Combination dispenser and waste receptacle

Abstract

A combination dispenser and waste receptacle is provided having a dispenser including a storage cavity with a waste receptacle coupled to the dispenser. A passage extends through the dispenser and is in communication with the passage so that waste may be inserted into the waste receptacle through the passage without removing the dispenser from the waste receptacle. The dispenser may be formed of an outer shell and a bottom wall removably attached to the outer shell. Tissue or similar material may be stored in the storage cavity, and used tissue and other waste material may be disposed into the waste receptacle through the passage.

1 . A combination dispenser and waste receptacle, comprising:
 a dispenser including a storage cavity, a passage extending through the dispenser, and a slot extending through a wall of the dispenser and into the storage cavity; and   a waste receptacle coupled to the dispenser and in communication with the passage.   
   
   
       2 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the waste receptacle is removably attached to the dispenser. 
   
   
       3 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 2  wherein the dispenser is attached to the waste receptacle by a snap attachment. 
   
   
       4 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising a flip top cover. 
   
   
       5 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser includes a flip top cover, wherein the storage cavity is at least partially formed by the flip top cover. 
   
   
       6 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising graphic indicia placed on at least one of the dispenser and the waste receptacle. 
   
   
       7 . A combination dispenser and waste receptacle comprising:
 a dispenser comprising a cylindrical storage container with a tubular passage extending along an axis of the cylindrical storage container such that the cylindrical storage container and the tubular passage together define a generally toroidal storage cavity, the cylindrical storage container further including a slot adapted to permit external access to and from the generally toroidal storage cavity; and   a cup-shaped waste receptacle removably attached to the dispenser with the tubular passage and in communication with an inner space of the waste receptacle.   
   
   
       8 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the dispenser comprises a cylindrical outer wall and generally parallel top and bottom walls, wherein the tubular passage extends from the top wall to the bottom wall, and the bottom wall is removable from the cylindrical outer wall to permit access to the toroidal storage cavity. 
   
   
       9 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the tubular passage is integral to the top wall. 
   
   
       10 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the tubular passage is integral to the bottom wall. 
   
   
       11 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the tubular passage is defined by first and second segments with the first segment integral to the top wall and the second segment integral to the bottom wall. 
   
   
       12 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the bottom wall and cylindrical outer wall removably attach to one another, and wherein the bottom wall and cup-shaped waste receptacle removably attach to one another. 
   
   
       13 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the dispenser is transparent. 
   
   
       14 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the dispenser is formed of plastic. 
   
   
       15 . The combination dispenser and waste receptacle of  claim 7 , further comprising graphic indicia placed on at least one of the dispenser and the waste receptacle. 
   
   
       16 . A dispenser adapted to be removably attached to a cup-shaped waste receptacle, the dispenser comprising:
 one or more outer walls defining a storage cavity;   a passage extending through the dispenser and in communication with the cup-shaped waste receptacle when the dispenser is attached to the cup-shaped waste receptacle; and   a slot extending through at least one outer wall of the dispenser and into the storage cavity.   
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the one or more outer walls define a cylindrical storage container, and wherein the passage is tubular and extends along an axis of the cylindrical storage container such that the cylindrical storage container and the tubular passage together define a generally toroidal storage cavity, and wherein the slot permits external access to and from the generally toroidal storage cavity. 
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a waste receptacle removably attached to the dispenser. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the waste receptacle is removably attached to the dispenser by a snap attachment. 
   
   
       20 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , further comprising graphic indicia placed on at least one of the dispenser and waste receptacle.