GB2514695A

GB2514695A - Luminescent device to illuminate a sanitary container

Info

Publication number: GB2514695A
Application number: GB1412179.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Spencer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-09
Filing date: 2014-07-09
Publication date: 2014-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-09
Also published as: GB201412179D0; GB2514695B

Abstract

A device to illuminate the interior of a sanitary container such as a toilet bowl or urinal comprises a flexible body 10 having a substantially planar form and having first and second major surfaces 12, 14. A luminescent material (24, Fig. 4) is provided at or adjacent the first major surface 12 so as to be visible on that surface. An adhesive material (26, Fig. 6) is provided at a first region of the second major surface 14, and a sanitising material (30, Fig. 6) is provided at a second region of the second major surface 14. At least part of the device is soluble in liquid contacting the second major surface 14.

Description

luminescent device to illuminate a sanitary container

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices to illuminate a sanitary container such as a toilet bowl or urinal and in particular to luminescent devices adapted to fix inside the sanitary container.

Background

A wide range of devices to illuminate a sanitary container such as a toilet bowl or urinal are known, with the aim of guiding urination (primarily by men and in particular young boys), guiding users to the container (both sexes) and informing when a toilet seat is down (both sexes) in low light conditions. Such device typically are of the following types: powered light sources powered by mains supply or battery that shine down into the container, some actuated by a user's presence or movement of a seat; powered light sources adapted to be positioned inside the rim of the container; and luminescent devices that may be positioned inside the rim of the container, charged by exposure to ambient light and that then glow in the dark. Advantageously the devices should show the position of the container, but also guide a male user to urinate in the right place. For this purpose the rim mounted devices are optimal, though powered devices in this application have the disadvantage that they will tend to be covered in water and urine in use and so need to be robustly built and waterproof, and hence costly; they are also potentially unpleasant to clean and to replace the batteries. Luminescent devices are therefore advantageous, and the prior art provides examples of device using standard luminescent tape components to provide illumination inside a toilet bowl, for example. However, such devices suffer from a further disadvantage: they impede cleaning of the container, and their fixing to the surface may itself act to trap contamination and bacteria. The present invention aims to improve on the present art of such luminescent devices.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US20120023651 discloses a toilet seat incorporating a laser pointing device for creating a target to increase accuracy during standing urination. Several embodiments of decorative and/or functional lighting may also be combined in various embodiments of the toilet seat. Power may be supplied from an internal battery pack or, optionally, from an external power supply connected to the power grid. Numerous versions of sensors and/or controls may be implemented to switch one or more features on or off depending upon such factors as ambient light levels, the proximity of a person to the toilet seat, etc. In some embodiments, timers may be used to control one or more features. Ancillary devices such as audio annunciators, audio message generators, and fragrance generators may also be included.

CA2361684 discloses a device composed of one or multiple sections of photo-luminescent (glow-in-the-dark) adhesive tape. The tape, continuous or in sections, absorbs and stores light from a light source and thereafter releases said light once it is dark. When the tape is installed on the insid e or outside of a toilet, a toilet bowl rim or a toilet seat, it will release previously absorbed light and illuminate the toilet, the bowl and/or the seat at night or in total darkness without having to turn on the lights.

Men will be able to locate the toilet, the bowl or the seat easily in darkness, making urination in the desired place possible without any mess. Women will be able to locate the toilet, the bowl or the seat at night allowing them to determine whether the seat is up or down. The device will continuously glow in the dark for up to 10 hours every night.

US6279180 discloses a combination of plural photoluminescent panels and a commode and a method of illuminating the commode. The commode has a bowl including a top surface and an arcuate inner wall portion contiguous with the top surface. The commode may also include a seat pivotally connected to the bowl for selective disposition on the top surface of the bowl, and a cover pivotally connected to the bowl for selective disposition on the seat. Each photoluminescent panel is a generally planar, flexible member of generally rectangular shape having rounded corners. Each panel has an exterior surface and an interior surface, with its exterior surface being arranged to be activated by exposure to ambient light to produce photoluminescent illumination when the ambient light decreases to a threshold level.

The interior surface of each panel includes an adhesive, e.g., a pressure sensitive adhesive, thereon covered by a peel-off liner. The adhesive of each panel is arranged to be exposed by removal of the liner so that the panel may be adhesively secured by the adhesive to the arcuate inner wall, e.g., the rear portion of the commode. Once mounted the top surface of each panel is oriented in a generally vertical orientation for receipt of the ambient light, so that each panel illuminates at least a portion of the commode when the ambient light decreases to the threshold level. Another photoluminescent panel may be adhesively secured to the seat. Still another photoluminescent panel may be adhesively secured to the cover.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device to illuminate the interior of a sanitaryware, comprising: a flexible body having a substantially planar form and having first and a second major surfaces, a luminescent material provided at or adjacent the first major surface so as to be visible on that surface, an adhesive material provided at or adjacent the second major surface, and a sanitising material provided at or adjacent the second major surface, wherein at least part of the device is soluble in liquid contacting the second major surface.

In preferred embodiments the sanitising material is soluble in liquid contacting the second major surface.

In some preferred embodiments at least part of the adhesive material is soluble in liquid contacting the second major surface.

In this way the device is contacted onto a sanitary container, and adhered thereto, and over time will dissolve to release the sanitising material into the sanitary container, and in some embodiments release at least part of the device from engagement with the sanitary container. In this way the device may be used in a plurality of environments for advertising! disinfecting on all types of sanitaryware such as urinals in hospitals, motorway service stations, even chemical toilets, The device may also serve particular purposes for example in environments of minimal lighting such as at festivals in military camp situations where low light is required or for sinks or bowls to provide constant disinfection. There may be a range of potential uses, such as toilet training for infants, lighting aid for elderly or disabled users.

Additionally or alternatively the first major surface provides a large planar surface for branding or advertising purposes, in a location that is unavoidable.

Known luminescent devices adapted to adhere to the inside of the rim of a toilet bowl suffer from the disadvantages of lack of cleanliness and difficulty in mounting the device in a convenient manner and removal of the device when it has become discoloured after use.

In some embodiments the luminescent material comprises a luminescent polymer material. In some embodiments the luminescent material comprises naturally produced biodegradable plastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) like the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH), or combinations thereof. In other embodiments these comprise polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol, starch derivate, cellulose ester; or other flushable, biodegradable plastics with luminescent mineral additives, or combinations thereof.

In this way the device may advantageously be flushed away after the sanitising material and adhesive material has dissolved and the device has subsequently become detached from the sanitary container. Ideally therefore the half-life of the sanitary material is envisaged to be greater than the adhesive material.

In some embodiments the luminescent polymer material comprises a luminescent polymer strip comprising the said first and the second major surfaces.

In some embodiments the device comprises a flexible polymer strip having a luminescent material provided on the first major surface of the strip, for example as a continuous layer or as a plurality of regions on the first major surface.

In some embodiments the sanitising material comprises an antibacterial material.

In some embodiments the sanitising material is exposed at the second major surface.

In some embodiments the adhesive material comprises an adhesive layer provided within the said first region.

In some embodiments the sanitising material is provided in the form of a layer deposited within the second region.

In some embodiments the device further comprises a peel-off backing layer in contact with the adhesive material, prior to use.

In preferred embodiments the adhesive material is non-continuous on the second major surface.

In some embodiments the adhesive material is thinner or more dispersed at one section of the surface, for example wherein said section is easier to detach. In this way advantageously once the adhesive material in such section has dissolved the device may be provided with a tab detached from the sanitary container, in order to facilitate removal of the device.

In some embodiments the device comprises a plurality of regions on the second major surface each comprising an adhesive material.

In some embodiments the device comprises a plurality of regions on the second major surface each comprising an antibacterial material.

In some embodiments the regions extend from a first long edge to the second.

In this way the device provides a luminescent illumination means that may be fixed to a sanitary container, for example inside the container near the rim of the container, to indicate the position of the rim in low light conditions, once the luminescent material has been exposed to light. Herein a sanitary container includes a toilet bowl, a urinal, a sink, a wash basin, a bucket or other container that might be used in low light conditions. It is anticipated that some applications of the device will be in indicating the position of, and guiding the use of the container, in low light conditions.

For example, in use in position inside the rim of a toilet bowl, male users may use the device to guide their direction of urination, and female users may use the device to locate the bowl and to ascertain whether a seat is in position. Other uses, for example to guide users of sinks etc. in low light conditions, are within scope of the invention. In use, the sanitising material is released in contact with liquid, such as water or urine, and acts to sanitise the sanitary container. In some embodiments the sanitising material comprises an antibacterial material as known in the art.

In some embodiments the device is adapted to provide a liquid flow pathway across a region of the second major surface, such that in use when adhered to the surface of a sanitary container, liquid may flow behind the luminescent material through the liquid flow pathway. In this way the liquid may flow past the sanitising material so causing it to be released into the liquid. The liquid may then flow down the surface of the sanitary container to clean it. Such an embodiment is advantageous for example in cleaning a toilet bowl during and after flushing. In some embodiments the liquid flow pathway comprises a groove formed adjacent to a region of the sanitising material and extending from a first long edge of the device to the second. In some embodiments the flow pathway is formed as a groove in the sanitising material itself.

In some embodiments the device is adapted such that the sanitising material is released gradually over time, for example by means of a formulation of the sanitising material that has a chosen low solubility, or where the sanitising material is impregnated within a slowly-soluble material such as a polymer, for example a hydrogel.

In some embodiments the sanitising material is covered with a barrier material having apertures therethrough to control the rate of release of the sanitising material.

In some embodiments the sanitising material may change colour during dissolution.

In this way a user is enabled to tell at what stage dissolution of the sanitising material has reached, and consequently assess when to remove or detach the device. In some such embodiments a lacuna in the first major surface may allow visibility of the second major surface and consequently state of the sanitising material.

In some embodiments the adhesive material projects above the sanitising material on the second major surface. In this way the adhesive material is adapted to adhere to the surface of the sanitary container without being impeded by the sanitising material.

In some embodiments the adhesive is adapted to be slowly soluble in water such that the device may be removed easily after a period of exposure to water or urine during use.

In some embodiments the adhesive is adapted to be soluble in a solvent other than water such that it may be removed when needed by exposure to the said solvent.

In some embodiments the device comprises a fuither layer of a water soluble adhesive provided at a position between the luminescent material and the adhesive material such that the luminescent material may be separated from the adhesive material. In some embodiments in which the device comprises a polymer strip on the first major suiface of which the luminescent material is provided, the water soluble adhesive layer is provided on the second major surface of the strip. In this way the device may be removed easily after a period of use. The water soluble adhesive layer may be adapted to release after a chosen time of exposure to water or other aqueous liquids. In some embodiments the water soluble adhesive comprises a layer of PLA (poly-lactic acid or polylactide).

In some embodiments the device comprises a removable front layer adherent to the first major surface of the device and overlying the luminescent material. In some embodiments the front layer is dimensioned to be larger than the first major surface so as to overhang at least one edge of the device. In this way the oversized front layer may be used to position the device on the side of the sanitary container without the hand coming into contact with the container, so allowing an easy and sanitary means of applying the device.

In some embodiments the front layer may be reusable, wherein the front layer may interface with the first major surface of a plurality of devices, wherein the first major surface and front layer may include engagement means such as male and female parts. In this way advantageously, used devices may be detached from the sanitary container easily.

In some embodiments the device comprises one or more recesses in a long edge of the device so as to enhance the flexibility of the device. In some embodiments the device is narrower one or more regions along its length to provide additional flexibility in those areas.

In some embodiments the device is sized to fit within a standard sized toilet bowl. In some embodiments the device is sized to fit within the rim of a urinal, or a sink.

Preferably the first major surface provides a planar surface for branding or advertising opportunities. In further embodiments colouring or shaping may be varied for aesthetic and/or branding or advertising purposes.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a view of the first major surface of the embodiment shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a view of the second major surface of the embodiment shown in figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the embodiment shown in figure 1.

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 with the peel off front and backing layers in place on the device.

Figure 6 shows a partial close up view of the embodiment as shown in figure 5 with the peel off front and backing layers in place on the device.

Figure 7 shows a cross-section view of the embodiment shown in figure 5 with the peel off front and backing layers in place on the device.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to figures 1 to 7, an embodiment of a device to illuminate the interior of a sanitary container according to the invention comprises: A body 10 having a flexible elongated planar form and having a first major surface 12 and a second major surface 14, two opposing long edges 16, 18 and two short edges 20, 22, A luminescent material 24 provided at the first major surface so as to be visible on that surface, An adhesive material 26 provided at a first region 28 of the second major surface, and A sanitising material 30 provided at a second region 32 of the second major surface, Wherein the device is adapted such that the sanitising material is soluble in liquid contacting the second major surface.

In this embodiment the luminescent material comprises a luminescent polymer strip 34 comprising the said first and the second major surfaces.

In this embodiment the sanitising material 30 comprises an antibacterial material, exposed at the second major surface.

In this embodiment the sanitising material is provided in the form of a layer deposited within the second region.

In this embodiment the device further comprises a peel-off backing layer 36 in contact with the adhesive material.

In this embodiment the device comprises a plurality of first regions 28 on the second major surface each comprising an adhesive material and a plurality of second regions 32 on the second major surface each comprising an antibacterial material, the second regions extending from a first long edge 16 to the second, 18.

In this embodiment the device is adapted such that the sanitising material is released gradually over time, for example by means of a formulation of the sanitising material that has a chosen low solubility.

In this embodiment the device comprises a further layer 40 of a water soluble adhesive provided at a position between the luminescent material 24 and the adhesive material 26 such that the luminescent material may be separated from the adhesive material. In this way the device may be removed easily after a period of use. The water soluble adhesive layer may be adapted to release after a chosen time of exposure to water or other aqueous liquids. In this embodiment the water soluble adhesive 40 comprises a layer of PLA (poly-lactic acid or polylactide).

In this embodiment the device comprises a removable front layer 42 adherent to the first major surface 12 of the device and overlying the luminescent material 24. In this embodiment the front layer is dimensioned to be larger than the first major surface so as to overhang at least one edge of the device. As shown in figure 5, the removable front layer may overhang the short edges 20, 22 of the device. In this way the oversized front layer may be used to position the device on the side of the sanitary container without the hand coming into contact with the container, so allowing an easy and sanitary means of applying the device.

In this embodiment the device comprises a plurality of recesses 44 in the long edges 16, 18 of the device so as to enhance the flexibility of the device.

In this embodiment the device is sized to fit within a standard sized toilet bowl. In some embodiments also having the configuration shown in the figures the device is sized to fit within the rim of a urinal, or a sink.

A logo 46 is shown on the first major surface 12 of the device and a further logo 48 on the front removable layer 42. Such logos may be provided by means of printing, embossing or moulding as known in the art.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised 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, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Fuither, 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 as set out in the accompanying claims.