Abstract:
An apparatus for the safe containment and transport of noxious or potentially hazardous objects, includes a flexible bag of any preferred size or shape that is formed of a film-like material, such as plastic. The bag includes an opening to permit access into an interior of the bag. The opening can include any preferred type of a seal or not, as desired. A substance that includes a lotion, gel, or powder is applied to at least a portion of an interior surface of the bag to disinfect the objects or to disinfect a hand of a user that may come in contact with any of the objects that are placed in the bag, or both. The lotion, gel, or powder includes either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or a combination thereof, The scented substance, if included, is used to mollify any noxious odors. If preferred, a lotion, gel, or powder is applied to an exterior of the bag as an exterior substance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention, in general, relates to bags and, more particularly, to disposable bags that are treated in some way.  
         [0003]     Bags are well known devices that are used for all manner of purposes. Paper and plastic types of bags are certainly well known devices that are used for storage of a variety of items.  
         [0004]     However, there are situations during which a person may come in contact with material that includes bacteria or viruses, or which may simply be or smell unpleasant. The person may be trying to place the material in a bag for transport and eventual disposal. During that process the person may come in contact with the hazardous or foul-smelling material which is being placed in the bag. The person may subsequently become infected or otherwise contaminated.  
         [0005]     For example, a person attempting to place dog feces into a conventional type of a plastic “doggie bag” may inadvertently contact the feces. Not only do the feces have a generally unpleasant odor, but it may contain any of a variety of germs, viruses, parasites, or micro-organisms that could possibly also infect the person.  
         [0006]     In addition, the person must now transport the bag and collected feces until a suitable disposal site (i.e., a garbage can) is found. The feces may emit an unpleasant odor from the bag which will make the dog-walking experience that much more unpleasant. If the person contacted the feces, the person might also soil his hands and they would also now emit the unpleasant feces-odor.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, the person with the soiled hands is apt to contact his or her eyes, mouth, or nose with his or her soiled hands thereby increasing the likelihood of becoming infected. The person with the soiled hands is similarly apt to contact his or her clothes with his or her soiled hands thereby extending the range of potential contamination.  
         [0008]     The person is also apt to meet others and can possibly shake their hands in greeting. In this manner the person with the soiled hands can become a vector for disease during which others can become similarly contaminated or infected. The process can continue until many people are similarly affected.  
         [0009]     There are numerous similar situations that can arise, for example, people who are exposed to and must handle used diapers, fish heads, even body bags, face similar issues. Countless other similar situations also exist.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, there exists today a need for a disposable treated bag that can help ameliorate the above-mentioned difficulties.  
         [0011]     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device.  
         [0012]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0013]     Bags and waste containers are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices:  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,371 to Egberg, Sep. 12, 1989; and  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,706 to Whitaker, May 11, 1976.  
         [0016]     While the structural arrangements of the above described devices may, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable treated bag that is used one time and then discarded.  
         [0018]     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a disposable treated bag that is convenient to use.  
         [0019]     Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that is safe to use.  
         [0020]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a substance applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0021]     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a hand-cleaner that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0022]     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a lotion or a gel or a powder or other substance that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0023]     Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes an antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0024]     A first continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a scented substance that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0025]     A second continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes an antibacterial substance that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0026]     A third continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes an anti-viral substance that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0027]     A fourth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes an anti-microbial substance that is applied to at least a portion of the bag.  
         [0028]     A fifth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes either a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance that includes either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or an anti-microbial substance that is applied to at least a portion of an interior of the bag.  
         [0029]     A sixth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes at least two of the following substances; a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance that are applied to at least a portion of an interior of the bag.  
         [0030]     A seventh continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance or a combination thereof that is applied to at least a portion of an exterior of the bag.  
         [0031]     An eighth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that is made of a sufficiently impermeable material and which is treated so that it includes either a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance and wherein the lotion, gel, powder, or other substance includes either an antiseptic, germicide, disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or combination thereof and wherein the lotion, gel, powder, or other substance is applied to at least a portion of an interior of the bag.  
         [0032]     A ninth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that is made of a film-like material and which is treated so that it includes either a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance that also includes either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or combination thereof that is applied to at least a portion of an interior of the bag.  
         [0033]     A tenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that is made of a flexible plastic sheet and which is treated so that it includes either a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance that also includes either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or combination thereof that is applied to at least a portion of an interior of the bag.  
         [0034]     An eleventh continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that helps consumers feel safer when placing items that may include germs, viruses, bacteria, parasites, or other micro-organisms in the bag.  
         [0035]     A twelfth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that can kill certain germs, viruses, bacteria, parasites, and micro-organisms that are placed in the bag.  
         [0036]     A thirteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that provides a user with a feeling of freshness, particularly with regard to their hands, after use of the bag.  
         [0037]     A fourteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that provides a user with a feeling of protection, particularly with regard to their hands, after use of the bag.  
         [0038]     A fifteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a lotion or a gel or a powder or a combination thereof that is applied to at least a portion of an exterior of the bag, and wherein the lotion, gel, or powder includes either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, disinfectant, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or a combination thereof.  
         [0039]     A sixteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a disposable treated bag that includes a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance or a combination thereof that is applied to at least a portion of an exterior of the bag and wherein the lotion, gel, or powder includes a hand-cleaner.  
         [0040]     Briefly, a disposable treated bag that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a plastic bag that is generally enclosed and which includes an opening. The opening can include any preferred type of a seal. The bag can be of any preferred size or shape. Either a lotion, gel, powder, or other substance is applied to at least a portion of an interior or exterior of the bag, or both the interior and the exterior. The lotion, gel, powder, or other substance is a vehicle used to carry and deliver either a hand-cleaner, antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant, scented substance, antibacterial substance, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial substance or combination thereof to the user when the user contacts the bag. If preferred, the lotion, gel, powder or other substance can instead be applied to an exterior of the bag or, if manufacturing permits, it can be included as part of the material the bag is made of (i.e., embedded in the material, for example in a resin used to form the material that the bag is made of). If preferred, the lotion, gel, powder or other substance can be applied to both an interior and an exterior of the bag. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a disposable treated bag.  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken on the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and to  FIG. 2  is shown, a disposable treated bag, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0044]     The bag  10  is preferably of a film material, for example, a plastic film, although other sufficiently impermeable materials such as rubber, neoprene, Mylar, or other similar film-like materials can also be used.  
         [0045]     The disposable treated bag  10  is generally closed on the bottom and sides and includes an opening, identified in general by the reference numeral  12 . The opening  12  is usually at the top of the disposable treated bag  10  but it may be disposed off to a side, if preferred. If desired, additional openings (not shown) could be included as well.  
         [0046]     The example of the disposable treated bag  10  includes a well known type of a “press-to-close” seal  14  that is used to either close (i.e., seal) or provide access through (i.e., open) the opening  12 .  
         [0047]     The press-to-close seal  14  extends longitudinally along a length of the disposable treated bag  10  proximate the opening  12  and includes a pair of longitudinal portions on opposite sides of the opening  12  that engage together when urged together to provide the seal  14 .  
         [0048]     When pulled apart, the pair of longitudinal portions separate and allow access to an interior of the disposable treated bag  10  through the opening  12 . If desired, the seal  14  could be eliminated and the opening  12  can be left untreated without any additional structures that aid in its closure.  
         [0049]     If the seal  14  is eliminated, a user would simply close the disposable treated bag  10  in a conventional manner by pinching together a pair of ends  16 ,  18  to close the disposable treated bag  10 . If further closure is desired, the user would roll the end of the disposable treated bag  10  that included the opening  12  over upon itself a few times to provide a sufficient seal for the opening  12 . This is a well known method of minimally sealing various prior-art types of bags (not shown).  
         [0050]     An alternate method of providing further closure when the seal  14  is eliminated is attained when the bag proximate the opening  12  is grasped and wrapped around itself, as is well known, and tied in a knot.  
         [0051]     Alternately, a twist-tie  20  is provided as an alternate method of closure. The twist-tie  20  is attached for a length as shown by bracket  22  to the disposable treated bag  10  proximate the opening  12 . The twist-tie  20  is a well known device that typically includes a soft, wire core and is readily bendable. Once bent, it tends to retain whatever position it is disposed in.  
         [0052]     To seal the opening  12  using the twist-tie  20 , the pair of ends  16 ,  18  are urged together and the twist-tie  20  is placed around the disposable treated bag  10 , proximate the opening  12 .  
         [0053]     Each of an opposite pair of ends  20   a ,  20   b  of the twist-tie  20  are urged around the circumference of the disposable treated bag  10  and are then twisted around each other. The pair of ends  20   a ,  20   b  of the twist-tie  20  are then tightened an amount sufficient to seal the disposable treated bag  10  at a location that is disposed proximate the opening  12 .  
         [0054]     Other ways of sealing the opening  12  are, of course, possible. For certain applications, the opening  12  is left entirely unsealed and the disposable treated bag  10  is carried to a waste basket and is disposed after use by simply discarding it and its contents, if any, into the waste basket.  
         [0055]     A substance  24  is applied to an interior surface of the disposable treated bag  10 . The substance  24  includes a lotion, a gel, or a powder. The substance  24  (i.e., the lotion, gel, or powder) includes a hand-cleaner, an antiseptic, germicide, disinfectant, a pleasantly scented substance, an antibacterial substance, an anti-parasitic, an anti-viral substance, or an anti-microbial substance, or a combination thereof.  
         [0056]     Some of the above terms are, at times, used somewhat interchangeably by the general public, yet they do have a specific intent. The term “antiseptic”, as used herein includes any type of an agent that can kill or inhibit the growth of a microorganism on the surface of the body. A “germicide” is that type of antiseptic that can kill a microorganism. A “disinfectant” is a term that is usually reserved for an agent that can kill or inhibit the growth of a microorganism on a non-living surface.  
         [0057]     Therefore, because the bag  10  can contact the surface of the body (i.e., the hands most commonly) the general term antiseptic is especially applicable. However, because portions of the bag  10  can also contact non-living surfaces, for example items the user may be carrying or clothing, the use of disinfectants is also applicable, at times.  
         [0058]     The substance  24  can be applied as a coating, sprayed on, or applied in any of a number of possible ways. For example, the film material used to form the bag  10  can be treated with the substance  24  during manufacture, if preferred, so as to impregnate the film material with the substance  24 . It is preferable that if the film material is impregnated during manufacture with the substance  24  that at least some of the substance  24  be removable from the bag  10  when contact is made with the bag  10 .  
         [0059]     For example, with certain types of the film material it may be possible to include the substance  24  as a part of the resin (or other component) that that the bag  10  is made of. The substance  24  can be added to the resin that is used to form the bag  10 , thereby saving the step of having to apply it later during manufacture of the bag  10  as a coating. If a sufficient quantity of the substance  24  is able to transfer to the user during use, it can be included at any stage or time of manufacture of the bag  10 .  
         [0060]     An unexpected benefit that is derived from including the substance  24  as a part of the film material that the bag  10  is formed of is that all surfaces of the bag  10 , both interior and exterior, are simultaneously treated. In other words, both the interior and the exterior of the bag  10  are treated when the substance  24  is included in the film material.  
         [0061]     If the substance  24  can be included in the film material that is used to form the bag during manufacture of the film material, then the step of coating or otherwise applying it to the disposable treated bag  10  can be eliminated, possibly reducing the cost of manufacture.  
         [0062]     The disposable treated bag  10  can be used for a variety of purposes. A common expected use is to pick up dog feces and dispose of them. At present the containers (not shown) for this purpose create a substantial level of discomfort for the user. This discomfort is not overly physical; it is primarily psychological. The user feels at risk, in danger, contaminated, or somehow tainted by the experience of picking up his or her dog feces with a prior art type of container.  
         [0063]     The user is worried that he or she may have touched the feces directly and that this act may have somehow contaminated or infected them with some malevolent agent that was in the feces. At the very least they fear that their hands may now smell like the feces which could cause embarrassment or discomfort to them.  
         [0064]     The user may worry even if he or she is certain there has been no direct contact with the feces. The user may worry that perhaps the feces touched a portion of the container and now the user has touched that same portion of the container and nevertheless, been exposed to any potentially deleterious effects that could accompany contact with the feces.  
         [0065]     The user feels at risk whenever he or she is using a prior art type of container. This feeling of vulnerability and risk of contracting disease or of experiencing some other deleterious effect, like smelling bad, extends to other uses of the disposable treated bag  10  as well. If the bag  10  is used to gather and discard fish heads or fish intestines, animal parts, or if a cadaver is placed therein, the same almost unlimited range of possible negative scenarios can occur to the mind of the user. This causes worry, which is a form of suffering.  
         [0066]     It is important to realize that while a level of efficacy is desired for whatever agent is used as the substance  24 , a true efficacy and benefit of the disposable treated bag  10  is found in its ability to ameliorate the concerns (i.e., worry) of the user.  
         [0067]     If the user feels safer, fresher, protected, cleansed, or if they feel as if their hands have been treated (by the bag  10 ) to kill or to remove certain potential contaminants or infectious agents from their hands, the disposable treated bag  10  has served a useful and worthwhile purpose in that it has lessened the suffering of the user.  
         [0068]     Therefore, when the substance  24  used with the disposable treated bag  10  is a freshener or a hand-cleaner that does not include any antiseptic properties, the user will still experience increased levels of personal safety and peace of mind after having used the treated bag  10 .  
         [0069]     When the substance  24  includes an antiseptic, a balanced decision as to which type of an antiseptic to use will factor in a variety of concerns including, for example, the cost of the antiseptic, how well it is tolerated by the general population, its possible side-effects, its shelf-life, its toxicity as well as an analysis of its antiseptic properties, whether it is effective against a broad spectrum of germs, bacteria, or viruses, thereby providing a product well suited for general use or if it is effective in killing (or weakening) a specific targeted germ, bacteria, or virus (or a selected group thereof), thereby providing a product well suited for a particular application.  
         [0070]     For example, the bag  10  could include a type of the substance  24  that kills or weakens HIV and various Hepatitis agents, thereby making it useful for police, fire, and emergency health care service providers.  
         [0071]     Depending on the application that the disposable treated bag  10  is made for (i.e., the intended market of any version thereof), the substance  24  used can vary accordingly.  
         [0072]     The substance  24  is preferably applied to all of the interior surface area of the disposable treated bag  10  although it can be applied to only a portion of the interior surface, if desired. The substance  24  is minimally applied to at least a portion of the interior surface area of the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0073]     A small quantity of dog feces  26  is shown in the disposable treated bag  10 . It is assumed that the user has just placed the feces  26  in the bag. Of course, materials other than the feces  26  can instead be inserted into the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0074]     If the disposable treated bag  10  includes either the antiseptic, germicidal, antibacterial, anti-viral, an anti-parasitic, or anti-microbial type of the substance  24 , the substance  24  will kill at least some of the bacteria, virus, parasites, or micro-organisms that are disposed on or in the feces  26 .  
         [0075]     Accordingly, the user will feel safer, better, more at ease, and fresher when using the disposable treated bag  10  than he or she would feel if using an untreated, prior-art version (not shown) of a dog feces disposal type of a bag.  
         [0076]     If the hand of the user were also to inadvertently contact the feces  26  during insertion of the feces  26  into the disposable treated bag  10 , the user can elect to make deliberate further contact of the affected parts of their hand (i.e., the contaminated parts) with the substance  24  in the disposable treated bag  10  to kill the bacteria, virus, parasites, or micro-organisms that may have contaminated the hand of the user before these agents are placed in contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth of the user, where they are most likely to infect the user.  
         [0077]     The user could elect to wipe the affected areas of the hand on the substance  24  sufficient to smear the substance  24  over the affected areas of their hand(s) in order to optimally disinfect the areas. There would be no need for the user to also carry disinfectants, antiseptics, or germicides or to proceed immediately to a lavatory and wash their hands, as the substance  24  would be readily available for antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant use in situ (i.e. on location), where contamination occurred.  
         [0078]     If preferred, a second exterior substance  28  is applied to an exterior surface of the disposable treated bag  10 . The exterior substance  28  preferably includes a lotion, gel, or powder. The exterior substance  28  (i.e., the lotion, gel, or powder) can include any type of an antiseptic or disinfectant or it may include another preferred type of a hand-cleaner. The exterior substance  28  is applied to at least a portion the exterior area of the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0079]     The exterior substance  28  does not have to be included with all versions of the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0080]     For most applications of the disposable treated bag  10 , the exterior substance  28  is not expected to be needed because the interior application of the substance  24  is deemed sufficient for most tasks. As is described in greater detail hereinafter, a preferred use of the bag  10  for the removal of the feces  26  is described wherein only the interior of the bag  10  is treated with the substance  24 .  
         [0081]     The use of the exterior substance  28  is intended to show some of the versatility possible in the design of the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0082]     If desired, the exterior substance  28  can include anything that could be used to form the substance  24 , depending on the intended use or purpose of the bag  10 .  
         [0083]     Continuing with and expanding the above example, the user who inadvertently made contact with the feces  26  could then elect to use the exterior of the disposable treated bag  10  to wipe or clean or disinfect their hands if the disposable treated bag  10  also included the exterior substance  28 .  
         [0084]     Furthermore, if the user was especially worried about contamination, the user would first place the affected area of their hand in contact with the substance  24  and then smear the substance  24  over the affected area of their hand to disinfect the area, as was described above. Then, the user would seal the opening  12  by whatever means is provided or preferred.  
         [0085]     The user would then grasp the exterior of the disposable treated bag  10  so that the exterior substance  28  contacted and became distributed over, preferably, both of their hands. The user would then rub both of their hands together to apply the lotion, gel, or powder to their hands sufficient to clean them. The exterior substance  28  could remain on their hands to freshen and protect them or it could be chosen to quickly evaporate, as desired.  
         [0086]     If the lotion or gel is included as the exterior substance  28 , it could also be used to moisturize the hands, as desired.  
         [0087]     If the substance  24  includes either the hand-cleaner or the lotion, powder, or gel, it is expected that the substance  24  will preferably also include either the antiseptic, germicide, or disinfectant, the antibacterial, the anti-viral, the anti-parasitic, or the anti-microbial types of the substance  24  as well to provide the above-mentioned benefits.  
         [0088]     The substance  24  (i.e., the lotion, gel, powder) does not have to include a plurality of these agents, but if preferred it can include any combination of the hand-cleaner, the antiseptic, the germicide, the disinfectant, the pleasantly scented type of the substance  24 , the antibacterial, the anti-parasitic, the anti-viral, or the anti-microbial types of the substance  24 .  
         [0089]     If the substance  24  were to include (either alone or in combination with any of the above agents) the pleasantly scented type of the substance  24  then the odor of the feces  26  would be masked, at least to some degree. Use of the disposable treated bag  10  would be even more enjoyable without having to endure the odor that was emitted by the feces  26 .  
         [0090]     Clearly, if the disposable treated bag  10  is intended for use with something other than the feces  26 , the preferred substance  24  that is used for the pleasantly scented type of the substance  24  would, of course, be modified to optimally suit the material(s) that the disposable treated bag  10  is intended to contain.  
         [0091]     The same is true for any of the agents described herein that can be used for the substance  24 . Each is modified to provide the greatest benefit for the intended use of the disposable treated bag  10 .  
         [0092]     It is expected that the disposable treated bag  10  will typically be sold in quantity. Accordingly, the disposable treated bags  10  can be disposed end to end on a roll with perforations to allow detaching each of the disposable treated bags  10  as needed.  
         [0093]     Alternately, the disposable treated bags  10  can be stacked and placed in any preferred type of a box or container, like facial tissues, so that the removal of one of the disposable treated bags  10  from the box readies the next one of the disposable treated bags  10  for subsequent easy removal. Or they can be stacked and removed individually, as required, without any interaction occurring when one of the bags  10  is removed from the box or container.  
         [0094]     If desired, the box or container could be formed of any desired material and it may include a lid. If desired, the lid can be used to seal the box or container sufficient to retard evaporation of the substance  24  or of the exterior substance  28 , or both, as desired.  
         [0095]     The above described uses of the disposable treated bag  10  provide an indication of its potential uses. However, an alternate and possibly preferred use of the bag  10  for picking up the dog feces  26  is as follows. The substance  24  is applied to the interior of the bag  10 . The user inserts his or her hand into the bag  10 . The substance  24  contacts their hand, providing the desired cleansing, freshening, or antiseptic benefits to their hand that is disposed inside the bag  10 .  
         [0096]     With the hand of the user still disposed inside of the bag  10 , the user places the bag over the feces  26  and grasps it. The hand is disposed inside the bag  10  where the substance  24  is disposed and the feces  26  is in contact with a bottom exterior (most typically) of the bag  10 . The user maintains his grip on the feces  26  and, using his or her other hand, grasps one of the pair of ends  16 ,  18  of the opening  12 . The user then pulls the hand that is wrapped around the feces  26  up, into the bag  10 , and out, thereby turning the bag  10  inside-out. The feces  26  is now disposed in what has become an interior of the bag  10  and the hand that had previously grasped it is now disposed on what has become an outside of the bag  10 . It is important to note that the hand never actually made contact with the feces  26  because the bag  10  was always disposed intermediate the hand and the feces  26 .  
         [0097]     However, the user feels much better, fresher, and less at risk of contracting an infection because their hand was in contact with the substance  24  while it was disposed in the bag  10 . If the substance  24  includes a scent, the hand will even smell better as a result of the bag  10  than it did before the feces  26  were gathered. Furthermore, the odor of the feces  26  will be masked to a large extent during its acquisition by the scent of the substance  24 . If the substance  24  includes a hand-cleaner, for example a gel or a lotion type of a cleaner, the user then rubs both of their hands together (after inverting the bag  10  to dispose the feces  26  therein) to finish the cleaning process of their hands.  
         [0098]     It is intended that the disposable treated bag  10  be used one time and then disposed of in a suitable manner, for example, discarding it in a trash container.  
         [0099]     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.