Tissue Product Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for a rolled tissue product, the dispenser comprising a base having an upper portion and a lower portion comprising a generally flat surface, a top having a lower portion interfitting detachably with the upper portion of the base, the top further having an upper portion comprising an opening, and a spindle configured to hold a rolled tissue product, wherein the spindle is detachably retained by the upper portion of the base and/or the lower portion of the top.

1 . A dispenser for a rolled tissue product, the dispenser comprising:
 a base having an upper portion and a lower portion comprising a generally flat surface;   a top having a lower portion interfitting detachably with the upper portion of the base, the top further having an upper portion comprising an opening; and   a spindle configured to hold a rolled tissue product,   wherein the spindle is detachably retained by the upper portion of the base and/or the lower portion of the top; and   a rolled tissue product comprising a tissue sheet spirally wound to form a roll, the roll defining an axial passageway that extends from a first end of the roll to a second and opposite end of the roll in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tissue sheet, wherein the spindle extends through the passageway, wherein the rolled tissue product comprises a plurality of individual tissue sheets folded longitudinally in an overlapping relation to the adjacent tissue sheets.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the generally flat surface has a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the top has a generally hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the base has a generally hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is generally circular. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a rim and at least one L-shaped slot extending below the rim. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the top comprises a rim and at least one tab extending below the rim, the tab comprising a protrusion extending outward from the tab, the protrusion spaced from the rim such that it is configured to slide into a bottom groove of the L-shaped slot. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the top further comprises a polymeric insert within the opening, wherein the polymeric insert is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle is a cylindrical rod. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the base and/or the lower portion of the top comprises a slot that detachably retains the spindle. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the slot retaining the spindle comprises a recess having a rounded bottom portion and two convex sidewalls, wherein the width of a middle portion of the slot is narrower than a diameter of the spindle and the width of the bottom portion of the slot is greater than the diameter of the spindle. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the slot retaining the spindle comprises a recess having an L-shape. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is lined only by the tissue sheet. or in certain embodiments may be lined with core about which the tissue sheet is spirally wound. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is lined with a core about which the tissue sheet is spirally wound. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein each tissue sheet is folded twice. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a mounting mechanism attached to the generally flat surface, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises at least one adhesive strip. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the base is rotatable relative to the lower portion of the base, wherein the upper portion of the base is attached to the lower portion of the base by a ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A dispenser for a rolled tissue product, the dispenser comprising:
 a base having an upper portion and a lower portion comprising a generally flat surface and a top having a lower portion comprising interfitting detachably with the upper portion of the base, the top further having an upper portion comprising an opening, wherein the upper portion of the base and/or the lower portion of the top comprises a slot configured to detachably retain a spindle, wherein the spindle is detachably retained by the upper portion of the base and/or the lower portion of the top; and   a rolled tissue product comprising a tissue sheet spirally wound to form a roll, the roll defining an axial passageway that extends from a first end of the roll to a second and opposite end of the roll in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tissue sheet, wherein the spindle extends through the passageway, wherein the rolled tissue product comprises a plurality of individual tissue sheets folded longitudinally in an overlapping relation to the adjacent tissue sheets.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A rolled tissue product, the rolled tissue product comprising:
 a plurality of individual tissue sheets rolled around a roll, the roll defining an axial passageway that extends from a first end of the roll to a second and opposite end of the roll in a direction perpendicular to the length of the plurality of individual tissue sheets, wherein each tissue sheet is folded longitudinally in an overlapping relation to the adjacent tissue sheets.   
     
     
         39 . The rolled tissue product of  claim 38 , wherein each tissue sheet is folded twice such that each tissue sheet comprises an upper layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer. 
     
     
         40 . The rolled tissue product of  claim 39 , wherein the lower layer of each intermediate tissue sheet is partially interposed between the middle and upper layers of one adjacent sheet and the upper layer of each intermediate sheet is interposed between the lower and middle layers of a second adjacent tissue sheet. 
     
     
         41 . The rolled tissue product of  claim 39 , wherein from about 10 percent to about 50 percent of each tissue sheet overlaps with each adjacent tissue sheet. 
     
     
         42 . The rolled tissue product of  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of individual sheets are free from perforations and are not otherwise physically joined together.