U.S. patent application number 10/196901 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-23 for container with scented interior.
Invention is credited to Dobbs, John Brandon, Dobbs, Robert Ashley.
Application Number | 20030014901 10/196901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26892368 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030014901 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dobbs, John Brandon ; et
al. |
January 23, 2003 |
Container with scented interior
Abstract
A container and method for storing and imparting a scent to an
object. The container having an outer layer formed to define an
object receiving space and fabricated of a moisture and gas barrier
material. The container further having an inner layer having a
scent incorporated therein such that, upon an object being disposed
in the object receiving space, the scent of the inner layer is
imparted to the object while the outer layer serves as a barrier to
prevent surrounding objects from being contaminated with the
scent.
Inventors: |
Dobbs, John Brandon;
(Dallas, TX) ; Dobbs, Robert Ashley; (Richardson,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUNLAP, CODDING & ROGERS P.C.
PO BOX 16370
OKLAHOMA CITY
OK
73114
US
|
Family ID: |
26892368 |
Appl. No.: |
10/196901 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60306051 |
Jul 17, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
43/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 97/045 20130101;
A01K 97/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
43/55 |
International
Class: |
A01K 097/04; A01K
097/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A container, comprising: an outer layer formed to define an
object receiving space, the outer layer fabricated of a moisture
and gas barrier material and having an outer surface and an inner
surface; and an inner layer positioned on at least a portion of the
inner surface of the outer layer, the inner layer having a scent
incorporated therein such that, upon an object being disposed in
the object receiving space, the scent of the inner layer is
imparted to the object while the outer layer serves as a barrier to
prevent surrounding objects from being contaminated with the
scent.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is laminated to
the inner layer.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is provided
with an access opening.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein outer layer has a closure
member for selectively opening and closing the access opening.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein each of the outer layer and the
inner layer is fabricated of a flexible material.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is provided
with at least one hole to permit the container to be secured in a
ring binder carrying case.
7. A container for storing a fish bait, comprising: an outer layer
formed to define an object receiving space, the outer layer
fabricated of a moisture and gas barrier material and having an
outer surface and an inner surface; and an inner layer positioned
on at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer layer, the
inner layer having a fish attractant scent incorporated therein
such that, upon a fish bait being disposed in the object receiving
space, the fish attractant scent of the inner layer is imparted to
the fish bait while the outer layer serves as a barrier to prevent
surrounding objects from being contaminated with the fish
attractant scent.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein the outer layer is laminated to
the inner layer.
9. The container of claim 7 wherein the outer layer is provided
with an access opening.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein outer layer has a closure
member for selectively opening and closing the access opening.
11. The container of claim 7 wherein each of the outer layer and
the inner layer is fabricated of a flexible material.
12. The container of claim 7 wherein the outer layer is provided
with at least one hole to permit the container to be secured in a
ring binder carrying case.
13. A container in combination with a fish bait, the container
comprising: an outer layer formed to define an object receiving
space in which the fish bait is disposed, the outer layer
fabricated of a moisture and gas barrier material and having an
outer surface and an inner surface; and an inner layer positioned
on at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer layer, the
inner layer having a fish attractant scent incorporated therein
such that the fish attractant scent of the inner layer is imparted
to the fish bait disposed in the object receiving space of the
outer layer while the outer layer serves as a barrier to prevent
surrounding objects from being contaminated with the fish
attractant scent.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the outer layer is
laminated to the inner layer.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the outer layer is provided
with an access opening.
16. The combination of claim 15 wherein outer layer has a closure
member for selectively opening and closing the access opening.
17. The combination of claim 13 wherein each of the outer layer and
the inner layer is fabricated of a flexible material.
18. The combination of claim 13 wherein the outer layer is provided
with at least one hole to permit the container to be secured in a
ring binder carrying case.
19. A method of storing and imparting a scent to an object,
comprising: providing a container having an outer layer fabricated
of a moisture and gas barrier material and an inner layer having a
scent incorporated therein; opening the-container; positioning the
object in the container; and closing the container to encapsulate
the object in the container whereby the object is stored in the
container and the scent of the inner layer is imparted to the
object while the outer layer serves as a barrier to prevent
surrounding objects from being contaminated with the scent.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein in the step of providing the
container each of the outer layer and the inner layer is fabricated
of a flexible material.
21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of securing
the container to a ring binder carrying case.
22. A method of storing and imparting a scent to a fish bait,
comprising: providing a container having an outer layer fabricated
of a moisture and gas barrier material and an inner layer having a
fish attractant scent incorporated therein; opening the container;
positioning the fish bait in the container; and closing the
container to encapsulate the fish bait in the container whereby the
fish bait is stored in the container and the fish attractant scent
of the inner layer is imparted to the fish bait while the outer
layer serves as a barrier to prevent surrounding objects from being
contaminated with the fish attractant scent.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein in the step of providing the
container each of the outer layer and the inner layer is fabricated
of a flexible material.
24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of securing
the container to a ring binder carrying case.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/306,051, filed Jul. 17, 2001, which is
expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is generally related to a container,
and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved
container having a scented interior for dispersing a scent on an
object stored in the container.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of Related Art
[0005] "Fish attractants" are scented compositions applied to fish
baits in an effort to stimulate fish into keeping the bait in its
mouth for a longer period of time after they have taken the bait.
The fish attractants are typically in the form of a liquid, gel,
paste, or solid and applied to the bait by the angler prior to
casting the bait into the water.
[0006] One of the problems experienced when using fish attractants
is the mess associated when applying the fish attractant to the
bait. In the process of applying fish attractant to the bait, some
of the fish attractant also gets applied to the angler's hands and
clothing leaving the angler with an unpleasant odor. In addition,
during the application process, a significant portion of the fish
attractant is wasted in that an excess amount of the fish
attractant is often applied to the fish bait.
[0007] To this end, a need exists for a container for storing fish
baits which will disperse a fish attractant scent onto the fish
bait when the fish bait is stored within the container. It is to
such a container that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed in
accordance with the present invention shown in an open state.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1
shown in a closed state with a fish bait shown disposed therein
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 2, a container 10 constructed in accordance with the
present invention is shown. The container 10 is adapted for storing
a fish bait 11, such as a plastic fishing lure, and imparting a
fish attractant scent to the fish bait 11 thereby eliminating the
need of a fisherman having to repeatedly apply a fish attractant to
the fish bait 11.
[0012] The container 10 is shown herein to be in the form of a
flexible bag having a sidewall 12, an access opening 14, and a
closed lower end 16. The sidewall 12 is characterized as having an
outer surface 18 and an inner surface 20 and comprises a first side
22 and a second side 24. The container 10 is shown in an open state
in FIG. 1 and in a closed state in FIG. 2. In the open state, the
fish bait may be disposed in an object receiving space 26 (FIG. 3)
of the container 10. The object receiving space 26 is surrounded by
the inner surface 20 of the sidewall 12 and is accessible through
the access opening 14 of the container 10. A portion of the closed
lower end 16 of the container 10 may be inwardly folded to form one
or more gussets (not shown).
[0013] In the open state, the container 10 may be straight, tapered
or may assume various shapes and configurations, such as
cylindrical, frusto-conical, coniform, and combinations thereof, so
long as the container 10 functions in accordance with the present
invention in the manner described herein.
[0014] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the container 10 includes an
inner scented layer 28 and an outer barrier layer 30 which is
laminated to the inner scented layer 28 so that a scent
incorporated in the inner scented layer 28, and depicted in FIG. 3
by dispersing lines 31, is encapsulated within the container 10
when the container 10 is in the closed state (FIGS. 2 and 3). In
one embodiment, a scented compound, suitable for use as a fish
attractant, is blended with a polymeric material, such as a low
density polyethylene, at a ratio of about 10 to about 40 weight
percent. The mixture is then extruded into a film having a
thickness in a range from about four mils to about ten mils using a
blown film process or any other conventional film extruding
process, such as cast film extrusion or thin film extrusion. The
resulting film is then folded, cut, and sealed to provide the
desired size and shape of the container.
[0015] The outer barrier layer 30 is laminated to the inner scented
layer 28 in a conventional manner such as by heat sealing or other
conventional film laminating methods. A closure member 32 is next
applied to the access opening 14 of the container 10 to permit the
container 10 to be selectively opened and closed. The closure
member 32 is shown to be a zipper type closure; however, the
closure member 32 can also be adhesive, tape, ties, or a
combination thereof. Finally, a plurality of spaced apart openings
34 are formed near the closed lower end 16 of the container 10 to
permit the container 10 to be secured in a ring binder carrying
case (not shown). Each of the holes 34 may be reinforced with a
grommet 36.
[0016] The scented compound used in forming the inner scented layer
28 can be any scented compound suitable for film extrusion. A
suitable compound is available from RTP Company and is referred to
as RTP 799 X 93511 B SS-94537 garlic compound. Besides garlic,
other scents or fragrances which are commonly used as fish
attractants include shad, crawfish, anise, and salt, by way of
example.
[0017] The inner scented layer 28 has been described as being
fabricated of a low density polyethylene. However, it will be
appreciated that the inner scented layer 28 may also be fabricated
of other polymeric materials including high density polyethylene
(HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), oriented
polypropylene (OPP), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), cast
polypropylene (CPP), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl choride
(PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), ethylene vinyl alcohol
(EVOH), polystyrene (PS), or polyethylene terephthlate (PET). Also,
synthetic polymers such as polypropylene or polyethylene as well as
naturally occurring polymers such as cellophane could be used
depending on the properties desired for the container 10.
[0018] The outer barrier layer 30 is fabricated of a suitable
moisture and gas barrier material, such as a foil or a
nanocomposite plastic film.
[0019] In use, a fisherman selects the container 10 having the
desired inner scented layer. The fisherman then opens the container
10 and places the fish bait 11 into the container 10 and closes the
container 10 with the closure member 32. While the fishing bait 11
is disposed in the container 10, the scent 31 disperses from the
inner scented layer 28 and is imparted to the fish bait 11 which
absorbs the scent 31 thereby ensuring that fish bait 11 has a
continuous application of fish attractant. While the fish bait 11
is absorbing the scent 31 in the inner retaining space 20 of the
container 10, the outer barrier layer 14 prevents surrounding
objects from being contaminated with the scent 31 and thus
eliminates the mess and unpleasant odor typically associated with
fish attractants.
[0020] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the container 10 can be formed with a variety of different
scents whereby the container 10 can be used for storing a variety
of different objects to which it is desirable to apply a scent,
whether the scent be generally pleasant or unpleasant. For example,
a container constructed in accordance with the present invention
can be utilized to store objects such as potpourri.
[0021] It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in
the art that the inventive concept need not be limited to a bag
structure, but a container having an inner scented layer and an
outer barrier layer can be formed of a thermoplastic material
whereby the container includes a relatively rigid tub portion and a
corresponding lid portion. The tub portion can be formed to have an
inner scented layer and an outer barrier layer whereby objects can
be placed in the tub portion and covered with the lid portion so
that the scent of the inner scented layer is absorbed by the
contents of the container while the objects are sealed in the
container.
[0022] From the above description, it is clear that the present
invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain
the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the
invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be
understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily
suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are
accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and
claimed.
* * * * *