DISPOSAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPOSABLE ITEMS

EQUIPEMENT ET METHODE D'ELIMINATION D'ARTICLES

English Abstract

A disposal system and method for disposing a disposable item, the disposal system comprising an envelope, a disposal bag disposed within the envelope, the disposal bag comprising an opening sized to receive the disposable item when soiled, an opening mechanism for opening the envelope and a fastener for fastening the envelope to the disposable item. The system is adaptable to several different applications including disposal of surgical kits, among others.

French Abstract

Un système d'élimination et une méthode permettent l'élimination d'un article jetable; le système d'élimination comprend une enveloppe, un sac à rebuts disposé dans l'enveloppe, le sac à rebuts comprenant une ouverture dimensionnée pour recevoir l'article jetable souillé, un mécanisme d'ouverture pour ouvrir l'enveloppe et une fixation pour fixer l'enveloppe à l'article jetable. Le système peut être adapté à diverses applications, y compris l'élimination de trousses chirurgicales, entre autres.

Claims

8
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A disposal system for disposing a disposable item, said disposal system
comprising:
- an envelope;
- a disposal bag disposed within said envelope, said disposal bag comprising
an opening sized to receive said disposable item when soiled;
- an opening mechanism for opening the envelope; and
- a fastener for fastening the envelope to the disposable item,
wherein the disposable item is selected from the group comprising surgical
masks,
gowns, hair nets, shoe covers, coveralls, blankets, towels and gloves.
2. The disposal system according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is
selected
from the group comprising hook and loop fasteners, removable adhesive,
adhesives,
adhesive strips, staples, thermal bonding agents, zippers, and stitches.
3. The disposal system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening
mechanism is a tear cord.
4. The disposal system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the
envelope comprises a frangible area that is openable by the opening mechanism.
5. The disposal system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
envelope comprises a transparent side and an opaque side.
6. The disposal system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening
mechanism is a zipper.
7. The disposal system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the
disposal bag is sized to receive a plurality of disposable items, said
plurality of

9
disposable items being selected from the group comprising surgical masks,
gowns,
hair nets, shoe covers, coveralls and gloves.
8. A method of disposing a disposable item, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a disposal system for disposing said disposable item, said
disposal system comprising:
- an envelope;
- a disposal bag disposed within said envelope, said disposal bag
comprising an opening sized to receive said disposable item when
soiled;
- an opening mechanism for opening the envelope; and
- a fastener for fastening the envelope to the disposable item;
b) fastening, using the fastener, the envelope to the disposable item;
c) opening the envelope with the opening mechanism once the disposable
item is soiled;
d) deploying and opening the disposal bag from said envelope;
e) inserting said soiled disposable item into the disposal bag; and
f) closing the disposal bag,
wherein the disposable item is selected from the group comprising surgical
masks,
gowns, hair nets, shoe covers, coveralls, blankets, towels and gloves.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the fastener is selected from
the
group comprising hook and loop fasteners, removable adhesive, adhesives,
adhesive strips, staples, thermal bonding agents, zippers, and stitches.
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the opening mechanism is
a
tear cord.
11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the envelope
comprises a frangible area that is openable by the opening mechanism.

10
12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the envelope
comprises a transparent side and an opaque side.
13. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the opening mechanism is
a
zipper.
14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the disposal
bag
is sized to receive a plurality of disposable items, said plurality of
disposable items
being selected from the group comprising surgical masks, gowns, hair nets,
shoe
covers, coveralls and gloves.

Description

CA 02705675 2010-05-27
1
DISPOSAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPOSABLE ITEMS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to disposable items. The present
invention
more specifically relates to a system and method of disposal of disposable
items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In certain situations or applications, disposable items have been developed in
order
to avoid having to clean a particular item after it has been soiled. These
disposable
items include, among others, diapers, surgical masks, gowns, hair nets, shoe
covers,
coveralls, blankets, towels, pads, garments, undergarments, absorbent
articles,
medical dressings and gloves.
The disposable items, although practical, must nevertheless be handled after
use and
be placed in a disposal container.
Various solutions for disposal of disposable items have been proposed in the
prior
art.
US 4,604,096 discloses a diaper assembly with an integral disposal system,
including an envelope integrally carried on the outside of the diaper and that
has a
mouth for receiving the diaper once soiled.
US 4,692,162 discloses a disposable sanitary napkin including an integral
reversible
bag affixed to one pad face such that the pad may be reversed to contain the
used
pad for eventual disposal thereof.

CA 02705675 2012-09-24
2
US 2005/0256487 discloses a disposable absorbent article with an integral
disposal
bag attached thereto. The disposal bag is disposed within a pouch on the
absorbent
article and is accessible to a user through an opening in the moisture barrier
layer. A
flap can seal the opening in the barrier layer.
Other documents known to the Applicant include: US 3,024,788 (LANE);
US 3,927,674 (SCHAAR); US 4,604,096 (DEAN et al.); US 4,692,162 (BINKER et
al.); US 4,964,859 (FELDMAN); US 5,141,505 (BARRETT); US 6,539,549 B1
(PETERS, Jr.); and US 6,715,151 B2 (BROCKMAN).
The prior art systems known to the Applicant appear to disclose various forms
of
disposal bags that are integrated or integral to the disposable item. The
prior art
systems do not appear to propose a disposal system separate from the
disposable
item and which can be applied to several different applications.
Consequently, there is still a need for a system and method for disposal of
disposable items that is adaptable to several different applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to propose a system and method that
satisfies
at least one of the above-mentioned needs.
According to the present invention, that object is accomplished with a
disposal
system for disposing a disposable item, the disposal system comprising:
-an envelope;
-a disposal bag disposed within the envelope, the disposal bag comprising an
opening sized to receive the disposable item when soiled;
-an opening mechanism for opening the envelope; and
-a fastener for fastening the envelope to the disposable item,

CA 02705675 2013-03-27
3
wherein the disposable item is selected from the group comprising surgical
masks,
gowns, hair nets, shoe covers, coveralls, blankets, towels and gloves.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of
disposing a
disposable item, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a disposal system for disposing the disposable item, said
disposal system comprising:
- an envelope;
- a disposal bag disposed within the envelope, the disposal bag
comprising an opening sized to receive the disposable item when
soiled;
- an opening mechanism for opening the envelope; and
- a fastener for fastening the envelope to the disposable item;
b) fastening, using the fastener, the envelope to the disposable item;
c) opening the envelope with the opening mechanism once the disposable
item is soiled;
d) deploying and opening the disposal bag from the envelope;
e) inserting the soiled disposable item into the disposal bag; and
f) closing the disposal bag,
wherein the disposable item is selected from the group comprising surgical
masks,
gowns, hair nets, shoe covers, coveralls, blankets, towels and gloves.
The system according to the present invention can be applied to several
different
applications, including disposal of surgical disposable items, including
masks,
gloves, hair nets, coveralls or shoe covers. However, the same system can also
be
applied to other types of disposable items that are soiled. The system and
method
according to the present invention can be used in the disposal of disposable
articles
in hospital, medical clinics, for disposal of several types of items. A non-
restrictive
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be given with
reference to the appended drawings.

CA 02705675 2012-09-24
3a
A non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will
now be
given with reference to the appended drawings.

CA 02705675 2010-05-27
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top view of the system according to a preferred embodiment of
the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the system according to a preferred embodiment of
the
present invention, fastened on a surgical mask; and
Figures 3A to 3H are perspective views of a use of the system according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, on a surgical mask for disposal
of
said surgical mask, a hair net and shoe covers.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, according to a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention, a system 10 for disposal of disposable items 20 is
disclosed. The
system 10 includes an envelope 12, as well as a disposal bag 14 disposed
within the
envelope 12. The disposal bag 14 has an opening sized to receive the
disposable
item 20 when soiled. The system also comprises an opening mechanism 16 for
opening the envelope 12. The envelope 12 containing the disposal bag 14 is
affixed
to the disposable item 20 with a fastener 18.
Preferably, the fastener 18 is selected from the group comprising hook and
loop
fasteners, removable adhesive, adhesives, adhesive strips, staples, thermal
bonding
agents, zippers, and stitches.
Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening mechanism is a tear cord
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

CA 02705675 2010-05-27
Preferably, to facilitate opening of the envelope, the envelope may comprise a
frangible area that is openable by the opening mechanism 16.
In the example embodiment shown in Figure 1, the envelope comprises a
5 transparent plastic side and an opaque foil side.
The disposal system according to the present invention can be used with a
variety of
disposable items, including diapers, surgical masks, gowns, hair nets, shoe
covers,
coveralls, blankets, towels, pads, garments, undergarments, absorbent
articles,
medical dressings and gloves.
As shown in Figures 3A to 3H, the present invention also provides a method for
disposing disposable items comprising the steps of:
a) providing a disposable system as described above;
b) fastening, using the fastener, the envelope to the disposable item (Figure
3A shows the disposal system 10 installed on a surgical mask 20);
c) opening the envelope with the opening mechanism once the disposable
item is soiled;
d) deploying and opening the disposal bag from the envelope, as shown in
Figures 3B to 3D;
e) inserting said soiled disposable item into the disposal bag, as shown in
Figures 3E and 3F;
f) closing the disposal bag, as shown in Figures 3G and 3H.
Figures 3A to 3H illustrate a sequence of steps showing an application of the
present
invention. Figure 3A shows a surgical mask on which the disposal system 10 has
been attached. In Figure 3B, the disposal bag is deployed from the envelope.
The
disposal bag 14 is extended from the mask. In Figure 3D, the mask is removed
from
the face of the user. In Figure 3E, the shoe cover is also removed from the
user. In
Figure 3F, the shoe cover and mask are placed within the disposal bag. In
Figures

CA 02705675 2010-05-27
6
3G and 3H, the disposal bag is closed firmly in order to contain the soiled
disposable
items.
As illustrated in Figures 3A to 3H, the disposal system according to the
present
invention can be used for disposal of several items at the same time during a
surgical operation for example, wherein the disposal bag can be used not only
to
dispose of the surgical mask where it was initially installed but also include
any other
surgical accessories that have been soiled, including hair nets, shoe covers,
gloves
or even coveralls if the disposal bas is designed to accommodate all of these
different items.
The modularity of the disposal system makes it a product that can be applied
to a
variety of different applications including not only the surgical items
mentioned
above, but also diapers, gowns, blankets, towels, pads, garments,
undergarments,
absorbent articles, medical dressings and gloves.
Preferably the disposal bag is made of a biodegradable plastic or any other
degradable material. The envelope to be affixed to the disposal item may be
placed
on an exterior portion of the disposable item or somewhere within the
disposable
item. When placed inside the disposable item, the disposal bag can be removed
in a
manner similar to tissues being removed from a tissue box.
The disposal bag can then be easily used for disposal of the soiled disposable
item
and contain any unpleasant odours emitting therefrom. The disposable bag
itself, for
certain applications, may be scented with a natural product or be unscented.
In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the envelope and disposal
bag
can be made of paper or various types of plastic materials, or, alternately,
aluminium
paper, hemp, polyester, various types of tissues or any other similar
materials.

CA 02705675 2010-05-27
7
Preferably, closing of the disposal bag can be simply accomplished by forming
a
knot at the opening of the bag, or by providing ties, staples, adhesive
strips, buttons
or resealable zipper closures known in the art, or any other equivalent
closure
system.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in
detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be
understood that
the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various
changes
and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or
spirit
of the present invention.