Wipe container

Abstract

A wet and dry wipe carrying case which has two compartments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/181,081, filed Feb. 8, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a carrying case or container having two watertight compartments, and indica thereon, for dry and wet wipes.

[0004] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0005] Containers for wet wipes and for dry wipes exist as separate entities. The containers for wet wipes are typically plastic, watertight rectangular shaped containers having a top, a bottom and four sides with the top having a rectangular opening and a lid which, when closed, forms a seal. The wet wipes are removed from the opening and the lid is kept closed to keep the contents moist. Containers for dry wipes are rarely watertight and tend to be made of cardboard material; dry wipe containers also have a top, a bottom and four sides, but the top usually has an oval opening and no lid. The dry wipes are pulled through the oval. The containers are separate, requiring caretakers and parents to carry two items for diaper changes and other circumstances when wet and dry wipes are needed.

[0006] Containers for dispensing dry wipes or tissues are known in the prior art. U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 277,169 and 277,553, issued to Ito et al. in January and February of 1985, respectively, show ornamental designs for dispensing cartons for sheet material, each carton with two storage areas and having two oval shaped openings for dispensing the sheet material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,545 issued to Parks on Jul. 14, 1992 describes a tissue container having a dispenser compartment and a disposal compartment. The container of Parks has an oval tissue dispensing opening with no lid in the dispensing compartment and a tissue receiving opening in the disposal compartment through which soiled tissue may be inserted. Likewise, Great Britain Patent No. 464,373 issued on Apr. 16, 1937 describes a tissue dispensing cardboard box having two compartments, one for dispensing tissues and one for discarding used tissues. The two compartments are separated by a division member extending therebetween; an opening is provided for each compartment wherein the openings are on opposite sides of the box, and are made of air and water permeable material. The conventional containers for dry wipes or tissues are not designed to be waterproof or have a lid which is sealable.

[0007] Containers for wet wipes are also known in the prior art but are not designed to carry dry wipes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,957 issued to Braiser on Jun. 17, 1997 discloses a reusable diaper and wipe carrying case which includes a first housing having an interior surface defining a chamber for holding premoistened baby wipes, and a second housing having an interior surface defining a chamber for holding one or more diapers. A partition wall is positioned between the access opening of the first housing and the access opening of the second housing with a hinge connecting the first housing, the second housing and the partition wall for facilitating opening each housing separately. A ridge is formed on one side of the partition wall to produce an airtight seal between the partition wall and the access opening of the first housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,875 issued to Watts et al. on Nov. 18, 1997 shows a dispenser for wipes which may be used as a portable dispenser or mounted to a fixed surface. The invention allows two similar containers to be joined together to form a dispenser; it carries twice as many wipes, or dispenses two different types of wipes, eliminating the need to carry two containers, one for each product. One of the receptacles may be used for soiled or used wipes. None of the prior art wet wipe dispensers are designed to also hold and dispense dry wipes or tissues.

[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a wet and dry wipe carrying case having two compartments for carrying and dispensing wet wipes in one compartment and dry wipes in the other. Each of the two compartments has a lid which, when closed, forms a seal making the compartment watertight. Disposed on the exterior of each lid is an indicium or label identifying the contents. The label for the wet wipes is “wet”, and the label for the dry wipes is “dry”.

[0010] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a single container with two functions, viz., to contain wet wipes and to contain dry wipes. The invention will maintain the moisture content of the wipes contained in the container. In other words, the wet wipes will remain moist, and the dry wipes will remain dry. Also, the invention will keep the wipes from becoming contaminated by protecting them from accidental adulteration.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide individuals easy access to both wet and dry wipes. Having both wet and dry wipes in a single container will benefit individuals of all ages. The present invention will be used for changing babies, family travel, and for tending the elderly.

[0012] It is a further object of the invention to limit the amount of excess gear which must be carried by a caregiver in order to properly care for a child or adult who needs such care. It is very cumbersome to have to carry, and keep up with, two containers. Inevitably, one of the containers will be lost or forgotten. Both types of wipes are needed constantly by parents, travelers and caregivers of physically challenged people.

[0013] Still another object of the invention is to assure the availability of dry wipes to dry the skin immediately after the application of wet wipes. Wet or damp skin is an obvious place for skin irritation, and the promotion of infection. Cleaner, healthier skin will be assured for individuals who use the product to maintain dry skin. Also, diapers need to be placed on dry skin, as wet skin will keep the tapes on disposable diapers from) functioning. Diapers also should not be placed on wet skin, as diaper rash will inevitably result.

[0014] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baby wipe container according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the baby wipe container according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the baby wipe container according to the present invention.

[0019] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] The present invention is a wet and dry wipe carrying case 10, as shown in FIG. 1, having two compartments, including one compartment for carrying and dispensing wet wipes and the other| compartment for carrying and dispensing dry wipes. Each of the two compartments has a lid which, when closed, forms a seal making the compartment watertight. Disposed on the exterior of each lid is an indicium or label identifying the contents.

[0021] The wet and dry carrying case has a housing 12. Inside the housing 12 there is a first compartment 14 and a second compartment 16. The second compartment 16 is adjacent to the first compartment 14, and separated from the first compartment 14 by a partition 18, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0022] The first compartment 14 has an interior surface which defines a wet wipe chamber. The first compartment 14 also has an outside edge 20 defining an access opening to the wet wipe chamber. A first lid 24 is hingedly attached to the first compartment by a hinge attachment 38, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first lid 24 of the first compartment 14 has an indicium 32 thereon. The indicium 32 is the word “WET” or a similar term serving to identify the content of the first compartment 14. The first lid 24 has a rim 28. The rim 28 fits tightly to the edge 20 making a seal between the first lid 24 and the edge 20.

[0023] The second compartment 16 has an interior surface which defines a dry wipe chamber. The second compartment 16 also has an outside edge 22 defining an access opening to the dry wipe chamber. A second lid 26 is hingedly attached to the second compartment 16 by a hinge attachment 36, as shown if FIG. 2. The second lid 26 of the second compartment has an indicium 34 thereon. The indicium 34 is the word “DRY” or a similar term serving to identify the content of the second compartment 16. The second lid 26 has a rim 30. The rim 30 fits tightly to the edge 22 making a seal between the second lid 26 and the edge 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] The wet and dry wipe carrying case may be made of any suitable material. Hard or soft plastic are suitable material. The hinge attachment may be any type of such attachment. The attachment may include conventional hinges or it may be a “living hinge” formed by a flexible line of thin plastic.

[0025] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wet and dry wipe carrying case comprising:

a housing having a first and second compartment disposed therein, the second compartment being separated from the first compartment by a partition wall therebetween;

the first compartment having an interior surface defining a wet wipe chamber, an outside edge defining an access opening to the wipe chamber, and a first lid hingedly attached to the first compartment;

the second compartment having an interior surface defining a dry wipe chamber, an outside edge defining an access opening to the wipe chamber, and a second lid hingedly attached to the second compartment; and

said first lid and said second lid each having a rim, each rim releasably engaging the outside edge of its respective compartment in order to make a watertight seal between the lid and the edge.

2. The case according to

claim 1, wherein said first lid and said second lid each further comprise an indicium displayed thereon.

3. The case according to

claim 2, wherein:

the indicium on the first lid is “WET”; and

the indicium on the second lid is “DRY”.