US20030115834A1

US20030115834A1 - Personal disposal system

Info

Publication number: US20030115834A1
Application number: US10/025,877
Authority: US
Inventors: Mirian Kelley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-26
Filing date: 2001-12-26
Publication date: 2003-06-26

Abstract

A thin, flat, adhesive-lined disposal system comprised of two layers of liquid resistant material, preferably bio-degradable materials, threaded together securely along the edges and sealed horizontally to form a pocket (34) by which to encapsulate attached soiled materials for safe and easy disposal. Pulling pull-tabs 1 (26) and 2 (30) activates the disposal system which releases an air fragrance (36) to mask odors and cause soiled materials to which the personal disposal system is attached to contract and roll into a ball to be engulfed in the inverted pocket (34) of the disposal system (32). Afterwhich, pull-tabs 1 (26) and 2 (30) are tied together into a secure knot for discarding.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the disposal of personal hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins, pantyliners, etc., specifically to the safe securing and proper disposal of such items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Women all over the world are forced to handle the complex issues surrounding the proper and safe disposal of feminine hygiene articles after use. Many, at one time or another have been in the unenviable position of having to remove a soiled article and not being afforded the luxury of having a safe and secure mechanism with which to wrap and dispose of the article. This can be a dilemma of immense ethical proportions.

Many times they find that the only alternative is to dispose of the article in the toilet bowl currently being used or either wrap the article in massive amounts of tissue paper and discard in the nearest trash can. Neither option is particularly attractive. If they dispose of the article in the toilet bowl, a potential dilemma has been created for the homeowner or merchant whose facilities are being used. The thick padding of the soiled article oftentimes will clog the plumbing drain and cause expensive repairs to be necessary. If the soiled article is discarded in the wastebasket, the chance that the captured waste might leak through and contaminate other articles in the waste system is highly likely. Also the odor or fumes from the soiled item many times will seep through and infiltrate the air causing bad odors to linger in contained areas. Either form of disposal is not very appealing.

Heretofore the idea of a personal, self-contained disposal system attached to a woman's pad; pantyliner or feminine hygiene article has not been explored to my knowledge. Many women simply opt for the use of tissue paper provided as a means to wrap and secure the soiled article and discard in the nearest wastebasket or toilet. This has proven to be unacceptable in our fast paced society where communicable diseases are prevalent. This invention simply addresses the convenient disposal of the soiled item while addressing the safety factor of handling the soiled item by the user and disposal personnel. This invention also addresses the handling of the odors caused by the soiled items in a contained space until it can be safely removed.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

(a) encourages good personal hygiene practices in the disposal of soil items

(b) provides a mechanism to easily contain soiled materials and lessen public exposure to such

(c) eliminates the need to excessively handle the soiled item by the user or disposal personnel

(d) provides a fragrance to mask or help eliminate odors caused by soiled items remaining in a confined space

(e) encourages proper disposal of soiled items

(f) eliminates the need of excessive amounts of wrapping supplies i.e. tissue paper, paper towels or none at all

(g) provides a mechanism in which soiled items are self-contained in small plastic wrapper/bag to lessen the release of unwanted odors or exposure of unsightly deposits

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the outer (exposed) side of the personal disposal system ([0016] 32) with adhesive cover (22) in place.
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the side of the personal disposal system ([0017] 32) with pad (20) and adhesive cover (22).
FIG. 3 is a perspective of the exploded outer (exposed) side with identification of all the parts of the personal disposal system ([0018] 32) without adhesive cover (22).
FIG. 4 is a perspective of the outer (exposed) side from a different angle (vertical view) without adhesive strips ([0019] 24)and cover (22).
FIG. 5 is a perspective of the system as pull-tabs one ([0020] 26) and two (30) are engaged for the first time (pulled); the personal disposal system pocket (34) is opened and fragrance (36) released using pull-tab two (30) and the pad/liner (20) is being contracted using pull-tab one (26).
FIG. 6 is a perspective of the personal disposal system pocket ([0021] 34) being pulled completely over the soiled pad (20) to encapsulate all the soiled padding.
FIG. 7 is a perspective of the personal disposal system ([0022] 32) being secured by pull tab one (26) and two (30) being tied securely.
FIG. 8 is a perspective of the personal disposal system ([0023] 32) after being safely tied and secured.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0024] 20 pad/liner
[0025] 22 adhesive cover
[0026] 24 adhesive strip
[0027] 26 pull-tab 1
[0028] 28 perforation
[0029] 30 pull-tab 2
[0030] 32 disposal system
[0031] 34 disposal pocket
[0032] 36 fragrance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Typical embodiments of the personal disposal system are illustrated in FIG. 1 (outer view) and FIG. 2 (side view). The disposal system can be shaped according to the dimensions of the article for which it will serve as the disposal component. The disposal system is attached to the article ([0033] 20), FIG. 1, via a cohesive compound. FIG. 1 provides insight into the general shape of the disposal system. Looking at the flat outer (exposed view) of the disposal system (32), notice pull-tabs 1 (26) and 2 (30), FIG. 3, are only slightly exposed as they are secured in an internal indentation space within the disposal system. An adhesive strip (24), FIG. 3, is attached to the outer side of the disposal system to encourage adhesion to the fabric in which the article is to be applied securely. The adhesive cover (22), FIGS. 1 & 2, is provided to give protection to the adhesive strips until time for the articles use.
The personal disposal system ([0034] 32) along the outer edge is threaded with material attached to pull-tab 1 (26) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The disposal pocket (34) is attached to pull-tab 2 (30) with a perforated line (28) along the mouth of the pocket, FIG. 3. This system can be altered and utilized with numerous disposable items currently on the market today. This is but one example of this personal disposal system's potential use.
The manner of using the personal disposal system ([0035] 32) is a very simple one. Namely, one would pull pull-tab 1 (26), FIG. 4, straight up and away from the fabric or backing in which it is attached. As pull-tab 1 (26) is extended, the sides and ends of the disposal system (32), FIG. 5, contracts and the soiled article rolls inward into a ball. Next, while still holding pull-tab 1 (26), pull-tab 2 (30) is pulled, FIG. 5; this causes the pocket perforation (28) to be pulled away from the base of the disposal system (32) and the disposable pocket mouth is opened. An air fragrance (36) is released from the pocket indentation to mask or eliminate odors associated with the soiled article. Pull-tab 2 (30) is then pulled over the contracted soiled article to meet pull-tab 1 causing the disposable pocket to invert and the soiled article to be engulfed by the inverted pocket, FIG. 6. Pull-tab 1 (26) and pull-tab 2 (30) are then pulled together, FIG. 7 and tied securely as in FIG. 8. The personal disposal system (32) is secured and discarded in the nearest wastebasket for proper disposal.
Accordingly, the reader will see that the personal disposal system can be used easily and conveniently with little or no hesitation by women of all ages. But I think it will be most appreciated and helpful to young girls who are beginning their adventure into womanhood. Why, because at this young age when menstruation first arrives, young girls are embarrassed about this phenomenon of their body. This is the time when personal hygiene and responsibility to others must be taught and encouraged. This system provides a mechanism to encourage cleanliness, good hygiene practices and personal accountability for proper disposal. [0036]
While my above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof Many other variations are possible. For example the disposal of baby disposable diapers, disposable undergarments, and other disposable items. Furthermore, the personal disposal system has the additional advantages in that [0037]
it permits the production of liquid resistant, preferably bio-degradable, disposal systems in a variation of colors, thereby being more attractive to those who are young at heart [0038]
it permits no direct handling of the soiled article [0039]
it allows the soiled article to be self-contained for easy disposal [0040]
it releases a gentle fragrance in the area to help with odors [0041]
it provides a single contained unit to be safely removed from waste receptacles with no possible exposure or danger to cleaning or waste management personnel [0042]
it encourages good personal hygiene practices [0043]
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the personal disposal system can certainly have other shapes, to more appropriately encapsulate the articles for which it will be used to dispose of. [0044]
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. [0045]

Claims

What I claim as my invention is a personal disposal system comprising:

1. two sheets of liquid resistant material, preferably biodegradable materials having sufficient size as to accommodate use for encapsulation of soiled materials,

1. positioning said sheets together so that the edge portion of a sheet overlaps an adjacent edge portion of another sheet,

2. passing a material repeatedly through and along the edges of the overlapping portions in sequentially opposite directions,

3. attaching a grasping mechanism at the ends of the said material passing through the overlapping portions to gather said soiled materials into a circular position,

4. sealing with an adhesive material said sheets together at the midsection creating a pocket when the top, outer most sheet is split horizontally directly beneath said grasping mechanism,

5. the said split creates a mouth of the pocket which when pulled with a second grasping mechanism inverts the pocket, a fragrance is released and the attached said soiled materials are encapsulated between the inner linings of the sheets, and

6. said two grasping mechanisms are now tied securely together for a disposable unit.