Pop-up tissue package

A tissue package comprising tissues and a dispensing package in combination. The dispensing package has a dispensing opening through which the tissues are dispensed. The dispensing package further has an engaging tab which separates one of the tissues as it is dispensed, thereby separating the tissue from succeeding tissues.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a dispensing package for tissues. More 
particularly, this invention relates to a package for sequential 
dispensing of tissues which pop-up beyond the walls of the tissue package, 
and typically pop-up above the top wall of the dispensing package, when 
the preceding tissue is removed. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Tissues are well known in the art. Tissues, such as facial tissues, are 
commonly used for blowing one's nose, cleaning tasks, etc. Tissues can 
also be used as paper towels for wiping, clean-up tasks, etc. Tissues, and 
their packaging, must be inexpensive and disposable to be widely consumer 
accepted. Tissues may be supplied dry, with lotion, or moistened. Such 
tissues are generally rectangular in shape and supplied in discrete 
sheets. Tissues are typically supplied in a generally parallelepipedly 
shaped box or dispensing package. The dispensing package has a dispensing 
opening, typically at the top, through which the individual sheets are 
removed by the user. 
Early tissue dispensing packages were of the "reach-in" type. The user had 
to insert his or her fingers through the dispensing opening, grasp a 
tissue, and pull it out through the dispensing opening. Examples of 
reach-in dispensers and improvements thereto can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,021,002, issued Feb. 13, 1962 to Guyer; commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 
3,576,243, issued Apr. 27, 1971 to Trunnick; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,810 
issued Jul. 10, 1984 to Mahoney. 
Over time, the desire for increased convenience led to sequential or pop-up 
dispensers. In a "pop-up" dispenser, a tissue usually extends through the 
dispensing opening to an elevation above that of the dispensing package. 
The user simply grasps the exposed portion of the the necessity of 
inserting fingers through the dispensing opening. In pop-up dispensing, 
each tissue has a leading portion which is first to pass through the 
dispensing opening, and a trailing portion which later passes through the 
dispensing opening. Typically, the trailing portion of a tissue to be 
dispensed overlaps the leading portion of the next tissue to be dispensed. 
The overlap is measured generally parallel to the direction of withdrawal 
of the tissues through the dispensing opening. The overlap is usually, but 
not necessarily, the same for each tissue and constant throughout the 
width of each tissue. As the first tissue is withdrawn by the user, the 
leading portion of the next tissue is pulled through the dispensing 
opening, for later dispensing. 
Typically, the sequential withdrawal of the succeeding tissue through the 
dispensing opening occurs due to interfolding of adjacent tissues. An 
example of an interfolding arrangement is found in commonly assigned U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,881,632, issued May 6, 1975 to Early et al., the disclosure of 
which is incorporated herein by reference. 
Attempts to improve pop-up dispensing packages also include attachment of 
the tissues to the removable top of the box, so that the first tissue is 
pulled through the dispensing opening when the box is opened. Still 
another attempt provides a lapping flap which allegedly holds partially 
dispensed sheets from falling back into the package. Examples of such 
attempts in the art include U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,791, issued Jun. 16, 1959 
to Wenzel; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,952, issued Mar. 11, 1986 to Masui. A 
commercially successful improvement in the art is the dual mode dispensing 
package which allows for both pop-up and reach-in dispensing, as found in 
commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,074, issued Nov. 18, 1986 to 
Dearwester, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
Yet another teaching which provides for sequential dispensing from a 
reach-in and pop-up mode is found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 
5,516,001, issued May 14, 1996 to Muckenfuhs et al., the disclosure of 
which is incorporated herein by reference. 
However, there has been a suggestion in the art to no longer use 
interfolding arrangements. Apparatuses for interfolding are both complex 
and expensive. The purchase of such an apparatus represents a capital 
outlay which is ultimately passed on to the consumer. 
A teaching to avoid interfolding and yet provide for pop-up dispensing is 
found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,308, issued May 28, 1996 to 
Berg et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
There remains a need in the art to improve pop-up dispensing, particularly 
for non-interleaved tissues. There further remains a need in the art for a 
package which allows for dispensing of one, two, or more sheets at a time, 
as desired by the user. It is an object of the present invention to meet 
such needs in the art, as well as provide a dispensing package which is 
easily adjusted to accommodate the different degrees of separation forces 
necessary to separate adjacent tissues joined by various attachment means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention comprises a tissue package comprising a plurality of tissues 
and a dispensing package in combination. The tissues are separably joined 
together in succession for dispensing from the dispensing package. The 
dispensing package houses the tissues and has an opening through which the 
tissues are dispensed. The dispensing package further has an engaging tab 
extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The engaging tab intercepts 
one of the tissues as it is dispensed from the dispensing package. When 
the engaging tab intercepts the tissue, it is separated from the 
succeeding tissues which remain in the dispensing package. 
The engaging tab exerts a frictional force against the tissues, causing 
separation to occur when the tissue is intercepted by the engaging tab. 
The engaging tab may be biased towards the tissues. Such biasing may 
provide for an increase in the frictional force as the tissue is 
dispensed. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, the tissue package 10 according to the present 
invention comprises a dispensing package 12 and tissues 14 in combination. 
The dispensing package 12 may have defined walls, and is preferably 
generally parallelepipedly shaped. The dispensing package 12 further has a 
dispensing opening 16 therethrough. The tissues 14 are dispensable through 
the dispensing opening 16. The dispensing package 12 further has an 
engaging tab 18 for intercepting one of the tissues 14 as it is dispensed 
from the package. The engaging tab 18 separates one tissue 14 from 
succeeding tissues 14. 
Examining the dispensing package 12 in more detail, it may have discrete 
walls. The walls preferably define a top 24, a bottom, front and back 
sides 26 and left and right sides 28. Preferably the dispensing opening 16 
intercepts the top wall 24, and may intercept one of the other walls 26, 
28 of the dispensing package 12, so that the tissues 14 are dispensed in a 
pop-up manner. A suitable dispensing package 12 may be generally made in 
accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned commonly assigned U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,623,074 previously incorporated by reference. 
The tissue package 10 according to the present invention can either be 
disposable or refillable. By "disposable" it is meant the dispensing 
package 12 is intended to be discarded after the plurality of tissues 14 
supplied therewith is depleted. Such a dispensing package 12 is not 
intended to be restocked with tissues 14. Likewise, each tissue 14 is 
discarded after use, and is not laundered or otherwise restored. By 
"refillable" it is meant the dispensing package 12 is or may be restocked 
with tissues 14 after the supply is depleted. 
Examining the tissues 14 in more detail, the tissues 14 comprise a 
plurality of discrete sheets or sheets which are separable. As used 
herein, tissues 14 are considered to be "discrete" if they are separate 
from other tissues 14 prior to being releasably joined to adjacent tissues 
14. Tissues 14, whether or not discrete, are considered to be separable if 
they may be detached from one another without tearing and/or undue or 
unintended gross deformation of the tissue 14. It is to be recognized that 
a tissue 14 may be torn from an adjacent tissue 14 along a predetermined 
line of weakness and still be considered separable. 
Separable tissues 14 may be joined together by lines of weakness, such as 
perforations 30, as are well known in the art. Suitable perforations 30 
may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,771, issued 
May 19, 1992 to Ogg et al. It will recognized that separably joined 
tissues 14 joined by perforations 30 may be core wound, as is common with 
bath tissue, or may be folded in any of the suitable and well known 
patterns. It is to be recognized that the lines of weakness or other 
perforations 30 will have to be modified as discussed below to be 
complementary to the engaging tab 18 set forth in the present invention. 
Alternatively, discrete tissues 14 may be joined together by interfolding, 
or by releasable attachment directly to an adjacent tissue 14, as 
discussed in the commonly assigned and incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 
5,520,308 issued to Berg, Jr. et al. Releasable attachment directly to 
adjacent tissues 14 may be accomplished by means of adhesive, cohesive 
overlap, fusion bonding or by autogeneous bonding as disclosed in commonly 
assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,984 issued Aug. 8, 1989 to Ball et al., the 
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, 
mechanical entanglement such as needle punching, steam sealing, embossing 
or crimping may be utilized to releasably join discrete sheets of tissue 
14 to each other. 
Suitable tissues 14 may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,191,609, issued Mar. 4, 1980 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,859, 
issued Jan. 20, 1987 to Trokhan; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,118, issued Jul. 
26, 1994 to Muckenfuhs, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein 
by reference for the purpose of showing how to make tissues 14 suitable 
for use with the present invention, or by any other suitable manner. It is 
noted the tissues 14 may either be provided wet, dry, or lotioned. 
Examining the dispensing package 12 in more detail, the dispensing package 
12 may have a plurality of walls 24, 26, 28, and preferably has at least 
one defined wall with a dispensing opening 16 therethrough. The tissues 14 
are dispensable through this dispensing opening 16. The dispensing package 
12 may be generally parallelepipedly shaped as shown, or, alternatively, 
may be made of material having a relatively amorphous shape. However, the 
dispensing package 12 is preferably rigid enough that the engaging tab 18 
can intercept and separate adjacent tissues 14 upon dispensing through the 
dispensing opening 16. It is understood that the engaging tab 18 may 
intercept any portion of the tissue 14 which causes separation from 
succeeding tissues 14. The engaging tab 18 preferably intercepts the 
tissue 14 at the line of weakness separating adjacent tissues 14, or any 
other means releasably joining adjacent tissues 14, such as an overlap. 
The engaging tab 18 should be rigidly mounted to the dispensing package 12 
so that it can apply a reaction force to the tissues 14 upon dispensing. 
The reaction force separates one of the tissues 14 from succeeding tissues 
14. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the engaging tab 18 is mounted to the dispensing 
package 12 in any convenient manner and, preferably, is cantilevered from 
the dispensing package 12. More preferably, the walls of the dispensing 
package 12 have inner and outer surfaces, and the engaging tab 18 is 
joined to and cantilevered from one of the inner surfaces of the walls of 
the dispensing package 12. This arrangement provides a tissue package 10 
which is relatively neat in appearance as presented to the end user. 
Additionally, the potential for pinch points to fingers as well as 
accidental disruption of the position of the engaging tab 18 is minimized. 
The engaging tab 18 may be cantilevered from a proximal end, preferably 
spaced relatively remotely from the dispensing opening 16, and extends to 
a distal end. The distal end is preferably juxtaposed with the dispensing 
opening 16, so that it intercepts the tissues 14 upon withdrawal through 
the dispensing opening 16. 
The engaging tab 18 may extend through the dispensing opening 16 at a 
position intermediate the proximal and distal ends, so that the distal end 
is outside of the dispensing package 12. In this manner, the engaging tab 
18 may intercept the tissues 14 upon dispensing, and cause separation of 
one tissue 14 from an adjacent or succeeding tissue 14 by creating 
friction between the one tissue 14 and the adjacent or succeeding tissues 
14. This arrangement provides a visual signal to the user. When the 
engaging tab 18 intercepts the succeeding tissue 14 (preferably at the 
line of weakness separating one tissue 14 from the adjacent or succeeding 
tissues 14) the user will recognize this has occurred because the distal 
end of the engaging tab 18 is outside of the tissue package 10. 
The engaging tab 18 may be integral with the dispensing package 12. In this 
arrangement, the engaging tab 18 comprises an angular segment 22 cut out 
from the dispensing package 12 and folded back on itself to be 
cantilevered therefrom. More particularly, the engaging tab 18 may be 
formed from one of the rigid walls of the dispensing package 12. In this 
arrangement, the engaging tab 18 is not only integral with but is also 
hingedly connected to the dispensing package 12. 
By folding the engaging tab 18 away from the rigid wall of the dispensing 
package 12, the engaging tab 18 may be biased towards the tissues 14. 
Alternatively, the engaging tab 18 may be biased towards the tissues 14 by 
using a separate spring. Biasing the engaging tab 18 towards the tissues 
14 provides the advantage that as the tissues 14 are dispensed through the 
dispensing opening 16 and intercept the engaging tab 18, the friction 
exerted by the engaging tab 18 against the tissues 14 increases as the 
engaging tab 18 moves against the biasing force. The friction in this 
manner can be increased, as tactily discerned by the user, until the 
separation force is sufficient to cause separation of one tissue 14 from 
adjacent tissues 14. Biasing may be provided with a spring 20 which exerts 
a reaction force against on of the walls 26, 28 or the top 24 of the 
dispensing package 12. 
Referring to FIG. 2, if desired, multiple tissues 14 may be dispensed from 
the dispensing package 12 prior to separation of one tissue 14 from the 
succeeding tissues 14. For example, the tissues 14 may be pulled through 
the dispensing package 12 in the direction of arrow A and away from the 
engaging tab 18. In this mode, the engaging tab 18 does not intercept the 
tissues 14, providing the flexibility that multiple tissues 14 may be 
withdrawn at the same time. When the desired number of tissues 14 have 
been withdrawn through the dispensing opening 16, the user may then pull 
in the direction of arrow B. The engaging tab 18 now intercepts the 
tissues 14, causing separation of the plurality of withdrawn tissues 14 
from the balance of the clip. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present 
invention is shown. In this embodiment, the line of weakness separating 
adjacent tissues 14 comprises an elongate slit 32. The shape and position 
of the slit is complementary to the engaging tab 18. That is, the engaging 
tab 18 is sized to fit within the slit and located at a lateral (i.e., 
generally parallel to the line of weakness) position which allows the 
engaging tab 18 to mate with the elongate slit 32. In this arrangement, a 
tissue 14 is withdrawn successively through the dispensing opening 16 and 
past the engaging tab 18. The engaging tab 18 is biased towards the 
tissues 14. As the elongate slit 32 separating adjacent tissues 14 passes 
near the engaging tab 18 which is biased towards the tissues 14, the 
engaging tab 18 intercepts the tissue 14 at the elongate slit 32. This 
provides a step change in the withdrawal force and tactily signals the 
user that the dispensing of that tissue 14 is complete, and the tissue 14 
should be torn or otherwise ripped away from the balance of the clip of 
tissues 14 with an adequate separation force. By providing such a step 
change to the user, the user is signaled that the withdrawal process is 
completed and the tissue 14 should be separated. 
It will be apparent that many other variations are feasible and within the 
scope of the claimed invention. For example, a torsional spring 20 may be 
used to provide the biasing force of rather than the coil spring as 
illustrated in the figures. As illustrated in FIG. 4 a coil spring and 
plunger arrangement could be used rather than the hingedly connected 
arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1-2. 
Alternatively, multiple engaging tab 18 may be used in parallel to increase 
the separation force applied to the tissues 14. More particularly, a line 
of weakness having a plurality of elongate slits 32, and a like plurality 
of engaging tabs 18 may be utilized. This arrangement may be more useful 
for heavier basis weight sheets which require greater separation force, as 
is commonly used for hand towels, etc. Alternatively, the line of weakness 
separating adjacent tissues 14 need not be generally perpendicular to the 
direction of dispensing, but may be diagonal. Of course, the engaging tab 
18 would have to be positioned at a like diagonal for maximum efficacy. If 
desired, two or more opposed engaging tabs 18 may be utilized to increase 
the separation force, one engaging tab 18 being disposed on each side of 
the tissues 14.