Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2004-04-06
Lo, Weilun (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S367000, C604S378000, C604S385310, C428S043000, C428S077000, C428S078000, C428S121000, C428S124000, C428S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06717027
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to personal hygiene and has been devised particularly, though not necessarily solely, to provide methods of, and means for, personal cleaning and/or drying following defecation or urination; or for cleaning and freshening by women during menstruation.
BACKGROUND
Humans conventionally use toilet tissue drawn from a roll for cleaning after defecating. Females also use toilet tissue for drying after urinating and for cleaning and freshening during menstruation.
Toilet tissue is essentially a raw material. Whatever the task for which it is used, prior to commencing the cleaning, drying or freshening operation, each individual typically configures a quantity of toilet tissue into a “product” which meets that individual's preference for the task ahead. There tend to be common forms of “product” formed from toilet tissue. A first form is achieved by wrapping paper drawn from the roll about an outstretched hand, primarily to ensure coverage of the fingers. A second form is achieved by folding sections of paper drawn from the roll over each other to provide a pad. This is typically held in position to overlie the fingers and, perhaps, part of the palm of the hand by anchoring a corner or edge of the pad between the thumb and the adjacent edge or side of the palm. The third typical form of product is achieved by drawing paper from a roll into a wad which is then directed or worked into the area to be cleaned or dried principally using the fingertips.
Whatever form of “product” is chosen, our investigations suggest that the consumer is equally concerned with keeping the hand out of contact with the products being cleared away, as with ensuring the cleaning task is being completed effectively.
With the above factors in mind, it is not surprising that, regardless of the configuration of “product” chosen, a substantial proportion of the tissue taken from the roll plays no part in the cleaning or drying function. Further, many of the resulting pads or wads of tissue are quite bulky, are often difficult to flush, and can lead to blockage in sewerage systems.
A number of potential substitutes for conventional toilet tissue have been proposed in the past.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,789 describes a disposable, finger-protecting mitt designed for, amongst other things, use in wiping off faecal material. The mitt includes a pad of cotton batting adhered to a thin plastics envelope so as to be positioned over the finger tips when the mitt is in use. A section of the plastics envelope covers the backs of the fingers. This product is intended and configured for use by care givers and is not suitable for mainstream perineal cleaning or drying for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fixed relationship of the pad with respect to the mitt gives the user little or no opportunity to adjust the orientation of the pad with respect to the hand, in use, according to preference. Further, since the envelope is formed from polyethylene plastics sheeting, and the pad from bulky cotton, the device is not suitable for disposal, after use, through conventional disposal systems such as municipal sewerage systems or septic tanks.
European Patent Specification 0 032 793 describes a further form of cleansing article intended and configured for faecal cleaning by care givers. The article described in the patent comprises a high loft, bulky fibrous mat impregnated with an oleaginous cleansing agent. Because of its bulk, this article is clearly not intended to be, or capable of being, worked by normal finger pressure into intimate contact with body crevices. Further, the bulk has clearly been built into the product to enhance the feeling of security to the user but, as a result, the device includes a good deal of material which is superfluous to the cleaning function. Finally, the bulk of the material used, and the high content of synthetic fibres, makes the device unsuitable for disposal through conventional sewerage disposal systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,743 describes a toilet paper web provided with longitudinal folds so as to provide a longitudinally extending central section which is thicker than the side edges and thus provides a greater strength in the centre of the sheet than conventional tissue. The web is, however, of uniform section in a longitudinal direction, is homogeneous in material composition, and thus still involves wastage of material while not enhancing hand protection, or consumer confidence, through greater area coverage of the hand.
UK Patent application 2,257,036 describes what is referred to as “sanitary dabs” for use by females after urination. While no adequate description is provided, it would appear this application proposes nothing more than a conventional lotion-impregnated wipe.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel method of, and/or means for personal cleaning and/or drying following defection or urination, or during menstruation, which address the needs and concerns of consumers whilst, at the same time, going at least some way in addressing the shortcomings of the prior art practices and devices described above; or which will at least provide a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a method of personal cleaning and/or drying after defecation, urination, or cleaning during menstruation, said method including the steps of:
(i) taking a cleaning device not requiring configuration before use, said cleaning device being of a size able to overlie the fingers of the user and having a visually distinct area which is greater than the remainder of the device in respect of at least one of the following:
absorbency
tensile strength
thickness
strike through;
(ii) placing said device on the hand so as to overlie the fingers when positioned in edge to edge contact;
(iii) bringing said device, positioned on the hand, into contact with that part of the body from which faeces, urine and/or menses is to be removed;
(iv) displacing said device with respect to the body whilst maintaining contact with the body; and
(v) disposing of the used device through a conventional sewerage disposal system.
Preferably said device is brought into contact with the body in a manner such that the area of greatest absorbency of said device is positioned to contact the area of greatest concentration of faeces, urine or menses.
Preferably said device is held on the hand by anchoring an edge part of the device between the thumb and another part of the hand.
In a second aspect the invention provides a method of improving the efficiency of personal cleaning and/or drying after defecation or urination, or cleaning during menstruation, when compared with methods involving the use of tissue drawn from a roll, said method including:
(i) taking a cleaning device not requiring configuration prior to use, being sized to overlie at least the finger area of a user, and having at least one visually distinct area thereon which is greater than the remainder of the device in respect of at least one of the following:
absorbency
tensile strength
thickness
strike through;
(ii) applying said device to the area to be cleaned so that said at least one visually distinct area is brought into contact with urine, faeces or menses to be cleaned from the body; and
(iii) after use, disposing of said device through a conventional sewerage system.
Preferably said method further includes positioning said device so that said at least one visible area is positioned over the tips of at least two adjacent fingers.
In a third aspect the invention provides a method of providing for cleaning and/or drying after defecation or urination, or cleaning during menstruation, said method including providing a protective element to protect the user's hand against contact with urine, faeces and/or menses; and providing in unit with said protective element, and in a configuration ready for use, retention means to retain said urine, faeces and/or menses, said retention means having greater properties than said protective element in respect of at least one of the follow
Foster David Graham
Harris Andrew John
Morgan Ruth Christine
Bogart Michael G.
Lo Weilun
Market Migration Limited
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck P.C.
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