Abstract:
A hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser comprising an open box shaped container being of adequate height, depth, and width so as to accommodate a plurality of feminine hygiene products within said open box shaped container, further having a lid being slightly longitudinally longer than the bottom of the container and hingedly connected so as to fittingly swing over the top of the container closing the box, while still having an overhang to easily open and close the lid.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a feminine hygiene product dispenser. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a dispenser for feminine hygiene products wherein the products are easily accessed by lifting or sliding a lid, and after the selected product is removed, the lid self-closes protecting the remaining products. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Feminine hygiene products come in many forms including sanitary napkins, vaginal tampons, panty liners, and panty shields. These products are generally sold in box packaging containing a plurality of individual units. The box packaging usually displays the contents of the box via external advertising and is usually constructed from a paper product. The box packaging is not easily opened and closed, often tearing or failing to adequately seal the remaining product from contaminants once opened. The external advertising and paper packaging makes the box the hygiene products came in an undesirable storage option, and definitely not a desirable option if kept in plain view. Women often store the box packaging and hygiene product out of sight, under the sink, or in a bottom drawer, making access more difficult and contamination more likely. A preferred storage location would be sterile or aseptic, and easy to access. 
         [0004]    Easy access becomes imperative for women with limited motility, the handicapped, and the aging. A good location for storage and easy access would be the bathroom countertop, however the undesirable box packaging prevents placement there. Many women require habitual and regular feminine hygiene products, and repeatedly accessing a difficultly located product is undesirable. 
         [0005]    Therefore it is desirable to have a dispenser for feminine hygiene products that is pleasing to look at, so as to be placed for convenient access, is easy to open and close, and which will maintain a protected environment for the unused hygiene products. 
         [0006]    Boxes, containers, packages, and cases for holding or storing general items are numerous. There are many of the same constructed specifically for feminine hygiene products. However, none satisfy the described needs above. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0007]    Boxes and containers with lids are well known in the art. Simple cigar type boxes have been used to package various tobacco products and after emptied of the original contents, the cigar box has been historically utilized for protecting or keeping personal items safe and secure. When used to package tobacco products, the cigar box is of a shape and dimension, usually rectangular, to match the stacking of the tobacco products to maximize the number of products contained within the box. Cigar type boxes are generally constructed to be durable enough to be utilized beyond the original purpose of packaging. The cigar box tends to be ornate and appealing to look at, often with gold inlay or wooden trim. The indication from the cigar box appearance is that the user is proud of its contents, and displays the box prominently in plain view on a desk or table When the lid is closed, the cigar box seals the tobacco products from the outside environment, protecting the contents. The advantages of the cigar box include sealing the product from the outside environment, constructed to contain many tobacco products, aesthetically pleasing, and able to be opened with a specific pressure and lift of the lid. The disadvantages of a cigar box, when used for containing items other than tobacco product is that the size and dimension cannot accommodate some items such as feminine hygiene products. The lid requires specific pressure, and often times, a hook of a fingernail to open. Finally, in the context of feminine hygiene products, the user may not desire the contents of the box to be known, and therefore a discrete pleasing appearance is preferred. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,639 to Murphy discloses a flexible, flat, wallet-like case for enclosing a single tampon or sanitary napkin. Murphy&#39;s teaching is directed to a single-pocket case with the additional object of maintaining thinness. The characteristics of thinness, flexibility and the ability to hold only one tampon or sanitary napkin limit the usefulness of Murphy&#39;s invention. It is not suitable for carrying a variety of feminine hygiene products. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,853 to Jones discloses a foldable cloth bag for carrying one or two sanitary napkins but fails to teach a dispenser for home use that is easy to open and able to store many feminine hygiene products. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,526 to Stephens teaches a case specifically designed to house a variety of feminine hygiene products of various sizes for easy carrying and access, but fails to teach of a dispenser for home use that would hold a plurality and/or variety of feminine products. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,170 to Frankfurt discloses a flexible case for sanitary napkins. The primary disadvantages of the case are that it is flexible and it is configured to primarily accommodate sanitary napkins. In addition, the case&#39;s general construction, including its combination of zippers and snaps, does not provide an easily accessible dispenser. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for a plurality of feminine hygiene products, that is pleasing to look at but not descriptive of contents allowing for accessible placement in the bathroom, bedroom, or convenient accessible location. 
         [0013]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that is easy to open and close for the ordinary user, as well as the user who suffers from limited motility, arthritis, or other physical limitations. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that stores the unused feminine hygiene products in an aseptic or clean environment safe from damage or contamination. 
         [0015]    It is also a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser of a size and dimension matching the feminine hygiene product desired to be stored within, so that the feminine hygiene product precisely stacks within the dispenser, maximizing the number of product stored while still maintaining the intended shape. 
         [0016]    Other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser, in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a two-dimensional left-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a two-dimensional right-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a two-dimensional view of the top-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a two-dimensional bottom-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a two-dimensional rear-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a two-dimensional front-view of the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-7 , a preferred embodiment of the present device is shown, illustrating the hinged-lid feminine hygiene product dispenser. The exemplary embodiments according to the present device are illustrated with those components necessary to demonstrate the inventive design. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the assembled device from a perspective view having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a left panel  150 , a right panel  140 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . Said left panel  150  and right panel  140  are of a distance apart so as to accommodate a feminine hygiene product. The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . Said hinge points  170  being located on the right panel  140  and left panel  150 , approximately along the axis of the long side of the rear panel  120 . The lid  160  being of a greater longitudinal length provides for an overhang  180  that when closed hangs over the front panel  110 , said overhang  180  makes for an easy surface to open and close the lid  160 . A further reason for the overhang  180  is to facilitate closing of the lid  160  in that the weight of the overhang  180  is sufficient enough to overcome the friction in the hinge points  170 , thus the lid  160  will self close once the user releases the lid  160 .  FIG. 1  demonstrates the embodiment having the lid  160  in the open position. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a left panel  150 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . Said hinge point  170  being shown located on the left panel  150 , approximately along the axis of the long side of the rear panel  120 . The lid  160  being of a greater longitudinal length than the bottom panel  130 , provides for an overhang  180  that when closed hangs over the front panel  110 . By practice, applicant discovered that overhang  180  should be a width approximately the width of a finger, thus making for easy opening for users suffering from limited motility, arthritis, or other ailments preventing normal hand dexterity. 
         [0027]    To open the invention, a user would run her finger or edge of her hand up the front panel  110  and up against the overhang  180  underside surface. Applying easy pressure the lid  160  swingably opens exposing the feminine hygiene products for selection, when the pressure is removed the weight of the lid  160  and overhang  180  overcomes the friction in the hinge points  170  and the lid self closes. With the lid  160  closed, the feminine hygiene products are protected. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a right panel  140 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . Said hinge points  170  being shown located on the right panel  140 , approximately along the axis of the long side of the rear panel  120 . The lid  160  being of a greater longitudinal length than the bottom panel  130 , provides for an overhang  180  that when closed hangs over the front panel  110 . The hinge points  170  may be at any location on the rear panel  120 , right panel  140  or left panel  150  so as to allow for easy opening and closing of the lid  160 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a right panel  140 , a left panel  150 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160  is shown in the closed position. The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . Said hinge points  170  being shown located on the right panel  140 , approximately along the axis of the long side of the rear panel  120 . The lid  160  being of a greater longitudinal length than the bottom panel  130 , provides for an overhang  180  that when closed hangs over the front panel  110 . The overhang  180  allows for an easy and accessible surface for opening the invention. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a right panel  140 , a left panel  150 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160  is shown in the closed position. The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . Said hinge points  170  being shown located on the right panel  140 , approximately along the axis of the long side of the rear panel  120 . The lid  160  being of a greater longitudinal length than the bottom panel  130 , provides for an overhang  180  that when closed hangs over the front panel  10  and can be clearly seen from the bottom view. In the illustrated embodiment the overhang  180  is of an elliptical arc shape, however the overhang  180  may be of any shape to match the aesthetic tastes of the user. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a right panel  140 , a left panel  150 , a bottom panel  130 , a rear panel  120 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160  is shown in the closed position. The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . The illustrated configuration allows for the hinge points  170  to be singular on each side, and could be constructed from a wooden dowel, a metal pin, or any other round object that the lid  160  could pivot on. The rear panel  120  can also be used as a hinge point  170  so long as the hinging method makes for an easy to open lid  160 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having an open box shaped container  100 , constructed of a front panel  110 , a right panel  140 , a left panel  150 , a bottom panel  130 , and a lid  160 . The lid  160  is shown in the closed position. The lid  160 , is of a longitudinal length greater than the bottom panel  130  and hingedly connects at hinge points  170 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  160  fittingly inserts between the right panel  140  and left panel  150 , coming to rest on the front panel  120 . The illustrated configuration allows for the hinge points  170  to be singular on each side and approximately centered on the rear panel  120  and could be constructed from a wooden dowel, a metal pin, or any other round object that the lid  160  could pivot on. The rear panel  120  can also be used as a hinge point  170  so long as the hinging method makes for an easy to open lid  160 . 
         [0033]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate from the foregoing description that the techniques of the embodiments of the invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. For example, the hinge point  170  may be put anywhere so as to facilitate opening and closing of the lid. For another example, the lid  160  may either be between the left panel  150  and right panel  140  or in the alternative; the lid  160  could be on top of the left panel  150  and right panel  140 , having the front panel  110  and rear panel  120  being of greater width to compensate for the lid&#39;s  160  different location. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.