Patent Application
20080202952
The present invention relates to tissue packages.
Tissues, such as marketed under the brand name KLEENEX®, are marketed in a variety of packages. Commonly, the tissues are located in rigid cardboard containers. These containers may have a variety of shapes and sizes and include exterior ornamentation. In general, however, the containers are quite large, often 4-8 inches wide, tall and/or long, as they are configured to store a large supply of tissues.
Because these containers are large and rigid, they are not readily suitable for transport or for use in locations in which space is a substantial concern. As such, tissues marketed in these packages or containers are typically used in the home, office or similar location.
There is a need, however, for tissues in a wide variety of other environments, such as while traveling, in the car and the like. As such, tissues are also packaged in smaller, portable or “travel” type packages. Typically, these packages contain a smaller number of tissues, such as 5-10 tissues. In cases where the package or container is constructed of cardboard or a similar generally rigid material, the container is generally constructed to be much smaller in size. More frequently, however, the tissues are located in a pliable or flexible plastic bag type package. The package essentially comprises plastic sheet material configured into a generally closed container or bag. These containers or packages are very lightweight and because they are flexible, may be fit into spaces of very small sizes.
Tissues are generally used to for “cleaning” purposes, such as to blow one's nose, wipe tears, clean off make-up and the like. As such, a person who utilizes a tissue frequently wishes to view the area to which the tissue was applied in order to ensure that the area was properly cleaned, to ensure that no tissue remnants are left and the like. This is a simple task in a home bathroom or the like where a mirror is present in relative close proximity to tissues. However, this is problematic when the person is traveling, outdoors or the like and using tissues from a portable package.
One aspect of the invention is a disposable or portable tissue package including a reflective surface. Another aspect of the invention is a reflective element which may be associated with a tissue package.
In one embodiment, a portable or disposable tissue package comprises a pliable plastic package generally defining an interior space and having an exterior surface, a plurality of tissues located in the interior space of the package, the package including at least one reflective surface.
The reflective surface may be defined by a material which is applied or otherwise associated with the tissue package.
One embodiment of the invention is a reflective element which may be associated with a package, such as a tissue package. The element comprises a body having at least one reflective surface. The body may include means for connecting it to a package. This means may comprise adhesive.
In a method of use, a tissue may be removed from the package and then the reflective surface of the package may be utilized. In the event the reflective surface is associated with a removable body, that reflective surface may be moved from package to package.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
One embodiment of the invention is a tissue package having a reflective element. Preferably, the tissue package is a disposable or travel type package. Another embodiment of the invention is a reflective element which may be associated with a tissue package.
One embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
In one embodiment, a portion of the package may be opened to provide access to the interior space 34. As illustrated, a flap 36 may be at least partially separated from the remainder of the package 20. The flap 36 may be located at one end 28 of the package. When opened, the flap 36 defines an opening 38 leading to the interior space 34. The size and shape of the flap 36 may vary, such as dependent upon the size of the package and the size of the tissues to be removed. In other embodiments, access to the interior space 34 may be provided in other manners, such as by opening an end portion of the package, by cutting or tearing a portion of the material, or even by completely removing a portion of the material from the remainder of the package.
One or more tissues 40 are located in the package. As illustrated, the tissues 40 may be folded into a configuration in which they match the cross-sectional shape of the package.
The material forming the package 20 may be generally transparent or clear. In this manner, the tissues 40 are visible through the package. This permits, for example, the user to determine the number of tissues remaining the package.
Referring to
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the reflective surface 42 is located at the exterior of the package 20. In another embodiment, the reflective surface 42 is simply visible from the exterior of the package 20. For example, if the package 20 is constructed from a transparent material, the reflective surface 42 might be located in or behind (i.e. at the interior of the package) that surface and thus still be visible to the user.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
As one example, the body 44 might comprise a sheet of Mylar® (a brand of DuPont) material having at least one reflective side. The body 44 might also comprise a substrate or base material which is non-reflective and which has a reflective material applied thereto on at least one side.
In one embodiment, means are provided for selectively connecting the body 44 to the package 20. This means might comprise adhesive, one or more fasteners or the like. For example, an adhesive may be applied to the second side 48 of the body 44 for adhering the body 44 to the package 20.
A covering may be applied over the adhesive side of the body 44 before it is used. This covering may be peeled away to expose the adhesive the first time the body 44 is to be associated with a package 20.
In one embodiment, referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the reflective surface (and a body with which it is associated, in such an embodiment) is pliable, permitting it to conform to changes in the shape of the package. For example, it is preferred that the reflective surface not prevent a flexible plastic or similar package such as that illustrated in
Various aspects of the invention will now be appreciated. First, in accordance with the invention, a reflective surface is associated with a portable or disposable tissue package. In this manner, when the user uses a tissue, a reflective surface is conveniently provided for use by the user. For example, referring to
In one embodiment, the reflective surface may be integral to the package. In this configuration, the reflective surface may be manufactured as an element of the package and be disposed with the package.
Another embodiment of the invention is a portable or removable reflective surface that may be associated with one or more packages. In this configuration, a user may obtain a reflective surface and associate it with a package. The user may also remove the reflective surface from one package and associate it with another package. For example, a consumer may purchase bulk package of 4 or 6 packages of tissues. A portable reflective surface may be associated with the bulk package or one of the individual packages and may be selectively connected to each of the individual packages as they are utilized.
In a preferred embodiment, the package with which the reflective element is associated is a pliable, plastic package. In other embodiments, however, the package might be of a variety of other configurations. For example, the tissue package might be constructed of paperboard or the like, and yet still be small in size so as to be portable/disposable.
The reflective surface may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, in the event of an emergency, the reflective surface might be used as a signaling device. In the case where the reflective surface is associated with a body which can be removed from the package, the body may be removed from the package and placed on another surface, such as the top of a car.
It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
