U.S. patent application number 12/364215 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-07 for bodyworn tissue dispenser and methods of use and manufacture thereof.
Invention is credited to SAMANTHA SAVAGE.
Application Number | 20100001016 12/364215 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41463565 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100001016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAVAGE; SAMANTHA |
January 7, 2010 |
BODYWORN TISSUE DISPENSER AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE
THEREOF
Abstract
A tissue dispenser, wherein a plurality of facial tissues may be
refillably stored therewithin and sequentially delivered therefrom,
and wherein the structural configuration of the device facilitates
handsfree carriage for continuous access thereto.
Inventors: |
SAVAGE; SAMANTHA; (SPRING
GROVE, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Innovative IP, LLC
P.O. Box 217
New Smyrna Beach
FL
32170
US
|
Family ID: |
41463565 |
Appl. No.: |
12/364215 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/46 ; 221/1;
221/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0894 20130101;
B65D 83/0805 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/46 ; 221/45;
221/1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/42 20060101
A47K010/42; B65D 83/00 20060101 B65D083/00 |
Claims
1. A tissue dispenser, comprising: a soft-structured ring with some
resilient characteristics and a port; and a plurality of tissues,
wherein said soft-structured ring is adapted to contain said
plurality of tissues therewithin such that sequential presentment
of said plurality of tissues is facilitated through said port.
2. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said soft-structured
ring further comprises an accessway for refilling said plurality of
tissues.
3. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said resilient
characteristics further comprise an elasticized component adapted
to facilitate bodyworn carriage of said tissue dispenser about the
wrist of a user.
4. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said plurality of
tissues further comprises a refill package adapted for installation
into said soft-structured ring.
5. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said soft-structured
ring is a continuous tubular component.
6. The tissue dispenser of claim 2, wherein said accessway is
adapted for selectable closure, and wherein said means for
selectable closure is selected from the group consisting of hook
and loop fastener, snaps, zipper, or pressure seal.
7. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said plurality of
tissues are arranged for sequential presentment according to a
arrangement selected from the group consisting of interleaved,
rolled stack, or perforated continuous roll.
8. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said port is a
grommet.
9. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said port is selected
from the group consisting of a slitlike opening or a waterproof
valve.
10. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said port is
resealable.
11. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said soft-structured
ring is formed from a material selected from cloth, plastic,
leather, hemp, bamboo, woven and non-woven synthetics, waterproof
material, disposable cloth-like material, or combination
thereof.
12. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said soft-structured
ring further comprises a waterproof interior, wherein said port is
resealable, and wherein said tissues are selected from the group
consisting of fluid impregnated wipes, wet wipes, towelettes,
cleaning wipes, and disinfectant cloths.
13. The tissue dispenser of claim 4, wherein said refill package
further comprises a plastic outercovering.
14. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said soft-sculptured
ring is formed from a plurality of components attached
together.
15. The tissue dispenser of claim 1, wherein said resilient
characteristics are selected from the group consisting of
interwoven elastic thread, a resilient panel insert, construction
of said soft-sculptured ring from a material with inherent
elasticity, one or more elasticized bands, or a combination
thereof.
16. A portable thin-sheet dispenser adapted for bodywear,
comprising: a hollow member adapted to be secured in a circular
formation; and a plurality of thin-sheet members stored within said
hollow member, wherein said hollow member is adapted with a means
for sequential access to said plurality of thin-sheet members from
an exterior of said hollow member.
17. A method of tissue provision, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a scrunchie with a plurality of tissues held therewithin,
wherein said scrunchie further comprises a dispensing port with a
first tissue of said plurality of tissues accessible therethrough;
removing said first tissue from said dispensing port; and allowing
a second tissue to be accessible through said dispensing port.
18. The method of tissue provision of claim 17, wherein said
scrunchie further comprises a refill accessway, wherein said
plurality of tissues further comprise a refill package, and further
comprising the steps of: removing a last tissue from said
dispensing port; obtaining a refill package of said plurality of
tissues; inserting said refill package of said plurality of tissues
into said scrunchie through said refill accessway; and removing
said first tissue from said dispensing port.
19. The method of tissue provision of claim 18, wherein said refill
package is held within a thin film outercovering, and further
comprising the steps of: removing said thin film outercovering from
said refill package prior to insertion of said plurality of tissues
into said scrunchie.
20. The method of tissue provision of claim 17, wherein said refill
package is held within a thin film outercovering, and further
comprising the steps of: opening said thin film outercovering of
said refill package prior to insertion of said plurality of tissues
into said scrunchie; and inserting said refill package held within
said open thin film outercovering into said scrunchie.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to tissue
dispensers, and more particularly, to a bodyworn tissue dispenser
and methods of use and manufacture thereof, wherein a
soft-structured, refillable, elasticized ring facilitates
hands-free transport and convenient delivery of facial tissues.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Facial tissues are well-recognized as staple consumables,
useful in a myriad of applications. For individuals with allergies,
colds, watery eyes, or the like, facial tissues become essentially
indispensable. For parents, too, soft facial tissues take on a
special importance in assisting with runny noses and wiping messy
mouths, tender cheeks, and dirty fingers. Thus, the frequency of
need for facial tissues has resulted in a plurality of packages
intended for a variety of environments.
[0003] For example, tissues for home use are regularly provided in
elongate rectangular boxes, square boxes, and even oval boxes, each
fashioned from inexpensive cardboard and printed to appeal to a
consumer with a particular decor style preference. Smaller boxes,
similarly constructed, are commonly distributed to each patient bed
in essentially every hospital. Schools, offices, churches, funeral
homes, and businesses of many types make facial tissues readily
accessible to visitors, openly displaying boxes of a variety of
shapes and styles in easily observed locations.
[0004] In each instance, the delivery box is stocked during
manufacture with a plurality of facial tissues stacked in an
interleaved arrangement therewithin, wherein the uppermost tissue
in the stack may be accessed through an opening, and wherein upon
pulling, the uppermost tissue is released to the user through the
opening and the next single tissue in the stack is presented,
partially extended through the opening, for subsequent removal, and
so on. Public restrooms sometimes require and utilize high-volume
dispensers, permanently installed and refillable with bulk stacked,
interleaved tissues; however, most other dispensers are generally
disposable, or are configured to receive a disposable box and to
dispense the tissues from therewithin. For example, hotel powder
rooms are commonly adapted with built-in receptacles for facial
tissue boxes, wherein decor is not impacted by the box itself, and
wherein quick and easy replacement of the box allows for easy
maintenance and refill of the delivery system. Similar built-in
receptacles, albeit of a smaller dimension, are typically found in
airplane lavatories. And, home decorator style tissue box covers
are routinely employed to receive printed cardboard boxes and
thereby allow for more variety of dispenser style.
[0005] Thus, the need and desire for provision of facial tissues in
a variety of environments is well-established. In fact, miniature
travel-size packages have been developed in order to facilitate
transport of tissues by an individual user for personal use. In
such packages, a relatively small number of tissues, such as
twenty, is typically provided, again in interleaved, single-access
manner, within a plastic film "box-shaped" outercovering, with
tissue delivery accomplished in essentially the same manner as from
a traditional cardboard tissue box. These packages, while generally
more conveniently transported than a cardboard box, remain
disadvantageously cumbersome and prohibitively sized for many
applications. In such instances, individual users may attempt to
overcome these disadvantages by removing two or three tissues from
a dispenser and folding and retaining these within a pocket or
small purse. Unfortunately, however, unless the tissues are
utilized within a short time period, the inherent nature of their
construction typically results in tearing and degradation; and,
perhaps even more disadvantageous, such manner of transport renders
the tissues open to contamination from other pocket or purse
contents.
[0006] Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a
refillable receptacle for transport and sequential delivery of
clean tissues to a user, thereby avoiding the above-discussed
disadvantages.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present
device overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the
recognized need for such a device by providing a tissue dispenser,
wherein a plurality of facial tissues may be refillably stored
therewithin and sequentially delivered therefrom, and wherein the
structural configuration of the device facilitates handsfree
carriage for continuous access thereto.
[0008] According to its major aspects and broadly stated, in its
preferred form, the present device is the combination of a
soft-structured, elasticized ring with a hollow interior adapted to
store facial tissues and an exterior surface adapted to
sequentially deliver single facial tissues, and a facial tissue
refill package adapted for installation within the ring and for
sequential removal of facial tissues therefrom.
[0009] More specifically, the device of the present disclosure in
its preferred form is a bodyworn tissue dispenser in the form of a
tubular component formed from cloth, with an elasticized member to
impart resilience, and with facial tissues removably held within
the tubular device and accessible via a dispensing port. In common
terms, the tubular component may be presently referenced according
to the generic term, hair scrunchie, although such term is not
intending to be limiting, but simply exemplary of a commonly known
object with some similarities of configuration.
[0010] In order to allow for ease of refill, it is intended that
the interior of the scrunchie be accessible, such as via VELCRO,
snaps, zipper, pressure seal, or the like, and that the tissues may
be held within a disposable plastic tube for simplicity of
marketing and for refill insertion, wherein the system of refill
may involve removal of the tissues from the plastic tube for
insertion into the scrunchie, or the tissues may remain within the
plastic tube, even within the scrunchie. That is, the tissues may
be packaged within the interior of the scrunchie in any appropriate
manner to allow for ease of removal and subsequent presentment of
another tissue, such as, for example, interleaved, as a rolled
stack, or as a perforated continuous roll, as will be
representatively discussed further herewithin.
[0011] The dispensing port may be a grommet, a simple formed
"slitlike" opening, or the like, wherein the scrunchie component is
preferably formed from cloth, with an elasticized component to
facilitate wrist wear, but may also be formed from plastic,
leather, waterproof materials, disposable cloth-like material, or
any other suitable material, wherein the elasticized nature may be
inherent in the material, rather than be formed as a separate
component. Additionally, it is envisioned that an alternate
embodiment may comprise a body worn wet wipe dispenser, wherein the
access port would likely be generally resealable, and wherein the
scrunchie interior would be adaptively waterproof. Further, it is
envisioned that another alternate embodiment may be formed without
the scrunchie, wherein enclosure and access through within an
exterior clothing pocket, such as on a sleeve, may be
facilitated.
[0012] A feature and advantage of the present device is therefore
the ability of such a device to facilitate hands-free transport and
convenient delivery of facial tissues.
[0013] Another feature and advantage of the present device is its
ability to render tissues constantly available to a bed-confined
user, without necessity of box access.
[0014] A further feature and advantage of the present device is its
ability to be economically refillable.
[0015] Another further feature and advantage of the present device
is its ability to facilitate non-cumbersome transport of tissues by
a n individual user for personal use.
[0016] Still another feature and advantage of the present device is
its ability to protect tissues from tearing and degradation during
storage and transport.
[0017] Still a further feature and advantage of the present device
is its ability to protect tissues from contamination during storage
and transport.
[0018] Yet still another feature and advantage of the present
device is its ability to serve as a refillable receptacle for
transport and sequential delivery of clean tissues to a user.
[0019] Still yet another feature and advantage of the present
device is its provision of a system of facial tissue refills.
[0020] Still another feature and advantage of the present device is
its ability to be comfortably worn on the wrist of a user, and/or
easily retained about a selected structure, such as a knob, bed
post, or the like.
[0021] Another still further feature and advantage of the present
device is its ability to be adapted for storage and delivery of
fluid-impregnated cloths, such as, for example, wet wipes,
towelettes, cleaning wipes, and disinfectant cloths.
[0022] These and other features and advantages of the device will
become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following
description and claims when read in light of the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The present invention will be better understood by reading
the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like
reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like
elements throughout, and in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bodyworn tissue dispenser,
according to the preferred embodiment, showing a grommet-style
dispensing port;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bodyworn tissue dispenser,
according to an alternate embodiment, showing a slit-style
dispensing port;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a side view of a bodyworn tissue dispenser,
according to the preferred embodiment, showing a refill
accessway;
[0027] FIG. 4 is an environmental perspective of the bodyworn
tissue dispenser of FIG. 1, showing the dispenser worn on the wrist
of a user;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tissue refill for the
bodyworn tissue dispenser, according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention, showing a rolled dispensing
configuration;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tissue refill for the
bodyworn tissue dispenser, according to an alternate embodiment of
the present invention, showing an interleaved dispensing
configuration; and
[0030] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a bodyworn tissue
dispenser, according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
[0031] In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the
present invention, as illustrated in the figures and/or described
herein, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity.
The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the
specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that
each specific element includes all technical equivalents that
operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3-5 and 7, the present disclosure
is directed, in the preferred embodiment, to bodyworn tissue
dispenser 10, and methods related thereto, wherein bodyworn tissue
dispenser 10 generally comprises scrunchie 12 and tissue refill 60.
According to its preferred form, scrunchie 12 is defined by
continuously circular tube 14, such that a doughnut- or ring-shape
is realized, and with generally hollow interior 16. It should be
readily understood by one skilled in the art that while
continuously circular tube 14 is preferred, scrunchie 12 may be
formed from discontinuous parts attached together, such as, for
example, a plurality of generally C-shaped members, a plurality of
generally O-shaped members, or any other desirable and suitable
combination of parts with one ore more seams 22, such as is seen in
FIG. 2, and as may be selected to define scrunchie 12, according to
the performance specifications described herein.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 7, scrunchie 12 is preferably formed
from cloth, wherein one or more elasticized component 18 is
preferably concentrically defined therewithin in order to impart
ring interior 20 with expansive resilience to facilitate wrist wear
of bodyworn tissue dispenser 10, as representatively shown in FIG.
4. It should be noted that, although cloth is preferred for its
washability and ready adaptation to a plurality of color schemes
and designs, other washable and/or nonwashable materials may be
utilized to form scrunchie 12, such as, for exemplary purposes
only, plastic, leather, hemp, bamboo, woven and non-woven
synthetics, or the like, essentially without limitation.
Furthermore, rather than being limited to a refillable and reusable
housing, scrunchie 12 could also be formed, without departing from
the intended scope of the present device, as a single use
disposable device, wherein scrunchie 12 could be formed from
suitable disposable materials, such as cloth-style paper presently
utilized in manufacture of disposable surgical garb, or the like.
Such an alternate embodiment will be further discussed
hereinbelow.
[0034] With respect to the one or more elasticized component 18
defined proximate ring interior 20, it should also be noted that
other manner of imparting resilience to bodyworn tissue dispenser
10 may be utilized, such as, for exemplary purposes only and
expressly without limitation, interwoven elastic thread, a
resilient panel insert, and/or construction of scrunchie 12 from a
material with inherent elasticity. The preferred resilience of
scrunchie 12 facilitates hands-free wear of bodyworn tissue
dispenser 10, such as about the wrist, for ease of convenient
transport and access during activities wherein tissue use is known
to be generally frequent, such as during snow skiing and snow
boarding, during bouts of illness and/or common colds, during
hospital stays especially when bedridden, while walking, traveling
or caring from small children, or at any other time when convenient
tissue accessibility is desirable. Specifically with respect to
hospital patient use, as noted above, and for example, present
protocols typically distribute a small cardboard box of tissues to
each patent, wherein such a box must either be retained on a side
table next to the bed or on the bed itself, thereby typically
necessitating the patient to turn and reach, or to searchingly
reach around on the bed itself, wherein such boxes frequently slip
down beside the mattress and in between the safety frame, rendering
the tissues generally inaccessible to the patient. Bodyworn tissue
dispenser 10, however, eliminates the need for potentially painful
and/or physically damaging turning and/or reaching movement,
wherein the tissues 62 remain attached to the patient at all times.
However, while carriage is beneficially intended proximate the
body, handsfree carriage proximate another object, such as on a
stroller arm, a bed rail or post, a backpack strap or handle, an
umbrella, a purse, belt, or any other desirable and convenient
object may be alternately selected.
[0035] Tissues 62, preferably packaged within tissue refill 60, are
preferably removably held within tubular bodyworn dispenser 10 and
are preferably accessible via port 40. In the preferred embodiment,
port 40 is defined by grommet 42, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and
4. Dispensing port 40 may also be defined as slit 44, such as
depicted in FIG. 2, or waterproof valve 46, such as depicted in
FIG. 3, or any other suitably defined means for facilitating
sequential presentment of tissues 62 from generally hollow interior
16 to the user.
[0036] Scrunchie 12 is preferably adapted with accessway 50,
wherein according to the preferred embodiment, accessway 50 is
defined about a portion of the outer circumference of circular tube
14 to receive tissue refill 60 therethrough. Referring now to FIG.
3, accessway 50 is preferably adapted with closure mechanism 52,
such as, for exemplary purposes only, VELCRO, snaps, zipper,
pressure seal, or the like. It should be recognized that any
suitable type of accessway 50 could be utilized, such as a full
circumference design that essentially would enable bodyworn tissue
dispenser 10 to be fully opened to define a "figure 8" shape.
Another exemplary accessway 50 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein
accessway 50 may be defined as a small overlap opening 54 proximate
port 40, and wherein overlap opening 54 is formed in a fashion
similar to the traditional pillow accessway of a pillow sham. Thus,
it should be appreciated that in order to facilitate the preferred
reusability of bodyworn tissue dispenser 10, it is necessary that
tissue refill 60 be able to be replaced therewithin, and that any
suitable accessway 50 that is capable of accomplishing such a task
could be utilized.
[0037] Also to facilitate sequential presentment of tissues 62 from
generally hollow interior 16 to the user, as well as ease of refill
of bodyworn tissue dispenser 10, tissues 62 are preferably
pre-packaged for insertion into generally hollow interior 16. Such
pre-package may come as an insertable stack of interleaved tissues
62, for example, may come as a rolled stack, for example, may come
as a perforated continuous roll, or may come in any suitable
pre-package arrangement that would facilitate refill and sequential
presentment of tissues 62. Moreover, in order to even further
facilitate ease of refill, as well as maintenance of sterility of
tissues 62, the prepackaged tissues 62 may be held within plastic
tube 64, wherein plastic tube 64 is preferably thin-film,
disposable material, such as commonly utilized for packaging
individual presentment of disposable forks and the like. The use of
plastic tube 64 for prepacking of tissue refill 60 enables
simplicity of marketing and packaging of refills for bodyworn
tissue dispenser 10, enhances ease of insertion of refill tissues
62, and beneficially maintains all tissues 62 in a clean and
uncompromised state until use.
[0038] It should be noted, however, that the system of refill may
alternately involve removal of tissues 62 from plastic tube 64 for
insertion into bodyworn tissue dispenser device 10, or tissues 62
may remain within plastic tube 64 within generally hollow interior
16 of bodyworn tissue dispenser 10.
[0039] In an alternate embodiment, body worn wet wipe dispenser 110
could be provided, such as shown in FIG. 3, wherein accessway 50
would be generally resealable, wherein port 44 would essentially
defined as a one way valve, and wherein generally hollow interior
16 would be adapted for waterproof characteristics, such as with a
liner.
[0040] In a further alternate embodiment, as noted hereinabove,
scrunchie 12 could also be formed, without departing from the
intended scope of the present device, as a single use disposable
device, wherein, for example, continuously circular tube 14 could
be formed from suitable disposable materials, such as paper,
plastic, or the like, wherein accessway 50 would not be necessary
and tissues 62 could be provided cloth-style paper presently
utilized in manufacture of disposable surgical garb, or the like.
Such an alternate embodiment will be further discussed
hereinbelow.
[0041] In still a further embodiment, bodyworn tissue dispenser 10
could be formed from a generally flat, hollow member having
attachable ends to selectively define scrunchie 12, rather than
scrunchie 12 being solely defined in a circular fashion.
[0042] In a further embodiment, bodyworn tissue dispenser 10 could
be formed to fit within a pocket defined in an article of clothing,
wherein the pocket, rather than scrunchie 12, could comprise
accessway 50 and could hold refill tissues 62 therewithin. For
example, a reclosable pocket could be defined on a jacket sleeve,
wherein the pocket could be shaped to hold refill tissues 62 and
could include accessway 50, thereby allowing a user to carry
tissues within the sleeve and have easy access thereto.
[0043] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the
within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other
alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention
is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but
is limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *