Abstract:
A disposable wipe packaging system includes at least one disposable wipe and a container for the wipe. The container is configured to provide a sealed container for the wipe before use. The container is also configured to be expandable after removal of the wipe and provide a sealable container for disposal of the wipe after use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to packaging for disposable wipes, and more specifically to packaging that also accommodates disposal of the wipes.  
         [0002]     Moistened, disposable wipes are well known. Typically such wipes are provided in a container that, for efficient packaging, contains a large number of such wipes. In one embodiment of this type of wipe and container, used wipes may be disposed of in a toilet, trash can, or other receptacle.  
         [0003]     A particular embodiment of these wipes are commonly referred to as body bathing wipes because of their size and application. In hospital and nursing home applications, this larger size wipe is needed for the care of incontinent patients and residents. While it is efficient to also package such wipes in a container that can include a large number of such wipes, such a packaging solution also has drawbacks. First, in the hospital and nursing home settings, such a container may not be able to be used for multiple patients, due to concerns of nosocomial infections which leads to increased medical costs.  
         [0004]     Another issue is the disposal of the used body bathing wipes. Such wipes are of a size and density that they cannot be flushed through most toiletry systems. Such used wipes are considered medical waste and, for at least infection control concerns, must be disposed of properly. Compounding these disposal and infection control problems is the odor that may emanate from such used wipes. It is believed that containers and packaging exist for single use applications, for example, packaging for a small number of such wipes. But again, for packaging efficiency, the package is sized to hold the specific number of unused wipes and these package types cannot be resealed.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one aspect, a disposable wipe packaging system is provided that includes at least one disposable wipe and a container for the wipe. The container is configured to provide a sealed container for the wipe before use and to be expandable after removal of the wipe. The container is further configured to provide a sealable container for disposal of the wipe after use.  
         [0006]     In another aspect, a method of providing disposable wipes and a container configured for storage of the wipes and further configured for sanitary disposal of the wipes is provided. The method comprises configuring the container with a resealable seal and a removable seal, folding the wipes to a selected size, inserting the wipes into a portion of a container, sealing the resealable seal and the removable seal of the container, and folding the container to an approximate size of the disposable stored within. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folded container including a detachable seal, a resealable seal, and a number of incontinence wipes packaged therein.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  illustrating, in hidden view, the incontinence wipes stored therein.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  illustrating removal of the detachable seal.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the container of  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating removal of the unused wipes stored therein.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of the container of  FIGS. 1-4  illustrating the sealing mechanism for storage of used wipes.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a container which includes a detachable seal and a number of incontinence wipes packaged therein.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the container of  FIG. 6  with the detachable seal removed, and partially unfolded to reveal the incontinence wipes stored therein.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of the container fully unfolded. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container  10  having a detachable seal  12  attached thereto, as well as a resealable seal  14 . Container  10 , as further described below, includes a number of moistened and/or medicated disposable wipes (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) packaged therein. In one embodiment, the moistening is provided by a cleansing solution. In an alternative embodiment, a medication provides the moistening. As shown, detachable seal  12  is configured to be removable from one side of the substantially rectangular container  10 , to allow access to the disposable wipes through resealable seal  14 . Detachable seal  12  is torn from container  10  by a user. In alternative embodiments, detachable seal includes perforations through container  10  to allow for relatively easy removal or detachable seal  12  includes a strip (not shown) that is embedded in container, removal of which allows access to a resealable seal  14 . In addition, or as an alternative, a notch  16  is formed in container  10  which allows a user to more easily remove detachable seal  12  and gain access to resealable seal  14 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , it is illustrated that container  10  is folded, for example, for shipment, storage, and/or warming. As such, a folded over portion  20  of container is not utilized for the storage of the wipes (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, folded over portion  20  may include an adhesive (not shown) which retains folded over portion  20  in place against a main body  22  of container  10 . In such embodiment, the adhesive is of a strength which allows the user to separate folded over portion  20  from main body  22  of container  10 . As further described herein, the folding of container  10  serves several purposes. One purpose for the folding is that the folding of container  10  allows for the insertion of container  10  into known, standard size warming units utilized within the medical care industry. In a specific example, such warming units have a dimension of about 1.25 inches high, about 4.5 inches wide, and about 9.75 inches deep. Such units may be utilized to maintain the contents of container  10  (e.g., the disposable wipes) at a temperature desirable for their use.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of container  10  with folded over portion  20  unfolded from main body  22 . Unused incontinence wipes  30  are shown in hidden view as they are stored within container  10 .  
         [0018]     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , removal of detachable seal  12  allows a user to access resealable seal  14  which allows access into container  10  and disposable wipes  30  contained within. In the embodiment, and as further described below, the combination of folded over portion  20  and main body  22  provide container  10  with a cross-section substantially larger than unused wipes  30 , which may be folded, and contained within.  
         [0019]     Detachable seal  12  and resealable seal  14  are configured such that container  10  provides a hermetically sealed unit for storage of unused disposable wipes  30  until such time that they are used. As such, the wipes retain any medication or moistening liquids with which they were treated before container  10  was sealed at the place of manufacture.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of unused disposable wipes  30  being removed from container  10 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates a relative size of container  10  after unfolding. Also, once container  10  is unfolded, there is provided a larger container or pouch, which then provides an adequately sized container to accommodate the disposal of all of the originally contained wipes  30  after they have been soiled. With detachable seal  12  (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) removed a user is able to open resealable seal  14  to access wipes  20 .  
         [0021]     Prior to use, container  10  provides a sealed container for storage of new, unused wipes  30 . In addition, container  10 , when unfolded, is configured as a large pouch that includes a zip type sealing mechanism (e.g., resealable seal  14 ) which allows for quick and sanitary disposal of soiled wipes  30 . In one specific embodiment, disposable wipes  30  are about ten inches by about ten inches and have a folded configuration within container  10  of about 10.5 inches by about five inches. In addition, when container  10  is unfolded, it has a size of about 10.5 inches by about eight inches, allowing for easy insertion of soiled wipes  30  as further illustrated below. Thus the folded portion of container  10  is about one-third to about one-half the size of the unfolded part of container  10 .  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, resealable seal  14 , also referred to as a sealing mechanism, is similar to known zip type sealing mechanisms employed in a number of other applications, such as shredded cheese containers. The number of disposable wipes  30  within container  10  can vary. In particular embodiments, specific for a particular application, the number of wipes  30  can vary from one to ten. In one specific embodiment, five disposable wipes  30  are contained within a container  10 . When preparing for use, a user may remove disposable wipes  30  by opening resealable seal  14  of container  10 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates container  10  with sealing mechanism  14  opened. In this configuration, container  10  forms a pouch for insertion of used wipes  40 . In one embodiment, container  10  is fabricated from a material that provides enough support such that container  10  may stand upright, allowing a user to more easily dispose of used wipes  40 . A suitable material for the manufacturer of container  10  is a plastic based material. Such a configuration of container  10  also helps reduce occurrences of medical waste accidentally contacting an outside of container  10 . After insertion of used wipes  40  into container  10 , the sealing mechanism  14  closed and the used wipes  40  are thus packaged and sealed therein for disposal.  
         [0024]     As described above, container  10  provides sealed storage for wipes both before and after use. In one example, a user removes detachable seal  12  and accesses disposable wipes  30  through resealable seal  14 . The user removes wipes  30  and configures container  10  such that resealable seal  14  is opened wide. As each wipe  30  is used, the user reinserts the used wipe  40  back into container  10 . When the user completes the cleaning task, container  10  is resealed using resealable seal  14  with used wipes  40  inside. At this time the user may dispose of container  10  and any remaining unused wipes  20 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a container  100  having a detachable seal  102  attached thereto as well as a resealable seal  14 . Container  102 , as further described below, includes a number of the above described moistened and/or medicated disposable wipes  30  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) packaged therein. In one embodiment, the moistening is provided by a cleansing solution. In an alternative embodiment, a medication provides the moistening. As shown, detachable seal  102  is configured to be removable from three sides of the substantially rectangular container  100  to allow access to the disposable wipes through resealable seal  14 . Removal of detachable seal  102  allows a user to unfold container  100  to reveal the disposable wipes contained within. In the embodiment, detachable seal  102  is configured such that container  100  provides a hermetically sealed unit for storage of the disposable wipes until such time that they are used. As such, the wipes retain any medication or moistening liquids they were treated with before container  100  was sealed.  
         [0026]     Container  100  provides the same functionality as container  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ), but also allows for an even larger container for utilization in the disposal of used wipes  40  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) as further described below.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of container  100  with detachable seal  102  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) completely removed. With detachable seal  102  removed, it is possible to unfold container  100  to access disposable wipes  30 . As further described herein, container  100  serves two purposes. First, in conjunction with detachable seal  102 , container  100  provides a sealed container for storage of new, unused wipes  30 . Second, container  100 , when unfolded, is configured as a large pouch that includes a zip type sealing mechanism  112 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of container  100  fully unfolded illustrating disposable wipes  30  and sealing mechanism  112 . In one embodiment, sealing mechanism  112  is the same type of mechanism employed in a number of other applications, for example, in the common sandwich storage bags, and larger food storage bags. The number of disposable wipes  30  within container  100  can vary. In various embodiments, specific for a particular application, the number of wipes  30  varies from one to ten. In one specific embodiment, five disposable wipes  30  are contained within a container  100 . When preparing for use, a user may remove disposable wipes  30 , and open sealing mechanism  112  of container  100 .  
         [0029]     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.