Abstract:
A bathroom dispenser for dispensing bathing supplies comprising a body having front, back, side and bottom walls defining the dispenser and having at least one dispenser station and at least one disposal station. The dispenser station has a dispensing orifice in one of its walls for dispensing bathing supplies and the disposal station has a receiving orifice in one of its walls for disposing of said bathing supplies.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the field of hygienic tissues and paper products for use in a bathroom, and more particularly is a dispenser for use in bathing areas and adjacent areas to provide a supply of tissues to be used by people. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the past, people have typically cleared their nasal passages by using ordinary dry tissues and when such tissues have been used in bathrooms, they have been located in the areas that generally remain dry. Use of these tissues in the dry areas of the bathroom does not result in the most effective cleansing of the nasal passages, because the mucus contained in the nasal passages is not as loose and easy to expel in the dry areas of the bathroom as it is in the areas that are moister and wetter, such as a shower, bathtub, sauna or steam room. 
   A number of different types of tissues and tissue dispensing devices have been devised and implemented in the past. Traditional dry tissues have taken on a number of embodiments and features, but are basically tissue paper. Wet or “heavy duty” tissues typically consist of tissue paper bonded together with a water-dispersible reinforcing layer, such as a layer laced with a thin film of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate and/or a thermosetting polymer. These tissues typically are designed to be pliable enough for flushing in a toilet, strong enough to be used in moist hygienic applications and biodegradable. 
   A number of devices have been designed for dispensing tissues. One such device is designed to dispense a roll of moistened towelettes each of which is separable at a perforation, such as that described by Gottselig in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,717. Another common device uses a cutting mechanism to clamp and sever elements from a tissue web, such as that described by Lewandowsky and Walker in U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,034. Another dispensing device provides a lockable container from which paper towels and tissues may be dispensed via a frontal orifice, such as that described by Bailey in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,257. A dispensing device for use in the shower is described by Goldstein in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,275 for use in dispensing soap-impregnated washcloths. 
   As mentioned, tissue and tissue dispensing technologies are fairly well developed; however, existing technologies do not maximize the effective use of such technologies. Further, existing dispensers do not provide for easily accessible and convenient disposal mechanisms. As a result, significant improvement can still be made in the area of tissue dispensing and tissue waste handling. 
   It is the primary object of the present invention to enable people to utilize tissues in wet and moist areas of the bathroom in which nasal passages are more easily cleaned of mucus, other bodily fluids and secretions, and other bodily substances such as makeup. Another object of the invention is to permit people, especially those with allergies, to take advantage of the moist environments of the bathroom to permit clearing of their nasal passages when they are more susceptible to such clearings. Another object of the invention is to make the disposal of used tissue easier by including a disposal device which permits easy and convenient disposal of used tissues by the person. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention utilizes a heavy-duty tissue, either wet or dry, dispensed from a tissue dispensing device located in the moist areas of the bathroom, such as the shower, bathtub, sauna or steam room. To further increase the utility of the location of the dispenser, the invention also includes a disposal device along with the dispenser to permit convenient disposal of the waste tissue. As a result of the device, people may clean their nasal passages in these beneficial, moist environments. 
   The size and shape specifications of the tissues and dispenser can be varied and they can be positioned in a variety of arrangements. In the preferred embodiment, the tissues are heavy-duty tissues dispensed from a cartridge out of the bottom of the dispenser portion of the invention and a disposal device is an integral part of the invention. 
   In another embodiment, the invention has dispenser and disposal portions not separated by any internal walls; instead, a single cartridge contains tissues for dispensing on one side and contains an initially empty disposal station on the other side into which the used tissues are placed. After consumption of all of the tissues in the cartridge, the entire used cartridge is replaced with a new cartridge. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a showerbath room 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 rear perspective view of  FIG. 2 , parts being broken away for clarity. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view like that of  FIG. 2  depicting another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a dispenser indicated generally by the character numeral  10  is shown in a showerbath room/stall  11  in which the person may easily reach the dispenser  10  from underneath a typical shower spray head  12 . 
   As illustrated in the perspective of  FIG. 2 , 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  of 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  42   a  forming a portion of the bottom wall  42  of the dispenser  10 . Door  42   a  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 . Thus, when the tissues  30  in a cartridge  25  are exhausted, it may easily be replaced with a new cartridge. 
   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. In a manner similar to the dispensing station  16 , disposal station  15  is provided with a door  42   b  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. Alternatively, as mentioned above, if used tissue are placed directly into the disposal volume  27 , as the disposal volume  27  becomes filled, the user can remove the used tissues and clean the interior via opening door  42   b.    
   The dispenser  10  preferably is provided with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape to enable the dispenser  10  to be secured to a wall or like. However, it should be understood that 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 structure or suspending the dispenser  10  over a shower spray head using a cord or rope. 
     FIG. 2A  illustrates a rear perspective of the dispenser  10  described in  FIG. 2 . 
   As illustrated in the perspective of  FIG. 3 , a dispenser  10  is shown having a vertical configuration although other and different exterior configurations may 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. Access to the interior of the dispensing station  16  is provided by pivotable door  42   a  forming all or a portion of the bottom wall  42  of the dispenser  10 . Door  42   a  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 . Thus, when the tissues  30  in a cartridge  25  are exhausted, it may easily be replaced with a new cartridge. 
   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. In a manner similar to the dispensing station  16 , 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 . Alternatively, as mentioned above, 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 provided with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape  50  to enable the dispenser  10  to be secured to a wall or like. However, it should be understood that 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 structure or suspending the dispenser  10  over a shower spray head using an elongated element such as a cord or rope. 
   As illustrated in the perspective of  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the dispenser  10  is shown having a horizontal configuration although other and different exterior configurations may used as desired. The dispenser  10  defines a station  24  adapted to removably house and secure a tissue and refuse cartridge  25 . The cartridge  25  is secured by fitting snugly into the station  24  or alternatively by using clips or other restraining devices. The cartridge  25  is comprised of two major sections, a dispenser section  16  separated from a repository or disposal section  15  by an internal wall  18  essentially spanning the width and depth of the cartridge  25 . The dispenser section  16  contains a multiplicity of tissues that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice defined in the bottom wall of dispenser  10  in a “pop out” manner well known in the prior art. Used tissues are inserted into the disposal section  15  through an array of flexible fingers forming a grommet like member defining an opening  40  located on the top wall  45  of the dispenser  10 . Access to the station  24  is provided by pivotable door  44  forming all of or a portion of the front wall  46  of the dispenser  10 . Door  44  is mounted to the dispenser  10  by hinges  36  located along the left front edge  60  thereof and is secured in a closed position by a latch mechanism  38  positioned along the opposite front edge  61 . Thus, when the tissues in a cartridge  25  are exhausted, it may easily be replaced with a new cartridge. 
   The dispenser  10  preferably is provided with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape to enable the dispenser  10  to be secured to a wall or like. However, it should be understood that 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 structure or suspending the dispenser  10  over a shower spray head using a cord or rope. 
   As illustrated in the perspective of  FIG. 5 , a dispenser  10  is shown having a horizontal configuration although other and different exterior configurations may used as desired. Dispenser  10  is comprised of three major sections, a first dispenser station  16  separated from a repository or disposal station  15  by a first internal wall  18  essentially spanning the width and depth of the dispenser  10  and a second dispenser station  17  separated from the first dispenser station  16  by a second internal wall  20  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 that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice defined in the bottom wall of dispenser  10  in a “pop out” manner well known in the prior art. 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. 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 . Access to the disposal volume  27  and cartridge  25  is provided by pivotable door  44  forming a portion of the front wall  46  of the dispenser  10 . Door  44  is mounted to the dispenser  10  by hinges  36  located along the left front edge  60  thereof and is secured in a closed position by a latch mechanism  38  positioned along the opposite door edge  61 . Thus, when the tissues in a cartridge  25  are exhausted and/or the disposal volume  27  becomes filled, the user it may easily replace the cartridge  25  with a new cartridge and/or remove the used tissues and clean the interior by opening door  44 . 
   The second dispenser station  17  also defines a volume adapted to removably house and secure a tissue cartridge  74 . Cartridge  74  is secured by fitting snugly into the volume or alternatively by using clips or other restraining devices. Cartridge  74  contains a multiplicity of towelettes  71  that can be pulled through a dispensing orifice  70  defined in the bottom wall of dispenser  10  in a “pop out” manner well known in the prior art. The towelettes  71  can be impregnated with fragrances or medicinal products. Access to the second dispenser station volume and cartridge  74  is provided by pivotable door  73  forming a portion of the bottom wall of the dispenser  10 . Door  73  is mounted to the dispenser  10  by hinges  75  located along the lower back edge thereof and is secured in a closed position by a latch mechanism  76  positioned along the opposite front edge. Thus, when the tissues in a cartridge  74  are exhausted, the user it may easily replace the cartridge  74  with a new cartridge simply by opening door  73 . 
   The dispenser  10  preferably is provided with a pressure sensitive, water resistant adhesive or tape  50  to enable the dispenser  10  to be secured to a wall or like. However, it should be understood that 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 structure or suspending the dispenser  10  over a shower spray head using a cord or rope. 
   As illustrated in the perspective of  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of the dispenser  10  is shown having a horizontal configuration although other and different exterior configurations may used as desired. Dispenser  10  includes an upper shelf  82  that extends the top surface of the dispenser  10  from the upper front edge  63  and a lower shelf  82  that extends from the lower front edge  61 . The lower shelf  80  contains a ridged surface  84 , as is commonly found in many soap trays, to permit slip-free, relatively dry storage of soap and other toiletries. The upper shelf  82  contains partitions  83  located around the array of flexible fingers forming a grommet like member defining an opening  40  for secure storage of a variety of bathing supplies, such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, washcloths, etc. The upper shelf  82  and lower shelf  80  also contain drains  85  consisting of holes ot tunnels in the partitions  83  and ridged surface  84  to remove the water from such surfaces. The dispenser also has a hook  87  for holding hand towels and/or washcloths. Thupper shelf  82  and lower shelf  80  also act to deflect some of the water from a shower head away from the tissues dispensed by the dispenser  10 . 
   The preceding description of the uinvention has shown and described certain embodiments thereof; however, it is intended by way of illustration and example only and not by way of limitation. Those skilled in the art should understand that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.