Abstract:
A tissue dispenser adapted to mount into the cup holders of a modern vehicle. A tissue dispenser comprising all recyclable products. A tissue dispenser adapted to mount into the cup holder of a vehicle with refillable tissue package inserts. A method for folding tissues for dispensing from a cylindrical dispenser. A portable tissue dispenser adapted to be carried in a purse or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to dispensers for tissues, and more specifically to a dispenser intended for use in vehicles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    It is difficult to hold a tissue dispenser box stationary in a moving vehicle with the tissues within reach of the driver. The dispenser tends to move about in response to movements of the vehicle. There may be no convenient surface near the use upon which the tissue dispenser may be placed. 
         [0005]    U.S. Patent Application No. US2003/0213810 A1 to Wu discloses a tissue dispenser with an attachment mechanism secured to the bottom for attaching the tissue dispenser to a support surface. A drawback of this approach is that there may not be an available and appropriate surface on which to mount this traditional sized tissue dispenser. 
         [0006]    U.S. Patent Application No. US2001/0019072 A1 to Wu discloses another tissue dispenser with an attachment means for securing the box holder in a desired position on a support surface. The box holder is made of elastic cord or strap material in a woven fish-net pattern, which is attached on its underside to the vehicle. Once again, a drawback of this approach is that there may not be an available and appropriate surface on which to mount this traditional sized tissue dispenser. 
         [0007]    Also, smaller packages that dispense tissues, that can be carried in a purse or the like, typically come in a rectangular soft package that may be difficult to use and store. 
         [0008]    What is called for is a dispenser that utilizes existing mounting features in a vehicle. What is also called for is a dispenser that is easy to use and store in something such as a purse or a pocket. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A tissue dispenser adapted to mount into the cup holders of a modern vehicle. A tissue dispenser comprising all recyclable products. A tissue dispenser adapted to mount into the cup holder of a vehicle with refillable tissue package inserts. A method for folding tissues for dispensing from a cylindrical dispenser. A portable tissue dispenser adapted to be carried in a purse or the like. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser being opened according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sketch of aspects of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sketch of a tissues packet according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sketch of a loaded tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a sketch of a tissue folding regimen according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sketch of a fan fold tissue folding regimen according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a sketch of a fan fold tissue folding regimen according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser with a coil of fan folded tissues according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser with a roll of fan folded tissues according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a sketch of a tissues packet. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 15A-B  are a sketches of a tissue dispenser according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The main body  101  of the tissue dispenser  100  is predominantly cylindrical in shape. The main body  101  is adapted to fit snugly into a cup or can holder of a motor vehicle. Many of the cup holders in modern vehicles are sized such that they fit snugly with a friction fit against a standard sized soft drink can. This is typically a diameter of 2 and ½ inches to 2 and ⅝ inches in diameter. By mounting the tissue dispenser in a cup holder, the tissue dispenser is both securely mounted and within ready reach of the user. 
         [0026]    The main body  101  has a bottom surface  105  and a top surface  102 . In some embodiments, the top surface will be the surface through which tissues stored within the tissue dispenser  100  are removed. A pull tab  103  may be mounted onto the top surface  102 . The pull tab  103  is mounted to a tear portion  104  of the top surface  102  which is surrounded by a serrated, or partially punched out, edge. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a sketch of the tissue dispenser  100  in a state after the pull tab  103  has been pulled. A first tissue  107  has been pulled up through a hole  108  in the top surface of the dispenser. The first tissue in the dispenser may be attached to the tear portion  104  which has been torn from the top surface by the pulling of the pull tab  103 . The first tissue  107  may be adhered to the tear portion  104  with a small amount of adhesive or other appropriate method. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, a tissue dispenser in which the first tissue is attached to the tear portion, and thus adapted to have the first tissue pulled out of the dispenser as the tear portion is pulled by the pull tab, can be of any of a variety of sizes and shapes. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a sketch of the tissue dispenser  100  after the first tissue  107  has been pulled out of the dispenser. A second tissue  109  has been pulled through the hole in the top surface by the first tissue. The tissues are connected in manner such that the tissue being removed through the hole pulls out the next tissue, but then separates from that next tissue after that next tissue has been somewhat pulled through the hole in the top surface. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, all of the tissue dispenser is made from recyclable material. In some embodiments, all of the tissue dispenser is made from paper. In today&#39;s environmentally conscious world, having a product made from recyclable material, which is then in turn also recyclable, reduces the environmental cost of the product. In some embodiments, the tissue dispenser is sized such that its height is the height of a typical soft drink can, approximately 5 inches. In some embodiments, the tissue dispenser is sized to be shorter, such as the size of a “half can” of soda. In some embodiments, the tissue dispenser is sized to be longer, such as the size of a tall can, approximately 6.5 inches in height. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a sketch of aspects of a tissue dispenser  200  according to some embodiments of the present invention. A main body  202  is adapted to fit snugly in the cup holder of a modern vehicle. In some embodiments, the main body  202  is substantially cylindrical. The main body has tabs  205  along its periphery near the top  203 . The tabs  205  are adapted for the easy sealing, and subsequent removal, of the top  201 . In some embodiments, the top  201  will have a slight inner flange along the inner surface of its side  206 . The slight inner flange will allow the top  201  to be gently pushed onto the main body  202  so that it will snap into place and remain attached. In some embodiments, the top  201  may be attached to the main body  202  using threads on the outside of the main body adapted to thread into threads along the inner surface of the side  206  of the top  201 . The top  201  has a top surface  207  which has a large annular hole  204  through it. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a sketch of a tissues packet  250  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The tissues packet  250  has a top  252  and a tissue container  251  which contains a plurality of dry tissues. In some embodiments, the top  252  of the tissues packet  250  has a slight rim flange  255  adapted to be captured between the top  201  of the tissue dispenser  200  and the top  203  of the main body  202 . The tissue packet  250  may be sized such that it fits relatively snugly into the tissue dispenser  200 . The tissue packet  250  has a pull tab  254  used to open a removable portion  253  of the top  252 . In some embodiments, the first tissue in the tissue packet  250  is attached to the bottom of the removable portion  253  such that it is dispensed as the removable portion  253  is pulled away by the action of the user pulling on the pull tab  254 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a sketch of a loaded tissue dispenser  300  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The tissue dispenser  200  is seen with the tissue packet  250  loaded within it. In such an embodiment, a reusable dispenser may be continually reloaded with tissue packets, thus only creating recyclable waste. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a sketch of a tissue folding regimen according to some embodiments of the present invention. A plurality of dry tissues  310 ,  311 ,  312  are seen laid end to end along a first direction. Although three tissues are shown, it is understood that a significantly larger number of tissues may be folded using folding regimens according to embodiments of the present invention. The tissues may be overlapped approximately two inches in some embodiments. The tissues are overlapped such that the overlap provides sufficient friction for the pulling of the next tissue partially out of the dispenser by the pulling of the previous tissue. Once the next tissue has been partially pulled out of the dispenser, the previous tissue&#39;s area of overlap with the next tissue is under less pressure, resulting in less friction, and the previous tissue pulls free of the next tissue. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate two types of fan folds according to some embodiments of the present invention. As seen in end views in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , using two tissues  320 ,  321  as an example, the overlapping tissues are folded in a fan type pattern along a direction perpendicular to their overlapping direction. The folds shown are then compressed horizontally so that the result is a folded plurality of dry tissues. The fold shown in  FIG. 9  with two exemplary tissues  330 ,  331 , may be used when the vertical height of the folded tissues is desired to be higher than that of the fold shown in  FIG. 8 . The fan fold results in fold lines that are parallel to the pull direction of the tissues. 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  illustrates a tissue dispenser  350  loaded with a coil of fan folded tissues  351 . A first tissue  352  is seen exiting through a hole  353 . In embodiments such as exemplified by the example in  FIG. 10 , the tissues have been fan folded such that their vertical height is minimized, and then a long length of fan folded tissue is laid into the dispenser as one would coil a rope into a bucket. The fan folding of the overlapping tissues provides sufficient friction that the pulling of the exterior tissue that has exited the hole will pull the next tissue in the line out of the hole, but once out of the hole the overlap portion will be able to expand, loosening the pulled tissue from the dispenser. 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  illustrates a tissue dispenser  400  with a roll  401  of fan folded tissues. In embodiments such as exemplified by the example in  FIG. 11 , the tissues have been fan folded such that their vertical height is set to the height of the inside of the dispenser and rolled into a roll. The tissue on the inside of the roll is pulled through the top of the dispenser and pulls the next tissue out as in the earlier example. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  illustrates a prior art tissue package  450 . Typically, the tissue package has a clear cellophane or plastic soft outer packaging  451  in the shape of a rectangle, through which the tissues  452  are visible. A pull tab  454  is used to tear open perforations  453  in the outer packaging. The pull tab typically has an adhesive such that the opening in the packaging can be resealed. 
         [0039]      FIG. 13  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser  500  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The tissue dispenser  500  has a main body  501  which is in the shape of a disc. The main body  501  has a top  502 . The top  502  of the main body  501  has a removable portion  504  which may be removed by the pulling of the pull tab  503 . The top  502  of the main body may be made of paper or other material and the removable portion  504  may be circumscribed by perforations which tear when the pull tab  503  is pulled, thus creating a hole in the top of the dispenser. The dispenser may be filled with dry tissues. In some embodiments, the dry tissues may be overlapped and fan folded. In some embodiments, the first of the tissues may be adhered to the removable portion such that the removal of the removable portion pulls the first tissue through the hole created by the removal of the removable portion. The small disc shape of the dispenser in some embodiments is similar to a small tin of mints, and may fit into the purse of a user, or the pocket of the user, for easy carrying. In some embodiments, all or most of the dispenser may be made of recyclable material such as paper. 
         [0040]      FIG. 14  is a sketch of a tissue dispenser  530  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The tissue dispenser is also disc shaped. The tissue dispenser may be approximately 1 inch high and 3 inches in diameter in some embodiments. The tissue dispenser  530  is seen with a tissue packet  534  loaded within it. In such an embodiment, a reusable dispenser may be continually reloaded with tissue packets, thus only creating recyclable waste. The main body  531  of the dispenser has a top  531  and a bottom piece  533 . The top  531  has a hole  535  in it exposing the top of the tissue packet. The tissues packet has a removable portion  536  which can be removed by pulling the attached pull tab  537 . In some embodiments, the first of the tissues may be adhered to the removable portion such that the removal of the removable portion pulls the first tissue through the hole created by the removal of the removable portion. The small disc shape of the dispenser in some embodiments is similar to a small tin of mints, and may fit into the purse of a user, or the pocket of the user, for easy carrying. In some embodiments, the top and bottom of the dispenser may snap together. In some embodiments, the top and the bottom of the dispenser may thread together. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 15A-B  are sketches of another small tissue dispenser  550  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The size of the small tissue dispenser  550  may be similar to the size of a roll of candies or mints in some embodiments. The dispenser  550  may have a main body  551  consisting of a tube  552  and a top  553 . The top  553  may have a hole allowing access to a tissue packet  554  contained within. The top  553  may be removable to allow for the replacement of the tissue packet. Tissues  555  are removed from the dispenser through a hole  556  in the top of the tissue packet. The hole may result from the removal of a removable portion of the top of the tissue packet. 
         [0042]    As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.