U.S. patent application number 14/753486 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for dispensing tissue box.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bernard Murphy. Invention is credited to Bernard Murphy.
Application Number | 20150353266 14/753486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54768987 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150353266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murphy; Bernard |
December 10, 2015 |
Dispensing Tissue Box
Abstract
A tissue box that, in the preferred embodiment, includes an
additional and integral box cover section which may be pivoted away
from the tissue box, then engaged with the same in a way that
permits support on a flat surface and where the tissue box becomes
substantially inverted, allowing for the removal of tissues in a
substantially downward direction.
Inventors: |
Murphy; Bernard; (Boonton
Twp., NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Murphy; Bernard |
Boonton Twp. |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54768987 |
Appl. No.: |
14/753486 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0805 20130101;
B65D 5/4208 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/08 20060101
B65D083/08 |
Claims
1. A tissue box for placement on a planar surface whereby said
tissue box is maintained in a substantially inverted position so
that tissues are dispensed in a substantially downward direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a tissue box that dispenses
tissues in a substantially downward direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Facial tissues were invented in 1924 by International
Cellucotton Products Company (later to be called Kimberly-Clark)
for removing makeup and creams from women's faces, and called
Kleenex. That brand name was chosen to phonetically link it to
Kotex, another product introduced only a few years earlier by this
same company. A company researcher who was struggling with hay
fever kept using their new Kleenex product to clear his nose. It
was this inadvertent act which persuaded the company to market
Kleenex as a disposable handkerchief. Since then, the tissue box
has become as ubiquitous a sight as a wall clock or telephone.
[0003] Tissue boxes have changed little since their introduction in
1924. A portion of the box top is removed to expose the top tissue,
then they are removed in succession until the bottom-most tissue is
removed and the box discarded. One improvement in tissue boxes was
to interleave the tissues, then provide a plastic film having a
slit in the middle attached to the top of the tissue box through
which tissues are pulled. Since the bottom of the top tissue is
folded under the top of the next tissue, pulling out the first
constrains the top of the next tissue to partially follow the first
tissue out of the box via friction. That friction is released once
the first tissue fully leaves the box. With the top portion of a
tissue now outside the box, the operation is prepared to be
repeated as often as tissues are removed.
[0004] There are at least two problems with the improved tissue box
mentioned above. The first problem has to do with the increasing
distance between the top of the tissue box and each succeeding
tissue removed therefrom. As tissues are removed, and as the
distance between the top of the box and the next tissue stored
within increases, there typically arrives a point where the
succeeding tissue fails to follow the leading tissue through the
opening on the top.
[0005] Another problem with this type of tissue box, as well as
most other conventional tissue boxes, is that tissues are removed
from the top. This requires placement on "expensive real estate"
surfaces, such as kitchen counters or work desks. Of course, they
can, and sometimes are, placed on shelves. However, such placement
normally requires removing the box from the shelf each time a
tissue is needed.
[0006] There is presently a need for a tissue box which will
dispense every tissue without fail. There is further a need for a
tissue box which can be mounted on a shelf and dispense tissues
without having to remove the tissue box from the shelf. The present
invention overcomes the problems with conventional tissue boxes by
providing a tissue box which dispenses tissues in a substantially
downward direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention, there is provided a tissue box which includes an
additional box cover section which may be pivoted and engaged
within recesses formed on the tissue box ends, and once engaged,
may serve to support the tissue box in a substantially inverted
orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts the printed side of a cardboard blank which
is assembled to form the tissue box of the preferred
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the tissue box of the preferred
embodiment assembled for packaging and retail distribution and
sale.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective taken along line 3 of FIG.
2.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows the additional cover section pivoted away from
the tissue box.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows the additional cover section pivoted into
pockets formed on each tissue box end.
[0013] FIG. 6 depicts the tissue box of the preferred embodiment
assembled for dispensing tissues.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Although the following detailed description contains many
specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and
alterations to the following details are within the scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the
invention IS set forth without any loss of generality to, and
without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
[0015] Tissue boxes are manufactured by first printing one side of
a sheet of rolled cardboard. After printing, the rolled cardboard
is cut into individual blanks. Each blank is folded and glued
around a stack of tissues to form a single box of tissues which is
then packaged for distribution and retail sale. FIG. 1 is a
print-side view of a cardboard blank which will be folded and glued
about a stack of tissues to form the tissue box of the preferred
embodiment. Panels labeled 1 through 4 comprise the top 2, bottom
4, front 1 and back 3 sides. Panels 5 and 6 form additional box
cover sections. The lines shown between each panel are fold lines,
and each panel will fold toward the non-printed side along these
fold lines during assembly. Once fully assembled for distribution
and retail sale, panel 5 will cover the tissue box back, and panel
6 will cover the tissue box top. Each panel has corresponding end
tabs 1a through 6a, and 1b through 6b, which are glued together in
the following manner in order to form the tissue box of the
preferred embodiment. The print side of end tab 2a will glue to the
non-printed side of 4a, then 2b will glue to 4b thus forming the
top, bottom, front sides and two ends of the tissue-box. Glue will
be applied to the non-printed sides of end tabs 1a and 1b. End tabs
1a and 1b will then be folded along lines 9a and 9b so that end tab
corner 7a will meet point 8a, and end tab corner 7b will meet point
8b. This fold will be made so that the printed sides of these end
tabs will be hidden, and one half of the glued, non-printed sides
will be exposed when viewed from the printed side. Next, panel 1
will be folded to form the back of the tissue box with folded end
tabs 1a and 1b each covering half of their respective box ends, to
which they will also become glued. End panel 3a will be folded down
to contact the remaining exposed glue of folded end panel 1a, and
similarly end panel 3b folded down to contact the remaining exposed
glue of folded end panel 1b. Next, end panel 5a will be glued to
end panel 6a, and 5b glued to 6b, thus forming the additional box
cover portion 12 which will be folded over the already completed
tissue box, covering its back and top sides, ready for packaging
and distribution as shown in FIG. 2. Tissue product may be inserted
into the tissue box at any preferred time during the assembly
operation.
[0016] In FIG. 3, which shows a cut away view taken along line 3 of
FIG. 2, it is more clearly revealed how the assembled package is
configured. The back 1 and top 2 of the tissue box are covered by
panels 5 and 6 respectively of the additional box cover
section.
[0017] When end panels 1a and 1b were folded and glued as mentioned
above, they formed open, triangular pockets extending from the
bottom-front corner of each box end to the top-back corner, to the
top-front corner, then back to the bottom-front corner. This pocket
area 10 is shaded in FIG. 4. To form a support for the tissue box,
the additional box cover portion 12 is pivoted in the direction of
arrow 13 while edges 11a and 11b are received into the pocket areas
10 at each end of the tissue box until edges 11a and 11b are fully
seated into the pockets as shown in FIG. 5. At this point, the
entire assembly is rotated in the direction of arrow 14 of FIG. 5
until panel 6 is downwardly facing and serves as the support as
shown in FIG. 6. The final configuration shown in FIG. 6 permits
tissues to be removed from the tissue box in a substantially
downward direction.
[0018] As can be seen, the tissue box of the present invention
lends itself for placement and use on shelves, thus freeing up
space on kitchen counters, work desks, etc. It can also be seen
that gravity will keep each succeeding tissue pressed against
leading tissues withdrawn from the tissue box, thus overcoming the
problem of increasing friction loss as more tissues are withdrawn.
Other advantages include limiting tissue contamination from
contaminants such as dust or animal fur. Since the tissue box is
elevated, there is less likelihood of the tissues becoming wet when
placed on a bathroom sink or in other wet environments.
[0019] The word "tissue" throughout the description of the
preferred embodiment should not be limited to what is commonly
referred to as a "facial tissue." The word "tissue" may refer to
napkins or towels or toilet paper or wipes or any flexible,
dispensable sheet which may be dispensed from the above-described
dispenser.
[0020] The tissue box of the preferred embodiment is disclosed as
being made from cardboard. However, any suitable material may be
used which could form the tissue box substantially as depicted
above.
[0021] In the preferred embodiment, the additional cover section 12
is supported in a pocket area 10. However, the subject invention
envisions any other means of supporting or attaching, such as
adhesives, etc. Furthermore, integral means for supporting the
tissue box in a substantially downward orientation is not limited
to the additional cover section 12 design as described in the
preferred embodiment. Alternate means of achieving the same are
also anticipated.
[0022] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to
a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the
scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claim.
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