Patent Publication Number: US-7722099-B2

Title: Sanitary product disposal

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention, in general, relates to collection and disposal of sanitary products that have been used to collect waste. More particularly, this invention relates to collecting a used sanitary product and disposing the sanitary product in a hygienic manner. 
   Used sanitary products are required to be disposed in a proper and safe manner. Often, used sanitary waste is inappropriately disposed. For example, sanitary products are often disposed by wrapping the sanitary product in the original wrapper or rolling the sanitary product in toilet paper and then discarding the sanitary product through a waste system. Due to the unsanitary conditions created by the manual handling of the sanitary product, there is a need for an apparatus that provides aseptic disposal of the sanitary product and protects a user from contact with and potential contamination by germs, bacteria, or viruses from the waste product leading to diseases such as Hepatitis B, genital warts, etc. 
   Sanitary products are some times disposed directly through a sewage system leading to blockage of the sewage system. The used sanitary product containing different types of bacteria and viruses find their way into water bodies and eventually cause environmental and health hazards. Moreover, there is a need for a biodegradable waste collection apparatus to prevent the accumulation of non-biodegradable material and the consequent hazardous effect on the environment. 
   Hence, there is a need for a biodegradable apparatus that allows removal and disposal of the used sanitary product in a hygienic manner. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
   The apparatus and method disclosed herein addresses the above stated needs for seizing and hygienically disposing a sanitary product. An individual disposing waste, for example, a sanitary napkin, a tampon, a condom, a baby diaper, an adult diaper, clinical waste, etc. is herein referred to as a “user”. The apparatus and method disclosed herein prevents physical contact between a user and the sanitary product during seizure of the sanitary product. 
   The apparatus disclosed herein comprises a biodegradable bag for enclosing the sanitary product for subsequent disposal. The biodegradable bag is composed of a lightweight biodegradable material for example, a polymer, paper, etc. The biodegradable bag comprises a catch clip, a pull stick, and an adhesive strip. The catch clip comprising a clamp section and a claw section is affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag. The adhesive strip is affixed towards the open end of the biodegradable bag. The catch clip seizes the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The pull stick comprising a pair of prongs holds the biodegradable bag in a predefined position over the seized sanitary product. The pull stick enables the user to invert the biodegradable bag while seizing the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The adhesive strip seals the biodegradable bag on twisting the open end of the biodegradable bag thereby making the biodegradable bag airtight. 
   The user positions the prongs of the pull stick for opening the biodegradable bag. The user advances the pull stick along the inner surface of the biodegradable bag for holding the biodegradable bag in a predefined position to seize the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The user presses the clamp section of the catch clip to open the claw section for seizing the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The user then twists the open end of the biodegradable bag containing the sanitary product and seals the biodegradable bag using the adhesive strip thereby allowing disposal of the biodegradable bag in a hygienic manner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus for hygienic disposal of a sanitary product. 
       FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a catch clip affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag. 
       FIG. 3A  exemplarily illustrates a front view of a pull stick provided in the biodegradable bag. 
       FIG. 3B  exemplarily illustrates a side view of a pull stick provided in the biodegradable bag. 
       FIG. 3C  exemplarily illustrates a side view of the pull stick with the prongs of the pull stick in an expanded position. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method of disposing a sanitary product hygienically. 
       FIGS. 5A-5E  exemplarily illustrate steps involved in seizing the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag for subsequent hygienic disposal. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus for providing hygienic disposal of a sanitary product  501 . As used herein, the term “sanitary product” refers to a sanitary napkin, a tampon, a condom, a baby diaper, an adult diaper, clinical waste, etc. An individual disposing waste, for example, a sanitary napkin, a tampon, a condom, a baby diaper, an adult diaper, clinical waste, etc. is herein referred to as a “user”. The apparatus disclosed herein may also be used to hygienically dispose soiled or infected material and fabrics at home, in senior citizen communities, in hospitals, etc. Moreover, the apparatus disclosed herein may be used for disposal of forensic waste material from crime scenes and environmental waste. 
   The apparatus disclosed herein provides a biodegradable bag  101  composed of a lightweight biodegradable material, for example, a polymer, paper, etc. The biodegradable bag  101  has an open end and a closed end. The biodegradable bag  101  comprises a catch clip  102 , a pull stick  103 , and an adhesive strip  104 . The catch clip  102  is affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag  101 . The catch clip  102  seizes the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101 . The pull stick  103  in the biodegradable bag  101  allows the sanitary product  501  to be pulled into the biodegradable bag  101  without coming in contact with the user. The adhesive strip  104  seals the biodegradable bag  101  when the user twists the open end of the biodegradable bag  101  thereby making the biodegradable bag  101  airtight. 
     FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a catch clip  102  affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag  101 . The catch clip  102  comprises two sections, namely a clamp section  102   a  and a claw section  102   b . The clamp section  102   a  of the catch clip  102  is present inside the biodegradable bag  101  and the claw section  102   b  of the catch clip  102  protrudes outside the biodegradable bag  101 . The material of the catch clip  102  may be a biodegradable material, for example, plastic, wood, etc. The claw section  102   b  may comprise a soft tip made of a soft gel like material to prevent injury to the user during seizure of the sanitary product  501 . For example, when a female user tries to seize a short string of a tampon, the soft tip of the claw section  102   b  will not injure the female user. The user presses the clamp section  102   a  of the catch clip  102  to open the claw section  102   b  of the catch clip  102 . The claw section  102   b  seizes the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101 . After the sanitary product  501  is seized, the user releases the clamp section  102   a  to close the claw section  102   b  thereby enclosing the sanitary product  501 . The user then pulls the sanitary product  501  held by the claw section  102   b  into the biodegradable bag  101 . 
     FIGS. 3A-3B  exemplarily illustrate a front view and a side view of the pull stick  103  provided in the biodegradable bag  101  respectively. The pull stick  103  may be made of a biodegradable material, for example, a rigid plastic. The pull stick  103  comprises a fixed lower section and a movable upper section. The movable upper section comprises the prongs  103   a  for opening the biodegradable bag  101  prior to seizing of the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101 . The prongs  103   a  may be expanded for keeping the biodegradable bag  101  open as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . In one embodiment of the apparatus disclosed herein, the prongs  103   a  of the pull stick  103  bend during seizing of the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101 . The pull stick  103  holds the biodegradable bag  101  in a predefined position over the sanitary product  501  and enables the user to invert the biodegradable bag  101  containing the seized sanitary product  501  thereby preventing the user from coming in contact with the sanitary product  501 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a method of disposing a sanitary product  501  hygienically. The method disclosed herein provides  401   a  biodegradable bag  101  comprising a catch clip  102  affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag  101 , a pull stick  103  comprising a pair of prongs  103   a , and an adhesive strip  104  affixed towards the open end of the biodegradable bag  101 . In the method disclosed herein, the user unfolds the biodegradable bag  101  comprising the catch clip  102  and the pull stick  103 . The user bends the prongs  103   a  of the pull stick  103  to one side of the biodegradable bag  101  and positions  402  the prongs  103   a  to open the biodegradable bag  101 . The user then advances  403  the pull stick  103  along the inner surface of the biodegradable bag  101  as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . 
   The user holds the biodegradable bag  101  with one hand in a predefined position over the sanitary product  501  using the pull stick  103 . The user presses the clamp section  102   a  of the catch clip  102  with the user&#39;s free hand to open the claw section  102   b  of the catch clip  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The user then seizes  404  the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101  using the open claw section  102   b  of the catch clip  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . The pull stick  103  holds the biodegradable bag  101  in place over the seized sanitary product  501 . While seizing the sanitary product  501  into the biodegradable bag  101 , the user inverts  405  the biodegradable bag  101  using the pull stick  103 . The inverted biodegradable bag  101  contains the seized sanitary product  501  as illustrated by  FIG. 5D . The user then seals  406  the open end of the biodegradable bag  101  using the adhesive strip  104  by twisting the open end of the biodegradable bag  101  containing the seized sanitary product  501  as illustrated in  FIG. 5E . The adhesive strip  104  facilitates airtight sealing of the biodegradable bag  101 . The biodegradable bag  101  containing the used sanitary product  501  is then ready for disposal. 
   The biodegradable bag  101  collects the sanitary product  501  without physical contact between the user and the sanitary product  501  thereby providing hygienic disposal of the sanitary product  501 . 
   The biodegradable bag  101  may be of different sizes for accommodating different sanitary products. For example, a small sized biodegradable bag  101  is used to dispose a sanitary napkin, a tampon, or a condom whereas a larger sized biodegradable bag  101  is used to dispose a baby diaper or an adult diaper. 
   The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present method and system disclosed herein. While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.