DISPOSABLE BAG FOR FEMININE HYGEINE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Provided is a disposable bag for feminine hygiene products, and a dispenser for these bags.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 61/488,087, filed on May 19, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 61/488,104, filed on May 19, 2011.

BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION

Feminine hygiene products are widely used. A problem with feminine hygiene products (FHP) is their disposal, particularly in public places. Most women after their use of the feminine hygiene product, flush them down. This problem is worse in public bathrooms where a trash can may not be available for disposing the feminine hygiene product. Flushing the FHP down the toilet can clog the pipes, and cause a back-up of the water.

Most women flush the FHP because it is convenient and can be done in a clean fashion. There is a need in the prior art for allowing a woman to dispose a used FHP in a clean and convenient fashion without flushing the FHP.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment provided is a bag for storing a feminine hygiene product after use, comprising: a first and second sheet of water impermeable material joined together to obtain a bag that is enclosed except for an opening on one side of the bag; an interlocking mechanism with a first and second semi-rigid parts, with the first part on the inside of the first sheet running substantially parallel to the opening of the bag and the second part on the inside of the second sheet and substantially parallel to the opening of the bag, wherein the first and second parts when reversably locked together enclose the opening; wherein the bag is suitable size for a feminine hygiene product and the feminine hygiene product is not visible to a user when stored in the bag; wherein when the first and second parts are not locked together, the first and second parts can be pressed by one or more fingers of a single hand to increased the opening of the bag to place the feminine hygiene product inside the bag; and wherein the interlocking parts do not run all the way to where the two sheets are joined. The bag can be made from two sheets that are formed by folding a single sheet onto itself. The bag can be made from plastic. The bag can be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, opaque polypropylene, polyester, Polylactic acid, paper based substrates and non adhesive film substrates. The interlocking parts may not run all the way to where the two sheets are joined. The interlocking parts can be about 3/16 to about ¼ of an inch away from where the two sheets are joined. The feminine hygiene product can be a tampon or a pad. The bag can have finger shaped indentation (circular concave indentations) at the opening for allowing the interlocking mechanism to be compressed to open the opening. The bag can have a gusset bottom. The bag can have a height of about 3 inches to about 7 inches. The bag can have a width of about 2 inches to about 5 inches. The bag can have absorbent material inside. The bag can be scented. The bag can have a U or V shape. The has two or more bags are tearbly attached to each other in an accordion fashion. Each successive bag can be flipped compared to each prior bag.

In one embodiment provided is a bag for storing a feminine hygiene product after use, comprising: a first and second piece of water impermeable material joined together to obtain a bag that is enclosed except for an opening on one side of the bag; semi-rigid interlocking mechanism with first and second parts, with the first part on the inside of the first sheet running substantially parallel to the opening of the bag and the second part on the inside of the second sheet running substantially parallel to the opening of the bag and, wherein the first and second parts when reversably locked together enclose the opening; wherein the interlocking parts do not run all the way to where the two sheets are joined, wherein the bag is suitable size for a feminine hygiene product; wherein when the first and second parts are not locked together, the first and second parts can be pressed by one or more fingers of a single hand to open the bag to place the feminine hygiene product. The bag can have interlocking parts that are about 3/16 to about ¼ of an inch away from where the two sheets are joined.

In one embodiment provided is a dispenser for dispensing any of the bags provided above.

In one embodiment provided is a method for disposing a feminine hygiene product comprising placing the feminine hygiene product in any of the above bags and disposing the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a package of bags connected on the sides. FIG. 1A shows rectangular bags, 1B shows V shaped bags, and FIG. 1C shows U shaped bags.

FIG. 2 shows a single sheet for making a bag with a gusset bottom.

FIG. 3 shows a single sheet for making a bag.

FIG. 4A shows a bag opened with a single hand for disposing a feminine hygiene product.

FIG. 4B shows the male and female interlocking mechanism of the bag.

FIG. 5 shows a dispenser for the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bag for storing and disposing a feminine hygiene product (FHP)where the bag (1) can be used conveniently to place the FHP inside and then dispose the bag. The bag (1) can be held and opened with a single hand (FIG. 4A). This design allows for a woman to handle the FHP with one hand and the bag with the other hand, and conveniently place the FHP in the bag.

The bag can be made from a single piece of material that is folded upon itself to obtain two sheets and then enclosed on the sides(FIGS. 1-3). Alternatively the bag can be made from two individual sheets that are joined to each other at three sides. No matter how the bag is made, an opening, usually one side, is left for putting in the FHP (FIG. 4A).

The bag has an interlocking mechanism with a first and second semi-rigid parts (2). These parts are inside of the bag, one on each sheet, and lock together to enclose the bag. One can be a female and one a male part (FIG. 4B). The interlocking parts are substantially parallel to the opening of the bag (FIG. 4A). The parts can be placed near the opening, such as up to about one inch from the opening.

The interlocking parts (2) are semi-rigid. By semi-rigid it is meant that the parts deform when pressed by the fingers (FIG. 4A). If the parts are completely rigid, they would not deform. The semi-rigidness allows for opening the bag with a single hand by pressing each side of the interlocking parts. By pressing on them, the sides of the bag move in, and the opening of the bag opens widely. The semi-rigidness also provides a feedback to the fingers for optimal control. The bag can have finger shaped indentation (3) at on the sides for allowing the interlocking mechanism to be compressed to further open the opening.

The interlocking parts do not run all the way to where the two sheets are joined. The interlocking parts can be about 3/16 to about ¼ of an inch away from where the two sheets are joined. This placing away of the interlocking parts (2) makes it easier to keep the bag opened with one hand. If the interlocking parts (2) do not run all the way to the edge, the bag (1) may not completely be sealed. For example, if the bag (1) is filled with water, and pressed, it may leak. Because the FHP is absorbent and only minimal amount of freely available fluid is present, in the absence of pressure on the bag liquid would not normally leak.

The feminine hygiene product can be a tampon or a pad. The bag (1) is suitable size for a feminine hygiene product. In one embodiment, the bag has a height of about 3 inches to about 7 inches and a width of about 2 inches to about 5 inches.

The FHP is preferably no visible to the user. The bag can be opaque, translucent, or only partially transparent.

The material used to make the bag (1) is water impermeable, i.e., liquids are not absorbed by the material used to make the bag. The bag (1) can be made from plastic. Examples of materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, opaque polypropylene, polyester, Polylactic acid, paper based substrates and non adhesive film substrates. The bag (1) can be made of biodegradable materials.

The bag can have a number of features. For example, the bag can have additional absorbent material inside, such as cotton wool. The bag can be scented. Examples of scents include fresh scent, vanilla, lavender, clean scent, and baby perfume.

The bag can come in different shapes, such as wherein the bag has a U (FIG. 1C) or V shape (FIG. 1B). The U or V shape allows for guiding the FHP to the center as it is put in the bag. The bag can have a gusset bottom (FIG. 2) to increase its volume.

The bag (1) can come in a package (FIG. 1). Each bag is connected to another bag in a way that it can be torn. Each bag can be connected to another bag from the side, or top/bottom. The bags can be attached to each other in an accordion fashion from the sides. When attached from the sides (FIG. 1), each bag can be flipped in relation to the successive bag so that top of a bag is attached to the bottom of the next bag. This flipping package is helpful in that the semi-rigid parts of the bag take the most volume when packed together.

The package can then be incorporated in a roll or a dispenser (5, 7). When the package is in the shape of an accordion, a dispenser in the shape of a tissue box(5) can be used where the FHP comes out from an opening (6), such as at top. The design of this dispenser is ideal for public areas, such as bathrooms. The dispenser can also be made with a flap (8), and be used in a purse. The dispensers can be made of plastic, metal, paper, or other suitable materials.

FIG. 1 illustrates a disposable package of bags. The bags (1) can be rectangular, U shaped, or V shaped. The bags have a locking mechanism (2) that does not run all the way to the edge of the bag. There is a finger shaped indentation i(3) in the shape of a concave semi-circle where a user can press the bag with the fingers of the same hand. Each bag is flipped in comparison to the previous bag in the package.

FIG. 2 shows a single sheet that when folded gives a bag with a gusset bottom (4). The bags (1) can be rectangular, U shaped, or V shaped. The gusset bottom (4) increases the volume of the bag. The interlocking mechanism (2) does run all the way to the edge of the sheet. FIG. 2 also shows an absorbent material in the form of a cotton wool. FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 except that a gusset bottom is not present

FIG. 4 shows the bag (1) pressed by the fingers of a single hand. The interlocking mechanisms (2) do not run all the way to the edge of the bag. The opening is generally biased into a position where the top of the two sheets are next to each other, and the further open position (wide open) is forced by pressing with the fingers. Also shown is an absorbent material like cotton wool.

FIG. 4B shows an exemplary licking mechanism. In this figure, a female and a male part is shown, relying on a groove mechanism.

FIG. 5A shows a dispenser (5) in the shape of a tissue box. The bags in the form of a package are taken one by one through the opening like tissues (6). The force of the pull would tear one bag from another. FIG. 5B shows is a simple layout of the same dispenser. FIG. 5C shows a dispenser (7) with a flap (8).

Claims

1. A bag for storing a feminine hygiene product after use, comprising:

a first and second sheet of water impermeable material joined together to obtain a bag that is enclosed except for an opening on one side of the bag;

an interlocking mechanism with a first and second semi-rigid parts, with the first part on the inside of first sheet running substantially parallel to the opening of the bag and the second part on the inside of the second sheet running substantially parallel to the opening of the bag, wherein the first and second parts when reversably locked together enclose the opening;

wherein the bag is suitable size for a feminine hygiene product and the feminine hygiene product is not visible to a user when stored in the bag; and

wherein when the first and second parts are not locked together, the first and second parts can be pressed by one or more fingers of a single hand to increased the opening of the bag to place the feminine hygiene product inside the bag;

wherein the interlocking parts do not run all the way to where the two sheets are joined.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the two sheets are formed by folding a single sheet onto itself.

3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is made from plastic.

4. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is made from polypropylene, polyethylene, opaque polypropylene, polyester, Polylactic acid, paper based substrates and non adhesive film substrates.

5. The bag of claim 1, wherein the interlocking parts are about 3/16 to about ¼ of an inch away from where the two sheets are joined.

6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the feminine hygiene product is a tampon.

7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the feminine hygiene product is a pad.

8. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has finger shaped indentation for allowing the interlocking mechanism to be compressed to further open the opening.

9. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a gusset bottom.

10. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a height of about 3 inches to about 7 inches.

11. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a width of about 2 inches to about 5 inches.

12. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has absorbent material inside.

13. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is scented.

14. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a U or V shape.

15. The bag of claim 1, wherein two or more bags are tearbly attached to each other side to side.

16. The bag of claim 16, wherein each successive bag is flipped compared to each prior bag.

17. A dispenser for dispensing the bags of claim 16.

18. A method for disposing a feminine hygiene product comprising placing the feminine hygiene product in the bag of claim 1 and disposing the bag.