Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPOSABLE PROTECTIVE PADS
[0001] Protective barriers for isolating a first object or surface from a
second object
or surface is generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended
to protective
barriers for isolating a valuable article from a less valuable object or
surface.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Tarps, mats, covers, and disposable toilet gaskets are similar in that
they
provide a barrier between a first object and a second object to protect either
the first object or
the second object from the adjacent object. By protecting, either the first
object or the second
object is shielded from dirt, abrasion, stain, wear and tear, dust, the
environment, germs,
bacteria, etc.
[0003] Protective barriers come in different shapes and sizes and material
make-up.
For example, they can include thermoplastic, plastic coated or lined paper,
plastic coated or
lined cotton, waxed paper, cotton-blend, paper-blend, and a number of shapes
and sizes
ranging from large to small and with various curves and cut-outs.
[0004] While the market place have a number of available protective barriers,
there
remains a need for alternative barriers.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention may be implemented by providing a combination
dispenser and protective barriers for providing a barrier between a first
surface and a second
surface comprising a plurality of intertwined protective pads housed within a
dispenser
housing; the protective pads each comprises a layer made from a thermoplastic
material or a
plastic blend material in the absence of a cavity.
[0006] The present invention may also be practiced using a method for
isolating an
article from a surface comprising the steps taking a protective pad from a
dispenser housing
comprising a plurality of intertwined protective pads, each protective pad
comprising a layer
made from a thermoplastic material or a plastic blend material in the absence
of a cavity;
placing the protective pad on the surface; and placing the article on the
protective pad.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
combination
dispenser and protective barriers for providing a barrier between a first
surface and a second
surface comprising a plurality of individual protective pads separated from
one another by a
tear line; each individual pad comprises a layer made from a thermoplastic
material or a
plastic blend material in the absence of a cavity, and wherein the dispenser
comprises an
access opening for retrieving the individual protective pads.
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BkItF"l)E~CPAPTION WIH'L~~RAWINGS
[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will
become
appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the
specification, claims
and appended drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a plurality of
protective pads
housed in a housing;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a single pad removed
from the
housing of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic partial cross-sectional partial perspective
view of
an exemplary bundle of protective pads in an intertwined configuration;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a semi-schematic perspective view of an alternative pad
package for
packaging a plurality of protective pads;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a roll of protective
pads
separated from one another by perforations; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a pursed placed over a
protective pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the
appended
drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments
of disposable
protective pads provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention
and is not
intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be
constructed or
utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for
constructing and using the
disposable protective pads of the present invention in connection with the
illustrated
embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent
functions and
structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended
to be
encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, as denoted
elsewhere herein,
like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or
features.
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, a pad package 10 of disposable protective pads
12 is
shown provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In one
embodiment, the
package 10 comprises a housing 14 comprising an opening 16 for dispensing the
pads 12.
The housing 10 may be made from heavy weight paper, corrugated paper,
thermoplastic, and
plastic blend, with thermoplastic or plastic blend being more preferred. A
similar
thermoplastic housing is the housing for the Kleenex Poclcet PackTM tissues,
which the
present housing 14 may be constructed to resemble. In one exemplary
embodiment, the
opening 16 may be formed by providing a perforated cut-out on the housing to
be opened by
a user. The perforated cut-out can embody a straight perforated slit or take
on a shape, such
as an oval shape or a rectangular shape, as examples.
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[0017] '- "Me sposa~Ie pffdM, shown with one pad extending out of the opening
16,
preferably comprise a bundle or a roll of individual pads 12. Each pad 12 may
be folded and
placed next to or on top of an adjacent pad, be folded in an intertwined
fashion with an
adjacent pad, as further discussed below, or be folded in an end-to-end rolled
configuration
with an adjacent pad, also as further discussed below.
[0018] In one embodiment, the individual pads 12 are folded so as to be
packaged in a
compact housing 12 with an overall size in the order of a Kleenex Pocket
PackTM. However,
the overall housing size can vary from the size of the Pocket Pac1cTM provided
it is
sufficiently small to fit into a purse, a backpack, or the like. As shown, the
protruding pad 12
comprises a first end edge 18, a first side edge 20, and a second side edge
22, shown in
dashed lines. In the embodiment shown, the pad 12 is folded in thirds with the
first side edge
20 and the second side edge 22 folded over the central portion 24 of the pad
to create two
creases 26. However, as is readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in
the art, the pad 12
may be folded in half, in fourths, and so-forth to produce a desirable final
size and
configuration.
[0019] When removed from the housing 14 and un-folded, the individual pad 12
may
have an overall size of about 6 inches to about 25 inches by about 6 inches to
about 25 inches
with about a 12 inch by 12 inch being more preferred. However, other size
range may be
incorporated without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Due to the
un-folded size of the pad 12 compared to the folded size of the pad 12, the
pad may also have
one or more lateral folds or creases 28 (FIG. 2) to decrease the size of the
pad 12 when folded
for packaging the pad into the housing 14. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the second
end edge 32.
[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, the pad 12 maybe made from a non-absorbent
material, a low-absorbent material, or from an absorbent material with a non-
absorbent, or
low-absorbent, liner or backing. By low-absorbent, a minimal absorption of
moisture into the
pad may be possible without completely soaking the pad. Low-absorbent material
should be
more impervious to moisture than a paper towel, a cotton towel, or a paper
tissue. Exemplary
materials usable in making the disposable protective pad 12 include, without
limitation,
biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), cast polypropylene (CPP) film, foamed
oriented
polypropylene film (FOPP), coextruded, multi-layer films, polyethylene cloth
or film,
oriented polyester film, spunbonded polypropylene nonwoven films, blended
LLDPE film,
acetate films, mylar polyester film, flexible PVC film, metalized plastic
(e.g., vinyl) film,
films with PVDC or acrylic coatings, multi-layer coated underpads (e.g.,
Kendall Tendersorb
UnderpadsTM), lens tissue (e.g., toilet seat cover paper), wax paper, and
plastic-lined cotton
(e.g., diapers). Other thermoplastic and plastic blends may be used provided
they are either
non-absorbent or low-absorbent. In one exemplary embodiment, the pad 12 may
also include
pressure sensitive adhesive for allowing the pad to be temporarily bonded to a
surface or an
object. In a preferred embodiment, the pad 12 is made from a multi-layer
coated underpad
with pressure sensitive adhesive backing. Exemplary pressure sensitive
adhesives include
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those made by 3M and"-Aver-ll"nison. In another exemplary embodiment,
decorative
designs or decorative printings, such as flowers, animals, caricatures, etc.,
are incorporated on
a first and/or a second surface of each pad.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a bundle 30 of disposable protective pads 12 folded in a
lapped,
superjacent fold format. The pads 12 are so folded so that when the bundle of
pads 30 are
packaged inside the housing 14, removal of one pad 12 will cause the first end
edge 18 of the
adjacent pad 12 to pop out of the opening 16 of the housing. In an alternative
embodiment,
the pad 12 is simply stacked on top of one-another, i.e., not intertwined,
such that when the
bundle of pad 30 is packaged inside the housing, pulling on the first pad 12
will not cause the
adjacent pad 12 to pop out of the opening 16.
[0022] In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of pads 12 are intertwined
by
placing a portion of one pad in between a folded adjacent pad. The folded
adjacent pad is
then placed in between another folded adjacent pad and so forth to produce a
stack of pads of
desired number or of appropriate or desired height. In another exemplary
embodiment, not
shown, each pad 12 is individually packaged in a thermoplastic over wrap or in
a sealed
waxed or lined paper. The over wrap can be a sleeve with heat sealed or glued
ends.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows an alternative package 34 of disposable protective pads 12
provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In the present
embodiment, the
package 34 includes a housing 36 comprising two ends 38, 40, a central section
42, and an
opening 44. The housing 36 may be made from heavy weight paper, hard plastic,
soft plastic,
or leather. If made from soft plastic, the opening 44 may be eliminated, one
end 40 of the
bag heat sealed, and the other end 38 wired or tied shut but capable of being
untied to access
the inside of the housing. If made from hard plastic, the housing 36 may be
reusable by
incorporating an end 38 comprising a closeable opening, or by incorporating
two ends 38, 40
with two closeable openings. When the pads 12 are completely used up, a new
bundle or roll
of pads may be inserted or replenished using the closeable opening(s). The
same would be
true if the housing 36 was made from leather or other reusable material. Snap-
buttons or
Velcro may be used to close the end 38 with the accessible opening.
[0024] Turning now to FIG. 5, a roll 46 of disposable protective pads 12 is
shown.
The roll 46 of pads 12 may be made by folding the pads lengthwise and
crosswise, providing
perforation 48 between the pads 12, and rolling the pads into a roll. The
ro1146 of pads may
then be housed or stored inside the housing 36 (FIG. 4). Alternatively, the
rolled pads may
be packaged inside a paper or a plastic bag.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows the protective pad 12 in an un-folded configuration on a
surface
50 with a purse 52 placed thereon. In one exemplary embodiment, the pad 12 is
made from a
multi-layer coated underpad with pressure sensitive adhesive backing.
Preferably, the non-
absorbent or low-absorbent coating would face or contact the surface 50 with
the pressure
sensitive adhesive bonded to the surface. In an alternative embodiment, a
single layer or a
multi-layer thermoplastic sheet is used to malce the pad 12, which then allows
the pad to be
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placed on the surtace 50 either btYie first pad surface 54 or the second pad
surface 56 facing
the surface 50. In the alternative embodiment, the single layer or multi-layer
thermoplastic
sheet may include pressure sensitive adhesive backing on either the first pad
surface 54 or the
second pad surface 56, which would be the surface facing the surface 50.
[0026] As is readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the
protective pad
12 provides a protective barrier for the purse 52 to prevent direct contact
between the surface
and the purse. The protective barrier would be desirable especially where the
surface 50 is
dirty, contaminated, wet, etc. For example, in a stall of a dirty public
restroom, the use of the
protective pad 12 would provide a dry, dirty-free surface to temporarily place
the purse while
freeing the user's hands for other matters. The pads 12 may also be used on
other surfaces,
such as on grass (e.g., a park), sand (e.g., the beach), a dirty counter top,
or a table top, just to
name a few.
[0027] In one exemplary embodiment, the pad package 10 or 34 is provided as an
accessory for a purse. In other words, the pad package 10 or 34 may be sold
near or in the
same area as purses for use as protective barriers for purses. In an
alternative embodiment,
the pad package 10 or 34 is sold with the purse, i.e., contained with the
purse and sold as a
combination.
[0028] In another alternative embodiment, the protective pads 12 may be used
as a
protective barrier for a child (i.e., for use with a changing table) when
changing the child's
diaper, for use as a protective area for food or for placement of food
thereon, and for
placement of clothing when changing clothes. Other usages for isolating or
protecting a first
surface from a second surface using the disposable protective pads provided in
accordance
with practice of the present are contemplated and fall within the spirit and
scope of the
present invention. Examples of other usages include: use in restaurants,
public restrooms,
movie theaters, on airplanes, at sporting events, with shopping carts, in
storage lockers, at
hair/nail salons, at the beach, in the classrooms, at the doctor's offices, at
parties, with rental
cars, at the parks, at concerts, at the Opera/Orchestra houses/theaters, or at
the plays, etc.
[0029] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described
with some specificity, the description and drawings set forth herein are not
intended to be
delimiting, and persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that
various modifications
may be made to the embodiments discussed herein without departing from the
scope of the
invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be
encompassed within the
appended claims. Various changes to the protective pads described elsewhere
herein
including changes to the texture, the appearance, the shape, the size, and
outer housing or
packaging may be made. Accordingly, many alterations and modifications may be
made by
those having ordinary skill in the art without deviating from the spirit and
scope of the
invention.
