GB2535983A

GB2535983A - A female genitalia cleansing device

Info

Publication number: GB2535983A
Application number: GB1502619.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donnellan Laura
Original assignee: LARNIANO Ltd
Current assignee: LARNIANO Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-17
Filing date: 2015-02-17
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Also published as: GB201502619D0

Abstract

A female genitalia cleansing device 1 for cleansing the vulva comprises a main body portion 2 for holding a volume of fluid, at least part of the body portion being squeezable to exert pressure on the fluid. A spout portion 3 extends from the body portion and comprises a nozzle 4 configured so that a stream of fluid passes from the body portion through the spout portion 3 and out of the nozzle when the device is aligned with the spout portion facing downwards. The nozzle is configured so that the stream of fluid will exit at an angle to the spout portion 3 and may comprise a one-way check valve. The body and the spout may be detachably connected, and the spout may be located within the body when not in use. The body portion may include a one-way ball valve 7 to allow air to enter the body.

Description

A female genitalia cleansing device

FIELD

The present invention relates to a cleansing device for female genitalia. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleansing device for cleansing the 5 vulva area of female genitalia.

BACKGROUND

It can often be difficult for newly post-natal women to cleanse their genitals thoroughly after urination. The process of giving birth can cause trauma or injury that makes contact cleansing with a cloth or wipe painful or difficult. Most medical professionals advise showering after each visit to the toilet. However, for new mothers who are frequently alone or unable to spend the time required for multiple daily showers, this advice is impractical.

Similarly, women on their menstrual cycle may find contact cleansing to be impractical, or not as thorough as desirable.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of inforrnation, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleansing device for female genitalia which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and indicative independent claims means "consisting at least in part or. When interpreting each statement in this specification and indicative independent claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein the term "and/or' means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Accordingly, in an aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a cleansing device for female genitalia, comprising: a main body portion configured to hold a volume of fluid, at least part of the main body portion squeezable to exert pressure on the contents of the main body portion; a spout portion extending from the main body portion so that fluid from the main body portion can pass along the spout portion, the spout portion comprising a nozzle configured so that a stream of fluid passes from the main body portion through the spout portion and out of the nozzle when the device is aligned with the spout portion facing downwards, and when pressure is exerted on the contents of the main body portion, the nozzle configured so that the stream of fluid will exit at an angle to the spout portion. This allows a user to create a stream of fluid that they can direct as required to cleanse themselves, for example when sitting on a toilet.

In an embodiment, the nozzle comprises a one-way check valve. This is a simple, reliable and inexpensive mechanism.

In an embodiment, the spout portion comprises an elongate spout body. This allows a user to position the main body portion and spout effectively.

In an embodiment, the elongate spout body is tapered towards the nozzle. This assists with producing a stream of fluid.

In an embodiment, the nozzle is aligned substantially perpendicular to the main axis 20 of the elongate spout body. This helps a user to position and use the device.

In an embodiment, the main body portion and spout portion are detachably connected. This provides a simple construction for re-filling the reservoir, and for packing the device.

In an embodiment, the main body portion and spout portion each comprise a screw 25 threaded portion for mutual connection. This is a simple and reliable mechanism.

In an embodiment, the main body portion and spout portion are sized and shaped so that the spout portion can be detached and located substantially within the main body portion when not in use. This allows a user to pack the spout into the main body to reduce the profile and length when not in use, for ease of storage and transport.

In an embodiment, the main body portion is sized to be grasped by a single hand. This helps a user to use the device easily.

In an embodiment, the main body portion is substantially or wholly formed from a flexible plastic. This is a readily available, reliable and durable group of materials that can be easily formed.

In an embodiment, the flexible plastic is PVC. This is a readily available, reliable and 5 durable material that can be easily formed.

In an embodiment, the main body portion further comprises a one-way valve remotely located from the spout portion and configured to allow air to enter the main body portion. This assists operation of the device, by allowing air to enter the reservoir to replace fluid as the fluid from the reservoir is used up.

In an embodiment, the one-way valve is a ball valve. This is a simple and reliable mechanism.

In an embodiment, the one-way valve is located substantially opposite the spout portion. This location allows the valve to operate above the fluid line or level in the reservoir during use as the valve is located in the top surface of the reservoir during 15 use.

In an embodiment, the cleansing device further comprises a watertight carry bag configured to hold the main body portion and spout portion therewithin when not in use. This assists a user with safely transporting and/or storing the device, without risk of spillage or leaks.

With respect to the above description then, 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.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description 5 which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the device by way of example, and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front, slightly above and to a user's right of a cleansing device for the vulva according to an embodiment of the present invention, the device having a main bottle body that holds a volume of fluid such as water, a spout that extends from the bottom of the bottle body, the spout having a nozzle at the outer end angled inwards towards the user, the spout having a one-way valve that activates when the bottle body is squeezed to direct a flow of fluid through the nozzle.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view from the same angle of the device of figure 1 Figure 3 shows a perspective view from above, to the right of a user and from slightly behind, of the device of figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a view of the device from the same angle as figures 1 and 2, with the spout removed and reversed so that this can be inserted into the bottle body for compact storage and transport.

Figure 5 shows the main bottle body of the preceding figures with the spout fully inserted into the bottle body for compact storage and transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a cleansing device 1 for cleansing the vulva will now be described with reference to the figures.

The device 1 has two main parts: a main body portion 2 and a spout portion 3.

The main body portion 2 is generally bottle-shaped, with a substantially flat end 5 that can act as a base when required, and an aperture 6 formed in the main body portion 2 at the opposite end from the flat end 5. The main body portion 2 holds a volume of fluid such as water, and is filled and emptied through the aperture 6. The main body portion is formed by blow-moulding a flexible resilient plastic such as PVC. Having the main body portion formed from PVC or similar allows the bottle to be squeezed in order to exert pressure on the contents of the main body portion, and so that this operation can be carried out repeatedly without the material cracking, deforming or degrading in any significant way -that is, so that repeated squeezings can be carried out over multiple repeated uses without significant degradation of the material or performance.

The main body portion 2 is sized so that it can be grasped and used (squeezed) one-5 handed by a user.

A one-way valve 7 is located in the flat end 5. The one way valve is, in this embodiment, a ball valve configured so that air can enter the main body portion 2 through the valve, but so that water or any other fluid in the main body portion 2 cannot exit through the valve 7.

The aperture 6 is formed with a screw thread to allow it to be detachably connected to the spout portion 3.

The spout portion 3 is formed as an elongate body, with one end internally threaded so that it can connect to the aperture 6. The other end has a nozzle 4. The elongate body of the spout portion 3 is configured so that when it is connected to the main body portion 2, a stream of fluid can pass through the aperture 6 into and along the spout portion 3, and through the nozzle 4. The body of the spout portion 3 is tapered towards the nozzle 4.

The nozzle 4 comprises a one-way check valve, similar to the valves used on squeezable condiment bottles or squeezable soap or shampoo bottles. The nozzle 4 20 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the elongate spout body 3.

The main body portion 2 and spout portion 3 are sized and shaped so that the spout portion 3 can be detached from the main body portion 2 and reversed and inserted nozzle end first into the main body portion 2 through the aperture 6 for storage, as shown in figures 4 and 5. This helps to reduce the overall size/length of the device 1 when it is not in use.

In use, with the main body portion 2 filled with a fluid such as water, and with the spout portion 3 screwed on, a user will use the device 1 by holding this in front of them when seated on a toilet (or a similar position), with the spout portion 3 aligned directly downwards. The spout portion will fill with fluid from the main body portion 2, which will be retained in the device 1 by the valve in the nozzle 4. A user then squeezes the main body portion 2 to exert pressure on the fluid in the main body portion 2, which causes a pressurised stream of fluid to exit the nozzle 4, at an angle to the spout portion 3, towards a user and onto the vulva area (that is, the external female genitalia). This process helps them in cleansing themselves when wiping may be inappropriate or insufficient, such as for example urination shortly after birth, or during menstruation. A user can to a large extent control the force of the stream by the force of their squeeze. However, the configuration described allows a user to easily produce a stream of sufficient pressure to cleanse but gentle enough not to cause any discomfort to area which will be sensitive due to birth trauma and stitching.

A device constructed as described above will not leak if stored or transported when containing fluid. However, the device 1 can be supplied with a watertight carry bag configured to hold the main body portion and spout portion therewithin when not in use, if required.

An embodiment of the invention has been described above. In variations, the main body portion and spout portion could be held together with a different type of connection, such as a twisting locking ring, a friction fit, or similar. Alternatively, they could be moulded as a single item, the device filled via a separate filler nozzle or cap.

It is preferred that the spout portion is elongate. However, this could be a small extension from the main body. Also, the nozzle is aligned at an angle substantially perpendicular to the spout, but could be at any angle as desired -for example 45 or 60 degrees.

Claims

Claims 1. A cleansing device for female genitalia, comprising: a main body portion configured to hold a volume of fluid, at least part of the main body portion squeezable to exert pressure on the contents of the main body portion; a spout portion extending from the main body portion so that fluid from the main body portion can pass along the spout portion, the spout portion comprising a nozzle configured so that a stream of fluid passes from the main body portion through the spout portion and out of the nozzle when the device is aligned with the spout portion facing downwards, and when pressure is exerted on the contents of the main body portion, the nozzle configured so that the stream of fluid will exit at an angle to the spout portion.
2. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises a one-way check valve.
3. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein 15 the spout portion comprises an elongate spout body.
4. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elongate spout body is tapered towards the nozzle.
5. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the nozzle is aligned substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the elongate 20 spout body.
6. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the main body portion and spout portion are detachably connected.
7. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 6 wherein the main body portion and spout portion each comprise a screw threaded portion for mutual 25 connection.
8. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the main body portion and spout portion are sized and shaped so that the spout portion can be detached and located substantially within the main body portion when not in use.
9. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the main body portion is sized to be grasped by a single hand.
10. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the main body portion is substantially or wholly formed from a flexible plastic.
11. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 10 wherein the flexible plastic is PVC.
12. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the main body portion further comprises a one-way valve remotely located from the spout portion and configured to allow air to enter the main body portion.
13. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 12 wherein the one-way valve is a ball valve.
14. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the one-way valve is located substantially opposite the spout portion.
15. A cleansing device for female genitalia as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising a watertight carry bag configured to hold the main body portion and spout portion therewithin when not in use.
16. A cleansing device for female genitalia substantially as herein described with reference to the figures