TISSUE HOLDER

Abstract

A tissue holder is designed to provide tissues for users at the point of use, especially for those people who are mobile. The tissue holder may be used in multiple different ways. First, the tissue holder may adhere to a dashboard in a motor vehicle, close to the driver. This provides convenient access to the tissues with no or minimal distraction for the driver. Second, the tissue holder may snap with a ring, such as a metal ring, having a clasp or other attachment mechanism, onto items such as articles of clothing, book bags, purses, zippers, diaper bags, lanyards, belt loops and the like. Third, the tissue holder may attach around a user's wrist with an elastic band, hook and loop straps, or the like. Fourth, the tissue holder may be adhered to the inside of a purse or bag.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tissue holders and, more particularly, to a tissue holder for holding facial tissues conveniently, at the point of use, for people who are mobile.

Currently, there are no items available to hold facial tissues, at the point of use, in, for example, cars, on a user's wrist, or on apparel. For example, a tissue holder on a car visor or mounted on the back of a seat behind a headrest can take up to four seconds to obtain. This is difficult, time consuming and can be a dangerous distraction to the driver. Moreover, these tissue holders do not have the adaptability of being removed and utilized by a person on the go—such as attached to a purse, lanyard, belt loop or the like.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,656, a tissue box is disclosed having an opening on a side thereof, to permit installation of a commercial tissue box or stack of folded tissues. However, the box described in U.S. '656 is a box made of a sturdy material and does not address the issue of attaching a soft, plush faux fur or cotton, cotton blend, polyester, light weight rayon, or the like, to any hard surface.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved tissue holder for holding facial tissues at the point of use for people who are mobile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a tissue holder comprises an opening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-folded tissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder; a tissue stabilizing flap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of the tissue holder; and a two-step attachment means for removably attaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a tissue holder comprises an opening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-folded tissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder; a tissue stabilizing flap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of the tissue holder; a two-step attachment means for removably attaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface; an attachment clip disposed on an attachment strip attached to the tissue holder; a key ring attachment disposed on a key ring attachment strip attached to the tissue holder; a lip balm holder disposed on a side of the tissue holder; and a wrist band disposed on a back side of the tissue holder.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tissue holder, with its flap open, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with its flap closed;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with its flap closed;

FIG. 4 is an interior, unassembled view of a carrier bag accessory that the tissue holder of FIG. 1 can be attached via hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, or the like;

FIG. 5 is an exterior, assembled view of the carrier bag of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tissue holder according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, with its flap open; and

FIG. 7 is a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a tissue holder designed to provide tissues for users at the point of use, especially for those people who are mobile. The tissue holder of the present invention may be used in multiple different ways. First, the tissue holder may adhere to a dashboard in a motor vehicle, close to the driver. This provides convenient access to the tissues with no or minimal distraction for the driver. Second, the tissue holder of the present invention may snap with a ring, such as a metal ring, having a clasp or other attachment mechanism, onto items such as articles of clothing, book bags, purses, zippers, diaper bags, lanyards, belt loops and the like. Third, the tissue holder of the present invention may attach around a user's wrist with an elastic band, hook and loop straps, or the like. Fourth, the tissue holder may be adhered to the inside of a purse or bag.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a front view of a tissue holder with a tissue covering flap 4 opened is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Inner dimensions of the tissue holder are designed to be substantially similar to outside dimensions of a commercially available tissue container so that the tissue container or stack of folded tissues can be inserted into the holder. In some embodiments of the present invention, the tissue holder is a substantially slab-shaped device with a front face 9, a bottom face 10 (see FIG. 3), an optional tissue covering flap 4, and a flap 8 at the top edge of the face.

The tissue covering flap 4 may be designed for the purpose of covering the tissue opening (such as optional V opening 5, optional U opening 6 or optional square opening 7) to maintain cleanliness of the existing tissue and lightly held shut with an attachment mechanism 3, such as a hook and loop fastener (such as Velcro®), snaps, buttons, a magnet and metal piece, or the like, to provide ease of access. The flap 8 may be a closing flap that can attach shut with a fastener 1, 2, for example, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like. The flap 8 can be designed in various shapes, as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

The top face 9 can include an open slot or aperture 5, 6 or 7 which can be centered at the top edge of face 9. In some embodiments, the open slot 6 has a U-shape with rounded corners. In other embodiments, the open slot 5 has a pointed V-shape. In other embodiments, the open slot 7 has sharp corners. Other opening shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. The length and width of the open slot or aperture 5, 6 or 7 can be chosen such that the tissues can be retrieved sequentially through the open slot 5, 6 or 7 without any difficulty.

The open, unattached edge 17 can be designed such that a tissue container or stack of folded tissues can be inserted into the holder after the tissue container has already been opened.

An attachment loop 14 can be provided as a secure attachment for a closing clip 15. The closing clip 15 may be various types of clips, including but not limited to speed clips, screw clips, clasp clips, keychain clips, or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with the flaps 4, 8 in a closed position.

FIG. 3 shows a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with the flaps 4, 8 in a closed position. The back face 10 can include a two-step attachment means (such as Velcro®) sewn and/or attached directly to the tissue holder back including both faces of hook and loop tape and an adhesive 18 located directly on top of the Velcro back to be used for attaching the tissue holder to a number of surfaces. The adhesive 18 on top of the attachment means can be designed for attaching the tissue holder to a surface including, but not limited to, an automobile dashboard, an interior building wall, metal, plastic, glass, and the like.

The two-step attachment means has several advantages. For example, since the adhesive 18 may be designed as a non-permanent adhesive, there is no threat of damage to automobile dashboards (or other attachment points), or of leaving an unattractive appearance. Users can simply remove the adhesive if they choose. However, this does not limit the use of a permanent adhesive. Also, the Velcro® attachment to the adhesive allows users the flexibility to remove the tissue holder from its fixed location and carry it with them, attach it to a bag, purse, coat zipper, belt loop, lanyard via clip 15, or to their wrist via the optional wrist band 16. The tissue holder can then be returned to the fixed location of the Velcro® without destroying the adhesive 18.

In some embodiments, the tissue holder can include a permanent attachment feature molded into the back side thereof. This permanent attachment feature can be adapted, for example, for placement on a car dashboard onto a holder integrated into the dashboard. Of course, other attachment locations, in addition to a car dashboard, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The tissue holder of FIGS. 1 through 3 may be modified to include a removable or permanent attachment 19 with an opening on at least one of the ends 20, 21 for the purpose of, for example, housing a tube of lip balm.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interior of a purse or bag has an interior lining surface 22 having attached to it an array of attachment means 23 with any option in the positioning, length and distance between attachment means 23. Mating Velcro®, snaps, buttons or button holes, magnetic pieces or metal may be utilized in order to attach the above described tissue holder and many other holders that may house cell phones, keys, makeup pouches, supplies, cash, credit cards, sunglasses, reading glasses, manicure kits, cigarettes, wallets, hair care items, and a limitless array of items. FIG. 4 shows an unassembled purse in order to illustrate the interior features, while FIG. 5 shows an assembled purse with exterior edges 28, an exterior surface 27, and an opening 26 to access an interior thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a tissue holder can have a top side 30 to form a generally rectangular cube structure for holding tissues 25.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the tissue holder can be attached to a wheel chair, bicycle, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or the like, then removed by detaching one side of the Velcro®, leaving the adhesive and other side of Velcro®. An optional adjustable wrist band 16 can be used with pocket sized tissue holders, for example. An optional wrist band design may include elastic

Velcro® with loop to receive one end, making the size adjustable. An optional key ring 13 and accompanying attachment strip 12 can also be used to secure the tissue holder. The location of attachment strip 12 is not limited to present location in illustrated drawing. Moreover, an attachment clip 15 with accompanying attachment strip 14 can be used to secure the tissue holder. The location of attachment strip 14 is not limited to present location in illustrated drawing.

The tissue holder of the present invention may be made from various materials, such as plastic, leather, plush fabric, faux fur, cotton, cotton blend, polyester, light weight rayon, quilted woven fabric, and the like and may or may not have an additional liner fabric used in the interior. The tissue holder of the present invention is not limited to any particular shape and size, as the drawings merely depict an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Tissue containers for other practical shapes and sizes are included in the spirit of the present invention and should be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tissue holder comprising: an opening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-folded tissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder;a tissue stabilizing flap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of the tissue holder; anda two-step attachment means for removably attaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface.

2. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising an attachment clip disposed on an attachment strip attached to the tissue holder.

3. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a key ring attachment disposed on a key ring attachment strip attached to the tissue holder.

4. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a lip balm holder disposed on a side of the tissue holder.

5. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a wrist band disposed on a back side of the tissue holder.

6. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the opening is a V-shaped opening.

7. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the opening is a U-shaped opening.

8. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the opening is a square-shaped opening.

9. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a tissue closure flap operable to cover the opening.

10. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizing flap is disposed on each side of the opening.

11. A tissue holder comprising: an opening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-folded tissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder;a tissue closure flap operable to cover the opening;a tissue stabilizing flap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of the tissue holder;a two-step attachment means for removably attaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface;an attachment clip disposed on an attachment strip attached to the tissue holder;a key ring attachment disposed on a key ring attachment strip attached to the tissue holder;a lip balm holder disposed on a side of the tissue holder; anda wrist band disposed on a back side of the tissue holder.

12. The tissue holder of claim 11, wherein the opening is one of a V-shaped opening, a U-shaped opening and a square-shaped opening.