Field towel package and method of making same

Abstract

A field towel package and method of making same, comprising a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels sealed within a packaging material having an exterior surface with an outdoor image. The package includes means for removing the pre-moistened field towels from the package and preferably includes means for resealing the packaging material so the remaining field towels within the packaging material remain moist for later use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The need to maintain personal hygiene in the outdoors continues to be an issue for hunters, scouts at camping, military personnel, and the like, when washing facilities are not readily available or when water resources or opportunities for washing are limited.

[0002] Accordingly, there is a need for pre-moistened field towels suitable for washing and maintaining personal hygiene that are suitably packaged for outdoor environments and which may be individually removed from the package as desired while maintaining the moisture of the remaining field towels for later use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is a field towel package comprising a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels sealed within a packaging material having an exterior surface with an outdoor image. The package includes means for removing the pre-moistened field towels from the package and preferably includes means for resealing the packaging material so the remaining field towels within the packaging material remain moist for later use.

[0004] The present invention further provides a method for packaging field towels. The method comprises providing a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels, sealing the field towels within a packaging material that has an exterior surface that includes an outdoor image, and providing a means for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels from the package. Further, the method of the present invention preferably includes means for resealing the packaging material so the remaining field towels within the packaging material remain moist for later use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the field towel package of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the field towel package of FIG. 1 as viewed along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the field towel package of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the field towel package of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the field towel package of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a field towel package showing an alternative means for removing a towel from the package and resealing the package by providing overlapping edges of packaging material.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of a field towel with an outdoor image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Drawing FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate various embodiments of the field towel package of the present invention wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the present invention throughout the several views. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiments of the field towel package 10 of the present invention. The field towel package 10 comprises a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels 12 sealed within a packaging material 14. The packaging material 14 includes an exterior surface 16 with an outdoor image 20. The package 10 includes opening means 22 to enable a user to selectively remove at least one of the pre-moistened field towels 12 from the packaging material 14. Preferably, the field towel package 10 further includes resealing means 24 for resealing the package 10 after the removal of a field towel 12 such that the remaining field towels 12 within the packaging material 14 maintain their moisture.

[0013] The field towels 12 may be any type of cloth or synthetic material which is pre-moistened with water or one or more other solutions, such as cleaning solutions or solvents, moisturizers, disinfectants, deodorizers, fragrances, insect repellants, etc. It should be appreciated that depending on the user and the intended use of the towel 12, certain solutions may be desired over others. For example, most hunters typically desire to mask their human odor when hunting. Therefore, a field towel 12 with a non-scented cleaning solution will likely be preferred. Additionally or alternatively, the field towel 12 may also include a deodorizer solution or an animal scent solution to mask human odors and/or to attract the animal being hunted. Additionally, the hunter may also desire a towel 12 pre-moistened with an insect repellent solution.

[0014] The towels 12 are preferably made of a material that is sufficiently strong so as to prevent ripping or tearing of the towel during normal anticipated use. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the field towels 12 may be any desired color, shape or size. An example of a preferred towel 12 would be a non-scented “baby wipe” such as those manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

[0015] The packaging material 14 is preferably comprised of a non-moisture or non-solvent permeable material in order to minimize or reduce the loss of moisture of the pre-moistened towels 12. Preferably the packaging material is a thermoplastic film material. Packaging materials such as, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate, polymethyl metacrylate, ethylene acrylic acid, polystyrene, cellophane, polyvinyl chloride, acetate fiber, single or multi laminated films, or a combination of above listed materials may be suitable. Additionally, the packaging material 14 may comprise paper, film, aluminum foil, or natural or synthetic cloth, or any other material that has been lined, coated or otherwise treated so as to minimize or reduce moisture loss. It should be appreciated that the packaging material 14 may be made from multiple plies or layers. For example, the packaging material may have a cloth outer ply and a thermoplastic inner ply, or the cloth outer ply may have an inside surface that is lined, coated or otherwise treated to minimize or reduce moisture loss.

[0016] As previously identified, the exterior surface 16 of the packaging material 14 includes an outdoor image 20 such as a design, color, or the like, that is identifiable with or otherwise associated with an outdoor environment. For example, a typical outdoor image may include a “camouflage pattern,” “blaze orange” (also known as “hunter's orange”), desert fatigues, jungle fatigues, or any other color or combination of colors and patterns to simulate an outdoor environment so that the package 10 is less distracting or noticeable when used in that outdoor environment. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the field towel 12, may also be imaged with an outdoor image 20 so that the towel 12 is less distracting or noticeable when used in that outdoor environment.

[0017] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the field wipe package 10 having a body portion 26 that is substantially rectangular. However, the body portion 26 may be any shape, including square, oval, circular (as illustrated in FIG. 5), or any other desired shape. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body portion 26 is formed into a rectangular package, the first and second ends of the body portion 30a, 30b are preferably sealed or otherwise fused, crimped, or bonded together to sealingly retain the towels 12 within the packaging material 14. The first end 30a may be sealed before or after the introduction of the moistened field towels 12, with the second end 30b sealed after the moistened towels 12 are introduced into the body portion 26 of the packaging 10.

[0018] As previously identified, the body portion 26 of the package 10 includes a means 22 for selectively removing at least one of the field towels 12 from the packaging material 14. The means 22 for removing the pre-moistened field towels 12 from the package preferably comprises an opening 52 in the packaging material 14. The opening 52 may be cut into the packaging material 14, or, alternatively, the packaging material 14 may be scored or perforated such that the user must tear the packaging material along the perforations to open the package to remove a towel 12. The opening 52 may be any desired shape and size (such as an oval shape as in FIG. 1 or as a slot as in FIG. 4). The opening 52 may be cut or scored into the packaging material before or after the insertion of the towels 12 during the packaging operation. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the opening 52 may simply comprise abutting or overlapping edges 32, 34 of the packaging material 14 which have not been fused, crimped, bonded or otherwise joined together.

[0019] Also as previously identified, the package 10 also preferably includes a means 24 for resealing the package 10 after a towel 12 has been removed so as to minimize or reduce moisture loss of the remaining towels 12 in the package. The preferred means 24 for resealing the package includes a resealable flap 50. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the resealable flap 50 may be a separate tab or portion of the packaging material 14 that is disposed over the opening 52 which can be lifted to expose the opening 52 and then replaced repeatedly without damaging the packaging material 14. Alternatively, means 24 for resealing may simply comprise overlapping edges 32, 34 of the packaging material 14 as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 6. The overlapping edges 32, 34 may include a similar adhesive as previously described to enable the overlapping edges 32, 34 to be separated and resealed repeatedly. Alternatively, the overlapping edges 32, 34 may act to substantially seal the package without any adhesive. Although merely providing overlapping edges may not provide an air-tight seal, if the amount of overlap is sufficient, moisture loss should still be sufficiently minimized or reduced to prevent the remaining towels within the package from quickly drying out. Other means 24 for resealing the package 10, may include snap-on locking mechanisms or zippers (not shown), such as those common on plastic sandwich or freezer bags.

[0020] It should be appreciated that the entire exterior surface 16 of the packaging material 14, may include the outdoor image 20 or alternatively, only on a portion of the packaging material 14, such as the flap 50, may include the outdoor image 20.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the package 10 as viewed along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating a plurality of pre-moistened, folded field towels 12, stacked in a predetermined quantity and sealed within the packaging material 14.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the body portion 26 of the package 10 of FIG. 1 showing the back panel 28 and a portion of the outdoor image 20. It is contemplated that the back panel 28 may or may not be imaged. In some instances, the back panel 28 may have instructions, wordings or symbols as desired or to meet any regulations that may apply to a product of this kind. As an example, the back panel 28 may include instructions on how to use and dispose of the pre-moistened convenient field towels 12, a description of the ingredients comprising the solutions in the field towels 12, etc.

[0023] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the body portion 26 of the packaging 10 is substantially oval. In this embodiment, the pre-moistened field towels 12 may also be oval or formed in a shape as to suitably fit in the packaging. The substantially oval packaging of this embodiment includes an edge 30 similar to the first and second ends 30a and 30b of the FIGS. 1-4. The oval packaging embodiment includes an outdoor image 20, and means 22 for removal of the towels 12 and preferably a means 24 for resealing the package 10. As with the previous embodiments, the means for removing the towels preferably includes an opening 52 cut or scored in the packaging material. The preferred means 24 for resealing the package 10 includes a flap 50 having an adhesive that will allow the flap to be lifted and resealed repeatedly without damaging the packaging material 14. However, it should be appreciated that any of the above described means 22 for removing the towels 12 from the package 10 and means 24 for resealing the package 10 may be used in this alternative embodiment as well. The edge 30 of the oval packaging is preferably sealed as described above with respect to the other alternative embodiments. Similarly, the opening 52 in the body portion 24 may be located at any suitable position. For example, the opening 52 may be on the top, bottom or sides of the package 10.

[0024] In yet another embodiment (not shown), rather than the towels 12 being prearranged in a stack of a predetermined quantity of folded towels 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the towels 12 may be pre-arranged in a roll form. In the roll form, the field towels 12 may be precut into individual towels, or alternatively, the towels 12 may comprise one continuous sheet with spaced perforations similar to disposable household kitchen towels or toilet tissue rolls, such that individual towel segments may be removed from the remaining roll by pulling or tearing the towel along the perforations. Again, for retention of the solvent needed to maintain the pre-moistened field towel, the packaging useful for the roll form may be similar to the packaging described for the pre-cut field towels previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6.

[0025] Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the teachings found herein may be applied to yet other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for packaging field towels, comprising:

providing a packaging material, wherein the packaging material has an interior and exterior surface, and wherein the exterior surface includes an outdoor image;

providing a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels;

sealing the plurality of pre-moistened towels in the packaging material; and

providing a means for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels from the package.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image is a camouflage pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image is hunter's orange.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels comprise individual adjacently stacked towels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels are prearranged in a roll.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prearranged pre-moistened field towels are substantially rectangular.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels are substantially oval.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pre-moistened field towels includes an outdoor image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the outdoor image is a camouflage pattern.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the outdoor image is hunter's orange.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels includes a resealable slot.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels from the package includes a slot with an overlapping portion of the packaging material disposed over the slot.

13. A field towel package, comprising:

a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels;

a packaging material having an exterior surface with an outdoor image and wherein said plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels are sealed within the packaging material; and

means for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels from the package.

14. The field towel package of claim 13 further including means for resealing the package after removal of at least one of said pre-moistened field towels such that the remaining field towels remain moist.

15. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image is a camouflage pattern.

16. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image is hunter's orange.

17. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels comprise individual adjacently stacked towels.

18. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels comprise a roll of towels.

19. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein the pre-moistened field towels are substantially rectangular.

20. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels includes an outdoor image.