US3372837A - Commercial facial tissue dispensing box with auxiliary disposal cover therefor - Google Patents

Description

March `l2, 1968 E. c. NEUMANN COMMERCIAL FACIAL TISSUE DISPENSING BOX WI AUXILIARY DISPOSAL COVER THEREFOR" Filed Oct. 5. 1966 HOLE FRSO/LED TISSUES "f, if

i vEdward C. Neumann INI/EMDR.

United States Patent C) COMMERCE/l. FACIAL TISSUE DISPENSHNG EUX ililil AUKILIARY DESQSIL CUWR THEREFR Edward C. Neumann, Jersey City, NJ., assigner of fifty percent to Thomas P. Brown, Millville, NJ. Filed Get. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 533,768 3 Claims. (Ci. 22h-34) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLUSURE The package above referred to is characterized by a conventional type rectangular cardboard or equivalent box containing facial tissues and wherein the top wall is provided with an elongated dispensing slot affording access to one or more tissues. The improvement has to do with a box-like sheet material cover which is slidingly sleeved over the box. This cover has interconnected top, bottom and side walls as well as one closed end wall. The other or opposite end is open and the closed end wall is manually capable of movement toward and from a corresponding end wall of the box when the cover is shifted relative to the box in a manner to provide a variable depository for soiled tissues and similar litter, the top wall of said cover having a litter hole coacting with an open-mouth notch conjointly capable of orientation and alignment with (l) said dispensing slot (2) said soiled tissue depository.

This invention relates to packaging, retailing and dispensing means for facial tissues and has reference, more particularly, to a cardboard or an equivalent disposable type carton or box which in and of itself may be construed as of a conventional type and which, in keeping with the concept herein disclosed, is provided with a specially constructed sleevelike wrapper which is capable of use as a feasible cover as well as a temporarily available sanitary disposal compartment for soiled tissues.

Persons conversant with the field of endeavor and related prior art are aware that there are many and varied styles and types of disposable cardboard cartons, containers 4and boxes which are currently being used as containers and dispensers for facial tissues. For example, it is common practice to employ a generally rectangular cardboard box wherein one wall, usually the flat top wall, is provided with slot means which exposes the topmost tissue and permits the user to catch hold of the same (one or more tissues) and to pull and withdraw the same through the slot for use. Such boxes and cartons as are now on the open market make no satisfactory provision for the disposal of a soiled or used tissue. To be sure lwhen the user is confined to a bed or sickroorn it is common practice to deposit the soiled tissue in a bedside waste receiving bag or perhaps a wastebasket. At home it is common practice to drop a soiled tissue into the water of a toilet bowl and, alternatively, to use, if conveniently available, a wastepaper basket, trash can or whatever may serve the convenience of the user but often to the displeasure of other occupants of the premises.

With respect now to the practice and procedure of disposing of soiled tissues when traveling in an automobile or the like and while it may be true that many disciplined persons resort to the use of popularly employed litter bags, it is an objective in the instant matter to provide a tissue dispensing box, carton or container with its own slidably mounted but attached soiled tissue disposal means. To the ends desired, the preferred embodiment of the means, as herein shown and hereinafter described and claimed has to do with a regular or commercial type tissue containing and dispensing box and the addition thereto of a unique cover, that is one which is novel in that it is slidingly and snugly 3,372,832 Patented Mar. l2, 1368 fitted in the manner of a sleeve over the slotted box whereby to serve as a cover, similar to an attachable and detachable advertising wrapper, and to provide, when desired, a depository or compartment which may be referred to as a sanitary disposal pocket or compartment and into which the soiled tissues, other items of litter too, can be placed and disposed of.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention a readily attachable and detachable sleeve-like cover of cardboard or equivalent economical sheet material is provided. This cover is removably and telescopingly slid and sleeved over the regular unaltered box. When in position it encases or encloses the main wall surfaces of the box. This cover is characterized by interconnected top, bottom and side Walls, is open at one end and is provided with an integral wall at the other end which is accordingly closed. The openeended portion of the thus constructed cover is slipped conformingly over the box in a manner to fully encompass the same. The top wall of this cover is provided at one end vwith a litter hole through which the soiled tissues can be passed. It is provided at the other end with a cutout which is here described as an open-ended notch and the hole and also the notch are normally lined up with the withdrawal slot in the top wall of the tissue containing box. A transparent cellophane or equivalent wrapper (not shown) can then be placed over the box and cover to provide the ready-for-sale product.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter `described and claimed, reference being had to the accompany drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. l is a view in perspective showing, in elevation and full lines a conventional slotted tissue containing and dispensing box or carton, showing the improved litter disposal type cover fitted in its normal position over the box and also showing, in phantom lines, how the box can be withdrawn from the sleeve or the sleeve pulled away from the box so as to provide an end compartment for disposal and collection of soiled tissues (not detailed).

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view on a small scale with a portion broken away and shown in section, of a slightly modified type of attachable and detachable tissue box cover.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 is basically the same as that appearing in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, there is a slight struc-tural modication and hence attention is rst directed to FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive. In these views it will be noted that the regular commercial type tissue container comprises a rectangular box or carton which is denoted `generally by the numeral 6. This component is of customary construction and has top and bottom walls (FIGS. 2 and 3) 8 and It) which are flat and parallel and interconnected longitudinal side Walls 12. This box is of suitable one piece cardboard -or equivalent construction and a stack of facial tissues in the container portion thereof is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 14.1 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Then, too, and as is also customary the top wall S is provided with an access and withdrawal slot which is denoted generally by the numeral 16 and which is here shown (-FIG. 1) as of elongated or ovate form with one end at the left as at 18 `and the other end at the right as at 20. Thus the containing and dispensing box is conventional but its purpose and utility is enhanced by the addition thereto of the attachable and detachable component which is here referred to asia sleevetype cover 22.

Whereas the added attachment or disposal unit as it is sometimes called, could be described properly as an auxiliary box, shell, jacket or the like it is here referred to as a cardboard or equivalent cover. More specically it comprises a box-like sleeve which is closed at one end land open at the other end. With reference now to the views of the drawing it will be seen that the flat top wall is denoted at `2li, the exteri-or flat bottom wall at 26 and the spaced parallel hat side walls at 28 (FIG. 3). It will be seen that this cover is open at the left hand end in the views of the drawing. On the other hand the other end, that is the end wall 3d (FIG. 2) is integral and consequently normally abuts the coacting end wall of the box. One end wall Iof the box is denoted at the left at 32 and the other one at the right at 34 and consequently the end wall 30 abuts the wall 34 when the cover is in its fully closed position. In addition to being open at the left hand end the to-p wall 24 of the cover is provided at the right hand end with a circular or equivalent litter depositing hole of `suitable size which is denoted at 36 and which registers with the end when the cover is closed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular. There is a cutout at the opposite end of the top wall 24 and this is here referred to as an open-ended notch 3S which regis- `ters with the left hand half portion of the slot 16 in the manner .illustrated to advantage in FIG. l. It follows that in the full line showing in FIGS. l to 3 the cover means 22 is sheathed over and snugly and exteriorly ts the comformable wall components of the tissue box 6. The fact is this cover provides a plurality of walls which can be used for art work, advertising and other purposes which makes it possible to use a plain box 6 to advantage. This is a phase of the concept which sh-ould appeal to `the economy practices of the prospective manufacturer. Primarily, however, the slidable or openable and closable cover means 22 provides the aforementioned facility, that is a compact and convenient litter disposal compartment. By moving the box 6 out of the receptacle portion of the cover or alternatively pulling the cover 22 from right to left and holding the box 6 it will be evident that when the two walls and 34 move a satisfactory degree apart, the space therebetween provides the desired disposal cornpartment or soiled tissue depository.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the modification is denoted generally by the numeral 40 and is basically the same and embodies top and bottom walls 42 and 43 `and side walls 44, being open (not detailed) at the end 46. The opposite end 43 is closed as is the end 3). The difference here is that instead of preforming the access and withdrawal slot means 38 and litter deposit hole 36 perforations are provided as at 50 and 52 thus defining a circular plug at 54 which can be punched out to provide a hole, and a ap S5 which can be punched out on the score lines 50 to provide the desired notch or slot means.

It is submitted that the invention herein shown and described well serves the purposes for which it is intended, that the features 'and advantages are self-evident from the disclosure and that a more specific description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous m0dications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the t exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all su-itable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

ln combination, a conventional-type facial tissue packaging and dispensing box embodying interconnected top, bottom, side and end walls, said top wall having a common elongated tissue access and dispensing slot with ends terminating inwardly of the respective end walls of said box, `and an improved box-shaped sheet material cover embodying a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, one end closing wall, and being wholly open at its opposite end, said cover being commensurate in length and cross-sectional dimension with said box and slidingly and shiftably sleeved over said box, the end closing wall of 4said cover being normally disposed in face-to-face contact with but manually shiftable a suitable distance from the adjacent end wall of said box in a manner to provide a temporarily available and variable disposal compartment for soiled tissues and small litter, that portion of the top wall of said cover which is cooperable with said end closing wall having a litter h-ole therein which is communicable with said compartment when the latter is made available for use, said hole being spaced a relatively short distance inwardly from said end closing wall and being of a prescribed diameter, said last-named top wall also having an elongated hand accommodating and tissue withdrawing notch aligned and in communication with said slot, said notch having one end closed and spaced a predetermined distance from an adjacent peripheral edge of .said litter hole and having its other end open and opening through an upper edge portion of the aforementioned open end of said cover.

2. The combination defined in and according to claim l, and wherein (l) said litter hole and (2) said notch are simultaneously in communicative alignment with said dispensing slot, and also wherein said notch is comparable in size and general contour with said slot and is in constant communication with said slot whether the cover is open or closed and accordingly permits unobstructed access to the tissues by way of said slot, particularly when the cover is slid relative to said box to an open tissue and litter depositing position.

3. The combination according to claim 2, and wherein the size of said cover corresponds to the size of the box, the optionally variable size and capa-city of said compartment being determinable and manually regulatable depending on the dis-tance existing between the closed end wall of the cover and oriented closed end wall of said box, said hole being of a diameter comparable with the selected size of the compartment to enable the user to conveniently stuff crumpled tissues and small litter into the compartment by way oi said hole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,902,388 8/1933 Welch 206--38 3,096,878 7/l963 VJhitley et al. 206-41 3,141,569 7/1964 Hanson 221-34 3,207,361 9/1965 Marcalus 221-48 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

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