Vent mountable tissue dispenser

Abstract

A vent mountable tissue dispenser includes a tissue receptacle and one or more clips for attaching the receptacle to an air vent. Each clip includes first and second clamping elements bias by a spring and may be used to clamp the tissue dispenser to a vane of the air vent.

1 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser comprising:
 a first clip comprising:
 a first clamping element; 
 a second clamping element, moveably coupled to the first clamping element; and 
 a spring operable to bias the first and second clamping elements together around a flow deflection vane of an air vent; and 
   a tissue receptacle, coupled to the first clip, the tissue receptacle comprising a box having an opening for insertion and removal of tissues.   
     
     
         2 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first clip further comprises a layer of compliant material attached to at least one of the first and second clamping elements and positioned to contact the flow deflection vane. 
     
     
         3 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a strap coupled to the first clip at a swivel joint, wherein the tissue receptacle is coupled to the first clip via the strap. 
     
     
         4 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a second clip, wherein the second clip comprises:
 a third clamping element;   a fourth clamping element, moveably coupled to the third clamping element; and   a spring operable to bias the third and fourth clamping elements together around a flow deflection vane of an air vent.   
     
     
         5 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second clamping elements are configured to clamp across the smaller dimension of a vane. 
     
     
         6 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 5 , the first and second clamping elements comprise pivoted jaws. 
     
     
         7 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the clip further comprises:
 a compliant material positioned between the pivoted jaws, wherein the compliant material provides a biasing force substantially parallel to the jaws when compressed by a vane, to hold the vane against the distal ends of the pivoted jaws.   
     
     
         8 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the clip further comprises:
 a spring element having first and second ends and positioned between the pivoted jaws, the spring element being restrained at the first end by the pivoted jaws; and   a stop element coupled to the second end of the spring element, wherein the spring element and stop are positioned to provide a biasing force substantially parallel to the jaws when compressed by a vane, such that the vane is held between the stop element and the distal ends of the pivoted jaws.   
     
     
         9 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping element comprises a hook and the second clamping element comprises a plate through which the hook can slide. 
     
     
         10 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a glasses holder coupled to a surface of the tissue receptacle, the glasses holder comprising a split flexible tube that is sized to accommodate an arm of a pair of glasses.   
     
     
         11 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a magnetic element coupled to a surface of the tissue receptacle, the magnetic element configured to receive a magnetic surface of an object to be supported by the magnetic element.   
     
     
         12 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a magnetic pen holder comprising a magnet and a flexible sleeve, wherein the magnetic element is configured to receive the magnetic of the magnetic pen holder.   
     
     
         13 . A vent mountable tissue dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a hook coupled to a surface of the tissue receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A vent clip for mounting a receptacle for personal items on a flow deflection vane of an air vent, the vent clip comprising:
 a first clamping element having a hooked end;   a second clamping element, moveably coupled to the first clamping element;   a first spring element;   a second spring element having first and second ends, the second spring element being restrained at the first end; and   a stop element coupled to the second end of the second spring element, wherein the first spring element is operable to bias the first and second clamping elements together across a first cross-dimension of the flow deflection vane and the second spring element is operable to bias the stop element and the hooked end of the first clamping element together across a second cross-dimension of the flow deflection vane.   
     
     
         15 . A vent clip in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a strap coupled to a clamping element of the first and second clamping elements at a swivel joint; and   a receptacle for holding personal items, the receptacle being coupled to the to the vent clip via the strap.   
     
     
         16 . A vent clip in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the receptacle for holding personal items comprises a tissue dispenser having an opening for insertion and removal of tissues. 
     
     
         17 . A vent clip in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising a layer of compliant material attached to at least one of the first and second clamping elements and positioned to contact the flow deflection vane. 
     
     
         18 . A vent clip in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the first and second clamping elements and the second spring element are sized to clip to an air deflection vane having a larger cross-dimension in the approximate range of 1.7 centimeters to 2.7 centimeters.