Patent Application
20180153357
This application claims priority from Great Britain Application for Patent No. GB1620781.3 filed Dec. 6, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
The present invention relates to a foldable bottom wiper. More specifically, the present invention provides a bottom wiper comprising a wiper head having a paper contact surface extending from a base, and a handle extending from the head, said paper contact surface having a recess into which toilet paper can be tucked, in use toilet paper being placed over the contact surface and secured thereto by tucking part of the paper into the recess whereby the papers is secured to the head whilst paper on the head is wiped over part of a bottom to be cleaned with the contact surface of the head facing generally upwards, and the soiled paper being removed by facing the head generally downwards and allowing the papers to fall off under gravity.
Many people, especially persons having limited hand/arm function, find it difficult to reach and hygienically wipe after toilet use. The proper cleaning of one's anatomical region, particularly the anal and perineal regions of the body, after using the toilet is critical to proper and thorough hygiene.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to wiping devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices in the known art have several known drawbacks.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the devices in the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing wiping devices. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bottom wiping devices now present in the art, the present invention provides a new bottom wiping device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when cleaning the perineal regions of the body.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bottom wiping device comprising a wiper head having a paper contact surface extending from a base, and a handle extending from the head, said paper contact surface having a recess into which toilet paper can be tucked, in use toilet paper being placed over the contact surface and secured thereto by tucking part of the paper into the recess whereby the papers is secured to the head whilst paper on the head is wiped over part of a bottom to be cleaned with the contact surface of the head facing generally upwards, and the soiled paper being removed by facing the head generally downwards and allowing the papers to fall off under gravity.
It is another object of the present invention to provide one embodiment of the bottom wiping device wherein the handle is hinged to the head whereby the head can be folded away from the handle in use and adjacent the handle when not in use. The handle is formed of two hinged first and second sub-sections which fold from a storage position around the head to an in-use handle position. Preferable the first sub-section is hinged to the second sub-section and the second sub-section is hinged to the head.
Another object of the present invention is to provide at least one releasable catch is provided to hold the wiper in the folded and/or unfolded in use position. The or each catch may be a friction catch. Preferably the or each friction catch forms part of the hinge between the head and the second sub-section and the second sub-section and the first subsection. The hinge may include a static cylindrical section fixed to one part of the wiper forming a cam surface with one or more steps thereon, and a cam follower on the surface of another part of the wiper rotates in one first direction over the step/s around the cylindrical section circumference but the step/s form a friction stop to the cam follower to help prevent rotation in the other second direction. Preferably the cylindrical section is formed of a pair of concentric cylinders connected together by at least one flexible spoke with the outer cylinder forming the cam surface, the outer cylinder being displaceable relative to the inner cylinder to allow the cam follower to ride over the step/s.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the bottom wiping device wherein the contact surface is formed of a friction material. The material may be a thermoplastic elastomer.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the bottom wiping device wherein the contact surface has an upper face with side walls between the upper face and the base, and the recess opening is formed in the upper face, the recess includes a pair of inwardly directed opposing projections, and a free end of the first sub-section includes a thumb rest.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an embodiment of the foldable bottom wiper comprising a handle is formed of two hinged first and second sub-sections, and a head hinged to the second sub-section, said wiper being foldable fold from a storage position with the sub section around the head to an in use position, and wherein in use the first sub-section extends from the second sub-section at an angle on one side of the second sub-section, and the head in use extends at an angle to an opposing side of the second sub-section, whereby the wiper in use takes a Z-shape in use paper can placed of the head to wipe a bottom to be cleaned. The wiper head has a paper contact surface extending from a base, said paper contact surface having a recess into which toilet paper can be tucked, in use toilet paper being placed over the contact surface and secured thereto by tucking part of the paper into the recess whereby the papers is secured to the head whilst paper on the head is wiped over part of a bottom to be cleaned with the contact surface of the head facing generally upwards, and the soiled paper being removed by facing the head generally downwards and allowing the papers to fall off under gravity. at least one releasable catch is provided to hold the wiper in the folded and/or unfolded in use position. The or each catch may be a friction catch. A friction catch forms part of the hinge between the head and the second sub-section and the second sub-section and the first subsection. The hinge may include a static cylindrical section fixed to one part of the wiper forming a cam surface with one or more steps thereon, and a cam follower on the surface of another part of the wiper rotates in one first direction over the step/s around the cylindrical section circumference but the step/s form a friction stop to the edge to help prevent rotation in the other second direction. Preferably the cylindrical section is formed of a pair of concentric cylinders connected together by at least one flexible spoke with the outer cylinder forming the cam surface, the outer cylinder being displaceable relative to the inner cylinder to allow the cam follower to ride over the step/s.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bottom wiper that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the foldable bottom wiper. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for wiping a user's bottom. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring specifically to
A handle 20 extends from the head 10. Handle 20 is formed from two first and second sub-sections 30, 40 which fold from a storage position around the head (see
In the in-use handle position the first sub-section 30 extends from the second sub-section at an angle (around 140 to 160 degrees, e.g. 150 degrees) on one side of the second sub-section 40, and the head 10 in use extends at an angle (around 110 to 130 degrees. 120 degrees) to an opposing side of the second sub-section 40, whereby the wipe tends towards a Z-shape. Releasable friction catches are provided to hold the wiper in the unfolded in use position and folded position and form part of hinges 50 and 60.
Referring to
Preferably the cylindrical section is formed of a pair of concentric cylinders 55A, 55B connected together by at least one flexible spoke 56 with the outer cylinder 55A forming the cam surface, the outer cylinder being displaceable relative to the inner cylinder to allow the cam follower to ride over the steps 54A, 54B.
Hinge 60 works in an identical way to hinge 50, with a hinge pin 61 forming the hinge axis which passes through the adjacent ends of head 10 and second sub-section 40. The hinge 60 includes a static cylindrical section 62 fixed to the end 40B of the second subsection 40 of the wiper. The circumference of section 62 forms a cam surface 63 with two opposing steps 64A, 64B thereon. An end edge 10A of head 10 forms a cam follower on the cam surface 63 as it rotates away in one first direction from the second sub-section 40 opening the wiper. The edge 10A passes over the steps 64A, 64B around the cylindrical section circumference to the position shown in
Again the cylindrical section may form of a pair of concentric cylinders 65A, 65B connected together by at least one flexible spoke 66 with the outer cylinder 65A forming the cam surface, the outer cylinder being displaceable relative to the inner cylinder to allow the cam follower to ride over the steps 64A, 64B. The free end 31 of the first sub-section 30 is shaped so that is provides a thumb rest.
In use, with the wiper in the unfolded position, toilet paper is placed over the contact surface and secured thereto by tucking part of the paper into the recess whereby the papers are secured to the head whilst paper on the head is wiped over part of a bottom to be cleaned with the contact surface of the head facing generally upwards. The soiled paper can be removed by facing the head generally downwards and allowing the papers to fall off under gravity, e.g. into a toilet pan.
The wiper of the invention is designed to fit in a pocket when folded. Air holes may be provided body of the second sub-section 40 to allow the contact surface to be exposed to ambient air.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1620781.3 | Dec 2016 | GB | national |
