Abstract:
A waste removal device for collecting waste material is disclosed. The waste removal device comprises a first sheet having an inner surface and a second sheet attached to the first sheet and overlying the inner surface to define an envelope for storing the waste material. The waste removal device also includes a third sheet made from an absorbent material and overlying the inner surface of the first sheet adjacent to the second sheet. The third sheet is intended to contact the waste material while the waste removal device is being used and the first sheet is intended to provide added protection to a user by protecting the user from the waste material.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/226,832, filed on Aug. 22, 2000.  
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for collecting waste material, more specifically, a waste removal device of the type having an absorbent sheet for contacting the waste material and a plastic sheet for protecting the user from the waste material.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A common problem with the collection of waste material is the potential contact of the waste material with the user. The majority of the prior art devices have a bag or envelope for receiving a hand of a user. The bag comprises a first sheet and a second sheet sealed together in a conventional manner to form the bag or envelope. In some cases, the waste removal device further includes a third sheet attached to an outer surface of the first sheet for contacting the waste material. The third sheet is made from an absorbent material for facilitating the collection of the waste material. In such a configuration, the user places a hand within the bag and grabs or wipes the waste material. In so doing, the third sheet contacts the waste material and the first sheet provides a barrier between the user&#39;s hand and the waste material being collected.  
           [0004]    An example of such a prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,645 to Teaster granted Nov. 23, 1999 wherein an envelope defined by a first sheet and a second sheet and in the shape of a mitt protects a user from the waste material being collected. The user places a hand in the mitt and proceeds to collect the waste material with the first and second sheets providing a barrier between the user&#39;s hand and the waste material. Here, the first and second sheets could be made from a plastic material or an absorbent material, however, there is no added protection for the user should the first or second sheets be made from an absorbent material. If the first or second sheets were made from an absorbent material, a waste material with a high liquid content would likely absorb through the absorbent sheet. Hence, the user&#39;s hand would come into contact with the waste material.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,883 to Reo granted Feb. 2, 1999 discloses a bag defined by a first sheet and a second sheet for receiving a hand of the user and having a third sheet made from tissue paper attached to an outer surface of the first sheet. After use, the bag of the &#39;883 patent is inverted to create a barrier between the used tissue paper and the user. The invention of the &#39;883 patent to Reo, however, requires an unnecessary amount of material to manufacture. The second sheet attached to the first sheet provides little added utility to the device. The second sheet&#39;s primary function is to provide a barrier between the waste material and the user after the waste material has been collected and the bag is inverted.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a simplified waste removal device that protects a user&#39;s hand and provides absorbancy, yet is simple to use and employs a minimum amount of material.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0007]    The waste removal device of the present invention comprises a first sheet having an inner surface and a second sheet attached to the first sheet and overlying the inner surface to define an envelope for storing the waste material. The waste removal device further includes a third sheet made from an absorbent material and overlies the inner surface of the first sheet adjacent to the second sheet.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention reduces the amount of material required to protect the user from the waste material. In the present invention, once the waste material is collected, the first and third sheets are simply wrapped around the waste material and rolled into the envelope to secure the waste material for disposal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste removal device embodying the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the waste removal device;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the waste removal device illustrating an opening of an envelope of the waste removal device;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 a  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the waste removal device.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the waste removal device; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the waste removal device and subsequent disposal. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a waste removal device for collecting waste material is generally shown at  10 . The waste removal device  10  is for collecting the waste material and shielding a user from the waste material. The device  10  could be utilized for a multitude of purposes, including, but not limited to, collecting feces of a dog while the user and the dog participate in recreational activities, cleaning kitchen surfaces, use as a toiletry while camping, used to care for children and invalids, cleaning spills, and so on. It is to be understood, however, that the use is not intended to limit the present invention  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the waste removal device  10  comprises a first sheet  12  having an inner surface  14  and a second sheet  16  attached to the first sheet  12  and at least partially overlying the inner surface  14 . The first sheet  12  and the second sheet  16  define an envelope  18  for storing the waste material. A third sheet  20  made from an absorbent material overlies the inner surface  14  of the first sheet  12  adjacent to the second sheet  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the third sheet  20  is attached to the first sheet  12 . It is to be understood, however, that the third sheet  20  could also be practiced such that the third sheet  20  is attached in some fashion to the second sheet  16 .  
         [0018]    The third sheet  20  extends into the envelope  18  defined by the first and second sheets  12 ,  16 . The third sheet  20  is flexible to facilitate collection of the waste material. In the preferred embodiment, the third sheet  20  is affixed by gluing, heat sealing or other method of attachment to one of the first and second sheets. More specifically, the first sheet  12  further includes a first end  22  spaced from an open edge  30  of the second sheet  16  and the third sheet  20  affixed by gluing, heat sealing or other method of attachment to the first sheet  12  at the first end  22 . By having the absorbent sheet attached only at the top, the device remains soft and flexible so that it can easily encompass the waste material and allow the waste material to be wrapped and manipulated into the envelope  18 . It is to be understood, however, that the third sheet  20  could be attached to any portion of the first sheet  12 . The attachment of the third sheet  20  is not intended to limit the present invention. The third sheet  20  may be attached to one of the first and second sheets  12 ,  16  by any conventional method including, but not limited to, pressure sealing, heat sealing, stitching, and so on.  
         [0019]    The third sheet  20  is made from absorbent cellulosic material such as soft, crushable paper with properties common to paper toweling and facial tissue, which facilitates clinging to soft, moist substances.  
         [0020]    The first and second sheets  12 ,  16  are flexible and made from plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second sheets  12 ,  16  are made from a clear, lightweight plastic such as that used for plastic sandwich bags and the like. It is to be understood, however, that the first and second sheets can be made from any material including, but not limited to paper, plastic, or other moisture impervious materials. The first and second sheet  12 ,  16  are heat sealed together about the peripheries thereof to form the envelope  18 . Heat sealing is only one conventional method that can be used to connect the first and second sheets  12 ,  16 . Other conventional methods could also be used, such as, but not limited to, gluing, pressure sealing, stitching and so on. The second sheet  16  further includes first and second side edges  24 ,  26  and a third bottom edge  28  wherein the second sheet  16  is heat sealed to the inner surface  14  of the first sheet  12  along the first and second side edges  24 ,  26  and the third bottom edge  28  to form the envelope. The open edge  30  of the second sheet  16  and the inner surface  14  of the first sheet  12  define an opening  32  of the envelope  18  for guiding the waste material into the envelope  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the waste removal device  10  is very lightweight and highly flexible and is intended to be a single-use, disposable device.  
         [0021]    In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the first and second sheets  12 ,  16  can be integrally formed together while retaining the remaining features of the preferred embodiment. In one alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 3 a,  the first and second sheets integrally form a continuous sheet  33  such that only the first and second side edges  24 ,  26  require heat sealing. The third bottom edge  28  in this alternative embodiment represents a fold line  35  of the continuous sheet  33  separating the continuous sheet  33  into the first and second sheets  12 ,  16 .  
         [0022]    In a second alternative embodiment, the first and second sheets  12 ,  16  are integrally formed together such that no additional connection of the first sheet  12  to the second sheet  16  is necessary. FIG. 3 generally illustrates the second alternative embodiment with the addition of heat sealing at the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 , and the third edge  28 . The first and second side edges  24 ,  26  and the third edge  28  in the second alternative embodiment simply represent fold lines separating the first and second sheets  12 ,  16 . However, heat sealing or other conventional methods may be used at the fold lines to create creases and shape the waste removal device  10 .  
         [0023]    Further alternative embodiments can be realized by combining two or more methods of connecting the first and second sheets  12 ,  16 . It is to be understood, however, that the connection of the first and second sheets  12 ,  16  is not intended to limit the present invention.  
         [0024]    The first and second side edges  24 ,  26  are of substantially equal length. The first sheet  12  includes a longitudinal edge  34  which, in the preferred embodiment, is at least twice the length of each of the first and second side edges  24 ,  26  of the second sheet  16 . In additional embodiments, the longitudinal edge  34  of the first sheet  12  is at least three times the length of each of the first and second side edges  24 ,  26  of the second sheet  16 . While it is preferred that the longitudinal edge  34  be at least twice the length of each of the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 , this is not intended to limit the present invention.  
         [0025]    The first sheet  12  further includes a flap  36  defined by a portion  38  of the first sheet  12  extending from the opening  32  of the envelope  18  to the first end  22  of the first sheet  12 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 4, the user of the device lays the waste removal device  10  over the waste material with the third sheet  20  contacting the waste. The user then manipulates, lifts and rolls the waste material from an opposite side of the flap  36  to maintain a barrier between the absorbent third sheet  20  and a user&#39;s hand  11 . Referring to FIG. 5, the flap  36  of the first sheet  12  and the absorbent third sheet  20  containing the waste material are then rolled into the envelope  18 , rendering the waste material securely wrapped for transport to a nearby waste receptacle  40 .  
         [0027]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.