Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a toilet paper spritzer, and, more specifically, to a scalable dispensing device, a toilet paper spritzer, for use with other components, such as toilet paper or paper towels and any fluid, such as water, witch hazel, scented fluids, medicated fluids, colored fluids, to improve hygiene, comfort, prevent or treat symptoms of genital and anal medical conditions, such as hemorrhoids, yeast infection, and the like.
Related Art
Several methods are known in the art for improved personal hygiene after evacuation and after using regular toilet paper. Clearly, toilet paper alone does not completely or adequately clean the areas involved, and can be abrasive. This ineffective, and many times abrasive, method of cleaning after toilet use can lead to unpleasant odors, and even medical issues. In many other countries outside the United States, a bidet is used. A bidet is a standalone fixture for a bathroom, which is approximately the size of a toilet, and sprays water upward. Installing bidets in residential or commercial homes can be costly due to the cost of the bidet itself and need to install additional plumbing.
Other methods of cleaning, in additional to regular toilet paper, are now becoming more popular, such as pre-moistened bathroom wipes. These pre-moistened wipes can easily dry out if the wipe container is not properly closed between uses. And the wipes are packaged in a folded way that can make them difficult to separate for removing from their container for use. Removing the pre-moistened wipes from their container most often requires using both hands, which can leave germs on the container, causing bacteria, such as e-Coli to spread, leading to illness. Once a wipe is successfully removed from its container, and used, then the “biodegradable” wipe can take time to dissolve in water, causing plumbing issues, especially if more than one wipe is required at a time. The alternative to flushing the wipe is to throw the used wipe in a waste basket in the restroom. Obviously, this method would be incredibly unsanitary and cause an odor in the restroom until the waste basket is emptied.
Devices for dispensing fluids for bathroom use are known in the art, in particular for dispensing soap or water at a bathroom sink are more commonly seen in use in public restrooms. Known in the art, but not seen as often, are devices dispensing fluid to toilet paper. Such known devices are those that connect to a toilet and use water from a toilet tank to spray onto toilet tissue, containers that dispense gel, or lotion onto toilet tissue, or combined toilet tissue and fluid dispenser apparatuses. Some apparatuses comprise sponges or disbursing plates, and others include rollers for dispensing fluids on toilet paper. Some apparatuses comprise a nozzles opening upward for a user to press down onto, with the toilet tissue pressing against the nozzle to wet the bottom layers of the tissue. Such devices allow for moistening toilet tissue prior to use and after evacuation, for improved hygiene, and depending upon gel, lotion, or fluid used, can also aid with symptoms of medical conditions and/or odor.
However, attaching valves and an apparatus to a toilet for using water from the toilet can be complicated to install, and while the water from a toilet tank may be clean, water use from a toilet is less desirable by users. In many countries, bidets provide a popular solution to this hygiene problem. Bidets are a separate apparatus that are for cleaning only, and do not receive waste. Installations of bidets are more costly and require more bathroom space, causing bidets to be less common in the United States. And some of the current methods are not sanitary, since they cause the user to come into contact with either toilet water that may not be sanitary, or the apparatus itself by having the user press onto the apparatus against a sponge, disbursing plate, nozzle, or the like.
In general, there are several problems associated with current methods or devices of dispensing fluid onto toilet paper. Current methods or devices require installation onto a toilet for using toilet tank or bowl water, or require installation of a combination toilet paper dispenser and fluid dispenser. In both cases, the expense associated with these current methods can be extensive.
Many other problems and disadvantages associated with prior devices or methods will become apparent to one of skill in the art upon review of such prior devices or methods and in light of the teachings herein.
Various aspects of the present invention can be found in an apparatus and method for toilet paper spritzer, and, more specifically, to a scalable dispensing device, a toilet paper spritzer, for use with other components, such as toilet paper or paper towels and any fluid, to improve hygiene and/or address genital and/or anal concerns.
Generally, a toilet paper spritzer device is similar in dimensions to a commercial (two standard roll, stacked) toilet paper dispenser. In one embodiment, the toilet paper spritzer device is approximately five inches wide and ten to twenty inches tall, in one embodiment specifically fourteen inches, depending on the model and its capabilities. The device features a housing that secures to a stall or wall, near a toilet. The device works in conjunction with, or replaces, an existing toilet paper dispenser. Housed inside the housing are: (a) a removable, refillable water tank; (b) a dispenser comprised of a small reservoir, a removable pump mechanism, a removable spray nozzle, and (c) a catch tray. This dispenser is removable, easily slides into the housing, and can be removed for easy cleaning. The dispenser features a large push button to operate manually the water/fluid pumps. The catch tray is also removable for emptying excess fluids and cleaning. Below the roll, a toilet paper roll holder can optionally reside, capable of holding either a single or double roll of toilet paper.
In one embodiment having a manual pump, in practice, a user will remove the toilet paper from the toilet paper roll, then hold the toilet paper, folded and ready to use, in the spray well. The user will then press the spray pump button, which will spray water onto the toilet paper, moistening the toilet paper.
In another embodiment, the user will turn a dial to select a particular fluid or combination of fluids for dispensing before depressing the spray pump button.
In another embodiment, a battery powered spray activation system having heat or motion sensors activates the pump mechanism for “touch-less” spray activation. In an embodiment having an automatic activation system, the pump activation mechanism can be either battery powered, solar powered, or a combination of battery and solar powered. The solar powered mechanism can power itself using either ambient light or sunlight, or a combination of both ambient light and sunlight.
In one embodiment with either an automatic or manual pump activation system, a user can vary an amount of fluid to be dispensed. The fluid for dispensing can be clear or have a variety of colors. The fluid can be water, a scented fluid, or a medicated fluid, either organic/natural (such as witch hazel) or over the counter fluid (such as a hemorrhoid medication, or a medication for improved hygiene or itchiness of a genital area, such as for jock itch in men, or a yeast infection prevention or treatment of symptom medication for women). Separate dispensers for men and women can be designed (i.e., a pink dispenser for women's public restrooms having women-specific products, and a blue dispenser for men's public restrooms containing products specific for men). When using fluids in addition to or instead of water, in another embodiment, a dispenser can hold both types of fluids. In one embodiment, a fluid dispenser can contain more than one chamber for holding more than one type of fluid. A user can dial to a desired fluid, having a choice from more than one fluid, such as water, a freshener fluid, or a hemorrhoid medication.
The toilet paper spritzer device can be installed easily with a common wall mounting system. While one embodiment anticipates a device size of approximately five inches wide and ten to twenty inches tall, it is understood that the device can be scalable for various uses, such as a smaller size for residential, and a larger size for commercial (such as corporate offices, hotel rooms, government buildings, event centers, schools and universities, port-o-potties, and the like).
In an alternate embodiment, the spritzer device can be used with paper towels for application in a kitchen or bathroom for use with a disinfecting fluid or some other cleaning fluid. Such a device could be modified to hold paper towels, and mounted onto a wall near a sink or some other area where paper towels are commonly used or needed.
Many other aspects and variations of the toilet paper spritzer device of the present invention can be appreciated by one of skill in the art through review of the detailed description, and corresponding drawings.
The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Although an apparatus according to the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this disclosure and appended diagrams.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160309969 A1 | Oct 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62116261 | Feb 2015 | US |