Patent Application
20080087697
Referring now to the figures, where like numerals are used to designate like structure, one embodiment of a tissue-box container of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and shown in operation within a passenger compartment, generally indicated at 12, of a vehicle in
As described in detail below, the container 10 is adapted to substantially resist sliding along the hump 16 or front passenger's seat 22 during operation of the vehicle. In this way, any external forces applied to the container 10 via acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle or change in direction, does not result in the container 10 sliding off the hump 16 or front passenger's seat 22 or tipping onto any portion of the surface 14 disposed adjacent the hump 16 and front passenger's seat 22. Also, any inadvertent contact with the container 10 by the occupant does not result in the container 10 being easily displaced out of his or her reach or from its upright state such that the tissues 26 are no longer conveniently accessible to the occupant. As a result, use of the container 10 does not create a dangerous driving environment in which the driver must take his or her eyes off the road and/or hands off the steering wheel to locate and retrieve the container 10.
As also described in detail below, the container 10 is adapted to permit a portion of the box 24 to be exposed from exterior the container 10. In this way, the occupant can easily and quickly determine whether the container 10 is operational without him or her having to remove any part of the container 10.
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the container 10 can be positioned in any suitable location of the passenger compartment 12. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can be employed in any suitable vehicle. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can be employed in any suitable setting in which any suitable external force may act upon the container 10 to otherwise displace it from its position. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can be supported on any suitable surface or seat. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can be fastened by any suitable seatbelt. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can be employed with any suitable box of tissues. It should also be appreciated that the container 10 can include any suitable exterior decorative design.
Referring now to
More specifically, the casing 30 includes at least one wall, generally indicated at 34 in
As shown, the casing 30 includes a plurality of walls 34. In particular, the casing 30 includes a pair of opposed end walls, generally indicated at 35, and a pair of opposed side walls, generally indicated at 37, extending between the respective pair of end walls 35. The casing 30 also includes a corner post 40 disposed at the imaginary intersection of each end wall 35 with each side wall 37 and defining a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. The posts 40 are disposed integral with the corresponding end and side walls 35, 37 and jut slightly outward with respect to such walls 35, 37. The pair of end walls 35 are disposed substantially parallel with each other, the pair of side walls 37 are disposed substantially parallel with each other and perpendicular to the pair of end walls 35, and the bottom side 36 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the end and side walls 35, 37 and corner posts 40 such that the casing 30 defines a substantially rectangular cross-section. The end walls 35 are substantially identical with respect to each other, and the side walls 37 are substantially identical with respect to each other. Each corner post 40 is substantially uniform, and the corner posts 40 are substantially identical with respect to each other. The respective ends of the end and side walls 35, 37 and the corners of the bottom side 36 are disposed substantially flush with the corresponding corner posts 40.
Each wall 34 also defines an exterior surface, generally indicated at 42, of the wall 34. The exterior surface 42 is substantially planar and smooth and defines at least one rib 44 adapted to provide structural integrity to the casing 30. As shown, each wall 34 defines a plurality of substantially identical ribs 44 disposed substantially parallel with each other and perpendicular to the corner posts 40 and substantially symmetrical with the corresponding wall 34. Each rib 44 is substantially linear and uniform and disposed integral with the corresponding wall 34. Each rib 44 of each end wall 35 integrally extends from one corner post 40 to the other corner post 40 in a flush manner while each rib 44 of each side wall 37 integrally extends only partially from one corner post 40 in a flush manner toward the other corner post 40 such that an open area of the side wall 37 is defined upon which any advertising, commercial, or promotional material may be applied to the container 10.
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the casing 30 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with the cover 32. It should also be appreciated that the casing 30 can include any suitable number of walls 34 and corresponding corner posts 40. For example, the casing 30 can include only one wall 34 to define a substantially circular cross-section or three walls 34 to define a substantially triangular cross-section. It should also be appreciated that each wall 34 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of any other walls 34, the corner posts 40, the cover 32, and the bottom side 36. It should also be appreciated that each corner post 40 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of the corresponding walls 34, the cover 32, and the bottom side 36. It should also be appreciated that each wall 34 can define any suitable number of ribs 44. It should also be appreciated that each rib 44 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of any other rib 44, the corresponding wall 34, and the corner posts 40.
As shown in
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the cover 32 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of the casing 30 and box 24, in general, and corner posts 40, in particular. It should also be appreciated that the aperture 46 can have any suitable shape and size and structural relationship with the container 10, in general, and each of the cover 32 and box 24, in particular.
As shown, each of the side walls 37 and the cover 32 cooperate to define an opening 38 disposed between the side wall 37 and cover 32. Also, each of the side walls 37 and the bottom side 36 cooperate to define another opening 38 disposed between the side wall 37 and the bottom side 36. Respective openings 38 of opposed side walls 37 are substantially identical with respect to each other. Each opening 38 disposed between the side wall 37 and cover 32 is substantially bi-convex and extends substantially from one corner post 40 to the other corner post 40. Each opening 38 disposed between the side wall 37 and bottom side 36 is substantially plano-convex (the convex side of the opening 38 being disposed opposite the bottom side 36 of the casing 30), extends substantially from one corner post 40 to the other corner post 40, and has its convex side disposed substantially symmetrical with the nearest convex side of the opening 38 disposed between the side wall 37 and cover 32.
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the casing 30 can define any suitable number of openings 38. It should also be appreciated that each opening 38 can have any suitable shape and size and structural relationship with each of the casing 30 and cover 32.
Referring now to
The holes 48 are substantially identical with respect to each other and defined in a substantially central area/volume of the top of the respective corner posts 40. The depth of each hole 48 is substantially small relative the height of the corner post 40, and the diameter of each hole 48 is substantially smaller than the length/width of the corner post 40. Likewise, the projections 50 are substantially identical with respect to each other. The length of each projection 50 is smaller than the height of the corner of the cover 32.
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that each end wall 35 can define any suitable number of holes 48. It should also be appreciated that any suitable wall 34 can define the holes 48. It should also be appreciated that each hole 48 can have any suitable shape and size and structural relationship with each of the casing 30 and cover 32. It should also be appreciated that each projection 50 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of the cover 32 and casing 30. It should also be appreciated that the casing 30 can define the projections 50, and the cover 32 can define the holes 48. It should also be appreciated that the cover 32 can be removably secured to the casing 30 by any suitable means.
Referring now to
More specifically, each raised surface 58 is substantially uniform, and the raised surfaces 58 are substantially identical with respect to each other and uniformly distributed on the outer surface 56. The raised surfaces 58 are preferably made of a suitable plastic or rubber material. However, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the outer surface 56 can cooperate with the hump 16 to define any suitable coefficient of static friction. It should also be appreciated that the outer surface 56 can include any suitable number of raised surfaces 58. It should also be appreciated that each raised surface 58 can have any suitable shape, size, structure and structural relationship with the outer surface 56. It should also be appreciated that the raised surfaces 58 can be made of any suitable material.
As shown in
As shown in
More specifically, the indentation 62 defines a width and depth of the indentation 62 that are substantially equal to those of the lap portion 25 such that the interior surface 60 is substantially planar when the seatbelt 23 is employed. To employ the seatbelt 23, it enters one opening 38 and exits the other opening 38 such that the lap portion 25 is operatively disposed within the indentation 62 and the harness portion 27 extends over the cover 32. In this way, the lap portion 25 applies a substantially downward force to the casing 30, and the harness portion 27 can, depending upon the structural relationship of the harness portion 27 with the front passenger's seat 22, apply a force (not shown), which defines a component of the force directed substantially downwardly, to the cover 32 to fasten the container 10 on the front passenger's seat 22.
Referring now to
As shown in
The ridges 152 are substantially identical with respect to each other, and each ridge 152 extends substantially from one corner post 140 to the other corner post 140. The height of each ridge 152 is substantially small relative the height of the end wall 135, and the width of each ridge 152 is substantially smaller than the width of the end wall 135. Likewise, the grooves 154 are substantially identical with respect to each other, and each groove 154 extends substantially from one side of the cover 132 to the other side of the cover 132. The depth of each groove 154 is substantially small relative the height of the end of the cover 132, and the width of each groove 154 is substantially smaller than the width of the end of the cover 132.
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that each end wall 135 can define any suitable number of ridges 152. It should also be appreciated that any suitable wall 134 can define the ridge(s) 152. It should also be appreciated that each ridge 152 can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with each of the casing 130 and cover 132. It should also be appreciated that each groove 154 can have any suitable shape and size and structural relationship with the cover 132 and casing 130. It should also be appreciated that the casing 130 can define the grooves 154, and the cover 132 can define the ridges 152.
In operation, a user of the container 10, 110 checks the interior of the container 10, 110 through an opening 38, 138 to determine whether the container 10, 110 is loaded with a box 24 of tissues 26 (or just tissues 26 themselves). If the container 10, 110 is not so loaded, then a box 24 of tissues 26 is (or just the tissues 26 themselves are) received and supported in the casing 30, 130. The cover 32, 132 is then secured to the casing 30, 130 to enclose the box 24 (or just the tissues 26 themselves) and secure the box 24 (or just the tissues 26 themselves) within the container 10, 110 such that a tissue 26, which is to be dispensed from the container 10, 110, extends through the aperture 46, 146 of the cover 32, 132. In either case, the container 10, 110 is positioned in its upright state on the hump 16 within arm's-length reach of the front-seat occupant(s) such that the bottom side 36, 136 of the casing 30, 130 operatively correspondingly abuts the hump 16. Alternatively, the container 10, 110 is positioned in its upright state on the front passenger's seat 22 within arm's-length reach of the driver such that the container 10, 110 is fastened on the seat 22 by the seatbelt 23. Then, the container 10, 110 is loaded with a box 24 of tissues 26 (or just tissues 26 themselves).
During operation of the vehicle, because of the magnitude of the coefficient of static friction defined between the bottom side 36, 136 and hump 16 or substantially downward force applied by the seatbelt 23 to the container 10, 110, the container 10, 110 remains substantially in this position. When an occupant desires to use the tissue 26, he or she just reaches to and conveniently manually takes it. In so doing, the driver does not need to take his or her eyes off the road and/or hands off the steering wheel, and the occupant does not need to expend any unnecessary time and energy attempting to retrieve the container 10, 110.
The container 10, 110 is especially adapted for use within the passenger compartment 12 of the vehicle. More specifically, the container 10, 110 is not easily displaced from a stationary position of the container 10, 110 within the passenger compartment 12 during operation of the vehicle. Also, the container 10, 110 permits a portion of the box 24 to be exposed from exterior the container 10, 110. Furthermore, the container 10, 110 is adapted to operatively substantially conform to the shape of the surface 14 of the passenger compartment 12 upon which the container 10, 110 is supported. In addition, the container 10, 110, compared to the box 24 itself, may more appropriately decorate the interior of the passenger compartment 12. Moreover, the container 10, 110 can be fastened on a seat of the passenger compartment of the vehicle by a seatbelt.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
