Storage receptacle and lint pads therefor

Abstract

A storage receptacle and lint pads therefor including a receptacle portion having a container portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is hingedly coupled with the container portion. The container portion has an open upper end. A plurality of pad portions are dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion in a stacked orientation. The plurality of pad portions each has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface has an adhesive disposed thereon. The upper surface has a strap for receiving two or more fingers therethrough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage receptacle and lint pads therefor and more particularly pertains to holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use.

[0002] The use of lint removal devices and receptacles is known in the prior art. More specifically, lint removal devices and receptacles heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of removing lint from articles are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0003] The most common lint removal device is the “lint brush”, which is essentially a wand having stacked concentric layers of adhesive material thereon. The user rolls the lint brush over the garment to attract lint particles. The main limitation with lint brushes is that their physical size makes them inconvenient to carry. Accordingly, unless a person is at home when they discover lint on their garment, it is unlikely that a lint brush will be conveniently available.

[0004] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,457 to Rouch, Jr. discloses a refillable pocket sized device for storing a large supply of adhesive cleaning material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,341 to Heneveld discloses a lint roller encased in a holder comprised of two clam shell elements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,969 to Thomas discloses a disposable thin flexible adhesive for removing lint from clothing.

[0005] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a storage receptacle and lint pads therefor for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use.

[0006] In this respect, the storage receptacle and lint pads therefor according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use.

[0007] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which can be used for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lint removal devices and receptacles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0009] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a receptacle portion having a container portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is hingedly coupled with the container portion. The container portion has an open upper end. The receptacle portion includes closure means for closing the lid portion with respect to the open upper end of the container portion. A plurality of pad portions are dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion in a stacked orientation. The plurality of pad portions each has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has a hand strap secured thereto for receiving up to four fingers of a hand therethrough. The lower surface has an adhesive disposed thereon.

[0010] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0011] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0012] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which has all the advantages of the prior art lint removal devices and receptacles and none of the disadvantages.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0016] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a storage receptacle and lint pads therefor economically available to the buying public.

[0017] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use.

[0018] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor including a receptacle portion having a container portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is hingedly coupled with the container portion. The container portion has an open upper end. A plurality of pad portions are dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion in a stacked orientation. The plurality of pad portions each has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface has an adhesive disposed thereon.

[0019] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage receptacle and lint pads therefor constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the storage receptacle.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lint pad of the present invention illustrated as secured to a hand of a user.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lint pad illustrated in use.

[0025] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through four thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved storage receptacle and lint pads therefor embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0027] Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device relates to a storage receptacle and lint pads therefor for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use. In its broadest context, the device consists of a receptacle portion and a plurality of pad portions. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0028] The receptacle portion 12 has a container portion 14 and a lid portion 16. The lid portion 16 is hingedly coupled with the container portion 14. The container portion 14 has an open upper end 18. The receptacle portion 12 includes closure means for closing the lid portion 16 with respect to the open upper end 18 of the container portion 14. The type of closure means utilized could be a zippered closure 20 (FIG. 1) or a snap closure (FIG. 2). Additionally, the shape and size of the receptacle portion 12 can be varied to accommodate the end user. FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a rectangular shaped, soft receptacle portion 12. FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a clam-shaped, hard receptacle portion 12.

[0029] The plurality of pad portions 22 are dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion 14 in a stacked orientation. The plurality of pad portions 22 each have an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 26. The upper surface 24 has a hand strap 28 secured thereto for receiving four fingers 30 of a hand therethrough. The lower surface 26 has an adhesive 32 disposed thereon. The adhesive 32 will allow for the removal of lint from garments and the like. The size and shape of the pad portions 22 will correspond with the shape and size of the receptacle portion 12. However, the pad can be easily sized smaller than illustrate, such that the hand strap 28 will only accommodate two fingers. Accordingly then, the user would insert two fingers 30 through the strap 28 and repeatedly engage the garment with lower surface 26 as appropriate to remove lint on said garment by attracting said lint with the adhesive 32 located thereon.

[0030] The present invention essentially provides a device, about the size of a compact, that can be easily carried in a purse or pocket, to conveniently carry disposable pad portions 22 that can be used to remove lint when the occasion presents itself.

[0031] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0032] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A storage receptacle and lint pads therefor for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use comprising, in combination:

a receptacle portion having a container portion and a lid portion, the lid portion being hingedly coupled with the container portion, the container portion having an open upper end, the receptacle portion including closure means for closing the lid portion with respect to the open upper end of the container portion; and

a plurality of pad portions dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion in a stacked orientation, the plurality of pad portions each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a strap secured thereto for receiving at least two fingers of a hand therethrough, the lower surface having an adhesive disposed thereon.

2. A storage receptacle and lint pads therefor for holding a plurality of lint pads for convenient use comprising, in combination:

a receptacle portion having a container portion and a lid portion, the lid portion being hingedly coupled with the container portion, the container portion having an open upper end; and

a plurality of pad portions dimensioned for being positioned within the container portion in a stacked orientation, the plurality of pad portions each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having an adhesive disposed thereon.

3. The storage receptacle and lint pads therefor as set forth in claim two, wherein the receptacle portion includes closure means for closing the lid portion with respect to the open upper end of the container portion.

4. The storage receptacle and lint pads therefor as set forth in claim two, wherein the upper surfaces of the plurality of pad portions each have a strap secured thereto for receiving at least two fingers of a hand therethrough.