Tissue box holder

Abstract

A device for mounting a box to a vertically oriented column is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member, the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the box. The device also includes a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face. The first face of the support member is adapted and configured to bear against the column. The longitudinal portion of the support member is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom and has a first portion which forms a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member. The passage extends substantially parallel to the first face of the support member. The device also includes at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column.

Therefore, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for mounting a box to a vertically oriented column, said device comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member, the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box;    a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column, the longitudinal portion of the support member positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom, a first portion of the longitudinal portion of the support member forming a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said passage extending substantially parallel to the first face, and    at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column.    
     
     
         2 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second portion defining a second passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said second passage extending parallel to the first face, the second passage being separated from the first passage by a distance, the second passage dimensioned to permit the band of a second band clamp to pass there through.  
     
     
         3 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a third portion positioned between the first and second passages, the third portion having an aperture, said aperture extending through the first face, said aperture further oriented perpendicularly relative to the first and second passages, the aperture dimensioned and configured to permit a mounting element to pass there through.  
     
     
         4 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first passageway positioned between the first and second faces.  
     
     
         5 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces.  
     
     
         6 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 3  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces, the aperture passing through the first and second faces.  
     
     
         7 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 1  wherein support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.  
     
     
         8 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.  
     
     
         9 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 8  wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.  
     
     
         10 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 9  further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.  
     
     
         11 . A device for mounting a tissue box to a vertically oriented column, said tissue box having a length, a width and a height, the tissue box storing a plurality of tissues which are accessible through an opening in the tissue box, the device comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom portion and at least one side member;    a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column, the longitudinal portion of the support member positioned substantially perpendicularly to the bottom, a first portion of the longitudinal portion of the support member forming a first passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said passage extending substantially parallel to the first face;    at least one band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band dimensioned to pass through the passage, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column, and    the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box, the opening being further configured to position the opening of the tissue box opposite the column.    
     
     
         12 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 10  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second portion defining a second passage extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the support member, said second passage extending parallel to the first face, the second passage being separated from the first passage by a distance, the second passage dimensioned to permit the band of a second band clamp to pass there through.  
     
     
         13 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 12  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a third portion positioned between the first and second passages, the third portion having an aperture, said aperture extending through the first face, said aperture further oriented perpendicularly relative to the first and second passages, the aperture dimensioned and configured to permit a mounting element to pass there through.  
     
     
         14 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 11  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first passageway positioned between the first and second faces.  
     
     
         15 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 12  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces.  
     
     
         16 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 13  wherein the longitudinal portion of the support member has a second face, said second face positioned opposite the first face, the first and second passageways positioned between the first and second faces, the aperture passing through the first and second faces.  
     
     
         17 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 11  wherein support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.  
     
     
         18 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 17  further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.  
     
     
         19 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 18  wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.  
     
     
         20 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 19  further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.  
     
     
         21 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 18  wherein the central portion of the first spar is slightly longer than the length of the tissue box.  
     
     
         22 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 21  further comprising a second and a third spar rigidly mounted to the first spar, the second spar positioned at a second point on the central portion of the first spar between the first point and the first end of the first spar, the third spar positioned at a third point on the first spar between the first point and the second end of the first spar, the second and third spars being U shaped and each having two parallel upwardly extending arms, the arms of the second and third spar dimensioned to permit the box to fit between said arms.  
     
     
         23 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 20  wherein the arms of the second and third spars are dimensioned to be slightly greater than the height of the tissue box.  
     
     
         24 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 22  wherein the arms of the second and third spars are dimensioned to be slightly greater than the height of the tissue box.  
     
     
         25 . A device for mounting a tissue box to a vertically oriented column, said tissue box having a length, a width and a height, the tissue box storing a plurality of tissues which are accessible through an opening in the tissue box, the device comprising: 
 a housing having at least one side member;    a support member mounted to the housing for mounting the housing to the column, the support member having a longitudinal portion with a longitudinal axis and a first face, the first face adapted and configured to bear against the column;    a band clamp for clamping the support member to the column, the clamp having a flexible band extending from the support member, the band being sufficiently long to encircle the column, and    the side member defining an opening configured to receive and contain the tissue box, the opening being further configured to position the opening of the tissue box opposite the column.    
     
     
         26 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 25  wherein the support member has a transverse portion extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal portion of the support member, said transverse portion dimensioned and configured to support the box when the box is positioned in the opening.  
     
     
         27 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 26  further comprising a first elongated spar, the first spar being rigidly mounted to the transverse portion of the support member, the first spar oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal and transverse portions of the support member.  
     
     
         28 . A box holder device as defined in  claim 27  wherein the first spar has opposite first and second ends separated by a central portion, the first spar being mounted to the transverse portion at a first point on the central portion of the first spar approximately mid way between said first and second opposite ends, the first and second ends of the first spar being angled substantially perpendicularly upwards relative to the central portion, the central portion dimensioned to permit the box to fit between the first and second opposite ends.  
     
     
         29 . A box holder as defined in  claim 25  wherein the support member has a substantially flat portion, said flat portion having an aperture dimensioned to permit a mounting element to pass there through.  
     
     
         30 . A box holder as defined in  claim 25  wherein the band is positioned substantially perpendicularly relative to the support member.