
of the prior art container 11. Still further, and in some prior art
devices, the length dimension of the opening 21 may be somewhat
less then the length stated above. However, in practice, such
opening 21 regardless of its length is typically increased by the
user of the device as by tearing the flexible membrane when they
insert their hand in through the opening 21 in order to grasp and
remove a plurality of tissues to be dispensed 23. In the prior art
devices, therefore, it is usually the case that more than one paper
tissue is dispensed at a time because of the lengthening or tearing
of the elongated opening which is provided in the flexible membrane
20.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, the paper tissue dispenser 10 is
fabricated in the form of an elongated rectangular shaped
paperboard container 30. The container 30 has a generally rigid top
surface 31 which defines an opening 32 through which individual
paper tissues will be dispensed. The opening 32 has a length
dimension 33 which is generally oriented along the longitudinal
axis of the container 30, and further has a width dimension which
is generally indicated by the numeral 34. As illustrated, in FIG.
2, the width dimension in some forms of the invention is not
substantially uniform relative to the length dimension 33 and may
vary from a minimal dimension to a maximum dimension which is
approximately midway along the length of the opening 32. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the opening 32 which is formed in the top
surface has a length dimension 33 of about 4 inches. Further, it
should be understood that the length dimension of the respective
tissues which are dispensed from the paper tissue dispenser 30 will
be greater than about 8 inches and less than about 9 inches. In the
arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, the container 30 has a length
dimension of about 9.25 inches and a width dimension of about 4.6
inches. Still further, the opening 32 which is defined in the top
surface 31 has a length dimension which is less than about 50% of
the length dimension of the container, and a width dimension which
is less than about 55% of the width of the container.
[0022] As best illustrated in FIG. 2 and following, a flexible
membrane 40 is provided and which is secured in a manner such that
it substantially occludes the opening 32 provided in the top
surface 31. The flexible membrane 40 defines a dispensing opening
41 which is substantially longitudinally, and coaxially oriented
relative to the elongated paper tissue container 30. As will be
appreciated from the drawing, the dispensing opening 41 has a
substantially restrained length dimension 42 which can be no longer
than the length dimension 33 of the opening 32, and a relatively
unrestrained width dimension 43 which is typically less than the
width dimension 34 of the opening 32. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
width dimension 43 of the flexible membrane 40 can be forcibly
increased so as to be not greater than the width dimension 34 of
the opening 32. As should be understood, the flexible membrane 40
exerts a frictional force, or drag on the respective paper tissues
which pass through the dispensing opening 41. These paper tissues
will be discussed in greater detail, hereinafter. In the
arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, and following, the dispensing
opening 41 has a length dimension 42 which is at least about 85% of
the length dimension of the opening 32, and a relatively
unrestrained width dimension which is less than about the width
dimension of the opening 32. As will be appreciated by a study of
FIG. 2, the width dimension can be forcibly increased. Still
further, the container 30 is further defined by sidewalls 44 which
connect the top surface 31, with a bottom surface 45. Still
further, the top surface 31; sidewalls 44; and bottom surface 45
define a cavity 46 which contains a plurality of tissues 50 to be
dispensed.
[0023] The cavity 46, of the container 30 encloses a plurality of
paper tissues 50 to be dispensed, as seen in FIG. 5. As best
illustrated in FIG. 2, a hand of an individual 51 is employed to
grasp one of the paper tissues to be dispensed, and forcibly remove
it through the dispensing opening 41 as provided by the flexible
membrane 40. As earlier discussed with respect to the prior art
paper tissue container 11 (FIG. 1), a plurality of paper tissues
will often be dispensed substantially simultaneously when one
tissue is removed. This shortcoming in the prior art containers has
proved to be inconvenient and wasteful of the supply of paper
tissues provided because the user often discards both the tissue
which they have used, as well as the other tissues which have been
removed unintentionally and simultaneously with the removal of the
tissue which was initially grasped by the user. As best seen by
references to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the plurality of paper tissue to be
dispensed 50 are fabricated and then foldably arranged into a
substantially continuous first course 52; and a second course 53.
The respective first and second courses 52 and 53 are folded
together to form the plurality of paper tissues to be dispensed 50
as seen in FIG. 5. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, it should be
understood that the respective first and second courses each
include a plurality of individual paper tissues 54 which are
sequentially releasably joined together. As seen in FIG. 6, each
course is defined by a first tissue 55 which is releasably joined
to a second tissue 56. Each of the paper tissues 54 which are
provided in the first and second courses have a main body 60 which
is defined by a leading edge 61, and a trailing edge 62. As should
be appreciated from a study of FIG. 6, the trailing edge 62 of a
first tissue 55 is joined to the leading edge 61 of an adjacent or
second tissue 56 by a plurality of connections or attachment points
which are generally indicated by the numeral 63. Still further,
each of the main bodies 60 of the respective tissues 60 are folded,
substantially along the longitudinal axis as indicated by the line
labeled 64. Still further, and as seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, it will
be appreciated that the first and second courses 52 and 53,
respectively, are so arranged such that the leading and trailing
edges 61 and 62 of the respective individual tissues 54 in each of
the courses 52 and 53 are staggered or otherwise disposed or
positioned substantially along the midpoint 64 of the paper tissues
in the adjacent course. This arrangement of the paper tissues
facilitates the individual dispensing of individual paper tissues
54 and substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one
paper tissue at a time as will be discussed in greater detail
below. Each of the respective tissues 54, have a length dimension
65 (FIG. 5), and a width dimension 66. As illustrated by reference
to FIG. 5, the respective individual paper tissues are folded
longitudinally and along the longitudinal axis as indicated by line
64.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a plurality of paper
tissues 50 to be dispensed are illustrated in a highly simplistic
fashion so as to understand the features of the present invention.
In this regard, a paper tissue dispenser 10 of the present
invention includes a container 30 having a top surface 31, and
which defines a cavity 46 which encloses a plurality of individual
tissues 54 which are releasably joined together. The top surface 31
defines an opening 32 which has a substantially restrained length
dimension 33, and a width dimension 34 and through which the
individual tissues 54 are dispensed. The top surface 31 defining
the opening 32 in combination with the flexible membrane 40 imparts
an amount of frictional resistance to the individual paper tissues
55 passing through the opening 32/41 so as to cause a separation of
the next adjacent paper tissue 56 which is joined thereto to
substantially prevent a dispensing of two tissues substantially
simultaneously. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, and
following, the container 30 has a length dimension of about 9.25
inches, and a width dimension of about 4.6 inches, and wherein the
opening 32 defined in the top surface 31 has a length dimension 33
which is less than about 50% of the length dimension of the
container 30 and a width dimension 34 which is less then about 55%
of the width of the container. As earlier disclosed, a flexible
membrane 40 defines a reduced dimension dispensing opening 41
through which individual tissues 54 pass. As seen in the drawings,
the flexible membrane is mounted in partially occluding relation
relative to the opening 32 which is defined by the top surface 31.
The dispensing opening 41 which is defined by the flexible membrane
40 has a length dimension 42 which is at least about 85% of the
length dimension 33 of the opening 32 as defined by the top surface
of the container 30. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings,
the individual tissues 54 which are dispensed by the container 30
each have a length dimension 66 of less than about 9 inches. As
should be understood, the length dimension 42 of the dispensing
opening 41 as defined by the flexible membrane 41 is less than
about 45% of the length dimension of the individual tissues 54. As
earlier discussed, the flexible membrane 40 is operable to exert a
frictional force of an amount on the individual tissues 54 so as to
cause only one tissue to be dispensed at a time while
simultaneously substantially prohibiting the tearing of the paper
tissue being dispensed. It has been discovered by the inventor that
the lengthening of the dispensing opening 41 beyond the dimensions
as provided for herein, causes the flexible membrane 40 to not
exert sufficient frictional force on the individual paper tissues
that are being dispensed so as to permit the multiple dispensing of
paper tissues from each of the first and second courses as may be
supplied from the cavity 46.
Operation
[0025] The operation of the described embodiment of the present
invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly
summarized at this point.
[0026] A paper tissue dispenser 10 of the present invention
comprises a paperboard container 30 having an opening 32 which has
a length dimension 33, and width dimension 34, the container 30
further defines an internal cavity 46 which encloses a first and a
second course, 52 and 53 of individual tissues 54 which are folded
together and which are to be individually dispensed. The respective
paper tissues 54 of each of the first and second courses 52 and 53
have a length and width dimension 65 and 66, respectively, a
surface area, and a leading edge 61 and a trailing edge 62. In the
arrangement as seen in the drawings, the trailing edge 62 of a
first tissue 55 in one of the two courses is coupled by a plurality
of connections 63 to the leading edge 61 of next adjacent or second
paper tissue 56 in the same course. The first paper tissue 55 in a
course may be forcibly separated from the next subsequent tissue 56
in the same course by breaking the plurality of connections 63. The
paperboard container 30 further has a top surface 31 which defines
an opening 32 through which the individual tissues 54 pass. The
opening 32 has a length dimension 33 which is less than about 45%
of the length dimension 66 of the individual tissues 50.
[0027] In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, a flexible
membrane 40 is mounted on the top surface 31 and which partially
occludes the opening 32 defined by the top surface. The flexible
membrane 40 defines a dispensing opening 41 having a length
dimension which is at least 85% of the length dimension 33 of the
opening 32 defined by the top surface 31. Still further, force
applied to the leading edge 61 of a first tissue 55 in one of the
first or second courses 52 or 53, is effective in drawing
substantially the entire surface area of the first tissue 55 in the
first or second course through the dispensing opening 41 as defined
by the flexible membrane 40 while simultaneously carrying at least
about 30% of the surface area of a first tissue 55 in the other of
the first or second course 52 or 53 through the dispensing opening
41. In this arrangement, individual tissues are alternatively
dispensed from each of the first and second course 52 and 53,
respectively. This is best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 3, 4,
8 and 9, respectively. As should be understood, the restricted
length dimension 42 of the dispensing opening 41 causes the
flexible membrane to exert an appropriate amount of frictional
resistance on the respective first tissues of each of the first and
second courses which are being drawn through the dispensing opening
such that the first tissue 55 in the first course 52 separates from
the next subsequent or second paper tissue 56 in first course 52 by
breaking the plurality of connections therebetween (FIG. 4). As
seen by reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, the first tissue 55 in the
first course 52 separates from the next subsequent paper tissue 56
in the first course 52 when the first tissue in the first course is
located entirely outside of the paperboard container 30. Still
further, and as understood from the drawings, the first tissue 55
of the first course 52 separates from the next subsequent paper
tissue 56 in the first course 52 when the leading edge 61 of the
next subsequent paper tissue 56 in the first course 52 has passed
through the dispensing opening 41 and is positioned outside of the
paperboard container 30 (FIG. 4).
[0028] As described, above, the present invention substantially
prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue 54 at a time
while conserving the number of paper tissues which are available
for subsequent use.
[0029] Therefore it will be seen that the present paper tissue
dispenser provides a means for dispensing individual tissues in a
highly advantageous manner not possible heretofore and avoids many
of the shortcomings of the prior art dispensing assemblies which
have been utilized heretofore.
[0030] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been
described in language more or less specific as to structural and
methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the specific features shown and
described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred
forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is,
therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the
proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in
accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
* * * * *