WO2006070345A1

WO2006070345A1 - Sponge device

Info

Publication number: WO2006070345A1
Application number: PCT/IL2005/000678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shalom Charlie Abecassiss
Original assignee: Shalom Charlie Abecassiss
Priority date: 2004-12-31
Filing date: 2005-06-24
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Also published as: GB0428584D0

Abstract

A sponge (1) having a shape and size suitable for the purpose of cleaning and absorbing bodily wastes at the toilet comprising a moisturized sponge made of a spongy material. It may further include a protruding area (2) at the top of the sponge having a special shape, which allows efficient cleansing of bodily waste. The sponge may be sodden with a liquid, which allows a smoother movement and improves hygiene. The liquid may be perfumed. The sponge may include additional materials, which are connected externally to the sponge, as a part of its external design and for absorbing or cleaning better in a combined operation with the sponge.

Description

Sponge Device

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application is related to, and claims priority from, the patent application No. GB 0428584.7 filed on December 31, 2004 in Great Britain and entitled "Sponge Device" .

Technical Field

The present invention relates to means for cleaning bodily wastes at the toilet, and more particularly to a new sponge made for this purpose.

Background Art

Toilet paper, tissues and other devices are used for cleaning bodily wastes at the toilet, which will all be referred as toilet paper. The process of cleaning bodily wastes at the toilet might be tedious and time consuming. In addition, the use of toilet paper or tissues could cause smudging of excrement more than absorbing. As a result of this ineffective use of toilet paper, a relatively large amount of toilet paper is required.

Toilet paper is limited in the amount of bodily wastes it can gather each time, thus its efficiency is relatively small. The toilet paper is often dry and even if it is soft still may cause rubbing and irritation of the skin, for example because of the rapid use required.

The toilet paper should be extracted each time from a toilet paper roller, and a sufficient quantity of toilet paper should be taken each time, and rearranged in order to clean better, this process is frustrating and is time consuming. Moisturized paper tissues or similar products could be used for better hygiene, however they are not suited for the task, for example by being too wet to be used for cleaning excrements or excretions. These parts of the body may be clammy and dirty.

Moisturized paper tissues or similar products could be used after the cleaning is completed with the toilet paper for better hygiene, however this requires the use of two different products, which is not comfortable either.

Disclosure of Invention

This invention describes a new moisturized sponge, which replaces existing toilet paper and moisturized paper tissues altogether, for use at the toilet. The new moisturized sponge can be made of a spongy sodden material, with a special shape, which is better devised to allow efficient cleansing of bodily wastes at the toilet.

The sponge is sodden with a liquid, which may be similar to the substance used at existing moisturized paper tissues. The sponge has required shape to adjust the body properly and easily with just one sponge at a time, and is efficient each time it is used - the sponge is capable of absorbing material with minimal smudging.

Other liquids may be sodden at the sponge, for example perfumed liquids, which can create a nice scent. Preferably, the sponge will not be too wet and will not overspill. The sponge can be based only on a spongy material, or may include additional materials, such as paper-based or nylon, which can be connected externally for the sponge, as a part of its external design and/or for absorbing or cleaning better in a combined operation with the sponge. In general, the sponge should be so designed as to offer one or more of the following:

1. The sponge should be soft and pleasant and yet with the ability to friction against the skin, in order to collect bodily wastes.

2. The sponge should be light weighted and airy - with a small density of the spongy material.

3. The sponge should be moisturized with any combination of liquids, giving the sponge more advantages.

k. The sponge should be flushable at the toilet, allowing easy dispensing of a disposable sponge, similarly to toilet paper.

In conclusion, the new sponge has various benefits, offering a better engineered solution for many problems involved in cleaning bodily wastes at the toilet, allowing cleansing bodily wastes in a more comfortable and efficient manner.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the sponge.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the sponge.

Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the sponge.

Fig. k illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the sponge.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 detail a side view of other embodiments of the sponge. - I* -

Figs. 9 and 10 detail a top view of other embodiments of the sponge.

Fig. 11 details a side view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Fig. 12 details a top view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Figs. 13 and 14 detail a side view of other embodiments of the sponge.

Fig. 15 details a top view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Fig. 16 details a side view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 detail a top view of other embodiments of the sponge.

Fig. 20 details a side view of another embodiment of the sponge.

Figs. 21 and 22 detail a top view of other embodiments of the sponge.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the sponge. An arrow is indicating a possible direction of movement of the sponge in order to clean bodily wastes. A sponge 1 may be made of a spongy material which is capable of absorbing bodily wastes, and may have a protruding part 2 which can be made of the same materials, where the adjusted part matches the shape of the body, in order to clean better.

The protruding part 2 may include an elevated area 22 at about the center of the sponge, but not necessarily there. At the back area 23 of the protruding part 2, there may be a gradual drop to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

At the front area 21 of the protruding part 2, there may be a gradual ascent to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body. Areas 21 and 23 may or may not be symmetrical, can be made of different materials and/or can consist different liquids within.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the sponge. An arrow is indicating the direction of movement of the sponge in order to clean bodily wastes. According to this embodiment, the front area 21 is narrower allowing easy movement and insertion of the sponge to intimate areas, while the back part 23 is somewhat wider, allowing extra cleaning or movement of the sponge forward as required to easily achieve desired pressure and rub against the skin.

In one embodiment, the spongy area at the bottom of the sponge 1 is softer and capable of absorbing substances, while the upper part 2 is more useful for removing and cleaning the body.

Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the sponge. The sponge may be narrower or wider, according to required implementation or desire of the customer, the area at the bottom 1, may be made in a manner which allows easy holding and movement of the sponge. In this embodiment, the bottom part is designed to allow easy grasping of the sponge and absorbing body waste, while the upper area 2 is protruding so as to better swipe and cleanse a person's bottom.

The sides 2h of the sponge can be made of different materials and have various shapes in order to control the shape of the sponge while it is rubbed against the body and to allow cleaning using its sides as well, - G -

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of the sponge with additional part at the bottom. Additional materials 12 may be attached to the sponge at the bottom, allowing easier holding and/or better isolation of the sponge. The materials at the bottom 12, can be made of paper or nylon for example, and should be thin to allow easy flushing of the sponge.

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the sponge. As can be seen in this embodiment, the sponge can be easily used and may have a large capacity for absorbing a meaningful quantity of substance each time it is used, allowing better hygiene and more comfort.

Using the advantages of a spongy material, the sponge may be easily twisted and adjusted to match the shape of different body parts and to clean efficiently hidden areas of the body. The new sponge also offers better isolation between the sponge and the hand, allowing keeping the hands clean.

In the embodiment as illustrated, the sponge has corners defined by the intersecting planes thereof. The corners are not rounded.

In another embodiment, the corners are rounded, as detailed in Figs. 1 - 4.

The sponge may have various shapes - rectangular, circular, triangular, etc.

The sponge may be moisturized or not.

The sponge may be made of a synthetic material such as plastic, or a natural spongy material.

The sponge may have a fixed or variable density. In the latter embodiment, the sponge has a different density in its various parts, with one part harder and another softer, for example.

Various implementations based on current invention may become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure and drawings. Thus, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 detail a side view of other embodiments of the sponge, comprising only a base part 1 without the protruding part of other above-detailed embodiments of the present invention.

The upper surface of part 1 may be concave, to better adapt to a person's bottom, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Alternately, the upper surface of part 1 may be saw-toothed as in Fig. 8, to better remove bodily waste.

Figs. 9 and 10 detail a top view of other embodiments of the sponge, illustrating non-rectangular sponge shapes, for example an oval and an irregular shape, respectively.

Fig. 11 details a side view of another embodiment of the sponge, wherein the part 2 is not symmetrical - its left and right-side parts droop at a different slope or rate.

Fig. 12 details a top view of another embodiment of the sponge, including a central protuberance 2 and two smaller protuberances 25.

Fig. 13 details a side view of a sponge with a first protuberance 2 and a second protuberance 26 on top of it.

Other embodiments of the sponge may be implemented.

Fig. Ik details a side view of a sponge with part 2 having a serrated top.

Fig. 15 details a top view of a sponge wherein part 2 is tipped at its left and right side, as illustrated. Either a symmetrical or asymmetric embodiment may be employed.

Fig. 16 details a side view of a sponge wherein part 2 has holes 27 made therein, for a more effective swiping.

Fig. 17 details a sponge with a rectangular part 2. Fig. 18 details a sponge with more than one protuberances, such as a first protuberance 2 and other protuberances 25 on its left and right sides.

Fig. 19 details a sponge with a shaped part 2, which is thinner at its center.

Fig. 20 details a side view of a sponge with part 2 having a serrated top.

Fig. 21 details a top view of another embodiment of the sponge, including a central protuberance 2 and two smaller protuberances 25 at its sides.

Fig. 22 details a top view of another embodiment of the sponge, including a base 1, a shaped protuberance 2 and a rectangular inner protuberance 2.

Industrial Applicability

The invention is usable as a moisturized sponge at home, to replace existing toilet paper and moisturized paper tissues altogether, for use at the toilet. The new moisturized sponge can be made of a spongy sodden material, with a special shape, which is better devised to allow efficient cleansing of bodily wastes at the toilet.

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus and method within the scope of the present invention and that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinbefore.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A sponge having a shape and size suitable for the purpose of cleaning and absorbing bodily wastes at the toilet comprising a moisturized sponge made of a spongy material.

2. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has a concave-shaped upper surface, to better adapt to a person's bottom.

3. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has a corrugated upper surface, for an improved swiping action.

4. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has a saw-tooth shaped upper surface, for an improved swiping action.

5. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has a generally rectangular shape.

6. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has a generally oval shape.

7. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein the sponge has an irregular shape.

8. The sponge according to claim 1, further including a protruding area at its top, shaped so as to achieve an efficient cleansing of bodily wastes.

9. The sponge according to claim 8, wherein the protruding area has at its back a gradual drop to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

10. The sponge according to claim 8, wherein the protruding area has at its front area gradual ascent to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

11. The sponge according to claim 8, wherein the protruding area has serrations at its top.

12. The sponge according to claim 8, wherein the protruding area has holes opening at its top.

13. The sponge according to claim 8, wherein the protruding area has a generally rectangular shape.

14. The sponge according to claim 1, further including two or more protruding areas at its top, shaped so as to achieve an efficient cleansing of bodily wastes.

15. The sponge according to claim 14, wherein the protruding areas are on top of each other.

16. The sponge according to claim 14, wherein the protruding areas are located side by side.

17. The sponge according to claim 16, wherein the protruding areas are connected to each other.

18. The sponge according to claim 16, wherein there is a space between the protruding areas.

19. The sponge according to claim 14, wherein the protruding areas are located one after the other in the direction of swiping.

20. The sponge according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the sponge is sodden with a liquid, which allows a smoother movement and improves hygiene.

21. The sponge according to claim 20, wherein the sponge is sodden with a perfumed liquid, which can create a pleasant scent.

22. The sponge according to claims 20 or 21, wherein the sponge includes additional materials, which are connected externally to the sponge, as a part of its external design and for absorbing or cleaning better in a combined operation with the sponge.

23. The sponge according to claim 22, wherein the additional materials are based on paper or nylon or cloth or a combination thereof.

2k. The sponge according to claims 22 or 23, wherein the sponge is disposable by flushing at the toilet, allowing easy dispensing of the disposable sponge, similarly to toilet paper.

25. The sponge according to claim 2k, wherein the area at the top of the sponge is lifted and includes a gradual drop at the back of the sponge to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

26. The sponge according to claim 24, wherein the area at the top of the sponge is lifted and includes a gradual ascent at the front of the sponge to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

27. The sponge according to claim 26, wherein the front area of the sponge is narrower allowing easy movement and insertion of the sponge to intimate areas, while the back part is somewhat wider, allowing extra cleaning or movement of the sponge forward as required to easily achieve desired pressure and rub against the skin.

28. The sponge according to claims 26 or 27, wherein the bottom of the sponge is softer and capable of absorbing substances, while the upper part is more useful for removing and cleaning the body.

29. The sponge according to claims 26 or 27, wherein the top area is not symmetrical.

30. The sponge according to claims 26 or 27, wherein the top area is not symmetrical, so that its left and right-side parts droop at a different slope or rate.

31. A sponge having a shape and size suitable for the purpose of cleaning and absorbing bodily wastes at the toilet comprising a sponge made of a spongy material.

32. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has a concave-shaped upper surface, to better adapt to a person's bottom.

33. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has a corrugated upper surface, for an improved swiping action.

34. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has a saw-tooth shaped upper surface, for an improved swiping action.

35. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has a generally rectangular shape.

36. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has a generally oval shape.

37. The sponge according to claim 31, wherein the sponge has an irregular shape.

38. The sponge according to claim 31, further including a protruding area at its top, shaped so as to achieve an efficient cleansing of bodily wastes.

39. The sponge according to claim 38, wherein the protruding area has at its back a gradual drop to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

40. The sponge according to claim 38, wherein the protruding area has at its front area gradual ascent to smooth the movement of the sponge against the skin and to allow the user to control the pressure and angle of the sponge against the body.

41. The sponge according to claim 38, wherein the protruding area has serrations at its top.

42. The sponge according to claim 38, wherein the protruding area has holes opening at its top.

43. The sponge according to claim 38, wherein the protruding area has a generally rectangular shape.

44. The sponge according to claim 31, further including two or more protruding areas at its top, shaped so as to achieve an efficient cleansing of bodily wastes.

45. The sponge according to claim 44, wherein the protruding areas are on top of each other.

46. The sponge according to claim 44, wherein the protruding areas are located side by side.

47. The sponge according to claim 46, wherein the protruding areas are connected to each other.

48. The sponge according to claim 46, wherein there is a space between the protruding areas.