Abstract:
A portable and refillable flexible tissue dispensing container is provided. The container includes several sides, and an opening for dispensing tissues in a ready mode for grasping by a user. The dispenser may be linked to a ring binder or a key chain for portable use, and pulling one tissue from the container orients the next successive tissue in place for dispensing. A dispensing opening may be provided with a releasable closure such as velcro (hook and loop), snaps, plastic, or the like. In a further more compact arrangement, the tissue may be bi-folded before being loaded into the dispenser.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Facial tissue is sold and dispensed from a variety of containers. In many instances, facial tissue is marketed and sold in disposable, rigid, cardboard containers for home use. Sometimes, decorative covers are used. Such covers are designed to fit upon (and over) a tissue box, to increase the decorative appeal and attractiveness of the box as it is provided on a flat surface for dispensing.  
           [0002]    One drawback to current containment apparatus for tissues is that many of such containers do not lend themselves to easy and convenient transport. That is, large rectangular tissue boxes are inconvenient to carry in the course of daily activity. Smaller travel packs of tissue have been sold and used for mobile applications. Sometimes, but not always, such travel packs have included a smaller sized tissue sheet, with a decreased width and length of each tissue sheet as compared to tissues that are sold in full sized boxes.  
           [0003]    Typically, such small travel packs comprise a stack of tissue that is housed within a plastic or polymer wrap. For example, some currently used travel packs marketed in Europe provide outer pack dimensions of about 8 inches (about 20 cm) in length and about 4 inches (about 10 cm) in width. Other travel packs are common in the United States which have dimensions of only about 4-5 inches (about 10 cm) in length and about 3 inches (about 7.5 cm) in width.  
           [0004]    Many currently available travel packs are disposable, and therefore are not refillable. Travel packs typically include only one plastic opening (usually perforated) on one side of the plastic container. The single top side opening is often too small to enable the convenient insertion of additional tissues, as would be required to refill the pack. Additionally, tissue products containing lotion are not commonly packaged in portable packs due to incompatibility of the lotion with such plastic wrap coverings. Many currently available tissue travel packs are not designed for long term use, as the thin plastic outer covering of such packs is normally not capable of withstanding long term use and rough handling without breaking or tearing.  
           [0005]    Consumer research reveals that people using travel packs would prefer to have a more substantial, more attractive, refillable tissue container. It has been determined that consumers are interested in using a more durable and attractive tissue container that is adapted to be carried on their person to school, work, and other places in connection with their daily activities. Many tissue users prefer to have tissues on their person at all times, wherever they go.  
           [0006]    Students often do not have tissues available to them in a classroom setting, and therefore a travel pack designed to adapt to school use would be very desirable. Many students carry backpacks and book bags which are loaded with heavy books. Fragile items such as currently available travel packs may easily tear and break, resulting in the tissues becoming soiled or contaminated. Rigid boxed containers of tissue may become crushed and deformed if carried in backpacks or other items of personal luggage. Further, such rigid boxes are usually too large to be used in such a manner.  
           [0007]    It is therefore be highly desirable to provide a durable tissue container that is not rigid, but is flexible, and which will not easily crush or become deformed. A container that is capable of being refilled by the user would be useful. Furthermore, a durable and attractive container that is small enough to fit easily into or upon a purse, glove compartment, backpack, book bag, briefcase, or other personal carry tote would be very desirable. A container that is capable of maintaining tissues clean and fresh while being carried with a person during his or her daily activities would be useful. Furthermore, a container that is easy to access and use when carried on or in a tote bag would be desirable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    A summary of the invention is provided below. The invention may take many forms, and the description provided herein is a rendition of several examples of the many diverse formats of the invention, and the invention is not limited to the specific structures described.  
           [0009]    It is one object of the invention to provide a durable tissue container that is not rigid, and will not easily crush or become deformed. A further object of the invention is to provide a tissue container that is capable of being refilled by the user.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a durable and attractive container that is small enough to fit easily into or upon a purse, glove compartment, pocket, backpack, book bag, briefcase, or other personal carry tote. A container which is capable of keeping tissues clean and fresh while being carried with a person during his or her daily activities is one application of the invention.  
           [0011]    In one embodiment of the invention, it is an objective to provide a container as described, but with a pop-up tissue feature.  
           [0012]    In still other embodiments of the invention, a container that is easy to access and use when carried on, attached to, or kept in a tote or backpack would be desirable.  
           [0013]    In the invention, a flexible container having a first wall, a second wall, and a plurality of sides is provided. The first wall includes a dispensing opening for releasing tissues and a second wall having a loading opening through which new tissues are admitted into the container to replenish the supply of tissues in the container. The container also may include an attachment margin, the margin being located along one edge of the container wherein at least one hole is provided in a wall of the container along said margin, the hole being configured and sized for interaction with a clasping device.  
           [0014]    The dispenser may also include, in another embodiment, a margin comprising at least three holes along its length. The dispenser may be adapted for interaction with a multi-ring binder. A flexible container may be constructed of a material selected from cloth, nylon, plastic and fabric.  
           [0015]    The loading opening in the dispenser should be capable of opening and closing using an enclosure system. The enclosure system may include a fastening means such as a zipper, snaps, hook and loop type releasable fasteners, tape, buttons/holes, or resealable plastic. An enclosure system that is waterproof or water resistant also may be provided.  
           [0016]    The dispenser, in one embodiment, provides tissues in a folded stack such that the tissues are operably connected to each other. This arrangement enables a first tissue to be pulled from the dispensing opening, and a second tissue immediately made available for grasping by emerging from the dispensing opening into a ready position. This is sometimes referred to as a “pop-up” configuration. The dispenser may provide the tissues in a bi-fold configuration, in which the stacked tissues are folded lengthwise at their midline, in other embodiments.  
           [0017]    A dispenser may be provided containing about 20 to about 100 tissues when the container is fully loaded. However, other embodiments may employ less or more tissues, depending upon the geometry and size of the container.  
           [0018]    In some embodiments, there is a clip attached to the container. The clip may be used to attach the container to any object, including but not limited to key chains, backpacks, purses, tote bags, briefcases, coats, clothing, carry-on bags, luggage, and the interior of automobiles.  
           [0019]    In one aspect of the invention, a portable, refillable tissue dispenser is provided which comprises a tissue storage means, in which the tissue storage means includes a flexible material, the tissue storage means having a first and a second planar surface, the first planar surface comprising a dispensing opening adapted to release tissues, the second planar surface comprising a tissue loading opening through which new tissues may be admitted to the container to replenish the tissue supply in the container. Further, in other embodiments, the tissues are provided adjacent to one another while in a storage mode and then held erect and partially on the exterior of the tissue storage means while in a grasping mode. The tissues may be folded upon themselves so as to be capable of self-feeding, whereby the outermost tissue being held erect in the grasping mode is, when pulled from the container, capable of leading the next adjacent tissue into an erect grasping mode. In this way, each successive tissue is pulled from the container as the succeeding tissues are brought into the erect grasping mode and made available for the tissue user. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    A full and enabling disclosure of this invention, including the best mode shown to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in this specification. The following Figures illustrate the invention:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible container of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows the underside of the flexible container shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows an alternate configuration of the flexible container shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 ;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows yet another alternate configuration of the flexible container;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows yet another configuration of the flexible container;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in which the container is adapted for insertion into a ring binder or notebook;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows an alternative configuration of the invention in which the flexible container is adapted for releasable attachment using a ring structure;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a bi-fold configuration of the invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is yet another bi-fold configuration of the invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows another bi-fold configuration of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    Reference now will be made to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not as a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in this invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.  
         [0032]    Turning to FIG. 1, a flexible container  10  is provided having on its interior surface a plurality of tissues  13  stacked for dispensing. The container  10  comprises a first wall  11 , which is essentially a planar surface of flexible material. A second wall  12  is on the underside of the container  10 , shown more fully in FIG. 2. The second wall  12  is also a planar surface of flexible material in most cases, although it could be more rigid and stiff in some applications. The flexible container  10 , shown in FIG. 1, comprises a plurality of sides, including first side  14 , second side  15  and other sides not shown in FIG. 1. The underside of the flexible container  10  shown in FIG. 1 may be seen in FIG. 2. A releasable plastic loading opening  16  is shown extending from a point near the first side  14  along the length of the container  10  to a point near the third side  17 . A fourth side  18  and a second side  15  are also seen in FIG. 2.  
         [0033]    In FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown which includes a zipper loading opening  20  through which tissues are loaded into the flexible container  10   a . A further embodiment of the invention is seen in FIG. 4, which includes a hook and loop (or “Velcro®”) loading opening through which tissues may be loaded into the dispenser. One important feature of the invention is that in most cases, the flexible container  10   b  of the invention may be reloaded with tissues in the form of a relatively permanent dispenser, as opposed to dispenser that are not easily reloaded, which are disposable and throw-a-way type dispensers. In FIG. 4, a back face  23  is seen turned upwards and released from the front face  22  that comprises hook material. The back face  23  contains loop material, that releasably engages the hook material of front face  22 . This type of enclosure is often known as a “Velcro®” enclosure (Velcro® is believed to be a trademark of the 3M Company of Minneapolis, Minn.). In other embodiments of the present invention, the front face  22  could be loop material and the back face  23  could be hook material.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in which the snapped loading opening  24  on the underside of the flexible container  10   c  is comprised of a margin along which one or more snaps releasably engage to facilitate the reloading of the flexible container  10  with new tissues. Snaps  25   a - c  are shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 reveals a ring binder container  30  which comprises a first wall  31  that is a planar or relatively flat surface. A tissue  35  is popped up for dispensing from the dispensing opening  36  in the first wall  31 . Furthermore, a first side  34  is seen on the edge of the ring binder container  30 . Importantly, this particular embodiment comprises a margin  32  along which a plurality of holes  33   a - c  may be located for releasable engagement with a ring binder (not shown). The holes  33   a - c  are shown near the lower right portion of FIG. 6, and the ring binder container  30  may be placed into a notebook or ring binder for convenient and easy use. The second wall (not shown) contains a loading opening having a fastening means as disclosed herein.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the invention comprising a ring container  39  with a first wall  40  having a first side  41 . The ring container  39  is capable of dispensing tissue  42 . A second side  43  is seen on the right side of FIG. 7. Furthermore, the ring container  39  contains a link or attachment means  45  along its margin which may contain a ring  46  that is capable of securing the ring container  39  to essentially any object that makes it convenient for the user. The second wall (not shown) contains a loading opening having a fastening means as disclosed herein.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 8 includes a bi-fold configuration container  50  which contains tissue  52  similar to that contained in the containers of FIGS.  1 - 7 , except that the tissues  52  are folded lengthwise prior to being placed into the bi-fold container  50 . A dispensing opening  56  along one edge of the bi-fold container  50  provides an opening through which the tissue  52  may be pulled from the bi-fold container  50 . Furthermore, a first side  53 , second side  54  and third side  55  is shown. A zipper pull tab  51  is shown in the closed position of the loading opening  57 . In order to reload the container  50 , one may simply pull the zipper pull tab  51  downward along one, two, or three sides of the container  50 , as necessary, to reload tissues  52  for dispensing. An alternate configuration within the scope of the invention could include a container that is longer, in which the tissues are bi-folded along the long axis of the tissue. It also would be possible to provide a pocket holster, or pocket protector configuration, that holds tissues ready to dispense from a pocket, such as a shirt pocket.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 9 depicts another bi-fold configuration that comprises bi-fold container  60 . In this particular embodiment, a dispensing opening  61  releases tissues  65 . A loading opening  62  comprises a hook fastener face  63  and a loop material face  64  which are capable of releasably engaging to provide an opening  62  through which tissues  65  may be loaded into the container  60 .  
         [0039]    In FIG. 10, still another embodiment of the bi-fold container  70  is shown in which a dispensing opening  71  dispenses tissues  74 . The tissue  74  may be loaded into the bi-fold container  70  by way of loading opening  72  that comprises releasable snaps  73   a  and snap  73   b . An alternate configuration of the container  70  shown in FIG. 10 could include a necklace (hung around the neck), bracelet (hung around the wrist), or wrist band package (held in place as an athletic wrist band).  
         [0040]    In any of the applications of the invention described above, the container may be comprised of any flexible material that is attractive and durable, including leather, nonwovens, plastic, cloth, nylon, polymeric materials, man made materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, or other materials. Furthermore, the fastening means and releasable enclosures used in the invention may comprise zippers, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, resealable plastic fasteners, or essentially any other fastening system that makes it easy and convenient for a user to open the container, place tissues inside the container, and reseal the container for use.  
         [0041]    Furthermore, many of the containers shown in the above Figures and used in the practice of the invention have a capacity of about 20 to about 100 tissues, and most preferably about 20 to 50 tissues.  
         [0042]    It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions. The invention is shown by example in the appended claims.