Sanitary seat wipes

Abstract

A novel wipe for use in wiping inanimate surfaces that may be contaminated with a wet residue, comprises a towelette that is impregnated with a solution for the promotion of a quick drying cleansing of the surface. The solution is an alcohol matrix, which is predominantly comprised of a preferred alcohol (isopropyl) and a wetting agent and a water fraction. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a wipe is comprised of a cellulosic absorbent layer and a barrier film, where the barrier film and the absorbent layer are bonded together to form the wipe. The barrier film is selected from a group of plastic films that are biodegradable.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENTALLY FUNDED WORK

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sanitary seat wipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disposable seat wipe that can be used to clean the surface of a toilet seat before usage.

The issue of the conditions of public restrooms has been a longstanding matter, both from a health and well-being standpoint as well as the subject of many jokes and legends. In actuality, the prevalence of various communicable diseases ranging from STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), HI, viral infections to threats from other sources of contamination are very real and the average person does have second thoughts when confronting the decision to use a public restroom of any kind.

One of the issues that is particularly sensitive with respect to public restrooms is the condition of the toilet seat itself There are concerns that pathogens or other contamination may be located on the toilet seat and thus can be transferred by contact with a user. This concern is perhaps, logically so, more acute with respect to women than it would be for men, nonetheless the issue is confronted by both men and women and the perception of the threat to both genders is very real. It is commonly known that some public restrooms will supply sanitary seat covers which are essentially a vellum-like paper that is shaped to generally fit the average toilet seat with the purpose of providing barrier protection between the surface of the toilet seat and the skin of the user. It is also known, however, that these paper covers do not always fit correctly, or they are subject to being dislocated while being used, in addition to the fact that the barrier protection is not effective if the toilet seat is wet.

A wipe that is directed towards use for disinfecting telephone mouthpieces, toilet seats and other surfaces, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,984 (McClendon) where a tissue substrate is impregnated with solutions that are engineered to disinfect such surfaces. The solutions taught in McClendon, though, do not promote the drying of the affected surface (especially a toilet seat) and have the tendency to leave a chemical residue that itself may be objectionable and/or irritating to a user.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,730 (McClymonds) teaches a dispenser that contains both dry and wet towelettes. The wet wipes are held in a container that maintains their saturation and similar other types of containers are referenced for the retention of wet towelettes. McClymonds does not teach a sanitary wet wipe of any specific composition; it merely teaches the use of a container for retaining such a product.

A composition for a moist towelette is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0045191 A1 (Goldstein, et al) where the towelette is impregnated with an aqueous solution that include polymeric binder(s) and a wetting agent. The towelette of Goldstein is intended to provide a more robust (higher tensile strength) wipe than was previously available. The invention does not teach a sanitary wipe that is directed towards the cleansing and drying of a surface such as a toilet seat.

The function of the wet wipes known in the art is directed towards several discrete and different objectives. One of these objectives is the application of a disinfectant to attempt to eliminate pathogens and bacteria from a surface. Another objective that is known is to provide a tissue that will impart a lotion such that using the wipe on the skin of a person will have a soothing or restorative effect. Yet another objective known in the prior art tissues is the use of chemistry designed to wet and clean a surface using an aqueous and organic salts. None of the prior art tissues have been shown to have functions directed towards the drying of a surface, such as a toilet seat, notwithstanding the drying of a surface with a towelette that is optimized for use by a person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel tissue directed for dispensing in public restrooms, comprises a wipe that is retained in a pre-moistened state and is impregnated with a liquid composition that effective in wiping and removing wetness on an inanimate surface. The liquid composition is comprised of from about 70% to about 95% alcohol matrix, with a wetting agent comprising between about 5 PPM (parts per million) to about 25 PPM, and a quantity of water. The composition may further include the addition of a fragrance in effective ranges of concentration to impart a cosmetically appealing scent to the tissue.

In one version of the tissue of the present invention, a barrier film is included on one side of the wipe as the side to be handled by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wipe dispenser for use in dispensing tissues and/or wipes of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of an alternate embodiment of the wipe of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A novel wipe in accordance with the present invention is shown in an application in the drawings and is discussed in detail herein. Specifically, the wipe is comprised of a non-woven cellulosic material that may be provided on a roll or in individual towelettes and is saturated with a solution that promotes the cleansing and drying of a surface. The usage of the wipe is directed towards such surfaces such as counter-tops, toilet seats, knobs and handles, and other inanimate surfaces that may be focal points for the accumulation of contamination whether this is chemical contamination or biological contamination.

One application of the present invention is for the use in cleaning and drying toilet seats before use. On occasion, it is known that a toilet seat, particularly in a public restroom, may have residual quantities of urine on the surface of the sitting area. This condition is offensive to users of the restroom and the usual remedy is for the user to apply some quantity of toilet paper to the wetness and through a combination of spreading the urine and absorbing it, the toilet seat is returned to a substantially dry surface. This procedure is still less than desirable since the typical toilet paper product in a public restroom is of nominal thickness and absorption which may require copious amounts of the tissue on the one hand, or on the other, it a lesser quantity will subject the user to direct contact with the urine contamination as it soaks through the tissue. Lastly, the urine contamination has not been eliminated in a strict sense since a good part of it has merely been spread across the surface of the toilet seat allowing it to dry thereby leaving a urine residue.

The wipe of the present invention differs from the prior art in several ways, including the way it handles the foregoing example of urine contamination. The wipe will absorb some of the urine contamination, and will also apply a solution that will sanitize the surface of the toilet seat (or other such surface) negating the effects of any residual contamination with respect to biological hazards. The size of the wipe will vary from application to application, however it should be small enough to be used with one hand, and it needs to be large enough to be able to cleanse a good portion of the surface of a toiler seat. A size of approximately 3″ by 4″ is determined to be suitable for use although this dimension is not exclusive. It may be advisable for the user to employ multiple wipes for a given application, however the contamination may only be present on a limited area allowing the user to modify the amount of wipes to be used accordingly.

The chemical solution found in the wipes of the present invention is based upon an alcohol matrix. The preferred alcohol is isopropyl alcohol which evaporates very quickly when exposed to an open environment. Ethyl alcohol and denatured ethyl alcohol can also be used in the wipe of the present invention although ethyl alcohol and denatured ethyl alcohol do not exhibit the evaporation properties of isopropyl alcohol nor do they appear to work as well in sanitizing surfaces. The preference for an alcohol matrix results from the need of the user to have a dry surface shortly after using the product. Leaving a wet film on the surface of the toilet does not appreciably elevate the comfort level in using it, in fact it may represent a detriment as compared to the original condition the user was confronting. Therefore a need arose for a quick drying matrix that could be applied to the toilet seat that would be compatible with the objecting of cleansing the toilet seat surface.

The usage of alcohols with towelettes is contrary to the usual preference. Most compositions for moist towelettes are focused on the compatibility with contact with human skin. These types of towelettes will contain a substantial amount of water along with admixtures of emollients, fragrances, and similar compounds directed towards skin treatment. There are other towelettes that are known in the art that are directed towards specific cleaning tasks, such as described in McClendon above, where the chemicals used include bactericides and viralcides that are meant to disinfect a surface to a degree far greater than would be contemplated in the present invention. In fact, these types of towelettes are not suitable for the use intended in the toilet seat type application since they do not promote the quick drying that the present invention achieves.

The cellulosic towel construction is well known in the art, and in the case of the preferred embodiment it is a conventional type of towelette construction. The towelette of the preferred embodiment is saturated with a solution comprising isopropyl alcohol, a wetting agent, fragrance, and a fraction of water. The preferred admixtures are as follows:

	TABLE 1
	Component	Min	Max	Pref
	Isopropyl Alcohol	70%	99%	85%
	Wetting Agent	5 PPM	25 PPM	10 PPM
	Fragrance	Trace	Trace	Trace
	Water	<30%	<1%	<15%

As may be appreciated from Table 1, isopropyl alcohol represents the key properties at work in the wipe of the present invention, although the use of the wetting agent is indicated in order to promote the rapid extension of the film across the surface being cleansed thereby increasing the rate of evaporation that will be experienced. In the present embodiment, a wetting agent such as one obtained from the general group of lauryl sulfate based wetting agents would be preferred. This is the case even though there are a few idiosyncratic dermal allergies known to be provoked by the lauryl sulfate based wetting agents (of which there are many with properties that can be selected by one skilled in the art) however under the circumstances of the present embodiment, the actual concentration of wetting agent that would be left on the surface of a toilet seat, for example, would be very negligible. Much of wetting agent, as would any contaminants that are picked up during the wiping, would be retained within the alcohol matrix contained in the wipe itself.

It is possible to use ethyl alcohol in place of isopropyl alcohol in the present invention. Ethyl alcohol does not evaporate as quickly as isopropyl alcohol nor does it possess the antibacterial properties to the same degree that isopropyl alcohol demonstrates. The concentrations for using ethyl alcohol would be increased over that for isopropyl in order to retain an adequate quick drying response in the wipe. The use of pure ethyl alcohol is not proposed for the reason that it is a highly regulated chemical. Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol with various other chemicals (adulterants) included, usually methanol or methyl ethyl ketone or sometimes even aviation gasoline. The usage of the adulterants dissuades consumption of the product by an individual. Denatured alcohol is readily available and is not regulated as is pure ethyl alcohol. A range of useful solutions using a denatured ethyl alcohol would appear as shown in Table 2:

	TABLE 2
	Chemical	Min	Max	Pref
	Ethyl Alcohol	80%	99%	90%
	Wetting Agent	5 PPM	25 PPM	10 PPM
	Fragrance	Trace	Trace	Trace
	Water	<20%	<1%	<10%

The resulting solution, in either case, will be a clear liquid that will have very quick drying properties and which will generally impart a moderate disinfectant effect when wiped across a surface. The effect, when used, will be to use the towelette as a wipe, causing it to be swiped across the intended surface, allowing the alcohol matrix to combine with the liquid residue (typically urine) which will then promote the quick drying of the residue and the alcohol matrix combination. As suggested above, the use of the wetting agent helps to promote this action by spreading any film out, exposing more of the combined residue and alcohol matrix to the air, which will speed the rate of evaporation.

With reference to the drawings, a dispenser for supplying the wipes of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6, showing the dispenser 10 with the dispenser mount 12 and the mounting holes 14. The dispenser is comprised largely of the canister 16 which contains the wipes 20. At the bottom of the canister, as seen in FIG. 6, there is an access opening 22 for gaining access to the wipes which are stored inside the canister 16. Usually this is accomplished at the tear lines on each wipe such that when a wipe is pulled from the canister it is torn off from the succeeding wipe, leaving a bit of the succeeding wipe exposed (as can be seen in FIG. 1). The usage of a dispenser is preferred since the alcohol matrix of the wipe will dry out quickly if it is left exposed. There are sealable carry-packs that are known in the art and these would similarly retard the drying of the wipes. The advantage of the dispenser is the fact that it can be placed conveniently within the restroom, preferably on the inner wall of the stall the user is planning on using. Since in the preferred embodiment the wipe is constructed of biodegradable materials, the wipes can be used and then deposited within the toilet and flushed for disposal.

In FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of the wipe is shown where the wipe 20 is comprised of the absorbent layer (tissue portion) 30 and a barrier film 32. The absorbent layer 30 is the cellulosic construction of the type that is generally used for tissues and as referred to above in the discussion regarding the previous embodiment. Bonded to the absorbent layer 30 is the barrier film 32 which is comprised of a biodegradable plastic of the type that is known in the art. For instance, modified polyesters, rayons, and other plastic films are known that are biodegradable and which can be made into films. Suppliers of such products abound and include Britton Taco, located in Chesire, England, which offers specialty plastic films for the production of biodegradable diapers.

In this embodiment, the use of the barrier film provides an enhanced degree of protection to the user. By separating the contact of the user from the absorbent portion of the wipe, there is no contact with the alcohol matrix (which may itself be objectionable to some users) and there is no contact with any of the contaminants that are picked up by the wipe when it is being used. This occurs because the user can access the wipe from the dispenser from the barrier film side only and then retain this orientation as he/she uses the wipe on the subject surface. This keeps the absorbent side of the wipe in contact with the surface and the barrier film, as the name implies, is impervious to any of the chemicals that are in the absorbent layer. The user is able, therefore, to avoid direct contact with the alcohol matrix and/or the contaminants.

Another advantage to using this alternate embodiment is that the barrier film can help to retard the loss of the alcohol matrix once the dispenser is opened for use. The interposing of the impervious layer helps to retain the saturation level of the wipes. This will obviously increase the shelf life and the effective life of the product once deployed for use.

It is understood that variations on the present invention and the embodiments discussed herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the concept. The teachings are meant to illustrate the invention and illuminate its potential uses and versions and are not meant to limit or inhibit the scope of the concept.

Claims

1. A wipe for use in cleansing an inanimate surface that has been contaminated, where the wipe is premoistened and exhibits quick drying properties, the wipe comprising:

A tissue portion comprised of a cellulosic material capable of absorbing a liquid; and,

A chemical solution comprising an alcohol matrix impregnating said tissue portion, the alcohol matrix comprised of a select alcohol fraction, and a water fraction, the alcohol fraction selected from the group of isopropyl, ethyl alcohol, or denatured alcohol, and comprising not less than 70%.

2. The wipe of claim Number 1, where the select alcohol is isopropyl alcohol in the range of concentration of 70% to 99%.

3. The wipe of claim Number 1, where the select alcohol is an ethyl alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

4. The wipe of claim Number 1, where the select alcohol is a denatured ethyl alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

5. The wipe of claim Number 1, where the alcohol matrix further includes a wetting agent.

6. A wipe for use in cleansing an inanimate surface that has been contaminated, where the wipe is premoistened and exhibits quick drying properties, the wipe comprising:

A tissue portion comprised of a cellulosic material capable of absorbing a liquid, and,

A chemical solution comprising an alcohol matrix impregnating said tissue portion, the alcohol matrix comprised of a select alcohol fraction, a water fraction, and a wetting agent, the alcohol fraction selected from the group of isopropyl, ethyl alcohol, or denatured alcohol, and comprising not less than 70%.

7. The wipe of claim Number 6, where the wetting agent is selected from the group of lauryl sulfate wetting agents.

8. The wipe of claim Number 6, where the select alcohol is isopropyl alcohol in the range of concentration of 70% to 99%.

9. The wipe of claim Number 6, where the select alcohol is an ethyl alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

10. The wipe of claim Number 6, where the select alcohol is a denatured alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

11. A wipe for use in cleansing an inanimate surface that has been contaminated, where the wipe is premoistened and exhibits quick drying properties, the wipe comprising:

A tissue portion comprised of a cellulosic material capable of absorbing a liquid;

A barrier film portion bonded to one side of said tissue portion;

A chemical solution comprising an alcohol matrix impregnating said tissue portion, the alcohol matrix comprised of a select alcohol fraction, a water fraction, and a wetting agent, the alcohol fraction selected from the group of isopropyl, ethyl alcohol, or denatured alcohol, and comprising not less than 70%; and,

Where said barrier film is available for use by a user in holding the wipe without the user coming into direct contact with the tissue portion of the wipe.

12. The wipe of claim Number 11, where the wetting agent is selected from the group of lauryl sulfate wetting agents.

13. The wipe of claim Number 11, where the select alcohol is isopropyl alcohol in the range of concentration of 70% to 99%.

14. The wipe of claim Number 11, where the select alcohol is an ethyl alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

15. The wipe of claim Number 11, where the select alcohol is a denatured alcohol in the range of 80% to 99%.

16. The wipe of claim Number 11, where the barrier film portion is comprised of a biodegradable plastic.