CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to, and is a continuation in part of, U.S. Patent application serial number 17/240,842 filed on April 26, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to tissue box covers, specifically, collapsible tissue box covers that can fold flat for display, storage, or transport.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Tissues (typically provided in tissue boxes) are commonly used items from homes and offices to hospitals and restaurants. Many users also keep tissue boxes in their vehicle. Tissues often come in boxes that are easily stored and placed to conveniently dispense a single tissue at a time but are frequently exposed to particles in the air that may contaminate the entire supply.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible tissue box cover that, in a first configuration, has a lid that helps prevent foreign particles such as dust, bacteria, germs, allergens, droplets, and viruses from entering a tissue box and contaminating the tissues. It will also prevent the tissue box from physical damage and waste of the issues if the tissue box breaks by providing a protective layer on top of the tissue box. An additional advantage of this collapsible design is that it can greatly reduce the cost of shipping the units to the end customer.

The present invention is inspired, in part, by the insight that although there exists many tissue box covers today, they are used for more aesthetic reasons than to protect the tissues that a user will use to clean their face. These covers do not provide the protection needed to help limit the spread of disease particularly in a vehicle where frequent acceleration can cause the tissues to fall onto the floor, collecting germs and dirt. Some of these covers may also be rigid which makes it harder to collapse them into a collapsed (flat) configuration for package and transport large quantities and prevents retailers from keeping larger quantities of it due to a large shelf space requirement to carry them in the store.

An objective of the present design is to provide the user with a tissue box cover that, in a first configuration, helps prevent contaminants such as dust, bacteria, germs, droplets, allergens and viruses that may be spread by sneezing, coughing, talking of people and pets from intruding into the box. Further, the present invention comprises a plurality of folding edges that enables a foldable flat collapsed configuration for the tissue box cover, thereby enabling ease of display, storage, packaging and transport. Furthermore, the lid of the present invention is removably attached, such that the lid may be removed when replacing the tissue box or when the box cover is stored in a folded (collapsed) configuration. The lid comprises a rim that sits flush against the opening of the cover to prevent both solids and liquids from entering and contaminating the tissues. Additionally, a plurality of fasteners mounted between the lid and the box cover provides a secure covering as well as enables users to easily fasten and unfasten the lid to the box cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is open.

FIG. 2 is a bottom-rear-left perspective view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is open.

FIG. 3 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is completely detached from the box cover.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is closed.

FIG. 5 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is closed.

FIG. 6 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention in the first configuration, wherein the lid is closed. FIG. 7 is bottom plan view of first configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the first configuration of the present invention, wherein the lid is closed.

FIG. 9 is a top-front-left perspective view of the collapsed configuration of the present invention, wherein the box cover is in a flat collapsed configuration.

FIG. 10 is a top front perspective photograph of the first configuration of the present invention. Here the sides are semi-transparent, and a tissue box fills the receptacle. In this embodiment, the invention further comprises a lid with raisable center portion through which tissue can pass. The lid snaps onto the receptacle and covers the top of the tissue box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 10, the present invention is a tissue box covering apparatus that can fold between a first configuration that can cover a tissue box (FIG. 1 through FIG. 8, and FIG. 10) and a collapsed configuration (FIG 9) that can collapse into a flat body for purposes such as display, storage, or transport.

An objective of the present design is to provide the user with a tissue box cover that prevents contaminants such as dust, bacteria, germs, droplets and viruses that may be spread by sneezing, coughing, talking of people and pets, from intruding into the box. Further, the present invention comprises a plurality of folding edges that enables a foldable configuration for the box cover, for ease of display, storge, packaging and transport. Furthermore, the lid of the present invention is removably attached, such that the lid may be removed when replacing the tissue box or when the box cover is stored in a folded configuration. The lid comprises a rim that sits flush against the opening of the cover to prevent both solids and liquids from entering and contaminating the tissues. Additionally, a plurality of fasteners mounted between the lid and the box cover provides a secure covering for the tissue box, as well as enables users to easily fasten and unfasten the lid to the box cover. The following description is in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 10. According to a preferred embodiment, the tissue box covering apparatus, at least in the first configuration, comprises a receptacle 1, an inner cavity 2, a lid 3, and a plurality of fasteners 4. The receptacle 1 may comprise any material or combination thereof but is preferably constructed of a plastic that allows for a malleable connection between each surface of the walls of the receptacle 1. Further, the receptacle 1 is cubical in shape, such that a regular cubical tissue box may be placed within the receptacle 1. However, the receptacle 1 may comprise any other size, shape, material, components, arrangement of components etc., as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. In order to house the tissue box within the receptacle 1, the inner cavity 2 normally traverses into the receptacle 1. More specifically the inner cavity 2 traverses normally and centrally through the receptacle 1 proximate to the walls of the receptacle 1 in such a way that, the inner cavity 2 is big enough to contain the tissue box.

It is an aim of the present invention to protect tissues in a tissue box from external contaminants. To accomplish this, the lid 3 is detachably mounted onto a first end 5 of the receptacle 1, and the plurality of fasteners 4 is perimetrically mounted between the lid 3 and the first end 5 of the receptacle 1. This arrangement is so that, the lid 3 covers the inner cavity

2 when the plurality of fasteners 4 is fastened. Preferably, the lid 3 is a square in shape and fits around the edges of the first end 5 of the receptacle 1 in a snug fashion. However, the lid

3 may comprise any other shape, size, dimension etc., as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered.

In order to hold the tissue box within the inner cavity 2 and make sure the tissue box does not fall off through the inner cavity 2, the receptacle 1 comprises at least one tab 6. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one tab 6 is laterally mounted onto a second end 7 of the receptacle 1, wherein the second end 7 is positioned opposite to the first end 5 across the receptacle 1. To that end, the at least one tab 6 extends into the inner cavity 2, in such a way that the at least one tab 6 is coplanar to the second end 7 of the receptacle 1. As seen in FIG.

2 and FIG. 6, two tabs from opposing ends of the second end 7 protrudes towards the inner cavity 2, creating a ledge for the tissue box to rest on. Preferably, the at least one tab 6 is rectangular in shape and comprises rounded edges, such that the at least one tab 6 is safe to handle. However, the at least one tab 6 may comprise any other shape, size, dimension etc., as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. It is an aim of the present invention to fold the receptacle 1 into a flat body (see FIG. 9) for compact storage when not in use. The foldable configuration allows retailers to carry larger quantities of the product in store, reduce packaging cost and enables ease of display and transportation. To accomplish this, the section corresponding to receptacle 1 in the first configuration comprises a plurality of folding edges 8, wherein the plurality of folding edges 8 extends from the first end 5 towards the second end 7 of the receptacle 1. In other words, the receptacle 1 is foldable along the plurality of folding edges 8, wherein the plurality of folding edges 8 is positioned along a plurality of comers 9 of the receptacle 1. More specifically, each of the plurality of folding edges 8 correspond to each of the plurality of inner comers 9 as defined by the quadrilateral configuration of the receptacle 1. In other words, the plurality of folding edges 8 features a triangular shaped cutout that traverses each comer of the receptacle 1 from the first end 5 to the second end 7, such that the plurality of folding edges 8 allows inner surfaces of the receptacle 1 to hingedly attach to each other and allow for the folding of the receptacle into a flat body, as seen in FIG. 9. Further, the geometry of plurality of folding edges 8 and the foldability of the receptacle 1 allows for better packaging, storage and transportability after manufacture. However, the plurality of folding edges 8 may comprise any other configuration, folding mechanism, components and arrangement of components, as long as the objectives of the present invention are fulfilled.

As seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the present invention comprises at least one air gap 10. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one air gap 10 laterally traverses into the receptacle 1, and the at least one air gap 10 is positioned adjacent the second end 7 of the receptacle 1.

This is so that the at least one air gap 10 provides an access way for air and prevents the tissue box from being stuck within the inner cavity 2 even when the lid is in the closed configuration.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of fasteners 4 comprises a first fastener 11, and at least one second fastener 12. Preferably, the first fastener 11 is mounted between a first edge 3a of the lid 3 and the first end 5 of the receptacle 1, and the at least one second fastener 12 is mounted between a second edge 3b of the lid 3 and the first end 5 of the receptacle 1, wherein the first edge 3a is positioned opposite to the second edge 3b across the lid 3. As seen in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5, the at least one second fastener 12 is hingedly connected between the first end 5 of the receptacle 1 and the second edge 3b of the lid. This arrangement of the second fastener 12 enables the lid 3 to be angularly offset from the receptacle 1 along the second edge 3b, such that the lid 3 may be opened and closed as seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, respectively. Further, the lid 3 may be completely removed from the receptacle 1 as seen in FIG. 3, for easy storage and transportation, while the receptacle 1 is folded along the plurality of folded edges 8. Preferably, the first fastener 11 and the at least one second fastener 12 comprise snap-on fasteners. However, the first fastener 11 and the at least one second fastener 12 may comprise any other fastener or fastening techniques that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. Examples of such fasteners include, but are not limited to snap buttons, magnetic, hook and loop, zipper, etc. FIG. 10 shows how in some embodiments, the invention can be formed from transparent or semi-transparent plastic, and can further comprise a one-piece plastic lid, having a flap on the top to access the tissues in the tissue box. The lid sits on the lip on the upper edges of the foldable holder where in some embodiments, eight lid locking protrusions are designed to lock the lid in place. In some embodiments, the flaps can lock into place with various snap on mechanisms designed inside the flap and body of the lid. The tissue box can be seen through the transparent plastic sides.

Thus, the present invention, provides ease of transportation for the tissue box while still being protected and supported from all six sides.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.