US3331498A - Tissue dispensing and disposal device - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1967 5, DAVlEs 3,331,493

TISSUE DISPENSING AND DISPOSAL DEVICE Filed June 29, 1966 IIVVEIVTOR PHILLIPS .S', DAV/E5 United States Patent 3,331,498 TISSUE DISPENSING AND DISPOSAL DEVICE Phillips S. Davies, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-half to Leone Baxter, San Francisco, Calif. Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 561,507 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for dispensing tissues and for storing the used tissues in which a free floating fiat partition is used to separate the container into compartments for new and used tissues.

This invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing paper cleansing tissues and then for receiving and retaining such tissues after they have been used.

The extensive use of paper cleansing tissues particularly in instances involving personal hygiene heretofore frequently created the problem of disposing of used tissues. Often a suitable disposal receptacle was not available and the used tissue was then allowed to be placed where it became either unsightly or unsanitary, or both. The general object of the present invention is to provide a practical solution to this disposal problem.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a container capable of storing a supply of unused tissues in the conventional manner available for dispensing one at a time, and also capable of receiving the tissues as they are used and retaining them so that they need not be otherwise distributed in an unsanitary location. My invention provides a unique container arrangement with an expandable storage compartment for the used tissues utilizing an internal movable wall. This compartment increases in size as the new tissues are dispensed and used thereby making more room for the crumpled tissues that must be disposed of. When all the tissues from a container are used, they are packed into this disposal compartment and the entire container can be burned or otherwise disposed of.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container of the aforesaid type with a movable or floating internal wall that provides a strong sanitary separation between the used and unused tissues.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a container of the aforesaid type which is particularly well adapted for ease and economy of manufacture. My container may be constructed in accordance with conventional paper carton manufacturing procedures, it is easy to erect and only a small increase in sheet material is required as compared with conventional tissue dispensing containers.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof presented in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective from the underside of a container embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation and in section of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view partially in section of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1-3 show a generally oblong tissue container embodying the principles of the invention. In outward appearance it is similar to conventional paper tissue dispensing cartons heretofore devised. It may be made from any suitable sheet material such as cardboard having the thickness required to afford adequate strength and rigidity. The container is ice preferably formed as a blank which is cut to the proper shape and then is folded and glued when the container is erected. Various blank configurations may be utilized having any suitable arrangement for overlapping flaps and glue areas, and the present invention is not limited to any precise blank configuration or any particular arrangement of folding sides or ends. Essentially, the container is provided with opposite parallel sidewalls 11 and endwalls 12, a top member 13 and a bottom member 14, all of which are connected together along their approppriate edges.

Between the top and bottom members 13 and 14 within the container as shown in FIG. 2, is a free floating or movable partition 15. This latter member has the same general shape as the top and bottom members, but its length and width dimensions are slightly less than those members so that it can move freely up and down without interfering with either the sidewalls 11 or the end walls 12. When constructed, the top member is provided with a series of perforations or some equivalent scoring means, that allows an opening 16 to be made for removing new tissues from the container. On the bottom member 14 a flap or door 17 is provided, preferably nearer one end which affords access to a lower compartment 13 within the container 10 beneath the movable partition 15. This access door 17 may be formed by another series of perforations which are made when the container blank is formed and in the desired shape of the door. The door or flap 17 can have any suitable shape such as oval or rectangular, and it remains attached to the bottom member along one side Ztl, thereby forming a hinge. As shown in FIG. 1, I prefer that the door or flap 17 and the opening 21 that is formed thereby extend transversely across the bottom member 14 for a substantial portion of its width and that it be wide enough to receive used and wadded up tissues with little effort.

When the container 10* is used, it is initially packed with a stack 22 of folded paper tissues that rests in an upper compartment 23 on top of the partition member 15. After the top member 13 has been opened, tissues may be dispensed from the container in the well known manner. Now the door or flap 17 in the bottom member 14 may be released by breaking the perforations which form its outline. This provides access to the storage space within the container beneath the movable portion 15. As each tissue is used it may be stuffed into the lower compartment 18 that is formed within the container beneath the partition. Since the space required for the stack of unused tissues becomes less as they are used up, more space is made available for the used or soiled tissues that are usually wadded up. Thus, the partition continues to move upwardly as the lower compartment for used tissues is filled. The pressure provided by the wadded up used tissues pushes the stack of unused tissues up againt the top member 13 and its opening 16 making them easily available for grasping with the fingers.

When the fresh tissues have all been dispensed, the used or soiled tissues are all fully enclosed in one container which can be disposed of easily in a sanitary manner.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

A container for dispersing fresh paper tissues and for receiving used or soiled tissues comprising in combination:

opposite sidewalls and endwalls connected to a top a stack of tissues in the container between the internal member and a bottom member;

free floating movable internal partition having substantially the same shape as said top and bottom members but slightly smaller in length and width 5 thereof and unattached to said sidewalls and endwalls whereby the partition can be freely moved up and down and into planes making an angle with the walls and members;

l0 partition and the top member;

said top member having means providing an opening through which a tissue may be removed from a stack supported on said internal partition within said container; 15

said bottom member having means forming an opening said means forming an opening is an elongated door portion of said botom member formed by perforations in said bottom member forming the outline of said door portion except for a straight side portion that remains attached to said bottom member and forms a hinge therewith,

and said door and its hinge portion extends transversely across the width of said bottom member. near one end thereof. 7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,033,362 5/1962 Marcalus 206-57 3,095,087 6/1963 Yates 206-57 FOREIGN PATENTS 464,373 4/1937 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

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