Method and article for neutralizing offensive odors

• US 4,567,613 A
• Filed: 05/08/1984
• Issued: 02/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Meehan
• Original Assignee: Frank Meehan
• Inventors: Meehan, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/608,185
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 422/41, 424/76, 236/79, 4/222, 4/209 R, 4/223, 4/220, 4/309, 4/661, 4/213
• US Class Current: 4/209.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor

Abstract

A disposable article for neutralizing offensive odors comprising a sheet of foldable material having a fold-line dividing the sheet into first and second portions. At least one of the portions has a grid region therein for adsorption of an odor-neutralizing liquid. The portions are folded into confronting relation after adsorption of the liquid in the grid region and the sheet is sealed around the grid in a manner to be subsequently peeled open to expose the adsorbed liquid to the ambient atmosphere at the time of use. The fold-line applies a slight bias to the first and second portions when opened to oppose complete unfolding of the portions into a flat state.

Claims

1. A throw-away article for neutralizing offensive odors, said article comprising a sheet of foldable material having a fold line dividing the sheet into first and second portions, at least one of said portions including a grid region therein adapted for adsorption of a liquid, an odor-neutralizing liquid adsorbed in said grid region, and seal means on said sheet sealing the sheet in folded condition with the first and second portions in confronting relation, said sheet of foldable material being impervious to the odor-neutralizing liquid to prevent leakage thereof through the material and dissipation of any odor thereof, said seal means being peelable to permit a user to open the sheet of material and expose the odor-neutralizing liquid adsorbed in said region, said fold line applying a slight bias to said first and second portions to oppose complete unfolding of the portions into a flat state and producing a slight V-shape configuration for the unfolded portions so that if the unfolded sheet of material is deposited face down on a flat surface said grid region with adsorbed liquid will be disposed above the flat surface.

2. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet of foldable material is biodegradable.

3. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 2, wherein said biodegradable sheet of material is gelatin.

4. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 3, comprising a biodegradable sheet of paper coating said gelatin.

5. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 4, comprising a taste offensive substance in said coating sheet.

6. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seal means comprises a peelable adhesive which forms an air-tight, liquid impermeable seal.

7. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grid region comprises dentalations in said sheet of material.

8. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 7, wherein said dentalations are provided in both of said portions.

9. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dentalations in said portions extend in perpendicular relation to one another.

10. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 1, comprising groove means in said sheet of material for preventing said liquid in said grid region from flowing to said fold line and to said seal means.

12. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means which connects said portions comprises a sheet of material folded in accordion fashion.

11. A throw-away article for neutralizing offensive odors, said article comprising a sheet of material including first and second portions, means connected to said portions containing an odor-neutralizing liquid, seal means sealing said first and second portions in confronting relation with said means enclosed therein, said sheet of material being impervious to the odor-neutralizing liquid to prevent leakage thereof through the material and dissipation of any odor thereof, said seal means being peelable to permit a user to separate said portions and expose the odor-neutralizing liquid, said means which connects said portions preventing said portions from assuming a flat coplanar state so that if the sheet of material is deposited onto a flat surface, said means with odor-neutralizing liquid will be exposed to the ambient air and disposed above the flat surface.

13. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 11, wherein said seal means comprises a peelable adhesive which forms an air-tight, liquid impermeable seal.

14. A throw-away article for neutralizing offensive odors, said article comprising a sheet of foldable material having a fold line dividing the sheet into first and second portions, means connecting said portions and adapted for containing an odor-neutralizing liquid, seal means on said sheet sealing the sheet in folded condition with the first and second portions in confronting relation, said sheet of foldable material being impervious to the odor-neutralizing liquid to prevent leakage thereof through the material and dissipation of any odor thereof, said seal means being peelable to permit a user to open the sheet of material and expose the odor-neutralizing liquid, said means which connects said portions preventing complete unfolding of said portions into a flat state and producing a slight V-shape configuration for the unfolded portions so that if the unfolded sheet of material is deposited face down on a flat surface, said means with the liquid will be disposed above the flat surface.

15. A throw-away article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means which connects said portions comprises a second sheet of material having ends affixed to the first said sheet of material and a central region unattached to the first said sheet.

16. A method of neutralizing offensive odors produced by human evacuation into a toilet facility, said method comprising forming a throw-away article by folding a sheet of material along a fold line to superimpose first and second portions of the sheet of material on one another, one of said portions having an odor-neutralizing substance contained in a region thereof, and sealing the folded sheet around the edges thereof with a peelable sealing material, opening the sealed folded sheet by unpeeling the edges thereof and unfolding the sheet to expose the odor-neutralizing substance to the ambient air, and depositing the opened article into the toilet facility prior to evacuation thereinto so that said neutralizing substance will neutralize offensive odors of the subsequent evacuation, said fold line applying a slight bias to said first and second portions of said sheet of material to oppose complete unfolding of said portions into a flat state and producing a slight V-shape configuration for the unfolded portions so that if the unfolded sheet of material is deposited face down on a flat surface said region with the odor-neutralizing substance will be disposed above the flat surface.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the toilet facility contains water and the sheet of material is soluble in the water.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said toilet facility contains water and said odor-neutralizing substance is a liquid which is dispersable in floating relation on the surface of the water.