Abstract:
According to the invention, a moistened towelette of a reduced size is individually prepackaged in an outer package. The size of the prepackaged moistened towelette makes it particularly useful in storing it in small storage areas, yet the towelette itself is large enough for practical use. The towelette can further be folded or rolled prior to being placed into the package. The package can have various configurations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to disposable moistened towelettes and more particularly to a disposable moistened towelette prepackaged in a manner and size that makes it is particularly useful for use in limited space storage areas.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     Moistened towelettes are well known. They are useful for in myriad circumstances. For example, during menses, women typically like to have moistened towelettes with them for sanitary and health purposes. However, most towelettes are of a larger size than is commonly necessary and that makes them difficult and inconvenient to carry on a routine basis. Moreover, towelettes are not generally individually prepackaged but, instead, are sold in multiple towelette containers. Rarely is there need for an entire container of towelettes; it is, therefore, difficult to carry a small number of towelettes at a time.  
         [0003]     Due to their limitations, women, in the case of menses for example, will not take traditional moistened towelettes with them because there is no convenient or safe way to store them, and they often do not need a towelette of the typical large size. However, not having a towelette when the need arises can lead to a woman not being able to clean herself properly or, worse, an embarrassing moment when the situation arises that a towelette is needed.  
         [0004]     Additionally, the typical towelette&#39;s size limits the ability to store it in a small area, such as in a purse or pocket. Further, recently invented catamenial related product storage devices require that moistened towelettes of a reduced size and storing configuration be available for placement in the devices.  
         [0005]     Even in the instance where a towelette is prepackaged, such as in the case of towelettes commonly found in restaurants, the towelette is typically four by four inches or larger. The towelette and its packaging are, therefore, sufficiently large size that it makes it difficult to store in a small, confined area. This is especially true in the case of catamenial related product storage devices. Placing current size and packaged towelettes in these devices requires that the towelette is forced into the device. This limits the number of towelettes that can be carried to generally one, and forcing the towelette into the device can damage the towelette packaging, rendering the towelette unusable.  
         [0006]     There is need, therefore, for a moistened towelette that is individually packaged in a size and manner that makes it is conducive to storage in a limited space area. At the same time, there is need for a moistened towelette that is of a large enough size to provide practical value, yet inexpensive to manufacture and that provides a user the ability to store towelettes in a convenient, safe, clean, and organized manner in a sufficient number to be beneficial.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the invention to provide a moistened towelette that is individually packaged.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a moistened towelette that is conducive to storage in a limited space.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a moistened towelette that is of a large enough size to provide practical value.  
         [0010]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a towelette that is thin enough to be packaged such that the overall thickness of the towelette and its packaging is not unduly bulky, yet the towelette is strong enough to be useful without tearing.  
         [0011]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a moistened towelette that is inexpensive to manufacture.  
         [0012]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a moistened towelette that provides a user the ability to store towelettes in a convenient, safe, clean, and organized manner in a sufficient number to be beneficial.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The above objects and advantages are provided for in a prepackaged moistened towelette. According to the invention, a moistened towelette of a reduced size is individually prepackaged in an outer package. The length-size and thickness of the prepackaged moistened towelette makes it particularly useful for storage in small storage areas, yet the towelette itself is large enough for practical use. The towelette itself is something less than 100 centimeters square. The packaging surrounding the towelette is 12.25 centimeters square.  
         [0014]     There has 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 that will form the subject matter of the invention.  
         [0015]     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.  
         [0016]     Further, the purpose of the abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.  
         [0017]     These together with other objects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present 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 is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Figure one illustrates a prepackaged moistened towelette outer packaging.  
         [0019]     Figure two illustrates a side view of a prepackaged moistened towelette packaging.  
         [0020]     Figure three illustrates a cross sectional view of a moistened towelette housed within moistened towelette outer packaging.  
         [0021]     Figure four illustrates multiple moistened towelettes placed within a limited space storage area.  
         [0022]     Figure five illustrates a moistened towelette being removed from moistened towelette an outer packaging.  
         [0023]     Figure six illustrates a moistened towelette separated from the packaging and in an open position.  
         [0024]     Figure seven illustrates a side view of a moistened towelette separated from the packaging and in an open position.  
         [0025]     Figure eight illustrates a side perspective of a rolled towelette.  
         [0026]     Figure nine illustrates a top open view of one example in which a rolled towelette can be packaged.  
         [0027]     Figure ten illustrates a perspective open view of another example in which a rolled towelette can be packaged.  
         [0028]     Figure eleven is a perspective open view of a rolled towelette in a cylindrical package. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present 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 present 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.  
         [0030]     Turning to Figure one, a prepackaged moistened towelette package  20  is seen. Package  20  for towelette  22  may be of any variety, such as foil or plastic. The only requirement is that it is sufficiently impervious to moisture escape that the towelette  22  ( FIG. 3 ) within it retains moisture so that the towelette is of value.  
         [0031]     As seen in Figure one, package  20  is sealed around its edge  24  along both length L 1  and length L 2 . Towelette  22  is housed in the center  26  of package  20 . Package  20  has a length L 1  and a length L 2  which are preferably 3 cm with a range of 2.5 cm to 4 cm being acceptable. Package  20  does not have to be square or even have 90 degree corners. It can be rectangular, rounded, oval, or other suitable shape. In an alternate embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 10 , package  20  can be cylindrical. The inventor has found that this range for package  20  is ideally suited for use with most catamenial related product storage devices while at the same time enables the package to contain a moistened towelette  22  of sufficient size to be of value yet not so large as to limit the number of moistened towelettes that can be transported at any given time.  
         [0032]     As seen in Figures two and three, package  20  with towelette  22  within it is essentially flat, with only a slight bulge in center  26  for containment of towelette  22 .  
         [0033]     Figure three also illustrates that package  20  has a top  28  and a bottom  30 . Top  28  and bottom  30  seal along edge  24  to contain towelette  22  in the center  26  of package  20 .  
         [0034]     Turning to  Figure 4 , it is seen that package  20  can be stacked within a storage area  32  of a container  34 . In this example, container  34  has a lid  36 .  
         [0035]     When a moistened towelette is needed, it is removed from package  20  by tearing it  38  along any of length L 1  or length L 2  to create an opening  40  into center  26 , thereby exposing towelette  22 .  
         [0036]     As for moistened towelette  22 , it has a length L 3  and a length L 4  ( FIG. 6 ) and a thickness T 1  ( FIG. 7 ). Regarding lengths L 3  and L 4 , the inventor has found that a 10 cm×10 cm size for towelette  22  is ideal; however towelette  22  can range in size from 4 cm×4 cm to 12 cm×12 cm and still fit the criteria of the package  20 , yet be of useful size.  
         [0037]     To maintain acceptable L 3  and L 4  lengths and fit the criteria for fitting into package  20  without creating a finished packaged product of unacceptable thickness at center  26 , the thickness T 1  of towelette  22  must be thin. Current towelettes are made of a material that requires them to have a thickness that would yield an unacceptable result with the present invention. Accordingly, towelette  22  should preferably be approximately 50 mils or thinner in thickness. The towelette should have sufficient stability to be useful and manufactured at an acceptable cost; any material meeting these requirements can be used. Towelette  22  can be infused with any moistening liquid or gel acceptable to the user, such as an alcohol based wipe, so long as it does not interfere with the integrity of the towelette material.  
         [0038]     In an alternate embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 8 , towelette  22  can be rolled as opposed to folded. In a rolled configuration, towelette  22  can be placed in package  20  as a coil A. Alternatively, towelette  22  can be rolled and then placed in a package  20   a  in a cylindrical configuration. As depicted in  FIG. 11 , in a cylindrical configuration, packaged towelette  20  can fit in catamenial storage devices  38  along side other items such as tampon  40 .  
         [0039]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the preferred and alternative embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.