US3363625A - Medicinal applicator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1968 A. Jovls MEDICINAL APPLICATOR Filed oct. 24, 1965 Tlf? l United States Patent Oflce 3,363,625 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 3,363,625 MEDICINAL APPLICATOR Arthur Jovis, 1501 Undercliff Ave., New York, N.Y. 10453 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,613 3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-260) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A medicinal applicator including a planar medicated pad interconnected to a pair of separable covers along one edge thereof, wherein each of two opposed surfaces may be used while the other surface is in overlying relation with the inner surface of one of said covers.

This invention relates generally to applicators, and more particularly to improved combination cleaning and medicinal applying devices particularly suited for vaginal and anal use.

Toilet paper and cleansing tissues are generally ineffective in that they do not effect a thorough cleansing action. It is therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a device which will go beyond the use of toilet tissues and overcome the insufliciencies inherent in the use of toilet paper and tissues only.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the character described which is especially effective in the application of medication and/ or cleansing materials to the affected parts.

For cleansing purposes I have found it to be most effective in a mild astringent is included in the cleansing solution which is applied to the area to be cleansed. It is also an object herein to provide a device which will supplement the mechanical action -of the toilet paper or tissue, by effectively but gently removing the substances which the toilet paper or tissue has failed to remove. Thus, the present device has effective action where tissue leaves off.

Since I have found that a moist application is the most effective; the present device provides a moist wiping pad element maintained in proper condition by hermetically sealing the same until the instant of use.

The thorough cleansing is enhanced by the incorporation of a mild astringent such as witch hazel in the cleansing solution, and this increases the soothing and healing effect of an application of emollient which by the present device immediately follows the application of the astringent.

The emollient has combined therewith therapeutic and germicidal agents which for normal use have a soothing, antiseptic, preventive, and healing action, and for abnormal conditions su-ch as hemorrhoids have a therapeutic and curative effect.

A feature of the present invention is that the devices are compact so that they may be dispensed in package or roll form or may be carried in the users pocket or purse to be readily available for use at any time. These improved applicators may also be made available in vending machines.

Another feature is that during use, the users hand need never be soiled, and the device after use may be easily and conveniently disposed of in the same manner as toilet paper. Thus, in accordance with the invention, a most important feature is that the enclosing envelope serves two purposes:

(l) To keep the contents moist, and

(2) To protect the users hand.

This makes possible the use of both sides of the cleansing pad even though one side has already been soiled.

Another feature of this invention is that the present devices may be manufactured in large scale production at low cost so that they may have a consequent wide distribution and use.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of each embodiment.

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment lof the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View as seen from the plane 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- URE l in a partially opened state.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the device in the next stage of opening and use, showing the cleansing side of the pad exposed and ready for use.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG- URE 5 but showing an ensuing step and the emollient side of the pad ready for use.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modification.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

Turning to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-6 inclusive, the device generally indicated by reference character 10 comprises broadly: an envelope element 12; a pad element 14; a cleansing solution component 16; and an emollient component 18.

The envelope element 12 is preferably composed of a thin, flexible, planar material which is substantially impervious to the solution component 16 and the emollient component 18. Examples of such material may include polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, metallic foil, resin impregnated paper or foil and other materials having similar physcial characteristics. Element 12 is preferably formed by taking a generally rectangular piece of sheet material and folding the same upon itself to produce the fold area 13 to which the pad element 14 is secured as will hereinafter appear. This forms a first cover member 20 and a second cover member 22 is a Wallet-like arrangement. Cover member 20 has exposed free edges 24, 25, and 26 which are preferably outwardly disaligned with respect to the edges 34, 35, and 36 of cover member 22 to afford ready disengagement of the two surfaces by the user just prior to use.

The pad element 14 is slightly smaller than the envelope element preferably composed of a soft absorbent fibrous material such as for example cotton batting, soft cellulose felt, folded cheesecloth, resin felted cotton linters, polyurethane foam, or other material having similiar physical properties. It is desirable that the -absorbency of the pad element be restrained or limited so that the cleansing solution component 16 and the emollient component 18 do not intermiX.

The cleansing solution component 16 is preferably cornposed of a water solution of extract of witch hazel and may also contain a suitable non-irritating antiseptic or germicidal constituent such as hexachlorophene, boric acid or resorcinol. The cleansing solution component is impregnated into one surface 28 and a portion of the pad adjoining inwardly of said surface.

The emollient component is preferably composed of a cream, emulsion or salve which has a soothing and healing effect upon the areas being treated. Constituents of the emollient component may include liquid petrolaturn, glycerine, lanolin, or carbolated petroleum jelly. The emollient component is impregnated into a second surface 30 and a portion of the pad adjoining inwardly thereof.

The pad element 14 is connected to Fthe fold area 13 in a suitable manner, for example by an adhesive 38 and the first and second cover members 20 and 22, respectively, are hermetically sealed to each other along free edges 34, 3S, and 36. This sealing may be obtained by using an adhesive at the lapped portions. Such adhesive is of a frangible nature, such as those of lthe pressure sensitive type, whereby the seal may be broken by peeling the joined edges apart at the time of use. This sealing may also be obtained by fusing the material of which the cover members are composed where they are composed of a thermoplastic sheet synthetic resin, and such heat sealing may also be used where there is a lamination of the thermoplastic material on a foil or paper layer. When such thermoplastic welding forms the seal, the material of which the enevolpe element itself is composed is frangible so that the cover members 20 and 22 m-ay be torn apart for use,

One manner of use here follows: First, the cover members 20 and 22 are separated. The pad element 14 being influenced by gravity will take the position, for example, shown in FIGURE 4 when the cover member Ztl is lowermost. The cover member 22 is, however, positioned lowermost and the pad element 14 disposed as shown in FIG- URE 5. This exposes the surface 28 so Ithat it may be applied to the areas being treated and the cleansing solu- -tion component 16 may perform its function. This is accomplished by pressure of the users fingers upward upon the outer surface of cover member 22. When this step in use is completed, the cover member 20 is swung over to the right as viewed in FIGURE 5 so that any soil on surface 28 will be prevented from contact with the users hands.

Next, the device is inverted and the edge 25 may be folded inward about the edge portion 40 of the pad element 14 (FIGS. 4 and 6). Following this, the cover member 22 may be torn off, as shown in FIGURE 6 and 'the surface 30 placed against the area being treated to deposit the desired amount of the emollient component 18 on said area. Following this, the device may be `disposed of.

Turning to the modification shown in FIGURE 7, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to the first embodiment are 1given the same reference characters with the suffix prime This modification differs in that the devices 10 are in a connected row, being joined by lines of perforations 50, and the entire roll is adapted -to be carried by the core of a standard roll toilet paper holder. As required, the user 4 tears off a complete device 10' and uses the same as described above.

Turning to the second embodiment shown in FIGURE 8, here again corresponding parts, to save repetition, have the prefix 2. This embodiment diiers from the first embodiment in the inclusion of an impervious membrane 260 which isolates the pad portions 2140 and 214i; preventing intermingling of the cleansing solution component 216 and the emollient component 218.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a novel and highly useful device. The fastening of the pads to the enclosing envelope so as to protect the users hands from direct Contact with the solution (and hence transmission through the cleansing solution with the anal or vaginal matter) and turning over the soiled side of the pad and still protecting the hands from contact with the soil, is, a major advance in the art.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

I. A medicinal applicator comprising: an envelope element having rst and second cover members; a pad element disposed between said cover members, said pad element having two opposed planar surfaces, said envelope hermetically enclosing said pad element; said cover members being Separatable to remain interconnected along one edge thereof to selectively expose said two surfaces, said pad element being connected to said cover element along one edge thereof.

2. A medicinal applicator as set forth in claim 1, in which one of said surfaces has a cleansing solution component impregnated therein and the other of said surfaces has an emollient component impregnated therein.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 1, further characteriZed in the provision of a plurality of pad elements, each being disposed between said cover members, and interconnected thereto along congruent edges thereof, and impervious membranes, similarly interconnected, and disposed between said pads,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,999,265 9/1961 Duane et al 15-506 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

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