ACCESSORY FOR ATTACHMENT TO A PACK OF WIPES

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/643,109 filed on May 6, 2024 and entitled, “UNIVERSAL BABY WIPES ACCESSORY WITH ADJUSTABLE POUCH DESIGNED TO HOLD A PORTABLE AUTOMIZER,” the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to an accessory for holding a portable atomizer that can be directly attached to a pack of wipes, such as a pack of baby wipes.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are systems, devices, and/or methods of use thereof regarding an accessory for holding a portable atomizer that can be directly attached to a pack of wipes, such as a pack of baby wipes. The accessory can be attached to any size of pack and is adjustable about the pack as the pack size diminishes through use. The wipe accessory may be a universal wipes accessory with an adjustable pouch for attachment to any kind and any size of a pack of wipes (e.g., a pack of baby wipes, etc.). The wipe accessory revolutionizes diaper changing by offering a versatile solution for holding a portable atomizer filled with water directly on any standard baby wipes pack. Its unique design ensures a snug fit on various wipes packs while allowing for easy adjustment as the pack size diminishes. The elastic cord and cord lock mechanism enable single-wipe dispensing, thereby reducing waste and enhancing user convenience.

In various aspects, a wipe accessory for attachment to a pack of wipes includes a pouch extending between an open top end and a closed bottom end, the pouch for receiving a wipe accessory. The wipe accessory may also include a first stretchable attachment mechanism having a first end connected to the open top end and a second end connected to the closed bottom end of the pouch. The first stretchable attachment mechanism is for attaching the pouch to the pack of wipes. The wipe accessory may further include a second static attachment mechanism connected to the open top end of the pouch, where the second static attachment mechanism is for attaching the pouch to a bag or backpack.

In various aspects, a wipe accessory for attachment to a pack of wipes includes a pouch, a spray bottle received by the pouch, a first stretchable attachment mechanism, and a second static attachment mechanism. The first stretchable attachment mechanism may be secured to the pouch and for attaching the pouch to the pack of wipes. The second static attachment mechanism may be secured to the pouch and for attaching the pouch to a bag.

In various aspects, a method of securing an accessory to a pack of wipes includes placing the accessory within a pouch and stretching a first attachment mechanism connected to the pouch about the pack of wipes. The method may also include adjusting the first attachment mechanism about the pack of wipes, such that the pouch is secured to the pack of wipes and a single wipe can be pulled from the pack of wipes at a time.

Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wipe accessory for attachment to a pack of wipes, where the wipe accessory is in a first open configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates the wipe accessory of FIG. 1 in a second closed configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates a back view of the wipe accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of the wipe accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B illustrates a portion of the first attachment mechanism from the wipe accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates the wipe accessory of FIGS. 1 through 4B attached to a pack of wipes in a first size;

FIG. 6 illustrates the wipe accessory of FIGS. 1 through 6 attached to a pack of wipes in a second size;

FIG. 7A illustrates a front view and FIG. 7B illustrates a back view of the wipe accessory of FIGS. 1 through 4B attached to a pack of wipes;

FIG. 8A illustrates the wipe accessory of FIGS. 1 through 4B attached to a pack of wipes, with the accessory partially removed from the pouch;

FIG. 8B illustrates the wipe accessory with another embodiment of the first attachment mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Changing diapers and cleaning babies or young children is already difficult enough; the difficulty does not need to be compounded by a lack of adequate cleaning supplies. While portable wipes (e.g., a pack of baby wipes) generally make the process of changing diapers and cleaning young children possible, the wipes do not necessarily provide an easy mechanism for cleaning excessive amounts of mess (e.g., poop, dirt, mud, sticky liquids). Often, it would be beneficial to have a source of water or other liquid in conjunction with wipes to fully and sanitarily clean a baby or young child, or to clean hands made messy by changing a diaper.

The disclosed wipe accessory includes a pouch meticulously crafted to accommodate a portable atomizer attached directly onto a standard baby wipes pack or dispenser. Its universal design ensures a secure fit onto any brand or size of baby wipes pack, providing caregivers with unparalleled versatility. The pouch features an elastic cord with a precisely engineered cord lock mechanism seamlessly integrated into its fabric.

The elastic cord, strategically positioned within the pouch, applies consistent pressure on the wipes pack, maintaining a firm grip and preventing unnecessary movement or slippage. This innovative design feature not only ensures the security of the wipes pack but also facilitates single-wipe dispensing, eliminating wasteful usage patterns commonly associated with traditional wipe dispensers.

Moreover, the cord lock mechanism empowers users to effortlessly adjust the tightness of the pouch according to their specific preferences and requirements. As the wipes pack diminishes in size with repeated use, the elastic cord can be easily tightened to accommodate the decreasing dimensions, thereby preserving the integrity and freshness of the remaining wipes. The pouch is designed to hold a portable atomizer. This will allow users to have water available to clean extra messy babies. Whether they are using the water to spray off stubborn poop, or use it to clean a messy face or hands. This is encouraging the use of less wipes as the water will allow for easier and more effective cleaning.

FIGS. 1 through 4B illustrate a wipe accessory 100 for use with and attachment to a pack of wipes, such as baby wipes. The wipe accessory 100 includes a pouch 10, a first stretchable attachment mechanism 20, and a second static attachment mechanism 30. The pouch 10 includes a body 11 extending between a top end 12 and a bottom end 14. The top end 12 may be an open top end 12, such that the pouch 10 may receive an accessory 55 (not illustrated, see FIGS. 7A and 8A). The accessory 55 may be a portable atomizer or spray bottle, allowing a user of the wipe accessory 100 to more fully and completely clean a baby or young child.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4A, the pouch 10 and/or the body 11 defines an interior 18 for receiving the accessory 55. The pouch 10 may be formed from neoprene, polyester, and/or blends thereof. In some embodiments, an exterior or face 17 of the pouch 10 may be formed from polyester and a middle 15 of the pouch 10 may be formed from neoprene. As such, the pouch 10 may be flexible or soft, such that the pouch 10 is deformable about the accessory 55. In this way, the pouch 10 may accommodate a variety of accessories 55 having slightly different sizes.

The pouch 10 may have a height ranging from about 8 cm to about 12 cm, such as about 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5 cm, or a height within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. When flat, the pouch 10 may have a width of about 3 to 5 cm, such as 3.5, 4, 4.5 cm, or a width within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. A thickness of the pouch 10 may range from about 2 to 4 mm, such as 2.5, 3, 3.5 mm, or a thickness within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values.

The first stretchable attachment mechanism 20 may include a string or cord 21 and a lock 25. The string 21 may be securely attached to the pouch 10 near the top end 12 and near the bottom end 14. Specifically, a first end 22 of the string 21 may be secured near the top end 12 of the pouch 10 and a second end 23 of the string 21 may be secured near the bottom end 14 of the pouch 10. The pouch 10 may include a seam 16 and the first end 22 and/or the second end 23 of the string 21 may be secured within the seam 16. For example, the string 21 may be sewn, bonded, or glued to the pouch 10. The string 21 is secured to the pouch 10 such that the string 21 may be pulled and stretched around a pack of wipes without ripping or tearing.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the string 21 may be a single string that is attached to the pouch. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8B, in some embodiments, the string 21 may be formed from a plurality of small strings 21, with each string 21 extending through the lock 25 and secured to the pouch 10.

The lock 25 may be adjustable (e.g., slidable, etc.) along the string 21 to attach the wipe accessory 100 to a pack of wipes. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the lock 25 is disposed along the string 21 and the first attachment mechanism 20 is substantially open, allowing the wipe accessory 100 to be placed around a pack of wipes. Referring to FIG. 2, the lock 25 may be adjusted along the string 21, such that the first attachment mechanism 20 is substantially closed, allowing the wipe accessory 100 to be continuously secured around the pack of wipes, even as the pack size diminishes through use of the wipes. The lock 25 allows for a single wipe pull at a time (e.g., allows a user to pull out a single wipe from the pack of wipes at a time, without inadvertently pulling out more than one wipe at a time). Compression of the string 21 around the pack of wipes reduces air in the pack and allows for the single wipe pull.

The string 21 has a length ranging from about 20 to about 26 cm, such as 22, 22.5, 23, 23.5, 25, 24.5, 25, 25.5 cm or a length within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. The string 21 may be an elastic cord, such as a 3 mm elastic cord, or a plurality of elastic cords. The lock 25 may be any type of lock capable of adjustment along the string 21 to selectively tighten the string 21. In some embodiments, the lock 25 may be a cord lock. The lock 25 may allow a string 21 to pass therethrough and can accommodate up to 4.8 mm outer diameters of the string 21.

The second static attachment mechanism 30 may include a tether 34 and a clip 32. The tether 34 may be a ribbon, such as a grosgrain ribbon. Alternatively, the tether 34 may be formed from leather, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or any appropriate material for securing the clip 32 to the pouch 10. The clip 32 may be a swivel clasp, a carabiner, a trigger clip, or any appropriate clip for attaching the wipe accessory 100 to a bag or backpack (e.g., a diaper bag, etc.). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the clip 32 is a rose gold swivel clasp. The tether 34 has a length of about 7 to about 10 mm, such as 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 mm, or a length within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. The clip 32 may be any appropriate size. In some embodiments, the clip 32 is about 2 to 3 cm.

FIGS. 5 through 8A illustrate the wipe accessory 100 attached to a pack of wipes 50, which may be a pack of wipes 50. The wipe accessory 100 is universal and can be used with any brand or size of wipes. FIGS. 5 and 7A to 8A illustrate the wipe accessory 100 secured about a pack of wipes 50 in a first size, which may correlate to a substantially full pack of wipes 50. FIG. 6 illustrates the wipe accessory 100 secured about a pack of wipes 50 in a second size, which may correlate to a partially used pack of wipes 50. As seen in FIG. 6, the lock 25 may be adjusted along the string 21 of the first stretchable attachment mechanism 20 to ensure the wipe accessory 100 stays secured to the pack of wipes 50.

FIGS. 7A and 8A illustrate the accessory 55 received by the pouch 10. The accessory 55 may be a portable atomizer that carries water or another liquid for cleaning a young child. For example, the accessory 55 may be a spray bottle. The spray bottle may be used to clean a baby or young child (such as when changing a diaper). The spray bottle may also provide a “bidet experience,” leaving the baby or young child feeling clean and fresh. As shown in FIG. 8A, the pouch 10 may be manipulated (e.g., squeezed, etc.) by the user to push the accessory 55 out of the interior 18 of the pouch 10.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method 300 of securing an accessory to a pack of wipes. The method 300 includes placing the accessory within a pouch, at 305, and stretching a first attachment mechanism connected to the pouch about the pack of wipes, at 310. Additionally, the method 300 may include adjusting the first attachment mechanism about the pack of wipes, such that the pouch is secured to the pack of wipes and a single wipe can be pulled from the pack of wipes at a time, at 315.

The accessory may be the accessory 55, illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 8A, received by the wipe accessory 100 of FIGS. 1 through 4B or 8B. The pouch may be the pouch 10 that receives the accessory 55 within an interior 18 of the pouch. The first attachment mechanism may be the first stretchable attachment mechanism 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6. Specifically, the first attachment mechanism may include an elastic string having one end secured to a top of the pouch and an opposing end secured to a bottom of the pouch

Placing the accessory within a pouch may include aligning the accessory over an open end of the pouch and pushing the accessory into the pouch. The accessory may be a spray bottle or portable atomizer. Adjusting the first attachment mechanism about the pack of wipes may include sliding a lock along the elastic string and selectively tightening the elastic string around the pack of wipes. Adjusting the first attachment mechanism about the pack of wipes may allow the accessory to be continuously secured to the pack of wipes as a size of the pack of wipes diminishes through use of the pack of wipes. The method 300 may also include removing the accessory from the pouch while the pouch remains secured to the pack of wipes, pulling a single wipe from the pack of wipes, and using the accessory.

Additional Terms and Definitions

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It should also be noted that some of the embodiments disclosed herein may have been disclosed in relation to a particular accessory (e.g., a spray bottle); however, other accessories (e.g., canisters, rattles, toys, etc.) are also contemplated.

In one embodiment, the terms “about” and “approximately” refer to numerical parameters within 10% of the indicated range. The terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents used in the context of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. It is anticipated that one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode known to the author(s) of this disclosure for carrying out the embodiments disclosed herein. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The author(s) expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the author(s) intends for the embodiments of the present disclosure to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the present disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using consisting of or consisting essentially of language. When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the transition term “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claims. The transition term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s). Embodiments of this disclosure so claimed are inherently or expressly described and enabled herein.

Although this disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed subject matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and of their elements and features, may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.