GB2278543A

GB2278543A - Vaginal cleansing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2278543A
Application number: GB9311052A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Kent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-28
Filing date: 1993-05-28
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-28
Also published as: GB9311052D0; GB2278543B

Abstract

Apparatus for use in vaginal cleansing comprises a housing having a male part 3 and a handle 5. The male part has a plurality of orifices along its length for delivery of liquid therethrough. The liquid is supplied from a reservoir 11, 11' by pump means, for example battery powered pump/motor assembly 9. A sheath, which may be fitted over the male part, may be provided with apertures for the flow of liquid therethrough and may also have soft flexible protrusions extending outwardly therefrom to assist in cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Vaginal cleansing apparatus DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to female hygiene and ln particular apparatus for use in vaginal cleansing.

Increasing attention is being given to female health and hygiene and with this in mind the present invention aims to provide useful apparatus.

Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for use in vaginal cleansing comprising a housing having a male part for insertion, in use, in the vagina oz the user, and a handle or grip part, the male part having a plurality of orifices along its length ror delivering liquid supplied from a source controlled by liquid dispensing means.

In one embodiment, the housing includes a reservoir for the liquid, conveniently in the handle part. Preferably an electrically motor driven pump is utilised to supply the orifices with liquid from the source, eg. the aforesaid reservoir. The motor is preferably battery operated, with the batteries accommodated in the housing, conveniently in the handle part. A switch is conveniently provided on the handle part to control operation of the pump motor.

The orifices may be disposed in any desired configuration. The male part may have longitudinal recesses and it is preferred for at least a majority of the orifices to be disposed spaced longitudinally along the recesses.

Optionally means such as a tray-like part may be provided for collecting fluid dispensed from the male part. Optionally means may be provided for returning the fluid to the reservoir or other collector. For example, the male part may incorporate one or more inlets towards its base, perhaps adjacent a surrounding catchment flange, and associated parting to communicate with the reservoir or other such collector. The collection of fluid may rely on quantity or use pump means.

The apparatus may optionally comprises a sheath to fit over the male part and also provided with orifices or apertures for the flow of liquid therethrough. The sheath has soft flexible protrusions extending outwardly therefrom to assist in cleaning.

Sealing means is conveniently provided between the open end of the sheath and the male part of the housing.

In another embodiment, the source of liquid is separate from the housing and communication with the orifices is by way of a tube, conveniently a flexible one. Advantageously in this embodiment the reservoir is a flexible material whereby liquid can be supplied to the orifices by squeezing of the reservoir. A one way valve is conveniently provided to allow air into the reservoir to replace dispersed liquid.

In this description the reference to cleansing mav also be taken to include dispensing of medical preparations.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section through the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 is a sectional view of a sheath for use with apparatus, and Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, the illustrated apparatus comprises a housing 1, conveniently a hollow plastics moulding or the like, hazing a male part 3 for insertion in the vagina of the user, and a grip part 5 (serving as a hand hold). The grip part of the housing accommodates batteries 7, a motor/pump assembly 9 and a liquid reservoir 11.

An on/off switch 13 is located on the grip part to control operation of the motor/pump assembly 9.

In the illustrated embodiment the reservoir is a releasable part of the grip part. A screw threaded arrangement is convenient for this purpose say at a collar 6. An alternative to a releasable reservoir is to provide the housing with a removable cap giving access to a reservoir space within it.

A tube 27 extends from the reservoir to the pump and from there a tube 29 supplies liquid to the male part. The end of tube 27 has a ilter 28.

The male part has a plurality of orifices 31 in the walls thereof from which liquid is dispensed on operation of the motor/pump assembly. In the illustrated embodiment there are a plurality of longitudinal recesses 33 spaced around the circumference of the male part and each contain a plurality of said orifices. Further orifices 31 are provided in a top part of the male housing part.

Referring no to Figure 2, there is illustrated an optional sheath member 35 which is open ended to fit over the male part 3. The neck of the sheath preferably cooperates sealingly with the male part for which the male part is provided with an annular sealing member 39 and the sheath has an annular sealing collar 41. The latter advantageously acts to grip the base of the male part to retain it in position for which purposes the sheath and male part may have cooperating formations.

Advantageously, the sheath has a loop 43 of string or other such material attached to it to facilitate extraction if it should become detached from the male part. The sheath has a plurality of orifices 37 for the passage of liquid therethrough and these are conveniently aligned with those in the male part.

Additionally, the sheath has a plurality of fibre-like protrusions extending outwardly therefrom which are sufficiently soft and flexible to avoid any physical damage to the body parts.

It will be readily apparent that with the apparatus in place and liquid in the reservoir, moving the switch to the on position will provide a flow of liquid from the orifices of the head part. The longitudinal recessing can assist in permitting flow of cleansing liquid from the mouth of the vagina.

Otherwise sideways movement of the apparatus may be sufficient.

Referring now to Figure 4 an alternative embodiment of apparatus is illustrated in which motor/pump assembly 9 and also the batteries 7 are dispensed with. The apparatus retains the male 3 and grip parts 5 and the foregoing description applies (like references being used for corresponding parts).

This embodiment utilises a remote liquid reservoir 11' comprising a flexible container, conveniently a plastics moulding, having a screw threaded connection with tube 27 leading between the reservoir and the male part 3. Conveniently the end of the tube carries a filter 28. In use the liquid is dispensed from the orifices 31 by squeezing the flexible reservoir.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in vaginal cleansing comprising a housing having a male part for insertion, in use, in the vagina of the user, and a handle or grip part, the male part having a plurality of orifices along its length for delivering liquid supplied from a source controlled by liquid dispensing means.

2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which an electrically motor driven pump is utilised to supply the orifices with liquid from the source.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the motor is preferably battery operated, with the batteries accommodated in the housing

4 Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which a switch is provided on the handle part to control operation of the pump motor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the male part has longitudinal recesses and at least a majority of the orifices are disposed spaced longitudinally along the recesses.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a sheath to fit over the male part and also provided with orifices or apertures for the flow of liquid therethrough.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the sheath has soft flexible protrusions extending outwardly therefrom to assist in cleaning.

8 Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which sealing means is provided between the open end of the sheath and the male part of the housing.

9 Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing includes a reservoir for the liquid.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the reservoir is in the handle part.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the source of liquid is separate from the housing and communication with the orifices is by way of a tube.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 5 to 8 when appendant to claim 1 in which the reservoir is a flexible material whereby liquid can be supplied to the orifices by squeezing of the reservoir.

13. Apparatus constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described.