Cover for the diaper genie TM or other lidded pail or container

Abstract

A cover ( 10 ) for a lidded container or pail that is decorative, removable for cleaning, and effective at helping improve the appearance of a typically unsightly object, a garbage or diaper pail. The cover is especially intended for use with the Diaper Genie™ (Playtex Corporation, New Jersey, (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,049 for complete, detailed description of the pail to be used in the preferred embodiment, the Diaper Genie™, David Richards, Brian Ward and Maurice Williams, United Kingdom, issued Sep. 26, 1989)) brand diaper pail, and provides a means for parents to include the diaper pail in their nursery decorating schemes. The preferred embodiment is for the cover to transform the appearance of the pail into that of a large stuffed animal, such as a teddy bear. The teddy bear's head ( 70 ) would attach to the top of the lid cover ( 72 ) or be an integral part of it. The pail cover ( 20 ) would be shaped to imitate a bathrobe, complete with stuffed arms ( 74 ), collar ( 76 ), belt ( 78 ) and bathrobe pockets ( 79 ) attached to it to make it look like a teddy. The lid cover ( 40 ) could be made to look like a cravat (neck kerchief). The materials and stuffing for the teddy bear's head ( 70 ) would be as lightweight as possible, to prevent the weight of the pail lid cover from making the lid difficult to open or shut. The simplest version of the invention involves a one-piece cover made of a highly elastic textile that requires no sewing nor any attachment means to cover a lidded container, and potentially to be made of an insulating material. Options include the following: the lid cover ( 40 ) could contain a music box that starts to play when the pail is opened; the pail cover ( 20 ) which envelops the main body of the pail could be stuffed to add roundness or other shape (to make a teddy bear's belly, for example); the pail cover ( 20 ) could include a pocket ( 80 ) that would hold a refill cartridge for the Diaper Genie™ or a dispenser of garbage bags; the fabrics or materials used to make the cover—or a lining for the cover—could be odor proof, filtering, scented, or deodorizing; or the lid cover ( 40 ) could include a means for attaching another object, such as a stuffed animal, toy or decorative object, that the user could attach as they pleased.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A Cover for a Lidded Container comprising: 
 a textile tube for covering a container with lid or a diaper pail with lid, said tube having a top and a bottom and conforming to the side wall shape of the container, and having an extension which is a shorter textile tube having a top and a bottom and conforming to the side wall shape of the lid, the end of the tube being knotted so as form a stocking-cap type cover to cover the top of the lid, made of a fabric of sufficient resiliency, such as neoprene, that the elasticity of the fabric itself holds the cover in place on the container and cover;    
     
     
         2 . A Cover for a Lidded Container comprising: 
 a textile sheath for covering a container with lid or a diaper pail with lid, said sheath having a top and a bottom and conforming to the side wall shape of the container;    retaining means to affix the sheath to the container;    a textile cap for covering a container lid or a diaper pail lid, that is either a separate piece of material or that is an extension of the sheath, and which covers the lid of the container, allowing for the lid to be freely opened or closed.    retaining means to affix the container lid cap to the lid.    
     
     
         3 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , further including: 
 retaining means to affix the cap to the lid comprises elastic attached to the cap, perhaps running along the entire opening edge or edges, such as a shower cap, holding the cap in place on the container or pail lid;    
     
     
         4 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a hole in the lid cap allows for the locking mechanisms on the container lid to communicate with the mating locking mechanism of the container.    
     
     
         5 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the hole in the lid cap is lined with elastic or has a retaining means to prevent interference between the fabric of the lid cover and the locking mechanism of the container.    
     
     
         6 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the sheath and lid cap may be lined with filter sheets to inhibit escape of odors.    
     
     
         7 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a decorative piece attached to the top of the container via a hole in the lid cap or to the lid cap via a retaining means such as a large piece of sticky-back Velcro™ (owned by Velcro USA, Manchester, N.H., multiple interlocking textile hooks and loops).    
     
     
         8 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 there is a music box affixed to the sheath or the lid cap which is activated by the action of opening the lid.    
     
     
         9 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 there is a means for creating an air-tight seal at the top and/or bottom ends of the sheath and the lid cap to prevent escape of odors;    
     
     
         10 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 there is a slot or pocket or other attachment or holding means for the placement of a charcoal filter at the bottom end of the sheath to absorb escaping odors;    
     
     
         11 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 there is a textile means for closing the opening at the bottom of the sheath to prevent escape of odors.    
     
     
         12 . A container cover according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 there is a pocket or slot for holding a refill cartridge for the Diaper Genie™ diaper pail, or for other items such as a box of garbage bags, on the middle portion of the sheath.    
     
     
         13 . A cover adapted to cover a pail that has a lid, both the lid and the pail having inner and outer surfaces, and the lid being attached by a hinge to the pail (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,049 for complete, detailed description of the pail to be used in the preferred embodiment, the Diaper Genie™, David Richards, Brian Ward and Maurice Williams, United Kingdom, issued Sep. 26, 1989), and the lid and the pail having a locking mechanism, which is released by pressing a button on the lid, said cover comprising: 
 a flexible, fabric covering adapted to conform to the outer surface of the side wall of the container for completely covering the outer surface of the side wall and attaching to the upper rim of such pail, and a flexible fabric covering, optionally contiguous to the covering adapted to conform to the outer surface of the pail lid for completely covering the outer surface of the lid, while allowing the lid to open at the hinge and allowing the lid release button to be pressed, and the lid to be reclosed without interference;  
 fastener means attached to said flexible cover for the body of the pail and disposed along at least one end of said flexible covering for selectively and non-permanently attaching cover for the body of the pail to the pail body;  
 fastener means attached to said flexible cover for the lid and placed on at least one end of said flexible covering for selectively and non-permanently attaching cover for the lid to the lid.  
 
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said fastener means includes Velcro (Velcro USA, Inc., Manchester, N.H.) (multiple interlocking textile hooks and loops).  
 
     
     
         15 . The container decorative cover of  claim 13  and further including: 
 attachment means located on the exterior surface of the lid cover for selectively and non-permanently attaching decorative objects to the lid.  
 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 15  wherein said attachment means includes Velcro (multiple interlocking textile hooks and loops).