HYGIENE PRODUCT AND DISPENSER FOR HYGIENE PRODUCT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hygiene product for cleaning the intimate area according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing such a hygiene product.

[0002] Toilet paper is usually available in the immediate vicinity of standard restrooms. This allows a person to clean their private areas by wiping with it after using the toilet. After use, the toilet paper is thrown into the toilet and then flushed down the drain, thus disposing of it.

[0003] This type of toilet paper is typically so-called tissue paper. It is usually a multi-layered cellulose-based material. This material is usually sufficiently tear-resistant for wiping away stool residue and also absorbent for absorbing residual urine. Due to the large cross-section of standard toilet drains, the paper can be easily flushed away. As a cellulose-based material, toilet paper can be used in sewage treatment plants, including biological treatment processes.

[0004] Squat toilets, also known as urinals, are typically used by men. Urinals are used solely for the discharge of urine, i.e., urination. Even in this case, cleaning the genital area of any residual urine is desirable to prevent soiling of clothing, especially underwear.

[0005] US 6,613,954 B1 discloses a dispersible, absorbent product based on a fiber structure. US 2006 / 0090250 A1 describes a soluble toilet paper as a urination aid with a web-like structure for fluid drainage.

[0006] Since urinals are designed solely to collect urine, their drains generally have a very small cross-section. Often, they even have sieve-like inserts. While conventional toilet paper is known to become softer and more pliable upon contact with water, it essentially retains its sheet-like structure. This is because the properties of tear resistance and absorbency described above must be present simultaneously. Therefore, when using conventional toilet paper, urinals usually clog immediately. Accordingly, toilet paper is not suitable for use in or disposal from urinals.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages. In particular, a simple method is to be found to provide for cleaning the intimate area even when using a urinal. Soiling of clothing is to be avoided. Microorganisms are to be removed from the intimate area for hygiene purposes.

[0008] This object is achieved by the hygiene product or hygiene article with the features of claim 1. It is a hygiene product, in particular for men, for cleaning the intimate area after urinating in a toilet, in particular a urinal. The hygiene product is formed with or from a material for absorbing liquid, in particular an absorbent material. The hygiene product is in particular formed entirely from the material polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and is completely water-soluble. The material is intended in particular to absorb urine residues, in particular drops of urine. In particular, flushing of the material down the toilet is provided. The hygiene product is characterized in that the material is water-soluble. The hygiene product can therefore be dissolved in water. In this way, the hygiene product can be disposed of down the toilet, in particular the urinal. Urine typically consists predominantly of water.In particular, urine is already capable of at least partially dissolving the hygiene product or its material. The hygiene product is generally not completely dissolved, as typically only small amounts of urine are present. Thus, it can only be partially dissolved. Higher water temperatures ensure better and / or faster solubility.

[0009] The material of the hygiene product is completely water-soluble. This makes the hygiene product, or rather its material, easy to dispose of. This eliminates the need to place separate trash cans for the disposal of used hygiene products at the urinal. The material, and thus the hygiene product, can be dissolved in water.

[0010] The material is particularly water-soluble within a short time. In other words, the material, and thus the hygiene product, is soluble within a sufficiently short time to enable water-based disposal. This means, in particular, that it is water-soluble in less than five minutes, preferably in less than one minute, and more preferably in less than 30 seconds. This ensures that the hygiene product can be disposed of with water immediately after use.

[0011] Preferably, the material is soluble and / or flushable at least by the water used to flush the toilet. Preferably, the flushing water drains away with the dissolved material, preferably through the toilet drain. Consequently, the hygiene product should be disposed of directly in the urinal after use.

[0012] The hygiene product or its material is water-soluble and / or flushable, particularly within a few flushing cycles. Preferably, it is water-soluble and / or flushable at least substantially within two flushing cycles, and more preferably within one flushing cycle. This ensures prompt disposal in the urinal. This prevents residues in the urinal that are disruptive for the next user.

[0013] The hygiene product or its material is preferably a textile material. The material is preferably a non-woven material, in particular a fleece or nonwoven fabric. In particular, it can alternatively also be a woven material, in particular a fabric. This makes it particularly suitable as a hygiene product. In the range between 40 and 60 grams per square meter, nonwovens are generally already well usable. Preferably, a nonwoven with a basis weight of at least 30 to 35 grams per square meter is used. Basis weights of around 50 grams per square meter have proven to be particularly optimal.

[0014] The material is preferably biocompatible. It is preferably biodegradable, preferably compostable. This allows for sustainable disposal. The raw materials can also typically come from sustainable sources.

[0015] The hygiene product or its material is, in particular, a plastic, especially a bioplastic. These materials are easy and cost-effective to produce. Such materials are particularly suitable for use in the hygiene product according to the invention.

[0016] The material is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA has proven to be a particularly suitable material. It can be produced in a suitable form. In particular, textile materials, such as nonwovens, can be produced. In particular, it can be used to achieve desired properties such as water solubility and biocompatibility, but also suitable portion sizes for use as hygiene articles. The solubility of PVA in water can generally be adjusted depending on the material. Different solubilities can be provided at different temperatures. For application, a solubility of no more than about 25 degrees Celsius has proven suitable, especially for the known materials. Ideally, solubility at lower temperatures is advantageous. In this way, cold tap water can also ensure rapid dissolution.Thus, temperatures, especially so-called cold water solubility, of not more than 30 degrees Celsius are preferred, more preferably not more than 25 degrees Celsius, ideally not more than 20 degrees Celsius or 15 degrees Celsius.

[0017] The material is particularly intended for use in portions. Preferably, portions of the material are predefined. Alternatively, or more preferably, the material can be divided into portions for use. This makes it suitable for cleaning the intimate area, particularly with small amounts of urine at the urinal. It can be used to prevent soiling and / or eliminate unwanted microorganisms.

[0018] The above-described problem is also solved by a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product, particularly for men, as described above. The dispenser is particularly suitable for placement near a toilet, especially a urinal. The hygiene product material is intended to be dispensed to a person. The material is characterized by the fact that it can be dispensed in portions. The dispenser is designed for this purpose. The material is to be dispensed in small portions.

[0019] The hygiene product or material can preferably be removed by a person. The dispenser is designed to enable removal by a person. The person can pull the material out of the dispenser, preferably in the form of individual hygiene articles. In particular, flat, preferably rag-like and / or cloth-like forms of the hygiene product can be used. The hygiene products in particular have a suitable size for cleaning, comparable to standard toilet paper. Surfaces of the hygiene product with an edge length of approximately 5 to 20 centimeters are particularly suitable, more preferably approximately 8 to 12 centimeters. This means that surfaces of the individual hygiene products of approximately 20 to 200 square centimeters come into consideration, preferably approximately 80 to 160 square centimeters. However, swab-like and / or pad-like and / or cotton ball-like forms can also be used with greater preference.In particular, rectangular, round or any other free shapes are conceivable in all cases.

[0020] Preferably, portioning occurs when the hygiene product or material is removed. The material can then be used in portions. Particularly preferably, the portioning is carried out by the person. In other words, the material of the hygiene product can be portioned immediately upon removal from the dispenser. Portioning occurs upon removal. For this purpose, the material can in particular be pre-portioned. In other words, for example, larger quantities of the material can be stored, wherein separation points can in particular be predetermined. Portions of the material can be separated at such separation points.

[0021] The dispenser preferably provides for automatic dispensing and / or automatic portioning of the hygiene product or material. Motorized dispensing and / or portioning is also preferably provided. Through automatic dispensing or portioning, the dispenser provides for dispensing of the hygiene product in suitable quantities or sizes. This allows a suitable amount of material to be dispensed. Alternatively or additionally, manual removal of hygiene products from the dispenser by a person can be provided, preferably completely manual removal.

[0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures of the drawing. In this figure: Fig. 1 a urinal with a dispenser for dispensing hygiene products according to the invention.

[0023] In the Fig. 1A urinal 10 is shown as an example of a toilet. A dispenser 11 is arranged next to the urinal 10.

[0024] The dispenser 11 serves in particular to dispense hygiene products 12 according to the invention.

[0025] For dispensing the hygiene products 12, the dispenser 11 has a dispensing opening 13. Individual hygiene products 12 can be removed from this dispensing opening 13.

[0026] For this purpose, a quantity of material or corresponding hygiene articles 12 is present inside the dispenser 11. In other words, a supply is provided in the dispenser 11.

[0027] If necessary, the dispenser 11 may additionally contain a device that enables automatic dispensing. For this purpose, a motorized dispensing mechanism may be provided, for example, in the form of a special dispensing device.

[0028] After urinating at a urinal, the person using the urinal should remove any residual urine. The appropriate hygiene products 12 are intended for this purpose. The person can use a hygiene product 12 to clean the intimate area. To do so, the person removes a hygiene product 12 from the dispenser 11 and uses it for cleaning.

[0029] After use, the hygiene products 12 can be thrown into the urinal 10. Water 15 is used for flushing. The water 15 from the toilet flush initially serves to clean the urinal of any urine residue. The water 15 drains through drain openings 14 in the base area of the bowl of the urinal 10. It flows into the drain, typically further into the sewer system.

[0030] In addition, the material of the hygiene product 12 is also wetted by the water 15. According to the invention, the hygiene product 12 is made of water-soluble material. This results in the hygiene product 12 dissolving upon contact with water.

[0031] Urine is also capable of partially dissolving the hygiene product 12. Since urine is usually present in small quantities, the hygiene product 12 is typically not completely dissolved. Rather, it is partially dissolved. Higher water temperatures typically result in better solubility of the material.

[0032] Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is particularly suitable as a material. It can be produced in a suitable water-soluble form. On the one hand, it can absorb urine when cleaning the intimate area. On the other hand, it can also be water-soluble in larger quantities, for example, when it comes into contact with the water 15 used in the toilet flush of urinals 10.

[0033] When flushing the urinal 10, sufficient water 15 is present to dissolve the hygiene product 12. The dissolved hygiene product 12 can then simply flow together with the water 15 through the drain openings 14 into the drain.

[0034] Each individual hygiene product 12 can be used to clean the intimate area. The hygiene products 12 can be removed individually from the dispenser 11. The portioning can be predefined in the material or can be done directly by the person when they are removed. List of reference symbols

[0035] 10Urinal 11Dispenser 12Hygienic product 13Dispensing opening 14Drain opening 15Water

Claims

1. Hygiene product, in particular for men, for cleaning the intimate area after urinating at a toilet, in particular a urinal (10), formed from a material for absorbing liquid, in particular an absorbent material, the material being intended for absorbing urine residues, in particular urine drops, and the material being intended to be flushed away in the toilet, in particular the urinal (10), characterised in that the material is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and is completely water-soluble.

2. Hygiene product according to claim 1, characterised in that the material is water-soluble in a short time, preferably in less than five minutes, more preferably in less than one minute, more preferably less than 30 seconds.

3. Hygiene product according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material can be dissolved and / or flushed away at least by the water (15) of the flush of the toilet, in particular the urinal (10), preferably the water (15) drains away with the dissolved material, preferably through the drain of the toilet.

4. Hygiene product according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is water-soluble and / or can be flushed away during a few flushing operations, preferably at least essentially within two flushing operations, further preferably within one flushing operation.

5. Hygiene product according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is a textile material, preferably the material being a non-woven material, in particular a non-woven or non-woven fabric, and / or a woven material, in particular a woven fabric, preferably non-woven with a basis weight of between 40 and 60 grams per square metre, preferably at least 30 to 35 grams per square metre, particularly preferably about 50 grams per square metre.

6. Hygiene product according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is a biocompatible material, preferably a biodegradable material, preferably compostable material.

7. Hygiene product according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is a plastic, in particular a bioplastic.

8. Hygiene product according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is intended for use in portions, wherein preferably portions of the material are predefined or the material can be divided into portions for use.

9. Dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product (12), in particular for men, according to one of the preceding claims, for arrangement in the vicinity of a toilet, in particular a urinal (10), wherein a dispensing of the material of the hygiene product (12) to a person is provided, characterised in that the material can be dispensed in portions.

10. Dispenser according to claim 9, characterised in that the hygiene product (12) or the material can be taken out by a person.

11. Dispenser according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that when the hygiene product (12) or the material is taken out, it is portioned, preferably by the person.

12. Dispenser according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that automatic dispensing and / or automatic portioning of the hygiene product (12) or the material is provided, preferably motor-driven dispensing and / or portioning is provided, and / or in that manual removal of hygiene products from the dispenser by a person is provided, preferably completely manual taking out.