Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DI~CLOSU~E
This invention relates to tissue dispensers, and more
particularly to containers or boxes of facial tissue~ which
are designed to allow and facilitate the progressive removal
of tissues from such a box se~uentially through a discharge
op~ning.
Tnis is a division of copen~ing ~anadian Application No.
2,0g7,527 filed June ~, lgg3.
With presently available boxes of tissues, it is
frequently dif~icult for a person to remove a single tissue
.0 from the box in the intended manner after some of the tissues
have been removed. One previously proposed soiution to this
problem has been directed to the serial but reieasable
interconnection of the tissues so that as one tissue is
removed through the top opening, a subsequent tissue is
partially unfolded and pulled into the neck of the discharge
opening. ~uch a ~nown system has, however, shown some
tendency to be somewhat unreliable in that the desired
separation of the two connected tissues is not always
obtained, successive tissues sometimes separate within the
box or container. The interfoided tissues then fail bac~ by
gravity into the box and there is no protruding tissue to be
removed. The user then has to thrust his hand into the top
opening to grasp a number of tissues and pull them up through
the top opening which results in more than one tissue to be
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removed and in most cases a bunch, or handful, of tissues are
removed which re~ults in wasted tissues and an inconvenience
and needless expense to the user and this is more prevaient
with chiidren than adults and often causes the cardboard box
to be torn and results in the complete box of tissues being
wasted.
According to one aspect of the present invention there
is provided a container for dispensing tissues from a stacK
of folded tissues having reverse folds at opposite sides of
iO the stack. The container includes opposite side paneis and
opposite end paneis for containing the stack with the
opposite sides of the stack disposed adjacent the opposite
side panels and ends at the stack disposed adjacent the end
paneis. A control plate which has a lower tissue engaging
surface portions rests on the top of the stack. One of the
end panels has a tissue removal slot extending downwardly
from an upper edge thereof for exposing at least a portion of
one end of the stack. A top tissue of the stack is
accessible for removable endwise from beneath the control
~O plate, and due to the friction resistance between the top
tissue and the immediately ~ubsequent tis6ue in the stack,
the subsequent tissue i8 drawn by the removai of the top
tissue to an accessible position projecting endwise partiaiiy
from the slot.
~5 In one form of the invention, the tissue removal siot is
disposed between corners at opposite ends of the end panel in
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which it i9 located. ~O 7 ~
In a ~pecific embodiment of the invention, the container
includes a top panel joined to the end panels along top end
edges and the top panel has an opening communicating with the
verticai extending slot of the one end panel.
More specifically, an end of the control plate adjacent
the slot of the end panel may have a cutaway portion to
expose the top tissue of the stack beiow the opening of the
top panei.
i~ According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a container for dispensing tis~ues sequentially from
an interleaved stack of tissues, the tissues having reverse
folds at opposite sides of the stack. The container includes
a pair of opposite end walls and a control plate for resting
on the top of the stack. One of the end walls has a vertical
~lot tnerein for endwise removai of one tissue at a time from
beneath the control plate. The control piate has
longit~l~in~ side edges spaced apart a distance Yubstantial~y
equal to the width of the stack, and a pair of longitudinally
exten~ing stack engaging surface portions is disposed
adjacent the side edges of the control panel. The stack
engaging surfaces are transversely ~paced a distance less
than the width of the stack.
Because the tissues depend on the interply friction
~5 between the layers to be progressively removed, the design
allows for a greater area of friction to assist in tissue
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removal. The end opening of the container is not affected by
gravity which disrupts the tissue removal with top opening
containers or boxes which are now the standard for the
industry.
Preferab~y the floating contro; piate of this invention
i8 crowned or raised on the centerline portion which will
then allow a space to be provided between the top of the
tissues and the underside of the control plate to prevent the
tissues from being jammed again~t the top of the container a~
~0 they are piaced inside the container such a jammed condition
causes the first iot of tissues to be restricted when they
are removed, thus, resulting in tear and wasted tissues.
This space is provided under the control plate which floats
on top of the tissue packet as the tissues are removed, the
i5 plate providing a positive pressure to the two edges of the
tissues to maintain the friction necessary for proper tissue
removal. A space is provided under the plate to facilitate
the removal of the tissues at the centerline of the container
and prevents jamming and tearing of the tissues when they are
~0 removed.
Yet another aspect of this invention iS to provide a
reusabie and somewhat permanent container for tissues which
can be of durable, washable, of reiatively low cost injection
molded plastic. The reusable container allows use of buik
packets of tissues which would be packaged in multiples of
two or more packets for a bulk package of six, nine or twelve
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packets, or such simiiar multiples. Thus the invention may
be in the form of a somewhat permanent container to replace
the cardboard boxes now in use and to also replace the
corrugated cardboard boxes used to ship the smaller tiY~ue
boxes. This results in cost savingY of materia;s, shipping
and warehouse costs due to reduced voiume. ~ost savings
would also be possible to the manufacturer and to the
distributor and the retailer which would then result in
savings to the buyer and the home owner.
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~ bulk tissues would not be available. Three positions of the
bottom may be made, for example, for standard boxes of 300,
200 and i50 tissue~.
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ihe invention wlll now be ~es~ribed mere~r by w~qy of ~lhl~trnfion wlth refers to the
r~omp~ lying drawings ln which:
FIGURE I is a perspective of the cont,~. in~r in .~ccordance with this invention perspective,
FIGURE 2 is 8 side view of the container showing a tissue ready for removal n~om the end of
05 the Cont,~iner.
EiIGURE 3 is the end view of the container at the end opening for tissue removal.
~ IGUR~ 4 is a section through the width of the c~nt.~in~r and the tissue packet.
~ [GURE S is a detail section of the o~ntn in~ bottom platform WitQ the tissue packet in plaoe.
F~GURE 6 is a section of the bottom pl~-tfc..m with the lower spring edge.
- 10 FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the container and the packet of tissues being loaded into
the c~ nt~ in~r.
FIGURE 8 is a perspective drawing of the packet of tissues.
E~IGURE 9 is a per~p~rtive drawing of the packet of tissues after it has been colllp~essed and
placed in a ~ er of sleeve.
15 FIGURE 10 is a per~rective view of the bulk package of tissue packets in multiple of ~ree.
~[GUR~ 11 is a perspective figure of the bulk package further co~ essed in a disposable
poly puckage with a po~r strap for h~ ll;ng.
~GURE 12 is a perspective figure of a package of tissues.
FIGURE 13 is an end view of the same packet of tissues as in FIGURE 12.
20 FIGURE 14 is an end view of the tissue packet with the top tissue being removed.
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The Preferred 13mbo~lim~nt~ refer first to ~IGURE l, where is indicated therein gen~11y at l,
one embodirnent of a tissue contain~r in accordance with this invention. The device 1 includes an
injection molded plastic contuin~?r with an open bottom 8, which hus a crowned top panel 2, and u
puir of side panels 4, and u puir of end panels 3. A precisely designed end opening has a top portion
05 5 and a vertical portion 6 which extends downwardly from a top edge of one end paneL the opening
exposing a packet of facial tissue lO, the tissues being layered interlocking sheets l l~ The edge of
the opening 7 is reinforced with an increased thickn~s~ An open bottom 8 of the contniner allows
the packet of facial tissues to be placed into the container through the open bottom 8, and a botto~
panel or platfoml 20 supports the tissues has an access hole 23 _nd winged edges 22. The edges 22
10 engage with inside projections 9, on the inside of the side panels of the corltainer as shown. A
finger hole 14, is located on both sides 4 of the container l, the holes allowing the user to pick up
the contnin~r with the tissue enf~ seA Inside the tissue ~ontain~r 1 is a floating top friction or
control plate 16, which causes a predet~n1in~1 friction effect on the tissues as they are removed
from endopening.
Referring further to FIGURE l, it will be seen the,~ Lon1 that the end opening of the container
will easily allow tissues to be with drawn as shown at l3 in ~IGURE 2 which shows the side
elevation of the cnntniner 2 with the end opening, in the end 3 of the conta in~r, for the tissue
removal. The tissues are removed through the opening provided by top portion S and vertical end
portion 6. It cun be seen in EiIGURE 2 that the bottom platfoml or panel 20 supporting the tissue
20 packet lO is at a second level and the tissues are to the top of the contl- inf~r as seen through the
finger access hole 14.
The end detail of the tissue contain~r l with the end opening for the tissues as portions 5 and 6
can be further seen in FIGURE 3. The top 2 which is crowned lengthwise for strength and
-rF~ n~e, The unrestricted removal of tissues possible due to the crowned effect of the floating
25 control plate 16 which leaves a clen~n~ or space 17 under the plate for removal of the tissue
without the tissue being restricted by upward pressure which otherwise could cause the tissue to tear
it is being removed. The tension exerted on the tissues due to the presence of the control plate 16 is
çnt edges 18 of 16 of the control plate which does not restrict the removal of the tissue at the
centerline of the tissue container l.
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Ihe drawings further illustrate the purpose and embodim~nts of this invention with the details
as shown in FIGURES 4~5, and 6 where the bottom panel 20 is adjustable to three different levels 9
which allows the tissues to be supported at levels 20A and 20B and 20C representing the quantity of
tissues in the standard type tissue boxes. The tissues in the available boxes can be removed and the
05 cardboard box discarded so that the tissues are then stored and used in p~rmPnent container I of the
present invention. The floating control plate 16 is shown at the top of the container 1 and the packet
of tissue 10 is at the top Imtler.cide of the cont~.in~r 1. An unrestricted space 2B is allowed
- underneath the control plate and the top of the container 2 for easy and convenient removal of a
tissue through the end opening.
FIGURE S and 6 further show the adjustable bottom platform or panel 20 with the bottom 21
with wings 22 which are sprung outward 24. The wings enguge the sides of the container 1 as it is
plaoed through the bottonl 8 of the ~ntl~in~r 1 and it can be pos;tion~d at the various levels and held
in plaoe by the protrusions 9 on the walls 4 of the container 1.
.,_ In use, a device in accordance with this invention is used to contain a packet of facial tissues
15 as shown in FIGURE 7 where the contnin~r 1 is placed upside down and the bottom platform 20 is
removed and the floating control plate 16 is first placed inside the container and then the packet of
facial tissues 10 is plaoed inside the container with the individual interp}ys of tissue 11 held in plaoe
by the sleeve or wrapper 15. After placing the packet 10 inside the contnin.or 1 the wrapper is
removed. The bottom panel supporting 20 the tissue is then placed inside the bottom of the
20 cnntninPr 1 and the protruding wings 22 are foroed inside the side panels 4 of the container. The end
protrusions 21 of the bottom platform 20 support the bottom of the tissue packet when it is in use.
The user then turns the container right side up as shown in FIGURE 1 and removes the first tissue
from the end opening of the cont~iner through the portions S and 6 of the opening as shown in
FIGURES 1 and 2.
It will now be understood from the embodislents shown in these FIGURES from 1 to 7 that
this invention will allow fucial tissues to be supplied in bulk form for the ~nCllmer rather than in
pre designed boxes with top or side openingc This end opening refillable tissue box will accept
packets of facial tissues in bulk form. EiIGURE 8 illll~rntes the formation of the packet 10 as shown
from separate individual tissues 11 with a predetermined width 31, length 32, and an initial
predetermined height 30. The packet is then cul~lplessed by a force 33A to a smaller vertical
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AimPn~ion 34 and restrninpd by a w ~pl r 15 around the tissue packet 10 which will reduce the
volume of the tissue packet approximately 20%.
The wrapped tissue packet as shown in FI(}I J~ 9 will then be added to further packets of
tissues 10, for e~ ~le, in multiples of two or three to form a rects~n~~ block of tissue packets 10
05 which in the multiple of three would result in a six pack of tissue packets as shown in ~IGURE 10.
The block is shown as having a width dimension of 35, a length of 36 and a compressed height of 37
by a force 37A. The block for the total package could be further expanded to a nine pack of tissue
packets shown in FIGURE 10 as a length of 38 before being poly wrapped.
Ihe block of tissues either in the six pack or nine pack or nnultiples of two or three may be
en~losed in a poly w , per as shown in FIGURE 1 1 with dimensions 36 and 37 which would be
poly wrapped 41 in a sealed cont~inPr 40 with a carrying strap or handle of reinforced poh,r 42.
The above described package is also described and is claimed in above parent application No.
2,097,527 filed on June 02 - 1993
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The perspective of a stack of tissues for a packet is shown in ~[GURE 12, with a separate
tissues on each side as 11 and 12 being interleaved by the separate plies 13 of reverse folded tissues
fronl opposite sides, i.e. the stack of tissues in the packet are shown as being reversed folded alld
interleaved. The tissue packet 10 is shown with a set width 31 and length 32, and the height 30.
FIGURE 13 is an end view of the same tissue packet as in FIGIJRE 12 and the spaces between the
plies of tissue are shown as 13A and this is where the friction between the plies causes the next
20 progressive tissue to be pulled out through the end opening of the cont~;n~r when a tissue is
removed. As shown in E;IG~RE 14, the top tissue is extracted by the top corner 40 being pulled out
through the end opening to the po~;tion 41 which causes the next tissue 11, to be pulled fo,~ d to
42 by the friction between the interph,rs of tissue 13.
Therefo~, it will be seen from illustrated embodirnPnt~, one aspect of the invention resides in
25 a bottom C)penin~ a ntnin~r 1 of an injection molded plastic material or some other equally effective
material which can be ecl7nomically produced to give a container which can be reused for bulk
facial tissues. Also the cont~iner with its end opening for tissue ren~oval can be seen as a device
which will make the introduction of bulk packaged facial tissue, as shown in FIGURE 8 through 11,
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as an Loonr~ i~l and desirable m~nl~f~ rin~ process which will reduce the cost of facial tissue to
the home owner and the end user by this invention.
It will also be un~estood that numerous nnod;f;~ti~n~ nnd variations can be made in tlle
structures described herein without dep~lillg from the spirit of the invention as defined in the
05 appending claims. As already explained the devioe can be used for facial tissue which is already
enclosed in cardboard boxes in that the container of this invention is more serviceable anA can be
decorated by the home owner to their personal enjoyment. O~er variations and modifications are
also possible and will be apparent to those conversant in container design with plastic-forming
technology and with the technology alreaAy at hand by the various facial tissue n- ~nllfacturers in the
10 production of bulk packaging of units of product which can be compressed to reduce costs by
volume reduction.
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