Package containing a first compartment for storing unused disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used disposable cleaning products

Abstract

An exemplary package including a first compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products (e.g., tissue papers, paper towels, napkins or moist wipes), a second compartment for receiving and storing the disposable cleaning products after they have been used, and an internal structure that separates the first compartment from the second compartment. As an example, a user retrieves unused tissue papers from the first compartment, uses the tissue papers, and then disposes the used tissue papers into the second compartment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/583,892, filed on Jun. 30, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to non-provisional application entitled, “Package Containing a First Housing for Storing Unused Disposable Cleaning Products and a Second Housing for Storing Used Disposable Cleaning Products,” filed concurrently with this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to packages, and in particular, to a package containing a first compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used, disposable cleaning products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable cleaning products, such as tissue papers, papers towels, napkins, moist wipes, etc., are usually stored in some type of package. For example, unused tissue papers are typically stored in a cardboard box containing a perforated cover. A user typically tears open the perforated cover to access the unused tissue papers. After using the tissue paper, a user may dispose the tissue paper in a waste basket.

In many situations, there may not be a waste basket or other container available in which to dispose the used tissue paper or other disposable cleaning product. In such situation, a user may place the used tissue paper in an undesirable location, such as on top of a table, on a chair, on the floor, or in one's pocket. Such undesirable disposal of the used tissue paper may lead to non-environmentally friendly disposal and may also lead to unsanitary conditions, which may result in illness in people who come in contact, directly or indirectly, with the used tissue paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention relates to exemplary package for storing both unused, disposable cleaning products (e.g., tissue paper, paper towels, napkins, moist wipes, etc.) and used, disposable cleaning products. The exemplary package comprises a first compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products, a second compartment for receiving and storing used, disposable cleaning products, and an internal structure to separate the first compartment from the second compartment. A user retrieves unused, disposable cleaning products from the first compartment, uses the disposable cleaning products, and then disposes the used, disposable cleaning products into the second compartment.

Other aspects, features, and techniques of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary package in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Figure illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary package 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In summary, the exemplary package 100 includes a first compartment for storing unused tissue papers, a second compartment for receiving and storing used tissue papers, and an internal structure to separate the first compartment from the second compartment. A user retrieves unused tissue papers from the first compartment, uses the tissue papers, and then disposes the used tissue papers into the second compartment.

More specifically, the exemplary package 100 comprises a housing 102 including a first internal compartment 104 for storing unused tissue papers 150, and a second internal compartment 106 for storing used tissue papers 160. An internal structure 108 separates the first internal compartment 104 from the second internal compartment 106. The unused tissue papers 150 may be scented or unscented, and include anti-bacterial, moisturized and printed items.

In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 102 is configured into a box. The top side 110 of the housing 102 includes an opening 112 through which a user can remove the unused tissue papers 150 from the first internal compartment 104. The housing 102 may further include a perforated cover (not shown) initially attached to the top side 110 of the housing 102 in a manner that substantially cover the opening 112. Before anyone uses the tissue papers 150, a user needs to detach the cover from the housing 102 in order to access the unused tissue papers 150. The cover may be made out of a cardboard and attached to the top side 110 of the housing 102 by a perforated line. Alternatively, the cover may be made out of a transparent plastic. The plurality of unused tissue papers 150 may be arranged in a vertically or horizontally stacked, folded, rolled or any other configuration within the first compartment 104.

Also, in the exemplary embodiment, the bottom side 114 of the housing 102 includes another opening 116 through which a user can insert used tissue papers 160 into the second compartment 106. The opening 116 may be circular in shape. The housing 102 may include a plurality of pie-shaped sub-covers 118, arranged together in a circular-fashion and their respective vertices coincident with each other, to substantially cover the opening 116. Adjacent sub-covers 118 are initially attached to each other by way of respective perforated lines.

With such configuration, when a user finishes using the first tissue paper, a user pushes the used tissue paper 160 through the plurality of sub-covers 118. The pushing force causes the sub-covers 118 to detach from each other and bend inward into the second compartment 106, thereby allowing the user to insert the used tissue 160 into the second compartment 106. After the user inserts the used tissue paper 160 into the second compartment 106, the plurality of sub-covers 118 may have resilient characteristics causing them to bend back toward the opening 116 to at least further occlude the opening 116, thereby preventing the used tissue paper 160 from falling out of the second compartment 106. A plastic bag may be included within the second compartment 106 to receive the used tissue papers 160, and better protect against cross-contamination between the used and unused tissue papers 150 and 160. The interior of the second compartment 106, internal structure 108, and/or the bag may be coated with an anti-microbial substance for improved germicidal protection.

Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, the internal structure 108 includes a transverse wall 108a that separates the first compartment 104 from the second compartment 106. The internal structure 108 further includes a plurality of side walls 108b extending downward from the transverse wall 108a, and parallel to and adjacent with the respective internal sides of the housing 102. The internal structure 108 is upwardly movable within the housing 102. The side walls 108b of the internal structure 108 being adjacent to the respective internal sides of the housing 102 assist in guiding the upward movement of the internal structure 108. As a user removes unused tissue paper 150 from the first compartment 104 and places the corresponding used tissue paper 160 into the second compartment 106, the internal structure 108 moves upwardly to fill the space of the removed tissue paper 150 within the first compartment 104 and allows more space for the corresponding used tissue paper 160 placed into the second compartment 106.

Although tissue papers are used to exemplify the various embodiments of the invention, it shall be understood that the package disclosed herein may store other disposable cleaning products, such as paper towels, napkins, and moist wipes.

While the invention has been described in connection with an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.

Claims

1. A package comprising a housing including a first internal compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products, and a second internal compartment for storing used, disposable cleaning products.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an opening through which said unused disposable cleaning products are to be removed from said first internal compartment.

3. The package of claim 2, further comprising said unused disposable cleaning products situated within said first internal compartment.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein said unused disposable cleaning products are in a stacked, folded, or rolled arrangement within said first internal compartment.

5. The package of claim 4, further comprising a cover attached to said housing in a manner that substantially covers said opening.

6. The package of claim 1, further comprising an internal structure separating said first internal compartment from said second internal compartment.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein said internal structure is movable within said housing in a direction where a volume of said first internal compartment decreases and a volume of said second internal compartment increases.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein said first internal compartment is located in an upper portion of said housing, wherein said second internal compartment is located in a lower portion of said housing, and wherein said internal structure is located below said first internal compartment and above said second internal compartment.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein said internal structure includes at least one wall adapted to slide against an internal wall of said housing.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an opening through which said used, disposable cleaning products are to be inserted into said second internal compartment.

11. The package of claim 10, further comprising a cover to at least partially occlude said opening.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of pie-shaped sub-covers with vertices substantially coincident, wherein adjacent sub-covers are initially attached to each other by way of respective perforated lines.

13. The package of claim 1, further comprising a bag situated within said second internal compartment.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein said bag includes an anti-microbial substance.

15. The package of claim 1, wherein said unused, disposable cleaning products comprises any one of the following:

tissue paper;

paper towels;

napkins; or

moist wipes.

16. A method, comprising:

removing an unused, disposable cleaning product from a first internal compartment of a housing;

using said disposable cleaning product; and

inserting said used disposable cleaning product into a second compartment of said housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said disposable cleaning product comprises any one of the following:

a tissue paper;

a paper towel;

a napkin; or

a moist wipe.