U.S. patent application number 15/922830 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-19 for devices and methods to maintain personal hygiene while using the toilet.
The applicant listed for this patent is Donald C. Lewis, Hirak Mitra. Invention is credited to Donald C. Lewis, Hirak Mitra.
Application Number | 20190282039 15/922830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67904708 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-19 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190282039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis; Donald C. ; et
al. |
September 19, 2019 |
Devices and Methods to Maintain Personal Hygiene while Using the
Toilet
Abstract
A container holds an absorbent pad which contains fluids for
cleansing toilet facilities before using them, or for cleansing or
moisturizing a person's body after using a toilet. One carries one
or more such containers on one's person. To use the container one
opens it and expresses fluid from the pad onto dry clean toilet
paper by pressing that toilet paper onto the pad. One then uses the
now moist toilet paper to clean a toilet seat, or to clean or
moisturize one's person or the person of another. Then one disposes
of the now used toilet paper as one normally disposes of toilet
paper.
Inventors: |
Lewis; Donald C.; (Richmond,
CA) ; Mitra; Hirak; (Santa Clara, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lewis; Donald C.
Mitra; Hirak |
Richmond
Santa Clara |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67904708 |
Appl. No.: |
15/922830 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/32 20130101;
A45D 40/18 20130101; A47K 17/00 20130101; A47K 2010/3273 20130101;
A45D 37/00 20130101; A45D 34/00 20130101; A45D 2200/1036
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/32 20060101
A47K010/32 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a) a container which spatially encloses
a hollow enclosure; b) a reservoir which: <i> comprises an
object made of absorbent material; <ii> resides in said
hollow enclosure of said container; <iii> has the property
that when some other absorbent object is pressed against said
reservoir then some of the fluid held in the reservoir transfers
from the reservoir to said other absorbent object; and <iv>
has the further property, distinguishing above prior art, that said
reservoir comprises a material which does not release any fluid
said reservoir holds unless deformed by external force; c) a fluid,
which: is held in said reservoir; and comprises a plurality of
substances drawn from the following set: <i> soaps;
<ii> detergents; <iii> disinfectants; <iv>
deodorants; <v> analgesics; <vi> antiseptics;
<vi> antibiotics; <vii> lubricants; <viii>
emollients; and <ix> perfumes; where: d) said container has
no enclosed volume adapted to hold said fluid in a form where said
fluid flows freely without coming into contact with said reservoir;
for the purpose of carrying said fluid on one's person.
2. The reservoir of claim 1 being adapted to be deformed by manual
force and in particular to be squeezed by manual force into a
smaller volume than that which it assumes when no manual force is
applied to it.
3. The reservoir of claim 1 being adapted when not under force or
constraint to revert to its manufactured shape.
4. The reservoir of claim 1 being adapted to absorb fluid when
placed in said fluid.
5. The reservoir of claim 4 being further adapted to absorb said
fluid at a higher rate, if compressed before being placed in said
fluid and then allowed to revert to its manufactured state while
held in fluid, than otherwise.
6. The reservoir of claim 1 being adapted to express fluid when
placed under manual force.
7. The reservoir of claim 6 being further adapted to express
increasing amounts of fluid with increasing amounts of manual force
being placed upon it.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 where said reservoir partially fills
said enclosure.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 where said reservoir fully fills said
enclosure.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 where said container has an aperture
which is covered by a lid where: a) said lid is adapted to be
opened and closed manually; b) when said lid is closed said
enclosure is leak-resistant for fluids and said container entirely
contains said reservoir; c) when said lid is open said aperture
exposes all or some fraction of the surface area of said reservoir;
for the purpose of allowing objects external to said container to
impinge upon said reservoir.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 having internal geometry and surface
texture of the enclosure which holds said reservoir, and the
manufactured shape and surface of said reservoir, such that, when
said lid is open, said reservoir does not without manual
intervention fully exit from said container for a plurality of
reasons drawn from the following set: a) said enclosure
geometrically constrains said reservoir from exiting said enclosure
without said reservoir or said enclosure being deformed; b) said
reservoir attempting to return by its natural resilience to its
manufactured shape applies pressure on a plurality of the inner
walls of said enclosure; c) friction between the surface of said
enclosure and the surface of said reservoir prevents said reservoir
from sliding out of said enclosure.
12. The container of claim 1 comprising on one external surface a
pocket adapted to hold several sheets of toilet paper.
13. The container of claim 1 having a plurality of distinguishing
qualities drawn from the following set: a) being a different color
from similar containers; b) having on its surface distinctive
visual markings; c) having on its surface distinctive writing; and
d) having on its surface distinctive embossments; thereby enabling
a person to distinguish it from other containers otherwise similar
in appearance.
14. The reservoir of claim 1 having a plurality of distinguishing
qualities drawn from the following set: a) being a different color
from similar reservoirs; b) having on its surface distinctive
visual markings; c) having on its surface distinctive writing; and
d) having on its surface distinctive embossments; hereby enabling
person to distinguish it from other reservoir otherwise similar in
appearance.
15. The container of claim 1 holding multiple said reservoirs, each
reservoir being held in a different enclosure and such enclosures
being mutually leak-resistant.
16. The container of claim 1 which has a marking visible on the
inside, called a fill mark, where said marking is visible to a
person; said fill mark being adapted to indicate the level up to
which the container may be filled such that a dry reservoir placed
thereafter in said container will completely absorb said fluid; and
where said marking directs a to fill said container with said fluid
up to its level and no higher; thereby warning said person not to
overfill said container.
17. The container of claim 14 which has two fill marks visible on
the inside of said container, the lower such mark showing the
minimum level of fluid to add and the higher such mark showing the
maximum level of fluid to add.
18. The container of claim 1 to which is attached on one of its
sides a binding mechanism drawn from some combination of straps,
strings, ropes and a hook-and-loop mechanism; said binding
mechanism being adapted to attaching itself, and thus said
container, to either a person's limb, or some surface or object;
thereby allowing a person to connect said container by means of
said binding mechanism to something.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 where said container has a section
that separates from the rest of said container, providing external
exposure to the enclosure which holds said reservoir; such that
when said section is separate from the rest of said container, said
reservoir is able to travel into and out of said enclosure without
deforming from its manufactured shape.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. Ser. No. 14/797,683, filed Jul. 13, 2015, pending.
DEFINITIONS
[0002] This application uses the definitions of U.S. Ser. No.
14/797,683.
[0003] Excreta are matter excreted by the body, including but not
limited to urine, fecal matter and emesis.
[0004] To excrete is to void excreta.
[0005] The affected skin is the area of a person's body which a
person may rub with toilet paper to clean it because it holds
residual excreta and other debris on its surface.
[0006] To wipe is to rub affected skin to clean it, potentially
removing residual excreta and other debris.
[0007] Unblocked refers to a plane or a space through which solid
objects and fluids can readily travel.
[0008] Blocked refers to a plane or a space through which solid
objects and fluids cannot readily travel.
[0009] A chamber is an enclosure inside a container adapted to hold
objects and fluids. A chamber contains an unblocked continuous open
volume enclosed within a container, through which solids and fluids
move without deforming their shape or the shape of the chamber.
[0010] A lid is a blocked closure on a chamber within a container.
The aperture of the chamber under a lid is an opening of the
container adapted to allow objects outside the container to impinge
upon objects inside the container. The lid closes externally to
this aperture.
[0011] The face of a chamber of a container is a part of the
container that separates from the rest of the container to provide
unblocked access to the interior of the chamber through which
objects held inside the chamber may travel in and out of the
chamber. In such a case the window is the opening the face reveals
when it moves aside. Note in some embodiments a face and a lid are
the same component--in which case the aperture and window are also
the same--while in other cases they differ.
[0012] An internal sleeve is a piece of a container adapted to hold
a plurality of objects in a chamber, and to slide in and out of the
housing of the container. When the internal sleeve has slid out to
some extent then objects outside the container are able to impinge
on objects held in the sleeve.
[0013] When the lid, face or sleeve is open it exposes the chamber
to objects and substances outside the container.
[0014] When a lid, face or sleeve is closed it does not expose the
chamber to objects and substances outside the container, at least
through that particular feature.
[0015] A leak-resistant face, lid or sleeve is one that when closed
disallows fluid to leak through it.
[0016] A container contains a plurality of chambers. Each such
chamber has some means of allowing objects outside of the chamber
to touch objects inside the chamber. Any lid, face or sleeve of a
chamber of similar features for a different chamber; or, depending
on geometry, multiple chambers may share a single such feature.
Different chambers do not leak into each other. Each chamber is
leak-resistant to the exterior of that chamber when all lids,
faces, sleeves or other openings to that chamber are closed.
[0017] The container body is, in relation to some part of the
container, all other parts of the case besides the that part as a
unit.
[0018] A pad is an object, part or all of which is a reservoir of
absorbent material manufactured to a particular shape.
[0019] A kit comprises a container and a plurality of pads which
have been manufactured such that each different pad fits inside a
different chamber, such that when the kit is assembled, each
chamber has exactly one pad inside it.
[0020] Reservoir fluid is the fluid which a pad holds.
[0021] A fill mark is a visual or geometric mark in a container to
show how much fluid to pour into the container. A fill mark can
indicate a minimum fill level or maximum fill level.
[0022] A choke point is a geometric restriction inside a container
that precludes a pad inside the container from coming out of its
chamber without deforming from its manufactured shape or deforming
the container from its manufactured shape.
[0023] The user is the person using the kit to perform work on the
user's person, on the person of another, or on some other
thing.
[0024] A use facility is a physical locale where the user performs
cleansing functions.
[0025] Toilet cleaner fluid is a fluid adapted to clean toilet
seats.
[0026] Skin cleaner fluid is a fluid adapted to cleanse a person's
skin.
[0027] Lotion is a fluid adapted to moisturize skin.
[0028] A toilet paper pocket is a closed or partially closed space
on a container which is adapted to hold dry toilet paper, and which
is separated from any chamber of the container so that no fluid
leaks into it from any chamber.
[0029] PVA means polyvinyl alcohol. This substance can be processed
to form a ductile, dry foam sponge which absorbs and retains fluid.
This is in addition to what is disclosed in U.S. Ser. No.
14/797,683.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND
[0030] To reiterate the exposition of U.S. Ser. No. 14/797,683:
[0031] This pertains to the field of keeping oneself or another
clean while and after urinating, defecating or otherwise excreting,
in public or private use facilities such as lavatories and baby
changing stations.
[0032] The traditional approach to cleaning one's own person is to
sit down on a toilet seat, to excrete, and then to use dry toilet
paper to wipe one's affected skin, and then throw that soiled
toilet paper down the toilet. This is what most people do most of
the time in North America.
[0033] An extension to this approach is to this is to cover in some
way the toilet seat or other surface which will touch the skin,
thereby attempting to prevent skin from touching excreta and other
debris already present on the toilet seat or other surface.
[0034] The traditional approach to cleaning oneself or somebody
else who has soiled himself and needs to be cleaned, is to remove a
soiled diaper, other apparel or both, to wipe clean that
individual's affected skin, and then to dispose properly of the
soiled diaper, other apparel, and the toilet paper or other
implement used for wiping. A lavatory and its toilet, or similar
use facility, are often but not always pertinent to this
cleaning.
THE PROBLEM AND THE PRIOR ART
[0035] There are three problems with the cited, traditional
approaches.
The First Problem
[0036] The first problem with the traditional approach is that one
might sit down on an unclean toilet seat. In fact, even if prior
users of the toilet seat were conscientious and did not leave
excreta on the seat, then the flushing action of the toilet itself
may still cause some toilet water, including excreta and quite
possibly pathogens, to spray back up and onto the seat. This is
unclean and also may promote the spread of infectious diseases.
[0037] Similarly if one is changing another, for instance a baby,
then the surface on which one sets that other person may hold prior
excreta or other debris.
Prior Art for the First Problem
[0038] The most obvious answer to avoid the first problem is to
wipe the toilet seat or other surface clean before sitting on it,
or placing another person on it. But most public use facilities do
not have any means of cleaning such surfaces except for dry toilet
paper, which will simply partly absorb and partly smear any excreta
and other matter already present onto the seat.
[0039] A better answer is to use pre-moistened wipes which contain
some sanitizing cleanser to wipe the surface clean. However, this
requires that one carry these pre-moistened wipes around to be used
when one goes to the use facility. These items are bulky and
somewhat heavy because they contain cellulose soaked in fluid.
Also, one may not dispose of these pre-moistened wipes in a toilet,
since they are not designed to break down in a sewage system, but
to remain intact indefinitely in their moist form.
[0040] Alternately one may carry a bottle of cleaner and, before
one uses a toilet or other surface, apply some of this cleaner to
toilet paper, and then use that moistened toilet paper to wipe the
toilet seat or other surface clean before sitting down on it or
placing another on it. However, bottles containing fluids pose
spill and propelled fluid hazards while being carried, and also
during the discharge of their contents.
[0041] Another technique is to use a toilet seat cover to cover a
toilet seat, or a surface cover to cover a surface where one places
somebody. However such covers are not always readily available. And
they are clumsy and prone to slip.
The Second Problem
[0042] The second problem with the traditional approach is that
after a person excretes, wiping the affected skin dry with dry
toilet paper does not completely clean the body. Dry toilet paper
smears excreta over affected skin where the user rubs toilet paper,
since that dry toilet paper lacks any addition of solvent and
cleansers to clean and to sanitize more thoroughly. This too is
unhygienic. Also, dry toilet paper is rough and when one rubs it
repeatedly over the affected skin in an attempt to clean the
affected skin completely, one may abrade the affected skin to the
point of breaking it, thus exposing oneself to a risk of sepsis
from excreta that one has failed to cleanse completely.
Prior Art for the Second Problem
[0043] The most obvious method to avoid to the second problem is to
use moist toilet paper to wipe. This is easy to do in private use
facilities where water is provided in the toilet enclosure or other
cleaning area. One only need wet some toilet paper with water and
also perhaps soaps or antiseptics before wiping the affected skin
with that moistened toilet paper. This will more effectively
cleanse the affected skin, than dry toilet paper alone would
cleanse it. Also moist toilet paper is less abrasive than dry
toilet paper, and therefore less likely to break one's skin when
one wipes the affected skin. However, this method does not address
the situation where one is away from home, perhaps in a toilet
stall with no source of water, let alone soap or antiseptics.
[0044] A second obvious method is to use pre-moistened wipes, to
wipe the affected skin. To use pre-moistened wipes, one simply
removes such a pre-moistened wipe from a package. Then one uses it
and discards it. However, this approach has a number of
disadvantages. First, to use such pre-moistened wipes one must
purchase or otherwise procure them before one uses them, and then
carry these around. Second, one must have these pre-moistened wipes
present and within reach at the point one is seated on a toilet and
needs to wipe one's affected skin. Third, such pre-moistened wipes
may not be readily available in all locales. Fourth, the moistening
solutions used may be of unknown compounding and may contain
materials inappropriate for use on human skin. Fifth, the user can
only use a pre-moistened wipe once, and then must discard it. Such
pre-moistened wipes are not available in most use facilities, so to
use them the user must bring them. Also a user must discard such
pre-moistened wipes after one use; the user cannot reuse such
pre-moistened wipes. This is inefficient compared to systems and
methods which do not require the user to discard the system's
primary articles with each use.
[0045] Finally, these pre-moistened wipes do not always work well
with, and are not recommended for disposal in, toilets and the
sewage system. Some, such as those sold explicitly for babies, were
never meant to be flushed, but rather thrown away with soiled
diapers in a garbage receptacle. Accordingly these do not break
down in water like toilet paper does. As such the user may not even
dispose of them in many toilet stalls, which typically do not have
a garbage receptacle apart from the toilet itself. Other disposable
pre-moistened wipes, meant for adults, are advertised as flushable
but these never break down. Instead they maintain their structural
integrity, and thereby present a risk of clogging the sewage
system. This stands to reason, since such a stabilized cellulose
product is meant to remain moist in its container without degrading
until it is used. But if so, such a product is also sturdy enough
that it fails to break down in the sewage system. To be fair, some
such pre-moistened wipes are configured to pass through the sewer
pipes more readily and so do not cause a clog in the local sewage
system even though they do not break down.
[0046] In some methods one attaches some sort of moistening device
to the toilet apparatus itself. This method is useful if and only
if one can control the use facility aspects in all usage scenarios;
this is frequently not possible. Also in this scenario the
moistening fluid is not controlled by the user, but by the use
facility provider.
The Third Problem
[0047] The third problem with the traditional approach is that
cleaning a person's affected skin by rubbing it with paper leaves
it dry and may irritate it, particularly if the cleaning process
itself abrades the affected skin.
Prior Art for the Third Problem
[0048] The most obvious method to correct to the problem of having
a dry affected skin, is to carry around a bottle of lotion. After
cleaning oneself or another one applies this lotion either to
toilet paper and applies that toilet paper to the affected skin; or
to one's hand, and then uses that hand to rub that lotion over the
affected skin. The problem is it is inconvenient to carry around a
bottle of lotion. There are easier ways to carry lotion. We present
one such alternative method here.
Summary of the Problems
[0049] Clearly a better approach than this for all three
problems--cleaning the toilet seat and other surfaces prior to use,
cleaning one's body or the body of another after voiding excreta,
and applying lotion to oneself or to somebody else, is to use
existing toilet paper, which is known to degrade in sewage systems;
but to make that toilet paper moist, even when one is away from a
private venue and moistening agents or means are not provided by
the venue. Also, it would be better for the user to be able to
choose what fluids or fluid compounds to use to solve these
problems.
[0050] In other methods the user carries some sort of bottle which
holds some solution that the user sprays or otherwise applies to
toilet paper at the point the user uses that toilet paper. This
method has merit in that it enables the user to moisten toilet
paper the user finds within the use facility, and therefore clean
more thoroughly with that toilet paper. But it requires the user to
carry such a bottle when the user visits the toilet. Such known
bottles have a higher likelihood of leaking or projecting fluid
from their dispensing orifice than the novel devices described
herein. The devices presented here, and the methods combined
herein, are superior to such bottles because said devices will not
leak. The devices disclosed here are specifically configured to
prevent leakage under normal transport and use conditions.
PRIOR ART FOR THE DEVICES
[0051] This disclosure distinguishes above the inventions taught in
U.S. Ser. No. 14/797,683, by making use of the materials and
methods taught in the following publications:
[0052] U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,766A teaches "an improved superabsorbent
polymer foam having a morphology to provide improved absorptive
properties".
[0053] U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,175A teaches how to highly absorbent
spongy polymer materials.
[0054] U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,658A teaches a PFA sponge which is
manufactured to have an outer skin with smaller pores than the
interior portion.
[0055] These publications disclose absorbent spongy materials which
when dry and in contact with hydrous or hydrophilic fluids, absorb
such fluids with no physical deformation, up to the point that they
saturate; and without deformation due to mechanical force do not
release any of the fluid they hold.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0056] Here are disclosed devices and methods for personal
hygiene.
[0057] A device holds and dispenses fluids used for personal
hygiene including cleaning toilet seats, cleaning one's person and
moisturizing one's person. This device holds advantages over
existing devices in its portability, in its simplicity of design,
in that it does not pressurize nor propel fluid, and that it
reabsorbs rather than spills unused fluid.
[0058] This device comprises a container which holds a pad, and
this pad holds a fluid.
[0059] In some embodiments the container is lidded and
leak-resistant.
[0060] In some embodiments the pad is malleable and
fluid-absorbing.
[0061] The container has no open space inside it to hold such fluid
in a form where this fluid flows freely without coming into contact
with the pad. The intent of this is: For normal operation, if there
is free fluid inside the case, that such fluid is absorbed by the
pad. It is to be noted that such absorption may be incomplete
because it takes time, imperfections and geometric features may
cause drops of fluid not always to roll to the pad, and also if
more fluid exists in the chamber than the pad can absorb.
[0062] However, because of the nature of the pad material, the pad
will absorb any droplets with which it comes into contact, unless
the pad is completely saturated with fluid.
[0063] In some embodiments the fluid a pad holds can be used to
clean a toilet seat. In some embodiments the fluid a pad holds can
be used to cleanse a person's body of excreta and other debris. In
some embodiments the fluid a pad holds can be used to moisturize a
person's body. In some embodiments the fluid a pad holds can be
used to perform more than one of these functions.
[0064] In some embodiments a pad completely fills the chamber it
occupies inside the case, and in some embodiments it does not
completely fill the chamber it occupies inside the case.
[0065] In some embodiments an impinging object applying pressure to
the pad causes the pad to express some of the fluid it holds,
partially upon the impinging object. In some embodiment this action
deforms the pad and in some embodiments this does not.
[0066] In some embodiments the container is lidded. In some further
embodiments when opened the lid exposes the pad to objects outside
the container, and this allows an object to impinge upon the pad.
After this impingement ceases the pad reabsorbs the excess fluid
remaining in the container but outside the pad, so that in the
steady state no fluid flows freely inside the container.
[0067] In some embodiments the amount of fluid the pad expresses
generally increases with the amount of force impinging upon it. In
some other embodiments it does not, for instance if the pad is
stiff and not malleable, in which case fluid still transfers from
the pad to other objects by capillary action but not due to
compression of the pad.
[0068] In some embodiments where the container is lidded a user
opens a lid and impinges dry toilet paper upon the pad, the pad
expresses onto the toilet paper some of the fluid the pad holds,
and the toilet paper then absorbs this fluid. When the fluid is for
cleaning toilet seats and other surfaces, the moistened toilet
paper is now better suited to the task of cleaning such surfaces.
When the fluid is for cleaning a person's skin, the moistened
toilet paper is now better suited to the task of cleaning skin. And
when the fluid contains lotion the moistened toilet paper is now
suited to the task of moisturizing skin, where before being
moistened it was not thus suited.
[0069] More specifically:
[0070] A container contains one or more absorbent pads. The
container contains each pad in its own chamber. Each chamber has a
lid. These chambers do not leak between each other, and do not leak
outside the container unless its lid is open.
[0071] Different pads hold fluids for different purposes: [0072] A
pad can hold a fluid called toilet cleaner fluid to clean toilet
seats. [0073] A pad can hold a fluid called skin cleaner fluid, to
cleanse the user's skin after purgative bodily functions. [0074] A
pad can hold fluid, called lotion, to moisturize the user's
affected skin after wiping with the second fluid.
[0075] When the user visits a use facility, the user carries one or
more of these containers.
[0076] In a typical usage case for the invention: First the user
expresses the toilet cleaner fluid to moisten some toilet paper and
then to use that moistened toilet paper to clean the toilet seat.
Then the user throws away the used toilet paper into the toilet.
Then after the user performs bodily functions into the toilet, the
user expresses skin cleaner fluid to moisten some toilet paper, and
then uses the now moistened toilet paper to clean the user's own
person. Then the user throws away that used toilet paper in the
toilet. Finally, if desired, the user expresses lotion onto fresh
dry toilet paper, and then applies the toilet paper to the user's
affected skin to moisturize that skin. Then the user disposes of
that toilet paper in the toilet. Then the user flushes the toilet
to get rid of all the used toilet paper and also the user's human
waste.
PRIOR ART FOR THE METHOD AND DEVICES
Stamp Moistener
[0077] A stamp moistener, as used in postage application to letters
and packages, is an existing device that comprises a container
which contains an absorbent pad. This absorbent pad holds water or
some other moistener fluid. A stamp holds dry glue on its back
surface. To moisten the stamp the user applies this surface to the
absorbent pad, thereby transferring some of said fluid onto the
back face of the stamp, thereby moistening the dry glue on the
stamp and thus activating it as a glue, thereby enabling the user
to apply said stamp onto the surface of an envelope or package and
making it adhere to that surface. When the stamp moistener
container is closed it is leak-resistant, in that liquids inside
this container do not spill out. However, many examples of stamp
moistener containers are not leak-resistant, and over time the
fluid held inside the absorbent pad in the container may evaporate
away. The absorbent pad does not shed the fluid it holds until some
surface presses against it. The combination of the geometry of the
container and the absorbent pad prevents the fluid from leaking or
spilling outside the container. When a surface does impinge against
the absorbent pad, the pad expresses some fluid onto that
surface.
[0078] The absorbent pad in such a container is resilient. It does
not express fluid if nothing impinges upon it. But pressure against
such a pad expresses fluid from the pad onto the object applying
pressure. Also these containers may have screw-on lids or latching
lids, so that when closed they are resistant being opened by to
casual contact.
[0079] The devices presented here are different from a stamp
moistener because: [0080] These devices are designed to moisten an
intermediary means of application which are used to clean, rather
than to be cleaning instruments themselves. This leaves the kit
itself untainted by excreta. [0081] These devices are designed such
that a pad once inside of a container does not fall out without
external force deforming it. [0082] These devices hold fluids
adapted to purposes other than moistening stamps.
Envelope Moistener and Fingertip Moistener
[0083] An envelope moistener, as used to moisten the glue on an
envelope prior to gluing it shut, is a device that is adapted not
to leak, drip or otherwise express fluid except when pressed
against some object.
[0084] A fingertip moistener is an existing device that comprises a
container which contains an absorbent pad which holds water or
other moisturizer. Its is functionally identical to a stamp
moistener, but instead of applying a stamp to the absorbent pad the
user applies the user's fingertip to it, thereby moistening said
fingertip.
[0085] The devices presented here differ from an envelope moistener
or a fingertip moistener because: [0086] These devices are not
adapted to applying the fluid they hold onto some other instrument
for cleaning. [0087] These devices hold fluids adapted to purposes
other than moistening envelopes or fingertips.
Felt-Tip Pen
[0088] A felt tip pen may contain some elements of the present
invention including leak-resistant container and a pad soaked in
fluid. But it differs from the devices presented here in the
following ways: [0089] The fluids in it are adapted to rendering
markings on surfaces. [0090] A felt tip pen is not adapted
geometrically to having toilet paper pressed against it to moisten
that toilet paper. [0091] The devices presented here hold fluids
adapted to purposes other than making markings.
Pre-Moistened Wipes
[0092] Some existing containers for pre-moistened wipes are also
prior art, since this type of container has some of the
functionality of our device. The devices presented here differ from
containers for pre-moistened wipes in what the container contains.
Both containers for pre-moistened wipes, and the present invention,
have sealing and latching lids.
[0093] In a use case of having a pre-moistened wipe container: The
user opens it and pulls out a pre-moistened wipe. In a use case of
having the present invention: The user opens the container and
presses paper against the pad inside the chamber, thereby
expressing fluid onto the paper which then carries that fluid to
the point of use. The act of extracting a pre-moistened wipe may
express fluid onto the exterior of the container, and onto the
fingers used to extract the pre-moistened wipe from its container,
since the fluid inside the container of the pre-moistened wipes
permeates all surfaces inside it. Use of the pre-moistened wipe
cedes control of the amount as well as constituent chemistry of the
moistening agent to the manufacturer of the pre-moistened wipe,
whereas in the methods disclosed in this invention the user
controls the amount of fluid expressed and has the option of
employing a manufacturer's constituent chemistry or the user's
choices of constituent chemistry.
Existing Toilet Paper Moistener
[0094] An existing device similar to those disclosed in this
invention, is different in that being that device comprises in
addition to a pad a bottle, which acts as a reservoir wherein fluid
flows freely. Such a device is both more complex to manufacture
than the ones disclosed, and also more prone to failure since the
free-flowing fluid is more liable to leak in the event the the
container is compromised.
[0095] This is in addition to what is disclosed in U.S. Ser. No.
14/797,683: U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,766A teaches "an improved
superabsorbent polymer foam having a morphology to provide improved
absorptive properties".
[0096] This is in addition to what is disclosed in U.S. Ser. No.
14/797,683: U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,175A teaches how to manufacture
highly absorbent spongy polymer materials.
[0097] This is in addition to what is disclosed in U.S. Ser. No.
14/797,683: U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,658A teaches a PVA sponge which is
manufactured to have an outer skin with smaller pores than the
interior portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0098] In these figures things are numbered as follows:
[0099] 101-199--base enclosure
[0100] 201-299--closure lid
[0101] 301-399--sealing features
[0102] 401-499--absorbent pad
[0103] 501-599--marking and identification features
[0104] 601-699--auxiliary features
[0105] 701-799--chamber
[0106] 801-899--aperture
[0107] 901-999--choke point
[0108] 1001-1099--pocket
[0109] 1201-1299--extension
[0110] 1501-1599--fill mark
[0111] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplar of the first embodiment. A
rectangular container (111) has a chamber (711) with a lid (211)
that is adapted to be opened with one hand holding the container
body and a digit of the other hand pushing an inflexible lip
extending from the lid (1201). When the lid is closed the rim of
the lid (312) seals against the rim of the container (311) to form
a leak-resistant seal. The lid attaches to the body by a hinge
(213) and may latch shut when closed.
[0112] FIG. 2 illustrates a the same exemplar of the first
embodiment as FIG. 1. Now a pad (401) is inside the chamber. A
choke point (901) prevents pad (401) from coming out. The container
body (101) and lid (201) are shown as well.
[0113] FIG. 3 illustrates a variant embodiment, the variation being
the container (121) has two chambers. One of these chambers (721)
is visible with no pad in it. This chamber (721) has its lid (221)
visible, with rim (322) that matches the rim on the chamber (321).
The hinge (222) of this rim is visible. The aperture (821) shows
where the pad will be visible. The other chamber is not visible but
has its lid (222) open.
[0114] FIG. 4 illustrates the same exemplar as FIG. 3 but with pad
(421) in the visible chamber. The choke point (921) keeps it in
place. The lip on the chamber (321) is visible. The container (121)
connects to the lid (221) of the visible chamber.
[0115] FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the first embodiment where
the container has two chambers, and one chamber has a toilet paper
pocket (1022) on its lid (223). The space inside this pocket (1023)
is shown empty but is adapted to hold toilet paper sheets.
[0116] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the first embodiment where the
container (121) has two chambers, and a design (522) is embossed on
one lid (221). The pad (421) has embossed on it a design (521).
[0117] FIG. 7 shows a variant of the first embodiment where the
container (111) has a fill line (1501) in its chamber (711) which
is visible when the lid (211) is open.
[0118] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the second embodiment where
the container (131) has the internal sleeve (231) slide out. When
the internal sleeve is shut the lip of the container (331) will
touch the lip of the internal sleeve (332) to form a leak-resistant
seal. The end of the internal sleeve (232) is adapted to be
manually grabbed by the user to push the internal sleeve into or
out of the container. The choke point (931) will keep a pad in the
chamber (731) from falling out through the aperture (831).
[0119] FIG. 9 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 8 but with the pad
(431) in the chamber.
[0120] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment where the face (241) is
separable from the rest of the container (141). The face (641)
includes an opening, the aperture (841) and also a lid for the
aperture (241).
[0121] FIG. 11 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 10. Here the face
(641) with its aperture (841) is shown separated from the rest of
the container (141), and the pad (441) fits inside the chamber
(344). The lid (241) has its edge (341) mate with the edge of the
rest of the container (342) to form a leak-resistant seal. And the
edge of the face (343) mates to the edge of the rest of the
container (344) to form a leak-resistant seal. When removed the
face (341) reveals an opening, the window (642).
The First Embodiment
[0122] In some embodiments the user carries three small,
leak-resistant flat rectangular containers, as shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2. Each container is square and 2.0 inches to a side, and 0.5
inches in thickness. In some other embodiments the dimensions and
the shapes of said containers vary.
[0123] Each such container (121) contains a resilient, absorbent
(401) in its chamber (701). This pad acts as a non-free state fluid
reservoir for water or some other fluid. In each container a 90% of
the area of one face of the contained pad is visible and presented
through an aperture when the user opens the container by lifting
the lip (1201) of the lid (211). The lid attaches to the container
by a hinge (213). When the container is closed the edge of the
chamber (311) forms a leak-resistant seal with edge of the lid
(312).
Container
[0124] A container is either open or closed. When it is open the
pad inside is exposed to being touched by other objects. When it is
closed the pad inside is not thus exposed. When a container is
closed the volume it encloses is leak-resistant.
Absorbent Pad
[0125] The absorbent pad, or pad, bears special note. It is
sufficiently elastic and resilient that the user may pull it out of
its chamber in the container through the aperture, and similarly
replace it inside the container through the aperture, but when
force and pressure are no longer applied to the absorbent pad to
compress it in a manner allowing its extraction through the
aperture then it returns to its manufactured shape. The
manufactured shape of the absorbent pad is made to fit snugly
inside the container. The absorbent pad retains this manufactured
shape by friction controlled by lateral compression of the pad
within the container, against the inner walls of its chamber. Once
deformed the absorbent pad no longer possesses its manufactured
shape. However, pressing against the absorbent pad through the
aperture, rather than pulling it, deforms it in such a manner that
it remains laterally compressed against the inner walls of its
chamber, or additionally and concurrently constrained in place by
geometric constraints, by compression of the pad, or by both.
Absorbent Pad Material
[0126] This section is in addition to what is disclosed in U.S.
Ser. No. 14/797,683:
[0127] The pad comprises a reservoir made of a material which, when
it holds fluid, does not leak that fluid unless some force deforms
the reservoir.
[0128] There are many possible materials to use for this purpose.
One of these is PVA foam, as cited in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,338,766A,
3,878,175A and 5,554,678A. A PVA foam of the material taught by
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,878,175A or 5,338,766A, and manufactured in the
fashion taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,678A, will be able to absorb
fluid without being deformed, but will not express any of the fluid
it holds without being mechanically deformed.
[0129] Such a PVA foam has the properties that:
[0130] 1. When not saturated the foam will absorb fluid which
touches it, without deformation.
[0131] 2. When the foam contains some fluid, up to the point of
saturation, it will not release the fluid without being
deformed.
[0132] Thus, the device will not release any of the fluid the
absorbent pad holds unless force impinges upon the pad. This is
true even if the lid of the device is open.
Geometric Constraints
[0133] In some embodiments the absorbent pad in its manufactured
shape cannot fall out of the container because its geometry will
not allow it--it is too large to come out through the aperture, in
all of its degrees of freedom within the chamber. The pad is
prevented from fully exiting the container by at least one choke
point, defined as a geometric constraint preventing the pad from
fully exiting the chamber without deforming the pad.
[0134] To be mathematically precise: In the open path between the
chamber of the container which contains the pad, and the exterior
of the container at the aperture of that chamber, up to and
including the aperture; a choke point is some planar region A of
that open path such that for all possible positions of the pad in
its manufactured shape and contained in the chamber, there exists a
cross-section B of the pad parallel to A, such that there exists C,
some non-null region of B, such that the projection of C onto the
plane of A falls outside A. So C is prevented from passing through
the aperture at A without deforming the geometries of the pad or
the container.
[0135] In some embodiments the pad combines absorbent features with
differing shape and material properties for purposes of retention,
identification, extraction or facilitating manufacturing and
assembly.
[0136] In some embodiments there is a choke point at the aperture
itself. In some embodiments there is a choke point on the open path
between the chamber and the aperture. In all such cases such a
choke point prevents the pad from exiting the chamber without
modifying the shape of the pad, e.g. by deforming or mutilating
it.
Compression of the Pad
[0137] In its use-state form, which is its manufactured shape, the
pad holds fluid. Applying pressure to the pad by impinging on it
through the aperture reduces the pad volume to a volume smaller
than its manufactured volume. Doing so expresses some portion of
the fluid held in the pad, into the free space in the chamber and
onto the surface applying pressure on the pad. If the user places
the dry pad in fluid, or pours fluid on the pad, the pad absorbs
the fluid by capillary action. The user may hasten this process by
compressing the dry pad into a smaller than manufactured volume and
then either placing it in fluid, or pouring fluid over it; as the
pad reverts to its manufactured shape and volume it absorbs fluid.
The user may also forcibly remove fluid from the pad by compressing
it, thereby expelling the fluid it holds.
[0138] When the pad holds an appropriate volume of fluid and no
pressure is applied to the pad then the pad expresses little or no
fluid. When the user compresses some volume of the pad, then that
volume of the pad expels fluid through all of its surfaces. If the
pad is inside its container the container prevents the fluid from
escaping except to an object applying pressure to the pad through
the aperture, and upon cessation of such pressure the pad
eventually reabsorbs any expelled fluid inside the container, apart
from traces that may remain as droplets that for any reason fail to
touch the pad.
[0139] Thus when the user opens the lid to the container and
presses toilet paper against the pad that pressure expresses some
of the fluid from the pad onto the toilet paper. We call this
process moistening the toilet paper on the pad. No other fluid
escapes the container and upon removal of the pressure the pad
reabsorbs the expelled but not transferred fluid inside the
container.
Different Containers
[0140] Three different leak-resistant containers are described.
[0141] In some embodiments all three containers may be equal in all
but details of marking, identification, and the purpose of the
fluid in each container. In some embodiments different containers
may have different geometries. In any case functionally they may
differ only in their contents and the purpose of those contents.
Thus they are described as one device. A container is adapted to
contain a reservoir comprising an absorbent volume. This reservoir
is called a pad, which is adapted to absorb and thus hold a fluid
called reservoir fluid. Together the container and the pad are
called a kit.
[0142] In some embodiments the purpose of the content of the kit is
to clean a toilet the container is called the toilet cleaner
container, and the pad is called the toilet cleaner pad, and the
reservoir fluid is called the toilet cleaner fluid. This toilet
cleaner fluid is a fluid used to clean toilet seats and other parts
of toilet, such fluids of varied efficacy in killing
micro-organisms being well known and understood in the art. Before
the user sits down at a toilet seat the user opens this container,
takes some toilet paper, and moistens the toilet paper on the
toilet cleaner pad. After the user thus moistens this toilet paper,
the user applies this toilet paper to the toilet seat and thereby
cleans the toilet seat, removing or rendering harmless most or all
substances on it, including but not limited to excreta and
water.
[0143] In some embodiments the purpose of the content of a kit is
to cleanse, to disinfect, or to cleanse and to disinfect the
affected skin after one uses the toilet, the container is called
the skin cleaner container; the pad is called the skin cleaner pad;
and the reservoir fluid is called the skin cleaner fluid. This skin
cleaner fluid holds water, soap and a mild personal disinfectant,
such fluids being well known and understood in the art. After the
user finishes using the toilet, the user moistens dry toilet paper
on the skin cleaner pad. The user then uses this moist toilet paper
to wipe the affected skin, and disposes of the soiled toilet paper
in the toilet, the user repeats this process until the affected
skin is clean. Then the user closes the skin cleaner container,
flushes the toilet and the user is done with this chore.
[0144] In some embodiments the purpose of the content of the kit is
to moisturize the user's skin the container is called the
moisturizer container, the pad is called the moisturizer pad, and
the reservoir fluid is called lotion. After the user has used the
toilet and cleaned the user's person, the user wets more dry toilet
paper or the user's digits on this moisturizer pad. Then the user
applies this fluid to the user's person to moisturize the user's
skin after cleaning it. Afterwards, if the user has used toilet
paper, the user disposes of this used toilet paper as well in the
toilet, and flushes it away.
[0145] In some embodiments a container holds a fluid that performs
more than one of the aforementioned tasks of cleaning a toilet seat
or other surface, cleaning affected skin and moisturizing affected
skin.
[0146] In some embodiments the fluid held in a container contains a
component of water. In some embodiments it does not.
[0147] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of soap. In some embodiments it does not.
[0148] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of detergent. In some embodiments it does not.
[0149] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of disinfectant. In some embodiments it does not.
[0150] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of deodorant. In some embodiments it does not.
[0151] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of analgesic. In some embodiments it does not.
[0152] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of antiseptic. In some embodiments it does not.
[0153] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of antibiotic. In some embodiments it does not.
[0154] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of lubricant. In some embodiments it does not.
[0155] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of emollient. In some embodiments it does not.
[0156] In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a
component of perfume. In some embodiments it does not.
Replenishment
[0157] In some embodiments when the user has depleted the fluid in
the pad in any of these containers, the user may replenish the
fluid content of the pad by one of the following methods: [0158]
The user deforms and pulls the pad out of the container and applies
the fluid directly to the pad. Then the user puts the pad back in
the container. [0159] The user opens the container and pours some
volume of fluid directly into the pad, which absorbs it. Then the
user closes the container again. [0160] The user opens the
container and removes the pad from the chamber. Then the user adds
a volume of fluid up to the file mark into the chamber. Then the
user puts the pad back into the chamber. In some embodiments the
interior of the container has visible on it a fill mark, which is a
marking visible in the interior of the container and which goes
around some or all of the interior of container and is parallel to
a flat surface upon which the container rests. By design the fill
mark indicates the maximum level to which to fill fluid into the
container such that if after adding this volume of fluid to the
container the user places a dry or almost dry pad in the container,
the pad will absorb all of the fluid in the chamber. [0161] In some
further embodiments there are two fill marks, indicating a maximum
level to fill and a minimum level to fill.
[0162] In some embodiments the manufacturer or the user fills or
replenishes the fluid in the pad by various means including: [0163]
adding a particular weight of reservoir fluid to the pad [0164]
inverting the container and filling the lid, either fully or up to
some mark on the lid, with fluid; and then closing the container
including the pad to cause absorption [0165] expressing reservoir
fluid from purposed containers [0166] expressing fluid of a fixed
volume from a syringe or drip device
[0167] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment with a fill mark (1501) visible
because the pad is not in the container (111).
Enhancement--Toilet Paper Pocket
[0168] In some embodiments the container also comprises, on its lid
or some other exterior surface, a toilet paper pocket on it to
carry some sheets of dry toilet paper. If the user wants to perform
the functions of this device in a use facility where there is no
toilet paper, the user uses the toilet paper from the toilet paper
pocket container. Then, when the user has the opportunity, the user
replenishes the toilet paper in the toilet paper pocket of the
container.
[0169] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with a toilet paper pocket (1023)
on one lid (222). This toilet paper pocket has a space (223) to
hold toilet paper (not shown).
Enhancement--Visual and Tactile Cues
[0170] In some embodiments the containers and the absorbent pads
are coded for identification, by labels, color codes, and Braille
or other embossments. Also, in some embodiments different
containers have different sizes and shapes. This aids the user in
identifying what fluid each chamber in each container contains.
Also it helps to prevent the user from mixing up the fluids for the
different containers, and from using the wrong fluid for a
particular purpose. Such labeling is well known and well understood
in the art.
[0171] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with markings and embossments
(522) on a lid (221) and similar markings and embossments (521) on
the pad (421).
Enhancement--Attaching the Device
[0172] In some embodiments the container is attached to a strap or
a cord that the user may loop around an arm or a leg, thus securing
the device to one's person. Such straps are well known and well
understood in the Art. Thus securing the device precludes the need
to set it down on some surface, which itself may not be clean. As
the pad does not express fluid by gravity alone, the orientation of
the container is irrelevant to its proper function. This
independence of orientation distinguishes this invention from one
that uses a squeeze bottle or a spray bottle, where orientation of
the container would be relevant.
[0173] In some other embodiments the container a hook-and-loop
mechanism pad on one surface. This mates with a corresponding
hook-and-loop mechanism pad on some other surface, such as a
backpack. When the user wants to carry the device using this
feature, the user first attaches the hook-and-loop pads together,
thus securing them. Such hook-and-loop mechanisms are well known
and well understood in the art.
Enhancement--Lids
[0174] In some embodiments a lid is child-proof, so that children
are less likely to contact inadvertently the fluid inside the
container. In other embodiments a lid is not child-proof, for users
who do not want a child-proof lid, since they do not contend with
children and do not want the extra trouble of dealing with a
child-proof lid. Such child-proof lids are well known and well
understood in the art.
[0175] Also, various options exist for the lid itself. In some
embodiments a lid attaches to the rest of the container by a hinge.
In some embodiments a lid twists off the rest of the container. In
some embodiments a lid attaches to the rest of the container by
circumferential compression of the edge of the lid against the edge
of the container. In some other embodiments a lid attaches to the
rest of the container by some other mechanism. Many such options
are well known and well understood in the art.
[0176] In some embodiments a lid is retained to the container by a
hinge, a leash or a yoke, such mechanisms being well known and well
understood in the art.
Enhancement--The Window
[0177] In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, one
section of the container (141) called the face (641) separates from
the rest of the container. This separation provides a gap called a
window, which allows geometrically unconstrained access to the
interior of a chamber, in that if the face of the container
separates from the rest of the container and thus this window is
open then there are no choke points between the pad (441) and the
exterior of the container. In other words if the window is open
then the pad can egress the container without deforming from its
manufactured shape. The window attaches to the container when the
edge of the window (343) meets the edge of the rest of the
container (344) and shuts forming a leak-resistant seal.
[0178] In some further embodiments with such a face: In some
embodiments the face attaches to the rest of the container by a
hinge. In some embodiments the face twists free of the rest of the
container. In some embodiments the face attaches to the rest of the
container by circumferential compression of the edge of the face
against the edge of the container. In some other embodiments the
face attaches to the rest of the container by some other mechanism.
Many such options are well known and well understood in the
art.
[0179] In some embodiments a face is attached to the rest of the
container by a hinge, a leash or a yoke, such mechanisms being well
known and well understood in the art.
[0180] In some embodiments an aperture is located on a face. In
some embodiments an aperture is not located on a face.
Enhancement--Combined Containers
[0181] In some embodiments a container has more than one chamber.
Typically the different chambers contain pads that hold different
fluids. For instance in an embodiment one chamber contains a pad
that holds toilet cleaner fluid, and another chamber contains a pad
that holds skin cleaner fluid. These chambers do not leak into each
other.
[0182] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show an embodiment where a container (121)
that has two chambers, one of which is visible (721) and enclosed
by a lid (221) which encloses a pad (421).
Enhancement--Different Venues
[0183] In different embodiments containers are adapted to different
environments and uses. Some examples of this include: [0184] A user
takes the kit to a public use facility in a first-world country.
The toilet may need cleaning. But there is a low risk of infectious
disease. Thus it is not crucial that the toilet cleaner fluid kill
all microbes. [0185] A user takes the kit to a public use facility
in a second-world or third-world country. Here the risk of
infectious disease is higher. So the toilet cleaner fluid is
adapted to killing most microbes on contact. Such fluids are well
known and well understood in the art. [0186] A user takes the kit
to cleanse his or her child's affected skin. Here the personal
cleaner fluid needs to be adapted to cleanse the more sensitive
affected skin of a very young child or other special-needs
person.
Other Alternatives For The First Embodiment
[0187] In some embodiments each kit out of the toilet cleaner kit,
the skin cleaner kit, and the moisturizer kit is physically
separate. In some other embodiments these kits are physically
joined into one object. In some other embodiments two of these kits
are physically joined into one object and the third kit is
physically separate.
[0188] In some embodiments the kits are of the size and dimensions
given. In other embodiments the kits are of different shapes and
dimensions such that the maximum diameter of a kit is between 0.5
and 8 inches, and the maximum thickness of a kit is between 0.1 and
1.5 inches.
[0189] In different embodiments with lids different areal fractions
of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when the lid is open,
ranging between 5% and 100%.
[0190] In different embodiments with faces different areal
fractions of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when the
face is open.
[0191] In some embodiments a pad is round. In some other
embodiments a pad is rectilinear. In some other embodiments a pad
is of some other shape.
[0192] In different embodiments a pad has different levels of
malleability, from very soft to very stiff.
[0193] In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of
the container due to the existence of a plurality of choke points
between the chamber holding the pad and the aperture. This prevents
the pad from slipping out of the container on its own even when the
lid is open. [0194] In some embodiments the choke point is a lip or
an undercut around the inner wall of the container. [0195] In some
embodiments the choke point occurs because the chamber tapers
towards the face of the container holding the aperture that exposes
the pad; and also the manufactured shape of the pad is similar to
that of the container itself, so that when the container contains
the pad the pad also tapers towards the aperture. Thus both the
container, and pad in all its possible positions within the
chamber, have larger cross-sectional areas in some planes parallel
to the plane of the aperture, than the aperture itself.
[0196] In some embodiments a pad fits snugly inside its chamber. In
other embodiments it is loose.
[0197] In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of
a container because the manufactured shape of the pad is larger
than the transverse dimensions of the interior of the container,
and the pressure the pad exerts upon the walls of the container
hold the pad in place.
[0198] In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of
a container because the surfaces of the container that touch the
pad, and/or the surfaces of the pad that touch the container, are
shaped and/or textured in a way that geometry and/or heightened
friction prevent the pad from slipping against the container.
[0199] In some embodiments a pad does not of its own come out of a
container for some combination of these elements.
[0200] In some embodiments the kits are all of the same shape and
dimensions. In some other embodiments one of the kits is of a
different shape and different dimensions from the other two kits.
In some other embodiments all three of the kits are of different
shapes and/or dimensions.
[0201] Of the three container types presented here; the toilet
cleaner container, the skin cleaner container and the moisturizer
container: In some embodiments just one of these container types is
present. In some other embodiments only two of these container
types are present. And in some other embodiments all three of these
container types are present.
[0202] In some embodiments an absorbent pad is made of foam
elastomer. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made of
cellulose. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made of
the skeletal structure of an animal of the sponge family, commonly
called a sponge. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made
of some other compressible or resilient absorbent material.
[0203] In some embodiments an absorbent pad expands when it absorbs
fluid, and in some embodiments it does not. In some embodiments an
absorbent pad shrinks when it expresses fluid, and in some
embodiments it does not.
[0204] The degree of resilience of an absorbent pad varies with
different embodiments from soft to stiff. The degree of resilience
in all embodiments is such that the user may press toilet paper
against a pad and thereby express fluid from that pad onto the
toilet paper.
[0205] In different embodiments the absorbency of the pad varies as
a function of pad material and manufacture.
[0206] In some embodiments the container has a leak-resistant lid
which hinges open and closed. In some other embodiments the
container has a twist-on leak-resistant lid which the user unscrews
to open and screws on again to close. In some other embodiments the
container has some other kind of leak-resistant lid, such
leak-resistant lids being well understood in the art.
[0207] In some embodiments a lid of a container has one latch. In
some embodiments a lid of a container has more than one latch.
[0208] In some embodiments a lid is latched to the rest of its
container by friction and mechanical compression of the sealing
lips of the container and the lid. In some embodiments a lid is not
latched to its container by this method.
[0209] In embodiments where a container has more than one chamber:
In some such embodiments more than one chamber share a lid. In some
such embodiments each chamber has its own separate lid.
[0210] In some embodiments a chamber has a face. In some
embodiments a chamber has no face.
[0211] In some embodiments where a chamber has a face that face is
attached to the rest of the container by friction and mechanical
compression of the sealing lips of the container and the lid. In
some embodiments a face is not attached to the rest of the
container by this method.
[0212] In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is simply
water. In some embodiments the toilet cleaning fluid is a fluid
compounded specifically to clean and to disinfect surfaces, such
fluids being well understood in the art. In some embodiments the
toilet cleaning fluid is some other substance.
[0213] In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is simply water.
In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is a solution compounded
specifically to clean a person's affected skin, and comprises
substances drawn from the set of soap, perfumes, and disinfectants.
In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is some fluid adapted to
cleaning the user's person, such fluids being well understood in
the art.
[0214] In different embodiments the composition of lotion varies as
per individual needs and desires, such lotions being well
understood in the art. Such lotions may include substances drawn
from the set of moisturizing oils, vitamins and other nutrients,
fragrance, and medications.
[0215] In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid and the skin
cleaner fluid are combined as a single mixture. In some embodiments
they are not combined.
[0216] In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is adapted to use
on infants, such fluids being well known and well understood in the
art. In some embodiments it is not.
[0217] In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is adapted to
kill all microbes on contact. In some embodiments the toilet
cleaner fluid is not specifically adapted to kill microbes. In some
embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is adapted to kill specific
microbes on contact specifically to prevent the spread of
particular identified pathogens.
[0218] In some embodiments the lid of the container is child-proof,
in some other embodiments it is child-resistant, and in some other
embodiments it is neither child-proof nor child-resistant.
Child-proof and child-resistant caps are well known and well
understood in the art.
[0219] In some embodiments a lid of the container is twist-off. In
other embodiments it is not.
[0220] In some embodiments the container has a toilet paper pocket
to hold toilet paper. In some embodiments the container has no
toilet paper pocket. In some further embodiments the toilet paper
pocket is stiff. On other embodiments the toilet paper pocket is
flexible. In some embodiments the toilet paper pocket may be closed
with a zipper, a plurality of buttons, or some other mechanism,
such mechanisms being well understood in the art. In some other
embodiments the toilet paper pocket has no such mechanism to seal
it.
[0221] In some embodiments the container is stiff. In some
embodiments the container is flexible. In some embodiments the
container is stiff on the outside but contains a flexible inner
chamber.
[0222] In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable
by color. In some other embodiments they are not.
[0223] In some embodiments different absorbent pads are
distinguishable by color. In some other embodiments they are
not.
[0224] In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable
by writing or other markings. In some other embodiments they are
not.
[0225] In some embodiments different absorbent pads are
distinguishable by writing or other markings. In some other
embodiments they are not.
[0226] In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable
by Braille embossments or other embossments. In some other
embodiments they are not.
[0227] In some embodiments different absorbent pads are
distinguishable by Braille embossments or other embossments. In
some other embodiments they are not.
[0228] In some embodiments there is a fill mark. In some further
embodiments there are two fill marks, one to indicate a maximum
level and another to indicate a minimum level to fill. In some
other embodiments there is no fill mark.
[0229] In some embodiments the fill mark is a line that goes all
around the interior of the container. In some other embodiments the
fill mark comprises a plurality of disjoint markings on the
interior of the container.
[0230] In some embodiments the file mark is parallel to the surface
on which the container rests. In other embodiments it is not.
[0231] In some embodiments the exterior of the container is
cylindrical. In some other embodiments the exterior is concave. In
some other embodiments the exterior is convex. In some other
embodiments it is some other geometric shape.
[0232] In some embodiments the user purchases the kit and the fluid
separately. In such embodiments the user may use any fluid the user
wishes in the kits.
[0233] We show these embodiments, environments and uses to be
demonstrative and exemplary and not limiting. Embodiments may occur
in combination with other apparatuses, some part of which function
as this invention. Many and unlimited variations of this invention
may arise without departing from its spirit, or sacrificing its
advantages.
Second Embodiment
[0234] Another embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, has the
same functionality as the first embodiment. However, instead of a
rectangular container with an opening that contains a pad, an
internal sleeve (231) slides out of the container (131). The
internal sleeve holds the pad (431) in its chamber (731). The
container has a rim (332) that mates with the rim of the internal
sleeve (332) to form a leak-resistant seal. The internal sleeve has
a choke point (931) which prevents the pad from coming out of the
internal sleeve without deforming.
[0235] To use the pad the user grasps the head of the internal
sleeve (232) and slides the internal sleeve out of the container.
When the internal sleeve reaches the full extent of its travel it
latches into place due to a detent mechanism (not shown) not
requiring anything but applied force in the closing vector to
accomplish closure and sealing, such detent mechanisms being well
understood in the art. Thus once the user pulls the internal sleeve
out to the full extent of its travel the internal sleeve does not
move from this position unless the user applies some force to push
the internal sleeve back into the container.
[0236] Once the internal sleeve is fully extended the user applies
toilet paper to the pad inside the internal sleeve, exactly as the
user does for the first embodiment.
Alternatives for the Second Embodiment
[0237] In some embodiments the internal sleeve has a detent
mechanism. In some other embodiments the internal sleeve does
not.
[0238] In different embodiments with internal sleeves different
areal fractions of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when
the internal sleeve is open, ranging between 5% and 100%.
[0239] In some embodiments there is some mechanical force potential
inside the internal sleeve such as a spring naturally pushing it
out. In some other embodiments there is not.
[0240] In some embodiments the internal sleeve is stiff. In some
other embodiments the internal sleeve is flexible, and in such
embodiments the user may squeeze the extended internal sleeve to
express fluid directly from the internal sleeve and the contained
resilient pad without pressing toilet paper directly onto the
resilient pad. This is similar in spirit and design to a
squeeze-bottle bag. The fluid is prevented from being expressed
when the internal sleeve is secured completely within the stiff
container.
[0241] Apart from the opening mechanism for the container: All of
the properties of the first embodiment, and all of the alternatives
of the first embodiment, also apply to the second embodiment.
[0242] Again we show these embodiments, environments and uses to be
demonstrative and exemplary and not limiting. Embodiments may occur
in combination with other apparatuses, some part of which function
as this invention. Many and unlimited variations of this invention
may arise without departing from its spirit, or sacrificing its
advantages.
ADVANTAGES
[0243] This approach has several advantages both over what people
normally do, and over the prior art.
[0244] One advantage of this approach is that the small rectangular
container may be sized to fit in the user's pocket, purse, suitcase
or backpack; the user may have it on the user's person at all
times.
[0245] Second, the container-plus-pad approach has advantages over
a bottle for carrying fluid in that if the seal on the bottle fails
the bottle will naturally leak in some positions, but even if the
seal on the container fails when the pad is inside the container,
the pad will not naturally express fluid unless force and
compression act on it. Therefore even if the container breaks
mechanically the fluid contents will not naturally flow out,
although in such a container fluid may leak over time. Also in the
situation where the user has access to no toilet paper at all, the
user can pull out the pad itself from the container and use it to
clean in lieu of toilet paper, as is the case with a pre-moistened
wipe. This is impossible with a bottle.
[0246] Third, this approach enables the user to use the toilet
paper the user finds in nearly all toilet areas, without having to
carry around the user's own pre-moistened wipes. Thus the approach
is universal. The user may use it whenever and wherever the user
uses the toilet. And in those containers the user does not find
toilet paper, the user carries the user's own toilet paper.
[0247] Fourth, moistening toilet paper with fluid leads to the user
being able to clean the toilet seat, and the user's person, more
thoroughly that is possible with just dry toilet paper.
[0248] Fifth, using the commonly occurring toilet paper, which is
known to degrade quickly in water, is better for sewage systems
than using pre-moistened wipes which are manufactured to survive
remaining moist without degrading and therefore do not degrade in
sewage systems, thereby clogging those sewage systems.
[0249] Sixth, the container and pad are economic and easy to
manufacture. And the various fluids to fill the container already
exist. So manufacturing these complete kits will be trivial. This
enhances the merchantability of this approach.
[0250] Seventh, this method allows the user to start with a fresh
piece of dry toilet paper for each different operation. And the
containers are leak-resistant from each other. So this method
lowers the possibility of cross-contaminating skin contact between
different fluids and substances, from the containers, from the
toilet, or from the user.
[0251] The first embodiment has the advantage over the second
embodiment that it is simpler to manufacture, having fewer
mechanical parts, and also for the same reason less prone to break
in is use functionality, and thus remain intact in its use.
CONCLUSION
[0252] One skilled in the art will see that the uses and sequences
of usage of the described invention are many, and that the
embodiments shown are not limiting but rather representative of
many other uses to which one may put this invention.
[0253] All in all this invention will make life easier, cheaper,
cleaner and more hygienic for users of toilets, since they may
clean themselves more thoroughly with minimal effort. And it will
be a boon to sewage systems, since it will encourage--by lower cost
than pre-moistened wipes, by higher availability than pre-moistened
wipes, and by a broader choice of fluids than pre-moistened wipes
provide--enabling those toilet users to employ fluids selected for
use and existing toilet paper, which breaks down in a sewage
system, rather than prepackaged pre-moistened wipes which do not
have these advantages.
* * * * *