Abstract:
The instant invention provides a handheld device for cleaning surfaces. The improved device of this disclosure comprises a compartment for used wipes. This storage compartment is attachable to the bottom of the dispenser. The storage compartment may have a lid to open the compartment and empty the compartment. The storage compartment may also be fully detachable from the clean tissue unit and fully disposable. Alternatively the detached compartment may be emptied and reattached to the clean tissue unit.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of provisional application No. 61/062,190 filed on Jan. 24, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of wipe dispensers and wiping surfaces. More particularly the invention relates to a device containing storage for used wipes and allowing wiping without touching the wipe. Furthermore, the invention relates to an accessory device that can be attached to key chain, purse or any other convenient place. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,677, issued for the inventor of this application, provides a wipe dispensing device and a novel method for dispensing wipes where the user may hold the device by hand and clean the desired surface with the device without having to manually manipulate or enter into contact with the wipe itself until its disposal. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7, 014,062, provides a wipe dispenser that contains a storage unit for used wipes. The storage unit of this invention is either a chamber latched at the bottom of the dispenser with hinges or a zip-lock bag attached to the side of the dispenser. The container of this invention is rather bulky and does not allow carrying the container in every day situations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a device that is small and light enough to be attached to backpack, purse, keys, pants, stroller etc and thereby be suitable to be carried along in every day situations. There is a clear need for such small device to enable cleaning of surfaces without touching the wipes and storing the used wipes when there is no trash can available. 
         [0006]    The instant invention provides the needed device and method. The device according to this disclosure allows cleaning of surfaces without touching the wipes with hand. Moreover, the device according to the current disclosure is small and light and can be attached to backpack, purse, key chain, stroller, and so on. Thus, the instant invention provides a device that can be available in everyday life situations. The device according to the instant invention comprises a compartment for used wipes. This storage compartment is attachable to the bottom of the dispenser. The storage compartment may have a lid to open the compartment and empty the compartment. The storage compartment may also be fully detachable from the clean tissue unit and fully disposable. Alternatively the detached compartment may be emptied and reattached to the clean tissue unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows one preferred embodiment of the device. A. Front view of the devise. B. Detached storage compartment. The compartment can be reattached on the bottom of the device. C. Bottom view of the device. The slit opening on the storage compartment allows used wipes to be pushed through. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the device and detached storage compartment where a used wipe is pushed through slit opening on the bottom of the storage compartment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows another preferred embodiment of the device. A. Front view of the devise. B. Front view of the trash compartment. The compartment is open at the top and can be easily emptied and reattached to the clean wipe compartment by snapping or twisting the top of the trash compartment to the bottom of the clean wipe compartment. C. Front view of the trash compartment where a used wipe is pushed into the compartment through the slidable window. D. Bottom view of the trash compartment, where a button at the bottom is controlling opening of the sliding door. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4 . shows yet another preferred embodiment of the devise. A. Front view of the device. B. Front view of the trash compartment. C. Front view of the trash compartment where a used wipe is pushed in the compartment through a slidable window. D. Detached trash compartment with a closed top. The compartment is trashed once the compartment is full. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5 . shows still another preferred embodiment of the devise. A. Front view of the devise. B. Front view of the trash compartment. C. Front view of the trash compartment where a used wipe is pushed through a slit opening on the side of the storage compartment. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6  A and B shows the device attached to a key chain. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Most wipe dispensing devices present in the prior art are containers that have an opening, enabling the consumer to manually remove the wipe from said device and subsequently disinfect and/or clean the desired surface. Therefore, user must place the wipe into contact with his or her hand and with the surroundings before the cleaning process. Due to this manual contact, the disinfecting properties of a wipe may be altered, and the disinfecting and cleaning may not be effective as intended. Moreover, the dispensing devices known in the prior art do either not have a compartment for storing used wipes or they are bulky and big for allowing the user to carry the device along in everyday situations. 
         [0014]    The instant disclosure provides a light and small device that comprises a wipe dispenser that isolates the wipes from the exterior of the device and simultaneously allows cleaning without touching the wipe. The device also contains a detachable container for used wipes. Moreover, the invention according to the instant invention can be carried along by hanging the small device for example to a purse, backpack, keychain, pants. 
         [0015]    The wipe-dispensing device according to the instant invention comprises a dispenser or container that keeps wipes isolated from the exterior of the device. The wipes are kept in the inner compartment of the dispenser or container. The top or lid of the device isolates the wipes in the inner compartment from the exterior. This top or lid also secures the container from air, and seals the interior and exterior compartments of the device. The wipes are exposed when user manually presses a button on the lid or activate a sliding door, which in turn shall expose the wiping surface of the wipe inside of the container. Therefore, the rest of the wipes are not exposed to the exterior, only the wipe that is in use. User may manually handle the device, expose the wipe for cleaning the desired surface, and thereafter user may pull the used wipe and detach it from the device by tearing off with a cutter slot on a side of the device. The structure of the basic device is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,677, issued to the instant inventor and the patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0016]    The improved device according to this discloser additionally contains a compartment for used wipes  1 . This compartment is attached to the bottom of the clean wipe compartment  2  and is easily detachable by twisting or snapping from the clean wipe compartment. According to one embodiment of the improved device, this storage compartment has a lid  3  that can be opened to empty the storage at the convenience of the user ( FIG. 1 ). The lid may also contain a slit opening  4  through which the user can push used wipes into the storage space ( FIGS. 1  B and C). Alternatively a slidable window  6  locates on a wall of the storage compartment ( FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) and the window can be opened by manually sliding it. Alternatively the door is opened and closed by a mechanism controlled by a button  7  at the bottom of the storage compartment ( FIG. 3  D). According to one preferred embodiment used wipes are pushed through a slit opening  4  on the side of the storage compartment ( FIG. 5 ) According to another preferred embodiment of the improved device, the storage compartment has an open top  8  and the compartment is twisted or snapped to the bottom of the clean wipe compartment ( FIG. 3 ). Once the storage compartment is full, it can be twisted or snapped off and emptied from its open top. According to yet another embodiment, the storage compartment has a solid top  9 , and it is detachable from the clean wipe compartment by twisting or snapping ( FIG. 4 ). Once the compartment is full, it is snapped or twisted off and discarded as such. According to this embodiment, the trash compartment is made of material degradable in the nature. Once the full storage compartment is detached a new empty compartment can be attached to the clean wipe compartment. The device also has a clip or holder  10  to attach the device to key chain, belt clip, purse or any other convenient place ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0017]    The advantages of the improved device according to this disclosure include the portability of the device, detachable compartment for used wipes, a lid to empty the storage compartment, or alternatively an open-top trash compartment for easy emptying, or still alternatively a storage compartment that can be trashed when full. An opening to allow pushing the used wipes through into the storage compartment may be a slidable window or slit opening. Moreover, the instant disclosure provides a device that is small and light enough to be carried along. For this purpose, the disclosure provides a clip or hook in the device to attach it to key chain, belt clip or any other convenient place. 
         [0018]    The improved device according to this disclosure can be made from any suitable material. A person skilled in the art will understand that invention according to this disclosure may be conducted with various changes without dividing from the idea of this invention.