Cell Phone Wipes

Abstract

A portable apparatus is disclosed for disinfecting and cleaning cellular telephones. The apparatus comprises at least one sheet of disposable absorbent material, a non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid absorbed in at least one sheet and a sealed openable container that contains at least one sheet. Each disposable sheet of absorbent material measures approximately 3 inches on each side. In the preferred embodiment, the disposable wipes are packaged with multiple strips in a package, wherein each strip includes three disposable sheets joined together by perforated junctures and the squares being soaked in a solution that cleans, disinfects, and removes make up from the surface of a cellular telephone. The squares are either biodegradable or recyclable and the solution is non-toxic, natural, and organic.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to disinfectant cleaning wipes, and more particularly to disposable cell phone wipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many researches and studies have established that cellular phones are significant breeding grounds for bacteria. With tens of thousands of microbes living on each square inch, they harbor more bacteria than a lavatory seat, the sole of a shoe, or a door handle. Microbiologists also state that the combination of constant handling and the heat generated by the phones creates a prime breeding ground for all sorts of microbes that are normally found on our skin. They include staphylococcus aureus, which can cause illnesses from pimples and boils to pneumonia and meningitis and is a close relative of the “superbug” MRSA.

As a result of these and other findings, frequent cleaning and disinfecting of cellular telephones is recommended. This can be done using almost any convenient cleaning and disinfecting product. However, most of these products are not ideal for use with highly portable devices such as a cell phone, since the products are bulky and are therefore not readily portable.

In some cases, general purpose wipes such as computer screen wipes and diaper wipes can be used as cellular telephone wipes. But since these are large wipes designed for cleaning large, stationary objects under circumstances where both hands are free to unfold and manipulate the wipes, they are too large and bulky to be easily manipulated by one hand while holding a cellular telephone in the other hand.

A further disadvantage of available cleaning and disinfecting products and wipes is that most of them are not intended for use on surfaces that will be held close to the mouth immediately after cleaning. They may contain chemicals or ingredients that are toxic or irritating to the eyes and/or lungs when exposure occurs immediately after use.

As cellular telephones make frequent contact with the face as well as the hands of users, they often accumulate make up on their surfaces along with other dirt and contaminants. Most general purpose cleaning and disinfecting products and wipes are not designed for also removing makeup, while most products designed for removing make up are not designed to disinfect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable cell phone wiping apparatus is disclosed that allows cleaning and disinfecting of cellular phones. The apparatus comprises sheets of disposable, absorbent material that are small enough to be held in one hand without folding, are soaked in a non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting solution, and are sealed in a container that prevents the solution from evaporating.

In preferred embodiments, each sheet of disposable absorbent material is essentially a square measuring approximately 3 inches on each side. In some preferred embodiments, pluralities of sheets of disposable absorbent material are joined together by perforated junctures, forming strips of sheets that are kept in sealed containers. In some of these preferred embodiments each strip includes three sheets, and in some of these preferred embodiments a plurality of the sealed containers is housed within a package.

In preferred embodiments, the sheets are manufactured from materials that are biodegradable and/or recyclable, and in further preferred embodiments the non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting solution is made from materials that are natural and/or organic. In yet other preferred embodiments the cleaning and disinfecting solution is able to remove makeup from the surface of a cellular telephone.

In still further preferred embodiments, the non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid absorbed in the disposable sheet does not cause irritation upon exposure to the eyes, lungs, and/or skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A showing the container open and a cell phone wipe partially removed from the container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single wipe of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B removed from a container;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment showing the structural composition of a wipe.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment showing a plurality of sealed containers housed within a package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A shows a preferred embodiment of a portable apparatus 100 for cleaning and disinfecting cellular telephones (not shown). The apparatus 100 comprises at least one sheet 102 of disposable absorbent material 104 small enough to be held comfortably in one hand without folding. A non-toxic cleaning and disinfection liquid (not shown) is absorbed in the at least one sheet 102 wherein the liquid does not cause irritation upon exposure to the eyes, lungs and skin of an individual using the sheet 102. The at least one sheet 102 of absorbent material 104 is contained in a sealed openable container 106 which prevents the solution from evaporating. Three sheets 102 are joined together by perforated junctures 108a and 108b forming a strip of sheets 102. The sealed openable container 106 in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A contains one strip of sheets 102.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a container 106 holding multiple strips 110 of disposable absorbent material 104. The pluralities of sheets 102 of absorbent material 104 are joined together by perforated junctures 108a and 108b forming strips 110 of sheets 102. The absorbent material 104 can be pulled out for cleaning and disinfecting cellular telephones by opening the seal 112.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet 102 from the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A. The sheet is made of disposable absorbent material and is essentially a square approximately 3 inches on each side with perforated junctures (108a and 108b) joining the sheets 102 into strips. In preferred embodiments, the sheets 102 are biodegradable and/or recyclable, and the solution absorbed in the sheets 102 is natural and/or organic.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, showing a structural composition 300 of the absorbent material (104 in FIG. 1). The cellular structure 302 enhances the absorption of non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment showing a plurality of sealed openable containers 400 housed within a package 402. Each sealed openable containers 400 contains at least one strip of sheets.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting cellular telephones, comprising:

at least one sheet of disposable, absorbent material, small enough to be held comfortably in one hand without folding;

non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid absorbed in the at least one sheet, wherein the liquid does not cause irritation upon exposure to any one of the eyes, lungs, and skin; and

a sealed, openable container that contains the at least one sheet and prevents the solution from evaporating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sheet of disposable, absorbent material is essentially a square measuring approximately 3 inches on each side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein pluralities of sheets of disposable, absorbent material are joined together by perforated junctures, thereby forming strips of sheets.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each sealed, openable container contains one strip of sheets.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each strip of sheets includes three sheets joined together by perforated junctures.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sealed, openable containers are housed within a package.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet is manufactured from materials that are at least one of biodegradable and recyclable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid is made from materials that are at least one of natural and organic.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where the non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting liquid is able to remove makeup from the surface of a cellular telephone.