Patent Application
20140367405
The present invention relates to a wristband tissue dispenser.
Tissues are inconvenient to carry, especially for kids. They are always on the move and the current tissue dispensers are not flexible or comfortable for kids, thus leaving them searching for tissues or using other items such as their shirt sleeves to wipe their nose. Another problem is that mothers with small children are always busy and current tissue/wipes are very inconvenient and do not have the ability to keep tissues/wipes close.
As can be seen, there is a need for solutions to these and other problems.
In one aspect of the present invention, a wristband tissue dispenser comprises: a wristband having a substantially C-shaped cross section, the wristband comprising: a body smoothly and seamlessly connected to two flexible arms; a tissue cavity inside the body; and a face feature comprising at least two of an eye feature, a nose feature, and a mouth feature, at least one of said at least two comprising a tissue dispensing hole passing through to the tissue cavity.
In one aspect, the dispenser further comprises a plurality of tissues located inside the tissue cavity with at least a portion of one tissue protruding from the tissue dispensing hole. In one aspect, the dispenser further comprises a plurality of wetted wipes located inside the tissue cavity with at least a portion of one wetted wipe protruding from the tissue dispensing hole.
In one aspect, the wristband comprises two separate tissue cavities inside the body, each separate tissue cavity associated with a separate tissue dispensing hole. In one aspect, the face feature comprises a nose feature comprising two nostrils, each nostril comprising a tissue dispensing hole. In one aspect, the wristband is configured to be donned by flexing the two flexible arms outward and placing the wristband on a wrist of a user. In one aspect, the face feature is flush with a surface of the body. In one aspect, the body is integrally formed with the two flexible arms.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
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.
Referring now to the figures, the following reference numbers may refer to elements of the invention:
10: is the wristband.
12: is the eye feature, which may be decorative or may comprise a dispensing hole.
14: is the tissue.
16: is the exemplary operator.
18: is the exemplary operator wrist.
20: is the tissue cavity.
22: is the tissue dispensing hole.
24: is the mouth feature, which may be decorative or may comprise a dispensing hole.
26: are the nose features, which may be decorative or may comprise dispensing holes.
28: is the tissue roll.
30: are the arms.
32: is the body.
This wristband portable tissue/wipes dispenser, according to one embodiment of the present invention, will allow kids to continue to be active, while providing them easy and comfortable access to clean tissue/wipes in order to blow their nose. This will also solve the problem for mothers with small children—by providing easy and quick access to clean tissue/wipes, especially outside of their homes, while they are on the go.
The wristband can become a central connection point for an unlimited amount of widgets, such as reminder list, money holder, attach iPod and key holder.
One embodiment of the present invention may include:
Operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows. The wristband may be used to attach the tissues to the user in a comfortable, useful and functional way. This will allow the consumer to decide his/her most preferred location to carry the tissue dispenser. This dispenser may store the tissues/wipes in a sanitary and convenient format that will attach to the wristband or can be stored separately, for example in a pocket until ready to attach back to the wristband. Each of these components may add to this product's comfort, convenience and utility, and the wristband may be fully customized by the user.
Using one embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows. A child has a runny nose and goes to school. The mother always packs tissues in the school bag and says on the way out “make sure you keep these tissues close and use them to blow your nose.” Often, the child will get distracted and go to the playground without the tissues and use his/her sleeves to wipe their nose. The wristband dispenser, according to one embodiment, will be attached to the child's wrist and will be a fun, comfortable, and easy for the child to keep the tissues close for use.
Another use is when the mother and a small child go to the museum. The child is crying and spilling her drink. The mother is trying to grab juice and napkins to wipe the child's face, but by the time the tissues/wipes are found, the child is running away. Having the wristband dispenser will allow the mother to quickly have access to tissue/wipes to clean up the current situation.
Another use for this product may be with adults. A user may have a cold and but is trying to get sleep before a big presentation the next day. Instead of the user always searching for the box of tissue in the dark, having the wristband dispenser can help the user quickly get a tissue without searching.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the edges of the dispenser case, body 32, and/or tissue cavity 20 may be rounded and made smooth with the wristband 10 and/or arms 30. It may be one piece, e.g., integrally formed, the wristband 10 blending into the dispenser, so there are no edges. A characteristic of this design may be a smooth, round dispenser blending into the wristband, so it is comfortable to be worn all day.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a drawing of a children's character, like a teddy bear face, is printed or drawn or otherwise depicted on the round dispenser, such as on the body 32. This character may not be on top of the dispenser or change the dispenser shape from round. This may be the dispenser's face, like a watch, that the tissue will be pulled from, such as from the character's mouth.
In one embodiment of the present invention, this version may be a double tissue dispenser. The internal case of the dispenser may be split into two parts, such as down the middle. This will allow two different sections of tissue to be dispensed. In one embodiment of the present invention, instead of the tissue being dispensed out of the children's character mouth, the separate tissues dispensed may be pulled from each nostril of the nose.
Referring now to the drawings, a wristband tissue dispenser may comprise: a wristband 10 having a substantially C-shaped cross section, for example, an approximately circular or oval band with a cut-out to allow for the wristband to be donned onto a user's wrist. The wristband 10 may comprise: a body 32 smoothly and seamlessly connected to two flexible arms 30, such that the body 32 and arms 30 form the C-shaped cross section, a tissue cavity 20 inside the body 32, and a face feature comprising at least two of an eye feature 12, a nose feature 26, and a mouth feature 24. For example, the face feature may comprise two eyes and a mouth, or two eyes, a nose feature with two nostrils, and a mouth, and so forth. At least one of these comprises a tissue dispensing hole 22 passing through to the tissue cavity 20.
In one embodiment, the dispenser further comprises a plurality of tissues 14 located inside the tissue cavity 20 with at least a portion of one tissue protruding from the tissue dispensing hole 22 so that it can be pulled and removed by a user. The tissues 14 may instead be replaced by wetted wipes or wet tissues or other self-wetted or self-wetting tissue system. The wetting may be, for example, an anti-bacterial agent.
In one embodiment, the wristband comprises two separate tissue cavities 20 inside the body 32, each separate tissue cavity 20 associated with a separate tissue dispensing hole 22. The face feature may comprise a nose feature 26 comprising two nostrils, each nostril comprising a tissue dispensing hole 22, and tissues 14 may be dispensed from these holes from separate tissue rolls 28 (in the case of separate tissue cavities 20) or from the same tissue roll 28 (in the case of one tissue cavity). One or more of the face features may be decorative, and one or more may be associated with a tissue dispensing hole 22.
In one embodiment, the wristband 10 is configured to be donned by flexing the two flexible arms 30 outward and placing the wristband 10 on a wrist of a user. The arms 30 instead may be rigid but the wristband 10 may include a hinged or flexing portion, allowing the arms 30 to be moved relative to each other.
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.
