Patent Publication Number: US-2006000739-A1

Title: Package containing a first compartment for storing unused disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used disposable cleaning products

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/583,892, filed on Jun. 30, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to non-provisional application entitled, “Package Containing a First Housing for Storing Unused Disposable Cleaning Products and a Second Housing for Storing Used Disposable Cleaning Products,” filed concurrently with this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to packages, and in particular, to a package containing a first compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products and a second compartment for storing used, disposable cleaning products.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Disposable cleaning products, such as tissue papers, papers towels, napkins, moist wipes, etc., are usually stored in some type of package. For example, unused tissue papers are typically stored in a cardboard box containing a perforated cover. A user typically tears open the perforated cover to access the unused tissue papers. After using the tissue paper, a user may dispose the tissue paper in a waste basket.  
      In many situations, there may not be a waste basket or other container available in which to dispose the used tissue paper or other disposable cleaning product. In such situation, a user may place the used tissue paper in an undesirable location, such as on top of a table, on a chair, on the floor, or in one&#39;s pocket. Such undesirable disposal of the used tissue paper may lead to non-environmentally friendly disposal and may also lead to unsanitary conditions, which may result in illness in people who come in contact, directly or indirectly, with the used tissue paper.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An aspect of the invention relates to exemplary package for storing both unused, disposable cleaning products (e.g., tissue paper, paper towels, napkins, moist wipes, etc.) and used, disposable cleaning products. The exemplary package comprises a first compartment for storing unused, disposable cleaning products, a second compartment for receiving and storing used, disposable cleaning products, and an internal structure to separate the first compartment from the second compartment. A user retrieves unused, disposable cleaning products from the first compartment, uses the disposable cleaning products, and then disposes the used, disposable cleaning products into the second compartment.  
      Other aspects, features, and techniques of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Figure illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary package in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT  
      Figure illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary package  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In summary, the exemplary package  100  includes a first compartment for storing unused tissue papers, a second compartment for receiving and storing used tissue papers, and an internal structure to separate the first compartment from the second compartment. A user retrieves unused tissue papers from the first compartment, uses the tissue papers, and then disposes the used tissue papers into the second compartment.  
      More specifically, the exemplary package  100  comprises a housing  102  including a first internal compartment  104  for storing unused tissue papers  150 , and a second internal compartment  106  for storing used tissue papers  160 . An internal structure  108  separates the first internal compartment  104  from the second internal compartment  106 . The unused tissue papers  150  may be scented or unscented, and include anti-bacterial, moisturized and printed items.  
      In the exemplary embodiment, the housing  102  is configured into a box. The top side  110  of the housing  102  includes an opening  112  through which a user can remove the unused tissue papers  150  from the first internal compartment  104 . The housing  102  may further include a perforated cover (not shown) initially attached to the top side  110  of the housing  102  in a manner that substantially cover the opening  112 . Before anyone uses the tissue papers  150 , a user needs to detach the cover from the housing  102  in order to access the unused tissue papers  150 . The cover may be made out of a cardboard and attached to the top side  110  of the housing  102  by a perforated line. Alternatively, the cover may be made out of a transparent plastic. The plurality of unused tissue papers  150  may be arranged in a vertically or horizontally stacked, folded, rolled or any other configuration within the first compartment  104 .  
      Also, in the exemplary embodiment, the bottom side  114  of the housing  102  includes another opening  116  through which a user can insert used tissue papers  160  into the second compartment  106 . The opening  116  may be circular in shape. The housing  102  may include a plurality of pie-shaped sub-covers  118 , arranged together in a circular-fashion and their respective vertices coincident with each other, to substantially cover the opening  116 . Adjacent sub-covers  118  are initially attached to each other by way of respective perforated lines.  
      With such configuration, when a user finishes using the first tissue paper, a user pushes the used tissue paper  160  through the plurality of sub-covers  118 . The pushing force causes the sub-covers  118  to detach from each other and bend inward into the second compartment  106 , thereby allowing the user to insert the used tissue  160  into the second compartment  106 . After the user inserts the used tissue paper  160  into the second compartment  106 , the plurality of sub-covers  118  may have resilient characteristics causing them to bend back toward the opening  116  to at least further occlude the opening  116 , thereby preventing the used tissue paper  160  from falling out of the second compartment  106 . A plastic bag may be included within the second compartment  106  to receive the used tissue papers  160 , and better protect against cross-contamination between the used and unused tissue papers  150  and  160 . The interior of the second compartment  106 , internal structure  108 , and/or the bag may be coated with an anti-microbial substance for improved germicidal protection.  
      Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, the internal structure  108  includes a transverse wall  108   a  that separates the first compartment  104  from the second compartment  106 . The internal structure  108  further includes a plurality of side walls  108   b  extending downward from the transverse wall  108   a , and parallel to and adjacent with the respective internal sides of the housing  102 . The internal structure  108  is upwardly movable within the housing  102 . The side walls  108   b  of the internal structure  108  being adjacent to the respective internal sides of the housing  102  assist in guiding the upward movement of the internal structure  108 . As a user removes unused tissue paper  150  from the first compartment  104  and places the corresponding used tissue paper  160  into the second compartment  106 , the internal structure  108  moves upwardly to fill the space of the removed tissue paper  150  within the first compartment  104  and allows more space for the corresponding used tissue paper  160  placed into the second compartment  106 .  
      Although tissue papers are used to exemplify the various embodiments of the invention, it shall be understood that the package disclosed herein may store other disposable cleaning products, such as paper towels, napkins, and moist wipes.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.