US20080217192A1 - Waste Compartment Securable to a Tissue Container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a compartment securable to an existing tissue container that enables a number of used tissues to be stored therein. The compartment includes a base attachable around an aperture formed in the tissue container and a container member secured to the base and extending inwardly into the tissue container. The container member includes a sleeve and a flexible liner that is treated or covered with an antimicrobial composition. When a cover for the compartment is opened, a used tissue can be inserted through the sleeve into the flexible liner to be held by the liner within the tissue container. As used tissues are positioned within the compartment, the liner operates to push the unused tissues within the container towards a dispensing opening for the tissue container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to facial tissues, and more specifically to an improved container for holding and dispensing tissues of this type, and retaining used tissues dispensed from the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• With regard to facial tissues and similar paper-based items dispensed in sheet form, the tissues are held within containers of varying shapes that allow the tissues to be dispensed individually from the container. The tissues are held in the container in any suitable manner, such as in an inter-folded configuration such that each tissue dispensed causes an adjacent tissue to be positioned partially outside of the container for subsequent dispensing from the container.
• While tissues of this type are held within many different types and configurations of containers, oftentimes it is desirable to provide a container that not only allows for dispensing of the tissues from the container, but that also includes a compartment for holding used tissues. This is especially important in situations where an individual does not have a readily available trash or waste receptacle in which a used tissue can be placed.
• However, while a number of tissue containers have been developed which include compartments for it and dispensing tissues from the container and for holding utilized tissues therein, the construction of containers of this type has not previously adequately addressed the problem of contamination of the unused tissues by the used tissues held within the container.
• One example of a container that maintains the separation between used and unused tissues within the container is illustrated in Parks U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,545. The container illustrated in this patent includes a liner having an open and attached to the bottom of a container around a used tissue inlet. The container also includes an unused tissue outlet disposed opposite the used tissue inlet, such that the liner effectively divides the container into separate compartments for each of the used and unused tissues.
• However, in this container construction, the inlet for the used tissues is formed by a pair of cuts made in the container that create a number of deflectable flaps in the bottom wall of the container. Due to the rigidity of the material used to form the container, the flaps do not deflect much, and do not allow for easy insertion of used tissues into the container. Additionally, in order to provide the container with the separate storage compartment for used tissues, the structure for the compartment is required to be part of the original construction for the container in order to allow the liner to be positioned within and secured to the container in the proper location.
• Therefore, is desirable to develop a compartment that can be attached to an existing container for dispensing and holding unused tissues that provides the container with a compartment to receive and hold used tissues therein.
• The compartment includes a barrier that separates the unused tissues from the used tissues held in the compartment to eliminate contamination of the unused tissues by the used tissues. The compartment can expand within the container to press the unused tissues upwardly towards the dispensing opening of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is a first object of the present invention to provide a compartment attachable to an existing container holding a number of tissues therein that forms a separate compartment within the container to hold used tissues. The compartment is positioned within an opening formed in the container and includes a sleeve extending into the container and a flexible liner attached to the sleeve within the container. Unused tissues are dispensed from the container in a conventional manner and used by an individual can be inserted into the separate used tissue compartment and held therein within the container. The compartment includes a closure that is located on the exterior of the container and that can be selectively opened to enable the used tissues to be positioned therein.
• According to another object of the present invention, to eliminate any potential for contamination of the remaining unused tissues held in the container, the separate compartment liner includes an antimicrobial composition applied thereto. In this manner, the used tissues position within the separate compartment within the container are separated from the unused tissues by the antimicrobial barrier material, eliminating the potential for determination of the unused tissues.
• According to another aspect of the present invention, the liner used in the compartment construction is flexible such that the liner can initially be positioned within the sleeve of the compartment, which simplifies the attachment of the compartment to the container. The flexibility of the liner material enables the liner to expand when used tissues are positioned within the separate compartment of the container formed by the liner to accommodate a number of used tissues therein. In addition, the expansion the liner within the container urges the unused tissues on the opposite side of the liner towards the opening in the container from which the unused tissues are dispensed.
• Numerous other advantages, aspects and features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated for constructing the present invention.
• In the drawings:
• FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the tissue container including the closure and waste compartment constructed according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line2-2 ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is an top plan view of the closure used in the container ofFIG. 1 in an open position;
• FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the closure ofFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is an top plan view of the closure used in the container ofFIG. 1 in a closed position; and
• FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the closure ofFIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a tissue container that can be used with the present invention is illustrated generally at10 inFIG. 1. Thecontainer10 has any suitable shape and construction for retaining a number oftissues12 therein, but is preferably rectangular in shape with atop surface14, abottom surface16, and a number ofside surfaces18 extending between thetop surface14 andbottom surface16. Additionally, thecontainer10 can be formed from any suitable material, such as a paperboard or plastic material.
• Thecontainer10 also includes a first opening20 located in thetop surface14 of thecontainer10. The first opening20 is optionally covered by adispensing closure22 that is secured around the periphery of the opening20 to thetop surface14 by any suitable means such as an adhesive, sonic or thermal welding or other mechanical fastening members (not shown). Thedispensing closure22 can take the form of any suitable closure member, such as aplastic sheet21 having aslit23 therethrough in alignment with the opening20, or a cover (not shown) hinged to a base member (not shown) secured to the cover around the opening20.
• Thetissues12 positioned within the container are any conventionally formed tissue, such as those that are formed in a folded configuration such that eachtissue12 removed from the container and through the opening20 operates to pull anadjacent tissue12 partially through the opening20 into a dispensing position.
• Looking now atFIGS. 1-6, thebottom surface16 of thecontainer10 includes a second opening24 formed therein. Within thesecond opening24 is located acompartment26 including aclosure27 that provides access through the second opening24 into the interior of thecontainer10. Theclosure27, in a particularly preferred embodiment, includes abase28 having a peripheralouter flange30 positionable and securable on the exterior of thebottom surface16 around the periphery of thesecond opening24, such as by an adhesive, sonic or thermal welding or other mechanical fastening members (not shown). Thebase28 also includes asleeve32 open at both ends that extends inwardly through the second opening24 from theouter flange30, and is preferably integrally formed with theouter flange30. The function of thesleeve32 is to provide a wide and well-defined passage into thecontainer12 through thesleeve32 that enables easy insertion of a used tissue into thecontainer10.
• Opposite theouter flange30, thesleeve32 is secured to aninner liner34 that extends inwardly into thecontainer10 from thesleeve32. Theinner liner34 is formed of a flexible, and preferably a plastic material, such that theinner liner34 is expandable within thecontainer10 as used tissues are positioned within theinner member34, which defines the majority if theinterior35 of thecompartment26. Theliner34 can be secured to the inner surface or the outer surface of thesleeve32 using any suitable means, such as an adhesive sonic or thermal welding or other mechanical fastening members (not shown), among others. Due to the flexibility of theliner34, theliner34 can be initially positioned completely within thesleeve32 during attachment of thecompartment26 to thecontainer10 to increase the ease of attaching thecompartment26. Alternatively, theliner34 can be secured to the exterior of thesleeve32 and disposed outside of thesleeve32 when initially secured within thecontainer10. In either embodiment, astissues12 are inserted into thecompartment26, theinner liner34 expands out of thesleeve32 and into the container, such that theinner liner34 presses upwardly against theunused tissues12 remaining in thecontainer10. Consequently, theinner liner34 urges theunused tissues12 upwardly within thecontainer10 towards the opening20 and thetop surface14 of thecontainer10.
• Theclosure27 also includes acover36 that is engaged with theouter flange30. Thecover36 operates to selectively open and close theclosure27 and allow used tissues to be inserted through thesleeve32 into theliner34. Thecover36 is releasably engaged to theouter flange30, preferably by a number oftabs38 disposed around the periphery of thecover36 that are engaged within alignedrecesses40 formed in thesleeve32 adjacent theouter flange30.
• While thecover36 can be formed of separately from theouter flange30, in a preferred embodiment thecover36 is connected to theouter flange30 at one end by ahinge42. Thehinge42 can be formed material different from that of thecover36 andouter flange30 and secured between thecover36 andouter flange30 at opposite ends, or can be formed as a living hinge by integrally forming thecover36 with theouter flange30. In this preferred embodiment, thecover36 includes aninsert44 shaped similarly to thesleeve32 that extends inwardly from thecover36 and on which thetabs38 are disposed. Theinsert44 is positionable within thesleeve32 to close off thesleeve32 from the exterior of thecontainer10.
• Adjacent to theinsert44, thecover36 also includes a pair ofperipheral tabs46 that can be grasped by an individual to pull thecover36 away from thebase28, thereby disengaging thetabs38 on thecover36 from therecesses40 on thesleeve32 in thebase28. Thetabs46 are spaced slightly from the base28 by raisedportions48 of theouter flange30 that are positioned in alignment with thetabs46.
• When thecompartment26 is inserted into theopening24 formed in thebottom surface16 of thecontainer10 and secured thereto, theclosure27, and particularly thesleeve32 and theliner34 form a secondary container within theouter container10 within which used tissues can be placed and stored. In use, when an individual dispenses atissue12 from thetop surface14 of thecontainer10, after using thetissue12, disengaging thecover member36 from thebase number28 provides access to thesleeve32 andliner34 through thesecond opening24. Once opened, the usedtissue12 can be inserted into thesleeve32, and thecover member36 can be reengaged with thebase member28 to retain the usedtissue12 therein. In addition, the greater the number of used tissues positioned within thecompartment26 including theliner34, this greater number oftissues12 expands theliner34 to press against theunused tissues12 remain within thecontainer10 to assist in dispensing theunused tissues12 from the container through theopening18 in thetop surface14 by moving thetissues12 towards theopening18.
• In addition to the components of thecompartment26 each being formed of a fluid-impervious material, preferably theliner34 is coated or otherwise formed with an antimicrobial material. The use of the antimicrobial material on theliner34 operates to prevent the contaminants held on the usedtissues12 from passing through the material forming theclosure27 and affecting the cleanliness or sterility of thetissues12 held in the original storage compartment of thecontainer10. This material can also be applied to thesleeve32 and theclosure27, if desired.
• Due to the configuration of thecompartment26, asingle container10 can includemultiple compartments26 to enable even greater numbers of usedtissues12 to be within thecompartment26 in theoverall container10. Further, the shape of thecompartment26 can be varied as necessary, and in particular to accommodate the specific configuration for thecontainer10.
• While the preferred embodiments of thecompartment26 of the present invention have been described previously, other changes can also be made to those preferred embodiments. For example, he components of theclosure27 not including theliner34 can be formed of a suitable material that preferably if generally rigid, such as a plastic material or a paperboard material, which is more easily disposable. Also, theinner sleeve32 can include a removable barrier (not shown) located over the open end of thesleeve32 opposite thecover36. This barrier serves to retain theliner34 within thesleeve32 in a configuration that is easy to handle prior to and during attachment to thecontainer10. Also, by positioning theliner34 within thesleeve32, theliner34 is protected from damage or contamination on the exterior surface of theliner34 that contacts theunused tissues12 within thecontainer10.
• Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming a subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims (18)

1. A secondary compartment adapted for use with a tissue container to hold used tissues therein, the secondary compartment comprising:

a) a base member adapted to be secured within an opening in the tissue container and including a container member extending inwardly into the tissue container; and

b) a cover member connected to the base member and operable to selectively open and close the compartment for positioning utilize tissues therein.

2. The secondary compartment ofclaim 1 wherein the container member is formed as a flexible liner.

3. The secondary compartment ofclaim 2 wherein the container member includes a sleeve connected to the base member and wherein the flexible liner is connected to the sleeve opposite the base member.

4. The secondary compartment ofclaim 3 wherein the flexible liner is positionable within the sleeve.

5. The secondary compartment ofclaim 1 wherein the container member is formed with an antimicrobial coating.

6. The secondary compartment ofclaim 1 wherein the cover member is connected to the base member by a hinge.

7. The secondary compartment ofclaim 6 wherein the cover member is integrally connected to the base member.

8. The secondary compartment ofclaim 1 wherein the cover member includes a number of tabs engageable with the container member.

9. The secondary compartment ofclaim 8 wherein the container member includes a number of recesses engageable with the tabs on the cover member.

10. The secondary compartment ofclaim 1 wherein the base member includes antimicrobial material formed integrally therein.

11. A tissue container comprising:

a) a first compartment including a top wall having a dispensing opening, a bottom wall, a number of side walls interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall, and an aperture disposed in one of the top wall, bottom wall, or side walls;

b) a second compartment having a base member secured within the aperture, a container member secured to the base member and disposed within the first compartment, and a closure secured to the base member and operable to selectively open and close the second compartment.

12. The container ofclaim 11 wherein the container member includes a sleeve connected to and extending inwardly into the first compartment from the base member.

13. The container ofclaim 12 wherein the container member includes a flexible liner secured to the sleeve opposite the base member.

14. The container ofclaim 11 wherein the closure is secured to the base member by a hinge.

15. The container ofclaim 14 wherein the closure is releasably secured to the base member opposite the hinge.

16. The container ofclaim 14 wherein the closure is integrally formed with the base member.

17. A method for storing used tissues within a tissue container, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tissue container having a first compartment including a top wall having a dispensing opening, a bottom wall, and a number of side walls interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall;

b) forming an aperture in one of the top wall, bottom wall, or side walls of the first compartment;

c) securing a second compartment within the aperture, the second compartment including a base member secured within the aperture, a container member secured to the base member and disposed within the first compartment, and a closure secured to the base member and operable to selectively open and close the second compartment; and

d) opening the second compartment to position a used tissue therein.

18. The method ofclaim 17 wherein the container member includes a sleeve secured to the base member and a flexible liner secured to the sleeve opposite the base member, and further comprising the step of inserting the used tissue through the sleeve into the flexible liner after opening the second compartment.

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