Disposable Cleaning Utensils Capable of Being Incorporated into Boxes and Containers and Methods of Creating Disposable Cleaning Utensils

Abstract

Disposable clean up utensils that can be incorporated into a box or other container, comprised of an apparatus, an incised and scored blank, from which clean up utensils, such as a combination bristle brush and paddle, a dustpan, a paddle and a scraper, may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising a flat sheet of bendable material comprising a combination bristle brush and paddle comprising a plurality of angled incised bristle lines; a scraper; a paddle; a dustpan comprising a dustpan handle fold line; an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; a right back score and fold mark; a left back score and fold mark; a dustpan handle fold line; a plurality of rear pan inclines; a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; a pan-to-floor interface; an incised line bounding the dustpan; and a bristle brush score and fold mark.

We claim: 
     
         1 ) An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which a bristle brush, a dustpan, a paddle and two scrapers may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising
 a first scraper comprising
 at least one straight edge and 
 at least one side adjoining any or all of the following
 a bristle brush 
 a dustpan and 
 a paddle; 
 
 
 a bristle brush comprising
 a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line; 
 at least one angled brush score and fold mark; 
 
 a second scraper comprising
 at least one straight edge; 
 at least one side adjoining any or all of the following
 a bristle brush 
 a dustpan; 
 a paddle; 
 
 
 a paddle comprising
 at least one side that contains a straight edge and 
 at least one side adjoining any or all of the following
 a bristle brush; 
 a dustpan; 
 a paddle; 
 
 
 a dustpan comprising
 a plurality of mid-handle incised lines; 
 at least one dustpan handle fold line; 
 an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
 a right back score and fold mark; 
 a left back score and fold mark; 
 a rear spine score and fold mark; 
 an intersect at mid-pan; 
 a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; 
 a plurality of pan sidewalls; 
 a pan-to-floor interface; 
 
 an incised line bounding a first scraper portion, that separates the first scraper from the rest of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 an incised line bounding the dustpan, that separates the dustpan from the rest of the flat sheet of bendable material; and 
 a portion of incised line bounding the dustpan that extends between the bristle brush and the second scraper. 
   
     
     
         2 ) A method for creating a bristle brush, a dustpan, a paddle and two scrapers from the apparatus of  claim 1 , said method comprising the following steps, the first three steps of which can be executed in any order and the last two steps of which can be executed in any order, said steps comprising
 a first step in which the first scraper is separated from the sheet of bendable material that it is a part of along an incised line bounding a first scraper portion;   a second step in which the paddle is separated from the sheet of bendable material that it is a part of along the incised line bounding dustpan;   a third step in which the bristle brush and the second scraper are separated from the sheet of bendable material that they are a part of along the incised line bounding the dustpan;   a fourth step in which the bristle brush and the second scraper are separated from each other along the portion of the incised line bounding the dustpan that extends between the bristle brush and the second scraper; and   a fifth step in which the dustpan is formed by grasping near the mid-handle incised line with a hand and squeezing, thus causing the portion of the dustpan being grasped to bend downward bilaterally along the dustpan handle fold line and causing a portion of the bendable material to bend upward along the right back score and fold mark and along the left back score and fold mark, the bendable material to bend downward bilaterally along the rear spine score and fold mark and downward from the intersect at mid-pan along a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks, thereby forming a three dimensional dustpan from the flat bendable material.   
     
     
         3 ) An apparatus that can serve as a container and as a blank from which a bristle brush, a dustpan, a paddle and two scrapers can be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a box or other similar container comprising
 at least one substantially planar top, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least one substantially planar bottom, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least three substantially planar sides; 
 wherein at least one substantially planar top, one substantially planar bottom or one substantially planar side of the box or other similar container comprises
 An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which a bristle brush, a dustpan, a paddle and two scrapers may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising 
  a first scraper comprising 
  at least one straight edge and 
  at least one side adjoining any or all of the following 
  a bristle brush 
  a dustpan and 
  a paddle; 
  a bristle brush comprising 
  a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line; 
  at least one angled brush score and fold mark; 
  a second scraper comprising 
  at least one straight edge; 
  at least one side adjoining any or all of the following 
  a bristle brush 
  a dustpan; 
  a paddle; 
  a paddle comprising 
  at least one side that contains a straight edge and at least one side adjoining any or all of the following 
  a bristle brush; 
  a dustpan; 
  a paddle; 
  a dustpan comprising 
  a plurality of mid-handle incised lines; 
  at least one dustpan handle fold line; 
  an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
  a right back score and fold mark; 
  a left back score and fold mark; 
  a rear spine score and fold mark; 
  an intersect at mid-pan; 
  a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; 
  a plurality of pan sidewalls; 
  a pan-to-floor interface; 
  an incised line bounding a first scraper portion, that separates the first scraper from the rest of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  an incised line bounding the dustpan, that separates the dustpan from the rest of the flat sheet of bendable material; and 
  a portion of incised line bounding the dustpan that extends between the bristle brush and the second scraper. 
 
 
   
     
     
         4 ) An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which a bristle brush with handle, a dustpan and a paddle may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising
 a bristle brush with handle comprising
 a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line out of a portion of one side of a handle; 
 a handle with whose longitudinal length is substantially the length of the flat sheet of bendable material comprising
 one longitudinal side comprising 
  a portion of which contains a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line; 
  a portion of which contains no incised bristle lines; 
 an opposing longitudinal side containing no incised bristle lines; 
 two opposing latitudinal sides; 
 
 
 a paddle comprising
 at least one straight edge; 
 at least one side bounding one or more of the following on the flat sheet of bendable material
 a dustpan and 
 a side comprising the outer border of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 
 
 a dustpan comprising
 at least one dustpan handle fold line; 
 an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
 a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; and 
 
 an incised line bounding dustpan. 
   
     
     
         5 ) A method for creating a bristle brush with handle, a dustpan and a paddle from the apparatus of  claim 4 , said method comprising the following step
 a first step in which the dustpan, the bristle brush with handle and the paddle are all separated from each other along the incised line bounding dustpan.   
     
     
         6 ) An apparatus that can serve as a container and as a blank from which a bristle brush with handle, a dustpan and a paddle can be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a box or other similar container comprising
 at least one substantially planar top, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least one substantially planar bottom, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least three substantially planar sides; 
 wherein at least one substantially planar top, one substantially planar bottom or one substantially planar side of the box or other similar container comprises
 An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which 
 a bristle brush with handle, a dustpan and a paddle may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising 
  a bristle brush with handle comprising 
  a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line out of a portion of one side of a handle; 
  a handle with whose longitudinal length is substantially the length of the flat sheet of bendable material comprising 
  one longitudinal side comprising 
  a portion of which contains a plurality of incised bristle lines arranged in approximately a straight line; 
  a portion of which contains no incised bristle lines; 
  an opposing longitudinal side containing no incised bristle lines; 
  two opposing latitudinal sides; 
  a paddle comprising 
  at least one straight edge; 
  at least one side bounding one or more of the following on the flat sheet of bendable material 
  a dustpan and 
  a side comprising the outer border of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  a dustpan comprising 
  at least one dustpan handle fold line; 
  an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
  a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; and 
  an incised line bounding dustpan. 
 
 
   
     
     
         7 ) An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which a combination bristle brush and paddle, a dustpan, a paddle and a scraper may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising
 a combination bristle brush and paddle comprising
 at least one substantially straight side containing a plurality of angled incised bristle lines; 
 at least one side that contains a straight edge and no angled incised bristle lines; 
 at least one side that abuts a dustpan when both are contained within the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 at least one side that abuts a scraper when both are contained within the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 
 a scraper comprising
 two opposing longitudinal sides approximately equal in length to each other and to either the width or length of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 two opposing latitudinal sides approximately equal in length to each other; 
 
 a paddle comprising
 at least one side that contains a straight edge; 
 at least one side bounding one or more of the following on the flat sheet of bendable material
 a dustpan; 
 an outer border of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
 
 
 a dustpan comprising
 a dustpan handle fold line; 
 an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
 a right back score and fold mark; 
 a left back score and fold mark; 
 a dustpan handle fold line; 
 a plurality of rear pan inclines; 
 a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; 
 a pan-to-floor interface; 
 
 an incised line bounding dustpan; and 
 a bristle brush score and fold mark. 
   
     
     
         8 ) A method for creating a combination bristle brush and paddle, a dustpan, a paddle and a scraper from the apparatus of  claim 7 , said method comprising the following steps, which can be executed in any order, said steps comprising
 a first step in which the scraper is separated from the sheet of bendable material which it is a part of along the portion of an incised line bounding dustpan that bounds the scraper;   a second step in which the paddle is separated from the dustpan along the portion of an incised line bounding dustpan that bounds the paddle; and   a third step in which the dustpan is separated from the combination bristle brush and paddle along the bristle brush score and fold mark and along the portion of an incised line bounding dustpan that bounds the combination bristle brush and paddle.   
     
     
         9 ) An apparatus that can serve as a container and as a blank from which a combination bristle brush and paddle, a dustpan, a paddle and a scraper can be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a box or other similar container comprising
 at least one substantially planar top, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least one substantially planar bottom, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; at least three substantially planar sides; 
 wherein at least one substantially planar top, one substantially planar bottom or one substantially planar side of the box or other similar container comprises
 An apparatus for creating disposable clean up utensils and from which a combination bristle brush and paddle, a dustpan, a paddle and a scraper may be formed by separating them from the apparatus, said apparatus comprising
 a flat sheet of bendable material comprising 
  a combination bristle brush and paddle comprising 
  at least one substantially straight side containing a plurality of angled incised bristle lines; 
  at least one side that contains a straight edge and no angled incised bristle lines; 
  at least one side that abuts a dustpan when both are contained within the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  at least one side that abuts scraper when both are contained within the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  a scraper comprising 
  two opposing longitudinal sides approximately equal in length to each other and to either the width or length of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  two opposing latitudinal sides approximately equal in length to each other; 
  a paddle comprising 
  at least one side that contains a straight edge; 
  at least one side bounding one or more of the following on the flat sheet of bendable material 
  a dustpan; 
  an outer border of the flat sheet of bendable material; 
  a dustpan comprising 
  a dustpan handle fold line; 
  an intersect at the rear of the dustpan; 
  a right back score and fold mark; 
  a left back score and fold mark; 
  a dustpan handle fold line; 
  a plurality of rear pan inclines; 
  a plurality of sidewall score and fold marks; 
  a pan-to-floor interface; 
  an incised line bounding dustpan; and 
  a bristle brush score and fold mark. 
 
 
   
     
     
         10 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the second scraper is not separated from the bristle brush. 
     
     
         11 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the first scraper is deleted. 
     
     
         12 ) The apparatus of  claim 10 , in which the first scraper is deleted. 
     
     
         13 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the first scraper is deleted and the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         14 ) The apparatus of  claim 10 , in which the first scraper is deleted and the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         15 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the first scraper is deleted, the second scraper is deleted and the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         16 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the first scraper is deleted, the second scraper is deleted, the paddle is deleted and the bristle brush is deleted. 
     
     
         17 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the first scraper is deleted, the second scraper is deleted, the paddle is deleted and the dustpan is deleted. 
     
     
         18 ) The apparatus of either  claim 10 ,  claim 11 ,  claim 12 ,  claim 13 ,  claim 14 ,  claim 15 ,  claim 16  or  claim 17 , in which the apparatus of one of said claims is incorporated into at least one substantially planar top, one substantially planar bottom or one substantially planar side of a box or a similar container, said box or similar container further comprising
 at least one substantially planar top, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least one substantially planar bottom, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; and 
 at least three substantially planar sides. 
 
     
     
         19 ) The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         20 ) The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the bristle brush with handle is deleted. 
     
     
         21 ) The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the paddle and the bristle brush are deleted. 
     
     
         22 ) The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the paddle and the dustpan are deleted. 
     
     
         23 ) The apparatus of either  claim 19 ,  claim 20 ,  claim 21  or  claim 22  in which the apparatus of one of said claims is incorporated into at least one substantially planar top, one substantially planar bottom or one substantially planar side of a box or a similar container, said box or similar container further comprising
 at least one substantially planar top, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; 
 at least one substantially planar bottom, whether made of one piece or comprised of folded flaps when assembled; and 
 at least three substantially planar sides. 
 
     
     
         24 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the scraper is deleted. 
     
     
         25 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the scraper is deleted and the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         26 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         27 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the combination bristle brush and paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         28 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the combination bristle brush and paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         29 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the combination bristle brush and paddle is deleted and the paddle is deleted. 
     
     
         30 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the combination bristle brush and paddle is deleted, the paddle is deleted and the scraper is deleted. 
     
     
         31 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the dustpan is deleted, the paddle is deleted and the scraper is deleted. 
     
     
         32 ) The apparatus of either  claim 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 , or  9  through  31 , inclusive, in which the material of the flat sheet of bendable material is chosen from the group which includes the following members:
 any bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to or greater than that of cardboard, including, but not limited to
 corrugated fiberboard, 
 paper, 
 nylon, 
 plastic, 
 foil, 
 aluminum or other metals, 
 paperboard, 
 wood veneer, 
 palm fronds, 
 leaves, 
 compostable paperboard and 
 other composite material. 
 
 
     
     
         33 ) The apparatus of either  claim 1 ,  3  or any of  claims 10  through  18 , inclusive, in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material contains at least one retail merchandising cutout. 
     
     
         34 ) The apparatus of either  claim 4 ,  6  or any of  claims 19  through  23 , inclusive, in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material contains at least one retail merchandising cutout. 
     
     
         35 ) The apparatus of either  claim 7 ,  9 , or any of  claims 24  through  31 , inclusive, in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material contains at least one retail merchandising cutout. 
     
     
         36 ) The apparatus of either  claim 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6  through  7  or any of  claims 9  through  23 , inclusive, in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material is formed of materials that are resistant to liquids, such as hydrophobic paper or cardboard that has self-assembled silicon-oxide nanoparticles with functional silane groups and fluorocarbonated compounds linked directly to cellulose fibers of at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a Cobb value of 8 to 25 g/m2 and water contact angles of 100 to 140 degrees. 
     
     
         37 ) The apparatus of either  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6  through  7  or any of  claims 9  through  23 , inclusive, in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material is coated with materials that are resistant to liquids, including, but not limited to, waterproof film laminated to cardboard, polyethylene, waxes, fluor-derivatives, biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and polyesters, biopolymer nanoparticles and nanofillers such as nanoclay and nanocellulose.