U.S. patent application number 10/463037 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for reusable personal-care kit.
This patent application is currently assigned to Prestige & Creation, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jasper, Claudette Marie, Jasper, Rino.
Application Number | 20040256283 10/463037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33517027 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040256283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jasper, Rino ; et
al. |
December 23, 2004 |
Reusable personal-care kit
Abstract
A reusable personal-care kit is provided that is compact,
lightweight, organized, and restockable. A preferred embodiment of
the reusable personal-care kit invention includes a cover, a
foldable carrier forming a plurality of pouches capable of carrying
personal-care products, with the carrier connected to the cover,
and at least one personal-care product sachet removably held in at
least one of the pouches.
Inventors: |
Jasper, Rino; (Houston,
TX) ; Jasper, Claudette Marie; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES J. ROGERS
910 TRAVIS ST
2400 BANK ONE CENTER
HOUSTON
TX
77002
US
|
Assignee: |
Prestige & Creation,
Inc.
P.O. Box 940325
Houston
TX
77094-7325
|
Family ID: |
33517027 |
Appl. No.: |
10/463037 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 ;
206/823 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0054 20130101;
A45C 11/008 20130101; A45C 2011/007 20130101; A45D 37/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 ;
206/823 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reusable personal-care kit, the kit comprising: a cover; a
foldable carrier forming a plurality of pouches capable of carrying
personal-care products, the carrier connected to the cover; and at
least one personal-care sachet removably held in at least one of
the pouches.
2. The kit of claim 1 further including a means for closing the
cover around the folded carrier.
3. The kit of claim 1 further including means for attaching
non-sachet personal-care products within the cover.
4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
5. The kit of claim 2 further including means for attaching
non-sachet personal-care products within the cover.
6. The kit of claim 2 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
7. The kit of claim 3 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
8. The kit of claim 5 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
9. A reusable personal-care kit system, the system comprising: a
cover; a foldable carrier forming a plurality of pouches capable of
carrying personal-care products, the carrier connected to the
cover; at least one personal-care sachet removably held in at least
one of the pouches; and a dispenser capable of storing
personal-care product sachets.
10. The kit of claim 9 further including a means for closing the
cover around the folded carrier.
11. The kit of claim 9 further including means for attaching
non-sachet personal-care products within the cover.
12. The kit of claim 9 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
13. The kit of claim 10 further including means for attaching
non-sachet personal-care products within the cover.
14. The kit of claim 10 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
15. The kit of claim 11 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
16. The kit of claim 13 wherein the carrier further includes
informational indicia thereon.
17. A method of carrying personal-care products, the method
comprising the steps of: providing a reusable personal-care kit
comprising: a cover; a foldable carrier forming a plurality of
pouches capable of carrying personal-care products, the carrier
connected to the cover; and at least one personal-care sachet
removably held in at least one of the pouches; removing at least
one of the personal-care sachets for use; and restocking the
personal-care kit by inserting at least one replacement
personal-care sachet in at least one of the pouches.
18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of carrying
at least one non-sachet personal-care product in the personal-care
kit.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the restocking step includes
dispensing the replacement personal-care sachet from a sachet
dispenser.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the restocking step includes
dispensing the replacement personal-care sachet from a sachet
dispenser.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to personal-care
kits and more particularly to a portable lightweight kit for
repeatedly carrying mono-doses of consumer products such as
cosmetics and toiletries and other personal-care items.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In today's fast paced and mobile world, many people are
often away from home on a near daily basis and need personal-care
products available. Whether a person is at the gym, athletic club,
spa, on a day or weekend trip, or on a longer adventure, it is a
common desire to have personal-care products readily at hand. It is
also desired to reduce the "luggage" carried when away from home.
It is further desired to carry the personal-care products without
leakage and in an organized manner for quick access.
[0003] Heretofore, these desires have not been satisfied except by
the most prepared and organized of individuals. First, reduced
sized containers of personal-care products are often hard to
locate. Second, resealable containers often leak, especially in air
travel. Next, it is difficult to maintain the varying size and type
containers in an organized and compact manner. Many of these
reduced sized containers are not transparent, and therefore may
often result in the unpleasant occasion of opening the container to
find that there is no personal-care product contained. One common
way to address the above desires has been to contain one's
personal-care products in a rib and groove, resealable plastic bag.
This method of storage and organization at least contains any
leaked product within the sealed bag. However, the leaked material
also coats all of the other items contained in the sealable
bag.
[0004] Attempts to solve the above problems have been addressed
with limited and often relatively expensive results. Prior art
solutions include a booklet having a foldable interior section.
Sections of the booklet having a mono-dose packet of a
personal-care product attached by an adhesive. These prior art
booklets are not reusable, thus requiring the purchase of a new
booklet for each use even if all of the supplied product has not
been used. An additional drawback to these prior art booklets is
their limited use. For example, a booklet may only contain facial
products and ignore hair care products. Additionally, these prior
art devices cannot be personalized for each individual user.
[0005] It is thus a desire to provide a reusable personal-care kit
that overcomes the drawbacks previously described. It is a further
desire to provide a reusable personal-care kit that is compact,
lightweight, and can be individually personalized. It is a still
further desire to provide a reusable personal-care kit that
includes pouches for repeatedly holding personal-care sachets. It
is a still further desire to provide a reusable personal-care kit
that may carry non-sachet personal-care products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the foregoing and other considerations, the
present invention relates to travel kits.
[0007] It is a benefit of the present invention to provide a
compact, lightweight, reusable personal-care kit.
[0008] It is a further benefit of the present invention to provide
a reusable personal-care kit that includes pouches for repeatedly
carrying mono-dose personal-care product sachets.
[0009] It is a still further benefit of the present invention to
provide a reusable personal-care kit that can be individualized by
a user.
[0010] Accordingly, a reusable personal-care kit is provided that
is compact, lightweight, organized, and restockable. The reusable
personal-care kit preferably includes a cover, a foldable carrier
forming a plurality of pouches capable of carrying personal-care
products, with the carrier connected to the cover, and at least one
personal-care product sachet removably held in at least one of the
pouches.
[0011] The reusable personal-care kit may have various types of
personal-care product sachets contained in the various pouches of
the carrier. Each pouch may also contain one or more personal-care
product sachets. Larger capacity reusable personal-care kits may
also include longer and/or additional carriers.
[0012] Personal-care sachets may be obtained in various manners
from various sources to restock the reusable personal-care kit with
desired personal-care products. It may be desired to obtain
personal-care sachets from a dispenser that may be kept at home or
the office for quick and easy restocking. An example of a dispenser
that may be utilized is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,526.
[0013] The reusable personal-care kit may also be adapted for
carrying non-sachet personal-care products including nail files,
nail clippers, combs, eyeliners, massacre, lip stick, calling
cards, and other types of emergency-use cards or membership cards.
These non-sachet personal-care products may be held in the pouches
of the carrier, or connected by an attachment mechanism to the
cover. A preferred attachment mechanism is by cutting parallel,
spaced lines along the cover to form a loop by one section of the
cover. Other mechanisms such as, but not limited to, elastic loops,
pockets, and the like may be utilized.
[0014] It may also be desired to close the cover about the carrier
to reduce the size of the personal-care kit. It may further be
desired to close the cover about the carrier to prevent any loose
personal-care products, whether sachet or non-sachet, from being
separated from the reusable personal-care kit. Various mechanisms
for closing the cover around the carrier may be utilized.
[0015] The reusable personal-care kit may also include other
information displayed in the form of indicia on the carrier or
cover. The indicia may include, but is not limited to, advertising,
information about personal-care products, travel tips, time zone
information, and travel phone numbers. The indicia may define
spaces for filling in individual user information.
[0016] The foregoing has outlined the features and technical
advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed
description of the invention which follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The foregoing and other features and aspects of the present
invention will be best understood with reference to the following
detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention,
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the reusable personal-care kit invention shown in an open
position;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the
reusable personal-care kit invention shown in a closed position;
and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sachet dispenser of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not
necessarily shown to scale, and like or similar elements are
designated by the same reference numeral throughout the several
views.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the reusable personal-care kit of the present invention shown in an
open position, generally designated by the numeral 10. Reusable
personal-care kit 10 includes a cover 12, a personal-care product
carrier 14, and personal-care product sachets 22.
[0023] Cover 12 is desirably constructed in the form of a book
cover having a spine 16 interconnecting a front board 18 and a back
board 20. Cover 12 as shown is constructed of a plastic such as,
but not limited to, polypro polyvinyl chloride. However, cover 12
may be constructed of other material including paper, card stock,
fabric, and leathers.
[0024] Personal-care product carrier 14 includes a plurality of
pouches 24 adapted for reuseably carrying personal-care products,
which are generally designated by the numeral 22. Pouches 24 are
specifically adapted for carrying at least one personal-care
product sachet 22. Personal-care product sachets 22 are desirably
mono-dose containers of personal-care products such as, but not
limited to, shampoo, hair conditioner, hair styling products,
colognes, cleaning wipes, facial products, lotions, powder, and
vitamins. Each sachet 22 is sealed to prevent leakage and preserve
the contained product. Pouches 24 may also hold other non-sachet
personal-care products 22a such as, but not limited to, eye makeup,
nail clippers, tweezers, nail files, varying types of credit cards
and prepaid cards, containers of vinegar, and the like.
[0025] Personal-care product carrier 14 is an elongated member
foldable in an accordion fashion along transverse sides 30 forming
a plurality of sections 26. In this detailed description,
personal-care product carrier 14 is constructed of a heavy paper
material. However, other materials of construction may be utilized.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, alternating
sections 26 form pouches 24.
[0026] Carrier 14 is divided into multiple sections 26. In the
preferred embodiment, carrier 14 is divided into six sections
designated as 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, and 26f. Each of the
sections is divided from the others by transverse side 30. Each
transverse side 30 is also an axis for folding carrier 14. For
structural support in a preferred embodiment, pouches 24 are formed
by alternating sections 26. In a preferred embodiment, the first
section 26a forms a pouch 24 and the distal section 26f, not
directly connected to cover 12, does not form a pouch 24.
[0027] A method of constructing a preferred embodiment of
personal-care product carrier 14 includes the following steps: 1)
folding an elongated sheet of material along a longitudinal axis
forming closed bottom side 32, wherein the two edges 28a of the
material parallel to the longitudinal axis are substantially
aligned; 2) adhering sides 28 perpendicular to bottom side 32
together; 3) dividing carrier 14 into several substantially equal
area sections by transverse sides 30; 4) folding carrier along
transverse lines 30 to further define sections 26; and 5) cementing
carrier 14 together in a manner such that alternating sections 26
form pouches 24 that are substantially closed on three sides. In
the preferred embodiment, six sections are formed-sections 26a,
26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, and 26f. Section 26a is an end section forming
a pouch and directly connected to cover 12. Section 26f is an end
section distal from section 26a, and is closed so as not to form a
pouch 24. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, sections 24a, 24c,
and 24e form pouches 24, and sections 24b, 24d, and 24f do not form
pouches 24. The front 34 and back 36 of each section 26 may include
indicia 33, and possibly designs to provide information and
aesthetic value to reusable personal-care kit 10. Indicia 33 may
include information such as a description and recommended method of
use of personal-care products, product manufacturer information,
advertising material, and spaces for an individual user to
personalize personal-care kit 10 with desired information.
[0028] Personal-care product carrier 14 is connected to cover 12 in
a manner to be folded and contained within cover 12 to a position
extending out from cover 12. As shown, personal-care product
carrier 14 is connected along a back side 36 of a section 26a to
back board cover 20 by an adhesive. However, personal-care product
carrier 14 may be connected to cover 12 in other locations and in
other manners. For example, personal-care product carrier 14 may be
removably connected to cover 12. Additionally, it should be
recognized that personal-care product carrier 14 may be oriented in
a manner to be extendable from cover 14 perpendicular to spine 16,
as shown, or parallel to spine 16.
[0029] Cover 12 may also include a closing mechanism 38 to enclose
the folded personal-care product carrier 14 within cover 12 in a
compact manner. Closing mechanism 38, as shown, includes a tab 38a
extending from a portion of cover 12 adapted for insertion into a
slot 38b formed on another portion of cover 12. Closing mechanism
38 may be formed in numerous alternative manners including, but not
limited to, clasps, snaps, zippers, hook and loop, rib and groove,
and ties.
[0030] Reusable personal-care kit 10 may be adapted to carry
additional non-sachet personal-care products 22a that are not
contained in pouches 24. FIG. 1 shows an eye liner 22a held by an
attachment mechanism 40, demonstrated by a loop, connected to cover
back board 20 within cover 12. In a preferred embodiment,
attachment mechanism 40 is a loop formed by cutting parallel,
spaced lines in cover 12. Personal-care product 22 may include
numerous types of non-sachet, personal-care products 22a. Cover 12
may include attachment mechanisms 40 in various locations within
cover 12 for additional storage of non-sachet personal-care
products 22a. Alternative attachment mechanisms 40 may be
utilized.
[0031] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the
reusable personal-care kit 10 invention shown in the closed
position. Carrier 14 is folded and contains both personal-care
sachets 22 and non-sachet 22a personal-care products disposed
within pouches 24. One of the sealed foil personal-care sachets 22
includes a shampoo and another one of the shown sachets 22 contains
hair conditioner. The non-sachet personal-care product 22a carried
in a pouch 24 is a pre-paid calling card.
[0032] FIG. 2 additionally shows two additional non-sachet
personal-care products 22a carried by cover 12. One of the cover
carried non-sachet personal care products 22a is a nail clipper
that is connected to an interior of back board cover 20. The other
shown carried non-sachet personal-care product 22a is eyeliner
attached to spine 16 of cover 12. Each of the cover carried
non-sachet personal-care products is removably held by attachment
mechanism 40, which is shown as a loop formed by cutting parallel,
spaced lines in cover 12. Attachment mechanism 40 may include other
means of attachment including, but not limited to, elastic band
loops, pockets, and the like.
[0033] Reusable personal-care kit 10 is closed utilizing a closing
mechanism 38. The closing mechanism 38 shown in FIG. 2 is that of
FIG. 1 utilizing a tab 38b and a slot 38a. It is reiterated that
closing mechanism 38 may include numerous manners of securing cover
12 in a closed relationship with carrier 14.
[0034] Reusable personal-care kit 10 may be continuously reused by
reloading with personal-care products 22. Reusable personal-care
kit 10 may be continuously used with non-sachet personal-care
products 22a such as nail clippers and the like, and/or restocked
with sachets 22 after each use. In furtherance of the convenience
and ease of use, the reusable personal-care kit 10 may include a
sachet dispenser.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
sachet dispenser of the present invention, generally designated by
the numeral 42. Sachet dispenser 42 may contain individual sachets
22 for ejection through slot 44. An individual may maintain one or
more sachet dispensers 42, each containing a personal-care product
sachet 22. In this manner, an individual can dispense one or more
sachets 22 to restock pouches 24.
[0036] A manner of use of re-usable personal-care kit 10 is
described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. A user obtains a
reusable personal-care kit 10 containing a plurality of
personal-care product sachets 22. Reusable personal-care kit 10 may
be distributed as a consumer product and/or as a promotional item.
The user utilizes some or all of the pouches 24 to contain at least
one sachet 22, and may include more than one personal-care sachet
22 in a pouch 24. After each use, the user may obtain additional
personal-care sachets 22 from dispenser 42 or other source for
restocking in pouches 24. Reusable personal-care kit 10 may further
include continuous use, non-sachet personal-care items 22a. The
present invention provides a compact, organized, reusable mechanism
for carrying personal-care items.
[0037] From the foregoing detailed description of specific
embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent that a reusable
personal-care kit that is novel has been disclosed. Although
specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in
some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of
describing various features and aspects of the invention, and is
not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the
invention. It is contemplated that various substitutions,
alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to
those implementation variations which may have been suggested
herein, may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims which follow.
* * * * *