U.S. patent application number 11/650517 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-23 for sanitary collection and disposal device.
Invention is credited to Richard Scarpelli, Elizabeth Skelton.
Application Number | 20070192927 11/650517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38426571 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070192927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Skelton; Elizabeth ; et
al. |
August 23, 2007 |
Sanitary collection and disposal device
Abstract
This invention relates to a disposable device for handling,
collecting and disposing of odiferous, messy, unsanitary or
undesirable materials. More particularly, this invention is
directed to a device having a glove portion, a wrist portion and an
attached bag portion extending from the wrist portion, adapted for
use on either hand of a wearer, affording the wearer an enhanced
means of grasping and manipulating odiferous, messy, unsanitary or
undesirable materials or objects while avoiding contact with said
materials or objects.
Inventors: |
Skelton; Elizabeth; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Scarpelli; Richard; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Theresia C. Sandhu, Esq.;Law Office of Theresia C. Sandhu
145 George Street
San Jose
CA
95110
US
|
Family ID: |
38426571 |
Appl. No.: |
11/650517 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60755879 |
Jan 4, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/0075 20130101;
E01H 1/1206 20130101; E01H 2001/124 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/159 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Claims
1. A device for manipulation, containment and disposal of odiferous
messy, unsanitary or undesirable materials or objects having an
inner and an outer surface comprising: a glove portion having one
or more receptacles for receiving one or more digits of a human
hand and an upper portion; a wrist portion having an upper portion
and a lower portion contiguously attached to said upper portion of
said glove portion at said lower portion of said wrist portion; and
a bag portion having a base portion extending upwardly and
outwardly at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis along the
length of said device, from said wrist portion, and having an upper
portion, said upper portion having an opening.
2. The glove portion of claim 1 wherein said glove portion has a
single receptacle for the fourth and fifth digit of a wearer's hand
having a straight edge suitable for scraping and gathering
liquefied materials.
3. The wrist portion of claim 1 wherein said wrist portion is
comprised of an elastomeric material fitting a wearer's wrist.
4. The wrist portion of claim 1 wherein said wrist portion is
extends a minimum of one half inch from said upper portion of said
glove portion.
5. The bag portion of claim 1 wherein said bag portion extends a
minimum of six inches from said upper portion of said wrist
portion.
6. The angle of claim 1 wherein said angle is at least 15 degrees
from said longitudinal axis providing stiffness to said bag portion
to prevent said bag portion from flopping over onto said glove
portion when in use.
7. The opening of claim 1 wherein said opening is sufficient to
allow said bag portion to be reversed upon itself to capture said
wrist portion and said glove portion.
8. The opening of claim 1 wherein said opening is sufficient to
allow gathering of said upper portion of said bag portion to form
compressed strips for tying and for sealing after being reversed to
capture said wrist portion and said glove portion.
9. The Bag portion of claim 5 wherein said bag portion has a length
sufficient to allow said upper portion of said bag portion to be
tied into a knot for sealing after being reversed to capture said
wrist portion and said glove portion.
10. The bag portion of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said
bag portion is folded over upon itself to accept a string to allow
cinching said opening for containment of said glove portion and
said wrist portion and said odiferous messy, unsanitary or
undesirable materials or objects within.
11. A glove and bag combination for manipulation, containment and
disposal of odiferous messy, unsanitary or undesirable materials or
objects having an inner and an outer surface comprising a glove
portion, a wrist portion and a bag portion, the wrist portion of
sufficient size to afford support to and separation of the glove
portion from the bag portion, the bag portion extending upwardly
and outwardly from the wrist portion along the arm of the wearer,
having an open upper portion being of sufficient width and length
to allow the bag portion to be reversed upon itself enclosing the
wrist portion and glove portion and undesirable materials and
allowing the ends of the upper portion of the bag portion to be
grasped and tied into a secure knot or to allow the upper portion
of the bag portion to be looped about itself, forming a secure
knot, containing the undesirable materials therein.
12. The glove and bag combination of claim 11 being fabricated of a
disposable, environmentally safe material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Provisional Application No: 60/755879 Filed Jan. 4, 2006
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a disposable device for handling,
collecting and disposing of odiferous, messy, unsanitary or
undesirable materials. More particularly, this invention is
directed to a device having a glove portion, a wrist portion and an
attached bag portion extending beyond the wrist portion which is
adapted for use on either hand of a wearer, affording the wearer an
enhanced means of grasping and manipulating odiferous, messy,
unsanitary or undesirable materials or objects while avoiding
contact with said materials or objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Commonly, a glove, mitten or other protective gear is used
to protect a wearer's hand when the wearer desires to touch, grasp
or manipulate odiferous, messy, unsanitary or undesirable materials
or objects such as pet or human waste, oil or gasoline soaked rags,
rotted or rotting materials, dirty objects and the like. The wearer
grasps the material or object and places the material or object in
a bag or other container for disposal.
[0004] Disposable gloves or mittens are found in many applications
for protecting the wearer's hands. They are commonly seen in gas
stations, given out to patrons buying diesel fuel. Dog parks
frequently have boxes containing disposable mittens placed
strategically so that dog owners are encouraged to pick up
droppings.
[0005] However, the disposable mittens presently in use are
designed for the wearer to pick up the droppings and deposit them
into another container or bag. Moreover, the mitten design does not
allow the wearer sufficient flexibility to grasp the softer
droppings, resulting in a smeared mess and fecal matter left on the
ground or ground covering, essentially defeating the purpose for
which the mittens were intended, namely to remove the fecal matter
entirely.
[0006] Gloves used for cleaning are found in many varying
configurations. The glove itself commonly fits to the wearer's hand
snugly with five appendages for the digits of a wearer's hand.
Usually, the wrist portion of the glove is loose, usually to allow
the wearer to slip the glove on and off easily. Gloves with an
upper portion extending beyond the wearer's wrist are used in the
Veterinary field to protect the wearer's arm while the hand is
inserted into a larger animal's (bovine's) anus. The upper portion
of these gloves is not intended to contain any material which may
be withdrawn from the animal. Moreover, the upper portion of gloves
presently in use is either form fitting to the wearer's arm or, if
loose, tend to flop over onto the glove forcing the wearer to use
his or her other hand to adjust the upper portion.
[0007] Commonly, an individual faced with the unpleasant task of
handling an object such as a dead rodent will use any bag that
comes in handy such as a bag commonly used at grocery stores to bag
vegetables, inserting his hand into the bag, grasping the object
and reversing the bag to capture the object within the bag. The
hand is uncovered and the inverted bag is closed off, the upper
edges grasped and tied off for easy disposal of the bag and its
contents.
[0008] However, the common bag does not allow for manipulation of
the object. The edges of the bag flop onto the object, causing more
mess to adhere to the top of the bag, obviating the protective
aspect of the operation. Precise manipulation of the common bag to
grasp, contain and enclose a particularly fluid or large volume of
undesirable material is not possible. The opening of the bag is
large and is not easily gathered at the opening to contain the
object. Moreover the lack of control possible with a common bag
contributes to spillage, especially in the case of fluid or large
volumes of undesirable materials.
[0009] A wide variety of gloves and bags for holding materials are
known. However, these gloves and bags are not combined in an easily
manufacturable, cost efficient and usable way.
[0010] The present invention was designed to meet the need for a
device which would allow the user to efficiently, conveniently and
with confidence collect, manipulate, contain and dispose of a wide
variety of undesirable, messy, odiferous or voluminous
materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a glove and
bag combination (glove bag) allowing for manipulation, containment
and disposal of undesirable, unsanitary, odiferous or messy
materials such as animal or human fecal matter, rotted or rotting
materials, cleaning debris, oil spills or any material that when in
any contact with the wearer would produce an undesirable or
deleterious effect.
[0012] The above object is achieved in the present invention by
providing a glove and bag combination comprising a glove portion, a
wrist portion and a bag portion, the wrist portion of sufficient
size to afford support to and separation of the glove portion from
the bag portion, the bag portion extending from the wrist portion
to the mid forearm of the wearer, having an open upper portion
being of sufficient width and length to allow the ends of the upper
portion to be grasped and tied into a secure knot or to allow the
upper portion of the bag portion to be looped about itself, forming
a secure knot, containing the undesirable materials therein.
[0013] The wearer inserts either right or left hand into the glove
portion, manipulates and grasps the undesirable object or material
and while maintaining a grip on the undesirable object or material,
inverts the bag portion over the glove and wrist portion to form a
bag within which the glove portion, wrist portion and undesirable
object or material is contained. The wearer then withdraws his or
her hand from the glove portion and either grasps the opposing
edges of the upper bag portion, to tie them together in a knot, or
loops the upper portion of the bag portion around itself to form a
knot, completely enclosing the undesirable object or material,
creating a bag to be conveniently deposited in an appropriate
refuse container or receptacle for disposal.
[0014] An advantage of the invention is that the wearer's forearm
and elbow are protected by the invention, the bag portion of the
invention being of sufficient length to cover the wearer's forearm
and clothing, limiting contact with undesirable material or
materials.
[0015] The opening of the upper bag portion has an unadorned edge
but the edge may be folded over to enclose a string or other means
to draw the bag portion closed, containing the glove portion, the
wrist portion and the materials within the bag portion.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the bag portion
may vary in size and dimension according to an intended use. The
bag portion may be wide to accommodate the collection of bulky
items such as piles of oily or greasy rags. The bag portion may be
of a length extending to the wearer's mid forearm, allowing for the
containment of small amounts of undesirable materials such as pet
fecal matter. The bag portion may be long to afford extra
protection for a wearer's arm, possibly extending to the wearer's
shoulder for use in applications requiring extraction of materials
from deep within a messy area such as a bovine's anus. An object of
the invention is that the bag portion must be of a length to allow
for the containment of the undesirable materials and tying off the
bag portion opening.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, any size glove portion may be
paired with any size wrist portion and any size bag portion. For
example, a small glove portion may have a small wrist portion and a
medium sized bag portion. A large glove portion may have a medium
sized wrist portion and a small bag portion, and so on.
[0018] In the various permutations of glove sizes and bag portion
sizes, one glove portion size may be common to a variety of bag
portion sizes.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the device for handling,
collecting and disposing has a five-fingered glove portion which
may be form fitting to the wearer's hand extending to the wearer's
wrist, form fitting to the wearer's wrist. An object of the
invention is that the glove portion allow for manipulation of the
undesirable object or materials. The glove portion may be made in a
variety of sizes to fit small, medium and large right and left
hands. In a preferred embodiment, the bag portion is roughly a
square, the body of the bag portion extending outwardly from the
wrist portion at an obtuse angle thence forming a wide sleeve, the
length of which may extend past the wearer's elbow.
[0020] The bag portion size may vary from small to large depending
on the ultimate intended use of the invention (i.e. to contain a
large mound of fecal matter or to contain the tissues used to wipe
a baby's bottom.). In a preferred embodiment, the bag portion forms
one seamless piece from the tips of the digits of the glove portion
to the upper portion of the bag portion. In a preferred embodiment
the opening of the bag portion is wide enough to allow the ends of
the opening to be grasped and tied in a knot to contain the
undesirable materials in the bag portion. In a preferred embodiment
the length of the bag portion is sufficient to allow the upper
portion of the bag portion to be wrapped around itself to form a
knot which may be drawn tight upon itself to contain the
undesirable materials in the bag portion.
[0021] A novel feature of this invention is that the five fingers
of the glove portion allow the wearer to easily grasp the
undesirable materials while allowing the wearer to invert the
glove, allowing the undesirable materials to be deposited into and
contained by the bag portion.
[0022] An additional novel feature of the invention is that the
wrist portion conforms to the wearer's wrist, allowing a
comfortable fit while affording more space in the bag portion for
the storage of undesirable material by lessening the amount of
inverted glove material ultimately contained by the bag portion.
Most importantly, the form fitting wrist portion provides structure
and a support to the bag portion which prevents the bag portion
from folding or flopping over the glove portion, interfering with
the manipulation and grasping of the undesirable material by the
wearer.
[0023] A further novel feature of the invention is that the sides
of the bag portion are angled away from the wrist portion so as to
lend stiffness to the bag portion and to preclude the upper portion
of the bag portion from flopping over onto the glove portion. The
width of the opening of the upper portion of the bag portion is
sufficient to allow the inversion of the glove portion and wrist
portion to capture the undesirable object or material while being
small enough to not flop over onto the glove portion.
[0024] A further novel feature is that after the undesirable object
or material is grasped, the bag may be tied to contain the
undesirable object or material by grasping the edges of the bag
portion and folding the edges over to form a knot, securing the
contents within the bag which may then be disposed of.
[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the open top portion of the
bag portion may have a string, elastic or other means of securing
the top edges of the bag portion to the wearer's arm allowing
sufficient opening for the inversion of the bag portion over the
glove portion and the materials to be contained.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the invention is made of a
disposable material which may be clear or opaque with or without a
stamped, self embossed or printed pattern, logo or message in
attractive colors or black and white alone or in combination. The
invention may be made of materials in differing colors according to
the ultimate use (collection of pet fecal matter, household use,
medical or veterinary applications, cleaning oil spills, mopping up
odiferous or hazardous materials, etc.).
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the material used in making the
embodiments of the invention may be, in keeping with the
nature-friendly uses of the invention, be made of a completely
biodegradable plastic film containing cornstarch.
[0028] Embodiments of the invention may be easily manufactured by
stamping the outline of the invention onto two layers of commonly
available polyethylene plastic, preferably at least 1.25 mil thick
forming a seam around the glove portion, the wrist portion and the
bag portion, leaving the top of the bag portion open or operable so
that the wearer's hand may be inserted. Each layer of commonly
available polyethylene plastic may be from 1.25 mil thick up to 2.0
mil thick. The material may have anti-static properties which would
inhibit static from building up during the use of the invention and
having the undesirable effect of attracting bits of the undesirable
materials to the outside of the inverted bag.
[0029] The invention may be formed on a roll or packaged in boxes
to be extracted one at a time in the same manner as Kleenex
tissues. The box packaging may be 13'' long by 6'' wide by 1.5''
high to accommodate a supply of 50 or more individual glove bags of
a similar configuration.
[0030] A further advantage of the invention is that the wearer does
not come in contact with the undesirable substance upon removing
the invention from his or her hand. In the case of analogous art
gloves used in cleaning, the glove is customarily removed by the
wearer grasping the tips of the glove fingers with the wearer's
opposing hand and pulling the glove off the wearer's hand. The
wearer's opposing hand, if not protected, is exposed to the
undesirable materials. If the wearer's opposing hand is protected,
the act of pulling the glove off with the opposing gloved hand is
clumsy at best.
[0031] The invention may be removed with the opposing unprotected
hand by grasping the top edge of the bag portion, pulling the top
edge over the glove and wrist portions to form a bag enclosing the
glove and wrist portions and sliding the wearer's hand out of the
glove portion without the wearer touching the undesirable materials
enclosed by the bag portion.
[0032] If, the wearer chooses to remove the analogous art glove by
grasping the edges of the upper portion of the analogous art glove
and pulling it to remove the analogous art glove from the wearer's
hand while inverting the glove portion, the upper portion of the
analogous art glove, commonly fitting snug against the wearer's
forearm, is not deep or wide enough to enclose the undesirable
material.
[0033] A further advantage of the invention is that it is
disposable. Once the undesirable materials have been grasped, the
top edge of the bag portion pulled over the wrist and glove
portions, the wearer's hand removed from the glove portion and the
top edge of the bag portion tied in a knot containing the
undesirable materials, the entire invention and undesirable
materials may be disposed of in a clean and sanitary manner.
[0034] Analogous art gloves are ordinarily not disposable. If, the
wearer chooses to remove the analogous art glove by grasping the
edges of the upper portion of the analogous art glove and pulling
it to remove the analogous art glove from the wearer's hand while
inverting the glove portion, the analogous art glove must be turned
right side out if it is to be used a second time. The disadvantage
is that the wearer is forced to touch the surface of the analogous
art glove which has come in contact with the undesirable
materials.
[0035] A further advantage of the invention is that it may be
packaged in secondary containers for easy storage and use while
shopping, going for a walk (with a pet, a baby, or a small child),
traveling, moving from station to station in a hospital,
transporting to a crime scene, etc.
[0036] A further advantage of the invention is that it may be used
to provide added protection for dentists, veterinarians, doctors
and other health personnel and persons in occupations such as
tattoo and body art artists who make it a priority to avoid contact
with blood or other human or animal fluids. The invention may also
be used as a secondary glove over any other glove.
[0037] A further advantage of the invention is that morticians,
surgeons, coroners, crime scene investigators, animal control
officers, highway clean-up crews and other such personnel may use
the invention to safely grasp, enclose and dispose of articles such
as human or animal body parts, soiled clothes or clothing,
decomposed or decomposing materials and the like.
[0038] A further advantage is that the invention may be used to bag
groceries that are wet (i.e. vegetables) or messy (i.e. packaged
meats leaking meat juices). The wearer merely puts on the
invention, grasps the item and inverts the bag portion of the
invention over the glove and wrist portion to contain the item
(vegetable, package of meat, etc.) and ties the open edges of the
bag portion closed. Ordinary disposable bags found in grocery
vegetable sections require that the item be first grasped and
inserted into the bag, or if the bag is used as a "glove", that the
item be grasped using the bag as a "glove". As noted above, the bag
over the hand limits dexterity and contributes to spillage.
[0039] Further scope of the applicability of the present invention
will become apparent from the detailed description provided. It
should be understood, however, that the detailed description and
specific examples while indicting preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0040] While the invention is directed to the art of disposable
gloves and containment bags, and will be described with specific
reference thereto, it will be appreciated that this invention may
have usefulness in other fields and applications
[0041] The scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the
examples given.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Other
features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent in the following detailed description with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 3a shows the invention
[0046] FIG. 3b shows the invention in use picking up fecal
matter.
[0047] FIG. 3c shows the invention being removed from the wearer's
arm and hand.
[0048] FIG. 3d shows the invention being removed from the wearer's
arm and hand.
[0049] FIG. 3e shows the invention inverted to form a bag enclosing
the wearer's hand and the fecal matter.
[0050] FIG. 3f shows the inverted invention tied off.
[0051] FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0052] Referring to FIG. 1 the present invention having an inner
surface 11 and an outer surface 12 comprises a glove portion 1, a
wrist portion 2 having a lower edge 3 and an upper edge 4 , and a
bag portion 5 having an base portion 6, an upper section 7 and an
outer edge 8. In a preferred embodiment, Glove portion 1 having
five digits, may be loosely fitted to a wearer's hand, having a
size sufficient to allow the wearer to easily manipulate the
undesirable materials or objects to be grasped or moved.
Embodiments of the invention may include glove portions having
fewer than five digits. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the
glove portion 1 may be "small", "Medium" and "Large", allowing for
use by wearers with a range of hand sizes. In a desired embodiment
wrist portion 2 may be composed of an elastomeric material to
conform to a wearer's wrist. In another desired embodiment, wrist
portion 2 may lack elastomeric properties and be composed of the
material used to fabricate the glove 1 and the bag 5 portions of
the invention, stamped from a sheet of such material. The distance
between lower edge 3 and upper edge 4 of wrist portion 2 should be
at least one inch and may be as much as three inches or more.
[0053] Base portion 6 extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper
edge 4 of the wrist portion 2 along the longitudinal axis of the
invention 9 at an angle theta to the upper edge of the base portion
6 of the bag portion 5, thence continuing for a sufficient distance
to allow for the formation of a bag portion 5 of sufficient size
for the intended use. Angle theta must be of a sufficient size to
allow for the formation of the bag portion 5 having a sufficient
opening 10 to accommodate the materials or objects being grasped.
Angle theta may be any angle between 15 and 90 degrees. Angle theta
should be chosen to make use of the stiffness of the material used
in manufacturing the invention in providing support for the bag
portion 5 such that the bag portion 5 does not flop over onto the
glove portion 1 when the invention is being deployed for its
intended use.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 2 the present invention has an inner
surface 11 and an outer surface 12. The bag portion 5 encloses a
wearer's forearm and upper arm, protecting the wearer's arm and
sleeve inserted in the opening 10 as shown also in FIG. 3 b.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 3a through 3f, a preferred embodiment of
the present invention is shown as used for picking up pet fecal
matter 13. FIG. 3b shows the wearer inserting his arm into the
opening 10, extending his or her hand into the glove portion 1.
FIG. 3b shows the wearer grasping the fecal matter 13. FIGS. 3c and
3d show the upper portion 7 of the bag portion 5 being grasped to
invert the bag portion 5 and draw the bag portion 5 over the
exterior surface 12 of the bag portion 5, the wrist portion 4 , the
glove portion 1 and the grasped fecal matter 13. FIG. 3e shows the
fully inverted device enclosing the fecal matter with the upper
portion 7 of the bag portion 5 being grasped by the wearer. FIG. 3f
shows the invention fully tied off by the wearer, fully enclosing
the fecal matter for easy disposal.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the
invention may have a glove portion with less than five digits in
any combination depending on the intended use. For example, the
glove portion may have the last two digits combined to provide a
surface suitable for scraping and containing particularly fluid
objects such as moist or diarrhea-like fecal or rotting matter.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, another preferred embodiment of the
invention may have a glove portion 1 with less than five digits in
any combination depending on the intended use. For example, the
glove portion may have the last two digits combined 14 to provide a
surface 15 suitable for scraping and containing particularly fluid
objects such as moist or diarrhea-like fecal or rotting material.
The bag portion 5 may extend up to the wearer's shoulder.
* * * * *