Decorative Container Cover Device

Abstract

Disclosed is a decorative cover for cleaning product containers. The device includes a cylindrical cover having a decorative ornamentation on its exterior surface. In some embodiments, the cover may also include decorative ornamentation on its interior surface to provide fluidity of content and design. The ornamentation is customizable so that the cover may be decorated with any pattern, image, or inscription. The cover has an open top and bottom configuration so as to allow a user to slide on the cover over an existing cleaning product container without requiring additional attachment means. The device is constructed to conceal the basic packaging disposed on the product containers. In this way, the present invention adds a decorative appeal to an otherwise basic packaging which may not be aesthetically appealing to consumers.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/860,088 filed on Jul. 30, 2013. The above-identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container cover device. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a decorative cover for disposable cleaning wipe containers that is constructed in a unique manner.

Disposable cleaning wipes are packaged and sold in plastic containers for use by consumers. Cleaning product containers are ordinarily decorated with minimum designs and bear the name of the product with company logos disposed thereon. The basic packaging in which disposable cleaning wipes are packaged and sold is not particularly aesthetically appealing to many consumers. As a consequence, many consumers place the disposable cleaning wipe containers in a cabinet so that the containers are out of sight. A conventional disposable cleaning wipe container is a closed cylindrical structure with a hollow interior to hold the cleaning wipes therein. The top of the cylindrical structure is provided with an access opening that allows a user to dispense cleaning wipes therefrom.

The present invention is a container cover device that is designed to be a tailor fit for cleaning product containers. The present invention adds a decorative appeal to an otherwise basic, but necessary and popular household item. The present invention is adapted to removably fit over the exterior surface of a cleaning product container without requiring additional attachment means. The present invention may be preferably used with containers holding cleaning wipes, but may be constructed for use with a variety of containers. The purpose of the present invention is to provide means whereby the user of the container may position the removable cover bearing any desired design, inscription, or picture.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to disposable wipe containers and further to those emphasizing ornamental features disposed thereon. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. Some of these patents describe a device that includes housing for holding cylindrical containers. The exterior of the housing can include various designs to match the decor of a room. These devices, however, do not include a removable cover for disposable wipe containers. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

For example, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2006/0131319 to McDonald discloses a container and an associated cap for dispensing disposable sheets therefrom. The container further comprises a covering material selected from the group consisting of paperboard, poster board, carton board, cardboard, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing covering materials. While McDonald discloses a covering material for disposable sheet containers, McDonald does not disclose a covering material having ornamental elements to suit users' preferences and further those that prevent the container from diminishing the appearance of a room in which the container is placed.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 8,051,982 to McDonald discloses a container for holding a stack of pre-moistened wipes and a method for manufacture. The exterior surface of the container includes a layer of polymer sheet, wherein the polymer sheet includes various graphics printed thereon. While McDonald discloses containers that feature various graphics for improving the aesthetic appeal of the product, the device of McDonald is limited in that the graphics are applied directly to the container so that it may not be used with other containers. In contrast, the present invention discloses a removable decorative cover for containers, thereby allowing the user to use the cover with a number of different containers.

Another device, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2006/0186132 to Panning discloses a wet wipe container and wipes disposed therein. The container includes a plurality of container indicia wherein the indicia may be directly printed on the container or printed on a label which may be affixed to the container. Additionally, the wipes feature matching illustrated icons that convey to a consumer that the wipe and container are intended for use with one another. The illustrated icons on the wipes may function to encourage the user to hold the wipe in the intended manner. While the device of Panning discloses a wet wipe container with visual indicia thereon, the purpose and design of the Panning device differ from the present invention. The ornamental elements of the present invention spans the entire exterior surface of the present cover, thereby completely concealing the basic packaging in which the wipes are sold. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention may comprise ornamental elements in the interior surface of the present cover.

Finally, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2012/0117776 to Bourns discloses a fabric slip covering accessory for a disposable baby wipes case. The fabric slip covering is composed of a washable material and is constructed to fit over generally rectangular wipe containers. The fabric slip covering may be opened and closed via fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, zippers, or the like. The device of Bourns is limited in the fact that it requires attachment means for the device to stay affixed to the container. The present invention is adapted to removably fit over the exterior surface of a cleaning product container without requiring additional attachment means.

Ornamental covers for various types of containers are well known in the art. These items have familiar design and structural elements for providing an aesthetic accessory for various containers. They may take the form of any ornamental shape, size, color, or design to suit the user's preferences or to complement the decor of a room. The prior art, however, fails to disclose a removable cover for disposable wipe containers. The present invention discloses a container cover device that is adapted to bear any decorative design. It is therefore submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing covers for disposable wipe containers. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of covers for disposable wipe containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new improvement to a container cover device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when adorning a container in which cleaning products are sold.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved container cover device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved container cover device that bears any design, inscription, or picture desired by the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container cover device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container cover device that may be tailor fitted to an existing cleaning product container.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container cover device that is adaptable to a wide variety of container shapes and sizes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and in manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a disassembled view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the present invention as used to fit over a container for disposable wipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the container cover device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing convenience for the user when adorning a container in which cleaning products are sold. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention. The present invention comprises a cover 21 having an open top 24 and an open bottom 25 configuration. The cover 21 comprises durable, water-proof material such as vinyl or plastic. The cover is substantially cylindrical in shape with a hollow middle portion. The cover further comprises an interior surface 23 that is coextensive with an exterior surface 22, wherein the exterior surface 22 features an ornamental design. In some embodiments, both the exterior surface 22 and the interior surface 23 may comprise an ornamental design to provide fluidity in design and content.

The ornamental design may comprise a variety of patterns, pictures, images, or inscriptions to suit the preferences of the user. For instance, the patterns may resemble the following non-exhaustive list of surfaces to match the decor of a room: marble, cork, tile, metal, or wood. In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior surface comprises a marbled pattern so as to match the cover to the marbled counter top surface in a kitchen. Alternatively, the cover 21 may be customizable so that it can include solid colors, and feature images of the user or images of loved ones, pets, or things and places of sentimental value.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a disassembled view of the present invention. The cover 21 of the present invention comprises a planar sheet of material 28 having an outer side and an inner side, wherein the inner side may further comprise a layer of adhesive and a removable backing thereon. The planar sheet of material 28 is substantially rectangular in shape and comprises a top edge 31 opposite a bottom edge 32, and two opposing side edges 29, 30. The distance between the top 31 and bottom side 32 forms a height and the distance between the side edges 29, 30 forms a width.

The cover 21 of the present invention further comprises a middle layer 27, wherein the middle layer 27 comprises a sheet of flexible plastic or other suitable material that is more dense than the planar sheet of material 28. The middle layer 27 is also substantially rectangular in shape and comprises a height and a width. The middle layer 27 is constructed so that the height of the middle layer 27 is less than the height of the planar sheet of material 28. The width of the middle layer 27 may be less than or substantially equal to the width of the planar sheet of material 28.

In construction, the top 31 and bottom edge 32 of the planar sheet of material 28 are folded so the two edges overlap to form the interior surface 23 and the exterior surface 22. The middle layer 27 is then inserted therebetween. Alternatively, the middle layer 27 may be placed adjacently to the inner side and wrapped so that the top 31 and bottom edge 32 overlap. The middle layer 27 increases the density of the cover so that it is prevented from becoming easily knocked over. Thereafter, the side edges 29, 30 of the planar sheet of material 28 may be overlapped to form a cylindrical shape, enclosing the middle layer 27 between the interior 23 and exterior surface 22 and forming an open top 24 and bottom 25. Optionally, the middle layer 27 may be omitted if it not preferred by the user, or if the additional weight is not desired.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a view of the present invention as used to fit over a container 26 for disposable wipes. The container 26 is snugly fitted through the open bottom portion 25 of the cover and slid through the hollow middle so that the bottom portion 25 rests on the surface on which the container 26 is placed. When the device is placed, the interior surface 23 directly contacts the exterior surface of the container 26. The open top 24 of the cover allows the user to open the container and dispense cleaning wipes therein.

Additionally, the cover 21 is constructed to enclose much of the exterior surface of the container 26. In this way, the present invention conceals the basic packaging in which disposable cleaning wipes are packed and sold, which is not aesthetically appealing to many consumers. The exterior surface 22 of the present cover may comprise a wide variety of designs, including, but not limited to wood grain, marble pattern, tile, porcelain, stone, and the like. Additionally, the cover may comprise a picture of the user or pictures of loved ones. Finally, the cover may bear meaningful inscriptions that are personal to the user.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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 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.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications 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 modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A container cover device, comprising:

a cylindrical cover having an open top, an open bottom, an interior surface, and an exterior surface;

said cover adapted to removably fit over a cylindrical container such that said interior surface is in direct contact with an exterior surface of said container;

a middle layer disposed between said interior surface and said exterior surface.

2) The container cover device of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a planar sheet of material having an inner side, outer side, a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges;

said planer sheet of material having a height from said top edge to said bottom edge, and a width between said side edges;

said top edge overlapping said bottom edge and secured together, forming said interior surface and said exterior surface;

said side edges overlapping and secured together.

3) The container cover device of claim 2, wherein said middle layer has a height from a top side of said middle layer to a bottom side of said middle layer, and a width between opposing sides of said middle layer;

said height of said middle layer is less than said height of said planar sheet of material;

said width of said middle layer is less than said width of said planar sheet of material.

4) The container cover device of claim 3, wherein said top edge of said planar sheet of material is overlapping said bottom edge of said planar sheet of material and secured together, forming said interior surface and said exterior surface;

said middle layer positioned between said interior surface and said exterior surface;

said side edges of said planar sheet of material overlapping and secured together, enclosing said middle layer between said interior surface and said exterior surface.

5) The container cover device of claim 2, wherein said planar sheet of material comprises a contact paper.

6) The container cover device of claim 2, wherein said inner side further comprises a layer of adhesive material.

7) The container cover device of claim 6, further comprising a layer of removable backing adjacent to said layer of adhesive material.

8) The container cover device of claim 1, wherein said middle layer comprises plastic.

9) The container cover device of claim 1, wherein said cover is water resistant.

10) The container cover device of claim 1, wherein said exterior surface comprises printed design.

11) The container cover device of claim 1, wherein said interior surface comprises printed design.