Abstract:
The present invention provides a flexible pouch which comprises at least one wet compartment storing a first liquid and at least one adjacent dry compartment storing at least one compressed tissue or chemical compounds, or a combination thereof. In use, the user applies a certain force to the wet compartment to break membrane seal between the wet and dry compartments to allow the liquid flowing from the wet compartment to the dry compartment to activate the compressed tissue or the chemical compounds in the dry compartment. The flexible pouch may further comprises a second wet section storing a drinking liquid which is arranged separately from the first wet section.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled, “LIQUID CONTAINER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” having Ser. No. 61/665,875, filed on Jun. 28,  2012, and U.S. provisional application entitled, “A CONTAINER WITH AQUA TISSUE,” having Ser. No. 61/786,330, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a container having compartments, a compartment for storing liquid and another compartment for storing compressed tissue(s) and/or utility chemical compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to a flexible pouch comprising at least two compartments, one compartment is for storing liquid and another one for storing at least one liquid absorbable compressed tissue and/or utility chemical compositions such as pharmaceuticals, food supplements, beverage extracts, beverage mixtures or the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is typical for a user to use a tissue or a towel to clean and refresh their face and/or to wipe their mouth and/or hands in situations, such as, eating food and drinking beverage, traveling around in vehicles, doing exercise in the fitness centers, or the like. Tissue or towel may be needed not only for refreshing and cleaning face and/or hands, but also needed for cleaning beverage spills, cleaning tables, counters, cars, or the like. 
         [0004]    One form of tissue that can be used for cleaning and refreshing is a compressed tissue. Korean patent publication no. KR200400633 disclosed a mineral water container having a cap for carrying a compressed tissue. U.S. patent publication no. US2010/0051576A provided a container (bottle) cap with a compartment for accommodation of a compressed tissue. However, in order to use the compressed tissue, the user has to withdraw the tissue from the compartment and then expose the compressed tissue with water outside the container in a separate container, such as a cup, or the like. Not only does exposing the compressed tissue with liquid in a separate container may cause some inconveniences to the user but it is not easy to determine a proper amount of liquid (e.g., water) needed so the compressed tissue could sufficiently absorb the liquid. 
         [0005]    It is considered desirable to provide a flexible pouch for carrying dry liquid-absorbable compressed tissue and for having structures that change the dry tissue to a disposable wet tissue without using liquid from a separate container , allowing the user to easily withdraw the disposable wet tissue from the flexible pouch anytime and anywhere. 
         [0006]    EP1518528 A1 disclosed a package for a disposable tissue which includes an upper unit having plurality of compressed tissue storing unit, middle unit in a plate shape sealingly adhered to the lower surface of the upper units, lower units sealingly adhered to the lower surface of the middle units storing a liquid. A compressed tissue in an upper unit can be changed to a disposable wet tissue when a certain liquid is absorbed to the compressed tissue through an opened upper side of a lower unit by using a certain force to tear the middle layer unit. However, to use the tissue, the user has to apply a certain force to the compressed tissue. The compressed tissue, in turn, transfers the force to the middle layer unit. This way of indirectly tearing the middle layer unit may need a sufficient strong force which may be inconvenient for some users, especially for children. 
         [0007]    There may remain a need in the art that the dry compartment may be used for other purposes, not only for storing the compressed tissue, such as pharmaceuticals, food supplements, drinking extracts or other drinking mixtures which the user may use the liquid storing in the wet compartment to dissolve, or pre-made casts. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Accordingly, it is the first object of the present invention to provide a liquid container in a form of a flexible pouch or bag that contains an activation liquid compartment storing an activation liquid and a dry compartment storing a compressed tissue. The flexible pouch can be made of a thin plastic, foil, or similar materials that is impervious to liquid. The activation liquid compartment and a dry compartment each of them has at least one corner or one edge adjoining with each other. A sealed liquid entrance is arranged at the adjoining corners or edges of the activation liquid compartment and a dry compartment so that the seal at the liquid entrance can be broken by squeezing the activation liquid compartment to allow the liquid flowing from the activation liquid compartment to the dry compartment storing the compressed tissue or other utility chemicals to activate them. The flexible pouch/bag optionally, may comprise a plurality of activation liquid compartments comprising liquid which are placed adjacent to a respective plurality of dry compartments containing respective plurality of compressed tissues many times of use. 
         [0009]    Optionally, in addition to the activation liquid compartment, the flexible pouch/bag may further comprise a compartment for storing a drinkable liquid, such as drinking water, beverages, milk, vitamin-containing liquids, tea, coffee, beer, or the like. 
         [0010]    These and other needs in the art are addressed in another embodiment in which the dry compartment, instead of storing a compressed tissue, may store utility chemical compounds such as food supplements, drinking extracts/mixtures or other chemical agents for use in need, useful for user for outdoor activities, or anywhere, at anytime The mechanism of activating the compounds storing in the dry compartment is same as for compressed tissue. That is, the user may squeeze the activation liquid compartment to allow the liquid flowing from the activation liquid compartment to the dry compartment storing food supplements, drinking extracts or other chemical agents, then sake the pouch to substantially dissolve the compounds for use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention is explained further with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. In the figures, schematically: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram view of a flexible pouch with a compressed tissue according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the activation of a compressed tissue in a flexible pouch, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating the compressed tissue after being activated expanding and protruding out from a flexible pouch, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a couple of views showing an expanded tissue that extends across a hand  1110  of a consumer; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a view that illustrates a flexible pouch with a dry compound powder in accordance with second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the construction of the pouch with a compressed tissue according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a flexible pouch  10  that contains activation liquid  13  stored in a wet compartment  11  and at least one compressed tissue  14  stored in a dry compartment  12  of the flexible pouch  10 . The dry compartment  12  storing the compressed tissue  14  includes a perforated line  20  that can easily tear the pouch  10  at the perforated line  20  after the compressed tissue  14  is activated with the liquid  13  and expands. The steps of activating the compressed tissue  14  in the pouch  10  are further described in  FIGS. 2-3 . The activated compressed tissue  14  can be used to wipe and clean a contact area (not shown), such as a user hands and face, table surface, contaminated objects, etc. The flexible pouch  10  can be attached with coupons and advertisements. 
         [0019]    The flexible pouch  10  can be made of three layers of flexible materials and the perforated line  20  is formed by cutting into at least one layer of the flexible materials. Alternatively or additionally, the flexible pouch  10  can be made of a predetermined thickness and the perforated line  20  is formed by cutting into a portion of the thickness of the flexible materials. The compressed tissue  14  can expand with 1 Kgm of pressure and as such, the perforated line  20  is generally cut such that the perforated line  20  tears at about 1 Kgm of pressure. Although the perforated line  20  is shown as a horizontal line across the dry compartment  12 , the perforated line  20  can be many other shapes and configurations, such as a square, rectangle, or other geometric shapes, a shorter line across the draw compartment  12  and an “X” or “O” letter substantially in the center of the dry compartment and slightly larger in diameter than the compressed tissue  14 . For example, the compressed tissue can have a diameter of a penny and the “X” or “O” perforated line  20  can have a diameter of a nickel. The “X” or “O” perforated line  20  facilitates positioning the compressed tissue  14  generally at the center of the dry compartment  12 . During manufacturing of the flexible pouch  10 , the top and side edges of the dry compartment  12  are sealed and the bottom edge adjacent the jagged edge is not so that the compressed tissue  14  is placed in the dry compartment  14 . The “X” or “O” perforated line  20  facilitates positioning the compressed tissue  14  at the X″ or “O” perforated line  20  by allowing the plastic pouch  10  to conform to the shape of the compressed tissue  14  as the bottom edge is sealed. 
         [0020]    The flexible pouch can be made of a thin plastic, foil, or similar materials that is impervious to liquid. The compressed tissue can be made of material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, wood fiber, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, synthetic materials, or combination thereof. Preferrably, The compressed tissue  14  can be nonwoven, flushable or nonflushable, compressed into any object such as any geometric shapes, animals, toys, etc., and expands into any shapes, such as contours of a human face. 
         [0021]    A liquid entrance area  25  is positioned at an adjacent corners of the wet compartment  11  and the dry compartment  12 . However, it can be appreciated that the liquid entrance area  25  can be positioned anywhere between the wet compartment  11  and dry compartments  11 ,  12 , such as at the adjacent edge  15  between the two compartments  11 ,  12 , at the middle of the adjacent edge, or the entire adjacent edge. The liquid entrance area  25  can be formed such that the space between the wet compartment  11  and dry compartment  12  is less at the liquid entrance area  25  so that the seal at the liquid entrance area  25  breaks more easily thereabout allowing liquid to enter into the dry compartment  12  and absorbed by the compressed tissue  14 . As an alternative, the dry compartment  12  can contain more than one compressed tissue  14 . 
         [0022]    In another aspect, the pouch  10  can include a set of plurality of wet compartments  11  which are placed adjacent to a respective set of plurality of dry compartments  12  containing respective plurality of compressed tissues. Placed between the respective plurality of wet compartments and dry compartments are respective plurality of liquid entrance areas  25 . With respective plurality of wet compartments  11  and dry compartments  12 , users can activate the compressed tissue individually, either all at the same time or at different times. 
         [0023]    In yet another aspect, the pouch  10  can include a second wet compartment (not shown) which is placed adjacent to the first wet compartment  11 . The second wet compartment can be designated for drinkable liquid and the first wet compartment  11  can be designated as an activation liquid for the compressed tissue. The first wet compartment and second wet compartment are separately arranged from each other. Preferably, the liquids stored in the first wet compartment and second wet compartment is not in liquid communication with each other because users generally do not like the idea of their drinkable liquid “contaminated” by the compressed tissue. 
         [0024]    Liquids other than water can be used to fill to the first wet compartment  11  such as sterilized liquid, deodorization liquid, aroma containing liquid or any cosmetic containing liquid, and skin liquid treatment vitamins. 
         [0025]    Liquids storing in the second wet compartment may be water or any of drinkable liquids such as beverages, milk, vitamin-containing liquids, sex enhancement liquid, tea, coffee, beer, or the like. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a view showing a user  100  activating a compressed tissue stored in the pouch  10  according to an example of an embodiment of the invention. The user presses or squeezes the wet compartment  11  in which liquid  13  flows towards the liquid entrance area  25  and breaks through to the dry compartment  12 , thereby exposing the liquid to and activating the compressed tissue  14 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a view showing an activation of the compressed tissue  14  in a pouch  10  according to an example of an embodiment of the invention. An activated tissue  15  expands upward towards the perforated line  20 . The activated tissue  17  expands to the point where it tears or breaks the dry compartment  12  at the perforated line  20  and expands out of the dry compartment  12 , allowing the user to take the activated tissue  15  without putting his/her finger inside the dry compartment  12  and without the step of the user tearing the dry compartment  12 . Alternatively or additionally, the dry compartment can be torn from jagged edges adjacent to the dry compartment  12 . 
         [0028]    The activation liquid  13  for activating the compressed tissue may be water or any other liquid comprising chemical compounds for activating the compressed tissue  14  and for cleaning or other purposes. The followings are potential chemical used for the liquid of the pouch: Scented Freshener, Light Soap Cleanser, Moderate Soap Cleanser, Strong Soap Cleanser, Industrial Cleanser, Women&#39;s Make up Remover, Nail Polish Remover, Sea Salt Solution (Pedicure Treatment), Heavy Moisturizer Solution (Manicure &amp; Pedicure Treatment), Moisturizing Solution (Facial and Baby&#39;s Bottom), Light Degreaser Solution, Moderate Degreaser Solution, Light Anti Bacterial Solution, Moderate Anti Bacterial Solution, Strong Anti Bacterial Solution, Coagulating Solution, Medical Anti Microbial Solution or Emergency Medical Solutions etc. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a couple of views showing an expanded tissue  17  extends across a hand  100  of a consumer.  FIG. 5  is a view of another embodiment of the pouch  20  in which the compressed tissue  14  is replaced by a chemical compound  16  such as dissolvable powder. In use, the user presses or squeeze the wet compartment  11  in which liquid  13  flows towards the liquid entrance area  25  and breaks through to the dry compartment  12  to activate the chemical compound contained therein. To completely dissolve the compound, the user shakes the pouch  20  in conventional manners. A tearable weak line  30  at a corner or along an edge of the pouch is pre-set to ease tearing the pouch when the liquid mixture is prepared for use. The user may use the dissolved liquid, optionally, by a straw or pouring to a cup. 
         [0030]    The chemical compound  16  may be any of food supplements such as vitamins or the like, cosmetic compound, other drinking extracts such as orange juice powders, instant tees, instant coffee, cocoa powder, milk or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the pouch  20  can be used as a pre-cast compound package for broken bones. In this example, the dry compartment contains a compressed tissue with cast compounds. The cast compound  16  mixes with liquid  11 , which comes into contact with the expanding aqua tissue and forms a plaster cast. Tools  21  for preparing and applying the cast can be placed in a third compartment  19 . 
         [0031]    A wide variety of chemical compounds can be used for additional functions of the compressed tissue, such as hot/cool compressed tissues, and such chemicals are disclosed in the prior art. When the liquid is water, typical endothermic agents including sodium acetate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate etc. can be put in the compressed tissue compartment to cool the compressed tissue. Other exothermic agents can heat the compressed tissue by putting them in the compressed tissue cavity, such as calcium chloride, magnesium. They generate heat during dissolving into water. 
         [0032]    Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention, but not be limited to any of the specific features as described. All variations thereof come within the scope of the appended claims.