Patent Application
20050241985
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for supplying day care providers with products, and in particular to a system and method for supplying day care providers with products that include surface disinfectants.
Day care providers have unique needs when it comes to the products they use to change diapers. One of the reasons day care providers have unique needs is that they are subject to hygiene standards which are established by various government agencies. As an example, employees of day care providers are often required to disinfect the surfaces of a diaper changing area before and/or after every diaper change.
In addition, day care providers are also commonly required to change diapers at least once per period of time without regard to how much waste is actually contained within the diapers. The high number of diaper changes per day requires day care providers to stock high quantities of diaper changing materials. Stocking high quantities of diaper changing materials takes up significant space such that day care providers often struggle to find an adequate place to store the diaper changing materials.
Day care providers are also typically unable to efficiently access the appropriate products during diapers changes because of the way that the products are delivered. As an example, diapers may be supplied in one package, child cleaning wipes in another package and surface disinfectants in yet another package. The inefficiency associated with accessing so many different diaper changing products from separate packages is problematic for day care providers because so many diapers are changed every day. In addition, since diaper changing products are typically delivered to day care providers in multiple different packages of assorted sizes and quantities, it is difficult for day care providers to maintain an accurate inventory of diaper changing supplies.
There is a need for systems and methods that are able to address the particular needs of day care providers for products related to diaper changing. The systems and methods should also be able to supply day care providers with products related to diaper changing in a manner that facilitates multiple diaper changes per day under disinfected conditions.
The present invention relates to a system and method for supplying day care providers with products related to diaper changing. The system and method may supply day care providers with products such that day care providers are able to conveniently perform multiple diaper changes per day under disinfected conditions and in compliance with government regulations. The system and method may also reduce the need to purchase and store excessive inventories of products that are used to change diapers.
In one aspect, the system includes a holder and a diaper that is secured to the holder. The system further includes a surface disinfectant that is secured to the holder. Supplying a diaper and a surface disinfectant in one holder allows day care providers to more conveniently perform each diaper change under disinfected conditions.
In another aspect, the system includes a holder and a plurality of diapers that are secured to the holder. The system further includes a surface disinfectant (e.g., a plurality of individual supplies of surface disinfectant) that is secured to the holder. The system allows day care providers to conveniently perform multiple diaper changes per day under disinfected conditions because there is an ample supply of diapers and surface disinfectant attached to the holder.
In still another aspect, the system includes a holder, a plurality of diapers, a plurality of surface disinfectants and a plurality of receptacles. Each receptacle is secured to the holder and includes a diaper and a surface disinfectant. Since each receptacle includes everything that may be needed for at least one diaper change, the system makes it easier for day care providers to inventory the products that are used to change diapers.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of supplying day care providers with products. The method includes securing a diaper and a surface disinfectant to a holder. The method further includes delivering the holder to a day care provider such that the day care provider can readily use the delivered products to perform a diaper change under disinfected conditions.
In yet another aspect, the method includes securing a plurality of diapers and a surface disinfectant (e.g., a plurality of individual supplies of surface disinfectant) to a holder. The method further includes delivering the holder to a day care provider such that the day care provider can efficiently use the products in the holder to perform multiple diaper changes per day under disinfected conditions.
In still another aspect, the method includes securing a plurality of diapers and a plurality of surface disinfectants to a plurality of receptacles such that there is a diaper and a surface disinfectant secured to each of the receptacles. The method further includes securing the plurality of receptacles to a holder and delivering the holder to a day care provider. The individual receptacles within the holder may make it easier for day care providers to inventory an appropriate amount of products that relate to diaper changing since one receptacle can be used for each diaper change. In addition, the cost for each receptacle may be readily passed along to clients of the day care provider.
The purposes and features of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows. Additional features of the invention may be realized and attained by the product and processes particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention.
The present invention will be more fully understood, and further features will become apparent, when reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely representative and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Like parts depicted in the drawings are referred to by the same reference numerals.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which show specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes made, such that the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Although
The holder 10 may be disposable or reusable and may be plain or decorated in some manner. In addition, the holder 10 may be used as a shipping container or to perform some other function.
Any type of diaper 12 may be used in system 100 or any of the systems described herein. Some example diapers include newborn diapers, premature baby diapers, overnight diapers and diapers of various other sizes. Other example diapers include specialized diapers, such as diapers for urine absorption, feces absorption, blood absorption, sweat absorption, menses absorption and diapers that apply a lotion or medication. The diapers may also be swim pants, training pants, diaper pants (PULLUPS®, EASY UPS®, GOODNIGHTS®) and absorbent underpants (among others).
In some example embodiments, diaper 12 may be a low absorbency diaper that can be used instead of a thicker more absorbent diaper. The low absorbency diaper may be used in part because day care providers are required to change diapers every so often without regard to how much waste is actually contained within the diapers. In addition, using a thinner low absorbency diaper in system 100 may be desirable in order to minimize the space that is necessary to store the large quantity of diapers which are typically used by day care providers.
As used herein, a surface disinfectant is something that disinfects surfaces as opposed to skin. The surface disinfectant 14 may have anti-viral activity or anti-viral activity in combination with anti-microbial, anti-sporicidal, anti-parasitical and/or anti-fungal activity. The surface disinfectant 14 may be any type of surface disinfectant known now or discovered in the future. In addition, the surface disinfectant 14 may include an individual packet, bag or container of surface disinfectant.
In some embodiments, the surface disinfectant 14 may be used to disinfect changing surfaces (hard or soft). Some example surface disinfectants include sprays, soaps, aerosols, pumps, dispensers (e.g. non-contact dispensers). The surface disinfectant 14 may also placed onto some type of medium (e.g., a wipe).
One example active ingredient that may be used in surface disinfectant 14 is hypochlorite (i.e., bleach), which is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Some other example active ingredients that may be used in surface disinfectant 14 are Chlorohehexidine and/or Iodine/Iodophors, which are each anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Another example active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide combined with an iodophors or a quaternarium ammonium material such that the combination is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-sporicidal. Still another example active ingredient that may be used in surface disinfectants are phenols (e.g., O-phenylphenol, cresols and pine oil among others), which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal.
It should be noted that the active ingredients in the surface disinfectant 14 may be any type of active ingredient as long as the surface disinfect 14 has anti-viral activity or anti-viral activity in combination with anti-microbial, anti-sporicidal, anti-parasitical and/or anti-fungal activity. Other example active ingredients that may be used in surface disinfectant 14 are quaternium ammonium (QA) compounds (e.g., alkyl aryl QA, benzyl QA, dimethyl QA, ethyl benzyl QA, Octyl QA, Silane QA), which are anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Still other example active ingredients that may be used in surface disinfectants are aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde and/or glutaraldehyde), which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-sporicidal and anti-parasitical. In some embodiments, the active ingredient in the surface disinfectant 14 may be a combination of anionic and organic acids (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate and citric acid), which are anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
In some embodiments, the system 100 may further include a child cleaning wipe 16. It should be noted that the wipe 16 may be any type of wipe. Some example wipes include wet wipes, pre-moistened wipes, dry wipes, tissues, hand towels, paper towels, toilet paper, and wipes on a roll. In some forms of the system 100, the child cleaning wipe 16 may be stored in an individual packet, or container, in order to avoid cross contamination when multiple diaper changes are performed by the day care.
The system 100 may further include a hand sanitizer 17 that sterilizes skin. The hand sanitizer 17 may be in the form of an individual packet, bag or container of hand sanitizer. Some example hand sanitizers include sprays, soaps, aerosols, wipes, pumps and dispensers. The hand sanitizer 17 may be used to clean and sterilize an individual's hands before and after the individual performs a diaper change.
The system 100 may further include a changing pad 18, a disposal bag 20, a pair of shoe coverings 22, a lotion 24 and/or a pair of gloves 26. It should be noted any combination or sub-combination of a diaper 12, surface disinfectant 14, child cleaning wipe 16, hand sanitizer 17, changing pad 18, disposal bag 20, pair of shoe coverings 22, lotion 24 and pair of gloves 26 may be included in system 100.
In the example embodiment shown in
Changing pad 18 may be of any size, shape or material. In addition, changing pad 18 may be rolled, folded or secured in any manner to holder 10. The changing pad 18 may be single or multi-layer. In some example embodiments, the changing pad 18 may include a hydrophobic layer to resist liquid strikethrough and/or a hydrophillic layer that is capable of absorbing fluids (e.g., body fluids). In addition, the changing pad 18 may include a high friction surface that is placed away from the baby to maintain the changing pad 18 in position on a changing table. The changing pad 18 may also be dispensed from a roll and/or a perforated web for easy individualized dispensing.
Disposal bag 20 may be any type, size, shape or material. Some example disposal bags include plastic disposal bags made from thin flexible materials. In some embodiments, the disposal bag may be designed to neutralize, destroy, trap and/or contain odors. In some forms of the system 100, disposal bag 20 may be sized so that every item in system 100 can be stored in disposal bag 20 for discarding once a diaper change has been completed using system 100. The disposal bag 20 may also be used to store one or more of the items in the system 100 before the system 100 is used to change a diaper.
Any type of shoe covering 22 may be used in system 10, or any of the systems described herein. Some example shoe coverings include any shoe covering that is typically used in a sanitary environment. The shoe coverings 22 may be for single use or durable use. The shoe coverings 22 may be made from one or materials such as synthetic fibers (e.g., polypropylene, polyesters, polyamides and polyolefin). The shoe coverings 22 may also be made from natural fibers such as cellulose, cotton, rayon, wool and the like. The type of shoe coverings 22 will depend in part on the application where the system 100 is used.
In one example embodiment, the lotion 24 may include an individual packet, bag or container of lotion. Some example lotions include ointments, moisturizers, emollients and lubricants that may adapted for use on a care giver or a child.
The pair of gloves 26 may include any type of glove. The pair of gloves 26 may be made for single use or durable use. Some example types of gloves 26 include latex, rubber, neoprene, moistened gloves and medicated gloves.
Another example system 200 for supplying day care providers with products related to diaper changing is shown in
Although
In the example embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the system 200 may further include a plurality of child cleaning wipes 16 that are secured to the holder 50. The number of wipes 16 will depend on the application where the system 200 is used. As an example, more child cleaning wipes 16 may be secured to the holder 50 to account for some diaper changes being especially messy and requiring more than one wipe 16.
The system 200 may further include a plurality of supplies of hand sanitizer 17, a plurality of changing pads 18, a plurality of disposal bags 20 and a plurality of pairs of shoe coverings 22 that are each secured to the holder 50. In addition, the system 200 may further include a plurality of supplies of lotion 24 and/or a plurality of pairs of gloves 26 that are secured to the holder 50.
In some embodiments, there are an equal number of diapers 12, supplies of hand sanitizer 17, changing pads 18, disposal bags 20 and pairs of shoe coverings 22 within the holder 50. The number of diapers 12, supplies of hand sanitizer 17, changing pads 18, disposal bags 20 and pairs of shoe coverings 22 will depend on the application where the system 200 is used. It should noted any combination or sub-combination of diapers 12, pairs of gloves 14, child cleaning wipes 16, hand sanitizers 17, changing pads 18, disposal bags 20, pairs of shoe coverings 22, lotion 24 and pairs of gloves 26 may be included in system 200.
Although the diapers 12, pairs of gloves 14, wipes 16, hand sanitizers 17, changing pads 18, disposal bags 20, pairs of shoe coverings 22, lotion 24 and pairs of gloves 26 are shown schematically as various different shapes in
In some example embodiments, the plurality of diapers 12 may be stored in a first dispenser 51 that is able to distribute individual diapers. In addition, the plurality of supplies of surface disinfectant 14 may stored in a second dispenser 52 that is able to distribute individual supplies of surface disinfectant 14. In some embodiments, a plurality of child cleaning wipes 16 may be stored in a third dispenser 53 that is able to distribute individual wipes. It should be noted that any of the supplies of hand sanitizer 17, changing pads 18, disposal bags 20, pairs of shoe coverings 22, supplies of lotion 24 and pairs of gloves 26 may be stored in a dispenser that distributes individual quantities of each item.
As shown in
The system 300 further includes a plurality of receptacles 92. Each receptacle 92 is secured to the holder 90 and includes a diaper 12 and a surface disinfectant 14 such that the receptacle 92 may be similar to the holder 10 shown in
In some embodiments, a hand sanitizer 17, a changing pad 18, a disposal bag 20, a pair of shoe coverings 22, a lotion 24 and/or a pair of gloves 26 may be individually, or in any combination or sub-combination, placed within each receptacle 92. As discussed above, each diaper 12, surface disinfectant 14, wipe 16, hand sanitizer 17, changing pad 18, disposal bag 20, pair of shoe coverings 22, lotion 24 and pair of gloves 26 may be placed within any type of box, container, holder or other storage device before being placed within one of the receptacles 92.
In some example embodiments, the holder 90 and/or the receptacles 92 may include indicia 28 that provide information. As an example, the indicia 28 may indicate the sizes of the diapers 12 that are secured to the holder 90 and/or each receptacle 92.
A method of supplying day care providers with products related to diaper changing is described herein with reference to
It should be noted that the method may further include placing indicia 28 on the holder 10 such that the indicia provide one or more pieces of information. In some example embodiments, securing a diaper 12 and a surface disinfectant 14 to a holder 10 may include placing the diaper 12 and surface disinfectant 14 within a container, or box (see, e.g.,
The method may further include securing one or more of a hand sanitizer 17, changing pad 18, disposal bag 20, pair of shoe coverings 22, lotion 24 and pair of gloves 26 to the holder 10. The type of items that are secured to the holder 10 will depend on the application where the method is used (i.e., the needs of a particular daycare).
The method may further include securing a plurality of child cleaning wipes 16 to the holder 50. In some embodiments, there may be an equal number of diapers 12, supplies of surface disinfectant 14 and wipes 16 secured to the holder 50.
The method may further include securing one or more of a (i) a plurality of changing pads 18; (ii) a plurality of pairs of shoe coverings 22; (iii) a plurality of disposal bags 20; (iv) a plurality of pairs of gloves 26; (v) a plurality of supplies of lotion 24; and/or (vi.) a plurality of supplies of hand sanitizer 17 to the holder 50. It should be noted that securing one or more of a plurality of changing pads 18, pairs of shoe coverings 22, disposal bags 20, pairs of gloves 26, supplies of lotion 24 and supplies of hand sanitizer 17 to the holder 50 may include securing an equal number of two or more of these items to the holder 50.
The method further includes securing the plurality of receptacles 92 to a holder 90 and delivering the holder 90 to a day care provider. It should be noted that with a diaper 12 and a surface disinfectant 14 secured to each receptacle 92, the receptacles 92 may become similar to the holder 10 shown in
In some embodiments, the method may further include securing individually, or in any combination or sub-combination, a hand sanitizer 17, changing pad 18, pair of shoe coverings 22, disposal bag 20, lotion 24 and/or pair of gloves 26 to each receptacle 92. Indicia 28 may be placed on each receptacle 92 and/or holder 90 to indicate a size of the diaper 12 that is in each receptacle 92 and/or to indicate the contents of each receptacle 92 (among other pieces of information).
The operations discussed above with respect to the described methods may be performed in a different order from those described herein. It should be noted that the number and type of products within the system and method may vary as long as needs of day care providers are considered. It should be noted that delivering a holder to a day care provider includes (i) delivering a holder directly to a day care provider; and/or (ii) delivering a holder to a day care provider through a distribution chain.
The systems and methods described herein may supply day care providers with diaper changing products in a manner that facilitates multiple diaper changes per day under disinfected conditions. The systems and methods may also make it easier for day care providers to inventory an appropriate amount of diaper changing products.
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to the specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these aspects which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, which should be assessed accordingly to that of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10836610 | Apr 2004 | US |
| Child | 10931700 | Sep 2004 | US |
