Abstract:
A convenient disposable container with holder is provided that includes a sheet of material with an inner and outer surface comprised of central and secondary folds seamed at the ends and material edges to create an expandable pocket at the bottom, having a tab to accommodate opening to accept embarrassing waste and having bonding surface areas to form a seal closing the container&#39;s contents from site or touch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to convenient disposable containers, in particular to convenient disposable containers for discretely sealing embarrassing content from view or touch. 
         [0002]    In public rest rooms, it is very common to see a sign reading. “Please do not dispose of tampons or other sanitary products in the toilet. Please dispose of them in the waste receptacle.” In many situations, however, the waste receptacle is uncovered. As a guest at a private residence a similar situation is encountered. Having a need to dispose of tampons or other sanitary products many flush these items with the potential of clogging the toilet. The options of clogging a toilet or leaving personal waste products exposed in a trash receptacle is an embarrassing experience for both the guest and for others in the household. 
         [0003]    In public restrooms, at times, disposal bags are present. The bags are typically white, narrow and have a small opening. The bags are more of a novelty than they are for disposing of embarrassing waste. The user is at risk of touching and contaminating themselves with the waste. This fact discourages use. Most likely these bags originated from a manufacturer who repurposed an existing bag, to make more bag sales in another market. Simply put, these bags are not convenient to load with any kind of contents, let alone embarrassing waste contents. 
         [0004]    Other attempts have been made at solving this problem. Such as, containers made for the exclusive use of disposing tampons and sanitary napkins. A special use container, such as this, has not been a practical solution and as a result are not widely used. Sanitary napkins with an integral disposal means have been produced, but they are limited to exclusive disposal of one product and not available as a general solution to what has been a long existing disposal problem. Other attempts at making a disposal container have lacked convenience, complete sealing capability and discreetness in disposability. 
         [0005]    Accordingly there is a need for a convenient disposable container overcoming the limitations of the means noted above and allowing the convenient disposal of embarrassing content, concealing the contents from view or touch. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect, a container for disposing items is provided that includes at least one sheet of material, the at least one sheet of material having a length and a width, and further a central fold and a plurality of secondary folds essentially parallel with the width of the sheet, the folds creating a pair of opposing sides having inner surfaces, and pair of seams connecting the central fold to the pair of opposing sides and the secondary folds to each other along only a portion of the length of the sheet, therewith forming an expandable pocket with the opposing sides extending therefrom open along the length of the container above the seams. 
         [0007]    In at least one embodiment, at least one of the opposing sides has a tab folded therein at a corner of the at least one sheet. 
         [0008]    In at least one embodiment, at least one of the opposing sides includes an inner bonding surface for selectively bonding opposing sides to each other, therewith selectively encapsulating an item between the opposing sides. 
         [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the container includes a removable sheet located between the opposing sides to prevent bonding opposing sides to each other without removal of the sheet. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment, dimensionally the opposing sides are essentially the same as each other. 
         [0011]    In at least one embodiment, the sheet material is opaque. 
         [0012]    In at least one embodiment, each of the opposing sides includes an inner bonding surface for selectively bonding opposing sides to each other, therewith selectively encapsulating an item between the opposing sides. 
         [0013]    In at least one embodiment, the bonding surface comprises an adhesive. 
         [0014]    In at least one embodiment, the adhesive is applied on the opposing sides, within the container, except within the expandable pocket. 
         [0015]    In one aspect, a method for disposing items is provided that includes obtaining a container, the container comprising at least one sheet of material, the at least one sheet of material having a length and a width, and further a central fold and a plurality of secondary folds essentially parallel with the width of the sheet, the folds creating a pair of opposing sides having inner surfaces, and pair of seams connecting the central fold to the pair of opposing sides and the secondary folds to each other along only a portion of the length of the sheet, therewith forming an expandable pocket with the opposing sides extending therefrom open along the length of the container above the seams; separating the opposing sides from each other; placing an item between the opposing sides; and encapsulating the item between the opposing sides. 
         [0016]    Additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent in view of the description which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the convenient disposal container contained in the holder of multiple stacked containers according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with a consumer grasping the corner tab. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with a container partially removed from a holder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a container according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a consumer opening a container according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a consumer holding a container with the bottom side up. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a consumer holding a container with the bottom side down, depositing a waste article into a container. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a closed container containing a waste article. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a consumer depositing a closed container into a waste container. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a prepared sheet of the material according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of articulated folds in a sheet of material. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sheet of material closing upon itself. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a closed sheet of material with the corner tab being folded back. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of a material sheet with the seams added to the left and right sides. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a right side view taken from  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , perspective views of the convenient disposal container  20  contained in the holder  22  of multiple stacked containers  20  according to at least one embodiment are shown. A holder  22  is loaded with one or more convenient disposal containers  20 . The containers  20  may be stacked, interleaved or connected by perforations in any suitable fashion to accommodate removal from the holder  22 . A container  20  is comprised of a sheet of material  52  with an outer surface  32  exposed to the consumer  24 . A corner tab  44  is also exposed to the view of a consumer  24  who grasps the corner tab  44  by the tab&#39;s  44  lower and upper sides. Pulling upwardly and laterally the container  20  is removed from holder  22 , by the consumer  24 , for further use. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a container  20  according to at least one embodiment. A convenient disposal container  20  has a bottom  48  and one or more seams  46 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a consumer  24  opening a container  20  according to at least one embodiment. One or more sheets of material  52  with one or more bonding surface areas  50  may be present. In this embodiment, facing bonding surface areas  50  are separated one from another to expose an expandable pocket therein. Thus forming an open top  54  and one or more open sides  56 , two open sides  56  being shown in this embodiment. Moreover, a sheet of material  60  may be located between the inner surfaces  32  to prevent the bonding surfaces from adhering to each other. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a consumer  24  holding a container  20  with a bottom side  48  up. This view discloses a central fold  40  and one or more secondary folds  42 . Two secondary folds  42  are shown in this embodiment. The terminating points of central fold  40  and secondary folds  42  are joined together by seams  46 . Seams  46  also connect together a portion of the opposite edges of a sheet of material  52 , thus forming the expandable pocket  58 . Importantly, the seam  46  extends only partially up the sides of the container  20 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a consumer  24  holding a container  20  with the bottom side  48  down, depositing a waste article  26  into a container  20 . The open top  54  and open sides  56  make it convenient for a consumer  24  to deposit a waste article  26  into the expandable pocket  58 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a closed container  20  containing a waste article  26 . Once a waste article  26  is deposited into a container  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The consumer  24  applies finger pressure to outer surfaces  32 , working a sheet of material  52  to enjoin bonding surfaces areas  50 . Thus a waste article  26 , in container  20 , is sealed from outer view and touch. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a consumer  24  depositing a closed container  20  in a waste container  30 . The container  20  discreetly conceals itself among other waste  28  in the waste container  30 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 10  through  FIG. 15 . The present invention is described in the following steps, which are set forth to aid in the understanding of the manufacture of the invention, and should not be construed to limit in any way the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow thereafter. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a prepared sheet of material  52  according to at least one embodiment. The material  52  can be made of plastic, paper, foil or any other flat sheet material  52  suitable for the purpose. The material  52  can be biodegradable or scented. The sheet of material  52  has a length  36  and a width  38 . The sheet of material  52  is prepared by application of bonding surface areas  50 . Preparation can be by application of an adhesive, texturing of the surface or any other means suitable for creating a bonding surface on the sheet of material  52 . As can be seen, the bonding surface is limited to areas of the sheet  52  outside of the area that will define the pocket  58 . 
         [0041]    As an example of bonding surface areas  50 , one adhesive could be a low tack adhesive strong enough to hold a sheet of material  52  together but week enough to allow a sheet of material  52  to be pulled apart with out being torn. More importantly, a low tack adhesive could also be resealed allowing a sheet of material  52  to re-close upon its self. 
         [0042]    As another example of bonding surface areas  50 , a high tack adhesive could be used. In this instance a sheet of material  60  would separate the bonding surfaces  50  and be removed, allowing a sheet of material  52  to re-close upon its self. 
         [0043]    As a third example of bonding surface  50 , sheet of material  52  could have a texture applied by pressing or rolling the material to alter the flat plan of sheet  52 . In this instance the textures would bond by friction or static electrical charge. 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of articulated folds in a sheet of material  52 . The folds can be made by any manual or automated means. A central fold  40  of 180 degrees toward outer surface  32  is placed parallel to the width  38  at a location centered on the length  36 . Secondary folds  42  of 180 degrees toward the inner surface  34  are placed parallel to the width  38  at a location equidistant about 0.75 inches from central fold  40 . Other suitable dimensions can also be used. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment the length  36  is 10 inches and the width  38  is 6.5 inches. In other embodiments the length  26  and the width  38  could be any dimension suitable for the purpose. The sheet of material  52  is 0.001 inches thick or any other dimension suitable for the purpose.  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sheet of material  52  closing upon itself.  FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a closed sheet of material  52  with the corner tab  44  being folded back. In this view the full articulation of the 180 degrees, disclosed above, can be seen. 
         [0046]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of a material sheet  52  with the seams  46  added to the left and right sides. The seam  46  generally fixes the sheet  52  to itself at the area of the folds. The length of the seams  46  are just over the height of the center fold  40 , or about 1 inch in at least one embodiment or any other dimension suitable for the purpose. The seams  46  can be created by application of an adhesive, texturing of the surface of sheet material  52  or any other means suitable for creating a seam  46 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 15  is a right side view taken from  FIG. 14 . This view more clearly discloses the finished folded structure of convenient disposable container  20 . As can be seen, the seams  46  attach the sides of the sheet  52  to the center fold  40  and each of the secondary folds  42  to each other, thereby creating the expandable pocket  58 . Moreover, a sheet of material  60  may be located between the inner surfaces  32  to prevent the bonding surfaces from adhering to each other. 
         [0048]    While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.