U.S. patent application number 11/354607 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for disposable treated bag.
Invention is credited to Eugene Lee Tresenfeld.
Application Number | 20070189643 11/354607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38368559 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070189643 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tresenfeld; Eugene Lee |
August 16, 2007 |
Disposable treated bag
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.
Inventors: |
Tresenfeld; Eugene Lee;
(Eugene, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RISTO A. RINNE, JR.;COMPLETE PATENTING SERVICES
2173 EAST FRANCISCO BOULEVARD, SUITE E
SAN RAFAEL
CA
94901
US
|
Family ID: |
38368559 |
Appl. No.: |
11/354607 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/105 ; 383/63;
383/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 7/00 20130101; B65F
1/0006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/105 ;
383/063; 383/071 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/00 20060101
B65D033/00; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16 |
Claims
1. A disposable treated bag, comprising: (a) a bag that if formed
of a flexible material and which includes an opening to allow
access to an interior of said bag, said bag including a size and
shape suitable for containing an object therein; and (b) a
substance that is applied to an interior surface of said bag, said
substance including an ingredient that includes a treatment for
said bag.
2. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said flexible
material includes a film-like material.
3. The disposable treated bag of claim 2 wherein said film-like
material includes a plastic.
4. The disposable treated bag of claim 2 wherein said film-like
material includes a Mylar.
5. The disposable treated bag of claim 2 wherein said film-like
material includes an elastomeric sheet.
6. The disposable treated bag of claim 2 wherein said flexible
material includes an impermeability sufficient to retain said
object and any contaminants that are attached to said object in
said bag.
7. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said opening
includes means for sealing said opening sufficient to retain said
object therein.
8. The disposable treated bag of claim 7 wherein said means for
sealing includes a press-to-close type of seal.
9. The disposable treated bag of claim 7 wherein said means for
sealing includes a twist-tie.
10. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said substance is
applied to a portion of said interior surface.
11. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said substance is
applied to all of said interior surface.
12. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said substance
includes an antiseptic.
13. The disposable treated bag of claim 12 wherein said antiseptic
includes an agent selected from the group consisting of
antibacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, germicidal, and
anti-viral agents.
14. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 wherein said substance
includes a lotion, a gel, or a powder.
15. The disposable treated bag of claim 14 wherein said substance
includes a hand-cleaner.
16. The disposable treated bag of claim 1 including an exterior
substance that is applied to an exterior surface of said bag, said
exterior substance including an ingredient that includes a
treatment for said bag.
17. The disposable treated bag of claim 16 wherein said exterior
substance includes a lotion, a gel, or a powder.
18. The disposable treated bag of claim 16 wherein said exterior
substance includes a hand-cleaner.
19. A disposable treated bag, comprising: (a) a bag that is formed
of a flexible film-like material and which includes an opening to
allow access to an interior of said bag, said bag including a size
and shape suitable for containing an object therein; (b) a first
substance that is applied to an interior surface of said bag, said
first substance including an ingredient that includes a treatment
for said bag; and (c) a second substance that is applied to an
interior surface of said bag, said second substance including an
ingredient that includes a treatment for said bag.
20. The disposable treated bag of claim 19 wherein said first
substance includes an antiseptic and wherein said second substance
includes a hand-cleaner.
21. A disposable treated bag, comprising: (a) a bag that if formed
of a flexible material and which includes an opening to allow
access to an interior of said bag, said bag including a size and
shape suitable for containing an object therein; and (b) a
substance that is applied to an exterior surface of said bag, said
substance including an ingredient that includes a treatment for
said bag.
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 20a, 20b 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 20a,
20b 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.
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