WO2021108832A1

WO2021108832A1 - Tissue dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021108832A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/051169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-03
Filing date: 2020-10-29
Publication date: 2021-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-03

Abstract

A tissue dispensing apparatus for a tissue box has a base having a rectangular floor having width and length and a pair of spaced apart plinths raised from the floor. The plinths define parallel straight edges each orientated along the width of the floor. A rectangular cowl having a top and sides and an open bottom, the top having a dispensing slot, is engaged over the base with a conventional tissue box therebetween with a bottom portion removed such that the plinths press tissue therein up towards the dispensing slot and the spaced apart straight edges of the plinths firmly hold the tissue abeam from ends of the dispensing slot.

Description

Tissue dispensing apparatus

Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to tissue dispensing apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to tissue dispensing apparatus suitable for conventional tissue boxes.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Conventional cardboard tissue boxes have a plurality of tissues therein which are pulled one by one from an opening thereof. The tissues may be interleaved to aid exposing an edge of a next tissue. When the tissues are nearly depleted however, gaining access to tissue remaining at the bottom of the box becomes difficult.

[0003] As such, there are a number of prior art arrangements which seek to address this problem including US 3343716 A (PEEBLES) 26 September 1967, which discloses a custom tissue box suited for a corresponding dispenser which has a plurality of preformed circular knock-outs in a bottom thereof which may be knocked out to allow post elements of the dispenser to press up against tissue therein.

[0004] US 7665628 B1 (MILLIGAN) 23 February 2010 discloses a dispenser comprising piercing members which pierce holes through a bottom of a tissue box and which contain spring bound lifting members which go through the pierced holes to push the tissue product upwardly.

[0005] US 10039426 B1 (JACK SOULES) 07 August 2018 discloses a dispenser having a base having an ovular pedestal atop a column which goes through a preformed perforated opening to press up against tissue therein.

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide a tissue dispensing apparatus, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0007] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. Summary of the Disclosure

[0008] There is provided herein tissue dispensing apparatus for a tissue box. The apparatus comprises a base having a rectangular floor having width and length. A pair of plinths rise from the floor and define parallel straight edges each orientated along the width of the floor.

[0009] A rectangular cowl having a top and sides and an open bottom engages the base therein. The top has a dispensing slot.

[0010] In use, a tissue box having a rectangular bottom opening formed by cutting out a rectangular portion of a bottom thereof is placed between the base and the cowl. [0011 ] The opening is made such that the edges of the plinths fit through the opening. [0012] As such, the edges of the plinths press tissues therein up towards the dispensing slot at opposite ends of the dispensing slot under weight applied by the cowl.

[0013] The present arrangement allows for conventional tissue boxes to be used without requiring preformed knock-outs, perforated openings and the like.

[0014] Furthermore, the spaced apart straight edges of the plinths were found by trial and experimentation to firmly hold the tissue abeam from ends of the dispensing slot whilst conferring slight give therebetween to aid plucking of exposed tissue.

[0015] The spaced apart straight edges of the plinths may bear directly against tissue therein of alternatively, the cut out rectangular portion may be retained to form a slightly flexible platform between the spaced apart straight edges.

[0016] The base may define quadrant of guidance piers the corners of the floor which engage against inner corners of the cowl to restrain the cowl with respect to the base in the horizontal plane. The guidance piers may comprise channel members which slide into corresponding channels of the cowl.

[0017] Furthermore, the guidance piers may comprise side flanges which engage corners of the box to restrain the box with respect to the base in the horizontal plane. [0018] The guidance piers furthermore hold the box to the base and an accessible manner. [0019] An undersurface of the top of the cowl may comprise a rectangular arrangement of guidance flanges to locate around the top of the tissue box. As such, in use, the cowl may be inverted and a tissue box having the bottom portion thereof removed placed within the cowl and positioned by the guidance flanges. The base may then be lowered within the cowl to engage around the tissue box where after the apparatus may be reverted to an upright position.

[0020] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of a base and cowl of tissue dispensing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0023] Figure 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the base and the cowl; and [0024] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the base and the cowl engaging around a conventional tissue box.

Description of Embodiments

[0025] Tissue dispensing apparatus 100 for a conventional tissue box 101 comprises a base 102 having a rectangular floor 104 having width and length. The base 102 has a pair of plinths 103 raised from the floor 104. The plinths 103 define parallel straight edges 105, each orientated along the width of the floor 104.

[0026] The plinths 103 may be triangular-shaped and, with reference to Figure 2, may be hollow.

[0027] The apparatus 100 further comprises a rectangular cowl 108 having a top 109, sides 110 and an open bottom 111.

[0028] The cowl 108 engages over the base 102. The base 102 may comprise a quadrant of guidance piers 106 rising from corners of the floor 104. As shown in Figure 3 and 4, the guidance piers 106 may engage within respective inner corners of the cowl 108 to restrain the cowl 108 with respect to the base 102 in the horizontal plane and allow the cowl 108 to drop towards the base 102..

[0029] The top 109 of the cowl 108 has a dispensing slot 112 therethrough having sides 113 and ends 114.

[0030] The edges 105 of the plinths 103 locate at or in from the ends 114 of the dispensing slot 112 when the cowl 108 is engaged to the base 102.

[0031] The tissue box 101 is placed between the base 102 and the cowl 108. The guidance piers 108 may comprise orthogonal flanges 107. As can be best seen in Figure 3 and 4, the tissue box 101 may be restrained in the horizontal plane at the corners thereof by the flanges 107. The orthogonal flanges 107 may be triangular shaped.

[0032] The tissue box 101 has a rectangular opening 115 formed by cutting out a rectangular portion 116 of a bottom of the tissue box 101 such that the edges 105 of the plinths 103 fit into the rectangular opening 115 to press tissue therein up towards the dispensing slot 112 under weight applied by the cowl 108.

[0033] In one manner, the rectangular portion 116 of the tissue box 101 is discarded such that the straight edges 105 of the plinths 103 press directly against tissue within the tissue box 101.

[0034] In an alternative manner, illustrated in Figure 3 and 4, the rectangular portion 116 is left in place, such that the straight edges 105 of the plinths 103 press directly against the rectangular portion 116 which follows the tissue towards the dispensing slot 112.

[0035] Each guidance pier 106 may comprise a channelling member 117 which slides into a corresponding vertical channel 118 formed at a respective inner corner of the cowl 108. In the embodiment shown, the channelling member 117 may be semicylindrical and partially surrounded by a channel 118 being semicircular in cross- section, preferably through more than 180°.

[0036] As best shown in Figure 2, an undersurface 123 of the top 109 of the cowl 108 may comprise a rectangular arrangement of guidance flanges which restrain a top of the tissue box 101 therewithin in the horizontal plane. The guidance flanges may comprise a quadrant of orthogonal corner flanges 124.

[0037] The apparatus 100 may comprise an anchoring attachment 119 for anchoring the base 102 to a surface.

[0038] The anchoring attachment 1 19 may be for a suction cup. In this regard, and as shown in Figure 2, the anchoring attachment 1 19 may comprise a slot 120 having a major portion 121 and a minor portion 122. The major portion 121 may be sized to receive a bung of a suction cup therein and the minor portion 122 may be sized to engage under edges of the bung.

[0039] Utilisation of the apparatus 100 may comprise cutting the rectangular portion 160 from the bottom of the tissue box 110. With the cowl 108 upside down in the orientation given in Figure 2, the top of the tissue box 1 10 may be inserted to locate between the guidance flanges 124.

[0040] The base 102, also inverted, may then be placed atop the cowl 108 such that the guidance piers 106 engage respective inner corners of the cowl 108 and the plinths 105 go through the opening 115 of the tissue box 101 . Where the guidance piers 106 comprise the channelling members 117, the channelling members 1 1 7 may each slide into respective channel 1 18 of the cowl 108.

[0041 ] The rectangular portion 116 may either be left in place or discarded. Generally, the rectangular portion 116 is left in place for larger sized tissue boxes 1 10.

[0042] The apparatus 100 may then be reverted to the orientation given in Figure 3 and 4.

[0043] The base 102 may be attached to a surface using the anchoring attachment 119. A suction cup may be engaged within the slot 120 and the apparatus 100 pressed downwardly to engage the suction cup. Alternatively, the suction cup may be attached to the surface whereafter the bung thereof is inserted through the major portion 121 of the slot and the base 102 slid along the surface such that the minor portion 122 engages under edges of the bung.

[0044] The weight of the cowl 108 presses down on the tissue box 101 such that the straight edges 105 of the plinths 103 press against the tissue therein up against the dispensing slot 112 from ends of the dispensing slot 112 for dispensing. As the tissue within the box 101 becomes depleted, the cowl 108 falls further towards the base 102.

[0045] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[0046] The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

1 . Tissue dispensing apparatus for a tissue box, the apparatus comprising: a base having a rectangular floor having width and length, a pair of spaced apart plinths raised from the floor, the plinths defining parallel straight edges each orientated along the width of the floor, and a rectangular cowl having a top and sides and an open bottom, the top having a dispensing slot, the cowl engaging over the base.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, when the cowl engages the base, the straight edges of the plinths locate substantially at opposite ends of the dispensing slot.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, when the cowl engages the base, the straight edges of the plinths locate substantially in from opposite ends of the dispensing slot.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a quadrant of guidance piers at corners of the floor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cowl engages the piers at respective inner corners thereof such that the cowl is restrained with respect to the base in a horizontal plane and allows the cowl to drop vertically with respect to the base.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each pier defines a pair of orthogonal flanges such that, in use, the tissue box between the cowl and base is restrained in the horizontal plane at corners thereof by the flanges.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tissue box located between the cowl and the base, the tissue box having a bottom opening formed by cutting a bottom portion therefrom to accommodate the straight edges through the bottom opening and wherein the straight edges press directly against tissue therein.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tissue box located between the cowl and the base, the tissue box having a bottom opening formed by cutting a bottom portion therefrom to accommodate the straight edges through the bottom opening and wherein the straight edges press directly against the bottom portion such that the bottom portion follows the tissue towards the dispensing slot.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each guidance pier comprises a channelling member which slides into a corresponding channel formed at a respective inner corner of the cowl.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each channelling member is semi-cylindrical in cross section and wherein each channel is correspondingly semicircular in cross-section.

11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein each channel is semicircular in cross-section through more than 180°.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an undersurface of the top comprises a rectangular arrangement of guidance flanges which restrain a top of the tissue box therewithin.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guidance flanges comprise a quadrant of orthogonal corner flanges.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the floor of the base comprises an anchoring attachment.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the anchoring attachment is for a suction cup.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the anchoring attachment comprises a slot having major and minor portions, the major portion sized to receive a bung of a suction cup therein and the minor portion is sized to engage under edges of the bung.

17. A method of dispensing tissue using the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising cutting a rectangular portion from a bottom of a tissue box to form a bottom opening and placing the tissue box between the cowl and the base such that the cowl engages the base therein and the plinths fit through the rectangular opening such that the straight edges thereof press tissue therein up towards the dispensing slot from opposite ends of the dispensing slot.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rectangular portion is discarded such that the plinths press directly against the tissue within the tissue box.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rectangular portion is retained atop the plinths to follow the tissue towards the dispensing slot.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, the method comprising inverting the cowl and locating the tissue box therein between the rectangular arrangement of guidance flanges, placing the base, also inverted, atop the cowl such that guidance piers thereof engage respective inner corners of the cowl and reverting apparatus to an upright position.