GB2601197A - Cleansing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleansing device, particularly for infants or toddlers, comprises a tray-like receptacle 14 with means 16 to hold it in position (e.g. suction cups/pads), and engagement means 18 to engage the attention of a child and encourage them to play with cleansing liquid in the receptacle and so cleanse their hands. The engagement means may be tactile and/or may comprising sponge or like material, e.g. in a layer in the receptacle. The engagement means may be replaceable, optionally retained by means provided on the receptacle. Cleansing liquid 20 may be provided. The receptacle may be used in conjunction with and/or held in position relative to a seat for the child, and/or may be provided with a cover 28, optionally liquid-tight and/or detachable. Also claimed is a method comprising the use of the device and/or educating a child to use the device.

Description

TITLE: CLEANSING DEVICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cleansing devices. BACKGROUND Cleansing devices are known; but there are problems in adapting them for cleaning the hands of young children. This may be appropriate if they have been eating something messy, or involved in any other activity which is likely to involve cleansing of their hands, e.g. by washing or wiping of the hands, e.g. messy activities, e.g. for arts and crafts, going to the beach (because of sand), going on a picnic and so on.

THE INVENTION

After considerable research, the inventor realised that such children (more especially infants and toddlers, e.g. young children in the range of substantially six months to substantially 2, 21/2 or 3 years old, and possibly older children, or other children who like to play) like to clean their own hands if this process can be made into a sort of play, and further realised that one way to achieve this is to ensure that the cleansing device engages the child's attention but is able to be held in position, so as to stop the device from moving around, e.g. relative to a seating device for the child or to a table upon which the cleansing device is placed. The inventor therefore solves the said problems by providing a tray-like receptacle with means to hold it in position and means to engage the attention of an infant or toddler to play with cleansing liquid in the receptacle to cleanse their hands. The liquid may be loose in the receptacle and/or may (at least to some extent) be held in a spongy material in the receptade, e.g. a layer comprising spongy material. Such material can be soft, porous, elastomeric and/or anastomotic. The engagement means may be tactile/sensory and/or visual. Tactile engagement means may comprise a configuration of the base of the receptacle. In one embodiment, the engagement means comprise one, two or more hand-shaped recesses in the base of the receptacle, such that the young child will want to keep on putting his/her hand/s in the recess/es to play therewith, possibly after being shown/educated to do this.

Again, the engagement means may comprise the liquid ancVor the spongy material; whereby the child will be attracted to the feel of the liquid and/or spongy material and want to play with them. Further, the spongy material (and/or said base of the receptacle) may have hand-shaped (visual) depictions or markings to attract the child, preferably to attract the child to place his/her hands there, at least initially, and preferably then to want to play with the material and/or the liquid. Again, the spongy material may be shaped like hands or toys or any other shape that may engage the attention of the child, who will then want to pick up these wet sponge shapes and play with them, probably splashing them in and out of the water, whereby the child's hands will be cleaned by the shapes. The hand-shaped recesses or markings are preferably shed as hands with the fingers spread out. The means to hold the receptacle in position serve to prevent the receptacle from being moved around by the child playing therein, which might cause large quantities of the contained liquid to be splashed out of the receptacle. Such position-holding means may comprise suction means, e.g. suction cups; or may comprise simple non-slip, e.g. frictional, means, e.g. in the form of one or more pads to engage the bottom of the receptacle with a supporting surface therefor. Again, the receptacle may form part of an article (e.g. of furniture) that comprises seating means for the child, e.g. a baby chair, in which case the framework or some other part of the article provides said holding means. For example, the receptacle may be, or be part of, a tray (e.g. a feeding tray) of the article, e.g. baby chair.

When the cleansing device is part of a high chair, or other seating device, the receptade must be detachable in order to be taken to be washed.

The receptacle should preferably have a cover, preferably that can fit liquid-tight to the receptacle, e.g. to make it readily portable, so that contained liquid does not leak out of it when it is carried. Thus, it can then be easily carded, containing the liquid, for example, when going on a joumey, to set up a picnic or the like, or again, after cleansing, to take it to a sink or other place for disposing of the soiled liquid after the cleansing. Again, the cover may provide, or itself serve as, the food-bearing surface of a feeding tray, e.g of said seating means article. The cover may be hinged to the receptade but, preferably, the cover is detachable, which may make said cleansing device easier to wash e.g. in a sink or dishwasher.

The liquid is usually to be replaced after one or a few hand-washings. The tactile means, e.g. the spongy material, is preferably replaceable. This is particularly useful for hygiene purposes; while the spongy material may be washed a few times (e.g. 3 to 6 times), it is preferable then to replace it. The receptacle may have retention means to retain the spongy material, e.g. ledges or 10 projections, e.g. to engage over the material.

The liquid will usually be water, though this may be spedally formulated, e.g. to include a small quantity of detergent and/or disinfectant, e.g in a range of from one part in 100 to 1 part in 1000, and/or possibly deodorant and/or scent. The tray/receptacle is preferably in the range of from 6 to 14 inches from side to side, preferably in the range of from 4 to 7 inches from back to front, preferably in the range of from 1 to 3 inches deep and/or preferably oblong or substantially rectangular in shape. It may be at least 1 or 2 or 3 inches deep and/or may be no more than 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 inches deep.

The inventor envisages the cleansing device preferably as a portable hand-cleaning station for infants and toddlers which allows them independently to clean their hands in a fun and engaging way. Replaceable sponge pads provide a hygienic and sensory experience for children after meal times and crafts. Preferably embodiments have one or more suction pads under the bottom of the receptacle so it can gdp to the high chair table or dinner table, the receptacle being or containing a lift-out or detachable tray into the bottom of which some water can be placed. The baby (with the help of his/her parent) or fodder would push down on a handprint, e.g. as a shape printed onto a sponge, or on a mould, to release the water through the sponge and wash/clean the hands. The product would be eco-fdendly by not using wipes/cloths and by only needing water, it can be made BRA-free, can be used at home or on the go. The sponges can be washed out and reused and one could buy refills/replacement sponges. The sponges may have different designs/colours to attract a wide market, for example lemonsIclementines/dinosaurs/boats (these help to make the product very acceptable when publicised over social media, e.g. Instagram®) as well as blue/pink/grey/pastel green. It would be particulatty attractive to a child if it involves splashing. The inventor tried this with her 10-month-old son's hands, putting such a receptacle with water on his high chair tray and showing him to put his hands in and wash them: the smile on his face and the fun he was having and the sensory experience he is getting, make cleaning his hands after each meal a fun and enjoyable activity that we both look forward to -a real bonding time between parent and child and one we now do after each meal and will do after painting and craft activities. Psychologists say that when, where and how you clean up your child after a meal matters: babies who experience after-meal clean-up as invasive can develop negative associations with eating, which can contribute to picky eating, and other problems. By making clean-up as much fun as possible and interactive, it is enjoyable for both the baby/toddler and the parent, and a great way for the baby to lea m and interact, and hence develop. It would be similady useful for grandparents, carers, baby minders, and child-care nurses and may also be useful to distract a child's attention when undergoing a procedure, e.g. by a doctor.

One aspect of the invention consists in a cleansing device comprising a tray-like receptacle with means to hold it in position and tactile means to engage the attention of a child to play with cleansing liquid in the receptacle to cleanse their hands.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method of cleansing the hands of an infant or toddler, which comprises engaging the attention thereof with the use of any such cleansing device embodying the invention as described herein.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method of cleansing the hands of an infant or toddler, which comprises educating the same to use, to cleanse their own hands, any such cleansing device embodying the invention as described herein.

Preferred features may be as claimed in any of the accompanying claims after claim 1. PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleansing device embodying the invention, on a child's table; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cleansing device of Figure 1 in an embodiment of the invention in which it is in combination with a seating device in the form of a baby's highchair; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the cleansing device of Figure 1; Figure 4 a vertical cross-section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing a first arrangement; with the spongy material dry before the liquid (usually water plus detergent) has been added, and with its cover clipped into position; Figure 5 is like Figure 4, showing a second arrangement, with the spongy material soaked; Figure 6 is like Figure 4, showing a third arrangement, with excess liquid, above the spongy material; Figure 7 is like Figure 4, showing a fourth arrangement, with the liquid but without the spongy material; Figure 8 is like Figure 4Figure 2, but indicating the position of the child; Figure 9 is like Figure 4Figure 2, but is of a different embodiment in which the cleansing device forms part of the high chair, Figure 10 is a like view of the Figure 9 embodiment but with the cleansing device having its cover in place to form the table of the high chair; Figure 11 is a slightly perspective plan view of the empty receptade of the cleansing device showing hand-shaped recesses in its base; Figure 12 is a plan view of the spongy material with pictures of hands, which may be a solid colour, preferably dark, e.g. solid black, or possibly pink or flesh-coloured; Figure 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the spongy material having recesses or cut-outs in the shape of hands; and Figure 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the spongy material having recesses or cut-outs in the shape of a toy or likely to be familiar to a child, e.g. a fish.

Referring to the drawings, identical references refer to the same item in the same Figure or different Figures or items that are identical or similar or have similar functions, and references with the same first two digits refer to items that are identical or similar 30 or have similar or related functions.

A cleansing device 10 for an infant or toddler 12 comprises a tray-like receptacle 14 with meals 16 to hold it in position and engagement means 18 to engage the attention of the child 12 to play with cleansing liquid 20 in the receptacle to cleanse their hands 22. The engagement means 18 comprise tactile means 18, more particulady comprising spongy material 18 that has the form of a layer 18 that lies in the receptacle 18 and is replaceable, said receptacle 14 having retention means 24, comprising lugs or ears 24 (not shown in Figures 4 to 7) moulded into the receptacle 14 to retain the replacedde engagement means 18, as shown in Figure 1. From the manufacturing point of view, it is advantageous for the sheet-form spongy material 18 to be in the form of a sheet with suitable engagement designs 19 (e.g. a pair of hands with outspread fingers) printed on it, rather than being in the form of a cutout with a shaped profile, e.g. in the shape of a toy or a pair of hands as mentioned above. The receptacle 14 is shown more clearly in Figure 11, especially the hard-shaped recesePs 181 moulded into its base and its lugs/ears 24 for retaining the layer of spongy material 18 as described herein. Other examples of the layer of spongy material 18 are shown in Figures 12 to 14: with little hands 181 printed onto the spongy material 18, Figure 12; with little hands 181 cut out of it, Figure 13; and with a familiar toy shape 182, Figure 14, cut out of it.

The cleansing device 10 comprises said liquid 20, preferably comprising water 20, possibly with one or two drops of detergent added to it. The spongy material 18 has a thickness of 1 inch to 2 inches and the tray-like receptacle 14 has a greater internal depth, e.g. of at least 1 inch more. The spongy material 18 is placed into the tray-like receptacle 14, Figure 4. The water 20 is poured into tray-like receptacle 14, when this is arranged to lie substantially horizontally, sufficiently to wet the spongy material 18 thoroughly, Figure 4, preferably also to fill receptacle 14 to a substantial depth, so that its surface (level 201) is level with the top 181 of the spongy material 18, Figure 5, or somewhat above (Figure 6) or bdow this, e.g. by between half an inch and 1 inch. Alternatively, receptacle 14 may be arranged to lie tilted towards or away from the child 12 by an angle to the horizontal within a range of from 0° to 30°, preferably with a minimum of 5° and a maximum of 10°, 15°, 20° or 25°. This will bias any splashing respectively towards or away from the child 12, or away from or towards the surrounding area beyond the tray-like receptacle 14.

Said means 16 to hold the receptacle 14 in position may comprise suction means 16, e.g. suction cups 16 (e.g. of different heights at the front and back of receptacle 14 respectively if the latter is to be tilted) to hold receptacle 14 to a table 25, whether this is a stand-alone table 25 (Figure 1) at which the child 12 stands or is seated on a chair or other seat not connected to the table 25, or whether the table 25 (Figure 2) is in combination with, shown as integral with, a seating means 26, shown by way of example as a child's high chair 26. When the table 25 is integral as aforesaid, the position hdding means 16 serve to hold the receptacle 14 in position in relation to the seating means 26 for the child 12.

For the reasons mentioned above, the receptacle 14 is provided with a cover 28, hinged to or separate (or detachable) from receptacle 14, and able to fit liquid-tight to the receptacle 14, to seal thereto against the egress of liquid 20.

After the child 12 has dirtied their hands 22, the cleansing device 10 is placed, or opened, before the child 12, whose attention is then engaged by the engagement means 18 to put their hands 22 into cleansing device 10 to play with or in liquid 20 therein, usually in the course of playing with the engagement means 18, possibly to splash the hands 22 around in the liquid 20 if there is enough of this, thereby to cleanse the hands 22. The child 12 may need to be shown (educated) what to do the first time or the first few times.

Referring to the exploded view, Figure 3, and to Figure 4: the cover 28 is a silicone lid, which seals against the tray 14 to make the product 10 portable without the worry of leaks. The cover 28 is slightiy flexible so that an internal groove 281 around the periphery thereof can engage an external bead 141 around the periphery of tray 14 whereby these can be sealingly clipped together. The spongy material 18 comprises a replaceable layer-like sponge 18 which slides easily into the tray 14 and is held in place under lugs 24 located internally at the comers of the tray 14, which is carefully made of non-ABS material. The tray 14 can be used with or without the sponge 18 thanks to the little hands 181 moulded as recesses 181 into the base of the tray 14. Suction cup feet 16 have threaded bolts 162 to attach them to the bottom of receptacle 14 and serve to hold the product 10 down when in use to prevent the tray 14 from being accidentally tipped over. The suction cup feet 16 are flexible and have tabs 161 to peel them off the table 25 when device 10 is to be removed from table 25.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, cleansing device 10 (together with its cover 28) forms the table 25 of the high chair 26, connected by releasable attachment means 32, of any suitable kind, to the remainder of the high chair 26, see Figure 10.

After feeding, the cover 28 is removed to leave the receptacle 141 of cleansing device 10 available for cleansing use by the child, as shown in Figure 9. For this purpose, the cover 28, Figure 10, may have an upstanding rim 252 (shown roughly in dashed lines) like the usual nm 251 of the table 25 in the Figure 2 arrangement and for the same usual reasons.

One embodiment process of use of the product 10 is to place the sponge 18 in the tray 14, then to pour sufficient water 20 over the sponge 18 until it is fully saturated (or more, to fill tray 14 to any desired level 201), then to place the product 10 in position in front of the child 12 and press down to engage the suction pads 16 with the tabletop 25 in front of the child 12, leaving product 10 in place while the child 12 is engaged, by whatever engagement means 18 and/or by being shown the procedure by example, to clean their hands 22 on the sponge surface by handling (playing with) the sponge 18, and/or by splashing in the water 20 if sufficient is available. After cleaning the hands 22 (and usually removing the child 12 and/or cleansing device 10), the soiled sponge 18 is removed and the tray 14 is placed into a dishwasher (not shown) or cleaned by hand. The sponge 18 can be cleaned or replaced depending upon its age and wear. The sponge pads 18 are a consumable part of the product 10 and will be available to be purchased in a range of colours with monochrome punting. The pattems on the sponges 18 consist of fun line drawings and hand outlines which help a child to engage with the tray 14. The odours may be keyed to respective different types of hand-soiling medium, e.g. food (e.g. meaty/greasy or milky/non-greasy), paint, modelling clay, sand for the benefit of the parent, e.g. to know how to clean the sponge 18 or when to discard it.

Thus, there is provided a method of cleansing the hands 22 of an infant or toddler 12 which comprises engaging the attention thereof with use of a cleansing device 10 as described above.

Thus, there is also provided a method of cleansing the hands 22 of an infant or toddler 12 which comprises educating the same to use, to cleanse their own hands 22, a cleansing device 10 as described above.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, 25 combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed, taking into account the following. Where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implied the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments hereinbefore described will be apparent to people skilled in the art and all such variations are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS1 A cleansing device for infants or toddlers comprising a tray-like receptacle with means to hold it in position and engagement means to engage the attention of a child to play with cleansing liquid in the receptacle to cleanse their hands.
2. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said engagement means comprise tactile means.
3. 3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement means comprise spongy material.
4. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said spongy material has the form of a layer that lies in the receptacle.
5. 5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement means comprise replaceable means.
6. 6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said receptacle has retention means to retain the replaceable means.
7. 7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises said liquid.
8. 8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means to hold the receptacle in position comprise suction means.
9. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means to hdd the receptacle in position comprise means to hold the receptacle in position in relation to seating means for the child.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8, in combination with said seating means.
11. 11 A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a cover for the receptacle.
12. 12 A device as claimed in claim 11, in which the cover is constructed to fit liquid-tight to the receptacle.
13. 13 A device as claimed in claim 11 or 12, in which the cover is detachable.
14. 14 A method of cleansing the hands of an infant or toddler which comprises engaging the attention thereof with use of a cleansing device as claimed in any preceding claim.A method of cleansing the hands of an infant or toddler which comprises educating the same to use, to cleanse their own hands, a cleansing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.