WO2011062838A2

WO2011062838A2 - Device for safe cleaning of the ear and methods of use

Info

Publication number: WO2011062838A2
Application number: PCT/US2010/056431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Dweck
Original assignee: Normandy Nine Inc.
Priority date: 2009-11-23
Filing date: 2010-11-12
Publication date: 2011-05-26
Also published as: WO2011062838A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ear cleaning device comprised of a conical shaped wipe configured to fits onto a user's finger. In certain aspects, the device may be comprised of one integral unit wherein the conical shaped wipe is configured to be fitted onto a pinky finger of a user, and thereafter used to easily and quickly clean the interior of an ear without risk of injury. The invention also relates to method of cleaning an ear without risk of injury using such devices.

Description

DEVICE FOR SAFE CLEANING OF THE EAR

AND METHODS OF USE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application No.

61/263,796, filed November 23, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for safe cleaning of the ear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present well known consumer ear cleaning devices are plastic or wooden sticks having tightly wrapped cotton on their tips. The cotton tips are inserted into the ear for the purpose of cleaning any dirt or build-up that has accumulated in the ear cap.

Many cases of ear injuries, as a result of using ear cleaning devices have been reported. Some injuries are due to the fact that the stick, sometimes pokes through the cotton and scratches the inner surface of the ear. The more serious injuries are those caused to the ear drum by inserting the cleaning stick too deep into the ear. A person inserting the ear cleaner into an ear that is not his own, as in the case of cleaning a baby' s ear, has no feeling as to how deep to insert the cleaner and there is danger of inserting the ear cleaner too deep.

As a means of safety, some of the known devices are made with clover shaped cotton tips whereas the wider part of the cotton tip is meant to prevent excessive insertion of the stick into the ear to avoid harming the ear drum. The clover shaped cotton tip is not effective in cases where too much force is applied in inserting the stick in the ear, because the cotton is soft and yields to the applied force, enabling excessive insertion of the stick. The present invention overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages and provides a completely safe device for cleaning the ear. All documents referred to herein are incorporated by reference into the present application as though fully set forth herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Safe cleaning of the ear with the device described in the present invention is ensured by the use of a person's own finger controlling how the device is used to clean the ear.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the following preferred embodiments and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of an exemplary conical shaped wipe of embodiments of the invention in place on the finger of a user.

FIG IB illustrates a back view of an exemplary conical shaped wipe of embodiments of the invention in place on the finger of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a device for safe cleaning of the ear. In a first aspect, the device may be comprised of a simple conical shaped wipe, which is sized and shaped so as to fit onto a finger of a user, and thereafter be easily and safely inserted into the ear with the help of that finger to clean the interior of the ear. In certain embodiments, the device is preferably configured as a single, integral unit.

As shown in further detail in FIGS. 1A and IB, in certain embodiments, the conical shaped wipe may be configured so as to have a large opening or "mouth" for easy fitting on any sized finger. The ear cleaning device of the present invention may be used by fitting the conical shaped wipe on the finger, and with the help of that finger, is inserted into the ear to clean the interior of the ear.

The material used to form the conical shaped wipe may be any suitable material known in the art for such personal care uses that allows for the desired conical shaped configuration and is suitable for the desired method of manufacture. Preferably, the material is a soft, non-allergenic, non-irritating material. In preferred embodiment, the material is disposable, flushable, and wettable. By way of non-limiting example, non-woven and cloth materials known for use in the personal care industry may be used. In a particular embodiment non-woven polyesters, spunlace Viscose/PET blends, hydroentangled cellulose/PP blends may be used, e.g., polyester grade 40gsm non-woven aperatured spunlace. However, the invention is not so limited.

In certain aspects, the material used to form the device may be moistened with a component, agent, or composition suitable to moisturize and/or cleanse the interior of the ear during use. In certain embodiments, the moisturizing and/or cleansing agent is non-irritating to skin and/or eyes. By way of example, vitamin E, Aloe, etc., may be used. Suitable preservatives to increase self-life may also be included.

In certain embodiments, the device is preferably sized and shaped so as to fit onto a pinky finger of an average user, e.g., an average adult user, an average child user, etc. In certain embodiments, the device may be manufactured in varying sizes to accommodate varying user groups, e.g., adults, children, small, medium, large, etc. However, the invention is not so limited, and the device may be sized and shaped so as to accommodate any desired finger, e.g., index, pointer, etc., recognizing that fingers of individual users may vary in size and shape. As such, a device configured to fit the pinky, or fifth finger of an average user, may accommodate a pointer or first finger of a particular user. To accommodate varying sizes and shapes, in certain embodiments, the device may be configured with a wide opening or "mouth", allowing for the device to easily fit any sized finger.

Without intending to be limited by theory, a finger is large enough to ensure that a user will not injure their ear in any way while cleaning their ear. It is also ensures that a user will not injure another's ear, e.g., a baby or child's ear, as a user may carefully and easily navigate their finger appropriately into another's ear. The rounded tip of a finger and the properties of material of the device eliminates potential for anything to break off in the ear or reach the eardrum, rendering the device safe ear cleaning device.

The conical shaped wipes may be manufactured in any suitable manner. In certain aspects, a single sheet of material of a desired size and shape may be configured into a conical shape, and sealed, fastened, or otherwise affixed in shape. By way of non-limiting example, a semi-circularly shaped sheet of material may be utilized. To accommodate varying sizes and shapes, if configured as a semi-circle, the size of the material may range from about 2-4 inches in diameter, preferably it may be about 3 inches in diameter. However, the invention is not so limited and other suitable shapes and sizes of material may be utilized to achieve desired dimensions of the final device.

By way of example, a generally semi-circular sheet of material may be die-cut, folded into a conical shape, and the overlapping edges may be affixed together in any suitable manner. It is desired that the manner used to maintain the conical shape not negatively impact the tactile properties of the wipe (e.g., create a zone of irritation, etc.), interact with any moisturizing or cleaning agents (e.g., solubilize, etc.), or be otherwise incompatible with personal care use. In certain non-limiting examples, the conical shape may be affixed using suitable adhesives, sonic welding, heat bonding, etc.

In certain embodiments, the conical shaped wipes of the invention may be

packaged as a multi-use kit in resealable packaging, so as to maintain cleanliness, retain moisture, etc. Such multi-use kits may include, e.g., 10, 30, 50, 100, etc. conical shaped wipes per resealable package. The resealable package may be configured so as to allow dispensing of individual conical shaped wipes. Again, the conical shaped wipes may be manufactured in varying sizes, e.g., adult, child, small, medium, large, etc., and the resealable packages may include a single size or may be multi-sized. Further, the resealable packages may include a single dispensing compartment or multi-dispensing compartments, e.g., to accommodate differing sizes, etc. By way of example, the package may be a peel and reseal configuration with approximately 200-300 cones in side by side stacks in soft flow wrap package.

As opposed to known devices for cleaning the ear, the device of the present invention offers safe cleaning of the ear. The safety of the device lies mainly in three of its features:

1. The conical shaped wipe of the invention is sized and shaped so as to minimize risk to the ear drum. Directly behind conical shaped wipe is the finger of the user.

Since the finger is wider than the ear cap to be cleaned, the conical shaped wipe cannot be inserted into the ear further than it is generally safe, eliminating the possibility for the device to reach the ear drum;

2. The materials of conical shaped wipe have no dangerous extension being inserted into the ear, thereby reducing the risk that the wipe will scratch the ear surface; 3. In its preferred embodiments, the ear cleaning device of this invention comprises a conical shaped moistened wipe that is fitted onto a pinky as one integral unit, thereby reducing the risk of any extensions breaking off while being inserted in the ear. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for cleaning an ear without risk of injury using the conical shaped wipes described herein. Such methods generally comprise: fitting a conical shaped wipe on a finger of a user, and inserting the finger into an ear to be cleaned. In accordance with such methods, as described herein, the risk of injury is reduced or eliminated.

Additional uses of the conical shaped wipe of the present invention may include: use to clean and/or moisture sensitive skin areas, around the eyes, small opening or surfaces (household areas, electronics etc.). As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the moisturizing and/or cleansing agent may vary depending on the intended use.

The principles, embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. For example, the present invention is not limited to the particular dimensions, materials, or uses described, except as explicitly defined in the claims. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

All publications and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although certain embodiments have been described in detail above, those having ordinary skill in the art will clearly understand that many modifications are possible in the embodiments without departing from the teachings thereof. All such modifications are intended to be encompassed within the claims of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. A ear cleaning device for cleaning the ear with reduced risk of injury, comprising:

a conical shaped wipe, wherein said wipe is sized and shaped so as to fit onto a finger of a user, and thereafter be easily and safely inserted into an ear with the help of said finger to clean the interior of the ear.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said conical shaped wipe is configured as a single, integral unit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the conical shaped wipe is formed from a soft, non-woven material.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the material is an aperatured polyester spunlace, a spunlace Viscose/PET blend, or an hydroentangled cellulose/PP blend.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the conical shaped wipe is moistened with a moisturizing and/or cleaning agent.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the moisturizing and/or cleansing agent is a composition comprising vitamin E, aloe, or combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the conical shaped wipe is sized and shaped so

as to fit onto a pinky finger of an average user.

8. A method of cleaning an ear with reduced risk of injury, said method

comprising:

fitting a conical shaped wipe onto a user's finger;

inserting said finger into an ear to be cleaned;

wherein risk of injury to the ear is reduced or eliminated.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said conical shaped wipe is configured as a

single, integral unit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user's finger is a pinky finger, and the conical shaped wipe is sized and shaped so as to fit onto a pinky finger of an average user.