Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
  • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
  • A47K10/424—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the bottom part of the dispenser
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
  • A47K10/42—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked
  • A47K10/426—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked dispensing from the front or sides of the dispenser
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
  • A47K10/46—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper with means for storing soiled towels

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to the field of tissue dispensers especially, but not exclusively, for use in bathing areas and adjacent areas to provide a supply of tissues to be used by people.
• tissue dispensing technologies are fairly well developed; however, existing technologies do not maximize the effective use of such dispensers. Further, existing dispensers do not provide convenient and space- efficient tissue disposal. As a result, room for improvement remains in the area tissue dispensing and disposal.
• the invention relates to a tissue dispenser which comprises a body that forms a tissue dispenser station for containing tissues to be dispensed, and a tissue disposal station for receiving used tissues.
• the tissue dispensing station has a tissue dispensing orifice
• the tissue disposal station has a tissue disposing orifice.
• the body defines a top portion and a bottom portion.
• the tissue dispensing orifice is disposed in the bottom portion and faces downwardly.
• the dispenser includes a fastener such as, for example, adhesive tape, or an elongated strip for fastening the dispenser above floor level to expose the tissue dispensing orifice.
• the fastener could come for example, comprise an adhesive tape for adhering the dispenser to a wall, or an elongated strip or hook for suspending the dispenser from a shower head or a curtain rod.
• the tissue disposal station is expandable, e.g. by forming a portion of the dispenser as a bellows, so that the dispenser can be shipped in a collapsed state and then gradually expanded by the user to accommodate used tissues.
• Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shower or stall equipped with the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity.
• Fig. 2A is a fragmentary view of an upper portion of a dispenser according to the invention, depicting a suspension strap for hanging the dispenser.
• Fig. 2B is a view similar to Fig. 2A showing a hook-type suspension member.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity.
• Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in its closed/compressed state.
• Fig. 4B is a perspective view of Fig. 4A in its open or uncompressed state.
• Fig. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in its closed/compressed state.
• Fig. 5B is a perspective view of Fig. 5A in its open/uncompressed state.
• Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the embodiment depicted in Figs. 4A, 4B.
• Fig. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, with a disposal bag in a dropped-down position.
• Fig. 7B is a view of Fig. 7A with the bag in a folded-up state.
• a dispenser 10 is shown in a shower stall 11 in which the person may easily reach the dispenser 10 from underneath a typical shower spray head 12.
• a dispenser 10 is shown having a horizontal configuration although other and different exterior configurations may be used as desired.
• Dispenser 10 is comprised of two major sections, a dispenser station 16 separated from a repository or disposal station 15 by an internal wall 18 essentially spanning the width and depth of the dispenser 10.
• Dispenser station 16 defines a volume adapted to removably house and secure a tissue cartridge 25.
• Cartridge 25 is secured by fitting snugly into the volume or alternatively by using clips or other restraining devices.
• Cartridge 25 contains a multiplicity of tissues 30 that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice 31 defined in the bottom wall 42 o dispenser 10 in a "pop out” manner well known in the prior art.
• Access to the interior of the dispensing station 16 is provided by pivotable door 42a forming a portion of the bottom wall 42 of the dispenser 10.
• Door 42a is mounted to the dispenser 10 by hinges 36 located along the back edge 60 thereof and is secured in a closed position by a latch mechanism 38 positioned along the opposite front edge 61.
• the disposal station 15 defines a disposal volume 27 for accommodating a removable receptacle 26 for receiving used tissues or alternatively for directly receiving used tissues.
• disposal station 15 is provided with a door 42b pivotally attached to the dispenser 10 by hinges 35 and latched in the closed position by a latch mechanism 37.
• Disposal station 15 also has a second pivotable door 41 mounted to the dispenser 10 by hinges 43 located along the back top edge of the dispenser. Used tissues are inserted into station 15, disposal volume 27 and receptacle 26 through an array of flexible fingers forming a grommet like member defining an opening 40 located on the top wall 45 of the disposal station 15.
• the refuse receptacle 26 within disposal volume 27 can receive the tissues and be removed and discarded or cleaned and returned to the disposal volume 27. In this manner, the user does not physically touch the used tissues when removing them.
• the user can remove the used tissues and clean the interior via opening door 42b.
• the dispenser 10 preferably is provided with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape 10a to enable the dispenser 10 to be secured to a wall or like.
• a sliding eyelet and bolt fastening apparatus allowing the dispensers to be removably secured to a sliding eyelet and bolt fastening apparatus allowing the dispensers to be removably secured to a supporting wall or structure or suspending the dispenser 10 over a shower spray head or curtain rod 12a using an elongated element such as a hook 29a (see Fig. 2B), or a releasable elongated flexible strip element such as a cord or rope, or snap- on strap 29 as shown in Fig. 2A.
• Dispenser 10 is shown having a vertical configuration although other and different exterior configurations may be used as desired.
• Dispenser 10 is comprised of two major sections, a dispenser station 16 separated from a repository or disposal station 15 by an internal wall 18 essentially spanning the length and width of the dispenser 10.
• Dispenser station 16 defines a volume adapted to removably house and secure a tissue cartridge 25.
• Cartridge 25 is secured by fitting snugly into the volume or alternatively by using clips or other restraining devices.
• Cartridge 25 contains a multiplicity of tissues 30 that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice defined in the bottom wall 42 of dispenser 10 in a "pop out" manner well known in the prior art.
• Door 42a forming all or a portion of the bottom wall 42 of the dispenser 10.
• Door 42a is mounted to the dispenser 10 by hinges 36 located along the back edge 60 thereof and is secured in a closed position by a latch mechanism 38 positioned along the opposite front edge 61.
• the disposal station 15 defines a disposal volume 27 for directly receiving used tissues or alternatively for accommodating a removable receptacle for receiving the used tissues.
• disposal station 15 is provided with a door 43 pivotally attached to the dispenser 10 by hinges 35 and latched in the closed position by a latch mechanism 37.
• Used tissues are inserted into station 15 and disposal volume 27 through an array of flexible fingers forming a grommet like member defining an opening 40 located on the top wall 45 of the disposal station 15.
• the used tissues are placed directly into the disposal volume 27 and as the disposal volume 27 becomes filled, the user can remove the used tissues and clean the interior via the door 43.
• a refuse receptacle used within disposal volume 27 can receive the tissues and be removed and discarded or cleaned and returned to the disposal volume 27. In this manner, the user does not physically touch the used tissues when removing them.
• the dispenser 10 preferably is provide with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape 50 to enable the dispenser 10 to be secured to a wall or like.
• a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape 50 to enable the dispenser 10 to be secured to a wall or like.
• other fastening techniques may be employed as well such as, for example, a sliding eyelet and bolt fastening apparatus allowing the dispensers to be removably secured to a supporting wall or suspending the dispenser 10 over a shower spray head using an elongated strip such as a cord or rope or strap 29.
• the tissue-dispensing orifice 31 is preferably arranged to face downwardly, or possibly on a vertical side of the dispenser, in order to keep the fresh tissues as dry as possible.
• a dispenser 110 is shown having a generally vertical configuration, although the dispenser can easily be used horizontally and have other shapes.
• Dispenser 110 is comprised of two major sections, a dispenser section 116 separated from a disposal section 115 by the dispenser section top 118.
• Dispenser section 116 defines a volume to house a supply of tissues 130 that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice 131 defined in the bottom wall 141 of the dispenser 110 in a "pop out" manner well known in the prior art.
• the tissues may either be sealed into a disposable dispenser section 16 or refilled with a tissue cartridge.
• the disposal section 115 defines a refuse volume 127 for receiving used tissues. Used tissues are inserted into the refuse volume 127 through a disposal orifice 140 located on the top wall 145 of the disposal section 115.
• the refuse volume 127 can be increased or decreased by expanding or contracting the flexible bellows 126 of the disposal section 115.
• the disposal volume 127 is shown at its minimum in FIGS. 4A and 5A where the flexible bellows 126 are compressed and at its maximum volume in FIGS. 4B and 5B where the flexible bellows 126 are uncompressed, e.g., the volume is more than doubled and almost tripled.
• the flexible bellows 126 can be made from any material that provides flexible movement with sufficient rigidity to hold its shape, such as plastic, rubber or cardboard.
• the dispenser 110 preferably is provided with a handle 150 to permit easy carrying; however, it should be understood that other carrying or fastening techniques may be employed as well such as a longer elongated strip element such as a cord or rope or a sliding eyelet and bolt fastening apparatus allowing the dispensers to be removably secured to a supporting wall or a shower head or curtain rod. ln one embodiment of the dispenser 110 depicted in FIG. 6, the dispenser section 116 and the disposal lid 148 are removable from the dispenser 110.
• the flexible bellows 126 section has connecting ends.
• the disposal cap connecting end 142a and the dispenser section end 142b are threaded to mate, respectively, with the disposal lid threads 143a and dispenser section threads 143b.
• the disposal cap connecting end and dispenser section end could be formed to fit together either by adhesion or fastening means, such as glue or snaps. Removal of the dispenser section 116 permits the user to resupply tissues 130 by attaching a new dispenser section 116. Removal of the disposal lid 148 or the dispenser section 116 permits the user to empty and/or clean the refuse volume 27.
• the dispenser 110 could be disposable.
• FIGS. 7A, 7B An alternative form of dispenser 210 is depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B which comprises a body forming an upper dispenser section 212 having a dispensing orifice 214 disposed in a vertical side wall 216 of the body.
• a tissue disposal section 218 is disposed beneath the dispensing section and is separated therefrom by a horizontal wall 220.
• a side disposal orifice 22 is formed in the dispenser below the dispensing orifice 214.
• a flexible plastic bag 224 has its upper, open end attached to a lower end of the body, to enable the bag to hang downwardly from the body to receive used tissues that are inserted through the disposal orifice 222.
• the dispenser can be manufactured and shipped with the bag in a folded-up state disposed within an underside of the body (see Fig.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26752793

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (39)

• 2002
  • 2002-06-18 WO PCT/US2002/019145 patent/WO2002102690A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-06-18 JP JP2003505244A patent/JP2005520575A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-06-18 CA CA002450790A patent/CA2450790A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-06-18 AU AU2002315198A patent/AU2002315198A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-06-18 EP EP02742145A patent/EP1404600A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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