U.S. patent application number 10/553783 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for body recessed portion cleaning agent.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kao Corporation. Invention is credited to Susumu Fujinami, Takao Okajima.
Application Number | 20070041923 10/553783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33312646 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070041923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okajima; Takao ; et
al. |
February 22, 2007 |
Body recessed portion cleaning agent
Abstract
A body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention is either
poured into or applied to a navel cavity (N) or an ear hole and
solidifies after a specified period of time, and the cleansing
agent takes a form that can be removed from the navel cavity (N) or
the ear hole together with dirt in the navel cavity (N) or the ear
hole.
Inventors: |
Okajima; Takao; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Fujinami; Susumu; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Kao Corporation
14-10, Nihonbashi Kayaba-cho 1-chome
Tokyo
JP
103-8210
|
Family ID: |
33312646 |
Appl. No.: |
10/553783 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 23, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/05937 |
371 Date: |
August 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/70.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61Q 19/10 20130101;
A61F 11/006 20130101; A61F 13/2005 20130101; A61H 21/00 20130101;
A61M 35/006 20130101; A61K 8/892 20130101; A61K 2800/95
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/070.12 |
International
Class: |
A61K 8/89 20070101
A61K008/89 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 24, 2003 |
JP |
2003-120567 |
Mar 31, 2004 |
JP |
2004-107345 |
Claims
1. A body cavity cleansing agent which is either poured into or
applied to a navel cavity or an ear hole, solidifies after a
specified period of time and takes a form that can be removed from
said navel cavity or said ear hole together with dirt in said navel
cavity or said ear hole.
2. The body cavity cleansing agent according to claim 1, comprising
a silicone rubber composition having two-component hardening
system.
3. The body cavity cleansing agent according to claim 2, wherein
the silicone rubber composition having two-component hardening
system comprises a first agent and a second agent, the first agent
being a reactive silicone base mainly composed of
diorganopolysiloxane and the second agent containing a crosslinking
agent.
4. The body cavity cleansing agent according to claim 3, wherein
said reactive silicone base and said crosslinking agent are either
a combination of a hydroxylated diorganopolysiloxane containing at
least two hydroxyl groups in the molecule and an alkoxysilane
containing at least two alkoxy groups in the molecule, or a
combination of a vinyl-terminated diorganopolysiloxane containing
at least two vinyl groups in the molecule and a hydrogenated
diorganopolysiloxane containing at least two Si--H groups in the
molecule.
5. The body cavity cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1
to 4, used for cleansing an ear hole of an animal.
6. A body cavity cleansing method comprising pouring or applying
the body cavity cleansing agent according to claim 1 into or to a
navel cavity or an ear hole, and after said body cavity cleansing
agent has solidified, removing this solid material from said navel
cavity or said ear hole together with dirt in said navel cavity or
said ear hole.
7. A navel cavity opener for stretching and opening a navel cavity
so as to allow the body cavity cleansing agent according to claim 1
to be poured into the navel cavity, the navel cavity opener
comprising a tubular part, a flange formed such as to extend from
an outer circumferential surface of said tubular part, and a
plurality of fins provided at a predetermined interval extending
from the outer circumferential surface of said tubular part,
wherein: the tubular part is provided with a cleansing agent
injection port at an upper end thereof; a cleansing agent discharge
port that communicates with said cleansing agent injection port is
provided on a lower end side of said tubular part relative to said
flange; and said fins extend from the lower end of said tubular
part toward said flange such that their height from said tubular
part increases gradually.
8. The navel cavity opener according to claim 7, wherein said
cleansing agent discharge port is provided at a lower end part of
said tubular part.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a body cavity cleansing
agent used for removing dirt (such as bellybutton lint or ear wax
and the like) from a body cavity such as the navel cavity or the
ear hole and the like, a body cavity cleansing method using this
cleansing agent, and a navel cavity opener used when pouring the
body cavity cleansing agent into the navel cavity.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In recent years, those fashions with an exposed bellybutton
or with a pierced bellybutton have become common, and also there is
a trend to wear a swimsuit as outerwear, there are more
opportunities to expose one's bellybutton. Bellybutton lint
accumulated in the navel cavity is not only unpleasant to look at,
but also generates odor because of bacteria growth in the navel
cavity. Therefore, bellybutton lint removal (bellybutton cleansing)
is performed for the purposes of improving the appearance and
preventing odor of the bellybutton.
[0003] Commonly, bellybutton lint removal is performed by
scratching with a fingernail or scraping with an oil-applied swab
(see "Idea.com: `Bellybutton Clean` sales page" (online) of COGIT
Co.; HP division, COGIT Co.; URL
http://www.rakuten.cojp/cogit/390263/452459/on Internet; searched
on Apr. 1, 2003). However, scratching with a fingernail or scraping
with a swab can easily hurt the inner surface of the navel cavity.
Moreover, it gives a stimulus to the abdominal membrane under the
bottom of the navel cavity, which can lead to abdominal pain.
[0004] Meanwhile, conventionally, ear wax removal (ear cleansing)
is performed using an earpick or a swab. However, with the ear
cleansing using an earpick or the like, ear wax is not completely
removed as a result of avoiding damage to a deeper part of the ear
hole, and sometimes it is the case that ear wax is pushed into the
deeper part of the ear hole and becomes harder to be scraped out,
and also, the inner surface of the ear hole can easily get
hurt.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a body cavity cleansing agent with which dirt such as
bellybutton lint or ear wax and the like can be easily removed
without hurting the inner surface of the navel cavity or the ear
hole and the like, a body cavity cleansing method using this
cleansing agent, and a navel cavity opener used when pouring the
body cavity cleansing agent into the navel cavity.
[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides
a body cavity cleansing agent which is either poured into or
applied to a navel cavity or an ear hole and solidifies after a
specified period of time, and which takes a form that can be
removed from the navel cavity or the ear hole together with dirt in
the navel cavity or the ear hole.
[0007] The present invention also provides a body cavity cleansing
method wherein the above body cavity cleansing agent is either
poured into or applied to a navel cavity or an ear hole, and after
the body cavity cleansing agent has solidified, this solid material
is removed from the navel cavity or the ear hole together with dirt
in the navel cavity or the ear hole.
[0008] The present invention also provides a navel cavity opener
for stretching and opening a navel cavity so as to allow the above
body cavity cleansing agent to be poured into the navel cavity,
including a tubular part, a flange formed such as to extend from an
outer circumferential surface of the tubular part, and a plurality
of fins extending from the outer circumferential surface of the
tubular part at a predetermined interval, wherein the tubular part
is provided with a cleansing agent injection port at an upper end
thereof, a cleansing agent discharge port that communicates with
the cleansing agent injection port is provided on a lower end side
of the tubular part relative to the flange, and the fins extend
from the lower end of the tubular part toward the flange such that
their height from the tubular part increases gradually.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container/injector
case for containing the body cavity cleansing agent of the present
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one form of an opener
for stretching and opening the opening of a navel cavity.
[0011] FIG. 3(a), FIG. 3(b), FIG. 3(c), and FIG. 3(d) are diagrams
showing the former half of the process steps of one embodiment of
the body cavity cleansing method (bellybutton cleansing) of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b), FIG. 4(c), FIG. 4(d), and FIG. 4(e)
are diagrams showing the latter half of the process steps of one
embodiment of the body cavity cleansing method (bellybutton
cleansing) of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the
navel cavity opener of the present invention for stretching and
opening the opening of a navel cavity.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the navel cavity opener of the present invention for stretching and
opening the opening of a navel cavity.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment
of the navel cavity opener of the present invention for stretching
and opening the opening of a navel cavity.
[0016] FIG. 8(a), FIG. 8(b), FIG. 8(c) and FIG. 8(d) are a front
view, a plan view, a bottom plan view, and a cross section taken
along the line D-D of FIG. 8(c), respectively, of the navel cavity
opener shown in FIG. 7.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a swab taken out of an
ear hole with a solidified composition adhered to the swab.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] One preferred embodiment of the body cavity cleansing agent
of the present invention will be hereinafter described. FIG. 3(a)
to FIG. 3(d) and FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(e), which will be described
later, will also be referred to in the description of how the body
cavity cleansing agent is poured into a navel cavity and
solidifies. It should be noted that the body cavity cleansing agent
of the present invention is prepared as a composition having
fluidity before use or at least during use. Therefore a term "fluid
composition" in the following description also refers to the body
cavity cleansing agent of the present invention.
[0019] The body cavity cleansing agent 1 of the present embodiment
is a fluid composition that can be poured into a body's navel
cavity N prepared as shown in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(d), and it
solidifies into a gel-like or rubber-like state after a specified
period of time after it has been poured into the navel cavity N as
shown in FIG. 4(c). After the body cavity cleansing agent 1 of the
present embodiment has solidified in the navel cavity N as shown in
FIG. 4(d), it takes a form that can be removed from the navel
cavity N together with dirt (bellybutton lint) D in the navel
cavity N as shown in FIG. 4(e).
[0020] For example, the body cavity cleansing agent of the present
embodiment is composed of a silicone rubber composition having
two-component hardening system, including a first agent and a
second agent, the first agent being a reactive silicone base
composed mainly of diorganopolysiloxane and the second agent being
a curing agent base containing a crosslinking agent. Such
two-component composition may further contain a curing catalyst
either in the first agent or the second agent. The
diorganopolysiloxane used for the first agent of this two-component
hardening system silicone rubber composition may be a hydroxylated
diorganopolysiloxane containing at least two hydroxyl groups in the
molecule, or a vinyl-terminated diorganopolysiloxane containing at
least two vinyl groups in the molecule. The crosslinking agent and
the curing catalyst are selected in accordance with which of these
is used.
[0021] The hydroxylated diorganopolysiloxane, in particular, is
preferably a hydroxylated dimethylpolysiloxane containing a
hydroxyl group at each end, because the material cures quickly and
causes no skin irritation. The crosslinking agent in the
composition of the present invention, when a hydroxylated
diorganopolysiloxane is used for the first agent, is preferably an
alkoxysilane containing at least two alkoxy groups in the molecule,
such as methyl-trimethoxysilane, tetraethylsilicate,
tetrapropylsilicate, or the like. The curing catalyst, in this
case, is preferably carboxylate metal salt, an amine compound, or
amine hydrochloride, such as dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin
acetate, dibutyltin dioctanoate, dioctyltin dilaurate, or the
like.
[0022] The vinyl-terminated diorganopolysiloxane, in particular, is
preferably a vinyl-terminated dimethylpolysiloxane containing a
vinyl group at each end, because the material cures quickly and
causes no skin irritation. The crosslinking agent, when a
vinyl-terminated diorganopolysiloxane is used for the first agent,
is preferably a hydrogenated diorganopolysiloxane containing at
least two Si--H groups in the molecule. The curing catalyst, in
this case, is preferably a platinum compound, such as
chloroplatinic acid, platinum black, platinum asbestos,
silica-gel-supported platinum, platinum activated carbon, potassium
chloroplatinate, or the like.
[0023] Preferably, the silicone rubber composition having
two-component hardening system of the present embodiment contains
0.1 to 30 weight parts of the crosslinking agent and 0.001 to 10
weight parts of the curing catalyst, relative to 100 weight parts
of the diorganopolysiloxane. The composition ratio is suitably
selected in accordance with the kind of each component and the
purpose of use.
[0024] The body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention is
not limited to the above embodiment and may be any form as long as
the agents are either poured into or applied to a navel cavity or
an ear hole and solidify after a specified period of time, and they
can take a form that can be removed from the navel cavity or the
ear hole together with dirt in the navel cavity or the ear hole.
For example, silicone rubber compositions having two-component
hardening system, or a combination of sodium alginate and a calcium
compound may be used. Among them, a silicone rubber composition
having two-component hardening system is preferably used.
[0025] The body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention may
further include, either alone or in combination, one of a
sterilizer, a lubricant, fragrance, a surfactant, a polyol, a fiber
material, powder, and an oil component, in order to further improve
its usability. For the sterilizer, trichlosan, silver zeolite
(Sinanen Zeomic), and the like may be used; for the lubricant,
propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like may be used;
and for the fragrance, essential oils such as tee tree or
grapefruit oils may be used.
[0026] Furthermore, the body cavity cleansing agent of the present
invention is preferably harmless to the body because of its purpose
of use. For the bellybutton cleansing, the fluid composition just
before being poured or applied preferably has a viscosity of not
more than 3,000 mPas. For the ear cleansing, the fluid composition
preferably has such a viscosity that it does not flow into the
middle ear after it is poured or applied and does not completely
plug the ear hole. Specifically, the viscosity is preferably from
1,000 to 3,000 mPas.
[0027] The body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention is
a curable composition which is mixed and prepared just before use
and poured into or applied to the navel cavity or the ear hole
while it still has sufficient fluidity, and solidifies after a
specified period of time. The solidifying (curing) time (which is
time required until the composition sets and can be removed as a
solid material) is preferably from 0.5 to 20 minutes, and more
preferably from 3 to 15 minutes, in terms of work efficiency. The
composition preferably solidifies into a gel-like or rubber-like
state so that the solidified composition is easy to remove from the
navel cavity or the ear hole. The composition may contain menthol
so as to give a feeling of coolness when the composition is applied
to the navel cavity or the ear hole. Alternatively, the composition
may contain red pepper extract so as to give a feeling of
warmness.
[0028] Next, a preferred embodiment of the body cavity cleansing
method of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(d) and FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(e). The body cavity
cleansing method of the present embodiment uses the body cavity
cleansing agent of the above embodiment for the cleansing of the
navel cavity (bellybutton cleansing), wherein the above body cavity
cleansing agent (fluid composition) is poured into the navel cavity
N, and after the body cavity cleansing agent has solidified, this
solid material is removed from the navel cavity N together with
dirt (bellybutton lint) D in the navel cavity N.
[0029] Before giving a description of the body cavity cleansing
method of the present embodiment, a container/injector case 2 for
injecting the body cavity cleansing agent of the above embodiment
into the navel cavity and an opener 3 for stretching and opening
the opening of the navel cavity will be described with reference to
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The container/injector case 2 is divided into a
first container part 21 and a second container part 22 as shown in
FIG. 1, the first container part 21 containing the first agent 11
of the body cavity cleansing agent 1 of the above embodiment in a
sealed manner, and the second container part 22 containing the
second agent 12 in a sealed manner.
[0030] A partition 23 is provided between the first container part
21 and the second container part 22 for separating them. This
partition 23 breaks into two pieces when an appropriately large
external force is applied from the outside, for example, when
pressed between the fingers as shown in FIG. 3(a), so that the
first container part 21 and the second container part 22
communicate with each other. The container/injector case 2 is
provided with a closure piece 24 at one terminal end on the side of
the first container part 21. When the closure piece 24 is cut off
from the first container part 21, the terminal end side of the
first container part 21 opens.
[0031] The opener 3 has a shape formed by two .OMEGA.-shaped
members 31 bonded together with their tops 31A crossed at right
angles when viewed from above, as shown in FIG. 2. The pair of
terminal ends 32 and 32 of the .OMEGA.-shaped member 31 each has
spherical parts so as to avoid hurting the opening of the navel
cavity N when stretching and opening the opening with these
terminal ends 32.
[0032] The opener 3 is made of a resilient member having resiliency
such as synthetic resin, metal, and the like, and therefore, after
the .OMEGA.-shaped members 31 are pressed so that the pairs of the
terminal ends 32 come closer as shown in FIG. 4(a), the
.OMEGA.-shaped members 31 return to their original state when the
pressure is removed. The opener 3 has such a size that when the
terminal ends 32 are pressed toward each other, these terminal ends
32 can be placed in the opening of a navel cavity N that is not
fully opened. Then, the size is such that when the pressure is
removed, the opening of the navel cavity N is stretched and opened
to an appropriate size with the terminal ends 32. This opener 3
need not be used if the navel cavity is opened enough to allow the
body cavity cleansing agent 1 to be poured in.
[0033] Next, the body cavity cleansing method (bellybutton
cleansing) of the present embodiment using the above
container/injector case 2 and the opener 3 will be described with
reference to FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(d) and FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(e). The
navel cavity N to be cleaned has a shape narrowing toward the
opening as shown in FIG. 4(a), a shape that does not allow, as it
is, the body cavity cleansing agent 1 contained in the
container/injector case 2 to be smoothly poured in.
[0034] First, the container/injector case 2 is held, for example,
by a right hand H1 as shown in FIG. 3(a), and the partition 23 is
crushed with fingers. As a result, the first container part 21 and
the second container part 22 of the container/injector case 2
communicate with each other, and the first agent 11 and the second
agent 12 make contact with each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 3(b)
and FIG. 3(c), the first agent 11 and the second agent 12 are mixed
well inside the first container part 21 and the second container
part 22 communicating with each other. As a result, a fluid
composition 1 that can be poured into the navel cavity is obtained.
After mixing the first agent and the second agent well enough, the
closure piece 24 is cut off from the container/injector case 2 by
pulling, folding, or twisting, as shown in FIG. 3(d). As a result,
the fluid composition 1 mixed inside the container/injector case 2
communicates with the outside.
[0035] Prior to mixing of the first agent and the second agent, the
opening of the navel cavity is stretched and opened in advance,
using the opener 3, as described below. The opener 3 is picked by
the hand H1, and the .OMEGA.-shaped members 31 are pressed from the
sides to press together the terminal ends 32, as shown in FIG.
4(a). In this state, the terminal ends 32 of the .OMEGA.-shaped
members 31 are inserted into the opening of the navel cavity N and
set in place. Then, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when the pressure to the
.OMEGA.-shaped members 31 is removed, the .OMEGA.-shaped members 31
attempt to restore to their original shape (in which the terminal
ends 32 are separated from each other). The opening of the navel
cavity N is thus stretched and opened with the terminal ends 32 by
this restoring force of the .OMEGA.-shaped members 31.
[0036] With the opening of the navel cavity N stretched and opened
by the .OMEGA.-shaped members 31 as described above, the fluid
composition 1 mixed in the container/injector case 2 is poured into
the navel cavity N until the terminal ends 32 of the opener 3 are
submerged, as shown in FIG. 4(c) and FIG. 4(d). The fluid
composition 1 is then left standing for a specified period of time
in this state, until it solidifies (cures). The solidifying time
differs depending on the composition and properties of the body
cavity cleansing agent 1, or the amount poured into the navel
cavity N. When the body cavity cleansing agent (fluid composition)
1 has solidified, the gel-like or rubber-like composition 1 is
unified with the opener 3.
[0037] After that, as shown in FIG. 4(e), the opener 3 is picked
and pulled out from the navel cavity N together with the solidified
body cavity cleansing agent 1. As a result, the bellybutton lint
(dirt) D adhered around the bottom of the navel cavity N is removed
from the navel cavity N together with the body cavity cleansing
agent 1.
[0038] By thus performing the bellybutton cleansing in the mode
shown through FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(d) and FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(e)
using the body cavity cleansing agent 1 of the present embodiment,
the bellybutton lint D is readily removed from the navel cavity
N.
[0039] In this process, there is no risk that the inner surface of
the navel cavity N is hurt or a stimulus is given to the abdominal
membrane as compared with the case where the bellybutton is
scratched with a fingernail or scraped with a swab. By using the
above-described opener 3, the opening of a navel cavity N that is
not fully opened can be stretched and opened, and thus facilitating
the pouring of the composition 1 thereinto. Also, the opener 3
makes the removal process easier, as the composition 1 accompanied
by the bellybutton lint D can be removed from the navel cavity N
together with the opener 3 by removing the opener 3 from the navel
cavity N after the composition 1 has solidified. Moreover, as the
bellybutton lint D is removed together with the composition 1, the
removal effect is clearly visible, which gives a feeling of the
effect of the cleansing process. If the navel cavity is primarily
opened enough to allow the body cavity cleansing agent to be poured
in, the composition may be directly poured into the navel cavity
without using the opener.
[0040] The opener, as long as it can stretch and open the opening
of the navel cavity and in that state allow the body cavity
cleansing agent of the present invention to be poured into or
applied to the navel cavity, is not limited to the form shown in
FIG. 2. A preferred form of the opener would have a structure that
can stretch and open the navel cavity gradually as it is inserted
into the navel cavity. For example, an opener 30 shown in FIG. 5,
an opener 30' shown in FIG. 6, and an opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7
and FIG. 8(a) to FIG. 8(d) may be used.
[0041] The opener 30 shown in FIG. 5 includes a cylindrical tubular
part 33, a flange 34 formed such as to extend from an outer
circumferential surface of the tubular part 33, and fins 35 formed
to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular
part 33. The flange 34 is located substantially in the center of
the lengthwise direction of the tubular part 33. The lower face of
the flange 34 (lower left face in FIG. 5) is a flat surface. Six
fins 35 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the
tubular part 33 at an interval of 60.degree. such as to extend from
the lower end (lower left end in FIG. 5) of the tubular part 33 to
the lower face of the flange 34, their height from the outer
circumferential surface of the tubular part being increased
gradually.
[0042] In every other one of the regions between adjacent fins 35
on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular part 33
(divided into six regions) two each cleansing agent discharge ports
36 spaced apart from each other in the lengthwise direction of the
tubular part 33 are formed. The lower end 33B of the tubular part
33 is closed by a dome-shaped dome part 37. Thus, the opening
(cleansing agent injection port) at the upper end 33A of the
tubular part 33 communicates with the cleansing agent discharge
ports 36, so that, when a fluid is injected from the cleansing
agent injection port, the fluid is discharged from the cleansing
agent discharge ports 36. The distance from the lower face of the
flange 34 to the top of the dome part 37 of this opener 30 is
somewhat shorter than the depth of the navel cavity, and the size
and the shape in the surface direction of the flange 34 are such
that the flange can close the opening of the navel cavity and
prevent the opener 30 to be inserted too far into the navel cavity.
The size and the shape of the fins 35 are such that they can
stretch and open a narrowing opening of the navel cavity gradually
as the opener 30 is inserted, as will be described later.
[0043] The opener 30 thus structured can be used, for example, in
the manner described below. First, the opener 30 is inserted into a
navel cavity with a narrowing opening (not shown) from the side of
the dome part 37 (lower end 33B) until the flange 34 abuts the
surface of the belly near the navel cavity. In this insertion
process, the narrowing opening is pressed by the gradually
enlarging peripheral parts of the fins 35 and gradually stretched
and opened. In this state, the body cavity cleansing agent (fluid
composition) of the present embodiment is injected from the
cleansing agent injection port at the upper end 33A of the tubular
part 33. As a result, the fluid composition is introduced into the
navel cavity from the cleansing agent discharge ports 36 formed in
the tubular part 33. The fluid composition is preferably introduced
until the fluid composition makes sufficient contact with the
tubular part 33 and the fins 35 inside the navel cavity.
[0044] After the lapse of a specified period time, the fluid
composition has solidified and the solidified fluid composition
(body cavity cleansing agent) is unified with the opener 30. Then,
the tubular part 33 is picked to pull out the opener 30 from the
navel cavity together with the body cavity cleansing agent. As a
result, the bellybutton lint, together with the body cavity
cleansing agent, is removed from the navel cavity, by this opener
30 as with the opener 3 shown in FIG. 2.
[0045] Also, with the opener 30, the opening of the navel cavity
can be stretched and opened only by inserting the opener 30 into
the navel cavity, and moreover, the fluid composition is
efficiently introduced into the navel cavity by injecting it from
the cleansing agent injection port with the opener 30 being
inserted in the navel cavity. Accordingly, the processes of
stretching and opening the navel cavity and injecting the fluid
composition are easily performed as compared with the opener 3
shown in FIG. 2.
[0046] The opener 30' shown in FIG. 6 is a modified version in
which the shape of the flange 34 of the opener 30 shown in FIG. 5
is changed. The opener 30' has the same structure as that of the
opener 30 shown in FIG. 5 except that the flange 34' has a cup-like
shape concaved from the lower end 33B side toward the upper end 33A
side of the tubular part 33 (cup-like shape concaved relative to
the lower end 33B of the tubular part 33). Therefore, the opener
30' shown in FIG. 6 can be used similarly to the opener 30 shown in
FIG. 5. Further, with the opener 30' shown in FIG. 6, when the
opener is inserted in the navel cavity and the fluid composition is
injected, the peripheral part of the cup-like flange 34' presses
down the belly surface near the opening of the navel cavity.
Accordingly, the fluid composition introduced into the navel cavity
is less likely to spill out of the navel cavity, as compared with
the opener 30 shown in FIG. 5.
[0047] The opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(a) to FIG. 8(d)
is a more preferred embodiment of the navel cavity opener of the
present invention, in which the position of the cleansing agent
discharge ports of the opener 30' shown in FIG. 6 is changed. More
specifically, the opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(a) to FIG.
8(d) is a navel cavity opener for stretching and opening the
opening of the navel cavity so that the body cavity cleansing agent
can be poured into the navel cavity, similarly to the opener 30
shown in FIG. 5 and the opener 30' shown in FIG. 6. The opener 30''
includes a tubular part 33, a flange 34' formed such as to extend
from an outer circumferential surface of the tubular part 33, and a
plurality of fins 35 arranged at a predetermined interval and
extending from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular
part 33. The tubular part 33 is provided with a cleansing agent
injection port 38 at its upper end 33A, and a cleansing agent
discharge port 36'' that communicates with the cleansing agent
injection port 38 on the lower end 33B side of the tubular part 33
relative to the flange 34'. The fins 35 are formed such as to
extend from the lower end 33B of the tubular part 33 to the flange
34', their height from the tubular part 33 being increased
gradually. The upper end 33A side of the tubular part 33 protrudes
from the flange 34'.
[0048] In this opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(a) to FIG.
8(d), as compared with the opener 30' shown in FIG. 6, the
cleansing agent discharge port 36'' is not provided on the outer
circumferential surface of the tubular part 33, and instead in the
lower end 33B of the tubular part 33. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
8(d), a cleansing agent conduit 39 is formed to communicate the
cleansing agent injection port 38 at the upper end 33A and the
cleansing agent discharge port 36'' at the lower end 33B of the
tubular part 33. Other features are the same as those of the opener
30' shown in FIG. 6.
[0049] The distance L1 (see FIG. 8(a)) between the lowermost end
(peripheral part) of the flange 34' and the bottom end of the
tubular part 33 is preferably somewhat shorter than the depth of
the navel cavity, in particular, 10 to 15 mm. The distance L2 (see
FIG. 8(a)) between the uppermost end of the flange 34' and the top
end of the tubular part 33 preferably has a length that enables the
user to readily hold the upper end 33A part above the flange 34' of
the tubular part 33, in particular, 8 to 15 mm. The concave depth
L3 of the cup-like flange 34' (distance between the lowermost end
of the flange 34' and the deepest point of the concaved flange 34',
as shown in FIG. 8(d)) is preferably deep enough to hold the fluid
composition spilled out from the navel cavity when the fluid
composition is poured into the navel cavity, in particular, 0 to 5
mm. The preferable ranges of the distance L1, the distance L2, and
the concave depth L3 shall apply to other embodiments including the
embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.
[0050] With the opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(a) to FIG.
8(d), the opener 30'' is inserted into a navel cavity (not shown)
from the lower end 33B side of the tubular part 33 until the flange
34' abuts the belly surface near the navel cavity, and in this
state, the body cavity cleansing agent (fluid composition) is
injected from the cleansing agent injection port 38 of the tubular
part 33, so that the fluid composition is introduced into the navel
cavity from the cleansing agent discharge port 36'' at the lower
end 33B of the tubular part 33. The opener 30'' shown in FIG. 7 and
FIG. 8(a) to FIG. 8(d) can be used similarly to the opener 30'
shown in FIG. 6 to achieve the same effects. Moreover, because the
fluid composition is introduced into the navel cavity from the
cleansing agent discharge port 36'' at the lower end 33B of the
tubular part 33, the fluid composition can readily reach the
deepest part of the navel cavity, whereby bellybutton lint adhered
to the deepest part of the navel cavity is readily removed.
[0051] Next, another preferred embodiment of the body cavity
cleansing method of the present invention, in which the body cavity
cleansing agent of the above embodiment is used for the cleansing
of an ear hole (ear cleansing), i.e., the process steps for
removing ear wax from an ear hole, will be described. First, an
appropriate amount of the body cavity cleansing agent (fluid
composition) is attached to the terminal end of a swab. The
composition may be attached to the terminal end of a swab in an
appropriate manner depending on the properties, the container
shape, and the like of the composition. The terminal end of the
swab is then inserted into the ear hole to apply the composition on
the inner surface of the ear hole. When one application fails to
provide a sufficient amount of the composition, this process is
repeated. In this process, preferably, the composition is applied
such as not to completely plug the ear hole.
[0052] After a sufficient amount of the composition has been
applied to the ear hole, it is left standing for a specified period
of time until the composition solidifies, with the swab used for
the application being inserted in the ear hole. After the
composition has solidified (cured), the swab is pulled out from the
ear hole together with the solidified composition 1. As a result,
as shown in FIG. 9, ear wax D is removed from the ear hole in a
state that the ear wax D accompanies the composition 1 which is
firmly attached to the terminal end of the swab S.
[0053] Thus, with the ear cleansing performed in the above
embodiment using the body cavity cleansing agent 1 of the present
embodiment and the swab S, the composition 1 is applied to the ear
hole with the swab S and solidifies, after which the swab S is
pulled out from the ear hole, whereby ear wax D is easily removed
together with the composition 1. In this process, there is no risk
of hurting the surface of the ear hole, as compared with scraping
with an earpick or the like. Also, as with the bellybutton
cleansing described above, it gives a feeling of the effect of the
cleansing process.
[0054] The body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention is
not limited to the above embodiment and may be variously modified
within the scope of the present invention. Also, the body cavity
cleansing agent of the present invention can be applied for
purposes other than cleansing a navel cavity or an ear hole of a
human body, such as cleansing of an ear hole (ear cleansing) of a
pet animal or the like. That is, the body cavity cleansing agent of
the present invention is applicable to a body of both a human and
an animal. Further, the body cavity cleansing method of the present
invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may be
variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For
example, the composition may be applied to the navel cavity, and
various methods can be employed for the application. Alternatively,
the composition may be poured into the ear hole, and various
methods can be employed for the pouring.
[0055] In addition, the navel cavity opener of the present
invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may be
variously modified within the scope of the present invention. The
shape of the tubular part can have other shapes than a cylinder,
such as an oval cylinder, a hexagonal cylinder, or a square
cylinder. The number of the fins may be other than six, for
example, four or eight, depending on the size, depth, and the like
of the navel cavity. The shape of the fins is not limited to that
of the various embodiments described above, as long as the fins are
formed such that the narrowing opening of the navel cavity can be
stretched and opened gradually. The cleansing agent discharge port
need not necessarily be located at the positions in the above
embodiments, as long as it is provided on the lower end side of the
tubular part relative to the flange. While the upper end 33A side
of the tubular part 33 protrudes from the flange 34' in the above
embodiments, other designs are possible, in which the tubular part
does not protrude from the flange. The size of the flange in the
surface direction in the above embodiments can be made smaller than
the opening of the navel cavity.
[0056] Further, other embodiments are possible wherein no flange is
provided.
EXAMPLE 1
[0057] The body cavity cleansing agent of this example is a
two-component, condensation-hardening type silicone rubber
composition including a first agent and a second agent at a weight
ratio of 100:5, the first agent being a reactive silicone base with
the following compositions, and the second agent being a curing
agent base with the following compositions. This two-component,
condensation-hardening type silicone rubber composition was
accommodated in respective container parts of the
container/injector case as shown in FIG. 1, to obtain a working
product (example product 1).
[0058] Reactive silicone base (first agent): 100 weight parts
(1) 65 weight parts of dimethylpolysiloxane terminated at both
chain ends with hydroxyl groups, expressed by the following
structural formula, and having a viscosity of 5100 mm.sup.2/s at
23.degree. C.: Formula:
HO--Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2--O--(Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O).sub.450--Si(CH.sub.3).su-
b.2--OH (2) 5 weight parts of fumed silica having a specific
surface area of about 200 m.sup.2/g (3) 30 weight parts of
crystalline silica having an average particle size of 4.5 .mu.m
Curing agent base (second agent): 5 weight parts (4) 1.5 weight
parts of dimethylpolysiloxane expressed by the following structural
formula and having a viscosity of 100 mm.sup.2/s at 23.degree. C.:
Formula:
Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3--O--(Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O).sub.50--Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3
(5) 3 weight parts of methyl-trimetoxysilane (6) 0.5 weight parts
of dibutyltin dilaurate
EXAMPLE 2
[0059] The body cavity cleansing agent of this example is a
two-component, addition reaction-hardening type silicone rubber
composition including a first agent and a second agent at a weight
ratio of 100:100, the first agent being a reactive silicone base
with the following compositions, and the second agent being a
curing agent base with the following compositions. This
two-component, addition reaction-hardening type silicone rubber
composition was accommodated in respective container parts of the
container/injector case as shown in FIG. 1, to obtain a working
product (example product 2).
Reactive silicone base (first agent): 100 weight parts
(1) 64.8 weight parts of dimethylpolysiloxane terminated at both
chain ends with vinyl groups, expressed by the following structural
formula, and having a viscosity of 5000 mm.sup.2/s at 23.degree.
C.: Formula:
H.sub.2C.dbd.CH--Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2--O--(Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O).sub.450--Si-
(CH.sub.3).sub.2--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 (2) 5 weight parts of fumed
silica having a specific surface area of about 200 m.sup.2/g (3) 30
weight parts of crystalline silica having an average particle size
of 4.5 .mu.m (4) 0.2 weight parts of 2% chloroplatinic acid
solution in 2-ethyl hexanol Curing agent base (second agent): 100
weight parts (5) 60 weight parts of dimethylpolysiloxane terminated
at both chain ends with vinyl groups expressed by the following
structural formula and having a viscosity of 5000 mm.sup.2/s at
23.degree. C.: Formula:
H.sub.2C.dbd.CH--Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2--O--(Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O).sub.450--Si-
(CH.sub.3).sub.2--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 (6) 5 weight parts of fumed
silica having a specific surface area of about 200 m.sup.2/g (7) 30
weight parts of crystalline silica having an average particle size
of 4.5 .mu.m (8) 5 weight parts of hydrogen polysiloxane expressed
by the following structural formula: Formula:
Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3--O--(Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O).sub.50--(Si(H)(CH.sub.3)O).s-
ub.10--Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3
EXAMPLE 3
[0060] Example 3 is the cleansing of a navel cavity using the above
example product 1. The above example product 1 (container/injector
case 2) in which the body cavity cleansing agent of the above
example 1 is contained as shown in FIG. 1 was held by a hand, and
as shown in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(c), the partition 23 was crushed,
so that the first agent 11 and the second agent 12 made contact
with each other and were mixed together, to obtain the fluid
composition 1 that can be poured into the navel cavity. Meanwhile,
as shown in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b), the opening of the navel
cavity N was stretched and opened using the opener 3.
[0061] Next, the fluid composition 1 in the container/injector case
2 was poured inside the stretched-open navel cavity N as shown in
FIG. 4(c) and FIG. 4(d). In this state, after 10 minutes have
passed, the fluid composition 1 solidified into a gel-like or
rubber-like state. After that, this solidified material was pulled
out from the navel cavity N together with the opener 3 as shown in
FIG. 4(e). As a result, the bellybutton lint D adhered around the
bottom of the navel cavity N was completely removed from the navel
cavity N together with the body cavity cleansing agent 1, without
hurting the inner surface of the navel cavity.
EXAMPLE 4
[0062] Using the above example product 2, the navel cavity was
cleaned similarly to the example 3. As a result, as with the
example 3, the bellybutton lint D was completely removed from the
navel cavity N. In this process, the time required for the fluid
composition 1 to set into a gel form was about 1 minute.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0063] With the body cavity cleansing agent and the body cavity
cleansing method of the present invention, dirt such as bellybutton
lint or ear wax and the like can be readily removed without hurting
the inner surface of the navel cavity or the ear hole.
[0064] Further, with the navel cavity opener of the present
invention, the opening of the navel cavity can be stretched and
opened by just inserting the opener into the navel cavity. The body
cavity cleansing agent can be efficiently introduced into the navel
cavity simply by injecting the body cavity cleansing agent from the
cleansing agent injection port of the navel cavity opener that is
inserted in the navel cavity, and therefore the processes of
stretching and opening the navel cavity and injecting the body
cavity cleansing agent are performed simply.
* * * * *
References