Waste Compartment Securable to a Tissue Container

Abstract

The present invention is a compartment securable to an existing tissue container that enables a number of used tissues to be stored therein. The compartment includes a base attachable around an aperture formed in the tissue container and a container member secured to the base and extending inwardly into the tissue container. The container member includes a sleeve and a flexible liner that is treated or covered with an antimicrobial composition. When a cover for the compartment is opened, a used tissue can be inserted through the sleeve into the flexible liner to be held by the liner within the tissue container. As used tissues are positioned within the compartment, the liner operates to push the unused tissues within the container towards a dispensing opening for the tissue container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to facial tissues, and more specifically to an improved container for holding and dispensing tissues of this type, and retaining used tissues dispensed from the container.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]With regard to facial tissues and similar paper-based items dispensed in sheet form, the tissues are held within containers of varying shapes that allow the tissues to be dispensed individually from the container. The tissues are held in the container in any suitable manner, such as in an inter-folded configuration such that each tissue dispensed causes an adjacent tissue to be positioned partially outside of the container for subsequent dispensing from the container.[0003]While tissues of this type are held within many different types and configurations of containers, oftentimes it is desirable to provide a container that not only allows for dispensing of the tissues from the container, but that also includes a compartment f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]According to another object of the present invention, to eliminate any potential for contamination of the remaining unused tissues held in the container, the separate compartment liner includes an antimicrobial composition applied thereto. In this manner, the used tissues position within the separate compartment within the container are separated from the unused tissues by the antimicrobial barrier material, eliminating the potential for determination of the unused tissues.

[0011]According to another aspect of the present invention, the liner used in the compartment construction is flexible such that the liner can initially be positioned within the sleeve of the compartment, which simplifies the attachment of the compartment to the container. The flexibility of the liner material enables the liner to expand when used tissues are positioned within the separate compartment of the container formed by the liner to accommodate a number of used tissues therein. In addition, the expansion the liner within the container urges the unused tissues on the opposite side of the liner towards the opening in the container from which the unused tissues are dispensed.

Problems solved by technology

However, while a number of tissue containers have been developed which include compartments for it and dispensing tissues from the container and for holding utilized tissues therein, the construction of containers of this type has not previously adequately addressed the problem of contamination of the unused tissues by the used tissues held within the container.

Due to the rigidity of the material used to form the container, the flaps do not deflect much, and do not allow for easy insertion of used tissues into the container.

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