Water-soluble sheet

Abstract

To provide a water-soluble sheet capable of preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses by a simple method, during water washing after use of a flush toilet.SOLUTION: A water-soluble sheet 100, which covers a lavatory pan T1 so as to prevent miscellaneous bacteria and the like from spreading in a space during water washing, comprises: a central part 1 large enough to be capable of covering a sealing water part T2 of the lavatory pan T1; a water-retentive inner edge part 2 that is arranged on the outer periphery of the central part 1; and a water-retentive adhesion part 3 that is arranged on the outer periphery of the inner edge part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water-soluble sheet for preventing harmful bacteria and viruses from spreading into the air when flushing after defecation or vomiting in a flush toilet. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, when using a flush toilet, it is considered good manners to close the toilet lid before flushing after defecation. This is to prevent bacteria and viruses that have been attached to the feces or toilet bowl from becoming aerosols in the spray of water when flushing and floating in the air, which can then be inhaled and spread via droplets, or from adhering to the walls and floor and causing contact infection for users.

[0003] However, there is some doubt as to whether flushing with the toilet lid closed can prevent infection. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 presents the results of a survey on the impact of flushing with the toilet lid closed on viral contamination (including aerosol dispersion) on environmental surfaces after using the toilet. In this verification, bacteriophage (MS2) was added to the toilet as a substitute for human enteric viruses, and the contamination status of the area around the toilet (toilet seat, floor, walls, etc.) was measured when flushing with the lid closed and with the lid open. The results showed that viral contamination occurred on the surfaces around the toilet regardless of whether the lid was open or closed, and that there was no reduction in contamination when the lid was closed compared to when it was open.

[0004] As such, even if the toilet is flushed with the lid closed, the risk of droplet or contact infection is not significantly reduced, and there is still a risk of infection. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Charles P.Gerba PhD, Impacts of lid closure during toilet flushing and of toilet bowl cleaning on viral contamination of surfaces in United States restrooms, American Journal if Infection Control, (US), 2024, Vol52, p141-146 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a water-soluble sheet that can easily prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses when flushing after using a flush toilet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The means adopted by the present inventors to solve the above problems will be described below. The present invention is a water-soluble sheet that covers a toilet bowl to prevent the spread of germs and the like into the space when flushing, and is configured to have a central portion large enough to cover the puddle area of ​​the toilet bowl, a water-retaining inner edge portion that is placed on the outer periphery of the central portion, and a water-retaining adhesive portion that is placed on the outer periphery of the inner edge portion.

[0008] The water-soluble sheet of the present invention has a central portion large enough to cover the puddle portion, which is where the stool or vomit that is most likely to have bacteria or viruses accumulates after defecation or vomiting, prevents water from splashing back from the puddle portion due to the dropping of the stool or vomit, and prevents water that has come into contact with the stool or vomit from splashing up during flushing. Furthermore, the inner edge portion located on the outer periphery of the central portion is water-retentive, so that the inner edge portion that stores moisture adheres to the surface of the toilet bowl without any gaps, preventing the diffusion of aerosols through gaps. Furthermore, by providing a water-retentive adhesive portion on the outer periphery of the inner edge portion, it is possible to prevent the moisture that was originally attached to the surface of the toilet bowl from diffusing into the air. In the present invention, the term "water retention" refers to the property of absorbing water and not drying it easily, but retaining it inside.

[0009] The above-mentioned configuration not only prevents the feces and vomit accumulated in the puddle area and the water in contact with them from becoming aerosols and spreading, but also prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses that were originally attached to the surface of the toilet bowl.

[0010] As a means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is possible to make the surface of the inner edge portion crepe-like, and to make the adhesion portion softer than the central portion and the inner edge portion. The crepe-like surface of the inner edge allows sufficient moisture to be stored inside the crepe-like pleats, thereby reliably eliminating any gap between the toilet bowl and the inner edge. Furthermore, since the contact portion is more flexible than the central portion and the inner edge portion, it can be reliably contacted with the curved surface of the toilet bowl.

[0011] Another means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to make the entire product rectangular with a longitudinal direction, and to configure the inner edge or the adhesive portion to have a fold. By making the entire toilet rectangular and providing folds on the inner edge or the contacting portion, the toilet can be used by placing the center portion over the puddle and the two ends on the toilet seat before use. In this case, after use, the two ends that were on the toilet seat can be folded along the folds, and the folded portions can be flushed away while covering the puddle and contacting the surface of the toilet bowl.

[0012] As another means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the above-mentioned configuration, it is also possible to make each of the fold lines non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the entire sheet. Because each fold is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the entire sheet, when the inner edge is folded after use, some parts are folded toward the back and some are folded toward the front. In other words, they are folded diagonally outward. In this way, even if the sheet is narrow overall, it will fold outward and easily fit tightly to the surface of the toilet bowl. This prevents the rectangular water-soluble sheet from becoming excessively wide.

[0013] As another means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is possible to configure the entire water-soluble sheet from a material having a disinfecting effect. Disinfection effect refers to the ability to kill or inactivate attached bacteria and viruses. By making the entire water-soluble sheet from a material that has a disinfecting effect, the absolute amount of bacteria and viruses in water, feces, and vomit adhering to the water-soluble sheet itself can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The water-soluble sheet of the present invention has a central portion large enough to cover a puddle, an inner edge portion that closes the puddle, and a tight-fitting portion that covers the surface of the toilet bowl, which has the effect of providing a simple method for preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses when flushing the toilet after use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a water-soluble sheet of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of using the water-soluble sheet of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first modified example of the water-soluble sheet of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second modified example of the water-soluble sheet of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a third modified example of the water-soluble sheet of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that each figure is drawn in a schematic manner for the purpose of explanation, and some parts are omitted or abstracted.

[0017] The water-soluble sheet 100 of the present invention is a sheet used when flushing a toilet bowl after defecation, vomiting, etc. When flushing a toilet, water splashes can spread bacteria and viruses (germs, etc.) into the air, increasing the risk of infection. By covering the inside of the toilet bowl after defecation or vomiting, the water-soluble sheet 100 of the present invention prevents the spread of germs, etc. from the toilet bowl when flushing, and can be disposed of by simply flushing it with water.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the water-soluble sheet 100 is a thin sheet made of, for example, paper, and has a central portion 1 large enough to cover a puddle in the toilet bowl after use, a water-retaining inner edge portion 2 arranged on the outer periphery of the central portion 1, and a water-retaining adhesive portion 3 arranged on the outer periphery of the inner edge portion 2. The material is not limited to paper as long as it is water-soluble, but it is preferable that it be water-soluble paper. Water-soluble paper has short, loosely intertwined cellulose fibers that easily dissolve, disperse, and disintegrate when it comes into contact with water. It is also preferable that it does not contain any adhesives or additives, or if it does, it contains a small amount of binder.

[0019] Furthermore, materials other than paper may also be used, such as film materials using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin, starch, or the like. It is preferable to use a material having a disinfecting effect as the material for the water-soluble sheet 100. A disinfecting effect means a material that has the effect of reducing bacteria or inactivating viruses, and the material itself may have a disinfecting effect, or the disinfecting effect may be imparted by secondary processing such as coating.

[0020] The water-soluble sheet 100 has an overall rectangular shape. The inner central portion 1 is made of flat water-soluble paper and has an area large enough to cover the puddle T2 in the toilet bowl T1 after the toilet T has been used, as shown in FIG. 2. At this time, feces and vomit accumulate in the puddle T2. The water level in the puddle T2 varies depending on the type of toilet T, and it is possible that the feces and vomit may be exposed above the water surface of the puddle T2. In other words, feces and vomit may come into contact with the inside of the central portion 1. For this reason, it is desirable that the central portion 1, while being water-soluble, has a strength sufficient to prevent it from being torn by contact with the feces or vomit.

[0021] A water-retentive inner edge portion 2 is disposed on the outer periphery of the central portion 1. The inner edge portion 2 is integrally connected to the central portion 1 without any gaps, and may be made of the same material as the central portion 1 or a different material, but it must be water-retentive. For example, water-soluble paper with water-retaining properties is paper that is designed to retain more water through the use of innovative fiber types, structure, and surface treatments, unlike ordinary paper such as copy paper. Even if the fiber types and structure are the same as ordinary paper, it is possible to retain more water within the folds by making the surface crepe-like.

[0022] This inner edge 2 adheres closely to the peripheral portion T3 of the puddle portion T2 of the toilet bowl T1, thereby isolating the puddle portion T2 from the outside air. The moisture held by the inner edge 2 comes into contact with the moisture adhering to the surface of the peripheral portion T3, completely sealing off the gap. At this time, because the inner edge 2 is water-retentive, the moisture on the peripheral portion T3 and the moisture on the inner edge 2 are attracted to each other by surface tension, allowing them to adhere together, even if the inner edge 2 is slightly distorted or wrinkled.

[0023] A contact portion 3 is further provided on the outer periphery of the inner edge portion 2. The contact portion 3 is integrally connected to the inner edge portion 2 without any gaps, and may be made of the same material as the central portion 1 and the inner edge portion 2, or a different material, but it must have the same water retention properties as the inner edge portion 2. The toilet bowl T1 of the toilet T has a curved surface that smoothly connects to the water pool T2. This curved surface is not a geometric shape that can be formulated, such as a hemisphere, but a free-form surface, designed to allow water to swirl during flushing for efficient cleaning. Therefore, the curvature tends to become steeper the further away from the water pool T2.

[0024] As mentioned above, the inner edge portion 2 adheres closely to the peripheral portion T3 of the puddle portion T2, blocking the puddle portion T2 from the outside air, but depending on the amount of feces or vomit that accumulates in the puddle portion T2, the central portion 1 may rise up, and this force may act to pull the inner edge portion 2 away from the peripheral portion T3. The contact portion 3 is a part that plays a supplementary role in contacting the toilet bowl T1 and reliably blocking the puddle portion T2 from the outside air in the event that the inner edge portion 2 floats in this way or in the event that the curvature of the toilet bowl T1 is so steep that the water retention capacity of the inner edge portion 2 alone is not enough to maintain contact.

[0025] The contact portion 3 may have the same water retention capacity as the inner edge portion 2, or may have a different water retention capacity from the inner edge portion 2. The contact portion 3 may also be softer than the central portion 1 or the inner edge portion 2. For example, the contact portion 3 may be integrally formed from a material that is softer than the inner edge portion 2, or may be made of the same material but softened by creping and wrinkling, etc.

[0026] The contact portion 3 is positioned further outward than the central portion 1 and the inner edge portion 2, and therefore comes into contact with the surface of the toilet bowl T1 at a position further away from the puddle portion T2 during use. As mentioned above, the curvature of the surface of the toilet bowl T1, which is a free-form surface, becomes steeper the further away from the puddle portion T2 it is, so if the contact portion 3 is flexible, it will easily conform to the surface of the toilet bowl T1 and come into close contact with it.

[0027] As described above, the water-soluble sheet 100 of the present invention covers the feces and vomit, which are most contaminated with germs, and the puddle area T2 where they accumulate, with the central portion 1, and also blocks the puddle area T2 from the outside air with the inner edge portion 2 and the adhesive portion 3. In addition, the water-soluble sheet 100 covers most of the surface of the toilet bowl T1. Therefore, the water-soluble sheet 100 can be washed while keeping the puddle portion T2 isolated from the outside air, and can be discharged together with the water-soluble sheet 100. Furthermore, the water is less likely to splash during washing, and aerosols containing germs and the like are less likely to be generated. In this way, the water-soluble sheet 100 of the present invention can prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses by simply placing it inside the toilet bowl T1 after use.

[0028] "Variation 1" The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and other embodiments may be adopted. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the embodiment in Figures 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. For example, the water-soluble sheet 101 shown in Fig. 3 has a bowl-shaped central portion 1. Because the central portion 1 is bowl-shaped, when the water-soluble sheet 1 covers the puddle portion T2, a space can be formed above the puddle portion T2.

[0029] The size and amount of feces and vomit vary depending on the time. In some cases, the feces and vomit may not only be exposed above the water surface of the puddle T2, but may also protrude significantly. In this modification, the central portion 1 is bowl-shaped, and a space capable of containing feces or vomit can be formed inside it, so that the outside air can be reliably shut out regardless of the amount or size of the feces or vomit accumulated in the puddle portion T2.

[0030] As in this modified example, a method for forming the central portion 1 into a bowl shape involves preparing water-soluble paper that has been three-dimensionally formed in advance using a press and a sheet of water-soluble paper with a hole cut out in the portion corresponding to the central portion 1, and then bonding the outer periphery of the bowl-shaped water-soluble paper to the edge of the hole in the sheet of water-soluble paper with a water-soluble adhesive or the like, or compressing them to integrate them without any gaps.

[0031] As described above, in this modified example, the bowl-shaped central portion 1 reliably blocks the puddle portion T2 from the outside air, regardless of the amount or size of the feces or vomit, thereby preventing the spread of germs and the like.

[0032] "Variation 2" The present invention can also employ other embodiments. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts that are common to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. For example, the water-soluble sheet 102 shown in Fig. 4 differs from the form shown in Fig. 1 in that it is a horizontally long rectangular sheet and has cover portions 4·4 for covering the toilet seat T4 on both sides of the contact portion 3. The cover portions 4 may be formed as part of the contact portion 3, or may be formed by joining different materials. The cover portions 4·4 are provided with folds 41·41 along which they can be easily folded.

[0033] The water-soluble sheet 102 of this modified example is used by placing the cover portion 4 on the toilet seat T4 before defecation, with the central portion 1, inner edge portion 2, and contact portion 3 hanging down into the toilet bowl T1. The cover portions 4·4 are preferably configured to be wide so that they hang down widely to the outside of the toilet seats T4·T4. By configuring the cover portions 4·4 to be wide, it is possible to prevent the entire water-soluble sheet 102 from falling into the toilet bowl T1 under its own weight when placed on the toilet seat T4·T4. In this state, the user sits on the toilet seat T4 with the cover part 4 placed thereon and defecates. The excrement falls onto the puddle part T2 while remaining on the central part 1. In other words, unlike the configuration in Figure 1, the excrement does not cover the puddle part T2 but instead rests on the central part 1.

[0034] During defecation, feces fall onto central portion 1, which covers puddle portion T2. ​​The feces that fall onto central portion 1 are deformed, causing central portion 1 to fall into puddle portion T2 along with central portion 1. In this way, central portion 1 receives the falling feces and then drops into puddle portion T2, so the water containing germs and the like in puddle portion T2 does not splash up, and no splashes occur.

[0035] Here, after the user has defecates and stands up from the toilet seat T4, they can fold the cover parts 4·4 inward along the folds 41·41. By folding, the cover parts 4, which are part of the contact part 3, cover the feces placed on the central part 1. At this time, the outer periphery of the cover part 4 tightly contacts the inner edge part 2, the contact part 3, or the surface of the toilet bowl T2 without any gaps. The folds 41 may be configured so as to be non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the entire sheet. For example, the folds 41 may be parallel and inclined diagonally relative to the longitudinal direction of the entire sheet. When the folds 41 are parallel and inclined diagonally, both ends are folded outward at an angle to each other. This makes it easier for the outwardly folded portions to come into close contact with the surface of the toilet bowl T1. By folding along the folds 41, 41 in this way, the entire feces including the puddle portion T2 is isolated from the outside air during flushing.

[0036] The cover portion 4·4 may have another mountain fold (not shown) outside the folds 41·41. The mountain fold can be used as an anchor for hanging downward from the toilet seat T4, and can also serve as a guide when placing the cover on the toilet seat T4.

[0037] In the above-described modified example, the positions of the folds 41-41 can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the size of the toilet T. For example, the folds 41-41 can be positioned at a position that contacts the boundary between the inner edge portion 2 and the sealing portion 3, or the width of the inner edge portion 2 can be widened and the folds 41 can be provided inside the inner edge portion 2.

[0038] As described above, in this modified example, the cover portion 4 covers the toilet seat T4, making it hygienic when sitting, and by positioning the central portion 1 above the puddle portion T2 in advance, it is possible to prevent water from splashing up in the puddle portion T2 due to feces and coming into contact with unsanitary water on the buttocks.

[0039] "Variation 3" The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and other embodiments may be adopted. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the embodiment in Figures 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. For example, the water-soluble sheet 103 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that the cover portion 4 is provided with pattern portions 42, 42 for indicating the position of the toilet seat T4.

[0040] The pattern portions 42, 42 are patterns that are approximately similar in shape to the arc-shaped left and right toilet seats T4. Because the pattern portions 42, 42 are approximately similar in shape to the toilet seat T4, they can be used as a guide when placing the cover portion 4 on the toilet seat T4 during use.

[0041] The pattern portion 42 may also be made of separate water-soluble paper laminated on the cover portion 4. By forming the pattern portion 42 by laminating separate pieces of water-soluble paper, multiple layers of water-soluble paper are interposed between the toilet seat T4 and the buttocks when sitting, making it difficult for germs on the toilet seat T4 to stain the buttocks, and also reducing heat conduction to the buttocks. In this modified example, it is also preferable that the cover portions 4·4 are configured to be wide so that they hang down widely to the outside of the toilet seats T4·T4.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims of the present invention. For example, by forming the central portion into a bowl shape and forming the inner edge and the contact portion into a concave curve, it is possible to make it easier to fit closely to the curved surface of the toilet seat. In addition, a plurality of water-soluble sheets can be stored in a portable case or container for portability. Furthermore, by providing a device for automatically dispensing an appropriate amount of the water-soluble sheet of the present invention using a remote control device provided on the toilet bowl or on the wall of the toilet room, it is possible to hygienically dispense only the amount needed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 100,101,102,103 Water-soluble sheet 1 Central part 2 Inner edge 3 Adhesion area 4 Cover 41 crease 42 Design section T Toilet T1 toilet T2 Puddle area T3 peripheral area T4 toilet seat

Claims

1. A water-soluble sheet that covers the toilet bowl to prevent the spread of bacteria and other contaminants into the air when flushing. This water-soluble sheet is characterized by having a central portion large enough to cover the puddle of a toilet bowl, a water-retaining inner edge portion arranged on the outer periphery of the central portion, and a water-retaining adhesive portion arranged on the outer periphery of the inner edge portion.

2. the inner edge portion has a crepe-like surface; 2. The water-soluble sheet according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive portion is softer than the central portion and the inner edge portion.

3. 3. The water-soluble sheet according to claim 1, wherein the central portion is bowl-shaped.

4. The entire structure is rectangular with a longitudinal direction, 3. The water-soluble sheet according to claim 1, wherein the inner edge portion or the contact portion has a fold.

5. 5. The water-soluble sheet according to claim 4, wherein each of the folds is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the entire sheet.

6. 3. The water-soluble sheet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the entire sheet is made of a material having a disinfecting effect.

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